Week 6 - Bratislava, Slovakia

Well this has definitely been one of the more interesting weeks of my mission! But it has been good! Last Monday we had a lesson with a girl from Thailand. We had an interesting lesson and we had been talking about the book of Mormon because we had found one in Thai and then we had the prompting to ask if she knew who Jesus Christ was. She opened up so much because she actually didn't know! So we got to teach all about him and we read Mosiah 3, She was really touched and even tried to give us hugs after.. Awkward handshakes..

This week has been Christmas early apparently for me. Three different times people on the street gave me something to eat. Once was on a tram and i introduced my self to this couple and the girl turns around and gives me a candy, then on Wednesday a guy we taught on the street after giving him the book of Mormon turns and gives me a bag of dried apples, and then yesterday we were talking to a father on a tram and at the end he gave us two Mandarinky. Those are the little oranges but i cant remember what the exact word is in English.

Tuesday and Wednesday i was on exchanges with Elder McClain. WE had a good exchange and talked to some great people. One guy we started talking to and he interrupted us and asked if we knew some random person and we didn't and then he said "Do you know an Elder Patrik Kearon?" He had been at a church sponsored thing the week before and we had been really impressed with him! So cool! Wednesday night we had been invited by an English student to come and see her daughters Christmas concert. They are from Vietnam and it is an all English school. It felt like America. IT was really strange. We got there and couldn't find him so our plan was to find them after.. But then in the concert we never saw his daughter. Turns out she was sick. Oops! On Thursday we had a meeting with a guy from California, He speaks Slovak because his dad is from here and he is here visit family. At the end of our meeting he said yeah i almost moved to Hungary but i didn't. I asked why and he says well i played water polo. I had a full ride scholarship to UC Irvine and an offer to play in Hungary! He was so cool! 

Thursday night we headed back to Brno. We spent the night there because Friday we had MLC in the middle of nowhere in the Czech republic. It was at a hotel that a member from Prague owns. We stayed the night there. We had a long day. From 10 until 8 we sat and discussed things such as training, Watched practices that we had filmed, practiced things, discussed standards and a whole lot of things. At 8 we had a fireside with a member of the stake presidency, the high councilor who owns that place and the ward mission leaders. At 9;30 we played soccer with them for thirty minutes and headed to bed. IN the morning we got up and played floorball with them all and president. And then we had a training about member missionary work. It was really good, They had three tips to help. One is to make religious words part of you daily vocabulary, The second was when someone asks us if we went to church to say yes its awesome, why do you ask? And the third was when we feel like someone could use the gospel to say Hey i would like to ask you something just promise however you answer won't change our relationship. And then to talk about god and the happiness we had. We learned a lot and hope we can help more members invite friends so we do less street contacting and more teaching! It was quite the couple of days. We had a nice Sunday and taught Sunday school for people to prepare for patriarchal blessings and we taught young mens again. IN the afternoon, we started talking to a guy and got on a bus with him, Got off at a random stop and then walked one way and felt we should turn around and started talking to a younger guy who was searching for truth. We gave him a book of Mormon and a great discussion. It has been a full week! Lots of things happening. I hope you all are ready for Christmas.

Vesele Vanoce

S LAskou

Starsi Hanis

Week 5 - Bratislava, Slovakia

Another week here in Bratislava! It was an interesting one. Last Monday we had a meeting with a guy and a recent convert. It was a pretty awesome lesson. The recent convert laid down some great expectations about meeting and coming to church. It was a good start to the week! Tuesday we had a whole day of just contacting! IT had been a long time since that has happened! But it was great! On our way to get something from the building there was a guy standing outside smoking. We started talking to him and he said he had seen our building. We told him we would love to show him inside. He just happened to have 30 minutes before a job interview across the street. We gave him a building tour and taught the restoration and gave him a book of Mormon. Unfortunately he does not live anywhere close but if he gets the job he'll be back! That night we got on a tram and there was a group of people that started talking to us and all at once there were about 15 people just talking and we were in the middle of it! That never happens! No one is every talking on a tram! At least until we start talking to them. Pretty cool! 

On Wednesday we were on exchanges. I was with a new missionary elder Vasic and we had a good day. As a district we took an hour and wrote the hashtag for Christmas all over the city a few hundred times which was fun! We met a funny guy who said he didn't believe in god but he believed in being good and in the ten commandments. Then we told him how we love the ten commandment because the first one is to believe in God! It was pretty funny! We had English and then a lady we met and set up with on Monday came and brought two friends to our lesson! It was a fun lesson! One just converted to Catholicism, one was agnostic, and the other was a strong catholic. We taught the restoration, gave them Books of Mormon and had a great discussion. Then right at the end the strong catholic asked about mother Mary. We explained that we don't worship her, or pray to her, but we know she is great and did a lot for us. then this lady said "but she's holy." we explained again even blunter and she said "but shes holy like she is holy" This went on for a while until the agnostic tried to explain it "Well they do respect her, They just focus on Jesus Christ because of what he did and because of the commandments that they follow" and she again repeated but shes holy. It was pretty funny! We are excited to meet with them again! We got home that night and i felt a little funny. At 2 in the morning was pretty sick and was up most of the night. IT was not to great. I was destroyed Thursday and Friday and Saturday.  We got back to work had a planning session and breakfast for the young men and young woman. Sunday we had a great fast Sunday and Sunday night we went caroling! We wrapped Books of Mormon and gave them to people as presents and had a fun day! It has been an interesting week! Hope things find you well! Love ya!

Week 4 - Bratislava, Slovakia

Well it has been a great thanksgiving week here! We have had a lot of fun and it has been busy! Last Monday we just emailed and did our weekly shopping but we had the rest of pday on Thursday.  On Tuesday, we got up a little early and started our road trip. We visited three of our five districts. We started at 8 in the morning in Nitra. We had district meeting. Both of the companionships there had lost their phones, and were sick. It was an interesting meeting. We got to Find with them for a little bit and we found one girl who set up with them! After that we headed to Banska Bystrice! Had a good meeting there and headed after that to Trencin. It was a beautiful drive through the mountains. We brought the missionaries there home with us on an exchange. We got home about 8:45 at night. IT was a long day!

I was with Elder Redd on our exchange. We had a goal to get 15 people to smile at us at the beginning of our contact so we were even more smiley and friendly! It was pretty fun! Thursday was thanksgiving! We had a great day! We walked around the Christmas markets here and there are tons! Bratislava is a pretty big city! Then we went home and started cooking. We managed to make stuffing, green bean casserole, banana pie, key lime pie and a pumpkin pie! The sisters made the turkey and a peach pie. The other elders made mashed potatoes, funeral potatoes, sweet potatoes and about 100 rolls. There were a few other things and we ate great!! It was a fun meal! And we had a good time! 

Friday morning, thanksgiving was not sitting too well with me. We actually had to get up at 3:30 to go to the foreign police. And i was not feeling to well. I managed to not throw up and we made it to the place. We had to wait outside until 7. I slept on the grass. It was drizzly and cold. At 7 the sisters came. We had been waiting in line for them so we left and got home. I laid down on the floor in my big coat and a couple blankets and fell asleep and then we got up and studied and had a good day. We met some really interesting people, had a great first lesson and things went well! 

One funny story we met an older guy and his son in law. The old guy was really drunk! They thought i was from the Czech republic and we played along with them. They started telling my companion how hard the language is and then said to me but you understand being from the Czech republic. It was pretty funny! We had a fun game night. played a little more chess! Sunday we had a nice meal with a member family from Russia and some good visits! It has been a good week! Today we went to a tower on the hill and had lunch, we had some snow flurries and its cold! Hope things are well! Love you all!

Week 3 - Bratislava, Slovakia

Well from wednesday until now time has flown! After emailing last wednesday we got on the road to Prague. We left about 16 in the afternoon and I didn't get to the assistants place until 22.15. It was a long drive! We got up the next morning and ran up a mountain and then we had MLC with president Sabin. IT was a good meeting and focused on a couple things. The biggest i think was the role of the spirit in missionary work that we can use our gifts to allow people to feel the spirit. We need to become spiritual giants! Friday we were back and had a normal day. We did a little English contacting and stopped a young couple in English inviting them to English class. The girl turned to the boy in Slovak asked "Do you want to?" And he said "No they look like Jehovah witnesses" We shocked them as we jumped in in Slovak back. They were a little embarrassed but it was pretty funny! 

Saturday we went and tracted for service and we raked a LOT of leaves. Probably over 50 bags full. IT was a lot. That night we had game night and i was undefeated on the night in ping pong. Two right handed one left handed ;) And a game of chess. It has been a while. Sunday was a good day and we had a cool miracle. A woman came to church and sat by me. She said she had met missionaries a lot at the foreign police and she always said she would come to church so this week she did. She had a great time and is going to meet with us later this week! Pretty cool! Sunday night we met a couple people from the Jehovah witness church. we talked to them for a while and it was an interesting experience. But we made it! Today we actually didn't have pday. It will be on Thursday for thanksgiving but we had some good things today. Hope all is well! Love ya!

Week 2 - Bratislava, Slovakia

Well it has been a whirlwind of a week to say the least. New country, different money and a funny language. It has been great! It is pretty similar to the Czech republic. The languages are about the same. I speak Czech and they understand. They speak Slovak and i understand. In the Czech republic they all are atheists. Here they all believe. The church is much smaller here as well. We had two guys call us last Monday who wanted to meet! Pretty cool! They are both progressing now! One has already read to mosiah in the Book of Mormon. The other one wants to baptize all of Bratislava and wants our help! Pretty funny stuff! We woke up and were on the street just as the election was closing. Lets just say we heard about it!

We had our first couple snows this week! Stuck for a few hours and then warmed up! On Friday we had MLC over the phone to prepare for a mission tour this week! We met some really cool people but no one wanted to set up. Saturday night we had a fireside with the 6 missionaries here in Bratislava with president and his wife and Elder and sister Adler from Germany. WE had a great fireside and talked about conversion and Jesus Christ. Our testimony of Jesus Christ can push the holy ghost into peoples hearts. That is the power we have. Sunday those same four were at church and it was a great meeting and great to be there. That night president came over to see our apartment and had an interview with my companion. I had interview with His wife while we waited. The pohorelicti are amazing. I love them a lot! After that the assistants arrived as well as 4 other missionaries staying with us. Monday we had interviews for our zone here so they all came and we flooded Bratislava. We planned a group finding idea to give away book of Mormons for telephone numbers. Only if we would have an opportunity to talk again. We gave out about 100! It was a great day! In the afternoon we went to a different part and we built an 8 foot tall tower out of book of Mormons which drew a lot of attention! It was a long day and everyone stayed the night again because yesterday we had a mission tour with Elder Sabin. we had training all day! It was great! He knew the scriptures. Probably used more than 250 in the 6 hours. It was  a lot of information and it was good. He focused on the spirit and success that we will see it in the future. He said don't be afraid to go out on a limb. Maybe promising blessings or something of the sort because God will not let you fall.

 We also asked about happiness. It says in preach my gospel that more happiness than you have ever experienced awaits you as you serve. He said the happiness is just beginning and will come and and come and will come even more after your mission. I saw Elder Plewe for the first time in a year and a half! That was great! It was fun to be with a lot of missionaries from my MTC group. It was great to be around president. IT was interesting. WE translated the meeting. The first part into English and then we had to translate into Czech because there is a missionary in Slovakia from the Czech republic. IT was an exhausting couple of days. Today we have p-day and then in a few hours we are heading to Prague and we have MLC there tomorrow with Elder Sabin and then we will have a normal weekend. Next week we have to visit some district meetings and a lot more on plan! Things are going great here Love you all!

Week 1 - Bratislava, Slovakia

Well the big news of the week is transfers. I finished 6 months in Brno and really loved it and then came the surprise! I am emailing right now in Slovakia in Bratislava! Ill be serving here for at least the next transfer and as a zone leader again! My new companion is Elder Cahoon and it is his last transfer. That was a shock! But it has been great! Its a new money system, a weird language, and a whole new group of missionaries. It will be fun!

This week has been pretty crazy! Last Monday a member took us to a castle and she knighted us with a sword which was pretty cool. Tuesday we had our last exchange. I was with elder hymas again and we talked to some guy with a knife which got a little sketchy but we were fine! We also had a good lesson with a guy and put him on date for his area which was good! Wednesday we did service with a family and the fed us lunch. After our investigator bronislav saw there was a sign up for meals with the missionaries and he wanted to do it. So we met him and weren't hungry at all and he says"i hope you didn't eat today cause we have a lot of food" he ended up taking us to running sushi. We ate a lot!! IT was pretty fun! We had a cool experience on the way home and someone saw us and she contacted us. She had seen an article about the fLds church and wanted to ask us some questions. She was the very last person we talked to for the day! IT was cool! 

Thursday we had our culture night and we saw a play with a member and bronislav. It was called limonadovy joe. It was pretty interesting! it was a musical comedy. Friday during lunch we went to the kostnice which is a crypt or something under a church which was full of bones! 

We had our Halloween party that night. We dressed up like Nephites! we ran eating the donut off the string. And then they had a fear factor for missionaries... The first round was a tongue twister in Czech and the second was a special type of cheese from olomouc. It is way gross... All of us were gagging. They all love it though. But it tastes like wet dog. and smells really awful. And the third round was tlacenka which is meat in jello.. After the cheese it was pretty good.

Saturday we had a little more service and bench pressed at the end. Did better than last time! Sunday we had stake conference! The first one! IT was really cool. They had 7 new brothers to be ordained to the priesthood and about 20 high priests and called the last members of the high council which was really cool to see. After a year of trying to get just one more brother to be an elder at once 7! It was also cool to see a Czech patriarch, stake president, and mission president all on the stand together.

It was sad to leave Brno and i feel like i have some really good relationships there with some members. It was one of the best days Sunday and a good way to end. Now a new adventure in Slovakia for thanksgiving and Christmas. Pretty crazy! Hope things are well! Love ya!

Week 27 in Brno - Happy Halloween!

Last day of October time is flying faster! This week has been a good week! On Tuesday and Wednesday i was in Olomouc a city about an hour north on exchanges with elder Nelson. We served together my first transfer in ostrava. Lots has changed in a year. We had a great time though. WE got to teach a recent convert who really likes Catholicism. It was a pretty spiritual lesson. We also had the opportunity to teach the guy who i did a baptismal interview for. It was a good exchange and then Thursday we had training here in Brno. IT was a great training. President trained on baptism, how to talk about it better and sooner. There was a lot of information. WE talked about referrals, and blessings. It was a good day. The biggest thing was the issued a challenge. For every district to baptize one person before Christmas. IF we all achieve it we we will have a two day training for the entire mission in Prague! Lots of work to be done! WE also have transfers coming in a week!

We were able to have a lesson with Martin this week, he has a baptismal date but probably wont make it for now. We talked about Jesus and read from the Book of Mormon. He even gave us a ride home after! On Saturday we had 4 hours of service. We shoveled and swung pickaxes for those four hours. we are sore. It was with the neighbor of the person we helped last week! It was great! We took out another tree and a stump. With only pix axes.. It was a lot of cutting. We also had sports night. Sunday we had fast Sunday because we have our first stake conference this week! We will be in Prague for that! We also will be singing with our ward . It will be fun. Daylight savings time happened here! That was the first time i woke up feeling rested in a long time! Sunday night we were invited to come to a fireside with the ward a couple that got married a year ago talked about their marriage. They are great! Ivo the husband was baptized in 2012 and found the gospel and his wife at the same time. HE scored! He is a stud! Its been a pretty good week. This week is already pretty busy! Lots of things on plan, culture night, service, Halloween party, stake conference and transfers! We will see how it goes! Love you all!