March 10, 2014 - Zilina

Ahoj!!

      Well this week was...different and yet the exact same as every other week. We did our normal studies and the normal things (like church and contacting people). But there were some interesting moments...

       On Monday we celebrated A's birthday. (She's the youngest in the Se family). It was really fun and sorta bizarre to be at a birthday party. In fact this entire month is birthday month. On Tuesday Elder Ferrell had a birthday so as tradition dictates I wrote a song on my guitar and Sister Barid and I sang him a unique birthday song! It was a little ridiculous...it's always hard to do without laughing.

     We were also suppose to visit our new family on Tuesday but when we called to confirm he told us he didn't want us coming...something about him being Catholic and us Mormon. It's really sad because he didn't even give our message a chance. But we haven't given up on him.

   We also taught K about the Word of Wisdom this week...and he's living it!  We also taught him about temple marriage (he asked some questions that led to this topic) and set it up to talk about eternal families this upcoming meeting.

      On Thursday our district went to Trencin to prepare for a concert. It was fun but a little stressful because no one was prepared. Trencin has planned and organized it which you think would make it easier but I'm not so sure. The concert will be on the Plan of Salvation and will be really pretty. There's some great songs we're singing plus Elder Brousseau is in Trencin and is more or less a musical genius. He can play practically any instrument and is like concert pianist status.

    On Saturday, S had his birthday. He turned 18 (mission age)!! He's an amazing person-strong in the gospel and a great example. He's always helping us missionaries out (teaching with us, giving language tips or corrections, playing the piano on Sundays, coming to activities) and probably one of the best things about Zilina.

    This past Sunday, I gave a talk which was exciting and terrifying all at once. I spoke about having happiness and joy while enduring to the end. I used a bunch of awesome KM scriptures (2 Nephi 2:25, 2 Nephi 31:20, Mosiah 2:41, Alma 27:17-18, Alma 40:12) and a talk, Strength to Endure, from Elder Richard Maynes. You're welcome to try to piece it together if you want. ;) It went really well in my opinion. I think it's a skill that everyone needs...to have an ever optimistic attitude. Most things could be fixed with a smile and hard work. On Sunday, Sister Baird and I taught the girls Sunday School. It was really fun and made me miss my primary class!

     Sister Baird and I are super confident (or maybe crazy). This week we're trying for 100 hours of SOL. We were counting up how much we'd spoken the past week and it was depressingly low so we loudly declared "ENOUGH!" and now we're trying for 100 hours this week...

     That's all I have time for this week! I love you all!

S Laskou, Sestra WhitneySarahJohnson <3