Tuesday, August 5, 2014

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

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