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

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. New City:.....

I am in the city of České Budějovice.  It is south of Prague a few hours.  It is a nice city.  I got here just yesterday so I am just getting used to it and accustomed.  Google it, I don't know much about it now.  All I know is that is it an old city.  Our church building is a building in the city that was built in 1648.  That is almost 200 years before Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ.  I have a new missionary companion too.  He is 2 months younger in the mission than me.  He is named Elder Hansen.  He is from Texas.  He serves here as the branch president because the branch is so small.  He has a lot of work.  I have more responsibility too.  I am a district leader.  I serve 3 other missionaries in this calling.  What a big calling.  I have to teach them during district meetings, by example, etc.  I know that there are blessings too, so it is not bad.  :)

 

Last week was a nice week.  We met with our newer investigators, had english class as usual, had a nice district meeting there in Zlín, found some new people for the incoming missionaries, travelled to a beautiful city called Luhačovice to teach someone, visited some families from the branch, and got the area ready for the next missionaries and packed.  Not much new stuff, but it was a nice, long week.

 

I am grateful to have served in Zlín for the 6 months I was there and am excited to serve in this new city of České Budějovice.  My mission has been so great.  Everyone take care now.

 

Replace fear with faith.

Elder 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.

Last Week of the Transfer, Possibly Last Week in Zlín.

It has been nice seeing what Elder Jones and I have been doing.  We have been doing well.  This transfer, we have been working up to more and more meetings with people.  I have on average about 16 lessons a week.  That is a good number of lessons in this mission though, so don't judge.  :)  The rest of the time we go finding on the streets, in the city center, at the college dorms, etc.  Last Monday, we found this cool kid named Ondra.  We knocked on his door, he answered and said he wasn't interested.  We asked him to ask his room mates... they were not interested either.  Right before he shut the door I said "Wait, would they be interested in magic?  I am a magician."  I could have come up with a smoother way to say it, but anyway it worked.  I showed them all a trick and they invited us in!!!  We are now meeting with Ondra, he is interested in what we teach.  Then the next day, we went back to try and find more young people.  We found another kid named Martin.  He is way cool.  He is interested in what happeneds after death, so we are going to meet with him and teach him the plan of salvation.  We have a lesson tonight!!

Last Wednesday we had a missionary training in Olomouc, which was way good.  We learned how to use our time better and how to help our investigators.  Then we came back to Zlín and had a lesson with a young kid from India.  All Indian people I have met are so nice, generous, and sincere.  He wants to learn more about Christ.  He found the right people to talk to.  :)

On Saturday, we met a girl from America, from New Jersey, here teaching English.  She is a nice girl and has not had the opportunity to speak with Mormon missionaries and be hear about what this church is about.  She gladly took a Book of Mormon and said she would read it.  We will probably meet with her again this week.

Lastly on Sunday, we had a branch conference.  President Irwin came and spoke.  It was a very enlightening meeting for all the members and us two Zlín missionaries.  In Priesthood meeting I got to practice my translating and translate for President Irwin.  I enjoy translating.  It is nice, all the things a missionary can do.

This mission really is the best mission in the world.  I have been blessed to have been called here.  I am thankful for this gospel and that I can be a part in sharing it with those who have never heard it.  I know this gospel is true.  I am thankful for this restored Church of Christ.

Replace Fear with Faith,

Elder Bahr

P.S.  Next week I may be in a new city!  Transfers on Monday.

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.

Pěkné Počasí!

The weather is getting better.  It is pěkné počasí, or beautiful weather.  The sun has been shining and birds chirping.  Little yellow crocus flowers are starting to grow everywhere too.  I sure enjoy this weather.  It is much more pleasant than in the freezing cold to talk with people.  More people to talk with are out too! This last week we have been spending more time in some local parks talking with people and we have much potential to work with.  Also lately I have been thinking about how I can use my talents in this missionary work.  There is a university in this city and some college dorms.  We planned to walk around the college campus last week and try our talents there but I got nervous.  I am going to try my own words tonight and "Replace fear with faith."  Tonight we will be trying to talk to the young people at the dorms to start teaching them.  I plan on bringing my magic tricks.  I will help people realize that we missionaries are normal people but just have an extraordinary calling of God.  I am excited.

This last week a couple interesting things happened. We were on our way back from an appointment going home for the night and I saw a guy from far off.  To my companion I said "He is ready.  We must talk to him."  We approached him and he said "Ahoj!" (Informal/friend greeting)  We talked with him and he said that he has visited Salt Lake City and would love to meet with us.  We got his phone number to be in contact with him and went our ways.  I think as missionaries we get some small amount of psychic abilities.  ;)  (Holy Ghost)

I don't have much else to say this week but I have been thinking about all the people I have helped so far.  It is sometimes difficult to think about all the people I have helped grow in the gospel, but when I get a moment to think I can remember and will remember these people I have helped and remember who they are and everything.  It is a blessing to be here and be here in behalf of Christ Himself to teach people how to follow Him.  I love these people I have taught and am teaching and hope to see them continue to grow in faith, for the way back to God is to learn the gospel, live by it, and endure through this life.

Enjoy the pěkné počasí,

Elder 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.

Being Led.

This week, I think I will keep my email short and simple.  I have one real story to tell.  But first a recap of this last week.

Monday night the branch president had a training about a church program new for the Czech Republic so we were there to help translate for him.  The one giving the training was a French man, he spoke English.  There were a lot of difficult things to translate, so we did out best and President Večeřa was thankful.

Tuesday we had our district meeting and and exchange with the zone leaders.  For one day I worked with an Elder named Elder Plaizier.  Something I learned from him was how to teach simple in a very Christ-like way - with many questions.  Christ asked many questions as a form of teaching and it works very well and helps the one asking the question realize things and get a spiritual witness of a truth being taught.  I will try to incorporate it into my teaching more now.  We had a few lessons that day that were very nice as well.  One investigator met with us after being in the hospital for some time due to an accident involving a tower crane falling over.  We are both thankful that he survived it.  The Lord blessed him.

Thursday we wanted to go find some young people at some college dorms.  A lady at the front desk said we can't if we are not visiting anyone in specific.  Insead we talked to her.  Her name is Seli.  She is from Croatia.  She isn't much of a believer in God, but when we introduced the Book of Mormon, she told us that if people were to live by the teachings in this book - the world would be better.  We invited her to meet with us and now she is.  We got the Book of Mormon to her the next day and she was ecstatic about having that book.  The book is true.

Friday we had a branch activity.  A family in the branch gave a presentation about when they visited Salt Lake City and the surrounding areas (Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, Bryce Canyon, Etc.)

 

Anyway, not much else other than missionary work for the other days, but for my story which relates to the heading of this letter.  It is not a miraculous story, but simple.  Let's remember though that the Lord works by small and simple things.  That is why it is important to be thankful for the simple blessings we do have and not take them for granted.  Last week we had some time planned to find some new people to teach.  We were walking around the city center.  A little bit into our "finding", we were on the south end of the city center walking toward the building.  All of a sudden I felt uneasy.  The thought came into my head that we were not in the right place.  I told my companion I felt this way and we decided we need to go south down a street from the city center.  About a third of the way down the street we stopped a guy and began talking to him.  His name is Karel.  We introduced ourselves and invited him to come to our building.  He agreed and we walked to the building.  We got there and taught him a lesson.  He said he would start coming to church.  Now, this story may seen small but it is a testimony to me that the Lord can guide us in our lives.  I didn't see an angel, but I felt the Holy Ghost telling me what I should do.

The Lord loves us and will help us daily if we allow and listen to the promptings.  These promptings are gentle and quiet.  This is why we are to live our lives in a way that our minds are clear, our hearts open, and our hands clean before the Lord.  I know God loves us and is pleased when we do what He askes and is sad when we do things against him.  It is my prayer that we can all receive the daily guidance of the Spirit on our journey back to our Father in Heaven.

 

Replace Fear with Faith,

Elder 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.

"Called To Serve"

The call to serve as a missionary comes in one way, by a prophet.  The ways to serve are many ways.  One of these ways I actually talked about a little bit last week.  This way is in our example.  This last week we had a zone conference.  There was a special guest there, Elder Lopez from the Area 70.  If you don't know who he is, he is over part of Europe in making sure the church is taken care of.  He is from Spain.  In our conference, he spoke about his conversion.  The spirit was very strong.  He talked about how his grandpa was atheist, is father is atheist, and that most of his family is as well.  He related the experience when he was younger and religion interested him. His family would question "Why do you believe in God? God doesn't exist.  We live and die and that is all."  He knew that something existed.  That is why he continued searching.  Missionaries found him and started to teach him.  He completed his story and told us how we need to live our lives worthy of being remembered with joy.  He told us how much of an influence we have on people.  He finished with pictures of missionaries in his life that have influenced him.  He would comment on some saying "This Sister greeted me the first time I went to church.", "This Elder sat next to me at church with a hymn book while we sang in a church meeting.", etc.  It was moving and inspiring.

Everyone can make an influence in someone's life in someway.  It can be as small as saying "Hi" to someone new at church.  You can be the key in someone's personal conversion to the gospel.  I pray that we will all step up and do what we can to help those around us whether it be holding a door for someone or inviting someone to church for the first time.  I know that God will bless you for your efforts, for no effort is wasted.  Replace fear with faith.  ;)

Yesterday we had 3 investigators at church.  It was nice to see.  One investigator said "I feel like I want to be baptized in my heart, but don't feel it in my mind."  The Holy Ghost is true and speaks to all of us of truth.  I have faith that Zlín will soon have another amazing member of the church.  The rest of the branch is just doing great.  I love the people here. 

As for all else this week, we had a good amount of lessons and I went to Prague with my missionary companion. He had a meeting in Prague.  So far, I have been to Prague at least once every transfer.  It is a beautiful city.  Being around the other missionaries there is great.  This work is true.  It is hard work, but satisfying.  I am blessed to be called to serve.

 

Enjoy yourselves,

Elder 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.

Happy Week!

I am happy with this week because I have heard so many great things happening.  I know the gospel is true.  Not much happed here.  My companion still has a cough and our mission president says to stay inside unless we have a lesson.  We taught a few people multiple times.  We try to teach whenever we can.  Our investigator Radek is doing great.  He is new as of last week.  He is reading the Book of Mormon a lot and says that he keeps reading because of how he feels.  Our other investigators are difficult to meet with.  Some progressing and growing in the gospel, some not really.  I pray that they will do better.  The gospel is true and will bless us as we do our part and LIVE the gospel.

I have heard much exciting news from home and it makes me happy.  One thing, my friend Rebekah back home recently got baptised.  Congratulations Rebekah!  Many other things happened back home that I have been told, but I won't bore everyone.

The members in this part of the world here in Zlín are great.  One member here we visit often, and since I have been here she has made so much spiritual growth.  She is happier, she comes to church and it is great to see her there.

I don't know what all to say this week.  I am happy to be here and know without a doubt that serving a mission is a correct decision.  It is amazing to see the growth in people when they learn the gospel.  I have taught many people and in each person I have taught, I have seen a new light glow in them, not a literal light but the gospel changes people to the better and it is visible.  Pretty much there is no way that this message cannot be true.  It is.  I can't remember if I have already said this, but even though we as missionaries are 'backstage' to God's show, there are many things we don't even see.  Many times as a missionary, well even a normal member of the church (not a missionary), we may do something and we don't see the outcome - but it has an impact on someone to bring them closer to their Father in Heaven.  Find a chance this week to help someone come closer to God.  It can even be through the smallest things.  Help someone with groceries, share your time, share your talents, be friendly and talk to someone, give someone a ride somewhere, etc.  I know that you will be blessed for your efforts.  Replace fear with faith.

 

Have a fantastic week,

Elder 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.