Hello Everyone!
So wonderful to read all your emails! It is so inspiring and
encouraging for me :) This week has been a bit rougher...Dallas, totally
picking up what you're putting down and smelling what you're stepping
in, keep ya chin up and keep on keepin' on! I will also fast for you in
March.
Court, those experiences with the sisters, I COMPLETELY
understand. And it can be very difficult not to take it personally when
they treat you like that. I love the "Licensed to be Awkward" meme,
soooo true. Sometimes you just gotta push yourself to do things like
that because otherwise you will be kicking yourself for not trying. (I sent Carley this picture of the cute sisters in our ward who asked me to go to a lesson with them this week. The person we went to teach wasn't home, but across the street we could hear music. One of the sister missionaries was like, "Sounds like someone is home, let's go." I was so nervous! We weren't invited, what are we going to do???? Well, I just blindly followed the sisters, who walked right up into the garage of the home that had been blaring music. Two men were chilling in lawn chairs, and Sister D asks, "Are y'all having a party? We heard music." After an awkward introduction and the realization that no, they weren't having a party, the son just came home and his music in his truck was too loud...there was an immediate connection, a future appointment set and a potential miracle began. As we left the home, I turned to Sister D. and teased, "Are y'all having a party?" The sister missionaries both laughed and Sister D. said, "This right here (pointing to her name badge), it's my license to be awkward." I thought it was the cutest thing ever, so with their permission I took this picture. Funny thing is, Sister M. actually looks uncomfortable in the picture, so it's all the better.)
There should be a meme, "100% of the people you don't contact, wont get
baptized." (I'll start working on that) But ya, rejection is sadly a very common thing you have to
get used to in the field, where ever the field may be. We had an
investigator,who had been progressing really well and was on baptismal
date, straight-up yell at us when her dad let us in, not very politely,
to get out... And then wave us off like we were dogs or something. It
really hurt. My initial reaction would have been to give her a piece of
my mind... but I controlled the urge...plus, gift of tongues doesn't
really work with contention anyways and I would have just started
sputtering like an idiot. The field is ready to harvest... you just
gotta sort through the wheat..even though it tares you up. I have no
idea what caused the sudden change in her, her dad was very apologetic
though and we will try again another day. Anywho, I am SO excited for
this week!!!!! Dad, you are so right about the groundstone, I know that
the edge of this week will be really sharp. One of our investigators is
getting baptized this Saturday
in Prague!!!!!!!!!!! We are so proud of him. He has really changed his
life around. Completely off of smoking and drinking and really studies
the scriptures. He is so grateful for the knowledge he has. When Sister
Hicken and I start to feel down, that we aren't finding anyone who gives
a care... we just remember "S". He was so prepared, and it is
wonderful to know that he is really committed to live the gospel
forever. He could even teach some of the members a thing or two....We
hope that some of the members will come to his baptism. But yes, "S" will be baptized this Saturday and receive the Holy Ghost on Sunday
and wants to go to the temple in March for baptisms, and will receive
the Aaronic priesthood within the month and then get a calling. All of
the above, he is totally stoked for, as are we :D
Also our office will finally be up and running this week! We won't have to meet in the mall, other restaurants, or outside on the benches anymore!!! Yay! But funny thing is.... we are painting it! Yes, I get to put on my painter's hat again and go to town. Just a little worried about the differences of Czech paint vs. American paints... they don't really have Lowes or Home Depot. There is a running inside-joke among all the missionaries here it's called getting "Czech-walled" its when you accidentally brush the walls and the white stays on your coat, jacket, etc.... here they do either "Arctic White " or some shade of Neon... very interesting stuff. The paint-jobs here are pretty awful, they never tape anything and they have cracks all on the walls... you would think they would care more about it but they don't.
Both Sister Hicken and I have experience with painting, so we are pretty confident that it will be great when its all done. We are excited to have it done and get moving on with things here. I am so sorry to here about the families who are going to the new stake from K1 :( Especially with the close proximity. ikes. Here, the members have to go to Jicin (40 minutes plus) and when they did the location move years ago, that is when they lost the MB members. It is heart-wrenching, and you want to blame someone but also you have to remember that the church IS growing and with the expansion, come growing pains. And now that I wear the name of our church all day long, more than ever I find myself reminding myself that the Gospel is perfect, the Church is true, and we love our brothers and sisters even though they are not perfect. Those families will be anchors in the new stake and major contributers even though it is hard to see them have to go through this. A keller stake sounds really nice dad, you're right. I am so excited about this new Jason's Deli (Everyone in my family is just pumped about the announcement of our favorite restaurant opening a new location 1 mile from my parent's house--we literally have frequented 1x/week since I was 11) I would kill for a kid's jane (her favorite thing to eat there since she was 7) right about now. I am so glad the house is doing well and that doesn't have to cause you more grief mom (ask my mom about the recent flooding!). And Cassidia, sorry for not responding last week, I love hearing about how you're doing and so proud of your obvious testimony :) Glad that you all are so integral in the Missionary efforts and ward unity. I appreciate it more now than ever, so on behalf of missionaries everywhere, THANKYOU!! I love reading your stories because I know that I am not alone, and yáll can relate to my experiences out here, the tests and the triumphs:) I love yall so much and pray for you always. Thankyou for your support. Keep me in your prayers please.
Also our office will finally be up and running this week! We won't have to meet in the mall, other restaurants, or outside on the benches anymore!!! Yay! But funny thing is.... we are painting it! Yes, I get to put on my painter's hat again and go to town. Just a little worried about the differences of Czech paint vs. American paints... they don't really have Lowes or Home Depot. There is a running inside-joke among all the missionaries here it's called getting "Czech-walled" its when you accidentally brush the walls and the white stays on your coat, jacket, etc.... here they do either "Arctic White " or some shade of Neon... very interesting stuff. The paint-jobs here are pretty awful, they never tape anything and they have cracks all on the walls... you would think they would care more about it but they don't.
Both Sister Hicken and I have experience with painting, so we are pretty confident that it will be great when its all done. We are excited to have it done and get moving on with things here. I am so sorry to here about the families who are going to the new stake from K1 :( Especially with the close proximity. ikes. Here, the members have to go to Jicin (40 minutes plus) and when they did the location move years ago, that is when they lost the MB members. It is heart-wrenching, and you want to blame someone but also you have to remember that the church IS growing and with the expansion, come growing pains. And now that I wear the name of our church all day long, more than ever I find myself reminding myself that the Gospel is perfect, the Church is true, and we love our brothers and sisters even though they are not perfect. Those families will be anchors in the new stake and major contributers even though it is hard to see them have to go through this. A keller stake sounds really nice dad, you're right. I am so excited about this new Jason's Deli (Everyone in my family is just pumped about the announcement of our favorite restaurant opening a new location 1 mile from my parent's house--we literally have frequented 1x/week since I was 11) I would kill for a kid's jane (her favorite thing to eat there since she was 7) right about now. I am so glad the house is doing well and that doesn't have to cause you more grief mom (ask my mom about the recent flooding!). And Cassidia, sorry for not responding last week, I love hearing about how you're doing and so proud of your obvious testimony :) Glad that you all are so integral in the Missionary efforts and ward unity. I appreciate it more now than ever, so on behalf of missionaries everywhere, THANKYOU!! I love reading your stories because I know that I am not alone, and yáll can relate to my experiences out here, the tests and the triumphs:) I love yall so much and pray for you always. Thankyou for your support. Keep me in your prayers please.
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