Week 28 in Plzen THE LAST LETTER

                     11 Aug 2014

Ty jo, I don't know how to start this email. I can't believe it's my last one. This week went by so fast. It really helped that we had Sylvie's baptism to prepare for, that kept me really focused and not freaking out at the fact that I have no time left. The baptism was just....perfect. Absolutely perfect. Everything went smoothly, Sylvie was SO excited, and the Spirit was so strong. Just absolute, pure happiness--the perfect way to end a mission. She found the perfect apartment to live in, and everything worked out just like we had hoped. She even got offered extra work so that she had enough money to pay for it (sewing ninja turtle costumes haha, she's a seamstress). It was so special, because we had asked Simona to give the baptism talk, and it was the first talk she's ever given. And she bore her testimony about how much her life has changed for the better since her baptism in April, it was so special. Such a gift for me to see how happy she is, to have been a part of her whole conversion from the beginning, and to see Sylvie start on the same journey. Sylvie bore her testimony as well, and it was also perfect. Such a beautiful day. Even the weather was perfect. Aaah. So much happiness. 

It's such a rollercoaster of emotions.Yesterday was rough, even members that I didn't know too well were tearing up saying goodbye to me. Phew, 6 months is a long time. Plzen just spoils you rotten--I've already gotten so many gifts from people, I didn't expect that. Sister Juraskova is going to teach us how to make buchty this afternoon (a dessert). Tonight I'll say goodbye to everyone else at FHE and tomorrow we head to Prague because Sister Rosenvall is training. The triplets will be the hardest to leave, I think. If I don't cry it will be a feat. I hate goodbyes.

Well, it's been the most amazing year and half of my life. It's just not possible to describe how I feel about it. It's been so amazing to see all of the miracles  I remember the first training we had with President McConkie and him talking about how we needed to get the idea that we would only see a couple baptisms because we are in Europe out of our heads. Wow, if anything ever proved that to me it's been Plzen in the last 4 months. 12 baptisms. 12!! It's been a complete miracle. And not only baptisms, but baptisms of people like Sylvie--completely prepared to embrace the gospel in every way. It's been an amazing experience to be a tool in the Lord's hands. Such a privilege.  

Well I think that's about it. Prague will be fun, I get to hang out with my MTC sisters again, and take a last walk around the city, which I'm excited about. Then there is departing interviews and dinner and a testimony meeting and goodbyes. I know that after-mission life will be good as well. It will just be different. Thank goodness for skype and facebook. I am excited to see you all. The future is as bright as our faith!

See you on Thursday!

s laskou,  Sestra Cooper

Week 27 in Plzen

                                                  4 Aug 2014

Ahojte!

Well. I don't even know how to describe this week---best birthday present ever. So many miracles. The biggest one is Syllvie, she has just absolutely incredible faith. We were afraid she would miss her baptismal date because she's living with her boyfriend, but the very night we taught her law of chastity, she explained everything to him and went to sleep at a friends. We had taught her modesty during the same lesson, and the next day she promptly went to every mall in Plzen to buy modest clothes and gave her old wardrobe to charity. It's just been an absolute miracle. She knows that the gospel is true, and she's willing to do anything to follow it. And she's already seeing the blessings--on Friday she got her dream job as a costumer for the theatre, without even asking for it. She was just there because she volunteers sometimes, and they read the names of the new employees, and her name was on the list! Plus her boyfriend proposed, and they are now engaged---in a week her entire life has changed for the better. It's been so neat to see how happy she is. I just can't help marvelling that when we sacrifice something to live the commandments the Lord just showers us in blessings. She's a living example of that principle. That faith is important--but the biggest blessings come through obedience. She is sooo excited forSaturday. We are just praying that she can find an apartment before then! But there have been so many miracles in her story that I don't doubt that something will work out. 

My birthday was awesome as well, (I can NOT believe I'm 23 already....how is that even possible??) Plzen just completely spoils you, especially when you've been here for 6 months haha. I think I had 5 different cakes....1 on Tuesday, 3 on Wednesday and 1 on Thursday. Plus the triplets, the YSAs, Syllvie and the Grays gave me presents, the branch president gave me flowers (that's a typical Czech birthday/name day present) It was just neat to feel so much love. I love this branch soooo much. I gave my testimony for the last time in Czech yesterday, and that was a neat experience. Church was extra spiritual, and Syllvie loved it. It's just been such a tender mercy for me to be able to teach her--it's really helping me to stay focused. I keep forgetting that I go home next week. But I am starting to feel at peace about my mission now. It's going to be a big change leaving it, culture shock and everything--Americans are so different from Czechs, plus the whole not-being-a-missionary thing. But I feel like Heavenly Father has been letting me know, in little ways, that he's proud of my service. That I have made a difference in at least a few people's lives, and that he's pleased with my efforts. Plus I have this wall in my brain that refuses to think about anything past the airport--that's been really helpful. So I'm just going to trust that everything after the mission will work out, even though I have no idea how. That's what faith is for right?

love you!!

Sestra Cooper

Week 26 in Plzen

                                                                  28 July 2014

Ahoj!

Well this week just flew by! Syllvie's doing good, we've taught her everything but lesson 5 and she's still loving it. She's so great. It was cool because she got to meet President McConkie, and he asked her how she met us. She said, well I noticed that everyone was avoiding walking towards them, so I went straight towards them and they were just standing there "jako takovy slunička" like little suns. (Sounds weird in English but it makes sense in Czech). That how she describes the Spirit. It was cool to hear her side of the story, I love that. She brought her boyfriend to Karelštejn on Saturday for the branch activity and we are going to hopefully start teaching him this week, so we'll see how that goes! 

We went to Karelštejn twice this week (it takes an hour and a half by train to get there)...Thursday for specialized training and then Saturday with the branch. It was fun though. Thursday was super surreal, because I had to say goodbye to everyone...aaah. So weird. I was glad that all the Czechs were there though so that I got to see everybody, not just Prague and HK zones. I was talking to Sister Regnier about it and it just felt like a dream. At the end of every transfer people get up and give their departing testimonies and you never think it's going to be you! But it was good. We recreated the dedication meeting like last year and it was short and sweet. 

It was interesting because the sisters in my group all mentioned very different things, but we've all loved our missions. I think that's what I love most about it, that missions are so personal. Everything you learn is tailor-fit to you, and the Lord knows what experiences we each need to have in order to grow into the person he wants us to be. It's amazing how much it has changed me, I feel so different from who I was before. I'm just so grateful for that. Such a privilege. Sister Hicken talked about the power of music and reactivation, Sister Regnier talked about how at the end of your mission, the overwhelming question in your mind, is did I make a difference? And Sister Donaldson talked about how she found the letter she had written to herself in the MTC, and how her expectations for the end of her mission were so much lower than what the Lord had on plan for her--how we should raise our vision of our potential, because the Lord believes in us. It was cool to see how much we've all changed. I talked about President Eyring's quote "A person cannot give a crust to the Lord without receiving a loaf in return" and how most of the time I didn't even realize the start of miracles at the time--we were just doing what we were supposed to, and he guided our steps more than I will probably ever know. 

Well I think that's about it, just a normal week this next week. Oh except my birthday is on Wednesday haha. I keep forgetting. 23! aaaaah. I'm so old. I'm 3 years older than my comp, that's so weird. It'll basically be a normal day anyways, except we are having lunch at the Juraskovi and teaching the triplets--they said they have presents for me, so that'll be fun :) Can't believe it's almost August!! Time flies. 

s laskou,

Sestra Cooper