Česká republika - Week 17 Olomouc (some names changed for privacy)

Tuesday was Halloween! We didn't do much for it... seeing how they don't celebrate it here... But we had English class that night so Sestra Pulley and I taught our Beginners English Class Halloween vocabulary and how to trick or treat - then we gave them candy as they trick-or-treated a door in the church building that we were behind :) Then that night we experimented at home while making dinner... It was good whatever we made but it basically tasted just like a very interesting tomato sauce with chicken and peppers and onions that we through over knedlíky! Waaaay good!!!!!

Then on Wednesday, we bought laundry detergent because we were out and our clothes were all in the dirty clothes baskets... however, the laundry detergent wasn't that... it was fabric softener... which we used alongside the laundry detergent we bought afterwards... Unfortunately it made my clothes smell like they went through a bunch of perfume hahaha. I put them through the wash afterwards a couple of times with just water to try and get rid of at least some of the scent!

On Thursday, we had a lesson with our investigator Aznoh! He told us that if he finds that the Book of Mormon can help him know what God's will is for him that he will read it! I'm excited for him! That night though, was a special night here in the Czech Republic and in Slovakia where the people go to cemeteries and light candles for ancestors and it's just beautiful and gorgeous! Unfortunately, we didn't have our cameras with us... but the Walkers took a few pictures :) We almost missed them too! Technically the cemetery was closed, however the night guard there offered to let us in... probably because he heard us speaking in English and figured that this was the only night we'd ever be able to see it! Such nice people there are in this world!

On Friday we met a super nice young man as well who is now an investigator as of yesterday when he set up with us. On Friday though we went off panelaking... ringing doorbells on large apartment buildings... and we were telling people we have a message of Christ. So he came on down to hear it! We were a little surprised to say the least just because most people deny us the opportunity since they are tucked away in their homes and don't have to let us in. However we had about a 30 minute conversation with him and he even asked for the Restoration pamphlet that Sestra Pulley had in her hands! I love all of the little miracles I have been able to see so far on my mission!

On Saturday and Sunday we stake conference! Which was amazing! We got to watch it broadcasted from Brno to our little chapel here in Olomouc. Two talks really stood out to me. There was one about balance and how we need to make sure that everything in our life is balanced including all of the principles taught in the church. And then there was President Pohořelický's (the mission president here), which was about missionary work intertwined with the members' efforts and how needed the members are in sharing the gospel with their family and friends :) 

Well, that's probably enough for this week! hahahaha

I love you allllll! Mám vás ráda!!!!!!!!​​

Česká republika - Week 16 Olomouc (some names changed for privacy)

 

Several months ago, In the MTC I got pretty sick, and so did the rest of us... However on a Sunday morning when some of the not-sick-sisters went to get some breakfast for one of my companions and I. Starší Peterson asked if  ''Sestra Sadler [was] going to make it''... I made it :) Sestra Hayden answered him saying basically - of course she's going to make it! she's not dying! - hahaha. So fast forward to now... I got sick this last week! Yay! I got a cold... So basically I couldn't talk for about two or three days without sounding really hoarse & someone about to ''sleep with his fathers'' (I've recently been spending my time reading in the Old Testament... book of Kings...ha ha). Anyway... I'm better for the most part now! I slept a lot, drank lots of tea, swallowed lots of Vitamin C and my companion made me chicken noodle soup :) Now that is a companion!

This week we also had a lesson with Somát! It was a little short but still good because we made him a familytree and ancestry account! It was so much fun! We don't know much about Czech family history but there is someone in the stake who does... so that's good!

We then had the Hradec Králové elders - the zone leaders - come for an exchange with the Olomouc elders. And in the morning we played  basketball with them on a court near our apartment. So Much Fun!!!! I love basketball! And on top of that, they gave us the basketball... partially because they didn't want to carry it back. But I'm way excited! Sestra Pulley is going to start running outside for morning exercise while I shoot hoops! 

And then, this morning, we moved back into our apartment - they just finished redoing our kitchen! - and then we went to the Walkers' to make halušky - a Slovak traditional dish that I made a lot my second transfer - and peach cobbler! Everything took forever! But everything was waaay worth it! All of the missionaries were there and we all enjoyed it!

Love you all!!!! Dobrou!!!!!

Some photos from the week:

 

 

 

Česká republika - Week 15 Olomouc (Some names changed for privacy)

So this week has been C-R-A-Z-Y!

We started it off with some Knedliky Pizza! Sestra Pulley had never tried it before, so I made her some... and it was dang good! We had sautéed onions and peppers and pepperonis... good stuff :)

Then we had training in Prague and got to see Starší Andrus and Sestra Johnson and my last companion turned STL, Sestra Peterson. It was so fun and we learned a lot. Things just tend to click for me in training and that just goes to show how inspired our leaders are. Learning is fun :D. 

Then on our way back, I bought a Marlenka cake, which is an Armenian recipe that they make here in the Czech Republic... It's waaaay good and I had never tried it before... Basically every missionary tries it though... even Sestra Pulley had already tried it! So yum!

This week we also had our first "Inspiration Night" where we showed the video "The Hope of God's Light" which is a wonderful Mormon Message Video if you haven't already seen it (https://www.lds.org/media-library/video/2014-07-006-the-hope-of-gods-light?lang=eng)! And we had some snacks along with a game and a discussion. Mairam, an Syrian girl who we've started inviting to activities came and brought an amazing dessert to share and when we asked for the recipe, she just told us it had toast, mléko (milk), and cukr (sugar).... uuuuuuummmmmmm I'm not so sure about that... there were almonds and coconut shreds on top... I don't know all that was in it but she can bake! We had about sixish people come that we'd never seen before so that was a success! Plus we saw a couple of the elders' investigators there :) 

And, last of all, today we played in the leaves as a district... except for Elder Gauldin who went to Brno today... 

then we walked around a kostel for a little bit and just had a pretty relaxed P-Day :)

 Mám vás rádi!!!!!! Have a wonderful week!

Česká republika - Week 14 Olomouc (some names changed for privacy)

So, this week we hit our nine month mark! That's so crazy! That's almost our halfway mark... that we're hitting this week... It doesn't not feel at all like I'm halfway through... And, on top of that, I've been told that each transfer feels like it gets shorter and shorter... Joy...

Anyway... Today Sestra Pulley and I moved. Downstairs. Quite the move, am I right? Our kitchen is getting remodeled and our windows too. So that took up our entire morning!

But afterwards we went to the mall with the Elders, had some lunch, and ate cake... because it was Starší Jarvis' birthday on Saturday! We made him a chocolate cake with chocolate frosting and chopped up Snickers bar on top... 'Twas delicious :)

We then went bowling all together and had quite a bit of fun! I love our district!

 

This week, we met with a college-age student and taught the Restoration, he seemed really prepared to listen to our message, he had lots of questions and either we had answers or he was able to answer them for himself. It was so cool!

TRANSLATION: "Sorry, my one love is the library" Ha ha!

Also, we taught the Restoration over again to Sámot with the Walkers (aaaaggghhhhh, sorry I still don't have a picture of them... I promise I'll get one!) and that went well. Plus yesterday after church we had lunch at the Walkers and then, he went contacting with us! It was so cool to see our investigator turned member contacting and doing so well at it! We're excited! He's working on being prepared to receive the Priesthood and we're just so happy for him :)

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

Česká republika - Week 13 Olomouc

General Conference was amazing as ALWAYS!!!!!!!!! I loved it! The talks are always so wonderful and inspired! I really loved Elder Russell M. Ballard's talk from the Sunday Afternoon Session about having faith in every footstep on the trek of life we're enduring and how we are all tested constantly so that we can grow AND THEN later in that SAME SESSION! Elder Stanley G. Ellis talked about how hard is the constant and we all face challenges but that the variable is our reaction. He said ''that for evil to prevail, it is only necessary for good people to do nothing.'' That really opens up perspective! :)

Also, Sestra Pulley and I found a hedgehog looking for chestnuts to eat while contacting in the rain on Sunday night. We had just finished and were making our way over to the Walkers' (our senior couple missionaries here) for dinner and we found the little guy! He was so cute! 

 Also we found ducks! They were so cute!

I just want all of you to know that this beautiful Earth that God created and all of the animals are so special to Him. And we are His grandest creation. He loves us without fail and that is why he gives us hard times in life, to progress and grow!

​I love you all!!! Have an Amazing Week!!!​

More pictures.....

This is little cave in the Cathedral: kostel Sv. Michala in Olomouc

Česká republika - Week 12 Olomouc (some names changed for privacy)

It's been a pretty good week here in Olomouc!

So this week was pretty awesome! On P-Day, last week, we didn't go to a castle like I thought, but we did get to go and see a kostel - Roman Catholic Church cathedral - called Svatý Kopeček (I think... it's something like that...). It was really pretty!

Then we had Family Home Evening at the Walkers house... sorry I still don't have a picture of them, I will definitely get one! 

Then later on in the week, Friday to be exact, we had exchanges with the Sister Training Leaders! Sestry Valentine and... Peterson! Sestra Pulley and Sestra Peterson found a new investigator in the morning so that's exciting!

And then, the next day they drove us to Brno for a Women's Conference called ''Díky Bohu že jsem žena'' ''Thanks to God that I am a woman''. It was really good, there was a testimony meeting, lots of stories, a presentation about modesty by all of the Young Women, and a Milka chocolate bar! It was really nice! I got to see some of the sisters from Plzeň three too which was really cool along with the Plzeň bishop!

On Sunday, Sámot got confirmed a member of the church and received the gift of the Holy Ghost by the laying on of hands! It was so cool to see one of our members give him a blessing that was so inspired as to what specifically Sámot needed. I am so excited to see him progress in the church!

​Today, we had palačinký (Czech pancakes that are basically like crěpes) at Vlastík's house (one of our members) with all of the elders plus one of our YSAs, Daška!​

I can't wait to see General Conference next week!!!!!!

I love you all and hope you have an amazing week! I know that the Lord is watching over each of you and that he only gives us difficulties he knows that we can handle and rely on him for!

Mějte se hezký! Mám vás ráda!!!!

More pictures from this week! ...

Starsi's Jarvis, Wutzke, Gauldin, Fuqua, & Zapalac