České Budějovice Vision!

This week was a great week.  In the recent past we have had a few lessons per week.  This week wasn't much different in the end, but I am excited about it.  Let me explain.

 

We are teaching 2 new people, had 3 lessons, and 2 of the people we teach came to church.  Here is where it is different... If people wouldn't have cancelled or rescheduled with us, we would have had 12 lessons total and would now be teaching 8 new people.  This week has exploded!  Also, in relation to the subject heading of this letter, we 4 missionaries in the city of České Budějovice have a written vision of what we want to see in the near future.  This vision is driving us.  One example is when we went out finding people.  We saw a man that matched the description of who we need in this branch, we talked to him, and it went great talking with him.  We spoke about prayer very simply; what it is, who we pray, etc. and the Spirit was felt so strong.  We should be having our first sit down meeting this week! 

Also, this week, we planned to go out to a little village outside of České Budějovice called Staré Hodějovice.  There, we met a man that also fits our description and he should be meeting with us this week too!  We also had a lesson on a bench in a park with someone that is interested in hearing more from us.  The work here in České Budějovice is growing and the Lord is blessings us and guiding us.

 

My mission is going great!  I am excited to be here and see the hand of the Lord in this work.  When you search for the Lord's blessings, you will find them.  Replace Fear with Faith and choose the right.

 

Mějte vynikající týden všichni!

Elder Bahr

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Spring is a Nice Time!

Spring is one of the best times of year.  It is not too hot and not too cold.  Here in the Czech Republic it is nice.  After last weeks email, my companion and I got to go on a hike on a near by mountain.  The mountain's name is Kleť.  It is the highest in the surrounding area of České Budějovice.  From the top you can see the Austrian Alps on a clear day.  So my companion and I ran to the top, when we got to the top, a fee was required to get above the tree line on a small tower.  We left our money in a backpack off the path at the bottom behind a tree, so we couldn't see the Alps today.  Maybe another time this transfer we will do it.  This last Monday, we also did a nice spring activity.  We got to ride bikes to Hluboka nad Vltavou.  It is a castle north of České Budějovice.  We went with this great member brother Šir, who was baptised earlier this year.  He lent us bikes.  It was beautiful.  Spring is so nice.

 

Not only for the wonderful places to see on preparation day, is spring so nice, but because more people are outside!  These last couple weeks have been tough to find new people to teach, but since the weather has improved, we have found some cool people.  One example is when we were on our way to the train station, we say a lady pushing a stroller and so we stopped her and spoke for a few minutes, we scheduled a meeting.  It is today later on.  She was a nice woman and it will be exciting to teach more people!

 

This last week we also had a couple other things go on.  I went on another exchange with the zone leaders.  I went to Plzeň this time.  I was there a few days.  It is a nice city.  I re-recognised what I can do to start teaching more.  That is another thing that will help now in finding new people to teach.

 

Last Wednesday we had a zone conference in which President Irwin showed us a video documentary called "SS 39".  It is about the only successful WWII assassination of a man named Heinrich, who tried to take over the Czech Republic.  President Irwin had showed it to relate the courage and diligence of the brave people who took part in the assassination to our work.  One line that one of the soldiers had said was "I have been called on a special mission and I will carry it out, come what may!"  If you get a chance to see the film, you will see that what they did was a true example of Replacing Fear with Faith.

 

I have also been called on a special mission to serve here in the Czech Republic and to fight off the evils of this world by spreading the gospel.  Come what may.  I must fulfill my purpose.  I know what I have found is true.  This gospel is it.  It is the only thing that can fight off any evil in this world.  I am blessed and honored to be able to take part in this.

 

Have a great week everyone.  Do something this week to help fight off the evil in this world.

Elder Bahr

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I had a Busy Week.

About half of the week was taken out because of trainings and other things.  I had last week on Thursday to travel to Plzeň drop off my companion, go with another missionary to Prague so we could wake up in the morning to go to Brno for a district leader training.  Then I travelled back that evening.  The next day would be Saturday now and that is when we have over here general conference.  It was also on Sunday.  I enjoyed very much general conference.  I took notes the whole time.  These people really do speak to us in behalf of God.  What a privilege this is!  Of course I have my favorite speakers, but I enjoy hearing from all.  It is too bad that it is only 10 hours of conference and we have to wait 6 months for next conference.

 

Last week he had a great experience though.  Monday night we decided to focus more on being right on time to everything.  So we did.  We had a great nightly planning for the next day, Tuesday.  Tuesday morning we had great studies, and we went to work Right On Time.  We got to a complex of apartments and began tracting.  A lady came up to us and yelled at us and told us how horrible our Czech was.  I think we speak fairly well for only studying it for about 17 months.  Anyway, we let her finish and walk away and then we continued.  We finished and began on our way home for lunch scheduled at 12.30.  ON the way right at the last second we decided to stop a lady near by.  We stopped her and talked about families and testified of the importance of the gospel in the family.  She listened and decided to let us visit her.  We then got home Right At 12.30 on the dot.  Lesson to be learned.  Schedule time well and stick to your plans in life.  When someone comes be to ruin your plan, act Christ-like and continue.  Replace doubt, fear, and discouragement with optimism and faith.  The set back might be a blessing; I saw it to be one since we would have missed the perfect timing to stop the other lady that we are now teaching.  The Lord is a key part of this work and everyone of your lives.  We should use His guidance and council.  I know He lives and cares for each and every one of us.  Do what the Lord expects and he will openly bless you.

 

Have a great week.  Spring is here and life is well.

Elder Bahr

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General Conference Weekend!

This week was general conference weekend!  Unfortunately, we need to wait till it gets translated and sent to us, so we watch it this next Sunday.  I can't wait.  Even last weekend around 8 in the evening I thought about how at that very moment were the prophets and apostles of God speaking to the world!  I could feel the spirit 4000 miles away.  The church is true.

 

I am grateful to be in this city I am in right now.  I don't know what I have been called here to České Budějovice to do.  I have realized in other cities why I was there, now I need to work hard to fulfill my purpose here.

 

So, really cool story.  When I served in Brno Elder Štrobl and I went to a small village just outside of Brno called Líšeň.  We contacted a man named Jaromir.  He had to go so we gave him our card and left.  Shortly after we had transfers.  I then was to serve in Zlín.  I got a call from Elder Štrobl part way into that transfer and was told that the man we had talked to in Líšeň had come to church and started being taught be missionaries.  I didn't hear much more after that.  Just this last week, now I am in České Budějovice, I heard by another missionary that had served there that the man had been baptized!  When I found this out, I felt so happy.  I can't explain exactly the feelings I have but I can explain how I know that every action we do, has some impact and later can lead to many great things.  As a missionary, it is important to know that no effort is wasted.  I am grateful to be on my mission and to be able to search for those who are searching for the gospel but don't know where to find it.  I am on the path to God, I have been led onto it by wonderful parents, I now know this path, and the best thing I can do is to help those around me to find this path as well.  Those who are on this path too, help those around you.  Replace fear with faith and be open and friendly with all people.  Those who are not and searching for it, you can find it here.  The Chruch of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is Christ's church.  It has been restored and leads to God.  I know this and testify of this in the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

 

Take Care All,

Elder Bahr

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Happy Easter!

I would have written yesterday, but it was Easter and everything was closed.  I am grateful to write today though.  This last week was a little tough to get settled into a new area.  I still am trying to get myself used to this new city.  It is a beautiful city and has many old buildings.  Most are very similar in style so I can't tell where I am most of the time.  The branch here is a nice little branch too.  The members are very nice.

On Tuesday we got me a bus pass.  It was funny because I couldn't speak real well for some reason and I couldn't understand the man at the counter so all of a sudden he just started speaking in German.  After a second I realized that he switched and I finished getting the pass speaking German.  Even that was a little rusty.  Then we went to our english class, somewhere where I could speak the language like a native...  :)  The other set of missionaries was gone because a new missionary was being picked up, so Elder Hansen and I took care of all the students.  I talked with the advanced students, while Elder Hansen talked with the beginners.  My class was more of a "get to know."  I think they really enjoyed it.  I did magic for them and they were entertained by it.  :)

Thursday we had a lot of finding on the streets and my first district meeting!  I did my best.  That is all I will say.  I have another district meeting tomorrow.  They are every week.  I will get good at them quick.  Friday we did more finding.  We also had a lesson with a new investigator named Mohamed.  Then we had Family Home Evening with some of the branch members.  We played games and the sister missionaries had the lesson.  We have it next week.  Saturday we had our companionship weekly planning and cleaned the building with some members after having an activity with members and investigators.  The rest of the day we were on the streets finding people.  We have very few people to teach right now, but that will get better.

Sunday we had church.  It was Easter and so we had some nice talks about Christ.  After church some members stuck around to practice church hymns.  A member leads that.  I helped them by playing the piano.  We visited a member, Sister Cihlařová an older member here that likes to help us find people to teach.  We talked to a few people on the way home and had our studies and I did "call-ins."  I called the other missionaries in my district and counseled with them on how they can improve and to talk about what went well and everything like that.  That is another job of a district leader.  We have a lot of work.  :)

Yesterday was preparation day.  We visited a tower called the Black Tower here in České Budějovice (Budweis in english).  Then in the evening went out to find people to teach.

I am excited about my new area, it will take some work though.  We need to find people to teach.  Pray for us to find some cool new people.  In the mean-time we will do our best. 

Replace Fear with Faith,

Elder Bahr

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