On to Week 4!

The MTC has been wonderful.  I always start the letters like this, but I just have to say it.  This last week has been very spiritual and I was so lucky to have had two apostles come!  I will speak more on that shortly.

 

Thanksgiving was great.  I didn't think it would be as good as it honestly was.  Dinner was great.  We had turkey, potato's, pumpkin pie and all that good stuff!  I ate so much!  Like always, my family knows of this, I doused it all in cranberry sauce.  I love that stuff.  I wish I could upload pictures here, I would show you all my food.  That same day we did a humanitarian project.  We made first aid kits to send to Haiti, Sudan, Japan, and a couple other places.  I could truly feel the Lords hand in this.  I really felt the love and charity of Christ.  We made I think around 10k kits!!!

 

Now on the the apostles.  Elder D Todd Christofferson came.  Something he said that was really funny was about technology these days and sharing the gospel.  He said; "If Peter (I think from the Bible) were looking sown on us he would probably say - You wimps, with all your satellites, iPhones, iPods, iPads, internet, and everything, I could have converted the whole world in 10 months."He talked about Yielding your Heart to God.

The other apostle I REALLY enjoyed.  It was Elder Russell M. Nelson.  He is SOOOOOOOO intelligent.  He thanked us personally for what we do.  He mainly taught to be persistent in the Lords work.  He recounted of when he was called to open religion in Russia.  He had to go to Mr. Kartchner the director of religious affairs.  After trying hard multiple times and having to do so many things and wait years it worked.  He continued speaking and said regarding the man making it difficult to open religion in Russia "Brother Kartchner... I mean Mr. Kartchner... (everyone laughed)  That is what you want to think of not very nice people.  Imagine them dressed in white, all ready to be baptized..."  He went on in his talk and came up to talking of the word "Alleluia", which means Praise to the Lord God, Jehovah, and he showed us a song by the Men of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir - Alleluia.  The only lyric IS Alleluia.  It is beautiful.  As he played it, and I can't explain enough, I wanted to jump up and praise God and yell the desires of my heart.  This recording was 1000x better that the live MUSE concert I went to, and that is saying a lot.  I had to restrain myself from jumping up.  I had to think to myself: Is this appropriate?  I don't know how to explain enough how I felt.  It was like the spirit were sitting right behind me with a megaphone testifying of the gospel of Christ.  I went to the BYU Bookstore on campus the very next day to try to find the CD.  I found one!!!  ...but don't have a CD player.

 

I had a neat experience this week too.  I was teaching an investigator in Czech and I all of a sudden had the words come to me and the spirit felt so strong.  I almost got too emotional to speak when I bore my testimony.  It was a definite Duchovni Facka (Czech for "Spiritual Slap in the Face")  It was amazing.

 

Anyway, I need to finish up some stuff today, it is nice to be able to email people and share the gospel.  I know the church is true and that Jesus Christ lives!  He is our savior and will do anything for us.  Any trials we are going through are to strengthen us, no doubt.  I have felt the love of Christ in my life and am excited to continue to hear how my family is being blessed from my decision to serve a mission.  I love this gospel with all my heart and cannot wait to share the gospel in the Czech Republic in 5 more weeks.  Until next week, Replce Fear with Faith!  (I love that quote, it is from a great missionary Elder Draper).  I love you all!

 

-Starsi (Elder) Bahr!

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Another Week Goes By!!!

Wow, time sure has flown by.  I love the MTC.  At times it is hard and discouraging, but then something really spiritual happens.  Just yesterday I was really upset because the language was so difficult and I am not getting it.  I felt behind in the class.  I kind of likened it to a child being forgotten about and needing to walk home in the rain after school because the parents forgot about it.  That isn't saying anything about my parents because I know they love me, but that is the sadness I felt.  I literally did not know what to do.  I was speechless when asked about my issue from my teacher.  A few minutes later, I was sitting in class and it was like the voice of the Lord spoke to me.  He said: "Peace, I am preparing you for greater things."  The spirit hit me so strong and even now writing this, I get chills and almost start crying.  I know God loves me and it is a great opportunity being here.  The ways I have felt here are so different.  I often feel so spiritual then sad, then spiritual and then sad again.  It is like when you break a bone though, it grows back stronger.  All these times I feel down just strengthen me even more then before and this happening repeatedly is going to help me a bunch.  It sounds odd, but I am glad to have these challenges.

 

So I found out the other day when we taught our "Investigator" that when we asked him to be baptized by my companion Elder Sewell, he thought we were saying "Will you come to Elder Sewells baptism?"  That explains why he was so willing to say yes.  I got a few packages this last week.  One was a whole box of See's Candy from my mom.  Miluju svou mamu.  I love my mom!!!  She is the best lady in the world.  It said Happy Thanksgiving.  I was so excited about it.  The other one I got today from my sister Casey.  She sent me some Burt's Bees chap stick, vinegar (for my cold and sore throat remedy), some Zebra G-301 pens, a letter and I think some other cool things.  I love my twin.  I couldn't ask for a sweeter twin.  All my other sisters I love dearly too.  They are so supportive of me.  They each gave me a letter to read the first night I was in the MTC.  They were nice heart-felt letters.  Hmmm, what else... I go ta letter from a friend the other day from Erika Juengling.  It was a fun letter.  Thanks Erika.  I also got a letter from my dad.  It was great.  I love letters.  I love you dad.  Thank you especially to my great family.

 

Hey so yesterday our district decided to do 100 push-ups in 5 minutes every morning.  I did it once and I am now sore ALL OVER.  It is good though.  When I get out of the MTC in 7 weeks, I will be BUFFFFF!!!!  We all do something else fun in the mornings.  Yesterday we sang Lion King and also made a didgeridoo band and attempted to sound like didgeridoos.  I have the best district.

 

We got 2 more districts in last Wednesday.  It was like Christmas getting new people.  Us zone leaders gave them an orientation and tour of the MTC.  It was fun because it was only a week in the MTC for me when I had to do this.  I just got done learning my way around.

 

Earlier this week I thought of a great analogy when teaching new people interested in the church.  "Our message should be a well tailored suit to the investigator.  If it doesn't fit well, they will not like it and try elsewhere.  We need to help our investigators love our message and want to come back for more."  Also, our teacher said "Don't throw your bucket of doctrine at investigators.  Use your bucket to give them what they need."

 

Well I only have a couple more minutes left on the computer so I just want to say that dispite the bad times (that are strengthening me) all is well and I LOVE it here.  I can't wait to serve the people in the Czech Republic.  I love you all and well write again next Tuesday.

 

Replace Fear with Faith.

 

~Starsi Bahr

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The Mission is GREAT!

Hello everyone.  The mission has been great.  I got here and was greeted by a guy from Scotland and he carried my bags as we were all processed into the MTC.  We have really full days here.  So little time for being lazy and so much time to be learning to gospel and language.

 

Let me tell you about my companions.  I am in a "tripanionship" it is me, Elder Sewell from England and Elder de Angelis from Italy.  The first day we had our first branch meeting.  We had a few speakers and it was very nice.  The presidency shows their love all the time.  Next we got to our room and went to language class and class instruction.  It was crazy!  We started learning the language immediately!  No Czech was spoken by the teacher for a couple hours.  We then were able, as a branch to teach people.  It was like a little conference where we talked to an "investigator".  I remember a lady Hely that we talked to and her daughter has cerebral palsy and whe doesn't know what to say to her to be comforted.  I stood up and spoke to her about how I have a mentally handicapped brother who I know is here to bless us in life.  I received inspiration while there.  One reason my brother Adam is in my life so that I can relate to people I meet and share my testimony of how these disabled people we care for are blessings to us and others.

 

The second day we were here was busy too but also kind of scary.  We had to teach our first lesson... In Czech!!!  Our "investigator" is Stepan (Shtye-pan).  It was nice to be engulfed in the language but it comes with it's challenges too.  I know that the Lord will help with the language.  I got a little discouraged because I was having trouble learning it but when we taught in the language I felt much better.

 

We had a meeting on the 10th and a quote by Jeffery R. Holland was brought up.  It says "Even though it is the still, small voice, there is a thunder pounding in the heart of the investigator and the missionary."  I don't know why I want to share this quote, but I really like it and it is true.  In that same meeting I had a chance to bear my testimony and I did.  After that I was shaking.  Not because I was nervous, but because I felt the spirit so strong.  I sure love it here in the MTC.  Next we had a Branch Presidency welcome.  In there we all bore our testimonies and introduced ourselves.  After that I was called back and was asked if I would accept the calling as Zone Leader.  I DID!  I am excited about it, but it is a lot of work.

 

While in class I was nervous about our second lesson to teach Stepan so I prayed about it and I got the impression to open to Acts 1:5.  It came into my mind after praying that we would be able to teach by the spirit.  It talks about having the spirit.  I don't remember ever studying this scripture, but it came into my mind.

 

In sacrament meeting this Sunday District D sang a special musical number.  They sang "Praise to the Man".  I could feel other people in the room from the spirit world singing along with them.

 

I love the MTC and know this is where I need to be.  I KNOW the church is true.  I used to think; How can you KNOW the church is true...  but during the most recent general conference I noticed a lot of church leaders said "I testify..."  But that doesn't mean you can't know...  In the MTC, my testimony has sky rocketed.  I can say know the church is true and I have a testimony that this is the Lords work.  God is our Heavenly Father, Jesus is our Savior and Brother.  The spirit testifies of Christ and the Book of Mormon is TRUE.  I am grateful for the opportunity I have to serve my God and be a missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.  I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

I will write again in a week!  Replace Fear with Faith!

 

Starsi Bahr

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The day after I sent the last letter I wanted to send another one because I have great news and some updates.

I am already a zone leader!

It is such and exciting job but loads of work.

Yes, dad, I am obeying every rule, don't worry. :) The MTC is great. It is perfect for revelation. Just the other day we were group (20+ missionaries) teaching a lady who's daughter has cerebral palsy. The revelation- as clear as the sky after a fresh rainstorm- was that Adam is in my life so I can relate to those who I come in contact with. I can share that he is a blessing to people who doubt God's work and timing. God will do things that are for our eternal gain. God's will is not set in stone; it can change and is for us to be happy.

I know the church is true. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. Jesus is our savior and brother. We have purpose in life. I have faith that the Czech Republic will be different after our district of missionaries serve there. God loves us. I say these things in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

P.S. I got to teach a Czech person a lesson in Czech! Only after 2 days. We teach again tomorrow. Also I have the 2 best companions. I love you! Give Adam a hug for me.

The first day of the MTC was so much fun. I really enjoy the friendliness of everyone here. We had orange stickers on our name tags saying we are new and people were nicer and said welcome. It was great. I took my sticker off half way through the day though so I didn't look new. :) I have great companions. We are a trio. They are Elder Sewell from England and Elder De Angelis from Italy. We are such good friends now! I saw Derek today. It was a great reunion. Life is good and I can see the Lords hand in all we do here. The language training is fun, but challenging. I am ready for a good challenge! Today, we also got to speak to some investigators in a conference room type deal. Arnold loved talking about nature. His wife died and he is looking for the peace that the church can provide if the commandments are kept and we do all we can. Hely has a daughter with cerebral palsy and she wants to find out how to let her daughter know that all is well and that in the resurrection she will be whole. Junichi is from Japan and he wants his family to be together forever. His family struggles with love in the home. All of which I added my 2 cents and could truely feel revelation of what I shall say. I love taking notes during meetings. This is the safest place to be and I LOVE IT! Thank you for supporting me and I love you. Give Adam a big hug for me!

Got My Mission Call!!!!!!

I have been blessed to have received a mission call. (I got it August 9th, 2011) I decided to open it in my room alone after praying to invite the spirit. When I opened it and read it, I started to cry. I am such a baby when it comes to spiritual things, those of you who have heard me at the end of my talk and also during testimony meeting. Anyway, the spirit was SO strong when I opened it. When I read where I would be serving, I KNEW this was where I am supposed to be and I testify that apostles are truly inspired as to where missionaries serve. I would have never guessed I would serve in the Czech Republic!!!

I have been anxiously waiting for the day I report and I just have to wait one more week.

November 9th, 2011!!!!!!!!!!!

P.S. I got a letter from the mission office that says my mission is a 25 month mission due to unpredictable transfer schedules! I am so excited I get an automatic extension!

I am thankful for all my who visited this weekend, especially my family; I am so glad I could spend time with you! I love you guys, and I'll see you in 2 years and a month!