Sister Brimhall and me. Bahaha.
December 12, 2011:
Happy Vánoce
Hi everyone! This week flew by again. I think I probably say that every week, haha, but it's true!! This week ended really well, and I am excited to tell you about my stories! First off, if I look fatter in my pictures, it's not because I am gaining weight. I don't think I am--it's because I wear:
-3 pairs of LEGGINGS
-3 pairs of socks
-2 shirts
-1 or 2 sweaters
-1 fleece liner
-1 pair of boots
- 2 pairs of gloves
-1 massive coat
and... -1 scarf
EVERY DAY. I feel like a balloon! But I have fun with it by running into walls and building corners. Goooodness days are cold here! Since it's the holiday season we are outside much more, because people don’t feel like they have the time to meet with us, and people on the street are busy preparing for Christmas so they don't want to meet. So we get to be outside a LOT. But it's ok. We're doing the Lord's work. And hours go fast when you're working hard. Life is good, but yes. I look like a BLOB. All of the Elders say I have a "wardrobe" I have to put on every time I go out from the Church, and it's true. It takes me about 5 minutes to get everything on, hahahha, oh goodness. I can't wait for the sun. I've been using my blue light (mother, insert explanation here) [= energy light to fight against the “Winter Blues” or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)] every day, and it's hilarious. Sister Brimhall yesterday said, "Why is it so much harder to get up every day?" and I was studying with my blue light, and I said, “Here, try this!” and I shoved it on her full blast, and she died. She couldn’t handle it. So funny. The sun sets here around 4 pm, so it gets cold and dark, but thank heavens for Christmas lights! They are a lovely thing! And if the sun didn’t set so early it'd sort of be a pity since the Christmases on this side of the world are SO pretty.
Happy Vánoce
Hi everyone! This week flew by again. I think I probably say that every week, haha, but it's true!! This week ended really well, and I am excited to tell you about my stories! First off, if I look fatter in my pictures, it's not because I am gaining weight. I don't think I am--it's because I wear:
-3 pairs of LEGGINGS
-3 pairs of socks
-2 shirts
-1 or 2 sweaters
-1 fleece liner
-1 pair of boots
- 2 pairs of gloves
-1 massive coat
and... -1 scarf
EVERY DAY. I feel like a balloon! But I have fun with it by running into walls and building corners. Goooodness days are cold here! Since it's the holiday season we are outside much more, because people don’t feel like they have the time to meet with us, and people on the street are busy preparing for Christmas so they don't want to meet. So we get to be outside a LOT. But it's ok. We're doing the Lord's work. And hours go fast when you're working hard. Life is good, but yes. I look like a BLOB. All of the Elders say I have a "wardrobe" I have to put on every time I go out from the Church, and it's true. It takes me about 5 minutes to get everything on, hahahha, oh goodness. I can't wait for the sun. I've been using my blue light (mother, insert explanation here) [= energy light to fight against the “Winter Blues” or Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)] every day, and it's hilarious. Sister Brimhall yesterday said, "Why is it so much harder to get up every day?" and I was studying with my blue light, and I said, “Here, try this!” and I shoved it on her full blast, and she died. She couldn’t handle it. So funny. The sun sets here around 4 pm, so it gets cold and dark, but thank heavens for Christmas lights! They are a lovely thing! And if the sun didn’t set so early it'd sort of be a pity since the Christmases on this side of the world are SO pretty.
The Nativity you sent with my candle. Adorable.
A little bit of Czech Vánoce info--(Czech Christmas info)--people here don't believe in Santa. They think that Baby Jesus delivers the gifts. Oh my gosh so funny. Anyway, so they have endings you can put on words to make them sound cute and small. Ježíšek is how you know it's Baby Jesus. So you send letters to Ježíšek. It's fantastic. What a good idea, since He is the giver of all worthwhile gifts anyway!! There is this MASSIVE Nativity on náměstí Svobody (the town square) where we [talk to people] and, hahah, oh my word, so Sister Brimhall and I were looking at it and taking pictures, and then it dawned on me... I leaned over to Sister Brimhall and said, "Sister, where's Jesus?" and she put down her camera, looked around and started laughing. There is no Jesus in this massive Nativity. So I went over to this old couple looking at the Nativity, and I said, “Excuse me? Where is Jesus?” and they pointed to where Jesus SHOULD have been, and then they realized he was missing. They craned their necks for about a minute and then said, "I think he'll show up on the 24th." Aaaahahaa I DIED. But I guess that's what's happening. Man. Life is funny here.
A youth in the Branch with a Finnish flag on his shirt.
SO miracles. Guess how many of our investigators came to Church this week? Five. Five fabulous investigators. And two less active [members]. I was so happy! I love seeing people I love at Church! Church is such a good place to be on Sunday. [Our investigator from Syria] came, and he looked SO tired. I sat down by him, and after sacrament Elder Williams shook his hand, and then [our investigator] said, "I got to bed at 3:30 am last night, and then I woke up at 7 because my hand was hurting really badly. I tried to go back to sleep, but it was just throbbing and throbbing so I couldn’t sleep. So I thought about it, and I realized that I had promised to come to Church, so I took it as God telling me to come to Church." ISN’T THAT FANTASTIC!!! Oh goodness. I could not stop smiling. (P.S. ‘fantastic’ is my new word--I say it about 200 times a day). I loved that [he] could see God in his life. Church as a missionary is so wonderful when you have investigators. The last two weeks we'd had NONE show up, and then this week FIVE came. It was sooooo great! It reminded me of how when you get blessed sometimes you're promised you won’t have room enough to receive it.... yep. That's missionaries with five investigators at Church. So many people to love, and you only have one mouth and one body! It's crazy and so wonderful. Oh and also this week two of [this investigator’s] best friends got arrested, but then they were set free. [He] is very happy about that, and I don’t really understand what’s going on in Syria obviously, but sheesh! I am grateful that fear is not something I have to live with at the moment.
On Friday we were out on the streets [talking to people] when we ran into [some hungry people]. So I opened my backpack and gave them my crackers and all my chocolate, and [the little boy] just tore into them. Unfortunately, we [aren’t allowed to] just hand food out, because then homeless people would start coming to the Church regularly, and we already have a problem with homeless people begging at the Church. Man, it just tore my heart out. It's hard being a missionary, seeing people on the streets begging, and saying you can’t give them money. It just kills you when you can’t do anything. [The LDS Church Humanitarian Department distributes food and aid all over the world, whereas the local congregations are organized to care for their members’ needs. Members are encouraged to become self-reliant and then help care for those in need according to their ability.]
Sister Brimhall, her new hair, and the salon guy.
Even if just seeing us once a week helps [our investigators] feel happier, which I know it does, that's what God helps with, because God wants his [children] to be happy, and He wants [them] to return to Him someday. [Some of them] want to, but [sometimes their] choices have started holding [them] down from that, and that's what [they are] struggling with. Every choice has a consequence. It's frustrating when you try to make good choices on behalf of people who then make bad ones that cancel out your good choice, but you know what? I have grown SO much from knowing [my investigators]. My heart just explodes for [them]. I wake up many times a night with names and ideas and Czech phrases in my head. Haha, but keep praying for [them]. [They are] good [people].
I set up the little people you sent in flour so it looked like snow.
Every night I write in my journal and see Heavenly Father blessing my life. Isn't it crazy that we are part of the ORIGINAL Church of Christ? I think that is fantastic. I love reading the scriptures and really digging deep into feelings I'm having and questions that come up. Through the scriptures I gain so much inspiration, and I feel my heart changing for the better. When I start my day with the scriptures my days go by better, and my life starts going uphill. I love this gospel. People ask me all the time what on earth makes me so happy. And I tell them. "I love God" is what I say. Some say that "maybe you'd still be that happy even if you didn’t love God." and I say, "No way!" God gives us more happiness than we can imagine. I feel SO much peace when I live according to the laws He has set forth. He made me, my spirit, my body, and so He knows how to make both of those things the happiest. And because God is my loving Heavenly Father, my happiness is what He works for. I love that. I love that so much, and I love Him so much!
I hope you all have a great week...! Merry Christmas by the way! P.S.... you call ME, I don't call you. But maybe next week I'll have the info. President hasn’t really explained everything yet.
Can’t wait to hear your voices! I love you all. Merry Christmas from the wonderful land of the Czech Republic.
s laskou,
Sestra Satu Izatt
I hope you all have a great week...! Merry Christmas by the way! P.S.... you call ME, I don't call you. But maybe next week I'll have the info. President hasn’t really explained everything yet.
Can’t wait to hear your voices! I love you all. Merry Christmas from the wonderful land of the Czech Republic.
s laskou,
Sestra Satu Izatt