Tis the week before Christmas!!

December 19. 2011

Well hello, hello, hello, my dear family!!! This week has been a wonderful one full of surprises and fun, so I'm just gonna jump right into it

Well, our companionship grew this week! Elder Page, who was Elder Rhodes' companion here in Olomouc, was emergency transfered to Brno to be a zone leader since a zone leader there is going to be an Assistant to the President - So for at least the rest of this transfer there is a Trojice in Olomouc! We helped Elder Rhodes move into our apartment last Tuesday after Starsi Page left and have been working together - it is so great. Elder Rhodes is a fun, great elder who I get along super duper well with. We have very similar senses of humor and laugh a LOT here as a threesome. It's going to be a wonderful way to spend Christmas.

So with that, we are now as a threesome running 2 areas! So we're definitely keeping busy.

Anyway, I can also tell you're just a little anxious to find out what's going on with the call. Are you just a little excited?! haha, how crazy to think we'll be talking in less than a week! Anyway, this is how it's going down - no test call this year. They did them last year and there wasn't a single problem in the whole mission, so they just cut them out this year. So we are giving you our number and you call us! We talked in comp study today and think it'll be better for you and us to do it later at night - because we are a combination of 2 areas, we have 2 cell phones - so Starsi Buhler and Starsi Rhodes will do their calls at 8:00 pm Czech time and we'll do our call at 9:00 pm Czech time. Does that work? anyway, I think that is 12:00 pm CA time if we have our time zones down straight. Hopefully that should work!  I'm sure all will work out just great, though! I'll be able to tell you all about my Christmas day, which will be fun, too!

So for Christmas, we have some fun things on plan! We are going to the a member's home for Christmas Eve dinner, which I am really excited for! She is such a great member and has 3 little kids (12, 10, and 5), and it is going to be a wonderful experience with her there. She's going to make us the traditional Kapra (carp), which will definitely be something to remember. Out on the namesti now are all the tanks of live carp. Very fun tradition haha. Here, Christmas Eve is the big holiday. They decorate the tree, have dinner, then open presents all on Christmas eve. Kinda different, but it will be so much fun to be with them for Christmas.

We also had our branch Christmas party on Saturday, which was great! Three of our investigators came, and a lot of the members invited people to come. It was a very fun day - got some pics too!

And now, for some people to pray for and some miracles of the week:

Well, with the forming of our Trojice, we are now all working together with one of our investigators to help her prepare for baptism. She is so cool and really recognizes that baptism is the beginning of a new life commited to the Lord, and the branch completely loves her. She knows that smoking is bad for her, but keeps doing it to help with stress. She's pretty stressed out right now - she's working, going to school, and is like 7 months pregnant. Lots on her plate, and it's hard to really focus on the Gospel when someone is so stressed out. Please pray for her!

We're also continuing to work with another investigator. We had a couple great lessons last week on prophets and the word of wisdom, and he agreed to try to live according to it! An awesome member in our branch is great about helping him out. He came to one of our meetings last week not having drunken coffee or smoked the whole morning, which was so cool - he told us that when he thought about our meeting and woke up that morning, he just felt a spiritual influence that he didn't need to drink coffee or smoke. We testified that that was an answer to his prayer at the last meeting when he asked Heavenly Father for help in overcoming his addictions. It was such a testimony builder to me that the spirit has real power to influence us and our actions and choices if we are willing to listen. Since then, he has drinken coffee, though - it's not going to go away all at once. But please pray for him to have the strength to overcome all that is necessary for him to make a promise with his Heavenly Father through baptism!

We also had a way cool opportunity last week to do service! Service is rare here - people don't get it. You know, the whole "I don't know you but want to help you" thing - they usually don't trust it. But one of our potential investigators allowed us to help her move last Tuesday! We helped her out for about an hour and a half, along with her friend. It was so cool - at one point she just asked us - "why are you helping me?" We got to testify that we follow Jesus Christ and we help all people, whether we know them or not. At the end of the service, we talked with her and her friend, who are both Catholic. The told us that they had heard lots of myths and rumors about what we believe, but want to hear "what mormons believe from mormons." We had a lesson with her later in the week which went great, and should have another this week. It was a testimony to me of the power of service in opening peoples' hearts to hear the message of the Gospel.

Well, I'm just about out of time. Know that I love you and am a very happy Starsi. I can't wait to talk to you all on Sunday!!!

S laskou,
Starsi Mullen 

Joseph meets the Mikulas!! December 12, 2011

December 12, 2011This is me and the Mikulas! It was last monday - basically, kids recite a poem or song to Mikulas (the golden santa pope guy), and if it's right they get candy from the andel (angel), and if it's wrong the certy (devils) take their souls do pekla (to hell). It's not as cruel here as it sounds it would be. It's kind of just a joking thing - instead of the boogyman, parents warn their kids to not go to hell. kinda funny for a country that is so nondenominational...haha. But here I am!

Christmas will bring a phone call from Joseph

December 5, 2011

Hello, family! Well, that sounds like quite the week at home. Crazy how much is going on! Needless to say, I'm praying for you all that everything will go well. That's crazy about the winds in Farmington - but how cool to see an entire community come together to help and protect eachother. That must have been quite the sight.

Before I continue, I want to make sure to answer your questions! Here it goes:

1 - YES! Thank you so much - I loved it

2 - Not yet, but I think it's because of how they do christmas packages. They give them all to us on the 23 at the conference because it's kinda, no REALLY, hectic with all the packages coming into the office for missionaries. So I think I'm gonna get them all just on the 23. Thank you!

3 - As far as birthday package stuff goes...hmmm, one thing I would like a lot is a transcription of the night before I left, including the advice from my favorite Aunties! Other than that, probably pictures...ooh, and maybe a bag of brown sugar and chocolate chips! maybe butterscotch ones! Then I could make rob's oatmeal cookies. That would be delicious. So there are a couple ideas.

4 - The call will be on Christmas Day, and you'll get an email with details on that as it approaches from the office. I'm not sure on all the details, so it'll be best to just wait for that email. I'm excited too!

5 - see email sent earlier.

 

Now, for a little bit about my week:

 

Well, this week definitely had ups and downs, but the ups were great! Definitely the best up is how well one of our investigators is progressing. He got back from Germany last Sunday, and we had 4 lessons with him last week. We kind of started over a bit, really going in depth about the role Jesus Christ plays in his life. He's not from a Christian background and never understood when we or anyone else said Jesus Christ is our Savior. It was so cool to go back to the very very basics with him and teach him about repentance. We got him talking and sharing more in lessons and something is starting to click. He still doesn't understand fully the incredible role Christ plays in his life personally, but he is willing to act and learn, and that's all we and the Lord can ask! He's reading in the Book of Mormon on his own, came to church again for all 3 hours - it's great. He prays in every lesson we have, but doesn't "know what to say" when he prays alone, so his personal prayers are lacking a little bit right now. But we plan on continuing to work with that and help him understand that he can tell his Heavenly Father anything that is on his mind. But we also solidified a baptismal date for him on January 7. He really understands baptism now - he told us that he has felt the influence of the Holy Ghost from time to time in his life, but it always comes in spurts and leaves. He said he tried holding onto it, but it just wouldn't stay. We taught him the difference between the influence and the gift of the Holy Ghost, and how we receive the gift through confirmation. He really got it and wants the gift of the Holy Ghost for himself - that constant companion that will never leave, as long as he remains worthy. We have another lesson with him tomorrow and will teach the Word of Wisdom. We know he smokes, so please pray for him to accept it and understand the power that comes from keeping the commandments.

 

The sister I spoke of last week came to church again this Sunday for all 3 hours! She's doing so great now. The branch continues to love her, and the other Relief Society sisters are doing great at teaching her and helping her come back to full activity. This is 3 weeks in a row that she has come to church, and we haven't even challenged her - she is doing it because she knows it's right and knows it helps. It is so great to see.

 

Well, not much more time today - sorry! I wanted to make sure I mentioned here at the end really how much of a gift your letters are. Marmee and Tata, every letter I receive from you is a priceless and precious gift. I read every one with a huge smile. Tata, I got your letter you wrote me on Thanksgiving and was just so happy. I'm glad you got to see me, even for a little bit, in your dream and talk to me. I wish I could have shared in that dream. I miss you both a lot, but know this is where I need to be. (And who knows, maybe I will go to Brno next transfer!) The Gospel is true - how grateful I am for it!

 

S laskou,

Starsi Mullen

 

(ps........dum dum!)

Happy First Day of Advent

November 28, 2011

Well, Hiyawatha!

How are you all doing? It sounds like you had a wonderful Dikuvzdani (thanksgiving in Czech), and I certainly had a wonderful one, too! What a fun time to just be with family! That is so special. Please tell everyone who wrote me a little note thank you thank you thank you. I loved hearing a little snippet from everyone who I love so much.

Thanksgiving here was a true blast. We all gathered together and had a delicious meal Sister Erbova and Starsi Erb made. I mean ALL the trimmings and trappings - turkey, stuffing, yams, carrots, salad, mashed potatoes - and to top it all off a hearty piece of homemade pumpkin pie! I haven't tasted Costco's in a long time, but I'm almost 100% sure that it was even better. It tasted so good! What a wonderful taste of home.That is Starsi Buhler on my right, btw - and on my left is Starsi Rhodes (closer) and Starsi Page (further). They are all great missionaries and it is a true privilege to serve with them all. It's a fun district.

Well, unfortunately there isn't as much to report this week as far as the work goes...it was a kind of a difficult week as far as teaching goes, and also considering I just emailed last Thursday haha. One of our investigators was out of town in Germany all last week, but just got back yesterday, another has been in Slovakia and gets back today, etc. But we are excited for this week - it should be much better!

There is one really cool experience I had on Friday though that will definitely go in my memory banks. We went to the a members home on Thursday after Thanksgiving dinner and helped them move a grand piano out of their apartment and down a flight of stairs. Our help was definitely needed. But then on Friday we came back to help bring up an upright grand that they had traded/bought into their apartment. The switch was mainly because of space. I was so inspired, though, by this family. President Slezar is our Branch President here, and we walk into their home to see both a picture of the Savior Jesus Christ and a Proclamation on the Family on their kitchen wall. After we moved the piano up, we all sat down and had tomato based gulas (goulash) which was delicious. Starsi Rhodes shared a spiritual thought about music, sharing D&C 25:23, and we all went into their family room/living room. I sat down at their old-and-new upright grand and played "Prineseme svetu jeho pravdu" (We'll bring the world his truth/Army of Helaman) while the Slezarovi (President, Sister Slezarova, and their three adorable little kids) and the other Elders all sang. I last minute thought of it and recorded it as a video on my camera - something to look forward to. But it was just such a special moment for me. It wasn't extraordinary - but it was at the same time. I just felt such a wonderful spirit there. It felt so good. I love being a missionary here in Olomouc.

One more experience I wanted to share happened yesterday - A sister we have been working with came to church again! Oh mylanta, it made me so happy. I sat next to her during sacrament meeting (when I wasn't playing the hymns) and it was just so perfect. Her apartment is currently without electricity, water, and power because of some accident that happened on the floor of their panelak, and she was sick with a sore throat, and she still came to all 3 hours. That's what it is all about. There's kind of a saying (that's mostly true) in our mission about Czech people - they don't handle sickness well. Usually, when somebody has a cold, they can't come to church, and you can't come visit them...haha. But this sister has felt the spirit return to her life as she's come to church, and now she's not looking for excuses - she's looking for opportunities. It's such an amazing change to see. We can't visit them this week because of what happened in their aparment, but she said that we'll probably just see each other next Sunday. How cool is that? It's a testimony builder to me of the power of going to Church.

Well, with some extra time I have from not sharing stories I want to tell you a little about what's going down with Christmas festivities here in Olomouc! Horni and Dolni Namesti (the main upper and lower town squares) are all decked out with a big skating rink, tons of trhy (stands that sell all kinds of fun stuff), and a GINORMOUS Christmas tree all decked out in lights. Oh, it is so fun! I wish you could be here to see it and walk it with me. But I'll be sure to take lots of pictures! We looked at some of the trhy on our way here to email and I found one that is selling a handcarved czech nativity, complete with a manger scene. Ooh, I'm gonna have way to much fun on P-days hehe. I have lots of cash that you've sent me in cards (thanks, Marmee!), so I should be good haha.

Christmas here sounds way fun and way difficult simultaneously. As Christmas gets closer, people get less and less willing to meet usually because they want to just spend their time getting ready for the holidays. So that's kind of a bummer...but we're determined to work hard and do the best we can. We have a goal of reactivating more less-actives, which I'm excited to start on. We think they'll be more open to meeting with us near Christmas and think it'll be a better use of time than just contacting or tracting.

On December 9 we're doing a branch singing display, singing koledy (Christmas Carols) and contacting people. I'm super excited for that! Then, on December 17 we're having a branch Christmas party. On the 23, we have a mission Christmas conference which should be fantastic. We have a couple of families in the branch who have already invited us over for christmas dinners (Dvorakovi, Musialovi, Slezarovi), so we definitely won't be lacking on food - sister Dvorakova i think is going to make us the Christmas Carp! I'm excited and scared simultaneously for that one haha...

Then on Christmas we have Church! That'll be great. It'll only be sacrament meeting, then we have call-in reports early so we finish all the proselyting by around 1:00. After that, we are asked to just stay together as missionaries and not relax with members, so they can keep a professional relationship with us. So we'll probably go and celebrate Christmas at the Erbovi as a district - open presents, etc. Then you get to call us! I think how it works is the mission will send you our phone number (no skype - sorry...) and on Christmas eve you give us a 60 second test call to set up a good time. Then on Christmas we get to talk! We had a specialized training last Friday in which President Irwin made everything clear - we get 45 minutes! Hooray! So much better than 15, huh? The white handbook says that we should only have about 40, so President extended it for us. So that will be very fun! Another fun side note about Christmas - on Christmas day we are allowed to watch a couple of approved movies! Oh man, am I excited haha. Basically any appropriate movie goes - Disney, etc. We have already agreed as a district that one of the movies we watch will be the Emporer's New Groove haha. So that will be very fun, the highlight of COURSE being our phone call!

So yeah! Know that I love you all and think of and pray for you every day. I'm loving this work and am just so excited to continue serving here in Olomouc. We have a lot to be grateful for and a lot to look forward to. The Gospel is true!!!

S laskou,
Starsi Mullen

Happy Thanksgiving

November 21, 2011

Wow, what a fun day this is! I open up my email inbox and I have messages from all the people I love! I truly am grateful for you!

 

So sorry I forgot to let you know about the P-day switch - we actually didn't even know until after I sent last weeks email haha - but I sure am happy to be emailing you now! So sorry about the email debauccle...but know that I LOVED version 2 haha.

 

How much fun Landon's party sounded!!! Wow - that was so fun to read about. He is a special little boy! That's so great that you got to be a part of that even from so far away - technology truly is an amazing gift. But unfortunately, as much as I'd like to, setting up a skype camera on our lessons probably wouldn't go over very well haha. So I guess you'll just have to be a fly reading an email instead of a fly on the wall haha.

 

I bought a new coat on Monday that looks great and is nice and warm - I think you'd like it. It's a gray peacoat I bought out at a store near Tesco. Thanks so much!!!

 

Now for a couple stories of the week! We had a leadership training in Brno and, since my entire district is either zone leaders or district leader, I got to go along too haha. While they had their conference, I went with a bunch of other missionaries and  did a singing display in Brno. I've described the one we did in Prague a while back, but this was great. We sang songs and contacted people about the Gospel - doesn't get much better. I ended up getting 2 phone numbers from some cool people who I talked with also, which was great to be able to pass on the Brno elders. They were very grateful, and I pray that they will be willing to meet with those elders.

 

We are making awesome progress with one of our investigators. We have taught her all of the doctrine from the first three lessons (and some) and she has accepted it all. And, last lesson, we focused on faith and how we can grow it. She told us that she sees our faith as like a huge tree, and hers (in her words) is like a flower right now. But it's a flower! She still had been avoiding prayer, saying she was waiting until her faith was stronger before praying to our Heavenly Father. We used an analogy to address her concern by saying that was kind of similar to waiting for a plant to grow before you water it. She laughed and said that "was logical" - that's one of her favorite lines. "That's logical." Then she smiles and laughs. She told us she always just feels so good around us and in the church building, and she knows it is the Holy Ghost. She still sees baptism as a long ways away, but is just learning and soaking in everything we tell her. She's awesome.

 

We have also been continuing to work with another investigator. He has accepted a baptismal date, which is awesome, but missed church last Sunday because he made an emergency trip to Germany. So that was kind of a bummer...but we're getting back in contact at the end of this week, which I'm excited for. I think that what he needs now is just immersion into the Gospel. Last week we had a couple lessons, one with the Branch President, and he came to FHE game night and played pingpong with us too. Please pray for him to be willing to just jump into the Gospel of Jesus Christ - I know he'll be blessed as he does.

 

One of our other investigators is doing great also, but he is still having a big problem getting to church. He accepts every doctrine we teach him, reads in the Book of Mormon on his own, prays multiple times daily, and feels the spirit way strong. But he will never be fully immersed in the Gospel until he starts coming to church. I have a testimony that that is true. What he needs now is a way to make it to the building at 9:00 am on Sunday - just not quite sure how that'll happen when work conflicts so often and he has a wife and children back in Slovakia to provide for. So please pray for him, too.

 

One last experience teaching last week - we have been teaching this man, who is what we call an "eternal investigator". He comes to church most weeks and loves meeting, but just can't bring himself to commit to live all the commandments and get baptized. So on Monday we decided we were going to have kind of an ultimatum lesson with him - either be willing to change, or we can't meet anymore. I was nervous for it, because it's always hard to drop an investigator. The lesson started well, but it was quickly going downhill. Contention was creeping its way into the lesson. And when contention enters, the Spirit exits. So about halfway through the lesson I actually excused myself for a bit to grab a whiteboard marker from the other room and said a prayer to be led by the spirit to what we should say that would help him to have the desire to change. Prayer works. I came back in and just started talking about what needs to happen. I testified that because we love him we are here to warn him that the "happiness" he gets from his lifestyle now will not and cannot last. I caught a different perspective of missionary work - that we are here to both comfort and to teach - but that both are done out of the deepest love for these people. His coutenance changed, both physically and spiritually, as the Spirit of the Lord humbled him. I could feel the spirit guiding me as to what to say. I don't even remember everything I said. But he left the lesson with a lot to think about. After the lesson, I was exhausted - it was a special experience for me. We told him we would give him a call later this week to see if he's willing to move forward. I pray he will. But what I know now is that we have done our part. The Lord has done His. Now it's all on him.

Know that I love you and am grateful for you all. Today we are going over the Erbovi and Sister Erbova (the senior couple) is making our district thanksgiving dinner. And she is going all out - turkey, potatoes, homemade pumpkin pie (we'll see how it compares to costco's haha), and all the trimmings. I'm super excited - it will be a great thanksgiving, although just a little far away from you all. But know that my prayers and thoughts will be with you all in Utah as you also celebrate this season of thanks.

 

Life is good.

 

I'm grateful for you,

I'm thinking of you,

and I love you.

 

S laskou,

Starsi Mullen

 

As parents we want to express our gratitude for Joseph's service and for all those who serve and in particular to the Erbs, the senior couple, who took these boys in as their own on Thanksgiving Day.  We will be ever grateful!!

Joseph bids Bernie farewell

November 14, 2011

Well, hi there! This was a good week halfway around the world haha. I'll tell you all about it!

But first of all, I just want to thank you for what you did for Bernie. I would be flat out lying if I didn't say I was sad. When I read your email, a couple tears came. She will definitely be missed and was a big part of my childhood years. But I need to tell you about an experience I had last night. I was saying my nightly prayer out loud (Starsi Buhler goes into the other room and we both do our nightly prayers out loud. It's a great way to really talk to our Heavenly Father) and almost immediately after I started the prayer, I felt completely overcome with peace and comfort. The thought just came to my head that Bernie was OK and free from hurt right now. It was very peaceful and I just felt like it was OK. I have to admit that at the time I was wishing that that meant she picked right back up with her 101st life haha - but thank you. Thank you from the bottom of my heart for what you did for her. That was really what moved me to tears - that you made her some popcorn that she could at least smell. She always LOVED that smell. That you stayed up with her and held her. Thank you so much...so much for that. I am glad that she is free from pain now and went peacefully out knowing that her family loves her. Thank you.

As far as Thanksgiving goes, the senior couple (starsi and sister Erb) are inviting us over to a big thanksgiving dinner at their apartment, so we should eat VERY well to celebrate this year. She is a very good cook and, while perhaps the rolls might not be AS good as Aunt Cyndy's, I'm sure they'll be delicious haha. Thank you very much for the offer, however. It's much appreciated.

I'm so proud of you, my missionary Marmee! Way to go. That is way exciting that your friend stayed for your class! Keep it up - missionary work is so important, and I wish we had an awesome gospel essentials class teacher like you to persuade people to come to church hahaha!

So now for a couple stories from the week...

First off, we had a great lesson with an investigator about the plan of salvation. She understood all of the doctrine and said it sounded like a really cool fairy tale and laughed a bit. We responded by saying that it's the BEST story ever because it's real! haha - she laughed and said it made sense. We told her that the reason it makes sense is because it's true. She is way cool and is definitely a breath of fresh air to teach. Our main obstacle with her now is just getting her to pray. It's really a hard thing for her to overcome. Please pray for her, and if you have any advice on how we might be able to help her pray, please pass it on to me - we're open to anything and everything that can help her develop a relationship with her Heavenly Father.

We also had a good lesson with two other investigators on Saturday. It was our first formal lesson with them. They own a window food stand that we pass several times every day and we have talked with them quite a lot. The other elders had them as investigators but passed them to us because they were having a hard time keeping up on them since they live further away. So we had a lesson with them where they definitely felt the spirit. One of them is definitely more hesitant and said that she honestly thinks that this message can't help her, that she has her own faith, and that the spirit around us is just because we are friends. But the other was definitely more open. Right from the opening prayer she said there was something different about us. She said it was like a light. We testified it was the spirit. We could see a change in her from the start to the end of the lesson. We asked them if we could return several times to share the message we are here for in its entirity. She said of course. It was a great lesson, and we pray that they will have time to be able to continue to meet. They're usually very busy, but we are praying that they will be open to letting us in more often to teach them about this wonderful gospel of happiness.

One more quick story - we had a District conference for all of Moravia and Slovakia in Brno yesterday. It was great! I got to see so many of my fellow missionaries and it felt so cool to be among so many saints here in the Czech Republic. We overflowed the Brno chapel, out into the hallway, and into the extra rooms that had speakers in them. It was way cool. I said "I haven't seen that many members of the church at once since I got here!" haha. It was great, and the spirit was so strong. President Irwin gave a great talk about when he was a boy that I want to share quickly. He said that at his school there was a group of boys who were notorious for bullying all the other students, especially the new ones. He being new, President Irwin tried his best to avoid them after school, but one day they were waiting for him. They picked him up and tossed him over a low fence into a huge pile of horse manure. He said that after he was tossed in, the other boys laughing, he had the distinct thought - "Well, I'm in it now. I might as well spread it around." He then started to pick up handfuls of manure and chucked it at the other boys. Everyone was laughing in the congregation. But then he likened it to the church. He said boldly to every member present - "You are members of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-days Saints. You're in it now. You might as well spread it around." It was so cool - it was exactly what the members here needed to hear. And me. That's the responsibility of us all - let's spread it around!

I love this gospel and the message I get to share with people. It can be scary sometimes for sure. But I just need to remember how great this message is and get out and go to work.

I love you all,
S laskou,
Starsi Mullen