Picture from the market
September 19, 2012:
The gospel and the people who live it make the world a happier place
Hey everyone! Ok so we actually had a crazy transfer weekend because NO new missionaries came in this time! No Sisters, no Elders. Sad! So President decided to keep Preparation Day Monday, and so the Assistants to President (APs) called randomly Saturday night when no one was expecting it. Haha, that was hilarious. We were weekly planning, and Sister Pysnakova couldn’t plan after she found out she was leaving. So I had to keep trying to calm her down while writing down goals for the week as she squirmed because she wanted to start packing, haha, so fun. I love missions. And guess what? My prayers were answered. I told Heavenly Father that I would just LOVE to serve with Sister Brimhall again, because I just felt so pushed in a good way by her, and we got along so well, and I just love her, and plus she always wanted to come to Slovakia, so I was just praying that I would have that chance and.... I do :). I am serving again with Sister Brimhall in SLOVAKIA. I am so grateful. I knew I'd stay because I'm the only Sister with an EU passport, so others have to go back to the Czech Republic after one transfer because of legal issues with visas. So I knew I’d stay. But ah, I couldn’t even sleep the night we got the call, because I was so excited and happy. I just adore her. So we've been together since Monday, but we didn’t have time to email yesterday, so today’s the day. And Preparation Day will be on Monday again as usual. So yep! Sister Pysnakova and Sister Brimhall switched spots (so now Sister Pysnakova is in Prague). I hope I get to serve in Prague someday as well, but we'll see since I only have one transfer call left after this one. Crazy. This will be Sister Brimhall's last transfer, and then her parents are coming to get her. And we will have literally served over a third of our missions together. Fantastic.
The gospel and the people who live it make the world a happier place
Hey everyone! Ok so we actually had a crazy transfer weekend because NO new missionaries came in this time! No Sisters, no Elders. Sad! So President decided to keep Preparation Day Monday, and so the Assistants to President (APs) called randomly Saturday night when no one was expecting it. Haha, that was hilarious. We were weekly planning, and Sister Pysnakova couldn’t plan after she found out she was leaving. So I had to keep trying to calm her down while writing down goals for the week as she squirmed because she wanted to start packing, haha, so fun. I love missions. And guess what? My prayers were answered. I told Heavenly Father that I would just LOVE to serve with Sister Brimhall again, because I just felt so pushed in a good way by her, and we got along so well, and I just love her, and plus she always wanted to come to Slovakia, so I was just praying that I would have that chance and.... I do :). I am serving again with Sister Brimhall in SLOVAKIA. I am so grateful. I knew I'd stay because I'm the only Sister with an EU passport, so others have to go back to the Czech Republic after one transfer because of legal issues with visas. So I knew I’d stay. But ah, I couldn’t even sleep the night we got the call, because I was so excited and happy. I just adore her. So we've been together since Monday, but we didn’t have time to email yesterday, so today’s the day. And Preparation Day will be on Monday again as usual. So yep! Sister Pysnakova and Sister Brimhall switched spots (so now Sister Pysnakova is in Prague). I hope I get to serve in Prague someday as well, but we'll see since I only have one transfer call left after this one. Crazy. This will be Sister Brimhall's last transfer, and then her parents are coming to get her. And we will have literally served over a third of our missions together. Fantastic.
Us at gamenight
Last week was wonderful. We had a game night in the Church, because it was POURING rain Thursday night, and Slovaks and Czechs don’t believe in getting their necks wet, because it causes illness. Hilarious. So we played cards inside and that game where you have wooden blocks in a tower, and you try to take one out without it falling, and if it does you lose. It was a beautiful moment though, because SO many investigators came. As did two members. And it was one of those moments where everyone is just having a good time and laughing and enjoying each other so much that the missionaries don’t really need to do anything but smile and watch. And that is how it should be. Our less active who has become more active since we started meeting with him literally LEAPED through the door and said, "Hi everyone!" Haha, I loved that. He has made so much progress. The gospel and the people who live it make the world a happier place.
Me eating a huge Slovak sausage with mustard and horseradish.
Friday and Saturday there was this big market on the town square, and markets are just so magical. The air was misty, and the clouds were gray, and everyone was speaking Slovak, and there was Slovak music, and we were eating meat and horseradish (during lunch hour of course; don’t you fret.) And I just love those times where you feel so alive and happy. I was reminded of the times Daddy and I were in the German Christmas markets. So fun. And Daddy bit out of a random guy's fish because he offered it to him. Hahaah, so great. And I remembered that because while we sat down to eat our sausages, this lady sat down next to me and had some weird white hot circle that she was eating, and I asked her what it was, and she only spoke Spanish, but I know the word ‘queso!’ So she was eating this grilled cheese, and it was the kind that’s soft inside but white mold on the outside, and she was offering it to me like crazy, so I took a little with my fork and knife and then gave her some of my sausage, haha, oh gosh. We were just caught up in the magic of the moment I suppose :). Anyway, I bought some fantastic little things for Christmas presents, so I hope ya'll are excited. Unfortunately it wasn’t on Preparation Day, so we didn’t have much time to play. Oh, and the festival was a "Spatula Festival" they have every year where they sell tons of wooden spatulas, and then the boys whack the girls on their rears. I don’t know why every holiday tends to involve women getting smacked, but they do. But we are protected as missionaries. Hah.
Last picture as a District in our apartment.
Our investigators are doing really well, and we love them so much. Sometimes I get bogged with all of their little issues and questions, and I just start feeling like I don’t get any inspiration anymore, because I just try to analyze and help them all, but they are all just so different. But then I take a step back and just go back to the basics; it is interesting how massive questions can be answered when we just focus on the basics. Sister Pysnakova said something funny last week in regards to no one wanting to be baptized again because they were already baptized as children into the Catholic Church. She said, "I don’t know why people aren’t jumping at the chance to get baptized again; I'd love to have all my sins washed away multiple times." And it's true, although there are other ways to cleanse ourselves, but you get the point. It's so true though. It's hard work to try and help people through all of their concerns, and it really wears you out when you do it all day for a year and a half nonstop. But man, has it been so good for us as missionaries. And especially for me personally.
At District Meeting the Nye couple talked to us about prayer, and how sometimes it’s good to ask God WHAT we should pray for, because He already knows all of our issues, but prayer is a type of work etc., and it helps align our will with His. So I tried that last night, and my prayers were so much more meaningful! Man. I just felt so much more peace and so much more directed by the Spirit. I am grateful for advice like that! If anyone's having troubles with trying to make their prayers more meaningful, just ask God what you should be praying for and who. He'll help you out. That I know :).
Well, once again my time is up. Thanks for all the support, and your mail. I love mail from people, and I just love people. They are so important to me. I am grateful for the gospel. I know God answers prayers, and I know that He always knows what's best for us.
Until Monday,
CAUKI!
Sestra Izatt
Well, once again my time is up. Thanks for all the support, and your mail. I love mail from people, and I just love people. They are so important to me. I am grateful for the gospel. I know God answers prayers, and I know that He always knows what's best for us.
Until Monday,
CAUKI!
Sestra Izatt