May 2 2017

This week has been really good. President Pohořelický came to Prostějov to have interviews with me and Elder Jensen. During my interview, He told me that I should make some goals for the last transfer of my mission. and I'm excited to say that I have these goals picked out, and I will strive for them. Lately I have been striving to become closer to Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I love our Savior, and our Heavenly Father. At the core, that is why I do everything that I do. Though junk and distractions may occasionally get in the way of even ME seeing/feeling that love, It doesn't change the fact that it is there. Yesterday was a state holiday, the czechs wanted a day off of work, so the state said, "lets have a holiday!" so they had one. Litterally that is why they had this holiday... anyway, President Pohořelický had asked the mission to plan a vylet (trip) with the members from our Branches/Wards and to spend the day with them. So as a District, and with two members, and two of their non members friends, we went on a fun hike to some ruins of some old structure, and then we hiked through the forest to the Zoo here in Olomouc. The Zoo was so packed, with families and kids and people on dates and just the whole thing was packed. We had a good time in the zoo, and then we took a bus back into Olomouc's center and we had lunch. I sent some pictures that were taken from one of our Member's phones. Her name is Sára(Sarah) and she's really cool, speaks perfect english, all the youth here speak perfect English. Today, Elder Jensen and I went to an antique shop looking for old Czechoslovakian watches called "Prim"s. These are really cool, and we found some watches today that we both liked in one shop here in Prostějov. We started talking to the guy, found out his name is Radek. He is a believer and he thinks that we're doing good work here in the Czech Republic. We got to know him a little bit, and he asked us a few questions about what we're doing here and where we're from. We told him that we're here as missionaries from our Church, and that we just love sharing the Gospel with people, and that we're from the US. Then we thought we would leave, to go check out some other shops before making a decision for which one we would buy for Elder Jensen, and then I asked Radek, "how much are these two?" These were the ones that we liked. He looked at them, and then back at us and said, "you just take those two watches for memories." We were shocked... He had just given us 40 dollars worth of antique watches! We were pumped, and I jumped on the oportunity and asked, "Radek! You are so cool! is there anything we can do for you?" He responded, "no, you guys just have a good day." I looked him in the eyes and said, "Radek, if there is one thing we can offer you, it is the most valuable thing we have, and it is our message about the Gospel. Would you like us to come share our message with you and your family?" He responded, "I would love for you to come, I'll need to confirm with my daughter first though, she has 6 kids ya know... she's busy." (that made me do a backflip inside) and then I asked him, "can we call you, so that you have our number and we'll have yours, and we'll set up either tonight or tomorrow?" "sure" he said, and we exchanged numbers. This guy is super cool, we'll see what comes of it. ---------------- So talking more about my plan for my last transfer. I want to focus wholeheartedly on the Savior. I will study the Savior. I will testify of the Savior. I will come closer to the Savior. I will inclrease my love for the Savior. I will walk with the Savior. I have set a code of conduct, that I will strive to live by, following the Greatest two commandments to Love God, and Love your Neighbor as thyself: 1. Serve God 2. Serve my fellow men 3. Serve myself Particularly stressing the idea, of putting God first, and Other People before myself. This morning, I was thinking about the Savior and about Heavenly Father. I was thinking about how I recently have been praying more for charity, how I have been telling Heavenly Father that I love Him, and that I want to come closer to Him. As we were listening to some of Elder Jensen's music this morning, I felt the spirit confirm to me that Heavenly Father loves me. It was, at that moment, something that I had been praying for, a moment when I actually felt the Father's love for me, and the Savior's love for me. Yesterday was also one of our members' Birthday, and while at the zoo, we saw two guys go into an exhibit and pet a little kangaroo. They came out, and we had just been talking about how we should try to get let in too. When the men came out, we were all scared to ask, but we all wanted to let Terka(birthdaygirl) have a chance to do it too. I went up and said, "can this girl go in and see the kangaroo too? it's her birthday, and we would all stay out here, but can she just go?" The man looked at our group and said, "well If it's her birthday..." and then he let her go in. We were all so happy to see her get to to that on her birthday, and I was so happy that she was happy. now... how does this relate back... I felt joy from doing something for somebody else, and I felt joy in seeing their joy. This morning I remembered this moment, and I felt like Heavenly Father has this same joy, only greater, when we are happy. He is happy when we, his children are happy and his hand. He loves us, and he doesn't want us to be sad, upset, scared, or unhappy, especially with Him... He created us to have joy! I was overcome this morning from feeling the spirit bear record of this truth, which is different than simply "knowing" it in our minds. I found myself on my knees thanking my Heavenly Father for His Love, and His Wisdom over all things. I sometimes find myself fearing God... Fearing His Wrath, Fearing His demand for Justice, sometimes leading me into spiritual rebelion within the depths of my soul, and a hard heart. But the Lord's power, can soften our hearts, and can calm the storms inside us. He wants to forgive, and He wants to enable us... We never need to fear His judgement, because His judgement is not the World's judgement. "Go ye therefore and learn what that meaneth." I bear testimony that our Savior is loving, peaceful, and quick to forgive when we are sincere and when we want to come to Him. I bear testimony that He lives, and he is infinitely Patient with us. He does not turn His eyes from us when we are hardhearted... He watches, and waits for us to come to the understanding that we need His help. When He has the opportunity to lift us when we want His help, our Love for Him grows as we see to what extent He is willing to go to show us that He loves you, and all of us. He lives, and We have the amazing and wonderful oportunity, privilege, and blessing to learn of Him, and to be comforted, healed, and converted. He is my light, my rock, and my Salvation. May we learn to joyfully sing praises to His holy name, In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen. ​