Letter From President Irwin, August 24th

24 August 2010

Dear Brother and Sister Dean:

This is a short note to make you aware that your daughter, Sister Ashley Lynne Dean has arrived safely in the Czech Prague Mission. We are so impressed with your daughter and want to thank you for all that you have done in preparing this wonderful young woman for her mission.

Today we will do our best to keep Sister Dean awake until early this evening. Tomorrow after a good night's rest, Sister Dean will meet her new companion and travel to her first area.

With love and appreciation,

David R. Irwin
President, Czech Prague Mission

Leaving for Czech Monday, August 23rd!!

Moje Milujici Rodina,

I will probably be sending a few things home sometime this week. Anything you send needs to be sent SOON however (today or tomorrow probably)--mail doesn't come on Saturday afternoons or Sundays and we leave on MONDAY! YES, MONDAY!! Can you believe this? (Probably not because your last Dear Elder had a departure date of 8/30 on it...) So yes, 6 MORE DAYSSSSSSSSSS. DUN DUN DUNNNNNN.

wE RECEIVED OUR FLIGHT PLANS ON fRIDAY (HAHA--HOW FUNNY WOULD IT BE IF i FOREVER LEFT THE CAPS LOCK ON?). Here's the plan: we will arrive at the Salt Lake City airport around 6 or so and our flight leaves at 8 or 8:30. This is when I will be calling you (hopefully). I know it's early, but it'll be more difficult to call at the airport in New York, which is also where I'll have to say goodbye to my beloved Sister Stratton. I'm just planning on calling the home phone because that's the only number I can remember right now--write me soon and let me know if I should use a different one. PLEEEEASE wake up and answer. Please! From NY we fly directly to Prague. A lot of air time, but I think we'll make it. I'm not too worried about it--we talked about our travel plans in district meeting on Sunday and I realized that I feel very safe in the hands of those three 19 year-old boys I'll be traveling with. It's funny how closely 14 hours/day for 8 weeks brings you together. A few things: in the Czech Republic I will probably only get snail mail once a month or so, unless I'm serving in Prague--all mail goes to the mission home and is then delivered at zone conferences. So you can email me every week instead and I will probably have more time to email.

Enough of the boring business stuff and on to the adventures! This week has been an interesting one, that's for sure. I told you last week that Sister Stratton was having a rough time--little did I know that later that day we'd find out that Elder Meiling was too. Apparently he has some blood issues--his trygliceride levels are in the 500s! It's so strange because he appears so normal and healthy. He's been on some medication for it, but we found out last Tuesday that the meds haven't been working. Right after I sat in on a beautiful blessing of comfort given to Sister Stratton, my three elders stormed in to the room where I was studying, somewhat emotional, and gave Elder Meiling a priesthood blessing. In it, the Lord promised Elder Meiling three times that he had work to do in the Czech Republic, but He never guaranteed that he would leave with the rest of us to get there. It was incredible to witness both those blessings back to back. Time and time again I am struck by the notion that the Lord really wants to raise powerful, capable children. He gives these little elders the ability to work miracles, and when that happens they, more often than not, live up to the responsibilities that it entails. It seems that the health issues are all going to work out for Elder Meiling, although we discovered yesterday that he's the only one who doesn't have his visa yet...there's still time for it to come before we leave. Whatever happens, it's all in the Lord's hands. He's taking it all in stride.

For some reason, Sister Stratton and I were nominated by our teachers to be exemplary missionaries and demonstrate to the incoming missionaries tomorrow "How to Begin Teaching" (it's a section in Preach My Gospel). It was really surprising, but it's a principle I'm really coming to appreciate. It's all about learning more about those we teach and creating a spiritual atmosphere right from the beginning. It's so great to teach with Sister Stratton again--it's like coming home after teaching with BOYS (ack) all the time. I hope that we can do well enough to impress upon the new missionaries the ideas. You should read it sometime, if you'd like--apparently the bullet points in the sections are ones that President Packer wrote down in the middle of the night after feeling impressed to, and then presented to the board that was putting together Preach My Gospel. The more I read it, the more I see the benefits of it.

I'm starting to feel really eager to get out into the field. Sometimes I'm slightly nervous--who wants to be the useless new missionary who can't understand anything? I was able to spend a good chunk of time speaking in Czech with my favorite teacher, Brother Rowberry, yesterday while the elders were at a doctor's appointment for Elder Meiling. It was so fun to understand what he was saying and stop him and ask questions about words and grammar and such. He, who happens to be an AMAZING speaker--he really pushes us with the language--told me that he thought the Lord had blessed me with the gift of tongues--that he'd seen it in the field and he saw it in me and that I was going to do well. He doesn't throw compliments away, so this meant a lot to me. But it's hard to not feel nervous at all--I think it's just a normal part of life and adventuring, being nervous. But I'm okay with that. Along with the nervousness comes the wonderful anticipation and the hopes and dreams for those I will meet and teach. It's a package deal, I suppose.

I love you all and I think about you all the time. We prayed for Danielle's soccer tryouts--that's why she made it. :) Kidding. Sort of--I knew she would. Talk to you soooooooooon!

Sestra Dean

Two More Weeks!!

Moje Drahy Rodino,

Fun fact: "drahy" means both "dear" and "expensive" in Czech--sometimes, when I'm addressing my letters to you, it makes me think of how valuable and classy you are. Isn't it interesting to look at the meanings that other cultures tend to combine into one idea? I remember in an anthropology class talking about how an Eskimo language included upwards of 20 different words for snow. I thought it silly at first, but really--dirty snow is very different from white snow, and fluffy snow is nothing like icy snow. I love learning about the way other people think. For example: around Christmas in the Czech Republic, Czechs eat carp and potato salad. Every year someone dies from choking on a carp bone (don't worry Ma, I'll avoid that). And, around December 6th Miculas (St. Nicholas) walks all over town with his sidekicks Angel and Devil. They greet little kids and ask them if they've been good--if they have, they'll recite a poem and the angel gives them a sweet and some approving look, I'm sure. If they haven't been good, however, the devil opens up his knapsack and uses it to transport their souls to Hell. Neat, huh? Also, on Christmas there is no Santa to bring them gifts--Jezicek, or "Little Jesus" does instead. I wonder what kind of gifts little Jesus would bring to a country that is 80% atheist--? He's almost become a fairytale to them, it seems.

Anyway. There has been a fragile atmosphere around these parts as of late. The earth won't stop crying, which is comforting in some ways because Sister Stratton and I have been feeling somewhat fragile. I had a terribly real dream Saturday night about Dad and Mom splitting up and woke up crying around 3:45 in the morning. I finally fell back asleep, but woke up with embarrassing swollen eyes--doubly embarrassing because it wasn't even real and there's no way it ever would be. But you know what embarrassing, swollen eyes do to the rest of the day--I just felt all silly and buggy. Until the rain started up and I felt that I had someone to cry with. The beautiful part is, however, that, when I awoke, I was able to feel confident that my parents have solid testimonies and they love each other and the Lord and, because of that, they will do whatever it takes to keep the family together forever and happy forever.

It has been a fragile morning for Sister Stratton. We went and did sealings at the temple, which were amazing. It's such a powerful ordinance, and yet, the people administering the ordinances were so happy and comfortable. Initially I thought that maybe that was somewhat irreverent. But I realized that the ordinances are just as sacred as life in general is. That IS life. It's real work involving real people--why shouldn't we be cheerful? Anyway, there was a woman doing sealings with us who looked like she had undergone chemo--she was in bad shape and I had a difficult time telling whether the man with her was her son or her husband. Sister Stratton's Aunt Betty has cancer--the chemo wasn't working, so she's stopped doing it. Sister Stratton's having a difficult time with it. Will you pray for her and her aunt Betty? She could really use all the peace and comfort and strength that your prayers can give her. I just love her so much and I wish there was more that I could do for her.

Sorry to be a Debbie Downer! Really, life is just great. We have TWO WEEKS left! Can you believe it?! Last Thursday we taught the 1st lesson in Czech again. It was incredible! Really! And I don't say that to brag of myself--it was definitely not my doing. Yes, I prepared as well as I could, but I think the real difference came when my companion (Elder Bracken) and I decided that we wanted to make our focus understanding our investigators. So we did that--we figured out what was important to them--they were a newly wed couple--and we tied everything back into their marriage and how, because of God's love and plan for them, they can be together forever. The spirit was so powerful and our words didn't get in the way of the overwhelming feelings of unutterable joy. For the first time, I could really see myself as a missionary in the Czech Republic, teaching people about God's plan for them, about who they really are. I am beginning to understand how God gets His work done. It's astounding, really, that little 19 and 21-year-olds can saunter half way around the world with two months of language classes under their belts and bring salvation and eternal joy to people. WOO! I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!! Also: the "investigators" we taught just so happened to be the girl that I had been emailing back and forth about the Czech Republic before I came to the MTC (Jessica Roylance) and her new husband! It was so great to finally meet her--we just embraced like old friends. Don't you just love new friends that automatically feel like old friends?

Something I've been thinking about a bit: I always think of you and the ------- family whenever I learn some great missionary tactic. Last week we talked about asking questions that encourage the investigators to bear their testimonies or say some truth, which will enable them to feel the spirit as they speak truth. Such as, "how do you think your family could benefit from the principles of the gospel?" etc. Things like that my help them realize how much they really do love the restored gospel.

I love you all so much! In 2 WEEKS you'll be getting a phone call from meeeeeee! Weeeeeeeee!

Na shle!

Sestra Dean

The Best Days of My Life

Dobry den! Man, I just love you so much! I must say, the Adam's and the High Five Fiber bread was BOMB! (v cesky: 'to je bomba!' Literally means, 'it's the bomb!' And they really really say that there. Neat.) Seriously. Sestra Stratton and I had a major feast in the Forbidden Forest. With the vittals you've sent and her family's sent, we are the happiest eaters in the MTC. Mainly because everyone else is suffering from either diarrhea or constipation. I also received the pillow case from Sister Carter! Oh MY, it is the cutest thing I've ever seen! I immediately put it to good use and have been sleeping with visions of 5 year-olds dancing in my head ever since. Tell Sister Carter that they should expect a letter from me soon.

It's interesting that you brought up disappointing missionaries. You'd never guess it, but the MTC is full of them. It's understandable though--leaving the world behind is a difficult thing to do. Many people come here thinking they can have one foot in Babylon and another in Zion. But that makes for pulled groins and/or torn breeches, which is no fun for anyone. I hope that several of the missionaries in my district will have the opportunity to really dedicate themselves to the work as their missions move forward. The most difficult thing is when there are two lackadaisical missionaries paired together...they have no idea how much their combined efforts can impact all those around them. But just pray for the missionaries in your area--your prayers really can help them! Just think of Alma! And Nephi! And a million other people in the Book of Mormon! The Lord had those stories written time and time again so that we would be able to trust that he really will consecrate our prayers for the benefit of others. Isn't it beautiful? The Book of Mormon is like a little piece of all the things that are in God's heart. A piece of His heart that we can carry around with us and take out and look at whenever we please. And the more we look into His heart, the more our hearts begin to reflect the things in His. Awesome.

So, we taught our first lesson in Czech last week. It went surprisingly well. The most interesting part was that the "investigators" told our teacher afterward that we made an excellent team--this is the Elder that I've been having difficulty getting along with. But we both want the same things and we've been making a point of becoming a unified companionship as of late. I suppose God is blessing our efforts. It wasn't super eventful, other than the fact that I began the lesson by asking them if we could "end" with a prayer. They were a little surprised, but we quickly cleared up the misunderstanding. And later, during the lesson, Elder Bracken was throwing "the sign" (we made up a 'subtle' sign that we could use if we ever felt prompted to say something during the lesson while the other was talking...that way we could wrap up our words and transition nicely without interrupting each other and without overriding the Spirit) like crazy, but he wasn't throwing it within my peripheral vision, so I didn't see it at all...but one of the investigators did, apparently, and got a very funny look on his face about it. So what, we're amateurs. :)

I've learned some pretty interesting things about the Czech Republic lately. Mostly because the 3 Elders in my class all have leadership positions, which means they are gone on Wednesday and Thursday nights for meetings and I am left alone with the same teacher, Brother Rowberry, who is really my age, which usually isn't weird. But he's told me all sorts of neat things about the Czech Republic. Everything really is like a fairytale there. Seriously, like the average citizen has a special plot of land in the forest where they search for wild mushrooms to eat. And they all know the various kinds of mushrooms and which ones are okay to eat. Thus, I now have a secret ambition to go mushroom hunting with a member some p-day.
Also, instead of saying weird angry phrases like "Jiminy Christmas!" or "Doggone it!", they say "Hrom do police!" which means, "Thunder to the shelves!" Go figure.

It's weird, lots of people that I've grown to love here are starting to leave for the field. Three weeks. I'm not sure how I feel about it. I've decided that I will be happy, no matter what. Sestra Stratton and I have made a pact that we will make our last 23 (now 21) days together THE BEST DAYS OF OUR LIVES. Thus, we often shout out to each other "THIS IS THE BEST DAY OF MY LIIIIIIIFE!"--much to the dismay of our fellow districtmen, who can't figure out how every day happens to be the best day of our lives. But we're still loving it.

Anyway...family, I just love you so much. I can't even believe that Michelle has a phone now. She's so big! A few of my Elders heard it was her birthday and drew her Peter Pan pictures, so make sure she writes them back. I'm really glad about the work increasing--I've been praying for you. I think about you all all the time. I feel your strength here with me. Keep up the great missionary work! I'm so proud of you all!

Miluji vas!

Sestra Dean