Some spiritual things:
I want you all to look up Moroni 8:1-3. It's where Mormon greets Moroni as his son. I read that a few days ago and felt two very distinct impressions. One, that my parents feel the same about me, pray for me, and love the Lord. I also very distinctly felt my Heavenly Father's approval. This was His way of telling me I'm doing what He wants. I was actually reading somewhere else in the Book of Mormon at the time, and felt I should go to the spot I had left off the day before. And this was waiting for me.
And he's right! We do feel that way about our wonderful son!
The battle with the language has some bright spots:
Things are going really well, and the language is too actually. OH! A little proud moment I forgot to mention last week. Every tuesday we have Czech class with a member here. Last week she had us all read to her. All did well, and she complimented them and corrected them. Then me. Hehe. Sorry, this really is prideful, but I'm saying it anyway. I read my stuff and she stopped me part way through and said, "Vy jste čech?" Are you Czech? I said no haha, I'm not at all. She said, in Czech, something like, if I didn't know you were American, I would guess you were Czech. Yeah, I felt pretty good. I reeeelly tried to play it down though, because I don't want to seem prideful. She then said I have a problem though. If people here me read, they'll think I speak really well, and talk really fast. Sooo bummer. But whatever haha. I'll take it.
Things that make us laugh....
Saturday something funny happened. We had a service project that was supposed to be all day. We went there that morning, and, being the strapping young American boys we are, wore mostly shorts and t-shirts. I was actually the only one wearing both shorts and a t-shirt. The other missionaries told me the members were going to freak when they saw me. They were correct. They were mad at all of us because those who were wearing sweatshirts took them off fairly quickly. AFter a few hours we literally got sent home because we weren't wearing enough clothes. One of teh members told us, "Thank you for your help, now go home and get yourselves in order." It was so funny. But it was a good day, fixed up a path in some woods and picked up trash. We got a lot of compliments. I think they were compliments haha. It was in Czech, but I think they were good things. Hope so haha. Sunday was good, ADam, a kid who just was baptized a week ago got comfirmed, and it was great. He's super solid. I played the piano againnnn because the member who usually does was out of town again. She has been here one sunday so far. Ridiculous. SHe is active, just is out of town a lot. she's the one who teaches Czech class actually.
Also, I received a threat on my life the other day. Mom, don't freak out. Ther is a tram stop called Namesti Republiky, and this old homeless woman hangs around there often at night. The night after our service project, I was sitting on a bench, still in my shorts and tshirt, when she comes up to me and starts going crazy. she went on and on about how she is 72, and she had to go to this shelter to go to the bathroom and work and get warm clothes and stuff like that. Our tram came, and as we walked away she kept yelling, "I will destroy you! I will destroy you!" Absolutely nuts. Also, in response to my last denture story, I must find a way to convey this properly. If an old person doesn't have their dentures in, they will just gum, chewing on nothing constantly. It's a weird tic that they all have. It is the most hilariousl thing I've ever seen. I can't even explain it. Maybe it's on youtube or something, but their cheeks are totally sunken in, and they gum and gum and gum, I don't know. It is sooo funny.
We have two new investigators! One named Zlata and one named Blanka. Zlata lives alone with a lion. Well, he might be a dog, but I thinkg it's a lion. Super accepthing to the message, just worried that she won't be ready in time. Blanka is different. Also very accepting, totally ready to hear teh Restored Gospel truths, but different. We contacted her on the street Saturday, taught her a lesson right then, then invited her to Sports Day. And she came! In full soccer gear, and I mean full. cleats, shin guards, jersey ,padded shorts, everything. And she likes to...tickle. She kept coming up behing us during the game and tickling us. guess what? that's not okay. it was very uncomfortable. She's probably around 30 or so, and just is a little different. Really nice, will be a great contribution to the church, but she tickles.
I'm happy to report that the tickler is no longer around...something tells me her motives were not pure...
Some random facts:
1. So, you are playing the piano each Sunday for church? Do they have hymnbooks?
Not every Sunday. Thankfully, there is a lady
here who usually does it, but she is out of town A LOT so I have to.
And I always do for Priesthood. And yes, they have hymnbooks. just not a
translation that is Church approved haha.
2. What has the weather been like?
Last week was super rainy, which was dumb, but
it is soooo nice here. Sounds like it's about exactly like Kansas right
now actually.
3. Have you tried anymore new foods?
Nooo...not really. They have a lot of similar
stuff. Every meal begins with soup, then the main course. I've had some
really good soups here Mom. You would be in heaven. But the food is
good!
(questions 3-6 would not interest you)
7. What do ward members do for a living there?
I really have no idea. A lot of people are
poor, almost everyone lives in old communist housing, but there are a
few who are quite well off.
8. Do you find that a lot of people speak English there are not so much?
Yes, quite a few speak a little, but most have
verrry strong accents, and not much vocabulary. You will find the
occasional person who speaks really well. Like one of the companionships
brought a guy to church who jsut got back from living in Ireland for
like 10 years, so he speaks well. Haha, but with a Czech-Irish accent.
Funny.
Taylor loves his mission president and his wife, Pres. and Sis. Irwin. They are from England...
Speaking of the Church here, we had Branch
conference last Sunday, which meant Pres and Sis Irwin came! I love
them. They are exact opposites. Pres is a fireball, tons of energy,
sarcastic, chummy (that's a British term) with all the missionaries,
hilarious, so on. Sis Irwin is very quiet, proper, refined, and loving.
Whenever she sees you, she says, "It's so good to see you, love! Is
everything well? How are you sweet?" So funny.
President Irwin talked about the growth of the church in the Czech Republic and Taylor commented on that, paraphrasing a quote from Joseph Smith:
The church is getting ready to explode
here. Why? Because it is Christ's church. It will go forth boldly,
nobley, and independent. No unhallowed hand can stop the work. it is so exciting to be a part of it all.
Taylor loves the gospel of Jesus Christ and he loves being a missionary, even though it is difficult.
Goood week this week. Some rough spots, but that's life. Especially as a
missionary. More than anything, I was just happy this week. To be
honest, I'm never unhappy, but the language can be frustrating and
people are rude, and whatnot, but this week I was happy all the time.
Which really makes me excited because it shows me that I'm really
starting to fully embrace the work, which is what I want. I want this to
be the "best two years."
Missionary adventures:
As for Blanka the tickler, we haven't seen her in awhile. We had a
lesson set up with her, but she wouldn't give us her phone number. She
said to come outside her apartment and call for her and she would come.
So, three missionaries (we were on an exchange) stood on the sidewalk
and yelled Blanka! Blanka! Blanka! over and over. We don't even know if
it was the rigtht building. We haven't seen her since haha. As for
Marek...bummer. We dropped him. He just doesn't understand the
importance of our message and the significance of our call. He thinkgs
he is the same kind of missionary we are, and that biking, soccer, and
hanging out with friends are ways we pray. He just wasn't progressign. I
love the guy, but for now we won't be teaching him anymore. Veronika,
on the other hand, is doing great. We taught her the word of wisdom,
which we knew would be a problem because she was smoking when we met
her, and she was a little surprised. She read some and we talked about
the kinds of things we shouldn't take in or what ever, and she was like,
"Okay...I've had like half of these today..." Keep in mind she's only
16. But, she, because she is so prepared, said, "I'll try it!" And I
believe she is doing great. We meet with her again tomorrow.
Starsi Knapp
In other news, we met with KC, aka Raffiki, twice this week. The
secodn time we went with him to visit a friend in the hospital. He's
just such a nice friendly, big-hearted guy. I just wish he would stop
being so dang immoral. We're actually talking about that this week with
him. So hopefully he can feel the need to change his life. We got a
referral from him, unfortunately wont start teaching him until July.
It's someone you all have heard of. I'm so pumped. Him and KC are
friends, and he comes to the Czech Republic once a year, every |July. He
is...Usain Bolt. Yes. I mean Usain Bolt as in the fastest man in the
world. That Usain Bolt. Kc promised we could meet him and start teaching
him if we wanted. IF WE WANTED? IS THAT LIKE A MAYBE? We said yes.
I know this is pathetic, but this is really about all there is.
Elder U was sick this week, so taht took a huge chunk out of Tuesday,
and we had a senior couple come Thursday to do cleaning checks, so there
went Thursday as well. We are really optimistic for this week though.
It's our last as a companionship, so we;ve got to work dang hard all
week, and really end on a good note. Oh, also, when the Erbs, the senior
couple came, we went and bought me a mattress. So now I'm sleeping in
comfort haha. It's real nice.
I love you all, don't forget whose work this is. It is the work of
our Lord. And He blesses all involved. That could not be clearer to me.
We got to talk to Taylor yesterday morning, which made us very happy! He's nervous about Elder U. leaving but I think it will be good for Taylor to be paired with someone who is not so fluent in the language. This will give him the opportunity to speak more and learn more. He's doing great, but he's impatient because he's used to doing a lot of talking, sharing thoughts and feelings, joking, and using big words and speaking Czech requires him to use very simple language. But he's coming along and he's very happy.
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