My How Time Flies

February 24, 2013

 

 Hello! Jejda (yay-duh), jak čas letí! (chawss leh-tee), or My, how time flies! 

Yes, to answer your first question, the Martins should still be here this summer! So you'll have to meet them - they're wonderful!

How good to hear Darren has come back safely. What a great friend he is. So many returned missionaries coming back to GB2! It'll be like a sons of mosiah moment when we get all back together. How we've all grown and changed, yet still remained the same. President Irwin said something that I really liked this week, that the goal isn't to change our personality or talents, but to harness it for good. I hope I'm "harnessing" my talents well and I look forward to using the things I've learned here for the rest of my life. Each of us has different talents and skills that I'm sure have been strengthened during this time. It sounds like Rick has also had a growth experience on his mission. 

I haven't looked at the photos, I'll see if President will give me permission to take a peek at them later on. That sounds like a great set up, though, for BYU in the fall! If there's anyone who could get something like that organized, it'd be Emmett. Tell him thanks for me and that I so look forward to catching up with him sometime in the near future.

I'm so glad to hear about Aunt Sue and am also happy (yet not surprised) that Mr. Grubaugh received the Journalism Teacher of the year award. He so deserves it and played such a wonderful role in my life during those years. I really consider him to be one of my greatest mentors there at GBHS, alongside Mrs. Daniels. Thank them for all they did for me.
It's true that Brother McConkie will be the next president, and President is very confident in him. I feel so privileged to be able to serve my full 2 years so closely with President Irwin and know that I was sent here at least in part because he was supposed to be my mission president. How thrilling for Joseph and Heidi (who have been called as Mission President in Mongolia) - they'll be amazing. I've met a fair share of Mongolians here in the Czech Republic and they are wonderful, beautiful people. 
Here are some answers from this week:

1)  How was your visit with Elder Lopez of the Seventy? - it was wonderful! He is such a wonderful, humble man with a very special spirit that he brings with him. He gave a training on his conversion story and how each thing each missionary did, from giving him his interview to helping him sing his first hymn, made a difference and impression on him. He talked about the message and the messenger of the gospel, how with Christ the message and the messenger were the same and how that is truly our goal and aim, to have our lives be the message of the gospel as we serve. It was a very touching training.
2)  How are your investigators doing? - Amazing! We are teaching a couple amazing new YSA.  One of them is from China and is way cool - she is a strong Christian and totally understands the importance of the Book of Mormon now. Another is also reading the Book of Mormon and is an amazing girl. We had an incredible lesson with our investigator from India. He is an incredible young man. He is going to be with family for a month and a half or so but then will return to take a job he received in IT here in Prague and he told us that as soon as he gets back he will continue. He has such an amazing spirit about him and I pray that he'll continue to feel the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon as he reads. We're also continuing to work with others. This truly is a work of miracles!
3)  How is work progressing in other parts of the mission.    The work continues to move forward at an incredibly rapid pace there in Plzen. They've held over 50 at church for the past couple weeks and the church is growing so fast. It's incredible to see happen. I love those people and it is a miracle to see how much that branch has grown and strengthened over the past almost 2 years.
4)  Are there any food supplies you would like sent for Easter?  We would like to put together a box for you!! - No food supply requests, but thanks for asking!
5)  Will you be traveling much this week?  What will be your emphasis in your training? - We trained last week on simple teaching and this week we have almost the entire week in our area, which is a huge blessing! We're excited to continue to work with all these amazing people who we love so much.

I unfortunately have to end here to get over to the building. Linda is coming for the Saturday session of district conference, which is being held here in Praha this weekend with Elder Lopez. We're excited for her to feel the spirit. I love you so much and love this work! Christ lives and loves us.

S laskou,

Starsi Mullen

Happy Belated Valentines Day!

 February 16,2013

Wow, well I hope that your weekend went alright! Sounds like you are just being busy bees down there in Granite Bay and that's wonderful. It's good to be busy.

Please do say hello to Elder Clift for me when he arrives. How exciting for him to be coming home and continuing his mission after "the big transfer" as we call it. I hope that you're all feeling well and that the sickness hasn't gotten you too bad. Colds are never fun but we can be grateful that it's not anything more serious!

It sounds and looks like you had quite the storm there in Boston! I'm glad everyone is safe. We had a bit of snow here one morning but as soon as it hit noon the temperature went above 0, so most of it melted. But it was beautiful to look at for a short time!

So that leads us straight into the questions of the week!

1.  We heard that Pres Irwin introduced the Slovak Book of Mormon this week.  How fun was that to be a part of history?  Such very exciting times for you!! - It was amazing to be there - I didn't tell you last week because it wasn't an official announcement from the church yet but yes, how fun it was to be there. Very emotional and spiritual. 

2.  How have your investigators done this week?  Any new news? - We are continuing to work with everyone - pray for them please. We also started teaching one of our previous investigators again this week! He was out of the country for a month or so and that's why he didn't answer. But he's back and ready and willing to keep learning. He's so cool. No earthshaking news to share this week, but sure are a lot of tender mercies. I love serving the Lord. We are studying the Atonement right now for our upcoming training this week. Elder Lopez, an area 70 from Spain, will be attending our Zone Conferences and Zone Leader Council this week, so we will have a wonderful opportunity to interact with him for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday. Anyways, our training is on simplicity and plainness in teaching and our practice centers on teaching the Atonement as simply as possible, as if we were teaching an 8-year-old. It is hard work but so wonderful and rewarding when you see the understanding turn on in somebody's eyes. I love it.

3  Is there anything else in particular that your Marmee and Tata can do for you?  We ever pray for you.  We love thinking of you with "your" people.  It is such an amazing experience you are having.   Embrace being in the middle Joseph!! - I certainly will. The Spirit is teaching me to enjoy every moment I have here and to, as Chris wrote me in his letter, listen to the spirit more than I watch the clock. I love this work and being a missionary. It's so rewarding. God lives and loves each of us so, so much.

And I love you!

S laskou,

Starsi Mullen

Yet Another Week!!

February 8, 2013

Well it sounds like you all had a fun week! I'm glad to hear you've enjoyed your time in Watertown. What a fun time it must have been to spend so much time with little Landon. You'll have to send me some photos! It's amazing to see how much he has grown. He's quite the big, smart boy now! It's amazing how change happens so quickly sometimes. But it's such a blessing to be here in this mission at this time.

And wow, SNOW! Lots of snow. How beautiful it must be. We don't have hardly any snow left here in Praha, just little patches here and there on the sides of the sidewalks. There were a couple of small flurries this week but none of it stuck on the ground. Just pretty to see it fall.

I'm so glad to hear that my Aunt Sue is doing fine! I'll be praying for that hip to recover soon.

I'll confirm with Sister Munro on your response and make sure she's got it down all right. Thanks!

So here's your answers before I fill you in on a couple more things from this week:

1.  Is it snowing tonight where you are?  How has the weather been there? Are you staying healthy or do you have a cold? - It's not snowing tonight, and the weather has been quite good! A little chilly at times just from the wind and temperature, but very little snow or rain, which is a blessing. I'm staying healthy, the only toll I've taken in the past weeks has been a sniffly nose and light cough which is no problem. I've not had to take out any proselyting time and I'm doing well. Thanks for asking!

 
2.  Have you seen Elder Coleman recently?  How is he doing in the HK? - Yes, I actually saw Elder Coleman 2 days last week, Thursday and Friday! On Thursday we had progression training for new missionaries and trainers and on Friday we had a mission-wide leadership conference in Brno. He's doing absolutely marvelously and is doing a wonderful job training Elder Bushnell. Elder Coleman is just one of those people who brings the spirit into the room when he walks in and lifts everyone around him, as he did me during our transfers together. They are seeing lots of miracles there and I'm excited to continue to see him a couple times more throughout the transfer.

 
3.  What's the latest 411 on your investigators?  - One of them is doing quite well and is seriously considering baptism now. It hit him last week, during a lesson in HK (We team teach him with Elders Coleman and Bushnell, since he works in HK throughout the week and comes to church in Praha over the weekends) that being a member will require changing more things than just his Sunday schedule. But he's doing well and told us he'll be at church again tomorrow. 

One big miracle this week was with another investigator - I wrote to you about her in my email on November 24 last year. She was a referral from a member here and after our first lesson she couldn't meet for one reason or another. We thought she might have lost interest. But We talked with her member friend and he's been working with her ever since our lesson. All his member missionary work resulted in one of this week's miracles - she came to church! She absolutely loved it and felt the spirit so strongly. It was a fast/testimony meeting and the members who bore their testimonies did so with such conviction. We will be meeting with her for 30 minutes before church starts tomorrow. It was just so special. She told us that she felt that God had led 2 missionaries from America and 1 from England/Slovakia to share this with her that night. She loves the Book of Mormon and we're excited to meet with her again. This work truly is a work of miracles!

4.  Any wants or needs we can send? - Nope, nothing specific comes to mind. But thanks, though!

5.  Has my package with the pens for the new missionaries arrived yet?  I believe it is too soon but I would expect them to arrive in another week or so. - They still haven't arrived yet, but I'll be keeping an eye out for them!

6.  I noticed there are three ZLs in Plzn.  Is that just because there are an odd number of elders or is someone scheduled to leave mid transfer? - There was an odd number of Elders this transfer, so that's why there was a threesome.

7.  How is elder Burton acclimating to being the new office manager?  I am sure you are a huge blessing to him and can help shorten the learning curve. - Elder Burton is doing a great job and is a very organized missionary. He's doing a great job as office manager and is blessing the mission with his talents.

So here we are, another week flying by at lightning speed. I'm excited for the work and our investigators. I love the members here and am grateful for the power of the gospel. The teachings that are contained in the gospel just make sense - and the good effects of living according to it are so evidently apparent in my life. I love this calling and time I have to be a missionary. Thank you for this opportunity. 

I love you all,

S laskou,

Starsi Mullen

Hello, Hello, Hello

February 2, 2013

Hello, family! It's just incredible that it is already time to email again - the weeks just fly by so fast. What a wonderful time this is. I never thought that so much time could pass in what seems to be such a small moment. Just gotta make the most of it!

How exciting to be going to Boston! Be sure to give everyone there a big hug and kiss from me. I sure do love you all - and I'll be excited to have the love grow larger with the new girl on the way. How very exciting it is!

And yes, I did receive the extra birthday package - and wow. What a gift. I loved each entry in it - how fun to see little stories from people so near and dear to me and to hear from people who I haven't in a while. The pictures were wonderful - so many memories. Thank you for that wonderful gift of time and memories. I showed it to President and Sister Irwin and they absolutely loved it as well. What a wonderful birthday gift - thank you thank you thank you - it will be a treasure forever.

I'm glad to hear Elder Clift and Jeff are doing well. Please send my love.

So here are some answers for this week!

1.  Did you get the package with the "rest of your birithday"? - Yes, I did! Again, thanks so much!

2.  How are the new missionaries adjusting? - They're doing really well as far as we know! It's hard to keep tabs on everyone when they're so far away, but all the reports we are hearing from their trainers and district leaders are very positive. What an exciting time for them to begin this journey. It's just so comforting to see how the work continues to move forward uninterrupted.

3.  Are you traveling at all this week?  How's the snow...your mom wants to know...hehe - This upcoming week we will be in Brno on Thursday and Friday for progression training (New missionaries and their trainers) and for a mission leadership conference. We are excited for both of them and will be planning all the details in the coming days.

4.  How are the Munro's adjusting to missionary life?  Tell us a little about them if you could. - The Munros are wonderful. Elder Munro is so eager to help and do anything - when I go to fill our mission money pouch (the wallet we use for mission expenses, like gas and training meals, etc.), he gets them done right away and asks if he can fill the other one too, while he's at it! He loves teaching with missionaries and always asks if there's someone he can teach with us. Sister Munro is just so sweet and lovely to have around the office. She keeps a stash of Milka chocolate bars in her drawers that comes out for missionaries who visit the office and is so excited to be a missionary! It is wonderful to have them both here and get to know them and serve by them.

5.  How are your investigators doing? - One of them understands the commandments well and is willing to keep them - in our last lesson we taught him the Sabbath Day and he accepted it and promised to come to church every week. Our recent convert is also doing great and continues to study the Book of Mormon and pray daily. She is excited to go with the branch to the temple on March 9th and is just such a pleasant lady.

6.  How is mission training going? - Trainings are going well and we are looking forward to the 2 conferences next week. I'll be sure to let you know how they go.

7.  Did you get the see the little video of Landon from Chris?  Isn't he just the cutest thing? - YES! Ah, he's so cute. I'm glad he liked his little toy. I liked how interactive it was and, like I said, it was handmade in the Czech Republic! As I said last year, Krtek is one of the most popular cartoons here. I sure do love you all!

We were also privileged to teach a family this week, our new next door neighbors. They are a wonderful couple with 3 cute kids. We pray that they'll feel the spirit and recognize what the gospel can add to their family. We also had the privilege to have a Zone Leader Council with Elder Richards of the Area Presidency. He is a very wise man and gave some wonderful training on servant leadership and the importance of simple teaching. It was very enlightening. I love being able to serve in this capacity.

I know that the gospel is true and am so excited to be a missionary. I want to use every day. Elder Gabrielsen and I have been doing all we can to truly consecrate ourselves to the work, talking to people everywhere - at stoplights, in trams, in the metro, in stores, on the streets, in homes. It's wonderful and very fulfilling work. I love my Savior - He lives.

S laskou,

Starsi Mullen

Ahoj Rodino

January 25, 2013

Well it sounds like it was a hectically wonderful week there at home, as it was here! I love being a missionary here and being able to serve in this capacity as Assistant. There was a LOT going on this week which I'll tell you about a little later on, but we made it and managed to continue to see miracles in the work. It's amazing how the Lord truly blesses us when we try to do our part.

I'm sure the Munros and new missionaries will love the pens and I look forward to seeing their faces when I give them to them. We love having the new missionaries here!

So now it is time to hear about my week...here I go!!

1.  How did transfers go?  Where are your friends from the MTC? - Transfers went off with few problems in travel, which was a great blessing. We haven't sent out the Transfer Fax yet but to give you a couple ideas: Elder Story is in Prague, Elder Spencer is in Brno, Elder Salas is in a threesome of zone leaders in Plzen, Elder Jones is in Zlin, Elder Heath is in Trebic and Elder Medonich is in Olomouc still. We are really excited for all the companionships in the mission this transfer and know it was truly inspired to put everyone together with who they are with. I love how inspired President Irwin is in his judgment calls and assignments.

2.  How was the group of new missionaries?  Were they excited or like deer in headlights? - The new missionaries are wonderful! They were understandably quite tired but the adrenaline helped a bit to keep them awake I think. I was so impressed with them and look forward to seeing them shine in the field. Elder Coleman loves his new companion, Elder Bushnell, and they're going to do amazing work there in HK. We welcomed all the new missionaries on Tuesday afternoon at the airport - they had been delayed in London because of snow, so our plans for the day were shot a bit, but they all arrived with all their luggage. We drove them back and sent the Slovak elders off to Bratislava to get their visas done in the morning, and we left with the Czechs to get a meal at the piano restaurant (the real name is Na Rozhrani, but we call it the piano restaurant because an old Czech man always plays the piano in the restaurant at nights). On Wednesday it was breakfast, the foreign police, and then pair up their companions and off to their areas! We then picked up all the departing missionaries from the train/bus stations and brought them back to the office, where they had their interviews, a quick walk around Praha, and then joined President and Sister Irwin, along with us, for dinner. It was a wonderful evening and fun to be there with Elders Buhler and Egger. They will all be missed in the mission, yet the work moves forwards.

3.  What does Elder Gabrielsen think of his new assignment?  Is he excited? - He is excited! It is fun to be back with him and serving together. There is a huge learning curve for the responsibilities of being assistant, along with a lot of people to meet and memorize names for here in Prague, and he's doing well. We love to serve together and are looking forward to a wonderful transfer full of miracles.

4.  Where is Elder Gabrielsen from?  Will you be on the road with him lot this week? - He is from a little town in Utah called New Harmony. We will not be on the road a ton this week but are looking forward to some fun events. Next week we will have a special visitor to our Zone Leader Council - Elder Richards of the Seventy. He is in the area presidency and will attend our Zone Leader Council this Thursday. We are excited and admittedly a little nervous for him to come, but we're preparing well and "if (we) are prepared, (we) shall not fear."

5.  Is the mp3 player working out okay?  If you want some different stuff we can load it on the ipod you sent home.  Just let us know. - The mp3 player works great - thanks so much for all the work you put into preparing all the music on it.

6.  Were you able to teach investigators this week?  How did that go? - We did, and it went great! So I think I've waited long enough to let you know the best news of the week - our investigator was baptized! It was so amazing to see how prepared she was for the service and for the gospel. All of her friends in the branch were at her baptism and she gave the most beautiful testimony after the service in which she said how grateful she was to everyone who helped her to learn about the gospel and come to know the Book of Mormon is true. She thanked her Heavenly Father for helping her find the right path. Elder Coleman baptized her and it was beautiful. She thanked us for finishing the work her "bratri" (Elders Tenney and Durrant) started in December. There were some investigators at her baptism and afterwards we had a lesson with one of them and he accepted a baptismal date for February 16! So the work moves on here in Praha. We are continuing to work with all our other investigators and love them all. We had a lesson with our recent convert this morning and she said that the feelings she had at her baptism were indescribable. She is wonderful and is already excited to prepare to go to the temple with the branch in March. We are just so thrilled for her and are thrilled that she is happy. She is so special and I can't wait for you to meet her one day.

One more quick miracle I'd like to share before closing. So last transfer Elder Coleman and I introduced ourselves to all our neighbors and brought around brownies and cookies as a little "American treat" and we talked to this really nice young mom. Her husband wasn't home but she was there with her 2 little boys. We had a nice conversation and found out she had been to temple square and had a little tour done in Czech! She loved it there and thought it was beautiful. She later that day dropped off some Czech cukrovi (little Christmas cookies) and this week Elder Gabrielsen and I returned the box she gave them to us in. We had another wonderful conversation and asked her more about what she knows about the church. She pulled out her photo album and showed us all these pictures of them at Temple Square, postcards from Utah, them in front of the Christus statue in the visitors center and so on. She filled out her contact information with the missionaries there and Sister missionaries brought her a book of mormon. That was 10 years ago. Well this week she pulled it out to show us and invited us over to their home for a visit. We will be going there on next Wednesday to meet with her and her husband. They are a beautiful family and we are so excited to be able to teach them the gospel. Please pray for us at 7:30 Wednesday evening Czech time that the lesson will go well and that they'll feel the spirit and recognize it. It would be absolutely amazing to help a full, happy family accept the gospel. I love this gospel and how much it truly can strengthen families.

So that is a good overview of my week! It's been exhaustingly wonderful and wonderfully exhausting. The Church is true and the Lord loves us individually and collectively. God be with you, family!

Love you all,

S laskou,

Starsi Mullen

Hiawatha

January 18, 2013

Here we are at the end of another wonderfully exciting week! We have been richly blessed in our efforts and are excited to be ending off this transfer on this note.

First, I can tell you want some of the "juicy details" of transfers! Yes, there will be 6 new Elders (3 Slovaks and 3 Czechs) and 1 new Sister (Czech), who I'm really excited to meet! And while I'm not sure about all the departing Elders' plans, I know that they are excited to continue their work in a different "part of the vineyard." We will get to see them on Wednesday and have the dinner/testimony meeting program with them, which I always thoroughly enjoy. Elder Coleman is also excited for his transfer, as he will be serving in Hradec Kralove, where he will be district leader and training a new missionary. I am so grateful for our transfers together and have learned so, so much from him. He is a choice Elder and I hope that we will be able to stay in close contact even after the mission. He is so on top of things and fulfilled his calling and role so well here as assistant. I will admittedly miss him here in the office, but he will do so much good for that new missionary and is so excited to be returning to HK (he was also trained there!). It's one lucky new missionary who gets him as a trainer! But you probably want to know who my new companion will be, huh? You guessed right that I am staying as AP this transfer, and my companion will be someone who I already know quite well - Elder Gabrielsen! Yes, we're going for round 2 together, but this time as Assistants. I am thrilled to be serving with him and to continue to learn from his example while catching him up to speed on all the additional responsibilities and duties we have here. He has just been informed about it earlier today and will be coming into Prague tomorrow after church to be trained just as I was. Once again, I am so excited to be serving with him again.

I'm so glad you received the packages and hope Christers and Jenna and Landon enjoy their little surprises. Again, it's not much, but something fun that I hope they'll like. Everything was handmade in the Czech Republic, including Landon's little gift! Fun fun.

It sounds like you're getting all hyped up to go to Boston! How fun that'll be. I'll have to get a pic sometime of Landon without his locks - I'm sure it looks great! He'd look great in any haircut in my unbiased opinion haha.

So glad to hear Aunt Sue's surgery went fine. Please send my love and prayers.

And how exciting for Dan the Man! He will love his mission so much and will serve valiantly I'm sure. I know he is sent there for a reason and it's one of the greatest feelings to discover those reasons in the field. Send my congratulations and let him know that I'll miss seeing him but will be sure to write him a letter (I know how much mail on missions means haha).

And now for....PRESENTING....THE ANSWERS OF THE WEEK!!!

1.  What day of the week do returning missionaries travel home?  Do they stay in Prague their last night for a final dinner/testimony meeting that you have alluded to in the past? - the returning missionaries will return Thursday morning and will stay in Prague the night before (see above).

2.  Do you know who your new companion will be and any clue as to where Elder Coleman will be assigned? - See above (once again, I'm so excited!)

3.  How did teaching go this week both for investigators and for missionaries? - Despite being completely out of our area for over 3 days due to trainings, we had a pretty good teaching week! We taught one of our investigators the importance of Jesus Christ (see Preach My Gospel "Through Christ we can be Cleansed from Sin") and he gets it so well. He only started believing in Christ about a year ago and he is learning so much and understanding everything we teach. I learn a lot from him when we meet and I hope he learns a lot from the Spirit. We also met with another investigator after not being able to for a while! He's doing good and will be at church tomorrow. He's finishing up 1 Nephi and is praying about baptism and the Book of Mormon a lot. He told us that he feels that he'll just know when the time is right to be baptized - we're just going to keep teaching him and help him recognize his answer from the Holy Ghost. We are also teaching yet another investigator - she's doing well and will most likely hit her date next Friday. We taught her the word of wisdom and the only concern is coffee. She is used to having a cup of coffee in the morning to help "get her going", but she's willing to stop and substitute milk. She is wonderful and I can't wait for you to meet her one day. We're meeting with her tonight in about 3 hours or so. We also have a lesson set up before church tomorrow with another investigator we have had the privilege of working with! He is such an amazing man and we're going to try to help him set a goal for baptism. He knows almost all the commandments and loves the church and its teachings, it's now just up to him to make the time and take that step.

As far as teaching missionaries goes, it was a very successful set of specialized trainings. Elder Coleman and I trained on the importance of studying with a purpose in mind, that purpose being our investigators. When we focus on others, including studying for others, it seems to always be the case that we learn the most possible as well. Isn't it wonderful how it works that way? "Whosoever shall lose his life for my sake shall find it" - it's so true. The Savior was such a master teacher. The Zone Leaders trained on having a vision for our area and being enthusiastic in carrying out that vision, and President Irwin trained on teaching for understanding, especially in using the scriptures. It was very enlightening and I got a lot out of each training. We had it in Praha on Wednesday, Brno on Thursday, and Zilina on Friday. (And don't worry, Marmee, there was no snow on the roads, so we were safe!)

4.  Will the Bohnes go with the outgoing Elders?  Any other couples leaving soon?  We can't wait to be a mission couple!!  The Wilkes come home from Africa this weekend and we will go to their homecoming on Sunday.  How exciting!! - Yes, the Bohnes will be leaving on Monday and we will take them to the airport with the Irwins. I have loved serving around them for 8 months of my mission and know their influence will continue to shine back at home as much as it has shined here. The next couple leaving after the Bohne's will be the Ostergaards, and they'll leave in February. Again, what examples of joyous missionary work they are. I know that you will also be an amazing missionary couple and can only imagine how much those missionaries will look up to and love you. Missionary work is simply the best!

5.  When will the Morgans report or have they arrived?  I'm sure you will help them adapt to their new surroundings...wink wink!! - I think you're thinking of the Munro's, the new office couple. If I'm right, then they're already here! They are absolutely delightful and full of enthusiasm. Elder Coleman and I teach a beginning Czech class every saturday for foreign investigators and often the Irwins will come, but we found out that the Munro's are coming, too! We're excited to have them.

6.  Anything we can do for YOU??? - Just keep praying for the work to go forward and share the gospel with those around you!

I love being here on my mission. I have learned and continue to learn so much every day here. It is a spring board and training ground for the rest of my life. I have loved it and continue to love it every day, and every day goes quicker. I can hardly believe how time flies. I sometimes have the feeling like I could just blink and it would be next week. But there's a lot of stories of growth in that blink, for which I am grateful. I just want to make it the most fulfilling blink of my life. 

I love you all and am grateful for Jesus Christ, our Savior. He loves us, as does Heavenly Father. They watch over us and guide our footsteps.

I love you all.

S laskou,

Starsi Mullen

Hiya!!

January 11, 2013

Yup, the verdict is...being 21 feels the same as being 20! It denotes the passage of time, but I think that I'll always feel like myself, which is good. Our branch president told us that he still feels like a young missionary haha. It's amazing how time flies!

Oh, I'm so happy you got the packages!!! That is wonderful and a huge relief. I had backed up the pictures just in case, but there was a lot of memories in those packages! So I'm glad they arrived safely. So yes, you see that I've tried to take lots and lots of pictures. I go through spurts where I'm really good at taking lots of pictures and spurts when I don't take very many. But the pictures create a pretty regular chronological timeline which will be fun to follow. I'm so glad you received them all and enjoy them. Like I said, if there are any particularly interesting pictures you'd like explanations for earlier, just send them to me and I'll write a quick caption in my email time, it won't take too long. But yes, Merry (belated) Christmas! By the way, did you get the one for Chris, Jenna, and Landon as well? As soon as you get it, I would appreciate if you could forward it to them. Thanks!

I have received the birthday box and loved it. Thanks so much! I loved the stationary with the pencil pieces on it. I'll be sure to write some letters to some members and the recent converts as an especially personal gift. Thanks so much and great idea! I've also received the envelope with the CTR ring on it. CTR in Czech translates as "Zvolte Spravne" (Zvole-teh sprah-v-nyeh), so it has a ZS on it. So cool though, thanks a bunch!

Way to go on your recognition awards, Christers! So glad  you're doing so well. 

Aunt Sue will definitely be in my prayers this week. Sure do love that Aunt Sue!

Thanks for the update on all the little details of the week - I love hearing about little comings and goings. Real memories are captured in the little details.

So now for some answers to the questions!

1.  Did you get Sue and Steve's package?  They were just wondering? - I had received their Christmas one with all the SD cards (which I now need! I had been running out of memory - good timing!), but if this is a different one then not yet. The post here is pretty darn reliable, though, so I'm sure it would be here in the next week. I don't think I've had a single lost package in my time here. What a blessing!

2.  Did you get a card with money from the Whitings?  They had asked as well. - I did receive their card, please give them a big missionary handshake from me haha. I sure do love and appreciate their whole family.

3.  Tell us about your birthday...- So for my birthday, I did missionary work and loved it! We were on exchanges with the Zone leaders from Brno, so Elder Coleman was gone for the day and I was with Elder Bird. It was a wonderful exchange and we taught a lot of lessons despite having to drive a lot to switch back companions in Jihlava (about 3 hours and 15 minutes roundtrip).But the driving gave me some good talking and thinking time, which I always love. Elder Coleman and DeAngelis called me to sing happy birthday, as did President Irwin. It was a fabulously normal day in the life of a missionary. Most times it didn't even feel like a birthday, which I took as a good thing. Now I'm quite literally "losing myself" in the work haha. Elder Coleman wrote me a really nice note, though, which I enjoyed reading. It was on Thursday before a singing display that I took everyone out to lunch using the VISA and it was wonderful. I had a fresh tomato soup and a spinach pasta with mozzerella and chicken. One fun side effect of my missionary service is that I'm really a lot less picky with food. The whole district said thank you and we took some pics which are on someone else's camera, so I'll have to get it from them.

4.  Tell us about your teaching this week.  Is your convert loving her first week as a member? - we've been blessed to teach a lot this week. She is doing well and we taught her at the home of the district relief society president and it was wonderful. She loves the spirit she feels and is actually moving into a new apartment this weekend! We're going to help her move on Monday. We also had some great lessons with the YSA investigator I told you about in December. He is so amazing and so sensitive to the spirit. He really understands the message and spiritual things and is so open and honest with us. We met with him 2 times this week and will see him at church on Sunday. Random side note about him, he speaks fluent English! He's just super bright and I'm so blessed to know and work with him. We're also continuing to teach another investigator. We have a lesson with her in 30 minutes, as a matter of fact! She is a wonderful lady and is excited for her baptism coming up. We will teach the word of wisdom and more commandments within the next couple days and hopefully she'll be on line for baptism on the 25th! She loves being called "Sestra " and is just a bright, spunky lady. Can't wait for you to meet her one day. Other highlights included a lesson with our recent convert - she is doing so great and is learning so much about the gospel and how to apply it - and with yet another investigator who loves the church but needs a spiritual witness that it's true instead of just a social witness that it's true. There is a humongous difference. But she will be at church on Sunday again.

5.  Did you travel much this week?  How's the snow?  Yup, def a question from Marmee...wink wink.  Be careful driving in that snow!!  Do you want some hand warmers for those cold days? - I think I'm OK on the hand warmers, we didn't have to travel a lot this week but will this next week as we have specialized trainings on plan for Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday in Praha, Brno, and Zilina (Slovakia). Then we're facing another Transfer week, which are always wonderfully hectic! I love being here! We actually haven't had more than a half an inch of snow in the past month or so - it's been very light. But we'll be sure to be careful and President Irwin is very conscience of it (for example, last year the Assistants and him were on the way to a specialized training in Zilina and it was snowing heavily as they neared the border of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, so they stayed in a hotel for the night and cancelled the specialized training until the next week. We're in good hands!)

6.  What are you studying in your personal study right now? - My personal study consists of everything that we're going to teach in the given day. We're actually going to train this week on how to plan effective personal and companionship studies and the key is studying with a purpose. The whole gospel really is about doing things with a purpose (for example, fast with a purpose, live with purpose, etc.), so when our purpose is the people we are teaching we are effectively losing ourselves in the work and learn so much more than if we just study the gospel out of our own curiosity's sake. I hope that last sentence made sense. Basically, I'm centering my personal studies around our investigators and am learning so much in the process.

7.  How many new missionaries are expected for this next transfer? - Not 100% sure, but I think 7 - 6 Elders and a Sister. I'm excited to meet them!

8.  How many missionaries are going home?  Is Elder Egger one of them?  Who else is completing their mission this transfer? - Yes, there will be 4 missionaries who will make the "big transfer" the week after next - Elder Egger, Weaver, Williams, and Buhler. Yup, So 2 of my former companions will be travelling home. I love both of them and know they'll continue to be amazing missionaries throughout their lives.

Anyways, so hope that gives you a good update on everything. We bought some super sale ties at Tie Rack today, along with a new pair of european shoes! They're Bugatti brand and are really comfy and nice. So thanks! 

I find myself loving missionary work more and more the longer I am here. The love keeps growing. Isn't that wonderful and amazing!? There is no end to love - love of God and love of others. Thanks for letting me be here to love these people and to help them to come to know and love our Heavenly Father and His son, Jesus Christ.

I love you all!

S laskou,

Starsi Mullen

ps...dum dum!

A wonderful day!!

Happy 21st Birthday Joseph!!

Všechno nejlepší do nového roku, hodně zdraví a štěstí, ať se tvoje přání naplní, atd.

January 5, 2013

Hello, family! 

Hope you like the intro line, that is a typical Czech "well wishes" speech for the new year. It's kind of a habit or tradition here to, when you wish someone happy new year, shake their hand and not let go until you've wished every good thing for them. It's a fun little tradition and you sometimes get some really long wishes! Haha. But there you go, my best wishes to you all!

I agree, there's no better way to celebrate my birthday than being here and serving the Lord.

That's so cool that you had the chance to see and spend time with Geeg and Bill and everyone! Thank her once again for the cross stitch. Speaking of which, I'm not sure if you've received it yet, I wasn't going to tell you to leave it a surprise, but I sent at the beginning of December a couple packages home for you all. Again, not sure if you've gotten them yet, but keep your eye out for them - I hope they didn't get lost in the mail!!! But nothing has been lost so far, so we'll knock on wood and pray that all will work out fine. Hope you enjoy it!

The family reunion sounds like a swell idea and I look forward to the opportunity to reconnect with everyone when that time comes. What an amazing gift family is!

So now for some answers!

1 - Haven't gotten the box yet, but I'm sure looking forward to it!

2 - Unofficially yes. President told me when he told Elder Coleman and I that we'd have another transfer together that because of that I'd almost certainly have another transfer as Assistant to train the next one. The assistant's area is one that is quite impossible to "blind out" as we say (when both missionaries leave and 2 new missionaries enter an area) due to all the extra responsibilities and things. Not sure on Elder Coleman's replacement, but time will tell and whoever it is I'm sure will be amazing! We're also not yet sure when Elder Coleman will go, but as soon as we figure out we'll let you know.

3 -  that's great, I'm sure she'd be aboslutely thrilled to hear from you!

4 - Teaching has gone well this week, we've taught a good amount of lessons (way more than last week!) as we've had much more time in our area. With the exception of a couple minor office things that we had to take care of, we had Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday entirely devoted to our area, which was wonderful! We're teaching this lady and she is absolutely amazing. She was found by the previous Elders  who went home early for school, so we picked her up as an investigator. We taught her twice this week and she brought her calendar with her to our meeting and planned out all the lessons before baptism. She will be baptized on January 25th and is so excited! She is so happy to learn new things and is excited for baptism, confirmation, and eventually going to the temple! She is so spunky, too - in church I was sitting next to her for Gospel Principles and was biting my nails (still haven't kicked that habit!) - she then reached up, grabbed my hand, and put it down at my side and whispered with a smile "Můj syn to taky dělal." (My son also did that) She is wonderful and we're excited for her.

We also had the most amazing spiritual lesson with our new member! It was my first sit-down lesson with her since I left the office last  year, and we taught about the Atonement and sacrament. The spirit was so strong and it was amazing to see the growth in her. She is doing so well and agreed to weekly meetings with us - I'm so excited! We'll pray and plan and prepare really well for each one to make it a real spiritually uplifting experience every time. She understands the gospel so well for being in the church for such a short period of time. We asked her at the beginning of the lesson what the Atonement means for her and she said "It's like a tool for us to get rid of bad feelings and sin and feel good again." How cool is that - the first thing that she thinks of about the Atonement is how to apply it in her own life. I have learned so much as I have taught her - isn't it wonderful how that works?

5 - Yes, I did! It looks really good haha - I also really like that picture in the snow. 

6 - This is the best news of the day - yes! We had the baptismal service  this morning at 11 and it was wonderful. She was so nervous to be immersed in water but the baptism went perfectly. As soon as she was out and we walked up the stairs she commented on how quick it seemed, and President Pilka echoed her sentiment in his invitation to the branch when he said how quick baptism is compared to the path that led her to it and the path that she is now on. It really is just a gate, as Nephi described it. She asked Elder Coleman and I to baptize and confirm her, so I baptized her today and Elder Coleman will confirm her tomorrow at sacrament meeting. There were a good number of people and investigators at her baptism  and it was a really special program. Afterwards some members prepared refreshments (yup, LDS members everywhere love refreshments!) and we had a wonderful chat all together and took pics. I'll send you some in a following email. This is what it's all about - inviting people to come unto Christ and feel His love and direction towards the waters of baptism. I pray for all those who've been taught the gospel to always keep that focus and receive that direction through their worthiness to the commandments of our Heavenly Father. 

I love you all so, so much. I have to end now to have enough time to send you a pic of the baptism, but I know that this is the Lord's church and that He is at the helm. He loves us. And I love you!

S laskou,

Starsi Mullen