Week 5

So, this week was another awesome week! I have a couple funny stories to

begin with. One of them needs a little background. We are teaching an

investigator about Joseph Smith and the word for grove of trees on the

online learning center is haj, however, in modern terms this is a very

nasty derogatory word for hell. So when you are telling the story of Joseph

Smith, word of advice, don't use that word because your investigator

becomes really concerned and wonders why someone would go to hell to pray

about which church is true. Just for future reference the correct word,

forest, is les. So I won't make that mistake again :). The second was one

by my companion oba means both where as obed means lunch. We were

discussing to the same investigator about the importance of both the bible

and the book of mormon and rather than say how both are really important to

our salvation we said that lunch is really important to our salvation. I'm

pretty sure this investigator just invites us over for entertainment

purposes. However, in compairson to last week I haven't lost anything and I

didn't even stain a tie so I would call it a success. Also, on Sunday we

were able to watch a film about the life of Thomas S. Monson that really

stood out to me and was really interesting (this was last week, but i think

i forgot to mention it). As far as the gospel learning for this week I

accomplished my goal of rereading PMG before I leave the MTC and it's such

a great tool for missionary work, I love being able to use it to learn how

to effectviely teach and testify as a missionary. The phrase "becoming a

preach my gospel missionary" has a really important meaning to me now.

Also, this week we had both the worst and best lessons I have had so far at

the MTC. I've learned a lot for both of them, and we are about to commit

our first "investigator" to baptism :). The language learning has been a

lot of grammar and one on one coaching for specific topics that we don't

quite understand. After the next two weeks we will be done with new lessons

and the last two weeks I'm here will be all coaching and practice. I have

three goals before I leave the MTC 1. Understand what it means to be a

preach my gospel missionary 2. Reach a "functional" level of the language

which is measured based on the assessment scores 3. Learn how to best plan

and set goals. Which when it is done right I have learned that it is really

hard to accomplish, but my companion and I are learning how to do it

correctly. My companion and I are also learning how important it is to

always listen to our investigators! So important to know that you love and

care about them! As for the devotionals this week we had another Emeritus

General Authority speak to us about the importance of prayer in coming

understand how the Holy Ghost speaks to us which was amazing. And then we

had the same guy, head of department over Missionary Work, from our first

week give a devotional as well Elder Allen. He's really funny, but his

messages were exactly the same and what I would call a "pump up, you can do

this" type devotional. Both were great. Additonally, we learned a Czech

Nursery Rhyme which I think is rather hilarious! This is the rhyme!

Mama mi dala korunu

Aby koupil rybu

Ja Namísto ryby ryby

Koupil jsem vyrubu

So děla ryba

O castem hyba

Proč? Proč?

Protoze ja ryba ryba

Translation"

Mom gave me money

So that I could by a fish

When I went to buy the fish

instead i bought a whale

Why? Why?

Because it is a fish fish

It's total nonsense but I love it!! As for my scripture for the day I want

to give my testimony in Czech! Translate it! No promises that my grammar is

exactly correct!

Já vím že el církev Ježíše Krista je pravida. Já vím že Joseph Smith byl

prorok a skrze jeho můzeme získat zjevení skrze Knihu Mormonovu. Já vím že

Ježíš Kristus je náš Spasitel a vykupitel. Buh miluje náš a Já vím že on je

náš Milujici Otec.

Love all of you! Thanks for the love and support!

Elder Belshe