More pictures from Tomasz's baptism in June:
July 2, 2012:
The Holy Ghost tells us when something is true
Well this was an interesting week again! I don't have a ton of time, because I was looking at all the pictures of Tomasz’s baptism I got from the Branch members and the missionaries. Sorry about that. But not tons to report. We had on plan to go visit [Tomasz] Wednesday morning, but our car broke down in Mlada Boleslav Tuesday afternoon, so we had to go by bus, and the busses here aren't the most reliable since Jičín is tiny, so it just never came. [Later] we picked the car up from the Skoda factory and drove over to his place. He makes us both so happy, because he just glows and has the best sense of humor, and his faith is just incredible. I told him that he was the biggest best part of my mission, and that I might be getting transferred this next transfer, so goodbye. I felt tears come to my eyes. I can’t handle goodbyes. Teaching Tomasz has taught me so much. About the gospel, about other people, about love, about myself, about service, about humility.
The Holy Ghost tells us when something is true
Well this was an interesting week again! I don't have a ton of time, because I was looking at all the pictures of Tomasz’s baptism I got from the Branch members and the missionaries. Sorry about that. But not tons to report. We had on plan to go visit [Tomasz] Wednesday morning, but our car broke down in Mlada Boleslav Tuesday afternoon, so we had to go by bus, and the busses here aren't the most reliable since Jičín is tiny, so it just never came. [Later] we picked the car up from the Skoda factory and drove over to his place. He makes us both so happy, because he just glows and has the best sense of humor, and his faith is just incredible. I told him that he was the biggest best part of my mission, and that I might be getting transferred this next transfer, so goodbye. I felt tears come to my eyes. I can’t handle goodbyes. Teaching Tomasz has taught me so much. About the gospel, about other people, about love, about myself, about service, about humility.
I was reading in Daniel [in the Bible] this week, and about how Daniel doesn’t get eaten by the lions. The reason? "Because he believed in his God." [Daniel 6:23] I loved that statement, and I felt so comforted right then, because it was almost as though a voice in my mind told me, "Tomasz will be alright, because he believes in his God." Keep him in your prayers. Oh, I asked him if it'd be ok in January to go visit him with you all, and he started shaking his head furiously to say “yes” and then he said, "Absolutely, 100 percent yes!" So prepare yourselves for meeting him. He is so wonderful. And it was really neat, because I really feel like Heavenly Father wanted me and Sister Dolinar to be his missionaries. He waited a few weeks until we had figured out our routine and how to teach together, and then prompted Tomasz to text. Tomasz wasn’t in Jičín though, so we forwarded him to the District Leader and companion in Liberec. But then the week they had a meeting, Tomasz' plans changed, and he came back to our area a week early, and we immediately started teaching. He is one of those who was prepared for me to meet. Uh, it just humbles me and makes me so happy. I can’t describe it.
And I was reading Alma yesterday, and I can’t remember the verse, but it's Alma 29 [29:16], and he describes his joy as "the soul leaving the body" [= “my soul is carried away, even to the separation of it from the body, as it were, so great is my joy”]. Even Alma couldn’t describe the joy that comes from this work. But he tried, and I agree. I'm so happy it's like my soul leaves my body!
And I was reading Alma yesterday, and I can’t remember the verse, but it's Alma 29 [29:16], and he describes his joy as "the soul leaving the body" [= “my soul is carried away, even to the separation of it from the body, as it were, so great is my joy”]. Even Alma couldn’t describe the joy that comes from this work. But he tried, and I agree. I'm so happy it's like my soul leaves my body!
Random adventure--our car broke down this week, and it was a tender mercy that it broke in the city of Mlada Boleslav where the largest Skoda factory lies. The whole city is made around it. If it had broken in Jičín we would have been in trouble. But it didn’t, and we had no problems on the hour drive over even. Just when we were trying to leave Tomasz. So we called Skoda, and I tried to explain our car situation in CZECH.... haha, that was hilarious. And then a tow truck came, and we tried to convert the driver on our way over. Didn’t work, but he was great. The whole company knew us the second we walked in, because I am so loud, and everyone was talking about God and us, and we were laughing, and it was fantastic. But no one wanted to meet. But hey, it was a beautiful memory. Anyway, so the next day we picked it up. Verdict? RATS had chewed through the cords under the hood. Hahaha, we park by a dumpster on our street, soooo I guess that's not the best idea. But they taped everything back together, and we have a vehicle again. Hilarious.
On Saturday we [met some people who] started talking about God and talking about how [a lady] was a boy in the past life. [A member, who was with us,] bore testimony about how that is against the Plan of Salvation, and how it's not true, because our genders and roles are eternal. I reached into my bag and got out my Plan of Salvation pictures and explained the whole thing. One [person] told me, "I get goose bumps when you talk. Why is that?" And we bore testimony about how the Holy Ghost tells us when something is true. We invited everyone to Church. They didn’t come.
On Saturday we [met some people who] started talking about God and talking about how [a lady] was a boy in the past life. [A member, who was with us,] bore testimony about how that is against the Plan of Salvation, and how it's not true, because our genders and roles are eternal. I reached into my bag and got out my Plan of Salvation pictures and explained the whole thing. One [person] told me, "I get goose bumps when you talk. Why is that?" And we bore testimony about how the Holy Ghost tells us when something is true. We invited everyone to Church. They didn’t come.
On the way home we always drive through this village named Buda, which I find hilarious, so I asked Sister Dolinar if we could [look for people to teach throughout] the entire village, and she agreed. We pulled over and started. NOTHING. Everyone just had snarling dogs, and it was HOT, and we got yelled at, and man, was it draining. There was one house left, and Sister Dolinar and I both said silent prayers and went and rang the bell. A beautiful Ukrainian lady came out who talked to us about the confusion she has because of so many religions, about how her mother has passed on, and before she did so she had told her daughter that after this life they would no longer be daughter and mother, just spirits that wouldn’t recognize each other. I introduced the Book of Mormon, another testament of God's plan for us, and how in this book we can read about families and how they are so important, and I told her that God has prepared a way for her to be with her mom forever. Sister Dolinar asked her if she'd like a copy, and she said yes. We had actually given our copies out already that day, so we told her we'd return. I looked her in the eyes at the end and said, "God loves you, as does your mother. She still exists. You are her daughter, and she will always be your mother." And tears came to her eyes. Pray for this woman. She is ready and needs this gospel.
Anyway I should go. I love you all. The temple is a beautiful place, and I am grateful for it, because I know that families are forever. Nothing could beat that knowledge. Pray for me! I love you so much. I miss you all.
S laskou,
Sestra Izatt
P.S. My YEAR mark is this week! What the?!
Anyway I should go. I love you all. The temple is a beautiful place, and I am grateful for it, because I know that families are forever. Nothing could beat that knowledge. Pray for me! I love you so much. I miss you all.
S laskou,
Sestra Izatt
P.S. My YEAR mark is this week! What the?!