Week 87: -21: Hurrah for Israel

Sitting and waiting for church to start, I was watching our handful of members gradually roll in. 1... 2... 3... 4... nice! Time to start. Just one problem: one of the two members that were supposed to give talks was absent. Uh-oh. And Elder Barton and I decided beforehand that if such would be the case this week, I would be the one to give a backup talk, which I did not have prepared. Bigger uh-oh. But there was hope: that member might walk in late. Let's hold our thumbs ("držme palce" basically means "let's cross our fingers".)

Through the entire first talk, I was paying attention the whole time, but I was also trying to think up what I would talk about for 15 minutes if this member didn't show up. Well, he didn't. As the speaker concluded, I resolved to talk about member-missionary work and had a few stories in mind. What happened next was magic (it was at least *pretty good*.) But I call it magic because I managed to use a scripture, share stories, speak from the heart, and take up all 15 minutes. And it was in Slovak. That's amazing to me because when I was giving my farewell talk before my mission (in English, mind you), even after a lot of preparation (if you consider the night before a lot), I struggled to cover 10 minutes.

I do believe in member-missionary work. Many months before I left on my mission, the missionaries in my home town invited me to teach with them a particular person on a regular basis. That person and I became so close, even to a point that full-time missionaries couldn't reach. For example, we would drive together to and from meetings with the missionaries, bumping to some sweet music. Those are some great memories.

***

Elder Barton and I called the missionaries from Budapest to tell them about someone they should call. When the phone call was coming to a close, an elder on the other side said, "Hurrah for Israel!"

*phone call ended*

Elder Barton: "What does that mean?"

Me: "What?"

Elder Barton: "Her offer is real. Whose offer?"

Me: "No, Elder. Hurrah for Israel!"

Then we had another one of those uncontrollable-laughter moments while saying to each other, "Hurrah for Israel!" or "Her offer is real!"; I couldn't tell which one we were saying.

Week 86: -22: Talen din var god.

This past weekend, all members of the Church in Slovakia gathered in Bratislava for District Conference, which took place on Saturday and Sunday. At the conference would be an area seventy, who has stewardship over the Europe Area, I believe. The man's name is Elder Herland. When we met before the conference, he asked where I was from.

"Connecticut," I said.

"Connecticut..." he repeated. I could tell by the way he pronounced my state that he was not from America, but his accent was otherwise so good that I couldn't place where he might be from. So I asked where he's from. 

"I'm from Norway," he said. Oh, I speak Norwegian!

"Vordan har du det?" I said, then he said something I didn't understand. I don't really speak Norwegian.

Just before the meeting started, I walked to the front of the chapel and gave an earpiece to Elder Herland. There was an interpreter in the back of the room translating everything into English. Elder Herland took that opportunity to get to know me. I told him about my future plans to go to college and about my lack of plans about what I'll study. We also found out that we have a common interest in Electronic Dance Music. I shouldn't have been surprised. It makes sense that he, being from Norway, would probably like that type of music. I just never pictured an area seventy bumping to EDM.

During his address, he emphasized a few points. One was the fact that repentance should be seen as a joyful opportunity! He recounted how President Nelson, while talking to all the area seventies, described repentance in a way that was totally new for Elder Herland. President Nelson made repentance sound so good that it made Elder Herland want to go do something wrong so he could repent. But then he remembered that his list of things he's done wrong is already long enough. He added, "If you're a member of the Church and feel that something is wrong with you, welcome to my club."

He also reminded us of President Nelson's counsel for us to use the correct name of the Church. We should not be referring to members as "Mormons" or our doctrine as "Mormonism" or our church as "the Mormon Church". We should use the terms "The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints" or "The Church of Jesus Christ". I've seen in an area of the world where the Church is still very small how great of a stumbling block it is for these people to know us as Mormons. President Nelson promised that "if we will do our best to restore the correct name of the Lord’s Church, He whose Church this is will pour down His power and blessings upon the heads of the Latter-day Saints, the likes of which we have never seen. We will have the knowledge and power of God to help us take the blessings of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ to every nation, kindred, tongue, and people and to prepare the world for the Second Coming of the Lord."

Week 85: -23: Close Call

It's less-common for two missionaries to serve together twice (as I did with Elder Raymond). It's rare to have served with someone, go your separate ways, then serve together again (like with me and Elder Akina). I kinda forgot to mention that I'm back in Banská Bystrica with my buddy, Elder Barton. Same city, same companion. It's like I never left.

***

I would say that finding new people to teach in this mission has been the same for a long time, the main two methods being street contacting and tracting (very straightforward approaches). In line with the assistants' training given a while back (you know, the one about being more friendly with people?), we decided to take a Frisbee into the park and see who wanted to play. You might be thinking, "Why to vlastne pieklo would that work?" That's what I was thinking, too (before I tried the idea).

When we arrived in the park, we came across two teenagers who appeared to be doing something for photography class or something. 

"Hey! Wanna play Frisbee?" I asked.

They looked at each other and said, "We don't know how."

"We'll teach you," said my companion. So we tossed a Frisbee with them for some time, found out more about them, talked about ourselves, and shared a few points about why we're here. Afterward, we added each other on Facebook and have been in contact since then. One is coming to English class this week. Later that day, some guy hit me up out of nowhere on Facebook (it was no coincidence that he was friends with both of those girls from the park). He was asking for more information about our English class.

***

I got around to playing chess with that boy from last week's email. According to the deal set by his dad, he would have to join our church if he lost and we would join his if we lost. I'm still here, so I didn't lose. ;D

***

Photo 1: Hey Mom, are you proud?

Photo 2: A very nice family of a former missionary treated us to lunch. 

Week 84: ???

So, I've been sending emails late by several weeks, missing a few weeks here and there. Therefore, I've lost track of what week it is (oops). 

I wrote an email a while ago about the letter vs. spirit of the law. I still stand by most of it, but I said something to the effect of how the spirit of the law is only lived in the realm of the letter of the law. Well, I recently listened read a talk that changed my view on that. I'll include the link at the end, pokiaľ you're interested ("pokiaľ" just means "if" or "as far as". It's a funny word because it sounds like I'm saying "poke y'all".)

***

We're teaching a family with lots of kids. It's always fun when we go over, especially since they make us cake. At the end of our last meeting, their son found out we liked chess and brought out a chess board. 

"We would play," I said, "but we have to run. We should definitely meet up sometime and have a tourney."

There was a moment of silence before the dad broke it by telling his son: "If they beat you, you have to join their church."

"Deal," we said. But then he added:

"If he beats you, you have to join our church." So I'm going to have to practice with my companion. If you don't hear from me next week, you know why. 

***

Every once in a while, I'll learn something new about Slovak grammar and think to myself, How on earth have I survived til now without knowing this? The same thing just happened in the realm of real life. I've never thought much about what I eat, but I heard a BYU speech about health. I'll post it, and poke y'all you want, you can look at that one, too.

***

Fun video about P-day a few missionaries put together (I should point out that P-day is not on Saturday):

The Power of Principles:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1gU6v_tgTlBMsic3CXfP8r_1hjwSQ3FACY2zja_8Aj9g/mobilebasic

The Plagues of Prosperity:

https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/benjamin-bikman/the-plagues-of-prosperity/

The awesome city you see is Banská Štiavnica. 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/bDLwdFTjz1pZUHDR8