Conference Weekend in the Czech Republic!

This week we had conference.  It was this week because we had to get a translated version into Czech.  It was a good conference.  All the missionaries had it in English in a different room.  I learned a lot from it.  I was able to get some personal revealation for my investigators here. 

 

Last week I said that I would be writing about something this week.  We had a baptism!!!  Our investigator Adam Hotový was baptised last Saturday.  It was a great site to see.  He had been waiting for an answer and he got it the week before the baptism.  He had said "You say an answer would come, so I trust you."  We were nervous when each lesson we asked if he received an answer annd he said not yet.  He is our age and has been asking a few questions about missions.  I hope he decides to serve a mission because that will only stregthen his testimony.

 

I am writing short because I have limited time to email this week and I don't type very fast.  Nevertheless, I am happy to write to you all.  I would have emailed yesterday but seeing as it was Easter and every Czech celebrates it, all the stores and libraries were closed.

 

Lately we have been doing weekly district finding.  We love to do street displays, of which we sing while a couple missionaries contact people.

 I apologise that I don't have more to write.  The things I wrote about were the most important to me.

 

I hope everyone enjoyed their Easter Holiday.  Remember that that day is to remember Christ, not candy, rabbits, and eggs.

 

Replace Fear with Faith and take care this week.

 

P.S.  There are a few people I said that I would write letters to.  It is difficult to find time to write back, but it will happen eventually.  I have not forgotten you.

 

S Laskou, 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.

Baptism!

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.

Not Much for this Week, but for Next Week.....

Again, I blink and realize it is Monday.  I hope everyone is doing well and happy for Spring!  It is warming up here to and there are a lot of birds and sun, and warmer weather.  I love it.  The city of Ostrava in blossoming not only with flowers, but with the gospel.  Next week I will be able to write about something really exciting happening this Saturday!  You will see next week!

 

This week we had a specialized training (zone conference).  It was a good one. At the end, we sang our mission song and like always, it got to me.  I get emotional every time!  Back to the conference.  We learned about how to teach more unified as a companionship.  We learned something from Sister Irwin too, the mission president's wife.  I don't remember what she said, it just inspired me to be a more humble person.  Sister Irwin in an angel.  :)  We also heard testimonies from departing missionaries.  One of the testimonies included a personal story that prompted me to write a letter to my mom, who I love so dearly, and tell her how much I appreciate her.  I really do appreciate her too.  Lastly, I got to have an interview with President Irwin.  I always look forward to spending a few moments to talk with him personally.

 

Our companionship is awesome.  Starší Clyde, Starší Stimpson, and I are in the Přivoz area of Ostrava.  We work so well together.  This transfer, if all works out, we could see 5 baptisms!  We like to serve eachother.  Starší Stimpson came up with a fun way to serve.  We fight.  Whenever there is something that needs to be done, like the dishes, ironing our shirts, etc.; we fight over it.  Sometimes while one of us who is ironing our shirts walks out of the room, another one of us will try to iron it real quick before he comes back in to finish this shirt.  We have so much fun together.  We laugh at so many things, but when we need to be serious, we do it.  Our lessons are so great!  We feel the spirit so strong as we teach!

 

Something funny that happened this week was we were waiting at a tram stop and some guy came up and asked us where we were from.  We said Amerika and he just started laughing.  He continued to name off all 14 languages that he apparently knew how to speak.  One was German.  We spoke a bit and then got on the the tram and spoke some more.  We even spoke to Czech people in German, like when he asked this lady if she wanted to sit down where we were about to sit.  We spoke some more, talked about our families, where we grew up, etc., and I gave him a pamphlet about our church and I left.  Throughout the whole thing, he was so giddy.  He laughed at everything.  It was all because he was so drunk.  It was great to get a chance to speak some German, and to share the gospel a little bit, but it is too bad that he probably will never remember it.  The gospel is for everyone.

 

A great experience:  Yesterday on the tram I had a feeling to talk to this guy that was probably 26 or 27 and he had his headphones in.  Regardless, I spoke to him.  He didn't believe in God because of his circumstances.  We got off the same stop. We spoke a bit more to a cross walk and it was red for us but no cars were coming, so he crossed.  I stayed to be safe.  He kept walking.  I felt panicked.  I didn't want to loose him.  He really needed the gospel.  I prayed that he would wait for me.  He stopped at a Trafika to buy cigarettes at the window, walked a little bit and stopped.  He decided to wait for me.  So we talked a little bit more and I gave him our card.  As I talked to him, I felt the Holy Ghost working RIGHT THROUGH ME.  I promised things that were pretty bold to promise, without hesitation.  I hope he calls us.  That day, I felt love for people that I have never felt before.  I had always wondered how you can love someone that you just barly met.  I can see it now.  As I teach with the spirit and do it with charity, I will feel this way.

 

I love being a missionary.  All is well here and I see the hand of the Lord in this work.  Remember what I say every week; 'Replace Fear with Faith' and all will go well.  Take care this week and continue to strengthen your testimonies of our Savior every day.

 

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.

FOR ALL OF YOU THAT HAVE ONE OF PRESTON'S ADDRESS BUSINESS CARDS:

I have been informed that his mailing address has been slightly changed.

Instead of 160 00 Praha 1 you need to reverse it so it says Praha 1 160 00

You also need to write Europe on the bottom line after Czech Republic.

"It's not Seed Planting Time, it's Harvest Time!"

This last week was full of lessons!  We hit so many of out goals and got some really powerful lessons in.  We have an investigator who decided to delete all his video games off his computer so he could come to church.  We got a new investigator.  We have a couple baptisms coming up real quick.  And... the sun is shining, which is a tender mercy of the Lord because I don't like rain.  As our exercise this morning we ran to the top of a nearby hill as the sun was rising over Ostrava.  It is perfect here in Ostrava when it comes to weather and to success we have obtained.

 

The quote as the title of this message was said this morning from one of my companions.  I just had to include it in this message somehow.  But it does apply to our work here too!  I love it.

 

We have a few interesting was to share the gospel coming up too!  Last week we met with a professor at Ostrava University but it ended up turning it to a question/ answer session for one of his students thesis papers.  We are planning to have real lessons with him and his student in the future.  After our lesson which impressed me that they knew SO MUCH about our church, he invited us to do a little presentation about our church in his class.  With our mission president's permission, we will be doing it.  We plan on passing out pass along cards and say if you want to learn more, call us.  (Because we can't preach in a school) we might also tell why we are here, and what we do, and play the Restoration video that the church has.

 

Also, we go every week to a Café for Marlenka (really good cake) and Kofola (really good drink).  The owner asked us if we have any talents.  My companion said he plays guitar and I said I do magic.  He said he is having a talent show type thing in a month and a half that showcases talents from the community throughout the day.  Once again, with our mission president's permission, we will be doing that too.  My companion will probably play a church song on guitar while singing and I will do a little magic.  We plan on talking to people about our church a little bit and passing out passalong cards to people while waiting for out turns to perform.

 

Because of the beautiful weather, we have started up again something called sports day.  We have an hour or so on Saturday evenings to play soccer, football, frisbee, etc. with investigators, then have a spiritual thought at the end.  This is finding method we have to find new people to teach.

 

Something crazy happened this week as well.  As we were walking on over to an investigators place to try to set up a meeting.  We witnessed some guy beating her girlfriend in the park.  We didn't know how to call the police, so we found someone from here to do so.  The police came and they were just breaking up and didn't want to police involved.  The police let them go!!!  I think we decided to try to see one of our investigators for the reason of trying to help out this girl.  Even though it didn't seem to help, I think it could help later down the road.

 

Despite this experience with the police, everything else about this week was fantastic.  I love being a missionary and hope time will slow down a little bit.  :)  I love you all.  Take care this next week and replace fear with faith.

 

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.

The Work is Great!

Not much has happened since last time I wrote (5 days ago), but some weekly letter worthy things.  I will have to write quick because I don't have a lot of time left to email.

 

We are working hard here in Přivoz Ostrava.  Elder Clyde, Elder Stimpson, and I are very pleased with what we have to work with.  Our companionship is probably the best.  We have AWESOME studies.  Our district is also the best.  We have two missionaries who are on their last transfer and both sound like Czechs. They are both training new missionaries.  The two new missionaries are so ready to serve.  I am glad we have them in Ostrava.  They already have such a good grasp on the language and are fearless.  :)

 

So some exciting news; I got a letter from my brother Adam.  He is 15, but mentally 5 or 6.  He is such an awesome brother.  I loved the letter I got.  It was scribbles that said "Dear Preston, Love Adam."  I love him so much and can't wait to see him again.  :)

 

An American came to our branch a couple weeks ago and asked us if there was anything from America we wanted.  We said no, but he came last week with Rootbeer flavoring to make Rootbeer because they don't have it here!  It was sure nice of him.

 

We have 3 people on date for baptism, for the 7th of April.  Andy, Adam, and Mario.  They are really cool.  Andy is from Nigeria, moved to Italy, and now is moving here for work.  He speaks no Czech, but he says he is confident that with God's help, anything is possible.  He is so ready!  I am excited for him.  Mario, is Czech and speaks German and English as well.  And Adam is about 20 years old and is such a cool guy.

 

Last thing before I get off;  We were doing a district contact the other day which is when you contact as a district with one goal in mind then you meet back up to talk about how it went.  We went out in our tri-panionship and started talking to people.  We met a lady who we told about our message then invited her to church.  We gave her our card and walked away.  Just down the road we saw her walking toward us again.  SHe crossed the street to us and proceeded to say "You gave me such a beautiful message and I never gave you anything in return."  As she said this, she tried to give us a hundred crown bill (a little under $5) but we declined and she kept trying to put it in our hands and  said we are here as volunteers and do it for free because we know our message is true and if for everyone.  It is a message from God to His children.

 

I am glad to be a missionary and to spread this message to God's children, my brothers and sisters.  I know this church is true and the Book of Mormon is the word of God.  Take care and replace fear with faith this week.  I love you all.

 

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.

Transfers!

Drum roll, please.

..............................................................................!!!!

I am serving in Ostrava, Přivoz again.  I am glad I am.  I am serving in another tri-panionship with Elder Stimpson from Montana who was from the MTC group before me, and with Elder Clyde from Cash Valley, Utah from my MTC group!!!  We are going to tear it up!!!  I am so excited for this transfer!

 

Not much to say this week, but some from things.  First, this email is late because (I forgot to mention) P-Day on transfer weeks are on Wednesdays.  Next P-Day will be next Monday, then Monday again, and so on for 9 weeks, till the next transfer of which P-Day will be on Wednesday again.

 

Last week, we went to Prague twice.  Once for Elder Gibson, my last companion, to get a 15-day visa so he could leave the next week for home.  The Elders leaving applied for visas a year ago and hadn't gotten them yet, so they needed some quick.  The other time was for the conference with Elder D. Todd Christofferson.  Investigators and members from all over the Czech Republic and Slovakia went to one big conference where he spoke.  It was great.  Sister Christofferson bore her testimony in Czech.  She knows no Czech but learned how to say what she wanted to.  Elder Christofferson mainly spoke about how people who are investigating the church and not joining just need to stop worrying about whatever their concerns are and joining because whatever concern you may have before, you will receive a testimony of it after you are baptised.  He also talked about the role of an apostle.  He said they are to testify of Christ, help the members of the church and keeping them strong, and to bring the message of the truth to the world.  He said that the missionaries and also members are a big help in this.  It was a great talk.  After, all the missionaries in the Czech Prague Mission went to the Prague LDS chaple and had a Q&A session with Elder Christofferson.  We also got a big group picture with him.  The next day, we got a special treat back in Ostrava.  Elder Christofferson came to the Ostrava brach and held a fireside.  It was very spiritual.  His wife, his son (who served here), and himself bore strong testimonies.  Everything said was BEAUTIFUL.  Some of our investigators who went, thought the same.  I know that Apostles are called of God.

 

Lastly, we got a new investigator.  His name is Andy.  He is from Nigeria and speaks English, his tribes' native tongue, and Italian.  We taught in English.  He moved here from Italy for work.  He is such a down to earth guy and ready for the gospel.  He is reading the Book of Mormon, said he will pray about it, and he acceptde a baptismal date for the 7th of April!  Everything he was looking for is all we have to teach.  He is so humble and loves visiting with us.  I wish I could talk more about him, but I am running out of time on the computer and must go.

 

I love this work and am happy to be here in the front row of watching peoples' lives change.  Keep replacing fear with faith and work on growing your testimony of the Savior, Jesus Christ.  I love you all.  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.