"Spare it a little longer"

Hallo meine Lieben!

Greetings from a very icy, cold, and still not super snowy Vienna! Although we may be close to freezing each day (just placed an order for thermals on lds.org....) our hearts are burning and are filled with the flame of the message of the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

This week was a really decent and overall positive week. Our biggest focus was working with less actives and getting in touch with those Bishop Soucek put on our list. Bishop Soucek really wants us to help the many less actives in our area -- there are a lot -- and offer them any support and service where and when we can. As a missionary, it´s one thing to be teaching investigators and talking to people on the street, and then there is the other aspect of the work which is working with members and less actives. I have come to have such a love for these less active or inactive members. These people are wonderful beloved sons and daughters who may have strayed: I like to relate them to the one sheep who left the other 99. We, as representatives of the Shepherd, go to find these lost sheep, and help them come back to the flock. That makes so much sense to me...we all need each other, in times of need and also out of times of need.  That's why it's so important to find and teach these sweet less actives that not only does the Lord love and need them...but the members in Vienna do too!

In my personal scripture study, I just finished Jacob 5, where Jacob relates the story of the Olive tree. The Lord beckons all throughout these verses for diligent, patient, efficient servants to labor in His field. It is He who leads by example as He digs, nourishes, waters, and protects the vineyard. As His full time missionary, He has commisioned me to go forth and aid Him in this work. Where many people would perhaps abandon the trees that have grown unruly, or have begun to die and whither, it is the Lord that asks me, His servant, "Spare it a little longer" (v. 50) and care for that tree and help it flourish once more.

This week we were able to meet with a fantastic couple who have been inactive for a couple years. Arnulf is from Austria and Michelle is from Jamacia, but at 15 moved to NYC. Michelle began coming to church a couple weeks ago for the first time in about 4 years. I was able to talk with her for a full hour after church with Sister Green and hear all about her conversion story, how she met the missionaries, how she brought her husband to the church, and how she and her husband and son were all sealed in the Madrid temple in 2009. We were able to meet with them on Saturday for lunch. This family live in a cute little dorf about 20 minutes outside of Vienna in Himberg. This darling little Austrian village was soooooo charming and beautiful!  We are excited to work with this wonderful couple to help them come back to Church (upon request of Bishop) to help them prepare to return to the temple later this year.

One evening, Sister Green and I were doing "check-ins" on some less active sisters. We had a feeling to go visit one sister in particular, but she ended up being sick and asked us to come back later. Confused but determined to figure out why we had the prompting to visit her, we exited the building and  literally almost run into a cute older man bringing in his groceries. His pull-trolley with his groceries was quite heavy, and we assisted him to his apartment. His name is Franz and as we talked, we found out that his wife just recently passed away. We were able to tell him about the Plan of Salvation and about what we do as missionaries. We made a return appointment for Thursday evening and we are hoping to offer him peace and comfort about life after death and introduce him to the Book of Mormon.

Today we have an appointment with Ludwig, our blind, former-actor investigator! We are still waiting on his Book of Mormon on CD, so until then we will visit him weekly with Annika (a JAE in our ward) to read the Book of Mormon out loud and teach him the lessons. :)  I wish I could already tell you how it went...but you will have to wait...:)

This week the Elders got in contact with the Böhnel family, a less active family with a 21 year old son and 16 year old daughter. Unknown to us or the ward, Bruder Böhnel was killed in a motor accident early last year. Frau Böhnel is not a member. The Elders called us after they went by, and asked us to make contact with Frau Böhnel (Ingrid) so that we can go bacfk and teach her. She was very excited to hear about the Plan of Salvation, and especially at this time of the anniversary of her husband´s death, I personally am so grateful to have the knowledge and peace that the Gospel brings. I´ll be sure to keep you updated!

Things are going pretty well.  We are excited to teach many of our investigators this week and the ball is definitely rolling in the right direction. We have Zone Training tomorrow and Zone Conference on Wednesday.....There is LOTS going on, LOTS of work to do, and I am simply and heartfully so grateful to be a part of this great and marvelous latter day work. There is truly no better blessing than to be a full time missionary, and I feel SO SO BLESSED to be among His servants!

I love you family! Stay warm, safe, and happy, because I sure am! I think of you each day and am grateful for the strength that supplies me with. I feel your prayers and thoughts, and I pray and hope you know that you are always in mine.

Have a great week!!!!

Alles liebe,

Sister Natalie Motto

Es Schneit! Its Snowing!

Meine Familie und Freunde,

Greetings from a very cold and very snowy Vienna, Austria! (Finally the snow is falling...and all around is white and beautiful! Mom you were right...Vienna looks even more magical with the snow!) What a beautiful January (Jänner here in Austria) day to celebrate the birth of Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart! :) As I sit here in the freezing internet cafe, I am excited to tell you about our great week with fantastic appointments, including interviews on Friday with President and Sister Miles.  But I have to write fast before my fingers fall off…….

We were able to meet with Nicole and her family again this week and re-taught parts of the Plan of Salvation, with an emphasis on eternal families and the temple. We talked about family history, and Nicole found that to be "sehr sehr schön" . Nicole is making incredible progress! There was a moment during our lesson, talking about what a blessing the family is, that the Spirit filled my heart with warmth. In that moment, I was so very grateful for the family that I have been blessed with in my life, and that gratitude is simply overflowing and grows more and more each day.

Also in our week, we visited in our districts with the Miles. Again my interview went wonderful! President Miles is so positive, complementary and gracious. He loves the work we are doing in Vienna at this time!  I am so grateful for his wisdom and his love for all of the missionaries.  He gives great advice which comes directly from his heart. One can feel his genuine love for and trust in each missionary, and that means a lot to me. I love the feeling of energy and renewal of commitment after interviews, conferences, and trainings. It truly is incredible the power unity among missionaries, and our goals, and what it brings in missionary work! Sister Miles is also one of the cutest and sweetest missionary moms...she laughs and smiles with all of us, but at the same time, encouraging all of us to improve and work diligently. I feel so blessed to have the Miles´ as my mission parents! I feel so fortunate to have/had already such awesome companions -- I love Sister Green and she inspires me so much every day!

The Senior Couple in our District

Our awesome and amazing district enjoy Wienerscnitzel

This week, I have felt an overwhelming desire to express my love for my Father in Heaven. I have begun a little "Gratitude Journal" that I carry around with me, and whenever I feel a sense of gratitude for something or someone, I write it down. At the end of the day, I look at the list and offer a prayer of thanksgiving to Heavenly Father. 

I know He is there. He loves us. Whenever we feel alone, sad, discouraged, or weak, all it takes is us to get on our knees and whisper a prayer. Most of the time, getting down on our knees is the hardest part. But I can promise that as we kneel in prayer in gratitude for all we are given and are blessed with, our hearts and minds will be opened, and we will have a more illuminated, elevated, wholesome understanding of His love for each of us.

I love you all!!  I feel your prayers each day, and along with the strength which comes from the Lord Himself....that´s what keeps me going.

Have a wonderful week!

Love,

Sister Natalie Motto

"Trying to Save Men in Vienna" Sister Motto's missionary perspective this week

Hello meine liebe Familie und Freunde!!

This week has surely been one of the most interesting and adventurous that I have experienced so far!  Some of our funniest and most spiritual moments have been with old men (meant in the best way) --Heavenly Fathers wonderful Sons of God.  I'd better explain...here you go:

Last Monday following emails, Sister Green and I went grocery shopping at our favorite little store of Hofer. As we were loading our groceries into our bags, I noticed an older gentleman bending down next to us, to what appeared to be getting something from his walker-wheelchair basket. Well that is what we thought. Within seconds I noticed his face had completely gone white and began to go blue. My nursing/lifeguard instincts kicked in and I ran over and supported him on his back so he would not fall, and cried out for help. The sweet man, who at this point was still coherant, said "Tut mir leid, tut mir leid," (I'm so sorry, I'm sorry) over and over. I assured him everything would be ok, and asked for help again. Oddly enough nobody in the store helped me. The cashier just stared in panic, and I said over and over again, "Bitte Können Sie mir helfen?!"  (Can you please help me?!) The gentleman was really heavy, and I gave all I could to help support him so he would not fall and hit his head. Eventually, for what seemed like an hour but probably only 1 minute, two other women rushed from the back of the store (why nobody in line didn´t help I´m not sure) and helped me ease him down. One of these women, miraculoulsy, was a nurse, and as an other employee called the ambulance (144 instead of 911 I learned!), she provided the necessary care for him. Whew! This older gentleman ended up being ok (we believe), and Sister Green and I were able head on our way after about 30 minutes. Yes, stranger things have happened but this was just crazy unexpected!

Another awesome and unexpected story....two weeks ago, Sister Green and I recieved a call from one of our friends from the Wien 2 ward, a young adult named Annika. Annika lived in our ward when I first got here, and has done many joint teaches with us. She gave us a call and informed us she, on the errand of a friend, was requested to visit an older gentleman here in Vienna. She asked if we could come with her to visit him. We met Annika and on Wednesday visited Ludwig , who is supposedly a famous theater actor here in Vienna from about 20 years ago! He has since gone completely blind and is very ill and bedridden. What I first thought would be an appointment of just small talk, we sat and talked for almost a full hour just about the Book of Mormon.  That was such a wonderful, special conversation! Ludwig expressed his love for Jesus Christ, and he said "I can feel His love when you speak!"  He begged us to come back and visit and talk to him more about the Savior and the Book of Mormon so we will soon be going back with Annika to give Ludwig a Book of Mormon on CD for him to listen to, and to teach him more about the Gospel. We taught Ludwig about prayer, and as we pray to our Father in Heaven, we can always feel Him near, no matter what we are doing or where we may be. As we were leaving his apartment, Ludwig shouted from the other room, "Bleib Christus treu!"  (Stay faithful to Christ!) Here is a man with massive physical challenges who wants to become closer to the Savior.  AMAZING! I felt the Spirit come over me with such power in that moment, and I had such a firm confirmation that that is exactly the mindset we need to have each day. No matter what people say to us, as long as we stand by Him and preach His Gospel, we will have nothing to fear and we will have joy.

Just this past Friday as Sister Green and I were walking home from an appointment with a less active, we made the goal to say hi to everyone we saw --even when that means catching someone off guard and surprising them with non-typical culturally American greetings.(Germans and Austrians find it odd that you greet strangers on the street -- that is usually saved for people who are already acquainted) We saw a nice looking younger man and said very energetically, "HI!" He stopped us and said "Kennen wir uns?" as seemingly everyone does when we say hi to them) and I expressed that we were simply friendly and wanted to say hello. This man, maybe 25 years old or so, looked at my nametag and said "Hey! You are the people with the men dressed up always so nice, with the beautiful ties. Your men missionaries used to come over a few years ago, until we moved, and we have since lost their contact information. You are always so friendly. Don´t you have something to give people about what you believe?" Within 2 minutes we had Dragan´s address, phonenumber, and will be going to teach him, his sister, and mother later this week.  The Lord works in mysterious ways...even through his oftentimes overly eager sister missionaries:)

Overall, Sister Green and I had a fantastic week. We had a wonderful appointment with Nicole  and her kids also this week. We taught about the gift of the Holy Ghost, and at the end of the lesson Sister Green boldly and without hesitation commited Nicole to be baptized....and she said YES!!!! Nicole says she has set personal goals for herself as far as reading the Book of Mormon, prayer, and coming to church are concerned, and as we help her achieve those goals she will focus more on picking an exact date. HUGE progress, and we are simply BURSTING with happiness!!!

We have truly begun to see the fruits of our efforts come forth, and we have been able to harvest and partake of the sweetness. There is not a morning that I don´t wake up and think "which miracles will we see today?" Big or small, noticable or hidden, the Lord is always blessing us and placing miracles and gifts in our path.

I feel so blessed to be a missionary! I am so very grateful to be chosen to find people to teach in this incredible city.  Yep...the work is hard and sometimes can really get you down. But that´s when you take a breath, pause, get on your knees, and humbly ask "only with Thee can I continue forward." Then you get right back up and go to work. As we give God a reason to bless us, He will give us reasons to work, as He sends His prepared children to hear the message of the Everlasting Truth.

I love you all!! I pray for you, and I hope you know how much I love you.

Alles liebe,
Sister Motto

Sister Motto "Those Austrians -- I just love them!"

Liebe Freunde und Familie:

Hello from sunny, bright and blue-skied Vienna! OK...so I know it's winter here -- but it's been so mild and dry...perfect weather for missionaries.  We love having dry shoes.  Even with the unusual warm temps, the weather the past couple days has been absolutely stunning... no complaints here.  Many of the members have been saying its crazy that we haven´t had any snow yet. Apparently by this time last year they had knee-high snow. As missionaries we are feeling very blessed and are grateful for sunny skies, pleasant and dry cobbles to walk across and temps which allow us to stay outside a little longer during the day.  (It's been in the higher 30s and 40s rather than in the usual below freezing temps)

This week we had Zone Training, and we talked a lot about Finding and Teaching, as in Preach My Gospel.  We have such an incredible zone -- I love them and they all know how to work hard!  Sister Green (she was so nervous!) had an assignment to speak, gave a fantastic thought about the importance of being ourselves in missionary work and to "make friends" rather than "get numbers".  A wonderful perspective, ja? It made a lot of sense to Sister Green and me to try build on those common beliefs and allow our love for Heavenly Father's children to permeate their hearts.  Well...that is the plan.  As for those oftentimes stubborn Austrians, we hope it becomes their plan too!  I just love them!

This past week was much better than the "leave-us-alone-theme" of the previous holiday week.  Austrians know how to celebrate!  (Case in point...the New Years Eve firework display at midnight...our ears are still ringing!)  Thankfully we had some great success in finding quite a number of great potential investigators! We talked with so many people  and were able to make contact with many less actives and former investigators. That really is key, oder?  The more we talk to...the greater chance of finding...odds are always on the Lord's favor! We saw many blessings where we felt prompted to visit someone, and they wouldn´t end up being home, but we were able to teach and/or set up appointments to teach the people who lived there currently.  It was all in the little things that we saw God´s love and tender mercies. This week we had incredible lessons with Nicole M and her family, as well as Doris. Although these two women, Nicole and Doris, cannot completely progress onto baptism because of their marital situations (spouses will not give permission, sigh), I still feel so honored and blessed to go and teach them and to help them build their testimonies and help them draw closer to Christ, even though they cannot do so yet through the waters of baptism.

Funny, slightly awkward moment of the week: We had an appointment fall out at last minute with an awesome investigator named Sara. She texted us telling us she had a short-notice appointment come up for the Beschneidung for her son...no worries, we didn´t have a dictionary on us, so we texted the Elders to ask what Beschneidung meant. It was their response which made us kind of chuckle.....(meaning: circumcision)  Thankfully we have been able to reschedule and have an appointment with Sara later this week.

Now, it is common knowledge that everyone at some point on their mission, as well as through life, experiences ups and downs. To be completely honest, I feel like that happens more on a mission, especially here in Vienna, than anywhere else. One is SO aware of weaknesses and shortcomings on a mission, and I think it is because we are always striving to be the most effective and efficent servant of the Lord possible. I know that as I have gone about my mission, really trying to serve with my whole heart, I have recognized my weaknesses practically every day. THat part...is what I'm realizing...is for my good!  I shouldn't fear that process of humility and the more humble we become, the happier. When we are happier, we want to work harder and then success DOES come! I promise. And for that is what all missionaries are striving.

American Pasta Salad I made for the Ward Dinner

Sister Green and I enjoyed a beautiful sunset stroll on the way back home from a teaching appointment.  Our walk took us through the famous Zentral Friedhof (Central Cemetery)!  There we were greeted by my musical great-great-grandfather,  Franz Schubert, and his famous colleagues and musical geniuses, Bach, Beethoven,Mozart and Strauss.  Their gravestones and statues are incredibly beautiful and as dreary as a cemetery could possibly be...this one spoke to me.  I owe much to these special composers....who spent a lot of time with me during my formative years.  The hours and hours of piano practicing was difficult and tiring...but I got to know these men.  Their lyrical compositions are forever cemented in my brain and heart.  Now that I live here and preach the Gospel to the special people of Vienna Austria, I have become even more appreciative of classical music.  I firmly believe that these brilliant composers hands were guided by the Spirit and were influenced by a loving Heavenly Father. I can't wait to meet them one day.......and say thanks!

LDS area of the Central Cemetery!

Yesterday during Sacrament Meeting, I had the impression and thought come to mind how honored I feel to be a missionary serving in the Alpine German Speaking Mission.  All of these people have become so dear to me.  I really feel very comfortable and at home.  There have been many of moments where I recognized exactly WHY I was sent here, whether it was to meet a specific person or to learn a specific attribute, I know why I am here, and I am so very grateful.  I can't wait to wake up tomorrow and know that I get to teach the GOSPEL of Jesus Christ!!!!

I hope you have a great week!! I love you all so much, and I encourage you to turn to your loving Father in Heaven, and to always and forever seek His guidance. Wherever we may go, He is our Family and our Home, however far away we will be from our earthly home.

I love you!! Until next week!!

Alles liebe,
Sister Natalie Hannah Motto

Letter from Sweet Sister Motto: "I can't think of a better way to live one entire year of my life than as a missionary for the Lord"

We could tell that Natalie had a hard week this past week...yet she still remains positive and joyful nonetheless!  Please continue to pray for her and the work in Vienna!

Dearest Family and Friends,

Happy New Year and a very exciting 2014 to you!! 

I am having a hard time wrapping my head around the reality of this news that it really is a brand new year: my journal has many scratched out dates with 2013 still written on it as proof. I am so excited and very grateful for the opportunity and blessing of being able to be on my mission for this ENTIRE YEAR. I can't think of a better way to live one entire year of my life than as a missionary! for the Lord. I get butterflies of excitement when I think about that I have this chance to serve Him with all that I have. One of my goals this year is to read the entire standard works (New Testament in the Bible, Book of Mormon, Doctrine and Covenants, and Pearl of Great Price) all in German! It´s a HUGE project, but I know I can do it with the help from the Spirit and the Lord.   I love that Mom is also trying to still read her scriptures in German!  Know that I will be doing that with you....strength in numbers from across the sea.

We started off our Silvester (German for New Years) celebration with our entire awesome district and enjoyed Mom's Pumpkin Pancakes and buttermilk syrup for brunch at the church building. We had a lot of fun making them, but I forgot how much Elders really do eat, and I had only purchased one can of pumpkin from the American store, so we settled with making buttermilk pancakes until everyone was full and satisfied. We had a really good meeting concentrating on working with less actives. We talked about focusing on one particular less active with each companionship in our wards, and making some "new best friends."  We have many less actives in our ward here in Vienna, and after doing so much less active work in Göppingen, I think it will be neat to fixate on strengthen and building up these already pretty special wards in Vienna.  I really want each member, particularly the sisters in our area to know that she is truly loved and that she has a beautiful divinity.  Too many worldly hurdles cross these sweet ladies paths obstructing them from understanding how important they are to the Lord, to this ward and to themselves.  If they could only know that we are praying for their happiness everyday!  My prayers are getting increasingly longer with the many names added to my list....my knees are actually starting to get calloused!

We celebrated New Year´s Eve with the Elders, and Baagi and Richard Huy. Fireworks were already going off around 4, and were getting more and more intense around 7 when we went to the Huy´s. Baagi made us a beautiful dinner complete with meat and mashed potatoes, and had everything decorated super cute. The fireworks outside and our attention spans got to a point where Baagi, the elders, and us bundled up and went outside to watch the fireworks for a while. Many of these fireworks were the very sizable ones, comparable to Stadium of Fire. The city sounded like a war zone: everywhere we turned there was a brilliant flash of light.  I can better appreciate your explanation of how Germans and Austrians celebrate Silvester and why President Miles encouraged us to not be on the street but to be safe inside with members.  All in all we remained safe and sound, maybe a little deaf now and had a wonderful New Year´s! So cool to say I started off my year in VIENNA!  

Speaking of which...I'm more than thrilled to be staying here yet another transfer.  There is so much work to be done here and I feel like the Lord needs our companionship to find those who are willing to hear our message about the Savior.

Honestly this week was REALLY hard & challenging in so many ways. Very very few people were interested in meeting with us and we had appointments cancel on us right and left.   Perhaps it was the holidays and being off of work, but we could hardly teach one lesson!  So discouraging...I have to remind myself that the Lord is in charge and that He will lead us if we stay faithfully diligent.  Another difficult aspect of this week was that Sister Green, Sister Packer, AND Sister Clark ALL got sick. I got to play nurse and do lots and lots and lots of Area Book work! :)  So far I remained healthy and have avoided the bug that´s hit our entire Vienna zone which is definitely a blessing from Heavenly Father.  (Really someone had to stay healthy to take care of all the others, right? ) 

Another bump in the road was that our sweet investigator Frau Eiser told us she did not want to meet anymore. So sad.  When we called to make our appointment for next week, she told us she was happy with where she is at in her religion. She was making such beautiful progress, and I felt like I lost a dear friend.  I walked the city that morning with tears and such emotion and love for this sweet lady.  How I wish I could just embrace her and let her know that she can find so much happiness in the Gospel! We still pray for her and hope that one day she will want to meet with the missionaries again and make further progress in the Gospel.  

Even though this week was humbling and taught me a lot....I grew in many ways. (Yes...missionaries do get down and not every week is a banner week...it's how we pick ourselves up and go at it again and again....) Elder Scott teaches that the Adversary will use our memory of any previous guilt, difficulties and lack of WHO we really are to lure us away from the light of the Gospel.  It was a good reminder in a not so great week. 

As I have set goals for myself, I encourage you to do the same, with the mindset of knowing weaknesses are different from rebellion. It is through the Lord, who gives us weaknesses so we can be humble, that we transform and make our weaknesses into strengths. I have such a testimony of this! Here on my mission I have recognized more and more of how truly imperfect and flawed I am. It´s been a very beautiful experience as I go about each day, and when I give my best, to see how I improve, step by step. I am so grateful for this opportunity to be a full time missionary. In my "farewell"  talk I was given the scripture D&C 18:10-15, where the Lord says how great our joy shall be when we bring but one soul unto Him and rejoice with them in His kingdom. I remember expressing with such fervency the desire to find just that ONE.  I'm still searching and I'm going to continue to do this with great fervor and excitement for THE WORK!

I love you all!! I am so grateful for the letters and emails and expressions of love and support. I truly, honestly, heartfeltly am so grateful for each and everyone of you: family, friends, ward members, and alles gleiche. Throughout the week, I felt your prayers and thank you for thinking of me and asking our Heavenly Father to bless these people, this work and those who lead and guide us!


Liebe Grüße,
Sister Natalie Motto

The wonderful Baagi Huy!

District Vienna 1…so happy that they are staying together for another transfer

Sister Motto with new "over the shoulder" bag from Grandma Pat

Christmas in Vienna...Mass at Stephensdom...the New Year

WONDERFUL FAMILY AND FRIENDS!!!

 

What a fantastic week this was!! First off, I LOVED being able to talk to you!!!!!! What an amazing Christmas & Birthday gift it was to be able to talk over Skype. I never thought that day would come where I would be able to Skype home and now it`s schon vorbei! That experience was one I will never forget! Skyping with you offered me your incredible love and support. I am so blessed to have a family such as you!

 

Christmas Eve (which is celebrated more here than the 25th) we spent with the Schmid family and the Huy family. We were able to enjoy a delicious lunch at the Schmid´s, complete with knödel and Schweinbrat. It. Was. DELICIOUS. (Let me just say I am very happy I got to maintain Brown/Motto family tradition of eating a German meal for Christmas Eve.) After dinner we were able to attend Midnight Mass at the majestic Stephan´s Dome with the Huy`s and the rest of the missionaries in Vienna. What an experience that was --culturally and religiously very interesting. Over 500 people came to the mass and it was enitrely in German, not Latin like I thought it might be, so I was able to understand it.  Imagine people from all walks of life, most dressed in their finest traditional Austrian trachten, coming together to celebrate the birth of the Savior.  As I sat there and observed, I pondered that many of these people are probably "once-a-year Church goers"....and believing that honoring their Savior in this way is completely sufficient.  Alas ..this is why we are here...to remind His children that there is more!  

Overall it was really an amazing experience and one I will never forget.  As we waited in line, we talked to a super fun couple from Seattle who was traveling Vienna for Christmas. We talked to them for 2 hours while we waited, and had a really great discussion about the Church and what we do as missionaries. This couple was so warm and friendly and very curious about what we believed, and what the differences between us and the Catholic church were. They found it amusing how many missionaries were at the Mass, and afterward we exchanged information. The also sang me happy birthday after the mass was over!  So sweet of them....and strangely reminded me that it actually was my birthday! I was so caught up in the cultural experience and the moments of celebrating Christmas...that I forgot I was turning 20.  I feel so blessed to be able to be here as a missionary on Christmas and to have this 20th birthday!

 

We were able to spend Christmas Day with our Relief Society President and another cute single lady from our ward. They made us a beautiful lunch....I feel like I've been eating so much! I am still feeling full! I am so grateful to incredible ward members who support us and take care of us. Overall, this Christmas was wonderful, and one I will never forget. Now I know what people say when they mean that Christmas will be the most special on your mission. I was able to contemplate and really, truly, deeply focus on the meaning of Christmas. I am so grateful to my Father in Heaven for the opportunity I have each day to focus my energy and thoughts on the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and how that made my Christmas THAT much more special. 

 

Now that the Christmas season is over-- it´s now time to floor the gas pedal and work that much harder as a missionary! Making goals is something not strange to missionary life, and I look forward to making resolutions for myself for this next year of 2014. Also, as a missionary, it´s really interesting to know the difference between diligently and prayerfully setting goals and accomplishing them, as opposed to setting goals just to set them. 

 

It is my testimony that in this new year, we can be completely made new. Just like in baptism! Exactly 12 years ago tomorrow, I made a very big step. I didn´t quite understand it, but in that font in Chicago, Illinois, I made one of the best choices of eternity. Through that decision to be baptized and receive the Gift of the Holy Ghost, so many unseen and seen blessings have come into my life. 

 

I am so grateful for all of you and for your support and love. Talking with you gave me such strength and peace in knowing that all is well at home. I pray for you all by name, each and every day, and I cannot wait to talk to you again very, very soon. Know that I love you and am eternally grateful to be your family!!

 

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Guten Rütsch!

 

Alles liebe,

Sister Natalie Motto

"Most rewarding Year of my Life -- Christmas Greetings from Sister Motto"

Hallo Familie und Freunde,

Meine Güte -- It's almost WEIHNACHTEN!!! The missionaries throughout our mission, myself very much included, are so excited for the opportunity to Skype home and talk with our families. I am so excited to see my wonderful family and feel of your love and joy face to face.   My bonus, in particular on this day....which very few can say, is that I get to see you for my birthday!  I know that Mom says she hates the idea of ever not being with me on my birthday.  Well, guess what?  You got your wish Mom!

This week we had Christmas Conference with President and Sister Miles.  Thoroughly enjoyable and uplifting, the Miles arranged for us to enjoy some good food, games, music, and a beautiful thought. We recieved packages, letters, and really were able to enjoy the time together as missionaries. I have realized more and more over the past few weeks what a blessing it is to be a missionary during this Christmas season. It brings a joy I cannot really describe. What a gift it is to be able to get together and sing praises in celebration of our Lord´s birth. And Christmas is only the beginning!  I know that you have been praying that I would not feel down because of not being home during this family oriented, special time of year.  Gratefully and as though our Heavenly Father has specifically heard your prayers, I am buoyed up and blessed to feel so much happiness, gratitude and pure love.  I am reminded daily through His Spirit that it's NOT about me.  I have been set apart to bring good will and the knowledge of the Gospel of Jesus Christ to His children!  It's not hard to feel fulfillment and peace when you forget about yourself, focus on the Savior and follow His example.  All year round we have the opportunity to remember Him and His life, and the ever-significant role He has in Heavenly Father´s Plan of Happiness. How grateful I am for the knowledge I have of Heavenly Father´s plan, and for the testimony that I have to share with others. What a GIFT it is to be a missionary this time of year!  I know that repaying Him is not possible other than; living a Christ centered life, keeping the commandments, receiving those critical and eternal covenants and

Following Christmas conference, we were able to go caroling as a zone at Rathaus Weihnachtsmarkt (It's a huge Christmas market right down town in the historical area of Vienna and near Ringstrasse)! That was such a fun and exciting experience that I will never forget -- one of those "once in a lifetime" moments. I wish that I could have had you on face time.  You would have enjoyed watching us. In fact we did have a huge crowd follow us around us and take pictures, filmed us, and sang along. I wouldn´t be surprised if we were on Instagram and youtube by now.... :) And the best part is that we were able to get quite a few referrals for other missions (Rathaus is very international) and were able to share the message of the Restoration with many. What greater gift can there be this Christmas than the gift of the Gospel?

I went on Austausch this week with Sister Regnier who hails from sunny California. She is currently serving with Sister Judd in Graz. Sister Regnier is so amazing! We had a great time together! She is really sweet and very spiritual, and a very hard working missionary. Outside of getting lost visiting less actives (seems to be a trend with me....sheesh) and having all 4 of our appointments for that day fall out, it was a great exchange to get to work with and get to know Sister Regnier better.

Unfortunately due to our and her schedules, we weren´t able to meet with Frau Eiser this week. We have kept good contact almost every day and we are able over the phone to help answer her questions (as well as remind her about) in her Book of Mormon reading. She is a very sweet lady and I am so grateful for the opportunity to teach her.  She remains very interested in the Book of Mormon  and learning more about the church. As a missionary, it is really fun to look back and try and count all the times you have shared your testimony with someone or taught someone a lesson. The lessons and moments that stand out to me the most, however, are when not only I felt the Spirit, but the investigator did as well. Those moments are so cherished and beautiful, and are small little reminders of the joy as described in D&C 18.

I´ve got a funny story for you (debating whether or not I should save it for Skype....but I guess I´ll tell it now and elaborate more later.) Sister Green, the Elders, and myself were on our way home from a Family Home Evening with a family in our ward. We rode the S-bahn (schnell bahn) home and I was sure to tell Sister Green we needed to get off at the Gersthof stop. After that, we separated a little and went to talk with different people on the train. A few stops later at Gersthof, I got off and began looking for my companion. She was nowhere in sight. Having gotten off right where the Elders were sitting, they watched and laughed as I began to frantically look for my companion. The ÖBB train doors slammed shut, and my heart dropped as I watched the train pull away. Elders Worthen and Jensen began to laugh really hard, and I gestured to them to call Sister Green, who thankfully had the phone. As the schnellbahn pulled out of Gersthof, I saw Sister Green in the window talking with a young woman. She saw me on the platform, and her face was priceless! I began to laugh, and gestured to her to call the elders. Then the train was gone. I never thought in my entire mission that I would be separated from my companion this way. THANKFULLY Sister Green and I discussed an "emergency plan" in case we were ever separated on an Ubahn usw, that I would always come to her. I sat peacefully on the gangplank until the next schnellbahn came 12 minutes later and met Sister Green and the Elders at the next stop Krottenbach. I was very calm during the whole process, definitely a blessing from heaven, because a little American Mormon missionary lost ALONE in Vienna isn´t probably the best scenario. I was able to talk with a woman who traveled with me on the train to Krottenbach, and was able to teach her about the Restoration! That was a tender mercy. Needless to say, after this experience, Sister Green and I have remained in eye contact to eachother! (We later told this story to President Miles and he just laughed and laughed.  I assume we are not the first ones to have this experience.)

I hope this email finds you all healthy, well, and excited for CHRISTMAS! I have felt so peaceful deep inside my soul, and i know it is due to the prayers and love being felt in my behalf. I read a talk this morning by Elder Nelson from the most recent conference, "Decisions for Eternity." As I read this talk, I was overwhelmed with love from my Father in Heaven. This life changing decision to serve the Lord has shaped and molded me in unbelievable ways.  I have had experiences and moments where I have been able to feast upon the Spirit, and through which I have gained priceless knowledge and personal revelation. In return from these blessings and experiences, I have become a more diligent and effective missionary. I am still learning, still making mistakes, but always  moving forward in the best way I know how. As Elder Nelson stated, "Each day is a day of decision, and our decisions determine our destiny."

This year has been the most rewarding of my entire life, and I am so thankful for the chance to spend my year of 2014 in the service of my God.

I pray that each of you will be reminded in a very special way that Jesus, whose birth we celebrate this week, is the Savior. My heart is so full!! I love you all SO MUCH!!! May your Christmas be warm, merry, white, and bright! And, of course, enjoy a very happy and wonderful new year.

Frohe Weihnachten!

Sister Natalie Hannah Motto