Dobrý Den Přeju Všem!

Last week went by kind of fast.  It was a fine week though.  For English Class we all went to a near by burger place and practiced ordering food in English.  I feel like I have a greater bond with my English class now which is good when you want to teach someone.  At first, you must build a relationship.  Next class we will try to meet with a couple of them and teach them the gospel.  We tried a new district activity too.  We wrote on a piece paper "Co byste se chtěli zeptat Boha?" which means "What would you like to ask God?" We then placed it outside our building so that people could see it down the street and think about it before we would contact them.  We will be trying it again somewhere more out in public.  On Thursday evening we travelled to Prague.  We had a training on Friday.  The training was a very good one.  Our zone leaders talked about how we can help people simply interested in the gospel to become people studying sincerely to know if it is true.  The assistants to President McConkie talked about home teaching.  It was an interesting missionary topic, but it is something that the branches here desperately need.  President McConkie talked about new activities we can do as missionaries.  Also a sister missionary with Sister McConkie spoke.  They helped us reflect on the magnitude of our calling and the importance of it.  They told us to remember back to when we got our mission calls.  It was good to reflect back to it.  On Saturday we were invited to take part in a traditional Czech pass time.  We went mushroom hunting.  Brother Šir took us.  At first there were none, but then we ended up finding a whole bags worth of them.  Brother Šir told us something funny.  When you go mushroom hunting, you must say "We are going blueberry hunting." otherwise the mushrooms will hear and hide themselves.  We all were walking through the forest saying that.  It was a great time with Brother Šir because afterward, we saw a HUGE boost in our relationship with him.  We have gained his trust and now he may start inviting his friends to meet with us.  Church was great.  26 people came!!!!  In the recent past it has been so few, around 11 people.  We had 6 non members there too.  What makes it better is that when a senior couple comes to a city, the missionary work and church attendance booms!  Senior couples help a lot.  And guess what... The senior couple for sure is now coming this Wednesday!!!  I am blessed to be in České Budějovice right now.

Now, just to close I want to tell you all a great experience I had this week.  On Tuesday,instead of having lunch right after studies, we decided to have a "Power Hour."  We left at 11am to come back at 12am for lunch.  On our way out we were walking down the street just talking.  No one was on the streets.  We continued and got to a point in the road where we had to choose which way.  Elder Greener said let's go left.  So we went left.  After that I said about a far off hill with houses on it "That looks nice.  Let's go there."  We continued down the street in that direction with the intention to contact people on the streets.  A few houses down the street a house's door bell stuck out to me.  Seconds later as I walked past it, I rang it.  Elder Greener looked at me surprised of the randomness.  I just smiled mischievously and continued ringing it.  A man came out named Dina.  We talked with him and long story short.  We have a meeting with him this week.  His past experiences with missionaries have prepared him for us on that day.  Unity in our work is what called for our success.  If Elder Greener hadn't chosen that street and I hadn't chosen that house.  We would not have met him.  The Lord is who guides this work and guides His missionaries by his Holy Ghost to those who are ready.

 

Missionary work is great.  I love it and am excited for the continued experiences I will have that will strengthen my faith that God is there and Christ is His Son, that the Book of Mormon is true and a prophet guides this church, the Lord's church here on earth.  What a wonderful blessing do we have.

 

Replace Fear with Faith.

I love you all.

Elder Bahr

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I Love My Mission.

I just love the effect my mission has had on me, especially the last few weeks.  I see so much joy in it and I am eternally grateful that I am out here.  It is a great blessing that I wouldn't trade for anything.  I will miss it probably the day after I am released.  Luckily I have just over 3 months left.  :)

 

České Budějovice is great!  It is so nice to have the Chrdlovi family back from England.  They are a great help.  Last Tuesday we went to their house for dinner.  They are a great family and they help me to feel at home.  We have been running Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings with Brother Chrdle.  I miss running and it is hard to get up and start running unless you have someone who is waiting for you.  We meet him at his house and run a 5k (3.1 miles).  Half way through we stop at a giant tree outside of the city and do push ups and talk about the members, investigators and how we can help the branch the most.  He is a great member.  He used to do this every morning with missionaries in the past.  On the way back, the last mile we time ourselves.  I am currently at a 5.01 mile.  It is about 25 seconds off of my high school record.  I was pleased at my time for not having trained deeply for about 2 years.

 

The senior couple we thought were coming are still in the MTC waiting for their visas.  As an added duty to our missionary responsibilities, we found them a nice apartment to live in.  Missions really do prepare a person for the real world.  I have learned how to take care of my self, cook (my mom taught me most cooking though), talk to people on the streets, work from 6.30am to 10.30pm, look for a house, etc.  It is nice.  I am sure though that real life as a normal person is still a lot different.

 

Last Thursday we did a district activity.  We 4 missionaries went to a busy part of town and drew a map of the world with chalk on the sidewalk.  We then placed the Book of Mormon where the Americas are and the Bible where Jerusalem is.  We tried to contact people in this way.  We have been wanting to do district activities for a while but a singing display is difficult with 4 people because half the people would be gone to contact while the other 2 are left to sing a 4 part song.  The chalk activity was a success.  We didn't get any meetings set up but we were able to get our message out to a lot of people, even after we left.  The chalk is probably still there.  :)

 

We had another branch BBQ on Friday.  It went well and we had a nice turn out.  Saturday we had a quick lesson with someone and then went to sports day.  We had a great turn out of people there too.  One of them we my try to teach soon.  The main thing that happened on Saturday was a small miracle.  It came by replacing fear with faith to the point that when something 'frightening' comes we immediately go into faith mode and the fearful thing has NO effect on us.  In the past I would have a strong feeling to contact someone, but as they got closer, I would loose my courage and get nervous.  My fear had one.  Last Friday, my faith one.  Elder Greener and I were on our way to an appointment.  We were in a little bit of a hurry too.  Being Saturday, there was almost no one on the street.  Suddenly around the corner came Lena from Latvia.  About 50 meters away we saw her and got the feeling 'Contact Her.'  We both decided to contact her, so as she came closer, we introduced ourselves.  She wasn't interested much but then started to talk about the Book of Mormon.  We got her interest.  We offered her a quick tour of our building just on the other side of the city center.  We said we would give her the Book of Mormon there in her language as well.  She agreed and we did as we said.  We told her about church too and invited her.  Sunday comes around and she is there before us.  Church was good.  I had a talk about the Book of Mormon.  Also something great was that we had 23 people including 3 dutch members that travelled an hour to come to church.  The branch is growing!!!  Well, back to Lena.  After sacrament meeting I asked her if she understood what was said at church.  She said a little.  Then I asked her how she felt.  She said 'I feel in my heart a new light.'

 

I have a testimony that this church is true and that no matter what the language is, God loves us all just the same and will offer us spiritual experiences is we come ready and willing.  Lena is now meeting with us and has been reading the Book of Mormon since she got it.

 

Everyone have a great week.  Invite someone to church this week, or if you are not a member click here to for more.

Hodně Štěstí!

 

Elder Bahr

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Missions are Great Experiences!

One of the many reasons I am grateful for my mission is the scriptures.  Since I have been out I have met other missionaries who have helped me learn how to study better.  I love the scriptures.  Currently I am reading through the Book of Mormon at a slow pace, but I am getting all I can from it.  I have learned through my own experiences how the Book of Mormon is true.  It makes sense logically and I have had many, many moments where I read and I know the Holy Ghost is telling me it is good.  I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon and the prophets who wrote them long ago.  The stories in the that are there teach us to be faithful and replace fear with faith and how to live our lives to be the most happy.  The main reason of my conversion is thanks to the feelings I have experienced while reading the Book of Mormon.  That is why we MUST read everyday to stay converted.  I invite those who don't read the Book of Mormon every day to do so.  I know your faith will deepen and you will see a change.  I see the world differently.  I see myself differently.  I know these things are true.  The mission is really a great tool and great experience to solidify a testimony.  It is a true blessing to be out here and take part of this work of salvation.

 

Well now for this week, those were just this weeks thoughts.  This week was a good one.  We taught a bunch of people and were able to have members there.  Members really help in teaching.  We have a couple people unfortunately that are so hard hearted against what we testify of, but that is their decision.  I know what is true and I am grateful for it.  This week we had a lot of people at English class.  District meetings are getting better.  When I first started being a district leader I felt so under qualified, but now it is getting better.  I enjoy it.  Last Sunday a family returned from England.  They were there for I think 3 years for work.  They are back now though.  When they walked in for church, a new energy was brought in to this branch that has been struggling lately.  They were warmly welcomed and we are all excited for them to be here.  They will be a big help to all of us.  Another bit of news that is exciting is that a senior couple will be here this week.  That will really help this work move along.  There are things that as missionaries, it is almost impossible to do without a senior couple.  Great things are going to happen here in České Budějovice really soon.  Já se těším!!!!!!!!!!!

 

I am doing well and I am happy to be here.  There is nothing better for me to do now that this right here.

 

Short e-mail, ale to stačí.

Elder Bahr

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Great Transfer So Far!

I don't know how to start this letter this week so I will just start and hope that ideas come.

This was a good week this week.  Elder Greener and I work very well together.  On Tuesday we did a lot of contacting and I feel like I am learning a lot from him on how to just be friendly to people.   Wednesday we had a couple lessons on plan.  We met with someone that was taught last transfer and he is usually pretty accepting of lessons, but another person we teach came to the building during our lesson and sat in as well and started going off about how Joseph Smith could not have seen God.  Well, now both of those investigators are now kind of against us in what we teach.  We will see if we can change their attitude but if it has no effect, unfortunately we will have to drop them and stop teaching them.  Later that evening we had a great lesson with Margita though.  She has a new baptismal date.  Also her brother in law has a date!  His name is Lukaš.  He recently told us of an amazing experience with prayer that he had.  He prayed for work and got work that day.  That is the diluted story, the full story is a testimony builder for me and for him that God does hear and answers our prayers.  Also earlier in the day we helped a member clean his house.  Service is fun!  The next day Thursday we had our district meeteing.  We left to go to district lunch before the meeting and found a less active on the way there.  Then we continued and ran into an Mormon from Utah.  He was happy to see us.  We quickly showed him the church building.  Then on the way to lunch, we ran into another investigator.  It was interesting to us that we ran into so many people.  District meeting went super well.  We are all doing a transfer long activity that will help us improve in many areas of missionary work and normal life.  It is going to be a good transfer.  We can already feel it.  On Friday we ate at Brother Šir's house.  He made pork knee with mashed potatoes.  It as super good.  Czech cuisine is one of the best.  Later we had Family Home Evening as a branch and did family history.  A really awesome member here Gita is super excited to go to the temple to do ordinances for her ancestors.  Saturday we went to see a less active and had our usual Saturday schedule of 'Sports day', cleaning the building, weekly planning, and our district language study.  Sunday made me nervous, but wasn't as bad as I thought it would be.  Elder Greener is the new branch president, but hasn't been sustained yet.  For him to be able to be branch president, even to lead a meeting at church, he must be sustained.  Well, no one from the district presidency of the church could come down to sustain his so President McConkie had to assign someone.  He assigned me.  I led a church meeting yesterday.  I was nervous because I had never done it before, but it ended up not being too scary.

 

So, maybe this week doesn't sound too different, but it has been a good week.  I am excited to serve here with Elder Greener.  I feel like this transfer will be the best one I have had.  One because it just feels that way, but also because of some of the recent happenings.  President Irwin when he was mission president taught us a BUNCH on obedience and how that is how we receive the Lord's blessings.  President Irwin was very strict with any unusual missionary activities like going service projects not lasting over an hour, and not going on mushroom hunts or any similar activities with members or non-members.  Those are just a couple examples that helped us stay focused on the work to be the most productive.  President McConkie, the current president allows us to go on these activities and is up for ANYTHING that will gain the trust of the Czech people.  The Czech people are more open to strangers and to those who teach when they trust us.  Now it may seem to contradict itself with one president allowing unusual missionary activities and the other not allowing.  However, to look at it in God's perspective, it makes perfect sense.  We are now wiser and more trustworthy missionaries.  We know how to keep missionary rules and be good.  Now we can use this wisdom and trust in how we go about doing these missionary activities.  We are obedient and powerful missionaries now.

Another thing realized this week was all the work done in Česke Budějovice preparing the way for the future.  A senior couple will be here on the 13th of August.  The sister missionaries did a WHOLE LOT of work with less active members and so now when the senior couple is here, they can take that work with us missionaries and build the church in this part of the vineyard.

God has perfect timing and I am blessed to be a part of this work here in this day.  The church is true and a prophet leads that church.  This I know.  Missionary work is great.

 

Replace Fear with Faith.

Elder Bahr

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