I heard that there was a hurricane on the East Coast, but Suzie told me that you're all well and fine. I'm glad of that. I remembered hearing from people around town telling me that there was a hurricane heading for the Northeast and telling me that it would hit New York. I didn't know whether to believe them or to not let it bother me. I decided to leave it in the Lord's hands. It seems that it's turned out for the best.
So, a little about this last week. This has been the miracle week of my mission. It seemed that finally, when at the beginning of the transfer that everything that could go wrong did go wrong, now everything that could go right did go right. It was a truly amazing week. First off, we had something that has only happened a few times in my mission: we had at least one lesson every single day of the week and more than half of the week we had at least two (we totaled up at the end of the week at twelve).
So, a kind of crazy story about something that happened this week. Almost two weeks ago now, we contacted this couple on the street close to the town square We spoke for just a few minutes but they didn't really seem to have any interest. They then told us that they were going to catch a bus, and we told them that we were too (and we actually were - we were just contacting on the way) and found out they were going to the same place, so, perhaps against their will, we followed them and continued to speak with them. The girl was really quiet, but I tried to get her involved as well. They really didn't seem to have any interest, but kept asking questions because they didn't want to make a scene and tell us to go away, so perhaps they were asking the questions just keep a friendly conversation. At the end when we parted from each other, we gave them both contact cards and thought that was that, however, a few days later we got a really random text. It was from an unknown number and all it was was a smiley face ":)". That really confused us because were off to a meeting and we didn't have time to reply, so we left it for a little later. When I finally got around to texting back, I sent something to the effect of: "Hi. How are you? Who are you?" I got back that it was "Aneta" and that we had met the previous Friday. I didn't remember any Aneta and so I just played along and asked if she'd like to meet with us. She said yes, and so we set something up and we didn't really know what to think. So, come the meeting, we get to the place (meetings where you don't know who you're meeting with are the worst because you just stand there looking at everyone really strangely/friendly in such a way to say, "are you my friend that I'm waiting for?") and start waiting, but we didn't wait long before this girl starts walking up to us. Then I recognized her, though I still didn't remember where we'd met. But recognized her. We took her over and sat down and had a decent lesson. She's way quiet, still, but said that she wanted to meet because she was curious in learning more. Okay, I can deal with that. So we taught her and gave her a Book of Mormon, and set up for another lesson. She came to the next meeting too. That lesson went better, but still way quiet. Then we invited her to come to family home evening (an activity put on by the senior couple for young adults) and she agreed to come to that. Elder Gabrielsen reminded me after the first lesson that she was the girl with the guy that we contacted on that road, and it blew my mind. I really didn't think that anything came of that conversation, but I guess something did!
Also, with Laďa, he's still doing well and going strong to baptism. He prayed the other day in a lesson with us and in his prayer, said that he's looking forward and is excited for his baptism. He also came with us to a baptism that happened in Třebíč! Yes, there was one there. Laďa really liked it and knows a little more for sure what he's getting himself into, but really he's so set on it that I doubt anything is going to keep him back from it.
Anyway, back to that baptism in Třebíč: Ari Kanitrova got baptized! She's the Mongolian lady that I taught back then. She was so happy to see me. They asked me to play a small musical number at the baptism and I said that it wouldn't be a problem, but the night before, on the way home, I remembered that I had left the violin at the church building, so that meant that we'd have to get up early, go to the building, pick up the violin, come back the way we came to the train station, buy the tickets, and then get on the train. From our house to the building can be a good forty minute excursion if you catch the trams just right, so we had to get up quite early because our train was at 7:45. Anyway, we made that just fine and made out train just fine. We got to Třebíč, and then, when we were down in the valley (the train station is up on the hill above Třebíč) Elder Bracken asked, "Where's the violin?" I had left the violin on the train. Elder Gabrielsen and I ran back up the hill (it was a four to six minute run straight up hill) to train station to find that the train had already left. We had been gone for a good ten minutes, so it didn't surprise me. We got in contact with some people there and they contacted the train and found the violin and put it on the next train back to Třebíč, but it was going to be after we had to be at the baptism, so we had the baptism without my musical number, but instead we missionaries sang it. The baptism was beautiful. I'll add a picture. Afterward, I went and picked up the violin and went and saw Dana again. She's doing fine, but she's got a whole new pile of problems.
That was a fun little excursion in Třebíč. That's only the second convert baptism in Třebíč in five years. I can gladly say that I am really happy for them.
Yesterday we had a conference here in Brno, so that's why we didn't get to have p-day or emailing, and thus I'm writing today. We went on a vylet (small trip) to a castle near by named Pernštýn. It was pretty cool, but, what can I say, it was a pretty typical castle, but probably better than the castle was being with the district just to hang out. That was what I really liked.
I can't believe that it's already my last p-day and that I'll be seeing you all in a week, but it's true. I'll just work as hard as I can now, and be glad to see you when I get there. I'll be satisfied that I have done everything that I could have. I love you all. Here are some pictures.
Love,
Starší Monk
PS - P 0890 is Ari and Elder Bracken
P 0875 is where the baptism was outside of Třebíč
p 0301 is our district, Bara, Lad'a and Kaja
p 0308 is me in the dungeon of Pernštýn