Mongolians and Mushrooms and a Date with the River - August 20th, 2011

Hello my little lovelies!


Today we went mushroom hunting. I went my first transfer, but it was too late in the season so we only found the poisonous Mario-looking mushrooms. But TODAY we found many wonderful edible ones. And Marketa taught me how to identify them. So when I return I've decided that we are going back to Washington and we are all going mushroom hunting. I'm sure we'll reap a great harvest, because we will be the only ones hunting. Weee!

This week we said a fond farewell to Sister G, who managed not to give out before it all ended. It's so weird to think that when I left Ostrava for Prague she was at the same point in her mission as I am now. Eek! I don't like to think about that.

I will admit, I had a few reservations as to how the work would continue without her--all alone with my girl Sister White. BUT, really, comp inventory is a beautiful thing. We made big plans for ourselves in our new twosome and I think God was pleased because then we saw MIRACLES. AHH! I suppose I talk about miracles in every email, but they're SO REAL! Serious. Get this:

(from normalest to greatest)
Miracle #4: We made a goal to get two phone numbers and then we would go make some important phone calls. The first two people we talked to gave us their numbers. One of them said she knew members of our branch already.

Miracle #3: Two wonderful Slovak girls that we met and brought to the young single adults FHE last week finally responded to our texts. A sad part of missionary work is that you meet tons of amazing people and then, for one reason or another, they stop talking to you. No matter how many times it happens, I can't seem to learn to not get so excited about every single one of them. Which isn't so bad, but when you fall asleep saying someone's name over and over again because you think they're golden and then they never answer their phone again, it's a little hurtful. So I thought that was the case with these two. BUT they texted us back yesterday saying that they had tried to text us but we never responded--I suppose something must have happened with our phone. The one time a broken phone is good news. :)

Miracle #2: Another investigator who has difficulty reading in the Book of Mormon texted us and told us he read two chapters.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaand, the big guy,
Miracle #1: VACLAV AGREED TO BE BAPTIZED!! WOOOOOOOOOO! This week I have seen a HUGE change in him--mainly because we finally introduced him to two wonderful members (Members! You'll never know how important you are!). One of them actually met him a few weeks ago in church and then called us, asking to teach with him and thanking us for bringing such good people into the branch. So these two great men really helped him. He came to the meeting on Friday feeling pretty down--he finally received word that his dad passed away (he's been in the hospital for a long while now). He started thinking more about what a life well-spent was and how he could make his life better. Our wonderful member Lubomir (shout out to Sister Austin) shared his experience with baptism and we asked if we could help him prepare for September 17th and he said yes! In the end, the realization that this was a step he needed in his life was brought about by something only God could do. Gotta love Him. :)

I just realized that I always end up sharing experiences from the last half of the week and never from the first half of the week. Because sometimes I forget. The first half of the week was a Mongolian miracle. We've been working with the wonderful woman named Zulaa, who's a member and actually served a mission in Mongolia, but has gone somewhat inactive since then. She has struggled with her testimony of the Book of Mormon and has struggled fitting in the branch because no one really speaks Mongolian. Sister G was wonderful for her and we worked with her a lot and the branch began to be more aware of her. In fact, she gave a talk last Sunday on testimony and talked of how we've helped her re-gain her testimony of the Book of Mormon and it was so beautiful I just had to cry.

People this stuff is so real! I wish everyone would just give it a try and realize how happy life can be.


S laskou,


Sestra Dean


OH MY! I keep forgetting--I met a girl from TAICHUNG last week! Really! She came here to study and married a Czech! I was so excited--I got her phone number and set up a meeting with her, but I think my excitement exceeded hers because she never came and answered again. She's going back to Taiwan soon with her husband--Beks, use your mad missionary skills to ferret her out of the crowds. Her fake name is Christy. Just look for a girl who looks like she's talked to me recently. You know the type.

Also, we're teaching this awesome boy named Li Hang. He speaks a tiny bit of Czech, so most of our lessons are us pointing to different parts of the pamphlet and having him read things we google translated in preparation for it. But he's really prepared. He had his cousin translate something about how he's coming to understand Christ better through the Book of Mormon, which he's already finished and is reading over again.

Danielle: Oh my, I LOVE you. I laughed right out loud several times at your email. You and all your men of various ethnicities. Hah! [--------]is maybe a little on the short side for you, however...


Pictures--

Us and Li Hang, our main Chinese man.

Our last moments with Sister G, as well as Tiffany Shaw's cousin, who will be home in a few days.

Me and the mushroom I found.

Nightly Wrestling and Mid-Training Crises - August 8th, 2011

Ladies and Gentlemen. Please make way for a miracle or two.

I don't want to brag or anything, but MAN does Heavenly Father love me. Seriously, I mean He loves me.

This week began in a bit of a craze. The greatest companion I never had, Sister Glaus, left the Czech Prague mission in a blaze of shimmery goodness. We sisters in Prague are pretty lucky because other missionaries have to visit Prague often on business. And whenever they do, we get to have a sleepover party and share miracles and act like girls in a completely inspiring and uplifting sort of way. So when Sister Glaus made her way out of here, she stayed at our house for a bit. The amazing part is that she was meant to leave on Monday. But something fishy happened with her flight home and suddenly she was working in our area with us for two days or so. And God did it because of me, I just know it. Maybe I wasn't the only reason for it, but I'm sure I factored in there somewhere.

Leading up to this I'd found myself a little dissatisfied and I couldn't figure out why--perhaps because our investigators weren't progressing the way I wanted them to. And I won't lie, it's been difficult juggling a Sister G who's leaving while training a brand-new Sister White--new and dying missionaries definitely work at different paces. As I worked with Sister Glaus, I started to realize what a unified companionship should feel like. And I sucked every last bit of wisdom I could from her guts before they put her on the plane (good luck with whatever's left of her, people). And I began to understand the changes I needed to make in the work in order work the way God would have us work.

And then. We had district meeting. Remember little Elder Meiling? Well, he's big Elder Meiling, the renowned District Leader now. As he began the meeting, he mentioned how he'd struggled to prepare for it all week and it just hadn't come together the way it usually does. And how, at the last minute, he realized he needed to take it in a completely different direction. The Spirit told me: This one's for you. And it was.

And then. We had Greenie Bootcamp (or the more pc name: Progression Training) in Brno. All the trainers were able to discuss their ideas and problems and successes together and God taught me a thing or two that day.

[Meanwhile, the first half of this week was fraught with ditchers. Like really, ditchy-McDitchersons. My planner has big Xs through lessons at least every day this week. EXCEPT....]

And THEN. Friday happened. Wonderful, beautiful Friday. Friday = Fabday. We had SIX lessons on the plan, and not a single one fell through (and mind you, Friday is usually ditch-day--everyone wants to leave on the weekends). A million wonderful things happened, but let me tell you about one of them. Her name is Maja.

Maja is a young single adult.
Maja is an artist.
Maja is from Russia.
Maja's family is Muslim, but not very Muslim.
Maja speaks perfect English.
Maja and I met in the metro (yes, we've been talking to EVERYone. It's awesome).
Maja's sister died 3 years ago.
Maja's been looking for answers ever since.
When we gave Maja a tour of the church and talked about sacrament meeting, she said she'd like to come before we even invited her--except for that it starts at 9 am. We promised her lots of blessings. We offered to call her to help her wake up in the morning.
Maja agreed, but here's the catch: we have to call her at 6 am because she lives far away.
Maja said she felt different in the meeting.
We taught Maja about the Holy Ghost and the gift of the Holy Ghost.
We invited Maja to be baptized so she can receive the gift of the Holy Ghost (yes, first lesson--some great advice from the First Presidency we've been working on).
She'd have to think about it.

Sister White taught like a pro, which made my heart so proud. And she got a little bolder and told Maja we wanted to meet with her several times a week.
Which Maja agreed to. And then Maja said a short, spectacular, sincere, pleading prayer--mainly regarding an obstacle at work.


And that is all.
For now.
But, as of late, she's my favorite miracle.

Speaking of the subject line--Daddio, remember that one note you left on my door forever ago? Well, I was reading in Enos the other day, about how he wrestled with God. And I was making some goals for the month of August. And I just couldn't help it--one of them is to wrestle every night when I get home. :)

I know that I'm not going to be home for Christmas. But just think of it--it's like Christmas will be a little longer! I'll bring home some wonderful Czech Christmas traditions to show you and you'll all be so happy about it that it won't even make a difference.

Life is just so good right now, nothing really matters. Or rather, all the right things matter--and that's what makes life so worthwhile. I hope you all have a clever Fast Sunday and learn lots. I'm going to be helping with translations in Sacrament meeting tomorrow. Eek!

Lovesies,

Sestra Dean


Also: Bekah boo, you are getting so big! I have a piece of present for you waiting to be posted. Be expecting. Lurve you.

What's Summer? - July 30th, 2011

Hello my dears.

I think we skipped summer here in Prague. It seemed like there was some pattern at first--hot and then a little rain, and then hot again. However that cycle has come to an abrupt end and it's as though we're in Seattle around the middle of September.

This week we've had a major focus on working with and getting to know the members. How great it's been! We have such wonderful people in our branch. They are just so vital to everything we do here as missionaries and will be the key to finding more prepared people, so we've been taking time to meet with members and hear about their conversion stories and talk about the blessings of the restoration and ask them who they know that we could talk to. Many people are really shy when it comes to talking about the church because the average Czech just doesn't talk about religion at all. But I can really feel that the Lord is going to use them to bless the lives of so many around them. People, don't forget how great your influence is on those around you!

Coolest new investigator of the moment: Her name is Jenny. She's probably in her late 20s and she's from Ecuador. We met her on our way to help a member move last week--we were dressed in work clothes and hardly looked like missionaries. She told us that her neighbor had been baptized into the LDS church when she was in Ecuador and she always saw these young foreign men going to his house in white shirts, who also happened to be really attractive, so she had always been really intrigued by them. We didn't talk too much, but we exchanged numbers with her and were able to set up a meeting last wednesday. Diana, our wonderful little Peruvian friend, came along. It was amazing--really, talking with her was nothing like talking to the average Czech. We gave her a short tour of the building. When we came to the picture of Jesus Christ visiting the Lamanites, we explained a little to her about the Book of Mormon and that these people could have lived near where she lived. Her eyes got really big and she said, "I've never heard anything like this before. Really, is this true?" We assured her that it was. :) As we talked more about church she told us that she'd like to come before we ever even invited her. We then talked about prophets and how a prophet lives today. We asked her what she would do if Moses were alive today and she said, "I'd do whatever he said!" I really have a lot of hope for her. We won't be able to meet with her until she comes to church a week from tomorrow, but I really feel that God is preparing her to find the truth.

That's about all I have time for this week. I really love you all. Oh yeah, one more thing, but don't freak out too much, okay? President gave me a call the other day. I'm flying home on Dec 27th. And that's the last time we'll talk about it.
This work is just the best. Don't forget how blessed we are.

S laskou,

Sestra Dean

Shout outs:
Beks: AHH! Happy Birthday Boo! How did we even get here? Thanks sooooo much for the package. That mission CD is a real winner, it's been in the cd player ever since I opened it. I'm trying to talk the office elders into making a Czech Prague mission one as well. Keep an eye out for a letter from me and another b-day something headed your way. Also, give my regards to the members for the fantastic cake display.

Corey and Chris: I've been giving life savers out to Czechs and none of them seem to know what they are. You both are so wonderful! Thank you so much for the package and the birthday funds. I will make sure to put them to good use. :)

Aunt Veeky: How did you get so good at making cards? (Corey too!) My, what talent you have. :) Keep it up champ, I'm praying for you.

Courty: I can't believe you danced on stage with Britney Spears! Wow. I hope you busted out some good moves, nothing too embarrassing. :) I love hearing from you. Keep being happy. And let me know if those Elders ever come back to your door. I'll send you something soon.

Ma: sorry for the lack of pictures--my cameria has been mimo provoz. But I think it's working again. i'll see what I can do . . .

Czech Pioneers on Priest Hill - July 23, 2011

Cus! (choos--it's like the prague version of cest)

Today we went with a bunch of ward members to a place called "Priest Hill"--it's where John A Widtsoe first dedicated the Czech Republic for missionary work on July 24, 1929. Every time I hear anything about that man I feel such a connection to him. Everything I've ever read about him is brilliant. I wish I could learn more about him right now, but my resources are a little limited. Anyway, we had a simple testimony meeting up there and saw some beautiful things. If you want to learn about the amazing woman who first brought the Church to Czechoslovakia, look up Franiska Vesela Brodilova--apparently there was an article about her in the Ensign called "Czechoslovakia Was Her Mission"in Sept 1995. Look it up. She's so cool. I am learning more and more as a missionary of how the gospel is often founded on the backs of righteous women of the Church. Man, I just love my XX genes.

There is also a great castle next to Priest Hill. Really, it makes one feel displaced standing in its presence. I almost expected to feel a sword on my back and see knights of the Czech round table marching down the street, it's that medieval. We enjoyed ourselves so much that we ended up running to make our train--and it was quite a run. The train was running a tad late, so we arrived at the station before the train did. However, as we were waiting for a set of Elders to buy our tickets, it pulled up, sat for 30 seconds, and left before we were able to cross the tracks and board. As the train pulled out we looked pleadingly up at the driver, who seemed to know exactly what he was doing and showed us no sympathy.
So we had a little district bonding over Czech lunch. Such is life in Europe. The closest thing I can compare European transportation to is middle school life, when Chris and I were always rushing to hop the fence and catch the bus before it pulled out. But here it happens a lot more often. And I think that some drivers derive some sort of satisfaction in leaving precisely according to schedule, despite the desperate people left behind. :) Maybe it's the European equivalent of road rage.

This week we've made an extra push for Vaclav. I really feel as though he is so close. His desire and interest has grown so much in the past few weeks. I've been praying as mightily as I can for him to have some sort of spiritual experience. Keep him in your prayers.

This transfer is interesting. We are teaching a lot of really neat people. However, none of them seem to be your average "golden investigator"--they all seem to be progressing much more slowly than any progressing investigator I've taught in the past. It's a humbling experience, realizing that the Lord has His own time frame and his own plans for each individual. We have been meeting so many great new people. One man, another Ludek, really felt the spirit in our last meeting--it was obvious. But he's had close calls with schizophrenia in the past. Because of that, he doesn't want to ask God questions in his prayers because he doesn't want to hear any voices. Another man, Emil, we ran into 2 days in a row before he would agree to meet with us. He's interested in learning more, but afraid to tell his family about it when he's still not sure himself. But the Lord has really blessed me with the heart of a missionary--as soon as we meet with these people I just can't help but love them. People are just so wonderful and interesting and it's such a blessing to interact with them so much on a regular basis.

I learned a lot about the Spirit this week in a meeting with a Mongolian member who's been struggling with her testimony. I wasn't able to say much--Sister G translated a bit for me--but the Spirit of God was there. So strongly. I had no idea what was going on, but I felt it so intensely that I almost began to cry several times during the lesson. This stuff really is so real. I wish everyone would have the courage to find out for themselves.

Hey, way to go on ward missionary meeting--what a great idea! If you're nervous about talking to someone, don't hesitate to pray and ask God not only for an opportunity to talk about it, but for the courage to talk about it. I've found that the moments leading up to opening your mouth are always the worst part--and the longer you draw it out the worse it feels. That's why I've learned to just open your mouth before thinking twice. But as soon as you open your mouth, God will fill it. That doesn't always mean that you'll say something beautiful or flawless--sometimes that means that they won't be quite as turned off as they could have been by your clumsy words. But He really does want it to work out and He will always bless you for your willingness to take part in His work. Good work Danielle--inviting someone to church! Watch out, everyone will be asking if he's your boyfriend for the next few months. :) I want to see a copy of your talk.
Michelle, have so much fun at your party! I have a card for you--look for something in the mail from the Czech Republic. :)

Everyone, you all are just the cat's pajamas. I love hearing from you. I keep you all in my prayers. And let me tell you, those babies work.

S laskou,

Sestra Dean

Quick fact about everyone's favorite Ostravsky miracle, Dusan (I can't remember if I already told you this): he's getting married in November, which means I will be here for it, which means I will see his baptism! Woo!

And: leadership conference is for aps, district leaders, zone leaders, and trainers.

Furthermore: my companions are great. Sister White is really smart. She has a really big vocabulary. It reminds me of when I used to use big words. Now I can't remember what any of them mean because I'm always trying to speak simply. I had a dream the other night that I came home and wanted my job in the writing center back, but they made me re-apply and I didn't know how to write an essay anymore. She's a really good person and will be a great missionary.

July 16th, 2011

Dear Fam--

I began this last week but the computer shut off before I could finish it:
P.S. Shout out to Sister Wheeler-- I just got your email! It was SOO good to hear from you! Surprise--you're a grandma again!
1. I DID see sister Lier--it was so great! She did relay the message and we took a great fotku so she can prove it to you when she gets back.
2. I'm so glad to hear that Jane's enjoying Provo. I've been talking to her brother a bit--we have a meeting with him this week. We'll see how it goes--he seems pretty cool. I'm glad she enjoyed DI--a girl after my own heart.
3. AHH! Tonda! that''s SO great! You will have so much fun with him. Remember when he wasn't sure about going? Oh my, how time flies.
4. I haven't met any Martin Marin yet...but if he finds his way back here, I'll make sure to look him up.
5. Yes, we see Diana all the time! I love her so much! She's actually doing a lot better with coming to church lately--apparently she hardly ever came before I got here. It's still a little touch and go, but she's been having dreams about her grandma and thinks that she wants her to go to the temple and be baptized for her, so she's making an extra effort to come more often so she can be worthy to go to the temple. Karel is really supportive of everything, but doesn't really want to mix in with it. He comes to church whenever she does and he even kind of gets in to Sunday school--maybe likes it more than Diana does. I think that one day he will come to realize the truth of it all--maybe it'll take a little bit of humbling first though.
6. PAUL! Just like the apostle--that's so hot. :) When Sis Lier came she made a bet that something exciting would happen before the summer's over.... She told me all sorts of great things about him, so I suppose I approve if she approves. I'm so glad that you're happy. Remember that one time we were with Petr Bandik and all his friends after their soccer match and we realized how awkward we missionaries are? Was it really like that when you got back? (Speaking of Petr, I hear that he has a girlfriend now and never wants to come back to the Czech Republic....)
Ahh! I love you! Every day (especially now that I'm training) I think of you and our transfer together and wonder if you felt like you knew what you were doing then or if you felt more like me--like you're finally learning that you never really know what you're doing as a missionary because it's never predictable. You're just wonderful.

s laskou,
tvoje dcera

Also: my new comp is sister White, aka Sister Bila, which reminds me of how Liba always called you Bily. Haha.

July 9th, 2011

Oh my! I just LOVED talking to you on Sunday! I have the best family in the world. :)

Big news, people.

I have a brand new daughter! Her name is Sister White. She's from Florida. She is already a whiz at Czech. And a whiz at everything else--she studied neuroscience at BYU. She also played on the rugby team (so she knows Keilani Paul, my roommate in Romania). She has gorgeous curly hair and freckles. She is maybe a little bit quieter than I am, but laid-back and has a good sense of humor.

ALSO. We are in a THREESOME with SISTER GANBAATAR!! She will only be here for 6 weeks, and then she is dead, so we will be here to keep her from getting too trunky. :) I am so excited for this transfer--it is going to be filled with miracles!

This is how good I am at training:
Since both Sister G and Sister White had all their luggage, it was a little tricky getting it all on the tram. Marketa, a wonderful member in the branch, helped us. However, it took so much to get 6 suitcases (many of them quite large) on the tram that our time ran out--the doors closed before we finished, leaving me, Sister G, and Marketa in the tram with all the luggage and poor Sister White all alone at the tram stop in the middle of Prague. At the next stop, Marketa jumped out and ran back to find her, while Sister G and I battled with the suitcases all the way to the apartment. This is how we haze new missionaries. :)

Yesterday an American family in the branch invited us and anyone we wanted to bring over for dinner. I forgot that we put things like crackers on our chicken in America--it suddenly seemed so silly to me. Silly, but oh so delicious. We brought a member, Diana, from Peru, and her czech husband Kaja, who is not a member, with us, along with their little tank of a son, Sebastian. The Armstrongs have 3 wonderful little kids and we were able to share a thought with them about following Jesus Christ afterwards--I think it touched Kaja to see children raised so well, who could find a good role model in Jesus Christ and who were able to talk about important things together. I hope his interest grows--he comes to church whenever Diana comes, which is not as often as we'd like--but he's really supportive of her. She is working towards coming more now, however, so she can go to the temple in Frieburg and be baptized for her grandma. She's been having dreams about her and thinks it's because she wants her work done for her.

Interesting fact: On birthdays here, people feel obligated to shake your hand and wish you all sorts of things, like health and happiness and success. It's really funny--I never would have thought to shake someone's hand because they have a birthday before, but now it's starting to seem natural.

We also have another interesting new investigator: he's from China! His name is Li Hang. He is learning Czech, but it's only so-so. His English is minimal, at best. He was sent to our English class by a girl that works at a local chinese restaurant--works so often that she never has time to meet, but can come to church with us every so often. We've given him a BOM in Chinese and a pamphlet. He came back with a page and a half of questions and comments that he'd had his sister translate into English. We taught him how to pray, mainly through pointing at the pamphlet and speaking a little Czech and he prayed at the end. It was really interesting--not something I'd expect here. But his desire is so strong--it will be so interesting teaching him. Where's Beks when I need her?! Oh yeah. Taiwan.

The work is going great. Sister Christensen went off to Hradec Kralove this morning--she's back with the Sister that trained her. How unexpected! President is just full of surprises. :)

I love you so so much!

S laskou,

Sestra Dean

July 2, 2011