Week 31: Poho a kamaráti (Poho and friends)

Once per transfer, each missionary has an opportunity to have an interview with Prezident Pohořelický, who has stewardship over all missionaries in the Czech/Slovak mission.  While Elder Raymond was having his interview, I sat in a room with six other missionaries.  When Elder Raymond's interview ended, he came out and Prezident Poho pointed directly and sternly at me.  I pointed at myself just to make sure.  He confirmed.  As I entered through the doorway, Prezident said, "This will only take a moment."  When the door swung shut, he started to slap his hand repeatedly, and I screamed as if I were receiving the worst beating of my life.  

***

Now I understand more fully the difference between learning by study and learning by doing.  If someone is missing a piece of information, he can acquire it through study.  That's different than already knowing something to be true and trying to live according to it.  

For instance, it's hard to let go of anger towards another, although I know that's what I should do.  That learning takes time, effort, patience, and practice.  There are many who say, "If I saw a sign from heaven, then I would believe in God."  

I would argue that learning to walk by faith is a blessing.  Imagine if we had a perfect knowledge that God existed, but we still had all these imperfections.  That would not be good for our progression.  This life is a time to learn through experience, and God knows that it's best done by faith.  

Samozrejme sa popis nachádza s každou fotkou (Of course the description is with every photo)

Perhaps the last time seeing Ján and Katka during my time in Trenčín

It's not what it looks like.

In the byt (flat)

Dubnica nad Váhom

Dubnica nad Váhom

Dubnica nad Váhom

Bolešov

Bolešov

Bolešov

Bolešov

Bolešov

Zone training

Nespýtaj sa (Do not ask yourself.)

See those Kofola mugs? They're mine to keep. Score.

Na zdravie

Week 30: Som klavirista zas ("I'm a pianist again")

It was a Saturday, and I still hadn't prepared my talk for the next day.  Uh-oh.  Then I realized that I was the only pianist in our branch, which meant I had the opportunity to slow down the Sacrament Meeting hymns to my pleasing.  That would cut down my time so I wouldn't have to speak as long.  It didn't really work, but it was a good idea.  

***

While getting milkshakes in the pub (Elder Raymond tells me it wasn't a pub), we hear thick American accents, and for the first time it wasn't from us.  So we approached the two guys on the couch and asked, "Are you from America?"  They were, shocker.  They had a Slovak mom and a Czech dad, but lived in Minnesota.  Sweet.  So we "smoothly" transitioned the conversation into why we're here as missionaries.  They were mind-blown that Elder Raymond had just finished high-school before coming on a mission.  We got their numbers and sent them to the missionaries in America.  See?  Missionary work isn't so hard if you can connect with people.

When in doubt, Slav Squat.

Whoever's son that is should be proud.

Eva and Peter welcomed us into their home.

Škoda ("it is a pity")

They were cute, but I'm not gonna lie, they kinda sketched me out.

Add caption

Bible with pics for each story

Week 29: I Speak Slovak

We went to deliver a letter to and visit one of our less-active members, who doesn't attend church regularly because of a problem with her heart.  We arrived at her panelák, and immediately one of her neighbors recognized us as missionaries.  She knew we were there to visit our dear member, so she forbade us from doing so, because she was "sick."  Yeah, we know.  We're here to help.  The lady (red hair) didn't care and still forbade us, but she left on her bike to work.  She looked back as she rode off into the distance, but Elder Raymond and I remained frozen.  As soon as she disappeared around the corner, we unfroze and went to ring the doorbell.  We were welcomed in gladly!

Inside, we were seated on her couch, then all of the sudden, the doorbell rang.

"Watch it be the redhead," I whispered to Elder Raymond.  Then all of the sudden... BOOM!  A lady stormed into the room.  It was the redhead!  

"I KNEW IT!" she exclaimed, "you understood me perfectly, but you went on anyway!  If she dies, IT'S ON YOUR HEADS!"  It suffices to say that she was pretty mad.  Elder Raymond panicked a bit, but then he looked at my face.  He described it as "guiltless."  Highlight of the transfer!  

***

While tracting the other day, a lady pokes her head out the window and starts speaking clean Czech.  

"Are you from the Czech Republic?" asks Elder Raymond.  

"What?!  How did you know?" she says.

"Aren't you speaking Czech?" We ask.

"I speak Slovak," she replies in Czech.

***

I may never have a similar opportunity as I have now to learn Slovak and grow spiritually at such a speed.  Having that in mind, it sometimes feels as though I only have 2 years to do everything I can, then that's the end.  In reality, nie je to tak (it's not like that).  All the small habits I learn here will continue with me throughout life.  So although I may never again see such rapid growth, the majority of my learning and growth will be spread out throughout life.  

Yeah, that's an ice cream, PPJ sandwich.

Fight to the death, obviously.

Special guests: Chris, his wife, and Brat Sharp. Had interesting discussion about linguistics with Chris, don't know what Sharp and the sisters were talking about.

Legenda. Brat Sharp no longer works at the MTC, so he's visiting all the cities in Slovakia where there are missionaries. We were fortunate to get him on a P-day (basically the freest day for missionaries, but not really "free"). It was fun to speak a bit of Slovak with him now that I actually know what he's saying (and what I'm saying). Not a day goes by where we don't imitate this guy, of which he's aware now.

Legend.

Week 28: Absolute Drench

Last Wednesday, we welcomed a new missionary, Sister Curtis, to Slovakia, and her first area is Trenčín.  What luck.  On the bus ride to her apartment, I told the lady next to us that Sister Curtis is fresh from America.  The lady asked how long the plane ride was, to which Sister Curtis replied, "A year and a half."  Oh my, she'll learn sooner or later.

We learn from the Book of Mormon that if you pray, but you don't have a sincere heart with the intent to act, "your prayer is vain, and availeth you nothing" (Alma 34:28).  I don't know whether this is just a missionary problem, but sometimes it is really hard to stay awake during morning prayers.  I realized that I cannot have a sincere heart with the intent to act if I'm sleeping.  To add purpose to my prayers, I pray with a pen and my study journal before me.  If it's an evening prayer, I review the day, thanking Heavenly Father for things and asking for ways to improve.  If it's a morning prayer, I think of the goals I want to set for that day, asking Heavenly Father for help in accomplishing them.  I write the inspiration I get in my journal and study about it in the scriptures during my next study session.  

It's not New York pizza, but it's something.

Zelenáč

First time trying Kofola is never the best (it's an acquired taste.)

He likes taking pictures of ice cream.

If you wanted to know what Slovakia looked like, now you know.

Panelák tracting

Bednár is a československý name. One of our apostles, Elder Bednar, has Slovak origins and once upon a time came to Slovakia, looking for his ancestors. His nephew served in this mission, and his name is written all over the area books.

Cellar of Sister Alžbeta

[Mary:  middle column, fifth word down that starts with "A" is Aillery.  Name underneath starting with "P" is Raymond.  I remember just enough from my one semester of Russian at BYU to read that.  Kak gela means "How's it going?"]

We all get a lecture from Leo about Ukrainian/Russian.

That's the face that says, "I'm about to destroy you in two turns." I won't tell you whose face I'm talking about.

Why can't this family just move to Slovakia so church can be this big every week? (Plus Leo Slav-squatting)

Nice.

In the heaviest rain I had ever witnessed, walking through a relatively deep puddle didn't soak my sock, because I was already drenched past the point of no return. Umbrellas would have done us no good with the heavy rain combined with strong winds. If you've ever taken a cold shower with all your clothes on, you know how it feels.

If you look closely, you can see water pouring out of my shoes.