Dobrý den!

Today the sun is shining and it is a great day. I have decided to write my weekly email first and then read all the messages I get second so I have time to write everything I want. :) The weather lately reminds me of the weather from back home, but not as bipolar. Yesterday is rained a bit, had a quick hail storm, was sunny, cloudy, and any other weather pattern that the GREAT Northwest has.

First thing I want to write is what I said I would write the past few weeks. An entry from my journal;

2-10-12: "The past few days have helped me realize my purpose here. They have been very good days, which have strengthened my faith in Christ and this work I do! I have been on a few exchanges. The first thing I learned is that goals ARE obtainable. We must have faith, courage, and seek help from others.Next, we have been focusing a lot on new ways of finding. We have tracted unapealing looking places and found beautiful people ready for the gospel. I walked onto the property of paneloks (communist style apartments) and felt something and decided to share it with my companion. It was; 'This place is ready to be harvested.' As we talked to these people and as I have been contacting with other missionaries, I feel for sure the spirit working through me. Seeking the spirit for what people need to hear is the key to their hearts. Last couple great experiences I had were from lessons and things like them. We have an investigator named Alena Fafejtova. She is ready for baptism, but only needs to stop smoking. She has such a humble and sincere heart. She is very precious to God and myself. I love speaking in behalf of Christ and God to her and promising her blessings. The other experience was on an exchange as well. My companion and the other elder he was with went to a lesson and then came back and told me that Mario (an investigator) said to them that he feels a very deep and strong spiritual connection with me. It makes me feel great to hear things like this that I impact peoples' lives so much, when I don't feel like I am doing that well. These experiences give me confidence to do this work. It gives me strong evidence of the truthfulness of this church. It strengthens my testimony. It helps me realize that God is our Heavenly Father and Christ is His son and our brother and that Christ is our savior who died on the cross to save us all. I am greatful to be a missionary now and to be in this part of the vineyard to serve God and dedicate and consecrate me life at this point in time to help other lost sheep come unto Christ to partake of the fruit of the tree of life. My heart swells when I serve these people in the Czech Republic and when I feel the success I am having. As long as I am doing all I can, God is pleased and it is not a waste of time. Do not forget these feelings. They are TRUE! Christ is right by yourside. Keep your head help high."

Even going back and reading this over helps me when times get rough. I am loving it our here.

I don't know if I wrote it last week, but recently my companion and I were walking to a local grocery store to get dinner and a lady at the cross walk kept looking at us. I felt the impression to talk to her. A few steps after the crosswalk, I talked to her and introduced us to her. She then said she could feel that we were from the Lord. We were in a hury, so we invited them to church the next Sunday. They never came, but I am glad that I acted on that feeling I had.

A few days ago, we were just down the road from Poland! We got the assignment to go to Bohumin to see a less active. Sad thing was, we couldn't find their house. But It was nice to spread the gospel in another city.

In church this Sunday, I got to share the missionary thought in sacrament meeting. I talked about Alma 26:27, and talked about how Christ and God have comforted me while times have been tough out here. Then I shared another scripture to relate to everyone it was Alma 26:37. It was a great chance to share personal experience and give people hope. Also in church, before it started, two people came up to me and commented on how they could see that I was in such a happy attitude. I like when people notice things like that.

We had an apartment inspection this week by the senior couples in the mission. We passed. They commented that the apartment is the best it has been in a LONG time! I thank my mom for my house cleaning skills. One funny thing though which we reported to them was that the microwave smokes if something cooks for over 30 seconds. In the report, Sister Erb wrote that the microwave is not keeping the Word of Wisdom. :)

This week, we started teaching a family!!!!!! Our investigator Mario let us come over to teach in his home with his (currently) girlfriend Eva. My companion and I are pretty happy we have a family to teach.

Lastly. I read over some old letters people wrote to me, my mission call, and old journal entries lastnight. I have a new fire for the gospel. I am so happy I can serve here. I love the people here, my family, my companion, the other Elders and Sisters in the mission, and... well, just life in general is great. I know that what I am doing is truely what the Lord did while he walked the earth. I am happy to be a representative of him. This church is true. This gospel is true. Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and through him, the church of Jesus Christ was restorted. Thomas S. Monson is our prophet today, being led by God. I love this church.

I am thankful for my friends, my family, I love my Mom, my Dad, my sister Robbie, my sister Dani, her husband Dave and their 2 kids, my sister Kylee, my sister Casey, my brother Adam, and all of you who support me. I love you all and am greatful for how you have impacted my life. Don't forget to replace fear with faith! Until next week!

-Starší Bahr

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P-Day in Prague

This weeks email is one day delayed.  Two days ago we got a text from President Irwin asking us to come to Prague the next day (yesterday).  It was for an interview with my companion Elder Gibson because he has three weeks left till he goes home!  We had to get a train to Prague at 4am to get there around 8am.  President said that he could meet with him after 10:30, so we went to go see more of Prague.  We went to the top of the big cathedral there and went to Charles Bridge.  It was like my first day in Prague, but during the day light.

 

We also had specialized training this week!  Like always, they are better than I think they will be.  We talked about setting a vision for what we would like to see in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.  Our mission goal is to have 21 lessons per week per companionship to reach our bigger goal which is to establish a stake here within 5 years.  It will be difficult to get 21 lessons a week, but challenges are good.  AS we mapped out who we could see each week though, it became a lot more obtainable.  I am excited about it.  We also talked about what we call the commitment sandwich.  It goes like this:

We;

-Testify of a truth of the gospel,

-Promise blessings,

-Commit or invite to do something,

-Promise blessings,

-and Testify!

As we practiced this, I felt more like a missionary and felt the sprit more fully!

 

I read a scripture the other day that I don't remember what it said, but it was beautiful.  Whoever reads this post should look this up: 3 Nephi 9:13.  It is a great scripture.

 

Last week during our exchange, Elder Stimpson (Poruba- Ostrava) and I went on a short run... while it was snowing!!!!!!!!!  It was GREAT!  I loved it.

 

Oh, exciting news.  So before my mission my dad told me that he learned how to solve a Rubik's cube while on his mission.  Hey dad... I am following in your footsteps.  I know how to now!  The other day I solved it in 2 minutes and 21 seconds.  That was a lucky try though because all the other tries it takes me like 5 minutes.  I like to be like my dad.  I love him so much.  I love my mom so much too!  That is why my favorite scripture is Alma 57:21.  Look that one up too!

 

So in our branch last week, we had a talent show to fellowship more.  I did magic.  Other people showed golf clubs, pictures they drew, things they have sewn, and some other cool things.  One of our investigators, Mario, and his family came!  It made me happy.

 

Lastly something one of our investigators said.  Her name is Alena.  She said to me that just looking at me she can tell that I am a good sincere person.  I love the people here.  A lot of people are not very friendly, but the hearts of the good people overcome the negative vibes.  I am glad to be a member of this church and to be on a mission right now.  The world needs this gospel and it can bless so many people in so many ways.  I know I say this often, but I mean it - I love you all and hope that all is well for you.  Take care everyone!

 

"Replace fear with faith and live without regrets." - Elder Draper (an awesome missionary)

 

I said I would put up something this week that I wanted to write last week, but I have run out of time to write it, so I will try to write it in next weeks email.  Next week I will write more.

 

-Starší Bahr

 

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I am Such a Happy Missionary!

Sorry, last weeks email didn't send.  I know it sent to all my emails, but it didn't make it to the blog.  Here is is

 

 

"This week was filled with a lot of activities and many lessons!  It was a great week.
 
First I would like to say that I got a couple letters from some people!  I got one from my dad and from my Young Men's President (when I was a young man, now I am not just a young man, not just a man, but a MAN!)  Anyway.  The letters were great.  It is always good to hear from my dad.  I love my family's letters to me.  Scott Edward's (YM Pres.) letter to me was really nice.  It was a simple letter with a huge impact.  It was a letter with a great message behind it.  It included a poem called "May your Sky always be Yellow".  Thank you all who write to me.  It is much appreciated.  I love the support.
 
Oh, this last week, we had a crazy experience.  A water pipe for the suburb Přivoz, broke and we had no water and had to go stay with other Elders.  It was great.  They fixed it.  I will attach some pictures.
 
This week was busy.  I loved it.  I had three different exchanges.  One with an Elder in my district, one with a zone leader, and one with one of my MTC companions!  The first exchange we went tracting at some apartments and when I set foot on the property I thought and said "This place is ready to be harvested." We found a couple families to teach!  The next exchange we found another family!  Any the exchange with my companion we did a lot of contacting in the city square.  I really felt like I was being told by the Holy Ghost what to say to each person we met.  While on another exchange, one of my investigators said to my companion that he had feels a strong spiritual connection with ME.  I feel honored to have people I bearly know become such good friends and that they can feel the spirit I strive to share with others.  I also have another investigator I feel a strong connection with that I love to testify God's love for her.  She is such an angel.  I love the people here.
 
I wanted to finish this week's email with a passage I wrote in my journal this last week, but I will share it next week, as I have no time left to email, but I pray for everyone and wish the best.  I know I am here for a reason.  I love this work and as I have replaced fear with faith, I have seen the Lord's hand in all I do.  I love you all!
 
Until next week,
Starší Bahr"

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Awesome Week.

This week was difficult but fun.  Few things happened, some fun things happened and like always, quick.

 

Every week I have been here, I have had to travel somewhere.  This week was no different.  We had zone conference.  It was with Elder Causse (correct spelling?) of the seventy.  He taught very well.  He addressed all our questions and was able to really listen to us and help us.  His words were truly inspired.  He taught us to have a vision of what we would like to see in this mission in the next couple years.  As he taught us through out the day for a  total of probably 4 hours, each comment tied in with the one right before it.  He gave me some hope too.  He said that when people choose not to listen to us, they reject the gospel, not us.  If we are doing all we can, we have nothing to worry about.  He later taught about how we need to focus on the important things.  He related it to a jeweler who made this extravagant box to display a beautiful pearl on, and like he was wanting, he got more business.  He later realized the reason for all this attention was this box that was displaying the pearl.  It was distracting from the important piece.  In our missionary work, we need to focus on teaching the people.  It doesn't matter what we wear, who we talk to, our language we use; as long as we edify the investigator.  We went on to speak about some other things like pray for who to teach before you question where you should find people to teach, find when you teach and teach when you find, and many other very wise council.  It was a VERY GOOD conference.  At the end when we sang our mission song, I had trouble because the words really touched me.  I love our song.  I am going to try to learn it on piano.

 

I got my picture of my family in a nice frame in the mail.  It made me SO happy.  It is a great picture and it looks like they are right in front of me smiling.  It makes me feel like I am closer to them.  :)  Thank you family!

 

So last Saturday, we had a full day and We were super pumped about all the lessons!!!  That day, one right after another cancelled on us.  We ended up with one.  All is well though, we are going to keep trying to meet with them.

 

Funny story.  We were contacting at a local Naměstí (Townsquare) and I walked up to this guy and his girlfriend.  I spoke to them and they started to say that they were Polish and didn't understand Czech.  We then asked if they spoke English and they said "Nein... Deutsch..."  So I began to speak to them in German and they looked shocked.  The girlfriend looked at the guy like "What should we do?"  I turned to guy and asked if he spoke German (In German) and he said "Nein", then I asked the girl and she said the same thing!!!!!  We gave them a pass-along card and left.  I think it was funny they were trying to avoid speaking to us and I just happened to speak the language they were trying to counterfeit and trick us with.

 

Another funny story which brightened my day... Last night my companion and I were discussing tomorrows activities when someone buzzed at our door.  We answered it and someone dropped off a tin of something.  We opened it and it was no-bake cookies and heart shaped sugar cookies!  It was hilarious!  On the top of all the cookies was a paper with a heart drawn on it.  Before we opened it, we ran to our balcony to watch them leave our apartment complex.  We saw two people run out and around the corner.  We ran to our back window to see who it was and they kept going.  We don't know who it was, but it was so funny!

 

Other than the fun experiences and the amazing spiritual feast we had, nothing else really happened.  It was a good week and I am happy to be here.  Though there are times when I don't know why I am here... The good times bring me right back up and I embrace this experience I have.  I love it here and pray for everyone back home.  I love you all and everyone who supports me.  I am glad to hear from my family and how well off they are and how happy they are each week.  Remember to keep replacing fear with faith.  Take care!

 

Until next week,

Starší Bahr

NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.