July 18. 2016

This is an awesome place to be. The Branch here is still very dependant on the missionaries to help keep everything running, but we've got plans to make some changes around here in the next year or so. This branch needs strong people like President Ambrož (the branch president) or Aleš Chrdle (The legend that was baptized in the tabernacle, and lives here with his family of 3 kids and his wonderful wife). This branch is full of wonderful people, but we need to find somebody here who will be one of the strong people that will be loyal to the Lord until the end of their days. We have discussed a little about this as a district as well as with our Branch President. We have decided that we will only search for these type of people this transfer. This means some interesting things. When we contact somebody on the street, if they say that they're not interested, we usually continue to speak to them to try to get them to gain even a little interest. This often leads to people walking away upset, or it can occasionally lead to people who have some slight interest, and then they come study with us. This transfer we are trying something different. We will be trusting the promise in Preach My Gospel which says that the "Elect will hear His voice... (and) will be willing to act on (our) message." When we talk to somebody this transfer, and they say that they are not interested, we will simply say, "okay" and then we'll move on and talk to somebody else. This is acting towards the idea that there are truly people out there who are searching for the truth only because they know not where to find it. If somebody is truly searching, then when we talk to them, they will accept what we say, and be willing to try it. This has been evident as we have been working lately towards this goal. We have found a man yesterday, who is the son of one of our Investigators. His name is R, and we met with him because Elder Marcucci and I needed to go make a down payment on a new house (long story). While on the bus, we talked to him a little bit, and we told him that we would like to share a message with him about Jesus Christ. He then told us to be quiet, and asked us to speak in English so that other people on the bus wouldn't hear. He told us that we live in a world where there is danger all around. He told us that he is just trying to be a good person, but when he sees dangerous people, he stays away from them. He is the sweetest man, and he just seems so lost on the inside. His spirit is seeking the light of the Gospel, but he hasn't tasted it yet. We talked to him on the bus about what we believe about Jesus Christ, and how He helps us to find Peace in this life, and Eternal life in the world to come. R asked us if we could come visit him in his home some time, (before we asked him if we could come). We told him that we would love to. He said that he had received a Book of Mormon in the past, and he said that he has the desire to go dig it out again, and to read it. We told him that was a great idea. Still need to call him, but we'll be meeting with him tonight to give him the receipt for the apartment that we bought... haha... now... I can now explain a little about the apartment we bought. Our investigator is homeless, for the sake of the situation I will not say their name. We have been trying to help them to get back on their feet, I cannot explain too much, but it's enough to say that the best way to do that was to get her into a cheap apartment. Because I'm in the Branch Presidency, my companion and I needed to go and make this happen because President Ambrož was not here in CBud at the time. The funny things you do when you're a Czech/Slovak Missionary... haha. Well, I Love you all, and am grateful for your prayers.