Hello dear friends,

After all the hard renovation work in the last update, things immediately went into full swing! In Vienna, the St. John Paul II Center (ZJP2) celebrated its big Opening Week—a week full of encounters, prayer, and new inspiration for the city.

As a missionary with the EMC, I was right in the thick of it and got to experience firsthand just how versatile "mission" actually looks in everyday life. When people think of missionaries, they often picture someone standing in a market square with a Bible in hand. My week looked more like this:

Helping Hands at Every Corner

I was able to help out wherever there was an immediate need. One moment I was the bouncer welcoming guests with a smile, the next I was keeping things organized at the coat check. These small services might seem unspectacular, but they are the key to making people feel immediately welcome and accepted at a place like the ZJP2.

In other moments, I shifted perspective and worked as a photographer, trying to capture the special moments and the enthusiasm of the people. And yes, I was also called upon as a children's entertainer—a real workout that reminded me of the lightness and joy with which we should actually approach God!