Wednesday, December 22, 2010

What shall we give? ( Week 29 in Prague, Week 89 in Czech )

Unlike President Uchtdorf, I'm afraid I can't take an airplane experience or Dr. Suess and turn it into a talk about Christmas. Thank goodness I don't have to. Instead, I'll be satisfied with writing this special Christmas Edition of the ever-continuing adventures of Elder Anderson in the Czech Prague mission. I've been thinking a lot about what I'd like to say today, what I would write if I had the chance to share my testimony of the Savior at a special time of year when we celebrate his birth.

It seems like lately when I write there is a particular piece of something on my mind, a song or a church video clip or something like that. There is a clip of "What shall we give?(http://lds.org/topic/christmas/christmas_video_9.html) that I am rather fond of. The music and it's message mesh so well together, and it inclines me to think about what I can give at this time of year.

I think it goes really well with this quote by Henry van Dyke that I have. It strikes me whenever I read it and I wanted to share it with you all today:

"Are you willing to forget what you have done for other people, and to remember what other people have done for you;
to ignore what the world owes you, and to think what you owe to the world;
to put your rights in the background, and your duties in the middle distance,
and your chances to do a little more than your duty in the foreground;
to see that your fellowmen are just as real as you are;
and try to look behind their faces to their hearts, hungry for joy;
to own that probably the only good reason for your existence is not what you are going to get out of life, but what you are going to give to life;
to close your book of complaints against the management of the universe, and look around you for a place where you can sow a few seeds of happiness - are you willing to do these things even for a day? 
Then you can keep Christmas.
Are you willing to stoop down and consider the needs and the desires of little children;
to remember the weakness and loneliness of people who are growing old;
to stop asking how much your friends love you, and ask yourself whether you love them enough;
to bear in mind the things that other people have to bear on their hearts;
to try to understand what those who live in the same house with you really want, without waiting for them to tell you;
to trim your lamp so that it will give more light and less smoke, and to carry it in front so that your shadow will fall behind you;
to make a grave for your ugly thoughts and a garden for your kindly feelings, with the gate open - are you willing to do these things even for a day? 
Then you can keep Christmas.
Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world - stronger than hate, stronger than evil,
stronger than death - and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love? 
Then you can keep Christmas.
And if you keep it for a day, why not always?
But you can never keep it alone."



As I consider these thoughts and questions, it always turns my thoughts to people around me, to that time my companions shined my shoes or made my bed for me, or the door we held open the other day for an older lady, or getting to strengthen a missionary who is struggling, or whatever it might be. The Last line really speaks the message: You can't keep it alone. This Christmas, we've worked hard to prepare our investigators and help them see why Christ is our Savior. Repentance and experiences with the Atonement are two key and vital aspects to missionary work and to the changes people need in their lives. It's evident that people need to learn to forgive one another, to love more and to align themselves with the Great Exemplar. I'm so grateful for the Savior and for His gospel, the template he's given us to pattern our lives so we can have peace in a struggling world.


Tomorrow is the Christmas conference here in Prague. We've organized a great program with scriptures, carols, and a full devotional. We're singing some great music too and (hopefully) we'll get it on film so we can share it with you all. I'm very grateful for this time of year and I hope that you all enjoy this wonderful time of year.


Přeji veselé vánoce a hodně úspechu ve novém roce!


S láskou,
Starší Brent Anderson

Saturday, December 18, 2010

A plethora of Andersons, or one more week 'til Christmas ( Week 28 in Prague, Week 88 in Czech )


I have on my desk a shallow box that's slightly larger than a normal size sheet of paper. On it there are 24 perforated windows, making it an advent calendar. Each box is numbered, and when you open a window, it reveals a Cadbury chocolate and images of Christmas like small toys or Christmas trees. There's a light snow falling this morning, and the whole mission home is full of smells and decorations that lend to the overall Christmas atmosphere. In the immortal words of Kermit the Frog, "After all, there's only one more [week] 'til Christmas!"

This week was very Christmasy in a lot of ways. For starters, we hit the road on Tuesday with a van full of Christmas packages. With a bag of sunflower seeds and a Santa Claus hat, we hit the blizzardy roads of the Czech and Slovak republics, making rounds to all the districts on the way. We pulled into Zilina in Slovakia Tuesday night and woke up early the next morning to hold our last training for the year in Slovakia. The training was great, the missionaries all took home new ideas and new fire to do the work with more zeal and spirit. Immediately after the conference, it was back on the road to get back to Prague. Elder Thompson is a great driver, and despite slippery, icy roads and hills, we rolled back into Prague on Wednesday night, ready to take on the rest of the week.

This is where we roll to the news. My parents have known for some time, but I'm not sure about what news has been passed around, so I'll break the news officially to everyone.

Thursday this week we had a mini-transfer. I'm still here in Prague with Elder Thompson. But, we've added another missionary to our companionship making it a threesome of assistants. Elder Andersen from Texas moved apartments in Prague. He used to be a zone leader here, but he's come on board as another assistant to compensate for some other changes that are happening. A few months ago, President Irwin sat me down and discussed the departure of the Andersons (So many Anderson's in the picture, so we'll keep this straight: The Anderson couple are the mission finance and executive secretaries, Elder Anderson is me, and Elder Andersen is the zone leader gone AP). The Andersons are going home in January, but their replacements, a senior couple from Utah, won't be coming until March. Last time the office couple switched, it was very hectic because there was about a 2 month gap in the mean time when there was no real training for either of the jobs, leaving the Andersons in the dark for several months. To avoid that and keep things running smoothly, I've been asked to serve as the mission finance and executive secretary and, when possible, to still serve with my two other companions. To fill the gap completely, we've also applied for and received approval for an extension to my mission! When everything is said and done, I'll be back in the USA on the 28th of March. I feel really blessed to get the extra time out here. Things will be different, but it seems that they are always different since things are always changing. But, it's evident that this is all part of the plan and that the Lord arranged everything this way. He knew how things needed to be and he knows Who to put in what places. He knows me by name. What a good thing to know.

As far as the changes we'll see from this, I'll spend a lot more time in the office, I've learned a lot about accounting, why credits are recorded as minuses and debits are pluses (Still wrapping my head around that one, but I think I get it), and how to use a fax machine. Re-reading that line probably has one of my biggest worries - what am I going to write about each week? I'm sure you'll all be dying to know about the new spreadsheet we have for tracking rents and apartments, or each time I fix printer jams, but those are at best poor excuses for letter material. I'm sure that life will throw interesting as well as spiritual curve balls, as it always does, and that the best read blog from the Czech Prague mission office will not run dry of dry wit, or get soggy with silly consonance.

I do have a few thoughts to share as we approach the holiday associated with His birth, perhaps revolving around the oft-mentioned gift-giving associated with Christmas time and how the best gifts are the gifts of self. I sometimes wonder how we can give of ourselves, but the heart of the matter is just that: our hearts. The giving of ourselves is truly found from our hearts. I cannot say how many times I've seen stark contrast as a missionary between work I've done and work I've done because of love. There is no comparison in the results, in the blessings, or in the difference we can make in someone else's life when there is our heart involved. Elder Wilson, a soon-to-depart missionary, touched on this in the testimony meeting last night when he said that the influence of a priesthood leader is much greater than we realize when they have the spirit, which includes doing things from the heart. A couple of words spoken by the Holy Ghost at a missionary conference serve to answer many prayers. A couple of words easily fade into everything else presented or spoken, but it's small and simple things like that which make the impact.

I think that's why I'm so grateful to be where I am right now. My mission looks very different to what I expected when I first put the name tag on, but it's so much more rewarding than I expected it to be as well. I know that the most important thing, and the thing I'd like you all to get from today's letter, is to put yourself in a position where the Lord can rely on you and do what He wants you to do. I think we sometimes say, "well, he knows everything, he is all-powerful, so despite my own personal weaknesses He'll do what he wants." I somehow doubt that an attitude like that is a workable one with the Lord. It's like when we feel a spiritual prompting and ignore it, it will persist for a few moments and then fade into the background patiently and wait for us to come to Him, or it will go to someone who may not be as capable but is willing and humble. That willingness and humility, both stemming from faith, make all the difference. Pray "Lord, I recommit myself to you. Do what you need with me, and I'll go there with You." I find it rather scary personally, but when I do that I see greater blessings thanks to it.

In other news, we went to the airport this morning to drop Elders Wilson and Melling off, however much to their dismay their flight had been cancelled and they will be leaving in another two days. I hope you enjoyed what's been on my mind lately and that you leave time to ponder, perhaps when it gets dark, to step outside into crunchy snowflakes and see my breath billow into the icy air. I love to look at stars in those moments, it seems to remind me where I fit in as part of the big picture, and it reminds me that despite the vastness, He does know us by name.

S láskou,
Starší Brent Anderson

Saturday, December 11, 2010

The 12th day of Christmas ( Week 27 in Prague, Week 87 in Czech )


Hey everyone,

This last week was spent mostly on the road. We were going from conference to conference, from Zone to Zone, teaching all the missionaries in individual zone meetings. On Wednesday we had a bit of a hectic time trying to get to the insurance office - they'd closed half of the subway system, and in the hustle and bustle, elder Thompson and I were bounced all over Prague. It was almost like a scene from an apocalypse movie with everyone trying to evacuate to outside of the city, except instead it was people just trying to get into buses and trams so they could get home. At any rate, between blizzards and congested public transport, we've had a good week teaching and training the missionaries.

This week's letter will be short, next week's will be really interesting, so stay tuned. In the mean time, let's all count down the next 12 days of Christmas together and make up a list of what the Savior has done for us and what we can do for the Savior this holiday season. Christmas is a time that most people spend together as families and with friends. While I'm out here I'm spending it with Czechs and missionaries, but the most valuable thing is always in the giving of self. I'll be writing more on this as we get nearer to Christmas, but I hope you enjoy this time of year, be it as work and school prepare for the break or as home and family start winding up for the holidays. One thing I will share before I close is a thought President Irwin shared the other day in training. President Irwin is a teacher by profession, and he shared this anecdote:

"One day I was up in front of my class teaching. I had a group of 9 year olds that year, and they were all riveted on my board. I had chalk in hand and I was explaining some concept. I can recall so vividly turning around and putting the chalk on the board to write something, and suddenly a rather simple but profound thought crossed my mind: These children will never get to be 9 again. This is their 9 year-old classroom experience, and they'll never be 9 again. I must give them everything they need while they are still 9, because they will never be 9 again."

That thought really struck me, because today is the only 12th of December 2010. Once it's gone, it's gone. I'm only a missionary once, and once it's gone, it's gone. Don't forget to enjoy time as it passes and to realize that, even when things are really hard or hectic, or if it's normal, or nice, or beautiful, you have it for a moment. Enjoy that moment, and live in such a way that each moment, even during the hard times, is one that you can be pleased with, because you never know when things will change.

Have a great week!

Love,
Elder Brent Anderson

Saturday, December 4, 2010

Of Blizzards and Baptisms ( Week 26 in Prague, Week 86 in Czech )


*Tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap tap!*

Elder Thompson's 3000 words-a-minute rattled throughout the office. Elder Anderson suspected that, in a face off, his red-headed companion would ream him in a typing contest, but he never said anything about it. He was glad to be serving with him and thought he was the best companion anyone could have, especially at this time of the year.

With Christmas fast approaching, the weather also moved into position and proceeded to dump a foot of snow on the whole Czech republic, rendering everything white, fluffy, and surprisingly dry since it was so cold - nothing could melt and get wet! The Elders were grateful that the weather was just right for the winter, since nothing is worse than cold and wet and windy. Cold, dry, and windy is at least a workable environment, and everything looked so good covered in snow and ice.

They'd had some misadventures that week getting stuck in the snow and having to shovel continually in order to keep the mission home from getting buried, planning conferences for the up and coming week on the road (Sidenote: P-Day next week won't be happening for us due to conferences and travel, so the next installment in the Adventures of Elder Anderson will be a day or two late), and teaching some really powerful lessons with some of their investigators and recent converts. Two particular experiences were gems for the Elders that they were sure to remember and keep a hold of, as they demonstrated the care Heavenly Father has for His children and how each of us can pass that love on to others.

The first happened last weekend. The Elders had returned from finding efforts around Prague and crashed in the office, with a few minutes before they had to be home. They decided to take a look at ways they could inspire and bless Jirka, ways they could help him see that by choosing to act the Lord would bless him with answers.

In the midst of studying and looking up scriptures, talks, and quotes, a phone rang. Surprised, the Elders wondered "What Czech makes phone calls after the deathly late hour of 8 PM?" The caller ID read "Dan", a young single adult member they knew very well. They answered the phone, and the conversation sounded something like this.

Missionaries: "Hello?"
Jirka: "Hello, it's me, Jirka."
M: "Hi Jirka! How are things?"
J: "Dobře. So, Dan and I have been talking...and....well, you see...It's like this..."

The missionaries were uneasy - they knew this kind of conversation. It either meant that things were going to turn out incredibly well or really, really bad....

J: "We've been talking about the whole baptism thing, and I told Dan that I just don't know if I can do it...it's just...I don't know..."

The missionaries were on edge...they hung on every syllable of his clean sounding czech accent, anxious to find out what this was all about!

J: "After talking it over, everything...I told Dan a lot of my doubts and fears about this whole thing, and...well...."

It seemed like an eternity for the Elders. While a clean accent, Jirka tended to speak with a lot of pauses...



J: "...I've decided it's time to go ahead with things. Is the 11th of December okay?"


M: "...."

J: "Hello? Are you there?"

M: "Yes! Yes we're still here Jirka! We're just speechless, is all. The eleventh sounds great!!! How about we meet tomorrow after Church to hammer out some details, eh?"
J: "Okay....I don't know what to say about all this now, so....here's Dan, talk to him."


After a bit of arrangement and some scheduling, Jirka, the branch, and the missionaries settled on the 18th of December. After two long years of struggling with testimony and indecision, despite being highly active in the branch and coming on time to every activity because he loved the people and the atmosphere, Jirka decided to get baptized.

But the story doesn't end there: This is the good part.

The next day, they met with Jirka after church. Jirka was bolder and more self-assured than ever, and he began to tell of his experience the night before riding the train home after his late-night conversation with Daniel.

He said that while in the train, he was pondering on the things they'd talked about and on the restoration. And, all at once, he felt something, a warmth and a peaceful, joyful feeling rest upon him. He was surprised, and didn't know quite what it meant. Then it became clear to him and a thought materialized in his head: "The Book of Mormon is True"

Pleasantly surprised, he related how that feeling lingered with him for several hours that night, and he felt as well as knew the things he'd been learning were true. The feeling left him quickly, however, when he started entertaining doubts he'd had before, and he lost the feeling. He felt alright at that sunday meeting with the missionaries, but he had only one desire: "How can I maintain that feeling?"

The missionaries established a plan with him, they helped him develop strategies to combat the adversary's doubts and lies, and they gave him the assignment to read the first part of the Joseph Smith History.

The next evening they had another meeting with him, and he came with a smile on his face. It was just after a powerful family home evening lesson on the history of the church in the czech republic, a discussion led by two older members who had participated in organizing the church under communism and in bringing materials across the border, including dark crimson copies of the Book of Mormon with the letters KM on the front, which stand for "Karl Marx", "Communist Manifesto" (In czech "Komunistický manifest"), and "The Book of Mormon" ("Kniha Mormonova"), and which enabled them to get the books into the country disguised as party materials.

Jirka enjoyed the review of his country's history relative to the Church, and he recognized that there was too much on the line for these people to not know that the book of mormon was true. He then related how, the night before after our lesson, he had had a similar experience to the one he'd had on Saturday, but this time the thought was "Joseph Smith was a Prophet". The agreement between his mind and his heart was seen, and he knew that it was true.

The missionaries then took the time to teach him a profound doctrine, one that was vital for everyone to understand. In fact, President Irwin had outlined this idea in a recent letter to the missionaries as follows:

Sometimes we (mankind) want results without work. That's backward. As Robert Anthony once observed, you can't stand in front of your fireplace and demand, "Give me heat, then I'll give you wood." Many want to wait for a revelation before they go anywhere, but perhaps revelation requires a little action first. Sometimes you have to get going before you get guidance.

John Bytheway has said "I've always loved the story of the healing of the ten lepers recorded in Luke. When they asked the Saviour for mercy, he told them to "Go" and shew (themselves) unto the priests" (Luke 17:14). Jesus' instructions are interesting because visiting the priests is what lepers would be required to do after they were healed in order to be readmitted to society. But Jesus asked them to find the priests before they were healed. The lepers might have responded. "We can't show ourselves to the priests, we're not healed yet ! " Instead they decided to "go and do" what Jesus suggested. Luke records, "And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed" (Luke 17:14). The scripture doesn't say "And it came to pass, that as they just stood there, they were cleansed." It says, "As they went they were cleansed." As someone once said, "God cannot steer a parked car."

With Jirka, he received the evidence of things unseen after he had chosen to act. The truthfulness of his act was made manifest in his choice to go ahead and act on what he had, and the Lord richly blessed him for it.

The Elders were pleased, and were excited for the next week. They took time to make some goals to apply this themselves, to "make the first move" and reap the blessings for it.

As the tired Elders laid down that night, they felt good about what they'd done. And they were happy.

Love,
Elder Brent Anderson