What Eclipse?

Elder Pickett & Elder Robinson getting a “Missionary Mom Couriered” package while in the Mission Office in Prague!  Thanks Heap family!

Hello everyone! This week has been quick, disturbingly quick. Lots happened, and I will try to include what I can.

Two weeks ago:

• We had exchanges with the Assistants in Prague. I was with Elder Chadwick, my old MTC companion. He is awesome, and it was a great exchange. Elder Robinson exchanged with Elder Carlson, the other AP. He served with Elder Beazer before I did, and they are from the same MTC group. We also got to run through the main train station trying to catch a train to get back to Zlín on time. We wouldn't have made it at all, but luckily the train had a 50 minute delay, so we were able to make it home on time and not be stranded in Prague.
• We also had district meeting here in Zlín with the Zone Leaders. They did a great demonstration of teaching someone, and afterwards we went finding together. We drew out a big chalk display and sent some missionaries out on a scavenger hunt. It was very successful, and we met a lot of great people.

This week:

• Finding was not very successful this past week, but I believe it will be better this upcoming week. We have lots of people, we just need to successfully get in contact with them and set-up lessons. We will be making some more calls today, hopefully that will go well. The district is doing well. We are seeing some success, not as much as we would like, but still making progress. I hope that we will continue to see more.

 Fun with the District (photos from Elder Raines!)

• We had Zone conference on Thursday in Brno. Our bus got into a tiny car crash (I can't even classify it as a fender-bender, because the only damage was paint), but because of laws with car crashes in the Czech Republic we were delayed by almost a full hour, and got into training late. So we ran in (reverently), only to find out that a bunch of other missionaries had gotten stuck in traffic and had other transportation delays, so we didn't miss anything. That was good news. It was a fabulous training and we heard a lot of great thoughts. The Slovak Zone Leaders shared a talk by Elder S. Mark Palmer (Scott also sent it to Brad as a spiritual thought) about learning to see others as the Lord sees them rather than with our own eyes, and when we do, our love for them will grow and so will our desire to help them. This applies to everyone we are contacting, companions, members of our district, branches and wards. Elder Palmer says, "with Christlike love, we will not be afraid to speak with boldness, for perfect love casteth out fear."
  
  
• On Saturday this week we got to do some service for a member, and afterwards eat lunch at their house. Their son is leaving for the MTC today, and will be serving in the Germany, Berlin mission. It was great to talk with him a little about the MTC and missions, and fun to remember the pre-MTC butterflies.
• On Sunday I woke up with some bad stomach cramping and after throwing-up went back to bed. So we missed church yesterday, and spent the day recovering, and eating bread and drinking water, very slowly. But I am alive and healthy now, totally recovered.
• We email from a library, but it has an interesting computer system thing for us. I'll include a few last week highlights for this week's email as well. Pictures next week...Sorry. I have about 2 minutes of computer time left, but I just finished my main email (this blog update!), so it should arrive at any time.
• I love all of the eclipse build-up. It is always lots of fun, and almost everyone misses the actual thing (not this time!), or doesn't notice, or is inside and can't see anything.

My spiritual thought today is on the Book of Mormon. We have started a new challenge in our mission, that we are reading 17 pages a day in the Book of Mormon, outside of study time (meaning when we are getting ready, when we are eating, when we have a moment, we are reading) in order to finish it in a month. We started it after training on Friday, and it has been interesting to see the power that the Book of Mormon has. I have a strong testimony that the Book of Mormon has the power to change our relationship with God, to strengthen us against temptation and discouragement, and to strengthen our testimony of the Savior Jesus Christ. So I invite you all this week to dedicate some time to reading in the Book of Mormon. It doesn't have to be 17 pages, but try to do some. I know it will make a difference for you. Thanks for all the support and prayers! Love you lots! Have a great week!

-Elder Pickett

From Brad:  Brandon (far right) is home, that is so weird to me. He is awesome. He is very comfortable speaking in front of a large crowd so no surprise to hear his homecoming talk was great. And he is a spiritual giant as well, which is always a big help. (1st of 4 high school/ XC friends returning from his mission!)