Improvement. A Daily Goal in Life.

As this transfer from the past 8 weeks comes to a close here in a week, I have taken a moment to think about what has been done.  The beginning of this transfer was rough.  There was one person in our "teaching pool", we had street contacting everyday, it was difficult to get more people to teach, etc.  I have been looking at how many lessons we had during each week, and how many new people have been found.  These last few weeks have been different.  We have lately been finding a couple people each week, having around 10 lessons each week, we are now helping a couple people to baptism.  One person has a date set.  Looking back I see a constant improvement.  It started small and by replacing doubt, fear, and discouragement with our faith, we have been able to take what we have and build it into something stronger.  This area which we uphold is now alive and active!

 

This week has been a pretty fast week.  Each day went by so quick.  I guess that is what happens when you are busy.  We had many lessons  with people.  We found a couple new people.  We are still teaching a woman that we met during our current idea of "Door Tours."  Her name is Jana and she is very nice.  She is maybe in her upper 40's.  She has been to church for the past couple weeks and loves to participate.  We have been talking to some nice people on the streets as well.  Also, we have been able to have our sports day!  We as a branch and anyone else get together and play Frisbee and soccer on Saturdays for an hour.  Church went well.  We had a couple of our investigators at church.  There was a big thunderstorm last night too.  It was a nice week in all.  I look forward to this next week seeing what we can do!  Transfers are next week too.  A lot of missionaries are at the ends of their missions, so a lot are coming in this next transfer.  16 new missionaries are coming in.  I have heard it is going to be crazy transfer.

 

Well, I hope everyone has a great week.  Do something to make yourself better and better this week.

 

Elder Bahr

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Spring Time - Planting Seeds.

It has been spring for a some time now.  People all over are planting seeds.  I have no time for that even though I would love to.  Instead, I am planting other seeds.  Seeds that are spoken of in the Book of Mormon.  Every time I run into someone on the streets and try to talk with them, I plant a seed in there heart.  I had many opportunities this week to plant some seeds.  One instance is one man that we stopped in a park.  We introduced ourselves and he said "No, no, no."  I asked him why and also explained a little bit more about who we are.  He wasn't interested but I asked him some questions that I don't normally ask.  I asked;  What do you do to grow your faith?  He said he prays and that is all.  I asked him if he reads the scriptures.  He said no.  I asked him if he goes to church.  He said no.  I began to testify about how I have been blessed personally by actively growing my faith and gave him our card.  We departed.  As we walked away, the man said "I will come to church some time, I promise.  I am serious."  This little experience for me was very nice.  I know when we actively grow are faith, we are blessed.  And especially when we share our ideas of faith growing with people, we are blessed and others are blessed.  I hope to see him some time.  Also this week we have continued our "Door Tours", as we call them.  We stand at our church building and catch people walking past to give them a tour.  This week we got new new people to teach from them.  Also, I met a father and son that are both interested in religion.  They said that this next Sunday they will try to come.  These two, if they start being taught by us and are baptised and become members, will be a great addition to the small branch of České Budějovice and future priesthood holders.

 

Quick funny story.  All will enjoy this.  So, Yesterday was Sunday.  I play the piano at church.  I chose songs and put the numbers up on a display so the members knew which songs to sing.  We get to the sacrament hymn and almost no one is singing alóng.  I continue thinging that they will catch on (The is what they usually do with less known songs).  They didn't really.  Later, after church I was told that I was playing a completely different song than that that the members had in front of them.  That is why no one knew the song I was playing.  Not a big problem, I was told that people still enjoyed church.  :)

 

I also, yesterday, got to talk with my parents and family for Mother's Day.  I have the best family.  Next time I talk with them will be in person.  That is weird.  I only have 6 months left.  Unbelievable...

 

Well, I don't know how to explain this now, but this week I have had many spiritual moments where I feel the spirit in abundance.  I love teaching people about the restored gospel in its purity and simplicity.  It is so true.  I love to brighten people's days here when it is hard to find lasting happiness.  I love to tell people what I know to be true.  I love working side by side with the Lord to bring God's children to Him.

 

I don't have much else to say this week,

Výměňte Strach Vírou!

Elder Bahr

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Branch Conference Week

This week was České Budějovice branch conference.  President Irwin came down the night before (Saturday).  We went to dinner at a place called the Budweiser Hotel.  It was good.  It was nice to have a little more time with President Irwin and his wife than we usually get.  The next day we had branch conference.  President Irwin spoke, Sister Irwin spoke, my companion (branch president) spoke, and couple others from the district council of the church in the Czech Replublic.  The talks were very nice and though I have heard them before (In Zlín last transfer), I learned more.  The church is true.  I said the closing prayer.  After sacrament meeting ended, a member of the district presidency came up to me and asked were I was from.  I told him Washington state in America.  He told me that my Czech was really good and that I had a Czech accent when I spoke.  Ahhhhh, it is nice to finally be able to talk like a native.  That has been one of my goals.  After that, I got an interview with President Irwin.  I always look forward to those!  Then we went to priesthood meeting.  The district presidency taught us about how to help other members remain active in the church.  One thing I learned was that if we participate in ordinances like baptism, if we are baptised and don't do anything after like going to church, taking the sacrament, etc. it is like our baptism didn't count.  Sure God will take into consideration in the final judgement that we followed Christ at baptism, but we will also be judged for not continuing to follow Christ throughout our whole life.  I know that enduring is important.  I know it is part of the path that leads to God.  I am grateful for the many examples in my life that show what "enduring to the end" means.  ANyway, during priesthood, I got to practice translating to English for President Irwin.  It is fun to translate.  Funny thing though, I would hear a word in Czech and KNOW what is means, but I would not remember the english word for it.

Other than that, this week was pretty normal.  We did some tours of our church building and found some great people.  We have walked the streets of Česke Budějovice and found some great people.  We have visited members and gotten new people to teach from them.  The work is going great and I love being a missionary.  Ať zpomalí čas.

 

Have a pleasant week everyone.  Don't forget to replace fear with faith.

 

Elder Bahr

 

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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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