Week 11

The outlets are nice here, very sturdy.  But here, they don't have dryers for clothes.  I have to hang-dry all my clothes?  Also, the light switches are somewhat cool, they're squares instead of... whatever we have in America.  I don't know how to describe light switches from America.

It was nice to see the boys from the MTC.  (Elders)(McQuivey + Smith + Rasmussen) = the boys.  I saw them while in Žilina for training.  There I saw my mission president, Prezident Pohořelický.  It's obvious he cares about his missionaries.

I learned that opportunities for service usually come in unexpected ways.  There are plenty of ways to help others, whether it be acting kindly toward them or going out of your way to help them accomplish a task.  Look to do service every day.  There are always opportunities.

Visited the elderly lady again, Sestra Žiškova.  This time the cookies kept coming.  While she had good intentions to keep filling our plates, we wanted no more, but no one wanted to say anything for fear of being rude.  So, while she was in the other room for a brief moment, we quickly stuffed the cookies back into the cookie jar.  Elder Papenfuss wasn't quite so fast, so he had to down another few cookies.

Just some river

(Elders)(Papenfuss + Jackson + Akina + You Know)

Town Square (a.k.a. Námestie)

Weeks 9.5 and 10

[Miles's p-day is Monday, but because it was Easter weekend, his p-day was moved to Tueday.]



It was Fast Sunday, in which day we fast, or go without food and water for two meals.  With me in the city of Nitra was Elder Akina (my trainer), Elder Jackson, and Elder Papenfuss.  We planned to break our fasts at 8, which was in 4 hours.  We were very hungry.  We were visiting a member of our church who couldn't make it to church that day.  She, probably unaware that it was Fast Sunday, had a large assortment of desserts on her living-room table.  No doubt that it was the center of attention.  

My trainer, Elder Akina (yes, he's from Hawaii)

Elder Jackson and Elder Akina were in the living room with me, and we made eye-contact for long enough to have an unspoken agreement:  we were breaking our fasts immediately.  We each prayed individually to end our fasts.  Elder Papenfuss was not in the room, so he had no idea what had just taken place.  A moment later, everyone was in the living room, and the old lady poured us some lemonade.  "Cheers," she says.  Elder Papenfuss then realized that we had all broken our fasts, and he had 3 seconds to do the same before the lemonade reached his lips.  He managed.  

Sestra Žiškova

Europe is super.  There are things that are different that don't need to be, like shower heads.  Prague is the best city I've ever been in.  Prezident Pohořelický and his wife are amazing; I'm in good hands.  But they're all the way in Prague, and I'm here in Nitra.  V pohode.  When I try to talk about the gospel with people, lots of them say, "Nemám záujem," which means, "I'm not interested."  One day, my companion and I decided to take a different approach:  We would go door to door offering service.  One lady responded, "No, I'm Catholic."  I don't see how that's related to me cleaning your toilet.  

I'm short on time, so let the pictures speak for themselves.

March 27, 2018

CÍRKEV

CZECH/SLOVAK  MISSION

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Badeniho 1

160 00  Praha 6

Czech Republic

Tel.: +(420) 224 322 215

                                                                                                                

                                                                                                                27 March 2018

Dear Brother and Sister  Aillery                 

Elder Aillery has safely arrived in the Czech/Slovak Mission. Sister Pohořelická and I are impressed with your son and want to thank you for all that you have done in preparing this wonderful young man for his mission.  In our estimation he is prepared and ready to “… preach the gospel to every creature that cometh under the sound of (his) voice.” D&C 80:1.

Elder Aillery will be a blessing to the Czech and Slovak people as he declares gospel truth.  D&C 80:4.  We love him and pledge our best efforts in directing his service here.  We are confident that the Lord will stand with him in his service.

Your son has accepted a call that will change his life and the lives of those with whom he is serving.  These first few months will be full of new and challenging experiences, and your support in the form of encouraging and uplifting letters will help him greatly.

Our greatest hope is that each missionary with whom we serve has the kind of mission experience that will establish the foundation for a lifetime of service and discipleship. Thank you for your willingness to share Elder Aillery with us.

With warmest regards,

Jan Pohořelický                                                  

President Czech/Slovak Mission

He doesn't even look tired!!!!

Week 8

Just when I thought nothing exciting would happen this week: All my ties go missing!  All except my white tie.  That's interesting.  Last time I checked, it wasn't White Tie Day.  But what other choice do I have?  None.

Out in the common room, I see the other seven Elders.  They're wearing my ties.  Oh, it all makes sense now.  It's Everyone-Wears-Elder-Aillery's-Tie Day.  Can I participate?  No.  That's ironic.

We depart to Slovakia this Monday.  There's a lot of excitement, but there are feelings of inadequacy as well.  Do we know the language well enough?  No, but we will learn.  As far as language goes, people who are better than we are have had the same feelings of inadequacy, and people who are worse than we are have succeeded.  Everything will be okay.

Day 52 - Fri (16 Mar)

Flight plans came in.  I'm going to the Netherlands on Monday, then taking a connecting flight to Prague.  

Day 55 - Mon (19 Mar)

I got hand-written mail from Brother White, Sister Guynn.  It means a lot to me.  I'll return their letters as soon as I can.

Day 57 - Wed (21 Mar)

Everyone-Wears-Elder-Aillery's-Tie Day.

My mom's birthday is either today or tomorrow.

Day 58 - Thurs (22 Mar)

My mom's birthday was yesterday.  Luckily, I couldn't have emailed her until today.  Happy Birthday, Mom!

Výtržnosti na Slovenske (Riots in Slovakia)

As far as news goes, so I'm the last person to hear about world news.  But this much I know: the Italian Mafia has connections to the Slovak government, which have recently been exposed.  There are riots in Slovakia.  I'm going to Slovakia.  See you at the riots.

Week 7

Dovidenia, Poľskí Misionári

In front of a computer sit my companion and I.  With Skype open, we are one button-click away from calling a native Slovak who lives in Bratislava, the capital of Slovakia.  She has been instructed to only speak to us in Slovak.  We have the notes for our lesson on the desk.  My companion and I look at each other one last time, then I click "call."  She answers instantly, almost:

"Ahojte, ako sa máte?" she says (Hello, how are you?)

"Máme sa dobre, ďakujeme," I reply (We're doing well, thank you.)  My favorite phrases to use are "Nerozumiem" and "Nepočul som to."  Those mean "I don't understand" and "I didn't hear that."  Then she repeats what she said.  Still don't understand.  I just nod my head and we move on with the lesson.

"Am I speaking too fast?" she says.  Wow, I understood that as if she said it in English!  Well, she did.  That's how we know we're doing great.

"No," I say. 

"Yes," my companion says.  The problem isn't the swiftness of her speech, we just don't know the words which she's using.  We'll get there one day.

The saying goes as follows: "Obedience brings blessings, exact obedience brings miracles."  Does exact obedience mean perfection?  Nobody is perfect.  If one is exactly obedient, then he disregards no rule or commandment.  We may not understand each of God's commandments perfectly, but our purpose on Earth is not to understand everything.  If that were the case, it would be very hard to pass the test of life.  We need only to have faith that God knows better than we do, and each of His commandments are given by reason.  Exact obedience doesn't mean perfection, but striving to follow each commandment, then doing better tomorrow.

Day 44 - Thur (8 Mar)

How long can Elder Augenstein convince the new Elder Cottam that he's from Scotland?  His accent is spot on, I must say.

Day 45 - Fri (9 Mar)

First Skype lesson with a native Slovak.  You know how that went.

Day 48 - Mon (12 Mar)

Polish Elders off to Poland.  What a fun group.  We've been together at the MTC for 7 weeks, so it's tough to say goodbye.  Dovidenia, poľskí misionári.

Pics

1.  Slav Squat

2.  Zone

3.  Slip & Slide on... grass?

4.  :D

5.  White Handbook Enforcers

6.  To je čisté

7.  This is pretty cool

8.  Have you ever done a back-flip?  Neither had I.

Week 6

"Wait!" yells Elder McQuivey, or Starší Slovník, which means Elder Dictionary (more on that later).  Why is he telling me to wait?  Let me set the scene.  I have a one-seater couch in my arms with which I intend to run down the hall and into the other room.  That way, we'll have two couches in the same room!  One problem: there's a teacher passing.  If he sees us walking through the hallway with a couch, he may take issue with that.  "Okay," says Starší Slovník as the teacher passes, "We're clear."  I run straight down the hallway, holding a couch.  Enough about me, how's your week going?

President M. Russell Ballard, Acting President of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles, spoke for devotional on Tuesday.  The whole session was a Q&A, so any missionary from the lot of us could have asked any question.  The first question was a boomer.  Here it is:  "As part of LDS doctrine, we believe that those who did not receive the gospel in this life will have a chance to do so in the next.  Why then is there such emphasis for missionary work now?"  This was the essence of his answer:  It is easier to repent in this life while we have ample opportunity to choose Christ over sin.  His answer reminded me of a saying I once heard: The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago; the second-best time is now.

Day 41 - Mon (5 Mar)

Starší Slovník (Elder Dictionary) earned his nickname by learning such arbitrary words as zelezobetónový (meaning "reinforced concrete").  He may never use that word, ever.

Day 43 - Wed (7 Mar)

New Elder joins the residence!  His name is Elder Cottam, and he's going to Bulgaria.  We've been starved of new Elders for 6 weeks, so he received quite the welcome.

Part of Zone 12 at Provo Temple

Week 5

Why would one steal spoons?  No one knows, but a third of all the MTC's metal spoons are missing.  Thousands of spoons, gone.  Although this is a problem that occurs each year, it is particularly bad this year.  There was a dorm from which Elders had just left.  While the cleanup crew went through that dorm, they found a suitcase which was left behind.  It was full of spoons from the cafeteria.  

The Book of Mormon testifies of Jesus Christ and contains the fullness of His gospel.  Devotional's speaker spoke on the archaeological evidences which proved The Book of Mormon's truthfulness.  There were quite a few, but none of them could give you a testimony of Jesus Christ.  But through reading it and applying its principles, the Holy Ghost will testify of its truthfulness to you through quiet, peaceful feelings, if you have sincere desire to know.

Day 30 - Thurs (22 Feb)

I lost my key.

Day 31 - Fri (23 Feb)

Tomorrow is Saturday.  My hip does not feel good.

Day 32 - Sat (24 Feb)

Conversation between my roommates, Elders Ludlow and McArthur:

M: We haven't been following up with people on the commitments we give them.

L: *clearly in disagreement* What do you mean?

M: I mean you -- and I -- haven't been following up with people on the commitments we give them.  By the way, I lost my pen, hope I find it.

Day 33 - Sun (25 Feb)

Found my pen.  If I memorize all the content on my Slovak Grammar Card by the end of the week, Brat Sharp (one of my teachers) will treat me to dinner after my mission in Slovakia.  I only have today left.

Day 34 - Mon (26 Feb)

White tie day.  Fail to memorize my Slovak Grammar Card.  Bummer, I really wanted that dinner.

Day 35 - Tues (27 Feb)

As we exit devotional, a few of our Elders get thrown up on, vomit covering one of their suits.  Good luck washing that out.

Extra:

Repentance is a wonderful doctrine.  Through Jesus Christ, we can become clean of our past transgressions and improve.  Recently, I taught this principle in a role-playing lesson, but it went terribly wrong as you'll see.  My teacher was the investigator, as always.  Our lesson was in the slovak language, so I did not have a clear understanding of all that was being said.  However, I had a general understanding of the converation.

"This verse from the Book of Mormon teaches about repentance," I said as I thought I handed him Helaman 5:10-11.  In reality, the book was open to Helaman 10:10-11.  It reads as follows:

10 And behold, if ye shall say that God shall smite this people, it shall come to pass.

11 And now behold, I command you, that ye shall go and declare unto this people, that thus saith the Lord God, who is the Almighty: Except ye repent ye shall be smitten, even unto destruction.

"What do you think of that scripture?" I asked as he finished reading, having no idea what he had just read.  Shortly thereafter, I realized the reason for the confused look on his face.