Uz Padal Snih!

October 29, 2012

Snowing already! 

  
Hey Family!!!
 
Sounds like everyone is doing great back home! It's great here. It snowed on Saturday and it was really cool! It's definitely getting really cold here now, but I really like it. It's really pretty. Most of the snow already melted, but hopefully it will snow again soon. The work doesn't really slow down in the winter, there's always elect people to find. It's just a state of mind, if you think the winter is a slower time, it probably will be because you have that expectation. I'm loving it though!

I've really been study this week on the role of the Holy Ghost in an investigator's conversion. It really is the most important thing, that through the Holy Ghost, someone can gain a testimony of the truthfulness of these things. Its all on us too, to help an investigator understand what they are feeling. We really are working hard to help our investigators understand this. The Holy Ghost really is such a blessing to our lives!

We taught a lot of really great people this week though. We taught this one guy for the second time, and he had read in the Book of Mormon, he was ready to listen, and so when we taught him, it was really great! I really felt the spirit work with him, and he really understood the things which we taught him. It was a really great lesson we had with him. I definitely love teaching lessons like that.

We taught this other guy too who we just found who was really interested in our message. It was interesting because when we said he could find out that these things are true, he said that that would really interest him! It was great to then tell him how he could find out that these things are true.

We had one investigator come to church, this lady we're teaching. It was really great because the members really took care of her a lot. It's great when the members do that. Our investigators feel so much more welcome. She is preparing for baptism next month, and it's very likely that she will make it! Keep praying for her!

Elder Sewell and I are really continuing to work hard though. He's great and were really seeing miracles here. It's really great here in Pardubice. We're seeing a lot of miracles!
Hope everyone has a great week though. I really love you all and hope all goes well. Keep praying for us, I'm praying for you!

sLaskou

-Starsi Salas

Zdravim zPardubickeho Kraje!

October 22, 2012

Greetings from the Pardubice region!
 
Hey Everyone!!!

Sounds like it's been a really great week! I was glad to hear from everyone and it sounds like you're all doing well! Thanks for all the e-mails, I really appreciated them.

It's been such a great week here. I'm really loving the work and everything! We had 2 investigators at church this week! It was great!  They both really enjoyed it, and the members really took care of them there this week. I was so appreciative of that. It really means a lot for an investigator when a member comes and takes them around, and asks them to sit with them. It makes an immense difference to the investigator!! I've seen it in action, I know it's true.

We're finding a lot of really cool people too! We found these 2 new guys this week, both of them are so great. The first guy told us that when someone goes out of their way to ask for his time, he'll gladly give it. It was really cool to meet with him and I'm really glad we were able to. We also taught this second guy, and it was really great. He was so open to accepting our message, and we were really able to help him take that next step towards faith in Christ. There really is nothing that gives more joy than helping someone come closer to Christ, to God and to eternal life. I've really been feeling that this week.

It was really cool that we were able to teach this guy we found a few months ago as well, and he was really open to our message this time. He's a great guy and I really want to help him as best as I can.

One great lesson I learned this week, we really need to take such great care of the things Heavenly Father gives us. When we do that, He is willing to give us more, because He knows He can trust us.
Been a really great week though, and I'm glad I was able to hear from you all. Have a great week, and know that I love you! Thanks for all the prayers!

sLaskou

-Starsi Salas

Slovaci

October 15, 2012

Jeste jednou z Pardubic rikam "ahoj rodino!"
Once again from Pardubice I say "Hello family!"
 
Sounds like it's been a really good week for all! I'm really glad to hear it's been well. Sounds like fun with the cousins all there!
It's been a good one here. Nothing too exciting, but a good week overall. We had a lot of lessons cancel, but we still did see some great miracles!

We were waiting for a lesson one day, and the investigator wasn't there yet, but this other kid we found before walked by. We started talking to him, and he wasn't doing anything so we taught him instead of the other investigator who didn't come. It was really cool, he's so interested in the Book of Mormon and finding out what everything means, we're really grateful we found him! He's from Slovakia but works here, so it's pretty cool. He's a really good kid and I'm so glad we found him again!

We had a cool experience today finding someone. There was this lady with some kids and we talked to her. Her kids were darker, and we found out she has a husband from Africa! She was so nice, and said her husband had met with missionaries before! It really was a miracle we were led to her and we're hopefully going to meet this weekend.

We had conference this weekend, and it was so good! We had 2 investigators come which was really cool! I really enjoyed all the talks. Everyone of course mentioned Elder Holland's talk. I really enjoyed that talk a lot, I had already heard a lot of it before. There's this MTC talk he gave where he talked about a lot of the same things. It was a really good talk though and he makes so many good points. At baptism, we make a lifelong commitment, how can we ever go back on that. Just such a powerful talk though and I really enjoyed it. I really learned a lot though, and took a lot of notes, and made a lot of goals. I think it's really so important to listen to others and to make sure that those around us feel they are loved. One thing I really liked, was that we experience the greatest level of joy and happiness which we can have in this life, only when we apply and live the principles of the gospel. This I know to be so true. One thought I've been having is that we go to church, we go to general conference, not just to feel the spirit and leave, but to seek inspiration. We need to go to church every week seeking inspiration and revelation. We learn what we need to do. Then we set goals to apply it into our lives, and we live it. That is how we can really deepen our conversion. That is one of the great purposes of these meetings!

Elder Sewell and I are just doing so great though. I seriously feel so blessed to serve with him. He's so dedicated, and so desirous to do better. I love his work ethic and I'm definitely learning a lot from him. We are working hard, and seeing miracles. I just love this work

Love you all, and wish you all a great week and hope everyone does well! Hope you enjoy the cousins, and that everyone has a good time. Thanks for the prayers, and I 'm praying for all of you!

sLaskou

-Starsi Salas

Hezky Tyden!

October 8, 2012

Nice Week!

Cau Cau Rodino

Hey Everyone! Been a great week here in Pardubice as always! Really just loving the work here. We've had some great experiences and we're just loving it so much!

I spent a day in Hradec on exchanges with Elder Jones. It was really great! We worked really hard, and found some really great people! It's so great to see that hard work and success and miracles are so inter-related!
One of our investigators  is starting to recognize his answer that these things are true! He is reading and praying consistently and it's really making an impact on him. It's so important to act in order to receive an answer of the truthfulness of these things.

Elder Sewell and I had a great experience tracting though. We went to this part of Pardubice, called Svitkov. We were talking to people and when we finally got to "the last house", we found this guy who really wanted the Book of Mormon. He took it from us before we could tell him he could have it! It was pretty funny, but he is really open to hear more so we're really excited to meet with him and to share the message of the Restoration! The funny thing is another missionary once told me, of course it was the last house, because you found someone to teach. You're not going to go on after that! It really wouldn't have been the last house, but it was for us that day!

We've also been teaching this guy and his girlfriend. The lady is Czech and the guy is from Cuba! He's been here for 9 years and speaks good Czech. We had a really great lesson with them though and they accepted all our commitments! We're really excited to keep working with them!

We've really just been putting our minds to the work though and doing everything we can, and we've been seeing so many miracles! The zone is doing great, it's so great to work with all the missionaries here in the zone.

Elder Sewell is so great too. I love working with him. We always just stay so uplifted and we're always doing our best to become better. There's never a dull moment with Elder Sewell in the companionship!

We'll I've heard a lot about conference so we're excited to watch it next week! I hope a lot more missionaries will come out on missions now!
Hope you all have a great week though! I love hearing from you! Keep up the great things you all do!!!

sLaskou

-Starsi Salas

Meli jsme opravdu uzasny tyden!!!

October 1, 2012

We had a really amazing week!!

Hey Everyone!!

Been a really great week this week! Sounds like everyone else had a great week as well! We've just been seeing so many cool things here and we're so excited for the work! One thing I've seriously been learning this week is how much better things are when you put yourself last. When we truly just think of others before ourselves, we tend to think a lot more about others, and that is one of the ways to be really happy!
I've just been realizing a lot more as well that our message of the restoration of the gospel just makes so much sense. Our message is that we don't have to rely on the wisdom of man, but we can go directly to God to come to know truth, and He will reveal it to us. It's such a great thing to know!

We've been having a lot of really cool experiences this week though. Elder Sewell was calling a lot of numbers we had in the phone from people contacted in the last year or so. He called this one lady from a year ago and introduced himself. She asked how we remembered her and he said, "we have an important message for you". She set up and we taught her and it was a really great lesson! She's so humble and willing to act on our message.

We've been continuing to find so many people to teach! The work is pressing on strongly here, even though I don't feel we derserve so many of the Lord's blessings. It's really been a great week!

We had this really cool miracle where this former investigator, a YSA called us and asked us to help him move across Pardubice. We did, and he was so grateful for our help, and then he really wanted to meet with us after! So we should meet with him this week. I'm so grateful for this miracle in our work. We also found this other former investigator in the park, who had changed his number. We set up a meeting with him and he came, then came ot church. Just another great miricle in our work!

We just have been doing all we can though, seeing so many great things and we love the work! Elder Sewell is great, keeps me excited at all times, the zone is great, the mission is great, I love it all, I really do!
Hope everyone has a really great week. I wish you all the best, and I hope all is going really well!

sLaskou

-Starsi Salas

Prazsky Den

September 24, 2012

Prague Day

Hey Everyone!!!

So yes, I was in Prague, AGAIN, picked up my Visa, and I get to go back Wednesday for specialized training. I'm a poor missionary I tell you! We usually go by train, it's about an hour trip.

So, Elder Heath got transferred to Olomouc this last week, and he loves it there. Elder Sewell is from Bristol, England. It's great being with him! He definitely has a different Czech accent, but it's a good one. The English accent though, I just love it! Elder Heath trained him. So he plays Cricket, and has been out about 8 months. He's always excited and I love serving with him!!!

We just had a great week though! We're doing all we can to find the elect, and we're definitely seeing success! We've just been seeing miracle after miracle. We taught this girl that Elder Heath and I found, and she's super great! She really accepted most everything we taught. She plays hockey! It was a really cool experience teaching her though, and she was so excited to learn about the gospel. She said she feels we are really sincere too, which it's great she can see that.

We also ran into this girl we talked to a few weeks ago. She said she had been thinking about it, and really wants to learn more. It was just such a blessing that we were able to find her again, and I know it was for a reason! The hand of the Lord is really in our work. I'm just brought back again and again to the verse in Mormon 9 verse 21, where it says if you doubt nothing, and ask in faith, God really can work miracles through us and for us. I have seen that so many times in our work this last week. I'm just so excited to keep working and to do everything I can!

We found so many great new people this week, and we're excited to see how things go with them.
We're continuing to teach our other investigator as well. He is doing so great and really progressing well. He is such a great guy and is slowly overcoming his doubts. I have great faith in him to make it!
So the guy in Jihlava they baptised last week is doing great! His wife should be baptised next month, and his 7 year old daughter, when she turns 8! They are also expecting twins soon! Such a miracle story of finding the elect!

Just been a really great rewarding week here and I'm ready to have a better one!
Have a great week everyone! Love you all!!!

-sLaskou

-Starsi Salas

Hey Everyone!

 September 17, 2012

Hi Family!

Sounds like the week's been good for everyone! This has been a good week. So I know I said transfers would be Wednesday, but President Irwin surprised us, they're today! 

 

So the news, I'm staying in Pardubice, and I'll be with Elder Sewell, my first international companion!!! He is from England and has been out for about a year. He is so great. At the moment I'm in Prague with Elder Newell though, waiting for our companions so we can go with them.

 

It's been a harder week this week as our investigators haven't been the most reliable, but it's been a great one. Elder Heath and I worked hard and did what we could.

 

Our new investigator is doing great though! We met with him and we really listened and asked a lot of questions to understand his concerns. He said he is really searching for truth here in life. He is one investigator we have who hadn't been making much progress. He's doing really great though and we're glad to be working with him.

 

We also went to Jihlave this week for a baptismal interview with an investigator there! It was someone who Elder Simcock and I found on exchanges. It was so great to see him, that he had really walked the path of the gospel and has now entered the waters of baptism. I know these elect people are really here and I'm so grateful that we're finding them.

 

I really don't have too much to report about this week though. I've just been really learning the importance of forgetting myself, my needs and wants, things that are important to me, and just thinking completely about others. It's not always easy or fun, but it really is just so very important.

 

One miracle we had, was this less active member we are teaching came to district conference in Prague on Sunday! It was so great to see her there and I'm so glad that she made that great decision to follow Christ.

Hope you all have a great week though. love you all so much and I'll look forward to hearing from you next week!

sLaksou

Starsi Salas

v Praze zase, a zase pristi tyden, a tyden po tom...

September 10, 2012

Prague again, and again next week and the week after that ...


Hey Family!

So we were in Prague today again. Had to go get my Visa renewed. Then we go again on Sunday for district conference. Then we go again the week after that to pick up my Visa. So we're there a lot right now.
 
However, we had a super great week! We have a mission goal to teach 21 lessons weekly, and we taught 20 this week, so we were pretty excited about that. We're just having such great experiences here and I love the work so very much! The zone is doing so great too so we're excited about that.
We are finding so many people right now. I feel like every single day we have found someone great and amazing, I can't even tell all our miracles this week! 

We found this 18 year old kid, way nice, met with him, he just accepted everything. He's been atheist his whole life, just said he thought it would be good to know about these things. He asked us if he could end the lesson in prayer. That's our job to ask! 

Met with this other guy we found a few weeks ago Jirka. He is so great. Just accepted everything as well. The problem is he lives pretty far so church will be a problem for him to get to. He seems to have a lot of faith though and I know he will make it there! He said he's always believed in God, but has never been baptised. Just the kind of people we're looking for. Just ready for the gospel!

I feel we haven't had any time to do anything but teach this week. We have been so blessed by the Lord and have so many investigators! It's really great! I feel so blessed.

I've been studying the why of missionary work some more this week, and I really learned a lot from it. We really do have a great thing in our lives, which is the gospel. I have no doubts in my mind that it really is through obedience, and more clearly, obedience to the gospel that we obtain eternal life. I read this week that one of our main purposes here on earth is to prove to our Father in Heaven that we will be obedient to His commandments. I know that to be so very true.
This verse I also read this week really meant a lot to me. It was Alma 26:22 where it tells what we need to do, and it lists out blessings promised to us. One such blessing, is that we are made tools in the hands of the Lord to bring salvation to thousands. It really hit me that I really am taking a part in this! I know I am!
We've just taught some great spiritual lessons this week though and I'm so excited to keep going on with this great work! I love it so very much! Love you all and thanks for the emails. Have a great week everyone!

sLaksou

-Starsi Salas

P.S.- transfers are next Wednesday so you'll hear from me them. Who know's what will happen!