Košice on fire!

...Not literally on fire....

BUT THIS WEEK WAS SUPER FANTASTIC!!!!

picture of a snowflake that landed on sister Parson's arm

I am sto (100) percent sure that we could be a movie over here in Slovakia. Actually. Like when you see those really cool films or photos of missionaries out in a beautiful land, knocking on a little tiny door to a house, or in a beautiful winter wonderland, that is us. I wish someone could be filming us all the time.

I do not know what the exact definition of a miracle is, but I believe it is when you are able to see God's hand in the work (or in your life). I cannot believe everything that happens to me. Sometimes I am really confused about it. But most of the time, I know that the Lord is using me as His tool. There is nothing better than having the confidence that you are doing God's will and that you are where you need to be at the exact moment you need to be there.

picture of a bathtub in someone's summer garden

This week, I have become a lesson-teaching crazy woman on the street. I am really becoming more
confident in the language (Beware: confidence does not always equal fluency of any sort), and am discovering that I can teach anyone I find. So many lessons on the street this week! And I love it. I love watching people's faces as I tell them they can live together as a family forever, or as I tell them that we have a living prophet on the earth today, or when I tell them that we have Another Testament of Jesus Christ. Not all of them set up with us, but not all of them are prepared! And the next time they see missionaries, they are going to remember how they felt.

Anyway, so miracles were just pouring down on Košice this week. I mean, usually, there is a steady downfall of miracles that we see every day, but this week, it was like the Teton Dam broke and washed us away in the strength of its running waters (Is this becoming extremely lyrical? hahaha)

So miracles:
1) Remember that woman with the baby and the snowman and so forth who we found last week? Well, directly after emailing you all, we went to tesco to purchase a vacuum bag, and as we were walking out, there she was! With her child right outside! And she was so happy to see us and said that she read in the Kniha Mormonova and that she was looking forward to us coming again! Wow! Then we came back yesterday, but she was sick and couldn't meet, but still ended up seeing her and setting up for next Sunday. And giving her a Plan Spasy pamphlet, which she said she would read. What!

2) Also, last week in tesco, I saw that woman again with the red coat and the kids who I contacted on the bus! She is meeting with us this week as well now!

me looking awkward and apostate in Svaty Dom Alžbeta

3) Remember caroling miracle man? First of all, he is amazing. Met with him again this week, and he is so prepared and so elect. Plus he was wearing suspenders and he teaches art. Second of all, we were going to teach him on Friday night, but coming back from dinner, we ran into him (This is fifteen minutes before his lesson) and he was waiting for a friend who was really late. So we re set up with him for the next day, and began to go back to the building for our dinner hour. Heading back, we saw a huge family with five small kids! I Just thought, we Have to contact them. So we did. Ended up teaching them Plan Spasy and getting a return appointment! Dreams coming true all over the place!

4) Then, we planned to find a man with a mustache and teach him about the book of mormon. We found the most slušný man who lived in Presov, with a mustache, taught him the whole kniha mormonova, and he took it and said he would read it on the train! Really really cool.

5) Saturday, we had a lesson on the namestie, and he did not show up. So we were a little sad and naturally decided to run and get some chocolate from the grocery store (Cures all ailments). We turned onto a street we are not normally on, and there was one girl walking down the street. I immediately said to S. Parsons, "We have to contact her!" So S. Parsons stopped her with the classic, "Prosim vas", and the girl looked frightened out of her boots! Her eyes were so big and started shaking her hands..and speaking english! She was from Austrailia, and we said, well that is perfect because we are from America and Canada! So so weird.She was so relieved. Turns out she is basically travelling the world by herself and got stranded in Košice alone while she was trying to get to Budapešti. She could not understand the language at all, was just very confused and lost, and talked to us for about 30 minutes.  We helped her a little bit, but we were so happy we ran into her. Later, we looked at our planner, and the back up that we had planned was actually to be on that exact street and contact a girl with a red scarf. Yep, she was wearing a red scarf.

6) yesterday in a nutshell: One of our members apologized to another member in church while giving a talk on forgiveness (hug was included), we got our less active member to church, and Sis. Slepcikova, who said she would not come. Then we found a wonderful girl on the street who took the Kniha Mormonova like it was treasure and said to call her on Monday.  then we went back to Tahanovce and, like I said, found that mom again. Then we tracted into the SECOND mom that we found last week and set up for next Sunday. Then we ran into another man who has a Book of Mormon and was taught one other time before who said he would read again. Then I made friends with two huge dogs. It was the best thing ever. Their owners were not home, but one was so cute and brought me a ball and pushed it through the gate so I could throw it to him (My hands became really sufficiently dirty), then the other dog was SO TALL he stood up on the gate to look at me and he was a bear! He looked like a lion! And he defended us when another dog started barking at us. THEN we saw this woman who literally did not have a shoe on and we asked her if she needed help (long story short: Shouting, etc. She did NOT need help.)

Sorry this needs another paragraph. Then it was getting a little dark and we were heading back, and there was this drunk man. In the middle of the street. And nobody else was out, and he just stared at us. We had no idea what to do, and were very frightened, so we said a quick prayer and asked heavenly father to send us some angels to help us. Just as we said amen, two rowdy teenage boys came tramping down the street as loudly as possible. The drunk man got a little scared and ran away. I have never been so happy to see two annoying boys in my life. So yeah. Basically day of miracles.

This week they also had another holiday, called Three Kings day or something. They celebrate when the kings brought the gifts to the baby Jesus. Pretty cool. mostly everyone just goes to church.

So. These are just a few of our miracles. I could not believe how many lessons we taught this week and how much success we are having! I love Slovakia more than ever and am truly finding joy in the work. And when we miss meals or we feel afraid of drunk men, I love to remember this scripture:

 29 And seek not ye what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, neither be ye of doubtful mind.

 30 For all these things do the nations of the world seek after: and your Father knoweth that ye have need of these things.

 31 ¶But rather seek ye the kingdom of God; and all these things shall be added unto you.

 32 Fear not, little flock; for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.

Luke 12:32

Anyway. I think this is everything..probably not, but, either way.

Love and pray for you all!

Sestra Abbott

P.S. I am such a pro Halušky maker now.

"Mier" Peace