Week 13 in Plzen!

28 Apr 2014 Ahoj! This week was pretty average, we are trying to find new investigators since we lost our 4 main ones in the best possible way :) Things are looking up, we have some lessons set up for this next week with some new people, so I'm excited about that. It was cool because we were looking at our branch vision (we all created a vision of what our branches need to be wards at the beginning of the year so that we know who to look for as we find, and so that we can have a stake at the end of the year). One of the people on the list was a family of 4, preferably with young women :) (The girls turn 12 next summer!) SO. COOL. So we were looking at the other people we need, and we decided we were going to focus on YSA men, because we only have 1 right now. We both hate contacting young men....but we decided we were going to do it anyways and pray that we would find the person we need to find. At the end of a contacting block we ended up in Bory park and since we were talking to all the young men, we contacted this guy with long hair. Turns out he is studying English and is Christian and was intrigued when we talked about the book of mormon. He ended up coming to game night and then going out to pizza with all the ysas and having a great time. Jitka said he just fit in perfectly. And we have a first lesson with him today :) It was just so neat. Who knows what will happen, but I think it was all way too guided for him to not become an investigator :) It's just the best to look back on something and realize that you were guided by the spirit even though you had no idea. We were just being obedient and talking to people. Missions are the best. Me and my comp were talking about all the things we've learned on our missions the other day, and I was telling her that I feel like I have such a greater capacity to love. Just loving others, loving God, loving life, loving the gospel--it's all encompassing. Such a gift, in so many ways. I really felt that yesterday at church, because the Chrdlovi from C Bud came up since he's the new district president, so I got to see Johy again (she's already 17...so crazy)! And she got to meet Simona and the triplets. It was so great to see two of my favorite families in the Czech Republic together--I can't even describe it. I was just so happy. And Johy told me that one of the daughters of that inactive family we worked with when I was there is now participating in seminary by skype and went to a dance in prague for youth and loved it. It's so cool to look back and see all the progress--I was there almost a year ago! And my first convert Vaclav, is working on receiving the Melchisedek priesthood. And Simona's going on the branch temple trip on May 10. Aaaaah. So much happiness. I just love my mission. I so wish I could be here when we get a stake. It's sooo close. This week should be good, we have training in prague on wednesday (i should get my package then, mom), and we might go to prague on sat for a baptism of a guy that sister rosenvall taught. So we'll see. I'm just trying to put my all into the time I have left, it's going by waaay too fast. love you!!! Sestra Cooper

Week 12 in Plzen

Ahoj! 21 Apr 2014 This week was really great. We got to teach Simona and her daughters every night, and they are just amazing. The girls all have strong testimonies even though they are only 10 and they are the cutest. They were telling us that their teacher at school is an atheist and often talks about how God doesn't exist, so most of their friends don't believe either. But these girls are so amazing--they testified to their friends that they know that God answers prayers, and that they were getting baptized on Saturday.I wish you could meet them! We had a miracle on Friday, because Simona still wasn't quite sure that she had gotten her answer when they came for their interviews, but by the time we sat down to have a lesson she said something like, everything in my life is going really well so I guess that's my answer. And then we started to read 3 Nephi 17, and two verses in, she gasped and started crying as she felt the Spirit confirm that she was making the right choice. It was so neat because I didn't even feel that inspired that morning when I picked that chapter--I just thought, it's when Christ heals the children, so I think it will be special for the girls. But it turns out that their mom was the one that needed to hear it. Roksana, her best friend and a member, just kept asking how did you pick that chapter?? it was perfect! I just said that we prayed about it. It was just such a testimony to me that God really does guide our steps--so much more than I think I will ever realize. That was what she needed to hear--that this is what her girls need. It was amazing. Saturday was the baptism! It was beautiful, in this little lake by the village of Stenovice. It had been cold all week, but during the baptism it was so sunny and warm that we didn't even need coats. The girls were pretty scared about the cold water, but they made it haha. And President McConkie showed up as a surprise and played his violin on the top of the cliff looking down at us, aah it was so beautiful. And then yesterday was the best Easter ever, because all of them got confirmed, along with one of the elder's investigators who got baptized too. The Spirit was so strong the whole sacrament meeting--it was really special. And they are so happy. Ah being a missionary is the best. It was the perfect time to just really think about what the Savior means to me, and it was probably one of the best experiences I've ever had taking the sacrament--it means so much more to me now than it ever has before. The atonement really is such a gift. That was definitely the highlight of the week--I didn't really think about anything else! My comp is the best, we just laugh all the time. We rearranged our apartment this morning so it's much more homey, that was fun. Some funny moments this week--this old lady tried to force feed us wafers even though we told her we were fasting for Simona, so we ended up having to hide them in our bags hahaha. Czech grandmas....another one interrupted our lesson and was like do you cook?? We said yeah of course,when we have time... But she wasn't convinced and then proceeded to pray that we would learn how to cook so that we can get married when we get home and have kids, and that we wouldn't live off of bread and water like prisoners.hahahaha we just died of laughter the second she left, it was soo funny. No idea how she got that idea into her head, but it is actually true that we never have time to eat dinner. But that's ok cause we are teaching lessons--we just have to eat on the way. Oh it was hilarious. Other than that....we managed to make it through Easter without getting whipped! haha.(Easter is more on Monday than Sunday here) They aren't supposed to do it after noon, but who knows what will happen at fhe tonight haha. I bought one this year so i'll get to bring it home :) Jitka explained more about the tradition--it's a pagan thing, supposed to bring women health. And girls are supposed to give the boys dyed eggs in return. But if they whip you after noonyou get to throw water on them. haha gotta love it. Plus one of the czech grandmas in the branch made us all of us missionaries a little easter dinner to take home, so that was awesome. A potato loaf--kind of like quiche, pickles, a special easter bread and some fruit :) It was pretty good. And we dyed eggs last night. So it was fun. love you all! Happy Easter!

Week 11 in Plzen

14 Apr 2014 Ahoj! This week felt so long but it was so good. We are teaching a lot and my new companion is AWESOME. She's so great. Such a blessing. We get along super well and are having so much fun. Plus we got to watch conference!! soooo good. As usual. Plus we had 5 investigators come! that was awesome. We made conference bingo for the little girls and they loved it :) We have 4 baptisms on plan for Saturday!! Plus one of the elders' investigators. I'm sooo excited. We are teaching them every night this week to get them ready, and have almost taught everything. It was really cool because the rest of them were feeling a little unsure, but the youngest Johanka was like, I want to be baptized 100% on Saturday! We asked her why and she said "chci byt jako vy!" (I want to be like you). It's so cute--but her faith is propelling the rest of her family to join her--they are all on board now. The mom still feels like she hasn't got an answer for sure, but she definitely wants it for her girls. And the other two said that they wanted to follow the steps of the gospel :) aaah they are the best. So we'll see what happens! We are going to fast with them this week so that the mom will get a testimony. Today we went to the easter markets and the zoo, that was fun. So windy though, we are getting a lot of april showers. It's good though cause I guess they are afraid of a drought this summer since it only snowed once this winter. Anyways. And then for fhe we are going to go to gabca's softball game to support her, so i'm excited for that :) Conference was the best. I loved Elder Holland's talk--it felt really good to relate to the persecution he was talking about, i've been sworn at and ignored and yelled at as a missionary. Luckily never spit upon yet. But the missionaries in Prague got egged at a singing display last week, so it felt really relevant to me. I feel proud to have experience with my "most cherished beliefs being reviled". That was what I was most afraid of when I was deciding if I wanted to serve or not, I wasn't sure if I could handle it. But it's not me at all, it's the strength that comes from the atonement--that testimony and love burning so bright that nothing can dim it. Doesn't make it easy, but it's just so worth it. Loved that. And I loved Elder Bednar's talk--going to have to study that one, I felt like I only got a glimpse of what he was trying to teach. It was so interesting to think about our "loads" being what give us the spiritual traction to make it back to God. I also loved the talk about the olympics-- "your 4 minutes" And I noticed all the preach my gospel references--they quoted from it sooo much. Conference is so great. love you! Sestra Cooper

Week 10 in Plzen!

7 Apr 2014 Ahoj!! I'm still in Plzen :) which i'm so happy about. And Sister Rosenvall's my new comp! I'm sooo excited. She's awesome and only one group behind me so we are going to just work so hard :) It's so great, we just heard that there were 6 baptisms in the mission on Saturday, and the last 6 weeks there have been multiple baptisms across the mission every week. (That's way better than usual) The YSA in the Prague District did a 40 day fast for missionary work and the whole mission is on fire because of it. We're all teaching so many more people and there have been so many miracles. President wants to have a stake in the Czech Republic by the end of the year, and we are soooo close. I'm so glad I get to be a part of it! So we are continuing the fast as a mission. It's just been so cool. The Lord is just pouring down so many blessings. Ah I just love being a missionary! And I'm excited about my new district too, it's going to be so great. Plus we get to watch Conference this weekend--it's like Christmas when you're on your mission. I can't wait! This last week wasn't too exciting, just kind of normal, a lot of cancelled lessons. But we did get a really cool new investigator named Jiri this week--he basically taught us the whole Restoration, already believes all of it. The only thing that was new was Joseph Smith and the Book of Mormon. He's awesome. And he has 4 kids!!! Czech families are usually so much smaller. He says he comes to English because he wants "to be around other believers" and he took so many notes during our intro to mormonism seminar on temples :) it was awesome. Oh yeah.....funny story. So Saturday night I decided to wash my coat cause it was gross and I always forget. So I threw it in there, checked my pockets, took out the pass-along cards and didn't think anymore about it....until I couldn't find the phone. Oops. Guess I missed a pocket...that was embarrassing. Luckily we could use the elders phone to coordinate all the transfer stuff yesterday, our cim card still works, and sister Rosenvall just brought a new one down from Prague today. So that ended up well, but I felt like such an idiot haha. Because missionary work is reallly impossible without a phone--you can't even really contact because sometimes people give fake numbers so you have to call them right then. Oh well, worked out in the end haha, the elders laughed so hard when I told them. I swear, my memory has gotten so bad as a missionary--I think it's because I never get enough sleep haha. Well there's really not much else to say....here's to a fantastic next transfer! love you! Sestra Cooper

Week 9 in Plzen!

31 Mar 2014 Ahojky! Oh man I cannot believe this transfer's already over!! aaaah. I better stay, things are going really well. We're teaching more and more people and Simona and the girls are just the best. I'm pretty exhausted though, with going to Prague twice this week (we have to get up at like 5:30) and daylight savings I really need some more sleep....Training was good as always, and district conference was awesome yesterday. It was cool because I was in the Prague district last time in October, and that was my third transfer--I understood about half of what they said. This time I could actually take notes and really get a ton out of the talks. So cool! Plus I got to see people from Prague--Vaclav is still active and he's almost been a member for a year can you believe it!! that was my first transfer. Plus another girl we taught that transfer just got baptized last week. So cool. And they reorganized the district presidency, and the new president is Bro Chrdle from C Bud so I know him too! It's going to be so great. We had a seventy from Sweden there as well, and he talked about hastening the work, it was really good. Oh yeah and Sister Zmolkova updated me on C Bud--they are meeting with inactives we visited for the first time when I was there! A whole family, and only the mom is a member. And then they visited a couple that I met once as well, and he wanted to give his wife a blessing cause she was sick but didn't know how, so they called around to get the instructions in czech, and he was able to give her one--she said he just was staring at his hands after and was like, wow I could feel the power. Missions are just so worth it. You never know what little thing you do will make a difference. All of those hours organizing the branch list in C Bud :) Last night we had a miracle as well! We got back from District Conference at like 6 and I was really wishing we could just go home to eat dinner, but we had on plan to visit an inactive. So we stopped by but she was sleeping (she's really old and sick) so then we decided to walk home and contact. So we talked to a couple of cool people, one lady from Argentina, but no one wanted to meet. Then Sister Bruno contacted this YSA guy, which is always iffy, you never know if they are going to hit on you and ask you out for a beer.... But this one was nice, and he was like yeah I'm interested in knowing if God is there, I have time right now to talk about it! So we were like...ok...let's find a bench! So we sat down and taught him about the book of mormon and prayer and invited him to find out if God is there. He just kept saying, this is so weird, I'm so scared of reading this book, what if it does change my life? But he agreed to read Alma 32 and try praying and we have a meeting with him on Wednesday! The coolest part is that we had made a goal of 2 new investigators for the week and we didn't have anyone on Saturday morning, that night we got an unexpected one and then yesterday we found the other! The Lord really does help us out when we are doing our best. love you sooooo much!!!! Sestra Cooper

Week 8 in Plzen

24 Mar 2014 Cau! Phew this week has been crazy! We taught so many lessons. The most in my whole mission, 22, and we made standards in all areas! That is sooo hard to do. I still don't know how that happened, but I'm just grateful for blessings. The work that we've done all transfer is finally paying off. It was really cool cause the family we are teaching finally came to church all together!! Our district had 13 total investigators at church so it felt like half the branch. It was awesome. And we met some really cool people this week too. Things are finally getting going! Of course it's at the end of the transfer, like always. I don't know where the time is going....we have training in Prague on Wed, and then District Conference on Sunday in Prague again, so this week is just going to fly by. only two weeks left of the transfer! I really hope I'm staying, it would be weird if I left after only one. Other things....We have some new less-actives to work with, so that was exciting...I really don't know what else to say. We've just been busy, nothing too exciting happened. We're going to go shopping today and hopefully I'll get a haircut....nothing really to say haha. We're going to go get sushi on Thursday cause I haven't had it in a year and my year mark in the country/sister bruno's on her mission isThursday. So that should be fun! I'm studying the New Testament now, which has been really cool. I never appreciated it enough before my mission. We got to teach a lesson on the life of Christ for gospel principles on sunday, and it just made me realize how much my testimony of Christ has grown. Missions are just the best. And I finished the Conference Ensign from Oct, just in time! I'm sooo excited for conference. Oh yeah and I read one of the last CES firesides the other day--The Blueprint of Christ's Church, if you haven't read it you should!! It's crazy. Elder Callister talks about how Christ's church was organized in the New Testament and how ours matches the blueprint in every way. Super cool. It just makes so much sense. love it. Love you!!!!

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