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.

Wednesday we were in the middle of District Meeting, when Elder Bushnell, one of the HK elders, got a phone call. HE's going to the office! I was so proud. He'll have my old job, office manager. He's a great kid. WE also started an exchange together. WE had a blast. WE got tto teach a few people, but we hada real miracle that ngiht. We had just taught our second English class, and were contacting home to eat dinner, when we decided to do a couple of rounds around the apartments and then call it a day. As we came around to go inside, I wanted to go around to corner real quick and see if anyone was there. There were two college age girls on the path. That is a scary thing for me. I don't do well contacting those kind. But we went for it, had a great contact with them, Jana and Krystina, and set up for the next day! It was awesome.

Thursday morning we started off with a lesson with our Russian investigator Alexandr. He's such a great guy. I love him tons, really I do. Then Elder Bushnell and I taught a decent lesson to Jana and Krystina, then wrapped up the exchange and sent him off to Prague! WE also taugh ludek again, and it went pretty well. He still isn't willing to sacrifice things to get an answer.

Friday we were in a three way companionship. Elder Bushnell's comp, Elder Stradling, was companion-less, so we were running two areas. We taught the Pavlicovi, and Alexander agian. It was a great lesson. He has been really searching lately, because his wife just died a few months ago, and feels like this is probably what he's searching for. He's a great guy. so we taught those to and soem other lessons but I can't remember who haha. I don't have my old planner in front of me. But we also taught a couple in Hk for Elder Stradling's area. They also went well.

SAturday we taught the fam again, and did some service at Simona and Jarda's. They live in not a great place. They don't have electricity or running water, just very meager living conditions. It's sad. WE did get to meet their kids though, and hopefully we'll start teaching them this week. They're cool, normal, 17 and 13, Lukas and Lucie. WE also got transfer calls, I'm still here in Pardubice, with Elder Stimpson! My first ever district leader! WE are pumped. We are going to have a blast.

Sunday was nice, we sang in sacrament meeting. Great meetings, great talks, and a new branch mission leader! His name is Vasek, and he's the branch President's son. He's a good kid, waiting on a mission call.

(Taylor loves his mission president! He'll be sad to see him go in July.)

3 new members in Pardubice!

Well. This week was the best week of my life. We did indeed have three baptisms, all of them beautiful, and the confirmations were as well. I love that family so much, I just hope and pray that everything goes well for them.

Friday. The day. It was actually a very full day. We drove to Prague that morning for Zone Leader Council, probably the best ever. We just were very effective, everything worked out super well, everyone just worked like a council. Loved it. Zone Leader council is always great. We got a call from Martina though, saying that they didn't have money for the train to the pool where we baptized, and her husband was working out of town, in Prague actually, and couldn't get money to her in time. We freaked out. But, President Irwin very wisely advised us to call the branch president, who then said that he would pick them all up and bring them. Problem solved. We then drove back to pick up Elder Sewell! and his companion at the train station. President allowed Elder Sewell to come back for the baptism. The service itself was beautiful. The branch did a great job with it.

Sunday they were all confirmed. I had the pleasure of confirming Tomas. I also baptized Simona by the way. I had been praying all week to be ready for this, and had some inspiration throughout the week, then right before sacrament meeting I just felt that I needed to listen, and it would be okay. It was AMAZING. I felt the Spirit so strongly as I said, "Prijmi Ducha Svateho" and then pronounced a blessing on him. It was wonderful. After church, we had branch council. This branch is awesome. They had everything already taken care of. by the time branch council started, Tomas had had an interview for the Aaronic Priesthood, they had been assigned home teachers, and visiting teachers for them are in the works. Amazing.

With Elder Sewell at the train station.


 

The Week in Pardubice

Draha rodino,

Good week this week, had some good things, and it was a tough one too. As far as weather, it's still snowing here. It's not very cold, so nothing is sticking, but snow is falling. And when I say tough week, it wasn't a huge deal, we just didn't find a ton of people. We're hurting for new investigators right now. But we have a few lined up, so this is the week!

Monday! You already know most of it, but after I emailed last time we did teach L. It was okay, he's just being very difficult right now. He's a good kid though. He'll make it. We also learned from A, I believe I mentioned her, that if you sleep with a stocking hat pulled down over your eyes, your eyes will eventually fix themselves. I think it sounds absolutely ridiculous, and have now slept with a hat over my eyes for a week straight. I mean, what have I got to lose, my eyesight?

Tuesday we had some interesting lessons. One with Sister E, always interesting, one with a kid named Z, under an overpass thing because his 25 yr old knees are to weak to walk to our office. It was tough. We also taught Martin. It didn't go well. He views his afflictions as great above all, so he complains a lot. we've decided to teach him only once a week until he finds a job. But we did have a nice lesson with the Zlesakovi about families, Heavenly Father, and the Book of Mormon.

Wednesday we got to teach the cool young kid, K, again. he is super busy, so once a week is about all he can manage, but whatever. Once he starts reading in the book of Mormon he'll find more time to meet. We also found a waaaay cool guy named Z. He's great. We're going to meet with him this week sometime, and I am excited for it. He's young, super cheerful, and funny. I have great hopes for him.

Thursday was a good day, first district meeting of the transfer. Our district leader, Elder S, went to school with Elder K in Flagstaff. You could ask the K's if they know a him. H'es a great guy, so happy and loving. It was a good meeting. We did have a new area opened in our district, we now have sisters in Hradec Kralove, the other city in our district. so, two of us in Pardubice, and four in HK. By the way, in Czech, the "c" makes a "ts" sound. Just so you know how the pronunciation goes. On the way home from HK we stopped at M's to teach the family. They really are amazing, and are excited to be baptized. I am also quite excited.

Friday we taught them again, at their house. They've been a bit sick, so they haven't been able to travel much, so we've just visited them. By the way, we had a very important and anxious comp study trying to figure out how to thoroughly yet appropriately teach the Law of Chastity to an eleven yr old. Try that. I think we did well though. W taught Sis E again. We talked about forgiveness, and she just won't do it. She says it's impossible. We are at a bit of a loss with her. But, we keep hope!

Saturday was fun. We spent a lot of time contacting, but we did teach Martina and the fam again. We've almost taught everything, so they're almost ready to go! No problems. I love them. We did have two other lessons fall through, which is no fun. The biggest adventure was that night. We were tracting a panelak, or a huge communist-era apartment building. Things were going okay, we'd almost tracted an entire floor, when we knocked on the second to last door. The man was not interested at all. He started to shut the door, then changed his mind and decided that we shouldn't be inside the panelak at all. He told us to leave, and we stood there. He then said, "Come with me, I'll escort you down." So we rode the elevator down together, he said some not nice things about religion in general, and about how no one in that panelak wants anything to do with us, then sent us out into the night. I got kicked out of my first panelak! It was quite an experience. And while we appreciate his desire to speak for about 100 other people, we will probably be going back to ask them ourselves if they want it.

Sunday was good, even thought it was daylight savings time. We felt the lost hour for sure. The new missionaries introduced themselves and we had some really good lessons.

Well folks, that's about it! Sorry it's a bit short, we'll find some new people and have a bunch of new miracles to share!

Love you all,

Starsi Knapp
 

This Week's News from the Czech Republic

So the week! Monday we taught the two kids, T. and S. but M wasn't there so we just taught them. A member was there of course. It went really well. We watched the Joseph Smith film. Children believe without any protest, and resistance. It isn't a mystery to me why we are commanded to be as a little child. They already have strong testimonies of everything. We loaned them the dvd so that M could watch it. We also got haircuts. My hair was a little long, it is now very short. She went to work on it. We also taught J. Z. , the wife of the family we teach English to. It went okay, but she is a talker. That night we taught L. again. We had a good lesson with him, but just you wait until Thursday.

Tuesday was the last district meeting of t he transfer, the last of Elder C.oleman's mission. it was good, and I'm a little sad. I love Elder Coleman. He's a great missionary, and I've served around him for the past six months. After the meeting, I stayed in HK again to go on an exchange wit the Greenie, Elder Bushnell. He's a great kid. We had a blast. Had a really good exchange, had some great times, taught a few nice lessons.

Wednesday we drove back to Pardubice and ended the exchange. That day all of our lessons fell through except for one, with a less active Sis E. Everyone cancelled for English except for one person, so we just taught them. It was also Sis E. So we taught her twice haha.

Thursday. Thursday was greeat. We taught a lot, which is always good, but the quality of the lessons was super. In the morning we taught this new kid, probably 21 or so, named K. He is so cool. He's young, smart, and very stylish. I hope Elder Tenney sees this part, because he would absolutely love K. While he was waiting for us, he had some extra time so he just went shopping. When we met him he already had a full bag of his purchases. The lesson was good too. He's really searching, and all he needs to do is read and pray and come to church with us and he will see that this is what he's searching for. We have a meeting set up for tomorrow with him. We taught a few other lessons as well, but the best was with L. that night. We started by following up on his reading, he was in Alma 14, and we had on plan to cover the Restoration with him again. But, for some reason I felt like we needed to go deeper into his reading with him. In case you don't know off the top of your head, and don't want to look it up, Alma 14 is when Alma and Amulek witness the burning of the women and children. As we discussed it, somehow, and Elder Sewell and I honestly do not remember how, we got onto the subject of baptism. He expressed his desire to grow closer to God, and how he wanted to do that by making the baptismal covenant. We were absolutely blown away. He didn't accept a date, but he clearly expressed his intent, and we have a lesson with him today and we want to give him a date tonight. We were so pumped after that lesson. He's a great kid, just a slow investigator, but he is sooooo close now!

Friday we taught the Z.. It went okay, we just weren't as straightforward as we should have been with them. I feel like we wasted a really good opportunity with them, and now we have to do whatever we can to make up for it. Do you remember our investigator from last week, M., the guy who looks like Napoleon Dynamite? We taught him a few times this week, including Friday. He's a good guy. He's going through a tough time right now, and is certainly a little peculiar, but he is progressing and sincere. I really love the guy and hope everything turns out okay.

Saturday we taught E again. We had a few more ideas for her, and if she isn't progressing after that, we're probably going to stop meeting with her. It's too bad, because she really is a nice lady, she just refuses to give up certain things. We can't spend any more time with her if she's not going to change. We had an amazing lesson with T, M and S. We started by reviewing the Resto film and asking if M had a chance to see it. She had and loved it. She bore testimony, no joke, about Joseph's prophetic call and the importance of the Restoration. For not the first time, and I would assume not the last, they have said things that I would never guess investigators of three or so weeks would say. They are simply amazing. We taught M again, and found a guy right outside our office named L who agreed to meet with us right away. He's a young guy, 25, 26 maybe, and funny. But he has the weirdest beliefs I have ever heard in my entire life. There were so many times during that lesson when I was just blown away by the confusion he believes in. Elder Sewell and I talked afterwards about how blinded some people are. Satan doesn't need us to commit terrible sins, he just wants to blind the hearts of men. When that happens, his purposes are fulfilled. That is where Lukas is right now. He just needs help. That's why we're here.

Sunday was good. We taught a lesson before church to M and S. T couldn't come because they're uncle was visiting, and he needed to be home to meet him. but we were way impressed that M and S came even though they had a visitor. They are on date for the 29th, and they are so going to make it. Church was nice, and call ins went well. Our zone is still doing fantastic.

Well folks, I do love you all greatly. I already look forward to your next email, and I'll be telling you where I am, if it's changed, and who I'm with! Transfers are on Monday. We're off to a castle today, so I should have some great pics next week. Love you all!

Starsi Knapp

"Worst Culinary Experience" and other things...

1) We eat pretty much the same things. Beef stroganoff, a dish called halusky, a lot of rice and beans, the occasional pizza, tacos, and every so often someone feeds us. I'll make a reference to an experience we had this week later on. 2) The branch probably has about 50 members, most of which are part of active families. It's an amazing branch with tons of potential. I would say that in 15 years or so, it will be one of the biggest in the country, maybe the biggest even. Well, probably Prague will always be biggest, but anyway. 3) Pardubice is really small - have you looked it up online? - so we walk mostly. when we have to go a little farther away we drive. We have a brand new car, whose purchase I oversaw while in the office. Elder Sewell isn't allowed to drive because he never got his license before his mission, so I drive always. It's fun. 4) Elder Sewell is from Bristol, specifically Pucklechurch. He's a good guy. We have some good times and get along well. He's a great missionary, and I'm lucky to get to learn from him.


Thursday we had an amaaaaazing lesson with Martina. She brought her two kids, 15 yr old Tomas and 11 yr old Simona, and they are awesome. We taught the Plan of Salvation, and after teaching the Atonement we asked, "Why would Christ be important for your family?" Tomas answered, "It means through him we can live forever as a family!" WE were blown away. It was awesome. They are all on date for the 29th of March, and are so willing. EVery time we call them Martina answers, "Cetli jsme!" Which means "We read!" It's great.


SAturday was quite a day. We went that morning to a less actives house to teach and help out her mother with some moving, just a couple beds and cabinets and stuff. When we came downstairs, we were surprised to see that she had cooked lunch for us. We received another, less pleasant, surprise a little later. We saw the food, thought it was just some sort of rice/ground beef meal or something with sauerkraut and potatoes. Her daughter, who lived in England 20 years and speaks perfect English looks in and says, "What has she made you? oh! Blood pudding and tripe." BAsically every part of the pig that you don't normally eat, we ate. Except maybe the feet. I have not felt good since. I can't stop thinking about he way it tasted, looked, smell, and felt. I literally could throw up right now just thinking about it. It is awful. I know, Kaitlin, you ate blood sausage inParaguay, and you probably think I'm being a little baby about this all, but it was the worst culinary experience of my life.

Sunday was great! We had good testimonies and so forth, but the best part was that Martina, Tomas, and Simona came to church and had a great experience. They are so solid. WE did calls with the zone and assistents that night, and found out that our zone had literally one of the best weeks in history. It's awesome. The missionaries have really grown this transfer, and we are starting to see the fruits. For example, Pardubice hasn't baptized in over a year,  We have five on schedule for this month.

I love you all, it's great to hear from you all. I've been studying Christ's ministry in 3 Nephi and also the New Testament lately, and it is amazing. So inspiring. Recommended.


This is a picture of the zone leaders, mission president, and area authority.