August 5, 2012

Hello, my dearest family!

How excited I am to be emailing you. 

Thank you for your honest assesment on how everything is going with Gram. This last fast Sunday I was prompted to fast for Gram and Cinny, and I'm so glad I did. How I love my Gram. I will be praying ever fervently for her this week. Please give her a kiss and gentle hug from her favorite Elder Handsome Brute. You know me, I always want to give one more kiss to my favorite Gram!

The email both of you sent this week really touched me in many ways. Thank you for it. How grateful I am, Marmee, that you fell in love with that Gospel Doctrine teacher of yours, and how grateful I am, Tata, that you taught so well to impress her haha. I love you both so much.

Answers of the week

1.  Tell us about your branch...Are you loving getting to know them? - the branch is wonderful! This last week there was the annual YSA conference, this year in Hungary. We heard it was absolutely wonderful and had a great turnout. All the YSA who went came back and bore their testimonies at church on Sunday, and what a powerful meeting it was! It was so cool - as soon as Bratr Cano (2nd counsellor in branch presidency) turned the time over to the congregation, all the YSA stood up almost simultaneously and sat at the front on the stand in a line waiting to bear their testimonies. What a sight it was! Elder Gabrielsen commented at how cool it was to hear the testimonies of the future of the church here in Brno and the Czech Republic. I love the members here.

2.  When will your next trip to Prague be? - No trips to Prague planned in the near future, in fact not even on plan this transfer. But that's ok - I like Brno!

3.  How are the missionaries in your zone doing?  Are you all experiencing some success in teaching? - The missionaries are doing well, I wish I had all the time I'd like to tell you a little about each one, but alas as I am writing this sentance I only have 6 minutes left! But there are miracles happening in every area, both big and small, which moves the work forward with excitement.

4.  Tell us your favorite missionary experiences of the week... - this week we made some wonderful progress in meeting with one of our investigators who is truly seeking the peace of the gospel in his life. He came to church yesterday, and really enjoyed it. We met briefly before he left and are setting up 3 lessons this week, which will help him immensely. I love the power the Gospel of Jesus CHrist has to bring peace into our hearts and minds and change us all for the better.

We also had a lesson last week with a former investigator from Ukraine. He is wonderful, though, and is really a "dry mormon". We have another lesson set up with him in an hour or so, so we're excited for that!

5.  Are your garments and shirts holding up okay?  How about socks?  Is there anything we can send you? - nope, everything still holding up well! thanks though!

So sorry, I'm out of time, but know that I love you all, especially you, Gram! Have a wonderful week, and I will too!

S laskou,

Starsi Mullen

Well, Well, Well

July 30, 2012

Ahoj, rodino!

I've decided that I think I'll still say ahoj and čau even when I return. I like saying them a lot and you do say them a LOT here. 

This week was wonderful and we saw many miracles (see later on). I hope that all will go well in Utah - How wonderful it is to help out family! The family truly is the most solid social unit if established on righteous principles. Please give Libs and Gram and Sherry all my love. I love you all, family!

 

Wow, please send my best wishes to Katie McGeezie (she'll know where the last name came from - still remember dancing in the celebration!), who now isn't named McGeezie any more! We'll have to think up a different name!

I'm so glad that you had the opportunity to get to know the missionaries better. Love each one who comes into the ward with all your heart - that's always the best. I love coming into a branch and having everyone just love you and be excited for you to be there. If you're able to time wise, offer them to be able to teach with you and give them a rough idea of times in the week you'd be available - that helps me so, so much when members are proactive and want to teach! It is a wonderful experience and both of you are wonderful teachers (you taught me alright haha!), so I'm sure your help would be much appreciated! Just an idea from your missionary son if you're available to do it.

 

So here are a couple answers to your questions!

1.  How was your zone leader training?  Anything new? - The training went well! We focused on giving concise commitments and it went really well. We began the training by having 2 missionaries come up - Elder Gabrielsen did a very comical description of the desirability and lucious taste of a chocolate bar and promised blessings for the missionary who would eat such delicious chocolate and went on and on trying to make the chocolate sound as good as possible, finally giving him the chocolate bar. Then, afterwards, I simply said to the other missionary "This is my favorite chocolate and I know that you will like it also. Will you please accept this chocolate bar?" It was a comical way of making the point that many times in lessons we take up time with a lot of fluff instead of just inviting people to try it out for themselves, since that is how they'll gain a testimony. It was well received!

 

2.  How are you and Starsi Gabrielsen getting along?  Pretty fun to be together again? - We get along absolutely great. Elder Gabrielsen is a workhorse and a wonderful, funny missionary. Quite honestly every day is a fun one - there's always some situation or lesson or other thing that brings surprises and we enjoy them together. I'm looking forward to the rest of the transfer with him.

 

We did have some amazing miracles this week, as I mentioned above.  We had the most amazing lesson with an investigator last week. We had planned for him earlier and had felt prompted to share Helaman 5:12, and we had a good lesson plan to teach more about the restoration. He came to the lesson with his friend and comes into the building...wearing all white. We asked him 'what are you wearing white for?" and he said "it's just hot." So we inwardly (and a little outwardly) smiled and told him he looked good. We started talking and it comes out that these last couple days are some of the worst he's had because of many different reasons. We began teaching him about something we didn't have on plan and followed the Spirit. But then, part way through the lesson, we felt prompted to read Helaman 5:12 with him - so we did. As he was reading it, he stopped a couple times and just smiled or laughed to himself and after he finished reading it said it was a beautiful verse and was perfect for him. He asked how he could have such a strong foundation - that golden question opened it up for us to testify of the BoM, prayer, and church, and baptism. He accepted it all and is working towards a baptismal date. We're so excited for him.

Another quick miracle this week - we taught a couple that a member from the branch referred to us. We hadn't had a lesson with the husband for about a month or so and we sat down and asked how much he or they had read in the book of mormon. His wife, Hanna, pulled it out and he held it and said "celou. dvakrat." (that means "the whole thing. twice.") I smiled so big and was just in shock. They are strong christians and have many questions about the BoM -  they have made notes throughout the entire book of things they have questions on and want answers. We're going to try to set up skype lessons for them with Vietnamese missionaries. The Lord truly does prepare people and loves all his children! 

 

I have a strong testimony of the Book of Mormon. Watch Tad R Callister's talk from last general conference titled "The Book of Mormon, a book from God" - I too have read every page and know it is of God. I love you all and am so grateful to be a missionary!

S laskou,

Starsi Mullen

Times Fun When You're Having Flies

July 22, 2012

Hello family!

Times fun when you're having flies, I guess! This week is another weird one, where it seems like a moment and eternity simultaneously. I am loving being with Starsi Gabrielsen - he is really funny and we have a lot of fun together. Looking forward to 8 more weeks of the same!

How crazy to think that Elders Florence and Whiting will be ending so soon...it is ridiculous how time flies. I just read their blogs you sent me (got them last Friday at zone leader council) and it sounds like they are ending it up right and in the middle. How excited I will be to see them next year.

And please send my greatest love to Brother and Sister Jensen - how I love both of them! I have kept each of Sister Jensen's beautiful letters and recently re-read her entry in my journal. Sure do love you, Gramma Jensen!

So now for some answers!

1.  How was your week?  How are the new missionaries in your zone?  Elders Stradling and Strobel?  When will you be holding your next zone conference and will it be in Brno? - Our week was pretty good, we taught a good amount of lessons and got a way awesome new investigator last Monday. The greatest news of last week was we had an awesome lesson with one of our investigator's friends. He told us that ever since he has begun praying and learning about faith again he has felt a greater strength and support and knows from what source it's coming. He hasn't been a believer since he was 8 (he's now 25), and now he is rekindling and refinding his faith in our Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. Does it get any better than that? At the end of the lesson he accepted a baptismal date for August 25, so we are super excited for him.  We also had a great lesson with another investigator, and he's doing so great! We have been trying to help him understand the importance of baptism for the last couple lessons but this lesson we decided to take a step back and just focus on reading and praying - and it was wonderful. The spirit was there and he made some wonderful progress toward doing what is necessary to receive an answer from the Holy Ghost of the truthfulness of the gospel. He committed to reading every day, which is huge for him with how busy he is! So we're excited for him.

I love the new missionaries in the zone! I've already served around Elder Stradling 2 transfers in Prague, so it's great to see him back in my same district, and Elder Strobl is a great missionary in his 3rd transfer. It's very strange, I have to admit, to know less and less missionaries in the mission as new missionaries begin and others get the "big transfer" as we say it haha. The new missionaries in Bratislava seem to be doing great, I got to meet one of them on Saturday at a baptism and he seems really on top of it. And it's fun to have my "brother" Elder Osterloh as district leader in Bratislava (He was also trained by Elder Egger right after me in Plzen and baptized Jan.) He's awesome and we really do have an all-star zone. I'm super excited! 

Our next zone conference will actually be on Friday and we're super excited for it. The emphasis of our training is on giving commitments in the first lesson with an investigator in a clear, comfortable, and concise way. Elder Gabrielsen and I are excited!

2.  Has the weather cooled down a little bit or is it sill pretty hot and humid?  It's been over 100 degrees here the last couple of days so we are very thankful for our air conditioning. - we've actually had some really strange weather in Brno - lots of rainstorms, which is crazy. But today it is beautiful! So yeah, the weather in Brno - if you don't like it, wait half an hour haha.

  

3.  Dad noted that there are three threesomes this transfer..two of which are in your zone. We suspect it is because missionaries will be leaving to go home early for school...is that the case? - yup! Elder Nichol and Bacon are going home early to start school, so they will leave part way through the transfer and the other 2 in the threesomes will finish the transfer together.

4.  How is Elder Durrant, the new AP?  Did you know him?  We are sure he will do an amazing job.  It will be fun to get to know him, we are sure!! - I actually don't know him super well, since he was called to Slovakia and we haven't had the privilege of serving in the same zone. But he's stayed at our apartment a couple times for trainings and is an awesome missionary.

The other exciting news of this last week that I'd like to end on is that Prague had a visitor last weekend - Elder Holland and his family. His son served here in the 1990s and baptized Sestra Chudobova in Olomouc (remember her?!) He gave a talk in church on Sunday that President told us about through an email we received. Unfortunately we couldn't be there, but I quote his notes he sent us about his talk:

 He talked about the members being miracles and about their faith, devotion and willingness to keep the commandments. He referred to the members as the stone cut out of the mountain.

 He congratulated Brother Canek on the way in which he conducted the meeting (he suggested that he could conduct the next General Conference.)

 He was delighted to see the involvement of new members – the opening prayer, the passing of the sacrament and the sustaining of the newest member to receive the Aaronic Priesthood.

 He told the congregation that they are miracles and they don’t know it!

 He emphasized the importance of believing in what we are doing – he stated that there will be a Stake here and that one day there will be a Temple in Prague. “Who would dream it after so many difficult years that we would be talking about Stakes and a Temple. Believe and understand that you are part of something great. It’s hard, there is lots to do and new members may be called to difficult callings. Is it worth it? Yes! – take courage – there are people like you serving all over the world. God knows you personally – no matter what challenges you have – God loves you. The Atonement was carried out for you.”

 He then left us with a blessing – “I promise you as an Apostle that prayers will always be answered – you will never be left alone – I don’t know you well but through the love of my son Olomouc, Plzen, Hradec Kralove and Prague became household words. It is easy to bless a place that I love – I bless you all as if my hands are on your heads – the same as the Saviour in 3rd Nephi – all those who are afflicted in any way including those whose challenges are only known to them – I bless you that you will be healed by God who loves you and the Saviour who brought light into the world. I extend these blessings to those you love – there is no limit.

What a blessing.

I know that this is the Lord's work. Like the stone cut out of the mountain without hands, it rolls on until it will fill the earth. How priveleged I am to be a part of that stone, resounding the message of truth in every listening ear. I love the gospel.

S laskou,

Starsi Mullen

Greetings From Brno!!

July 18th, 2012

Hello, family! Greetings from Brno!

Yup, I'm staying in Brno and Elder Buhler is leaving for Slovakia for a transfer! I will be serving with a familiar face - Elder Gabrielsen! I am very excited to be serving with him - we got along so well in the MTC and I am just so excited to be working with him now! We have so much potential building up in our area and I am praying for it to just explode in the near future. The major change in this transfer is that Sisters are going to Slovakia, where there haven't been sisters in at least 8 or 9 years. Sister Izatt, who is serving there, has dual citizenship in the US and Finland, so she can stay there as long as she wants because of EU agreements with her Finnish visa, so there can be some consistency in their area instead of sisters being blinded out every transfer. Everyone is very excited though for them to be there - we pray that they will be met with success. But I am so grateful to be staying in Brno with all these wonderful people. Elder Gabrielsen is an amazing Elder and I feel so excited to be serving here with him.

It sounds and looks like your trip in Hawaii was sensational. I loved that you got to pay it forward in Mama's fish house - that's what it's all about. And how jealous I am of the seafood! If there's one thing that I miss here most, it's good seafood. The food is absolutely delicious, but that flavor of a good, fresh piece of fish is pretty much impossible to find. But I'm plenty happy enjoying my heavy czech dishes - knedliky yum yum!

I also loved the picture you sent of Amanda and Cameron - I hope everyone is doing well there at home! And how cool that the Whitings cooked koláče (koh-laah-chay)! Those are the biscuits she made - they are very delicious! You can buy them in most bakeries and stores here, since almost every store has its own little bakery section. Thanks for representing the Czech Republic!!!

I also loved seeing all my siblings! Love you Chris, Jenna, and Natalie!!!

Alright, so here go the answers....

1.  First and obvious...where are you going ...or staying?  Dad's money is on you staying in Brno as a zone leader with Starsi Buhler being transferred.  We'll see how close Tata's guess is!!  Fill us in on the details PLEASE!! - well, I explained above, still here in Brno with Elder Gabrielsen!

2.  Who else from your group got what changes...what were the surprises President Irwin referred to? - another way cool thing is that Elder Heath and Salas are zone leaders in Pardubice! Super exciting - our group is starting to really step into the main leadership roles of the mission. Every Elder in my group is either a District Leader or Zone Leader! So yeah, and the main surprise was the sisters going to Slovakia! Super exciting!

3.  How were your investigators progressing this week?  Any new news in that department? - this week we have actually been getting a lot of meetings, which is so refreshing! Teaching is really what keeps a missionary happy. A couple highlights, though - our investigator's friend, is doing well, he came to church again and we have a meeting with him tomorrow! We also reestablished contact with another investigator and had a good lesson with him yesterday to try to get him back on track for learning about the gospel and really trying to live according to it. So that's exciting! We also started teaching a new guy who's in his last year of medical school and is considering maxillofacial surgery as a specialty! He is way cool. The biggest news, however, is that we got a text last Wednesday from another investigator! We don't know what happened, but he texted saying he'll be gone for a week (so he'll be coming back in the next couple days) and wants to meet as soon as he returns. He said he's excited to meet - wow, It was a testimony builder to me that even if these people are out of sight of us, they are never out of the sight of our Heavenly Father and His angels. How grateful I am that we are not doing this work alone!

4.  We are ready to send another package any time you want...any requests? - Hmm, Elder Gabrielsen and I would love some of those Trader Joe protein bars - ThinkThin I think they were called? But yeah, some of those along with little trader Joe's snacks would be great! And of course pictures!

5.  How was your p day last week?  Was it cool? - Yeah, it was wonderful! We saw a crypt which was way old and way cool. I love Brno!

Ok, unfortunately that's all I have time for because we will be taking Elder Buhler to the train station in just a bit, but know that I love you all SOOOO much and know that I am here for a reason. This gospel is true and brings the greatest purpose and peace into our lives as it is applied. I know it's true!

S laskou,

Starsi Mullen

Starsi Gabrielsen and Mullen at the Internet Cafe