Three Days Til Christmas and Counting!!

December 22, 2012

Wowza, only 3 days til Christmas?! That's crazy. Time truly does fly - but at least it flies happily!

I'm so excited to talk to you all, also! So exciting. Any questions you want answered feel free to ask during the call, I have no agenda for our conversation, except that I would love to say hello to Landon! Just to enjoy talking for a bit. So Marmee, Tata, Christers, and Jenna, start preparing some questions/conversation pieces!

How exciting to hear that missions of my group are being well served and accomplished. Whenever we pray with President Irwin and the departing missionaries the night before we take them to the airport he always prays to thank Heavenly Father for "missions accomplished." I'd like to think that I'm accomplishing my mission as I improve every day. I'm still not perfect (and never will be), but I'm sure trying!

I look forward to seeing the Christmas Cards. I'm sure they look wonderful.

Please send my love to Uncle Steve. It is good that you will all be together and enjoy the Christmas time as family. Family is so, so important and I love the perspective on family that the Plan of Salvation gives. I love you so much, Uncle Steve, and look forward to hearing a bit from you and Aunt Sue next Wednesday, too!

So here are a couple answers! If my answers create more questions or if you would like more complete answers, we'll have a golden opportunity next week! 

1.   Tell us about the Mission Conference yesterday in as much detail as you wish. - The mission conference was wonderful. A little stressful to plan (it was a lot less stressful last year when I just got on a train and enjoyed the whole thing without worrying about timing and moving missionaries and such!), but so worth it. We had a talent show in the morning which was amazing. So fun to see the "hidden" talents of all the missionaries. I didn't perform anything personally because we were short on time anyways and I was a part of the afternoon program. But so very fun. We then took the missionaries on a walk in the park while the Senior couples transformed the chapel into a dining hall for lunch. It was absolutely delicious. I felt at times that I was a shepherd myself moving all the missionaries, but all was well and we had a wonderful lunch. We watched a slideshow of pictures from the year and it was right after lunch that I distributed the pens by district. President Irwin announced what you had done and everyone was so impressed and excited to get one. They thought it was absolutely amazing that you had made them all from olive wood from the holy land and the senior sisters LOVED the red pens. It was perfect and I had many missionaries come and ask me for our home address to mail you a thank you letter. I also had a surprise visit from Rachel Lazyk! I was so not expecting her there and thought at first she was a Czech woman who might have come to the building - I even greeted her with "dobry den" - it was when she spoke English and introduced herself that it totally clicked in my head! I got some delicious american items from their commisary - yum! After lunch we converted the chapel back into the chapel and had a spiritual program in the afternoon that consisted of carol singing as a congregation, scripture readings by the senior couples, and all the songs from our Christmas Concert. There was a special spirit there and it was so strong. President Irwin spoke at the end about what gift we will give Christ for Christmas and quoted the song "In the Bleak Midwinter" where it reads "What can I give him poor as I am? If I were a shepherd I would bring a lamb. If I were a wise man I would do my part, but what I can I give him, give my heart." It was a beautful message of Christmas and of Christ. Yesterday was wonderful.

2.   Tell us about your concerts. - The concerts have gone very well and get better with each performance. It's a shame that we only have 1 left! But I'm excited to do it here in Prague for the members. We've been inviting lots of investigators also and there should be a good crowd. 

3.   We assume you got your “silver bells” box and packet.  It’s not much, but it comes with great love to you. - I think I've gotten every one! Thank you so, so much. I'm excited to open them but even more to talk with you all. Christmas is about Christ and about what He did for all of us- making it possible to live with Him and each other forever. So, in that sense, Christmas is also about family in not only an earthly sense but in an eternal sense. I love this time of year.

4.  Did I miss anyone with the pens?  Please simply give any extras away to anyone you choose – members, investigators, whoever.- or keep them for “later distribution.” J - Nobody was missed and I even got the extra pens. I have it planned out who I'll give the extras to and plan to give them out tomorrow. They will absolutely love them.

5.   Share with us an update of your investigators and any spiritual experiences you have had this past week.  We love to hear about those things most meaningful to you. - One of our investigators continues to progress wonderfully and will be baptized a week from tomorrow. We're having it on a Sunday because of schedule complexities but we're very excited for her. We just had a lesson today and she loves the church. She told us how much more she feels the spirit now and how much she's learned from the Book of Mormon. She's currently in Enos and is continuing to feast on the word.

Another investigator is doing great but is on vacation over Christmas and will be back on track in January.

We're working with a new investigator this week who is amazing! He's a YSA aged kid who we gave a building tour to after we stopped him in front of the church building. He told us that he already knows Joseph Smith was a prophet because when he heard the story of the first vision it sounded familiar to him and he felt it was true. He is already in 1 Nephi chapter 5 and is understanding it amazingly. He came into our lesson on Thursday and said at the beginning that he'd probably never become a "Mormon" - by the end of the lesson where we taught him the Restoration and importance of the Book of Mormon we invited him to baptism and he said "probably yes". It's amazing at the change that the spirit can bring about in people. We're excited for our next meeting on Wednesday before the concert. 

That's all the time I have for now, but I look forward to hearing from you on Tuesday! I love you so, so much and wish you all the merriest of Christmases. Make it a Christmas to remember by remembering Christ. He is our Savior and our King. I love him and I love you.

S laskou,

Starsi Mullen

ps...dum dum!

More Pictures

December 15, 2012

Me and Elder Coleman in the Bratislava building at the concert on Thursday. Lots of fun! 

 Me and Elder Coleman outside in Bratislava after the concert before our drive home.

Me and Petr Souček (Peh-ter So-check), our investigator. This was taken this morning in the foyer of the Prague building.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year!

December 15, 2012

 Well, hello! Wow, it's crazy to think how it's just a week and a half until Christmas! What are the arrangements at home? Who'll be in Granite Bay for Christmas? Not me! I'll stay in Praha haha. I love it here. Praha is such a beautiful, wonderful city. Wish you could see all the beautiful Christmas decorations in the church and all over the city - ginormous trees, lights, Christmas lights all over the light posts and phone poles - it's beautiful.

I'm so glad you got the Christmas card! I hope you enjoy it and that it gives you an idea of the missionaries and cities we serve in. They're beautiful, aren't they? I liked Praha's best, but I'm a little biased right now haha. 
We have actually already had our first Christmas concert now, we had it on Thursday in Bratislava. It worked out perfectly - the branch had a branch Christmas activity planned out for that day, so they just invited us to take 30 minutes from the party to give our concert. Everyone really seemed to enjoy it. K, so here's the program - Jingle Bells (choir), The Holly and the Ivy (Sister Bean violin solo with Elder Egger accompanying on Piano), Good King Wenceslas ( a capella mixed sextet with Sisters Izatt, Bowler, and Barney and Elders Meredith, Utley and Mullen - I sing the part of King Wenceslas and it is a very fun piece!), In a Stable (Elder Utley vocal solo), Joy to the World (choir), Daleko tam na judejskych planich (Far far away on Judea's plains, Elder Loynes vocal and guitar solo), Nesem Vam Noviny (choir), Away in a Manger (Elder Egger piano solo), Oh, Holy Night (Elder Meredith vocal solo), Come Lord Jesus (Elder Mullen vocal solo), Nadherny Spasitel (Beautiful Savior, a capella male quartet, Elders Meredith, Utley, Mullen, and Knapp), and Ticha noc (Silent Night, choir). It is a beautiful selection of songs and thank you thank you thank you for all you did and sent, as you can see we used a good amount of them! We will perform some of the numbers in Uherske Hradiste on Sunday as a part of their branch choir concert, and then we have 2 additional concerts - one in Jicin and one in Praha. The one in Jicin will be on the 20th and the branch has gone all out - they've reserved the Jicin zamek (kinda like a chateau) for the concert, plus, since we aren't charging admission, they can rent it for free! It'll be an amazing place - members are inviting tons of friends and the Sisters there have already handed out over 350 fliers for it. The place has a grand piano also, which will be heaven for Elder Egger! The one in Praha will be on the 26th and will be in the building. It'll be beautiful, though, and members are really excited for it. Christmas is just the best time of the year!

And oh mylanta, Marmee! You will be such an amazing YW president. Your love is absolutely contagious and I'm sure you just love those girls. You'll do so well and I'm sure will have lots and lots of support from Tata (and lots of lesson/activity ideas from Libs and Cori!). Know that your favorite Starsi will be rooting for you, too!

Landon sounds absolutely delightful and I'm excited to get to know him. Sure do love you, little guy!

OK, so now for some answers to questions!

1)  Have your boxes arrived that are not marked silver bells?  Did you open them?  Did you understand the organization?  We have received both packages without silver bells and have opened them both. Wow. I was absolutely speechless. I opened the "hand carved" box and read your letter and was stunned. I showed Elder Coleman what you had made for the mission and he was blown away. President is very grateful, also, and we'll hand them out on Friday at the Christmas conference to each individual missionary after I read a portion of your letter. What an incredible gift. Elder Coleman commented "I can't even imagine how much time this must have taken" and President Irwin said "Your father DOES work, doesn't he?" What an incredible gift of time and talent you have given to each of us, and it'll be a treasure for each missionary. Love you, Tata!
2)  Phone call details please...time and phone number...we will try to have a conference call if we can with Chris and Jenna in Maine once we know the time etc.  We CANNOT WAIT... it will be our bestest Christmas present!! - Haha, I can tell you need some details! So, here's the scoop - the phone call will be for 45 minutes again this year, just like last time (the white handbook says they should preferably go no longer than 40 minutes, but President is giving us 5 minutes extra), and I'm excited, too! A time that would work for me would be around 7:15 pm Czech time - would that work for you and Chris/Jenna? If not, please let me know and we'll work out another time. We'll have at least one more emailing day before Christmas, so just let me know if it won't work out and we'll work out another time. Basically any time throughout the day would work OK, so just let me know if another time would work better. You'll have to find out online how to do the call from US to CR, because I honestly don't know. But I'm so so excited to hear from you all! (And maybe Landon will be able to tell me something more this year! haha)
3)  Chris and Jenna sent their Christmas cards out this week.  Really cute...ours are being printed as we speak.  We think you will like them...you made the front page..hehe - Oh my, I hope it's a good pic of me! haha. I look forward to seeing it soon!
4)  We sent Sister Bohne an email about your VISA card being rejected.  We bet you were trying to buy a nativity.  We are soooo sorry and so bummed.  I called Wells Fargo and supposedly they noted that you are "traveling" and it should not happen again.  Will you please let us know if there are any further problems?  So sorry that happened.  The disadvantage of being so far away.  Do you need any extra money? - No problems since, I've used it to pull out money at an ATM and it worked no problem. And no, no money needed yet. Thanks though!
5)  You have gotten a letter from the Marriott School because I guess they are making some changes in their programs.  Not really sure how it impacts you but will try and find out for you.  In a couple months we will need to register you for the fall semester so if there are any instructions you have for us just let us know.  Also if you have any desires housing wise that would be helpful as well. - Wow, yeah, just let me know if there's anything I really need to take care of while I'm still here. I'd like to think of school as little as possible (I've got just a couple other things on my mind haha), but if something is urgent then it's no problem and I'll let you know. Otherwise you can just stick to my 4 year plan we did before I left. Housing wise, I don't know. If there are any of my close friends looking for a roommate, let me know, if not then I'll make a friend!
6)  Most importantly, how is the teaching of your investigators coming along?  Baptism dates still intact?  Are you almost ready for your Christmas conferences with the missionaries?  It must be extremely busy there but what wonderful memories you are creating....enjoy every single moment Joseph. - teaching is going well, even with the holiday season coming in full force! One of our investigators  is continuing to make wonderful progress and has wonderful member friends. She is nearing the end of 2 Nephi and is reading daily. She's coming to church weekly and even likes staying for choir. She's keeping the word of wisdom and the law of chastity. She wants to have a strong confirmation that Joseph Smith was a prophet. She told us that she prayed about it and had a feeling that he probably was, but it wasn't a full "jistota" (assurance, certainty). But she loves all that we teach her and is planning on making her baptism. It's so cool, now when we end a lesson it's HER, not us, that asks when our next lesson will be. She's really getting it and we're excited for her. Another investigator's progress is slower, since she found work stocking goods in Kaufland (a grocery store) working nights shifts. She doesn't come to all meetings with her mom, but she is coming to church tomorrow and still has a desire to learn, so we're hopeful. Another investigator's mother is very ill and in the hospital, so we haven't met with her this week, but she's coming also to church tomorrow and we're having a quick catch-up lesson afterwards. We've also made amazing progress with another investigator this week! He's really thinking about baptism. He visited a baptism in Praha and said that when he saw her get baptized, a feeling just came to him that he would be in her place one day, but not yet. He's learning really well and understands the gospel so clearly, which is so refreshing, and we're hoping that he'll accept a date as goal sometime in January. He was even at our branch YSA party this morning - it was wonderful! He got to mingle with lots of members, stayed after to help clean up, and seemed to really enjoy himself. He's really stressed because he has a couple finals this week, but we testified of the importance of church and he said he'll come tomorrow for sacrament meeting, which is an awesome leap of faith. That's where the miracles happen! President Irwin told us (quoting someone else) that we can't stand in front of a fireplace and say "Give me heat, then I'll give you wood!" It doesn't work that way. It's so easy to understand applied in a situation like that, but so hard for some people to grasp when it's applied to faith. Faith without works is dead - so if you feel like you have no faith or that it is dead, it is probably because you're missing its fuel - works! 

We are getting ready for the Christmas conference and are very excited for it, although it has been a lot of work organizing it, mainly on President Irwin's part. But I'm very excited for it, and we will be performing many of the concert numbers for it. Such fun!
Thank you so much for all you do. I love you all so much and am praying for you. May this Christmas time be one filled with joy and love and fun and fond memories and, MOST importantly, gratitude for the birth and life of our Savior, Jesus Christ. 

S laskou,

Starsi Mullen

Vánoce, vánoce přícházejí, Přátelé zpívejme!!!

 December 8, 2012

Vánoce, vánoce přícházejí, Přátelé zpívejme!!!

So the intro is actually the first line of a really popular song for little kids to sing that is so fun. The first line says "Christmas, Christmas is coming! Friends, let's sing!" All the YSA here in Praha remember singing it when they were little kids and it's really funny, you'll have to try to see if there's a translation into English of the lyrics! Just a bit of fun Czech Christmas culture for you all.

But yes, Christmas is in full swing! Lots of packages coming into the office - speaking of which, thanks so much for the package! I got the big brown open now one and it is wonderful - we're reading the stories and have set up the charlie brown tree in our apartment. Such a great time of year to celebrate. And it sounds like Christmas is all up and ready back home, too! Such fun. The nativity exhibit sounds like a huge success - what a wonderful activity! I hope the missionaries used that opportunity to its max to invite investigators and such. What a wonderful way to celebrate Christ's birth. I'm glad that our nativity got to be a part, too! And I remember Sister Wheeler in the MTC - I taught her in the TRC a couple times and I remember her saying she was from Rocklin. I'm glad the Czech Republic was well represented!

It sounds like Chris and Jenna will have a fun weekend! Such fun times all around the world. How I love you all!

And how amazing that Spencer is already back...wowza. Please give him a big hug from me - what a dear friend. When is everyone else heading home from our Priest's quorum group? Elder Ferguson and Clift? How exciting for all of us to be serving missions and then to return and to continue our missions. The mission never ends - as Elder Holland put it, we have put our hand to the plow, and we will not turn back. 

And SARAH CROFT! Congratulations! I wish you and _____ (I don't even know your fiancee's name!) all the best, or as we say in czech, Všechno nejlepší a hodně štěstí (all the best and lots of happiness/luck)! 

On that note, I'll just add in here that we just attended a wedding today! We've been teaching the boyfriend of a less active member from Kladno, a city just outside Praha, and he and her finally tied the knot!  He is a wonderful man and will be a good husband  - now we just would love him get baptized so they can get sealed in the temple! It was so cool - at the wedding today (which was held in the chapel of the church building) the branch president gave them advice before the marital vows to live according to the gospel and to have as a goal a temple sealing so their marriage will not just last "Till death do us part", but forever. It was beautifully said and we hope that this will be the impetus for him to really take his investigation of the church seriously. We just got back from their wedding luncheon in Kladno and it was a good experience to support them. It's very interesting how Czech traditions differ from American ones. For example, when they walk into the restaurant after the wedding they smash a plate on the floor and the couple clean it up together for good luck. Then the tradition is that they eat lunch and dinner all together and have basically the entire day in the restaurant. We left after just the lunch with the Branch President and it gave us some wonderful time to get to know him better. He is an amazing man and I absolutely loved that time we had to talk with him and discuss the work in a very private and personal setting. I stand in awe of how wonderful these members here are who have built the church through the years and continue to do so by living the gospel.

OK, so now for a few answers!

 

1 - Our Christmas gathering will be on Friday, December 21. We're very excited for it and are planning everything as it gets closer. This week we are planning and sending out travel plans for everyone to have so they can buy their tickets as soon as possible. The program will again have a Christmas talent show, followed by some Christmas caroling in various parts of Praha (we'll split the mission into groups and send them out to sing), then lunch, a mini walk around the park, then a spiritual Christmas program with some music and talks by President and Sister Irwin to end the day before we send everyone back out. We're really looking forward to it!

 

2 - We aren't 100% on the dates yet, but we will be having 4 concerts - in Bratislava, Uherske Hradiste, Jicin, and Praha. We have a group of 10-12 missionaries (some are joining in just for a performance or two) and we have about a 1 hour program or so. We had our rehearsal for the program last week and it sounded so good! It was so fun to be there with all those talented singers. Elder Egger is at the piano and is amazing. I don't have time to outline the whole performance, but I'll quickly just tell you the songs that I'll be singing: We're doing 4 choir numbers (Joy to the World, Nesem Vam Noviny [a czech christmas song, in English I think it's translated as Carol of the Shepherds], Ticha Noc (Silent Night), and Jingle Bells) and I'm also a part of a quartet and a sextet number. The quartet is of Beautiful Savior with me, Elder Knapp, Utley, and Meredith and the Sextet is of Good King Wenceslas with me, Elder Utley and Meredith, and Sisters Izatt, Bowler, and Barney. They all sound so good and I am so excited for it!

 

3 - Yes! We had one at our Progression training for new missionaries and trainers last Tuesday. This past week we had 3 trainings (Progression training, the concert rehearsal, and then a new district leader training), but luckily they were all in Praha, so not too much car driving! This next week will be pretty much all in Praha also, which is a blessing. 

 

4 - Not 100% on the call this year, I assume it'll be the same as last year since it worked pretty flawlessly for most missionaries. But I'll let you know more, promise!

 

5 - So I'll end this email with just a couple cool experiences with investigators - we have really 4 super solid investigators who we meet with multiple times weekly. One of the families are doing great and are really excited for their baptism at the end of the month. Another investigator is already in 2nd Nefi and is loving the BoM, and she's travelling 2 hours from Chomutov to come to church on Sunday. We taught our young adult investigator the plan of salvation this week and he loved it. He's also coming to church again on Sunday and is a really cool. He's very easy to talk to and is very intelligent. He's currently studying Economics in his college right now, and I know what that's like! Another of our investigators seems to be doing well, too, and loves coming to church with her member friend. We're praying for her to have sincere desire to be baptized. We're also teaching many other peopl and I wish I could tell you everything, but unfortunately I'm out of time.

Please know that I love you and think of you often. I love being a missionary at Christmas! May you all feel even closer to the Savior this year as the time when we celebrate His birth approaches. What a gift we have received from our Heavenly Father (John 3:16).

S laskou,

Starsi Mullen

Pictures are simply the BEST!!

November 30, 2012

  Me in the Prague building.

 President with the turkey centerpiece at Thanksgiving dinner

 Me and Elder Coleman after eating - yummy yummy!

Our last district eating lunch at Ceska Kuchyne - Elders Mullen, Coleman, DeAngelis, Tenney, Rhees, Sisters Clark and Pysnakova, Elders Clyde, Knapp, and Neumann

Me and the pumpkin pies - they were a big hit! Thanks so much!

Me in the metro

Už je to prosinec? Vážně?

November 30, 2012

(ps, you pronounce the subject like this: Oosh yeh toe pro-seen-ets? Vaah-zh-nyey? haha just for fun!)

This week was wonderful, but my how time flies! Speaking of flies, I just slayed one in front of me haha - but that's irrelevant. Onto this week! Thanks so much for your email - Elder Coleman loves reading our emails. We always come to the office after studies, then go and read them while we eat lunch at a quick lunch place around the building (today we had Doner Kebabs, really good!). So fun to hear that all is well at home and even get a peek at your wonderful week. I loved all the pics you sent - thanks!

Elder Coleman and I are so impressed with the calendaring activity you had. It is amazing to see the church work so slick and on top of things like that. I can't wait to continue to serve in the church my whole life in whatever capacity I am called. I want to enjoy every calling. That's got to be one of the things I've learned on my mission is how important magnifying your calling is. I remember one of my first real personal application lessons on that was taught to me by Sister Nuttall when I was called to be ward organist with Amanda - she taught us how important it is to not only play the organ for the songs, but come early to have the organ playing while people enter the chapel, to continue playing on a different, quieter register if the priests haven't finished breaking the bread by the time we've finished the song to keep the spirit strong, to play a couple postlude tunes right after the closing prayer to keep the spirit of the Sacrament meeting present. Although I may not have understood the importance of those little details when I was taught them, I now see their application in the big picture in all callings of the church. Every calling can be magnified and can contribute to a ward or branch that works magically together. Here on my  mission I have seen how much it helps the work when a ward mission leader or branch president or relief society president or hymnbook putter-awayer magnifies their calling and it has inspired me to do so likewise for the rest of my life, in addition to magnifying  my missionary calling now.

I'm so glad to hear that the concert went well - how fun that must have been! As I'm here typing I've been hearing "Joseph and Mary" and "Sleepy Little Town" and other songs waft in from Sister Bohne's desk - she loves your music, too, Aunt Cori! What a wonderful opportunity to feel the spirit, though!

So now for a couple answers to your questions:

1.  Will Starsis Knapp and Clyde be putting together a Christmas card again this year or will they be too busy?  It sure was fun to get last year. - We have actually been working on it for the past couple weeks and it is done and printed! Neither Elder Clyde nor Knapp knew how to use the editing programs (I don't blame them, I wouldn't either if I just opened it!), so I did all the technical work putting it together with creative direction and input from Elder Knapp and President and Elder Coleman. I think the end result is great, and hope you love it, too!

2.  Are there any last minute requests for your Christmas box? - thanks for the info on the packages, I'll keep my eye out haha! You're too good to us here in the office. President thinks that you must own shares in See's Candy haha. I actually had been thinking of one thing that I would like for Christmas, if it's not too much trouble. I know that time is short coming up on the Christmas season, but being here on my mission has caused my mind to reflect often on the conversion process and how individual it is for each person. So I was wondering if it wouldn't be too much trouble if you could, if you haven't already, write out your conversion stories. I'd love to read them and get a little closer to both of you in that way. I several times have also shared your conversion story (or what I remember of it), Tata, with members and investigators and potential investigators and I'd love to be able to share with them your story exactly how you remember it. I know that's a bit of bigger request than some specific candy, but that would be something I truly would treasure here. If you don't have enough time over this busy holiday season, don't worry, I totally understand. But yeah, that's just an idea! Sure do love you both!

3.  We sent Sister Brimhall a message on her blog.  Are there any other missionaries besides Durrant, Tenney, and Bean who will be going home mid transfer?  - Yes, Sister Izatt will be returning early for school on December 28th. So Elders Durrant, Tenney, and Sister Bean will return the 18th and then Sister Izatt, and then nobody until late January. 

4.  It was fun to see Medonich and Heath as zone leaders...so fun to watch your "crowd" become the leaders in the mission.  Such a growth experience for all of you.  Since you have been with Elder Coleman for a while now, could you please share with us the qualities you have come to admire in your companion... - Oh, I'd love to! Let me tell you a bit more about Elder Coleman. He is totally on top of things and wants to use every moment to its utmost. He's taught me a lot about how to serve President and the missionaries in our responsibility, in addition to teaching me how to give myself up more fully to the Lord. He is an example to me of a person who has found joy in the work through working well and diligently. He studies diligently and I really appreciate his patience with me - whether we have a day that went exactly according to plan or a day when lessons fall through left and right, he is constant in his devotion to the Lord and to the work and has trust that the work will move on. He's also funny - he has a wonderful sense of humor and we often have very funny conversations in President's office between the 3 of us as we talk about the mission. We work well together in the field as well as getting along together as friends, which is a wonderful relationship to have in the mission field. He has and demonstrates a sincere love for our investigators and gives wonderful compliments that are frequent but not insincere. He is an absolute joy to serve with and I find it a great privilege that we are serving together for the second time in a row together. I hope that gives you a better picture of the caliber of missionary I get to serve with now and I can't wait for you to meet him one day!

5.  How are the plans for the concert coming?  Did the music work out?  Anything else you need? - The concert plans are under way, we're having a rehearsal session on Wednesday this week with all the missionaries involved - the music worked out great, thanks! Now I'm just not sure about how many labels we'll need - I'll try to get a count of how many copies we'll need and send you the number next week. Thanks so much! That's all I can really think of for now.

6.  Tell us about your teaching this week both to missionaries and investigators...it's the best!! - OK, so now for some stories of the week! We have met with the one of our investigators 3 times this week and they are progressing wonderfully. Yet another investigator is excited for baptism and in our lesson on Sunday at a member's home we committed one of our other invetigators and she also accepted! They're both going to come to church again on Sunday and love it - one of them likes to sing and she said that her favorite part is the hymns that we sing. Continue to pray for them, as they are going through a big change in their lives - but they are wonderful people and we're excited for their baptism at the end of the month! 

We had another meeting with another investigator, which went well. She's also coming to church on Sunday and we pray that she will continue to feel the spirit in our lessons. She's still very new to faith and religion, but she told us in our meeting yesterday that she loves the feeling in our lessons and at church, like it's one big family. I have to agree!

We also taught our young adult investigator and he is doing great! He came to the baptism last weekend and enjoyed it, and we had another lesson yesterday and he's coming to church on Sunday! He's cool and likes learning about the gospel, so we pray that he'll continue to learn and grow and eventually be able to make that covenant of baptism with his Heavenly Father.

The last thing I want to share is the miracles that are happening right now in my "birth town" - Plzen. We had Zone Leader council yesterday and we talked for a bit with the Plzen zone leaders about everything that is going on. It's absolutely amazing. There have been 12 baptisms in that not-so-little-anymore branch this year alone and the activity rate is 100%. Not one of them is less active. In addition, many less-actives have been reactivated, including (as I found out)  a less active who Elder Egger and I started working with when I was there. He is now coming to church regularly and preparing for the Melchizedek priesthood. We found out that there were 54 people at church last Sunday. What a miracle - I remember my first Sunday there with attendance of 18 and stand all amazed. There is a powerful spirit and excitement in that branch and it will always be close to my heart. I just love the work here - it is a work of miracles!

I hear now "Give Thanks" coming in from Sister Bohne's desk and just feel I need to give thanks for everything that you have done and do for me. I truly believe that the greatest joy in this world is to be found in the family, and the greatest joy in family life is achieved when founded upon the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. Family is what it's all about, and that's why I'm here. Sometimes people will ask us when we talk with them "if family is so important to you, why aren't you there now? Why are you here?" I share with them the amazing promises and blessings of the gospel and say that I'm here to share that joy with others so they can also have that joy in their relationships. What a true blessing the Gospel is!

So now we'll be off to the center to find a study journal and some new shoes (the european ones I bought have worn out and President told me I should buy some new ones haha...obedience is key, so I'll get some new ones haha.) and take a look at the trhy. Perhaps I'll find a nativity! We shall see. Just know that I love you and pray for you all often. I am so grateful to be a missionary of the Czech/Slovak mission and see these miracles come to pass. I love my Savior and Heavenly Father and I love you all. Merry Christmas!

Until next week,

S laskou,

Starsi Mullen

A šťastné dikuvzdání i vám!

 November 24, 2012

Wow, what a wonderful week it sounds like you had! I absolutely loved the pics - so good to see all of my favorite aunts in my favorite house all together. And what a wonderful surprise it must have been to have Kate come. I loved your description of Marmee beaming and clapping for joy - I can totally see it and hear it haha. Gotta love that clapping Marmee! I loved the little video you sent of when she came in - so good to see you all! I so wish I could hear Cori's house concert - I'm sure it will be wonderful. Will you do it out back, then? 90 is an awful  lot of people! But such fun.

I loved your description and pictures of the feast. And good to see that you've still got me doing ridiculous things in my cardboard cutout form haha. I love you all so much - how grateful I am for our family.

I (and Elder Coleman, and the whole office for that matter) look forward to the Christmas package - sure do love you guys! You're so good to me and my companions. I was talking with the Martinovi the other day and mentioned that I was making pumpkin pie for Thanksgiving and Sister Martinova said something to the effect of that they were talking about me the other day in the district because one of the Sisters asked if they could get pumpkin pie anywhere. Elder Bird, one of the Zone Leaders in Brno, replied that all someone has to do is be Elder Mullen and his parents will send it haha. So you're famous!

So here’s a few answers for the week.

1.   How was transfer day?  Any surprises?  Still hard to believe that Sisters Brimhall and White have concluded their mission with Sister Bean soon to follow.  We bet it was fun to take the new missionaries on their “Prague walk.” - Transfer day went quite smoothly! Our district is wonderful! We have Elders Coleman and I, Elders Knapp and Clyde in the office, Sister Pysnakova and Barney (a new missionary), Elders Durrant and Tenney (Elder Durrant is a former AP and he and Elder Tenney are spending their last half-transfer here in Prague before they go home for school on the 18 of December), and Elders Egger and Boysen! Yes, "mein Vatr" is back in Prague for his last transfer! It was wonderful to be with Sisters Brimhall, White and Elder Dietrich on their last day and take some of them to the airport. Amazing how time flies. Sister Brimhall said something that I really liked, though, and that is that our mission really never ends. The work continues, just in a different part of the world and perhaps in a little bit of a different way. How wonderful, though, that we are always missionaries. We actually had transfer day on Monday for most people in the mission, then we sent the new missionaries straight out to their areas on Tuesday evening, instead of the usual Prague walk, sleep for the night in Prague, and then breakfast and sending them out on Wednesday. We thought we'd try it out this way, and we'll do a Prague Walk with them all in 2 weeks time when we have Progression Training in Prague. They'll in all honesty enjoy it more then when they aren't dead tired haha. 

2. Is this Elder Coleman’s final transfer?  We sense from your emails he is just an outstanding missionary and has been a great companion. - No, Elder Coleman still has 2 transfers, so he'll probably get to go back out into another area his last transfer. I really love serving with him, though, and we are seeing miracles together in our work. The Lord truly is laboring with us and we are so privileged to serve together another transfer. Plus, we'll get to do lots of fun things this transfer together with Christmas and new years and all.

3. What is your holiday routine for Christmas?  Will you gather as a mission for a program/party similar to last year and there hand out the “silver bells” packages from home to each missionary? - We will have another Christmas program this year, which we are excited for - all the missionaries will come to Prague and we'll have a wonderful day together. It'll be lots of work on Elder Coleman and I, since it is the APs with President who organize nearly the entire program. So lots of work, but lots of fun.

4.  How will you spend Christmas day?  As a District?  Or will you and Elder Coleman just be with the office staff and the Irwins? - Not quite sure on the Christmas Day details, but I would assume it'll be as a district instead of just the office. We love all the missionaries!

6. Did you receive the sheet music e-mails? - Yes! Thanks so much.  We also sent the hard-copies as a back-up!  Could you perhaps record your performance so we could share?  If not, we fully understand.  We just love to see and hear you perform! - Thanks for sending those, we're really excited to do the concert. We're looking at 4 potential cities to do it in, and I'll see if we can get someone to record it somehow so you can get a taste.

7.  Most importantly, how are your investigators doing?  Please share with us your missionary experiences this past week.  Are you traveling much this coming week? - This week brought more miracles in the work. Unfortunately we haven't been able to get in touch with one of our investigators this week, but we are prayerful that the Spirit will work with her to help her realize the importance this path can have in her life. However, we have made amazing progress with many of our investigators! First of all, do you remember me telling you about a particular investigator? Well, she's working toward a baptismal date again and is going for it super solid. We had the most amazing, spiritual lesson with her when she realized how much baptism could help her no matter her age, and she's forming wonderful friendships in the branch. She's coming for all 3 hours of church tomorrow, hopefully with her daughter, and then she'll be attending the branch choir rehearsal with her member friend, then she's coming with us back to a member's home for lunch and a lesson. The members have helped her so much and they love her and she loves them. Never underestimate the power you have in the lives of investigators and recent converts - it is real. I can just see her being loved into the Gospel right now, and it is beautiful to see. We also began teaching another lady who has accepted a baptismal date for the 29 of December. A member in Prague brought her to church and I had the privilege of sitting close to her - we talked for a bit afterwards and set up a meeting. We've met with her twice this week and she is loving our meetings. She is a professional piano performance player who used to have recitals in the national halls in the Czech Republic - unfortunately when the economic crisis hit in 2008 she had to stop due to lack of ticket selling and is currently a financial adviser. But she is a wonderful person and is definitely a musician! Her whole personality just fits it perfectly.  She's also coming to church tomorrow and staying for all 3 hours. We're also meeting with a YSA aged young man who is studying at a university here. He is just such a friendly guy and really loves meeting. He's going to come to the baptism today (a girl from Plzen is getting baptized - that's 13 baptisms in Plzen this year! Missionary work has just come to life in that branch.) and we're meeting with him afterwards to set up his own baptismal date. We're also meeting with yet another investigator right before the service and he'll attend - so many miracles. We also had a wonderful experience teaching another member referral this week. We were teaching a recent convert here in Prague and asked him at the end of our meeting who he knew who needed the Gospel at this time. He said he would really think about it, and he really did! He gave us a call 2 days later and gave us the name, number, and address of one of his tenants who he'd spoken with and she is amazing. We taught her last Thursday and brought Elder Sandor, a missionary from Slovakia who had just returned from his mission in England that night! We taught with him and he was amazing - the spirit was just so present in our lesson and we had the privilege of teaching her in her own home. It was wonderful. I wish I had time to go into every small detail of our week, but that's about all I have time for now. Needless to say, there are miracles happening in Prague right now!

Anyway, know that I love you all sooooooo much. Enjoy the time together at the house concert, be sure to get some pics of people who come and of Cori singing. The Gospel is true. It brings true happiness and lasting peace to all those who seek. I love my Savior, Jesus Christ. He lives.

S laskou,

 

Starsi Mullen

Another Week in the Country He Loves

November 16, 2012

Well it sounds like there was quite the week back home with another great one coming! Thankfully the same can be said here - we have had a very uplifting week and are still looking forward to another great one in the near future. 

First off, as I sent last week, Happy Birthday, Landon! It sounds like it was a great party - sure do love that little guy! 

And how exciting that Diana got her call! She will be a wonderful missionary. I still remember our Boston adventure and California adventure - great memories! And how exciting that we will get Sister Bruno next year - every missionary who comes to this mission is really special and we're thrilled that we will be getting more missionaries in the future!

Grams birthday sounds like it was a wonderful experience. Sure do love that Gram of ours! Please send my best to all the family and be sure to let them know how much I love them and think of them. I'm also really glad to hear that the newest little Mullen is growing up healthily (if that's a word...). What an exciting time in their family and in all of our lives. 

And Happy Thanksgiving to you! There are so many things to be grateful for, but I'd just like to mention one in particular that's been on my mind. Last night on our way back from the Brno specialized training I was driving and Elder Coleman's and mine conversation turned to the time when Tata was in the hospital. I told him the story in depth (we have a lot of time in the car) and it just made me all the more grateful for the blessings and miracles we saw in that time. I thought of what an example each of you was to me during that time - of Christer's dedication to studies while still balancing talking to his bro so often when I was home; of Marmee's complete loyalty to Tata in staying by his side, of her courage to sign the spousal refusal, of her ability to let me know that, even though perhaps I couldn't be with her all the time, she loved me all the time and always took care of me (I still remember the day you took me out in San Francisco to have some time together); and of Tata's unshaking courage and faith that, no matter what happened, everything would be OK. How grateful I am for every letter I get from you - what a miracle that you can write me letters and still draw me pictures after all that you went through. The blessings are overwhelming - "I stand all amazed at the love Jesus offers me." I love you all.

Sorry for the sentimental musings, but I thought it was important to share with you what I am especially grateful for at this time.

The house concert sounds as if it will be wonderful! I bet it'll be a full house and people will be lining up to come hear Aunt Cori - she's famous in Farmington, Kaysville, Granite Bay - and Prague! haha. I love listening to your music, Aunt Cori, and sure do love you!

Now some answers for the week.

 

1. With transfers this coming week, do you know yet if Elder Coleman will continue as an AP or if not who your new companion will be? - Yes I can tell you - *drumroll please* - Elder Coleman and I are staying together! Yup, we get to have another transfer together and I am so excited! We are on a great roll together and are teaching some amazing people, so I am thrilled to be serving another transfer with him. I really have enjoyed this transfer with him and look forward to another fantastic 2 months - plus, we'll get to spend Christmas and Thanksgiving together, which will be very fun. 

2.  Do you know who the new office manager will be replacing Elder De Angelis?  We would assume those changes will happen this weekend in preparation for helping with logistics related to the remainder of the transfers/ departing missionaries/ and newly arriving missionaries.  Super exciting times. - Yes, his replacement will be Elder Clyde who is currently serving in Praha. He's a great missionary and we're excited to welcome him into the office!

3.  Please tell us about your investigators and your experiences with the spirit this past week. - Two of them continue to progress very well - we're meeting with them both twice a week and one extra time with one of them. They're reading regularly in the Book of Mormon and came to church last week as well! It's very exciting to see their testimonies grow. One of them is still waiting for a strong witness of the spirit that the Book of Mormon is true, but has the right attitude and is very patient with the Lord as he fulfills his promises. They're attending the baptism today and we're having a lesson afterwards with them and one of our recent converts! She is doing great and it's wonderful to serve around her again. We are also continuing to teach another young man and he should be attending the baptism today as well! So exciting things happening with these wonderful people we're teaching. Yet another investigator came to church last week with her daughter and really enjoyed it. It was so cool, one of our investigators stood to introduce himself in Priesthood opening exercises, said (translated) - "Hello, my name's _______, I'm from Prague...this is my first time here, and I hope that in the future I'll be a member." and sat down. All the YSA and missionaries smiled - it was great. I love all our investigators! We also started teaching this way cool lady yesterday. She and her sister, and her 9-year-old son all live here and she owns a nail salon down the street from the church building. We taught her yesterday and will be teaching her Czech and the Gospel every Saturday. So many miracles. Please continue to pray for these people to continue making progress and learning about the gospel - they need our prayers!

4.  How was the baptism last Saturday?  Any more scheduled in the coming weeks? - the baptism was wonderful and Elder Knapp and I sang at it, which was nice. We are having one here in Prague of a girl from Jicin (the daughter of the lady who was baptized 2 weeks ago) today at 4, and we should have many more in the coming weeks and months. 

5.  Would you like us to send a little something that you could hand out at zone conferences like See's Awesome bars or anything like that for object lessons?  If so just let us know what and how many... - Thanks so much for your offer, but I think we're good for now. I still have so much candy that I could actually gain weight if I ate it all! haha. But I like to share it, so don't worry! But yes, I will let you know for sure if we could use any sort of candy handout.

6.  Let us know if you want the music scanned and sent via email or express mail or priority international and we will get it done today….We do have five copies of each piece already made.  There are quite a few pieces so that you can look through and pick what works for the voices you have. - OK, so I talked with President and Elder Coleman and we think the safest bet would be to email it if it's not too much trouble. The post service here is usually very reliable, but we don't really want to take any chances on losing the music! So if it's ok with you, scan it in and send the music via email and we'll print it out here. Thank you so, so much for that - it'll help so, so much!

So yes, here we are, looking forward to another amazing and busy week! We'll be having transfers next week, which will be very exciting, but don't worry, my emailing day will remain Saturday. We will also be having a Zone Leader council and we're just looking forward to every moment! We're off now as a district to lunch at Ceska Kuchyne (Czech Cuisine), where I had my first Czech meal - I love my mission and I love missionary work. I'm grateful that I will always be a missionary wherever I am. And I'm grateful for the Savior.

I love you all!

S laskou,

Starsi Mullen