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

week 1 in Ceske Budejovice

Hi! Sorry you had to wait so long for this email, I got transferred! To Ceske Budejovice, which is 2 1/2 hours south. And it was pretty funny that you told me about Marci being with her MTC companion her second transfer, cause I am too! So it's me and Sister Hicken here, and a pair of elders. Elder Hansen is the Branch president, and his companion is the district leader, cause the branch is really small. I kind of figured I wouldn't have a follow-up trainer, but I didn't think I'd have to leave Prague too. It's been probably one of the most stressful weeks ever. I was really surprised when I got the transfer call, so I had to pack up everything, say goodbye to everyone Sunday, and leave on Monday, and take a train by myself. That would have been fine except they were working on the tracks so we had to switch to a bus, and then back to the train...with all of my luggage. Dragging two suitcases and a duffel up all those stairs was definitely not my first choice! I'm pretty sure each of them weighed more than half of me. Definitely got a workout from that! But I made it eventually. We had Sister Smith for two days and then she went home, and we had to fend for ourselves. I got to go back to Prague on Saturday actually because there was a district relief society conference, one of the elders investigators went, so we got to go. That was an adventure too! On the train ride up, their investigator started arguing with one of the members. The investigator was arguing that you can't say God is a person, you have to say he was, because he's perfect. And the member was arguing that God is a person, because the missionaries taught her that he has a body like her, and she's a person. So I tried to get them to see that it was just semantics, they were actually both saying the same thing....but to no avail. So me and Sister Hicken decided we were all going to read Moroni 7 together, out loud, so they couldn't argue anymore, and that lasted us until we got to Prague. They were all obedient, and readily agreed. I honestly felt like I was chaperoning little kids....and all three of them were at least 50 or 60. It's quite intimidating to have that much responsibility...I don't feel like I'm old enough! But then, Vera (one of the members) is afraid of escalators...and huge long, steep escalators are the only way in and out of the metros in Prague. So she freaked out every single time, and Sister Hicken had to convince her to get on them. hahaha, it was ridiculous. Oh and then the elder's investigator Jana, didn't quite believe me that I knew the metros in Prague, so she kept checking the maps, and got off one stop too soon, so we had to find her in the crowd and get her back on the metro before the doors closed....oh the drama. But! We had a miracle on the way too. So we were almost out of money, case it was the end of the month, and we had to buy our train tickets, plus one of the members cause she's on welfare. So we do that, and then realized we needed change for the metro passes. So me and Sister Hicken pull out all the change we have...my two passes were 48 crowns, and I had 49. Sister Hicken buys hers, and then we realized we had to buy them for that member too. So we look at how much we have left, and her tickets are only 12 crowns each cause she's old and gets the senior discount. Sister Hicken had 23 crowns...and then I remembered I had 1 left. Exactly the amount we needed, down to the crown. Pretty crazy. So then we finally made it to the conference, which was pretty good. But very relief society-esque, I know you know what I mean mom. There's something about relief society that has it's own unique culture, no matter what language you are speaking, that's very weird to people who aren't used to it. So Jana thought that was pretty weird, she has a Catholic background. But the new area authority spoke at the end, he's German, and his talk was really really good. He talked about repentance, and asked the question, it is our responsibility to complain or help? (specifically about crying kids during the sacrament), and then he talked about how the temple helps us in every stage of life, that was really good. So I'm really working on trying not to complain and just go to work. So the rest of the week was kind of rough too...we had 5 people dog us (not show up). So we did lots and lots of contacting in the pouring rain, and our numbers were really low. As if all that drama wasn't enough (plus the trying to speak czech and remember everything we are supposed to do when we are both new).... since it's been literally pouring every day for weeks, (I honestly don't think I've seen the sun in weeks, and that is not an exaggeration) there are now severe flood warnings! Yay. Prague is in a state of emergency, all the metros are shut down, and it's supposed to flood here too, but not as bad. When the reservoir gets full they open the floodgates. So the Tuckovi put a bunch of stuff in our apartment from their basement, cause we live by the river (we're on the 2nd floor). It was supposed to happen last night, but now they are saying it will be tomorrow. So we might be stuck inside all day tomorrow...we'll see. Sister Hicken's excited cause it means we might get to do extra service. So yeah...never ending adventure here in Ceske Budejovice. All of that happened in a week! Mom, you wanted to know how singing displays work? They only do them in Prague and Brno, unfortunately not here cause there aren't enough of us. But we just pick a spot by the metro or bus stops where there is a lot of people, and one companion sings while the other one contacts. We just sing hymns. So in Prague we had 4 or 5 people singing and then their companions contact, and we'd switch off every 15 minutes or so, and go for an hour and a half. We also had a info board that we'd set up next to us when the APs remembered it, and it had the church's name and pictures, the living christ, that sort of thing. We did it once a week as a district. I must have just missed your package...lame! I have to wait until training on the 19th to get it unless the zone leaders come here for some reason, cause it will be in Prague. I was really hoping it would be there on Saturday. Mom, I do look up the scriptures you put in your emails, don't worry haha. But I usually don't have time to respond cause Sister Bowler didn't like using the whole hour and a half. But Sister Hicken does, that's one good thing about being with someone from my own group I guess! I had the same epiphany about Satan being bound cause of righteousness the other day, pretty cool. You are totally spoiling the sisters! That is great. It would be so wonderful to have someone like you in the branch, seriously. We don't have any active families, just a few older men and women, and hardly any of them are married, maybe 10 or 15 come. So our primary is totally empty, and we only have 2 hours of church, it switches off between being sunday school and relief society. So we are going to be doing a lot of inactives work, we fasted for help on that on Sunday as a district. Well I am out of time, love you!!! Sestra Cooper

Week 9 in Praha. Do I stay?

Ahoj! This is going to be short cause we are going to go to Karelstejin today!! I'm really excited but it means a lot of running around like a crazy person (to use Monica's phrase :)) We have to go catch the 1:20 train. This week wasn't really too exciting anyways, not compared to last week. We've been teaching Jana and Vaclav the new member lessons, and it's been really cool to see how much more they understand now that they are members, there really is a difference with the gift of the Holy Ghost! So that was fun, we went for pudding at the Cankovi's house with both of them, and that was really cool. Both Sister Cankova and Brother Canek (they spell the names differently according to gender) were baptized during Communism, and they work in the Freiberg temple every other week. She told us her story, they had to sneak out in the middle of the night to a lake and avoid the police. It was sweet, she said her two feelings at her baptism were, being scared that the police would catch them, and when can I go to the Temple? They are amazing. On Tuesday we got to go to Ceske Budovice (2 1/1 hrs south by car) for specialized training. That was fun, cause it was all about using our time wisely and trying new contacting techniques, so we contacted for 2 hours as part of it. That was cool cause I learned a lot, but also got to see another city! It's beautiful, especially the main namesti (town square). What else...nothing else really happened haha. We have a good pool of potential investigators for next transfer which is good cause our area isn't quite as good now that our two main ones got baptized! So if I'm still here in Prague things are looking pretty good. I'm excited about Boki though, cause I think he finally understands why we want him to read in the Book of Mormon, how everything we teach him leans on knowing whether or not it's true. And he committed to come to church on Sunday even though he didn't like it last time, so he's started progressing. We are also bringing him to Br Zumar's with the Munros for dinner on Sunday so that will be fun. We've been getting feed the last two weekends cause everyone wants to say goodbye to Sister Bowler, so that's been nice. We are getting fed Monday at FHE, then Tuesday at the Balackovi too haha. It's great. It was so good to get your email Annica!! I'm so glad you get to speak Spanish, that's awesome. I'm glad you are enjoying it. Are you really saying blessed?? haha Utah has corrupted you. Oh yeah, Martin Novak made his decision...and it's not getting baptized. It's so sad, he told Sister Bowler he knows he will miss the church a lot, but he can't bring himself to do it. Not even to just make the decision--we told him he could change his mind if he didn't get an answer. But he said he just likes Buddhism better, cause he doesn't have any doubts about it. I don't get that though, cause he's told us before that he believes that God and Jesus Christ are real. I'm hoping he makes it one day! Hopefully when he has a trial or something he will remember the gospel and how much happier it made him. I'm trying not to freak out about transfers, and so far I've been doing pretty well. I find out tonight though! Everyone has pretty much assumed I'm staying in Prague, and I think I might be with someone from my own group, but we'll see! You never know, I could be leaving. I'm feeling much more confident now, though, I know that whatever happens I'll have the Lord's help every day, and that I will see miracles! I've been really working on having charity for the people and it's made a huge difference. love you all!!! Sestra Cooper

Double baptisms! Week 8 in Praha

Ahoj!! We had our double baptism this morning and it was beautiful!!! aaah I'm so glad everything worked out. We were freaking out yesterday morning cause Vaclav STILL hadn't talked to his wife and he needed her permission to get baptized. He seemed really scared to do it too, but he did, and she was fine with it, so that was a relief. They were both sooo happy today. It was amazing. Me and Sister Bowler sang I Know that My Redeemer Lives (in Czech of course), and both had solos so that was fun. It was cool too, cause some of the members came up to me after and were like, wow your Czech is really good, you've made so much progress! hahaha. So that was nice to hear. Oh it was so awkward though cause one of the ladies that gave a talk was just talking to Vaclav, apparently she didn't realize Jana was getting baptized too, even though she was on the program. So people were trying to point at the program discretely and she was like what? The sisters told me it was just Vaclav....so that was awkward haha. But everyone just laughed about it, so it was fine. We gave both Jana and Vaclav a triple combination and a true to the faith as congratulations. Oh and Martin Novak came too! That was big because he didn't come to church last week. But we had our do-or-die lesson with him, and I ended up promising him that if he just made the decision to get baptized he would get his answer that the Book of Mormon was true. Normally I wouldn't say something like that, but the Spirit was sooo strong telling me to promise him RIGHT NOW, so I did! It was neat too, because as missionaries we can promise things like that, as representatives of Jesus Christ, and we told him that. He was much more serious during that lesson and seemed to actually be considering it. He usually beats around the bush a ton, "chodit kolem horke kase" in Czech (it means walk around the hot potatoes), but he's been a lot better lately. (Every time we say goodbye to him we say "mej se hezky a mene dramaticsky" which means have yourself well, and less dramatically haha. We joke that he's like a boy you can't get rid of, because he tries to drop us but always comes back. So much drama haha. Of course it's not us at all, it's because he knows the gospel makes him happier, but he can't quite admit it) But, we got him to admit yesterday that there was a "strong atmosphere" when I promised him that (he won't admit that it's the spirit). Oh and we ran into him in the metro the day after too, which never happens, Prague is huge, and he admitted that the talk we gave him was written for him. So we are still hoping he's a miracle and gets baptized on Saturday...we'll see. He's so stubborn haha. Oh the talk is Elder Scott's from 1989 about recognizing answers to prayer, can't remember if I told you that on the phone or not. It's not translated into Czech so we just had it in English and Sister Bowler took a week to translate the whole thing to give to him. So we'll see!! He's so close!! It is neat too, because I told him the story of me deciding to go on a mission like a month ago, about how I didn't get my answer until after I made the decision for myself, so I've been able to testify that I have personal experience with what we are asking him to do, and it was the best decision I've ever made. Today he admitted that he actually does want the Book of Mormon to be true. So we're hoping he has the courage to just decide to take that step of faith. This week was insane though, since we met with Jana and Vaclav every day, plus all of our other investigators--we got 12 member lessons. Pretty crazy. We've made mission standards in all areas for the past 2 weeks :) It was pretty funny too, because we've had to hide from our investigators a couple times now--Jana, Vaclav, and Boki usually come a half an hour early to lessons, but we always have a member scheduled to come at the right time, so it's super awkward to just sit there for an extra half hour, when we usually have contacting on plan. So we have to make sure they don't see us haha. They are fine waiting cause they come so early, but it's not like we can walk into the foyer and then leave again! It's been really neat these last two weeks too, because I've been praying for charity and have really felt it. Before it was easier to get frustrated with investigators, and of course sometimes I still do, but now I love them so much! I'm starting to understand "charity never faileth" now. I never really got that before, but I'm starting to realize that loving the people comes first, before anything else. And I really need that charity, or missionary work would be miserable haha. But really, I'm starting to really love it here, so I'm hoping I don't get transferred next week. I will most likely stay here since my comp is leaving, but we'll see. Yeah you will get an email from me on Saturday cause transfers aren't until Monday, but everyone else has P-day on Monday, so that's why they sent out the email. It was so nice to talk to you on Sunday!! It's true, it's kind of funny how normal it is, just like I talk to you every day. That was fun, and it didn't make me homesick, so that was good :) I really do love it here now, especially today after the baptism, so cool. Oh and we taught a part-member family last night too, the wife is less-active, but since we started teaching her she's come to church almost every week with her three-year-old, and now her husband is coming to support her. She's from Peru, but speaks some English, and he's Czech. So they communicate in English, and are both trying to learn each other's native languages. They talk to their son in all three. It was funny cause he was so adamant about how he's Czech, so he's going to drink his beer, and he wants to stay neutral, etc, and we aren't going to convert him. So we were like, that's fine. He came in at the end of her lesson, so we said the closing prayer, and then he asked us a ton of questions so we basically ended up teaching the Restoration to answer them, even though he said he's not interested. So we think he might be a little more than he lets on. He has his masters in psychology, so he was saying stuff like, yeah the things you ask Diana to do are really healthy mentally, like reading and praying every day. They have "family day" every Saturday where they go visit different zoos in Europe and have a "gratitude moment." We were teaching Diana about FHE, so when he said that we were like, well you basically already do it, just add a scripture and turn the gratitude into prayer! So we'll see what happens with him. Well that's about it, we have a super busy week next week too, cause we are having transfer breakfast with the district, specialized training in Ceske Budovice on Tuesday, and lots of lessons! It will be great. I'm excited to work hard to finish out the transfer. Transfer phone calls aren't until next Saturday night, so I'll find out where I'm going/not and my new companion after I email you! Crazy. All of us missionaries are doing a musical number tomorrow in Sacrament meeting too, so there's been lots of singing this week haha. I'm getting over a cold too, so I was worried about that, but it turned out fine :) I'm so curious to hear how Annica is doing in the field!! Oh well, guess I'll have to wait another week. It goes by so fast though, can't believe the transfer is almost over! Oh and mom can you send me the recipes for banana bread and zucchini bread and crepes? I didn't bring them. thanks!!! And if you stick some aussie bites in that package too, that would be awesome haha. K I love you!!! I'll send pictures :) Sestra Cooper

week 7 in Praha, and a roadtrip to Slovakia!!

11May 2013 Ahoj!!! Sorry this is late, we just got back from Slovakia! President called us on Sunday and was like, by the way, don't plan anything for Friday or Saturday because you are going to Slovakia! So we left yesterday morning at 7:15 and 5 hours later we got to Trencin (I think Daniel might have served there?) We got to take the van with the office elders, the Pardivice elders and then we picked up the Jihlava elders on the way too, so that was really fun. So the reason for it was the anniversary of the dedication of Slovakia-- President Uchtdorf rededicated it in 2006 I think. So we put on a concert yesterday and then had a service in the forest where he dedicated it today. We got to go because Sister Bowler is really good at the piano, but I got to sing a small solo part in I Often Go Walking (in Slovak, so my pronunciation was a little scary haha) and we sang Come Thou Fount in a quartet with us four sisters and it was so beautiful. Everyone did so well. Sister Irwin was like I didn't know you sang! So hopefully that means I get to do something like that again. Basically I fell in love with Slovakia, it's so pretty!! Hopefully I get to serve there at some point. We spent the night with the Zilina sisters, and it was really cool, cause I was telling Sister Jones that I thought my aunt had served there in the 90s, and she pulled out the area book and sure enough she had signed it!! Daniel's in there too, so that was cool. I got to go contacting in Trencin for an hour with the Zilina sisters too, so that was really fun, I actually understood most of what they said even though it was Slovak! The people didn't understand me very well, probably because I was speaking Czech with an American accent, but it was still fun. It was so nice to be in a little small town, I've missed trees and not-big-city haha. The countryside is SO PRETTY. I can't get over it haha. So I got to see pretty much the whole country this weekend. This week was pretty good, Slovakia made it a whole lot better, especially cause a lot of our lessons didn't show up. But, we should have 2 baptisms next week! I'm really excited about that. We found out Vaclav is married and has a kid...didn't see that coming. But we think they are separated or something cause he lives with his mom. It sounds like if they are separated he doesn't need her approval to get baptized, which is good cause it sounds like she doesn't like the church. And our other baptism was kind of a miracle, her name is Jana. She's the girlfriend of a member, and we were really worried that she was just doing it for him, he would answer for her a lot in the lessons, and she was lying about her reading and stuff. So we were praying about it, and I felt like we should challenge her to meet with us without him for the last 2 weeks before her baptism. We weren't sure if it would go over well, cause when they taught her last transfer she tended to freak out about things, and not really seem to understand the lessons. So we've started teaching really simply. But anyway, so we told them that, and she totally agreed, and her boyfriend told us that he'd actually been thinking the same thing that week! And she actually showed up to the next lesson without him and it went so well!! We quizzed her on the Plan of Salvation to make sure she remembered it this time around and she could put the pictures together almost perfect, so I'm really relieved about her. Before I was feeling super unsure about her being ready, but I feel so much better now, so that was really cool. So member lessons, that means a lesson for an investigator with a member there. We are supposed to do that as much as possible so that they have friends besides just the missionaries. hahaha that is so funny that dad though it was weird we made cookies--we got the idea from the Elders in Jihlava, they made brownies! We live in an apartment building, so it was to all of our neighbors, we don't know our landlord either, he's a British member that lives in a different city, but we have his number. Oh so an update on Martin: we had a really horrible conversation with him on Sunday, he basically was just talking about his indian book (that was written in 1966) and about how the Book of Mormon can't be true cause of it. I could have argued with him all day long and told him that I'm an anthropology major and about all the different theories of how people got to the Americas, how they conflict and how there is not one scientific consensus, how any book written in the 60s is completely outdated in the field, etc. But it wouldn't make any difference, he's absolutely determined that his ideas are right, and he doesn't want to give them up even though he has a testimony of the Book of Mormom. And I didn't bother arguing, because the only way anyone ever will know that it's true is by asking God. Sister Bowler talked to him on the phone this week and he said he's decided she's going to be his last missionary, and he didn't read in the Book of Mormon for 3 days, which is the first time he's ever done that. So he's basically decided to drop us. So we are having one last lesson with him this week--we read a talk on prayer by Elder Scott from 1989 that is super good, and perfect for him, so Sister Bowler is translating it and we are going to talk about it with him in our do-or-die lesson this week. And I feel like we should also point out how anyone that joins the church has to sacrifice something, for some people it's an addiction, for others it's friends--for him it's his ideas. So we'll see how that goes. I just hope he will see that something is missing from his life when he no longer has the gospel in it and comes back one day. But the language is SO much better. I realized I was kind of holding myself back--I think I was scared to improve, as funny as that sounds, because then I couldn't hide behind my companion anymore. So once I realized that I gave that up and started working a lot harder and that's when the gift of tongues kicked in--in the last few weeks I've started to understand soooo much more, to remember what I hear and to be able to use it and everything. So that was amazing, I'm really grateful for that. K love you!!! Sestra Cooper

Week 6 in Praha

Ahoj! This week was crazy busy, but really good. We've taught 9 member lessons and we are on track to have 10 by Sunday! And we should have 21 lessons overall, which is really exciting. My companion said this is the closest she's ever been to 21 lessons her entire mission, and she goes home in 4 weeks. So that was really cool. We had a really interesting lesson with Martin Novak this week, he's an eternal investigator--he's been one for a year and a half, comes to church every week and keeps all the commandments, but he won't get baptized. So we keep sort of trying to drop him--we don't teach him that often, but then he always comes back--it's kind of hard to explain haha. But anyways, he knows it's true, but he can't get over things that don't make sense to him logically--like he thinks that science and religion contradict each other, and he really likes Buddhism. It was a really cool lesson though, because he asked to meet with us to ask us some of his questions, so we went in without a lesson plan, really, just some things we wanted to emphasize. The whole thing ended up being completely guided by the Spirit--things that I studied in personal study were perfect to address some of his concerns, and I actually understood most of it so I was actually able to contribute something. He speaks really complicated Czech, so the other times we've met with him I usually don't understand anything. That was definitely a blessing! He brought up evolution vs creation and he was so surprised when I told him I studied Anthropology and I have absolutely no problem with my faith and science coexisting. So that was really neat--I was actually able to be myself instead of just a missionary, you know? I hoped it helped him in some way. Who knows when he will decide to just make the decision, I hope he does one day, he just needs faith. Oh yeah and English class this week was hilarious. It was just the regulars, Stanislav, Ales, and Petr, (they are all at least 65) but then Charlah came, and Ales whips out Indonesian haha. Turns out he lived there for 6 months. So that was really cool, it made her feel really welcome (she just turned 20, almost same exact age as Annica). And then she said she lived on Papua (same island as New Guinea) and Stanislav goes off on how there are cannibals there and asks if she eats people!! hahaha. I was really glad she didn't get offended, everybody was just cracking up at the ridiculousness of it. She was like no, there are tribes in the mountains that do that, but I'm not one of them!! haha. That was pretty entertaining. Oh it was really cool, cause one of them asked if she was Muslim and she said, no I'm Christian. And I said you're a Mormon! And she got all excited and was like oh yeah!!! Then she asked if they were Mormons, and when I said no, she said well they should be! haha love her. Oh mom, do you have any ideas for English class? We answer questions for the first little bit and then usually do some sort of presentation, so we teach them vocab about a specific topic--we've done anthropology, the names of the U.S. states, acronyms, idioms....so any ideas you have would be awesome!! Oh yeah last P-day we went to IKEA! haha that was really fun. We needed some kitchen stuff for our apartment, so we just decided to go. There are actually 2 in Prague, one on either end. We were going to go to a castle called Karlstejin today, but half the district couldn't go so we will hopefully go the last week of the transfer. Cause next week the APs can't, and then the week after, we will hopefully have 2 baptisms! We'll see what happens with those. Vaclav seems pretty solid, we've taught him almost everything. Jana, we're not sure about...we need to make sure she's not just doing it for her boyfriend, cause he's a member. Sorry there's not really that much else to say...all we did this week was study and teach lessons! Which is how it should be haha. Oh we did have a cool lesson with a guy named Jimi, he's from Georgia (the country) and when we asked him if he would read the Book of Mormon, he said "well I can see that you are really good people, so if this book is what helps you be that way, it must be good." That was pretty cool. Oh and mom, I had the BEST salad the other day haha. It was arugula and spinach with balsamic and chevre cheese baked in honey with cranberries I think. It was so good. hahaha. Oh yeah, we heard about the explosion, it was more towards the center of old town I think. But it was pretty funny cause President called us and said, where are you? And I was like, at home, we're about to leave...and he said ok good, have a nice day. So we were dying of curiosity the whole day until Sister Curtis mentioned it haha. (Senior missionaries have so many perks haha. They can google recipes, news, go to cultural things, talk to their families...basically anything they want). Oh but one last thing--something cool I learned in the scriptures this week. I was reading in Alma 31 and compared the Zoramites' prayer to Alma's, and it was really interesting cause at first glance it seems like the Zoramites are less selfish--they just thank God for things, while Alma is asking for help. But then once you study them, the Zoramites aren't really talking to God at all, they are talking at him, and since they don't ask him for anything, they are actually being prideful. While Alma is acknowledging that he needs God's help and he prays for others as well as himself. Just thought that was really cool. Love you all!!! Sestra Cooper

Week 5 in Praha

Ahoj! This week was good. Super busy. We are really excited for next week cause we have 21 lessons planned, which is the mission goal for each companionship to have. So hopefully we make that!! It's a little frustrating cause it depends on members not cancelling/being available and the investigators of course. But we can pray! (We are shooting for 10 member lessons which is really hard, so we'll see how that goes! the rest are less-actives or recent converts. The standard for the mission is 4-6 member lessons a week). We met so many really cool potentials this week, so I'm really excited! I got a number during the singing display, even though my Czech is atrocious, but he basicially was like, oh you talk about Jesus Christ? sure we can meet, here's my number haha. YES. That never happens. And then we met this really cool girl in the park the other day who basically did the same thing, she was like oh you meet with people right, and starts pulling out her planner!! So we got I got my first A#! (Not sure if that's the same missionary slang you used Dad, but it means appointment + a number). She's way cool, so I'm excited for that lesson. It's not all like that of course, some guy totally yelled at Sister Bowler yesterday on the tram and made her cry, he was so mean. All she said was I'm a missionary and he threatened to throw her off the tram or something, I didn't understand it, it was in Czech. But luckily most people just ignore us or say they aren't interested, I haven't gotten yelled at yet. It's all part of it I guess! She was like, oh maybe he's just having a bad day...I wasn't quite so charitable, I wanted to go yell at him haha...working on that...(not that I ever would, you know me haha. I did feel pretty indignant though, why would you be so rude to a perfect stranger?? I will never understand that) We've had some really great things happen to make up for all the rude people though. We got to do a contacting exchange with the ZLs the other day, which was cool cause I got some new ideas to try. (Since we're girls they can't do a real exchange, so we just contact on oppostite sides of the street.) English was really fun this week, Jan (he's a member) brought a friend for the first time, and we ended up giving him a church tour, which counts as a member lesson! It was cool cause they were telling me all about how they moved to New Zealand a couple years ago to rock climb, reminded me of Nick Brown! I think Jan was planning on biking to the temple trip today....which is in Germany haha. He was like, oh it's only 170 km or something...ridiculous. Petr had crazy stories like usual (he's the profession liar, of his own admission haha) But I've gotten used to him now. I actually really like English cause I can actually get to know some Czech people, since we teach the advanced class it's all in English, except the spiritual thought. Oh yeah, I've been wanting to meet our neighbors for a while, so we made chocolate chip cookies and took them to all of them this week! Some weren't home, but the ones we did meet were super nice! It was pretty funny cause Sister Bowler explained it by saying, Hi, we are sort of new here (the sisters have been in our apartment for 3 months) and when you move somewhere new in America you bake things, so we brought you cookies hahaha. It was pretty funny. One lady was like, oh you have to meet my husband! And then she gave us some peanut wafers in exchange haha. Most of them are older couples. This one guy walks his dog a lot, and she absolutely loves us haha, she gets so excited every time! Made me miss Buster. But at least he knows we are nice, if your dog loves somebody, they have to be a least a little bit trustworthy, don't you think? What else...sorry I didn't write very much in my journal this week, and the days all blend together. We went running this morning! That was nice. Today seems to be back to Spring, the last couple days have been really hot. Oh yeah! There's a baptism tonight! It's one of Andel's (one of the other areas in Prague) investigators, she's really cool, from Russia and I think she's 18? Totally solid. So that will be really cool. That's awesome that Ethan got the priesthood, so proud of you bud! Dad I would love historical/cultural stuff about the Czech Republic!! The other missionaries don't really know any cultural things, and it's not like I can just go to the library and get a book :) Thanks! That would be great. Tell Madison congrats for me! Go sister missionaries! That's awesome. I realized this week that I've been on my mission for 3 months. WHAT. haha that's crazy!! I've already been in Prague for a month. It's so weird how time works here. The days take FOREVER, but then you blink and it's been a month. I'm hoping our area doesn't get blinded out (when both of us leave) cause we have so many really solid investigators right now, I would love to stay and see it through. We'll see in 4 weeks I guess! It still feels like my Czech isn't improving, but I was thinking about it, and my first week when someone asked me where I was from, I couldn't even hear the individual words. And now I definitely understand that question, and a lot more. So I guess I am improving, it's just hard to see the progress. Church is kind of a good marker though, cause it's 3 hours of listening to Czech and trying to understand it. I never understood how easy it is to fall asleep when you are listening to a foreign language you don't understand haha, that's a struggle. No wonder our exchange students weren't that thrilled about coming to church after the first time! I was sitting next to one of our investigators on Sunday, and it was 2 hours in the chapel cause of Branch Conference, and it was SO HARD to stay awake haha. I felt so bad, and I was thinking, you can't fall asleep in church, what kind of example would that be?? Haha. Luckily the Irwins spoke, and they speak English, so I was at least able to understand their talks. And then Sister Bowler usually translates for Relief Society, so I knew what was going on for that hour haha. It's all good though, I know I will get it eventually, I'm just trying to be patient! Oh yeah mom, you asked about how we teach lessons with our male investigators-we teach in the church building, and there are usually elders teaching at the same time. We just have to leave the door open. There are 9 missionaries in Prague and we are the only sisters. Or Elder Curtis and Sister Curtis are usually there too (one of the senior couples). If we have a lesson later at night sometimes we'll ask the Office Elder to be in the building or something, but it's usually not a problem. Ok I'm running out of time. Love you all!!!! Have a fantastic week. Sestra Cooper