Week 26 It's already Monday again

Surprise Surprise! We are having the time of our lives. We promised with each other to talk to everyone this last week. What did we do? We were crossing the street left and right talking to everyone. We were consistently trying to contact referrals, we did not just 'set up a trap' for people on a bus, but we attacked and bus contacted! What are the results? MIRACLES EVERYWHERE. In all aspects of the work too! We got through 2 complete lessons with 2 people who always talk about who knows what during our lessons, we now have 3 new people to visit and teach, and we are happier as missionaries and are enjoying the work. We both said "so THIS is what a mission is supposed to be like. I feel like a true missionary!" Its super rewarding. What can we learn from this? If life is boring and just puttering along, let's kick it up a notch and work harder or fulfill our callings more, let's all turn outward and help others. That's the most rewarding work.

oh! fun fact. My 1st companion from the MTC who was going to Macedonia emailed me this morning! She is currently serving in ALBANIA and loving it! She is in an actual ward with a primary. They asked her to help them teach music. She is looooving it over there.

Weeeeeeee have been teaching this lady named V. She is SO normal and we always teach her at her home. Which is rare most of the time. After watching the restoration film we were answering her many good questions then the time felt right. I suggested a baptismal date---the thing is that I remember giving her the date but I don't remember how. I remember feeling very calm and then the Czech came out. Fast forward to the next day. Sestra Daugirda said that baptismal invitation was b.e.a.u.t.i.f.u.l. I don't remember what I said but I guess it was perfect czech....Speechless and grateful.

The weather is SO nice. We surprisingly got a storm the other night and it hasn't stopped raining today! It's cold and wet. I've been warned that it will only get colder from here except for a week and then the bitter humid winter starts. Yay!

Bahahahahahahah we just came from a lesson with 94 year old Sestra C. She collects a ton of random things in her house. One of them is straws. Used or not...So Sestra Daugirda got this 4th of July package with American straws. When sister C opened her eyes to our surprise...she squeeled and then we took pictures! IT WAS SO FUNNY AND CUTE. This lady will be in my memory for eternity. The cutest fragile and most solid member in the church. She said "I am grateful everyday that I can read and that I am strong enough to go to church. I will go until I physically can't go anymore".  I'm not complaining but if the world were full of Sestra C's...we would be the best humans ever!

Mam vas rada a doufam ze mate hezky tyden! 

-Sestra Hale

Week 25 Už je to lepší (It's better)

Thank goodness for the Gospel of Jesus Christ. Sestra Daugirda and I had an anniversary this week of when we went through the worst moments of our missions together last week. Thanks to the hard work we have been doing, and for the consistency of the work that is needed, we have had a better week. Non of our investigators were in town due to free time off work BUT that is good because it allowed Sestra Daugirda and I to get creative with our finding.

The voice recordings will tell you all about the crazy/funny experiences this week BUT I want to tell about a spiritual experience sister Daugirda and I shared. Right before one of our lessons, we were both mad and weren't focused and were angry at each other to the point of silence. Then walks in our wonderful A (picture attached) During that lesson I realized HOW to apply Jesus Christ into my life. I realized that as we are given weaknesses or battling our inner natural man, we were given the example of Jesus Christ to look up to and become like. During that lesson and throughout testifying of the book of mormon and weaknesses, I choked up during the lesson and felt an immediate sense of peace. Sestra Daugirda had the same kind of experience. We both learned from each other and from the Spirit and from our investigator. That entire lesson was not previously prepared. It was all by direction of the spirit and I will never forget it.

This is the BEST time of my life. Even though we are constantly dying in the heat with no escape, I am learning about Jesus the man and how I can become like him. I know it now more than ever. 

Mam vas rada! 

-Sestra Hale

  Our AMAZING investigator A! She is always so cute. We usually feel so frumpy next to her cause she is so super cute. And very honest and genuine about what we teach. Shes basically perfect

 Thoughts while taking this picture:  (This is the Hluboka Castle taken last week on P Day)

Ha....I serve here?

THIS is what P Days are?

Where are we? 

Who does this??

My family has GOT to see this in real life. 

*speechless* 

We did service for E this week. Well...Sestra Daugirda and I 

did a whole 2 minutes of cutting up 5 rolls of bread for her goats. 

V surpsise went trakting with us for a few hours. Since when did V become all nice and willing to be out in the sun with us to go trakting!?! He actually did very well. He didn't talk much but he did ring the bells to people's houses several times at once.

 Today's adventure: This is what we came for. Yes this is a huge slide out in the middle of the forest. 

The best 14 seconds of anyone's life.

Fun ádrenaline' activities on the way up. We could stand on moving pieces of wood or a wire. And look in the background-we were at the very tops of these trees in the forest! So High!

Our lunch. The train station ended up being further than we thought so we had no time for lunch. Good thing Terezka was there though! She whipped out these mint/candy things...yay lunch!

At the top! Somewhere in that direction behind us is America..or Sweden. 

I honestly don't know which way West was up there.

Week 24 THE ADVERSARY WILL NOT WIN

You know how you grow up your while life hearing about crazy hard times on a mission and don't think much about it because you don't know what everyone is talking about? WE HAVE SURVIVED A WEEKEND OF THE WORST! All I know is that we press on in the work of the Lord. BrInG iT oN.

It started on Friday when the M came to game night and by the end the children were going nuts! We tried to have a spiritual thought to end the night but it just did not work. I won't go into details but what are the symptoms for ulcers? we were so stressed. Then we went to a lesson with V. Our usual spot was full of rave music and some kind of convention so we awkwardly went to sit on a nearby tree with him and try to have a lesson that we felt so good about when we prepared it. Then BAM! The elders had an emergency with someone fainting at the building and they were there alone which is  'no no' with a woman and missionaries. So they kept constantly calling asking what they should do. Sister Daugirda was on the phone the whole time and I continued teaching V on the go including reading a scripture and testifying. It was so bad. and the fainted woman randomly just got up and left to go home and we were just so stressed and had no idea what to do. After a call to Prez. McConkie all was well. It still took about a half hour before we didn't feel nauseated from stress and overwhelming responsibility and worriedness. We prayed long and hard that night. All was well.

Saturday morning. Our new favorite and baptismal date investigator drops us over text.

Sunday. There were 7 members at church. The members that were absent didn't tell anyone they would be absent so here are the responsibilities we had to do as missionaries:

Starsi Needham. He is the 1st counselor in the branch presidency. He conducted, presided, and played piano. Literally so funny to see him announce everything then slide to the piano then back up to preside. 

Sestra Hale. That's me: I taught Relief Society to the 2 members and one visitor from Plzn. 

Sestra Daugirda: She taught primary with Terezka (recent convert) to the 2 visiting children. 

Starsi Lanham: He found some old freezer burnt bread from the freezer, warmed it up, and prepared and set up sacrament.

WE FASTED all Sunday to have a great prepared spiritual lesson with V. We felt so spiritually pumped. We fasted for this woman. We go to her house, catch up for 5 minutes. We are about to pray then BOOM. The adversary plays a move and her ex boyfriend comes over and ruins all our plans so we ended up sitting there just getting to know them. Nothing taught but us telling him we don't drink alkohol.

When all falls through, we are convinced that is evidence of a miracle about to happen. BRING IT.

To end on a good note: V (the punk who was baptized recently) wore a white shirt, slacks, black shoes, and a tie to church! He came and it wasn't tucked in then right before sacrament meeting he tucked in his shirt and looked SOOOO handsome. THEN HE PASSED THE SACRAMENT! I was literally in tears from happiness and gratitude. That was a sweet tender mercy. I don't know if he has passed the sacrament before and we have been suggesting to him to wear the right clothes to pass the sacrament for a long time. 

mám tě rada a doufám že máte štěstí během tohoto tydnu. 

s laskou, 

Sestra Hale

 This is after all the missionaries ran in a Huge group to the train at Karlstejn!

  I'm in a dream. literally.

 All I wanted was to take a picture at Karlstejn. Then my elders saw my actions and reacted accordingly. We all love our reunions! MTC GROUP! 

For about 3 minutes we were all walking together and laughing and saying how cool it was to be together again. We said things like this: 

'THE GANG IS ALL HERE"' 

Then someone remembered our Slovak friend.
where the Cahoon?.....

*silence* 

awkward. 

 While tracting: this house looks like a boat.

 He's from Arizona! He is the one that came here to do research, started a 2 year long 

process, and might be co writer for a fancy science article. Going to U of A! Also-taught with 

us once and helped our english classs. The coolest guy!

This is sister Hamblin that I am related to thanks to the love of Ben and Kelsee! (my cousin and her cousin got married this year!)  She is so cool. I wouldn't mind serving with her. We would laugh all the time. and work Hard.

We walked her to church yesterday. She is the most precious thing ever !

Week 23 Zazraky, Karlstejn, and My Baptism!

Fun fact: I was baptized ON THIS DAY, 13 years ago! What a blessing to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ. I am thankful for all that has happened since my baptism. What an exciting time to be serving God!

Cool experiences with people:

We went to A's house that we teach and she wasn't home so we were just talking to her neighbor who we have seen a ton. I waved to one of her little girls running around and she is mentally ill in some sort of way but the SWEETEST thing since ever. So once I waved to her she just ran up to me and grabbed my hand and took me everywhere. We walked to her mom, to her brother who then told me his life story, then as we were talking to the neighbor this little girl was hugging me and I started to dance with her, which she loved, and we really has a sweet moment. She is the cutest thing.

We met with V who we committed to study the Plan of Salvation pamphlet before this lesson so she did and our entire lesson consisted of her going page by page asking the best questions I have ever heard. She is really into this Gospel and wants to make sense of it.

Bratr K came teaching with us which was amazing because he is amazing and sick with cancer but still made the sacrifice to teach with us. Then on the way back he asked if we wanted to see his wife (who hasn't come to church in a few years) YES. Goodbye trakting. You can wait. We met his wife and saw where they lived and saw what they do for a living and he invited us over for dinner sometime. THIS BRANCH IS CHANGING! There is something in the air and we can feel it. There are miracles that are about to be released.

The funnies: 

While trakting, a huge dog escaped its fence and ran up to us with a mohawk of anger on its back and the second it was next to us it was silent and jumped up once but I chopped it down by its throat because I knew Sestra Daugirda was deathly scared of huge dogs. We both remained calm and she even teared up it was so scary. We literally almost died. I never thought that would actually happen on a mission.

Saturday was a weird day. Mostly for Sestra Daugirda but it just was NOT the day. In the morning I fixed her favorite necklace and gave it to her, she was so happy, then while putting it on she broke it again. Next at lunch she made a salad and half way though her salad she noticed bugs on her spinach. So she decides to make rice and lo and behold a bug is dead in her rice box. She repeatedly exclaimed "Thats it. I'm done! I quit!" Then we were out contacting and instead of wishing someone well as they walked away from us, she said "mejte se krista!" which means "Have yourself Christ!" Then she stepped in dried throw up. I tried to warn her but I was too late. THEN we bought ice cream. Classic. Vanilla and Raspberry. THEN MINE BEGINS TO FALL! I manage to punch it with my wrist, onto my dress, then to the Earth. It just was not our day. 

KARLSTEJN

I wish I could explain the  history of the church in the Czech and Slovak area as well as it was explained there at Karlstejn. All I can say is that I am more than grateful to serve here and I am grateful for the sacrifices other made so that I would be called to these areas to share the message of Jesus Christ and his church to the people today. Unbelievable. Sorry I can't explain it. Next time you see me, ask me and I will tell you how it was to reenact what happened July 24th, 1929. It was so spiritual - like the temple.

To all who wished me a happy birthday in letters -- thank you! I LOVED it! 

Take care and have fun this week. We deserve to enjoy this life !

-Sestra Hale

MÁM VÁS RADA!!!!

Week 22 Random things always happen

Some notes from Melanie's handwritten letter we received this week:

Things on my mind:

1. I eat fruit everyday. It's delicious here.

2. If I were to say I miss something about the USA, I'd say I miss wearing shorts, Lexi (our dog), and Target.

3. We walk so much here it's insane. My feet are not pretty anymore. 

4. I have a sweet watch/CTR ring tan.That's when you know you're a missionary, when you have a watch tan. I remember seeing the picture of Brady's wrist on his mission. I'm continuing the tradition.

5. Why do they not have a/c here?

6. I'm almost 21. That's cool. I like only having one birthday on the mission.

7. The language - I think I am at the point that I can communicate well and explain what words I don't know. Every once in a while I hear a Czech form a sentence a certain way then BAM I understand, so it's definitely coming. Maybe by the end of my mission I can say with confidence "I speak Czech". 

This week's e-mail:

1. We teach a lady from Lithuania. She is sooooo great. She just laughs and laughs and laughs. She is amazing. Her husband ADORES her and they have 2 really nice and funny kids. We taught her and her husband came home and sat in with us. And all we pretty much did was laugh at her because she was laughing so hard at...really nothing...

2. In our English class this 200 year old man told us a memorized poem (maybe an Edgar Allen Poe poem?) ALL BY HEART. It took him 15 minutes because he couldn't remember the rest! It was hilarious because he got into it at one time and we were just in awe. He said he memorized it to keep his mind alive in his ripe age. 

3. We randomly walked into a new restaurant after district meeting one day. The second we walk in, a lady with her family says 'Hello Elders and Sisters! ' apparently a branch president and his family were in C Bud for the day and they paid for our food! We literally were shocked because that NEVER HAPPENS HERE. I have never been to a members house for dinner even. Crazay! 

4. My birthday. Its hard to describe. We had an exchange with the sisters from Prague so they came down and we split. My companionship went out to Pisek to see this 16 yr old who is one of our investigators. We got a surprise tour of the town then only had 15 minutes to teach the plan of salvation and invite her to be baptized. It was great! Then we ate at my favorite Indian food restaurant with everyone. Then we all contacted on prophets. We contact on our own when we go at a group. I have never had a better contacting block. I contacted on so many different things because the spirit took over my heart and mind! I met a woman from Ukraine and she even opened up to me about her life within seconds and was crying. She loved what I said and we are calling her after emailing. I also gave a Book of Mormon away to a girl who I could tell was so sincere and would read it and pray about it. We will see. It was so good! Then we basically just contacted the rest of the day until the sisters had a train back to Prague and we went tracting in the cutest neighborhood in Stare Hudejovice. 

5. An Elder who is touring the Czech Rebublic with his family right now randomly showed up to game night and taught us a game called 'The Screaming Viking ' I have never made weirder noises as I burst out in laughter. I am ecstatic to teach others that game in the future. Thank you McComber family! 

6. We went tracting in Vcelna (cute little village outside C Bud) on Saturday. We met a man from England. We are just glad we could teach him the restoration and that we don't drink alkohol. He was a fan of alkohol. Did you know that Ceske Budejovice is the main center to Budweiser beer?

Thats all! 

Mam vas rada! 

-Sestra Hale

   21 baby! Drinking the classic Kofola!

They don't have flat or phillips screw drivers. They have these 2 holes 

instead. weird huh?

Only a Hale would be fascinated with that, haha

Out in Pisek 

View from the tower. This is where I serve.

We are so cool.

​

Week 21 No time to write today because . . . . .

. . . some little birdie told everyone and their dog it was my birthday and I have LOVED reading notes from so many people wishing my a happy birthday and telling me a fun random fact/quote. (which are my favorite things ever) SO THANK YOU!!! Speaking of Birthdays,Happy late late birthday Aunt Lauri and Jonny! I hope the first few weeks of this year in your lives has been phenomenal and I also hope all your wildest dreams come true THIS YEAR. 

This week for us...honestly all I can say is we have been working working working. We are literally in Desperation Mode right now. We are constantly praying to find the people here who we can help and teach, we are constantly walking here and there and contacting here and there and tracting here and there. I have never had more constant sore legs or huge calus-y feet in my life. BRING IT ON. We know there are miracles awaiting us.

The highlights from the week, the man who was going to be baptized on the 18th of this month suddenly dropped us. Straight up dropped us like it's hot. That's FINE, the work must go on. We met with a woman who is a lovely flower in this garden of human mankind. We are excited to keep meeting with her, at her house. She also makes delicious homemade lemonade. We sang with a woman in church on Sunday-President McConkie and his family, and his brother's family were all with us here in C-Bud and it was awful. Last minute Johi played piano with us, and then half way through the woman who was singing with us, had a cough attack so Sestra Daugirda and I just patted and rubbed her back while trying to keep singing as beautifully as we could. And also last minute she sat down while singing, leaving all 4 missionaries standing around her.

All you need to know is we are working our butts off. OH! The other day I was scooting along the wall and the marker holder thing at the bottom of white boards, bruised my rump BAD. There's your funny story for the week.

Love you all! 

-Sestra Hale

Fresh cherries for dayyysss! 

Who knew I could be picking fresh cherries off a tree? 

Also I have eaten freshly picked strawberries, and more.

 I am turning into a biiiggggg fruit basket.

Today on our bike ride with J! notice the weather (perfect and cool)

You just cannot trust this weather whatsoever.

Surprise late birthday party for T! She was soooo surprised and the elders 

and Alec were in on it too. It was phenomenal.

Week 20 Training, AMERICAAAA, Krumlov Round TWO

What a week. First off, I will probably mention something about the weather all summer because it is SO......SOOOOOOOO hot. I have decided that humidity and I are not ever going to be friends. The change was so drastic too! It was cold at the beginning of last week then BOOM its so hot and the sun is killing us. No worries, the work must go on.

Trainings always happen at the right time. It was the perfect dose we needed after a tough week. We were trained on how to contact when it is inconvenient and awkward. It was tough practicing contacting at a crosswalk. Those are the moments that your creative juices must be flowing because you only have 30 seconds! We were also trained on basically attacking each day and our morning routines. I started to do 10 jumping jacks when I first got up so I could have a good solid prayer in the morning. We are also feeling better because we are working out better in the mornings and we are having more effective studies because we are staying focused and being exact on the time. It's so delicious to start each day. I'm usually excited to get up and start each day.

Then the 4th of July. We decided to have lunch together at this America restaurant place. Joke! It was closed so we went to a pizza place and talked about our favorite 4th of July traditions. What a great holiday! It was fun. Sestra Daugirda's mom sent a package a while ago and in it were glow sticks. Before our companion prayers at night we were throwing the glowsticks in the air making firework noises. Then we went to be 5 minutes later. Go America!  OH, ALSO on this wonderful day we were tracting in a village called Vcelna. We ran into a man and what a miracle he was. We will teach him in the  future and we are very excited. He is ready to find the truth.

Real quick-  on Sunday only 13 people were at church, not including the 6 missionaries. Why? Because it was hot and everyone here claims to have sickness whenever the weather changes. I call it Weather Disease. Literally last minute Sestra Daugirda and I were asked to teach Relief Society so since I was going to teach YW about Patriarchal Blessings I ended up teaching the 3 adult members too! It was a very good lesson and afterward I was talking to a woman and she said to me 'I really want to get my Patriarchal Blessing, I just didn't know how' So that was definitely an inspired moment. I was so happy.

Yesterday we went to Cesky Krumlov again with our Branch President and some others from the branch. It was so fun! We did the same things as last time except this new mirror maze thing. In which we could not stop laughing through. I witnessed Vasyl and Starsi Lanham run straight into a mirror. It was hilarious! 

Lastly I love you all aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand I  love the scriptures aaaaaaaaaand I love how true the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints is aaaaaaaaaaaand I am grateful to be a missionary in České Budějovice.

p.s. That family that I was concerned about last week?  they are better than ever now. We did FHE (Family Home Evening) at their home last night and had a blast and we are going over again to day to watch a Bible Video with them. We are excited :) We love them!

MÁM VÁS RADA!!!!!!!! není vtip!

-Sestra Hale

p.s. Fun Fact: America is 239 years old. The city we are serving in, Ceske Budejovice, is celebrating 750 years of being a city. Little baby America!

Pictures:

This picture was planned and everyone loved it. Guess how old she is...SEVENTEEN.

American lunch. Happy Birthday America!

Fun fact-- a ton of people have these little pools in their yards. They are often the size of a king size mattress and only a few feet deep. Even the pools are different here!

 After Starsi Lanham ran into a mirror.

We are all beautiful!

The bed. I switched to the other bed when transfers came around...It's tradition for the new sister to have this bed when she first comes in. ahahha.

That is my desk in the corner. Home Sweet Home!