February 29, 2016 -- "Drumroll for transfer calls."

Drumroll for transfer calls......... I am staying in Jihlava and follow-up training Sister Heap which is a little crazy because I have only been in the country three weeks longer than her. But hey we will figure everything out :-)

* * * 

Sister Heap just arrived in Jihlava! Wow, I am so excited for this next transfer. I was hoping I was being put with a younger missionary, but I understood if the Lord wanted me to wait and learn a little longer from a older missionary. But I am so glad, and I know this transfer will not be easy, but I truly believe Sister Heap and I if we do our part. We can and will have a lot of success this transfer because I know the Lord's elect are prepared, and it is our job and calling to find them. Thanks for your trust, and I will try to work my very hardest so that the Lord and you will be proud with our efforts. 

Thankfully we have a great start because we have two wonderful people who have accepted a baptismal date. Veronika is pretty well. She is our most solid investigator at this time. If we ask her to do something she will always do it. With excepting to coming to church this Sunday which as so sad without her there. Our next lesson is tomorrow on the Word of Wisdom and Sister Holland will be there along with a member Ondra Dite.

Niki is the other investigator we have with a baptismal date. We got things for him in Bulgarian at training, so he will be able to understand better what we are teaching him even though his Czech is wonderful. Again, our problem is getting him to come to church. He always says he will come, then the morning of will text us he can't come.

Slavomir is our other investigator closest to a baptismal date. Our next lesson will be on Plan of Salvation. We think this lesson will really help him and his way of thinking. He also always say he is coming to church and the backs out last minute. (I feel like that girl in PMG videos: "Just come to church!!")

Michal our less-active did come to church ,which was really exciting though. He listened to Sestra Holland's last talk in the Czech Republic and really enjoyed it I thought. Hopefully it will be a constant thing now. I have faith. 

Other big news is, if you see the picture of us bowling (Which I was wondering if that was kosher to do as a missionary on p-day. I guess it is because) that is our soon to be new mission president and his wife and her mom. Which we had no idea at the time. They are my favorites, and the strongest members in the Czech Republic. Jan the guy in the picture baptized his wife, her family, his family, and now they have a SOLID branch in Trebic. I am so thankful for the things that have happened in order to make this change and feel honored to see what will happen in years to come. I know that he is supposed to be our next mission President and will totally change the Czech Republic for the better just as President McConkie has.  (Also when I wrote about my life long dream to serve in Trebic, I think it just got a little closer because Jan has wanted sisters there since they have became a branch.) Another random thought--I think I will change my first name to "sister" when I get back home.

Save the Trees and Pray Always

Sestra Baxter

February 22, 2016 -- "What a Skvely Week."

This week was a week of complete miracles! We found the coolest people I have ever met! Wow, I am just so happy to be here! I love everything about the Czech Republic: the people, the food, the buildings, the transportation, the trees. Missions are the very best. As we are getting down to Sister Holland's last few weeks, she has shared the great and even the hard times of her mission, and how much she spiritually has grow in understanding of the gospel and of the world. You just really can not put a number or anything on the experiances you receive while you are serving. 

Before I get into the spiritual stuff of this week, I wanted to talk a little bit about maybe the most interesting experience yet on my mission. We met this man on the streets on Saturday. He was pretty cool. We offered him a Book of Mormon. He said lets go to a cafe, and we can talk about it. And it is like totally normal to do that. So he brought us into this cafe we had never been to before. And immediately the aroma of smoke and alcohol and the sound of laughter came upon us. Not too long after we realized we were in a bar. And everyone in the bar knew who the sister missionaries were. It was pretty funny, I have to admit. All the drunks sad sould saying "Vitejte sestry" (which is welcome sisters). But we prayed and taught the restoration and had our fruit tea. I think that is the last bar I need to be in. Tak yo.

We had a meeting with Veronika, and we got her on date! We taught the Gospel of Jesus Christ ,and at first she was a little hesitant and didn't feel ready. But we said it is a great goal, and we know she can make it. She is continuing to read in the Book of Mormon and is in 2 Nephi! Wow, like she is such a great investigator!

We are teaching this man name Slovamir. He is from Slovakia and a really strong Catholic. He has faith in Jesus Christ and God. When we had our first restoration lesson and taught him that we have living prophets in our day, he said (translated), "Why don't I know about this? If this is real why doesn't the whole world know about this?" We are like--"We know!!" That's why we are here! He really is curious and wants to know more. The thing I think he could benefit from most is the Atonement. He told us about some choices he made in the past that he wishes he would have never done. He is so great. I am excited to continue teaching him. 

Also, you will never believe who we talked to: a girl from TAIWAN at our bus stop. Which was the coolest because that is my birthplace.  I was able to speak the little Chinese I remember with her. Her English is pretty good. Somehow my Czech is quite a bit better than hers. She has a husband from Czech and seems a little "anti" us. But we will get her a Chinese Book of Morman and things so she can understand better. I just can't explain my joy talking with her. She is so cute!

Another person we met is Nikoli (and if anyone has seen the Saratov aproc he looks the exact same and has the same name so we will have to be careful with him) from Bulgaria. And since I learned a few word in Bulgarian in the MTC from my companions, I was able to say "Hi" and "Bye" but that is like all I remembered. He is way open to the Gospel which is totally opposite from the Czechs here! We even got him on a baptismal date. He beileves that Jospeh Smith has seen God and everything like that! So he is set. He also came to our film festival and loved the restoration film. 

The last person I wanted to talked about was an old lady we met during tracting way back when I got here in December. The first time we went, she welcomed us in and fed us so much food I had to stick stuff in my pockets because I could not eat it all. She wasn't too interested in the Gospel. The next time we came with our district caroling for Christmas. We just wanted to sing to try and pay her back and leave, but yet again she fee us all the cukrovi and bread you can imagine. Yesterday, we just wanted to go back because this is Sestra Holland's last week in the country and maybe give her a Book of Morman as a gift. When we got there our friend had yellow and blue under her eyes and one side of alll her teeth were knocked out. She was trying to run and catch a bus and fell. She didn't even know how long she was knocked out. But yet her kindness went on as she would say times, " My home is your home." "If you ever need food you are welcome here." "Do you have enough money?" "If you ever need a place to stay, I have two rooms." This lady, although she doesn't know it, has I would say almost mastered the pure love of Christ. Though she could be thinking about how much pain she was in, how she was lonley, how she didn't have enough money, she managed to look outward to love others around her, and be a pure and true disciple of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.  I pray that we can all follow her example and LOOK OUTWARD. I know that the Savior loves you all and if we can learn to follow his example, we experience everlasting joy and happiness.

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Go skiing and read your scriptures 

Sestra Baxter

February 15, 2016 -- "You got sent here because you were bad in primary"

Currently I am sitting by a window (okno) and when I look out I see a chimney and pine trees with cloudy skies. (So the lighting is perfect.) It is so happy right now. 

Well, I am starting with a quote from the maybe the coolest family in the Czech Republic to my companion and the other missionaries. "You got sent here because you were bad in Primary." (It was in Czech, but translated to that. It was all a joke, but very fitting sometimes.)

Another quote from one of the Elders serving in Jihalava  "A mission is just a bunch of random weird things with some spiritual stuff in between--just enough to keep you here."

Sometimes I feel like those quotes explain my life perfectly. I have never ever ever ever ever experienced so much rejection (getting dumped, I am sure, wouldn't even phase me now) or talked to so many people that believe so contrary it what I believe and what I am here to teach. And to back up the Elder's quote, I have been in the MOST weirdest places. For example, since we aren't allowed to meet in the building alone with men this one guy want to go to this Karvana (cafe-type thing). It was like in this book store and behind this book store was this cafe. But like you sat on the floor, and I am pretty sure by the time we got done teaching that lesson we were all high. Also, I am pretty sure I had a conversion with a possessed human maybe the other day. And I could go on . . .. But that is where the song "Press forward Saints" comes into my head. 

Although I have had the randomest, weirdest experiences, I have had beautiful and wonderful experiences that keep me here ;-). For example, one day after I am pretty sure we spent the whole day talking to athiests, my companion and I were walking home and there was a sweet Slovak man who was Catholic who shared his testimony with us. I was so touched, and although we might have some different beliefs, it was SO nice talking to someone who believes in God and in Christ. We have a meeting with him this week! Also, we talked to this man to makes chapels for hockey players all about the world. He also set up to meet with us. We have English every Tuesday, and this last Tuesday we were going to give this kind women who comes with her two sweet young daughters (These girls are so awesome. In English we had a question, "What is your favorite book?" They both said the Bible!) a Ukrainian Book of Morman because that is where they are from, but they didn't show up. Two days after we saw the sweet family walking on the street and were able to give it to them.  Also we got to go to TREBIC for our meetings yesterday. Wow that is just such a blessed city with blessed people!

Oh I copied and pasted this because it is so good:

"Honor Him with Our Thoughts

“As the plant springs from, and could not be without, the seed, so every act of man springs from the hidden seeds of thought, and could not have appeared without them” (James Allen, As a Man Thinketh).

The way we think affects the way we live. Learning to be positive, optimistic, and discerning in the way we think affects every aspect of our lives. It also has great potential to lift those around us. More importantly, choosing to think of and pray to our Heavenly Father and His Son often allows Them to influence and teach us how to live in a way that is both pleasing to Them and edifying for us. The Savior’s counsel to “pray always” and “look unto me in every thought” teaches us where to find the help we need to live a life that honors God.

Honor Him with Our Hearts

Once our minds are open and we’re in the habit of thinking of our Heavenly Father, it’s easier to notice how He’s working in our lives. When we begin to see how He’s inspiring our thoughts and blessing us, feeling His love naturally follows. Feeling His love is what gives us the desire to please Him, honor Him, and do His will.

Humility and gratitude have a way of opening us up—our minds, our eyes, and our hearts. They can also help us see just how close our Heavenly Father always is to us.

Honor Him with Our Deeds

When God is consistently in your thoughts and in your heart, there’s nothing you can’t do. Life takes on greater meaning when you begin to live your life for Him. When you hear His promptings in your mind and feel His love in your heart, you can become an instrument in His hands (see Mosiah 23:10).

There’s a scripture in the Book of Mormon that says, “When ye are in the service of your fellow beings ye are only in the service of your God” (Mosiah 2:17). When we can hear and feel God, He will lead us to individuals who need us and can benefit from our unique talents and gifts. We honor Him when we’re willing to serve those around us.

Leave a Legacy of Honoring God

Your life can be a powerful offering to God when you fill it with selflessness, humility, and gratitude. But it can be even more than that. Your life can be a powerful legacy that you leave for your own posterity and future generations. When you’re close to God and you spend your life loving and serving Him, you can’t help but leave a legacy of honor in your wake."

  

-- 

Sestra Baxter

February 8, 2016 -- "180 degree turn with the Czech language"

This week we talked to this kid who has problems with his hearing.  He's been praying that God would help him, and after he felt like God didn't answer his prayers he stopped praying and believing. We also talked to a father who was walking a new born baby in a stroller. He said he was satisfied with his life. We talked to a older man whose wife died, and he said he just couldn't believe there was life after this life. We talked to a mother with a son who said they would be interested in a building tour on a another day. We also talked to a younger boy who didn't beileve but is interested with what we believe. We talked to a ton of people, but I can not think of one of these people who couldn't use the gospel. Whether it but someone who is content with their life or someone who can't even stand living with themselves. I hope that the numbers of people we talked to will desire to know how they can be better through the Gospel of Jesus Christ.

It is so great, and this week literally has taking a 180 degree turn with the Czech language I had a interview with my mission president and asked him how he thought I could improve. He said, "Speak Czech." My first thought was that's not fair. I am a slow learner at everything. But this week I really tried only speaking Czech and actually spoke 100 hours of Czech this week! I can not begin to tell you how real the gift of touges is. I was able to explain the gospel, hold conversations, and just SPEAK CZECH! It was the best! If we will do ALL we can to become better, he will bless us with what we need and make up for our weakness.

Wow, being a missionary, though! I can't get enough! It is the best thing ever! During a district meeting with a Jihlava Starsi and the Trebic Starsi, we all found some of our favorite scripturess and then we were like dying over how cool they were (Seriously if you haven't read romans chapter 8 you need to.) I started laughing at how different we were. Then we all started laughing at how different we were. We are 18-21 year old kids in a little town in Europe trying to teach the gospel to the most atheist humans ever. (It feels like that sometimes.) And we were dying over how cool the scriptures are. We are so different, but I honestly feel so much better like this because Heavenly Father's plan is so much better than the plans I make for myself. 

I say this every single time. But when you put all you have done in your life put your whole self on the table and let him decide who you need to become, where you need to go, how you need to live, even who you need to be with 24/7, He will make you better than you could ever make yourself and I plead with you if you are thinking of going on a mission take a step of faith and trust that he truly knows what's best for you. My mission is NOTHING what I thought it would be (besides teaching the Gospel), but it is the best because the Lord know the best always! I can't begin to say the things I have learned, the people i've seen blessed, the people I love in the MTC, Washington, and Czech. 

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Save the Trees and Pray Always

Sestra Baxter

February 1, 2016 -- "My Slovak could use some work."

Wow I can't believe it is already another week. My mission is just flying by. I am so grateful for the time I have here. I really can't not put into words how much the mission has already changed my mindset, feeling towards others, and just my life in general. I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!  


This week we went on a exchange to Slovakia to Bratislava to be exact. Wow, Slovak is such a different lanuage and is so soft compared to Czech. I almost wish I could send of video of how different they are. But I would talk to people they looked at me so funny speaking my Czech/ American girl accent. 

We also have had some awesome lessons this week with, Veronika, Michal, Sestra Daskova, and great people on the streets. I think the one who is closest to baptism is Veronika. We had a lesson with her and Sestra Jakobiova. It was a lesson on the Plan of Salvation. Sestra Jakobiova is one of the greatest members to teach with. She and Veronika are like best friends now. I am starting to see how key members are in lessons because they know what we are teaching and how to put it into Czech words when we have no idea how to say things, or sometimes when we say things really bold they are a really nice pillow to soften things out. 

I have learned this week how important it is always to testify of Jesus Christ because that is where my testimony is strongest and that is where the Spirit is

strongest. The whole reason people serve missions is because Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and through Him we can be made new creatures.  He is not only the Savior for me but for you and every single person that has been on this earth, is on this earth, and will be on this earth. I have been reading in the Gospels in the Bible, and I know "He has risen as he said." He is living. I know that through the Holy Ghost. This is his Chruch on the earth today. It is not Mormons church. It is not Joseph Smith's church. It is not Thomas S. Monson's Church, but it is His church, the Church of Jesus Christ. I am beyond grateful that I could be one of his servants and try my very best to proclaim his name. 

Sestra Baxter

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Save the Trees and Pray Always

You know me!