There is a C Walk competition going on outside the library...mam prahu rada. :) -- June 25th, 2011

Hello my dears!



This week was full of so many little surprises, I just loved it!

I.e.--the BYU folk dance team came and did FHE with the young single adults here. We had an investigator there (Zuzka) and her two friends and they just LOVED it. It was so much fun--we played all sorts of games and then they danced for us and then taught some of the youth how to do some of their dances. They even sang and bore testimonies at the end, which was apparently so good that one brand new investigator came up afterwards and asked a member how he could become a part of the Church (we had to leave early because of curfew...skoda). I think it's so cool what they do--they get to be like missionaries all over the world and use their talents to share the gospel with people. If only I could clog...

Also: Elder Stephen Kerr from one of the quorums of the 70 came and spoke to us. He's Scottish and a hoot and completely inspiring! One thing I loved: he told us that it's our job to become teachers of the Book of Mormon, to use every experience and example and scripture from in our teaching from that book in order to help people understand it and fall in love with it like we have. He also came the next day and did a fireside for members. TWO of our investigators came! Two that we've been concerned about somewhat. One has been meeting with the missionaries for almost 2 years off and on--her name is Jitka. I think this time around something has changed with her--her desire has increased. She told me on Sunday that she feels the Spirit so strongly when we come and then it leaves again when we leave. So we talked about baptism and how she can have those feelings and that day she began working on quitting coffee. She came to the fireside, which was all about faith and how it helps us with obstacles. At the end of the fireside, he talked directly to the investigators--about how they will receive answers and that when they do that will lead them to baptism. Afterwards we met with her to give her some Caro to replace her coffee, and she accepted a baptismal date for July 30th! It was so great! And she seemed really excited about it. So that will be my birthday present to Michelle, I hope. :) She had one baptismal date at the very beginning, but we don't know exactly what happened with it (thanks, area book), but I really think it'll go through this time! It won't be without obstacles, but I really think it'll happen! Weeee! (Shout out to Sister Austen if you ever read this--she loves you. I found an email from you to her printed out in the missionary closet last week and gave it to her--she really loved it.)

Also: Vaclav. I talked about him a little last week, the hardened old man who's made a lot of mistakes in his life. He's been meeting with the missionaries for several months now--maybe since February. No ones ever talked about the Word of Wisdom with him--probably because they know he smokes and they're all afraid to. But we addressed it and he surprisingly agreed to live by it for a week with little hesitation! But he really struggles with recognizing answers to prayers and the talk was perfect for him! Elder Kerr also helped us with a few ideas with getting investigators to read the Book of Mormon who struggle with that...it was really great!

And today we saw a cathedral called the "bone church" in Kutna Hora. See if you can find pictures of it online--it's so cool! They took the bones of all these people that died from a cholera epidemic and used them to decorate the inside of this chapel. It contains 40,000-70,000 skeletons in it! The centerpiece is a great chandelier that includes every single bone in a person's body. How great is that? Jane's (the member from Kazahkstan who just moved to BYU) brother came with us, who's not a member but is kind of interested in learning more and is here in Prague with his ma for the summer.

As far as increasing their fire for missionary work in your mission, Dad: Once we had a district meeting on increasing the fire in our investigators that might apply--I think it is based upon the same principles, no matter who you're talking to. We talked about faith, hope, and charity and sharing these three things with them to increase their fire and desire. I.e.--hope = their vision--work to increase their vision by sharing a greater vision with them--a vision of who they can become and who they can influence in their work and who God knows them to be--let them really feel that people are prepared; faith = show your faith by not hesitating to promise them blessings, telling them that you know God sent them here for a reason, etc; and share your love with them as well as reminding them of their love for the people there and God's love for the people there. I know as missionaries a lack of vision is the greatest hinderance to the work. When Elder Pearson was here he talked about it this way: he employed the statistic that each person who eventually investigates the church has 7 interactions with the church before they become investigators. He talked about how each of our interactions with people help them along that path. So instead of being disappointed by a lack of interest, we can be excited because we helped people move from a 1 to a 2 or a 3 to a 4. Things like this that expand our vision are the biggest factor in the desire we have to work.

And life is just wonderful. Rumor has it that a new missionary named Sister Bean is coming in next transfer--how cool would it be if we served together?!

I really really love being a missionary. I feel as though things are beginning to come together for a few of these people we're teaching! I just want everyone to be able to have the blessings of the truth in their lives. It's the greatest work in the world! Everyone should do it!



s laskou,



Sestra Dean

Strike! Strike! Strike! Strike! -- June 18th, 2011

Greetings! (I was talking to one of our investigators on the phone the other day--the pirate-ish one--and he ended the conversation by saying this--"greetings!" haha)

I won't lie, sometimes I read emails from Beks and I just picture a sort of fantasy land of prepared people where missionaries knock on car windows and give people baptismal dates at a thirty second stoplight. It sounds so amazing, all the success you're having! Sometimes I wish I could experience missionary work in your mission for just a day...and then I'd come back here with all these wonderful ideas and revamp the way we do missionary work. I already told President about your bumper stickers "No success can compensate for failure in the home"--we might try and make some here in Czech and use them. I think it's a wonderful idea.

I feel as though the missionary traditions here, with regards to the way we do work, aren't as effective as they could be. When Elder Pearson came here he talked a lot about referrals and formers and working with members--about how we tend to make the work much harder than it needs to be because we've become stuck in this rut. Because that's just the way missionaries do things here in the Czech Prague Mission.

These thoughts were running through my mind ablaze on Thursday, when nearly all the workers involved in transportation went on strike. That meant that we could only work at places within walking distance because no trams, no buses, no metro. We weren't the only people walking around. But very few things went our way that day. We seemed to run into a lot of people who weren't interested in listening to us because they thought we were Jehovah's Witnesses. A few people saw our nametags and spat the name Jesus Christ at us, as though He were a criminal. When we were tracting, an old man came down and yeld at us in such a rage I thought he'd either start crying or steaming. We talked to a boy who had recently found God and studied the Bible like a priest, and told us he'd been warned about us as people who follow false prophets.

People here have so many mixed up ideas about who God is and what religion means, a lot of their fears keep them from feeling the spirit that we carry. We've also had a lot of people ditch our meetings this week. I'm not saying this to complain at all--in fact, I've found myself really led by the Spirit so many times this week, it's been really amazing. It's wonderful to see the way the Lord manifests Himself in our work as we show that we are willing to follow the promptings we do get. But I'm feeling as though things need to change this week. For a while I found myself feeling guilty when I didn't spend some time out on the streets contacting people--like maybe I wasn't working hard enough. But now I'm thinking the Lord wants me to start working like a missionary who's not been subjected to Czech Prague Mission traditions. It's pretty difficult to break out of this mold we have made for ourselves here--I've grown to fit it. But I think the Lord wants me to grow in other ways now. Just some thoughts I've been having. If anyone has any ideas--maybe things they've tried on their own missions--I'd love to hear them.

But I just have to brag about my two favorite investigators for a minute. Lucie and Zuzka Novakovi. Lucie's been an investigator for a while, Zuzka's her younger sister who just began coming. They both came to FHE on Monday. We have an awesome senior couple here who run FHE. The past two weeks we've been talking about the ways Satan tries to destroy the family. The girls have begun participating and sharing their own ideas and really feeling the truth of what they teach. On Monday, after FHE, we had a quick meeting with them and talked about the Book of Mormon. Lucie had just begun reading it a week before and has been reading it every night. Zuzka read a little bit in it, but didn't know much about it. We read a little of the intro and then I asked her why she thought the Book of Mormon would be important for us in our day and age. I figured she'd pull something from the 3rd paragraph of the intro, but instead she said, "So we can resist the influence of Satan." I was just shocked--this girl, who's never had any religious influence before the past two weeks, really gets this stuff! She connected the things that we'd been saying about the family with what we taught her next about the Book of Mormon and the Spirit revealed the true importance of this wonderful wonderful Book to her. And it's just that--so, so wonderful! It's a huge testimony to me that this gospel is nothing new. Every person we meet already knows this stuff--they just need to allow the Spirit to touch them and help them remember it.

Lately I've been thinking a lot of how we tell people that the Book of Mormon is evidence of God's love for us. So I've begun reading it again, from the beginning. But this time I'm keeping a tally of certain things that strike me as evidence of God's love: i.e. words like "love" "joy" "hope", incidents when He saves people from pain or suffering and gives people strength to do hard things, making notes on the attributes of these prophets that are filled with His love, etc. Can I just tell you something wonderful? I'm not so far. I just barely finished 1 Nephi. Already there have been SIXTEEN indications that God hears and answers prayers. I really, really know that He loves us and He wants us in His Church. He wants it so badly because that means that someday we can be in His arms again. Never forget it. I love the truth so much. I will never stop being a missionary.

Here's a thought: you know that old jumpingintheelevatorallatthesametime trick? Perhaps if we all kick Satan in the face at the same time we could do some serious damage. I'm with you, Beks. :)

S laskou,
Sestra Dean

Oh yes--Sunday would probably be better for me. Maybe around 4 or 5 my time? You can do the test call anytime the week before, just make sure it's after 9pm my time.
And I got a letter from Petr Bandik maybe 1.5 months ago. He's a stud. Seriously, so great. He's loving it over there in Canada.

Super big shout out to TRISHA MARKLE, who's GETTING MARRIED!! I'm sure several people are having to re-write their marriage lists due to this minor slip up. :) Sister, I'm so so happy for you! I wish I could come check him out and make sure he's good enough for you, but I'm pretty sure you wouldn't settle. (I think I've begun calling all women Sister...I kind of like it. We should revel in our sisterhood.)

Also shout out to Jane, my dear, if you ever read this. We're missing you like crazy here. I want to hear what you think of BYU! Gimme the deets! (Also: where was that Spanish place where you bought those awesome brown pants? I forgot already).

Smelly and Shelly: I LOVE the picture. You two are the cutest sisters in the world. Even my companion agrees. She also said that Danielle looks older than me. Another point for you. Michelle, please write me. I love you 55.

If Humans Evolved from Monkeys, then Why Do Monkeys Still Exist? June 13th, 2011

No nazdar. :)

I don't really know where to begin. I feel that I am usually more prepared when we email but this past week was just so...so...full. I can't really think of how else to describe it.

I am beginning to feel the weight of a missionary's responsibility. Not that it's outweighing the joy, don't get me wrong--NOTHING can outweigh the joy that I feel as I give myself over to a work that means everything; it means everything to the Lord, it means everything for these people that we teach--thus means everything to me. But we certainly do have a lot of investigators right now. Sometimes it's difficult to keep track of them all and make sure they're all progressing and getting everything they need. Each person is just such an individual, it's amazing to me! Teaching one person is nothing like teaching the next person, which makes this work exciting and fulfilling and hard all at once. So I've stopped counting the unicorn hairs and am embracing the fact that loving people makes life hard and oh so worth it.

A few highlights:

Tuesday we were able to help an American family in the ward clean so they could move out. For some reason, all the American families in our branch are BIG--an average of 6kids each, I'd guess. This helps me envision the DeMourdant family traversing the world with lots of little kids, learning new languages every couple years. Wowza. But they had a huge van and lots of little kids running around eager to help. This branch in Prague is the closest thing you'd find to a State-side ward in this country--lots of little tykes running around and crying during sacrament meeting. It helps me remember that salvation really is a family affair. Families are just so cool. Mine in particular. :)

We taught a hardened old man named Vaclav yesterday with this wonderful beacon of faith and hope that Ludek has become. Sisters have been teaching Vaclav for several months now. I've prayed about dropping him at times, wondering if our time could be better used differently, but I keep feeling that we need to keep working with him. He's been blessed to see the Lord's hand in his life several times, but will not acknowledge these miracles because he fancies himself an intellectual. It was interesting to see the stark contrast between the two of them. Vaclav outwardly fights the things we teach him, but inwardly knows it's all true and loves us for it. Yesterday we taught him about repentance. He began crying, talking about how hard he's tried to repent in his life but how he feels that it's availing him nothing.

Ludek, this wonderful man who's life is completely different now that it once was, bore his simple testimony that he needs to believe that it really works, believe that Christ really can save him from his past. Vaclav wept and got a little snotty (if Czechs don't have tissues handy, they just let it leak all over the place--no one sniffles when their noses run) and protested some, but we could tell that he knew it was true. Please pray for this man's heart to be softened so he can find the peace he is looking for.

On Saturday we made a wonderful little trip to OSTRAVA!! Jirka, the young miracle we found almost exactly the same way we met Martin, was baptized, as well as the girlfriend of Ondra Tomsik (the boy in the MTC with that kid from the Paramount ward). It was so wonderful to see everyone! Jirka's thinking about serving a mission someday--he told me that he went contacting with the missionaries. He really enjoyed talking to people, but he thinks they're doing it all wrong. He's come up with some secret strategy that he's promised to tell me sometime in the future so that we can convert all of Prague. It was so wonderful seeing those two young people baptized--I really see the future of the Church in this country in them and all sorts of wonderful young people like them. It's just so beautiful to be a part of this!

I also saw DUSAN AAAND his girlfriend Martina at the baptism! Weeeee!

Michal, the one you asked about that we met on the tram in Ostrava, has actually made somewhat of a comeback, apparently. A while ago they sent out a mass text about game night. He didn't come, but the next day he called them up and they met and it actually went really well. The miracle's not lost! Woo!

The man that we met in Karlak actually just texted us a few days ago and told us that he's had a problem in the family and he won't be able to meet with us. :( But I really feel that we were supposed to meet with him and talk to him when we did, so who knows what will happen in the future.

Everyone, I just love you all to pieces. I really am convinced that this is true and it's the only way to have real happiness and peace, to really understand oneself and one's purpose in life. Just tell everyone, okay?

s laskou,

Sestra Dean

P.S. Birthday--no need to buy anything. Buuuut, remember when I sent home a bunch of headbands when I was in the MTC? Well I would LOVE it if you could send those back to me. The MTC made me think that they weren't necessary, but being a real missionary makes me appreciate all the wonderful little beautiful things in life. And I would really appreciate those if you could find them.

Also:

I've totally become that missionary I always laughed about--the one who writes the boring emails home about people that no one else knows. Sorry Courty, don't be mad. I'll make it better next time. :) I can't believe Danielle is driving. It's really blowing my mind. She'll probably have to re-teach me how when I get home. Sorry I haven't posted pictures in a loooong time. My camera is, once again, a little mimo provoz, if you know what I mean. Also: the a button on this keyboard is slightly broken and I have to hit it with a lot of enthusiasm if I want to make it work. I've never realized how often I use the a key before--my poor pinky can only handle so much.

June 6th, 2011

You want to hear something crazy? Today I will go renew my visa. This month is me on a mission for a whole year. I keep trying to remember what it was I was doing a year ago at this time, but not much is coming back to me. I remember Kelli's wedding, but that was in May. Campaigning is pretty much the only thing that comes to mind...the DeMordaunts should be really flattered. :) Beks, go birth some miracles!
This week was just so so wonderful! Really, like so so SO SO!

Yes, Ludek was baptized!! AAAAND his ma came! She told us that she's been praying for Ludek to find God for years and she was just so impressed by how kind and friendly everyone is that now we're teaching her! We gave her a Book of Mormon last Tuesday and when I called her on Friday she said that she's been reading it every night and that she's already on page 50! WOOO! She's kind of an old lady, which is a big shame because she has some sort of illness that makes it hard for her to get up in the mornings which means that church is looking like a huge obstacle for her....but hey, we'll cross that bridge when we get there. And yesterday Ludek bore his testimony!! It was so wonderful! I didn't hear most of it because a baby in front of me start crying really loud when he began to speak, but I did hear him say my name and Sister Christensen's name and then I heard two other people refer to his testimony and how it touched them later that day. He was so dang excited about the triple combination afterwards--he told us all about the maps and Joseph Smith History and now he's continuing in the Book of Mormon, but also reading the Doctrine and Covenants and the Pearl of Great Price. He's always talking about new things he's learned from his reading. Serious face, this man's stake president material someday. We just need to find him an eternal family, that's all.

Also, Elder Pearson from the Q of the 70 came and wreaked havoc on missionary life as we knew it--in a completely fantastic and spiritual sort of way. When I was there I remembered how Dad would always talk of being on his mission and listening to general authorities and wishing it could last all day, which is exactly how I felt. But he almost did take all day--that man does not run out of things to say! We actually missed a meeting because of it, but everything ended up all right in spite of it. So many things stuck out to me from his talk, but one in particular was that we are making our work harder and less effective than it should be because we don't ask for referrals. He promised us that we'd see twice as many baptisms as we do if we'd begin doing that with everyone we talk to and in every meeting. It's a little difficult because it's just not a habit yet and I tend to forget about it once the lesson gets underway, but I am determined to do it! I will be a Provo missionary in the Czech Republic and it will be beautiful. He also talked a lot about how we're establishing the church not only in the Czech Republic, but in ourselves. It was so inspiring.

2 more things.

Awesome girl named Lucie came to the baptism. She's 20 and really interested in the gospel, but hesitant about baptism because she doesn't think she'd be able to live by the law of chastity or word of wisdom. Well, she taught her sister what we taught her about repentance and her sister liked it so much that she's started coming to our meetings too. They are just the cutest girls--blonde and happy and beautiful, but also deep-thinkers and willing to try things for themselves. I think this will be the key for her--to have that support and the opportunity for the two of them to share the things they think and feel together. She just seriously began reading the BOM, so pray that she will really feel the truth of it all.

And another MIRACLE! So Saturday is our Pday. In this mission we work from 6pm to 9pm on pdays and the rest of the time we have to ourselves aside from studies. However, in Prague that proselyting time ends up being sports day (a great activity to bring investigators to) and a district Czech-practicing meeting. So they've been talking about ways to fix that. Friday night our district leader decided that we were going to do 3 hours of proselyting in addition to everything else to make up for it all. I won't lie, I was a little bit stressed out because I didn't know how we'd fit everything in because we had a few other things to do. So we planned to go to this place called Karlak and talk to people for a while. That night I was praying and asked God to help me feel good about the new schedule we had the next day (writing all the while, as I've begun doing). I got this impression that there was someone He really needed us to find there. So I wrote that down. Then certain things began coming to my mind about who this person was and what we should talk with him about--just a little older than me, short facial hair, talk to him about prayer.

The next day the district leader decided to change his mind about the proselyting hours--we were to just do one extra hour on our own time. Normally we would have called some formers because we have a huge stack of papers in our apartment, but I was just so sure of Karlak. I even told Sis C about the facial hair, which we both kind of laughed about. But, lo and behold, the first person we see as we set foot in the area was a man walking towards us with short facial hair, maybe a few years older than us. No lie! So we said a quick prayer. He was really nice, didn't really believe in God, but not because he was convinced, just because he didn't really know. We testified of the power of prayer in helping him know if God existed and we saw him soften a little as we spoke. Then we got his number and he had to leave. We'll see what this week brings, but keep a man named Ondrej in your prayers. :)

Sister C is making loads of progress. She's still working to get over the fear of looking stupid when she speaks--sometimes she'll just start laughing because she feels silly, which we're working on. But she really has so much potential and is working so hard. Once she's moved to a place where every other person doesn't speak English her abilities will take off, I just know it.

Danielle, I have been thinking about you so much lately! Here's my idea--you, as a mature 16 year-old woman of experience and persuasion, should convince mom and dad to let you come pick me up from my mission. It'd be SO cool--the best Christmas present ever. You have several months, so start scheming. Please don't kill anyone with that new license when you get it--I'll be praying for everyone else in Idaho. :)

Daddio, your comment about fasting reminding me of this: "Fasting, when practised in prudence and genuine prayer are conducive to the development of faith with its accompanying power for good...Have you some besetting weakness, some sinful indulgence that you have vainly tried to overcome? Like the malignant demon the Christ rebuked in the boy, your sin may be of a kind that goeth out only through prayer and fasting." That's from Jesus the Christ and I wrote it down in my scriptures--looks like you and James E. Talmage are on the same brainwave. I hope the work there in Idaho is just swell, especially with the new temple coming in! You're my missionary hero. :)

I have a family of rockstars.

S laskou,
Sestra D

(heyyy, there's a Sister BEAN coming in next transfer--how funny would that be if we were companions?!)

Also:

Heads up to anyone who's reading this while still at BYU--the COOLEST girl from Kazakhstan is leaving for BYU on Friday. Her name is Jane. And she is absolutely wonderful and speaks English like a native. If you don't find her and be her friend you might as well just give up any hopes you've ever had of being cool.

As far as Ondra Tomsik's (the Czech in the MTC) comment... that was in Ostrava and kind of a weird story that can't really be told via email. Someday remind me to tell you about one of the times when he taught with us. As much as that may sound like a compliment, that is probably every Sister missionary's worst nightmare.

Peter and Susan Bellows and Family--you are just the BEST! Thank you so so so much for the package! I have been eating up last conference and saving so many of my clothes from a stain-filled tragic ending. Your kids are just so big!

Aaaaaand we're teaching someone in Thai. But we don't know how to speak Thai. And we're waiting on an order of things to come. If anyone has anything in Thai that they'd like to send our way, we'd LOVE LOVE LOVE it!

May 28th, 2011

Sister Christensen and I just established that we've both seen and fallen in love with the ridiculous made-for-tv movie, the 10th Kingdom. If Kelli ever reads this, just know that I'm thinking of you. :)

Can I just say that I looooooooooooooove specialized trainings? In a can't eat, can't sleep, over the moon, world series kind of way. That's how much I love them. This is why.

Lately I've been having all sorts of questions. Difficulties are a part of missionary work, of course, but I've noticed that I haven't been feeling as satsified from the work since I've come to Prague and I wasn't able to put my finger on it. I'm thinking that this is something that every missionary goes through at some point in the field--or maybe every person goes through it at some point in life. When there are so many changes, sometimes it's hard to figure out which ones are just a natural part of the changes that are supposed to happen and which ones are because something's changed that shouldn't have changed. So I've been talking it all over with God a bit. And he sent me some wonderful sisters from Ceske Budejovice to spend the night and teach me a thing or two (really they just came for training because it's too far to travel in the morning in time for it, but in one night and one morning I just received so so many personal insights from talking to them about the work--it was so wonderful!) and some inspired APs, ZLs, and President Irwins as well. I wrote down some questions I had before the conference and every single one was answered. I realized what our work here in Prague was lacking--"extra" contacting--i.e., contacting in the metro, while waiting to cross the street, on the bus, etc. It's not exactly something that every missionary here does, but I suppose it's something every missionary should do. I worked so hard in Ostrava to learn to use every moment as an opportunity to talk with someone, especially when we traveled in the tram, but with the move I've had to pay a little more attention to where we're going and I've spent a lot of travel time working with Sis. Chris on language things. But as soon as we began talking about it, I realized that it's really something that makes a difference--not only do we find more people, but in magnifying my calling even more I invite the spirit into the work more and allow myself to be led to those who need our message. I was able to put it into practice that night as we rode the bus to an appointment and it just made all the difference in the world! The guy didn't shout Hosanna and immediately hop into one of those lovely white jumpsuits, but I felt more like a disciple of Jesus Christ and that's the most wonderful feeling in the WORLD! I LOOOOOVE being a missionary!! Weeeeee!

Another wonderful thing that I learned:

So I told you about my prayer journal I think, right? I've been keeping a notebook with me as I pray in order to help myself notice and understand answers better. But last night I tried something different. Instead of just writing down afterwards the things that I thought maybe were answers, I wrote down every thought that came to me throughout the prayer. I cannot begin to tell you how different this prayer was from the other conversations I've been having with God. For one, my thoughts wandered far less than they often tend to at the end of the day. I really really felt Him talking to me. Like a real conversation. I knew that it was the way prayer was supposed to be--the makings of stories like Enos' and the Brother of Jared. And I received some beautiful, personal, long-needed revelation that maybe the Lord's been trying to tell me all along, I just haven't had the ears to hear it until now. I didn't want it to end! I found myself going to sleep on a spiritual high. I don't know if it'll work for everyone the way it did for me, but I would encourage every person who's looking for guidance in their lives to give it a go. Just kneel down with a paper and pen and write whatever comes to your head as you're praying. Answers come.

Ludek's getting baptized today. He's just so so prepared, I can't believe it. We met with him and another recent convert earlier this week--mainly we thought it'd help the recent convert because he's been struggling with his testimony. Every time we asked him to testify, he kind of side-stepped certain important truths--he called commandments "suggestions" and Ludek called him out on it! That man is going to be a wonderful leader in this branch some day, I just know it. :)

Also. I think there are some long-time investigators that we may be dropping soon. Let them think for a while until they are ready to change and the Lord can help other missionaries work with them. I am ready to find some new people. Can I just tell you how much I love finding? I.e. contacting, tracting, etc. (favorite finding past time: singing "who's that person who's gonna get baptized?" in between contacts.) I just love talking with people about this wonderful news that we have to share with all the world. It's so wonderful to see how people's hearts can soften within minutes. Because it's all so true and no sincere person can deny it.

Everyone, I just love you so much. :) You're all great. Tuesday Elder Pearson from the 70 is coming to talk to us again and it is going to be bomb.

s laskou,

sestra dean

Beks: Oh my, I just love you so much! You're exactly right. Thanks B, I'm praying for you. :) letter your way soon.

P.S. Update on Sis Stratton: she's alive! Minus an appendix and a gall bladder. In a few weeks it's possible that she'll go back out. Weeeeee!

May 23rd--I Feel Weird, I Feel Weird

So we're emailing for the first time in the CVUT University library, because I finally got my library card and it's cheaper. It makes me feel really out of place and suddenly aware that there are people going to school and living normal lives outside of missionary lives. Whaaaaattt?!

Being a missionary in Prague is crazy. Maybe it's similar to the temple square mission? Maybe.

Guess where the people we teach are from:
a) the Czech Republic
b) Slovakia
c) India
d) Honduras
e) Peru
f) Thailand
g) Russia
h) Ukraine
i) some of the above
j) all of the above

If you guessed a or b, you're probably like I was before serving in Prague. But sorry, you lose. J is the correct answer, ladies and gents--J!!

Can you believe this? I'm starting to get a brief feeling of what it might be like to teach in South America. Maybe I told you about Norris last week--she's from Honduras, 31, living with her binkyhead boyfriend for over a year in the CR who's also from Honduras. He's not so good to her, cheats on her, doesn't like children, etc. She doesn't have a job (doesn't speak Czech and only speaks English kind of well, so she's not so eligible for one here) and can't afford to move back home because her stinky bf won't give her any dough. So she's kind of sad at this point in her life. We met her through a member, Diana Wichterle, who's a member from Peru who was baptized here in Prague (Sister Wheeler taught and baptized her! woo!) and is married to a non-member Czech man. Diana is awesome because every time she makes a new friend she wants to introduce her to us. That's what it must be like in South America. In our first meeting we found out that 8 people in Norris' family are already members of the Church! She had already moved out of the house, so she kind of missed that boat, but she was really receptive to our message. We brought her the Joseph Smith video in Spanish and throughout it she was nodding and agreeing with everything. Then we talked about baptism and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and she said that she would prepare for baptism on June 18th!! Woooooooo! She's just the nicest, most wonderful woman in the world and she deserves this happiness in her life!

AHH! Ludek's getting baptized this week! He's just so so prepped, I can't even believe it! We've been teaching him everything so fast--taught law of chastity last week, which was interesting because they are pushing us to teach things more specifically and boldly than in the past, due to a few problems they've had come up...I learned a few words I never thought I'd need to know as a missionary in preparation for that one. Niiiice.

People you may hear about in the future (based on how our meetings with them go today):
Gabor--the wonderfully happy Slovak. All he does is laugh. Martina--a high schooler who said it'd change her entire life if she knew who she was and where she was going in life.

Also. I'm now the official translator in Relief Society. I sit in the back and speak into a little microphone while all these women listen to me in their headphones. And I have to look up scriptures really fast and read really fast and there's this one woman who ALWAYS talks and NEVER breathes between her sentences and tells stories about really random things. So, I must confess, the English speakers may not be getting much out of her thoughts in future Relief Societies. It's kind of crazy and stressful. Yesterday I didn't know a word they said, so my translation came out kind of like this: "Well, I don't know what ------ means, but they said it. So the Holy Ghost isn't ------ and we shouldn't be ------- if we want to be able to recognize and understand his promptings." I saw a bunch of heads turn and smile when I said that. I'm just beginning to realize the extent of my power in this position. It could be really fun.

Something amazing for all you missionaries and wanna-be missionaries and converts and wanna-be converts out there--Jeffrey R. Holland, out of his talk "Missionary Work and the Atonement":

"Anyone who does any kind of missionary work will have occasion to ask, Why is this so hard? Why can't our success be more rapid? Why aren't there more people joining the church? Why isn't the only risk in missionary work that of pneumonia from being soaking wet all day and all night in the baptismal font?...I am convinced that missionary work is not easy because salvation is not a cheap experience. Salvation never was easy. We are The Church of Jesus Christ, this is the truth, and he is our Great Eternal Head. How could we believe it would be easy for us when it was never easy for Him? It seems to me that missionaries have to spend at least a few moments in Gethsemane. Missionaries have to take at least a step or two toward the summit of Calvary."

"I believe that missionaries and investigators, to come to the truth, to come to salvation, to know something of this price that has been paid, will have to pay a token of that same price. For that reason, I don't believe missionary work has ever been easy, nor that conversion is, nor that retention is, nor that continued faithfulness is."

"When you struggle, when you are rejected, when you are spit upon and cast out, you are standing with the best life this world has ever known; the only pure and perfect life ever lived."

This work is amazing. God's plan is so complete, it even includes the trials and obstacles we personally need in order to grow and improve. I love this. And we're all a part of it, whether we're converting ourselves or helping someone else find himself. And Jesus Christ showed us how to handle it all, showed us that it's possible, and gives us that saving grace we need when we think we can't possibly make it through. Man, I love that guy!

And I love YOU!

S laskou,

Sestra D-izzle

That Czech guy that he [ward friend Tanner Sawyer in MTC] met is probably Ondra Tomsik. Czech/Spanish/English extroardinair headed to Canada Spanish-speaking. We were teaching his ma and the elders were teaching his girlfriend in Ostrava. He's really awesome--completely changed his life for the truth and now he's off to change the lives of everyone else. How cool is that?

Molly Huish, Rosemary Mitchel, and Staisha Stratton--expect letters soon!

Beks--I canNOT believe how long your binkyhair is!! It's unreal! LET'S GO MISSIONARY! (Challenging and Testifying Missionary, anyone?) I have a letter for you almost finished. It's kind of like a masterpiece.

Sister Wheeler--I am SO SO glad you saw Sister Stratton! It's so good to know that she's doing so well--finally, some sort of news! But Sestro, it's so wonderful getting to know all the people you taught here in Prague! Sometimes I meet/hear about someone new in the ward and the name brings to mind some miracle you told me of last year! I just LOVE Diana....I really think her husband will one day come around. He's come to church once since I've been here and they were going to come yesterday but Sebastian got sick. Uvidime... Also, we're hearing from Elder Pearson again next week. Remember how intense he was last time? I'm excited!

May 16th, 2011 Oh Myyy--This is How Cool the Czech Republic Is:

Everyone, please watch this:
https://lds.org/youth/video/the-first-step?lang=eng
A member here in Prague was asked to make this by the Church. He actually learned about the gospel as a foreign-exchange student in Utah. This is the language that I speak. This is the city that I live in. This is the gospel that I preach. How cool is that?!

Cool things from this week:

We brought an American to church with us. Her name is Becky. When we met her we found out that she's religious and she's been to a few different churches so we invited her to come with us. I was surprised at how willing she was to accept our invitation, but then Sister Chris reminded me that Americans are just really open people. Oh yeah.

My journal entry from Wednesday:

"We taught a pirate named Henry today and he is going to read the Book of Mormon." No lie, I don't think a person could look more like Jack Sparrow if he did it on purpose. Minus the eye liner, I suppose. He is even missing a hand! Seriously! He just wears this one black leather glove all the time and you can tell that he doesn't have fingers because sometimes he'll bump something and the fingers on his glove will move in unreal directions. But he's really open and a devoted Christian and really interested in the Book of Mormon. (Said he'd heard something about Mormon Tea when we contacted him on the street...not quite sure what that is.)

Biggest surprise ever--Martin Grochol came to church in Prague! He had to come anyway because he had a meeting for work nearby, but it was such a wonderful surprise. Also heard that Dusan brought his girlfriend to church with him yesterday! Woo! I don't know the details yet, but WOOO!

Ludek is a rockstar. Really. Taught him about prophets, tithing, and the Sabbath Day last week. He had questions about everything, but every time we asked him to live by it, he'd say, "of course. I wouldn't be here if I didn't want to do it." He's amazing. And the branch has just taken him right in. I'm beginning to look through the branch directory for a woman for him. Eternal families = my forte. :)

Sister Christensen is great. We get a long really well and laugh a lot together. But things have slowed down a lot since I've gotten to Prague. The area we're in has a lot of "eternal investigators"--people that aren't progressing towards baptism, but enjoy meeting with the missionaries for one reason or another.

I really love this work, but I'm finding there's so much work to do and re-do and I'm not exactly sure how to find a balance between helping Sister C learn and being as productive as possible. I've talked it over with God a lot though...I think we'll make it through.

I found a great scripture this morning. "Wherefore Ether came forth in the days of Coriantumr, and began to prophesy unto the people, for he could not be restrained because of the Spirit of the lord which was in him." (Ether 12:2) If you follow the footnotes you'll find that all the best missionaries felt this way. There's nothing more liberating that bearing pure, solid testimony. I love it. :)

Everyone, you're all great. I'm keeping you all in my prayers.

S laskou,
Sestra Dean

Beks--I had no idea you were training! What a lucky greenie. If you have any training tips, please send them my way--I could use a few. I just began a letter to you the other day...I'll probably finish it next week and immediately send it off. Lurve!

McKenna--oh my--Soon MARRIED! Congrats, girl! I want to see pics!
Tiff Shaw--I'm in the same district as your distant relative, elder Andersen. What are the odds?!

Brie hansen--It's UNREAL how much my new comp reminds me of you. Seriously. She even does the silent laugh that you do and talks the way you do. And she paints.

May 5th, 2011

Cau čeče!

So, I know you've all been DYING to hear transfer facts, right? Yeah, I was too. Ish. But here we go....

I'm not in Ostrava anymore. I'm officially emailing you from the beautiful city of Prague, where I am follow-up training Sister Christensen. My first time having anyone in my district younger than I am, let alone my compydoo. Crazy.

I won't lie, I bawled my guts out when I found out I was leaving Ostrava. That city is the most wonderful place in the world. I feel as though we've built the Poruba Ostrava area up with our bare hands (and so so so much help from the Lord!). 6 months of seeing people grow and change--we've seen the members' faith increase a ton as well, as we've worked and brought solid new members into the branch. And we also have wonderful investigators like Dusan and Jirka, well on their way to becoming spiritual all stars. So I was a little sad... BUT last night a lot of my favorite people came to English and I was able to see them one last time, which was great. It was amazing to see how many people one can touch as a missionary--I didn't really realize how much of a difference my service has made until then. I just had overwhelming feelings of gratitude in that moment that I had chosen to serve a mission and that the Lord led me there. It made me feel a bit better about leaving, knowing that I had worked hard and by the spirit and that lots of similar opportunities awaited me here in Prague. Even as I'm typing this I feel that sense of impending miracles--I know they'll happen.
The VERY BEST part of this past week though: Sunday. Maybe the best Sunday of my entire life! I don't know if you remember, but my first few weeks in Ostrava we hovered around 35 people attending church regularly. But this past sunday we had 57 people at church. FIFTY SEVEN!! And FIVE of them were our investigators (including Jirka and Dusan, another man with a new baptismal date we just met the Sunday before, a 10 year-old son of a solid member, and the mom of a kid who just left on a mission). Our two wonderful members who were in America had just returned, so they bore wonderful testimonies about the truthfulness of the church and then MARTIN GROCHOL, that wonderful little czech man, bore his testimony!! I told him that it was my greatest ambition to hear him bear his testimony, and he really did it! And Jirka just ate it up--he said he felt really similar to Martin and really enjoyed it. There was so much talk about the Holy Ghost and even baptism, it was just beautiful. It couldn't have been any better.

Dusan's progressing really well. We talked with him a few days ago about prayer. We found out that sometimes he'd prayer while lying on his bed right before falling asleep (hey, we've all done at some point, right?), so we talked with him about kneeling and praying. He was a little unsure as to whether he could because of his leg injury, but said he would as soon as he felt it was okay. SO. He's been trying to sell this house that he rennovated so he can build one for him and martina to live in when they get married. It looked like it was all set and the buyers were happy, but on Monday they called and said they weren't so sure. He was really worried about it and prayed, telling Heavenly Father that he needed to sell the house and asking him for help--his first prayer on his knees. The next day the buyer called and said he still wanted it and they signed the papers. God's really preparing this man for something wonderful. It was difficult to say goodbye to him--he told me that we were like a part of his family. He bought me a necklace with a sun on it--actually really cool (he has great taste)--and gave it to me, saying that I was like a little sunshine that just brightened everyone's day. That was the last time I cried. I never want to take it off.

But now I'm feeling good about Prague. I think it'll be wonderful. Sister Christensen reminds me a lot of Sister Stratton (who, by the way, I just found out went home because of a bad illness! SO SO sad! Pray for her!). She's really happy and bubbly and talkative, but maybe doesn't love the Czech language so much. This will be fun because I just LOVE speaking Czech. :) Apparently our teacher in the MTC, Brother Rowberry, told her that he really hoped I trained her because we're so much alike. Wish granted, B. Rowberry (who I hear is ENGAGED--hodne blahoprani ti preju, cece, if you ever happen to read this). Here we already have a man with a baptismal date, whom I will meet tomorrow. Also: Elder Meiling is in my district. So, if he gets any letters from Danielle and I don't, I WILL know about it. :)

Anyways, I don't have too many other things to say that won't make me wish I were back in Ostrava. Oh wait, I should tell you--the last week of AWESOME APRIL was a week focused on giving baptismal dates. And last week we met with Jirka. That morning he texted us, telling us that he had some great news and was really excited to tell us. We were a little apprehensive because sometimes 'great news' for an investigator can be really hard news for a missionary (i.e. "I finally found a job but it means I'm moving to a city where there are no missionaries", etc). So when we met with him, we asked him about it right away. (Background: we had read Hel 5:30 with him the meeting before, which discribes the Holy Ghost kind of--or the voice they heard when Christ came, but relates to the HG). So he told us: "I prayed last night and I think I heard the Holy Ghost. I don't remember what it said, but I felt really good." So we gave him a baptismal date before we even said the opening prayer. 11 June.
Also, two sundays ago a new face came to church who seemed to know some people in the branch. Upon talking with him we came to know Cestmir, a man who'd met with the missionaries before, but then found a job and had to move out of Ostrava. He's back and knows God led him to this church. Bingo--golden. Met with him and he accepted a baptismal right in the first lesson. 28 May. Miracles miracles miracles!

Ladies and gentlemen, this is the best work in the world. Seriously, everyone should take part in it. Love you all!

s laskou,
sestra dean

P.S. July 5th...what an interesting date--I feel like it's something special. That should work. I will double check with president though. Also: our pdays here in prague are on Saturdays now instead of Mondays. Just fyi. Also: you are famous! Wow! Way to go easter journey! They forgot to mention Mary, the star of the show, who manages to fake tears in every performance and make it seem real. :) Another also: I just heard the Pres Uchtdorf might be coming to the CR soon. Woo!

Beks: I am DYING to get whatever it was in the mail...how long does it take for things to get from Taiwan to Prague? You are a missionary HERO, sista--God loves you! And me too!