P-Day Excursions to Hrad Veveri and Mikulov

Brno district with town of Mikulov in the background

Veveri castle

Getting knighted as "Brnaci" (people from Brno)

Historic market square in Mikulov

Mikulov castle

In old town center of Mikulov

Looking down on the town of Mikulov

Starsi Shirley and his companion Starsi Oviatt

Brno district at Veveri castle

March 6, 2017

Hi!

I've been on some pretty cool P-day trips the last 2 weeks. I'll send you as many pictures as I can. We went to Hrad Veveri with 2 members and we got knighted as "Brnaci"(which means people from Brno) and we also went to a city called Mikulov. 

We had a few member meals this last week and we will have another couple this week. We are trying to change the mission and get more to the member side of the work than just on the streets.

We have quite a few investigators right now, just nobody with a baptismal date. Nobody seems to want it bad enough right now to commit to a date. We have taught the Plan of Salvation a few times this last week and you never think about how many different questions people can have about it. I find myself having to stop and think about some of these things because these questions have never even crossed my mind. Alma 40 is a great chapter though. 

I had an opportunity to give a baptismal interview this week. The missionaries have a guy ready to be baptized next week so we drove there and I got to do the interview. It was a good experience and built my testimony in the fact that people can go from a normal person to someone with a testimony and ready to be baptized in a short amount of time, just through keeping commitments and following the Lord.

Next week will be transfers! My comp is heading home back to Canada and we'll see what happens here in Brno. 

In our email, we told Elder Shirley about his brother Dan and the team winning the state basketball championship this past weekend. Here is his reaction to the news:

My heart dropped when I opened my email and saw yours titled “State Champions”! I can't believe it! Well, actually I can. They have a solid group of kids playing right now. They had an awesome weekend and an awesome tournament. That is so awesome! I can only imagine how it was to be there and experience it. Or to be Dan and actually play in it. That is the dream of every basketball player...to win the state title. Awesome! 

I have honestly been thinking about it all week....not to the point of being distracted but it has been hard not to be there. I couldn't be happier for Dan though.

Love you!

-Elder Shirley

We've Been Meeting With All Kinds of People

At the zone training this past week

Elder Shirley teaching at zone conference

February 27, 2017

Hi!

As far as missionary work goes here, we seem to have a huge teaching pool still. We are meeting with all kinds of people and seeing people that we contact on the street set up and meet with us again. The main problem that we are struggling with right now is getting those people that we meet with to progress. Nobody is progressing too well right now, but we have some really cool investigators. 

We had zone training this last week here in Brno. Elder Oviatt and I prepared a training about getting investigators to progress. It went well. I think my favorite part of training though was from Pres. Pohorelicky. He talked about the importance of companions. Not only here on the mission, but also after we get home. These companions that we serve with here can have a big impact on us. 

Wow...sorry. Time has already run out! I spent too much time today looking at basketball pictures haha. I have no doubt that Sugar can pull through and win the state championship this year. They have had an awesome season. Not going to lie, it was easier to hear about last year's season haha. It's hard to hear about how well they are doing and not be able to be there and see it! I guess you never realize how much you love it until after-the-fact, especially when I'm not there to even watch. Tell Dan good luck for me!

Love you lots!

-Elder Shirley

Repetition Is The Mother Of Wisdom

Starsi Shirley with Starsi Lanham, who is going home soon. Starsi Shirley says that he is"one of the people that has had the best influence on me here"

A Cuban lady who knows the missionaries. She contacted us and invited us over for lunch

Starsi Shirley with a pin that was sent to him. It says "missionary of the year"

Starsi Shirley says "just a classic missionary lunch, grilled cheese and tomato soup". We're glad to see that he's not going hungry!

Out on a P-day hike with his companion Starsi Oviatt

On a P-day hike with a member

February 20, 2017

Hi!

We had MLC (mission leadership conference) in Prague with President this last Tuesday. It is great being able to spend a little bit of time around President. He is definitely a spiritual man. I saw some missionaries at MLC for the last time, namely Elder Lanham. He will be going home soon and I won't be seeing him again. Sad to see him go! He is probably one of the people that has had the best influence on me here on my mission.

We had a pretty good teaching week, teaching 5 lessons on Wednesday. It is funny how often we teach the same things to people as missionaries. Repetition though, is important! As a Czech phrase goes "Opakování je matka moudrosti", which means, “repetition is the mother of wisdom”. Going out and teaching the message of the Restoration of the gospel really strengthens your testimony that it is true!

A few of our investigators are progressing and doing well. In fact, we even had 7 investigators at church this last Sunday between the 2 companionships, which was awesome!

The work is really moving forward here. How could it not when God is at the helm? I love this time that I have to share the gospel and invite people the come to Christ. It brings the greatest happiness and joy to preach the gospel. 

Elder Shirley shared the following lesson with us that he has learned while on his mission:

One thing that I have seen is that, after the fact, it is easier to see things in a different light, whether that be in sports like basketball or whether that be out here on my mission. I have wondered oftentimes out here on my mission, "Why am I with this companion?" or, "Why I am still serving in this area?" I don't know whether it is because God has a plan and blesses us with such "trials," as they seem to be in that given moment, or whether that is just how human nature works, or maybe even a combination of the two, but I do know that with the "vision" that we have after the fact, it shows us the good that comes from these "hardships."

Oh, by the way, I got a letter this last week from two girls here in the CZ. They are high school students here that actually are following my blog. They said they love it and read it every week. I don't know what you guys are doing to make my blog look so great, but thanks! I definitely don't feel like my writing is good enough to keep people interested sometimes, but I appreciate the time you put into it!

Love you all!

-Elder Shirley

Our Single Most Successful Week Finding People To Teach

Starsi Oviatt, Sestra Harrington and Starsi Shirley

There's a lot of people to contact in that building!

An Elder Shirley selfie

February 13, 2017

Hey! 

As for investigators, this week combined with last week is the single most successful time I have had on my mission as far as finding people to teach. When we weekly planned we had around 20 names of people that had set up appointments with us. Elder Oviatt and I can't even think of anything that we are doing different, but we are seeing the hastening of the work here. We are definitely feeling grateful. And even now, a few of those people didn't come to the scheduled lessons, but we are blessed.

We have one investigator that is progressing well and she is meeting with us often. She came to church as well on Sunday. It has been fun teaching her because she actually keeps commitments! I don't think there is a commitment that she hasn't kept yet. We have a few other regular investigators, but nobody right now is too close to baptism.

Today we wanted to go look at a castle that was somewhat close to Brno. We took a train and a bus to get out to this little town and then we were going to walk there. We hadn't realized from looking at the map how long of a walk it would be. We ended up hiking for quite a long time, but in order to make our train back, we didn't even see the castle. Definitely a good hike, that I'm sure Dad would have loved, but we didn't even make it to the castle haha.

Love you all lots!

-Elder Shirley

Our questions and Elder Shirley’s answers: 

Q. Anything you’d like us to send to you for your birthday?

A. With my birthday coming up, I really can't say I need anything. Needed things are few and far between. I think I'll need a lot more when I get back than when I am here.

Q. If you end up getting transferred next time, is there a particular area where you would like to serve?

A. If I got transferred once more......not sure. Probably Prague or Plzen. We'll see what happens.

I Really Enjoy Zone Training Days

The Brno district went bowling

February 6, 2017

Hi! 

As for my week, we had zone training this last Tuesday. It was a long training because we also watched the missionary broadcast which I sure you have heard about. Basically we just got a new everyday missionary schedule. As for this mission, not a whole lot changed. Our mission has always been a little flexible with time and when we can do things. The biggest difference is that we have a lot more time at home in the morning and in the evening. So we can fill the time however we would like. My comp and I have started working out in the evening as well. The part of training that we were in charge of, we talked about practicing teaching our lessons in companion study and how important it is. Not too interesting of a topic, especially for those who aren't missionaries, but it was great. I just really enjoy training days to see President and to be together as a zone. Now that I am older in the mission, it is cool because I feel like I, to some extent, personally know the missionaries that are here. 

We had an exchange after training, and it was good. We taught a lady that came to our English class. She has dreads down to her knees and is pretty Buddhist, but she actually ended up coming to church with her friend. That was a nice surprise. We have a few other investigators that are progressing, but the people with dates seem to be avoiding us for the moment. We have another good week planned ahead of us though, again, so we are excited for that. 

As great as the Super Bowl sounded, I can't say that I am too happy with the result. As far as the food goes though, that sounded like it didn't disappoint. Hey, recently I have been thinking about trying to put on some weight before I get back. The goal wouldn't to be just put on weight, but in theory, to put on muscle weight haha.

Sorry for the pretty weak email this week. I'll make it up next week :) Love you lots!

-Elder Shirley

Ready for Warmer Weather

Brno district:  Sestra Huylar, Starsi Oviatt, Starsi Shirley, Sestra Harrington

Enjoying some ping-pong at a recent missionary get-together

January 30, 2017

Hi!

We had a good teaching week, like we planned on! We taught our one investigator that has been investigating for the last few months. He is great and is the farthest that I have ever been in the teaching process with someone. But we taught him the Law of Chastity this last week, and in short, it didn't go to well. We'll see if he keeps progressing. It might just take a while longer for him to get baptized!

We have two new investigators this week who are both progressing: a 25 year old guy and a teenage girl. We are at the start of teaching with both of them, so we'll see how it plays out. We have this other lady with a baptismal date and she even came to church this week! We think she could make baptism within the next month. 

Other than teaching, we went on an exchange in the city of Zlin this last week. I went on an exchange with a new missionary, and we had a lot of fun and saw success together. It just took me back a long ways to when I was a new missionary. It made me think of when I had exchanges with the zone leaders for the first time and how cool of an experience that was. It’s crazy how the roles change so fast!

Pulled pork sandwiches are the best! I've missed those. I actually had those for the first time about 2 months ago. A senior couple made them for us. {We told Elder Shirley that we had pulled pork sandwiches at Grandma Shirley’s house this past weekend}

I am hoping the weather starts warming up a little here. Finding on the streets is much more enjoying when you are not freezing. Hey, this last Saturday we were outside for quite a while and it was pretty dang cold. By the end of the day, my one my fingers was literally discolored because it was so cold haha. But it turned out alright. I was also walking around in the apartment for about 30 minutes until I got all feeling back in my feet again. Pretty intense!

Q.  What is your testimony of the Plan of Salvation? {Our question to Elder Shirley}

A. The Plan of Salvation. I was just thinking about it this morning. I think the most important part of the plan is the goal. That we can become like God. That is the reason why we are here. It just makes sense. I was thinking about how no other church believes that....kinda interesting. Jesus Christ, prophets, commandments, and everything else that we have in the gospel is for our progression, not only in this life but for our life after this one. God is so loving that he gives us the opportunity not only to live with him, but to become like Him. And it is all thanks to Jesus Christ. 

Love you!

-Elder Shirley

Not Everyone We Contact Appreciates Our Message

All of the missionaries in the Czech/Slovak mission as of 12/29/16

January 23, 2017

Hi!

Everything here is great! We had a pretty interesting last few days. In fact, Saturday night we had an interesting incident. We had been outside for about 4 hours contacting and hadn't really had any success. We were on a city bus trying to talk with a guy that didn't really have interest. And then the lady right behind him lost it. She had apparently had enough listening to us and she turned to us and just started screaming. Literally, screaming haha. She managed to yell for a few minutes straight, spit flying out of her mouth during the whole thing. I think I heard about every swear word that I know of, and quite a few new ones haha. The guy that we were talking to got off the bus, we moved to the front, and keep contacting. Opposition means we are doing something right, right? :)

Investigators were very few this last week. We had Missionary Leadership Conference this last week in Prague and it was actually a two day thing this time. So we were out of our area at the beginning of the week and then mid-week, we had an exchange in the city of Trebic. So we were out of our area a while and people just didn't seem to have time to meet. This next week should be the week of meetings and investigators. We have high hopes. 

We did have one really good lesson this last week. We taught with our stud ward mission leader. We taught a guy that was found a few months ago and is slowly progressing. He has had a date a few times, but just hasn't put enough time into it yet to really know. The cool part was in the middle of the lesson he expressed to us that when he is with us in the building, he just feels better, like he wants to be a better person. But that when he goes home, that feeling slowly goes away. We testified that that was the Spirit and that we can not only feel it with us, but even at home by himself when he reads and prays. He should have another baptismal date soon!

My companion, Elder Oviatt, is still great. I think me and him are more similar than almost any of my companions yet. I've enjoyed the transfer so far. Oh, I have to apologize. I didn't send anything for Christmas. Not even a card....I hope you weren't too disappointed! I'll make it up by bringing home lots :)

Love you lots!

-Elder Shirley