Transfer 8: December 12

This week has been a good one, there have been many miracles and tender mercies since lest monday. The 10th was the day that the czech republic officially prepares for christmas, and we had been hearing that the town square would be filled with more christmas attractions but we had no idea that on the evening of the 10th (which was a Saturday) that we would have some of the more beautiful weather, a wonderful sunset. Elder Geier and I were on our way to go visit a referal, and as we were at the bus station. We wanted to go look at the town square so bad, but we knew that we needed to be doing Missionary work. We checked the bus times, and we realized that there wasn't going to be a bus for 15 minutes, and we knew that would be just enough time to just go and take a look at the Town Square. Well, I am so glad that we did that. Elder Geier and I started walking towards the center of town where the Town Square is. We started hearing music and singing, and it smelled wonderful. When we walked around a corner onto another street, we looked down the street and we could see the Square clear down at the end, and we just saw a line of tents and booths covering our view of the Square, and we knew that it was going to ba packed, and it was. There had previously been only a couple of booths out on the square, selling various things like treats and drinks (mostly alchoholic) and some trinkets, but we thought that was going to be it. I'll send the pictures below, of when we were approaching the town square for the first time that day, it was insane! As we approached the square, the singing and music got louder, as did the muttering from people in every direction. there were kids everywhere with toy wooden swords and shields and crossbows and there were moms everywhere with strollers and there were old men huddled together around tables everywhere drinking, and there was just a new booth selling something different at every glance in any direction. I was standing on the Town square (In czech it is called a Naměstí) and I was just so happy to see this. I had seen these type of things in pictures in Mr. Mansfield's german class at school, and I had seen it once also before last year in Jihlava, but I will tell you what, there is nothing like a deep Moravian Czech Christmas Market, let me tell ya, this place is so cool! I'm going to search for a handmade-woodcarved-Nativity in the Christmas Market today so wish me luck. As we were standing out on the Naměstí, I just kept looking around with my jaw dropped, they had a big stage that they had built and on it was a big lifesize nativity made out of straw, litterally everything, the people, the baby jesus, the stable, everything, it was so cool! I just wandered around all excited like a little 5 year old for about 8 minutes, and then we had to go back to the bus station. As I was leaving the Naměstí, I just started crying, this place is sooooo cool, It is such a tender mercy to be here. I could never have imagined this, my Father in Heaven truly knows what I want more than I do, and He often give me what I desire even when I may not nessesarily deserve it. I cannot acurately describe just how grateful I am to Him. Then yesterday, Elder Geier was feeling sick so we went home after church, I did some calls while he took a nap, and I called the sisters at one point, they were out contacting at the time, and they seemed excited to tell us/me something. They have been meeting for a while with a girl who comes regularly to our English Class. Her name is E , and E has never been interested in learning about the gospel, but last transfer Elder Andersen and I felt that she was getting close. So we talked to her about prayer and stuff, and, as expected, she was not interested at the time. We would consecutively ask her again and again every week after english, "have you prayed yet?" and she would always reply, "still, no..." At the beginning of This transfer, she finally set up to meet with us, and we set her up to meet with the Sisters. She has been meeting with them weekly every sunday for the past 3 weeks now I think. Although she missed last week, but yesterday she also met with the sisters. During their lesson, the sisters asked her, "E, have you prayed yet?" and she said, "to be honest.... yes." She finally prayed ) and she told the sisters that when she started praying, she just started crying. The sisters asked her if it was because she was sad, and E said she was not sad. The sisters explained to me that the feeling that made E cry during her prayer was just a big suprize and a slight startle to E. But we all know that it was the spirit, and it was just Heavenly Father saying, "E, my daughter, I have been waiting for you to come to me for so long! I LOVE YOU!!!" We'll see what happens with her. She's definitely going to get baptized. Prophecy from last transfer is coming true, the 5 people who are going to get baptized are finally emerging from the woodwork. I love you all, and I'll keep you in my prayers. Stay safe, don't get hurt. Spend time together, and love the Gospel during this time of year! Light the World! S Láskou, Starší Dean.