The Euros

This Sunday, I saw once again how awesome our ward is. David, our WML, noticed a couple weeks back that I had a hole in the seat of a pair of suit pants. After trying to explain that that is what a mission does to clothing, he told me I needed to do something about it...

Then comes the first Sunday after Christmas. David, being the collest and greatest WML ever, brought presents for the Elders here. The bag he brought had 3 ties and a suit (seen above). David got this suit from Br. Promstaller--the suit was bought for his son, but it didn't fit, so was given to David. David is a little taller and thinner than I am, and the suit just didn't work for him either. David thinks of someone in desperate need of a suit, I pop into his head, and he brings it for me! It is a little loud--brown with lighter brown pin stripes, but it fits me like a glove.

Just another Christmas miracle!

The picture is of the Euros--Elder Ballantyne in his recently bought european cut, and myself.

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A-U-S-T-R-A-L-I-A vs. A-U-S-T-R-I-A

I don't know if I am just lucky or what.

My boxes came. Box 2 of 2 arrived on Friday of last week. Box 1 of 2 arrived 4 days later, and after opening it, I realized an interesting sticker on the front of the box, near the customs form.

Apparently, the Austrailians are getting as annoyed as Mom is. Note the red arrows and circle around the large print AUSTRIA were NOT written by a Kemsley, or an American, at that.

Way to do, New Mexico division of the USPS...

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Christmas Party

Well, the Missionaries were asked to sing a typical American Christmas song this year. We decided to go all out and hick-ify Jingle Bells. Elder Ballantyne had Brad Paisley's instrumental version, and we wrote some hick lyrics to it... It wasn't the most reverant part of the evening, but it was a hit...

Also on the agenda that evening was the singing of typical Tirolian and Baverian Christmas songs, accomponied by Jakob Egger (the clone of Wyndham) and his accordian...

I got to mess around with it after the party... Rock on?

Krampuslauf and Christmas With the Schmidts

The traditional Krampuslauf took place this last weekend. Here is how the story goes:

Back in mid-evil times, a small city was plagued with evil devils. These creatures would run around, whipping the townspeople and causing mayhem. They distroyed crops, scattered flocks and bullied children and adults alike. This pandemonium continued for a week, until the town leader summoned one St. Nicolaus from southern Austria to rid the city of these unwanted demons.

St. Nicolaus went through the city, performing exorcisms and the like, and as a sign of everything being ok, he put oranges and candies in the shoes of the children who were inside, afraid to leave their houses.

This tradition continues today, whipping included. Man, those things are freaky...

PS- (from left to right) Ballantyne, Hebbert, Beckstead and ME!

Thanksgiving 2009

Peter:

We'll start tonight with a Cream of Celery soup with a touch of fresh basil. A nice, full-grain wheat bread will be served to compliment the soup.

Afterwords, let us move onto our main course. We will be serving turkey breast filets in a red wine gravy and served with rice and fresh snow peas. Black current juice should complete the taste I am shooting for.

And to close tonight, we will be serving a homemade apple pie with a vanilla sauce and a scoop of hand-churned vanilla bean ice cream.

Bon Apitét.

Service

Last week, we went with Br. Egger to help him prepare for next winter. We didn't know quite what we were getting into. Somewhere along the line, between the 200+ lbs meter-long logs and the chainsaws, we realized that this might not be a missionary-approved service project...

It was awesome though. I now understand what it means to "bear a cross."

PS- Mom, don't worry, it isn't too cold here yet. We were up in the mountains, and we were working hard, but a tee shirt was more than enough...

Frau Martina

Well, this lady is Frau Martina. She is crazy. She stalks the missionaries and keeps tabs on where everyone goes. She sneaks pictures of us. She calls different missionaries and lies about her name to set up appointments with us. We are not allowed to meet with her and she is known throughout our mission as well as the other missions in Austria as a Do-Not-Contact person.

She lived in Wien, and came often to our ward. This picture, for example, was taken the day of the Palka's baptism. And she just re-found out where I am.

Needless to say, we can expect her to visit Innsbruck in the coming weeks...

PS- Props to Elder Hartmann for taking this picture.

Courtacy of Elder Ballantyne

I forgot to bring my camera with me to the internet shop today, so I bummed his camera and am posting a picture his brother sent to him. This is not Elder Ballantine, but he has many similar pictures of himself...

Good times.

Peter Kojat

What an awesome Halloween! Elder Ballantyne was saying it will probably be the best in his life. I couldn't agree more! Peter is going to be such a strong member of the church. He is definetly one of the coolest investigators I have ever met.

How awesome is it to be a missionary?

Innsbruck

Elder Ballantyne weighs 100 pounds. That's how I can hold him up.

Elder Ballantyne was a wrestler. That's how he can hold me up.

This picture was taken after we played soccer in the Olympic National Stadium. No Photoshop was used in the making of this picture.

The Opera

So this was my district (from left to right): Elders Erekson, Göhring, Ray, ME, Ek and Hartmann. We took this picture on our way home from seeing Le Bohéme. Bowties, we thought, would be a must, and we all wore them to District Meeting the next day.

Isn't the Munich Germany/Austria Mission the greatest in the world? Who else can go see an opera in the Vienna Opera House on a P-Day?

"...wie groß wird eure Freude sein..."

The Palkas were baptized on Sunday. It was such a beautiful ceremony too. Everything worked out just as planned-- no clothing problems, so fall-out problems, just a smooth, wonderful service.

What a way to end my time here in Vienna. What an awesome experience to be a part of. How lucky I am that I was allowed to stay for so long. How great it is to be a missionary!

Thanks for the love and support. And the prayers! See you all next week in Innsbruk!

Who Lives in a Pineapple Under the Sea?

Yeah, here is a lady I met in the bus. She didn't have any interest in the Gospel, but she let me take a picture of here sweet tat. Talk about a 40-year perspective...

Just Another Day in the Park

Here is my district playing in a park near Schloß Schönbrunn. Pictured are Elders Göhring (blue), Erekson (white), Ray (brown) and me!

The second picture also has Elder Hartmann. Taken in front of Schönbrunn on 21 Septebmer, 2009. I love my district.

Baptism, Here We Come!

Don't they look so nice in white? The wedding was excellent. The reception was interesting. The baptism is in 3 weeks and the family couldn't be happier!

The New Kids on the Block

Elder Ray, Elder Erekson, Elder Hartmann, Elder Kemsley

Picture taken September 10, 2009, in honor of Elder Erekson's and my year mark.

I can't believe that I'm the oldest out of the Schlosshoferstrasse 50 Group. Or that we all have lederhosen. These kind of things don't happen very often.

I'm a Boy, I'm a Boy, I'm a Drinking Boy, I'm a Milk Drinking Boy

= 150 leters of milk.

Started: July 10, 2009
Ended: September 7, 2009

Spencer, Jordan, Gavin and Reese

Schöner Grüß aus den Bergen Österreichs.

We had a Lederhosen P-Day today -- up to Schneeberg, just outside of Wiener Neustadt. When I saw the cows, I remembered a promise I made to Spencer and family, saying that if I ever saw cows with big bells hanging around their necks on the side of the Austrian Alps, and I happened to be wearing Lederhosen, then I would have to take a picture.

Sie hat mich gern, wie ihr sehen könnt. Alles Liebe!

I Guess I Miss New Mexico

I said a while back that I missed Dion's. I think it was just New Mexico all together.

Above are some peppers I found in a Turkish grocery store. Holy cow. They were hot. I think I'll make some Huevos Rancheros later this week.

And no, Mom, I'm not sick. The grapes were just a really good deal... Ha.

Like Father, Like Son...

Above are Elder Smith's (my father) and my Zippo Lighters. He liked mine so much he bought his own.

Below are Elder La Count's (my son) and my Zippo Lighters. He liked mine so much he bought his own.

I'm such a bad influence.

I Miss Dion's...

Does it show?

Die Taufe Wiens

A couple weeks ago, there was a huge storm in Vienna. We've had some big storms in the past, but there was something different about this one. This time, the storm came on P-Day. Much splashing and wetness followed. This is the flooded (about 3-4" of water) subway station at Ottakring. I call it the baptism of Vienna.

Schloßhoferstr. 50

Here is Elders Tolman, Bond, La Count and I in the elevator in our apartment. Totally myspaced, but now you know how my roomies look!

PS- Yes, that is the Schloßhoferstr. 50 "Apartment Tie."

I got what I wanted...

Looks like you all hit the nail right on the head this year for my birthday! Thanks for all the stuff!

That's a 2006 BMW e46 M3, rally edition. We "coincidentally" doored this house and contacted the owner, and she let us take pictures of it.

What a day

Me playing a Steinway full grand piano, valued around 150,000 euros!