So it's been a week. We're still in quarantine, but we're still in the Czech Republic, so that's a huge huge plus. Definitely a blessing.
The quarantine hasn't been as bad as I thought it was gonna be. We've made brownies three times, banana bread twice, and homemade bread. Ockey and Ray have gotten more and more out of it as the week has gone on, so that's been my form of entertainment. It's been getting warmer, but yesterday it snowed. Not a fan of that.
Technology is a huge blessing during all of this. We've been able to meet with people individually over video call that we've been wanting to have the chance to talk to for awhile. We've also been able to do video call Czech lessons for the virus waiters in the US who are supposed to come to this mission. Our mission has also been doing a mission wide video call every morning. That's been a huge blessing. It's been great to get updates about the situation and just talk with the other missionaries for awhile. We've also been doing a nightly Come Follow Me study with our district over video chat, and it's been so cool. It keeps us sane haha
We had the opportunity to get out of the house a few times and go to my favorite place in the Czech Republic. We went to the Raj (the member's orchard), and we started planting all the chestnut trees! Literally never thought that day would come. But now I know how to plant a chestnut tree, so that's pretty sick. Definitely an essential life skill to have haha.
Kind of random but I thought it was funny. We're required to wear masks every time we go outside. A member was talking about the benefits he sees from it. He says that because of the masks he can now sympathize with how dogs feel wearing muzzles, he can eat as much garlic as he wants and no one will care, and he doesn't have to worry about being polite and greeting his neighbors cause he never sees them. Haha you gotta just look on the bright side.
Highlight of the week: We have a new investigator!!! Dang I'm so freaking stoked. So this kid is 18, and he's the Physics student of one of our members. He comes to our English class, and we've been having little Bible discussions with him over Facebook. We've been wanting to have an actual lesson with him for awhile, but he's way busy with school and stuff. But thanks to Corona he's got time now! This kid's got an incredible story. So his family aren't believers at all. A few years ago he started thinking about the possibility of there being a God. He believed something existed, but he didn't know what. He had a friend who was religious who decided to pray with him. Our friend said that when that prayer was said he felt a intense warm feeling in his chest, and from that point on he's known that God exists. He's down to keep having meetings with us, because he wants to strengthen his faith and get closer to God. We're so stoked to help him do that. He's such a cool kid.
So during the quarantine we're allowed to go out into nature. For pday today we went to Czech out some castle ruins in the forest. One of the first things we say when we got there was a baby doll in a cage hanging from a building. Then a German Shepherd comes running out followed by a man in a trench coat telling at us to leave. So even in quarantine you can have sick výlets haha.
Spiritual Thought:
In 2007 President Oaks gave a talk, and in it he said
"Suppose Church leaders reduce the time required by Church meetings and activities in order to increase the time available for families to be together. This will not achieve its intended purpose unless individual family members—especially parents—vigorously act to increase family togetherness and one-on-one time."
He said that in 2007. And now we're in 2020, 13 years later, and we're seeing that fulfilled. It started with the Come Follow Me program, and now with this virus, church is all at home. You guys. God knows exactly where we are right now. He knows exactly what situation we are in. He's been preparing for this longer than we think. He loves us. He's there for us. He's prepared. He's got this. We don't have to worry.
Alright, guys. Thanks for the love and support. Pray for the missionaries that are all coming home, and pray that we get to stay. Also, pray for the church travel department, because they're probably stressed out of their minds right now. We got this! God is good. He loves us. He's aware of us.
Sestra Lewis
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