This week has been a pretty busy one for us. We started out the week doing two exchanges back to back. One, with the Plzen Zone Leaders and one with Hradec Kralove Zone Leaders. This transfer we have 5 new zone leaders, so we have been working hard to try to strengthen them and help them in their new calling. We focused on understanding how to magnify their calling as zone leaders, and creating an example area, and what exactly that means. Both Elder Anderson and Elder Beazer are stud missionaries. I love working with both of them, since I know them so well serving in the same districts with them in two different times in Prague. This week we also created a general conference pass along card that the missionaries could use, and we spent a few “finding” blocks of time purely inviting people to conference. A few said they would try to make it for Sunday. We are holding our thumbs (same as crossing our fingers, just the Czech version).
Then we watched Conference, and it was fantastic! (still haven’t seen the Sunday sessions yet. I also was very impressed with the conference talks during Priesthood Session, like always, Elder Utchdorf's was spectacular and I am going to suggest using it in our next MLC. Then Elder Eyring's was also fantastic! I appreciated the overall emphasis on the importance and reality of Jesus Christ. Elder Sabin's talk really struck a chord, purely because I know him really well. He came while I was a zone leader in HK, talking about being all in. "Turn from all sin, keep all commandments and covenants, all will be forgiven." I had time to personally talk to him, and he is one that really knows the Spirit and the scriptures. Another seventy that came here was Elder Adler, he is funny and much different than him, but both are fantastic and really good experiences to get to know them a little bit on my mission. Each district in the mission is preparing an Easter initiative to visit all of the members and have a large group finding activity where they show the new Easter video #PrinceofPeace and talk to as many people as possible about it. We are visiting a few areas next week to help them in their efforts. I am very excited!
Finally, we scheduled a humanitarian project this last Friday which was a repeat of the project we did with Uklidme Cesko last year when I was here in Prague around this same time! It was great to work with the same individuals that we did last year. She is planning to watch the Easter Video so the service and talking to her were a success :).....then there’s the foreign police. We had an appointment this week for visas. Thankfully, I had a little experience, and my experience saved a return trip because of an error they had in their system. After many prayers, it worked out fine and nobody had to come back all the way to Prague for another round of appointments.
That was our week! We have had several first lessons with investigators, but not too many progressing at this point, Michal is doing well! So is Kristina, but she is mainly being taught by the Sisters here in Prague now, but her baptism on the 21st of this month seems really promising :) That is all the time I got!
Love you all!
Have a great week!
Elder Belshe
Saturday, April 8, 2017
Saturday, April 1, 2017
Baptism!
This week I attached pictures of Michal's baptism. Michal was baptized by a recent convert, who he and Michal, invited over 10 people to the baptism! Very huge successful baptism! Such a great step for him, and a large step for the Prague Ward. After lots of effort and prayers, the member missionary work in the ward is growing and more and more people are willing to invite their friends to meet with us. It is a very, very, good thing!
Today, we just had a lesson with a very strong person of a different religion, intent on destroying everything in our church. From the moment we set up with this former investigator, to the time we were in his house I did not feel good about it. We had no reason not to go, so we went, but the spirit was just warning me of the falseness of the doctrine. It was interesting hearing all of this information for the first time, and it just reminded me of the moment I received a spiritual answer while in the MTC, that Joseph Smith IS a prophet of God and just knowing all of this is true, it became a good spiritual experience. Because we had that lesson, we had a lesson with two students who were fantastic and very open. They are new investigators now as well. Opposition, then blessings come. They are searching for a religion in their lives to fill a gap that they felt was missing. Super awesome! Also are also team teaching Kristina with the Sisters and David, two more of Jara's friends and a nice mother whose name is Pavla. Our teaching pool has grown, thanks to being richly blessed in the last few weeks!
This week we also had our conferences for the zones and also we had an exchange with the Brno Zone Leaders. It was a good week. The zone conferences were very, very, spiritual and focused on urgency and the importance of a spiritual foundation. We have challenged the mission to read a quote each morning from Elder Holland's talk: “The Miracle of a Mission” before they leave the apartment each day. We are hoping that the number of baptisms continue to increase in our goal to reach 100, where we are currently on 7 for the year with Michal's. It has been a good month so far, and we think that it will continue to improve!
My scripture for this week:
2 Nephi 33:1-2
And now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men. But behold, there are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught.
This week (upcoming week in the Czech Republic) will be broadcasting General Conference. It is excellent time for us to allow the Holy Ghost to speak unto our hearts, but with our careful studying and preparation we can carry the message into our hearts. I know that the Holy Ghost can pierce the heart of all that listen to general conference to help confirm the truth of messages that are taught from the Lord's living prophets and apostles.
Have a great week!
Elder Belshe
Today, we just had a lesson with a very strong person of a different religion, intent on destroying everything in our church. From the moment we set up with this former investigator, to the time we were in his house I did not feel good about it. We had no reason not to go, so we went, but the spirit was just warning me of the falseness of the doctrine. It was interesting hearing all of this information for the first time, and it just reminded me of the moment I received a spiritual answer while in the MTC, that Joseph Smith IS a prophet of God and just knowing all of this is true, it became a good spiritual experience. Because we had that lesson, we had a lesson with two students who were fantastic and very open. They are new investigators now as well. Opposition, then blessings come. They are searching for a religion in their lives to fill a gap that they felt was missing. Super awesome! Also are also team teaching Kristina with the Sisters and David, two more of Jara's friends and a nice mother whose name is Pavla. Our teaching pool has grown, thanks to being richly blessed in the last few weeks!
This week we also had our conferences for the zones and also we had an exchange with the Brno Zone Leaders. It was a good week. The zone conferences were very, very, spiritual and focused on urgency and the importance of a spiritual foundation. We have challenged the mission to read a quote each morning from Elder Holland's talk: “The Miracle of a Mission” before they leave the apartment each day. We are hoping that the number of baptisms continue to increase in our goal to reach 100, where we are currently on 7 for the year with Michal's. It has been a good month so far, and we think that it will continue to improve!
My scripture for this week:
2 Nephi 33:1-2
And now I, Nephi, cannot write all the things which were taught among my people; neither am I mighty in writing, like unto speaking; for when a man speaketh by the power of the Holy Ghost the power of the Holy Ghost carrieth it unto the hearts of the children of men. But behold, there are many that harden their hearts against the Holy Spirit, that it hath no place in them; wherefore, they cast many things away which are written and esteem them as things of naught.
This week (upcoming week in the Czech Republic) will be broadcasting General Conference. It is excellent time for us to allow the Holy Ghost to speak unto our hearts, but with our careful studying and preparation we can carry the message into our hearts. I know that the Holy Ghost can pierce the heart of all that listen to general conference to help confirm the truth of messages that are taught from the Lord's living prophets and apostles.
Have a great week!
Elder Belshe
Thursday, March 23, 2017
Apply Your Faith
This week has equally been the hardest and the happiest weeks of my entire mission. After hearing about Marissa's passing I was very much in shock, and that shock continued for a few days. I remember after hanging up the phone just sitting there and just trying to wrap my mind around it with the other 1000 things of the day also going through my head, so at that point the spirit whispered to me "Apply your faith". So I went to my knees in prayer, and felt that I should ask a blessing. It is interesting how well Heavenly Father truly knows us, and also on the flip side, Satan knows us. Satan never attacked my testimony of the plan of salvation. That is too rock solid. He merely tried to make me feel throughout these last few days that I would never be worthy enough to be with her again. However, In the blessing, of course it said that Marissa was fine and would be watching out for and supporting us. I can sincerely say that at that moment in the blessing I felt a very warm hug from her. I don’t think there is anyone else that it could be. After talking to President a little bit, Elder Hanis and I went back home. Then that thought came back to me about "applying my faith". Somehow this time it clicked, I knew what I needed to do to access the atonement. I prayed, studied 2 Nephi 9 a couple of times, had the blessing, reached out in service to others trying to help members of my district, and in some ways it has been one of the happiest weeks of my mission as well. I had the opportunity to testify with conviction to everyone that Jesus is the Christ, that he has lifted my burdens, and freed my sister from the bonds of death. At that point, the feeling of the spirit washed over me like it has on countless times on my mission, and I knew everything would be ok. That everything would work out for the best. Plus of course, if there is something else that I have learned on my mission it is this: In the greatest times of opposition, come the greatest blessings. Three huge blessings for this week: 1. Michal passed his baptismal interview and cried at sacrament meeting. He had a spiritual confirmation that the church was true which was enough for him to want to live the law of chastity and prepare for his baptism on the 25th. 2. New members' meeeting: David Zapletal from Plzen came in attendance gave me a big hug and told me that he is so grateful that I opened my mouth and showed the gospel to him and gave him such a happier life. Baptisms are great on a mission, but the most true joy I have felt has been seeing the converts endure to the end. 3. I received an email from Olda in Brno that things are going well for him and his returned missionary girlfriend, and he has plans of proposing leading to a temple marriage.
So, in conclusion, the atonement is real. It doesn’t matter how deep in trials we may be, Jesus Christ and his atonement reach down and in the words of President Utchdorf "lift you up on his shoulders and carry you home". I love my sister very much, and I will miss her for the short time that we will not be able to see each other, but in the same breath I know that I have been lifted by Christ and that our burdens can and will be lightened through him. If we merely apply our faith! Have a great week! Choose the atonement!
Transfers
Well, this week has been a little bit slower, but a lot of preparation for the upcoming transfer! During this next transfer, the office couple will be taking over half the responsibilities of the office elders. and the assistants will be taking over the other half. It will be a blast to the past, of the transfers in the office that I had with Elder Terry. I will be in charge of visas again, in addition to assistant responsibilities.
After two weeks of hard work we were finally able to configure a way to add Czech subtitles to the videos that we have been working. They have been a huge success. It was just in time for a big event of ‘Meet the Mormons’ in Hradec Kralove which hopefully will be used as a finding activity for other missionaries throughout the rest of the mission.
On Friday, we had an activity where we introduced ourselves and the state we were from. It was really good, lots of investigators, members, and friends of the members came. We had about 50-55 people in attendance for our presentations. I introduced my state, and then had the pictures of me growing up printed out for a tri fold thing about me personally. I picked my favorites, and then the office elders made boards for us and got everything ready for it. It was really nice! Ha ha! funny story, a member, less active, brought her friend and I got to talking to her for a while, and she was really friendly. It was good all the way up until the point that she told me that she had a "crazy" side and likes to pole dance......and she invited me to her next show. Nice! So that will DEFINITELY be an investigator for the sister missionaries to follow up on. I can say that was a first. So that is my funny story for the week :)..but overall it was good. Another less active family we invited came and loved it, and Michal was there as well. So I consider it a success. People got to learn that Arizona is a lot more than just desert ;)…so it was a good experience!
Also, miracle of the week, we were really stressing because 9 of the 11 new missionaries that were supposed to be coming from the MTC, did NOT receive their travel itineraries in the time that they should have. So we were really stressing and helping President try to rearrange the transfers almost at the last minute, but we had a mission wide prayer that they would receive their travel itineraries and visas, and they came through :)...at the last minute in a speed faster than anything man could ever do, each of the missionaries received their visas and travel information to Provo even though it hadn’t even been in Salt Lake the day before. Miracles do happen, and because of that, I have decided to send a verse today about miracles.
Mormon 9:15-19
"And now, O all ye that have imagined up unto yourselves a god who can do no miracles, I would ask of you, have all these things passed, of which I have spoken? Has the end come yet? Behold I say unto you, Nay; and God has not ceased to be a God of miracles. Behold, are not the things that God hath wrought marvelous in our eyes? Yea, and who can comprehend the marvelous works of God? Who shall say that it was not a miracle that by his word the heaven and the earth should be; and by the power of his word man was created of the dust of the earth; and by the power of his word have miracles been wrought? And who shall say that Jesus Christ did not do many mighty miracles? And there were many mighty miracles wrought by the hands of the apostles. And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles."
I have a testimony that God lives, and that he is the same yesterday, today, and forever. That miracles still exist today and in our everyday lives.
Love you all! Have a great week!
Elder Belshe
Pictures:
1. Office Crew in new suits...just the office elders not Elder Page and I
2. Elder Page and I at Vyšehrad
3. Day 1 of 3 of our zone training cross country road trip
4. An attempt of a zone selfie at the Hradec Kralove zone conference...I’m not in it, but everyone else is.
Sunday, March 5, 2017
Final Trainings of this Transfer
Because of the changes given by the Area Presidency, we will have two zone trainings and then a zone conference, and this transfer was both zone trainings. So, because there are four zones and we were asked by the zone leaders to train at their zone trainings we attended eight zone trainings during this transfer. Four at the beginning, and four at the end. We were very grateful for all the training that has happened, and how the quality of the trainings has improved as well!
It has been such a great journey during this transfer! This week we had the last two trainings, one in Hradec Kralove, and one in Prague. However, for the one in Hradec Kralove we had heard the night before that President had just become a grandpa :)..His daughter living near Trebic had a daughter named Emma. She is adorable. So we were left to change things around at the last minute, and it was a little unorganized but great trainings were given.
For the training in Prague, Elder Adler of the Seventy came and joined us to give a training. His talk was superb about the fruits of missionary work, and his wife did a wonderful job talking about the atonement. I took a pretty superb zone selfie, but then I left the camera in HK....:) So it is safe, but you will get that picture next week.
Other than that, we have had office work and things to get ready for a final exchange and preparation for the next transfer. My assignment for next week from President....is to learn to drive a stick shift...prayers for safety are appreciated ;)
My scripture for this week comes from some of my favorite verses from the Doctrine and Covenants when Joseph Smith is in Liberty Jail. I might have shared them before, but I will do it again anyway :)
Doctrine and Covenants 122:7-9
7. And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?
9 Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.
The Lord has never left us comfortless, and he never will. Every time I read these verses something new sticks out to me, and this time was the power of verse 9. That if we "hold on our way" the Lord knows our days, which passes as if the smallest degree of seconds in his time, and will not allow the priesthood to leave from us. The blessings of the priesthood are readily acceptable if we will but hold true to our faith in God and fear not man, or the frailties of our general mortality. The Lord loves us, and wants us to be happy, but also to grow and rely upon him. Have a great week! Love you all!
Elder Belshe
(The Mission President shared some pictures of the trainings this week)
It has been such a great journey during this transfer! This week we had the last two trainings, one in Hradec Kralove, and one in Prague. However, for the one in Hradec Kralove we had heard the night before that President had just become a grandpa :)..His daughter living near Trebic had a daughter named Emma. She is adorable. So we were left to change things around at the last minute, and it was a little unorganized but great trainings were given.
For the training in Prague, Elder Adler of the Seventy came and joined us to give a training. His talk was superb about the fruits of missionary work, and his wife did a wonderful job talking about the atonement. I took a pretty superb zone selfie, but then I left the camera in HK....:) So it is safe, but you will get that picture next week.
Other than that, we have had office work and things to get ready for a final exchange and preparation for the next transfer. My assignment for next week from President....is to learn to drive a stick shift...prayers for safety are appreciated ;)
My scripture for this week comes from some of my favorite verses from the Doctrine and Covenants when Joseph Smith is in Liberty Jail. I might have shared them before, but I will do it again anyway :)
Doctrine and Covenants 122:7-9
7. And if thou shouldst be cast into the pit, or into the hands of murderers, and the sentence of death passed upon thee; if thou be cast into the deep; if the billowing surge conspire against thee; if fierce winds become thine enemy; if the heavens gather blackness, and all the elements combine to hedge up the way; and above all, if the very jaws of hell shall gape open the mouth wide after thee, know thou, my son, that all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.
8 The Son of Man hath descended below them all. Art thou greater than he?
9 Therefore, hold on thy way, and the priesthood shall remain with thee; for their bounds are set, they cannot pass. Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.
The Lord has never left us comfortless, and he never will. Every time I read these verses something new sticks out to me, and this time was the power of verse 9. That if we "hold on our way" the Lord knows our days, which passes as if the smallest degree of seconds in his time, and will not allow the priesthood to leave from us. The blessings of the priesthood are readily acceptable if we will but hold true to our faith in God and fear not man, or the frailties of our general mortality. The Lord loves us, and wants us to be happy, but also to grow and rely upon him. Have a great week! Love you all!
Elder Belshe
(The Mission President shared some pictures of the trainings this week)
Sunday, February 26, 2017
Road Trip
This week was terrific! I really enjoyed everything that we were able to be a part of! We finished up our trainings, and everything we needed for our road trip on Monday. Then Tuesday morning we went straight to Jihlava where we helped pack up the Sisters apartment, closed the apartment with the landlord, and then helped them move into Trebic. This will be a big change, and a good movement to the work of a second stake in the Brno area. Afterwards, we stayed at President Pohořelický mom's house in Trebic, and then left early in the morning for Brno. Had our training in Brno, and then drove into Bratislava for the next zone training! After their training we helped the Hardwicks, the senior couple in Slovakia move out a few other things they needed and then came back to Prague....I was pretty tired, but it was a very effective week.
On Friday, we did our best to get all our office work done, and have lessons with our investigators. On Sunday, we had the first mission U-nite, which is a principle taught in the power of everyday missionaries, where members invite their friends to an open group discussion about certain lessons that missionaries give. Our job was merely to attend and interact with all of the people. It was a huge success, and we were able to get a new investigator from the event. The focus in our mission with preparing for the new stake, has had a lot of success and that has been exciting! We will hope all continues to go well as we present this activity with help from the stake for the following transfer.
Michal is doing well, he has been reading and praying, and seeing opposition; but he has been able to recognize it and push through it. His baptismal date the beginning of March is looking pretty good. We are also now teaching again Viktor and Vera, a couple here from Ukraine that Elder Terry and I taught last year when both of us are here. Then we are teaching David and Kristina, both of which are also referrals from Jara, our ward mission leader. We are excited to really start to see more of these individuals progress and come unto Christ.
After hearing of the passing of a good family friend, Bill Wright, I thought of the wonderful message of the Plan of Salvation. He was a wonderful man who was loved by all, and did nothing but look to serve others including me and my family. I was saddened by his passing, but reassured by these scriptures:
Mosiah 16:6-9 And now if Christ had not come into the world, speaking of things to come as though they had already come, there could have been no redemption. And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection. But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ. He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death.
How grateful I am for the knowledge that the grave has no victory, and death no sting through Christ. Through Christ we can, and will, be resurrected and through his suffering in Gethsemane the sting of death cannot maintain a hold upon us.
S Láskou,
Starší Belshe
On Friday, we did our best to get all our office work done, and have lessons with our investigators. On Sunday, we had the first mission U-nite, which is a principle taught in the power of everyday missionaries, where members invite their friends to an open group discussion about certain lessons that missionaries give. Our job was merely to attend and interact with all of the people. It was a huge success, and we were able to get a new investigator from the event. The focus in our mission with preparing for the new stake, has had a lot of success and that has been exciting! We will hope all continues to go well as we present this activity with help from the stake for the following transfer.
Michal is doing well, he has been reading and praying, and seeing opposition; but he has been able to recognize it and push through it. His baptismal date the beginning of March is looking pretty good. We are also now teaching again Viktor and Vera, a couple here from Ukraine that Elder Terry and I taught last year when both of us are here. Then we are teaching David and Kristina, both of which are also referrals from Jara, our ward mission leader. We are excited to really start to see more of these individuals progress and come unto Christ.
After hearing of the passing of a good family friend, Bill Wright, I thought of the wonderful message of the Plan of Salvation. He was a wonderful man who was loved by all, and did nothing but look to serve others including me and my family. I was saddened by his passing, but reassured by these scriptures:
Mosiah 16:6-9 And now if Christ had not come into the world, speaking of things to come as though they had already come, there could have been no redemption. And if Christ had not risen from the dead, or have broken the bands of death that the grave should have no victory, and that death should have no sting, there could have been no resurrection. But there is a resurrection, therefore the grave hath no victory, and the sting of death is swallowed up in Christ. He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death.
How grateful I am for the knowledge that the grave has no victory, and death no sting through Christ. Through Christ we can, and will, be resurrected and through his suffering in Gethsemane the sting of death cannot maintain a hold upon us.
S Láskou,
Starší Belshe
Monday, February 20, 2017
Senior Couple Presentation, Trainings, and Road Trip
Senior Couple Recruitment, Trainings, and Road Trips
So first things first, I wanted to explain the attached link that I have included in the email. We currently have the blessing of 6 senior couples in our mission. Four of which will be leaving in the next 5 months. We have seen such an amazing, needed help that our senior couples provide. They can bring a special love, connection, and experience for the members that younger missionaries can’t provide. They accomplish tasks that many younger missionaries cannot, and they also bring such a wonderful needed spirit for all of the young missionaries. We are looking to help those considering to serve a mission see the wonderful blessings and benefits of a mission. We would love if you would share this video with any individuals you would feel would like to serve a mission, or also to send it to those individuals that you know who would consider serving a mission. Please share this with people you know and encourage individuals to choose to serve a couples' mission. You are needed!
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xm6 b2ai3hnwo16r/AACbOztI4xkxzVcJt iozcsh6a?dl=0
As for this week, we had MLC (Mission Leadership Conference) which was really good. We planned for training and talked about the needs of the mission. This week with Michal, we had a wonderful sacrament meeting with him, and when we were going to Sunday school we noticed he was gone. We thought maybe he had left, but noticed his bag was still by the front entrance so we just went to class. About an hour later I get pulled out of class by a member who has been teaching with us the majority of the time, she said Michal accepted a baptism date from her! He wants his goal to be baptized on March the 20th! It was a wonderful example of member missionary work, and it was great because she helped resolve concerns that Michal didn’t feel comfortable sharing personally with us. We are very excited for him.
We have spent a lot of time preparing for a couple of trainings and exchanges.
Our exchange this week was in Jihlava. We had the same approach of doing a fireside at the end of the night after a day of really trying to jumpstart the area, and without fail, the Lord always provides a way. In one day, we were able to find 7 new investigators in an area that had struggled to find any for weeks. It was a very large faith booster for them.
Next week we are spending the entire week gone for trainings and helping missionaries move into new apartments. Lots of new areas being opened, others closed, and senior couples leaving. So we have converted the mission van into a moving service/RV...it will be a great week!
My quote comes from Elder Christofferson's talk: Abide in my Love
To “continue in” or “abide in” the Savior’s love means to receive His grace and be perfected by it. To receive His grace, we must have faith in Jesus Christ and keep His commandments, including repenting of our sins, being baptized for the remission of sins, receiving the Holy Ghost, and continuing in the path of obedience.
I love this thought of abiding in the Savior's love...it requires us to act! It is not something passive that comes to all that simply want it, but it is open to all that give their all to him and strive to repent and change a little bit each day. One of the ways I have been striving to repent is by saying my prayers out loud and really focus on following the spirit in my prayers. Elder Page, Michal, and I are on a challenge to pray out loud for 15 minutes a day for 30 days straight. So far I haven’t missed a day, and I have felt a stronger connection to Heavenly Father through my prayers. I know that taking action to abide in Christs love, we will find it.
Love you all! Have a great week!
Elder Belshe
So first things first, I wanted to explain the attached link that I have included in the email. We currently have the blessing of 6 senior couples in our mission. Four of which will be leaving in the next 5 months. We have seen such an amazing, needed help that our senior couples provide. They can bring a special love, connection, and experience for the members that younger missionaries can’t provide. They accomplish tasks that many younger missionaries cannot, and they also bring such a wonderful needed spirit for all of the young missionaries. We are looking to help those considering to serve a mission see the wonderful blessings and benefits of a mission. We would love if you would share this video with any individuals you would feel would like to serve a mission, or also to send it to those individuals that you know who would consider serving a mission. Please share this with people you know and encourage individuals to choose to serve a couples' mission. You are needed!
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/xm6 b2ai3hnwo16r/AACbOztI4xkxzVcJt iozcsh6a?dl=0
As for this week, we had MLC (Mission Leadership Conference) which was really good. We planned for training and talked about the needs of the mission. This week with Michal, we had a wonderful sacrament meeting with him, and when we were going to Sunday school we noticed he was gone. We thought maybe he had left, but noticed his bag was still by the front entrance so we just went to class. About an hour later I get pulled out of class by a member who has been teaching with us the majority of the time, she said Michal accepted a baptism date from her! He wants his goal to be baptized on March the 20th! It was a wonderful example of member missionary work, and it was great because she helped resolve concerns that Michal didn’t feel comfortable sharing personally with us. We are very excited for him.
We have spent a lot of time preparing for a couple of trainings and exchanges.
Our exchange this week was in Jihlava. We had the same approach of doing a fireside at the end of the night after a day of really trying to jumpstart the area, and without fail, the Lord always provides a way. In one day, we were able to find 7 new investigators in an area that had struggled to find any for weeks. It was a very large faith booster for them.
Next week we are spending the entire week gone for trainings and helping missionaries move into new apartments. Lots of new areas being opened, others closed, and senior couples leaving. So we have converted the mission van into a moving service/RV...it will be a great week!
My quote comes from Elder Christofferson's talk: Abide in my Love
To “continue in” or “abide in” the Savior’s love means to receive His grace and be perfected by it. To receive His grace, we must have faith in Jesus Christ and keep His commandments, including repenting of our sins, being baptized for the remission of sins, receiving the Holy Ghost, and continuing in the path of obedience.
I love this thought of abiding in the Savior's love...it requires us to act! It is not something passive that comes to all that simply want it, but it is open to all that give their all to him and strive to repent and change a little bit each day. One of the ways I have been striving to repent is by saying my prayers out loud and really focus on following the spirit in my prayers. Elder Page, Michal, and I are on a challenge to pray out loud for 15 minutes a day for 30 days straight. So far I haven’t missed a day, and I have felt a stronger connection to Heavenly Father through my prayers. I know that taking action to abide in Christs love, we will find it.
Love you all! Have a great week!
Elder Belshe
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