Success and sadness. Transfers this week. I'm going to Třebíč (Week 17 in Ostrava)

Hello Everybody,

 

So this week is transfers. That means that everyone is on pins and needles all weekend as we wait to see what the next 9 weeks will bring us. Turns out, actually, that Ostrava is getting turned upside down! Out of the six missionaries here right now, five are leaving; there won't be any sisters in Ostrava next transfer, a threesome, a new missionary blinding in with a missionary who's been in Ostrava in the past, and Elder Anderson is going to Třebíč with Elder Machado, the district leader there! We've already spoken with a few members and they're all calling it a catastrophe, they're really sad to see us all go. I am too: I really love it here in Ostrava and I really hope I get to come back. The members here are great, the people here are great, and the work was just starting to perk up over the last two weeks. Helena, Sister Ivanova's friend, had a great member lesson at Sister Ivanova's garden where we talked about prayer and our relationship to our Heavenly Father. Jana was there (which was a big surprise) and it was great seeing her and talking to her all evening and the next day at church. We haven't set up anything with the family we started teaching last week, but we did find a new man who's already read about the Church in magazines, was really interested in the Restoration and Prophets when we taught him on a bench, and when we had our second meeting with him, he asked if he could take an assortment of reading materials about the plan of salvation, the gospel, a complete rundown of the restoration, Joseph Smith's testimony, and two pamphlets about the Church statistically. He was so interested that he wanted to set up for tonight but didn't have enough time so instead we're on the plan for tomorrow evening with him.

 

In other news, we've really seen the Lord's hand in the work this last week. Both Elder Smith and I have had experiences praying before starting a teaching session where we'll receive revelation on where we need to go. We go there, we find the person we need to, and it's perfect. For instance, on Tuesday when we were planning, I felt inspired that we had to be in the park by the Statue at 3:00. We put it on the plan, and the next day everything went wrong. We had impromptu lessons, missed trams, and all sorts of opposition. But, we still made it to the park on time. Even then, nobody was there, just a little girl scooting around on her tricycle and her dad sitting on a bench nearby. But, that man turned out to be Jan Travnicek, the man who's wanted to be baptized for so long but has had long periods of health, money, and family problems, so long that we'd lost contact with him. We found him again and he's set up to start learning with the new missionaries on Wednesday. Then the next day, we were at the building prepping to head out street contacting. We prayed, and we both felt inspired to the center, while Elder Smith knew we needed to contact one person by the bridge. We headed out there, and standing there was a random boy about our age with band equipment. Elder Smith was like a kid at Christmas time talking to him, since he had his own band before his mission. To put the icing on the cake, one of our former investigators walked past and I restablished contact with him at the same time.

 

I think the best part about last week, though, was our musical program. I would bet that Sister Ivanova has already put up pictures and video on facebook of the program on Wednesday where we taught several contacts, investigators, new members, and even old members a complete first lesson fireside, with music, solo's, and originally scored music. The spirit was strong, a less active member was reactivated, and all the investigators present took copies of the book of mormon. They were so excited and interested by it that they're still feeling the spirit from it.

 

All in all, it's been a good week, and a good transfer. We started strong, we fell into the summer slump, but we pulled ourselves out at the end and can say that we did a great job. Next week I'll be writing from Třebíč. It's been an excellent transfer with Elder Smith and I'm going to miss him, but moving on and going for greater heights and trying my potential will be very exciting. I'm feeling that next transfer will be packed with growth and inspiration that will last forever.

 

I hope you all have just as great a week! If you see my brother or his fiance anytime soon, say "mazzelltoff" for me, as they are getting married on Saturday. Good luck this week, and I look forward to seeing what the next transfer brings to us all.

 

Hodně Stěstí!

Starší Anderson