November 14, 2011:
This week was miracle week!
The picture you have all been waiting for... tatttadadaaaaaaaaa! Sister Brimhall and me at the email place... so like two seconds ago. Hahahah, she's so cute.
HELLOOOOO Family!
Greetings from Brno! THIS WEEK WAS MIRACLE WEEK!
First of all, [I’M SO EXCITED ABOUT MY NEW] COMPANION. I feel like I'm in heaven. We get so much done, and I am so happy all the time. It is such a blessing! Work truly is how we can be happ[y]. It's hard, but it is SO [GOOD]. God works hard, we should too! And when we do we are happ[y]. It is fabulous. I love Sister Brimhall. She is such a blessing. I have learned so much from her already! We get along great so far, and we are obeying all the rules to the T. I. Love. Her. And I LOVE MY MISSION.
HELLOOOOO Family!
Greetings from Brno! THIS WEEK WAS MIRACLE WEEK!
First of all, [I’M SO EXCITED ABOUT MY NEW] COMPANION. I feel like I'm in heaven. We get so much done, and I am so happy all the time. It is such a blessing! Work truly is how we can be happ[y]. It's hard, but it is SO [GOOD]. God works hard, we should too! And when we do we are happ[y]. It is fabulous. I love Sister Brimhall. She is such a blessing. I have learned so much from her already! We get along great so far, and we are obeying all the rules to the T. I. Love. Her. And I LOVE MY MISSION.
Miracles galore this week! Heavenly Father truly does bless us when we put the effort in. Remember how last week I spoke about the boy who had read the whole Book of Mormon, whom I [talked to] on the tram, but had stopped meeting with Elders? Well Sister Brimhall and I met with him this week, and he is CHANGING. It is so fantastic! I love watching people change as they come closer to Christ. His testimony is growing, and I love it. I love being able to bear testimony and use the scriptures to answer life questions people have. It is such a blessing. I am happy.
Watching someone you love accept the gospel is one of the most beautiful things you could experience. [An investigator] came to church which was District Conference this week, and he was happy. And afterwards we had a lesson outside where he agreed to what we were saying about life without addiction would make him the happiest. He wants to change. And we are here to help him. He said that he can’t do it by himself. And it's true. He can't, none of us can, but with Christ and with the Atonement it is POSSIBLE. And that possibility can start up hope which is the seed of faith. I love [this investigator], and I can’t wait to see how he is going to change. He needs this, and he wants it. He texts us when he's in a hard situation, and he is recognizing what we are saying as truth. [This investigator] wore cowboy boots to church, and when we talked about changing his life, he started clicking his heels. This man is a crack-up. He has a good heart, and Sister Brimhall and I love him so much! I am excited to tell you about his progress. It is coming, he has already come far.
Ok, ready for ANOTHER miracle?! [Another investigator] practically ASKED to be baptized yesterday. I am so happy. HE WANTS to be baptized! And he is going to be on December 30th [if everything goes well]. He is miracle dude! He has a testimony of the Book of Mormon, and every time he calls or we call him he says he hasn’t read much when he is already in Alma. He is a rockstar. And he just texted us about how he read the pamphlet [about the restoration of the gospel], and he loved it (he LOVES the pamphlets and asks for them, haha, it’s so great!) In “Preach My Gospel” it talks about people who want the truth, and they just don’t know where to find it. [This man] is this sort of person. He wants it, he has recognized it, and he is working on making this knowledge his own. I love that Christ in the Book of Mormon teaches the Nephites to go home, ponder about the things they have learned, and then pray about it to make the knowledge their own and so that they have a testimony of things. This is something I'm working on. As a missionary if you don’t have a testimony of something, you're going to get worn down real quick. There are little things that I need to keep praying about and gaining testimonies for, and this is something I am working on.
On a side note, last week I realized that in my plans for the day, I don’t set aside time for prayer at night. Prayer is something that actually takes time. As I have recognized that and have scheduled time to talk to my Heavenly Father, I feel myself getting stronger. I am happy that God listens, I know He does. I've always known. But this is a relationship I desire to keep working on. I'm so grateful to have it!
Ok, one more miracle! Can you handle it?! [One special sister] didn't answer my harassment calls this week, but she CAME TO CHURCH! Oh my gosh I jumped up when I saw her and hugged her huge and found her a seat in conference. She came! Without me harassing her. I was SO HAPPY. Bringing souls to church is kind of the best thing ever.
This morning in “Preach My Gospel” I was reading about how everyone needs the chance to either accept the gospel or decline it. But everyone needs that chance. I can’t promise you enough how much [seeing someone find and accept the gospel] will change your heart and how happy it will make you. Sister Brimhall is really really good about [talking to] people and giving them every possible way to reject or accept her message before she moves on. She starts with the message, then a contact card, then English, then perhaps family history... Don't let fear hold you back. I am thoroughly convinced Satan uses fear to immobilize the work. We must overcome that by faith, and talk to the world about what we know is true. Even if you only kind of know it is true, bear testimony, and if it IS true, which I know it is, the Holy Ghost will make you stronger and your testimony will grow and your ability to share the gospel will grow as well. Life is wonderful with the gospel, so share it with those you love most!
My new District is great, we have three more Elders than last transfer. Since everything is closed on Preparation Day here we can’t do much together, but if you remember those post cards I sent you with dead people on them you'll understand what I’m talking about... We are going to the crypt again! I told Sister Brimhall about the girl who got buried alive, and she was grossed out so I decided to drag the whole district into going to the crypt with us! Hahah, it'll be great. Guys like that kind of stuff. And I like it. Baahahah. Ok, well gotta run, time is out.
Please keep praying for my Czech. I feel like I'm going downhill and [I’ve gotten really] behind on things. I get really frustrated when things don’t stick in my brain. Keep praying, I need them. I feel them. Thank you for all the love vibes I feel from [you], and thank you for everything you do and for all your kind letters and support. God lives, I love Him, and I cannot wait to be able to stand at the judgment bar and tell Jesus I put everything on the line for him and worked my guts out. It's so worth it. Endure to the end! That's what it's all about. Blessings and more blessings.
I love you all,
Sestra Izatt
Watching someone you love accept the gospel is one of the most beautiful things you could experience. [An investigator] came to church which was District Conference this week, and he was happy. And afterwards we had a lesson outside where he agreed to what we were saying about life without addiction would make him the happiest. He wants to change. And we are here to help him. He said that he can’t do it by himself. And it's true. He can't, none of us can, but with Christ and with the Atonement it is POSSIBLE. And that possibility can start up hope which is the seed of faith. I love [this investigator], and I can’t wait to see how he is going to change. He needs this, and he wants it. He texts us when he's in a hard situation, and he is recognizing what we are saying as truth. [This investigator] wore cowboy boots to church, and when we talked about changing his life, he started clicking his heels. This man is a crack-up. He has a good heart, and Sister Brimhall and I love him so much! I am excited to tell you about his progress. It is coming, he has already come far.
Ok, ready for ANOTHER miracle?! [Another investigator] practically ASKED to be baptized yesterday. I am so happy. HE WANTS to be baptized! And he is going to be on December 30th [if everything goes well]. He is miracle dude! He has a testimony of the Book of Mormon, and every time he calls or we call him he says he hasn’t read much when he is already in Alma. He is a rockstar. And he just texted us about how he read the pamphlet [about the restoration of the gospel], and he loved it (he LOVES the pamphlets and asks for them, haha, it’s so great!) In “Preach My Gospel” it talks about people who want the truth, and they just don’t know where to find it. [This man] is this sort of person. He wants it, he has recognized it, and he is working on making this knowledge his own. I love that Christ in the Book of Mormon teaches the Nephites to go home, ponder about the things they have learned, and then pray about it to make the knowledge their own and so that they have a testimony of things. This is something I'm working on. As a missionary if you don’t have a testimony of something, you're going to get worn down real quick. There are little things that I need to keep praying about and gaining testimonies for, and this is something I am working on.
On a side note, last week I realized that in my plans for the day, I don’t set aside time for prayer at night. Prayer is something that actually takes time. As I have recognized that and have scheduled time to talk to my Heavenly Father, I feel myself getting stronger. I am happy that God listens, I know He does. I've always known. But this is a relationship I desire to keep working on. I'm so grateful to have it!
Ok, one more miracle! Can you handle it?! [One special sister] didn't answer my harassment calls this week, but she CAME TO CHURCH! Oh my gosh I jumped up when I saw her and hugged her huge and found her a seat in conference. She came! Without me harassing her. I was SO HAPPY. Bringing souls to church is kind of the best thing ever.
This morning in “Preach My Gospel” I was reading about how everyone needs the chance to either accept the gospel or decline it. But everyone needs that chance. I can’t promise you enough how much [seeing someone find and accept the gospel] will change your heart and how happy it will make you. Sister Brimhall is really really good about [talking to] people and giving them every possible way to reject or accept her message before she moves on. She starts with the message, then a contact card, then English, then perhaps family history... Don't let fear hold you back. I am thoroughly convinced Satan uses fear to immobilize the work. We must overcome that by faith, and talk to the world about what we know is true. Even if you only kind of know it is true, bear testimony, and if it IS true, which I know it is, the Holy Ghost will make you stronger and your testimony will grow and your ability to share the gospel will grow as well. Life is wonderful with the gospel, so share it with those you love most!
My new District is great, we have three more Elders than last transfer. Since everything is closed on Preparation Day here we can’t do much together, but if you remember those post cards I sent you with dead people on them you'll understand what I’m talking about... We are going to the crypt again! I told Sister Brimhall about the girl who got buried alive, and she was grossed out so I decided to drag the whole district into going to the crypt with us! Hahah, it'll be great. Guys like that kind of stuff. And I like it. Baahahah. Ok, well gotta run, time is out.
Please keep praying for my Czech. I feel like I'm going downhill and [I’ve gotten really] behind on things. I get really frustrated when things don’t stick in my brain. Keep praying, I need them. I feel them. Thank you for all the love vibes I feel from [you], and thank you for everything you do and for all your kind letters and support. God lives, I love Him, and I cannot wait to be able to stand at the judgment bar and tell Jesus I put everything on the line for him and worked my guts out. It's so worth it. Endure to the end! That's what it's all about. Blessings and more blessings.
I love you all,
Sestra Izatt