""The meal is for your stomach, but dessert is for your soul" - Elder Richardson

Well guys, I think I have started out every email like this, but it has been a minute since I wrote one of these. I'm not exactly sure where I left off last so I'll just start updating with what's been recently going on.

This last week was transfers, but luckily me and Elder Richardson are staying here together in Graz! Elder Richardson is in his second transfer now.

Things have been cooling down here to about -2 C. It has been an adventure for sure. Luckily, the people are still nice enough to stop and talk a little bit and we get to have some good conversations. Some of my favorite quotes from this week include :What are the three most important things in life for you? "Freedom." - A New Yorker. And :Hey we are doing a service project here, do you have a couple minutes? "No, I have to go.... to jail".

This week we talked a little bit about weaknesses. I thought this goes perfect with the traditional look back on you life that happens at the annual end of the year. We all have weaknesses, I think that is pretty clear for most of us, but we don't always understand why or how we can better them. And sometimes even when we pray they still just don't go away, which is often stressful and hard. One of the many blessing of the gospel is to know what to do in such situations. DON'T QUIT. Go on. "Faith is in the future." We have a loving Heavenly Father to guide us and a loving Christ who died for us. 2 Corinthians 7-10. We are not alone and there is a reason behind us. We can chose defeat, or we can continue on and become better. When we are willing to trust and improve we will soon find that our weaknesses will change to strengths.

Well that's it for me this week guys. I love you and wish you all the best in the new year!

Tschau zäme!

Hey Guys!

Hey Guys!

It has been a minute! Hope you are doing well! Here is what has been going on lately!

Transfers came! After an amazing two transfers with Elder Boden #legend, I was transferred out of St. Pölten. It was an amazing time there. My new area is..... Graz! I was super excited to come here, this is the town where my mom grew up. It has been way cool to see everything and work here. I have been here for two weeks now. My new companion is Elder Ballard and he is also fire! We are going to have a great time together.

Another amazing thing happened last week. My friend Laura who we met a few transfers ago was baptized. It was a blessing to be able to know her and be a part of her journey to come closer to Christ.

Okay since General Conference was a couple weeks ago and it was awesome, I thought I would share a part of that this week.
     "I invite you to trust that Heavenly Father knows how to exalt you; seek His daily, sustaining help; and press forward with faith in Christ even when you cannot feel God’s love...
     I testify that your Heavenly Father loves you and wants you to live with Him again. In the name of Jesus Christ, amen." - The Father by Brain K. Ashton

As we seek God's help and press forward, we will find His love and His mercy, even if it is not so clear or easily recognizable at first. And that has the power to change lives for the better.

Love you all!
Elder Wiser

Rollercoaster weeks!🎢

Hey there Fam!

Hope this all finds you well, sorry it has been so long since I wrote last, it has been a crazy couple weeks in paradise!

Well, just a small filler in, I've been with Elder Boden for four weeks now! He is only a month in the field and already killer from day one! He is born in Texas, and lived his life all over in America, England, and Germany (sadly he never learned German... till now!)

We have been having a lot of amazing experiences here in St. Pölten. It has truly been a blessing to see the Lord's hand in his work. Our branch is absolutely amazing as well. We have had member come tracting with us on the street at least twice a week the last month. What an amazing opportunity. Their faith has strengthened my own. Last week we had a friend of the church come to church! We also have been blessed to meet a few new people to teach.

Sadly, it hasn't all been sunny and shinny the last while (though it has been in the 30`sC!) We had a really cool family we had started teaching from Iran. They were so prepared for the first lesson and the spirit was so strong. They were ready. But this last week, upon meeting, we learned that they had decided to stay in their own faith and to stop looking into the Church. It was very sad news, but we left on good terms. I'm so grateful for the gospel and what it has brought in my life and that I can share it with others, even if not everyone sees the light it will bring them. I know that we meet people for a reason and we can always learn from others.

Spiritual thought of the week : 2 Nephi 26 : 23-28 & 33

I just wanted to share these scriptures that have come to have great meaning and bring great comfort to me. I found them shortly after discussing with a man about our teachings on Homosexuality. The simple fact of the matter is that God is no respected of Persons. Be we "black and white, bond and free, male and female," we are partakers of the love of God and Christ. They invite us all to come unto them and to feel of the infinate peace of the atonement. Every one of us.

   23 For behold, my beloved brethren, I say unto you that the Lord God worketh not in darkness.
   24 He doeth not anything save it be for the benefit of the world; for he loveth the world, even that he layeth down his own life that he may draw all men unto him. Wherefore, he commandeth none that they shall not partake of his salvation.
   25 Behold, doth he cry unto any, saying: Depart from me? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; but he saith: Come unto me all ye ends of the earth, buy milk and honey, without money and without price.
   26 Behold, hath he commanded any that they should depart out of the synagogues, or out of the houses of worship? Behold, I say unto you, Nay.
   27 Hath he commanded any that they should not partake of his salvation? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but he hath given it free for all men; and he hath commanded his people that they should persuade all men to repentance.
   28 Behold, hath the Lord commanded any that they should not partake of his goodness? Behold I say unto you, Nay; but all men are privileged the one like unto the other, and none are forbidden.
   33 For none of these iniquities come of the Lord; for he doeth that which is good among the children of men; and he doeth nothing save it be plain unto the children of men; and he inviteth them all to come unto him and partake of his goodness; and he denieth none that come unto him, black and white, bond and free, male and female; and he remembereth the heathen; and all are alike unto God, both Jew and Gentile.

Just remember to love people and help others this week and the world will be a better place then it was before!😊 I love you all! Have a great week!

Elder Wiser

And a dinosaur!

The district! 

The squad with a members son!

A call with all of the new missionaries!

Elder Boden and I!

So..... We stole some bikes. Kind of?

Hey everyone! Hope you are all doing well out there in the world!

It has been a great two weeks for us, and we have been working like crazy! Highlight of last week was an awesome service project. Us and two Elders from Wien put on our farming pants and headed into the country side of Austria. A few minutes later, we discover that three of the four of us have hay fever. Oops. Ah well. We rolled giant barrels of hay in a farmer's barn for a few hours and after they gave us home made pizza and baked goods. It was delicious. Sadly afterwards, we could barely stand, but it was still awesome!

Other exciting things going on, we have a two new investigators! It is amazing to see the hand of the Lord in this work. We even found Christian through knocking on doors, which I'm really excited about. Most of our time is spent talking to people in the street or on trains and busses, so finding someone in an apartment was a really cool experience! 

As for the subject, we may or may not have accidentally stolen some bikes. Oops again. But good news is we gave them back. We are supposed to have bikes in this area, but did not know where they are (they had a car last transfer but we gave it to a senior couple). So we were searching for our bikes and found two that looked like missionary bikes. It had two locks on it and our key worked for one, but not the other. Assuming missionaries had lost the other key we cut the other lock. Then a very upset old lady and a man saw us and came out yelling. Sadly the bikes were there's. Good news is we were able to talk our way out of it and our branch President was able to round up two temporary bikes to use while we wait for new ones. Lol. 

Anyways, that's what's been going on around here lately! Just working hard and giving our absolute best😊 Hope your all having a good week and a good 4th of July!

Scripture of the Week:

Moroni 9:6

"And now, my beloved son, notwithstanding their hardness, let us labor diligently; for if we should cease to labor, we should be brought under condemnation; for we have a labor to perform whilst in this tabernacle of clay, that we may conquer the enemy of all righteousness, and rest our souls in the kingdom of God."

The moment my mission became meaningful was when I decided to do everything I possibly could.  100% And when we give all we can, and we do our best with the Lord on our side, mountains will be moved and seas will part. 

Love you all! Elder Wiser 

Pics: Rolling hay and playing with the farm dog. 

Elder with the dog, Elder Hawes #Comp.

In gray Elder Tunicliff 

In red Elder Weisler

Crazy Week!!

Hey everyone! Hope you are doing well!

This has been a crazy week, but a lot of good has come as well. Last Saturday we got transfer calls, and me and my comp both got transfered out of the area! Elder Coloma packed his bag and was off to Ulm, Germany. Meanwhile I was sent back over to Austria in St. Pölten.

On transfer day, we had the oppurtunity as a mission to get interviewed by either Elder DeFeuo or Elder Sabin. Elder DeFeuo was in Zürich and Elder Sabin in Munich! It was crazy getting everyone there and back for sure.

Then my new companion is Elder Hawes. He is a transfer older then me on the mission. It should be a great transfer! He was in Munich till Thursday so me and a couple other Elders ended up sleeping over in other missionaries apartments. But eventually I made it to St. Pölten.

So it's been a good week but busy. We have a bike street display which we have been putting to good use! We're glad to be hear and talking to people!

Scripture of the week :  2 Nephi 7 : 8-9

       8 And the Lord is near, and he justifieth me. Who will contend with me? Let us stand together. Who is mine adversary? Let him come near me, and I will smite him with the strength of my mouth.
       9 For the Lord God will help me. And all they who shall condemn me, behold, all they shall wax old as a garment, and the moth shall eat them up.

I found this scripture the other day and just really like it. It's true, the Lord is on our side, we need not fear. With Him, we can not fail!

I love you all! Have a good week!
Elder Wiser

Book of Mormon Miricales

Hey guys!

This week was pretty good! We had Interviews with President on Wednesday and Zone Conference on Thursday. It was pretty great! During Zone Conference, we discussed finding with the Book of Mormon. It's a Book that literally changes lives! We made a goal as a zone to make every Friday our Book of Mormon finding day!

So the next day, we hit the streets with the Book of Mormon! We were taking to people on the street for about an hour and decided to sit on a bench for 5 minutes and catch our breath. We sat down and one or two minutes later a guy came up and said hello to us. A little taken aback we said Hi back and we asked if he knew us. He said no and just started talking to us. It was totally random. But we ended up talking about the Book of Mormon and we have him a copy in English! The cool thing is normally we only have German but had decided to take an English today for our finding day. We exchanged numbers and then walked off to continue our day. A few minutes later we got a text with a picture of us on the bench from a member. She and her friends had been behind us getting a drink together after school. Her friends noticed us and said hey aren't they from your Church. Then this member was able to have a really cool conversation about the gospel with her friends!

"All this because of a Book of Mormon?" - Elder Colloma

I know the Lord will help us when we need it! He is always there, it's just out job to give our best and try!

Love you all!

Elder Wiser

Temple trip with Elder Colloma 

Service, Service, Service!

Hey guys! Hope you all had a fantastic Mothers day! I got a chance to Skype home and see the family and it was great! I have the best Mom in the World! Love you Mama!

The past little while been great! We've been able to do a lot of Service! In the winter, there aren't as many opportunities to get our hands dirty, but lately we've been really busy with it, and miricales have come from that! However, the service we do as missionaries is not all just about digging in the dirt, it's also about loving the people and sometimes just giving our time, and lending a voice or an ear. I was recently on an exchange with Elder Smith in Wettingen and we had the oppurtunity to visit an old persons home. We went to a members room to a lady who couldn't speak, except for yes and no. We read the scriptures with her and it was an amazing experience. We could tell she was really thankful, especially for Elder Smith and his kindness, even though she could say it with words.

Of course we've also had some really cool experiences with getting our hands dirty. Last transfer we did a service project helping a member to clean her deck. Me and Elder Keir were in charge of de-potting and dumping plants in a compost container. One of the lady's neighbors came up pretty upset and told us that this container was just for the people living their and we couldn't just use it. We explained we were doing a service project for her neighbor and she was okay after that. This week we were back helping to finish off the deck and the Me her told us that her neighbor had talked to her after that day. She is interested in also having the missionaries help her with some service. She said it would be fine when the missionaries also shared a spiritual thought. The cool part is, this member had been looking for years to find a way to introduce the Gospel to this neighbor, and now through Service she had one!

Matthew 22 : 37-40
    "37 Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.

    38 This is the first and great commandment.

    39 And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.

    40 On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets."

I love you all! Take some time this week to show someone you love them! It could well be that you will answer someone's prayers. Or maybe your own prayers will be answered in the act of service! Hope you have a great week!

Elder Wiser

1. Me and Elder Coloma
2. Dying in the heat! Elder Coloma, Elder Fewou, and Elder Smith