Oct 3, 2011:
Missionary work wears you out, but it's the best feeling in the world!
P.S. The picture is one Sister Smith took of me during language study in the morning. I had a little [virus] episode this week, and one day I literally couldn’t keep my eyes open. I fell asleep in the middle of my sentence; it was bizarre. I'm over it though! Only lasted a day, and my throat only hurt for two. But the picture is hilarious. Because the apartment is FREEZING so I wear leggings and thick socks and a scarf and sweater while studying, and then my face is just full on planted to the ground. Hah! Missionary work wears you out! But it's the best feeling in the world!!!!
Missionary work wears you out, but it's the best feeling in the world!
P.S. The picture is one Sister Smith took of me during language study in the morning. I had a little [virus] episode this week, and one day I literally couldn’t keep my eyes open. I fell asleep in the middle of my sentence; it was bizarre. I'm over it though! Only lasted a day, and my throat only hurt for two. But the picture is hilarious. Because the apartment is FREEZING so I wear leggings and thick socks and a scarf and sweater while studying, and then my face is just full on planted to the ground. Hah! Missionary work wears you out! But it's the best feeling in the world!!!!
Hi again :)
This week wasn't as exciting as others, but I still loved it! Weeks go by fast here. I can't believe it. Daddy told me to cherish each day, and that's come to my mind many times, because it helps me not only just be happy always but to really live up each moment. I love being here. I love the people. One night Sister Smith asked me what my favorite part of my mission is, and I said people’s eyes. I just love watching the changes. I don’t know if I've mentioned that before, but this week teaching Siegfried really re-emphasized this for me. He has the kindest eyes, and it's because his kind spirit shines through them.
Siegfried is the man I met on the tram and threw a contact card at who then came to church on Sunday. He is wonderful. We challenged him to stop smoking and drinking this week, and he was ready for the challenge. He knows God, and that makes all the difference. Daddy told me once also that my job is to open my mouth, and then, using scripture, he told me that the sheep that know the Master's voice will follow. It is so true. I haven’t had to do much at all with Siegfried except for just open my mouth. He loves church, and he loves meeting with us. He never likes just chit-chatting. He always asks us what we are going to learn that day, and we jump right in. We never have to pull teeth with him, and it's the best feeling ever. I love it. When things are right they just work out. No fighting, they just work out. My job is to find people who are ready. It's rough because so many people aren't ready. But even those who aren't as easily led [by the Spirit] as Siegfried is, but who still learn and crave the Spirit are ready. I love being a teacher, even though I can't say much. Siegfried calls me the sun. He says that I'm always happy, and it makes him happy too. I am so grateful for this obnoxious laugh of mine. I am grateful I love people so easily. It hurts sometimes, but it's worth it.
Anetta stopped coming to our lessons this week. One day she just disappeared. We think it's because she is underaged and her parents were against her visiting with us. We sent her home with a Liahona [= church magazine] that she was SO excited to read, and then she never texted us back or answered our calls. It was really hard, but I guess it happens! [There are a lot] of people who had months and months worth of lessons and then for some reason or another decide to stop taking lessons. I am going to face a whole lot of heartbreak out here, but with God all things are possible. And it's a good heartbreak. Heartbreak means we're trying.
This last week was my first Czech week. Czech week is when you only speak Czech (or whatever language your mission has). I loved Czech week, but we ended up speaking some English since I am still totally clueless. By the end of the week though, the lack of success was really weighing down on us. Not only are people apathetic to our existence, but some are ruder than you can imagine. It really weighs your spirit down when something so dear to you is spit upon. It's rough, so we started taking scripture breaks every half hour while [talking to people] as to keep us smiling and really have the power behind our words. We just flip open the Book of Mormon and read the first thing we see. Sister Smith said that last transfer [= 8-9 week time period] every scripture they read was really uplifting, and it helped them a lot. I am bad luck I guess though because EVERY scripture we'd read was about how people's iniquities and whoredoms led them to everlasting destruction and hell. I would just CRACK up laughing though which would make Sister Smith laugh, and by the end of flipping to two or three pages our spirits would be in good moods again because we'd gotten a good laugh.
On Saturday though I asked her if we could just sit and read for a few minutes. I came across something beautiful that is going to be this week's personal motto. It's found in 3 Nephi 5:13 which reads, "Behold I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of Him to declare His word among His people, that they might have everlasting life." Isn’t that just lovely? I love it. I think about that often, and I am grateful for the time I have to be a disciple of Christ. Isn't that such a blessing? I get to declare His word, so that people can be saved and be with their spiritual and mortal families forever. I am so blessed.
Some days I look around at people with their friends, or girls shopping, or young people holding hands, and I feel like this mission is going to take forever. But I don't think those feelings are from God. Because when I have the Spirit with me, I am sad that three months have passed already. I don't want to count the days. I want to enjoy every moment, "cherish each day." And I do, when I have Heavenly Father behind me.
We had an interesting experience with a man who some other Sisters referred from Prague. We went to the park and right when we sat down he pulled his shirt off and wouldn’t put it back on. He said that the sun is God, and that God makes him happy. OH bother. We finally convinced him that this was a formal meeting to talk about Christ, and he got his shirt back on. The next hour was the most bizarre conversation I've had yet. He twisted our words and mocked God. He told us that he'd like to talk about nature with us sometime because that's what he believes in. I told him that nature is good and fine, and that God is a big part of nature, because He created it, but that this next year and a half I have is dedicated to God. I am here to declare His word and bring people closer to Christ. I then asked if we could end in prayer, and he said we could do whatever we wanted (he wouldn’t let us start with prayer) so I prayed, and I made it as sincere as I could. Then he laughed at me and started "praying to the tree" while mocking my beliefs and mocking my relationship with Heavenly Father. I have never felt such passion fill my body. I stood up, and I firmly told him that God is sacred, and our message is sacred. I told him that I would not stand by and let God be mocked. Words just spilled out of my mouth, and then it was silent. He looked at me after a few moments and said, "I wasn’t REALLY mocking you." and I said, “Yes you were." Then he said, "You're right, I was." Sister Smith stood up with me and said, "I'm sorry if we seem rude but, Goodbye." and then we left. This morning (two days later) we got a text saying that he'd been thinking about the mocking incident and would like to email. I told him that we only email family, but he is welcome to come to church on Sunday. It was a weird experience, and I am grateful the Spirit puts words in your mouth, because normally when I get angry or flabbergasted I start stuttering. But not this time. I know that what I have to say is true, and I know that God will help me when needed to say things that need to be said. I am grateful for that, and I am grateful that after the hard times come the good.
We left and [talked to] this lady on a bench who started crying when I bore my testimony about Christ's love for her. She didn't want to hear more, but I am grateful I am a mouthpiece for good. I am grateful I have this tag on my chest. I am SO happy you named me Christina. I get to not only literally bear His name here, but after my mission as well. Forever and ever. When I was young I looked up my name, and it means follower of Christ. I am grateful for this, and I will serve Him forever. We can never stop serving, but then in return we never stop receiving blessings and becoming better people. I love the gospel, and I love this cycle.
I hope everyone is doing well. I miss you all, but I am happy to be here. We're going to go to this little market they have outside and see if there's anything yummy.
I love you.
-Sister Izatt
This week wasn't as exciting as others, but I still loved it! Weeks go by fast here. I can't believe it. Daddy told me to cherish each day, and that's come to my mind many times, because it helps me not only just be happy always but to really live up each moment. I love being here. I love the people. One night Sister Smith asked me what my favorite part of my mission is, and I said people’s eyes. I just love watching the changes. I don’t know if I've mentioned that before, but this week teaching Siegfried really re-emphasized this for me. He has the kindest eyes, and it's because his kind spirit shines through them.
Siegfried is the man I met on the tram and threw a contact card at who then came to church on Sunday. He is wonderful. We challenged him to stop smoking and drinking this week, and he was ready for the challenge. He knows God, and that makes all the difference. Daddy told me once also that my job is to open my mouth, and then, using scripture, he told me that the sheep that know the Master's voice will follow. It is so true. I haven’t had to do much at all with Siegfried except for just open my mouth. He loves church, and he loves meeting with us. He never likes just chit-chatting. He always asks us what we are going to learn that day, and we jump right in. We never have to pull teeth with him, and it's the best feeling ever. I love it. When things are right they just work out. No fighting, they just work out. My job is to find people who are ready. It's rough because so many people aren't ready. But even those who aren't as easily led [by the Spirit] as Siegfried is, but who still learn and crave the Spirit are ready. I love being a teacher, even though I can't say much. Siegfried calls me the sun. He says that I'm always happy, and it makes him happy too. I am so grateful for this obnoxious laugh of mine. I am grateful I love people so easily. It hurts sometimes, but it's worth it.
Anetta stopped coming to our lessons this week. One day she just disappeared. We think it's because she is underaged and her parents were against her visiting with us. We sent her home with a Liahona [= church magazine] that she was SO excited to read, and then she never texted us back or answered our calls. It was really hard, but I guess it happens! [There are a lot] of people who had months and months worth of lessons and then for some reason or another decide to stop taking lessons. I am going to face a whole lot of heartbreak out here, but with God all things are possible. And it's a good heartbreak. Heartbreak means we're trying.
This last week was my first Czech week. Czech week is when you only speak Czech (or whatever language your mission has). I loved Czech week, but we ended up speaking some English since I am still totally clueless. By the end of the week though, the lack of success was really weighing down on us. Not only are people apathetic to our existence, but some are ruder than you can imagine. It really weighs your spirit down when something so dear to you is spit upon. It's rough, so we started taking scripture breaks every half hour while [talking to people] as to keep us smiling and really have the power behind our words. We just flip open the Book of Mormon and read the first thing we see. Sister Smith said that last transfer [= 8-9 week time period] every scripture they read was really uplifting, and it helped them a lot. I am bad luck I guess though because EVERY scripture we'd read was about how people's iniquities and whoredoms led them to everlasting destruction and hell. I would just CRACK up laughing though which would make Sister Smith laugh, and by the end of flipping to two or three pages our spirits would be in good moods again because we'd gotten a good laugh.
On Saturday though I asked her if we could just sit and read for a few minutes. I came across something beautiful that is going to be this week's personal motto. It's found in 3 Nephi 5:13 which reads, "Behold I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of Him to declare His word among His people, that they might have everlasting life." Isn’t that just lovely? I love it. I think about that often, and I am grateful for the time I have to be a disciple of Christ. Isn't that such a blessing? I get to declare His word, so that people can be saved and be with their spiritual and mortal families forever. I am so blessed.
Some days I look around at people with their friends, or girls shopping, or young people holding hands, and I feel like this mission is going to take forever. But I don't think those feelings are from God. Because when I have the Spirit with me, I am sad that three months have passed already. I don't want to count the days. I want to enjoy every moment, "cherish each day." And I do, when I have Heavenly Father behind me.
We had an interesting experience with a man who some other Sisters referred from Prague. We went to the park and right when we sat down he pulled his shirt off and wouldn’t put it back on. He said that the sun is God, and that God makes him happy. OH bother. We finally convinced him that this was a formal meeting to talk about Christ, and he got his shirt back on. The next hour was the most bizarre conversation I've had yet. He twisted our words and mocked God. He told us that he'd like to talk about nature with us sometime because that's what he believes in. I told him that nature is good and fine, and that God is a big part of nature, because He created it, but that this next year and a half I have is dedicated to God. I am here to declare His word and bring people closer to Christ. I then asked if we could end in prayer, and he said we could do whatever we wanted (he wouldn’t let us start with prayer) so I prayed, and I made it as sincere as I could. Then he laughed at me and started "praying to the tree" while mocking my beliefs and mocking my relationship with Heavenly Father. I have never felt such passion fill my body. I stood up, and I firmly told him that God is sacred, and our message is sacred. I told him that I would not stand by and let God be mocked. Words just spilled out of my mouth, and then it was silent. He looked at me after a few moments and said, "I wasn’t REALLY mocking you." and I said, “Yes you were." Then he said, "You're right, I was." Sister Smith stood up with me and said, "I'm sorry if we seem rude but, Goodbye." and then we left. This morning (two days later) we got a text saying that he'd been thinking about the mocking incident and would like to email. I told him that we only email family, but he is welcome to come to church on Sunday. It was a weird experience, and I am grateful the Spirit puts words in your mouth, because normally when I get angry or flabbergasted I start stuttering. But not this time. I know that what I have to say is true, and I know that God will help me when needed to say things that need to be said. I am grateful for that, and I am grateful that after the hard times come the good.
We left and [talked to] this lady on a bench who started crying when I bore my testimony about Christ's love for her. She didn't want to hear more, but I am grateful I am a mouthpiece for good. I am grateful I have this tag on my chest. I am SO happy you named me Christina. I get to not only literally bear His name here, but after my mission as well. Forever and ever. When I was young I looked up my name, and it means follower of Christ. I am grateful for this, and I will serve Him forever. We can never stop serving, but then in return we never stop receiving blessings and becoming better people. I love the gospel, and I love this cycle.
I hope everyone is doing well. I miss you all, but I am happy to be here. We're going to go to this little market they have outside and see if there's anything yummy.
I love you.
-Sister Izatt