July 17, 2012:
I’m transferred to Slovakia!
Well HELLO!
I guess you might be curious to know what is happening :). Mommy guessed that I would be "transferred to another city". And boy is she right :). I am not only getting transferred to another city, but to another country :). Tomorrow morning I will be on my way to SLOVAKIA! I am going to be going down there to open up the country to Sisters with Sister Pysnakova, the Sister with Czech parents. We are very excited. It has been the talk of the Sisters my whole mission, and everyone has always hoped to open Slovakia, and I never really had the desire to be honest, because I love Czech so much, but we got chosen :). It will be a big adventure, and I will need your prayers, since I'll start learning yet another language starting tomorrow. It will be interesting starting again with not understanding things around me, but I'm hoping with God's help it will come quicker than the Czech did. I hope I have more faith than I did a year ago. I really wanted to stay in Jičín, and it is going to be extremely hard to say bye to everyone (that's what we have on plan tonight), but I know that Heavenly Father needs me in Slovakia. I feel happy that I am being trusted with such a huge responsibility.
One of President's goals before he leaves back home next June was to get Sisters into Slovakia. I asked him about it two weeks ago in our interview, and he said, "We can't send Sisters there until more Sisters start being sent to this mission, because in order to get Sisters out there permanently we need about 4, and right now we are at a shortage as is here in the Czech." So that was that, and I honestly thought I'd stay here, since the members emailed President and asked if I could, and on Sunday we got a notice that Elder Holland will be in Prague next Sunday, so I called President and asked if we could go, and he said, " No Sister Izatt, you'll just go to Jičín on Sunday, because we don’t have enough room for everyone, since it's not a conference, he's just here on holiday." So I was like "AH! So I am staying in JIČIN!" and he said, "Oh Sister Izatt, you will find out tomorrow night just like everyone else!" And then I said, "Oh President, fine but you should call me, not the assistants.” And he said, “Oh Sister Izatt, I think that I can do just that." President only makes the trainer calls and other really important ones, so it was a special treat to hear it from him.
When he called I put him on speaker, because we were trying to decide (Sister Dolinar and I) who has the best poker face and who should answer first, but neither of us hide expressions well, so we decided to put him on speaker phone, haha, and anyway I said, "Hi President! You're on speaker!" when he called, and he said, "I'm on speaker? Well, you are too! The assistants are here listening in." And I thought that was odd. And then he said, "Sister Izatt, how was your day?" and I said, "Good! I love Jičín, President!" And he said, "I know you do, Sister Izatt, but I think you can have good days every day wherever I send you!" And I said, "That's true, but Jičín is really great!" And then he laughed and said, "Sister Izatt, how good is your Slovak?" And I said, "Not very good." And he said, "Sister Izatt, you're going to open Slovakia up for me and show those members down there how Sister missionaries get things going!" And I said, "I won’t let you down President." And he said, "I know you won't, Sister Izatt! Is there anything else you'd like to know?" And I said, "I'd like to know who my companion is!" And he said, "Sister Pysnakova! And I need you to bring the car into Prague for me tomorrow morning. Can you do that?" And I of course said yes. Then he said, "Is Sister Dolinar there?” And she replied in the affirmative. And he said, "Sister Dolinar, you are going to BRNO!" (We were shocked, because we thought for sure ONE of us would stay!) But yep! She gets to go to beautiful Brno. She will be in a threesome with Sister Jorgensen and Sister White. Sending two of us to Slovakia makes a shortage of a Sister city, and then Elders will be coming in and taking over tomorrow morning :). Quite the news, eh?
So that's that. Pray for me! I am excited to meet my Slovak brothers and sisters, although I've got to admit, the times I talk to Slovaks here I have a really hard time understanding. But Sister Pysnakova speaks ok Czech, because she heard it a lot growing up, so this is going to be quite the blessing. I get to be in the first companionship of Sisters in Slovakia, and I get to be with someone I can literally speak Czech to all day, so that my language can improve. Well, Czech and Slovak of course, but we'll start with Czech since that's what I know for now. Keep me in your prayers :). And Mother dear, I hope your pin board [map] has Slovakia on it :). I can’t remember the city's name though, sorry! Ah, it has two words in it... shoot. I'll tell you next week :). The landlord came over this morning with his son and father-in-law, and he told me all about my new city and how it has a lot of World War Two history. So I'll keep an eye out for museums. I'm excited!
This week was alright, I asked the Elders in the District if they thought we could end the transfer with a bang, and they said we could, so we worked and prayed super hard. We saw many a miracle. For one, [two of] those boys in that mass group we used to teach, are back-ish. Maybe the Elders will see more success with them than we did. But they've come a long way, and I hope that they'll continue. Sister Tmejova was also out of town with her boys all week, so I asked brother Tmej if he'd let us into his apartment while he went to work for an hour or two so that we could deep clean her kitchen and help her be surprised, happy, and less stressed when she came back. He agreed (let people serve you--it's such a blessing), and we did that and felt really good about it! She texted us when she got home and said she feels like she's in a different kitchen! Haha, so that was fun.
Saturday night we got a call from the First Counselor saying a member couldn't give a talk the next day in Church as planned, and so he asked us to speak. I took it as the opportunity I was praying for to help the Branch... many people. At least 5 told us last week and the week before that they feel like they are slipping, and they feel like they don't have support in the Branch, because no one is really friends. It makes me sad, because WE are friends with everyone, but they're right, the friendship is something that needs to be worked on. But we can only organize so many activities. That desire to serve each other has to come from within. So, although it was a brave big move on my part, I wrote a talk on how we have actually been commanded to be friends with people. In John [in the Bible], Christ tells us that we are His friends [John 15:15], and that we are His FRIENDS if we do whatsoever He asks. And then He tells us to love each other as ourselves. So I read that and then read from “Preach my Gospel” about service, and how because we have God's Church on the Earth again, we have everything set up for us to succeed and to obey all of the commandments. I told them that God forsaw this problem that many people have talked to us about, and that is why He set up Home and Visiting Teaching for us. If we are active in those callings, we can't help but be friends with one another, because service creates love which creates friendships. I once heard that you cannot hate people you are praying for, and we have been commanded to pray for all men. Including our enemies. It is incredible what the gospel can do when applied. I felt the Spirit strongly, and I talked for almost 20 minutes, when I was asked to just talk for five or so, but it just kept coming out of my mouth! I told them very honestly we visit so many less actives every week, and that they should be here with us. And that it is on us, but also on them, to befriend them and bring them back. I told them that I love them, that God loves them, and that I can feel their love as well as God's, but that we need to work on that together, because the gospel is all about bringing people together. I ended my talk, and I felt that I had said what Heavenly Father needed to be said.
Later in Sunday School as well as in Relief Society, many people commented that they had thought of things they could improve on while I spoke. One man said that he had remembered an experience he'd had in the temple while I was speaking, and that he knew he needed to act on that and befriend people. And yesterday while we were walking down to a soccer Family Home Evening we had arranged to have with everyone in the Branch, a member asked Sister Dolinar if her Home Teachers were actively involved with her family at home. And she said yes. And I could tell from that experience that what was talked about at Church was making him think about his own callings. And that is how the Spirit works. We do the best we can, but it's the Spirit that teaches. I can only open my mouth. But that's what God has commanded me to do. Open my mouth and speak. And He will take care of the rest.
I know God lives, and I know He loves His children. Whether it be here or in Slovakia or in Utah or Pori. We all matter to Him, and He wants us all to return. And we as members must do our part. To take this message unto every creature. To every ear. Because every knee will someday bow, and every mouth will proclaim that Christ is the Savior. It is up to us to help bring His children to Him. This work is crucial, it must go forward, and I am so blessed to be a part of it all. I love you all. You are very much in my prayers. Keep reaching out to those around you who need you. We are all one body in Christ. EVERY person is needed. We ALL need each other. And we need to remember that. It keeps me going. Pray for service opportunities. And then sacrifice something you like to help someone else. It is OH so rewarding.
S laskou,
Sestra Satu Izatt
I’m transferred to Slovakia!
Well HELLO!
I guess you might be curious to know what is happening :). Mommy guessed that I would be "transferred to another city". And boy is she right :). I am not only getting transferred to another city, but to another country :). Tomorrow morning I will be on my way to SLOVAKIA! I am going to be going down there to open up the country to Sisters with Sister Pysnakova, the Sister with Czech parents. We are very excited. It has been the talk of the Sisters my whole mission, and everyone has always hoped to open Slovakia, and I never really had the desire to be honest, because I love Czech so much, but we got chosen :). It will be a big adventure, and I will need your prayers, since I'll start learning yet another language starting tomorrow. It will be interesting starting again with not understanding things around me, but I'm hoping with God's help it will come quicker than the Czech did. I hope I have more faith than I did a year ago. I really wanted to stay in Jičín, and it is going to be extremely hard to say bye to everyone (that's what we have on plan tonight), but I know that Heavenly Father needs me in Slovakia. I feel happy that I am being trusted with such a huge responsibility.
One of President's goals before he leaves back home next June was to get Sisters into Slovakia. I asked him about it two weeks ago in our interview, and he said, "We can't send Sisters there until more Sisters start being sent to this mission, because in order to get Sisters out there permanently we need about 4, and right now we are at a shortage as is here in the Czech." So that was that, and I honestly thought I'd stay here, since the members emailed President and asked if I could, and on Sunday we got a notice that Elder Holland will be in Prague next Sunday, so I called President and asked if we could go, and he said, " No Sister Izatt, you'll just go to Jičín on Sunday, because we don’t have enough room for everyone, since it's not a conference, he's just here on holiday." So I was like "AH! So I am staying in JIČIN!" and he said, "Oh Sister Izatt, you will find out tomorrow night just like everyone else!" And then I said, "Oh President, fine but you should call me, not the assistants.” And he said, “Oh Sister Izatt, I think that I can do just that." President only makes the trainer calls and other really important ones, so it was a special treat to hear it from him.
When he called I put him on speaker, because we were trying to decide (Sister Dolinar and I) who has the best poker face and who should answer first, but neither of us hide expressions well, so we decided to put him on speaker phone, haha, and anyway I said, "Hi President! You're on speaker!" when he called, and he said, "I'm on speaker? Well, you are too! The assistants are here listening in." And I thought that was odd. And then he said, "Sister Izatt, how was your day?" and I said, "Good! I love Jičín, President!" And he said, "I know you do, Sister Izatt, but I think you can have good days every day wherever I send you!" And I said, "That's true, but Jičín is really great!" And then he laughed and said, "Sister Izatt, how good is your Slovak?" And I said, "Not very good." And he said, "Sister Izatt, you're going to open Slovakia up for me and show those members down there how Sister missionaries get things going!" And I said, "I won’t let you down President." And he said, "I know you won't, Sister Izatt! Is there anything else you'd like to know?" And I said, "I'd like to know who my companion is!" And he said, "Sister Pysnakova! And I need you to bring the car into Prague for me tomorrow morning. Can you do that?" And I of course said yes. Then he said, "Is Sister Dolinar there?” And she replied in the affirmative. And he said, "Sister Dolinar, you are going to BRNO!" (We were shocked, because we thought for sure ONE of us would stay!) But yep! She gets to go to beautiful Brno. She will be in a threesome with Sister Jorgensen and Sister White. Sending two of us to Slovakia makes a shortage of a Sister city, and then Elders will be coming in and taking over tomorrow morning :). Quite the news, eh?
So that's that. Pray for me! I am excited to meet my Slovak brothers and sisters, although I've got to admit, the times I talk to Slovaks here I have a really hard time understanding. But Sister Pysnakova speaks ok Czech, because she heard it a lot growing up, so this is going to be quite the blessing. I get to be in the first companionship of Sisters in Slovakia, and I get to be with someone I can literally speak Czech to all day, so that my language can improve. Well, Czech and Slovak of course, but we'll start with Czech since that's what I know for now. Keep me in your prayers :). And Mother dear, I hope your pin board [map] has Slovakia on it :). I can’t remember the city's name though, sorry! Ah, it has two words in it... shoot. I'll tell you next week :). The landlord came over this morning with his son and father-in-law, and he told me all about my new city and how it has a lot of World War Two history. So I'll keep an eye out for museums. I'm excited!
This week was alright, I asked the Elders in the District if they thought we could end the transfer with a bang, and they said we could, so we worked and prayed super hard. We saw many a miracle. For one, [two of] those boys in that mass group we used to teach, are back-ish. Maybe the Elders will see more success with them than we did. But they've come a long way, and I hope that they'll continue. Sister Tmejova was also out of town with her boys all week, so I asked brother Tmej if he'd let us into his apartment while he went to work for an hour or two so that we could deep clean her kitchen and help her be surprised, happy, and less stressed when she came back. He agreed (let people serve you--it's such a blessing), and we did that and felt really good about it! She texted us when she got home and said she feels like she's in a different kitchen! Haha, so that was fun.
Saturday night we got a call from the First Counselor saying a member couldn't give a talk the next day in Church as planned, and so he asked us to speak. I took it as the opportunity I was praying for to help the Branch... many people. At least 5 told us last week and the week before that they feel like they are slipping, and they feel like they don't have support in the Branch, because no one is really friends. It makes me sad, because WE are friends with everyone, but they're right, the friendship is something that needs to be worked on. But we can only organize so many activities. That desire to serve each other has to come from within. So, although it was a brave big move on my part, I wrote a talk on how we have actually been commanded to be friends with people. In John [in the Bible], Christ tells us that we are His friends [John 15:15], and that we are His FRIENDS if we do whatsoever He asks. And then He tells us to love each other as ourselves. So I read that and then read from “Preach my Gospel” about service, and how because we have God's Church on the Earth again, we have everything set up for us to succeed and to obey all of the commandments. I told them that God forsaw this problem that many people have talked to us about, and that is why He set up Home and Visiting Teaching for us. If we are active in those callings, we can't help but be friends with one another, because service creates love which creates friendships. I once heard that you cannot hate people you are praying for, and we have been commanded to pray for all men. Including our enemies. It is incredible what the gospel can do when applied. I felt the Spirit strongly, and I talked for almost 20 minutes, when I was asked to just talk for five or so, but it just kept coming out of my mouth! I told them very honestly we visit so many less actives every week, and that they should be here with us. And that it is on us, but also on them, to befriend them and bring them back. I told them that I love them, that God loves them, and that I can feel their love as well as God's, but that we need to work on that together, because the gospel is all about bringing people together. I ended my talk, and I felt that I had said what Heavenly Father needed to be said.
Later in Sunday School as well as in Relief Society, many people commented that they had thought of things they could improve on while I spoke. One man said that he had remembered an experience he'd had in the temple while I was speaking, and that he knew he needed to act on that and befriend people. And yesterday while we were walking down to a soccer Family Home Evening we had arranged to have with everyone in the Branch, a member asked Sister Dolinar if her Home Teachers were actively involved with her family at home. And she said yes. And I could tell from that experience that what was talked about at Church was making him think about his own callings. And that is how the Spirit works. We do the best we can, but it's the Spirit that teaches. I can only open my mouth. But that's what God has commanded me to do. Open my mouth and speak. And He will take care of the rest.
I know God lives, and I know He loves His children. Whether it be here or in Slovakia or in Utah or Pori. We all matter to Him, and He wants us all to return. And we as members must do our part. To take this message unto every creature. To every ear. Because every knee will someday bow, and every mouth will proclaim that Christ is the Savior. It is up to us to help bring His children to Him. This work is crucial, it must go forward, and I am so blessed to be a part of it all. I love you all. You are very much in my prayers. Keep reaching out to those around you who need you. We are all one body in Christ. EVERY person is needed. We ALL need each other. And we need to remember that. It keeps me going. Pray for service opportunities. And then sacrifice something you like to help someone else. It is OH so rewarding.
S laskou,
Sestra Satu Izatt