Oh Helloooooo! (April 11th, 2011)

Cest ladies and gentlemen, cest!

Don't worry. We just had the greatest weekend of your life. Get this--Saturday: General Conference. Group cleaning the church service activity. Baptism. Major lunch out of the goodness of the woman who was baptised, Radka, who happens to be a chef. General Conference again. General conference again. Wowza. (Yes, President wanted us sisters to watch the priesthood session too, since we are here on priesthood duties. Can I just say those general authorities really seem to loosen up during the priesthood session? I almost died when Elder Eyring shared his story about the sailor--oh man! Gotta love that guy!) One of the greatest things about it: FIVE new members of 2011 in our branch were some of the only ones other than the missionaries to attend all of the sessions. It was so beautiful to see them all soaking it up and to talk with them afterwards about the things that really touched them. It's amazing how Conference just seems to lift everyone's spirits. Rosta sat there and took notes the entire time! It was just so wonderful to see the kind of progress these wonderful people are making.

Speaking of members, this week as part of Awesome April (don't forget the British accent) we will be doing presentations with members in the branch about missionary work. Our beloved President Irwin is really focused on getting the members here involved in missionary work and this is one of the ways he intends to see it through. We're giving each family a card that has a list of 20 or so things that they can do as missionary work, and a calendar where we can write in which ones they committed to do, etc. I think it's going to be really wonderful. Sister G has taught me a lot about the wonder of referrals in a mission where referrals are hard to come by. After serving in Provo and American Fork for 8 months, where they hardly ever tracted, but just fed off refferals, she has got a good thing d-o-w-n. Referrals are just a beautiful, beautiful thing. New investigators with a built-in support system. With someone who speaks their native language to answer questions--someone who will stay in the branch long after missionaries leave. Seriously, everyone--REFER! How can we not share the gladness of this wonderful gospel with everyone we know? Be a good friend, and share your eternal splendors.

Dusan is doing well, in a manner of speaking. Leg is still shot, which means he couldn't come to Conference, even though he really wanted to. But he's chugging his way through the Book of Mormon and we have contact with him daily. He hasn't lost any of his enthusiasm and he's eager to learn everything. I just love this guy! I will try to get some pictures of him for next week.

Had a meeting with Michal Filip last night. I'm afraid to say this, but that man has changed so much since we've known him. He says things that are completely different from what he said when we first met him. He just wants to throw insignificant questions at us (like about the archangel Michael and where it says that he was Adam in the scriptures) and doesn't want to hear our message. It's so difficult sometimes to know what really is the best for these people I've come to care so much for. Hey, but get this: we found out that Sister Laws and I met his younger brother our first week here in Ostrava. We were supposed to meet with him, but something happened and we couldn't, and then we lost touch with him. Last night we compared the phone number we had w/ Michal's brother's and it was the same. So I'm wondering if the key to getting Michal may be through his brother...we'll work on it. Pray for us, please!

Sometimes I feel as though this mission demands so much from a person. Don't get me wrong, it's great--but I'm understanding that the only way it's possible for a person to change so much on the mission, is because the mission demands so much. I absolutely LOVED all the talks on trials and learning from correction and pain and being healed. So many people ask us why bad things happen to good people, why it seems there's no justice if God exists. Maybe because of that, those talks meant a lot to me. God knows EXACTLY who He wants us to be. And He loves us far too much to take away the trials and the suffering. Isn't that so beautiful? He knows what we need to become perfect and He gives it to us without hesitation. And then as we, in our lack of perspective, despair while the trial's upon us, He cries right with us and gives us the strength we need to endure. Then, when it's over, we can look back and see a difference in ourselves.

I've grown so much as a person in the past 9 months. Amy Dean, I am just so dang excited for you! And Keilani Nielson, if you're out there reading this too! And everyone else who is dissatisfied with his life as it is now--find a way to share what you have and you will find that you really are blessed with so much more than you need.

Everyone, this chance at truth is just the best thing that's every happened to us. I love it.

And now I am going to play some ultimate frisbee. Oh yeah.

S laskou,
sestra Dean

I hear Lisa Ogles (Viehwig) is having a baby! AHH! AND Tiffany--awesome! P.S. Did I mention that my AP is related to Tiffany somehow? We spent a great part of lunch talking about all the random connections Elder Anderson has with that huge family in Eagle Idaho. Love them. :)

Beks: I just love you and all your Asian comps. They all look so small and fragile. Can't wait to hear all about the miracles that happen in the big city. Also: this weekend I've been having NieNie flashbacks. Maybe it's all the talks about pain.

Sister Wheeler (I don't know if I'll ever be able to call you Jocelyn...)--ahhh! Chci slyset vic o tom to muzu! Fotky, prosim? Muzes ocekavat neco postou. Mam te rada. :)