April 18 2016

This week has been good. I have seen the Hand of the Lord in my life, and our Father in Heaven has given me some personal council lately, it's been just what I needed, and I know that Prayer is incredible. I kind of want to do an update on our Area here in CBud. We are currently teaching 3 Investigators: - V): A wonderful man, about 30 and he's been studying with the missionaries for several Transfers now. He already knows Everything in terms of the missionary lessons, and he litterally just needs to be baptized. He also has some other concerns that are prohibiting him from being baptized at this time, but as soon as he decides to overcome his concerns, he will be baptized. Vojtěch is currently on Baptismal Date for the 7th of May. - A: She was found when a member told Elder Pickett and I that he was bringing one of his friends to our lesson with V. We had on plan to teach V with this member, and then this member showed up with his friend, A. A is about 56-60 years old. Her husband was already a member of the Church, but passed away just a few years ago. Ana has been unceasingly coming to church regularly, and keeps all of our commitments as best she can. She currently doesn't have any glasses so it is virtually impossible for her to read the Book of Mormon on her own. We're still working on that. A is not on Baptismal Date yet. (We're trying) - G: He is from England, he lives here in CBud, but doesn't speak any Czech. He teaches English to students in the University, and he is from the religion Ba-Hi. He has been meeting with missionaries for quite a long time, but has never actually come to church. He pretty much knows all the lessons, but he is just too attached to his origional Bahi Beliefs. We, as missionaries are not here to convince people that they are wrong, so we decided it would be the best for him, for us to give him some time to just think about everything. We're going to stress the idea of having a Desire to know that the Gospel is true. Without the desire, he won't act in Faith. G is currently not on Baptismal Date. (We'll see what happens, though, I have faith that we're going to see some interesting things happen with him) Elder Pickett and I are currently working with 3 Less Active members. L: She was baptized just a few transfers ago, and she is a wonderful light in the branch. she is about 30 and has some wonderful young children. She has a strong testimony but she often faces opposition from family as well as some of the branch members. We're working with her. She currently has been missing for the last 3 weeks, and we have not heard a word from her. O: She must be about 50, and she is the kindest lady you could ever meet. She has the tenderest testimony, and she trusts the Book of Mormon and the Gospel. She loves to be the person that people go to when they need emotional comfort, and she just loves to give give give back. C: He is an Aaronic priesthood holder who has a fine family, wife and children, however we never actually see his wife or his children, when we come over to visit, they don't want to hear about the Gospel. He comes to church and passes the Sacrament some times, and he just wants to do the right thing. He is a man, with trials, but he does his best, and that is Admirable. I Love this guy. Our plans for the progression of this area include working more with less actives. The branch here has currently 10 Active members, and the Branch List suggests that there are at least 49 members in Total in this city. Elder Pickett and I will be working to Track them down, and beat them upside the head with enough love to get them back to church... not really, but sometimes it seems like that. The thought, is that if we can get some more Active Members, it would do a couple of good things, including, 1. We would be able to have more lessons with Members Present. 2. We would be able to numerically strengthen the Branch... Imagine the 10 Active members, becoming 15, or 20 Active members! That would literally Double the Effectiveness and size of this Branch's influence here! ha! 3. It would help us as missionaries to act in faith that we can find people through Members, just as they do in the United States Missions, and in the South American Missions. Members are the best way to do missionary work, Fact... Therefore, that is what we will focus on. ----------------------------- Well there you go, that's my email for this week, an update of my Area, and what's going on, and stuff. Mom, you've been asking to know more about the people we're teaching and stuff like that, so I thought I'd just throw down and give you Everything that I am allowed to give you. Love you all, keep up the Good work, and rememeber that Conference can help us thoughout the entire year. Keep studying conference! Love, Elder Dean