WIEN IST WUNDERBAR

On Monday night we had an early Easter potluck FHE with the other senior missionaries, complete with ham and funeral potatoes.

Alaska Reunions

On Tuesday night we picked up Janae Purcella Rhoden from the airport and went to dinner. She was in Frankfurt overnight on the way to meet her husband in Hanover. Janae is the youngest daughter of one of our favorite family friends from Alaska.

On Wednesday morning we boarded the ICE train for Vienna. When we arrived, we met the Duffles for dinner. We spent two nights in a row reconnecting with dear friends from our Alaksa days- a very sweet season in our lives. Enjoying good company and Wiener Schnitzel in Wien!

Humanitarian Work

We came to Vienna to meet our in-field humanitarian couple the Muehlemann’s. We love working with Janet and Paul. We spent Thursday meeting with NGO’s to discuss future humanitarian projects and the giving machines that will come to Vienna in November. It is our job to collaborate with local NGO’s for items to put in the machine. Light the World Giving machines are giving focused vending machines sponsored by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints during the Christmas season. They offer a variety of items to assist those in need such as a meal, shelter, clean water, medical/dental care, immunizations, counseling services, clothing, beds, soccer balls, and chickens to raise, etc. Giving Machines provide a creative, easy way to donate to charitable organizations. Look for a Giving Machine in your city this year!

We met with Signe Lassel, the Austria National Stake Communications Director and Johanna Helmrivh, the Vienna Stake Humanitarian Service Director. Signe set up productive meetings with local NGO’s. These meetings with like-minded service-oriented people are always sweet experiences. We look forward to future collaboration with these good people.

ADRA- Seventh Day Adventist Humanitarian Organization

Caritas- Catholic Relief Agency

We also visited one of our humanitarian projects in Vienna. Warmestuben (warming rooms) is a program instituted during the winter months to provide those in need with a place to come in out of the weather and have a warm meal and companionship. Organized by Caritas, dozens of churches collaborate to provide these meals every day of the week from October through March. Our church hosted these guests in the Institute building on Saturday where the young single adults prepared and served the meal to some very grateful people. Many of the volunteers were university students studying to be teachers.

Incredible Kirches of Wien

Dreifaltigkeits Kirche– built between 1687-1727

Votive Kirche- day and night– dedicated in 1879

St Stephens Cathedral- groundbreaking in 1137, completed in 1578 Mozart’s wedding and funeral took place here.

Karls Kirche– opened in 1737- Baroque architecture

MAGNIFICENT CONCERTS IN WIEN
Vienna is the capital of Austria and known as the “City of Music”. It is home to roughly 2 million people, 200,000 of which are students studying at one of the local universities. Every evening in Vienna, around 10,000 people attend live classical music performances, making it a city known for its rich musical heritage and numerous concerts.

Peters Kirche Organ Concert– opened in 1733- Baroque architecture

As we poked our heads into this church an organ concert was about to begin. It was a delightful serendipity to our afternoon!

Vienna Residence Orchestra Concert at Borse Palace- the old 1877 Stock Exchange On the same day we enjoyed the music of Mozart and Strauss in a fabulous setting. The chamber orchestra was joined by opera singers and ballerinas. It was a very memorable evening

SPRINGTIME IN VIENNA

Eggs are not refrigerated in Europe. You will find them on the shelf. Hard-boiled eggs are distinguished by color, year-round.

FABLOUS FEASTS IN VIENNA CAFES The Vienna café culture forms an integral part of life for locals

SOBERING REMINDERS OF THE PAST

We happened onto this memorial as we wandered the city

SPANISH RIDING SCHOOL

LIPIZZANER STALLIONS-HORSE OF BATTLE, HORSE OF BALLET

Located within the Hofburg Palace, the Spanish Riding School is the oldest riding school in the world and the only institution where the High School of Classical Horsemanship in the Renaissance tradition has been practiced and maintained unchanged for 460 years. The name Spanish Riding School dates back to the sixteenth century: Ferdinand I, the later Holy Roman Emperor, grew up in Spain and brought the magnificent Spanish horses from the Iberian Peninsula to the court in Vienna. The white Lipizzaner stallion breed originated from a cross between Spanish, Arabian, and Berber horses. We watched their morning training session and took a tour of the facility. Photo taking was limited.

MARIA THERESA HENRIETTE DOROTHEA OF AUSTRIA-ESTE- LAST QUEEN OF BAVARIA

Maria Theresa, the only female ruler of the Habsburg monarchy ruled from 1740-1780. She brought unity to the Habsburg monarchy and was considered one of its most capable leaders. Her 16 children included Marie-Antoinette and Leopold II.