Week 67 -- A trip to the Zoo

There comes a point in everyday -usually when we go to bed- that I can't get my thoughts together and my brain is foggy and full of a lot of things we have to do, with people I forgot to pray for, with funny stories I remember and want to tell my comps, or when I just shut off and go into Sestra Hale land somewhere in space. These moments don't last long but they definitely happen. Right now that's kind of happening because we are taking it one day at a time and the second that one day is done and accounted for in the journal, it's kind of forgotten. Not in a bad way but there is too much to do the next day that we need more brain space for those worries and thoughts and inspiration. 

Last P Day we went to the Prague Zoo with our Prague district. It was awesome and we saw all sorts of animals. the most exciting parts were the elephants because a baby elephant threw a small fit and ran away from us, and when we went to see the alligators there was a turtle sitting on top of the alligator. It looked so majestic.

Church in Prague was awesome. We were up for translating and that was a party on its own. We sit in the other room with the speaker overhead to listen to and then have a little tiny microphone thing to talk quietly into for the people in the sacrament meeting room with headphones to listen to. But some late comers joined us who also needed translation but we ran out of headphones so they sat next to us and now we were talking louder and had witnesses to look at us as we would occasionally get lost and make a face then testify about what we think we heard. Translating was awesome. We switched off every other talk and Sestra Cade did the prayers.

 

TRAINING! It was such a good training. It was the Prague and Hradec Kralove zones. so..a lot of missionaries. maybe 40. So yes...the time came when Sestra Fred and I trained on the tools we have as missionaries. Time ran from us so it wasn't as we expected but we were able to open up the missionary mind of thinking we don't have a lot of tools to use in our finding efforts. for example: Preach My Gospel manual is NOT limited to missionaries. That applies to members just as much as us missionaries. Training was sooo fruitful. It's so beneficial when we apply what the leaders train on. Moral of the story:trust and follow the council of the leaders who are led by the Spirit. I can promise answers and blessings. 

We had exchanges with the Jihlava sestry here. I served with Sestra Andersen. She is sooo good and I love her work ethic. She's positive and we had a few AWESOME miracles. For example-we were waiting for our lesson to show up to teach the restoration. He didn't show up but we were able to teach a man who was walking by the building we said hello to. He now knows the restoration and we will see him soon! 

I LOVE our Heavenly Father. It's evident that He lives and that His son is our Savior. I love them with my whole heart and I'm grateful for the Holy Ghost to testify that truth to me often. Have a phenomenal week everybody! 

-Sestra Hale

Week 66 -- HERE IT IS!!!

This is the e-mail you have all been waiting for. http://www.mormonnewsroom.org.uk/article/president-dieter-f-uchtdorf-presides-at-the-creation-of-the-first-stake-in-the-czech-republic

The CR has a Stake!!! It was amazing. The Saturday session was so full that us as missionaries were all standing in the back at the beginning of the session until more chairs were brought in. Even then, some missionaries still stood. It was a beautiful exciting session. President and Sister Uchtdorf were led by the Spirit as they spoke about how we can strengthen ourselves and how we took time to become such a strong foundation of this stake. And. It. Keeps. Growing. As for the Sunday session, we were assigned to be at the front door to welcome all. I don't think I have been that constantly happy in my life.(you can see her as the door greeter in the church video - link is above)  Every single person that came in, we were able to shake their hands and welcome them to the best meeting of their lives! It was so sweet to see people I have served around, members and missionaries, and all those I didn't know on the other side of the country. It was a beautiful historic building and once everyone sat down, the spirit illuminated us. We were in the voluntary group standing along the wall until the last 20 minutes when Sister McConkie ran up to us during the intermediate hymn and said there were 4 seats on the front row we 5 sisters could squeeze on. Perfect timing. I shared half a chair with Sestra Fred and half a chair with Sister Alder (the wife of Elder Alder from the 70's ) We love Sister Alder she is so cute and funny. So, this means we were front row as lucky lucky sisters for Sister Uchtdorf and President Uchtdorf's talks. It was so memorable I can't even describe it. No one wanted to leave this building. All the saints were talking and taking pictures with one another. President McConkie in tears every once in a while, called the first and new Stake Presidency. These men are perfect. They are truly called of God and I, along with all those who were in favor of their calling, know this is right. It's so right. When it was announced that the Czech Republic's first Patriarch was to be called, EVERYONE gasped. I have a feeling they forgot about the Patriarch because of the excitement about WHO will be the new presidency?? Then when Bratr Čanek stood up, That's when I teared up. These men are called of God. Amen to their worthiness and priesthood! 

The rest of this week has been full of deep conversations, tough questions and situations from investigators, preparing for the training this week, MIRACLES, and careful wording as we talk about our newly called bishops and wards. It's so awesome to say those words. I love this land and these people. We have the best companionship and we are on the Lord's errand to invite these people to be a part of the Stake! Its so exciting. Can you feel it too? 

LOVE LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU!!!! 

-Sestra Hale

p.s. we are going to the zoo today with our district! 

Week 65 -- Oh man Ohhh mannn

I literally cannot express how on fire we are because of this huge weekend. I hope it has somehow reached the homeland news but the Czech Republic is forming its FIRST STAKE. I apologize for not mentioning anything until now because I wanted to spill the beans with the family on Mothers Day but please please please ask me sometime in life how this process came together. There are not enough minutes or emails long enough to explain God's hand in the work here. We have heard testimony on testimony from around this country from members that didn't ever think it would actually happen one day that we would have a stake formed. It's so special and sacred and the spirit has been building up all over the country. This weekend is going to be historic for the Church in Europe and we somehow have the privilege and blessing to be here to witness it and to rejoice with the Czech saints. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf is coming to organize the Stake and basically have on President McConkie's keys are being handed over tomorrow instantly when the stake president is called. OH MAN. Please ask me about this sometime. I could talk about all the hardships and miracles we have witnessed in preparation for this event. 

On another note we have been soaking up the spirit and excitement from the stake in all that we have done this week. We have Stake Fire with us when we teach, contact, travel, and call. This last week alone we were teary eyed when testifying to an investigator that we know he is ready for baptism, we are going to fast with an investigator that's been taught for the past 9 months to be baptized in 2 weeks, we found and met with an awesome long ago less active who was so honest with us and told us his story and he will be coming to the stake organization, AND we have put our hearts, might, minds, and literal strength into this week. I am beyond grateful to be here at this time. Our Heavenly Father knows us so stinkin well and loves us more than we can imagine. This church is His church, He loves me and I know because of the miracles I have in my life, and I know that Jesus Christ, His Father, and all of Heaven will be rejoicing with the Czech saints tomorrow when the stake is organized. This. is. huge. 

I love you all and wish you a PHENOMENAL weekend and week!!! 

s laskou, 

Sestra Hale

Fun fact. Every time we are in the car we take a picture. This is one of many. 

Week 64 -- Prague Mlada Puzzled Madness

( I asked Melanie about the logistics of covering 2 different cities. It looks like these cities are 45 minutes apart by car, over an hour by train. I didn't think she'd ever be in an area to have a car, but they do now.) SURPRISE! In Prague, P-day is on Saturdays! and good question! To be honest, we live in both areas. We are trying to make it possible to be in one place for at least 1.5 days but it's hard to plan that when you work with 20 people's schedules. This week we are basically driving every day to the other area. Right now I am in Prague but am sleeping in Mlada Boleslav tonight. 

I CAN NOT EVEN EXPLAIN THE MIRACLES WE HAVE SEEN IN THIS ONE WEEK TOGETHER. 

Monday: Made it safe to Prague. Followed Sestra Fred and Andreason around Prague in lessons and appointments. 

Tuesday: Lessons and less active hunting with Sestry Boza and Manners (training but stuck in limbo together until we pick up our babies. We had a trainer's meeting and it was a small group and we had time to go out to dinner with the McConkies and take our own little Prague walk to see the city. We saw the Lennon wall, Charles bridge and walked down the main touristy streets and were in the main town square. GORGEOUS. We talked about so many things on that walk as missionaries. I'll save that for a surprise for tomorrow's skype.

Wednesday: We gave birth!! Sestra Cade was actually Sestra Witzel's MTC companion, but had to stay in the states waiting for her visa to come through. We finally got her and she is in for an adventure. We taught a ton of people then headed to Mlada Boleslav to teach English class and teach a recent convert

Thursday: District meeting in MB. GET THIS: District leader is Starsi Smith who I started the mission with in the MTC and in the field. He's training and back in Jicin just like I am back in MB! After district meeting was when it really went down. Starsi Smith brought his guitar so we could do a singing display. We started to walk to the park when we ran into a kid Sestra Fred and I met on exchanges a month ago! (10 minutes previously, I asked how this kid was and that we should call him) THEN Ludvik (his name) and his friend Terka let us sing for them, Ludvik played and sang for us a song he wrote, then they both even sang a hymn WITH us! We also met 2 amazingly golden potentials in this finding time. I don't know what is going on, the the blessings are flowing in like the Niagara Falls. 

Friday: GET THIS...we cover 2 areas. That means we have 1,000,000,000 people to plan for. I'll let you guess how long praying and planning went with these 2 areas. Guess high..5 hours!! I started to develop A.D.D. It is so needed because if we are not organized or planned out, we can NOT function this transfer. Finishing that long and guided planning time was a miracle in and of itself. Then we saw my favorite person!! Enka!!! She is so cute and we had a great lesson with her. We taught some more people then drove back to Prague where we had game night. It was a nice time to get to know the members here. I taught them the hand tapping game where you cross arms over one another in a circle and tap and there's a rhythm, etc. It was awesome. Then we had a lesson planned with a man and thanks to the fact that we teach people (not lessons), we taught one of the coolest enlightening lessons about the law of chastity ever! (side note: we taught an embassy guard the law of chastity the other day while contacting with a member in the park. This man was on duty and asked where we are from because we said hello. Then the law of chastity law came up quickly and it was taught honestly. haha story for another day..

Saturday: HERE WE ARE IN PRAGUE. This morning we taught a great lesson with a member from Nigeria who is awesome and was also taught in the lesson then went to a RS conference. Sestra Fred and I translated for the whole thing and  I saw beloved members from Liberec and met a girl visiting here named Dasha who is tight with Sestra Senkane! Dasha is from Estonia and said all the active members know each other really well over there. SO AWESOME! We are basically running around like mad successful women until tomorrow when we skype. and then we'll continue to run around like mad miraculous women for the rest of the transfer. 

ITS SO FUN.  Honestly the society here is SOO good. Its going to be so hard to leave this area with the people, stories and updates we get about people from all over Europe and missionaries and. . . .I can't explain it. It's simply a society of the European area and we hear about so many awesome things. Family- I'm excited to see you TOMORROW on Skype !!! 

-Sestra Hale

p.s. We have the coolest and best trio. Sestra Fred and Cade are so awesome and I'll have to let you know a fun fact about them every once in a while. Today's fact is that Sestra Cade likes cats and Sestra Fred is currently craving Panda Express.

The Lennon Wall in Prague

President McConkie, Sestra Hale, Sestra Cade, Sestra Fredrickson, Sister McConkie

Our first car ride together (I think Melanie doesn't hear directions when someone says "let's take a cute picture together !" , Somehow, she often hears "Time for a crazy picture!") 

Week 62 -- French. Busy. David. Baptism. 6000000chili

Did I ever tell you I'm learning French tooo? Sestra Witzel teaches it before we teach English. 

We had a few of those FULL busy consecutive lesson days this week. One ended up to be a 1st lesson with help from a less active. She taught the whole lesson basically and it was SO fun! We are having a ton of progress with our investigators and finding. 

D is the real story. 3 weeks ago the elders sat down to pick names of less actives to work with. They came across the B family. Visited with success. The father is a less active and has since had 2 children with his wife. The oldest son D was put on baptismal date 3 weeks ago and was baptized on Saturday. He is the biggest and most obvious example of elect I have ever seen. He bore his testimony after receiving the Holy Ghost and there are NO worries  from the branch or us as missionaries that he didn't know what he was getting into. He is SO kind, so loving, and his family is perfect. They are cute and supportive and we as a district are working to get the whole family in our branch family. It was an amazing experience to witness and be a part of. We had a picnic afterward and played baseball. Members, the B family, and 2 investigators stayed the entire day with us as we took the spiritual baptism spirit with us to a fun afternoon! I REALLY HOPE I STAY IN OSTRAVA NEXT TRANSFER. This branch is on fire. 

A member invited us to a food carnival. Not what we were expecting but it was good nonetheless. the highlight was Starsi Marcucci being gutsy and tried chili sauce that rates 6.000.000 on the hot scale. the video/pictures are hilarious.

Next week transfers, whats going to happen!?!! 

LOVE YOU ALL!

-Sestra Hale

 

Week 63 -- TRANSFERS

Here we are! I literally only have 10 minutes to e-mail and send this. Guess what!! I am serving in Prague and Mlada Boleslav with Sestra Fredrickson and we are expecting a baby!! (due on Wednesday)  and Sestra Fredrickson and I are Sister Training Leaders. (missionary lingo: 'expecting a baby' is training a newly arriving sister)

My mission has prepared me for this last transfer. We are going to WORK and change and work together in unity like a presidency. BRING IT. 

Last week of Ostrava was so deliciously golden. I will only share one miracle experience with you all. On Thursday, Sestra Witzel and I jump on a train to catch another train to take us to Bohumin to see Sestra Kvasnicova. The second we sit down in her lesson I realize I don't have my bag of my Czech scriptures or Czech Preach my Gospel. We broke down in English as we tried to figure out WHAT we could do and who we could ask to maybe find my bag. We had a great lesson on plan but the whole time I just felt a deep sick and sad feeling :( We had a great lesson and it was super spiritual. THEN in the Bohumin train station I tell the information desk lady about my situation and she calls a ton of people and finds the train I was on yaddah yaddah yaddah. No success. BUT while waiting for her to call people we met a man from Lithuania and I ended up translating for him to find something. THEN we go to Ostrava and are finally directed to the lost and found and that sweet train station lady worker got a nice big hug from me as she fetched my bag of holy scriptures. I was SO HAPPY. So I was celebrating with Sestra Witzel and started to pray out loud with her as we were holding hands or something (I honestly don't know. I was overcome with joy) Then MID PRAYER another train station worker walks up (we've talked to this one before) and she is holding up one of my necklaces I thought I lost a few days ago and she asked if it was ours!.....MIRACLES! If that is not evidence that God lives and knows and loves me, I don't know what is. 

I'm excited to be where I am now and I know more and more every day that this church is true and that God and His son Jesus Christ live. I love you all and wish you a good week! 

--Sestra Hale

A visit to Hukvaldy.