Don't worry....I'm still a ham!

February 23, 2012

Your missionary is holding up well! He's happy to serve and to be writing his very favorite family haha. Better than writing my least favorite family, huh? (don't worry, I'm still a ham)

That sounds like you had a wonderful evening with the Davis'. They are such good people  I'm glad to hear that Stuart's doing well up at BYU-I though! Have fun up there, Stuart!

It also sounds like Chris, Jenna, and the little penguin are all doing just great. Sounds like Landon loves his mommy and daddy a lot, just as I'm sure they love him. It's a busy life, but there is just so much joy to be had! So what was Landon's first movie? Hopefully I'll approve haha. Sure do love that Mullen family! Miss you!

Lots of storage unit stuff - yup, remember those days. Lots and lots of boxes - fun fun fun! I'm glad you're still playing drums, Táta! That sounds way fun. I'm looking forward to hearing and watching you play one day in the near future!

Now for the questions!

1.  Did you get your valentine box?  We sent the computer program on Monday so hopefully that should be there soon enough.  You might want to make sure with Pres Irwin that it's okay to load on and use....just so it enhances instead of detracts from your missionary work...that was Josh's advice.  I told Josh that the good part is that you really know those programs well so they could hopefully be put to good use.
Yes, I did!  Thank you so, so much.  Everybody in the office LOVED that I shared the See’s candy – President Irwin loves that you spoil me haha.  And I will double check on the Adobe software before I load it – like Josh said, I don’t want it to become a detractor for me or for any other office elder who will come in.  So I’ll double check, but like you said, they could be put to really good use here – thank you so much!!

2. Were you able to talk with your investigator and his family this week? I tried calling them up this week and there was no answer, so I’m going to try them again either today or tomorrow – they said they would be back this weekend, so I’m praying that we will be able to set up another meeting with them – they truly are wonderful people.

3.  So how do you guys work meals?  Do you usually go back to your apartment and make your own lunch or dinner?  Do you ever eat in member's homes?Meals in the office are largely at restaurants – it’s quicker and more convenient to grab food at one of the close places here.  It’s nice to have the variety in Praha – within a 4 minute walk is a delicious Italian, Mexican, Chinese, Gyro, and traditional Czech restaurant.  But if we do cook in the apartment we usually make some pasta, Halusky, or pizza.  Sometimes we go out to KFC (yeah, Kentucky Fried Chicken – it’s way way popular here.  Reminds me of my KFC/movie nights with Aunt Sue)  We eat at members’ homes probably once a week here – and it’s almost always delicious.  I will never, ever complain about the food here in the Czech Republic – oh my, it is so delicious.  I can’t wait for you to try it.

4.  What are your main duties in the office?  Are you still liking it? Yes, I am still liking the office!  Main duties include running cars, phones, supplies, emails, mail, and the office, along with anything else President Irwin or anyone else wants/needs me to do.  Like I’ve said before, it’s sometimes a different type of missionary work, but it is great.  I think most of all I love the association of those around me – the Bohnes, the Curtis’, the Irwins, Elder Meiling and Shumway, and Elder Dietrich – I have learned and grown so much just by being around them.

5.  Do you listen to your music in your apartment?  Have you been able to play the piano and sing with other missionaries there in Prague?  We do listen to music a lot!  I love the CD’s you sent in the Valentine’s package.  BTW,  Sister Bohne absolutely loves your music, Aunt Cori.  I tell her the story behind one of the songs and she just loves to listen to it.  She was particularly touched by One Small Boy, and loves Yup, I had one of Those.  I agree!!  I don’t get to play piano here in Prague because we have so many able musicians even in the branch, which is how it should be.  So I’m getting a little break from piano duty, but I still get to play for district meeting sometimes and such.

I'm so glad to hear that all of my friends are doing well in their respective parts of the world. How amazing it is that we are truly covering the globe with the gospel. I just think, like you, that it is so cool how we started from one little suburbian town, have spread all over the world, and will yet return to our roots. Missionary work is a beautiful thing, and the comfort for me is that missionary work will never stop. Although perhaps not full time, I will be a missionary my whole life. 

So now for a couple stories from the week! I have a couple really happy and a couple sad ones, but that's just the life of a missionary and just life, right?

So a happy one first! I talked with the Plzen Elders and Plzen is just on fire right now! They had 44 people at church last week, and one of our investigators there is still doing well from what I hear. But the coolest thing for me to hear is that apparently the Elders there have been teaching a referral from our recent convert - my first contact in the Czech Republic! She has apparently accepted the gospel and is going to be baptized next Saturday by...yup, you guessed it...that same recent convert. I'm praying that all will go well, and Elder Bracken (one of the Elders teaching her) said that he doesn't see anything between her and this covenant with her Heavenly Father. But how amazing to see the gospel continuing to spread. One by one, the gospel will sound in every ear and resonate in every willing heart. 

One kind of sad one is with one of our investigators here - she texted us on Sunday saying that she had thought about it and wants to go a different way than our "offered path" and that we wouldn't meet on Monday - we tried to call her and talk to her, but she won't pick up her phone. I don't know what happened, but it was just so sad to see somebody who had felt the spirit so strongly around us turn away from it. But I am grateful for the principle of free agency that allows each person the right to choose. Sometimes people's decisions are a bummer, but I am grateful that God loves us enough to give us that choice.

Now another happy! Last week, we hit mission standards for key indicators in the office! I'm excited because that means that we are actually building up a solid proselyting area - it's easy sometimes in the office to get lazy and use the very good excuse of necessary office work to explain a lack of proselyting opportunities. But this week was wonderful - two of our investigators came to church, and one of them accepted a baptismal date in our last lesson. The doctrine of the plan of salvation really spoke to him and he recognizes the truth and power of the message, which is wonderful to see.

K, another sad one - one of our investigators is facing some pretty heavy opposition at home right now.  I just ache for her, searching for light in such a spiritually difficult situation. But how grateful I am for her strong faith to press forward in the face of opposition. We're going to pray and try to do anything we can to help.

So now to end on a VERY happy note! Last night I got to talk to Sister Erb about what's going on in Olomouc after we discussed their tire change schedule, and she gave me the update on the part member family there! The wife has been coming faithfully to church almost every week this transfer and gave a talk in church last Sunday that Sister Erb said was absolutely wonderful. Oh man, does that do a heart good! Sister Erb told me that in her talk, she shared a vivid dream in which she remembered all her relatives and ancestors coming to her, but she couldn't go to them yet because there was something that she had to do first. But before the dream ended, each one of her relatives told her their name. When she woke up, she still remembered each of their names and wrote each of them down. She is now beginning to prep temple work for them, and is being called as the Branch Family History Consultant. She is also currently preparing herself, with the help of her fellow Relief Society sisters, to receive her endowment during the temple week in November this year. Doesn't that just give you chills? It just fills me with such amazing joy. And, what's also so cool now, is that her husband is being called as a branch consultant with her, and the branch is working with him to start coming to church regularly. I feel that he will be touched by the gospel and will enter the waters of baptism. Then they can be sealed together! The spirit of Elijah is alive and well in the Czech Republic, and I am just so happy that I can be here to watch all these miracles unfold.

I love you so much and hope that you have enjoyed this very long email! It was fun to write. I know that the Gospel is true and has the power to right every wrong that exists. I love this work and being a missionary.

S láskou,

Starší Mullen

(PS Marmee...dum dum!)

Hey howdy hey, family!

February 18. 2012


Hello from Prague! Sometimes I just can't believe that I am serving here. Yesterday, we were sitting in on a lesson with a recent convert - he was taught by Chinese speaking missionaries in the London South mission through skype. We were just there as he was being taught, and I thought "wow, that's quite a language to learn!" Then I had to make a quick call to set up an appointment, so I stepped out and talked to this guy in Czech...then it just kind of hit me that the language that I'm speaking is really quite a language to learn, too! I consider it a complete miracle of our Heavenly Father that we as missionaries can learn this language so fast through the gift of tongues. I know that miracles do exist!

It is cold here, but it's really not that bad. What we heard is right in that the weather is really just like Provo - although I have to say I am excited for warmer climates! People here always ask me "aren't you cold?" and I say "meh, I'm always cold - I'm from California!" People here love California - they just think that it is paradise on earth. I tell them it is haha. But how I do love Prague!!!

So wish I could be there to help you with this transition into the computer system in the office, but I'm glad Aunt Sue came to the rescue! I'll be sure to pray for the transition to go as smooth as possible. It's kind of like the plan of salvation - sometimes we gotta go through hard times to get to better times.

Chris and Jenna sent me a video of Landon walking last week - holy hannah! (that one's for you, Brittney haha) How crazy is that? He is just such a cute little boy though and just seems like a very energetic, curious little penguin. Sure do love that little guy! Sounds like you had a great time with Lizzie and Tyler too - I'm so, so glad we have those videos. It sounds like the decorating was a blast..."I am like a star shining brightlyyyyyyyyyyyy" haha. You know how much I love home-movies!

 

So this week was great! Last Saturday, I forgot to tell you that  an awesome guy who I taught for a bit in the trio in Olomouc, was baptized last week! Elder Rhodes said it was a wonderful baptism and everything turned out great. He is the boyfriend of the Branch President's daughter in Zlín, and is just an awesome kid. He will be such a strength for the branch there. 

Another way cool thing from last week actually came as news from Plzeň - I and Elder Dietrich had contacted this guy  while waiting in line to pull out money at a bankomat (ATM machine). I talked to him over the phone and he said that he lives in Plzeň and just doesn't have the money to come into Prague for meetings. So I asked him if I could give his number to missionaries in Plzeň to meet with them, and he said he'd love to. Come last Sunday, I found out that not only did they have a lesson with him last Saturday, but he now has a baptismal date and came to church. It's amazing - they said that he had met missionaries in the past and had a couple run-ins with the church, but never really acted upon it. This time, he said, he didn't want to let the opportunity pass again. The Lord does prepare people to receive the message of the restored Gospel, and how grateful I am to be a part of that. We are ALL enlisted til the conflict is o'er, and the conflict isn't o'er yet! I'm just glad I can see fruits in every part of the work, be it finding or teaching.

We also had the lesson with another investigator last Wednesday, which was so good! She is so prepared for the message - she wants to come to church next Sunday, and we are invited over to teach her at her house on Monday! It's pretty big here to get invited over to somebody's house, especially if they are a non-member. The home is a pretty private place for most Czechs, and to invite someone into that private place is relatively unusual - so we're taking this as a good sign that she trusts us and wants to learn from us. I'm so excited to continue to meet with her - she is so special. Please pray for her!

We also had another lesson this week with another investigator which went quite well. Distance is still a problem, as is a lack of support from home. But she has felt the spirit and joy of the gospel and is so ready to hear it. We postponed her baptism until the 10th because of lack of meeting time, but we pray that she will have the courage and strength, and eventually support, to endure to the end.

One last quick story! We had a lesson last week with a way cool guy  at an awesome member's house. He is a professional trumpet player from Philly and has lived in Prague for the past almost 5 years. I talked to him in the metro after hearing him speak English in a phone call and we set up. The member  is an awesome Young Single Adult here with a wonderful testimony and the lesson went very well. He is 26 and is open to learning all he can about the gospel. His only concern is joining an organized religion, because he's more for developing his own ideas. But we taught him the restoration and he said it made sense, that he'd read the Book of Mormon, and that if he felt it were true he would get baptized. He said that he can't meet very often, but we are praying that the Book of Mormon will touch his heart and that he will feel that desire to move further.

I love this gospel and message of happiness so much. I'm grateful for all of you and all you do for me. Your prayers and love are so much appreciated. Be sure to tell Amanda and the kids all hi for me!

S láskou,

Starší Mullen

(ps Marmee...dum dum!)

Heeeeeeeeeeello!

Feb 10, 2012

Hi there, family! It's crazy to me that another week has passed - time is truly flying. It's just absolutely preposterous for me to think that this transfer is over half-way over. But I am enjoying being here in Prague and am loving the office and being able to still proselyte.

Thanks for sending a couple questions to answer - it kind of helps get the juices flowing of what I can tell you about my week. Plus, I want to be sure that you know what you'd like about the wonderful country where I'm serving.

Tata, I realized that I never answered your question about the podravka! Yes, It's put on pretty much anything haha. I like it especially on halusky (huh-loosh-key), which is a Slovakian gnocci, pasta, soups, and basically anything savory. If I'd put salt on it, I'd put podravka on it!

So now for the questions!

1.  What's the weather like in Prague?  Do you have much snow? - The weather in Prague is definitely colder but is really not bad. There have only been a couple times that I think I felt colder than I did in Provo. There is some snow on the ground now - we had a nice snowfall 2 nights ago and the residual is still left. But the sun is shining now! I can't really complain about weather.

2.  What's your apartment like?  Are you warm enough?  Do you have a functional kitchen? - Our apartment is quite small here - it's not as nice as the Olomouc apartment, but when I hear about the kinds of apartments that some of my other friends on missions get to live in, I can't complain haha. But we are actually in the process of finding a new apartment for the Office Elders - the switch should take place at the beginning of April, which will be still while I am here! It's kind of crazy to think that I already know what will happen next transfer for me - the security of knowing is actually comforting, although I think I will miss the surprise of finding out at transfers haha.

3.  Have you spoken to either the Erbovi or to Starsi Buhler about how your investigators are there in Olomouc?  I know how much you loved those people. - I have actually gotten to speak with them some, and things are going OK - they still are meeting with three of our investigators as far as I know. They also are teaching a girl Elder Buhler and I found my last week from Honduras, and apparently she is way cool. She told us in the contact that missionaries visited and taught her family when she was younger. Not sure exactly on her progress, but cool to see! I still pray for and love all those people in Olomouc. I think it will always be a city close to my heart.

4.  Are all your MTC bunch still doing OK?  - as far as I know, yes!  I actually get to talk to them all more than before because I'm always calling up companionships to figure out distribution orders and random problems throughout the mission.  Elder Coleman (who I replaced) said that usually Office Elders have a talking withdrawal after leaving because missionaries don't call me as much haha.  We'll see- still have three or more months left in the office and I'm determined to enjoy them all.

Another wonderful thing that happened this week is that one of our investigators came to church! It was a wonderful experience for her and she met some wonderful people in the branch. She felt the spirit again, took notes in Sunday school about the Book of Mormon, and told us she was glad she could be there. Really her only concern is distance and family support - please pray for her. Earlier this week she pinched a nerve between her spine in her neck - OUCH! I texted her how that had happened to you, Marmee, and that I knew how painful it must be. So she won't be there tomorrow for church, but hopes to continue next week. 

We also started teaching another awesome new investigator this week. He is from Ukraine but is working and living here for the time being. He's 26 and is just so prepared to hear the gospel. We actually got in contact with him by going through the former investigator book - we had a first lesson with him about the restoration and he totally accepted it. He accepted a baptismal date for March 10 and is willing to prepare himself for that day. He's coming to church this Sunday, too, which will be great. Please pray for him to continue on the awesome path of progress he set this last week. 

One quick request - could you send a bunch of envelopes for the stationary I have? I have plenty of stationary paper, but am all out of envelopes. And did you get to send off the Adobe Suite? Just curious - you know me!

So the work moves on! We are going as a district with a bunch of members to play indoor soccer today which should be very fun. I love working in the office here along with keeping a proselyting area that has people preparing for baptism. This work is truly a marvelous work and a wonder! I was inspired yesterday by a talk from last conference from Saturday Morning about the church being a stone cut out of the mountain. I am just so excited to see the day when the work explodes here in the Czech and Slovak Republics. It was amazing to read how in the 1920's, when South America was dedicated for the preaching of the gospel, there were a handful of members. That is how I feel it is here sometimes - a handful of faithful, amazing members. But look at what the Lord, along with a lot of vision and hard work from a lot of people, could do in 70 years on that continent. Missionaries have only been back in Czech for about 20 years - I'm just so excited to be laying a foundation for growth here. That's what Elder Causse said about the mission - we have laid an amazing foundation for growth. Now it's time for the growth.

I love this gospel and this wonderful, wonderful work!

S laskou,

Starsi Mullen

"I love this busy, exhausting, happy, rewarding work"

Hello my dear family!

So this week was quite the week for both Granite Bay and Prague it sounds like! That's so cool about Aurora performing and touring. I wish I could see it, but I'm sure she's just amazing. Let me know how it is for sure - it sounds like a fun exodus to Modesto!

That is also so cool about the Nyeovi( a couple going to Josephs mission this summer who had served a prior mission with our friends from Granite Bay)! I actually saw their picture the other day that Sister Bohne showed me - they look so nice and how cool is it that there is such a connection. I hope my blog will at least be able to give them a taste of how wonderful the Czech Republic is. And speaking of missions, MICHAEL ROSE! Oh my, I haven't seen you in so long! How are you doing? How exciting that you will soon be entering the best, hardest, most exhausting and most rewarding 2 years of your life! And in Guatemala! Be sure to talk to Chris about it  - he'll give you the scoop on Guatemala. Congratulations!

Now for some answers!

1.  Did you get the birthday card from the Whitings...

Yes, I did - in the meantime while I get a thankyou letter off, thank you so much Whitings! You always have been and continue to be so good to me. Love you!

2.  Did you get the second set of sd cards from sue and steve?  They said to be sure to let you know it was no big deal, they were just curious if they had arrived. 

I did get the second batch - thank you so much! I'm well stocked now and will never have an excuse to not take a picture haha!

3.  Was the tea tree gel the right stuff or do I need to send something different?  Anything else you want or need?  more vanilla?

.  The gel is perfect - exactly what I need. Not a hair out of place haha. The shampoo is great too - thanks so much!

4.  Can you send us a picture of you in your new suit?

  See attachment! (1-Me and my recent convert friend at the baptism of his friend from Plzen [see below], 2-Me in my new suit in our little Prague apartment; do you like it!?, 3-me in Jičin [pronounced "yee-cheen"] with the dragon! Jičin is the town of fairy tales. We got to go there for a baptism and afterwards went to lunch - but I just had to snap a picture with this dragon!)

5.  How WAS your meeting with our friends nephew and his family?

  We didn't get to meet him this week because of a work trip he had to France - I just talked with him though and he said that he will be able to meet up on Monday. He is so, so nice, and I'm super excited to meet him face to face.

6.  Is there a wooden base for the nativity you sent because the manger and the bell tower each have pegs on them?  We weren't sure if it was missing from the mail...

  Yes there is a wooden base, but I haven't sent it yet - but I finally bought a box big enough for it, so I'm gonna try to send it off today.

So now for a couple stories from this past week - first of all, I did get to see my investigator/convert friend from Plzen last Saturday! It was so cool to see him doing so well in the gospel - he loves the scriptures! He's read through the Book of Mormon twice and is on his third way through, is in D&C 59, and in Abraham in the Pearl of Great Price. That was just so cool to see. He passes the sacrament on Sundays as a worthy aaronic priesthood holder, and is happy in the gospel. How amazing is that!? I'm excited to continue to see him grow in the gospel. 

Last Wednesday we had a special zone conference with Elder Causse of the Seventy. It was so spiritually uplifting. His message was all about catching a vision of what can happen here in the Czech Republic. He focused on how we always, always teach when we find and find when we teach. He taught us that finding is a MINDSET and not an ACTIVITY. That totally opened up my eyes. All day, every day we are teaching and finding. Every time we testify, we teach. It is a wonderful thing. He helped us realize what missionary work is all about - it's not about being able to build a stake center or having more chairs filled at Priesthood meeting. Those are only signs of what missionary work is all about - individuals. Every person we meet and teach is a child of our loving Heavenly Father who cares about us more than we can ever imagine, and we are here to help each of His precious children to find peace and happiness in this life and to return to His presence after death through faith, repentance, baptism, the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. It is a glorious purpose and a marvelous work.

Unfortunately we didn't get to teach as many traditional lessons last week - our area is still in the growing stages and it's growth is a little slower because of the time we spend in the office. But what I was grateful for was how many teaching opportunities we truly had that just weren't traditional lessons. That was a big focus of Elder Causse's training last week. That being said, we are continuing in daily contact with one of our investigators - she is coming to church this Sunday and we are praying for her to have a wonderful experience, to feel the spirit again, and to want to do all that is necessary to truly come unto Christ more in her life. Funny random story - Thursday night I just sent her a text to see how she was doing and tell her we'd call on Friday, and soon after I received a text saying that she had been reading in the Bible and had fallen asleep with her head in the book - she said that our text woke her up so she could keep reading and she was grateful for that.  It was a testimony to me that even little things matter to the Lord and that the Holy Ghost can prompt us even when we don't recognize it as a prompting at first. 

I also had an exchange last week with Elder Pearson, my Zone leader. He is from Shasta area, so it was cool to be with a fellow Californian haha. I got to really learn a lot from his example and we worked way hard. One of the highlights for me was definitely lunch though - and not just because the Svickova was delicious. We went to sit down and a nice middle-aged lady came and sat down at the other end of out table (that's common in restaurants here). So, being inspired by Elder Causse, we struck up a conversation. She was so, so nice and was so open to hearing more. . She said that she wanted to be a believer but wasn't quite sure how. She is in Slovakia this next week for a holiday (She's a teacher) but we have an appointment with her the week she returns. I'm so excited to keep talking with her.

Well, that's all I have time for this week. Hope all continues to be well in both California and in Boston. Landon sounds so, so, so cute. And talking! When did this happen? Chris and Jenna, be sure to give him a big hug from his uncle and tell him "Mám tě moc rád" (pronounced "mom-tyay-moats-rod") from his favorite uncle. I love you so much - thanks for your postcard, too! I miss you!

I love this busy, exhausting, happy, rewarding work! And I love you all!

S laskou,

Starsi Mullen

  

 Joseph with his investigator turned convert
 and friend from Plzen

 Joseph models his new suit

Joseph by the dragon statue in the city of fairy tales