Letter: 21 March 2016

The world is coming back to life again after a cold winter! Colours are shining, flowers are blooming and the Czechs are having Easter markets everywhere. 

New socks!

(They are getting ready to whip their women on Easter while the girls are getting ready to pour buckets of water on the men the Monday after!! I love my mission culture!)

Spring is here and the sun is shining and it is wonderful!! We are loving the weather and went to a beautiful little city today! I actually thought of a few spiritual insights from i that I would like to share.

We were walking through this gorgeous town called Cesky Krumlov after a week filled with goodness and hard times. It reminded me of the beauty in the world. Although we have hard times and trials, they all combine together to paint a beautiful painting. Like the city had lots of colors but also shades but together they were krasny! (Pretty!)

Also we walked across this lovely castle and some bridges. On one side the view was rather plain but then we turned around and it was WUNDERBAR!!!!! (that is not Czech). It reminded me that we need to look at both sides of what Heavenly Father has given us. Things can be hard but depending on our attitude, they can either be beautiful or plain. Try to find the miracles and look for the breath taking views in what the Lord has given you.

 

I am so excited for this next weekend because it is Easter!!!! We can celebrate our Saviour and Lord and all that he has done for us. As we have been asking a lot of people this question this past week, I would like to ask you to ask yourself, too! Who is Jesus Christ for you? What does His atonement mean for you?
I know that as you ponder these questions, they can help your testimony to grow.

I love you all and testify that Jesus is the Christ.

S laskou,

Sestra Manners 

Here are some extra photos:

It snowed last week!

The Czech Republic finally has green hymn books!  (The English ones were published in 1985!)

A favourite meal, a bread dumpling which is sliced and served with meat and gravy.

Serving suggestion!

Luckily our teaching appointment did not disturb the gamblers in the room.

What a view!  And the scenery wasn't bad either!  (ha ha)

Our happy gang!

It's spring!!!!

Same view but more sensible.....

Delicious green mush!

Gifts from our investigator (she is Catholic if you could not tell)

Our little church building (next to a bra shop!)

 

Letter: 14 March 2016

Dear all,

I do not think I will ever be able to explain just how much I love my mission. It really is incredible. Every day is a new challenge and I love it. 

Yes, we like to wear matching clothes!

This past weekend, we were in Prague again and we went to district conference. The theme was Jesus Christ and I loved the talks! I felt the spirit so strong and it was a miracle to me that despite it all being Czech, I understood it perfectly! Only last summer was I sitting in the MTC wondering how I would ever be able to speak and understand Czech and now I can do so! Such a miracle! The Lord really works wonders where he needs them.

A view from a bridge with sestra DeMann on our way to play tennis with the Elders today!

Sister McConkie spoke about prayer. She said that our relationship of prayer should be as common as sending a text message. She talked about how missionaries pray around 30 times a day (I nodded my head on that one!) and it reminded me of how important prayer is. I invite you all to look at your relationship with God again and try to see it with a different eye. Do you tell Him all that you can and all that He wants to hear?

I was also reminded of the importance of wholeheartedly having our faith in the Saviour, Jesus Christ. It really truly only is through Him that we can find peace and joy. As we prepare for the Easter season, watch this video and share it with your friends and loved ones. https://www.mormon.org/easter

I know that Christ lives and loves us. He wants to help you. All you have to do is pray.

Our beautiful city square

S laskou,
sestra M


P.S. Some of you have asked about my new apartment so here are some photos!

Living Room 

Living Room (yes, we have a keyboard!)

Kitchen (view of the playground!)

Kitchen

Bedroom (and exercise bike!)

Bedroom

 

Letter: 7 March 2016

I love my mission!! Things are so different here but I am loving them :)

It really did start off strange when I was on a train by myself for what felt like forever but I loved CBud the minute I got here. It has such character and I know that I am needed here. I think I met most of the members before sacrament on Sunday and I love them already. 

I am so excited about our investigators that have so much potential! we are teaching this young woman named Zuzka who really accepts all that we have taught her already and is very spiritual. She has even accepted the commitment to be baptized! The only problem is that she wants to be baptized just like Jesus Christ- in the river Jordan in Israel and by someone that looks a lot like John the Baptist! We are trying to help her understand why baptism the ordinance is important and not the exact place. That is what our next lesson will include which will be this evening so we will see how that goes!

We also had quite the adventure on Tuesday night. Sister Birkeland needed to pick up some things before she left from the chapel and when we got there, we noticed it smelt like smoke and there were clothes in the kitchen and some shoes! She found two people sleeping in the primary room! We quickly left the building and called the elders who came to see what was going on. They went and talked to the people in the building who said they had gotten the keys from a less active  and we asked her to come over and speak with them .she came but said she did not know them and did not know how they had a copy of the keys since she was holding her keys in her hand! They have not been back since though. President Ambroz (branch president) said we will be getting the locks changed soon.

We own the same clothes, completely a coincidence!

We also had a really neat experience this week! We felt prompted to talk to a lady on a bench who looked really sad and was having a bad day so we testified to her, talked to her and even asked if we could hug her. We felt like she needed some cheering up and realizing that we were close to home thought that we could bring her a flower from our apartment to cheer her up. We did not find her when we returned but Sister DeMann (She is a doll by the way! I love being able to see her grow each day) felt like we should call a less active and see if we could stop by and say hello. He has been sick, battling cancer and had not been to church at all that last transfer. We called and he said he was not home but that we could stop by. and the we turned around and he was there in the park! We met with him later that week and talked and invited him to church. He said he could not come because of health but would be willing to meet again next week. But he came to church!!! It was amazing! We included him in our fast and it really did work! We are seeing our prayers answered all the time.

I know that Jesus is the Christ and that He lives and loves us. I love being bale to testify of Him each and every day.

S laskou,
Sestra Manners