Česká republika - Week 6 Brno (some names changed for privacy)

Last P-day, Sister Miller and I wandered around town a little, getting some last-minute Christmas souvenirs before all of the trhy - stands (Christmas market) - closed down. And I got to try the punch that literally everybody drinks... don't worry, I had the children's kind... the non-alcoholic kind :) It was really good and appley.

On Tuesday and Wednesday, we had our ''Christmas'' training... in Bratislava! Slovakia! I finally entered the other country that's a part of this mission! It was such a wonderful training that focused a lot on Jesus Christ and the true meaning of Christmas. And there was fun and games involved as well. Plus we did a Czech Christmas tradition and watched a fairy tale called Tři Oříšky pro Popelku or in other words, Three Nuts (hazelnuts?) for Cinderella. I really enjoyed it a lot! 

This week we did a chalk display about Christmas and the light we can bring to the world through Jesus Christ and following His example and on Saturday we actually found a girl named Anasko who is from Ukraine and came to church the next day then celebrated Czech Christmas dinner with us. Czech Christmas is on the 24th of December and after church we went to the Walmsley's for lunch - they are a sweet family in our ward from New Zealand who have two young children - a girl and a boy.

Then for dinner we went to the Řezačoví's and had a typical Czech Christmas! We started off by eating fish soup, then carp and potato salad, along with some non-alcoholic champagne... We then went on a walk while Ježíšek left presents under the Christmas tree. Ježišek is baby Jesus who leaves presents for all of the good children and parents - people... He even left some for the missionaries and our new friend Anasko. We got the Czech Cinderella fairy tale movie, chocolate milk mix, some oplatky which are wafers that come from the spa cities of the Czech Republic, and a new white scarf! They were just such a sweet family. 

We also did a few more traditions like peeling an apple and throwing the peel behind us to see the initials that our future spouse will have, then we cut the apple in half to see if there would be a star or a cross - the star means a good year - the cross... not so much. All of us got stars. Then we threw one of our shoes over and behind us to see if we would stay or not- Sestra Miller and I are both staying hahaha. I loved it! And then we also did this thing where we melted some kind of metal then poured it into cold water and whatever shape it took meant something different would happen in the year... I think mine was a rose which meant lasting friendships or something like that. It was just such a fun Christmas!

Then on the typical Christmas that... Americans... - me - are used to, on the 25th. I made a quiche for breakfast, and two sweet cheese bread roles that were way good, then we opened presents from our families which was super sweet! We went and visited some of our members. And then we went to the church building to skype our families and make dinner! So much fun!!!! 

I love you all so much and hope you have an amazing week, and a great new year! 

By the way, next week we'll be e-mailing on Tuesday. Then our P-days will resume to Mondays. :)

Česká republika - Week 5 Brno (some names changed for privacy)

Guess what I made this week?! My typical once a transfer peanut sauce! And.... my companion once again, loved it!

Anyway, last week, I had visa work! in Prague! So, I got to see most of the wonderful crew from the MTC, Sestry Ludlow and Johnson, and Starší Raines, Wutzke, Petersen, Gubler, and Kevern! Way fun! Everything turned out just fine!

​On Tuesday, we literally had three lessons! Plus Sestra Miller and I covered ours and the elders' English classes​! We got to teach our three most progressing investigators, We taught Ardno how to read the scriptures and study them out or ponder them. We taught the Restoration to our Estonian friend, Ivaat, and we went over the Law of Chastity with Ačrev, who had no issues with it whatsoever! And then , on Wednesday, we had another busy day! We were basically at the church most of the day teaching back-to-back lessons - my stomach growled in one of our lessons hahahaha. On Friday we had lunch with one of our younger ''friends'' named Aeb, we love her so much and want to teach her, but we're a little afraid that she only wants to be friends... good thing we share the gospel with our friends as weĺl as random strangers  who want to hear the gospel! :)

And, this week, Sestra Miller and I have decided to become better about tram contacting since it's such a small but important use of our time when we're travelling places! It's hard to overcome fears but definitely doable, especially with the help of Jesus Christ! He loves us so much and wants to succeed at bringing others to the knowledge of who He is! 

Last night, we went to our bishop's house. He's British and his wife is Czech and they have just such a cute family with one daughter and three sons. We ate dinner, and then went Christmas caroling to some of their neighbors' houses! It was so much fun and made me so happy! I love Christmas!!!!

I hope everyone has an amazing week leading up to Christmas!

P.S. I get two Christmases! Czech Christmas is on the 24th, so that'll be cool! We're going over to a members' house and we're supposedly going to have a traditional Czech Christmas there!

I love you all soooo much!!!!!!! Merry Early Christmas!!!!!!!!

Česká republika - Week 4 Brno (some names changed for privacy)

Snowflakes And A Desperate Need For Boots 

Last week it snowed! Which made us realize that boots with a good grip or tread were definitely needed. I slipped and slid quite a bit... So we went shoe shopping last Monday. And miraculously, it was pretty easy to find a good pair of shoes that would also keep our feet warm this holiday season!

On Wednesday the STLs from Bratislava (in Slovakia) came for an exchange! We contacted quite a bit and had dinner at a member's house who made us paličinky - kind of like crêpes - but she made hers with a plum paste inside. Interesting flavor! And then the next night we had dinner at another member's house who fed us lečo!!! Which is a really tasty and quick Czech-Slovak dish made of bell peppers, tomato and onion, meat, and egg. It might sound a little strange but it's so good! Sestra Pulley used to make it for us sometimes last transfer .

On Friday we had a Relief Society activity that we went to with one of the elders' investigators and we made Christmas cards for a lady in our ward who currently isn't able to attend church. 

Saturday was so fun! We started off with a good contacting block with the elders. We made a chalk display with #LightTheWorld or #PřinesteSvětloSvětu and a Christmas tree with some presents under it. It was so cute and Christmasy! This is literally the best time of the year! However, at the end of it, Sister Miller and I had to run to catch our tram, which happened to be a very jam-packed tram... and my hair totally got stuck in the tram door along with part of my hood! It was so funny! Sister Miller and I were out of breath but we just couldn't stop laughing! 

Also, I learned a new word that day - mlsat - which means to eat sweets, I feel like budu mlsat hodně (I will eat a lot of sweets) this Christmas season ale uvidíme (but we'll see)!

WATER

At the end of the day, we had sports night... which has kind of turned into a game night... since it's been cold and dark and snowy... So we played this game called Cows, and Ping-Pong again!!! And, the elders from Třebíč came to join us! Starší Cardon and his greenie Starší Partridge! At the end, Starší Cardon gave our spiritual thought by using an erasable pen. A man was drawn with a regular pen and then this man made mistakes in life and got marked up by the erasable pen, then through the cleansing power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ - or the flame held near the paper in this case - all of his sins and mistakes in life were washed away! Such a fun spiritual thought!

Obelix restaurant!

Last of all, two of our investigators came to church yesterday! Ivaat, our Estonian friend, and Ardno, our investigator who is just so prepared to learn everything we have that we want to teach him! 

This Christmas season is beautiful and wonderful, look for all of the little miracles or blessings that happen daily in your life, it make life so much happier!!!

I love you all sooooooo much!!!! Have an amazing week!

Česká republika - Week 3 Brno

Merry December!!!

Last P-Day, we went into the Christmas Markets! It was so much fun! I love how everything is so Christmasy and everyone is so happy!

Sestra Miller and I

Sestera Miller, Starsi Brockbank & Starsi Backman

A Czech Woman selling food items

Sestra Miller, Starsi Brockbank, Starsi Backman

This week has been filled with lessons for us though! Unfortunately that means that we didn't have a while lot of time for contacting. But we were able to teach, which is great because everything needs practice, and we're also trying to help those with baptismal dates to be able to have learned as much as they need to have firm testimonies in God, Jesus Christ, and in the doctrines taught. I love teaching people because it gives all of us a chance to grow, those learning and those teaching!

On Wednesday I found a nice verse while reading in Psalms 91 "I will say of the Lord, He is my refuge and my fortress: my God; in Him will I trust"

Starsi Backman & Starsi Brockbank playing a game of Ping Pong at the chapel

Oh!  I got to see some of the new missionaries who had a Progressive Training here in Brno! I also got to see again Elders, Cardon, Raines, Gubler, and Kevern! It was so cool!

Starsi Gubler. Sestra Miller, Sestra Sadler, and Starsi Gubler's companion; Starsi Papworth

I love you all so much! I hope you have a wonderful week and great start to your December holidays!!!

Pictures with it snowing this week! ........