Wednesday, October 23, 2013

October 21, 2013 - Košice

21.10.2013

Hello, hello!!


        Okay so I don't really know where the time went this week...I feel like I did so much and yet nothing at all! but here are a few things from this past week.  Monday we went on another Košice Walk (my third one!) and it was amazing. There are beautiful buildings and lots of  history here. I love it sooo much! Plus the weather was wonderful and I got a bunch of cool pics!   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
   
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Pres van Dalen
 
 
     Sister Jones and I went and helped Sister van Dalen (the branch president's wife) clean up their home. Her family was in visiting for a month and she needed a little help getting everything under wraps. It was really fun! We listened to a John Bytheway talk while we worked and the van Dalens fed us lunch. They are the nicest people ever! 
 
     On Friday, we went as a district to serve a less active member named R. He is super cool! He's remodeling his house and we helped him remove all the cabinets from the kitchen. It was really great to do some manual labor and quite honestly reminded me of home! It's been forever since I handled a hammer! ;)  Afterwards the elders gave a powerful spiritual thought and then we had to sprint through the village to catch our bus! We made it just in time though!
 
 
     On Sunday, our sweet investigator, PK came to church. It was really great to that she was able to come. She has difficulties coming--she works so she normally spends Sundays with her family. Also she lives outside of Kosice in one of the surrounding towns (there's bunches of little villages not too far off) and the bus schedule is tricky on Sundays. This Sunday I also taught Relief Society. It was a really cool lesson and I think it went really well. The lesson was from Lorenzo Snow manual lesson 20. 
     
   Our investigators are amazing as usual! We've had some difficulties with P's baptismal date...He was supposed to be baptized this past Saturday but we've had to push it back a couple of weeks.  He wants to be baptized and recognizes that it is a good thing and he agrees with what we've taught and believes the KM is true and we have prophets today, atd (a tak d'alej--etc po slovensky). We're going to meet with him and his mom this week and hopefully he'll be baptized now later than November 2.
     
     So you (Mom) have asked about the language. We sadly haven't made our goal of 100 sol hours but we'll try again. I found I generally understand about half of what everyone says and can follow conversations (partly cause I'm really good at reading body language). I struggle with my studies. I don't feel like I'm effectively studying the language or honestly really know how to continue to progress. But I'll keep trying. 
 
     This past week has been interesting because I've noticed a lot of my inadequacies and shortcomings. Some I know how to fix, others I still need to ponder on a little more. I know that Heavenly Father wants me to be better and right now I'm working/learning on how to really pray. I know I need help, and lots of it. Quite honestly the only way for me to succeed is with Divine help. But "I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things." (1 Nephi 11:17). I know that sometimes we have trials and sometimes life is difficult and that's okay because "it must needs be, that there is an opposition is all things" but "I know that he loveth his children; nevertheless, I do not know the meaning of all things" (1 Nephi 11:17). I know that as I learn to trust and rely on the Lord more I will become better and have more success. He has sent me here to do His work. And the work will always move forward. I suppose I'll end with something I shared in Relief Society this past sunday... "The Standard of Truth has been erected; no unhallowed hand can stop the work from progressing; persecutions may rage, mobs may combine, armies may assemble, calumny may defame, but the truth of God will go forth boldly, nobly, and independent, till it has penetrated every continent, visited every clime, swept every country, and sounded in every ear, till the purposes of God shall be accomplished and the Great Jehovah shall say the work is done" (Joesph Smith). [If you would like to understand more about the things Sister Johnson is teaching, visit this website and find answers to your questions.]
    
   As usual and as always, I love you all and wish you the very best week!


S Laskou,
Sestra Whitney Sarah Johnson <3

A couple of more photos...we went out on the day of the Kosice marathon to find origami around the  city.


1 comment:

  1. Sestra Johnson, this blog entry has really touched me for some reason; perhaps because I can relate so strongly to the scripture you have shared from 1 Nephi 11. You have strengthened my faith through your expressions of humility and testimony. And these photos are a true delight! You've got a very artistic eye. Thanks for sharing your light!

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