Last transfer!

 

June 26, 2017

hey Dad, it has been a good week. we had some good things happen. first off, i am getting transferred to Connersville Indiana. which in other words, i am getting the ultimate shaft! hahaha i get to learn a new area for 6 weeks and then in missionary terms, i will "die." hahaha you know, the end!  i am going there with Elder Jasinski, he is a pretty funny guy. from what i have seen i really like him, so it should be a very good last transfer. i am finally getting put into an area where i can bike half the time so that will be nice. 

so we gave the commitment lesson to B, which pretty much drops him from our pool. it assesses the reasons why he started investigating the church, and explains what still stands in the way of his progression and from that point, we can't do much more. the rest is up to him. he is still in contact with members of the ward so it should be good for him. we did not find many new people this week, but we have been working the roster. we  have gained a lot of trust with the ward this week, which leads to great things :) like people to teach who already have friends in the gospel. 

we started working with J again, he has been reading with questions in mind, so we will see how it goes for round two. we focused a lot on the E family this week and that was good, we are kinda discreetly teaching Brother E, but he thinks it's more for the kids. he is starting to share his testimony with the kids on certain principles and that should help him to increase his own faith. 

something cool happened yesterday at church! C has a friend that he said was not a member who he has been trying to get to come to church with him for a few weeks now. he showed up with this friend yesterday! so i was all pumped, like "heck yeah, we got a friend to teach!" thus how things sometimes go, he turned out to be a less active who wasn't on our roster. he joined in basic training a while back, and just stopped going, so we got him to meet a few members in the ward. we went over to say goodbye to C last night before we both leave the area, and ended up having a good lesson with the both of them. C's friend seemed pretty excited to be back, he talked about feeling the spirit at church, and i have to be honest, it was a pretty sweet spirit there yesterday, more than usual. it was really good for both of them. 

haha that sounds pretty awful to have to try to sleep on a plane for 10 hours. you do get used to the conditions pretty quickly, isn't that weird how that works? i am glad the trip went well, i bet that was pretty fun.  So Sarah re-purposed her seminary graduation talk, that's funny. seems like yesterday i was in her boat!  hahaha. 

that is cool about the missionary thought each week, that will really help to increase the spirit of the meetings for sure. that's whats so special about missionary work, that there is such a sweet spirit about it, like none other. it's not super often that the spirit is not with us as missionaries, and you notice when it's not, but we get so used to feeling it that it's almost easy to stop recognizing it as much or appreciating it if you don't focus on it. the spirit we carry is amazing to have with us all the time. people notice and feel it when missionary work is discussed, that's why so many people love the missionaries. 

that is interesting you say that, cause i am putting together a training i have to give on Wednesday. i am trying to tie Christ's atonement and our missionary purpose together. as missionaries we are called to preach of Christ and to teach of his gospel, so that others may come closer to him through repentance and baptism. Christ's purpose was to give all of God's children the possibility of returning to his presence. he suffered all manner of pains and afflictions for us. we simply teach the doctrine of that and how to access it more fully. i am so grateful to be able to be a part of this great work. we have the privilege of standing for Christ as people learn and grow. we get to watch these wonderful conversions take place. thank you, Dad, for all the support you give to me! thanks for emailing and  i will talk to you later! love you Dad! have a great week!

-Elder Sedlacek

hi Mom, it has been a good week! the weeks are flying by so fast, it's unbelievable. i did get the package, thank you very much! hahaha that is super funny about Dr. Lindsay, i am excited to see him again haha. he will ask me about my love life for sure, like he always used to hahaha. 

i am excited for my new area, and new companion. i know him a little and served around his trainer for a while. he has been out since just before Christmas, and he is a pretty funny guy. it should be a good transfer! i have heard a lot about Connersville from Elder Hammond. it's right above Batesville {my first area}, so i am a little familiar with it. 

probably the best day was Wednesday, we had a good day. it wasn't much different but we had a fun district meeting. the hardest day wasn't really hard, just at the end of the week before transfers it's always a little sad leaving areas and companions i get along well with. so that was sad saying bye to some people. i really like a lot of people in this ward. 

my prayers were answered with a few personal things. i had some trouble with high blood sugars all day Wednesday, cause i had a bad cold, so i was kind of out of it, that's why it was a fun district meeting {hahaha just kidding}, but the next day i ran high all day again, and so i had a blessing given to me. immediately i felt better, and my blood sugar came down very quickly, like impossibly quick. it was really cool. 

we had a really good sacrament meeting this week. we had a talk on missionary work and it was super good. the spirit was there super strong, and i had some questions answered that i have had for some time now, it was really cool and nice to have them answered. 

sounds like you had fun with Dad being gone for a while, i am glad he traveled safely! that also must have been fun to have the cousins and family over, it will be interesting to see if the boys end up at USU, that would be sick! 

i have been studying a scripture about knowledge and faith recently, it's in Proverbs. it talks about with all thy getting, get understanding. can't remember the reference currently hahaha. true understanding comes by experiences we have, and from the effort we put in to learn about the gospel (studying) as a gift from God. he will give us experiences we need to learn the gospel, but as you said, it takes faith and patience as well. i used to get super impatient with learning things and growing from that knowledge, but it takes time for us to turn our head knowledge into heart knowledge. 

i love the mission because, how it says in my blessing when i was set apart, the Lord gives us time to make our weaknesses turn to great strengths. i know that is true--Heavenly Father has a perfect plan for our growth as we seek to become like him. Christ makes it all possible. we have the blessing of being used as his instruments as we do so. if we have desires to serve God, we are called to the work. 

i have loved my mission so much! it is not easy, and you don't always feel that you love it, but i can honestly say that it is such a blessing to serve a mission! i cannot express in words how i feel about it coming close to ending, and it might just drive me crazy hahaha. i know this gospel is true and i know that Christ is our Savior, and my love for him has grown so much! thank you for sending me on a mission!

they also called me as the District Leader for a few areas, so that should be interesting, especially cause it's my first time. i have to train the other missionaries in my district every week on Wednesdays. i was betting on not having to be one, since i went so long, but i have only trained in other district meetings when the DL assigned me to, which was at least once a transfer.

Pictures: i found a lariat on exchanges, but Elder Mitchell kept it, and a frog "mysteriously" showed up at district meeting, according to the Elwood elders hahaha!

well, i have to go now. thank you very much Mom for all you do! i love you guys so much! have a great week! i will talk to you later!

-Elder Sedlacek

It's amazing to see people pick themselves up and show a desire to do hard things.

Found on the curb

Spend some time waiting on trains most every day

This is how much Elder Sedlacek likes waiting for trains

hey Dad, it has been a good week. we really did not find any one new this week, but that's how it goes sometimes.  B is doing a lot better this week. he started to read a lot more, so he is now past chap 12, which is great. he started devoting an hour a day to reading, and he started to go cold turkey yesterday on living the Word of Wisdom. the fire is starting to really burn for him, it's amazing to see people just start to pick themselves up like that, and to show a desire to do these hard things. commitments are kept, or should be kept, out of love for the Savior. to grow that love, investigators have to read and have an understanding of the atonement and the scriptures. i find it so amazing to see the drive in people to completely change their lives around for and through Jesus Christ. 

we have not been in contact with D lately, he has kinda disappeared. and the other people we found last week did not really keep their appointments, so we have got to find them again hahaha. one guy 'suddenly moved' and they don't have an address, just a street. so that is a little fishy hahahaha! 

we taught L a few lessons, but his parents are struggling to come to church, therefore he did not come, so we have to get that situation straightened out. the progress that B has made has been pretty cool to see this past week, so that puts the cherry on top for me. some people take years for a true conversion to happen, and some others it takes only a matter of months or even weeks. it is so cool to see that everyone is different. i am very blessed to have seen these conversions take place. and it's only upwards from there! 

so you're going international Dad, now you have to learn like 100 languages. you should go to the MTC again hahaha. that's so crazy the girls are graduating, that is just weird. it's been into the 90 degree weather here too, or close to it, and we had to bike half the week 'cause our car is in the shop. Elder H acquired some damage to it by cutting a corner too tight--it pulled off the running board. so we got some nice tans this week by biking hahaha. we turned all red, 'cause white guys don't tan. ;)

thanks a ton for putting me in for a tag! hope i get one, that would be fun. i would love to go with you and Jake, so i need to start getting into archery now too.  i will have to start lifting again. that is cool Ethan and Adam got to speak. we had Fast Sunday this week, and we also had some good lessons. we talked about the life of the Savior in Sunday school, it goes along really well with Elder Holland's video. i really liked how he talks about how it's extremely personal to work our our own salvation. 

i am one for working on things by myself, cause it's all me. but the beautiful thing about the plan of salvation, is even when my best is not good enough, Christ has already paid the price, so i can become better, and come closer to him in a personal way. trials and lessons are not always easy to learn, but i have never looked back at a trial with regret, unless i did not really learn the lesson being taught. it is always worth it to go though hard things. we always have a helping hand, Jesus Christ, and he will carry us when we can't go any more. i love being able to be on a mission to learn that it's me and Christ, and he is my personal trainer. if i follow him, i will do what's right, and what needs to be done. i  know this gospel is true, and i know it is only through the Savior that we are saved. thanks Dad for all you do! have a great week! love you! talk to you later!

-Elder Sedlacek

hey Mom! it's been a good week. we stayed busy and even got to bike half the week. so it was nice to get some good exercise, but man, i am a lot more tired than last summer hahaha! it was fun to get to bike around Anderson, but let's just say i now know why Anderson has a car, and i am a lot more grateful for it. I will have to tell you why later ;) 

i have learned a lot about love this week, because i have been praying for more and more of it, and prayer does work, just like always hahaha. this work is based upon love for people, and love for the Savior, most of all the Savior. every week brings new challenges that test my spiritual strength in different ways, and sometimes it takes a spiritual thump on the head for me to understand. eventually, i get it hahaha. i love that so much about a mission. you grow so much closer to Jesus, and the gospel is the doctrine to get us closer to Him. 

B is doing awesome, and getting super excited for the baptism. he is telling everyone about it! we also got to help C be ordained to a priest yesterday, that was awesome. it was a great week at church. i cannot complain. 

that is cool about the girls doing well in honors and grades. hahaha, i read that about what Nicole said about Cincy being wild, and it's true. she probably did not even see the worst part if she only went to the zoo! it's an interesting city to say the least hahaha. 

it's been warm and we have had the a/c on for weeks, but luckily we don't have to pay for air out of our own pocket. 

the one thing i know is that when the Lord has a lesson for us to learn, if we are doing the right things, such as serving a mission the right way, we will learn it, but it will not be easy, just as you said. that is really cool about Ethan and Adam, they will both do great. 

i am starting to feel the way that Jeff described the end of his mission hahaha, like he wanted to scream half the time, because of the mixed emotions etc. it was good for me to bike, because it really cleared my head. exercise always makes me a happier person, so that was a great tender mercy. it helped me blow off some steam hahaha. 

another cool thing that happened this week was how we got in contact with a less-active teen. he was baptized a few years ago, the only one in his family. we helped to remind him of his baptism, and he started crying as he did so, and truly felt the spirit. we talked about how only the gospel and Christ can bring us that kind of peace. he wants to come back to church, and even biked the whole 7 miles back to our place with us on his own bike. he is a great kid. it is so cool to see the spirit work in people like that. i love the scripture where it says his sheep hear his voice, and they follow him, and they know his voice. the spirit speaks to each of us differently, and in a way that God knows we can understand. we just need to listen. 

i am so grateful for the knowledge i have of how God knows each of us personally. i love the gospel, i don't have to worry about anything else but where i stand, and do my best to share my own testimony with others, and live in a way that i can take the spirit into their homes. i love it so much. 

that is so cool about Dad and his floor work, hopefully he wins! that is awesome! thank you so much for the birthday packages and stuff in advance! i love you guys so much!

well, i have to go now Mom, thanks for emailing me! and for all the birthday wishes and packages! you're the best Mom! i love you guys so much! have a great week!

-Elder Sedlacek

I just need to pray and listen...because even I am a little clueless. Haha

 

 

What's up Mama,

 

Wow! Sounds like a way crazy week. That sucks that Nicole's results came back like that. I know she will be okay though. She can do it. I have been praying for her and I felt good, so I take that as a good sign. I won't worry too much. Don't worry about that. I will be praying for her and you guys as well. I know the power of the priesthood is real. It does work! I have seen it right in front of me before, when a blessing that we gave was answered. It's probably just a trial Nicole has to overcome, and when she does she's going to be awesome!

Is she going to have a wicked scar on her neck? I would assume she is put totally out for the surgery too. How long is recovery?

I bet Sydnie's wedding was awesome. That is crazy that she is married now. I looked at the card this week and was like "Holy crap, Sydnie is married now!" Haha That was the next day--I had the invitation in a drawer and when I opened it I saw it. Crazy crazy haha.

  

That is  cool that Uncle Jim is doing that mile count thing for Nicole. I have no idea how many miles I walk in a day haha. Lots! haha

Mama: Hi! Yes, Nicole will have a scar, but it'll be pretty unobtrusive after it heals. Someone told her to say she had a head transplant. :)

Elder Sed: That is super funny about the head transplant hahahaha. It just might work too haha.

Are you at the doctors right now?

Mama: We are just leaving the doctor. 

Elder Sed: Anything else going on back home that is good? 

Mama: Well, school starts again in two weeks. Jared grew 1 1/2 inches in a month! What are you doing for p-day today?

Elder Sed: Wow! School starts really soon. That summer went by really fast. I am doing good today. We are just hanging out at the stake center and emailing.

 

I have to go, but like always I enjoyed emailing today. I am glad that everyone is doing mostly okay haha. I will be praying for all of you. I know the priesthood of God is on the earth. It blesses everyone and the power of it is real. I know Joseph Smith was the prophet to restore God's church back to the earth. God hears and answers our prayers. It's a good thing to know at a time like this. I love all you guys! Thanks for all that you do to keep me out in the field! Have an awesome week! 

-Elder Sedlacek

What's up Dad,

I had a pretty good week. I will start by talking about the investigators and what-not for this week. The week seemed to go by really fast, which was good. Wednesday and Thursday we had a mini-missionary with us, which is basically a priest who is preparing for a mission, and stays with us for two days during the day. He was pretty cool and was from Kennewick. We got a lot of member present lessons because of it, so that was great! 

 

G is doing pretty good. We took him to a baptism on Saturday, and he really, really liked it. He almost committed solidly to get baptized on the 23rd of August, but then some member priest kid came up and ruined the conversation. Sometimes members jump in just at the wrong time. Just make sure to never do that haha. If you see the missionaries talking to someone, don't jump in. That is what I have learned haha. We had a good lesson with G on the plan of salvation. He said it's opened his eyes, which was way cool to hear coming from an investigator. He is still somewhat planning on the 23rd of August for baptism, so I hope it happens. 

 

Our other investigators have seemed to fall off the face of the earth. We had a couple lessons with people on the side of the street, so that kept our numbers looking pretty good, but we are just trying to get something rolling in the ward. I'm curious to see what the Lord has planned for this area. He knows how to best help, so I just need to pray and listen to Him, because even I am a little clueless of what to do haha. It is definately an interesting situation.

That is crazy that Nicole has some cancer in her thyroid. From what I hear it should be pretty easy to remove. I will be praying for her, that is for sure. I just know she will be okay though. I have felt that lots over this past week.

Haha, that is funny Libby had you dancing. Can Mom even get you dancing? Libby is pretty impressive that she was able to do it. I bet it looked cute but way funny at the same time.

It will be way cool to go through the Ogden temple when I get back. I have seen pics of it and it looks super pretty from the outside so I bet its even more pretty inside.

Football!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I have already seen glimpses of a Seahawks game haha. It probably won't be too hard to be able to catch a little bit of the games haha. I always knew my Chargers could be good some day haha. What about the 49ers?

I am so grateful for all that you do for me and the family, Dad. You're awesome! Thanks for being an example to me all my life of how a priesthood holder should act. It's helped me all throughout my life. I have a testimony of the gospel. I am grateful that we do have the priesthood restored. Not only the Aaronic priesthood but the Melchizedek as well. It is certainly a blessing that blesses everyone.

I hope you have an awesome week. Thanks for writing me a letter. I haven't gotten it yet, but thanks in advance haha.

Love ya!

-Elder Sedlacek

I want to edify and strengthen all the people I come in contact with

What's up Mama,

Sounds like it was a fun rest of the week for you guys haha. You do seem to be the designated "tell me all about home for the week"  person haha. I like it though. I did get to use some of the 4th of July stuff you sent. I like the glasses so I have some pics in them. Speaking of pictures, do you have my other SD card that I sent home Father's Day? I can't find the other one, so I am assuming that it's home with you guys.

Is the internet still out at home? That is super stupid if it is.

Thanks for fasting for me. 

I like the picture of the water fight. I bet that was really fun. Did you and Dad do it as well?

So its been hot in Utah just like here, it sounds like. The heat isn't that bad once you get used to it. It's still pretty tiring so I know how you guys felt haha.

I am glad that you were able to use some of the stuff I said in your testimony. Hopefully I say things that touch everyone's heart. I try to,  at least. haha. I want to edify and strengthen all the people I come in contact with, so that is something I pray for every morning. To touch the hearts of the people I meet.

I hope the email works good today. It's super fun being able to email back and forth.

What's this annoucement that the church supposedly put out that every missionary will have to get an iPad mini? There were a couple members talking about it yesterday.

Mama: Yes, the missionaries in many missions will be getting special iPad minis. You buy it and can keep it when you go home. I think Dad knows more details on it than I do.

The internet is out at home still. Good thing I have my phone!

Yes, the weekend and holiday were super fun.

Elder Sed: So it's not all the missions then? Those would help soooo much in teaching and stuff like that. I hope the WKM gets them. That is dumb that the internet is out. Are the kids going crazy without it haha?

Mama: I think it is most missions, probably yours too. It was something like 50k of the missionaries that will?I'd bet you will. Yeah, the kids aren't liking no internet! It's supposed to be back by 5:30pm. Hopefully sooner. 

Elder Sedlacek: Well I am going to go now Mama. It was good to get to email today. Glad that it worked out despite all the internet poop going on. 

I hope you guys have a great week!

Don't forget too to send me my SD card soon and I can send the one I have back that has some new pics on it.

Love you all!

-Elder Sedlacek

What's up Dad,

I bet the 4th was super fun for you guys. It was pretty fun here. We had some souped up pop-its that popped really loud, almost like a fire cracker, and we threw those around and played catch with a football in the members' back yard where we live. It was fun. It was really just a fun, relaxing evening since we had to be in at 6pm.

We had a good talk with our  Bishop, and he changed around the agenda and let us talk first yesterday so that was awesome! That was the first time since I have been in this ward that it was like that, so it was a super nice change.

There wasn't very much exciting in the past couple days since Wednesday. Our teaching pool is still basically the same as it was on Wednesday. We did find a new investigator named J. He was out weeding in his yard, so we talked to him for a little bit, and then Elder R and I just sat down and started weeding with him. We ended up having a really good discussion, and J even committed to read and pray about the Book of Mormon. It was awesome. Other than that, our investigators are the same. Keep praying for all of them and it will help them.

Thanks for the sports updates. It's fun to find out the little bits of info you tell me. Lebron is soooo greeedy. I think it would be soooo funny if nobody picked him up, but that will not happen. Still, it would be funny.

Haha Duke is funny. I remember playing with him like that. It's kinda funny that up here there is a family that has a black lab that is named Duke. They are kinda alike too, from what I remember about Duke haha.

I really do think my mission is really strengthening me as well. It has been awesome to be able to serve my mission so far. I love the things that I have learned and being able to think back on all the awesome experiences I have had. I just hope to be able to learn from my mission everyday for the rest of my life. I want it to be that life-changing experience like it has been so far. Missions are awesome and I love the gospel and being able to share it everyday with everyone I meet. Thanks for all that you do for me Dad. You're awesome!

Is my dirt bike still up and running?

 

I also have heard that there was an announcement made on the technology for missionaries. What's the details on that. There were some members up here talking about it yesterday and it sounds awesome! 

Have a great week!!!!! Love ya!

-Elder Sedlacek

Seven months in Sunnyside come to an end.

What's up Mama,

I am doing well. Let's just say this next transfer is going to have the theme of "I will go where you want me to go, Dear Lord." I am going to Pasco and guess what? I am assigned to Elder R AGAIN! I really couldn't believe it. I have no idea how it's going to go, but I hope it's going to go well. I'm going to be in the Pasco 6th ward and it's a walking area so that should be interesting. It's pretty dang close to Richland, so maybe I will be able to see Bishop.

That is exciting that Nicole got to go through the temple. I am sure she loved it. The temple is awesome. I have been able to talk to Pres. Johnson a lot and have learned some awesome stuff as well. Knowing temple presidents is awesome! They know so much.

It's weird that all these movies are coming out and I haven't seen any of them. I will have to catch up on the good movies when I get back, if I can force myself to sit through them haha. I don't plan on being too awkward though, hopefully so maybe I will be able too. You never know haha.

Today for p-day we are just going to chill. I will probably start packing and stuff, but it should be fun. Our DL Elder Corum is going home today so that's why. We are just chilling with him for the last day he's got in the mission field. It's weird to send missionaries home. It will be awesome though next July.

Thanks Mama for all that you do. You're awesome. So I am getting the package today? What is in it if there isn't shirts? How expensive are Costco shirts?

What's up Dad,

I am doing great. I did have a good week. I am glad that you guys did, too. 

I am going to be back serving with Elder R. Out of all the 250 missionaries in this mission, I go back to my first companion. It wasn't easy the first time, and we are in a walking area of the richer part of Pasco this time. Thankfully, I am sure it will make me stronger, but thank goodness for my testimony of the gospel! I really have had a tough couple transfers. It's really like Elder Bednar's talk this past conference about the more load we have, the more traction we gain. I will probably get to see that in action this transfer. Pray for me to be able to do it. I know I can though,  through the Savior and the gospel. 

I am really glad that you guys liked my last letter. I really do want to grow more and more in the gospel while I am on my mission. I think that's part of what missions are for.

That is a really good thought about the triangle between God and Adam and Eve. I have never thought of that before. That is totally true though. They do follow that plan. That is one thing that I will definitely do when I get married in the future. Pres. Ware is the man for advice like that haha.

I like that your week is sooooo exciting haha. Work, eat, sleep, work some more and all that. Sounds like a mission schedule to me. It's good to be so busy though. It is like your letter that you sent this week. If we aren't staying busy building up the kingdom of God, then that allows Satan to step in and influence us.

Speaking on the thought of what will future generations read about us? I have no clue. That is a good question. It will probably be everything that is going on right now, like the Ensigns and the stuff compiled into some file of our brain that we can read whenever and wherever. Who knows what technology will be like. I don't even think that there will be legit plates or records of our generation. It's all technological. They will have access to everything we did and do, I am sure.

That is crazy about the Suburban. Man, that would have been insane haha. Just threw it in neutral and coasted down the canyon then I guess is what you did. Grandpa D is the best. It's nice that he was willing to help out like that. That is a pretty good drive to do with towing somebody. Thank goodness for Christlike people!

 

I have been working on getting as many of the members here to friend me on Facebook as I can, and I have gotten some addresses too. I really do want to stay in contact as much as possible. It will be pretty easy living close in Utah but still. It should be fun. 

 

I would tell you about the teaching pool but I am leaving on Wednesday. Just know that everyone we had is doing great. There should be some more baptisms in Sunnyside after I leave, so hopefully I will be able to attend some of them.

Thank you all for all that you do. You do a ton for me, so I am glad that you guys can see the blessings coming to you. I love you guys too! Have an awesome week! 

-Elder Sedlacek

All of us missionaries work for the same team!

What's up Mama, 

This week has been good, but it was pretty dang hard. We had 10 cancelled lessons in total. It sucked! haha. Our investigators just have the hardest time keeping appointments with us. That is the biggest thing that is holding back the work here. I saw how it can be so that makes it frustrating sometimes. We did have a cool experience though, but I am going to make you wait to read it in a letter haha. Let's just say that the thing that happened is the first time it has happened to me on my mission. That is the only hint you get haha.

The dermatologist was good. She gave me an antibiotic that she thinks will help. Should work out. She wanted me to get some of that retin A but I don't think I am going to get it. The antibiotic seems to be working just fine.

Thanks for all the prayers for the goal and other stuff. You're awesome. We actually changed the goal a little bit this week to 12 baptisms. Hopefully we can hit it. It is going to be a huge miracle if we do. It is going to be sweet! But keep praying for the goal. It will help us to hit it.

Sounds like the family day in Nicole's ward was fun. Nicole seems/looks really happy in that picture so that is great. I guess whatever is making her happy she can have haha.

That was a super good thought Mama. It is really cool to think that because Christ came to earth, we have the connection with him. Christ is super awesome that he was willing to come to earth and suffer the things he did for us. It would have taken so much love. I can't even think about how much charity it would have taken. It just really shows the true character of Christ. I try to be more and more like him every day.

I am sure I will love the package ;) You guys are awesome for all that you do!

I love ya too!

What's up Pops,

This past week was a tough one. There was some cool stuff that happened, but I will save that for a letter. As far as our teaching pool, we have a couple pretty solid investigators right now. One being E. She is struggling right now though, and I just hope we can get her baptized before she leaves the area, because if she does there is a chance I won't be here to see it. That would really suck. Oh well, I know that all of us missionaries work for the same team haha.

Another one of our investigators who is doing well is M. We met with her last night and had a super good lesson on the plan of salvation. She shared with us some personal experiences she has had with family members who have passed away. They were super cool. Because of her experiences, she knows and feels the plan of salvation is the truth. It was great! She just needs to come to church now. That is the struggle with her and the D family.  They have to come to church before they can be baptized and they are struggling with that. You guys could pray for that too if you want. Can't hurt! haha

Our RC are doing great. Carlos is doing AWESOME! He is going to the temple to do baptisms in a week and he is super excited to do that for his dad. He is super great and is doing great work in missionary work. We use him a lot. D is also doing great. She was just called to be a RS teacher and she will do great at that. She is probably going to the temple on Saturday, too. If only I could go to do baptisms haha. I so wish I could go with them, but unfortunately I can't. I will go when they are being sealed though. I am not going to miss that! The rest of our RC are doing well too. They each have their own struggles but they are doing their best with what they have.

That is awesome that there are so many missionaries going out again. I bet there is just going to be more and more, which is great. The Lord needs every one that he can get. I will see about writing to Elder R. I bet he's going to do great in Berlin. Going to get to speak some German. You will have to get his email for me so I can just email him or just give him my email, whatever works haha.

Well, it sounds like you have had a great week. Thanks for the letter you sent me. I love getting letters. It's great to get them, it's just I can't respond to them very fast. That's the sucky part. It must have been weird for you when you were out--everything you would have gotten would have been a couple weeks ago from when it was written. That is just crazy to me haha. 

Thanks for all that you do for me Dad . You're a great example to me and to all the rest of the kids. Just thanks for all that you do. I really appreciate all of it. I love you guys!

-Elder Sedlacek

A miracle story: 7th baptism scheduled

 

This is Jackson, the "fluffiest, most lovable dog in the world."

What's up,

How are you Mama? I am doing pretty good. This week was good. I hope yours was too. I didn't get the letter yet, so maybe I will today. It's exciting to hear about the ward's new mission calls.

This week we did have a baptism. Nick was baptized and it was great. It was probably the biggest showing of non-members at a baptism that I have seen so far on my mission. He had a ton of family there. It was great. For this week in baptism news, Carlos on date!!!!!!!!!!!! Carlos is on date!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! {Mom's note: Can you tell he's a little excited about Carlos' baptism??}

 

We had an awesome miracle with Carlos this week. We met with him and before the lesson his wife Sariah (who is a member) had let us know that she thought that watching The Testaments with him would really help him. Turns out that was VERY inspired. The video was great and the spirit was strong the whole time. At the end of the video, Carlos just sat there, not saying anything, but just thinking to himself. He was totally dumb struck. The spirit had given him a spiritual backhand to the face haha. All he could say was he was dumb for thinking the Bible was the only scripture in the world. He finally came to realize that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. That was the light bulb moment we had been waiting for with him. This is the same guy Elder J and I thought about dropping right after the first lesson because he was soooooo stubborn. Turns out he is awesome and will make a super good member. He loves God so much and will not do anything that is against His will. I love that guy!!! 

 

Well, that experience with Carlos pretty much made my week. I am so happy that he is getting baptized this week. I still can't believe it. It is truly a miracle. 

 

Sounds like you are going to have a fun week with the Blue and Gold banquet. It does seem like yesterday I was going to them haha. Time goes so fast. I still can't believe I have been out 7 months pretty much. I have to make the most of it because it goes super fast.

 

I bet Mia did great on her talk. She should consider doing student gov. I think she would really like that. Next women president of the united states haha.

 

Tell J.H. thanks for doing the pamplets for me. He's awesome. I am sure you allready told him thanks, but you should do it again for me haha. I will send him a thank you note. (Good idea Mama.) Thanks for all that you guys do for me. You are awesome. I am glad that HF is blessing you while I am gone. He is certainly blessing me as well.

 

For March 1st we only have 1 baptism scheduled. The D family would be getting baptized, but they have to come to church one more time and their grandson who lives with them keeps getting sick. It is going to be such an awesome baptism though with Carlos!

 

I am doing well. The only thing I need from you guys is prayers, like you are already doing, and a Mormon Messages DVD from Seagull book or somewhere. My face is doing pretty good. I went to the doctor this week and got some prescription stuff. Should start to really help me out. Brother J paid for it too, so he is so awesome for doing that for me. The members up here are awesome. I love them!

The kind of news that every Mom wants to hear

Elder Sedlacek's study area in his apartment.

 Today's email was exactly what every Missionary Mom wants to hear!

Elder Sedlacek: Well this week, we did a lot of tracting. It was really cool. It's funny to see some people who get so tickedoff when we knock on their door. We had a guy yell at us "don't knock on my door like that, and don't ever come back again" then he slammed the door in our faces. It was really funny. I just started laughing and walked away. Some people these days haha. Religion makes them angry, which is the exact oppositeof what it is supposed to do.We alsocame across a guy named David and his girlfriend Meagan. They are awesome people from what I saw of them. We are going back to see them tonight so we will see what happens.They offered to feed us right off the bat as soon asthey opened the door,and they aren't even members. Talk about charity. I don't thinkifsome stranger cameand knocked on my door, I wouldimmediately offer to feed them.We didn't eat from them because we had just ate but still, that was awesome to hear. We are also starting to teach more and more college students which is so awesome. They are all so cool. Its great to be there and see the spirit work in them and change them. the only problem with teaching students is the crazy schedules. Its sometimes really hard to meet up with them. Yesterday we went to a member's house and had the most amazing dinner I have had in the field. Huge steaks, mashed potatoes, and the sweetest corn on the cob I have had in my life. It was so yummy! That is the thing about living in a farming community. The farm food is always really fresh. We are still working with Jim, and Jay and trying to get them to quit smoking. They are making progress though, which is good. Other than that, we are just tracting and teaching investigators. Everything is great here in Ellensburg. I sent a letter with a memory card in it so you should get it today. Hopefully the card isn't smashed though. I would send it in a padded envelope but its like 2.50 every time you send it just for the little card. So I thought I would try to send it in a regular envelope.

Mom: It is so great to hear from you! I am glad you got such a yummy dinner yesterday. I will watch for the SIM card. I hear that JP always sends his in a regular envelope, so it should be fine. Love you tons, tons, tons!  Do you need anything? You sound great! Was there something great that happened this week?

Elder Sedlacek: Thank you love you too. I don't know if I really need anything right now. I am not really sure. I will write you though if I think of something. This week we taught Dave and we taught him about the priesthood. He really liked it, but as to an experience that made my week, really the whole week was great. I can't really think of some specific story to tell you right now. Just the whole week was awesome! I really liked what you said last week, to just take it one day at a time. It really helped me. Before I talked to you last week, I had been praying for comfort because I just felt like crap. I was really overwhelmed with all the things of the mission, all the things I have to remember and I was expecting to learn it so quick, and step into that perfect missionary role right off the bat but it was just overwhelming me. I learned that I was comparing myself to others too much. I need to just be myself and everything would be great. So I did, and now I haven't ever been happier. Its awesome. It was really an answer to my prayers. I had been praying for comfort and I got it. I know Heavenly Father hears our prayers.

 

Mom: You have just made my week! You didn't sound terrible, last week, but you do sound so much happier today. Everybody went back to school today. Jared even drove himself. :)

Elder Sedlacek: Oh believe me I am soooooo much happier.

I remember those days of the first day of school. Never a fun memory haha. Jared is going to wreck old blue haha. Hopefully he doesn't though because that wouldn't be good. Obviously he got his license.

Mom: Yep, he got his license. He didn't get a job yet, but he is still trying. He is following your example in lots of ways. You are really a great example to all of us.

Elder Sedlacek: Well, I am leaving now so I will talk to you later. Love you. Keep me updated about the family. I love hearing about what is happening when I am gone.