ein wunderschöne woche (Dec 9)

Meine Familie,

This week has been wonderful.

It was very stressful but very wonderful. Last Pday, we ran up to meet the Bruck elders on the castle, haha that sounds like a `no big deal sentence´, kinda cool I can do that. It was beautiful, I will definitely send some pictures.

This week, we had very few appointments. But they were good ones. One was with a young member- she is having a hard time. She is away from home, having problems with the language, making friends, and things that go with that. Well, as missionaries, it's not hard to relate. We were able to meet with her, form a plan, and try everything we could to help her. A miracle with her happened this week. She was able to connect with another young adult experiencing the same problems. They have really been able to help each other and they can support each other in activity. It was really a blessing what happened, helping both of them to move forward. For that, I am so grateful!

Another lesson we had was with a new convert. We taught her about the pioneers. Being something that I am very passionate about, I was very excited. We got permission to watch 17 miracles. It was an interesting experience for me as well as the new convert. Being brand new in the church and not from America, she didn't know much. In the beginning of the movie, a miracle happened, she was questioning it. However, by the end, she, let's be honest, all of us, were weeping. The miracles that these people saw were truly because of their faith. I can't believe how great they were. These members went through a lot, I couldn't even imagine. But they truly relied on God, even when family members were returning to their Father. It made me so grateful for my circumstances and my family. Also, I am going to be a really funny, romantic movie watcher when I get home... haha.

The day before we left to Munchen, was a mad rush to prepare. However, we did have time to bring by some Regnier Valentine Cookies to a couple members. :) Well, first, we stopped by a woman I sat next to in church. I didn't know much about her, but Sister Judd and I are determined to get to know these members, no matter how many! Well, she very excitingly klingeled (rang) us in. When we got up there. She was asking us to stay to whip together dinner. It was amazing how sweet she was. We didn't have time to stay. But before we left, she pointed out that bringing a treat by is something very foreign in Austria. But she appreciated the thought and was able to tell us a little bit about herself. She too served a mission in SLC Temple Square! How cool! She was also able to serve in Sister Judd's hometown! I really appreciate the fact we got to know this member better and that we were inspired to stop by her. I am glad we were able to stop by some people in the ward.

The next morning, we woke up early and left and 7 am and rode the train all the way to München. We then had a wonderful Leadership council. Well, let me tell you, it was AMAZING. We were able to talk about the mission vision and goals for next year. It was really a cool experience to be a part of. We had many discussions. Hands down, my favorite was about repentance. We talked about the people in the scriptures. When I hear of someone calling someone to repentance, it doesn't really seem very loving. But really, these prophets were trying to open the people’s eyes. No matter how rude people were, they still tried because they knew the Lord's hand is stretched out to all. Repentance is something I probably will never fully comprehend, but it's amazing. We are so lucky to have such a great blessing and continually strive to become better. I was a little nervous for the rule aspect of the conference, I have heard horror stories, but it was actually pretty great. Some people have interesting opinions, but I am grateful I can see the process and get the words from the horses, President Miles, mouth. :) I enjoyed wonderful pancakes, pulled pork sandwiches and root bear floats. Living like an American king :) One of the things I enjoyed was spending time with Sister Garrett (she happens to be the Sister Training Leader for Salzburg). Mensch, I love her. It was good to catch up and discuss what is going on in our old area now :) Well, then we boarded a train and we were home 10:45 at night the next day. What an experience.

The best part of the week happened on the ride home from München.

I need to give some background so you can fully understand the miracle. So, last week our district leader asked us to tell a miracle story at the next district meeting. We prayed to give out a BOM everyday. We did find one person that wanted one, which was great, however, that didn't end up being our story. The miracle we shared Tuesday was about ourselves and how our eyes were opened. Well, we continued shooting for a miracle story, and on Friday, it happened. On the way home, someone came up to us, a big group of missionaries traveling back to Austria. Well, at that moment, the rest of the missionaries were departing the train. Sister Judd and I stayed as we continued to travel to the wonderful city of Graz which is where he was heading too. Well, we had a wonderful conversation with this guy for two hours. And yes, we gave a BOM out. It was wonderful. The conversation was the best one I have had on my mission. It enriched my scripture study drastically for the next couple days. I thought of questions I had never thought about. Some I knew, but not the reasoning for the answer. For example, was the Holy Ghost on the earth during the apostasy? And other questions, I had honestly just never thought about. It was really great. Because I was able to bear testimony of what I know. He asked us for our conversion stories. Overall, it was just AMAZING! I am really grateful I had the opportunity to talk to him. I know Heavenly Father blessed us with this experience because we kept our devotion and were diligent with our goal.

This week went very quickly, however, I learned a lot. I learned a lot about myself, the gospel, and I felt HF love for me a lot. I am so grateful for this week! I am also excited and grateful for this next week. We made a lot of appointments, and we have a tausch (exchage) and Zone training ( wow, its going to be weird helping run the show! instead of just sit back and enjoy it haha).

I am also so grateful for my experienced companion who I am learning a lot from. She is very charitable and a really great, dedicated missionary.

We are ready to help make a difference in this beautiful town :)

I hope you have a great week! I sure did!

Liebe Gruße

Sister Regnier

Let the Advent begin! (Dec 2)

Well, this week has been crazy! Transfer weeks are always crazy but this one, wow! The week started out wonderfully with THANKSGIVING! We had it together as a district. It was so fun to make food together and just explain what we are grateful for! I am so grateful for so much! I am grateful for the lessons I am able to teach, the members I am able to work with, all the things I have learned, I am grateful that I have a supporting family, I am so grateful that I get to serve a mission.

This week, we actually went to the Bishops twice! haha, it was so fun and gave my companions and I a great opportunity to get to know their amazing family a bit better (and eat some dang good essen(food)). The rest of the week, I don't even know what happened. We had a lesson with our investigator, it went well, but it is time to think of a new strategy so we can actually get through a lesson, or even a point in the lesson, he loves to talk.

We were able to celebrate a less actives birthday with her. It was fun and we were able to sing the good old German happy birthday song (way more fun to sing). She is doing wonderfully and looks forward to meeting with us every time.

Well, we had another übernachten (stayed the night) in Wien (Vienna) for transfers. Sister Kervinen and I met with a member-a Finish family. That was fun. I am sure glad I wasn't called Finish speaking! Then, I stayed the night at my new companion’s apartment, and made the trip back to Graz with her in the morning. It was nice to already have known her before. Sister Judd and I are really excited to work together. She is a wonderful missionary and I know I will learn so much from her!

The rest of the week FLEW BY I am guessing its a good sample of what our transfers are going to be like.

Something that broke my heart this week... Sister Kervinen and I had made an appointment with a less active; we were really excited to start working with a new one. However, the night sister Judd and I showed up for the appointment. She was... a bit rude on the klingle. It makes me so sad that she didn't want to meet with us and didn't see a reason that she should. I hope that one day, the Spirit will remind her what she has felt before, and hopefully another member will be able to friendship her.

This week we were able to take part in conducting the District Leader meeting (that I didn't even know existed haha). It was very cool to come together as leaders of our zone to develop our zone vision and discuss our callings. It's a LONG day on the train, but I know that it's important and hopefully the Lord will bless our area from our efforts that take us away from our area so much. That night, we were planning the austausches (missionary exchanges) for the transfer. We started to feel that our area was going to be neglected.... but then, it came to us how WONDERFUL the elders and the paar (senior missionary couple) are in this area! Elder Christensen and Elder Byers were going to be split up on transfer calls, but president called them 2 hours later and explained the Spirit wouldn't let him feel good about splitting them up. I know that it’s a blessing they will both be working in Graz. We will see miracles this next transfer.

I know that the Lord will help everyone who asks to help in this work. This work is the work of this time, and the Lord needs us.

This is THE work. This work brings happiness and so much more to everyone.

Love you!

Sister Regnier

It blows my mind. I really am in the prettiest mission ever! (Nov 25)

Well, first I would like to point out that it is 2 degrees outside right now.... but it seems like it was colder last week. We have seen some snow on cars, but it hasn’t hit Graz yet. I don't know If I am excited for that or not for the snow. :)

We got transfer calls this week! I am staying in Graz and Sister Judd, who is currently in Wien, is coming to work with me! We will be the Wien Zone's Sister Training Leaders. Sister Kervinen is headed to Brixen, Italy. The COOLEST city in our mission, the only city in Italy. She is excited, but sad to leave her golden area. I am completely jealous ;)

This week we did a thing called Gemeinde Busuch. Splits? It was my first time and it was really fun. I went with the Relief Society president. We had a great time and were able to visit 2 less actives! She was really excited to help. She went on a mission to Germany when she was younger, and she just seemed to love going out with me. It was a cool way to bring the members and missionaries together.

This week we visited a member in our ward, she asked when we were going to use her as a joint teach, well, we just kind of nudged the question off, not knowing how good it would be to bring this sister with us. Don't get me wrong, she's one of my favorite members, but we didn’t know how she would do.  However, through a serious of events, that at the time I was very frustrated at, but now I see happened for a reason. We called her 20 minutes before an appointment. She said I'll be there, dropped everything to come help. It was the best joint teach lesson I have ever had! Our investigator showed her total respect and although he normally doesn't let people talk much was completely listening and hanging on every word she said. Well, the member spent 7 years investigating The Church and investigated many others that our investigator has as well. He loved getting her comments and I think it was the best thing for him, even if we didn't talk about what we had planned. It was by far the best lesson with him ever. It was interesting because we got talking about the new temple in Italy. He was flabbergasted. That is definitely the right word. He told us that was a huge testimony builder for him because that is where the pope is and what not.  :)  Really cool.

This week we had Zone Conference. One of my favorite things. We get to go about every 3 months or so. I loved it. President and Sister Miles seemed to say everything I needed to hear. I am really pumped up for the work right now. But let's be honest, I always am :) It was really a great experience to see what we, as missionaries, need to be focusing on.

This week we had our second lesson with our progressing less active. The elders came, and it went wonderfully. She told us how much the church and the missionaries mean to her, and it was just really cool in general. She said her first prayer in front of us and she is just so excited about the Spirit. She LOVES having us over and going to church. We call her our Austrian mom. She's the cutest. She had us over for meat and cheese fondue. It was delicious. She is just so happy to be back in the swing of things it's really great to see and witness :)

Well on the way to conference we were able to go to Stephansplatz. One of the tallest cathedrals I believe, at least in Wien (Vienna). It was so beautiful because Christmas was just getting set-up and we could see all the busy streets of Wien. I love seeing the architecture in these ancient cities. It blows my mind. I really am in the prettiest mission ever!

Love ya!

Sister Regnier

The Work (November 18)

It must needs be that there is opposition in all things.

Well, I had a wonderful week. So despite getting this green junk, that only comes out of clothes in the sun, on my white skirt (oh and there is no sun), having my long skirt getting stuck in the escalator, pulling me down and almost ripping the whole thing off (I am counting that as a blessing, except I can't figure out how to get the grease stains out), and loosing my beloved planner on the last week of this transfer, I had a lot of happiness.

Last week I mentioned Schwester K____, who came to church for the first time in a very, very long time after we gave her a simple call. Well, we had an appointment with her this week. I have never seen someone give SO MUCH excitement over church before. The whole evening, she was saying how much energy she received from church, how the messages were perfect, how everyone was so happy to see her, everything. She loved it and came again this week. I am so happy to see her remembering how much the church blesses our lives.

On Friday, we got a surprise call from another less active. She was baptized in her birthplace of Peru, fell in love with an Austrian and has been living here ever since. She told us she was making empanadas again and would love to have us over. It was a party. We really had fun and were able to discuss why she was not coming to church and why her husband doesn’t like it. We shared a message on service. The nonmember husband was even participating. Then, guess who was on the back row Sunday? Yup, that’s right, BOTH of them. It was a miracle. The funny thing is that morning ON OUR WAY TO CHURCH I told Sis K, "This next transfer, one of my main goals will be to get K___ to come to church." Well, happened a bit sooner than I thought. :)

This week, I had an Austausch (a short-term missionary exchange) in the English-speaking ward in Wien (Vienna). I have never been a fan of Austausches and I think Wien is downright ugly. So, I was not excited. How wrong was I! This was by far the best austausch ever! Wien was amazing and I really enjoyed working with Sister Clark. I learned a lot and we really enjoyed working together.

A great thing that brought me a lot of happiness this week is our brand-new investigator, Dino. We had a lesson in the middle of a crowded McDonalds, but the Spirit was SO STRONG. It was one of the best lessons I have had here in Graz. Sister Kervinen and I worked well together to bring the Spirit and stress the importance of prayer, the scriptures, and church in our life. I really could feel the Spirit working through me. He was eager to set up another appointment and read in the Book of Mormon before we meet again. I am so glad when missionaries are lead to the people that are ready to hear the gospel.

We also taught our progressing investigator the Law of Chastity (First time I actually have don’t that in German). It went wonderfully! She was very accepting and is just working towards being baptized.

So, I obviously had some great lessons this week. However, NOTHING compares to the lesson I had yesterday. I told you about the catholic priest we met. Well, we called him a week ago and set up an appointment for this Sunday. Saturday, we txt him to confirm the appointment, he told us that "a couple young people wanted to meet us as well". Well, we walked up to the address he gave us, turns out to be the church. Okay, that's fine. We walk in, all these 16-18 year olds start shaking our hands and introducing themselves. Well turns out our lesson ends up to be a sort of "mutual activity" and the few young people were actually 18 youth. Haha. So crazy. So we all sit down, and we start discussing what we are doing as missionaries. The Priest loves us! He was pretty much saying they needed to have the dedication we have. We talked about a lot of things like the priesthood, eternal marriage, genealogy, polygamy (of course), seriously everything. The best part was THEY were coming up with scriptures to support OUR doctrine. Then when we got talking about Joseph Smith, someone asked where the plates are now. After we told them, the priest started asking them where the bible manuscripts are. No one knew. It was so fun! There was no contention and it was seriously fun. They loved that our religion gives a "second chance" after this life. One guy even said, he should just join our church.... well, he should... haha.  Afterwards, one girl came up to me. During the discussion I had talked about how I knew I was supposed to go on a mission. She asked me how I received an answer to my prayer. At that time, in a Catholic church, I felt the Spirit testify through me as I told her that she could receive her own answers and that she doesn't have to depend on other people tell her the answers to her prayers. I was able to learn a lot about what they believe. I really saw the truth to the statement "Sie nahen sich mir mit den Lippen aber ihr Herz ist ferne vom mir.(They draw near to me with their lips but their heart is far from me.)" I am really glad we had that appointment, even if we didn't receive investigators, we were able to help them understand "the Mormons," now they have all had a good experience with us and know the truth of what we stand for. That night I spent time studying the bible, looking for things I hadn't noticed before that really support exactly what Christ church believes in. I can honestly say, yesterday with the combination of the miracle that so many people came to church, that lesson, and my personal study, my testimony really grew this last week.

It was truly a wonderful week.

Liebe Grüße

Sister Regnier

Catholic Youth Group and Priest