Sister Kylie Guymon: April 2019

Monday, April 29, 2019

Ahoj -- April 29, 2019

Čau,

Tuesday was pday. We ran a bunch of errands and hiked the black tower. We also taught our English class which was a lot of fun.

Wednesday was so busy but full of miracles. We had a lesson in the morning, but ended up just getting bible bashed, so we just complimented her strong faith and testified because you can't argue with a testimony. Then the whole Prague zone came and we did group finding. We split into 3 different groups and went 3 different places. Some did a singing display, others had a huge family history poster, and the rest did a chalk display. We were able to find some really cool people together. Then we had a lesson right after that with a man we called while cleaning out the area book. God sent us a miracle... this man, Karel. We taught the restoration but cruised through it because he understood it and had already heard it so we ended up reading 3 Nephi 11 with him and talked about baptism. It was incredible. We also talked about prayer. We taught him how to pray and he had questions about if he should fold his arms or clasp his fingers or if he should kneel. We gave him an example and then he tried it. He gave a beautiful prayer. I know God truly is preparing people to be taught the restored gospel. This man was not ready for the message 3 years ago, but he is now.

Thursday was a whole lot of traveling. We had to go to Prague because I had Visa work. We took a train there but had to switch over to a bus because they were doing construction on the rails. Once we got around the construction, we got back on to the train. It was a lot of moving and I was able to help this cute older lady carry her suitcase up the stairs. At first she just flat out refused, but then she let me help. Czechs like to do things themselves. Then we had to take the metro to the church building. We were able to make it smoothly and figure everything out. We also got lunch at the piano restaurant which was delicious. Then we met up with the Hammons for Visa work then took a train home and did studies.

Friday was interesting. We had 3 lessons cancel on us, but it turned out ok because we were able to get all the things done that we needed to. We got weekly planning done and had to make muffins for the day of open doors. We had a really good turn out. I would say about 20 people came. Probably about half of them weren't members. It was fun to get to know each one of them. One man told me his story about how he escaped communism and it was pretty crazy. We had a barbeque. They also sang happy birthday to me in Czech twice and also in English, it was fun. We also sang to President Churdle because his birthday was 3 days ago. Then they sent me home with all the balloons. I looked ridiculous walking home with all of them. It was a birthday I will always remember.

Saturday was a good day. We helped teach the senior couple Czech. We also visited a cute returning member named Věra. We shared a thought and played uno with her. She has such a cute/unique "čau, čau, čau". Then we cleaned the church and had to cancel game night because it was raining and no one showed up. I'm grateful for nature and the wonderful smell of the earth after a rain shower! The complexity and beauty of the earth is a testament to me that God exists and that he loves us.

Sunday was branch conference and we had an incredible turnout!!! There were 35 people at church and we filled the entire chapel! The stake leaders gave incredible talks and I honestly just felt so much love for the Czech people. We have incredibly strong members who have been through a lot. I admire their testimonies. We had correlation with the stake leaders after church. Then, we had a lesson with a former we contacted in the area book and it went well. He seems promising. Then we went tracting and carried around a poster of Jesus with the articles of faith. We also had branch correlation that evening, so it was a busy day.

I just wanted to testify of God's timing. He answers our prayers in his own time in his own way. I know he knows what is best for us and that he trusts us. I know the timing of when I decided to go on a mission was perfect. I have met so many incredible people that I wouldn't have known if I had gone on my mission any earlier or later. I know God has a hand in our day to day lives we just have to look for it and recognize it.

I love you all,

Sestra Guymon

Tuesday, April 23, 2019

Vesele -- April 23, 2019

Ahoj!

Well this week I have been so grateful for my Savior, Jesus Christ. I'm so grateful for his atonement. I know that Christ has empathy for the things that we go through because he has experienced them. I know that thanks to him, we can be resurrected and live with our Heavenly Father again.

Tuesday is always a very busy day for us. We got all of our studies done in the morning. We talked to as many people as we could on the way to the church to set up and prepare for our English class. Then we went and had a lesson with Victoria and Petr. We are helping them learn English and are teaching them the gospel. We talked about easter and then showed the easter video and read some scriptures about the resurrection. Then we had a lesson with Radek and taught him the restoration again. He understands it well and basically taught it to us. We are helping him understand that he does know the doctrine and is ready to get baptized. Then we taught the beginners English class and that was a lot of fun.

Wednesday we had district council at the Glasser's house. Then another senior couple came to visit and so we all went to lunch together at McDonalds. We had a lesson cancel on us so we did some group finding in a park. We had a big poster that talked about the family history app. I was able to find 2 potentials. Then we went home and did our studies.

Thursday was a busy day but we managed to cram everything in. We got all our studies done in the morning. Then we had a zone conference chat through Facebook. We are still trying to figure out how to use technology better in our mission. Then we went and visited this cute old lady named věra. We share a spiritual thought with her and played a hand of uno. She plays by her on rules and it is hilarious. Then we went to visit a house that said we could return, but they weren't home. So the elders came and we sang Easter songs with the guitar and shared an Easter message with people. Then we came home and did weekly planning. Finally we called a less active and read a chapter in the kniha mormonova with her.

Friday we had a lesson with a family so we found 2 new investigators. They speak Chinese and English, so we taught them in English. They have a cute daughter. We taught them the restoration and invited them to church and to read and pray about the book of mormon. We also had a lesson with Radek. We had little plan of salvation pictures and had him put it in order. He knew it well. We talked about baptism and tried to give him a baptismal date. He wants to get baptized and receive the holy ghost. He wants to go to the temple and have the priesthood. He just doesn't want to rush. I'm thinking that there might be a deeper concern that is making him feel like he isn't ready and we just need to figure out what it is. Afterwards we had sports night and played frisbee and soccer. Then on the way home we saw these people all in black with white masks rolling these rattles, carrying torches, and a casket. It is a weird Easter tradition here. It almost felt like they are mocking the savior. The spirit immediately left and I just felt so gross. We sang hymns and prayed to get the Spirit back. It was an interesting day.

Saturday we went and taught the Glasser's Czech and that was a lot of fun. They also fed us lunch. We came home and did studies. Then we went and divided up a map of the area with the elders for tracting purposes. Then we cleaned the church building and our district went to dinner together. We had to run home to make it back on time. I've also been learning how to play the ukulele which has been fun.

Sunday was quite busy. We went to church an hour early to meet with a member whose bus got there early. Then we had a beautiful Easter church and talked about the Savior and his atonement. Afterwards we had a great lesson with a member and Radek. Then we went and visited a less active named Olína. Afterwards we went tracting and sang Easter hymns to people. Then we had dinner at the Glassers with the branch president's family. We wrapped up the day with correlation and discussed how we can help people in the branch.

Monday we had a normal day because pday got moved to Tuesday due to easter. We started out the day by running a 5k with president churdla and the elders. Haha the elders brought whips, which is a tradition here. The boys will whip the girls which is supposed to give them good luck and fertility and then the girls give them chocolate eggs in return. If the boys whip the girls after 12:00 PM the girls can dump a bucket of water on them. Then we went and painted the church building walls and cleaned up the patio. We also had district council at the glassers and skyped our families. It was a good day.

I love you all and hope you had a wonderful Easter.

S laskou,

Sestra Guymon

Monday, April 15, 2019

Cesky -- April 15, 2019

Monday... well I never thought this day would come, but I live on the 5th floor of a ponolock. We climb a lot of stairs and have 2 other neighbors right next to us. Luckily our place is pretty nice and Czechs are quiet people.

Tuesday was a busy day. We went running with the branch president and the elders. Then we did all of our studies. Then, we had a lesson with Victoria (12yrs) and Petr.(her dad) They are amazing people. We are teaching them about the gospel and also English. Then we had a lesson with Radek (our solid progressing person) and invited a member to come with us. We talked about general conference. They were both good lessons, but it was also really hard. Haha there is a lot that both of us don't understand and don't know how to say. Afterwards we were able to teach the conversational English class and it was fun to get to know everyone.

Wednesday was fun. We had district council and had to take a bus there. Well, we got on the right bus, but in the wrong direction. Haha, we figured it out though and were just a little bit late. We were also able to do some group finding. Sestra ockey and I contacted this amazing woman named andrea, we talked about the book of mormon and she invited us to come visit her at work and said we could talk more. Then we had dinner with the branch president and his family. They made delicious svíčkova.

Thursday was a great day. We went to lunch with vojtech, a member and the elders. Then we visited this cute grandma named věra. we shared a thought with her and played a round of uno. She plays by her own rules and it is hilarious. Then we had a lesson with andrea who we contacted the day before. We taught her the restoration and she was so excited to read the kniha mormonova. She has a cute family and 2 kids. Then we traveled to a little town outside of the city and visited a potential that was tracked into last week. She gave us fruit tea, so we had a little tea party and taught her the restoration. She has 4 kids. She also was so open to the gospel and wanted to find out that it was true. She was excited to read the kniha mormonova and she also just jumped right in and said a beautiful prayer. I was so impressed by her. It truly was a day of miracles. We found 2 new families to teach and both of then speak amazing English. God really does work miracles when we give him our all and trust him.

Friday was an adventure. We got our studies done in the morning. Then we did some contacting and lots of people were in a hurry. We got weekly planning done and recieved some great revelation on how to help the people we are teaching progress. Then we went to sports night. We had 2 people we are teaching come. We played soccer together and some funny memories came as a result. Then we went back to the church so starsi graff could learn how to use the chair that takes věra up the stairs. Věra is an elderly woman who has the cutest laugh. Then we went home and made dinner. I have never laughed so hard in my life. Missionary work is hard and stressful sometimes, but you also have to make it fun. I'm so grateful for my wonderful companion. I know we will truly be friends long after the mission.

Saturday we went for our morning run and passed a drunk guy trying to ride a bike. He couldn't balance and fell over onto his back. It was scary. We didn't know what to do, but then he got up and got on his bike, but he was all over the road. Later, we went contacting around the naměstí but then left because it was all tourists. We then went out to a little vesnice (town) and tracted there. It was a bit of a struggle figuring out buses there and back, but we made it. Then we cleaned the church building.

Sunday was a wonderful day. We had fast and testimony meeting and it was amazing to hear the strong testimony of the members here. There were about 20 people at church. After church we had a lesson with Radek and discussed what he has been reading in the kniha mormonova. He had a lot of good questions and there was a bit of a language barrier to be honest, but with the spirit we were able to answer his questions. Then we came home and broke our fast. Afterwards we visited a returning member named olena. The elders gave her the sacrament and then left for another lesson and we stayed to teach her. She gave me a cute little glass pig and a kiss on the cheek to help me remember her which is just what all the grandmas do here and it is so cute. Then we went tracting and there was one family that told us we could come back next week so we were excited about that. It was a beautiful Sunday.

Today we visited česky Krumlov and made pancakes together.

I know this church is true and there is no other place in the world I would rather be than sharing the gospel with the Czech people.

S laskou,

Sestra Guymon