Monday, April 4th 2011

Helloooooooooooooooooo family!!

Daddio-- I'm so sorry I forgot to ask about your birthday last email. I thought about it all morning and then as soon as we left the library I realized that I hadn't said a word. I thought about you a lot on your birthday and thought of that story of you keeping your suit jacket on as a missionary even when it was blazing outside and tried to be a really ridiculously obedient missionary like you. I'm glad you liked the card--I thought it was something you might laugh at, although it's hard to tell if it would be as funny reading my translations of it. How was your birthday? Did people spoil you? The big 5-3! Woo! An mp3 player sounds awesome--what kind is it? My companion Sister G always says "delightful!" here and it makes me think of you and Michelle every time. I love it. :)

WAAAA! I can't believe that they are really building a temple in MERIDIAN, IDAHO!! I was just talking to some members here yesterday about how the temple is only 20 minutes away from my house in Idaho. There is a big temple trip in a few weeks for youth and new members to do baptisms--they have to go all the way to Germany in order to do it. And they have to rent a bus for it, which means people had to reserve seats on it which means that many people who wanted to go can't (i.e. Rosta...velka skoda), and there you all are in little Meridian, Idaho getting your very own temple probably within walking distance!! We are just so so blessed! I can't wait!

Personally, I think that the higher-functioning class sounds better for Michelle, but it's really hard to tell without seeing it. While the math might be hard, they always have assistants that can help people individually and the higher social standards might be good for her. I really liked her email--I think her grammar is improving! Really! She's so cute. :)

You should send me a copy of your talk when you write it. :)

Miracle of the week: DUSAN!! (pronounced: doo-shawn) Oh my, we're just so excited about him that we three go around everywhere chanting "Dusan Dusan Dusan Dusan!" even when he's not around. About thirty or so, with a shaved head and very big muscles, Dusan does not immediately strike one as a humble, salt-of-the-earth type, but that's EXACTLY what he is! He spent 2 months on the east coast of the US and came back hoping to improve his english even more. He really liked Americans, so somehow he found us online and began coming to our english class about 3 weeks ago. He just ate it all up and loved it. So we talked to him a little bit more, found out he was kind of a believer, but was looking for a path--"maybe that's why I'm here with you," he told us. So we set up a meeting with him right away. The first meeting was only 20 minutes or so, but he said he just felt so good around us, he knew that whatever we had was what he wanted.

Last Thursday he fell down the stairs and hurt his foot. He rushed to the hospital, where the doctors told him for sure it was broken. He was so worried that he pulled out the little card that we'd given him that explains the simple steps of prayer and prayed that it would be so serious. The doctors came out after the x ray and said it was merely sprained and should be okay in a few weeks. His own little miracle!
So now he has plenty of time to read the BOM. We challenged him to read it 10 minutes each day and when we called him yesterday to ask about it he said he's been reading 20-30 minutes each day! And the best part is he's not even weird or anything--he's normal and awesome (and pretty wealthy, I think) and going to be a real kingdom builder!!

Woo! Also: we teach him in English a lot, since he's pretty good at it. When we taught him the Joseph Smith story, Sister G began quoting the first vision, "I saw a pillar of light directly over my head..." Apparently he didn't hear that she was quoting it because his eyes got really wide and he said, "Really? You saw that?!" and we all just doubled up in peals of laughter. SO FUNNY. He's so great. And he has the sweetest girlfriend ever. Her mom is a Jehovah's witness, however, so that could be a little trouble. But don't worry, they will be an eternal family someday.

By the way, Ostrava is crawling with Jehovah's Witnesses. This past week we've been "JW'd" so many times, it's unreal. Some of them are really nice. Some of them are really rude and pushy. Some of them don't talk about anything but 'God's name'. It's pretty interesting. But we had a lesson with one last week and have another on the plan this next week. She's really great, but I can't help but wonder if she's planning to convert us...

Daddio, I've heard so much about that statistic regarding Czech Rep becoming the first entirely atheist country! Some people are really proud of it--they think it means they're more intelligent or independent or something. Others think it's really sad. But I think perhaps agnostic would be a better diagnosis for most of these people--half of the people I meet who say they are atheist, just say that because they know nothing about God and were never raised that way, but privately admit that they've prayed before or that they think something exists. I think the census tends to persuade people to put what most people would put because they're really somewhere in between the categories given.

Also: This month = AWESOME APRIL (to be said in a British accent because of our beloved President Irwin). Yesterday we had a mission fast for miracles and to consecrate ourselves. Each week we have something special planned--this week, on the 181st anniversary of the church, each companionship is going to hand out at least 20 restoration pamphlets and receive 10 A#s (appoints + numbers). I'm so excited--expect to hear of miracles in the upcoming emails!!

Everybody, this work is just the best thing ever! I got a letter from Molls the other day (LOVE you!) who asked if it's really as wonderful as I make it sound. Of course it's really really hard sometimes. Of course there are times when I want to pull out my hair or cry or kick someone "in the stomach or maybe a little bit lower" (as Sister G said last Saturday). But every day I see things that make it so so worth it! And the more I am envolved in this work, the happier I feel. And this happiness is not based upon the things that happen to me, but comes from somewhere deep within. And it burns brighter and brighter each time I share it with someone, regardless of whether or not they accept. And that's what I want for everyone. And that's why I'm here, because that's what Jesus Christ does to people. I love how C.S. Lewis wrote once that after a while we stop doing good things merely to try to get to heaven, but instead we do them because a bit of heaven is already inside of us. That's how this gospel changes people. I just love it.
And I love you!

S laskou,

sestra dean

P.S.
Beks! You're awesome--keep sharing the miracles with us! They get me so pumped up every time!

Jordan Davis AND Jordan McDonnel engaged! Holy--! Do I know any of these lucky ladies?!

Apparently two wonderful women from the branch in Ostrava found a blonde-haired friend of mine on temple square! I'm not exactly sure who it is, since Em is already home, but I'm ACHING to know! Someone please spill. :)

Speaking of Em and Briegle being home--addresses, please?!