First week in Czech Republic

So my first week here... it's been interesting definitely. I've learned a lot since getting here, and the Lord is testing me it seems. I know that he is there... wow this is driving me crazy, the keyboard is different here in Czech. anyway, this week we arrived in Prague, after flying from Salt lake, to chicago, to London (which took forever by the way), then FINALLY to Prague. When we arrived in prague we met our mission president, President McConkie and his Wife as we exited the airport secure area. as soon as I saw them I knew who they were, not only because they were wearing nice clothing but because I recognized their faces from pictures that I've seen. me and the rest of my MTC district had been wearing the same clothes and had not brushed our teeth or anything since the early morning of the day prior. also, walking around in a suit in europe where it's Hot, and me, being who I am, I sweat a lot. So we got to Prague and were all completely exhausted. we went and met the mission president's family and I must say, their children are some of the coolest kids I've ever met. their youngest child, his name is George, he's just so cool. he's 10 I think and he's just awesome. my instructor in the MTC, Bratr Knapp was actually the one who baptized George. they've got lego's all over their house. so after we met the family we had a quick breakfast of oatmeal and yogurt, and then we went outside and went on our "Prague walk" which is what it's been called forever. we basically went around, got a cool tour of the sites around the Prague Castle and over some of the cool bridges crossing the major river in prague. i'll send some of these pictures with more emails. after our Prague walk, we came back to the mission home and were not surprised to find that we were all almost falling asleep just standing or sitting around. President told us that we should probably go to bed early, and brought us to a hotel and got us each (companionships) a room for the night. it was before president brought us to the hotel when we took the pictures each individually with president and his wife and they sent them to you (mom and dad) that night, after showering in the european shower, and laying down in the small bed (seriously this mattress was like 3' by 6'...) I thought it would be a good idea to start writing in my journal and when I did I found that I just couldn't write... I was so tired that as soon as I would start writing, i'd doze off and Begin drawing a random line across the paper. it's actually quite funny i'll perhaps have to send a picture next week. went to bed that night, woke up after having a good night's sleep, realized where I was... heh... "i'm in Prague... i'm on my mission... this is actually happening..." and other thoughts of the sort. we went back to the mission home. we walked in and sitting around in the living room were a bunch of other missionaries. president had us gather around in front of everyone else in the room and take a seat. he then, after a prayer of course, asked us each to come up one or two at a time and had us stand next to him, he put his arm over our shoulders and proceeded to tell us about the area where we would be assigned to labor. Now real quick... the first day we got to the mission home, President called me aside and interviewed me, he asked me a few questions about how i was doing and what my reason was for coming here and stuff like that. after this interview he asked me to go grab another elder and get him to go talk to him, guess he was doing interviews right there, so I went and got my mtc companion, Elder Chapple to get interviewed. now, that was important because apparently president did that so that he could decide where he wanted to put us, and just as importantly, who would be our trainers. so back in president's living room... he had his arm around me on one side, and my other mtc companion, elder Hanis, he had on his other side, and president was telling us about where we each would be serving. then president told me that I would be serving in Zlín, which is a city near the south/east of the Czech Republic. I had no idea what that meant but I was super excited. then he said that my companion and trainer would be Elder Boyce. Elder Boyce is a great trainer. he's a hard worker, very organized, is very genuine when it comes to talking to people. he puts others before himself, he knows a lot of good dishes to cook, his czech is amazing, he's been out for over 1.5 years, he'll be going home here in about 4 or 5 months, and he's great. after meeting him I was not worried at all about not getting along well with him. we all left, Elder Boyce and I hoped on a bus and headed to the train station with all my luggage. i don't want to have to explain how difficult it was each time we loaded and unloaded my luggage from either a bus or train so just imagine it for me when I tell you what is happening throughout this journey to Zlin (that's a long 'i' btw, i'm just too lazy to type the czech letter, it's too hard). after we got to the train station, we boarded a train to Zlin. on the train, several people sat next to us and I "spoke" to them in czech. we talked with about 3 people on the train and each of them were interested in what we had to say because my czech was so... noticable... and so it opened up the conversation of, "how long have you been learning czech?" and that kind of stuff. needless to say, I didn't understand anything that was going on, and frankly, I still don't, but i'm getting used to being so lost, that there's no point in worrying about getting more lost at this point. so we show up in Zlin and unload my bags into the appartment, and then we went out onto the streets to talk to people. talking was... well i'll just say it's very difficult, not difficult to start cause i KNOW how to begin a conversation, and make Statements, but as soon as people begin talking back to me all i hear is alksdjf alskjdf alsjdfalsjfhghgqauhrgioauwawhojoc mlsfpaowuhtuihgadlfjasdflj????????????????????????????? "ano"... then they walk away... "super" well it's gotten better, I'm able to listen better now than I was 6 days ago. it's hard to see progress in the language but I suppose that I should just not get worried, it's only been 6 days after all. other than the language, i'm doing awesome! it is so pretty here! MOM you should SEEE some of these building and places! so now after a lot of contacting, and seeing JUST HOW DIFFICULT it is to get people INTERSETED in the message we have to share.... something like 60 percent of the people are considered athiest.... we say, "dobry den!" and people say, "ne mam cas" which is basically saying, "good day!" and then "I don't have time" but the Lord is very involved here... me and my companion are the only two people in the entire city, and within 20 miles of this city, who are called representatives of the Lord in proclaiming his work, that is a big responsibility! we have often had slow hours whilst contacting and then just when we're about to give up in our efforts in that area, we meet somebody who is willing to go out of their way, talk to us, and even accept a book of mormon and give us their phonenumbers. we met two people who i'm really excited to talk to more. their names are, Soňa, and Lanka. both of these young women were touched by the spirit when we spoke, and I found my tongue was loosed with them!!! because they both asked us to speak english... but still my tongue was loosed. yeah we'll see how they're doing later. Excerpt from Elder Boyce email:The next morning President McConkie paired us with our companions (mine is Elder Dean from Eagle Mountain, Utah) and then we were on our way. It was an ordeal Wednesday morning because we kept on getting shuffled from place to place to keep us out of sight of the new missionaries. Then there was a big reveal where President paired us together as if it was a game show. We sat in the McConkie's living room with the new missionaries on the front row on the couches with us on some chairs behind them. President called each of the new missionaries up one at a time and started telling them about the city where they're going. The trainers knew instantly who they were going to be with so we were all whispering intently in the back row. Since we got to Zlin we've had a great week, we've been working hard. I met the secret goal from President McConkie and worked hard enough to get Elder Dean to fall asleep in church yesterday from sheer exhaustion :D Elder Dean is a great missionary, he already knows how to be courageous. He contacts whole bus stops of people and the other day leaped up onto a planter to try and talk to about ten people at once. If we lived in the days of preaching on top of soap boxes, he'd get along just fine! He is doing really well in his Czech and yesterday bore a pretty solid testimony at church. He told about when he first came into our chapel he felt really strongly that this is where he's supposed to be. Edit from mom: I love hearing updates from both sides.

He made it...

25 August 2015 Dear Brother & Sister Dean, Elder Connor William Dean has safely arrived in the Czech/Slovak Mission. Sister McConkie and I are impressed with your son and want to thank you for all that you have done in preparing this wonderful young man for his mission. In our estimation he is prepared and ready to ". preach the gospel to every creature that cometh under the sound of .(his) voice." D&C 80:1. Attached is a photograph of Elder Dean which was taken today just after he arrived in Prague. Tomorrow, after a good night's rest, he will be assigned a companion and an area in which to work. You should receive an e-mail from your missionary on P-day (Saturday in Prague and Monday everywhere else). We are confident that the Lord will stand with and bless him as he serves. Your son has accepted a call that will change his life and the lives of those with whom he is serving. These first few months will be full of new and challenging experiences, and your support in the form of encouraging and uplifting letters will help him greatly. Our greatest hope is that each missionary with whom we serve has the kind of mission experience that will establish the foundation for a lifetime of service and discipleship. James W. McConkie Sister Laurel S. McConkie Prezident Česká/Slovenská misie

(Aug 20 2015) Flight Plans! & Ear is healed

So the news is that my ear is fine, I've got a bit of fluid that has dried in my ear canal, and at this point I'm just waiting for it to come out on it's own. But I don't have a Hole in my Eardrum so that's good! I leave on Monday morning... my schedule looks like this: - wake up monday morning and report to the mission office at 2:30am (yes, that early) - arrive at SLA airport and wait until out flight leaves. - our flight leaves at 6:55am and we travel - From: SLA - To: Chicago O'Hare - We arrive in Chicago at 11:12am, then we have a Layover in Chicago for 7 hours... (yep) so that means I'll have plenty of time to call home!!! - Our flight from Chicago leaves at 6:10pm: - From: Chicago O'Hare - To: London Heathrow, England LHR - We land in London at 8:05am THE NEXT DAY (so we fly through the night) -we have about an hour and 45 minute layover in London, then we fly to Prague: - From: London Heathrow, England LHR - To: Prague, Czech Republic PR What's crazy about this is... well, everything about this is crazy but besides Everything... it's crazy that we have to be at the MTC Travel office at 2:30am in the MORNING! that is crazy! so now, to tell you about this week and such: Today, Aug. 20, 2015, Elder Chappel, Elder Hanis, and I went to the Temple for the last time for 2 years. We did an endowment session and it all went very well. After the Endowment, I took some time to pray, and I felt peace knowing that my family and friends... EVERYTHING that I had left behind, would be taken care of, and that I need not worry. I have a mission to complete and I should not fear for anything in regards to my family and friends. And I am continuing even after the Temple, to recieve the thoughts, "Be still, all of my creations are in my hands, and fear not your imperfections and flaws, I have qualified you as a servant unto me, and I will go before your face, and I will be on your right hand, and on your left, and no unhallowed hand shall stop the work from progressing. Have faith, do not waiver in your conviction, and you will have power according to your faith which is in Me. Go now, I will take care of those things that are dear to you, and to you my servant, Thank you, and, I love you." Those are the thought that are coming into my head, and I know they are words from the mouth of the Savior! He lives and is with us even now, and he is with you! my family and friends! because he has comforted me and I know that even now He is pouring out His spirit upon you all! I am ready to serve the Lord. While I was praying in the temple, I promised the Lord that I Pledge my life and existance to Him, and that I trust Him and his plan for us all. Please Attend the Temple, and please know that your Father in Heaven Loves you! More than we have any Idea. In the temple I learned today, that EVERYTHING was created... for the soul purpose of having Joy... think about that for just a second. When the Lord has a plan for us, and I now testify that he does, He will qualify us and refine us into the souls He needs to accomplish His work. After our missions, our mission is not over, and even before our missions, whether we go or not, the Lord has a plan, and he prepares us even when we don't realize that we are being prepared! Please read that quote again from my thoughts, I KNOW that those words are not my own. Even sitting here typing those words, I know that I was guided on what to say. ___________________ Now... DAD, You wanted me to answer some questions regarding some things and I'll answer them below: - Are You OK? - Yes I am Okay, I'm more than Okay. I have never felt the Lord so close other than while baptizing claire. The feeling is the same, but the intensity of it's manifestations changes, because I think the Lord trusts us to always strive to make good decisions, and follow what we know to be right, Even when we don't always feel the spirit as intensely as we would sometimes like to. - What has the Doc. said about your ear? - I'm gonna be fine, I've received many blessings, 3 by priesthood blessings, and others from the Love I know my Father has for me(and each of us). I'm gonna be JUST fine leaving with the others on Monday morning. - Have you had 1-2-3 blessings by now? - Short answer... yes, I've had 3. -Are you still leaving with your group on Monday? - Short answer... yes. -What time do you leave the MTC? - 2:30am or thereabouts - Do you still have the TracFone and has the dumb thing rang again? - haha yes I have it. The Branch presidency found out that what you two did by sending that to me is actually... get this... ALLOWED here at the MTC! So TELL JEREMY and his parents when you get the Chance!!! - Will you have the Phone on Monday? - Yes -Do you have a new prescripion? do we need to pay for it? - I have been given some eardrops and they technically are a prescription but the doctors office was very kind and instead of making me pay for it, just looked for a spare, unused, unoppened, brand new box that they had laying around, and they actually found one, so basically I don't need to pay for anything... I have paid appoximately $28-$32 for this ear issue, which is great considering what I could have ended up paying. - I have no need to buy a card to call from a pay phone because I have the trac phone so no worries dad. Hey I love you all and can't wait to Hear from you agian next week!

(Aug 13 2015)

so this week has been up, good, well... mostly. the only down thing about his week has been my earache. the doctors here have no idea what's up, they think it's an infection however they don't know why it's getting so bad. I've been taking antibiotics and it's been helping... I think... (then my eardrum bursts in the middle of the night) yeah it's difinitly helping.... so today I just got an email from our mission, our whole mission here at the MTC got this email and it explains what to expect when we get to the Czech Republic and such... I'll forward this email to you, MOM and DAD after this email. we skyped again, some people in the Czech republic this week for TRC, which is basically just Home Teaching through skype. our czech is... let's just say that we'll need the Lord to qualify us if we want to expect success in the czech republic within the next couple months. this is my report. (we are supposed to get our flight plans TOMORROW!.

(Aug 6 2015)

This week has been awesome, I have begun to understand that WHENEVER I am having negative feelings towards anything, In ANY type of way, it is because of my OWN selfishness. I was in personal coaching with one my my instructors today, Bratr Knapp asked me what I thought would be good for me to work on. I told him that I feel like I want to be able to Love the people and Love my "investigators" more. I feel like I have a genuine love for the whole of mankind, however I also know that when things seem difficult it is easy for me to think inward and not outward, thus making myself feel worse. It was suggested that I read Moroni Chapter Seven, and on my own time, during Personal Study time, I did just that. As I read, I realized that this section of scripture is speaking directly to every member of the Church who is diligently seeking to do what is right but Just needs some extra help from above... that means ALL OF US. Moroni is telling us about the words of his father Mormon, and confirms to us once again and with great power the fact the Miracles have not ceased Today; angels STILL continue to minister to the children of men. The Lord is not just sitting around, now that his Atonement is Complete, and just waiting for this all to come to an end, HE IS STILL engaged in the work, and HE IS STILL pouring HIS love out unto his people, all the children of God. After confirming this truth, Moroni tells us about Charity, and how it suffers long, believeth all things, and hopeth all things and endureth all things. Charity is not puffed up, Thinketh no evil, and envieth not. Charity is the pure love of Christ, and those found possessing it at The Last Day, it shall be well with him, is what Moroni tells us. The chapter ends by saying that we must Pray with all purpose of heart, pray to our Father who knows all things that we may obtain this Charity, which is the Pure love of Christ. I did that, immediately after reading this chapter and I am so glad that I did so. I believe that The Lord has been preparing me to see and understand this principle of Charity more and more over the last several days and likely for much Longer. The same day that I read this chapter, BEFORE I read the chapter, I went to lunch and was just getting ready to get some of this "delicious" MTC food, and I found myself Looking around at the people in the cafeteria. As I looked, I saw/felt in each of them they were Children of God; that God actually cared about them, and that he knew them, and that He creates all these rules that need to be followed, and has organized this MTC training ground so that we can be prepared to be his servants. I looked and saw so many people with their minds focused on simply getting food. How oblivious we are, all the time, of something that is MUCH greater than any of us can ever truly understand until after this life. And yet, we're supposed to teach that to the other Children of God... how are we supposed to do that? The answer came to me, and I'm still certain that I still don't have all of the answer, but as stated in my Blessing, "you will have that which will be sufficient for you." and for now, This testimony is all that I need, that... I know that Charity is the ONLY way that we can successfully teach our brothers and sisters, we are all struggling with different things, but if we forget ourselves and just Go to Work, we will bless the lives of others, and we will be able to help those who don't know where to find the help they need. I have no doubt in my mind that everyone on the planet is struggling with something that God can, and WANTS to help them with! This is my Testimony of Charity, and I pray every day that I can obtain it, and In doing so, I pray for others more than I pray for myself, which has brought me nothing but joy in regards to that. This is my weekly email, I'm gonna send it to more than just you MOM and DAD, because I feel like I also want Ethan and Chandler to here these words, please forgive me. But I say these things the same way I would say them to you, or to anybody else, including that I Love you, and that I pray for you always. Mom, Dad, thank you for your prayers, your son is beginning to understand once again, why he is here. To all those whom I care about, and especially to those who have given up their son to the Lord for a time, I love you. Elder Dean

July 16

so this week (past 7 days or so) has been good, I was having a bit of a hard time over the last week with the language because we're starting to get into Cases, (in this Case senario) in the language and it's very hard. speaking about the subject of the sentence vs talking about the direct object of a sentence is very different. anyway, I was having a hard time and felt like my prayers were not being answered the ways I wanted/hoped they would be answered, and then on tuesday night, a counselor from my Branch Presidency came in to our class during personal study and told us that he wanted to interview us, he started with me, and I walked into the other room with him. "how's this week been, Elder Dean?" he asked me, I paused and thought for a moment, for, my Prayers HAD been answered, simply with thoughts and impressions of, "you're at the MTC, don't worry" and thoughts like, "You can't learn unless you're in an uncomfortable situation" and thoughts like that. "I'm doing, good... It can be a little bumpy at times, but I am getting there." I told him. He then said to me that he felt impressed to tell me something.... "Elder Dean. . . . Your Father in Heaven wants you to know that He is pleased with you, and He wants you to know that He's proud of you." I immediately Broke down in tears, I had not felt this love that my Father in Heaven has been wanting me to feel, I had been focused on the work, but I was not feeling His support. My father in Heaven wanted to tell me that he was there, again, and he did that through one of his Servants. I am using this to help me through this bump in the Language study, and I know that it's going to work out alright. i'll send a picture of this man, his name is Brother Redding.

To Clayton...(July 2 2015)

Tell clayton that I am here because, even though he does not remember, we were once all good friends, brothers and sisters, in the pre existence. there were some people that need me to find them, because they knew that they would be born into the world without the Gospel. I am here to find them, and to bring them back home, to help them know that we have Heavenly Parents that want us all to return to live with them after we die. Clayton, you already know about Heavenly Father and you already know about how much our Heavenly Parents love you. Clayton you live in a Family that Loves and cares for you, and we are sealed to our mom and Dad forever. Clayton, there are people that do not know these things, and I am leaving you for 2 years, not because I want to leave, but because I love you, and I love our other brothers and sisters in the world too. it is our job to tell them that we have a Heavenly Father, and that we can be happy. That is why I am here Clayton. I love you, more than you have any idea. Make me a promise okay? you take care of your sisters for me. our sisters are amazing. you and I are blessed to be part of an amazing Family, and we are so blessed to live with a Dad and a Mom, and we all live together, and we have a house and food and we have the Holy Ghost. our other Brothers and Sisters are out there somewhere... and they don't have these things. I am Doing this Clayton because I love them, and I love you. Clayton... it is our Job to help them, do you Understand? I will never be far away, this planet is a small one, only a speck in the sea of the cosmos, but we're loved by our supreme creator, and we are protected by this planet from the dangers of Space. the Heavens are vast, but we are of Great Value to our Father in Heaven Clayton. I love you, don't think for one second that I left because I want to be away from you guys, because that is not true. I miss you guys more than I can explain. Clayton, just as I am doing my Job for Heavenly Father, and for our other Brothers and Sisters, will you promise me that you'll do your job now? as the man of the house when Dad is gone? I know you will, you're my brother after all, and I know you'll take care of everything. Clayton, if you really want to understand what i'm talking about, and if you really want to know why i'm out here. . . go read the Book of Mormon, and Clayton, Pray EVERY DAY. I promise this will all come into focus and you'll understand why i'm out here. Okay? take care, and remember that you're in my prayers. Love you Clayton

(July 2 2015) First Official P-Day

okay so before I begin, i just am so happy whenever I get a letter from Dear Elder from you two, thank you so much. it's a strange feeling really, I just have this overwhelming joy when I hear, "elder Dean you have a letter" and then I nearly flip my lid. I got Clayton's card in the mail, i'm blown away how mature he sounds in that card! I have never heard him talk like that before, tell him I love him too. at first I was worried about being Homesick but i'm not that worried anymore... the suprizing thing is that I have not been homesick at all since being here. I mean, there is the ocasional glimpse in my head of just a couple of days ago, and I miss you guys more than I can even begin to describe, but I am so engaged here that I quite litterally don't have time to be homesick. The Lord is keeping me busy here at the Missionary Training (Transition) Center. I've got some pictures to send to you, if they don't make it in this email they'll make it in the next one. we're doing laundry for the first time since we got here, today. I have a lot of Laundry. had a kind sister help me figure out how to use the washing machine, that's something I should have learned more about before I left. i'm going to type my journal entries in here to explain the last week... __________________________________________________________________________________ MTC Day 1 E Entered the MTC yesterday, I am still on edge, however my strength is progressing. Keep it up Edler Dean! ________ MTC Day 2 Today we had to teach our first lesson... in Czech! We've been here for less than 3 days and we're ALREADY being required to speak the language when teaching. But the funny thing is, We're doing it, and we're succeeding! Already we know how to compose small basic sentences. My parents and siblings would be Amazed. However the reason we are learning so quickly is because The Lord and my Father in Heaven are constantly there helping. I am beginning to learn lots. I play that I may continue to learn, and have the companionship with my Father in heaven and my savior that I do, and more so, am developing. ______________ MTC Day 3 It honestly feels as though we have not been here as long as we have. I feel like this has all been just one extreemely long day. I'm blown away how quickly we're learning Czech. only four days ago, I knew absolutely nothing, and now, i'm able to say/create very simple sentences. Vim ze Duch Svaty je pozehnej very simply, I know the holy ghost blesses. I know that this is Horribly incorrect, however I can feel my fathe rin Heaven's (Nas nebesky otec) love (laska) for us (za). I know that we are receiving devine help in our studies. ___________________ MTC Day 4 It's Sunday morning, we finally made it! can't wait to see what Sunday Holds! _ Today we had the opportunity to go for our first sunday walk, and went to the temple. I managed to get some pictures and managed to get made fun of for taking a selfie.... I'm just happy that I got some pictures. Tonight we had the opportunity to attend a "movie" where Elder Bednar spoke on the topic of Christ, more specifically, the Character of Christ. He told us not to take notes, but rather, to listen, and let the spirit guide our thoughts and actions. He spike about the Character of Christ or rather, the nature of Christ. We learned that Christ throughout his ministry was always expressing his concern and love outwards. So often when placed in difficult or stressful situations we loko INWARD. ____________________ MTC Day 5 It is our first monday here. We have been so very blessed to be here and have the experiences that we're having. Hwe got our mail for the second time today, I was so happy. the feeling that comes with getting a letter from my Mother and Father is indescribable. our disctict leader walked in and said, "mail's here" and suddenly we were all hyped up. I'm so happy for letters. ________________ MTC day 6. We started off with an hour and a half of service. The purpose is to help us as missionaried to feel the spirit of doing service. __________________ MTC Day 7 it's official, I've been here for an entire week. I have been blessed in so many ways. Atfirst I was concerned that I would be Homesick, and worrysome about my stay here... it isnearly the oppirisite. The language is coming alone fine, we've just started Verb conjugations and such. Muzu Cinit small phrases YAY! Often it's easy to think that i'm not getting the language but honestly my parents would be blown away. It is all thanks to the Lord. He's definitely been with me every step of the way. ___________________ i'm sending half of the pictures in this email and the other half in a separate email. see you guys later! Love Elder Dean!!! _________________

(June 25 2015) All is well

I'm fine, lucky I get to email the day after I got in here. my P days are on Thursdays so expect emails then. They told me that I only have like 30 seconds to send this because I need to make sure that you are not gonna freak out wondering when my P day is. The MTC is stressful but eventful and they keep me busy. the first night was strange but comforting, I stared at the ceiling and thought in awe as I realized that I'm actually in the MTC. my companion is Starsi Chappel. he's the Senior companion, just decided tonight. it'd be a lie if I told you that there have not been the ocasional tears but all is well... i'm the lord's servent. I have to go, running out of time, Love you, talk to you next week!