Dear Family,
I cannot even begin to imagine how this week flew by so quickly. It feels like just a few days ago when I last had P-day (preparation day; the day when I can do personal mail, email, laundry and other such things.) I can't really say that there was anything super significant about this week. Just alot more learning and I must say, I'm grateful for it.
This last week, our companionship really made some progress. My companionship consists of three members including me, which happens to be the entire Czech group for this transfer (9 weeks). Starsi Horvath has been having a hard time feeling like he could fit in with Starsi Jones and me because we're both American, we both speak fluent English, and just the fact that he is having a hard time coping with being in a strange land for the first time. Despite this, this last week he's really been opening up to us.
He's been sick for a while now, but doesn't show enough symptoms for the clinic to really do anything. They just keep giving him cough syrup, ibuprofen (spelling?) and nasal decongestant. They gave him one Z-pack which is an antibiotic and that seemed to help a little bit, but they never tested him to see what he had. They'd rather have us keep running in there every day to tell them that there IS something wrong. Oh well, I guess it's the same in the world as well.
Well, back to Starsi Horvath's opening up. I think because he doesn't speak English as his first language, and has only been taking it for three years seriously, I think he has to focus very hard to always understand what everyone's saying. I must say though, he speaks quite well. It's just that you'll find him zoning out alot more than he should. He even takes naps during personal study time, MDT time, and other times when he should be studying. I think that he doesn't understand how important the MTC is. He'd rather be out doing missionary work, but doesn't want to invest into doing the preparation. We'll have to show him that preparation is important somehow.
Another thing that he seems to have difficulty with is using scriptures from the Book of Mormon. I can understand this to an extent because he did only join the church three years ago, but he doesn't seem to want to use the Book of Mormon to teach. He uses scriptures, but they're almost always from the book of Matthew or Mark. Those aren't the easiest books to understand all the time, especially when quoting Jesus Christ.
Anyway, concerning this, Starsi Jones and I have spoken many many times about what we should do. We don't want to tell him flat out because that could be more destructive than constructive and we're realizing that telling him indirectly isn't working. So one day I prayed about what we should do and I received the answer that we should tell him the next day. I was quite blown away by this answer, but I thought that if the Lord told me to, I should do it. Anyway, next day came and we went through the entire day but I didn't see a clear opening to tell him. That night, I said my prayer to go to bed and then as Starsi Jones and I were about to crawl into bed, Starsi Horvath asked us if we could talk for a little while. He started off by talking about how he loves having us as companions and how much he is learning from us. He also went on to ask us about what he could do better.
The Lord is so mindful of us and knows how we need to be helped. I know that Starsi Horvath was feeling the Spirit when he asked us to sit and talk for a while. I also know that the Lord understood that I was looking for the opportune time to talk, but also realized that I was too timid to speak, so He had Starsi Horvath start the conversation.
I cannot begin to list all the blessings the Lord has given me while I've been here and how He has blessed my companionship.
I'd like to thank Bishop Larson and Sister Saunders for their kind letters that I received yesterday. Bishop Larson, I know that I can always look toward you for kind words of encouragement. I'll be sure to write you when I manage to find some time. Sister Saunders, I thank you so much for the missionary newsletter that you sent me and that I could read of the good that the other missionaries from our ward are doing. It strengthens my testimony to know that I might be able to be as good as those elders in just a few short weeks.
As for my family, I can't believe that you sent me that picture of me when I was in the CougarEat. I am appalled! Haha, you know I'm joking. I showed it to Starsi Horvath and Jones right when I got it and they both found it quite amusing. Also thank you for the USB SD card converter. The computer recognizes that there is a new device plugged into the computer, but I can't access it because of the computer restrictions. Oh well. I guess you really will have to wait for me to send you an entire card of pictures.
Yesterday my companions and I realized that we've almost been here three weeks and that means we're one third done with the MTC. That, to be honest, scared me a little bit because I don't feel like I've really learned enough Czech. I'm probably going to end up going to the field barely knowing anything. But that's all right. Nearly all the talks we've had here at the MTC are about missionaries who have gone to the field barely knowing their language, or only knowing a few sentences, and still baptizing people. I know that the Lord will bless me as I strive to learn as much as I can.
I guess I lied when I said that I don't really know any Czech. I've started praying only in Czech, and I must say that it's really cool once you can start putting your own thoughts into it instead of short phrases that you've memorized. The teachers here are great because after your prayer, they know that you had a hard time with it and that you know that there was a lot wrong with it, but they just tell you one little thing that'll make it better like, "Starsi Monk, when you want to make 'Starsi Horvath' fourth case (accusitive/direct object), you need to make it 'Starsihu Horvathu.'"
I'm a little scared of tomorrow because we're going to try and teach the first lesson in Czech. I really hope that you can acquire the gift of tongues over night, otherwise, I'm going to not say much. I'll probably add in a "tesi me" every now and then which means "it is pleasing to me." The English equivelant is "oh, cool." Starsi Jones is really the one who holds up conversations for us.
Anyway, my time is coming to an end. I'd like to leave a short testimony in Czech for you all, but I can't type in Czech fast enough.
I love you all and I look forward to hearing from all of you,
Starsi Monk
PS - I'm sure that Starsi Horvath would love to get mail from any of you if you'd like to send him some. He's not really getting any mail because he's outside his home country and his family (besides his younger brother) aren't members. He was excited to get a letter from my dad, and knowing my dad, it probably didn't say much. So I know that anything you write to him, he'll enjoy.
Our address is:
Starsi Monk (or Starsi Horvath)
MTC Mailbox #88
CZE-PRA 1214
2005 N 900 E
Provo, UT 84604