That is quite the email title isn't it? This week we
got new computers installed, along with new monitors. Four of them. We spent a
vast majority of Tuesday and Wednesday in the office
helping a church employee from Frankfurt, who actually served in this mission
about 10 years ago set up all of the new computers. What I learned was that I
don't really know much how to work computers. That is why we call in people who
know what they are doing for this kind of stuff. It was fun and new, and not at
all something that I expected to do on my mission. Moving past that, we still
managed to have some lessons and to talk with people on the street, doing our
regular thing. So I will give some highlights of the missionary work of our
week:
- Tuesday morning
we knew that this guy was coming in from Germany between 11 and 12. So we
decided that we were just going to get out first thing in the morning and
contact. Let me just tell you, if you ever want to see a full tram or
metro, come to Prague and get on the metro going through the center of
town at around 8:30 am. It was basically wall to wall people. A
little harder to talk to lots of them, but we still managed. Then we
walked around for a couple or hours talking to everyone who came across
our path. It was a really fun morning to just get right to work and keep
going through obstacles and opposition. Just a good morning being a
missionary.
- On
Wednesday night we had a singing display. It was very interesting. It
was actually quite cold out, and I ran into a whole lot of tourists, as
well as some Czechs. And got into a contact with a man who knew the Bible
very well, and basically just talked to me about it for 45 minutes
straight. It was a little hard to get anything in, but I was at least able
to bear testimony and to invite him to learn more. He told me that he
would be interested to come to church, so we will see what happens with
that.
- On
Thursday we did group finding drawing a chalk display about the Book
of Mormon. It was a good one too, and we saw lots of success and interest
from people. We met a really cool YSA who sat down on a bench with us and
talked for 15 minutes or so. It was a good block of time. We also had a
lesson with one of investigators, and the second counselor in the
Bishopric came. He is about 30, and a convert of 5 years. Suffice it to
say that he is basically my personal hero. He is super cool. We talked a
lot about the Book of Mormon, and about how it relates to the Bible and
where the connections are between them. It was a really fun lesson, and he
is really interested to see what he can get from the Book of Mormon. He is
a cool investigator, and we are hoping that we can continue to work with
him.
- We
had a couple of disappointments this week with first lessons that got
cancelled at the last minute, but we are still in contact with the people,
so we are hoping that we can keep working with them and that they will
still have interest. It is a good sign that they let us know beforehand
and didn't just not show-up and not answer the phone at all.
- There
have apparently been two Czech medals. One gold in Judo and another
something in something else. Didn't understand the name of the sport in
Czech when the member said it today (canoe
slalom). Good stuff about the Olympics, thanks for the updates.
I am sure that more than that happened this week,
but I cannot really remember it much, so I will just move on to the spiritual
thought. This week I have been thinking
about how important our desires are. I was reading several talks and scriptures
that talk about how we will be rewarded according to the desires of our hearts.
I believe that this is because the Lord loves us, and wants to give us those
things that we desire, even if we are aiming lower than our actual potential.
The problem that we have is that sometimes our desires are selfish and that we
don't always want to put in the effort to be perfect. Sometimes we just want to
be perfect. So how can we change that and overcome these desires? The great
thing about the gospel is that we know that we can change. I believe the best
way for us to change is to look at our true potential as children of God. When
we keep that in mind it becomes much easier to align our wills with God's, and
to put in the effort to continue pressing forward. There are also other good
things that can remind us of our potential, including our family name, our
talents, our abilities, and our goals. So my challenge to you all this week is
to remember. To remember the things that are available to you if you will
choose to follow God and apply the gospel and Atonement in your lives.
Thanks for the prayers and support!
-Elder Pickett
Brad’s new niece Sadie Marie Roper born July 31st (yes… Harry Potter’s birthday!!)
That is some great news about Sadie. I am glad to
hear that is she is doing well after her NICU stay and is healthy and all that.
I will cross my fingers (or hold my thumbs as the Czechs say) that she can get
off of oxygen soon. Glad to hear that everything in her heart is closing
up naturally and healthily.
Mom, I am glad that you will have an
opportunity to study from the New Testament as you prepare to substitute in
seminary. It is a great book of scripture. I am a huge fan of it. Especially
the 4 gospels. To answer your question for insight, my top 10 things that
were meaningful to me from seminary over the years.
1) A
habit of scripture reading
2) A spiritual start
to my day every day before high school
3) Learning what the
heck is even in the Old Testament
4) Familiarizing
myself with the parables, miracles, and stories of Christ's ministry
5) Learning how to get
up early even when I don't want to (helpful for college and a mission)
6) The chance to get to
know members from other wards who I previously didn't know (Daniel Goold,
Brandon Pulley, etc.)
7) The dedication and
gospel insights that I learned from my teachers, as well as their personal
testimonies
8) Increased knowledge
of the Doctrine and Covenants, and the ability to say that I read it all the
way through
9) Scripture Mastery
scriptures that we use as missionaries all the time, and that teach the key
doctrines of the gospel quickly and simply
10) Overall an
increased testimony and knowledge about the gospel, which led to an increased
personal desire to know and act for myself
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