Double baptisms! Week 8 in Praha

Ahoj!! We had our double baptism this morning and it was beautiful!!! aaah I'm so glad everything worked out. We were freaking out yesterday morning cause Vaclav STILL hadn't talked to his wife and he needed her permission to get baptized. He seemed really scared to do it too, but he did, and she was fine with it, so that was a relief. They were both sooo happy today. It was amazing. Me and Sister Bowler sang I Know that My Redeemer Lives (in Czech of course), and both had solos so that was fun. It was cool too, cause some of the members came up to me after and were like, wow your Czech is really good, you've made so much progress! hahaha. So that was nice to hear. Oh it was so awkward though cause one of the ladies that gave a talk was just talking to Vaclav, apparently she didn't realize Jana was getting baptized too, even though she was on the program. So people were trying to point at the program discretely and she was like what? The sisters told me it was just Vaclav....so that was awkward haha. But everyone just laughed about it, so it was fine. We gave both Jana and Vaclav a triple combination and a true to the faith as congratulations. Oh and Martin Novak came too! That was big because he didn't come to church last week. But we had our do-or-die lesson with him, and I ended up promising him that if he just made the decision to get baptized he would get his answer that the Book of Mormon was true. Normally I wouldn't say something like that, but the Spirit was sooo strong telling me to promise him RIGHT NOW, so I did! It was neat too, because as missionaries we can promise things like that, as representatives of Jesus Christ, and we told him that. He was much more serious during that lesson and seemed to actually be considering it. He usually beats around the bush a ton, "chodit kolem horke kase" in Czech (it means walk around the hot potatoes), but he's been a lot better lately. (Every time we say goodbye to him we say "mej se hezky a mene dramaticsky" which means have yourself well, and less dramatically haha. We joke that he's like a boy you can't get rid of, because he tries to drop us but always comes back. So much drama haha. Of course it's not us at all, it's because he knows the gospel makes him happier, but he can't quite admit it) But, we got him to admit yesterday that there was a "strong atmosphere" when I promised him that (he won't admit that it's the spirit). Oh and we ran into him in the metro the day after too, which never happens, Prague is huge, and he admitted that the talk we gave him was written for him. So we are still hoping he's a miracle and gets baptized on Saturday...we'll see. He's so stubborn haha. Oh the talk is Elder Scott's from 1989 about recognizing answers to prayer, can't remember if I told you that on the phone or not. It's not translated into Czech so we just had it in English and Sister Bowler took a week to translate the whole thing to give to him. So we'll see!! He's so close!! It is neat too, because I told him the story of me deciding to go on a mission like a month ago, about how I didn't get my answer until after I made the decision for myself, so I've been able to testify that I have personal experience with what we are asking him to do, and it was the best decision I've ever made. Today he admitted that he actually does want the Book of Mormon to be true. So we're hoping he has the courage to just decide to take that step of faith. This week was insane though, since we met with Jana and Vaclav every day, plus all of our other investigators--we got 12 member lessons. Pretty crazy. We've made mission standards in all areas for the past 2 weeks :) It was pretty funny too, because we've had to hide from our investigators a couple times now--Jana, Vaclav, and Boki usually come a half an hour early to lessons, but we always have a member scheduled to come at the right time, so it's super awkward to just sit there for an extra half hour, when we usually have contacting on plan. So we have to make sure they don't see us haha. They are fine waiting cause they come so early, but it's not like we can walk into the foyer and then leave again! It's been really neat these last two weeks too, because I've been praying for charity and have really felt it. Before it was easier to get frustrated with investigators, and of course sometimes I still do, but now I love them so much! I'm starting to understand "charity never faileth" now. I never really got that before, but I'm starting to realize that loving the people comes first, before anything else. And I really need that charity, or missionary work would be miserable haha. But really, I'm starting to really love it here, so I'm hoping I don't get transferred next week. I will most likely stay here since my comp is leaving, but we'll see. Yeah you will get an email from me on Saturday cause transfers aren't until Monday, but everyone else has P-day on Monday, so that's why they sent out the email. It was so nice to talk to you on Sunday!! It's true, it's kind of funny how normal it is, just like I talk to you every day. That was fun, and it didn't make me homesick, so that was good :) I really do love it here now, especially today after the baptism, so cool. Oh and we taught a part-member family last night too, the wife is less-active, but since we started teaching her she's come to church almost every week with her three-year-old, and now her husband is coming to support her. She's from Peru, but speaks some English, and he's Czech. So they communicate in English, and are both trying to learn each other's native languages. They talk to their son in all three. It was funny cause he was so adamant about how he's Czech, so he's going to drink his beer, and he wants to stay neutral, etc, and we aren't going to convert him. So we were like, that's fine. He came in at the end of her lesson, so we said the closing prayer, and then he asked us a ton of questions so we basically ended up teaching the Restoration to answer them, even though he said he's not interested. So we think he might be a little more than he lets on. He has his masters in psychology, so he was saying stuff like, yeah the things you ask Diana to do are really healthy mentally, like reading and praying every day. They have "family day" every Saturday where they go visit different zoos in Europe and have a "gratitude moment." We were teaching Diana about FHE, so when he said that we were like, well you basically already do it, just add a scripture and turn the gratitude into prayer! So we'll see what happens with him. Well that's about it, we have a super busy week next week too, cause we are having transfer breakfast with the district, specialized training in Ceske Budovice on Tuesday, and lots of lessons! It will be great. I'm excited to work hard to finish out the transfer. Transfer phone calls aren't until next Saturday night, so I'll find out where I'm going/not and my new companion after I email you! Crazy. All of us missionaries are doing a musical number tomorrow in Sacrament meeting too, so there's been lots of singing this week haha. I'm getting over a cold too, so I was worried about that, but it turned out fine :) I'm so curious to hear how Annica is doing in the field!! Oh well, guess I'll have to wait another week. It goes by so fast though, can't believe the transfer is almost over! Oh and mom can you send me the recipes for banana bread and zucchini bread and crepes? I didn't bring them. thanks!!! And if you stick some aussie bites in that package too, that would be awesome haha. K I love you!!! I'll send pictures :) Sestra Cooper