All Caught Up Now With Elder Knapp

So! Sunday we didn't do much. We went to churhc and took a lot a lot a lot of pictures because so many missionaries are leaving Prague. Other than that, Elder Sewell and I did some weekly planning, then we went ot pick up Elder Boysen, my new comp! He is big. 6'8" or so, English. I don't know why so many of my companions have been so tall. But he's a good guy, I like him a lot. He's the same age as Elder Prymak, and he was trained in Ostrava when I was there training, and he was in my district when I was DL in Prague.

Monday we began the craziness. We got a bunch of missionaries on trains, got a few more off trains, had office meeting, taught four lessons, met with President, trained Elder Boysen a bit, and went to FHE. First week is always so nuts. It was good though. We've been really trying to touch base with as many people as we can before Elder Sewell left, so we had some good meetings.

Tuesday we did all our studies and things, Elder Sewell packed, we did some cleaning, then we met President for lunch. It was good. I love him tons. I love being around him and drinking from his wisdom. After lunch we went back the the building, met Sister McConkie, and...drove to the airport to pick up new missionaries!!! I love doing that it is absolutely the greatest. I love seeing them come out of the tunnel with all of their stuff, excited, nervous, and totally unaware of what awaits them. I love 'em! We get a lot of opportunity to chat with them one-on-one while we tour Prague with them, and this group is going to be great, really great. It's good to see, because I've had the feeling of 'what are we going to do without all of these amazing missionaries who are going home?!' but recently I just felt, God is going to take care of this mission. New ones will come in who will be great, and the ones who are here will step up and become the next leaders. This group has many of the future leaders of the mission.

Wednesday we paired them with their trainers, and sent them off to their new areas! We have one of the new sisters in Prague, and she is great, fearless. We had good lessons with Maxim and Tomas, we were able to meet Patrik and have a nice lesson about the 10 commandments, taught Isabel and Drahomir, Michal, and Viktor! A busy busy day. We finished with the departing missionary dinner at the McConkies. It was a lot of fun, but also sad obviously. So many great missionaries. I did the math, and more than half of my mission, not including the MTC, I served with missionaries that went home this week. It was a blow.

Thursday was a very sad morning. We got up early, 4:30, which is the first sad part, and then drove to the airport. It was an emotional time for all present. Elder Clyde, Elder De Angelis, and Elder Sewell all went home. I love those guys so much. Elder De Angelis was possibly the saddest departure for me, because unlike with the others, I don't know when I'm going to see him again. I talked to President about it after wards, asked him how he was feeling, and he said, "You know what? This is dumb. This is really really dumb. I hate this." But, life goes on, the millenium approaches. That afternoon we had District Meeting, taught Vera, Pavel, and Maxim, and practiced for our concert coming up this week. I'm doing another solo, O Holy Night.

Friday we had a busy day. We taught six lessons, had a singing display, practiced for our concert, and drove to Brno. Sorry for lack of details, but I'm running out of time.

We were in a town called Uherske Hradiste today for a volleyball tournament that the branch there puts on each year. We are not good volleyball players. It's not that we're not good, but rather that we have no experience playing together. We had the most athletic team by far, including three people who played vb in High school, one sister who played at BYU, we just didn't have good coordination and stuff. We went 1-5. But, we came back safely even though it was snowing, taught a new investigator named Martin, and that's been the day!

I love you all tons, if you want to skype, fine, if not, also fine. It would be nice to talk to everyone individually, and there is something about being able to say that we literally haven't seen each other for two years. It's up to you, I'll send possible times for a call/skype next week. Love you all so very much,

Elder Knapp

Draha rodino,

Sunday we had a pretty normal day. Taught a bit after church, did some planning and things after that, then met with President. They were in brno this weekend, so we met them in their house to give President a little surprise. I don't really know how do describe it. It's a glass cube with my and Elder Sewell's faces engraved on the inside. I don't know how they do it, but it had President laughing for a good 10-15 minutes. Every time he looked at it he just lost it again and again. He's not usually like that, so it means we done good.

Monday We had a nice lesson with Ary before we went to FHE. We also had athe opportunity to give a YSA girl here a blessing, which is always a nice thing. We had some good meetings with President earlier in the day, discussing transfers and such. It's tonight we make the calls, I'm so excited! I love doing this.

Tuesday we had a conference here in Prague. It went really well. We talked about the importance of planning and preparation, specifically in getting ready for Christmas because the mission historically goes through a dip around this time of year. I love listening to President McConkie. He has such vision, and is so inspired. I wish we all had a similar vision to him, because the mission would explode. I think that we often don't realize how willing the Lord is to bless us, and how many of His children are prepared. If we all could grasp that, and the power of the Holy Ghost in conversion, we would baptize hundreds, all over the world. We also had some really good lessons, one with Elianora, our Italian, one with Artur, one of our Russians, a way cool new guy named Pavel, and Maxim! Maxim is so great. His baptism is today. He's in, he's going to do it. I love the guy so much. Pavel is going to be awesome. He's a successful man, and is just cool. He's going to really embrace the message I think. Also after the conference President called the new AP, but I can't say yet, hehe.

Wednesday morning I had my transferly interview with President, which I was very excited for. It was great. I love to learn from wise men. We had a great talk, just chatting about different things. I am determined to learn as much as I can from him. We met later with another cool new guy, his name is Tomas. He works just across the street from the building, and I have a lot of hope for him as well. We had a good lesson with a youong guy named Ondrej, answered a bunch of his questions and talked more about the Restoration. It went well. We also had a good lesson with Drahomir, Isabel, a slightly struggling sister named named Jitka, and then visited Viktor at his work. He had gotten the sauna all ready for us and was going to give us a free session in the sauna. We didn't feel comfortable with that, called President and received confirmation that we should avoid that. I felt bad because Viktor tried hard to do something special for us and we couldn't. He's such a good guy, he was actually called to the YM presidency here last Sunday.

Thursday was awesome. We helped Isabel move a little bit, payed some dental bills for Elder Sewell, then started teaching. Maxim had his interview, and then we taught him a short message, then had a great lesson with Mirek and Lukas. We were talking about baptism and the Holy Ghost, and at the end we asked if they had questions, and Lukas said, "No, I don't. Well, maybe a small one. I've never been baptized, could I get baptized?" Yes Lukas. You can. You have to understand folks, these two are not believers, or rather, weren't. We have been very sneaky with them how we've taught them, but you know what? The Holy Ghost is REAL. And they have felt it. We're so stoked for them. Both 23, both cool, smart guys. We refer to these sort as kingdom builders. We also had a really good lesson with Patrik, who has recently returned from Mali and Afghanistan on Army assignments. He's such a good guy. He is going to be baptized. Really. Pray for him though. We also visited a member family that night, the Matejckovi, and had dinner and shared a thought of course. We also looked at a bunch of stuff from Bro Matejcek's mission in Arizona. Good times. Happy Thanksgiving.

Friday we met our investigator Vera after a long pause, and it was great. She's coming to church this week, and we're excited to start teaching her again. We went to a really good burger joint, then sang some songs on the street. WE found a really cool mom, we'll start teaching her next week. Added bonus, her husband is Nigerian. We had such a good lesson with Pet'a! She is going to start the Book of Mormon for the third time and try praying and studying again. Please pray for her!!! SHe is so great, once she's baptized she'll be a great member. We had a Czech lesson with a member, then taught Ary a good lesson, he may go on a mission! We'll talk with him more about that later of course. Then we went and had end-of-transfer-we-love-the-office-missionaries-and-APs-dinner at the McConkies. It was of course enjoyable.

Today we had a turkey bowl.  It was a way fun time and now we're getting prepped for a feast, and two baptisms. We have six through the mission this weekend, some real miracles. This is the greatest work! I love you all, keep strong.

Love,

Starsi Knapp

The Latest News from Prague

Draha rodino,

It's been a good week, but we'll get to that in a bit. How many losses does the basketball team have, is that the first? I hate dirty play. I hate it! I can't even begin to describe how much it bothers me. It's just low. But, I'm a missionary. There is no such thing as cheap shots in missionary work. It's not a competition, so there can't be. Hunter, BYU is still the best. They'll be okay, it's early in the year. Who did they play last week, did they win, or was that the Wisconsin game?

Sunday was good, we had a few at church, and went and taught an investigator and her friend, and did some study and planning. We then had our normal Sunday night schedule, meeting with President and calls with the zone leaders.

Monday we taught one of the new folks we found from the concert, a young Russian kid named Artur. He's a really good guy. We also taught a new guy that Elder Sewell had found the week before at a singing display. he's a really nice guy, but I think he thought it was supposed to be an English lesson, not a Gospel discussion. He was a bit surprised I think. We also taught Ary afterwards, about the Priesthood. We need to explain a bit more. he doesn't want to get it yet. I think it's just because of a little bit of misunderstanding, so we'll do what we can to clear it up. We also had a lesson after FHE with a young guy we started teaching a couple weeks ago. It was not fantastic. He is a very firm atheist, and very critical and derisive about religion. I was not enjoying myself. I have some fire, and sometimes I struggle with maintain a friendly attitude and telling someone that they're being ridiculous. I usually do well, I just stay quiet rather than trust myself to speak. I can only remember a few times when I have spoken my mind in these type of situations. Don't judge me.

Tuesday was good. We had a couple lessons we didn't expect, and one was with Maxim, the kid from Kazakhstan, and it was awesome. It had been awhile since we'd seen him, but he called and said he had time to meet, so we did. It was great. We talked about his impending baptism, which is planned for next weekend, and whether or not he can make it. At first, he said he wanted more time, so we talked it out. We told him that we felt he was ready, the decision was now his. We asked him if he believes the Book of Mormon is true, if Joseph was a prophet, and if this is the one true Church of Christ. He answered in the affirmative to each question. We just told him, Maxim, that's all you need! His greatest desire is to be an instrument in the hands of God, and he agreed with me when I suggested that the best place to do that was in God's church. It was just a good lesson, and he could still make it. He's going to tell us his decision tomorrow at church. Pray for him. We also met with Drahomir, a less active guy, and a new girl, Ellianora. She's Italian.

Wednesday we visited one of our investigators at the Filipino embassy where she works with Sister Munro which was nice. It was good for her I think. We visited Drahomir again, and then he took us to an Indian all you can eat buffet. ITwas actually really good. We did some planning for our training on Thursday, then went and taught a kid I found at a singing display lasts week. He's a cool young Slovak kid named Simon. He's way interested in the Book of Mormon, so I have high hopes for him. WE had a lesson again with Ary, and it was good. We talked more about the Priesthood, and he's closer to getting it. It was a turning point when Elder Sewell informed him that he received the Priesthood when he was 12. Ary started to think, and decided he could probably get the priesthood at 22 if we could get it at 12. We taught Artur again, and had a really good lesson on the Restoration with him, and he really grasped it well. That night we headed to Brno to sleep over before the training early in the morning.

Thursday's training was one of the best I've been to. We just demonstrated how to teach a 10 minute Christmas lesson so as to stay busy the week of Christmas. The work usually takes a dive around this time of year, and we are working with President frantically to avoid such a dip. But President's training was great, all about the greatness of the work and especially in the Czech Republic. Then, and this was not fun but very inspiring, we had departing testimonies. Such missionaries included in the group going home in a couple weeks as Elder Clyde, Elder De Angelis, and Elder Sewell. Between those three, I have over a year's worth of companions. It was not nice to see them all stand up and share their last testimony. I love those guys. We then drove back and taught Simon again, then Maxim! We taught the Sabbath Day and the Law of Chastity. It was great. He is so close! He has no problems with any of the commandments, stopped drinking coffee and smoking a couple weeks ago, and just needs to be baptized! he's a great kid.

Friday we taught a few lessons, a good one with Pet'a, and also Ary. He was going to teach with us, but the investigator didn't come, so we taught him about hte temple. He really enjoyed it. We also had a meeting with a member who taught us some Czech, practiced a musical number, and had lunch. Now, we don't always have lunch, but the scarcity of the event is not what warranted it's inclusion in the email. I, Elder Howell, and Elder King (the office elders), all have birthdays within a week of each other, 20th, 22nd, and 26th respectively. Elder Sewell set up a reservation through Isabel at the restaurant where she works for lunch for us, Pres and Sis McConkie, the Munros, and the Mendenhalls. Where does she work? Dad, do you know what a Brazilian steakhouse is? Yeah. It was amazing. Basically all my culinary dreams come true. they had a great salad bar and so many different kinds of meat that I probably couldn't name them all. Okay I probably could, I remember this kind of thing pretty well. Elder Sewell and I had been eating special things to prepare ourselves for it. It paid off. I ate quite a bit, and could have continued but we ran out of time. It was a good experience.

Today we're not doing anything to exciting, just some business-type stuff for Elder Sewell. Love you all!

Starsi Knapp

Draha rodino,

IT's been a good week. We've had some ups and downs, as life tends to have, but everything's been great. I did indeed receive my birthday package! I was pleasantly surprised. Thanks so much for that!

Monday! Sorry I have no news about Sunday, I have anew planner and I don't remember anything except that Ary got the gift of the Holy Ghost. It was great. He's the best. He told us a few days later that it was the highlight of his week. He's great. But anyway, Monday. We did a singing display in the morning again, it went really well, then we had the normal office stuff. That evening we taught Phuc, I still need to get a picture of him, and then Ary.

Tuesday after a good district meeting we met with a kid we started teaching last week, Radovan, and it went really well. He's a great kid, we're really excited for him. He's very open and willing to do things, and he's progressing as a result. That's what reading and praying does for you. He also promised to come to church tomorrow, so we're pumped for that. We had a good lesson with a lady named Ivana, she just doesn't get it! She thinks all paths are good, and we are going back to God whether we want to or deserve it or not. She also has a lot of other really weird beliefs. I don't think email can accurately portray them. But we had a recently returned missionary teaching with us, and she's awesome. It was a good lesson, we taught well, she just still wasn't quite there. Perseverance. 

Wednesday was a good day, we met a new kid named Ondrej, he's a funny kid. We had a good lesson, he's not 100% committed, so we don't know exactly when we're going to meet him again, but we will soon. We had a great lesson with Isabel about the plan of salvation. Her grandmother recently died, and she was a bit down about that, and we had a good chat, and she felt a lot better after. We had an interesting lesson with Martin Koca. His words, in English, "I want to disengage from all Church activities." We were like "...Martin. You do nothing. You are totally disengaged." We did have a really good lesson with Viktor, and also earlier with a less active, Drahomir. I don't know if I told you his story from last week. We had a lesson with him, and later in the day he sent us a text thanking us for the lesson and talking about how he heard some things that really influenced him to start making changes and being better. Since then we have seen a total change in him. It's awesome. We had a great lesson with him again, and he's doing so well. 

Thursday we did the final singing display before the concert, yikes! and then taught. We found some way cool people at the display though. We have a great week set up for next week. We then taught a great lesson with Mirek and Lukas, who really are doing well. We have woven our way into the message, and they are really enjoying it. They accepted a Book of Mormon on thursday, and I really think they'll read. We visited the Pavlicovi, and had a good lesson there. The older daughter was actually really involved, and it was good. We had another really good lesson with Phuc, and then a decent one with a less active Russian kid who we're trying to get to go on a mission.

Friday. Concert day. We were all pretty nervous. But before the concert we had a great lesson with Pet'a, and Elder Sewell and a member taught a good one with Radovan. I was not present because I was recruited to go and pick up some new cars for the mission. Elder Sewell can't drive, so we went on splits and I picked up one of the cars. It was kind of fun to drive a brand new car straight of the lot. The lesson with Pet'a was sooo good! She's a great girl, and she just needs a spiritual experience to motivate her to baptism. We've been wondering how to bring up baptism with her, and it has been a focus of my prayers lately, and she totally brought it up herself and we had a great discussion. we're all set to talk about it next meeting. She is possibly the smartest person I've ever met, and it's going ot be great once she's baptized. So, the concert. We had a pretty good turnout. Actually, it was great. We had over 100 people show up, and all the missionaries got some people from it. I was really pleased with how it went. I've had very little solo experience, so I was way nervous for my piece. But, it went really well, honest. I sang O Divine Redeemer, and one of the sisters in my district accompanied me. I'm relieved it's over though. We were all way pumped up about it, President especially. he had a violin piece he played, and duet with one of the senior missionaries, she on the piano he on the violin, and after it he came into the hall where we were all waiting and totally chest-bumped Elder Sewell.

And today, we're going to that little village that Hitler blew up, and we're going to check out the grounds and see the monument. It should be good. Love you all tons, I'm excited to hear from you next week!

Elder Knapp

And a few more pictures...

Viktor's Baptism

With the McConkie boys

With  member from Prague before he heads to the MTC in Provo on his way to a mission in South Africa

Surprise visit from a former Czech/Slovak missionary--Elder Tenney

With Isabel, Ary, and friends

Ary's Baptism

Best Email Ever!

Draha rodino,

Sunday was of course great. We had a good church, with a short lesson beforehand, and then at 5 we had the baptism! Pictures included. Right after he came out of the water he yelled, "That was awesome!" Not the most reverent reaction, but it was just a pure expression of joy from a pure man. After it, Isabel and Cristina had a bunch of Angolan food prepared. Ahhhh. So so so good. It was amazing. Then we had callins and that was the day.

Monday we had something a little unusual. We did a singing display in the morning. Like I mentioned in my last email, we have a concert coming up next Friday, and we are doing more singing than usual in order to advertise for it. We also met Ary, first time as a baptized man. WE go to the FHE every week, and the senior couple here, the Mendenhalls - who incidentally remind me a lot of Grandma and Grandpa Gage - cook amazing food. IT is so delicious. After the dinner we had a lesson with Maxim. He's doing well, needs to quit smoking, but he's doing well. We're meeting with him tonight.

Tuesday we met with Marek. Now, Marek is someone who cannot be fully described in an email. He is legendary. He's been known for years. A few weeks ago he showed up to the building, has been to churhc four weeks in a row, and asked us to teach him so he can get baptized. He is Czech, but he speaks the fastest English I've ever heard. We also met with katka, someone who has been taught for over a year. WE also had Mission Leadership Council in the morning. It was good. We have a good leader group. I love spending time with the other missionaries. 

Wednesday we visited with Phuc, the vietnamese kid. He's great. I love him to death. We also had a nice chat with President about he mission and how things are going. I've decided that Mission presidents have the hardest job. Bless him. We also had a good chat with Veronika, the one I baptized who now lives in England. We then visited a lady from the Philippines and Martin Koca.

Thursday we met with a less active in the morning, had a really good meeting with him. Later in the day he texted us and said that it was just what he needed to hear, and that he was ready to start making some changes in his life. It was great. We also met with a really cool new kid, Radovan, that we met last week. We had a really good lesson with Mirek and Lukas, then with patrik who we haven't seen forever, but it was great. He leaves for Afghanistan next week for 14 days, then goes to mali straight after. We visited a family we teach that night as well, and only the dad was home which was good. We had some good one on one, or really one on two time with him and taught him the Restoration.

Friday was a bunch of fun, we did another singing display, and we handed out over 800 fliers in an hour and a half. IT was incredible. We also sang on the metro, which was actually surprisingly scary, but we did it and we're glad to say that we did. It was a good experience. We had a group singing on the metro and then we had the rest handing out fliers as fast as they could. We also taught Isabel in the morning and Ary, pet'a and Otakar later. It went well. We went and played games with Ary after his lesson. It was a bunch of fun. Every Friday we get together with the YSA, missionaries, and investigators and we play ping pong, foosball, card games, air hockey, that kind of thing.

Today was a fun pday. We got a call from Sis McConkie Friday night asking if we would be able to spend some time this morning doing basketball drills with Wilson who is in the process of trying out for the team. only 10 from about 40 make it, and he really wants to. It was a blast. We were with him and also his brother Hyrum, and at the end President showed up and we five had a quick pick up game. It was good. and my team won. Do you remember a few months ago when I mentioned how we had watched a documentary about the assassination of Hitler's right hand man? We visited the site today where it happened, well actually where the aftermath happened. It was really neat. It's an old church, and you can still see the bullet holes and the places where the Nazis shot trying to get to those involved in the assassination. They've built a monument there honoring those who died. It was sad, but inspiring at the same time.

Well family, time is officially up. i love you all so much, and I can't wait to hear from you next week.

Starsi Knapp

The week in Prague

 Draha Radino!

Sunday we had good church, and then we taught a family from India. So cool. They are a referral from a member that used to live here, and they are great. It's a young couple with a two year old daughter. We are way excited for them. We had good calls wit hthe zone leader as well. The mission is doing well.

Monday we had a good day. We taught Viktor, and then after his lesson we taught Michal with Viktor, first time ever for Viktor. He did such a good job, perfect. There has been discussion of him replacing the current branch mission leader. He would be soo great. We also taught Ary later in the evening, fasting, and it was great. He agreed to fast with us this weekend and pay offerings after baptism and everything.

Tuesday we had district meeting and planned the concert that we are putting on in a couple weeks. It should be good. I was pretty skeptical because it's been on plan for a long time and rescheduled many times because no one has acted on it. But, we got down to business and planned it. I'm performing a number, I'll tell what it is after the concert, if it goes well. That night we taught a couple less-actives, a lady and her Guatemalan husband, and Ary. We also taught Martin Koca, and it was rough. He talked to some Buddhist guy, and took some big steps backward as far as his progress goes to baptism. He has lost all concept of truth and who God is. WE had a surprise today. We walked into the building to teach someone, and Elder Tenney was there! He's living in Ukraine teaching English right now, and he is on a trip around Europe with a stop in Prague. It was good to see him.

Wednesday we wnet to Brno for a conference. It was good. I love the missionaries in our mission. We trained on reading and prayer, and we got to stay for the whole conference this time. It was good to see the other missionaries train, especially the zone leaders. Presidnet McConkie has them in two different cities so as to spread out the missionary goodness. One is going home in a month and the other is a new zone leader, so it was good to see them working together. They're great. We drove to Brno with Sis McConkie, and it was pretty fun. She is very talkative, and kept us entertained thoughout the drive. She is good at facilitating conversation. We came back and taught Martin Koca again this evening. We just went through every book of scripture and taught the nature of God. He took it ok. You can't contend with the scriptures, they have a special authority.

Thursday we taught Ary and Viktor, and Ary had his baptismal interview. Passed! He's great. President McConkie loves him, and is really excited for his future. We are too. We then went to a singing display and had great success. I had the idea, that we could set goals a little differently for finding. instead of setting a number goal, we set a type of person goal, and then do all we can to find that person. We decided we needed to look for a husband for some of the YSA girls here, and we focused our finding on young cool guys. We found four. It was neat. The Lord is good. We also taught a new young guy named Jan today. He's not a believer at all, but he's willing ot learn. we taught Mirek and Lukas again, and it was so good! we reviewed the Plan of Salvation with them, and it really went well. Lukas agreed to pray for the first time in his life! He did a great job. HE has made such great progress. We went with Presidnet to Jicin that night to have a meeting with the District Presidency. We're finally going to have a district high council! President is pretty excited about it.

Friday we taught a young guy named Marek who has been around forever about baptism. It was good. He has more energy than anyone else I have ever met. But he's a supergenius, and a really nice guy. We also taught a young mother named Jana, and she accepted a baptismal date! The 21 of December. After them we taught Isabel about eternal marriage, and then taught Cristina with her. They are so hilarious. Cristina also accepted a baptismal date for the 21! She's going to make it too. She's great. WE watched the Joseph Smith video with her, and she loved it. AFter lunch we taught Pet'a, the girl from Slovakia, and it went well, then we went looking for some less actives with President McConkie. No one was home, but we found a cool guy on the way. He's recently married, and cool.

today we are going to teach a few folks, practice for our concert, and play soccer! Love you all, the Gospel is true!

Starsi Knapp

Draha rodino,

It's been a nice week. We've been way busy as usual, but that's the way it's supposed to be. It's great that you received that Email. A group of us were eating at my favorite restaurant and two members from Utah saw us and took our picture! There is always a possibility of running into members of the church in Prague. it's happened to me on several occasions. I have no special requests, except for maybe emails from my sisters. They struck out this week.

Monday! Monday as usual was very busy. Came into the office early to prepare of the statistical reports. After office meeting we taught Viktor about missionary work. It went really well! He loves everything we teach and makes great progress. We also taught Veronika, and Ary later in the day. They were both really good lessons. Veronika to this point has kind of had the attitude of "there's no way I can believe, I'm too set in my ways" but she told us this past lesson that she really wants to understand our message. She's a great girl, and we're excited about her potential. Ary as always is doing great. We taught him the 10 commandments with a focus on the Sabbath Day. He's awesome. Whenever we teach a commandment and it is a little different than his current lifestyle, he just says, hmmm, than talks himself through it, and then says, "yeah, yeah I can do that, no problem." He is the greatest.

On Tuesday we also came in early because we had new district leader training. It went really well. Elder Sewell and I both did individual trainings; he on district meeting, I on exchanges. After we finished the training we had a meeting wth President and a lesson with Phuc, the Vietnamese member. 

Wednesday we had a district meeting, it went really well. Elder Howell is a good district leader, I really enjoy his district meetings. We taught Michal later, he's also doing really well. He's really excited for baptism. We had a nice call session, set up some meetings and did some work on a project about RCLAs for one of the District presidencies here, then taught the most frustrating lesson of all tiem. Do you remember that Ukrainian girl I told you about a couple weeks ago, the golden miracle turned sour? We had a lesson with her again, and she definitely read some anti stuff online and that's why she has lost interest, and she refused to tell us what she heard so that we could talk it out. She jsut told us, "I really like you, and how I feel when I'm here, but I will never join your church." We taught a solid solid Restoration lesson, asked her what it means if the Book of Mormon is true, and she said, "this church is the only true church." And then told us again that there is no point in meeting anymore. Ahhhh. Someday.

Thursday had a good singing display. We found some way cool folks, including a guy who is going to turn over to us the direction of his Bible study group once he leaves for England to work for a couple weeks. We also met a cool kid named Lukas later, he's a nonbeliever and a little wary of religion. we met with Otakar as well. It was okay, he's a great guy and is progressing well, he just has some strange ideas. But, he's coming along. we visited the pavlicovi afterwards, then came back and had a good lesson with Michal in the evening.

Friday we had weekly planning, and the annual pumpkin carving, as well as a few lessons. We taught a way cool Slovak girl with Sister Munro, Ary, and also another one of Isabel's friends! She's an amazing missionary. Ary taught wtih us, even though he's not a memmber yet. This girl, Cristina, doesn't speak much English or Czech, just Portuguese, so Ary translated for us. It was good though, she really wants to meet with us. Elder Osterloh, the AP before me, walked into the pumpkin carving part way through with his parents and brother! We knew he was coming to visit, but it was fun to see him. They'll be touring Prague a bit, then they'll come to church on sunday.

And today! Not much on plan today. We'll teach a few lessons, then play some soccer.

Love you all, you're the best.

Elder Knapp  

Draha rodino,

It's been a great week! We've had some great things happen. 

Monday was, of course, busy. Mondays are. We had a very full schedule in the afternoon. We taught Viktor, Veronika, Maxim, who is doing so great btw, and Cristina, Isabel's friends. We helped her move and then taught her. She's great! She really wanted to get a Book of Mormon, and when we gave it to her she was way excited. She is a sassy African, and hilarious. She also doesn't speak much English or Czech, which I think I mentioned. But it went well. Viktor got the Priesthood on Sunday which was great, and we talked a lot about he temple, because he's going in a couple weeks. He's the best.

Tuesday we didn't have District Meeting because we had a conference Thursday, so we went and sang instead. The only problem is the place we went was not great for a singing display. I accidentally contacted a guy who was...not in his right state of mind though he looked very normal, and we had a nice chat about knights templar and the like before I could terminate the contact. But we came back and taught Michal the Word of Wisdom! He knows it's all right, he does smoke a bit though. So, we stole his cigs, and cut them up in the dumpster. Okay, he gave them to us, but I always love doing that to people, just like when we took tea away from the Pavlicovi. We also had dinner at a member's house, prepared for our training.

Wednesday was totally full. We taught 8 lessons and got haircuts. We don't do haircuts on pday because most places are closed on Saturdays, so we can't. We went through a little bit of the "preparing to enter the holy temple" pamphlet with Viktor, he's excited. We had a good talk about families and gave him a proclamation, which he loved. We also met with Isabel, Otakar, had a great study of John 15 with Pet'a, taught Ary reading and prayer as commandments, and taught Martin Koca the Word of Wisdom. He is so funny. I hope you get to meet him someday. He is the most interesting character I've ever met. He's just lovable. Ary is doing so so well. His baptism is officially for Sunday the 3rd, at 5:00. pray for him!

Thursday we had training, and it went well, or at least the parts we were present for. We had to go pick up lunch so we missed a part. Actually a very long part. We ordered from this Chinese restaurant, and they don't really speak a language we know. So, when we went to pick it up, they had 2 boxes ready for us, not 55. So, we cleared up the confusion and waited for an hour and a half for our food. We had a good laugh. We then missed the end because we had some lessons. Otakar is doing really well. We talked about why we have commandments and the blessings associated with them. We also taught Ivana, we haven't met with her for a few weeks, and it was a bit of a tough one. She has very different views, one of which is that all paths are good. Still not sure how to get around that one. We visited afterwards a recent convert who is having some struggles right now, her Catholic friends are trying to pull her back, and then the Elder's quorum president and his wife. 

Friday was fun. We taught Cristina with Isabel, and we were dying laughing. They are so funny. It was good, but a little tough bcause of the language. We then went to lunch with a member and his girlfriend, the Vietnamese one. We should get the pictures back next week, so I can send them. We taught Ary tithing! The last hurdle. he's great. I love that guy so much. When we asked if he would begin to pay after baptism, he said," Hmm...two more weeks of being a freeloader." So funny.

Today we're going to a war memorial and it should be good. It's a beautiful day in Prague, and we're excited.

Love you!

Elder Knapp

A Happy Missionary

Draha rodino!

Wow. This week has been the greatest. So many good things

The week!!!

Sunday was good, we had a few at church, including Viktor and Ary, then right after sacrament meeting we left. We had a zone conference in Brno Sunday afternoon, and we had to leave as soon as we could to get there on time. So, after a good meeting we left Viktor and Ary in each others' care and we took the two oldest McConkie kids with us to Brno. It was a good conference, Elder Sewell and I actually didn't train this time, so we just got to listen and enjoy. Tonight while doing call ins, I added up how many lessons we had taught to this point in the transfer. Our goal is 200 in the transfer, and this is the last week. I'll tell you where we're at by the end of the email. 

Monday we had a good day. We taught a young Russian recent convert, and then she helped us teach Viktor. It was a good meeting, he's doing really well. We also had a way good lesson with Ary, he said at the end, "this baptism, I think I can do it, I think I can make it." Yeah he can! he told us about his Catholic baptism, how he was 5, and had no idea what was going on, and now he wants to be baptized because he chooses to be. We also had a good lesson with a guy named Michal, from Uzbekistan, and he's on date now for the 16th of November. I'll mention him more later.

Tuesday we taught Viktor again, the last big hurdle before baptism: tithing! We had President McConkie with us, and it went great! He accepted it no problem and he is excited to get baptized next week. Keep praying for him, he needs it still! We taught Vera via iPhone, and a couple others. We had one of the most frustrating lessons ever tonight. It was with this young guy Josef. He claims to be an honest seeker of truth, but you can tell by his questions that he's not. He claims we haven't answered any of his questions, and when we asked what questions we hadn't answered, he listed off a bunch of questions we had discussed at length. It's not that we haven't answered them, he just doesn't like our answers. But, we meet those type now and then. We can't just have Viktors and Arys! We had a singing display, found a couple of people, and had a cool phone call from Michal. He talked about how he had read the Book of Mormon and our website all night, and was stoked about what he had found. We met with him later in the day, and he talked about how everything he's been looking for is here, and it answers all his questions, and how true it all feels. So cool.

Wednesday we had some cool miracles, evidence that the Lord wants us to achieve our goal of 200 lessons. We taught both Viktor and Michal in the morning, had lunch with all the missionaries in Prague and the McConkies, and it was a really good time. We then went and met a former investigator, and really cool guy named Petr. he's Jehovah's witness, so it's going to be a battle with him, but he's a nice guy. We had another great lesson with Ary, at the end of which he of course prayed again. After his prayer, like every time, he was just excited. Smiling, happy, feeling the Spirit. He said, "It just gets better and better! I'm getting good at this." He is the greatest. We also had two lessons that we didin't really expect to get, one with a really cool kid from Kazakhstan that we met with last week, and a really good one with a long time investigator named Martin Koca. We also had a meeting with the branch president, President Pilka, about less actives and how we can better work together to brign some back. It was good, and his trust in us is growing, and we're starting to have a good relationship with him. 

Thursday we had training here in Prague, and it was good. The zone leaders did a good job. We had two lessons immediately afterwards, one with Veronika and one with Viktor. Both were really really good. It was Viktor's birthday, and we had a small celebration with him, and some of the other missionaries. He really appreciated it. He's 38. And he says hello haha. We talk about our families a lot, and he said today that I must have a great family. He's right. Right after his lesson we headed to a university to teach two new guys, Lukas and Mirek. They're way cool, and we had a good lesson with them. They are both not really believers much, but they have good questions, and they are willing to meet with us. 

Yesterday was way packed, we taught 8 lessons, which is a new high for me. We had such a cool miracle in the morning! we had a lesson set up with a Ukrainian lady, so we invited the same Russian RC, Sasha, to teach with us. The lady didn't show up, so we taught Sasha a quick lesson. We finished, and walked to the door with her, where a young college-age girl was waiting. We let her in, and started to talk to her, and she told us right away that she wasn't Czech. We heard her accent, and it turns out she is Russian! Her name is Maria, and she said that she has never been a believer, but that she has been thinking about God a lot lately, and that she felt it was time to start believing! We sat down with her and chatted a bit about our purpose and all, and she is soooo cool. We had to leave to go meet another investigator, but no worries, our Russian member took her on a tour of the building, and by the end they were just best friends, and now Maria is coming to church, and we're going to meet with her! WAs it a coincidence that we happened to be there with a Russian member just as a Russian girl walked up to the Restored Church of Jesus Christ? Not a chance. God is good. 

Today, as I've mentioned, we met with Viktor, he is so set for baptism next week. He wants to be baptized in a lake or a river, so we have to find a place for it, but other than that, he's good. Transfers end this weekend, so tonight, for the first time (and I'm so excited), I get to be part of calling all the missionaries to tell them where they're going!!! It's going to be such fun. Elder Sewell and I already know where everyone is going and all, but it's going to be great to get to be the one calling the other missionaries. Also, Elder Sewell and I are staying together! More than six months together total. Wow.

I love you all tons, can't wait to hear from you all again!

Elder Knapp

Email and Pictures

Draha rodino,

Everything is back to normal now as far as our schedule goes, so it is Saturday and I am emailing. What a great game that must have been! I heard from President McConkie last week about it. he's a Ute, but like any good football fan he watches his enemies as close as his friends. I was pretty excited, and so was Sis McConkie and their oldest daughter. You see, their family is divided. President went to the U, so he and his sons are Utes. Sis McConkie went to the Y, so she and her daughter are Cougs. I didn't realize they had a bye this week, but it's good. I hope they get ready, because we have earned every victory we haven't gotten these past few years, and it's time! The two pictures: the couple is the Mills, from Ostrava if you recall.  I love those two so much, it was super sad to see them go. The weird statues are a monument portraying the dehumanizing effect of Communism. I don't know how well you'll be able to see it, but each statue has a little bit less of  the body, symbolizing how with time, Communism makes its citizens less and less human, until at the top stair, there is nothing left. Pretty wild.

Okey doke, Monday. Monday was not the day we wanted it to be. We had many cancellations, which you will soon see has been a theme throughout the week. The thing is, Viktor, our main man, is deeply involved in an intensive construction project right now, so we're seeing him for the first time today. it's been a good week though. On Monday we finally met with Isabel again, she was sick and so hadn't been to church in a couple weeks, but she's better and back now, so we're glad. She is soooo funny. we had the baptismal form for her to fill out at the lesson, and it was hilarious to watch. She has always kept her age a secret from us, we don't know why, so when she saw that she had to write her birthdate and all that she was just appalled. She at first refused to give it, but then she noticed that we were covering something up on the form. Since Elder Sewell baptized her and I confirmed her, both of our first names were there. She said she would only put her birthdate if she could see our names. It was so funny. She was thrilled. We allowed it though because we know that she understands that part of our calling is to go by "Elder," so there was no worry of her calling us by our first names. It's weird to me now to hear my first name. 

Tuesday was amazing! But for reasons that will surprise you. We took the McConkies to the airport because they have a Mission President's conference tuesday to Friday in Paris. Then we had district lunch and district meeting and everything, and it went well. we had lunch at a special restaurant because it was one of the Sisters birthday, then had the meeting, on How to Begin Teaching. We then taught a few lessons, one of which was to a really cool new girl from Russia named Rita. That evening however, we got to do something pretty cool, and out of the ordinary. This following list you must look up.

Rudolfinum, Dvořák Hall Krzysztof Penderecki: Adagio from the Symphony No. 3 (adaptation for strings) Antonín Dvořák: Cello Concerto No. 2 in Bminor, Op. 104 Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony No 7in A major, Op. 92

And listen to. Then look up Alisa Weilerstein and the Czech Philharmonic Orchestra. Elder Sewell and I went and got to see the opening concert of a big music festival here in Prague. It was soooooooo great. Really. I love classical music. Antonín Dvořák is a native Czech composer, and we were in his hall, where he conducted, and heard his music played by the Czech national orchestra. SO GREAT. A little different than normal stuff, but it was amazing. You'll see that once you listen to it. We are blessed. I love this place.

Wednesday we went and visited a semi-active guy, then did a finding exchange with the sisters in Prague who just opened a new area and work is a little slow for them. but, we went out and found them a few folks, so it was good. They're such good sisters, it's just tough to start from zero. We also taught Patrik! He. Is. Awesome. I'll havet o get a picture for you all. The lesson was sos good. We finishedthe Restoration with him and his prayer at the end was so great, so sincere. He really wants to know.

Thursday we had a good day, we had a singing display that went well. We found a few people, set up a few appointments, and that's what it's all about. We also taught a few lessons, including one to a former investigator named Josef. He became a former after reading about how Nephi killed Laban. we had a very interesting discussion with him. He's a good guy, but he's not super open. we'll see where he goes. He's willing to meet at least.

Friday, yesterday, we taught a friend of Isabel's, such a cool kid, his name is Ari, he's from Angola just like she is. We also taught a new guy from Uzbekistan named Michal. He's really cool, his beliefs are, I would say, Muslim that's a bit heavy on Christianity. He's a really good guy. He loves the idea of the Restoration, and loves what we're doing. We also drove to the airport to pick up the McConkies. They are awesome, we've missed them. They had some trainings from Apostles, one from Elder Ballard I think all about Assistants. A little pride moment: The McConkies said we measured up pretty well. There was also some good scriptural insights passed on from Elder Oaks about how to receive a testimony, so I will abridge what was said. God is a God of covenants. If we want a spiritual confirmation of something, we have to be willing to use it as God would want us to. Elder Oaks said, if an investigator prays for a testimony of the Book of Mormon and promises in that prayer to be baptized if they know, Elder Oaks says he has never known anyone, anyone, to pray like that and not get an answer. This morning in my study in three of the four books of the standard works, I found references to this constant covenant making. Great.

Well folks, I love you. Thanks for all the emails, they were great. HAve a great week, I pray for you each day,

Elder Knapp

 

 

Great Email from Prague

Draha rodino!

It's been the quickest, busiest, fullest week of my life. It was incredible. It's too bad about the BYU/Va game, but it happens. What happened with Texas? if you could email me today, I should be doing my emailing in two chunks, so I might be able to see it without having to wait for next weekend. Thank you for your prayers in behalf of me and my investigators. As for specific ones to pray for, definitely Viktor, also Patrik, Jackson, Jan, Martin, and Věra (pronounced 'viera'). I love the folks we teach. Happy 50th anniversary, Grandma and Grandpa! Wow. 50 years. Tanner! I'm pumped for you to do South Pacific! It's going to be a blast.  you'll love doing the musical. I met most of my really good friends through that. Hunter, good job bearing your testimony! That's awesome buddy. You sure are brave to do that! Also I got all your letters this week. thanks guys. You all are the best. Letters from the family are even better than Australian chocolate and bow ties, even though those things are pretty good too.

The week! Monday we had a good day. We did all our busy office stuff in the morning, then got down to business. We met Viktor, a lady named Ivana, a member named Klara who got back two weeks ago from her mission in England, and Jan. The meetings were all good. We also went on a trip for an hour or so to a place called Petřin with a member and one of our investigators, Veronika. It was pretty fun. Petřin is this hill with monuments and gardens and stuff, a big maze and a replica eiffel tower. IT was good because it gave us a chance to catch up a bit with Veronika who we haven't met with for awhile. 

Tuesday we had Mission Leadership Council in the morning at the McConkie house. It was great. I love the missionaries in this mission, and the leaders we have here are just great, all of them. We got a lot of things worked out, planned trainings for this month, and now it's up to each companionship to prepare, and make the trainings great! We as assistants won't actually be training at these upcoming conferences because of time, but it's okay. We don't mind a break every now and then. IN the afternoon/evening we taught Patrik, got him on baptismal date!, Martin, and an RC Jitka. it was a solid day. So you know, Patrik is 26, 6' 6" probably, and works as an accountant for the czech Army. He is way cool. We're excited aobut him. We also met with Jackson that evening. Jackson is 40, from China, and I may have told you about him already, but his job here is selling czech beer and really high prices to china. But he is such a funny guy, I love him. Martin has been an investigator for probably 6/7 months now, and is such a nice guy. He says he will get baptized, but he's not on date quite yet. 

Wednesday we had district meeting, a lesson with Viktor, a lesson with a Mongolian lady named Lygzima, a lesson with Evgenii, a Russian somewhat less-active kid here, Veronika, the same one as from Monday, and visited a family from Ukraine, the pavluvovi. they are one of my favorite families in the branch. In answer to your question, Mom, this is the same branch I served in last time, there's just the one in Prague. I'll answer the rest of your questions later on in the email. viktor is doing so well. He is liking what we teach more and more, and this week we really focused on the Book of Mormon with him, and he is going to pray and gain a testimony of it's truthfulness. I love the guy, pray for him please.

Thursday we finally were able to go to a singing display again! It's been a long time. We taught Viktor and a less active guy, Drahomir, in the morning before the display, then headed out to the place where we were singing and met the others. It went really well! We found three people that set up with us, so hopefully they pan out! Michal, Dalibor, and Ina. Later we visited the pavlicovi, Isabel, a less active family the Tesarovi, and a guy from peru, Ricardo. The lesson with the Tesarovi was os sad. I'll fill you all in on a secret: When you don't keep the commandments, you don't have a happy life. and until you start keeping them, you won't be happy. God does not accept excuses for disobedience, no matter how well thought out and justified they are. Why? Because he knows that He will bless you more for your obedience then you could ever possibly gain for you disobedience. It just is true! Don't forget it. That is the story with so many less-actives out here, and probably everywhere. They stop keeping the commandments, enjoy life for awhile, then EVERYTHING spirals downward. Commandments are to protect us! 

Friday was great! We met with a RC, a young kid who is way cool, his name is Robert and he is an absolute wizard on the piano. then we met with Viktor again, and then with a cool young girl nalmed Marcella. She doesn't want to meet right now anymore, because she is just so busy and is way stressed out, but we had a really good lesson on the plan of salvation and she is definitely interested, just wants to wait a couple months. After the meeting with Marcella we got in the car and drove. to Zlin. Every year, a foundation calledthe Wallace Toronto Foundation does a big service project in the Czech Republic or Slovakia. Since President McConkie and one of his law partners/mission buddies started it, we got to go. Friday night we arrived there and had a kickoff fireside, for which I translated the first half, and then all the elders that were there slept over and the Zlin Elders' apartment. 12 missionaries in one little apartment is a squeeze. The project was on Saturday, and we helped remodel a childrens' home for children with Autism and similar disorders. I only translated the first half of the fireside because then the director of the home got up and started going into great detail about many things related to mental illness, and my vocab is not comprised of those words. I understood the gist of what she was saying, but translating so that others could as well...I was not passing on everything. So at that point someone else took over, actually President's law partner who lived in Slovakia and the Czech republic for awhile as a lawyer, and married a Slovak women. but as for your question Mom, fluent in all Czech, obviously not. But I can understand almost everything, and can express myself well. My understanding of the language and grammar and so forth is pretty good, but I wish I personally had a bigger vocabulary. 

Saturday we worked from about 7:30 to 3:30. It was great. We did mostly demotition, so I was dirty, bleeding, sweaty, and happy. It felt so good to get some good work done with my hands. And the service was great. President told me that we did way more than the director of the home thought we would, and he said that's what happens at every project. Mormons work. President's middle son, Hyrum, was there as well. And yes, we interact a lot with his family, and I love it. They are so great. The oldest is 15, her name is Evie, then Wilson (James Wilson McConkie IV) is 13, Hyrum is 9, and George is 7. I love their kids.

I'll save the rest of the answers for next week due to time, but I love you tons, I hope this email was a tad longer than last time, I just tell you, the time goes faster and faster and there is less and less of it. Hence the emailing on a Sunday instead of Saturday. Love you!

Elder Knapp

News from Prague

 The pictures are of Alena's baptism which occurred a few weeks ago in Pardubice. She was baptized in a river by the branch president. It must have been an amazing day, judging from the smiles on those faces!

 Excerpts from Taylor's email, complete with typos that occur when one types very quickly, as he does:

Sunday was  a good day. WE met with our Chinese investigator, Jackson, before church and then of course he stayed for church. he is such a funny guy. I love him. One problem: he is very busy with his business, which means we have not a ton of time to meet with him. Also, his business is selling cheap czech beer at really high prices to China. Interesting. Every sunday night before call ins, we have a meeting with President at which we discuss the week and the needs of the mission and anything he wants us to pass on to the zone leaders. WE started a study of Luke last week with President and he said we're going to do it every week. Elder sewell and I are so excited to just sit and bask in his wisdom. It's going t obe GREAT.

(Elder Knapp's mission president is Bruce R. McConkie's nephew. He was one of the first missionaries in the Czech Republic when the mission opened 20 years ago or so.)

Monday we had the normal schedule. We did a bunch of office work in the morning, then had ofice meeting, then taught Viktor, Isabel, Jan, and Martin. We went to FHE and did some studies. It was a pretty hectic day, most Mondays are, but it was good. Viktor is doing so well! I don't remember if I told you much about him, but he is Ukrainian, has as of yet refused to take a Book of Mormon, but the last few lessons have been great, and I'll tell you more aobut him in a bit.

Tuesday we had training for new district leaders and it went really well. Immediately after the training we had district meeting and then another meeting with President. he's had a rough week. A lot of tough things with missionaries and members. We actually picked up a missionary tonight who wants to go home. President had a good chat with him, and he's agreed to stay for a bit more. Pray for him please. My heart aches to think of all that someone would lose by going home early. We also taught a couple lessons today, a recent convert Jitka and a less active Drahomir.

Wednesday I took Elder Sewell to the dentist for hopefullly the last time. I've been to that doctor's office so many times with my past copule companions, I'm glad to see the last of it. But we came back and taught a few more lessons. We taught Viktor again, a wonderful lady named Vera, she's the mother in law of a member here and so great, a semi active guy named vitaly, then went and visited a member family named the Pavluvovi. Mom, I had some of the best soup ever. Vera made a Russian soup called Boršč, and it was amazing. the family we visited also made some good soup for us. I love soup. I just realized that was a dangerous sentence to write. but I'm going to get some of these great soup recipes and pass them on. Viktor btw promised to finally take a book of Mormon!!! We just need to download it in e-form, and then he'll read it on he e-book. So happy about that.

Thursday we taught a bunch. We contacted a couple referrals, some way cool folks. We taught 7 lessons total, one to the Pavlicovi and their OLDEST DAUGHTER YEAAAAAAH! We set up again for today, and we are so pumped. We're going to baptize the whole family! We also visited this lady whose mother in law is a member in the Philipines and sshe works here in the embassy, so she's way smart and successful. She has a cool story aobut how she ended up here in Prague, and we know that she is totally here because she needs the Gospel. 

Friday we gave Viktor the Book of Mormon! He's probably even going to come to church! Hes such a good guy. he feels the Spirit in our lessons ,and slowly but surely he is coming around. We went to lunch with a couple of members, and now are going to start teaching the sister of one of them. We met with a recent convert and his girlfriend, Isabel, and Jan. Jan is getting baptized next week. He's such a good kid. He likes to joke around a lot, but he always accepts what we teach and lives it. 

Then today! We are just kind of relaxing today. I mentioned at the beginning that the Lord blesses us despite our very limited finding time. We have received so many solid referrals this week, and we are going to end up with loads of new investigators from it. it's so awesome. We're going to go play ball in a few hours after teahing some lessons. for now, we're just going to write some letters and stuff. hayden finally wrote me! I was way excited. so, I have some letters to write. Love you all, the Church is so true.

Starsi Knapp

 

Today's email

Sorry this email is so long. I didn't cut much out--it's too good.

Draha rodino,

It's been quite a week. A really, really good week with lots of events.

Sunday was a good day, pretty normal. it was fast and testimony meeting of course, and all were very good. Except the first one. There was a big YSA conference this past week, and the first young guy to get up told about how he met this girl and they got engaged in one week's time and gave each other "neviditelne prstynky," or invisible rings. He then told about how he was praying that God would make everything work out so that they could get married. He then mentioned taht God needed to work fast becasue she is leaving for a mission next week. I don't think they're going to get married. But, after that one little interesting bit, the meeting was great.

monday was a great day. we taught a few lessons, but the highlight was an experiment taht Elder Sewell and I did with one of President's new finding ideas. We had a member take us on a tour of a landmark in Prague and bring a friend along. It was just a was casual, comfortable environment and we started to chat with his friend, way cool girl named Veronika, and the conversation just led right into the Gospel. She is way interested and we're meeting with her this next week. We're pumped. We then came home and prepared for the Mission Leadership Council that was on Tuesday.

Tuesday we had our council, it went really well, and it was great to see all the mission leaders that came in. I love them all so much. I've served with many of them, and we seriously -- sorry Kaitlin and anyone else who served somewhere else -- have the best missionaries ever. But then that afternoon/evening we taught some more lessons, two of which were to our baptismal dates. Isabel, from Angola, and Jan. They both went really well. We also taught Isabel's friend Joanna, among others.

Wednesday was another really good day. We tend to have a lot of those. We said goodbye to an investigator today, Martin, I've included a pic, who is moving to Russia. Actually, he's there already. We met with Jan again, and also visited one of the counselors in the Branch Presidency and his family. they are amazing. Four kids, solid all of them, and we are going back to there house soon to have FHE with them and some friends. We're way excited for it. Families are the best to teach by far.

Thursday was a crazy day. So. We had a training in Brno, progression training which is for all new missionaries and their trainers. AS we were leaving, we received a phone call from President, who was going to meet us in Brno. He had a conference, with multiple members of the quorum of the twelve on Friday and Saturday. Which got changed to Thursday Friday last minute. so. He stayed for 15 minutes, then raced back to Prague to catch a plane. so, Elder Sewell and I conducted a four hour training without him. It was quite an experience, but it went well.

Friday we had a pretty full day. We went and visited the mother in law of member, such a sweet lady. We are way optimistic for her. She doesn't like her church, and has already promised her grandson that she will always come to our church. HELLO!!! She's totally getting baptized. WE also met with Isabel and Jan again, wtih a great ukranian guy Viktor, and a couple others. They all are doing so well. Isabel's baptism was scheduled for Saturday...

And it was beautiful. We did a musical number, President McConkie and one of the senior missionaries here did a piano violin duet as well. And the baptism itself was just perfect. Her testimony was amazing. She has had so many miracles happen to bring her here. She had a friend who was meeting with other missionaries, and Isabel felt a need to be closer to God. She prayed that two people could meet her and teach her things to bring her closer to God. 15 minutes later the missionaries called. She faced a lot of opposition from her family who did everything they could to convince her that she didn't need to be baptized twice. She finally talked to her grandfather, an Anglican priest, and asked if it was wrong to be baptized twice. He said usually it was, but in some cases it was okay. She told him she was getting baptized again, and he gave his blessing. We were blown away. She's great. I threw in a picture of us as well.

That's about the lot! It's been a great week, like I said. We have so much going on right now, so the next couple weeks look to be pretty hectic as well. I'm stoked.

love you all tons,

Starsi Knapp

Back to Prague

We received a phone call from Elder Knapp's mission president, Pres. McConkie, a couple of weeks ago telling us that we have an exceptional son--which we had already suspected--and letting us know that he (Pres. McConkie) had asked Taylor to be his assistant. I have included part of the email Taylor sent after that phone call to show some of the duties he will now have as an AP (Assistant to the President). We are grateful for the many opportunities Taylor has had to learn and grow in various assignments on his mission.

The above pictures are of Pardubice, a city filled with people Taylor has come to love, and the three sister missionaries that he knew in the MTC and who arrived in Prague with him 18 months ago--their missions are finished and they have headed back home.

Draha rodino,

Well, it's been an experience. 

 

So the week really starts Sunday. I made all arrangements to leave my long time residence in Pardubice and return to where I once was. It was 1) hectic as all get out and 2) even hotter than it was hectic. but I got everything taken care of and got to Prague. Elder Osterloh, the AP leaving, and Elder Sewell came and picked me up at the train station and took me back to the office. We did a little bit of training Elder Osterloh and I, then went and had dinner with the McConkies. President McConkie is a n amazing cook. We had bacon wrapped pork tenderloin with potatoes and other good things. It was delicious. After dinner we came back and had the huge callins session to end the night. I got to listen in and participate a little. It was cool, but it's going to be a mad dash the first couple of times I do it. 

Monday we finished preparing the reports generated by callins last night, and sent off the weekly email to the misisonaries. We had office meeting, met with President and discussed the state of the mission. It was a good first meeting for me. This is wild that I'm AP. I'm stil a little shell-shocked. We also taught a few lessons, one to a recent convert and his girlfriend, a couple to investigators, and one to a girl who is getting baptized next weekend. Her name is Isabel, she's from Angola, and she is absolutely awesome. I'm way excited for her. It was all in all a good first full day back in Prague.

Tuesday was an exciting day. We got a bunch of stuff ready, sent Elder Sewell to the dentist, then Elder Osterloh and I and the McConkies went to the airport to pick up all the new missionaries! it was so fun. They're a good bunch. It was so surreal watching them come through the gate with all their luggage and everything. It was way exciting though. We took them back to the building, dropped off their stuff, then took them on the walk around Prague. It was good fun. by the time we finished dinner though, they were all looking pretty jet lagged. we took two of them back to our house to sleep, showed the rest of them where they would be staying, then went off to teach a way cool lady named Katka. We had a great lesson with her, got some concerns out, and taught well. 

Wednesday was a crazy day. We got up way early, and took all the new missionaries back to President's for breakfast, then had them come to the bulding where we paired them up with their trainers. It was pretty great. We had a few more lessons today, including one with a former member who is getting rebaptized soon. Wild. but it was good. That night, we met up with all the missionaries who are going home and had a goodbye dinner and testimony meeting with them. it was a great time, but also a little sad. Elder Osterloh, my old comp Elder Bird, and all the sisters from my MTC group went home! It's awful. We had a very good time though, and it was good to see them all again and here their testimonies once more before they departed. But the madness didn't stop there. We didn't get out of there unitil about 10, took the missionaries to their hotel, found out there was no longer any room there, os the guy that owns that hotel took them somewhere else to accommodate everyone, then came back to let the sisters in. One of the sisters had some weird allergic reaction and had been to the doctor earlier that day. The doctor told her that if she didn't have aspirin, she could possibly get blood clots on the plane. So, after much running around and a long time, we got everything figured out, got her aspirin, and put everyone to bed. We didin't get home until laaaate. But, it happens.

Thursday, also crazy, and a little sad, and good. We had to get up at 4:30! 4:30in the morning! We went to the airport to drop off all of the departing missionaries. So weird. I've included a picture of me with my MTC sisters. After that, we came home, did some study, had some lessons, did district meeting, and taught some more lessons. I met one of our investigators, Ricardo, a guy from Peru. he's so funny. We're also teaching a girl from guatemala, so our teaching pool is pretty ethnic. 

Friday was a pretty normal day. We took Elder Sewell to the dentist again, got him sorted for now, and taught a few lessons. We also had Polar Bear, the weird little thing when we all get together and teach each other Czech. Sorry the days are getting shorter, I'm running out of time. Btw, yes, I served with Elder Sewell in Pardubice, he's the English one. He's a little offended that you didn't remember him. but I think he's mostly joking when he says that.

Well, folks, it's been a good week. I'll throw some pics from Pardubice in as well, enjoy. Love you all so much,

Starsi Knapp

Parts of This Week's Email

Draha rodino,

Het. The week has been greaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat. Thsi has been the best transfer of my life. I have loved it all. And this week is looking even better, details next week...haha.

Taylor and his companion had a busy week. They taught lots of lessons--one day they had 6!--and picked up a couple of new investigators. I don't want this to get too long, so I'll skip to Friday, which was an exciting day!

Friday. We tuaght some good lessons today. We had one with Alex and Alena and Jarda and Simona. President and Sister McConkie visited too. Why? Because we had a BAPTISM! It was so beautiful, just a great service. She is so wonderful. I don't have any pictures yet, but Sister McConkie took some and as soon as she sends them to me, I'll send them to you. President Novotny baptized her, and the whole thing really was just great. I love her.

Saturday we were pretty busy. We tuaght a bunch of lessons, and then weekly planned. WE had a way intense lesson with Alex. Sergei, the Russian member from HK came down so as to not have any communication issues, and we went. The problem is, there are definitely still issues that we haven't discovered yet. He says he has burning questions that he needs answered, but doesn't believe the Book of Mormon or sacrament meeting will help him. He did promise to read and pray every day, but won't commit to sacrament meeting yet. He had some bad experience with some other church awhile back, and hasn't gone anywhere since, except to ours once, and alos the baptism on Friday.

Sunday was beautiful. Alena was of course confirmed, and right after gave a short testimony. I was a little worried ust because she can be quite a talker, but she stood up, bore a sweet, short, powerful testimony. She is great! I want you to meet her. We had correlation after, then district lunch, then studies, then callins. Our zone had another solid week. Transfers are this week ahhhhhh I'm so scared. There is almost a 100% chance I'm out, and I'm sad about it. Also, Wednesday we have a super secret conference for only missionaries currently in the Czech Republic. We are so excited, even though we don't really know what to expect.

How fun to have something to look forward to! And how wonderful to have this gospel in its fulness upon the earth.

 Well.....vacation kept me from updating the blog. So here are some excerpts from the last few emails....

Wednesday we headed to Prague for zone leader Council, the first with the McConkies. and actually, it's not zone leader council anymore. It's missionary leadership council or something like that, and sisters are called to be leadership training sister agents or something, and so one companionship of sisters comes to the council. It was really good. Pres McConkie is a great man. Very powerful, tons of faith. I love him already, and I'm waaay excitedto see where the mission goes with him at the head.

Sunday was good, testimony meeting and all. I bore mine, which is interesting because we do it daily, but I did. We only had one interesting one. I have a strong testimony that there is at least one "storyteller" or similar in every branch or ward. I didn't share that in my testimony yesterday though. There is a dear sweet older sister in the branch who gets up evry month. I have absolutely no idea what she was talking about. I lost her very fast. My attention was grabbed when she hid behind the pulpit as part of her testimony. It was...you know. We also taught Alena and Alex after church. it went really well. We almost finished the Plan of Salvation with Alex, and he likes it. That's 21 lessons by the way.

Tuesday we began the first of our journeyings. We drove to Jihlava to observe a district meeting there, and then start an exchange with the district leader Elder Eliason and his greenie companion Elder King. The meeting was good, and that district is great. A very young district, and small, only one other companionship and a senior, thusly the not so young part of the district, couple. Both missionaries in the other companionship are only in their second transfer. But, they're doing pretty great. But anyway, we drove two hours there, two hours back, taught three lessons and that was the day. The lessons went well. Alena is doing greeeeeaaaat! Her baptism is all planned and set for Friday at 6. It's wonderful.

Sunday was good as well. We had a very good sacrament meeting, Alena's baptism was announced, a good number from the branch are coming, and probably President McConkie as well. We had Branch Council afterwards, which we aren't even supposed to go to, but the District Leader was in a lesson that went a little long, so we subbed in on Branch Council. A good week in the zone, as I said we taught the most lessons as a companionship that either of us has ever taught, 23 btw.

Quick answers: The McConkies are from Salt Lake, four kids, one daughter three sons. Yes, Dad, I am getting nervous for transfers. I am consigned to the fact that I probably won't be where I am now in a couple weeks. Yikes. Also, to add my own voice to that what has been said, Do not ever get complacent. As Elder Holland once said, "It isn't over til it's over." and "[the adversary] is determined to get his licks in later, if not sooner." Our power is in Christ.

 

Taylor is doing great. We are praying for Alena--her baptism is scheduled for this Friday, July 19th!

 

Some might ask: Why are Mormons so anxious to share our beliefs with others? I quote Neil L. Anderson, a member of the quorum of the twelve apostles of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints:

"With the confusion and commotion of today's world, it's not surprising that fewer people are attending their places of worship. Although many want to be closer to God and to better understand the purpose of life, they have unanswered questions.  Many have hearts open to the truth, but as the prophet Amos described, 'they (are running) to and fro (seeking) the word of the Lord, and (cannot) find it."--Amos 8:12. (We) can help answer their questions."

 

And, from our previous prophet, Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley: "Let me say that we appreciate the truth in all churches and the good which they do.  We say to the people, in effect, you bring with you all the good that you have, and then let us see if we can add to it. That is the spirit of this work.  That is the essence of our missionary service."

Catching Up with Elder Knapp

We do cook most of our meals, we go to restaurants probably twice a week at most, but the restaurants here are grrrrrrrrrrrreat. Cheap, and delicious. healthy....I don't know. but, we started a diet this week, and I want to cry every time I think about it. It has taken away almost everything I love. There's a missionary I served around a couple times who is a nutritional know-it-all, and he had made a diet for elder Stimpson awhile back, and we're trying it. No fruit, no grains. No bread, pasta, rice, potatoes. I'm tearing up right now. But, we do get one day a week to go crazy, and I'm way excited for that.

My son is on a diet???!!!! This is weird...

We also had District everything. It was nice. Elder Stradling is a funny guy. Almost every week he colors and copies some little drawing for us to remind us what the commitments were. So far we have a listen to the Spirit shield, a key to there hearts, and a bold commitment badge. I'm getting the giggles just writing about it all.

We do miss hearing Taylor laugh!

Wednesday we had a bit of a tougher day, but also some real cool things happened. We had many many many lessons on plan. Almost all cancelled. The heartbreaker was the lady who said that she couldn't come because her boyfriend didn't agree with it. Boyfriends are dumb. She was so cool. But! WE fouond this young lady, Stepanka, who actually met with missionaries in the past in Brno, still reads the Book of Mormon from time to time, and is a pharmacist. Way cool. We did also teach Jarda and Simona, it went well. They still have serious financial difficulty, but we're trying to overcome.

Thursday we also had many lessons planned and less taught. It happens from time to time. We did get to teach Ludek and Jarda and Simona though. They all are doing well, Ludek is still clinging with surprising tenacity to his lazy tendencies. But, I love him. jWe taught again with President Novotny's son, and he is great. We did some more prep for the zone conference, President's last! which is on Wednesday. I will cry.

Friday we taught a few lessons, one to a waaaaay cool new lady. She's a bit older, but she referred herself, also met with missionaries in the past, and is so ready for the Gospel. She told us a little about her life, and eventually said, emotionally, "I need this. I guess you could say I need you." She promised to be a willing and good student, and we are way excited for her. Alena is her name

And now, excerpts from today's email:

Draha rodino,

Goodness me what a week. Two baptisms in the zone, last zone conference with the Irwins, new baptismal dates and investigators and who knows what else! It's been quite a week folks

Monday! Crazy day. It was sooooo hot, so obviously that's the day we had plannedt o go play basket ball with the district in HK. It was brutal, but also a bunch of fun. I will say, my team won every time, no big deal. We also had good lessons with Jarda and Simona, the Pavlicovi, and Ludek. Ludek is still Ludek. But my goodness he is funny. I was dying at the lesson again. He is just a goof. But, we'll see what happens with him once we start teaching in our new intense look at the pamphlets approach. IT begins today.

Tuesday we didn't have district meeting because we have training on Wednesday, but we did get together still, do Polar Bear, and practice for the musical numbers that we have, one for the training and one for the baptism that is this weekend. We also taught Alena, great, Alexander, Jarda and Simona again, and English. they're all doing really well, Alena is on fire. She is looooving it. Alexander is actually leaving the country for awhile to visit his kids in Moldova, but he'll be back. We have already put into place a plan for him so he keeps reading over the break. He's a great guy. WE also took some good time and put the finishing touches on our part of conference that is tomorrow!

WEdnesday was one of the greatest/worst/hardest days of my life. The training was fantastic, ours went well and I really enjoyed it. I enjoy giving trainings the most when we use the prophets, ancient and modern, the most. It's great. We talked about the importance of a good first lesson with new investigators and we used the New Testament and the Doctrine and covenants some with it. I just finished reading the Gospels again, and it was amazing. You know what, I'm not afraid to admit it, I cried like a little baby, okay? It was absolutely terrible. As soon as President stood up I started to rain, and didn't stop until I had cried all through the closing song, I didn't do a ton of singing for that one, and t he closing prayer, after I hugged the Irwins (yes, we were even allowed to hug Sis Irwin), and took a little time getting my act back together. Apparently I am not a tough guy. We then drove to a city called Trebic to do two baptismal interviews, one for this weekend, one for next, and then headed home. I interviewed a 15 yr old girl who's getting baptized next week. She is amazing. Her knowledge is way solid, her testimony is very strong, and the missionaries there have told me all kinds of great stuff about her. As we drove back from Trebic after conducting the interviews, I obviously had Pres and Sister Irwin on my mind. At the time, the thing that occupied my thoughts was the great love that they both expressed for these two countries. The countryside in that area of the country is so beautiful. I was filled with a truly inexpressible love for this country as we drove and admired the wonder of God's creation. I'll have to show you around some time.

Thursday was a nice day. The weather is still terrible, so hot and humid. They claim, I want that in italics, that it was over 100 here. I don't know if I believe that. But it was still pretty dang hot. but we had good lessons with Alena and Alex, and also visited the Novotny family. They're great. Their middle son should get his mission call this week, and we're all excited. He's one of my favorites.

Friday we had a great lesson with Jarda and Simona about faith, Jarda was marking scriptures like crazy, which really surprised me. We also went to a baptism in HK which was really nice, and taught Alena and Alex again. They are both willing to meet almost every day, and besides, we're trying to really pack it in with Alex before he leaves. But the lessons went well.

SAturday we did weekly planning, we've got a pretty good one on plan this week, and taught a few. WE tuaght Alena again, and also this waaaaaay cool young kid Honza. He has been contacted on the street three times: once in 2011, once in 2012, and once in 2013. IT IS HIS TIME. We had such a good first lesson with him, he was so excited to get his own Book of Mormon, and he said a beautiful prayer at the end of the lesson, and we're set up for Tuesday. He's probably 23 or 24, and a great guy. I love him.

Sunday was pretty typical, church, district lunch (Elder Stimpson and I made banana pancakes, YUM), studies, and call ins.

To find out more about what Mormon missionaries do and to see why Taylor is so happy,  click here.