Sunday 5 June 2016

Vienna (Wien) 16/5/16 - 30/5/16 Woche 95 & 96 101.5-Time Travel Museum, Pancake Tuesday, Taufdatum und One (Almost) Dead Man!!! Donauturm, Tausch, Schönbrunn Sommernachts Konzert, Taufe (2 sogar) und 'Eine Herde und ein Hirte'!!!!!

Woche 95 von 101.5-Time Travel Museum, Pancake Tuesday, Tausch, Taufdatum und One (Almost) Dead Man!!!
Servus!
So today was Pfingstmontag, which is a holiday over here, so none of the shops were open; so after studies, P-day began! So we headed down to Stephansplatz and hung out there for a little while, went to grab some lunch, did a bit more chilling around the city. Then we met up with the Sisters and a member couple and we went to this 'Time Travel' museum type place, which is basically like a tour of the history of Vienna. It was pretty cool, plus the members paid for us which was super sweet! Then after that, we headed up to the chapel to do emails, before meeting with M, B and M. That was a pretty cool lesson! We spoke about the Holy Ghost and then did a little Deutsch class! It was a pretty good p-day! 
Dienstag after a bit of studies we headed to the centre to have lunch as a District- they all wanted to do Pancake Tuesday again, so we did! Then DM! That was fun! It went a little longer than normal, which was super strange, cause I honestly didn't think it would fill the time, but it did, so that was great! Then after that we went and did some finding, before heading back to the centre to prepare for Englischkurs. Then R showed up (he's a newish member), so we had a lesson with him and then had a double round of English again. So the first one I taught about the Simple Present tense and the second class - I did the use of Commas in writing. They seemed to both go well! Then we headed quick to the shop as P-day was a holiday, so they weren't open yesterday and we needed to grab a few things. Then home, sprach and dinner! It was an interesting day!
So Mittwoch after studies we headed out to meet M, B and the Sisters, so we went shopping together. The Sisters wanted Iranian food, so we asked them and they said they didn't have money, so we were like, well - we'll buy the ingredients - you just need to cook type of a thing. So we went shopping together and tomorrow we're gonna have an Iranian lunch... Sooooo excited! Then we went to Schottentor to meet the ZL’s to tausch! I'm staying here with Elder Hale. It's actually been a really good tausch so far. We went off to do a bit of finding and some vorbeis before going to take R for a walk. (R is B's husband and he's blind, so B asks us to take him for a walk every now and again, especially when she's working a lot). We took him into the city and walked around Volksgarten. It was really nice. That took up a lot of the afternoon! Then we headed back to the apartment for a bit of sprach and a superrrrrrr late mittags. Then out for some more finding and vorbeis before heading to the Insti Centre to do the missionary moment, before heading home for abendessen. It was a pretty cool day and I'm actually really enjoying working with Elder Hale! I never mentioned about who I met at Insti- so at the moment there’s like a Summer program and a load of BYU students are in Wien for like May until June sometime, so at Insti today one of them started speaking to me and then he saw my name and was like "Robertson, where are you from?" and I say "England" - and then he's like "Birmingham?" "Yeah...." Then he asks if I know a Caleb, so I tell him we're cousins and it turns out he was companions with him on their missions back in Ghana! How crazy is that!?! So we had a picture, which he says he'll send to Caleb, Small world, hey!

Donnerstag after some pretty good studies and eating a Banoffee Pie, we headed to Pratter to tausch back! It was actually a really good tausch. After tausching back, we popped back home to drop his tausch stuff back and then off to the Centre. We were meeting with the Sisters, M and B for an Iranian Mittags! It was soooo good and sooo much fun! 



Then it ended as my comp’s tooth/gum problems were causing loads of pain, so I rang around and tried to get him a dentist appointment. We got one literally just around the corner from the Centre who could squeeze him in right then, so that filled a good chunk of the afternoon. It was a good job he went, cause apparently the infection was super strong and would certainly not go away without proper dental care and strong antibiotics. Then after that, I did Englischkurs before we did a bit of planning and headed over to B and R’s for the evening! It was sooo good! I legit just love them sooooooo much! It's just so much like home at their place; just completely relaxed, chilled out appointments. Like tonight we ate and then just all chilled out, chatting and shared a spiritual thought. Honestly those appointments are sooooo needed some days! I just love B and R. They really are my favourite people here (along with M and B) - so today was just the perfect day! 
It's already the end of Freitag! Weeks are flying by! So after studies and mittags, we had a pretty long weekly planning! After weekly planning, we headed over to B and R’s (it's as though we are there every day) for GMK and discussed the sacrament meeting that the ward missionary team are supposed to organise and put on at the end of June. After GMK we headed to meet M and B at the chapel. We had a lesson with them, focussing on the Christ-like attribute of hope. Then we were feeling a little troubled about their situation with not being allowed to get baptised and so, because they are completely ready, so we asked Pres about the rules and stuff and he asked about their residency stuff; what this white card is and so on. We looked through all their stuff with them and it turns out that what they have is actually good enough to be baptised. So while M was cutting Elder Bonnke's hair I called up Pres and spoke a little more about it all and he gave the okay to baptise them; so we are moving their baptism up to next Saturday. The 28th May!!! You should have seen their faces when we told them! They are soooo ready and sooo excited to make this covenant with God!!! The thing is that they have had the same permit ever since the missionaries started working with them, but it was only just that we actually started to look into it even more. Heavenly Father must have needed them to wait just a little longer. He really does work in mysterious ways and everything will work out in the end; so long as we keep pushing forward in faith and hope; and just endure righteously till the end! We are beyond excited for them! 
Samstag was an incredibly interesting day! So during studies we got a few calls and all of our appointments for the whole day, but one, fell out. So the day was basically gonna suck! So we thought of going to our favourite people ever, seen as we still have a lot to sort before next Saturday and they saved our butts for an hour or so. So after mittags, we headed over to the Centre to meet with M and B. They are legit the best! I love them soooo much. They were like "We couldn't sleep last night, because of the excitement that we can actually be baptised. We can't believe it!" They are the sweetest. We met with them to plan the actual service. It took a little longer than expected, but we have a pretty nice service planned out and we convinced them into having a couple of members of the ward perform the baptism. That way they have that connection with someone who will always be around. They wanted us to do it and I would have really loved to say yes, but we thought that having a member do it gives an even more solid relationship to the ward. Beyond excited for them!!! Then we headed to Ottakring to meet the Sisters. Our appointment with them fell out, so we planned a back-up together to go by an old lady in the ward who lives in a care home. So we went by, spoke and sang a load of hymns together. It was super funny and sooo cute. I love old people! Then on our way back Sister Lundgreen almost killed a man (she didn't really, we are just saying it to her, to make the golden feel bad- haha!) So basically on our way back we were walking down the street and Sister L is walking on the furthest side of the path (on the road side) and this guy just comes staggering over the path and almost falls into her, so she jumps into the road; so she doesn't get collapsed on by this man, as he staggers further into the road and just collapses, face first. We're all like what the fetch just happened, as some people from the bus stop 20m or so down the street come running up. One calls the paramedics and I'm about to go check this guy’s pulse as he wasn’t moving at all, not even breathing motions. Then this one guy just starts going up to him, so I figure, maybe he actually has some form of professional first aid training, cause I just have what I've learnt myself from over two years ago and never practiced, but then he's like, come and help me move him off the road. Then I think umm, maybe he has none, cause that is not what I would do, after he just knocked himself out left temple first into a road; but he moves him anyway and in the process - drops him head first again. Then he's at the side of the road and I'm like gonna try and put him in the recovery position to open his airways and blood flow, but this guy is still taking over and it was just terrible. Plus, now he's breathing, or more so snoring. So I'm just like whatevs then, plus he stinks of alcohol, so I believe that is the key factor to what just happened. The Police drive by and see the scene, so stop and come and take over, then the paramedics arrive. We wait around for a little while if they have any questions, but nope. So we took off! Legit, this guy just almost died today, right in front of us. After that, we went to the shop to buy a little gift for A and D for taking us to the Time Travel museum on Monday, then we did some finding and a vorbei before heading to the chapel to meet with F. That was good. Finally it didn't fall out! Then home, abendessen, and milkshake night! 'Twas fun!
Sonntag was another interesting day! Church was interesting. The theme for Sacrament meeting was music and the second talk Bishop did, but it wasn't a talk, we like sang songs from the Children’s songbook. It was cool, but super strange! Then the Priesthood class was just interesting. After that, we went through the baptismal program with the GML and learnt how to fill the font, before coming home, grabbing mittags and studying. Then we headed to the S's for abendessen and a lesson together! The food was soooo good, but I was soooo full! We had a really good lesson with them! They are such a cool little family! Then time to head back and that was Sunday!
It's been quite the week and it just flew by! This next week is looking pretty awesome as well, so I’m well excited, especially for Saturday! Soooooo excited! Well, I hope you guys have a great week! Love you all loads! 
Alles liäbi,
Elder Ammon Robertson xxxxxxxxxxx

Woche 96 von 101.5- Donauturm, Tausch, Schönbrunn Sommernachts Konzert, Taufe (2 sogar) und 'Eine Herde und ein Hirte'!!!!!
Höi zäme!
P-day! So after studies we went out to do some shopping for the week, before heading to the dentist, as they wanted to do a check up on my companion after draining that thing on Thursday. So we got there, waited a little while and then he went in. He came out and told me they were sending him to another dental practice on the other side of the city to get the tooth extracted, cause it's become cracked. So then we trek all the way to the other side of the city, wait around forever and then finally he goes in and gets it taken out. Then we finally make our way over to the Donauturm for district p-day; only like 2 and a half hours later than we originally planned, but we went up the turm. It was fun! We spent a bit of time looking out, taking pictures, etc. Sister Lundgreen made a bad choice in clothing this morning as it was windy as fetch up there, so she was constantly holding her dress down. Poor girl. 





Then we went up to the Cafe/Restaurant for a super late Mittags. It was pretty good food to be fair, but it was strange. Like the place was a 360* Cafe and legit, the room was moving around. It was slowly moving, but if you looked at the corner where the floor and wall, or ceiling and wall meet, it was really weird! I took a time-lapse on my iPad, as we were moving around, so I have the whole 360* view. It was pretty cool to be fair. 
Then we headed over to the chapel to meet up with B and M and the ZL’s for their baptismal interview. Of course they passed!!! They are soooo ready. Then because of dental appointments and running around for that and the interviews; we then had a bit of time to do email time before heading home. It was a pretty cool day! 
Dienstag! After studies, we headed off to the centre to go to district meeting. We had to do it a bit earlier today, as we had tausch and my comp needed to go back to the dentist to have his stitches taken out before going to St Pölten. So DM was fun. Then we did Pancakes again. I think it's becoming a little tradition in the district- pancake Tuesdays! It's fun! During that, we tausched and I'm working with Elder Gappmayer here in Wien. So after, we headed with the Sisters over to the Familie V, as they wanted to visit them and we were asked to take the Sacrament over for them, so we went together. That was really nice. We were there for a while though, but it was fun. Then we headed over to the S's for Abendessen. We got there a little earlier than planned, so did a bit of dooring, but no luck! Then essen! It was sooooo good! She also taught us how to make Spätzli from scratch. It is so quick and easy, so once I get my hands on the tool thing you use, then I'll have to make it when I get back. Sooo good! Then home, a bit of sprach and that was Dienstag! 
So Mittwoch after studies, we headed off to St Pölten to tausch back. So we tausched back so early, cause we had a mittags appointment with a member and my companion wanted to be at it, so we had to tausch early! So after that, we headed back to Wien to go to the Familie Soucek Snr. (Bishop’s parents) for Mittags. It was really good! Then after them, we headed to the Centre to do some companionship study, as we never had that before tausching back. Then we met up with B and M, read though the chapter about Baptism in Gospel Principles, discussed a few more things in preparation for Saturday and then M cut my hair, cause it was really due a cut and I was feeling too lazy to cut it myself this time! Then we headed home, showered and changed, cause I had hair all over me; then did some Sprach and abendessen. It was actually a pretty chill day, but we still got a few things done. 
Donnerstag!!! This week has gone pretty fast! It's crazy! So after studies and mittags we popped over to the chapel to send off ticket orders for DM next Tuesday. Well after that, we headed to meet the Sisters in Ottakring to go by Schw. K in the old folks’ home again. That was fun. She is such a sweet little old lady. We talked and sang with her again - and we got a few pictures! Haha! She is so sweet!


 After that, we did a few vorbeis before heading to the Centre to quickly prep something for English, to which nobody came (I think because today is a Holiday here); so we printed off the programs for the baptism on Saturday. Then we headed to B and R’s, did the Sacrament for them, cause they haven't been able to come to church for a few weeks for various reasons and then the Sisters did a Spiritual thought.  We then headed to the Schönbrunn Sommernachts Konzert with the Wiener Philharmoniker (they're supposed to be the best orchestra in the world and its’ founder is Johann Strauss), so once a year the Stadt put on a free concert at Schönbrunn with the Wiener Philharmoniker and it was really good. We got seats cause we were with R (he's blind) and we were on the front row (to the right). It was actually a really nice evening, but such a late one (but that’s fine, cause Pres gave permission). So that was our Thursday!
So Freitag was a pretty chill, strange day! So we did studies, mittags and weekly planning and then finally headed out. We went to the centre to meet with M and B and we went through a few last day preparation stuff before tomorrow! Tomorrow’s the day!!! I am sooooo excited for them! Tomorrow’s also the day to find out where and with whom my last 5 weeks will be spent.... Weird much! After them, we quickly headed over to C&A to get a couple of ties, as a little gift for them after their baptism. Just to give them another tie or two to choose from, cause they only have one each at the moment. Then we met up with Wien 4 and went to a member appointment with them. This family found out a week ago that we live in a 4 man, so they asked if the whole apartment wanted to come over, so we agreed and we went. The food was amazing and it was a really interesting and fun evening. Then home and the normal evening before transfer call morning!!!
Samstag- and today’s the day for a couple of reasons!!! So, after a nice morning run the call came... My very last call that means anything to me, cause the next time I get one of those I'm just going to be told that it's time for me to find my next companion on my own.... and that comes in just 5 weeks’ time.... Weirdness of life! Anyways, back to the actual call... So I'm leaving to go to my 8th Area. I swear I'm hitting up a record here!!! That works out at a max. of 2 transfers per area. It sort of has to be fair, but then 2 of them were 3 transfers and the other 2 were 1 transfer areas. So I'm off to Munchkin Land (München) where I will serve in the 1st ward with an Elder Kennedy (I have no idea about him- but he will be the one killing me)! He's American anyway, anything else I guess we'll find out on Wednesday... So my replacement here will be Elder Meiners, yep his area is just going to be dramatically shrunk, as he's currently in the International ward, which is the whole Stake as his area, so that will be fun. He has such an easy transfer though, as we live together anyway, so he just needs to change his desk over.... I’m not sure about this last move though, as during interviews Pres he asked if he moved me out; where would I like to go? .. and I said ‘To the mountains’! Now München is no mountain area... Well anyways, after that business we headed over to the J's to help them move. That was fun! Especially seen as it's like ridiculously hot at the moment. Once we finished there we headed over to Prater to meet up with a few other missionaries and some investigators to play Ultimate Frisbee. That was fun; again super tired and super-hot and just not a good combination. We got back from there and got showered and ready for the day, popped over to the chapel to fill the font, studies/last minute prep for the baptisms and then they arrived. They got into white and we had a load of pictures before the service started. It was really nice. The GML spoke on baptism and then we had the baptisms, B first and the M. We were the witnesses and it was such a perfect, beautiful, spiritual moment. I love those guys so much. Then while they were getting dry, we had music playing in the background while everyone wrote a small testimony/memory thing for them on the back of the programs. Then B gave the talk on the Holy Ghost, Bishop welcomed them, then they both gave their testimonies and told their story. It was soooooo beautiful. Then Schluss. We had a few refreshments and stuff and that filled the majority of the evening. They even got themselves suits, so they would be dressed like all the other members. They looked sooo good! What a precious day! I'm so excited for them tomorrow! 


Wow! Sonntag! So after getting ready we headed over to the chapel. B and M were there 20 mins before the meeting started to say hi to the members and we also got them there a little earlier, cause I still needed to break the news to them about transfers. Yesterday was just not the time or place, so I told them and it was the saddest thing ever – their little faces!!! Then Sacrament meeting; they got confirmed- such another precious little moment!! The Spirit just filled that chapel and then came the second confirmation and it just doubled! It was beautiful! Then after the Sacrament, Bishop announced how I'm leaving, so then I had to do the whole super sucky Tschüss testimony. I hate that part about transfers. I've done it way too often! Then the talks were good and interesting, but it was cool! Then we had the Gospel Principles class to teach, as the teacher messaged us this morning; like 20 mins before we left for church and asked if we could take it, as he wasn't able to come. We did an ‘on the spot’ lesson on Charity, as that was the topic. It seemed to go pretty well! Then joint Priesthood/FHV class with the former President of the Freiberg Temple. They did like a Temple Q&A session to some extent and it was pretty good. Then goodbyes, which sucked! I'm definitely gonna come back to visit this ward. Bishop says hi to the family and thinks its super cool that I served in this ward, as he was Bishop. He's such a cool Bishop! I'm gonna miss that! Then home for lunch and studies.... I think I'm gradually coming to terms with München 1. The members were saying today that München is cool and has a lot to see on P-days and stuff, which was great! Anyways, after studies we met F and headed with him over to Pfahlhaus. We got there a little early, so sat down and had a little lesson with him before heading up to the Chapel for this Concert thing. There was a group of BYU students from the School of Music who have been in Wien for a study abroad month or so, and one of them is the Composer of some Musical Concert thing which focusses on the BoM called 'One Fold and One Shepard'; so they performed this evening- auf Deutsch! It was brilliant! Like those guys can sing soooooo well! It was a great evening! Then refreshments, mingling, etc. Then we for home a little late and then I collected numbers for the last time (I think- they never told me if I'm DL over in München), but then again they never told me I was DL this transfer when we got transfer calls. I just found out ‘cause President sent me a load of info about it and the fact I suddenly had access to the other areas numbers in the district on the missionary portal, so you never know!
Well, I guess we'll just have to see what transfers bring.... Well, have a fantastic week. Love you loads!
Alles Liebe,
Elder Ammon Robertson xxxxxxxxx