We went to this cathedral last P-day! :)
Week 4 email in the Czech (September 26, 2011):
My soul is smiling
Can you believe it? I have been here for a whole 3 weeks! Time just flies. I can’t believe it is Monday again! But oh my goodness, are we ready for P-day [=Preparation Day]! Haha, Sister Smith and I always laugh at ourselves Sunday night, because we plan on the floor, since we are just SO exhausted! I love being exhausted though! It is so good for us to always go to bed every night knowing we've used our whole bodies and spirits to the fullest capacity.
So this week was fabulous. I feel terrible for the lame email I wrote last week! I am so sorry. So here is a better one! :) This week was hard. But life is hard. I love being here. I love getting rejected, because the more I put myself out there the more I will get rejected. I don't mind it. I obviously like it when people listen to us way more, but even during the rejections I bear my testimony, and then just move right on along. This week I worked on really opening my mouth to everyone I came across, and you know what? When I did this, I noticed a huge difference. God totally blesses you when you put in your all. And it's funny, because this week my all is going to be much more than what my all was last week. Because our capacities grow when we use Heavenly Father[‘s help]. I love that principle. I love knowing that God knows exactly where I am. He knows our paths. We have paths marked for us, and if we take the time to talk to Him, He can help us know whether or not we are sticking to those. I love being here. Yesterday was a miracle. And Saturday was a miracle. So let's get started!
My soul is smiling
Can you believe it? I have been here for a whole 3 weeks! Time just flies. I can’t believe it is Monday again! But oh my goodness, are we ready for P-day [=Preparation Day]! Haha, Sister Smith and I always laugh at ourselves Sunday night, because we plan on the floor, since we are just SO exhausted! I love being exhausted though! It is so good for us to always go to bed every night knowing we've used our whole bodies and spirits to the fullest capacity.
So this week was fabulous. I feel terrible for the lame email I wrote last week! I am so sorry. So here is a better one! :) This week was hard. But life is hard. I love being here. I love getting rejected, because the more I put myself out there the more I will get rejected. I don't mind it. I obviously like it when people listen to us way more, but even during the rejections I bear my testimony, and then just move right on along. This week I worked on really opening my mouth to everyone I came across, and you know what? When I did this, I noticed a huge difference. God totally blesses you when you put in your all. And it's funny, because this week my all is going to be much more than what my all was last week. Because our capacities grow when we use Heavenly Father[‘s help]. I love that principle. I love knowing that God knows exactly where I am. He knows our paths. We have paths marked for us, and if we take the time to talk to Him, He can help us know whether or not we are sticking to those. I love being here. Yesterday was a miracle. And Saturday was a miracle. So let's get started!
Vladimir and us on the tram the night he passed all of his baptismal interviews!!! So happy.
We had a BAPTISM this week in our branch! Oh, I was as giddy as a school girl. This man named Vladimir got baptized on Saturday, and I couldn’t have been happier about it. We didn't teach him, but I didn’t care. I felt like I had, because I was so excited. I met him week one being here, and he speaks no English, and I really don't speak much Czech (way more than I realize I do however, thanks to Heavenly Father, but conversation wise I'm a liiiiiiittle bit rusty if you get what I'm saying). But Vladimir and I just hit it off. He is so excited all the time and is always at the church helping out and taking lessons and being supportive. He is going to be a KILLER member because he is so in love with the gospel. He told me the first day I was here that "I am having a baptism on the 24th!" and for the last three weeks I've been stoked. Friday night I couldn’t even sleep! It was so fun. I woke up every night just dying for the day to start. And it finally did!
Filling the font with pots :)
The night before we had had a lesson at the church, and the Elders burst through the doors, because they had forgotten to turn the font on. The font here takes over nine hours to fill up, because the faucet doesn't have much water pressure. So they were calculating with us when they'd have to come back in the morning to finish filling it etc. It was nuts! So I made Sister Smith come with me early Saturday morning to help fill the font with buckets from the kitchen. I wanted to be a part of it so much! When we got there, I felt the water in the font (which was still filling up since the Elders had gotten there at 7 am to turn it back on) and it was ICE COLD. I remembered my baptism, and how I swore they had just filled up the font with a hose, so I ran to the kitchen to start water boiling. I got the biggest pots I could find and went at it. Then I put buckets and pots in various sinks and turned them on so that I could help get the font ready and so that it could have enough water for him to be immersed (as Jesus was!). It was quite the sight, and it was quite the work out! The senior couple laughed at me and told me I was such a greenie (in a loving way), but I just couldn't wait! The Elders were so grateful for my help, and Sister Smith ended up helping me carry huge 5 gallon pots to the font. It was the best. And then I got the boiling water in there too. I don’t know how much that helped, but Vladimir said that the water wasn't cold. So maybe it did! Watching someone get baptized is the best feeling. They have chosen to follow Jesus Christ fully and have decided to change their whole lives for Him. It is such a miracle. The gospel is such a miracle. Vladimir brought his mom and brother with him, and after the service and after his testimony I met his mom, and she just cried and cried. She isn't a member of the church but she loved her son and supported him enough to come. She has a good good heart, and I know she felt the Spirit.
Us for the talent show.
Then that night (Saturday) there was a Primary talent show. We were asked to do a skit about talents and sing a song. Sister Smith and I came up with the idea of doing the story of the talents from the Scriptures, but we directed it instead of being in it. There aren't that many characters in that story. So Elder Francis, the senior missionary, was the Master of the vineyard, and I put my poofy scarf around his head like a turban, which was hilarious, and then during practice I ran around finding random plants from the church building to surround him, and it made the show. He is SO funny. His facial expressions were the best. One Elder stood at the pulpit and read the story out of the Bible in Czech, while Elders Bird, Meiling, and Park were the receivers of the talents. The talents were buckets of varying sizes full of Legos. Then the two who used their talents built things out of them, and then the other one didn’t do much, and the Master gave his Legos to the one who had built the most out of his. It was a hit, and the kids LOVED it. Then we all sang “I am a Child of God” which was just lovely.
I am now going to talk about my miracle named Siegfried. (I LOVE the name Siegfried, so of course this miracle just doubled in how fabulous it is), but ok so Siegfried is my miracle. Friday night I was SO happy. Vladimir was getting baptized, and I was filled with the Spirit. We had had a rough day, but I decided to be happy (crazy how much your decision to just be happy no matter what really affects the outcome of your day. It’s the only thing you can really control after all, I guess). We were riding the tram home, and I started tram contacting. Sister Smith followed my lead, and I sat down in front of a not-so happy looking young man. He was not at all interested in what I had to say and just kept bashing our testimonies. While Sister Smith took over, I looked to my left and saw a man smiling at me. All I could think of was, "I know you. I know you." and I smiled as big as my heart would let me right back at him. I turned to the young man and asked if he was a believer, and he said no. Sister Smith kept talking, and I looked back at the happy man. I realized that I needed to take advantage of this situation, so because I was in the middle of this conversation that wasn't really going anywhere, but because I couldn’t really leave, I raised my voice mid-conversation and across the noisy tram said, "Mate Zaiem?!" (Do you have interest?), and this man smiled and shook his head yes. I motioned him over and immediately switched my attention to him. The young man looked irritated, since Siegfried had sat right next to him. I looked at the map and realized we only had a stop and a half left. So I got right to the point.
"Verzite ze Buh existuje?"
"ANO!"
"Verzite ze Kristus je vase Spasitel?"
"ANO!"
"Proc?"
(Do you believe God exists? Yes! Do you believe that Christ is your Savior? Yes! Why?) and then Siegfried looked straight into my eyes while smiling and said, “Because I've tried everything else, and Jesus Christ helps me the most."
Isn't that the most beautiful testimony you've ever heard? It is for me. He loves his Savior. He knows him. He recognized his messengers, and he embraced the message we had to offer. As the tram started slowing down, I pulled out two contact cards and on Siegfried’s I wrote: “Krest: 9:30”. And told him to call me and jumped off the tram.
The next morning was Vladimir’s baptism, which I had written on the contact card (baptism: 9:30), but I hadn’t had time to really explain when or what I meant by that. So I prayed. I prayed so hard that he would understand what I was trying to say and that God would tell him what I couldn’t. But the baptism came, and Siegfried didn't. But I kept praying. I prayed that he would call me, I prayed that he would come to church, and I prayed that I would somehow run into this man again. Sunday came, and while I helped our two investigators into the church, I waited and waited for Siegfried, but I never saw him, so I sat down and enjoyed our beautiful new investigator from Kenya and her gorgeous baby Jasmin. After Sacrament [Meeting] I made my way slowly out into the hallway while talking to the members.
And then I saw him. Siegfried was standing in the foyer, smiling ear to ear, so excited to talk to me. I ran up to him and said, "YOU CAME!" (in English), and he said that he had come a little late and didn’t think he was allowed in the chapel so he listened in the foyer all by himself. I was ecstatic. I started introducing him to everyone I could. Vladimir, all the missionaries, my other investigators, and he couldn’t stop smiling. We invited him to stay for the next hour, and he readily agreed. I ended up going to the English-translated [Sunday School] class with Analiese (our investigator from Kenya), so I couldn’t stay with Siegfried. But Sister Smith sat by him in the other [Sunday School] class. Analiese had to go check on her baby during class, and while she did, I peeked into the class through the window to spy on Siegfried, and he was on the edge of his seat. My soul smiled, and my heart laughed with happiness. I can't tell you what it is like to just fall in love with people. To just love them so much that you would do anything to help them find Christ, and to help them realize who they are and how much God loves them. It is the best feeling in the world, and this week made me be able to say that miracles do indeed happen, and that the gospel of Jesus Christ affects your heart so much. It changes people, and I know this because it changes me every day. After the second hour, Analiese left, but I asked Siegfried to stay. He said that his mother had invited him over for dinner but that he would call and ask. He stayed for Priesthood [Meeting]. And the missionaries told me that he even stood up and introduced himself. He told everyone about how he'd met the missionaries on the tram. I am so happy. After church I talked to Siegfried and told him I would call him later. Sister Smith gave him a Book of Mormon, and he was so humbled and said, “I can have this?”
We then had District lunch with the missionaries, and I texted Siegfried and asked him if he wanted to learn more later that day. He said yes. We met him with another member named Alena later that day and taught him [about] the restoration [of the gospel]. And he said he'd read the Book of Mormon and pray about it. It is the hardest thing to get people to stay for the whole three hours at church here. But he did. He showed up on his own, stayed for the whole three hours, listened to our lesson, asked questions, and is coming to our English class on Tuesday. Siegfried is a good man, and I know that he needs this message because I know that everyone needs it. I can’t wait to teach him. He is going to have to get over smoking, so it might be a long road, but it is one I am anxious to start down.
I love the gospel. It is TRUE. And God lives.
I love you all. I hope you're doing so well! You are in my prayers always.
Love,
Sestra Izattova (in Czech women add “ova” to the end, so I hope my new nametag will have that, but we will see!)
P.S. After that I was just SO happy. I love those moments in life where everything just feels right. I have also noticed that when I embrace that feeling and really let the love I have for the gospel shine is when I see the most miracles. This week was rough, we got bailed on by either members or investigators for EVERY single lesson we had set up, but Saturday made up for it.
"Verzite ze Buh existuje?"
"ANO!"
"Verzite ze Kristus je vase Spasitel?"
"ANO!"
"Proc?"
(Do you believe God exists? Yes! Do you believe that Christ is your Savior? Yes! Why?) and then Siegfried looked straight into my eyes while smiling and said, “Because I've tried everything else, and Jesus Christ helps me the most."
Isn't that the most beautiful testimony you've ever heard? It is for me. He loves his Savior. He knows him. He recognized his messengers, and he embraced the message we had to offer. As the tram started slowing down, I pulled out two contact cards and on Siegfried’s I wrote: “Krest: 9:30”. And told him to call me and jumped off the tram.
The next morning was Vladimir’s baptism, which I had written on the contact card (baptism: 9:30), but I hadn’t had time to really explain when or what I meant by that. So I prayed. I prayed so hard that he would understand what I was trying to say and that God would tell him what I couldn’t. But the baptism came, and Siegfried didn't. But I kept praying. I prayed that he would call me, I prayed that he would come to church, and I prayed that I would somehow run into this man again. Sunday came, and while I helped our two investigators into the church, I waited and waited for Siegfried, but I never saw him, so I sat down and enjoyed our beautiful new investigator from Kenya and her gorgeous baby Jasmin. After Sacrament [Meeting] I made my way slowly out into the hallway while talking to the members.
And then I saw him. Siegfried was standing in the foyer, smiling ear to ear, so excited to talk to me. I ran up to him and said, "YOU CAME!" (in English), and he said that he had come a little late and didn’t think he was allowed in the chapel so he listened in the foyer all by himself. I was ecstatic. I started introducing him to everyone I could. Vladimir, all the missionaries, my other investigators, and he couldn’t stop smiling. We invited him to stay for the next hour, and he readily agreed. I ended up going to the English-translated [Sunday School] class with Analiese (our investigator from Kenya), so I couldn’t stay with Siegfried. But Sister Smith sat by him in the other [Sunday School] class. Analiese had to go check on her baby during class, and while she did, I peeked into the class through the window to spy on Siegfried, and he was on the edge of his seat. My soul smiled, and my heart laughed with happiness. I can't tell you what it is like to just fall in love with people. To just love them so much that you would do anything to help them find Christ, and to help them realize who they are and how much God loves them. It is the best feeling in the world, and this week made me be able to say that miracles do indeed happen, and that the gospel of Jesus Christ affects your heart so much. It changes people, and I know this because it changes me every day. After the second hour, Analiese left, but I asked Siegfried to stay. He said that his mother had invited him over for dinner but that he would call and ask. He stayed for Priesthood [Meeting]. And the missionaries told me that he even stood up and introduced himself. He told everyone about how he'd met the missionaries on the tram. I am so happy. After church I talked to Siegfried and told him I would call him later. Sister Smith gave him a Book of Mormon, and he was so humbled and said, “I can have this?”
We then had District lunch with the missionaries, and I texted Siegfried and asked him if he wanted to learn more later that day. He said yes. We met him with another member named Alena later that day and taught him [about] the restoration [of the gospel]. And he said he'd read the Book of Mormon and pray about it. It is the hardest thing to get people to stay for the whole three hours at church here. But he did. He showed up on his own, stayed for the whole three hours, listened to our lesson, asked questions, and is coming to our English class on Tuesday. Siegfried is a good man, and I know that he needs this message because I know that everyone needs it. I can’t wait to teach him. He is going to have to get over smoking, so it might be a long road, but it is one I am anxious to start down.
I love the gospel. It is TRUE. And God lives.
I love you all. I hope you're doing so well! You are in my prayers always.
Love,
Sestra Izattova (in Czech women add “ova” to the end, so I hope my new nametag will have that, but we will see!)
P.S. After that I was just SO happy. I love those moments in life where everything just feels right. I have also noticed that when I embrace that feeling and really let the love I have for the gospel shine is when I see the most miracles. This week was rough, we got bailed on by either members or investigators for EVERY single lesson we had set up, but Saturday made up for it.