Week 7 in Plzen

17 Mar 2014 Ahoj! What even happened this week...? A lot of lessons cancelled, we got some new investigators, but they are kind of shaky. We did make a lot of progress with the family we are teaching though! The mom is really engaged now I think, we just really need to meet more than once a week. But we got to go to the girls dance rehearsal, and that was sooo cute. Reminded me of ballet :) And they came to the branch activity on Friday and loved it. So we are getting there! That activity was actually a huge success, we had 30 nonmembers there! more than members I think. We celebrated Purim, that Jewish holiday for Esther? The kids loved it because every time the story says the name Haman they got to scream and make noise, and then there was food and Jewish dancing after--Kuba invited his Jewish friend to come lead it. Everyone seemed to have a really good time. So that was great--besides I don't know when in my life I would ever get to do that again! And we had Branch Conference on Sunday, all of the McConkies came and it was spectacular of course. Two of the kids spoke too, it was adorable. The spirit was so strong, and one of the elders' investigators was sitting next to me, so I pointed it out and she was like, wow do you really think that's the spirit? It was awesome, I don't think she's ever recognized it before, so that was exciting. It was really interesting too, because Relief Society was on the Ten Commandments, and I was translating for Sister McConkie, which I like doing because it helps me focus better anyway. But I learned some things--we were talking about the sabbath day, and she mentioned how grateful she is that we have one every week. How much we need that day of rest to just focus on the Lord's work and rest up for another week. That is something that I really miss as a missionary--I think Sundays are the longest, most empty days, it's hard to find things to do cause Czech people all go out of town on the weekends. Anyways, then we were talking about honor your father and your mother, and what is the difference between loving them and honoring them? That was really interesting to think about--we came to the conclusion that honoring means respect and forgiveness. Sister McConkie was talking about how she likes to watch her kids sleep because it's like they are healing from all the parenting mistakes, and that's really what it is--that forgiveness, recognizing that they are human and most likely did the best they could. It's hard here with a lot of people here who want to get baptized because often their parents are so against it, and so they have to choose between following God and the traditions of their families. Anyways...so other things. We are making some progress with one of our less actives so I'm optomistic about that! And we did building tours as a district! That was so fun. And we taught 8 lessons total and got new potentials out of it, so that was exciting. That was probably my favorite thing we did this week--I love it, cause the people you teach are actually interested in what you are saying or they wouldn't have come in in the first place. Oh yeah! And we got to do service on Saturday! That was so fun, even though we were working in a garden and it started hailing and pouring rain. But I was just happy we got to go, sisters never get asked because we can't lift heavy things, but I was like we can shovel dirt just as well as elders! Put me to work! haha. It was fun. And we got to know the couple we were doing service for a lot better--she is Czech, he's British and they found the church in Brazil. Crazy huh? Their life is so interesting. So different than anybody else I know, she escaped communism at 19 and their kids live all over, mostly in the states. Unfortunately they are always travelling so we don't really see them very much, but it was really cool. Thanks for making me weed on Saturdays :) I know I hated it at the time, but I appreciate it with hindsight :) So overall it was a pretty good week. I'm trying not to get burnt out contacting--it's just hard when I get really excited about the cool people we find and then it's so disappointing when they never come for a meeting. But I'm trying to just trust God and work hard anyways, and trust that what's supposed to happen will happen. Maybe they really weren't ready right now, but that contact helped prepare them a little bit. Love you! Sestra Cooper