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