Week 4 in C Bud

24 June 2013 Well. This week was kind of crazy. I don't know what it is about C Bud but it's seriously never-ending adventure. Good and bad. For example, I noticed some old Christmas ornaments that had fallen behind one of our dressers yesterday, so we decided to move them today...and found 10 YEARS WORTH OF DUST AND COBWEBS. Ick. It's so gross. Pretty sure I vaccumed up at least 3 (alive) spiders, plus who-knows-what in all the old cobwebs. I have never seen so many dustballs in my life. So we spent 3 hours of our P-day today moving furniture and vaccuming and we are probably only 1/3 done, if that. We still haven't moved the other armoir, my bed, the other shelves, or the couch and two desks. But the good thing is I finally figured out why I can't breathe or sleep in this apartment...I'm running out of inhalers, so I've been trying not to use them, but then I just cough. So...I'm hoping once we get it all cleared out that my asthma will go back down. It was so musty when I got here, especially compared to the new Prague apartment I was used to...now I know why. So that's fun. We are going to call President and see if he will let us tackle it this week instead of having to do it only during personal time, cause it's disgusting and really is a danger to our health haha. So we'll see what he says. We are joining the ranks of the sisters who have attacked the apartment after we took over from elders...apparently the bathroom used to be full of mold, and one of them scrubbed and scrubbed it with bleach, and the toilet used to be completely brown, and we've almost got it back to white. Let's just say I'm glad I don't have to live here forever... And THEN yesterday, at the end of sacrament meeting, one of our members (she's 91) gives this groan and collapses. So we called the ambulance, and they came and got her. Everyone was afraid she had died since she was unconscious. But she's ok, she has diabetes and they gave her insulin so she's fine. So that was quite the drama. And the drama continues...last Monday, we were supposed to go hiking. So we sprinted from email to the bus stop..and just barely missed it. So we literally ran from the library all the way to the train station and got there 4 minutes before it was going to leave. So we get on, and the ticket guy comes around...the elders ask for the stop we need to go to, and he says we aren't going there, this train goes to Germany... So we got off at the next stop, in this little town and try to find the bus stop. We found it, but none of them went to the mountain. So we changed plans...and basically ended up wandering around in the hot sun for 3 hours and finally got to the road that goes to the monastery...and then had to turn around and go home to make it back for working hours at 6. haha it was miserable. Last time we let the elders plan the vylet haha. But. In terms of the work it was a LOT better. We got 3 new investigators!!! Finally. (We've had 0 the whole transfer) It was such a relief. We stopped by Jarda's house (the really cool young dad who lives on our street) and he was actually home! So he let us in and we ended up helping him take the stickers off his car, cause that's what he was doing, and then teaching a first lesson. It was really good, and we got to meet his adorable wife and little 2 year old daughter so we are really excited to be teaching him. However, it was in the backyard and we got attacked by mosquitoes...I have 13 bites on my legs and feet. haha...so yeah. But it was so worth it! They both speak English really well and so we teach him in English. We tried to do Czech but he doesn't want to. Wednesday we had training in Prague, which was really good. But sad, because was President Irwin's last one, he goes home on Saturday! Crazy. We have another training on July 4 with the new mission president in Prague, so we are going back up next week. Yay for 2 1/2 hour train rides!! Hopefully it won't be as hot as this last week, I've never been so sweaty in my life haha. So gross. Dad, you asked about sister leaders--we still don't have any. I'm hoping that will change with the new mission president, he gets here on Saturday. But it might just be that we don't have enough sisters or something. President's email this week he said he got to see the agenda for the new mission president seminar, Apparently the Brethren have made some "very bold decisions", on new policies in the next couple months, not sure what that means!! We'll see I guess. Oh yeah, and dad--the elders have an investigator whose doctor told her to drink coffee because of her blood pressure, and they wanted to know what other things are good for that so that she can keep the word of wisdom. any ideas? Oh I did have a cool experience--we convinced one of the less-actives to let us teach her the visiting teaching message after fhe (she comes really late, sometimes, and comes to relief society but not sacrament.) Since we are the relief society we do all the visiting teaching too. So we started talking about it (it's on family history) and she said, I don't have any parents and I don't have any kids, so I don't care. So we were like...uh....so I asked her if she has a personal journal, and she says no, and I don't want one. So I would have been completely lost if it weren't for the spirit, because the next second I started talking about gratitude journals and how we can always find something to be grateful for, and committed her to write down 3 things a day. I was so incredibly grateful for inspiration haha. That was cool. Well I think that's about it....we had a really good lesson with our other new investigator too, he's a former, so he's been taught everything. But he's super cool, a professional violinist and loves nature. I felt like we really needed to establish expectations, so I was like, you know we prepare people for baptism right? And he said yes, of course, and I do have that as a goal, it just might take awhile. So I reassured him that he can make it and that we are here to help him--the spirit was really helping me to know how to teach to his needs, it was really cool. (and in Czech!) He mainly wants to meet to have help understanding what he reads in the Book of Mormon. He totally believes that it's true though. Such a sweet guy. So we are excited to teach him too, not sure why he doesn't want to get baptized, but we'll get there. love you!!! Sestra Cooper

Week 3 in C Bud

17 June 2013 Ahoj! I really don't have that much to say for this week... nothing really happened. We did a ton of less-active work, walking around in the sun trying to find apartments of people. We did pretty well, and two of the families agreed to let us come teach them in July, so that was progress. I had to bribe one of them with banana bread for her to let us up, that was pretty funny. She answered the zvonek, and was like, I'm sick. So I said, it will only be 5 minutes and we brought you banana bread! and she said fine, and let us into the building haha. We got her number, which was good cause we only had her husband's, and he didn't really sound that happy about us calling (he's a former branch president). So that was really nice, tender mercy there. She said they'll be back from their chata in July, so maybe we can come by then. Everyone goes to their chata in the summer/weekends, it's so it's hard to get them to come to church or to meet. It's a czech thing, they all have these little cabins in the woods that they have gardens at, and they go there anytime the weather is good. So it's pretty much pointless to try to contact on the weekends cause the city is deserted. Luckily we do a lot of branch stuff on Saturday, we have sports day, we clean the building, and have correlation, so that takes up time. This week has just been super discouraging. Our one investigator with a baptismal date flaked out on us, and we still haven't taught a first lesson. Not a single one. And we got zero member lessons this week again. We are trying so hard to be exactly obedient, to be worthy of the spirit, and to use our time effectively and everything, but we just aren't teaching anyone. I'm trying really hard not to be discouraged. I know that the Lord must have something he wants me to learn from this--haha probably patience. That's something I always seem to be working on. And I know that I shouldn't judge our worthiness on our lack of lessons, but it's hard. I'm really trying hard not to complain and to have faith. But enough of that...good things this week. We contacted our 3 referrals, one we are supposed to teach tomorrow, so we are hoping that works out, it's a family. My contacting has gotten better, I've really been trying to listen to what they say and then testify of something that relates to their life. And I've also been focusing on the restoration, how we have a living prophet today, because that's something pmg says to do over and over, and I noticed we weren't doing it. We usually introduce the book of mormon, but I wanted to get better about connecting it to the restoration. When I did, I really felt the spirit testify of it to me, and so I'm really happy about that. It's easier to do with people who are believers, most people we contact say they are atheists. But what's really interesting is that every single one of them say that they believe something exists, but they don't know what. It's amazing how much our spirits remember--that we don't. Oh and we were watching one of the training videos, and Elder Ballard said we should be contacting 10 people/day outside of our plans, so we are working up to that, contacting on the buses, while we're walking places, etc. I've definitely felt the gift of tongues this week though, my czech is getting a lot better, at least in gospel words. I'm pretty sure I got sworn at/made fun of by the people in Ctibor's building when we went to visit him, (he lives in the ghetto) but I had no idea what they actually said. You can gather a lot through body language though. Funny things: the elders caught a huge fly, put it in the freezer so that it slowed down, and then put it on a string and were playing with it. hahaha elders...how do they think of these things??? let alone have time to do them. hahaha. You should have seen how much they were cracking up at it, they brought it to the church to show us cause they were so proud.... Oh yeah, and they were riding a sheep on Friday too. haha Br Sir feeds us lunch every Friday, and he has a pet sheep named Vojta. I hadn't seen it yet, so he took us outside and we got to feed it baguettes, and the elders were trying to ride it. That was pretty hilarious. Oh! and Dad, you will love this. The coolest thing, during language study I was looking up words, and I realized that cooper is bednar in czech. Elder Bednar has czech ancestors--they must have been barrel makers too! Everyone always asks me what my name means, so now I know what to say. Cool huh?? I loved it. Ok last thing, and then I'll send pictures--read Moroni 60 (Moroni's letter to Pahoran) and look for the things he lists as the duties of the government. Except I looked at them as duties as members of the church, how we can keep our covenants. I learned a lot from that, it was cool. Ok I'm running out of time--we are going hiking today so we have to rush. We have training in Prague on Wed, so I'm excited for that. love you!!! Sestra Cooper Family only: Mom happy late birthday!! So sorry I didn't mention it last email, I promise I remembered :) how was it?? That is awesome that you are getting a puppy, way to work for it Brigit! That will be fun, I'm excited to hear about it. Mom, I really do love you so much. This week has been really really hard, and to top it all off I dyed my garments grey this morning haha. A black sock got stuck in there. I wanted to call you so bad. Totally started crying when I said the closing prayer to comp study this morning, Sister Hicken suggested I get a blessing from one of the elders, so I think I'm going to. Dad, happy late father's day! I've been thinking about you a lot actually. How much I've learned from your example, how much you've taught me. So thank you for that, I can't imagine having a better dad.

week 2 in Ceske Budejovice

Ahoj! Phew this week was kind of crazy, I can't believe it's only been a week since I wrote you last, it feels like forever. This week was full of ups and downs, it's kind of ridiculous how some days are full of miracles and others are just really really hard, and depressing. Usually back to back. For example, we had on plan to teach 19 lessons this week, and 5 planned for Thursday, 2 potentials, 2 less-actives, and 1 active. Guess how many we taught? 1 investigator that we didn't even plan for. The member was in the hospital for her heart, so we went and visited her, the less-active cancelled, and both potentials dogged. We haven't had a single potential show up to a meeting the two weeks we've been here. That is pretty unusual actually, usually you get at least a few! We've had 6 or 7 set up I think, and not a single one came, even though we confirmed the day of. So we've been doing a lot of contacting/tracting/figuring out which less-actives we are going to go visit. That day even our back-up plans fell through--the member we were going to teach couldn't come either, and the referral we tried to contact wasn't there. So apparently we need to start making back-up back-up plans haha. But! we did have a super awesome experience tracting our street this week. We had like an hour left, so we decided to tract on the way home, and I wanted to talk to a family we walked by earlier in the day, that I noticed out of the corner of my eye, they were in their yard. So we went back and rang the zvonek, and the dad came out! usually they just stick their head out the window or answer the zvonek with nemam zajem (I'm not interested) and that's that. But he actually came out to the gate, and started talking to us...took pity on our horrible czech and spoke in perfect English. He's a draftsman, sort of like an architect? And has a cute little family! His name is Jarda, and he seemed actually really interested too, we told him about the Book of Mormon, how it helps us to strengthen our families, and a little bit about the Plan of Salvation. He was so cool! And a family! and normal! and he speaks English! which is bascially all the qualifications we are looking for to have a member branch president again, instead of missionaries. haha we were on a high for a couple hours after that, so exciting. We have exactly 2 normal members in our branch, the others all have mental problems or other issues, or they are normal but inactive. They tend to scare off investigators, which is really not helpful, because it's so hard to get them to come to church in the first place. Jarda said we could come back the next week to teach his family, so we are going to go by tonight, and we're praying that he's home and will let us in!! He said his work is really unpredicable, so he wouldn't set up for a specific time. so that was really exciting. Saturday was a day of miracles too, first of all, during comp inventory (the best comp inventory we've ever had--that was a miracle in and of itself--we are totally united and on fire with our goals) This former named Michal called, and Sister Hicken had thought he had dropped us, since he was only coming to English and wouldn't set up again. But HE called US, (which never happens) to say that he wanted to keep meeting, and that he'd been reading in the Book of Mormon on his own (also never happens). So that was exciting. Then, we go to town, a less-active dogged us, so we went to go contact on the namesti, cause there was a marathon going on, and a ton of people out on the streets. Sister Hicken contacted this guy she's been feeling like we need to talk to...but he only speaks French. So guess what? I got to try to frantically shove all the Czech out of my brain and try to speak in French. haha it was so embarrassing, I can't remember anything. I was able to say that we were missionaries, and the name of the church, and the book of mormon...and that was about it haha. I understand everything they say, but I can't put sentences together without Czech words coming out. He asked how old our church was, and I actually remembered how to say 1800 (but not the 30 haha). So we gave him our card and he said he'd go to the website in French and call us if he wants to learn more. So that was neat, we are really hoping we run into him again, and I think I might start reading the Book of Mormon in French at night so that I can actually say something next time. Sister Hicken says she's seen him like 4 or 5 times already, so it's likely. OH yeah, so the weird part, I was just thinking, why didn't I practice more with the french member in Prague, Matthieu, while I had the chance?? And then we turn the corner and Mattieu is right there. Weird huh? He had said he might come to Ceske Budejovice and say hi but I thought he was joking. But no, he just finished his studies, so he was on vacation in the area and came to say hi. He was like, I'm going back to France, so I'm allowed to write you right? haha so maybe I'll get to practice my French grammar...that will be scary! In the MTC though, there were free boxes on all the floors, and so I grabbed a French board display book out just in case, looks like I might need it if we run into that guy again. (I forgot to ask him his name...oops). Anyways...so that isn't even the end of the miracles that happened on Saturday. While we were talking to Matthieu, the Kalensky walked by, who are an inactive couple we are going to visit on Tuesday, so we said hi and confirmed the appointment. Then we taught Ctibor, who is another less-active, he's a Roma (gypsy) and won't accept the priesthood cause he's not white? We're not really sure. He has some strange ideas, but Czechs are rather racist, so he has good reason for feeling discriminated against. But we had a lesson with him, and had planned to ask him how he felt at his baptism, and what the foundation of his testimony is, so that we could invite him back to church and help him realize that we really need him. So that was our plan. We sit down, and he pulls out this notebook, where he's written out his testimony, complete with scriptures and everything, and tells us why he knows that the Book of Mormon is true (last meeting he said it was 98% true cause he didn't like that it tells you to do things) and why the church is true. So I was concentrating so hard, trying to understand the Czech, and the tangents, but I got the gist enough to ask...so you are saying that the foundation of your testimony is that our bodies are temples? (I was really hoping I understood that correctly...) and he said yes! So we testified that we really need him in the branch and that we could really use his strong testimony, and that it doesn't matter that he is the only Roma, God is no respecter of persons. and he said he's going to start coming to church again, and in the closing prayer, he prayed for forgiveness because he's been inactive. It was a complete 180 from the last time we talked to him. So cool. Our fast for inactives totally worked! We had a FHE lesson with the Tuckovi too (the inactive family whose house we live in) and even the 13 year old who usually has an attitude was actually paying attention, and the dad offered a kneeling prayer at the end, which I guess doesn't usually happen either. Miracles happen! So yeah, that was the week. Pretty crazy huh? Sister Hicken is the Relief Society President now, and I'm going to be the branch pianist next transfer, cause Elder Bahr is probably leaving. So I am now relearning the piano during dinners when we eat at the church. Haha that will be interesting....but we have the simplified hymnbook, and it's really not that hard, so I should survive. The branch doesn't really follow the piano anyways, and no one can sing on key except the missionaries (if I miss a word everybody else basically misses it too haha cause they just listen to me and Elder Bahr) Man stateside missionaries have it good! It would be so great to have a functioning ward. We totally wish we could do family history with people too, but the website isn't in Czech, and there aren't really any Czech records online here, they are all in libraries and things, so it's really hard to do family history here. Mom, you asked about Sister Hicken--we are getting along better than we ever have, and it's so fun. Such a blessing. We are cooking meals together and have started running every other day cause we are getting fat...haha. Czech food is bread and meat. And dessert. But I'm determined to get back into shape! And it really helps that we can help each other with goals like that, plus all the normal missionary ones of course, like finding always, improving our Czech, improving our teaching...there is an endless list of things we need to work on. But we are getting better every day! Oh yeah mom, can you send me the crepe recipe and the poppyseed dressing recipe? You can't get any good salad dressings here, it's sad. So that is the state of things in Ceske Budejovice (did you know that Budweiser was started here? that's the name of the town in German...random side note, but I'm assuming Dad already googled it and probably knows more about it than I do haha). We are planning to go visit a bunch of less-actives on Wednesday, since they all live near the Maj. So we'll see how that goes, we are really hoping we can set up appointments to come back, and we might bring them banana bread. I can't really think of anything else to say...so I guess that's it! love you all!!! Sestra Cooper

week 1 in Ceske Budejovice

Hi! Sorry you had to wait so long for this email, I got transferred! To Ceske Budejovice, which is 2 1/2 hours south. And it was pretty funny that you told me about Marci being with her MTC companion her second transfer, cause I am too! So it's me and Sister Hicken here, and a pair of elders. Elder Hansen is the Branch president, and his companion is the district leader, cause the branch is really small. I kind of figured I wouldn't have a follow-up trainer, but I didn't think I'd have to leave Prague too. It's been probably one of the most stressful weeks ever. I was really surprised when I got the transfer call, so I had to pack up everything, say goodbye to everyone Sunday, and leave on Monday, and take a train by myself. That would have been fine except they were working on the tracks so we had to switch to a bus, and then back to the train...with all of my luggage. Dragging two suitcases and a duffel up all those stairs was definitely not my first choice! I'm pretty sure each of them weighed more than half of me. Definitely got a workout from that! But I made it eventually. We had Sister Smith for two days and then she went home, and we had to fend for ourselves. I got to go back to Prague on Saturday actually because there was a district relief society conference, one of the elders investigators went, so we got to go. That was an adventure too! On the train ride up, their investigator started arguing with one of the members. The investigator was arguing that you can't say God is a person, you have to say he was, because he's perfect. And the member was arguing that God is a person, because the missionaries taught her that he has a body like her, and she's a person. So I tried to get them to see that it was just semantics, they were actually both saying the same thing....but to no avail. So me and Sister Hicken decided we were all going to read Moroni 7 together, out loud, so they couldn't argue anymore, and that lasted us until we got to Prague. They were all obedient, and readily agreed. I honestly felt like I was chaperoning little kids....and all three of them were at least 50 or 60. It's quite intimidating to have that much responsibility...I don't feel like I'm old enough! But then, Vera (one of the members) is afraid of escalators...and huge long, steep escalators are the only way in and out of the metros in Prague. So she freaked out every single time, and Sister Hicken had to convince her to get on them. hahaha, it was ridiculous. Oh and then the elder's investigator Jana, didn't quite believe me that I knew the metros in Prague, so she kept checking the maps, and got off one stop too soon, so we had to find her in the crowd and get her back on the metro before the doors closed....oh the drama. But! We had a miracle on the way too. So we were almost out of money, case it was the end of the month, and we had to buy our train tickets, plus one of the members cause she's on welfare. So we do that, and then realized we needed change for the metro passes. So me and Sister Hicken pull out all the change we have...my two passes were 48 crowns, and I had 49. Sister Hicken buys hers, and then we realized we had to buy them for that member too. So we look at how much we have left, and her tickets are only 12 crowns each cause she's old and gets the senior discount. Sister Hicken had 23 crowns...and then I remembered I had 1 left. Exactly the amount we needed, down to the crown. Pretty crazy. So then we finally made it to the conference, which was pretty good. But very relief society-esque, I know you know what I mean mom. There's something about relief society that has it's own unique culture, no matter what language you are speaking, that's very weird to people who aren't used to it. So Jana thought that was pretty weird, she has a Catholic background. But the new area authority spoke at the end, he's German, and his talk was really really good. He talked about repentance, and asked the question, it is our responsibility to complain or help? (specifically about crying kids during the sacrament), and then he talked about how the temple helps us in every stage of life, that was really good. So I'm really working on trying not to complain and just go to work. So the rest of the week was kind of rough too...we had 5 people dog us (not show up). So we did lots and lots of contacting in the pouring rain, and our numbers were really low. As if all that drama wasn't enough (plus the trying to speak czech and remember everything we are supposed to do when we are both new).... since it's been literally pouring every day for weeks, (I honestly don't think I've seen the sun in weeks, and that is not an exaggeration) there are now severe flood warnings! Yay. Prague is in a state of emergency, all the metros are shut down, and it's supposed to flood here too, but not as bad. When the reservoir gets full they open the floodgates. So the Tuckovi put a bunch of stuff in our apartment from their basement, cause we live by the river (we're on the 2nd floor). It was supposed to happen last night, but now they are saying it will be tomorrow. So we might be stuck inside all day tomorrow...we'll see. Sister Hicken's excited cause it means we might get to do extra service. So yeah...never ending adventure here in Ceske Budejovice. All of that happened in a week! Mom, you wanted to know how singing displays work? They only do them in Prague and Brno, unfortunately not here cause there aren't enough of us. But we just pick a spot by the metro or bus stops where there is a lot of people, and one companion sings while the other one contacts. We just sing hymns. So in Prague we had 4 or 5 people singing and then their companions contact, and we'd switch off every 15 minutes or so, and go for an hour and a half. We also had a info board that we'd set up next to us when the APs remembered it, and it had the church's name and pictures, the living christ, that sort of thing. We did it once a week as a district. I must have just missed your package...lame! I have to wait until training on the 19th to get it unless the zone leaders come here for some reason, cause it will be in Prague. I was really hoping it would be there on Saturday. Mom, I do look up the scriptures you put in your emails, don't worry haha. But I usually don't have time to respond cause Sister Bowler didn't like using the whole hour and a half. But Sister Hicken does, that's one good thing about being with someone from my own group I guess! I had the same epiphany about Satan being bound cause of righteousness the other day, pretty cool. You are totally spoiling the sisters! That is great. It would be so wonderful to have someone like you in the branch, seriously. We don't have any active families, just a few older men and women, and hardly any of them are married, maybe 10 or 15 come. So our primary is totally empty, and we only have 2 hours of church, it switches off between being sunday school and relief society. So we are going to be doing a lot of inactives work, we fasted for help on that on Sunday as a district. Well I am out of time, love you!!! Sestra Cooper