Blurry Week ( Week 11 in Prague, Week 71 in Czech )

"Rock-a-my soul in the bosom of Abraham! Rock-a-my soul in the bosom of Abraham!" *WHACK*

The phone didn't clatter to the floor this morning, Elder Anderson knew better since Elder Doxey's phone had stopped working. The new alarm was in interest of keeping things interesting in the mornings, and he really appreciated Alex Boye's solo singing. Even still, the morning started out like many others had. There was baptism in the air in Prague, with two baptisms scheduled for Prague itself and several others scheduled around the country. That week had been full of applying changes made during zone conferences, starting to ramp up for the next week with transfers (already?) and departing missionaries (Like Sister Reese, which really weirded Elder Anderson out: had it seriously already been 18 months?)

The week had been hilited with an exchange in Prague, some really neat people that they'd found with that, and primarily with daily meetings with Svetlana the Slovak who was ready to transform her life and enter into a covenant with God. She had been blessed with a week long vacation this week, giving her plenty of time to read anything she could get her hands on, meet with the missionaries, and come to the baptismal service held on Saturday. The next week she started her 12 hour workday shifts again, but the Lord was watching out for her: She had days off on Sunday, the next Friday (For her baptism) and the following Sunday (Confirmation). Somehow, things were just right, and the Elders knew that the Lord needed her in His kingdom at that moment in time. So, it was all arranged.

As Elder Anderson exercised and got ready for the rest of the day, he thought about the blessings the Lord had provided them all throughout his mission, and he knew that there were many miracles yet to happen. He fastened his tie, and clipped his tag on. So much said with so few words on such an important little name tag. That week there had been many things made even more clear to him, things regarding unity, regarding the priesthood, his calling, the mission of the kingdom of God, the Desires the Lord has for us to become perfect, and so forth. While all of it worthy of note, he chose to avoid it in favor of experiences that were fresh from that day, for in the course of writing home that day, he had to take a pause to attend the baptismal service. Following the service, Svetlana met with President Pilka (the branch president) and was welcomed in her decision to join the Prague Branch and especially to be baptized. Then, the Elders left with the zone leaders on their way to go finding. Even though it was P-Day, they knew they had more important  and enjoyable things to do, although secretly Elder Anderson was really looking forward to writing some letters home that day.

On the exchange, Elder Anderson and Elder Andersen (the zone leader from Texas) batted 1.00 in park contacting! They got off the subway and ran two blocks to the park they had chosen, laughing and telling each other how cool it was to be missionaries. They paused, and Elder  Andersen shared thoughts from a recent personal study on how grateful he was to be a missionary. With the Spirit brightly burning within them, they prayed and asked the Lord to guide those who needed them most to them. They power walked into the park and the first man they saw, Lubos, was from Slovakia. They said they were there teaching people about Faith. Lubos replied, "I believe, but I cannot make up my mind with an important decision." They sat down and introduced the book of Mormon and taught him of the restoration. They prayed, and Lubos prayed a powerful prayer for the Lord to guide him. They walked another 30 meters to a man from Hamburg, Germany on vacation. After a brief conversation about faith, he referred his information (and Elder Anderson prayed that this man would meet up with a certain friend ;) of his in the Hamburg mission). Next stop was a man two benches down named Claudio. Originally from Italy (and with no lack of Italian flair and expression) he told the elders, "I am learning many things about the God right now, so tell me something about god." "Have you heard about the Book of Mormon?" "Why, no!" And so, they arranged to bring him one in Italian after teaching him about it and what it means, along with praying at the end. The whole time, Claudio's son David Jesua was babbling away, enjoying the conversation his dad was having with two of the Lord's servants.

Finally, the missionaries headed up the path to an older mustached Czech man basking in the sun with a book by George Orwell in his hands. He hailed them, "Hello, I know your friends from five years ago." The missionaries sat down and in a few minutes discovered that this man believed, but wasn't sure about life after this life. The Elders testified of eternal families, that there is more to life in the spirit world, and that our families can be together forever. They prayed with him, and he left looking forward to their next meeting.
The whole experience testified to Elder Anderson of an idea expressed by Nephi long ago:

Wherefore, how great the importance to make these things known unto the inhabitants of the earth, that they may know that there is no flesh that can dwell in the presence of God, save it be through the merits, and mercy, and grace of the Holy Messiah, who layeth down his life according to the flesh, and taketh it again by the power of the Spirit, that he may bring to pass the resurrection of the dead, being the first that should rise.

Elder Anderson knew and was very grateful for the purpose of his mission in inviting others to come unto Christ, and knew that it was the big "Why" to why he had been sent to those people that day.

Love,
Elder Brent Anderson

PS - I hope you're all as excited for School to start as I am: Dorm tracting, meeting with students and young people, and lots of work to be done!

PPS - I've finally gotten my photos put together. I'm doing a print today, and I'll get then in the mail next week (I hope - transfers are next week, so it'll be pretty intense, but photos are coming. Document!)