"Hey! We've flown halfway around the world to talk with people about the Purpose of Life! Why, no, does that sound weird to you?" ( Week 10 in Olomouc, Week 45 in Czech )

Hey everybody!

So I've got to say that this week is, quite possibly, the best week I've had in a long time. Elder Nestman is a blast. He takes a really fresh, exciting, energy-filled perspective to the work, making sure we focus on the most important things first. I love it. :D

In terms of people we're working with, only two of our investigators are working towards baptism right now. Martin is trying to make his date, but we're not sure if he'll make it this weekend either. We'll see. We're in a major finding mode with our investigators, trying to bring in fresh people to work with, but the people we've been working with recently are still moving forward, slowly but surely. Something interesting I've seen recently is how important it is to work with the members very closely. I suppose for you all out there in real-world land, if you want to help the missionaries in your area then get in touch with them. Tell them you'd like to be on the short list for calling when teaching someone, and look for opportunities to connect people you know with missionaries. Be bold about it, and invite people you know to meet the missionaries. I can guarantee the missionaries will love you more for that than for any number of home-made lasagna dinners you're used to providing them with (Even if homemade lasagna is something we're lacking in out here... :P)

Well, last sunday was district conference. Really exciting seeing a full chapel of czechs and slovaks working with each other and worshipping together. Monday morning Elder Hatch was called to the Office to serve as an assistant to the president, and so I spent a lot of time with the other elders getting things wrapped up with them. I started driving the car 100% last monday too, and guess what: I know how to drive a manual-shift car now! It's AMAZING! I think I felt more confident about learning czech than I did about learning to drive a stick, but it's down, no problem. Tuesday I made jello for english and we started talking about the gospel with our students, one of whom started taking private lessons with us to talk about the gospel, then transfers hit on wednesday. Elder Nestman came in at about 9:30 and we started getting to work immediately. It's so much fun working with him! We had a district meeting on thursday, really interesting because all our district leaders in our zone have been here for 4-6 months. Very, very young. All the same, they did a fantastic job. Leadership conference in Brno (Yes, I drove to Brno - No, our Škoda Fabia isn't like my Buick, but it's a good car to drive), and it was an excellent training on a lot of foundational skills. It helped me a lot because our last conference was for the older generation missionaries. I was the only missionary not going home in 2010 out of the whole group of 25 leadership missionaries. Weird...This time around it was all young missionaries, almost 100%. But, the mission is in good hands and I'm excited to see what's going to happen in the coming weeks. We spent a ton of time finding over the weekend, but not much came of it, so we're going to see what we can do about improving our particular finding skills on the street and when tracting. Last transferw as full of referral work, which makes me feel lazy but really good since our investigators actually *know* they are investigating. This work is the hardest thing I've ever done, but it's worth it. It's taken a while to get here, but I really have started feeling some major demands on myself that I don't feel I can, alone, provide. Thank goodness it's not really my work, but missionaries are simply here as proxy for the Lord. We can't do it without him, our work requires him 100%.

Couple of random tidbits: I'm still trying to figure out how washable tattoos can stick to czech paper. Valentine's day was well received here in Olomouc, thanks to everyone for the pictures, letters, and stickers. By the way, my Niece knows how to talk, and that just scares me. She didn't do a whole lot before my mission. Support your bishops and branch presidents, please, because they have a lot more to do with the success of the church in their area than many people realize. Be prepared to teach lesssons on the spot in foreign countries. I think I'm going to be brushing up on teaching gospel principles this transfer. And, finally, did you know the Czech Republic is incredibly beautiful in March - May? Quite possibly the most beautiful place I've ever been for spring.

Well, that's all for now. Crazy to look at what we've got ahead of us this week, but I'm hoping that you all have a great week and keep yourself close to the Lord. We live in a crazy world, and we must have a solid anchor in our lives if we are planning on staying safe. That anchor is a testimony of the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It's the only solid base of principles you'll find in this world that is divinely endorsed, directed, and designed. Have a great week, I love and miss you all, and I'll see you sooner rather than later.

Thanks,
Elder Brent Anderson

PS - Some questions have popped up regarding my visa. I'll be going to prague next monday to have a chat with the foreign police. If you don't hear from me next week, I'm sorry, but I just might be sitting in a cell waiting to be deported. ;)

Transfers again ( Week 9 in Olomouc, Week 44 in Czech )

Hey Everybody!

Sorry, I'm not going to be able to get much more out this week than a few words. Transfers have come, I'll be serving with Elder Nestman again. He was my MTC companion. It's going to be Great! I'm really excited, and I'm excited to really throw myself into loving the members, the missionaries, and the work. The last few months have been hard for a lot of reasons, I think. I'm starting to realize, however, that our confidence and faith and hope must be rooted in the Savior if they are going to go anywhere. I used to draw confidence and hope from successes and self comparison, from seeing my progress over time. As I've progressed in my mission, I've realized that who I am right now is probably more important. If I'm able to love and serve others with all I've got, that is the mark of that self confidence. If I'm striving to be like Jesus and being a christ powered missionary, then there is no more I can expect from myself. Granted, it's a complicated subject determining what that means, but on the whole if I feel that I am in line with the spirit and with my savior, then I know that I can take confidence.

The mission is getting really young this week. It's weird feeling like an older missionary, but exciting as well. I think this is the mark of a new chapter in my mission service, and I'm looking forward to seeing what the Lord has in store for us in the coming weeks and months. I love you all and I'm looking forward to hearing from you all soon.

Thanks,
Elder Brent Anderson

A few new photos

Here are the photos that Starsi Brent mentioned in his post this week.

Nice Pizza

Thai friend with the Elders

Cute children

Nice photo composition

An old Mini

Have a great day everyone, Starsi Brent's dad

Many lessons learned, plus I need to drive a stick? ( Week 8 in Olomouc, Week 43 in Czech )

Hello Everybody

Wow! What a week! It's been incredible watching how the Lord really makes things happen in the work, and how he uses circumstances to teach and prepare people, including ourselves. Let's get started.

Last week we committed two people to baptism. Simona, one of the Gypsie family members (They're all related somehow) was talking to her sister, a recent convert. Her sister talked about her baptismal experience and how her life is completely different now. Simona wanted it as well, so at our next meeting we introduced the plan of salvation and talked about accessing the atonement through baptism. She'll be working towards a baptism in March. Then, Liba, an investigator from last transfer, finally had time to meet. We've given her book of mormon chapters for a while and she eats them up, but after finally teaching her about the restoration and the plan of salvation, she is starting to see and understand the majesty of the restored gospel and has even greater desires to get baptized. She, too, is working towards march. Karolina has had a date for the last two weeks, and we'll be helping them towards a wedding and a baptism, her boyfriend is thinking about baptism, his sister is intrigued by us and what we believe and is starting to participate as well.

But, not all is fun and games. For starters, Martin isn't going to be making his date. He was sick on sunday and had to postpone our meeting for today. We're not necessarily happy, but we know this will be for the best. He has an opportunity now to reach for baptism and find a very solid testimony out of it.

I think that this might be one of the big lessons I learned this week: When hard times come, smile: You will be much stronger afterwards. Faith is not just a principle of religion, it's the foundation of life. When my dad lost work, we had faith he'd find it again and it wasn't a worry. When my investigators slip and fall, I have faith that they will keep moving forward and reach even greater heights. For all of us, when we have that faith, even when we fall, we get up again and go forward.

Another lesson from this week: Faith and Happiness are both decisions we make .I've been rather unhappy the last few weeks. Things have been great, on paper this has been the most prosperous transfer of my mission for many reasons. But I've not been very happy. This week I was tired of not being happy, and I learned that happiness is not bought with time or money or events or achievements. Happiness comes from within. When we get up and reach for higher things, when we remember who we are and why that's important, our relationship with our Heavenly Father as His children, and then choose to be happy, guess what? We will be!

IT's the same with faith. Faith can be developed through experience, trial and error experiment, as a gift of prayer (which, ironically, requires faith), or it can be a choice. Elder Neil L. Anderson of the Twelve gave a talk about this in October 2008 conference. Go read it, it's good.

Transfers are coming up next week. I'm staying here for sure, but it will be interesting to see who comes to fill Elder Hatch's big shoes. I'm not sure how things will work out in the end here, but I know that next transfer is going to be one of those growing periods. Even still, it's going to be excitingly beautiful, and I'm looking forward to it.

Random grab bag: My biggest fear this week - learning to drive a stick. I have about 5 minutes of manual transmission driving time, and it consisted of backing up in a parking lot, stalling, going to first gear, stopping at a parking lot intersection, stalling, starting, stalling, starting, and switching places with Elder Hatch. My new companion will apparently not know how to drive a stick. Pray for me, but especially for our clutch. It's going to be pretty good.

I made the best pizza ever the other day. I mentioned it last week, but a picture is worth a thousand words. See enclosed pizza-pic. Also, see enclosed pictures of the branch president's kids (The boy speaks czech! He's only a three year old! It's INCREDIBLE!), a photo composition that I would enter into the PTA contest at school if I was, you know, actually IN school, and an original Mini Cooper from back in the day. Also a picture of two americans and a thai member who was baptized last summer and went home last week. I met her playing frisbee in Ostrava in my greenie transfer and she then got baptized here in Olomouc. Never taught her, but she's pretty neat. Nifty.

Otherwise, I'm happy, healthy, and things are going rather well. Looking forward to this week, to lessons, new baptismal dates, and otherwise watching things as they progress and roll forward. The gospel of Jesus Christ is true, I'm watching it transform lives, and I hope you all have a great time in the mean time.

Housekeeping: If you've sent me mail to my olomouc address, I've not gotten it yet. If it's been in the mail for more than a week, shoot a message to my parents and have them let me know and I'll see if something's going on here. Last random note: Looks like we survived a week with having 4 missionaries in the same apartment. Looks like the landlord didn't notice, thank goodness. We're still recovering from the mess. Once it's all cleaned up, I'll be sure to send home a movie of what our aparement looks like.

Have a great week! Next week's installment of the Adventures of Starší Anderson: District Conference, Transfers, and a partridge in a pear tree.

Love,
Elder Brent Anderson

One year serving and it's only getting better! ( Week 7 in Olomouc, Week 42 in Czech )

Wow, I LOVE serving as a missionary. There are so many things to be grateful for, so many great things happening. The interesting thing is that it can be incredibly hard at times, but at the same time very satisfying. Let me explain.

There is a young couple we've started teaching last week. She's never been baptized, but would like to be. We taught about the restoration and introduced the book of Mormon. She accepted our message simply and with great faith, and now reads from it daily. We came back and introduced the plan of salvation. While a lot to take in at once, they understood the overall message and the importance of fulfilling our purpose on the earth. Isn't it wonderful that we have a purpose here, right now, where we are? Everything we're doing leads to something greater. And on top of that, when we taught about the gospel, she accepted a baptismal date with no problems. We'll be having a wedding with them in the near future, and I'm excited to see what happens in the coming weeks with them both.

Martin is excited for his baptism and service in the church. We're finishing a review of doctrines and so forth, and it's incredible seeing the miraculous change in him as he's started getting great desire to serve in church callings, to read and pray, and to build that relationship with our Heavenly Father. He's going to be great.

Otherwise, we've been working a lot with members and other people, helping people to progress. It takes a lot to make this work pay off in the end. I'm paying a really high price spiritually right now, and it definitely is a wear and tear on an individual. I don't know what I'd do without Elder Hatch around. Having that support always there is a great blessing. I'm trying to perform with the same efficiency and attitude that he has, and it's definitely proving to be a challenge. He's an excellent missionary, and seems to have everything rolling forward in the right way at exactly the right time.

Well, otherwise I'm doing alright. I'm learning, maybe relearning, a few lessons I'd like to share with you all. First off, it takes a lot to invite people to Christ and serve them how He would. An awful lot. Paying that spiritual price requires that we give ourselves 100% over to the work. When we start worrying about ourselves and our comfort, you will find that the energy just won't be there. There just won't be the power to push you through if you try to do things by yourself or with your own power, motives, or objectives involved. It only works if you are losing yourself in the service of others.

Another important point is that your attitude is a decision, not a result. We are endowed with the great gift of agency and are not simply matter to be acted upon. We choose to act, and when we do so, things happen. This is the same with our attitude. If I want to be happy, I have to decide within myself that I will be happy. I'm afraid that no amount of money or resources or anything can change that in the end. If you gave everyone in the world a bag of gold, it wouldn't bring them happiness. They might be excited at the possibilities but really nothing has changed. The money will vanish, the results dilute, and they'll be the same people in the end as in the beginning. We choose what and how we are, and if we're not happy then we'd better decide today if we'll be happy or not.

Random sampler: the other missionaries in Olomouc, Elders Rigby and Lindsay, moved into our apartment for a week. They are moving between two locations right now, but the new apartment won't be ready until Saturday. So, we're just one big happy family in the meantime. I am proud to say I've met some of my cooking goals the last few weeks and can roll out an excellent pizza, pancakes, tortillas, and cheese sauce from scratch. That's right, we're eating well in Olomouc. I bring this up because we're spending a drastically low amount on food because we're just buying raw ingredients. Who knew that all those things I learned in my mom's kitchen actually work in Europe too?

Another random sampler: The 4th is a special day for me. This is actually the week I'll have been wearing a name tag for a year. Wow. Incredible to consider how much has changed, how much hasn't, and how stupid it is that the things you value most are sometimes the things you took for granted. Root beer, for instance. You just can't find it here. That, and good family and friends. No replacing those two staples of living. I hope that everyone, my family here and my family at home, know how much I love and appreciate them. Among all the reasons and purposes of life, you are the great purpose for my life. Thanks. :)

I hope you're all happy, healthy, and getting along. I hope that your week is just as excellent as mine is going to be. ;) Good luck in school, work, in church, socially, and everything else. If you all haven't realized this yet, life comes at you fast. If you don't stop and look around every once in a while, you might miss it. Love and miss you all, and I hope you have a fantastic week.

Thanks,
Elder Brent Anderson

PS - Minor note about LDS.org. I'm proud to be on the Web design team of the church. The new beta.lds.org is beautiful, both on the surface and how they're putting together the platform it's on. I looked under the hood a minute ago and it's really, really nice.... Alright, 'nuff of that. Back to work. :D