Week 36 Transfers

Staying in Liberec! Sestra Bailey went to Brno today to be in another trio. Sestra Stokes came from Mlada Boleslav to be with me! She is so cool. I'll tell more about her later but for now just know that she loves cats and has cat attire.

We knew we would be out of our area a lot this week so we worked like dogs to make up for it. We set up with a ton of people, met some really cool people, planned a game night for the branch and members (WAY successful) and grew personally after a deep conversation together.

Our mainly progressing investigator is very occupied with finding new work. She's very stressed due to it but as Sestra Bailey and I sat with her and listened to her problems, we felt a calming spirit and were able to lift her spirit by texting members to ask if they knew of any work for her and we also held one of her mice. When we left she was smiling. We are praying for her to find a job a.s.a.p.

After a full day of teaching and seeing people and none of our lessons going through successfully, we talked about the spirit of missionary work being out the window. We talked about the opportunities we do have to meet with people and how to make the most out of them. After that conversation with Sestra Bailey, I realized that for the rest of my mission I will personally make an effort to be a representative of Jesus Christ. I only have 8 more months to randomly walk up to people and talk to them about sacred Gospel topics. I might as well serve with all my might doing it.

Training in Prague! Trainings are becoming a bigger deal. The McConkies are going home the same week as me so they are training and sharing their insights with all their might, the leaders right now are super inspired, and I have had enough experiences on the mission now to really apply the trainings into the work to benefit our branches/areas. We also had interviews with Prezident. He is such a good mission prezident, I wouldn't be surprised if he was called as an apostle one day. Then we weekly planned and...you guessed it...got lost in Prague again. Turns out, Sestra Bailey didn't really know what was going on her 1st transfer ehrn she lived there. I don't blame her. I would feel the same if I started out the mission in a huge city. We found our way though! All is well.

Visa work. I went off with Sestra Andreason and the Prague Sestry to contact for a second until Sestra Bailey's visa work was done, then we literally ran across Prague on the metros and what not to make it home in time for 2 lessons, then our game night! It was SO successful (so many investigators there) and we think everyone had a great time.

Lastly on Sunday we went to see several families. All are doing well and Sestra Bailey was able to say goodbye to everyone. OH YEAH! Saturday we painted the sacrament room in the church all day with the branch! It was so fun and a good chance to get to know the  M boys even better. We are a good painting team.

Zatím,

mám vás ráda!

s laskou,

Sestra Hale

Holding a mouse.

Week 35

Starting with Monday we went to the J family to do Family home evening. They fed us america burgers with deer meat. So good. Then we thought we had a train back at 8. Turns out we were stranded at the train station until 9 when the next train came. This was the bitterest of bitter nights and we were not clothed correctly. We finally get on the right train, take the wrong bus home, get lost, take another bus that gets us to a bus station, then take one last bus home and made it home.

WE ARE SO TRIED OF BEING KISSED AND HUGGED! We met this guy that is 28 and he thought we were so funny so we set up to teach him. He kissed our cheeks with a half hug then walked away. He comes to sit with us on the namesti and I have never been so bold with expectations before. I repeatedly said why we are here and he even laughed as he closed the Book of Mormon in my hand and asked about what we like to do. We repeated, "We talk to people about this book and Jesus Christ". After us being bold he finally was quiet and let us teach him. but good-ness. We just want to be good missionaries but I guess when we put out our hand in a handshake form, that is code for "hug me and kiss my face"

At our English class this week we wrote down a ton of random questions and wanted to answer them all randomly. One question was "what are 3 words that describe you?" Our man D answered "....hmm. Earth...wind....and Heaven!" This taught us the importance of making sure we are all on the same page when giving instruction. D is so funny.

A didn't have a lot of time to see us this week but she invited us over to her house to see where she lives and to meet her pet mice. We even pet one. She is such a cute little woman and is working hard to pay her rent. She already has great attributes of a committed woman. I wish I could help her raise money.

LASTLY...yesterday's church was so cool. There were so many members there and even a boyfriend of one of the members who doesn't ever come to church! THEN H was called to be the branch's 2nd counselor. H is a homie and is a part time DJ and knows some English and is 16 years old. I repeat, 16 years old! Sacrament meeting was really spiritual. Prezident Hanzal spoke about the process he went though as he received the promptings to call H as his 2nd counselor. Everyone is so excited for him!

Update: No hot water yet but we will keep you updated. Last night we moved our beds into the warmest room of our apartment. It was nice! Mom, Do not fret for I am calling the landlord today and demanding them to order and install the new water heater this week! They haven't communicated anything with us but our mission office is involved and knows all the details. and YES! There are 4 radiator heaters in our apartment. The water heater is linked to them so due to that being shot, no heat will run through those. I have 2 big coats and I always layer up :). No worries. 

Mám vás ráda a mějte se hezky!

-Sestra Hale

 Contacting on this path. We also once ran to the skate park over here and ran up and down the half pipes for morning workouts once. Notice how gorgeous the fall is over here!

No heater life. We named the hair blow dryer Filip. He is our best friend for now. This is me while doing language study.

Week 34 Highlights of the week

So many things happened this week and I only have time for highlights.

1. After months of sisters being here with little progression, we now have one amazing investigator who is on baptismal date and is so open and humble to have us teach her and learn with her. She is so cute and has pet mice..5 of them :)

2. There is an army of leadership here in this mission field working for the salvation of many souls. One time this week I was trying to write in my journal but couldn't finish a sentence because our STL and Zone Leaders called to talk to us and express their love and concern for the people we are working with. We have a glorious zone and inspired leaders to help us, help others.

3. Sestra H asked us to pick up some things for a girl we were going to visit. Upon arrival she gave us Jiff Peanut Butter and Pop Tarts. I have never loved those 2 items more in my life. The whole walk home Sestra Bailey and I were shouting "Americaaaa!!"

4. So our water heater sometimes works and we také showers with BURNING hot water, and sometimes it barely works with only a few seconds of warm water. We also have 0 heaters total in our apartment. So we snuggle up really well at night.

5. General Konference! It was so good. I have some pictures to show how we watched it. Everyone takes something different from konference because the Holy Ghost speaks to us individually. For me, I got the theme of taking Sacrament meeting and the partaking of the sacrament more sacredly. I also felt it very important to simplify our discipleship. We are all in this ship together:learning how the ropes work, understanding the direction, learning how to work side by side. As long as we have our Lord at the helm of the ship, we will be guided to zion together! ALSO I love being a woman. And I'm not saying I am marriage or baby hungry BUT I am excited to fulfill my role as a daughter of God and an earthly mother to adhere to the needs of my children.

6. I loooooove the members in this Liberec branch. I love hearing all the stories from Sestra M about every single photo in her phone, I love joking with A about taking selfies with his new shoes, I love running around the building with Sand making him laugh, and I love all the other members.

Good week and the transfer is almost over! We are going to make the next 2 weeks count and serve with our might

-Sestra Hale 

 We got fish pedicures for P-Day. Coolest and most ticklish experience ever.

 Watching General Konference (in English!)

 Trakting in the boonies yesterday...it was SO cold. This picture does not do justice.

 Watching Women's Conference.

Sometimes at night as I am bundled up and writing in my journal, I light my candle 

to keep my face warm.This is how it went last night.

Week 33 County your many blessings name them 1000 x 1000

Our water heater broke. Not only did it stop working, it sounded like a plane about to crash into the Earth. On top of that our heaters don't work and it is frigid in the nighttime/mornings. All we want as hard working missionaries is a hot shower. So we made the calls, a woman came to look at it, then a man later came, and it was fixed! We had consistently hot running water for 1.5 days. Now we are back to square one. In these times I think "At least we have running water. I bet the pioneers never had it this good"

We had a chalk Display this last week and DANG. I have never seen more success in 2 hours in my entire mission! We drew the dispensations on the ground and set up a table with pamphlets, Book of Mormons, and pass along cards. I have never witnessed people coming TO US before! There was a guy that came to look at the table so I swooped him up in conversation and started teaching him, then one of his friends quietly stood with us, then I turn around again later and another one of his friends was in our circle. It was an exciting time to rely on the spirit. One of them talked about a theory of the resurrection of Jesus Christ being a hallucination...He looked at me with curious eyes so I quickly referred to the pamphlet and said "I have never heard of that before, and I can't answer your question, BUT I will teach you how to pray so you can find out for yourself what is the truth" It was insane!

There is this man that works at a Kebab place. Our first time there we were talking to him and invited him to English class. Since then we have seen him on the streets and he told me randomly I have nice eyes then he said we should have dinner with him. This is when the expectations lesson is great-when in doubt, stick to Preach My Gospel! We need to talk about our purpose here early. yikes.

We wanted to heart attack this member's house and it was dark and we couldn't find it and we saw a creepy man in this panalok jungle. (Czech apartment buildings) so Sestra Bailey suggested we pray to find someone that could help us. Prayed-Boom. Then we turn the corner and 4 old guys are walking around. "Ï trust them" so we ask them, we weren't too far. Then one of them was actually an old man who is a member and has been on bed rest for a long time! He said he would see us at church on Sunday and lo and behold he came! Miracles-prayers work!

We did more service at M's house in Křížany. This time we brought P (13 yrs old and hilarious) and we took down the Jumanji in Martin's backyard! After a while I ditched the tools he handed us. I was sitting on these huge roots backwards to snap the root at the bottom then with my sestra strength I tore the bushes out of the earth. We got it all out and it looks great. Then M made us homemade tea. All that was in it was apples (from his tree) some plums (from a nearby tree) and water.  I have never had better tea in my life.

It's been a good week. I haven't seen Conference yet-it's next week for us. But I hope you all enjoyed it and you start applying it this week!

MÁM VÁS RÁDA!!!

-Sestra Hale

 Ice cold water from our water heater

                                                                       We killed these bushes.

 This is our chalk display

 Waiting for the train