November 21, 2012:
It's amazing to me how God really does listen
‘Tis the week of excitement! I have been transferred! For the last five weeks of my Mission I will be serving in...
JIČÍN!!!! [Czech Republic]
AAAAAH, I LOVE JIČÍN! President called me and told me that I would also be training. Unfortunately there aren’t enough Sisters who don’t need visas to be in Slovakia for more than 60 days (aka I am the only one), and so he had to pull them out. But with the new announcement of Sisters going younger, he said that he thinks Sisters will be back there come March or so. So that'll be great. The first 19-year-old Sister has been called to our Mission, she's reporting soon. I hear that half of the missionary requests now are from girls. So so exciting.
ANYWAY, President said that he needs me back in Jičín. So of course I was thrilled. I wonder what Heavenly Father has on plan :)? And actually, I had a neat experience with transfers this time that I would like to share.
Earlier this last week I had texted the Jičín Elders to ask [about a member]. They texted back and said that they visited him once, but he hadn’t been to Church [lately]. I got that text, and I just prayed so hard that night. I was so heartbroken. I told Heavenly Father to please take care of him, because [he] was out of my jurisdiction, out of my area, and that if I was there I would do everything humanly possible to bring him back, but that I couldn’t do that now, and I needed God to do it for me. Then I waited. I took a few seconds, and then I told Heavenly Father, that if it was His will, I would love to serve again in Jičín, because I would bring [him] back. I promised Him I would. And all of a sudden, I got the strongest feeling that I would go back to Jičín. I ended my prayer with thanks, and my mind spinning with ideas. So, I knew that President would get the same feeling, which he did, and Heavenly Father had already prepped me for the call. It was a neat experience, and I know now that when the Scriptures say that when we ask for something that is good, with nothing wavering, and if it aligns with God's will, it will happen.
I know that as well, because when I prayed to serve with Sister Brimhall, I got the same feeling and confirmation that that would be ok, and so I knew that transfer call beforehand as well. But it's amazing to me how God really does listen. To me. To my desires, and because He knows how much I want to help, He has given me another chance to help my Jičín.
I never got to serve in Prague, I always wanted to so badly, but when I told that to Sister Brimhall, and I told her that Prague was my dream but that I guess Heavenly Father knows best, she replied with something beautiful and said, "Sister Izatt, Jičín was your dream, you just didn’t know it." And how true is that. I am so happy. I love these people so much. I love this gospel so much. My testimony is growing. I have traveled to deep valleys on my mission. But I have started to climb again, and Heavenly Father has brought me to peaks that I didn’t know possible. The fog has cleared, and I am climbing healthily again. Missions truly are mini lives packed into 18 months.
So, I am finally a trainer :). I had always wanted to be one, but we just didn’t get Sisters for the last 8 months! But this transfer we got FOUR! Aaaand I knew which one I'd be getting. She is tall and has red hair. Also because I am leaving mid-transfer, we are in a threesome. Sister Bowler will take over the training when I go.
I took a long bus ride to Prague Monday, and there Sister Bowler and I stayed the night with Sister Pysnakova (so fun I love her), and then the next morning we had a trainers’ meeting in President’s office and then went to go get our “babies!” We just love them. It was so great. And because Jičín wasn’t equipped to have a threesome, we got to travel to Jičín by van with a bed and a desk in the back :). Plus, the little Skoda can’t fit nine pieces of luggage into it! So, Elder Curtis drove the car up, full of luggage, and we all rode in this big blue mission van with Elder Bohne all the way to Jičín. I was SO GIDDY when we pulled up. It was late at night, and I got Elder Bohne to tell me his love story the whole way there which was great! And then we pulled up to the apartment, and while we were pulling stuff out of the cars, Elder Bohne told us to take our greenie to the Jičín tower just around the corner, so she could see how old it is. We got on the ‘nameste’ and I squinted my eyes, and yelled, "BROTHER TMEJ! AKO SA MATE?!" Yep. Two seconds in Jičín, and I am back in contact with the Tmejs. Unfortunately this time though only SLOVAK comes out of my mouth! Hahahahaaaa, he said, "Sister Izatt, we can never get rid of you!" And he was so happy. And I was just so happy. He was on his way to work, to translate Church things, late at night, but he took the time to carry all the suitcases and bed frames up the flights of stairs to our apartment. Because he lives the gospel. He has lost himself in service to others. I just love them. All! So much!
After the Elders (they are Seniors) built the beds, they left, and I charged the phone and immediately called [a member], and we are going over there Friday :). I cannot wait. We have to wait until the other Elders with a Skoda that isn’t stick come to switch cars. Josef and Daddy have taught me how to drive stick, but how many years ago was that? So I told them I'd be more comfortable with an automatic, so that's what they’re going to do. Plus when I leave, Sister Bowler has to take over, and she hasn’t ever driven stick. So we get our cute little car back! Yay. I'm excited. And I am SO excited to start teaching the lessons to [the member]. We are going to get ON that.
Today we are taking Sister Woodworth out [to talk to people]. [Talking to people] in threesomes is the worst, so I'll probably teach her, and then Sister Bowler will [talk] solo to make things easier. The Church has come out with this great new training program that they started the transfer right after I came in, so unfortunately I didn’t get to be a part of it, but it's amazing. I am loving it. It's hard being a trainer in a threesome. So it's a weird balance, because I've become a lot less “fighty” on my Mission, and sometimes it is easier to just let her do whatever, BUT, Heavenly Father has given me a training calling now, and so I must stand for that and magnify it. With love, and with trying to include everyone. It'll be a good transfer. Plus Sister Woodworth already speaks a lot more than I could! They've improved the teaching at the Missionary Training Center as well... Everything is just improving, and I can’t believe how great it all is! I love how important missionary work is, and I love that the Church gets it and just rocket ships it forward.
As for our last week in Banska, we met with that rockstar family again :). They are so great. I called again to confirm our appointment on Friday, and the dad answered and said that he was sick so we should come Sunday, and that they read the Book of Mormon introduction and don’t think it's in align with what they believe. That was weird for us though, because it really just testifies of Christ, so we decided to go over Sunday with the Nyes in the car, in between Church sessions and bear testimony about the Book of Mormon and commit them to letting the Elders come teach them some more. We got there though, and not only did they invite US in, but they went and got the Nyes out of the car to come in! And they hadn’t even met Elder Nye before! We all sat down, and they started with a prayer, and we were off. The wife told us of how they’d read that we believe that we can be together forever and that we can progress and have spirit children, and she
loved that. I told her that it is true and the Book of Mormon is how we can know that. She talked about how she wants her family to be built on a sure foundation, and that she thinks that is Christ.
I immediately flipped to Helaman 5:12 [= “And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.”], and I was about to shut the Book of Mormon when she lurched forward to mark the verse and save the page!
She also did that when we shared Alma 7 :11-13. [=11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.]
So... I think she's interested :). We left them, but it was a good commitment, plus they said the Elders could call and set up, and they would give the Book of Mormon a better chance. So I have high hopes from them. Elder Nye was astounded with them, said that all of our descriptions and stories of them were true, and that in fact they were even better than he had imagined. It was great. So, someday...
Well, I love you all so much! Thank you for the prayers and support. I'm trying to work my hardest. Sprint to the end. This has been some beautiful dream in a way. But then again, it's been so real, I've had the deepest emotions and experiences. I love that. I just love it all.
Back to work, I'll talk to you again on Monday!
Love from Jičín,
Sister Izatt
It's amazing to me how God really does listen
‘Tis the week of excitement! I have been transferred! For the last five weeks of my Mission I will be serving in...
JIČÍN!!!! [Czech Republic]
AAAAAH, I LOVE JIČÍN! President called me and told me that I would also be training. Unfortunately there aren’t enough Sisters who don’t need visas to be in Slovakia for more than 60 days (aka I am the only one), and so he had to pull them out. But with the new announcement of Sisters going younger, he said that he thinks Sisters will be back there come March or so. So that'll be great. The first 19-year-old Sister has been called to our Mission, she's reporting soon. I hear that half of the missionary requests now are from girls. So so exciting.
ANYWAY, President said that he needs me back in Jičín. So of course I was thrilled. I wonder what Heavenly Father has on plan :)? And actually, I had a neat experience with transfers this time that I would like to share.
Earlier this last week I had texted the Jičín Elders to ask [about a member]. They texted back and said that they visited him once, but he hadn’t been to Church [lately]. I got that text, and I just prayed so hard that night. I was so heartbroken. I told Heavenly Father to please take care of him, because [he] was out of my jurisdiction, out of my area, and that if I was there I would do everything humanly possible to bring him back, but that I couldn’t do that now, and I needed God to do it for me. Then I waited. I took a few seconds, and then I told Heavenly Father, that if it was His will, I would love to serve again in Jičín, because I would bring [him] back. I promised Him I would. And all of a sudden, I got the strongest feeling that I would go back to Jičín. I ended my prayer with thanks, and my mind spinning with ideas. So, I knew that President would get the same feeling, which he did, and Heavenly Father had already prepped me for the call. It was a neat experience, and I know now that when the Scriptures say that when we ask for something that is good, with nothing wavering, and if it aligns with God's will, it will happen.
I know that as well, because when I prayed to serve with Sister Brimhall, I got the same feeling and confirmation that that would be ok, and so I knew that transfer call beforehand as well. But it's amazing to me how God really does listen. To me. To my desires, and because He knows how much I want to help, He has given me another chance to help my Jičín.
I never got to serve in Prague, I always wanted to so badly, but when I told that to Sister Brimhall, and I told her that Prague was my dream but that I guess Heavenly Father knows best, she replied with something beautiful and said, "Sister Izatt, Jičín was your dream, you just didn’t know it." And how true is that. I am so happy. I love these people so much. I love this gospel so much. My testimony is growing. I have traveled to deep valleys on my mission. But I have started to climb again, and Heavenly Father has brought me to peaks that I didn’t know possible. The fog has cleared, and I am climbing healthily again. Missions truly are mini lives packed into 18 months.
So, I am finally a trainer :). I had always wanted to be one, but we just didn’t get Sisters for the last 8 months! But this transfer we got FOUR! Aaaand I knew which one I'd be getting. She is tall and has red hair. Also because I am leaving mid-transfer, we are in a threesome. Sister Bowler will take over the training when I go.
I took a long bus ride to Prague Monday, and there Sister Bowler and I stayed the night with Sister Pysnakova (so fun I love her), and then the next morning we had a trainers’ meeting in President’s office and then went to go get our “babies!” We just love them. It was so great. And because Jičín wasn’t equipped to have a threesome, we got to travel to Jičín by van with a bed and a desk in the back :). Plus, the little Skoda can’t fit nine pieces of luggage into it! So, Elder Curtis drove the car up, full of luggage, and we all rode in this big blue mission van with Elder Bohne all the way to Jičín. I was SO GIDDY when we pulled up. It was late at night, and I got Elder Bohne to tell me his love story the whole way there which was great! And then we pulled up to the apartment, and while we were pulling stuff out of the cars, Elder Bohne told us to take our greenie to the Jičín tower just around the corner, so she could see how old it is. We got on the ‘nameste’ and I squinted my eyes, and yelled, "BROTHER TMEJ! AKO SA MATE?!" Yep. Two seconds in Jičín, and I am back in contact with the Tmejs. Unfortunately this time though only SLOVAK comes out of my mouth! Hahahahaaaa, he said, "Sister Izatt, we can never get rid of you!" And he was so happy. And I was just so happy. He was on his way to work, to translate Church things, late at night, but he took the time to carry all the suitcases and bed frames up the flights of stairs to our apartment. Because he lives the gospel. He has lost himself in service to others. I just love them. All! So much!
After the Elders (they are Seniors) built the beds, they left, and I charged the phone and immediately called [a member], and we are going over there Friday :). I cannot wait. We have to wait until the other Elders with a Skoda that isn’t stick come to switch cars. Josef and Daddy have taught me how to drive stick, but how many years ago was that? So I told them I'd be more comfortable with an automatic, so that's what they’re going to do. Plus when I leave, Sister Bowler has to take over, and she hasn’t ever driven stick. So we get our cute little car back! Yay. I'm excited. And I am SO excited to start teaching the lessons to [the member]. We are going to get ON that.
Today we are taking Sister Woodworth out [to talk to people]. [Talking to people] in threesomes is the worst, so I'll probably teach her, and then Sister Bowler will [talk] solo to make things easier. The Church has come out with this great new training program that they started the transfer right after I came in, so unfortunately I didn’t get to be a part of it, but it's amazing. I am loving it. It's hard being a trainer in a threesome. So it's a weird balance, because I've become a lot less “fighty” on my Mission, and sometimes it is easier to just let her do whatever, BUT, Heavenly Father has given me a training calling now, and so I must stand for that and magnify it. With love, and with trying to include everyone. It'll be a good transfer. Plus Sister Woodworth already speaks a lot more than I could! They've improved the teaching at the Missionary Training Center as well... Everything is just improving, and I can’t believe how great it all is! I love how important missionary work is, and I love that the Church gets it and just rocket ships it forward.
As for our last week in Banska, we met with that rockstar family again :). They are so great. I called again to confirm our appointment on Friday, and the dad answered and said that he was sick so we should come Sunday, and that they read the Book of Mormon introduction and don’t think it's in align with what they believe. That was weird for us though, because it really just testifies of Christ, so we decided to go over Sunday with the Nyes in the car, in between Church sessions and bear testimony about the Book of Mormon and commit them to letting the Elders come teach them some more. We got there though, and not only did they invite US in, but they went and got the Nyes out of the car to come in! And they hadn’t even met Elder Nye before! We all sat down, and they started with a prayer, and we were off. The wife told us of how they’d read that we believe that we can be together forever and that we can progress and have spirit children, and she
loved that. I told her that it is true and the Book of Mormon is how we can know that. She talked about how she wants her family to be built on a sure foundation, and that she thinks that is Christ.
I immediately flipped to Helaman 5:12 [= “And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.”], and I was about to shut the Book of Mormon when she lurched forward to mark the verse and save the page!
She also did that when we shared Alma 7 :11-13. [=11 And he shall go forth, suffering pains and afflictions and temptations of every kind; and this that the word might be fulfilled which saith he will take upon him the pains and the sicknesses of his people.
12 And he will take upon him death, that he may loose the bands of death which bind his people; and he will take upon him their infirmities, that his bowels may be filled with mercy, according to the flesh, that he may know according to the flesh how to succor his people according to their infirmities.
13 Now the Spirit knoweth all things; nevertheless the Son of God suffereth according to the flesh that he might take upon him the sins of his people, that he might blot out their transgressions according to the power of his deliverance; and now behold, this is the testimony which is in me.]
So... I think she's interested :). We left them, but it was a good commitment, plus they said the Elders could call and set up, and they would give the Book of Mormon a better chance. So I have high hopes from them. Elder Nye was astounded with them, said that all of our descriptions and stories of them were true, and that in fact they were even better than he had imagined. It was great. So, someday...
Well, I love you all so much! Thank you for the prayers and support. I'm trying to work my hardest. Sprint to the end. This has been some beautiful dream in a way. But then again, it's been so real, I've had the deepest emotions and experiences. I love that. I just love it all.
Back to work, I'll talk to you again on Monday!
Love from Jičín,
Sister Izatt