November 9, 2011:
I am staying in Brno, and I have a new companion!
Hi again!
Well here I am! Sorry that I couldn’t email until today! Transfer week and all. I am staying in BRNO! And I am so happy about it. I love it here, and I love the members. The Francis couple and I dropped Sister Smith off at the bus station this morning, and she was off! She has been so excited about going home; it was wonderful to see her end her mission and be so thrilled about seeing family again etc. She left at 10:30 this morning, and my new companion, Sister Brimhall, was coming in across the street at the train station at 10:37. Perfect timing. And the Francis couple were so nice because they drove so that we wouldn’t have to deal with suitcases on and off trams (it is the WORST and also your elbows KILL because of dragging them on cobblestone), so it was soo nice of them. Anyway we got to the train station, and I couldn’t find my companion anywhere. But we saw SO many Elders--it was SO FUN! We only had two sets of Elders last transfer, but this transfer Brno got a whole new set! Isn’t that the best? Aah I can’t wait. Plus Elder Odell from my group at the MTC is here now, so it is always fun to see familiar faces. Elder Bird got transferred, but I shall still know Elders Park, Odell, and Meiling. It's going to be the best. Anyway, so Sister Francis and I were reading the arrival board when Elder Francis left for a minute to do his business. We were trying to find what platform my companion would be on when a man came up to me and said, “Can I learn about your church?” I was like uh... YES! And CZECH CAME OUT OF MY MOUTH. It was so cool. And it wasn’t perfect, but I got an appointment set up with him, and he is coming to church on Monday! YES. That has never happened before! HE contacted ME. And it was hilarious, because I obviously didn’t understand everything he was saying, but we communicated enough to get the point across. It was so great! Such a blessing. Anyway, we saw a lone Elder wandering the halls after we'd run up and down to every train possible, and so I asked him if he'd seen my companion. He had! But she was at some totally obscure platform, so thank heavens for nametags where we can see who the missionaries are etc. and all come together! That train station this morning was rockin’. We had about 15 missionaries in there; it was so exciting. I met my companion, and I felt so legit because I knew where to take her to get her tram pass etc. before we went home. Her name is Sister Brimhall, she went to BYU [Brigham Young University] as well, and she is adorable. We are going to get along so well, I can already tell. She is deaf in her right ear, so I will always be standing on her left side! This is gonna be rockin’!
Sister Brimhall has only been in the country for two more months than me. So I shall be learning much Czech this transfer! I can’t wait. There are four new Sisters here as of yesterday, and because the Czech Republic only has so few Sisters, all Sisters who are older than I am in the mission are training. So I got Sister Brimhall! We are going to be on FIRE. Prepare yourselves for mission miracles because they are coming. She is just as passionate as I am, and she is so ready to hit the pavement and work. I am thrilled to be working with her. I unfortunately forgot my camera cord in all the excitement of the day, but pictures will be coming. She is short with long brown hair. She is so nice! While she unpacked I told her about the branch, and I told her about how we have so much we must do, and she was so excited. We both agreed that we will be speaking as much Czech as possible, and I told her to correct me and not hold anything back. I am ready to learn! I can’t wait. She is great. I love her already! Pictures to come. So that's the transfer news. I am staying in Brno and working with Sister Brimhall. And Brno has seven Elders now (one threesome) HOLLAH! Missions are the best. I am so lucky to be here. Alright and now to last week's stories:
Last week was great. On Friday, there was a branch service project! So we woke up and put our JEANS on! (Felt sooo good) and we went over to this bike trail where we were going to clean. I was so happy with the turnout! We got to wear bright yellow t-shirts, and we walked around and picked up trash. IT WAS DISGUSTING. Three of us got about six or seven garbage bags FULL of stuff in just one little area. I guess people go there to do dirty things, because we found underwear, drug needles, and TONS of beer cans. It was disgusting. More than disgusting, though, I just felt SO glad that I was not and never have been part of that sort of lifestyle. Satan's life that he offers is full of darkness, pain, and filth. Christ offers clear minds, happiness, and peace. I am so glad I get to share that. And I am SO glad that I understand the difference between true happiness and the "happiness" the world has to offer. I loved being with the branch, and serving together always makes people bond the best way possible.
Another really neat thing that happened this weekend was FHE [= Family Home Evening] for the young single adults this Monday. So last week during personal study I had the thought that the YSA [= Young Single Adults] here need to start doing family history. We learned about that in conference, and it would really be a good thing to get started. So I acted on this idea and figured out who the branch family history specialist was and asked if he could come talk to the youth at FHE. He said that this week he could, and it was a good thing I called because usually he can’t or something. And no one else was scheduled to teach that Monday, so it was perfect! So I had Sister Smith send out a text to the YSA about how they need to bring their family history charts etc. And then we called everyone during the week to remind them. The Francis couple are in charge of the youth here, and afterwards they said that it was such a hit! They told me that it was the best turnout they'd had for FHE since May. Can you believe that?! I was so happy! God gives us inspiration! I know He does! And when we act on it immediately wonderful things happen! I love that! And I was so blessed to have gotten an idea like that. God is in charge. And good things happen if we work for them, and if they are in God's plan.
Also last week I contacted a man on the tram who wanted to speak English, so we did. We found out that he'd actually met with the missionaries before and had read the WHOLE Book of Mormon, but had done so skeptically. So I told him to come meet with us at the church. HAHA Sister Smith was going to kill me, but it actually turned out really well. We taught him yesterday, and it was a beautiful lesson. Because we spoke in English I was able to really talk to him and figure out what his issue was. We talked about trust, and he told us he has trust issues. I told him that learning that the Book of Mormon was true would require some faith, which he said he was afraid to leap into. The Spirit was strong, and the member we taught with had a powerful testimony. We really made progress with this man. Well, the Spirit really made progress with him. He doesn’t understand his relationship with God, and I think that that is a crucial part of understanding that the Book of Mormon is true. Because if you don’t pray about it how can you gain a true witness further than just feeling like it’s a good book? There are many good books out there, but the Book of Mormon is scripture. And it leads to the restored gospel. Asking God is crucial in the conversion process. I had him read some scriptures in Third Nephi, I believe, about likening scripture. And then I asked him if something in the Book of Mormon had helped him. He said that he liked Lehi’s story about how the Liahona didn’t work when the family was fighting. He then said that it taught him that he had to have strong family relationships in order for things to function smoothly and well. I loved that testimony! And I told him that was exactly what likening scripture was. He will be meeting with us again on Friday. I love having the opportunity to watch people's hearts change. I love watching their eyes change. I love bearing my testimony always. It's a beautiful work, and I am honored to be doing it.
I love the gospel. I love my Savior. He is real. My mission plaque scripture is my motto. I love being here. I can’t wait to speak Czech in a way that I'll be able to communicate with my brothers and sisters here. Life is good over here. Keep me and my companion in your prayers! We need as much faith as we can get! I feel myself changing, and I LOVE IT.
Love you all,
Sister Satu Izatt
P.S. Sorry to have a P.S. that isn’t very spiritual, but guess what?! You know how in Alma he has a really rough time being a missionary? Well... I got spit upon this week! And it was awesome because now I can say that it's happened, and booyes I am a true missionary. I love being hated, because the harder I work to bring the world the truth the more hated I become, but the more miracles I see.
[A]lso one man who was HUGE and RED opened his door in his BOXERS and started yelling at us. I swear, the Spirit makes you so calm because I just looked at him and tried to figure out what on earth he was yelling about. He told us to go out some random door out a window down the hall. And then he slammed the door. I looked to my left because the door I had come in was literally two feet away, but he must have been looking out the peephole because then he opened the door again, leaned towards me and yelled… So we just walked the way he pointed and found a door and left. HAH. Good story. I am a missionary! And it is ROCKIN’! Love you all. Don’t let big red men in boxers scare you. You'll be alright.
Oh also, on the LDS youth website is a new video about youth in Eastern Europe reading the Book of Mormon. I know all the ones from Czech Republic! They are in the branch here! Fun! Small world.
I love you so much!
I am staying in Brno, and I have a new companion!
Hi again!
Well here I am! Sorry that I couldn’t email until today! Transfer week and all. I am staying in BRNO! And I am so happy about it. I love it here, and I love the members. The Francis couple and I dropped Sister Smith off at the bus station this morning, and she was off! She has been so excited about going home; it was wonderful to see her end her mission and be so thrilled about seeing family again etc. She left at 10:30 this morning, and my new companion, Sister Brimhall, was coming in across the street at the train station at 10:37. Perfect timing. And the Francis couple were so nice because they drove so that we wouldn’t have to deal with suitcases on and off trams (it is the WORST and also your elbows KILL because of dragging them on cobblestone), so it was soo nice of them. Anyway we got to the train station, and I couldn’t find my companion anywhere. But we saw SO many Elders--it was SO FUN! We only had two sets of Elders last transfer, but this transfer Brno got a whole new set! Isn’t that the best? Aah I can’t wait. Plus Elder Odell from my group at the MTC is here now, so it is always fun to see familiar faces. Elder Bird got transferred, but I shall still know Elders Park, Odell, and Meiling. It's going to be the best. Anyway, so Sister Francis and I were reading the arrival board when Elder Francis left for a minute to do his business. We were trying to find what platform my companion would be on when a man came up to me and said, “Can I learn about your church?” I was like uh... YES! And CZECH CAME OUT OF MY MOUTH. It was so cool. And it wasn’t perfect, but I got an appointment set up with him, and he is coming to church on Monday! YES. That has never happened before! HE contacted ME. And it was hilarious, because I obviously didn’t understand everything he was saying, but we communicated enough to get the point across. It was so great! Such a blessing. Anyway, we saw a lone Elder wandering the halls after we'd run up and down to every train possible, and so I asked him if he'd seen my companion. He had! But she was at some totally obscure platform, so thank heavens for nametags where we can see who the missionaries are etc. and all come together! That train station this morning was rockin’. We had about 15 missionaries in there; it was so exciting. I met my companion, and I felt so legit because I knew where to take her to get her tram pass etc. before we went home. Her name is Sister Brimhall, she went to BYU [Brigham Young University] as well, and she is adorable. We are going to get along so well, I can already tell. She is deaf in her right ear, so I will always be standing on her left side! This is gonna be rockin’!
Sister Brimhall has only been in the country for two more months than me. So I shall be learning much Czech this transfer! I can’t wait. There are four new Sisters here as of yesterday, and because the Czech Republic only has so few Sisters, all Sisters who are older than I am in the mission are training. So I got Sister Brimhall! We are going to be on FIRE. Prepare yourselves for mission miracles because they are coming. She is just as passionate as I am, and she is so ready to hit the pavement and work. I am thrilled to be working with her. I unfortunately forgot my camera cord in all the excitement of the day, but pictures will be coming. She is short with long brown hair. She is so nice! While she unpacked I told her about the branch, and I told her about how we have so much we must do, and she was so excited. We both agreed that we will be speaking as much Czech as possible, and I told her to correct me and not hold anything back. I am ready to learn! I can’t wait. She is great. I love her already! Pictures to come. So that's the transfer news. I am staying in Brno and working with Sister Brimhall. And Brno has seven Elders now (one threesome) HOLLAH! Missions are the best. I am so lucky to be here. Alright and now to last week's stories:
Last week was great. On Friday, there was a branch service project! So we woke up and put our JEANS on! (Felt sooo good) and we went over to this bike trail where we were going to clean. I was so happy with the turnout! We got to wear bright yellow t-shirts, and we walked around and picked up trash. IT WAS DISGUSTING. Three of us got about six or seven garbage bags FULL of stuff in just one little area. I guess people go there to do dirty things, because we found underwear, drug needles, and TONS of beer cans. It was disgusting. More than disgusting, though, I just felt SO glad that I was not and never have been part of that sort of lifestyle. Satan's life that he offers is full of darkness, pain, and filth. Christ offers clear minds, happiness, and peace. I am so glad I get to share that. And I am SO glad that I understand the difference between true happiness and the "happiness" the world has to offer. I loved being with the branch, and serving together always makes people bond the best way possible.
Another really neat thing that happened this weekend was FHE [= Family Home Evening] for the young single adults this Monday. So last week during personal study I had the thought that the YSA [= Young Single Adults] here need to start doing family history. We learned about that in conference, and it would really be a good thing to get started. So I acted on this idea and figured out who the branch family history specialist was and asked if he could come talk to the youth at FHE. He said that this week he could, and it was a good thing I called because usually he can’t or something. And no one else was scheduled to teach that Monday, so it was perfect! So I had Sister Smith send out a text to the YSA about how they need to bring their family history charts etc. And then we called everyone during the week to remind them. The Francis couple are in charge of the youth here, and afterwards they said that it was such a hit! They told me that it was the best turnout they'd had for FHE since May. Can you believe that?! I was so happy! God gives us inspiration! I know He does! And when we act on it immediately wonderful things happen! I love that! And I was so blessed to have gotten an idea like that. God is in charge. And good things happen if we work for them, and if they are in God's plan.
Also last week I contacted a man on the tram who wanted to speak English, so we did. We found out that he'd actually met with the missionaries before and had read the WHOLE Book of Mormon, but had done so skeptically. So I told him to come meet with us at the church. HAHA Sister Smith was going to kill me, but it actually turned out really well. We taught him yesterday, and it was a beautiful lesson. Because we spoke in English I was able to really talk to him and figure out what his issue was. We talked about trust, and he told us he has trust issues. I told him that learning that the Book of Mormon was true would require some faith, which he said he was afraid to leap into. The Spirit was strong, and the member we taught with had a powerful testimony. We really made progress with this man. Well, the Spirit really made progress with him. He doesn’t understand his relationship with God, and I think that that is a crucial part of understanding that the Book of Mormon is true. Because if you don’t pray about it how can you gain a true witness further than just feeling like it’s a good book? There are many good books out there, but the Book of Mormon is scripture. And it leads to the restored gospel. Asking God is crucial in the conversion process. I had him read some scriptures in Third Nephi, I believe, about likening scripture. And then I asked him if something in the Book of Mormon had helped him. He said that he liked Lehi’s story about how the Liahona didn’t work when the family was fighting. He then said that it taught him that he had to have strong family relationships in order for things to function smoothly and well. I loved that testimony! And I told him that was exactly what likening scripture was. He will be meeting with us again on Friday. I love having the opportunity to watch people's hearts change. I love watching their eyes change. I love bearing my testimony always. It's a beautiful work, and I am honored to be doing it.
I love the gospel. I love my Savior. He is real. My mission plaque scripture is my motto. I love being here. I can’t wait to speak Czech in a way that I'll be able to communicate with my brothers and sisters here. Life is good over here. Keep me and my companion in your prayers! We need as much faith as we can get! I feel myself changing, and I LOVE IT.
Love you all,
Sister Satu Izatt
P.S. Sorry to have a P.S. that isn’t very spiritual, but guess what?! You know how in Alma he has a really rough time being a missionary? Well... I got spit upon this week! And it was awesome because now I can say that it's happened, and booyes I am a true missionary. I love being hated, because the harder I work to bring the world the truth the more hated I become, but the more miracles I see.
[A]lso one man who was HUGE and RED opened his door in his BOXERS and started yelling at us. I swear, the Spirit makes you so calm because I just looked at him and tried to figure out what on earth he was yelling about. He told us to go out some random door out a window down the hall. And then he slammed the door. I looked to my left because the door I had come in was literally two feet away, but he must have been looking out the peephole because then he opened the door again, leaned towards me and yelled… So we just walked the way he pointed and found a door and left. HAH. Good story. I am a missionary! And it is ROCKIN’! Love you all. Don’t let big red men in boxers scare you. You'll be alright.
Oh also, on the LDS youth website is a new video about youth in Eastern Europe reading the Book of Mormon. I know all the ones from Czech Republic! They are in the branch here! Fun! Small world.
I love you so much!