Hello to all You Wonderful People (and even any Policemen in the midst!)
Well, the week started off a little slow at Home Evening with no missionaries other than the two of us, one investigator who's pretty professional and mainly comes by for socializing and the food, and four or five YSA's a couple of whom came to eat but had to leave for school conflicts. The sister assigned for the spiritual thought couldn't make it so Elder Parker had to wing it a bit but he had a few good thoughts running in his head from his preparation for Institute a couple of days later and so we discussed the importance of faith as a mechanism for encouraging our repentance (see Alma 34:15-17 where it's mentioned in each verse.) That left us with loads of food and we were able to feed our entire district the next day prior to district meeting with the leftovers and even stretched it out for a few snacks as late as Thursday!
But after a somewhat slow start, things picked up as the week went on. Our BYU group that we mentioned a couple of weeks ago finally got back from assorted trips around Europe including Italy, Switzerland and interestingly even Hallstatt on the same day we were there with Mindy, Benj, and Brenda though we didn't recognize any of them in the crowds. We have at least two in the group who are returned missionaries from our mission though we didn't know any of them prior to their departure. But one of the elders in our district had one of them as his trainer at the very beginning of his mission so there were lots of hugs and handshakes going around. About five of the eighteen that are in the group speak no German and several of the others are pretty basic though their leader describes them as speaking fluent German. Be that as it may,the usual class of 2-4 taking the Book of Mormon in English swelled up to 9 and there was a wonderful interaction that went on throughout the evening with the locals and the visitors who all got along extremely well. Friday was the same at Waffle Night as we had a full complement of 18 BYU people there such that Sister Parker had to make an unusual third double batch to handle the delightful multitude. What was even more extraordinary was how well everyone pitched in to help. The elders always turn out well for Waffle Night and they helped cook, people volunteered to help with the dishes and everyone helped to put all the tables and chairs away when we were done. All things considered it was quite a unique week.
Elder Parker spent most of our P day on Saturday getting his restored phone back up to speed. Mindy prior to leaving put all the pictures from her, Brenda's and his cell phones on Sister Parker's laptop and so several hours were spent getting everything into a semblance of order. But there was still a little time left over to run out after the sweltering humid heat of the day had dissipated a bit to wander through the city a little, including passing the theater where the German version of Mary Poppins performed live has been extended until January of 2016. Let's hear it for wholesome entertainment!
But without question, the high point of the week was today when we decided to travel out to St. Poelton to attend church. It's a small branch presided over by a president who actually lives in Vienna proper but he and his wife are a real asset to a small group of people who are extremely strong in their faith and activity. They have the only regularly organized choir in the entire stake and we got there just a little after 8:30 in time to participate in choir practice. Apparently every second Sunday there is a special musical number in Sacrament Meeting and today was the choir's turn. So not only did we get to rehearse with them but were invited to sing during their performance as well. One of the sisters is an excellent soprano soloist and she and her husband also both play the violin so it was quite a beautiful presentation.
We sang two hymns by Franzl and Woelfl. For you uninitiated, those are the loving names given to the locally bred composers, Franz Schubert and Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart. All right, we will admit that Mozart was bred in Salzburg but after he had a falling out with the city fathers, moved to Vienna and both cities are more than pleased to claim him as their own. There were perhaps only 30 people in attendance and at least 20 were in the choir but it was an appreciative audience.
The branch president's wife is the choir director as well as the Gospel Doctrine class teacher. Today's lesson was #22 on the 10 virgins and the parable of the talents. She invited Sister Parker to come to the front of the class where she had a small empty container and another small flask filled with olive oil. She then took suggestions from the class as to how one might make sure that ones lamp is filled when the bridegroom finally arrives and goes into the marriage feast. With each suggestion Sister Parker would pour a little oil into the container until it was well filled which she then presented to us as a gift. We had actually commented this week that we didn't have a source for consecrated oil in our apartment although we have one at the center so that need was providentially taken care of! Elder Parker was asked to give the closing prayer.
In Sacrament Meeting, Elder Parker was again asked to say the opening prayer and once the choir number was finished, the Branch President was the concluding speaker. He was the first one to mention that today was Father's Day. We know it's not until next week in the states but they're a week early here. We hadn't seen any signs or special announcements anywhere in contradistinction to a major fuss made over Mother's Day last month but that's probably OK all things considered. At any rate, once he was finished with his talk he turned the time over to the Primary to make special presentations to all the men in the room. Considering the small group there were still more than a dozen or so that were rewarded with a small present. Their primary consisted of two, a young six year old boy and a four year old girl.
With a little direction they were able to pass around specially decorated little hinged wooden boxes with goodies inside much to all the "father's" delight. Sister Parker thought it was much better than getting a small plant from the mall! (It is still growing and flowering)Sister Parker had a chance to talk for a while with the young man after the meeting whose primary language is Spanish but he spoke pretty good German. She had a fun time while we were waiting for the elders to finish a lesson with an investigator going over the English names of various animals that she brought up on her I phone by Googling "pictures of animals." All in all it was a great end to a pretty good week.
Things will get interesting again this week as we go to a completely new location on Tuesday for Zone Conference, Neumarkt am Wallersee, somewhere north of Salzburg. Promised this time is the actual receipt of the new I-Pads. In order to get one we have to have the 4 safeguards memorized in the booklet Safeguards for Using Technology as well as the three safeguards if one is feeling vulnerable or susceptible. We're prepared with everything learned although we probably won't get another I-Pad as Sister Parker has had hers our whole mission. Let's hear it for Senior Mission!
It is good that this week started out a little slow as we needed to regroup from the week before. Then, also, we had to get used to the 80 to 90 degree heat, which is also extreme for this early in the summer. But a great time for our wonderful Vienna Gelato. We are pleased to have the BYU students back as they are bubbling over with energy and a desire for new experiences.
Not too many serious thoughts except, maybe, over the last chapters of the Book of Mormon where thousands and thousands of people die in battles between the Lamanites and the Nephites until there are no more Nephites and the Relief S. lesson on Following the Prophet. It is so clear that following the living prophet, will make all the difference in surviving the trials of our days. So the admonition for this week is to find out or remember what the prophet said during last conference, and the apostles, and do it.
Hugs and Prayers,
Grammy, Grampa,
Mom, Dad,
Elder and Sister Parker
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