Week 7 in C Bud

Ahoj! I learned this week that ahoj is actually a latin acronym it stands for ad honorem jesu I think. So it is the same as the sailor's greeting, just english speakers changed it to a y. Cool huh? The things I learn while teaching English haha. Well I don't really know what to say about this week. Just a lot of work, like usual. Our investigator Jarda flat out refused a baptismal date and he's still refusing to try to pray too because he's "waiting for a sign." So we'll see how that goes...It's so frustrating to have to respect people's agency haha. It must be so heart wrenching for Heavenly Father to watch us make stupid mistakes and refuse to let him help us, thinking that our way is better. We gave a lot of building tours this week, and gave out 2 Book of Mormons, I've never done that before, so that was cool. I had to give another talk in sacrament, this time about family history. We are trying to start up a family history how-to activity every other week for the branch, so we are doing that on Wednesday. Since me and Sister Hicken are the only ones who've ever done it (the elders haven't and all the other members with experience are inactive) that means we get to try to explain it in Czech. Yay! That will be interesting haha. I'm jealous of all your family history work mom!! I would love to be helping. Can't believe we had a castle! So cool. You should send me the story if there is one! So anyways...We are really hoping people show up. It's summer so everyone's always gone. We had 5 members at church this week--I think it's actually going down now. We are working so hard to try to get people to come back and they just won't put in the work! I'm seriously so glad that you and dad taught me to work--thank you so much. I know I hated chores at the time, but man it's just so hard to watch people who have never worked a day in their life complain that their life is so hard, but they won't do anything about it--not even coming to church for 2 hours once a week. It's awful to watch. But, we had branch council this week (we go because we are the relief society, primary and young womens) and started the branch mission plan, so that raised my spirits a bit. Just have to keep the vision. I've been thinking a lot about what you said mom about being a trailblazer--I'm certainly trying! But we are making progress with one of our less-actives. She's actually been coming to church, usually misses sacrament meeting but is there for the 2nd hour. She's in her 70s with no family, and when I met her she was very bitter, always complaining or judging someone and just generally unpleasant to be around. But we've managed to persuade to her to meet with us after FHE on Fridays (basically we just kick everyone else out and start teaching her so she can't leave--she would never set up for a time with us). But we've taught her 3 weeks in a row now--this last lesson we read from the last Relief Society talk about an older single woman and how she was not alone, because she is a daughter of God and she is part of his family. But she really responded, and has been so much more kind, and has started putting down her walls--she just needed to feel loved. So that was really neat. We are going to start personal progress with her this week to help her start on the path to the Temple. So that was one of the moments where I felt like we are actually making a difference here. We have a lot more lessons on plan this next week so hopefully it will be better. It's so true that a teaching missionary is a happy missionary--President Irwin used to say that all the time. This last week we just did a LOT of contacting, which is still meaningful, but it's not the same, especially cause we didn't get any numbers. The two girls we gave Book of Mormons to didn't want to give us their numbers. It's just hard sometimes to study the gospel so much and feel my testimony being so strengthened, and have people not even give us a second glance. I know that this message would completely change their life if they would just try it! The rewards so outweigh the effort it takes. I know I shouldn't be counting...but I can't help it. Can't believe I've been out 6 months. It's gone by so fast but so slow at the same time. Yet it feels like my mission is just going to last forever, the days are so long. This transfer's almost over. And next week we are going to Prague on Monday for visa renewal stuff and then back again on Wednesday for training so it will go by fast. I found out it's all the missionaries in the Czech Republic, not just the two normal zones, so I'm excited to see what we do. President told the sisters to wear good shoes and it's pioneer day...so that will be interesting haha. tak jo, I think that is everything. love you soooo much! Sestra Cooper P.S. I keep forgetting to tell you this--everyone here always comments on how nice our teeth are haha. It's pretty funny/awkward, because what do you say to that? Thanks...it was the result of 5 years of having metal in my mouth, glad to know it payed off...haha.