Der Herr hat's gegeben, Der Herr hat's genommen, gelobt sei der Name des Herrn!

I don't have my bible with me, so I couldn't tell you exactly where that scripture is, I know its in Job somewhere (Job 1:21). It says something to the effect "The Lord hath given, the Lord hath taken, praised be the name of the Lord!" It was a scripture that has been on my mind the past few days, I really like it. But holy cow, what a week! Long story short we are going to be having two Baptisms this week!

Monday last week, was by far one of the most intense days I have ever had. Let me explain: So after I e-mailed you, Elder Steed and I went and shopped for our food, then went to the Zone P-day that they were having at the Institute Center. We went there and were there probably about an hour and a half (we arrived at 2 pm), When we get a call from our GML who tells us that we need to come to Deutsch Wagram (about an hour trip away) as soon as possible, he has a huge surprise that is more important that P-day! We were a bit shocked, but he knew how far away it was for us, if he is telling us that we need to come to Deutsch Wagram as soon as possible, its really important. My first thoughts were, "It has to be about Frau Zalka, he got contact and wants to drive up to Großharras and teach her!" I was excited, and we left as soon as possible.

Bru. Jankowsky picked us up and took us to his home (refusing to tell us what was up until we got to his apartment). We got in he invited us to sit down, and then he pulled out a letter, The return address on it was from Frau Zalka. Ok, I was really intriuged. It was 4 pages typed. Single space. LONG. But it explained everything. The weeks leading up to when she had set the date she was absolutely sure she wanted to join the church, she said she even had imagined herself being standing in the font being baptized. But the week after she set the date was chaotic. She was having an internal battle, she would have negative thoughts, doubts, anti-mormon literature come into her head, followed immediately by positive uplifting thoughts, that counteracted the doubts. This happened the entire week long, getting worse and worse and worse, to the point where she couldn't concentrate at all on Sunday Morning.

She and her children were completely ready to come to Church, her son had a part in the primary program and was really really excited to come to church. It was at that moment where it got so bad that she couldn't take it anymore, and she sent decided not to come. She felt a bit better throughout the day, and on Monday morning she sent us that text. But that night she couldn't sleep at all. Until 3 a.m. when she finally grabbed her Book of Mormon and started reading it. She felt the spirit strong and it enlightened her mind. She knew that this church was the right church. But she didn't call us. instead she wrote us a letter explaining everything, and planning out her whole baptism. Talks, deserts, who was going to baptize, confirm be witnesses. EVERYTHING down to the smallest details, then asked us if it was still ok to be Baptized on the 18th of Novemenber. But because of Austrian post, we didn't recieve the letter until the 19th. A day later.

Bru. Jankowsky, upon reading the letter immediately called her and essentially got the ok to visit her that night. Which is when he called us told us to come as soon as possible. She didn't have time to meet until 7 or so, and it was an hour away. But we had an appointment at 6:30 with Jakiri. So we had to Call Wien 3 and get them to do an emergency split with us. Thats was a nightmare to organize, they had an appointment as well at 8. On the complete opposite side of Wien. So I stayed here with Elder Evans (who is new to the mission) and Elder Babcock, and Elder Steed went with Bru. Jankowsky to Großharras. All in all it went well.

The Appointment with Jakiri was cut short, because we both arrived late, but it was still really good. I had a feeling to sing a hymn to start out, so we did and we read a scripture that popped into my head out of the Doctorine and Covenants "My son Peace be unto thy soul, thine adversity and thine afflictions shall be but a small moment, and if thou endureth it well, God shall exhalt the on high." It was incredible. After that I got to try and navigate to an address in Wien 3's area. That was fun. The appointment was with a member and her boyfriend, who is agnostic. Elder Evans left a thought about the light of Christ, and we talked about how everyone had it, that is given us to judge good from the evil to the intent to bring closer to God. It was short, but it was good. Meanwhile, Elder Babcock gave Frau Zalka the baptismal interview, and a new date was set for the 2nd of December. And so far everything seems to be going well. But please pray for her that all will go well this week. We are going to be calling her every night to check up on her. Hopefully to help get rid of any doubts.

Jakiri is going to be baptized!!!!!!!!!! This is truly a miracle. Coming into the week of his interview, he said that he didn't have a testimony of Thomas S. Monson being a prophet. Which was the only thing holding Jakiri back from Baptism. And we were worried that he wouldn't be able to be baptized, because of it. And we were worried that he would be afraid, he has a lot of fears. We decided to watch "Special Witnesses of Christ" with him at the Church. We were praying that he would be able to recieve a confirmation that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet. We watched it, and at the end we bore testimony, and asked him what he thought, and he said that when President Monson was speaking, that he felt something, he had a really good feeling. A couple of Days later we were with Martin Hayden, who just returned from his mission a few weeks ago. We watched "The Race of Life" A talk that President Monson gave in this past April General Conference. We all bore testimony and he and Martin talked about it for awhile. We eventually had to leave but Jakiri stayed and talked. I talked to Jakiri that night and he said that he felt Good about what happened and that he was thinks that Thomas S. Monson is really a Prophet, but would pray for a confirmation!

He got the confirmation. We met on Friday just before the interview and sang hymns together (Well Jakiri and I sang hymns, Elder Steed accompanied on the Piano). President Hoefel came and everything went well. He did a great job interviewing, because Jakiri came out and was really happy. His fears are gone concerning baptism, he is excited to be baptized!! He has made such a huge change. Haha we all have gotten really close, he wanted us both to baptize him, as in like both be standing in the font. Sadly that can't be, but Elder Steed volunteered to baptize him, so he will baptize, I will confirm, and I will be standing on the stairs leading out of the font to Congratulate him. :-)

I am so happy, he is different. HE is happy his fears are gone he is different, and a lot of people have noticed it. He has been meeting with missionaries off and on for 12 years or so.  He wrote a note to past missionaries telling them all the sins he has done, and because of it they treated him differently. That hurt him really bad, and he was terrified to come to church for fear of people judging him based off of what he has done. But he opened up to us, and ended up telling us a number of things that he did, and we didn't shrink or back away. But we supported him and promised him that through the atonement that there wasn't anything that couldn't be washed away. He has had a hard life and now he is on a path to a much new and improved life. And he knows it. He can finally get rid of the pain that he has been carrying with him for a long time. It's truly incredible. Continue to pray for him though, he still has this week before the baptism. Satan is going to be working hard on him. He is meeting with his father tomorrow, and he knows his father will try to bring him down, so if you could pray for him, that all will go well. We are meeting with him nearly everyday this week. And are going to be praying hard for him.

That ought to do for this week. :-) I wish you the best, and I look forward to sending pictures to you next week!

Love,
Elder Ryan K. Christensen