Bittersweet

Draha rodino,

Thanks to all who emailed me, it was good to hear from almost everyone.  It's been a good week. Everything seems bittersweet now a little, I think I've come to that point in my mission. The week itself was great, the bitter part was that I gave my last departing testimony, four in all, at a zone conference this week. It's hard, but I've been thinking a lot about it lately, and I am feeling more confident and at peace about the near future. But there will be time for a lot of that later, no need to go into that now.

Sunday was a good day last week, we were way busy. we taught two lessons before church, and three after. We had solid, solid week last week, 32 lessons in total, a personal record for both of us. We feel really good about it, because we found some new people, and had two zone conferences, and still managed to, as President would say, teach our brains out.

Monday we had the normal office work, had some nice lunch, and then we had a lesson with one of our really cool new investigators from last week. Only problem, she tried to give us her Book of Mormon back. She had talked to her teenage daughters, and they said she was crazy for wanting to study a religion. Don't ask teenagers about those things. But! We didn't let her get away. Not only does she still have the book, but we are hoping to visit her and her husband and kids next week! After her lesson, we drove with President to Brno to get ready for zone conference and meet with the zone leaders and the Sister Trainer Leader to basically train them for our training the next day. 

Tuesday! We just had zone conference in Brno, and then we waited for President to finish interviews, and then drove together to Bratislava. When we got there it was the same drill as Monday night, met with the zone leaders and two sisters and talked about our training. Training in Brno went really well, it's all about a stake and what we need to do in order to get a stake. I think I mentioned that to you last week. Our training went well, which I believe I also already told you about, the fake district meeting and all.

Wednesday we had the last zone conference, and then President let Elder Boysen and I take a quick look around Bratislava while he finished interviews. It is not as pretty as Prague. After he finished we headed back home, to Prague, and then we had a lesson with Maxim!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! He'd been called to Kazakhstan for a family emergency, but he's back, we talked to him a couple days before and then we were able to meet Wednesday night. He's so great. We had a good lesson, caught up with him a bit, and he's doing fine. 

Thursday we had a pretty busy day. We've been really pack-scheduling lessons to make up for the first half of the week. Before anything else though, we needed to take Elder Boysen to get a physical. He needs to get a driver's license, and he needed a physical. We had a good district meeting, and then taught some lessons. We taught a new lady named Anya, Vera, Marek, Katka and Miguel, and Martin. It was a good full day.

Friday we taught Isabel and Cristina, Michal, Vera, Pet'a, had a singing display, tuaght Drahomir, and Ary. It was also a very full day. We had such a good lesson with Pet'a! She's great. We answered some of her questions, and it was good progress I think. We also had a good lesson with Vera. We talked about prophets and gave her a couple talks by President Monson so she could be familiar with his teachings. Ary is getting the Priesthood!!! He didn't wnat to at first, didn't feel ready, so we sat him down, and compared preparing for the Priesthood with preparing for baptism. He is set to get the Priesthood on the first of february. WE also refound Marek, the one with the crazy hair and glasses, if you remember the picture I sent awhile ago. He's such a good kid, I hope he can make it this time.

Today we had a really good lesson with Vera about tithing, and she committed to pay it after baptism. She also read both of the president Monson talks, and loved loved loved them. For Pday we all went to Karlstejn the castle near which the mission was dedicated. IT was fun, the castle was closed though. But we enjoyed each others' company, and the senior couple came with us too. We have a couple more lessons on plan tonight before the day ends.

I love you all so much, I pray for you always,

Starsi Knapp

__________________________________________________________________________________

 Counting down....

And a few snippets from last week's email, which I forgot to post....


Monday we had a good office meeting, it's really a fun meeting. I love all of the people involved in the office, and we just have a good time discussing issues and stuff. We had lunch at my favorite restaurant with the office elders, the sisters in our district, and President. We had a nice meeting with Drahomir, we taught him the Word of Wisdom. We've really focused on him getting the Melchizedek Priesthood, and it was a really good lesson for him. He admitted that he didn't see anything wrong with small transgression of the WoW, like the occasional toast, or coffee with his mom and that kind of thing. It went well though, but we didn't find out how well until later. We also visited a new investigator, a very old lady, but she is sweet. She is really lonely, so it's really good for her that we visit and give her a chance to talk to someone.

Wednesday we had a singing display, then hurried back to teach Drahomir again. He started off by just talking about how last lesson was a real wake up call for him, and he was determined to live the commandments 100% no matter what. We started to watch the full Joseph Smith film with him, because one thing we really want for him is to strengthen his testimony of the Prophet Joseph. We had afirst lesson with a super cool lady named Eva. She is married, has two daughters, and is a nurse. It was a fantastic first lesson, she loved it. We visited Jitka again, and had good lesson about the Fall and Atonement. We've been going through the Plan of Salvation with her, and it's helping her understand a lot.

Thursday we had the first of four Zone Conferences. It was great. Our training was a demo district meeting, at which we discussed the progress of our investigators and really received inspiration for them. IT was awesome. Before us President trained on our vision for 2014, and what we need to become a stake. It was intense. The tough part of the training, and the tough part of the week, was the fact that missionaries, in their last training bear their testimony of their missions. So, Elder Strobel, Elder Greener, and I, closed the training with our testimonies. It was not fun. After the training we taught Vera, Alena, Jitka again, and a new kid named Alan. He's czech, but he actually lived in Farmington, Utah for awhile. He's a cool guy, but not really very religious. He is way excited to read the Book of Mormon though, so there is hope.

Friday we had another zone conference, with the same elements as the first. It was also great. One downside to being assistant is that I have to bear my testimony in all four zone conferences. It doesn't get easier. We did have good lessons with Vera and Pet'a, and Martin Novak. 

This morning we taught Vera the WoW, and it was so great. She has grown so much in her faith and testimony, it's amazing. we are going shopping right now, and then on to...the BRAZILIAN RESTAURANT!!! We're making a return. 

And the latest...

Draha rodino,

Well, we haven't had any snow yet. Nor is it in the forecast. It's been unnaturally warm here this winter. Of course, everyone says it's due to global warming, but I believe that just as much as I believe...dunno I can't think of a fitting comparison. The point is, I don't believe it. Thanks for setting up the gmail account, it's very helpful. My license arrived! It's different, I was surprised actually. 

Sunday we ran around and taught like crazy. We wanted so badly to hit 21 lessons, and we jsut scraped by this week. It was the real test. Christmas week presents a lot of different challenges, so we wanted to make sure we had a good, successful week. We did. When we told President that we hit 21, he was way pumped. We really wanted to get it so that we could show that the time of year doesn't influence the success of the missionaries.

Monday had a pretty good day. We had a few meetings which is always important for Monday. You have to start the week off right so as to ensure taht it's a good week. We had a couple people cancel, but we had a kid, Artur, text us and say he had time to meet so, we met. It was a pretty solid lesson. He's a good kid. We also met with Jitka at her house with her daughter, and Drahomir.

Tuesday we had a curfew of 5 o clock because, yes Mom, Czechs celebrate New Year's with drinking and riotous living. So we had to get in early. We Did teach Phuc and also the Pavlicovi before heading home though. We tried to get a haircut because my head is starting to look ridiculous, but the place is closed all week, so I'll have to just try again. So we didn't watch movies on Christmas this year, but on New Year's eve. We had the office Elders stay at our place, and borrowed a projector and President's speaker, and had a little theater night. It was pretty great. We watched The Best Two Years, Monsters University (I recommend it if you haven't seen it) and Holes. 

Wednesday the city was quite quiet. We had a good district meeting, and then did some singing displays in various places in the city. Not a ton happened, and besides, I left my planner at home that day, so I don't have anything written down and don't much recall what all we did.

Thursday though, was good. And frustrating. I don't know what real Buddhists believe, but European Buddhists drive me totally up the wall! It is so nonsensical. I cannot fathom what leads a person to believe in this kind of stuff. All this undefined and unnamed and unknowable trash about who God could possibly be. They don't really know what they believe, so when you ask them, it's just them, their imagination, and the two and a half minutes they think they need to fill. We heard some pretty crazy things today. We had two different, back-to-back lessons with Buddhists. Or at least with people who share eastern idealogies. They are Korihors with an abstract belief in some higher, undefined (that's a very important point in their doctrine. It's very difficult for undefined energy to make demands and give commandments, you see.) power. But we also met with Artur and gave him a date! February 1st. We taught Phuc again, had a nice lesson with him, and also visited Katka and her family in the evening.

Friday was a miraculous day. We had mission leadership council, which was fun. It's always a good meeting. Immediately after we had a lesson with Vera. Chastity. We were nervous about this one a bit, because we know that she lives with her boyfriend, her baptism is only two weeks away, and if she didn't move out, then we needed action fast, no time to convince either one that they need to get married. but, when we taught, she accepted everything, and then I said these exact words: "You can't get baptized while living with your boyfriend." It took her aback somewhat I think. She said they've been together 15 years, and that because of various paperwork sort of things and complications it would cause they jsut haven't tied teh knot. So, the member and Elder Boysen told her how she could very easily avoid all such problems, and then I asked, "Would your boyfriend be willing to get married?" a little afraid of the answer. From all taht we knew about the boyfriend, we thought he might be stiff opposition. she said, "Oh, he's been telling me for years that we need to get married, he wants it!" We were overjoyed. So, things are in progress, and hopefully we can get her married soon.

Today has been fun. we played football this morning after teaching a couple lessons, and then went to this really good burger joint. I love being with the other missionaries. Our football game was a bit anticlimactic. We tied. No one likes a tie. We've got some more lessons on plan tonight, and otherwise we're just kind of relaxing, nice and easy.

I love you all so much, have a great week,

Starsi Knapp

Email from two weeks ago

Monday we had the annual Mission-wide Christmas conference here in Prague. It was a blast. We got to see all the missionaries and President's parents were there and their whole family did a presentation, piece by piece, on the birth of Christ. It was awesome. I love the McConkies so much. We also had teh talkent show, which we're always a little worried about because you never quite know what missionaries can come up with in their spare time. But it went well, nothing too nuts haha. We did sing one of our quartet numbers, Away in a Manger, as arranged by the other elder in the quartet.

While ago, President had teh idea that on Christmas Eve we should just spend the whole day going around visiting people and sharing the Nativity with them. When people get really into their Christmas preparations, they have not much time, so it was an easy way to say, 'hey, we know you don't have aton of time right now, can we share this five minute DVD with you and sing a Christmas song?" It was pretty successful across the mission. WE got to teach five lessons in part due to the plan, wihich is kind of unheard of in this mission at Christmas time. Coolest thing though, when we were looking for an inactive lady, we found her address, but none of her neighbors had any idea who she was. But, as we were chatting to some of the people there, they said, "Well, if you're going to talk about Jesus, come back some time!" So we did, and we got to start teaching a couple, Eva and Mirek, and their friend Honza. They are sos funny. They are Evangelicals, and they are way into the whole preach-a-sermon-shout-amen-and-praise-the-Lord kind of stuff. Whenever we said anything they liked, even in prayers, they would chime in with a good alleluia or amen or whatever else popped into their minds.

Wednesday was of course highlighted by our conversation. Again, it was great (and slightly eerie) to see you all again. We actually started teh day off at a rest home, I may have mentioned this, where we sang for the...inmates isn't the right word...patients? But it was nice. We then split, our district to the Munro's and the other to the Mendenhalls'. We had good food and good fun. Sister Munro and the sisters left early because they were invited the the Nutcracker ballet by a member, so we men jsut stayed behind and played some Phase 10. I won. I did hold in my laughter about the Nutcracker in until after the ladies had left though, because they were all pretty excited to see it. I jsut remember two things about that ballet: My awkward experience being exposed to ballet attire for the first time, and, of course, Paige Albrecht's.

Thursday we implemented another of President McConkie's new ideas, singing displays all day, but mostly without contacting, just making people's after Christmas Day with a bunch of carols, Czech and English. It was awesome! We spent the whole day with crowds gathered around us listening intently. We actually want to use it every Sunday to try to spread our name and maybe get a few people to church. We also taught a few lessons at night, and one in the middle of the day. We had way sweet experience at lunch. The Munros came with us, and after lunch Elder Munro had something to say. He, after all the amazing things that they have done for us, stood up and thanked us all for all we do and are, got very emotional which is not like him, and payed for everyone's meal. I love those two so much i cannot express it.

Friday we had a pretty normal working day. We did another singing display, just to try, and it went okay. Not a ton of people were out, but we got a few. After that, we started teaching. We went all over the place. We taught the Pavlicovi, Mirek Eva and Honza, Phuc, Isabel, a guy named Josef, and one other person I can't recall...hmm...oh well. But it was busy and good. 

Today we went to the bone church again! It was fun. I just love spending time with the other missionaries. We had a blast, and my favorite part was just chatting with them and talking about everything, having good laughs, but also serious discussions about the Gospel and missionary work. Such a great time. Some pics are included in the next email.

Okay my dear family, I love you so much. I did actually ask president about the possibility of getting an extension, so...we'll see.

Elder Knapp

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