It's Already Been A Month

Most missionaries I talk to say that the first transfer goes by like a turtle, but I honestly can't believe that it is already a month! Transfers happen in about 3 weeks already. And if the time only goes by faster than I am really scared! Anyway, this week was disappointing in the fact that we weren't able to meet with any of our progressing investigators, but good in the fact that we were enveloped in quite a bit of culture this week.

As for the missionary work we have 3 people committed to baptism Daniella, Kata, and Zdenek and we weren't able to make any contact this week unfortunately so they were not able to progress. However, our finding has improved and we have two new investigators. One is named Sabina who owns a vine shop which we taught in while she was working, interesting nonetheless, but hopefully now that she is interested we can meet in the church building when she doesn't have work. More details to come. The other we meet just on Friday whose name is Sylvia, she was contact we made and she is about 25 and is very interested in our message. We also did calling for former investigators and established contact with a man named Jan Barat, a man who works in a nuclear power plant ( my companion definitely had to translate that one for me) who has meet many times with the missionaries. He is an atheist, but interested because he thinks that we are and I quote " weirdly happy all the time" and he thinks we are nice young men. We meet with a woman named Kristyana who is interested in family history, so we taught her how to begin her research, and hopefully next week we can introduce familysearch.org to her. However the real miracle came from her Husband, who has not only commited to come to our weekly English course that we give on Tuesdays, but has said that if we will give him private sessions he will hear the discussions. So, finding has been wonderful this week, hopefully we can get some more progress in the coming week with these individuals.

Culture for the week has been a lot. We had the opportunity to travel to a castle called Hubocka! Quite incredible and beautiful! The Prague branch members came and invited us to participate. Unfortunately none of our members or investigators could come, but the Sisters in our district were able to bring their investigator along. He hasn't taken discussions, but he also participates in our English class. Then České Budejovice has celebrated it's 750th birthday this year and there was a celebration in the namesti (town square), we were able to go and watch a performance by what they said was ACDC, but coming from America, I can absolutely guarantee there is no way that was ACDC. Something I have found interesting here is that all the songs are in English, and hardly anyone can speak English. So they don't really understand the lyrics hardly at all I suppose! It's definitely weird to hear the occasional Katy Perry "Roar"on the bus when you are contacting someone.

It's been another great week here in České Budejovice! Thanks for all your love and support and prayers! My thought comes from a quote by President Hinckley, the previous prophet, " Generally speaking, the most miserable people I know are those that are obsessed with themselves; the happiest people I know are those who lose themselves in the service of others". This is a quote from his talk Forget Yourselves! I would I highly suggest reading it! :) I have found this principle to be true in my life as I have found ways to serve others I find that I am happier! A simple hello to helping someone new in the neighborhood feel welcome can ultimately change lives including your own! If everybody gave a random act of kindness a day imagine how much better the world would be!

Love,

Elder Belshe