"Zum Dritt"….Letter from Die Schöne Schwester Motto

Servus meine Familie und Freunde!!

Well, exciting and different news this transfer!!   I get to stay another transfer here in my BELOVED Vienna, and I get to work with Sister Green again! We also will be working in a dritt (threesome) with Sister Packer (fellow PGHS friend!) who is serving in the international ward right now. There were less sisters coming in then going home, and President Miles did not want to pull sisters out of either of our wards, so for the next 6 weeks we will be working in BOTH Vienna 1st ward as well as the international ward!  This will definitely be a different way of doing missionary work than what I have done the past 3 transfers, but I am so excited and happy to stay in Vienna and to get to know new members too!  The Lord requires us to give us our ALL -- and that is what He will continue to get from me.  

This week, with the craziness of transfer calls being a perfect "cap" on everything, went very well and was very successful. We met with sweet Nicole and had a great object lesson on prioritizing time. We used a jar and 3 oranges with "Kirche" "Gebet" and "Schriften Lesen" written on them. We then added a bunch of rice into the jar. We asked Davin to put all the rice and all the oranges into the jar. Naturally, he started off with pouring the rice inside and then add the oranges. But it doesn´t work! We explained, starting our puzzle over, that as we made room for the 3 important things that Heavenly Father has asked us to do, the rice (symbolizing playtime, homework, work, errands, etc.) will fit. When we make time for Heavenly Father, He will make time for us to do all that we need to. Nicole LOVED this lesson, and is still preparing to be baptized. Words are inadequate in expressing how grateful I am to be teaching her and her darling family.

I was able to go on Austausch/split with Sister Judd last week in Graz! The trainride was STUNNING!  Welcome to the world´s most beautiful mission! President Miles even says that the trainride from Vienna to Graz is the most beautiful in our mission, and now I know what he means! It was really neat working with Sister Judd in a different area than Vienna, and getting to know the members there. Graz is unique and is a very beautiful city and they have a fantastic ward, but after we arrived back to magical, musical Wien -- I couldn´t help but feel like I was coming home. I'm pretty sure Vienna has stolen my heart, what else can I say?

On the way to Graz

"Vienna has stolen my heart"

Graz

Graz

 After the splits, Sister Green and I went on another new and exciting adventure!  We had an appointment with Wolfgang and Hannelore Kaindel, a less active couple who we try to meet with once a transfer. Unknown to me (I had never been to their house before, they have always traveled to Wien), the Kaindel´s live in Laa an der Thaya, a (small village) dorf just TWO KILOMETERS from the Czech Republic and almost to the lands of my Motto forefathers! Sister Green and I made the trek all the way up to the very tippy top of Austria and had an amazing appointment with these members. Schwester Kaindel picked us up from the teeny tiny...and I mean barely-even-there-bahnhof (train station) and drove us around the town. She took us to Schloß Kirchstetten, a palace built in the 16th century. It´s only open during Christmas, but we were able to walk around the property and see more of upmost Northern Austria. The Kaindels made us homemade Knödel and Rotkohl for dinner....pure bliss...I tell ya...Austrian grandmas make THE best food on earth. I never want to come home to American food. We had a lesson on family history, and were able to teach the Kaindels about family search and get accounts set up for them. They were THRILLED!!   Although they live really far away and don´t come to Church each week, the Kaindels do more missionary work than many members I know. It is thanks to them a lot of our members are in our ward today. It was an honor to meet them.

This next transfer in TWO wards and with TWO companions will definitely be an interesting and a challenging one, but I can surely testify that although difficult, Heavenly Father gives us EXACTLY what we need in life in order to become better and to grow. My biggest fear was to be put into a drit, and here I am. Heavenly Father surely has a sense of humor, and I know that He is giving me this mountain so I can become an even more consecrated and diligent missionary. And I definitely feel blessed to have Sister Green and Sister Packer as the two I get to serve with!

No matter how hard (or easy for that matter) our individual paths may be, let us NEVER EVER forget the importance of prayer. It is so important that we "report back" to our Heavenly Father at the end of each day. Although He knows us perfectly, there is a different sense of peace that comes from pouring our hearts out to Him in vocal, private, beautiful prayer. He is there!!! I have never felt Him more in my entire life. As each day passes, I understand just a little more of the genius of God. He is so connected in our lives, and only wishes the best for us. We are His beloved children, and it should be our ultimate goal to return to Him! Return with Honor!!

Have a MAGNIFICENT week meine Lieben! ALLES GUTE DIESE WOCHE!

Liebe Grüße,
Sister Natalie Hannah Motto

In the middle of nowhere…..tippy top of northeastern Austria next to the Czech border

OK…this isn't the German I learned at the MTC….??? What crazy dialect is this?

When we got to our "train station" on the way to northeast Austria….

The Beautiful Belevedere

"We DO have living Prophets!!!"

Hello Family and Friends!!

SERVUS from sunny, bright, blue-skied Vienna! It´s been about 2 weeks since we´ve seen full-on, radiant sunshine, so Sister Green and I are going to soak up this weather and head to Schloß Belvedere today! (A charming and unique castle in central Vienna).  Transfer calls are coming up towards the end of this week and I can honestly say that I have no idea what the next transfer holds for me.  All I can say is that I will go and do what the Lord commands...and with a great big smile on my face!

This week was FANTASTIC!!! We had Zone Training on Tuesday and were able to enjoy Zone Conference the following day. I just want to express how much I LOVE conferences and trainings, when all the missonaries come together, and we get to learn and teach one another. It is such a strength to be among peers who have the exact same goals and desires as you do. It´s powerful in so many ways --We are simply united in purpose and desire. We are THE Army of Helaman!

We had a really neat experience on the way to our stake center (where we had conference) that tied in perfectly of our Zone Conference theme of "Sharing the Message of Living Prophets". Sister Green and I were waiting for our straßenbahn (after just barely missing the first one), when we noticed a cute little tourist shop on the corner. We passed by and said hi to the man working. He asked me what we were doing, and after explaining that we were headed to a meeting with a bunch of our missionaries, he got really excited and said "I see you guys all the time! Who are you and what do you do?" I was able to tell him what we did as missionaries, and as missionaries we are called by a prophet of God to teach people about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. This man Moh, seemed to GLOW with true inquisitiveness as he sincerely asked, "We have....prophets? Living prophets?" I was then able to share my testimony that we do indeed have a living prophet named Thomas S. Monson, and that through another prophet, Joseph Smith, we have the FULLNESS of the Gospel and the AUTHORITY of God restored to the Earth today. I told him about the Book of Mormon, and Moh asked how much he could pay to get one. (Needless to say he was even happier to hear the one in my hand was free!) The 15 minutes waiting for the next straßenbahn seemed like only 2. We were able to get Moh´s information and will be meeting with him this week!!  These are the kind of meetings I love...serendipitously, random but perfectly divine.

I know experiences like this one with Moh happen quite often all over the world in missionary work, but I cannot get over the powerful spirit each time it happens to me personally.  To stop and ask various people what they believe AND then to teach them what WE believe.......isn't as easy as it seems...because everyone has their agency. One of the most frustrating things about being a missionary is simply that:  Understanding that every child of God on earth can choose for themselves is often quite heartbreaking.  I am pretty certain that Heavenly Father feels the same way!  How grateful I am for the Atonement and to have re-dos and reviews and to repent. 

Speaking of agency.....every single one of our appointments fell out this week.  Gahhhhh!!!  Each and every one! We were so bummed, and I was very discouraged at first. But then I realized that everything happens for a reason and if all our appointments were falling out and nobody we went by on was home, there must be an individual out there that we needed to find in that moment. Right?  Glass half empty to glass half full:) Conversions don't come easy in this part of the world...it takes so much faith!!  Sister Green and I proceeded to call each potential ever written down in our Area Book, every former investigator, and every less active. We made probably 20 calls before Familie Kaindel, a less active family, answered. The Kaindels live really far away, and are really old, and therefore makes it really hard to come to Church. They were almost in tears when we called. They were so happy to get a call from the missionaries! We were able to set up an appointment for Thursday. (They live in Neudorf, which is literally right on the border of the Czech Republic...so it will be an adventure in itself to get there!)

Thought for this week?  Blessings come when we work --- and have faith.  After our phonecall session and a couple hours of going by on people and street contacting, we got phonecalls from Nicole, Ludwig (the blind actor), potentials, former investigators, and a less active family. We have appointments made for Tuesday,Wednesday, Thursday and Friday with these people! MIRACLES HAPPEN FAMILY!!!

I am so grateful to my Heavenly Father for the opportunity and blessing I have had to serve here in this incredible city of Vienna. 

I know that the Lord has been mindful of ME...just like He is mindful of each of you. 

I love you all so much!!!

Schöne Woche meine Lieben!

One of my favorite things to do…accompany on the piano

VIenna Zone Conference February 2014

"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