Week 53: Starší Rasmussen, milujeme ťa!

The title of this email is the name of a song I came up with in the MTC.  You may remember that we were companions then.  I'm not sure how much he liked it at the time, but it went something like this (to the tune of "Family History" in the Children's Song Book):

Starší Rasmussen, milujeme ťa,

náš Starší Rasmussen!

Translation:

Elder Rasmussen, we love you, 

our Elder Rasmussen!

Because of my singing it, all my companions to my current one are very familiar with the words and tune.  Finally, at the 26. December conference in Bratislava, I performed it for the talent show by singing and playing it on the piano.  Now, it's known by every missionary serving in Slovakia and some from the Czech Republic.  Even President Pohořelický has been caught singing it in his Czech rendition.  He got so excited when he found out it was a children's primary song that he downloaded the instrumental version onto his phone.  

***

This past week, we had training again in Bratislava.  The train ride would be 6 hours back to Prešov.  Elder Papworth and I were walking to the train station with the Elders serving in Košice.  We were carrying suitcases, backpacks, and a few boxes with necessary missionary supplies.  From what we could tell, we were going to catch our train with a few minutes to spare.  But Elder Papworth and I still hadn't bought our tickets.

At the train station, Elder Papworth goes to buy both of our tickets.  So I'm left alone at the bottom of a short flight of stairs with a suitcase and a big box.  Well, looks like I'm going to have to bring this stuff up the stairs by myself.  So I tuck the box under one arm and grab the suitcase in the other and start hauling.  At the top of the stairs, I don't see Elder Papworth at any of the ticket booths.  

So a feeling of panic hits me.  Did he get on the train with the Košice Elders?  I wait a few minutes but still no sign of Elder Papworth.  This is getting ridiculous.  The train leaves in 6 minutes.  Elder Papworth has the phone.  I'm carrying a box and a suitcase.  I'm not trying to miss my train again (it's happened once before), so I tuck the box under my arm once again and haul it down the stairs leading to the platforms.  Before getting on my train, I take one last look around.  No Papworth in sight.  

It's very hard to maneuver through the isle with a BIG BOX.  So I come to the end of a cart and see a girl standing there.  I poke my head out the door.  There is no one.  I ask the girl:

"This train goes to Kysak, right?"

The girl checks her phone.  "Yep."

Nice.  Just wanted to make sure.  "Will you watch my stuff?"

"Of course."

So I leave everything with her and go through the train.  Guess who I find?  Elder Papworth.

***

(This is the same story, but from Elder Papworth's perspective.)

Elder Papworth goes to buy our tickets on the lower level, the level we were already on before I went up the short flight of stairs.  That's probably why I couldn't see him.  Would have been nice to know that they existed.  He buys the tickets, turns around, and can't find me.  He decides to go onto the train and hopes I have the same idea ;)

Stay within sight and sound of your companion!  

Week 52: Nemám čas

Vážne, nemám teraz čas.  Ďakujem za pochopenie.  Boli sme zas v Tatrách, asi preto niet času nazvyš.  Dúfam, že sa Vám páčia fotky minulého týždňa.  Knižnica bude o chviľu zatvorená.

Okay, so I got kicked out of the library before I could translate that.  The Holts are kind enough to let us finish emailing at their place.

Translation:

Seriously, I don't have time right now.  Thanks for understanding.  We were again in the Tatras, that's probably why there's no time to spare.  I hope that you like the photos from last week.  The library will be closed in a moment.

But all of the sudden, I have more time.

On the way to the Tatras this morning, we happened to board the train at the same time as our comrade from last week's email.  Had the same outfit on with his axe and all.  He didn't talk so much this time.  

***

Also, I lost our phone.  Seems like such a big deal right now, but I'm confident everything will be resolved in the future.  I don't, however, want to casually brush it off by saying, "These things happen," because there seem to be very important lessons to learn here.  Firstly, transfer all information from the phone to the Area Book.  Do it daily.  Our Area Book was quite up to date, but unfortunately, there were a few contacts lost that will not be recovered.  Secondly, keep all valuable possessions in a safe place, especially on hikes through deep snow.  Thirdly, be patient.  What's happened has happened, and keeping your head won't do anything but help things work out for your good.  Losing your mind will do the opposite. 

These first three pictures look like a missionary posing with a Miles cardboard cutout.

Week 51: Ja som z New Yorku

Person: "Where are you from?"

Me: "Connecticut."

Him: "Where?"

Me: "Kon-nekt-i-kat."

Him: "Aha.  I don't really know where that is.  Is it close to Utah?"

Me: "No, closer to New York."

That conversation gets old, so I skip all the hassle by just telling people I'm from New York:

Person: "Where are you from?"

Me: "New York."

Him: "Straight from New York?!"

Me: "Yup."

Him: "New York City or State?"

Me: (thinking of what will still sound impressive but also not be just a straight lie) "Pretty close to but just outside of New York City."

That usually does the trick.

***

Today is P-day (obviously).  Every P-day we can do fun things if we want, but we always have to do 3 hours of proselytizing.  We decided to go to the Tatras this morning.  That would require a huge sacrifice of time.  We decided that on the train to Poprad (where the Tatras were), we would try to sit in a cart with someone with whom we could have a gospel-related conversation, so we could do our proselytizing.  

As we boarded the train and looked for someone who 1. had no earbuds in and 2. wasn't on a cell phone and 3. isn't sleeping, we came across an older man.  Probably the most Slovak-looking man I've ever seen.  He had some form of military uniform on and an axe leaning against the door.  My thought process: This man looks like he could talk.  So we went into that cart (I knocked over his axe on the way in -- not a smooth start.)  I struck up a conversation.

And boy, could this man talk.

Not only did he talk fast and slur his words, but he was talking about complex political issues and using vocabulary I didn't know at all.  He was definitely talking about communism, the pros and cons of then and now.  So fast did he move from one train of thought to another that we had no idea where to jump in and how to connect it with the gospel.  So after a long time, I said, "Do you know why we're here?"

Him: "No."

Me: "We're missionaries."

Him: "Oh.  Aha, this is my stop.  Thank you for the conversation."

It's hard for me to call that a conversation.  At least we tried.

Week 50: To je duch

We've ordered another box of copies of the Book of Mormon, but they haven't come yet.  So we're working with only a handful.  People can't take them from us so easily.  Only to those who have real interest in meeting would we give our remaining books.  

While tracting, we came across a lady that stood in her doorway, not really wanting to hear us out at all, but she did have slight interest in the Book of Mormon.  

"How much does it cost?" she said, referring to the Book of Mormon.

"It's free," I said, the words slipping out of my mouth by habit, not remembering that we were on very short supply.  All of the sudden, she took the book out of my hands and in a slight panic, I said, "Will you read it?"

"Yes," she said unconvincingly as she swung the door shut.

"Can we come back sometime and talk more---"

*door slams*

I've placed better.  

***

Yesterday, we were fasting, which includes skipping two meals (for me, usually breakfast and lunch).  I was hungry, and we were coming home from Spišská Nová Ves's church service.  It was late, and the train ride home takes a while.  We had a prestup (I don't know how that word translates) in Kysak.  Did I mention I was hungry?  There was a vending machine with a Twix in it.  Wow, I just happen to have 60 cents in my pocket!  

Not trying to be a buzzkill, my companion reminded me that we don't buy things on Sunday.  Oh.  I knew that, I was just waiting for him to remind me.  So I stood by the vending machine for a few minutes, letting the temptation grow stronger (bad idea).  I decided to sit down, for I figured that I could still decide to buy the Twix later.  

Well, our train came and we left, the temptation still being as strong as ever.  So I kept the commandment to not unnecessarily buy things on Sunday (causing others to work on the Sabbath), but I did it pretty grudgingly.  Still better than straight breaking of the commandment, I guess.  But it would be even better to keep the commandment with a good attitude.  That's what I'm trying to figure out how to do, to actively change my desires and attitude.  It's pretty hard.  If anyone has any suggestions, let me know!

[This is his mother speaking:  Buying a candy bar from a vending machine is NOT breaking the Sabbath!!  What household did he grow up in anyway?!]