Sorry that I didn't write last week. I thought that I did, but I guess I didn't. It's okay, nothing really happened, sadly. We got our toilet completely fixed finally - the "last" time that we fixed it, it was kind of weird because the tube that we bought didn't really fit the threads on the toilet, so we ended up forcing it on. The tube was metal and the fitting was plastic, so... yes, it dripped a little, and it was getting progressively worse over the next week, so we took the tube and the fitting part (which is part of the module on the inside of the toilet) to the store and we told them that they didn't fit. They ended up playing around with like four or five different fittings and tubes until two fit together. That, by the way, is ridiculous - if it takes that many tries to get some pieces that fit together, there's a problem. Anyway, the toilet is perfect now. :D
Jínak (in other news - literally: differently), this week is very strange. As you've probably guessed, I'm in Prague! There was an emergency exchange in Olomouc, and now I'm here. Very strange, huh? Turns out that one of the missionaries from Plzeň had to go home early so he could start school, so there was a hole there, and President Irwin felt that it needed to be filled. So he searched the entire mission, and it was said that he thought about every single different missionary to see if they would be the one that would work the best there. Turns out that Elder McGowan was the one that he felt had to go there. So... the real news, I'm in a threesome, AGAIN! Isn't that ridiculous? Elder Anderson (one of my old zone leaders and now AP) says that I probably have a record on that: four out of five transfers on my mission have had a threesome in some way, shape or form. Crazy. I've now had nine companions in five transfers. Yes, that is crazy.
Anywhosers, that doesn't answer why I'm here in Prague. Let us start at this last Monday. Elder McGowan and Pearson were in Prague to get Elder Pearson's visa renewal, because it's that time for him, but it turned out that they went almost in vain because they weren't ready yet. So, President Irwin pulled McGowan into his office and spoke to him for a while and basically popped the news on him that he was going to be moving to Plzeň that Wednesday. Then he pulled Elder Pearson into his office to pop the same news, but on the flip side to him. Anyway, they came home and then decided to pop the news on us. That was nuts. So our Monday was kind of shot and thrown off because we were all pretty confused about what the heck was going on, even though I've been through this once already.
Then comes Tuesday. We actually had a pretty normal working day, in Olomouc South, but we didn't have the best of weather, so it didn't turn out so well - all the Czechs were unhappy that their nice weather was taken away from them.
Then on Wednesday morning, at 7:30 or so, Elder McGowan caught his train to Plzeň and that was the last that I saw of him, until today, which I will explain later. (This week truly has been crazy.) Then we came home, got ready for the day, and then we went to Zlín because the other Elders had planned on an exchange that day, and they couldn't cancel it, so we went, and Elder Pearson worked with Elder Tall (the elder companion - also training) and I was stuck with two greenies! How's that for fun? Anyway, it was really nice being back in Zlín, but I now see how tiny that city is. We stayed there for the night because we were having a full-day exchange and then we left the next day.
Thursday, we got home around noon, worked in our city for about an hour, and then we had to go to Prostějov, where most of the members from the Olomouc branch live, for branch council. We went there and decided to see an inactive member before we went over to the meeting and that went really well. He's really cool and seems to have a really good testimony. The only thing that keeps him from coming to church is that he has no transportation to get to Olomouc and he can't take the train because he's afraid that he'll get beat up by gangs. Seems to be a pretty true story because his son attested to it as well. We then got home late, and started working, but there just didn't seem to be anyone outside that was willing to listen to us. So, another hard day where we basically weren't in our own city all day.
Then on Friday we were in Brno! They were having zone leader conference and since we're with Elder Pearson, we had to go but we couldn't stay for the meeting, so we went on exchanges with a companionship from Brno, because their area is having a little bit of trouble there. I went on an exchange with Elder Vivona, and we had some good conversations with people, even though it was raining, but not much else really came of it. Later, we got home around 5:00pm and then started working in our own city again, but yet again, another hard day where no one wanted to listen.
Strangely enough, Saturday we got to work in Olomouc! Weird huh? It was kind of weird working in Olomouc for basically the first time in the week and thinking, "Oh, it's Saturday." Yeah, that sucks. We worked hard that day, even though it was still really gross weather and no one really wanted to talk, but we just kept strong arming it and working hard, knowing that something had to happen. Basically, for me, there was a kid that was riding past us in the park on his bike and was staring really badly, and I said "hello" to him, and then he seemed really confused. We kept walking and he kept riding, but a few seconds later I could hear him turn around. He came up and rode along side us, and we started talking. He really liked that we spoke English, because he wanted to practice his English and said that it would be a good experience for him. We kept talking and I spoke about why we were here and he didn't have the greatest interest, but I tied it back into the fact that he could practice English with us and he seemed willing to meet with us again. I don't particularly like using English as a hook to get people to meet but if that's what it takes to get someone to listen, then I'm willing to use it. So, there's a potential in the bag. I'm going to call him probably today or tomorrow.
Then we had a normal Sunday - church, studies, work, calls. We had a bench lesson in the park because it finally started to be sunny outside, but the guy was very intent on holding onto the Catholic church even though he didn't know why. He didn't know anything about his beliefs, but it seemed to be the only thing in his life that he could depend on, so he was very intent on holding it.
So, now we're at today - we're here in Prague again because Elder Pearson's visa didn't go through! So, did I scare any of you at the beginning making you think that I was the one that was emergency exchanged? I tried to, but if I didn't, I guess it was a joke made in vain.
So, this week has been stressful, long and I don't feel like I've been in Olomouc very much. That's fine though, I know that this week we're going to be in Olomouc all week, except for today and Friday when we're in Brno again for Zone Conference. We should have good weather too, so the Czechs should be happy. :D
Look forward to the blue skies because they're much more beautiful after you've endured the gray storm clouds. :)
Starší Monk
PS - as for all of you that I didn't write individually this week, I'm sorry because I'm still limited on time this week even though I'm in Prague on a mission office computer. :(
This is my greenie: Elder Page.
He's checking out some features on his camera or something.
Elder McGowan.
You'd be surprised how often he makes this face.
This is our new third wheel!
Say hello to Elder Pearson. :)
The view from my bathroom window a few days ago.
Isn't it pretty? I thought that I'd share it.