Miracles come as we pray specifically for them

Elder Sedlacek and Elder J saying goodbye on transfer day

What's up Mama,

Sounds like you had a fun week. Mine was pretty fun also, although kinda slow. It was good though. We had zone meeting on Wednesday, and that was fun to go to. They just talked about the importance of the Book of Mormon. It is really amazing how the Book of Mormon changes lives. It is a inspired book of scripture, and it changes lives. That is the most amazing part. I love the Book of Mormon! 

I hope Mia and Libby did good on their play. It sounds like it was fun to watch. That is funny that Libby stopped to wave haha. I could picture her doing that haha

That's exciting that you sang in church. I bet you did good. Is that the first time doing a duet in church for you?

That is a cool story that Sister H told. It's like Christ and the loaves of bread and the fishes. That would be super sweet to have an experience like that. Although big experiences don't build testimony it would be super sweet to have one like that.

Thanks for you all that you do Mama. You're the best.

What's up Dad,

I will start with the last question you asked about the investigators. Right now we have a couple investigators that are doing really well. E is doing really great. This week we taught the gospel of Jesus Christ and she really loved it. She wants to share the gospel with all her family it seems. I will be super surprised if she doesn't get baptized this transfer. She basically opened up to us for the first time, and I mean really opened up, which means she trusts us. It's been along time waiting for it but it finally came. She is doing great! Keep praying for her to be able to find a job and a place to stay in Sunnyside so we don't lose a golden investigator. The D family is doing pretty good. I liked your thought of teaching them the priesthood. Right now we are teaching lessons about how we are not just another christian church. Last night we watched the testaments with them and they both really liked it. They even told us that they are going to come to church on Sunday so that is progress. I really hope they keep progressing. They need the gospel! All of our other investigators I will write about in a letter so I have something to write about haha. Those are some of our best progressing at the moment. Keep praying for the goal of 14 baptisms by April 22nd, 2014 at 9 pm! Its so important to be specific in our prayers. I have a huge testimony of that! Miracles come as we pray specifically for them and have the faith that they will come.

My comp and I are still doing okay. I am trying super hard to learn from him and make my self better as a missionary. I know I am supposed to be with him for a reason. I am just figuring that reason out still haha. We teach pretty good together, which helps, but it could always be improved. Anyway, it's still going slow but it is okay.

That is funny that you almost got put into another job at the caucus haha. That would have been super funny if you had gotten it without wanting it haha. People just like you I guess haha. You mean you don't want to be the next president of the US? What do you mean haha!

That is super funny on my bracket. I guess the mission does not help me make better predictions haha. That is cool that Warren Buffet is going to give 1 million to who ever can pick a perfect bracket. Too bad it probably won't happen. It like never does. It would be cool though if someone was able to do it. Imagine being that guy! That would be crazy to pick a perfect one.

I had seen that Brother B had been called as a mission president. That is super cool. He is going to be a super good president.

Well, things are going good Dad. I hope you're doing good too. Keep up the good work. Thanks for all that you do for me and the letters! I love hearing from you in the week. You're a great example for me Dad. Just want you to know that. I love you guys! 

-Elder Sedlacek

Praying for miracles

This week I've had two calls from people in Sunnyside, both so grateful for Elder Sedlacek and all he has done for their area. One was from the Bishop's wife and the other was the President of the Columbia River Temple. Both expressed their love of Elder Sedlacek. I am so grateful they took the time! In other news, Elder Sedlacek is struggling some right now with his new companion and could use all the prayers he can get. Please pray for his companion too! 

What's up Dad,

This week was awesome and pretty tough at the same time. We had the baptism for Steve on Tuesday right before Elder J left. The baptism was super good, and the most attended baptism I have seen on the mission thus far. It was a super good service, too. Transfer day was super fun. I got to spend some time with other missionaries that I hadn't seen in a while. I took some pictures so that was fun. My new companion though is going to be tough, I can tell you that right now. I am going to have to look for the best in him.

Like I said in the letter, our teaching pool is getting smaller each time we baptize somebody haha. It's a good problem to have. I am just trying to keep up the teaching pool with new investigators so we can keep up the same success. That is another reason why I am stressed out. I want to have the same success and it doesn't look like we can right now. I am just praying for miracles. I am working my hardest to go out everyday and find those people who are ready to hear the gospel. 

Sounds like you did really good on your talk on Sunday, both you and mom. I like the quotes you used so the talk was probably even better. Good job Papa!

I will let you know how a couple of our investigators are doing right now since I don't want to write about them all in the letter. The D family is kinda struggling right now. B has been having back problems and so they didn't come to church. That is the biggest problem with them. They just need to come to church. A lot of our investigators are in the same boat. It was cool though because yesterday E came to church for the first time and she really liked it. I hope she starts progressing super good now that she has come to church. We hope to put her on date this week. Well, that is some of our main investigators at the moment. I will write about the others in a letter hopefully haha. I really enjoyed getting your letter this week also. Thanks for sending me one.

Well, it sounds like you have a pretty busy week this next week so good luck on all that. Enjoy the caucus meeting haha. I bet those are no fun. Thanks for all that you do for me Dad. You're the best! I just want you to know that I look up to you and your example even more when times get tough. I know if you did it, so can I. You're the best! I love ya!

I will try to sit down and write a letter to you guys again today. You should get one this week.

I love you guys! Make sure to pray for our goal of 14 baptisms for my district by April 22nd at 9:00 pm. We need all the prayers we can get to help us out.

-Elder Sedlacek

What's up Mom,

Happy St. Patrick's Day haha! I didn't even realize it was St. Patrick's Day, so I am not wearing any green haha. Hopefully I don't get pinched.

 It was a pretty good week. Transfers was super fun, getting to see some missionaries that I hadn't seen in a while. Getting a new companion was, sadly, a different story. I'm afraid he is going to be a test of my patience. But I am going to learn to love him.

Tuesday we had a baptism for S. It was amazing. Probably the biggest miracle that happened this week. We also had four investigators at church so that was a pretty big miracle too, since we had all the baptisms we haven't had many investigators at church. Hopefully, the number stays up.

Sounds like you had a pretty busy week. The house looks super nice by the way. I like the gray paint even with the carpet. It looks really good. You are right though, this week went by kinda slow for me too. It has just been tough. I am stressed because I want to keep up the success that we have been having, and we are trying to find new investigators to teach because of all the baptisms we have had lately. The district set a goal for 14 baptisms as a district before April 22nd at 9:00pm so be sure to pray for that. Pray for us to have success in that goal. That is one thing we are focusing on--praying specifically for blessings we want to come. It really works too. So when you pray for it, make sure to say 14 baptisms by April 22nd at 9:00pm.

That is a super cool story about Grandpa V. I really like it  every time I hear it. Thanks for sharing it with me again Mama. I think that would have been so cool to be Grandpa in that situation. It would have been amazing.

That is funny about Nicole going and kissing a fish. Was it a hint? haha. I am proud of her haha! I wonder what made her go fishing like that though. Did she just go by herself? Mid life crisis haha.

I am glad that you liked my letter. I really do enjoy seeing the changes that happen. I know I have a much stronger testimony of the gospel now because of my mission. That is one of the biggest changes that have happened, and it's awesome that I still have time left to grow even more. That is why I love the mission.

Thanks for all that you do support me Mama and family. You're awesome. I love you guys!

When things are tough, something good is on the way

What's up Mom? 

This week was a hard week at the beginning. But yes, talk about crazy. Literally every single appointment we had set up cancelled. It sucked super bad haha. It was funny though, because Elder J and I had been talking that something big was coming because it was super sucky. We knew it was coming soon. And guess what? It did!!!!!!!! This week, Steve had an experience where he got his answer that he needs to be baptized!!!!!!!!!!!!! We set his date for tomorrow (Tuesday the 11th), the last day of the transfer. Ending the transfer with a bang, let me tell ya haha. Transfer news: I am staying and am going to be companions with an Elder A from california who has been out 1or 2 less transfers than I have. I don't know him so I will be meeting him on Wednesday. Elder J is getting transfered to Pasco, where it will probably be his "dying area." So that's the transfer news. I'm staying in Sunnyside for 1 more at least. I hope I can keep up the success that we have been having lately. I am going to try my absolute best to!

 

That is exctiting that Kelly is starting to paint the house. Now you get to smell paint all day. That's kinda sucky but I guess its just one of those things you will have to deal with haha. I bet it will look nice. I bet the new lights will make it much brighter in the living room too. And now with more light the old fart dad can finally read his scriptures haha.

 

That is a cool story that President M told. In this mission, we don't have much contact with the older missionaries. They are the office missionaries, and they also do other jobs so I don't know any of them very well. If I serve in Kennewick or Richland, I would have more contact since they live down there.

 

That is awesome for Nate! I bet he is super excited to go to Chaz's mission. That would be funny if Chaz trained Nate. And I do know Jane but I don't know her personally. I know who she is though. She was a year older than me in school. That is cool though that she is coming to the WKM. Best mission in the states!

 

You will have to give condolences for me for the deaths of Bro. K and Sister G. I didn't know either of them that well, but I knew Bro K better.

 

Thanks for all the praying that you guys do for me. You're the best family!!! I love you guys.

 

 

What's up Pops,

This week was a great one towards the end. We ended up having a baptism, or I mean we will have one tomorrow (Tuesday) for Steve. It was a really nice, much-needed miracle. The week before, it was super hard so that is how we knew that a big miracle was coming. It was so nice when it finally came. 

 

So the baptism tomorrow is going to be awesome. Steve is an awesome guy. Carlos got the Aaronic Priesthood yesterday so that was awesome too. It will be awesome in a year to come back and see them get sealed in the temple. In fact, most of our recent converts will be getting sealed in the temple in about a year from now. It's going to be sweet. Because the week sucked up to Thursday we weren't able to get a hold of our other investigators to teach them a lesson. They are all doing okay though. 

 

That is crazy that Mia is getting big now. It is going to be so weird to come home and see the changes. It's going to blow my mind haha. Does it make you feel old that you only have 1 child left in child shoe sizes? Who knows you could have one married, and you already have 1 on a mission. It seems like yesterday I was in elementary school though which is the crazy thing haha! It's going to be fun though to see what is in store for the future for all of us. 

 

I guess mom now knows the perks of having a High Counselor as a husband. I bet you both will give great talks though.

 

It is great that E is going on a mission. I remember him. He was in a couple of my ceramics classes at the high school. He is pretty cool. Anyone else that has left recently? The missionary news is exciting.

 

Thanks for all that you do for me. I got your letter and will write one back hopefully today. I have been bad at that but I will try to do better haha.

 

I am affected by the transfer but you can get the news from my email to mom. I will enjoy the change. Hopefully he is a good missionary. I am sure he is though.

 

I love you guys and thanks for all that you do. You guys are awesome!!!! Love ya!!!
-Elder Sedlacek

 

A great ending to a crazy week

3/3/14

What's up Pops,

 

Things were good this week but sooooooooooooooooo crazy at the same time! It was so nerve racking at times. We almost got dropped by the D family, but we saved it in a last-ditch effort lesson. They won't be getting baptized very soon, but we still have them investigating the church, which is all that counts for right now. Planning the baptism for Carlos was super crazy too. It seemed something was coming up everytime we tried to schedule it. It was such a logistical nightmare. It ended up happening though, as you already know, and boy was it good! It was a great baptism! Carlos is awesome!

 

This week went by fast for me just like it did for you. Sadly, lots of our investigators are struggling right now. It's been kinda tough meeting with them so most of them who were on date are now off. That kinda sucked but it's alright. I am sure it will work out in the end. We still have had tons of success over the past two transfers. It has been awesome to have been a part of it! We find out this Saturday who is staying and who is going. I am probably going to stay and Elder J is probably going to leave. We will just have to see though. Crazier things have happenend before.

 

It is great that you are going to write me a letter haha. Nope, I don't have a printer unless I get on a specific computer and that one is usually the first one claimed. Good thinking dad haha.

 

Well, I hope you had a great week and it sounds like you did. I am glad that work is going good for you right now. It's crazy to think how busy the church is business-wise. I would have never thought it would be that crazy to work for the church, but it makes sense. God's work is only going to get bigger too. Good luck haha. We will both be able to experience it, too. It is already getting crazy-busy, which is good.

 

Like I said I hope you have a good week. I love you guys! Thanks for all that you do to support me on my mission. I love you guys for that! You're one awesome dad and family!

Love, Elder Sedlacek

 

What's up Mom?

This past week was crazy but way good. Carlos got baptized! Easily one of the biggest miracles that has happened so far on my mission. It was so great to see him get baptized. The week was also super crazy. Crazy as in the D family almost dropped us, the baptism almost didn't happen, and our investigators and recent converts are kinda struggling. It was just super crazy. In the end though, it ended great with getting to see Carlos get baptized. He is going to do so great as a member. I am totally going to be there when he gets sealed in the temple to his family. That family is awesome! 

 

Thanks for sending the package. I have been waiting for it haha. Sounds like you had a busy week with the blue and gold banquet. I am glad that it went well for you guys.

 

Sounds like the bishopric had fun this week with callings haha. It's going to be weird to come home in 17 months and see all the changes in the ward. There are already people I don't know . We can deal with that when it comes though haha. Nick is right about the Docrine of Christ. I definitely have a testimony of the Doctrine of Christ. I love it! It does work for everyone if they do just as Nick said and apply it. 

 

Thanks for fasting for me. You're the best, Mama.

 

Well, it was a good week. I hope yours was too. It is crazy how fast time has gone. It's only going to get faster too. It is great that we are having much success and that it's happening in other areas of the world also. The hastening is happening right now!