Sunday, February 21, 2016

Prague Baptism Pictures

Elder Belshe, Elder Terry and Amanda 


Prague Baptisms

Here in the Czech Republic we do a LOT of finding, you talk to everyone that you see on trams, metros, buses so that you can have people to teach! This week was filled with a lot of finding! It was fun having a lot of time to talk to lots of new people, and because of that we have a lot of lessons with new individuals set up for next week :) Amanda is still progressing really well, and unfortunately because of a family reunion will not be able to make it to church tomorrow, but came last week and loved it, plus Viktor and Vera were there for the first time, and Vera made a friend in Relief Society. This woman in Relief Society came and told me how wonderful it was to have her there, and thanked us for finding her! I was grateful that we were able to help, and I hope that we can continue to help them on their path to baptism! :) We ended up teaching tithing this week, and they accepted it better than any other investigator I have ever had.  It amazes me how different investigators always have different issues.  For some, the commandments may be easy, but accepting a prophet, no way! Interesting!
 
This week we visited Kutna Hora which is an old city outside of Prague with a famous bone church that holds the bones of 40000 people killed in a fight between Catholics and the Hussite Armies. It was a very interesting experience to say the least, a little creepy, but also really interesting to see bones decorated in the basement of an old kostel. (church)  I have pictures to show what I mean. The man that designed it was a little bit odd, but it was definitely something I would suggest visiting! We also visited another kostel, still in use, in the main city of Kutna Hora which was very pretty!
 
My scripture for this week comes from D&C 3:20
And that the Lamanites might come to the knowledge of their fathers, and that they might know the promises of the Lord, and that they may believe the gospel and rely upon the merits of Jesus Christ, and be glorified through faith in his name, and that through their repentance they might be saved. Amen.
 
 I love how this scripture depicts the purpose behind the Book of Mormon as we come to understand where we came from, and how our parents relied on Christ in their lives, so that we can also learn to rely on Christ and come closer to him. I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon and how it has helped me to rely on the teachings of Christ in my life.
 
Love you all! Have a great week!


Elder Belshe  

Kostel in Kutna Hora











Find! Find! Find!

Here in the Czech Republic we do a LOT of finding, you talk to everyone that you see on trams, metros, buses so that you can have people to teach! This week was filled with a lot of finding! It was fun having a lot of time to talk to lots of new people, and because of that we have a lot of lessons with new individuals set up for next week :) Amanda is still progressing really well, and unfortunately because of a family reunion will not be able to make it to church tomorrow, but came last week and loved it, plus Viktor and Vera were there for the first time, and Vera made a friend in Relief Society. This woman in Relief Society came and told me how wonderful it was to have her there, and thanked us for finding her! I was grateful that we were able to help, and I hope that we can continue to help them on their path to baptism! :) We ended up teaching tithing this week, and they accepted it better than any other investigator I have ever had.  It amazes me how different investigators always have different issues.  For some, the commandments may be easy, but accepting a prophet, no way! Interesting!
 
This week we visited Kutna Hora which is an old city outside of Prague with a famous bone church that holds the bones of 40000 people killed in a fight between Catholics and the Hussite Armies. It was a very interesting experience to say the least, a little creepy, but also really interesting to see bones decorated in the basement of an old kostel. (church)  I have pictures to show what I mean. The man that designed it was a little bit odd, but it was definitely something I would suggest visiting! We also visited another kostel, still in use, in the main city of Kutna Hora which was very pretty!
 
My scripture for this week comes from D&C 3:20
And that the Lamanites might come to the knowledge of their fathers, and that they might know the promises of the Lord, and that they may believe the gospel and rely upon the merits of Jesus Christ, and be glorified through faith in his name, and that through their repentance they might be saved. Amen.
 
 I love how this scripture depicts the purpose behind the Book of Mormon as we come to understand where we came from, and how our parents relied on Christ in their lives, so that we can also learn to rely on Christ and come closer to him. I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon and how it has helped me to rely on the teachings of Christ in my life.
 
Love you all! Have a great week!


Elder Belshe  

Mission Office Pictures




Doing the Lord's Work

We had a good week! Things are awesome! We had a baptism this week for the Sisters and it was a bit hectic. Literally, it was our job to fill the font and it would just not fill this week fast enough, and we got there pretty early based on what people told us to plan for and we ended up having to run and fill buckets to get it ready in time for them. Little bit stressful, but all was well, it worked out perfectly :) She was so happy, her name was Lucka and she is a 45 year old woman. We got a new investigator couple this week, a couple from Ukraine named Viktor and Vera that came to the baptism today! It was cool to see them there! I noticed how happy she was, and I just couldn't help but smile and say YES!! That is why we are here! It was a cool experience for the week! :) Unfortunately, Mia is currently canceling meetings left and right and is no longer reading in the Book of Mormon, and the last few days we have had no contact. It is really sad for us, but we keep pushing onward :) On the bright side, Amanda and Oldrich have both been doing well both had some concerns regarding the commandments, but most of which have been resolved this week. Also, the miracle of the week is that Oldrich has decided that he wants to be baptized! He is very independent individual, and would not accept a date from us, but was willing to keep commitments and now has decided that he wants to get baptized. He, however, does not know when exactly. I truly have come to understand the reality of church, reading, and praying and keeping other commitments. It is truly the only way for us to overcome our concerns! We are really excited for him, and hope that with this choice we can decide on a date for him. 

My scripture for the week comes from the Book of Mormon in Mosiah 18:8-11: 8 And it came to pass that he said unto them: Behold, here are the waters of Mormon (for thus were they called) and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light;  Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life— Now I say unto you, if this be the desire of your hearts, what have you against being baptized in the name of the Lord, as a witness before him that ye have entered into a covenant with him, that ye will serve him and keep his commandments, that he may pour out his Spirit more abundantly upon you?  And now when the people had heard these words, they clapped their hands for joy, and exclaimed: This is the desire of our hearts.

It has been quite the miracle to see several people enter into the covenant of baptism, and they, along with the people baptized by Alma, have seen the joy that comes from it. The Lord's work will continue and those that choose to follow can have the blessings of happiness that others have felt. I testify that that is true! Love all of you! Thanks for your emails, love, and concern!

Elder Belshe 

(The pictures are of the mission office. I googled the one of the outside of the building.)

Conrad said this week someone thought he was a native Czech! He was really happy that his language is coming along so well.