WEEK FOUR: The Miracle of Slovakia

In their "sick" England shirts with the Slovak flag within.  Not sure how they got these but they are awesome!

Zone in yellow ties

Temple flowers

The sisters in my district:

Sisters McDonald, Roberts, Dahl, Hale, Paul, Herrington, Miller, Benion, Miller, Taylor, Valentine, Brown, and Huff. There are also a few others not in the picture. Sisters Losee, Jurgensen, Clingo, Anderson, and Van Workem.  NOTE:  Sister Anderson is related to Riley Hansen.

 I can't believe that I forgot to write about this last week.It is one of the coolest things I have heard of. This is called the miracle of Slovakia. The former mission president of the Czech Slovak mission told it to us in our class:

The church in Slovakia was very weak since it wasn't recognized as an actual church. There was only about 20 members in the entire country. They decided they wanted to be recognized as an official church in Slovakia. To do this, they needed 20,000 signatures saying that the person signing supported the church becoming official. To accomplish this, the church hired professional petitioners. They went out for two weeks trying to get the signatures. They gave up after the two weeks with fewer than 200 signatures saying it was impossible since the Catholic church over there told its members to not sign. Everyone is Catholic so no one would sign. As a desperate last chance, they asked the missionaries to try. The missionaries in Slovakia had a special fast and prayed a ton. In 3 days, they had collected between 22,000 and 23,000 signatures. They don't know how it happened, but we know the Lord had a hand in it. The missionaries could barely speak the language, let alone be persuasive enough to get that many signatures!

Anyways, this week has been great. We love it here and the spirit is super strong! I feel God's love for me every day. The strongest by far is when I am reading the Book of Mormon. Through reading that, I have had answers to so many questions and have felt peace even though I have had to go through so much change to be a missionary. It is wonderful! 

I am glad for the chance I have to be here learning Slovak and learning to serve others and God. It is the best. Thanks so much to everyone who sends letters or emails. It is cool to see what is going on at home! I will try my best to answer if you send something! Sorry if I don't. I mean too. 

This week in a lesson we taught in Slovak, I was able to feel the Spirit of God so strongly. It was overwhelming. I was able to say things in that lesson that I had no idea how to say before or after that lesson. It was remarkable. I am amazed at how the Lord fulfills his promises. In the scriptures we read about the promise that if we open our mouths, it will be filled with what the Lord needs us to say. I have felt that for sure when I speak in Slovak. Also, lots of people here go through tough times adjusting or get bad news from home. As I pray for the ability to help and know what to say, I remember experiences from years ago, or a scripture I read in seminary and I am able to help them. The Lord know us all so well. He knows our lives and our struggles. He wants to help. I have felt how He will reach out to me if I reach out to Him. It is amazing. I know the same can happen for anyone else too.

I love you all!

Starší Pace

WEEK THREE: Feeling Heaven's Love

 With Bryce Kealer

 Jason Anderson, Bryce Kealer, Tyson Pace and Alex Maskovich (repeat of one's Alex sent last week)

 The Zone "bonding" moment

 Temple flowers

The Slovak speaking Elders

 Elder Cameron Taylor

 Elder Cameron Taylor with Elder Tyson Pace

England Leeds missionaries-- the elder in the middle is Polish speaking

Starzsy Evtimov who he thinks looks "exactly like Jeremy Hancock"

with Starszy Byrd

Elder Pettit

Elder Curtis

Elder Evtimov

Elder Johnson (Czech)

 Our teacher:  Brat Utley

 Consequence for loosing bet....Elders Curtis & Pettit had to shave their legs

Zone blanket

This week was one of the best I have had in my life! It was so amazing. This Sunday we had great church meetings where I learned more about qualifying for the gift of the Spirit. I started to feel a little down through the course of the day and then we had devotional! We watched Elder Bednar's Character of Christ video which is always good, but I have seen before. The cool thing was that afterwards, Elder Bednar made a surprise appearance! He talked to us all and answered questions. It was so cool to see him up close. I had some questions answered even though he didn't call on me. The Lord knows the thoughts of our hearts. I left that devotional knowing without even having shaken his hand, but still knowing that he was a servant of the Lord. It was so cool! 

Anyways, we taught a new investigator and our lesson was absolutely atrocious. We didn't have the Spirit and we tried to teach what we wanted, not what God wanted. I felt awful about it and so did my companion. The next day, we prayed so much to have the Spirit of God to guide us and we felt it in our next lesson. 

Tuesday was another high point. We have a devotional on Tuesday also. It was Don Clarke who is an emeritus 70 member. No idea what that means, but there you go. He spoke to us about using our time wisely and getting spiritual gifts and it was so uplifting. I was almost crying from how much I felt God's love for me. One of the things I felt I needed to do was study about faith. It was so cool. I have been studying more and more and I am continually trying to improve. Reading Hebrews 11 and Moroni 7 were by far my favorites. Another thing I felt that I should do is say a prayer of just gratitude everyday. It has been what I look forward to every day! It makes me feel so happy as I look at what great things God has blessed me with! I suggest that all of you back home or in the mission field do this. It will help you so much. You will recognize how much God cares for you and wants to help you. I can testify that he knows all of you! You will see more and more with each prayer you say.

I have seen so many friends here and I love it. Also, one of the Czech elders is related to the Squires! That was cool to find out. I love my zone and we have such a blast together.

If any of you have questions or something you are struggling with, just know that God will help. Turn to him in prayer and beg for it. It might not be immediately. In the scriptures in Alma 26, we read of how it helped Ammon. He had to hit the bottom before he was humble enough to accept God's help. Push forward believing that God can support you. Pray every day as much as you need to to have the help! God will send it. I have seen it in my life as I learn this language and in the lives of those around me who are going through struggles! It is a miracle.

 Starší Pace ( that is how you say elder in Slovak!)

NOTE:  Tyson has gained 7 lbs. He said he just found a scale or he would have started cutting back earlier!  :)

He loves getting emails and letters. He only has an hour to write so he is always rushed!  Please don'the feel bad if he doesn't have time to individually respond to your letters.  Know that he loves and appreciates all of you!

MTC Pictures

From left to right:  Jason Anderson, Tyson Pace, Baker Eliason, Bryce Kealer, Alex Maskovich, Justis Rayburn, Cameron Taylor

Alex sent these pictures to share.  Seven of the boys were in the MTC for five days together before Baker and then Alex left for their missions.  Tyson and Jason have this tie too!  Not sure why they didn't wear them!

WEEK TWO: Loving Life!

 I'm assuming this is where they study all day long

Tyson must have the top bunk

Familiar face from home:  Elder Alex Maskovich (leaving Tuesday for Little Rock, Arkansas)an

Familiar face from home: Elder Cameron Taylor--just arrived on Wednesday! 

The Czech Elders:  Elders Plewe, Gauldin, and Johnson.  They are super fun!

Familiar face from home:  Elder Jason Anderson...in MTC until August so they'll both be there for awhile

Familiar face from home:  Elder Justis Rayburn....will be serving in Argentina!

Left to right:  Elder Byrd, Elder Hill, Elder Mandla (my other Zone Leader, the Austrailian) and Elder James

Starszy (i.e. "Elder) White

The entire zone of Eastern European speakers

Some of the sisters in our zone

My district:  my companion, Starsy Peck; Sestra Huff; Sestra McDonald, Starsy Arens and Starsy Hammer (Pace & Peck are only two going to England; other four are going to Slovakia---think I got that right!)  They are amazing and I love them all!

Starszy Pettit---one of my favorite elders from my zone, even though he is a Laker's fan :)

My host:  Starjesina Christensen (going to Croatia, I think)

Starszy Byrd (Zone leader) He is awesome!

Starszy Byrd

Starszy White--a Polish speaking elder in my zone.  He is super funny!

Starszy Peck and Starszy Pace at the temple

I love it here at the MTC. My district and zone are spectacular. We go to the temple today and I am excited. I have learned lots in Slovak and will keep learning. I know that we have had the help of God! In the past 3 days, I learned 300 Slovak words, memorized a scripture in Slovak, and memorized our purpose in Slovak. There is no way that could happen without help. It is amazing to see. I get along well with my companion. I have found out that 99% of everyone here is from Utah. 

My teachers are great. They help us a lot. We have taught 4 lessons in Slovak so far. They got better each time. I can kind of say stuff now. I am running out of time. I loved the devotionals on Sunday and on Tuesday. It will be great to learn from them all the time. I don't have much time, but thank you all for letters, packages, and prayers that get sent my way! It all helps.

Love,

Elder Pace

PS Thanks to Aunt Angie and fam for the parade treats. We enjoy those

PPS Thanks Mom for the breads. They were delicious. My friends all told me they loved it too. They thank you as well!!!

The Moms!

With the help of Facebook I found Tyson's companions mom, Heather Peck (short-haired blond).  She through Facebook has connected with Natalie Rhea who has a Slovak speaking missionary currently serving in England.  We met today for lunch!

What wonderful ladies and it was so fun to visit about our sons and to learn a little about the mission.  All three love sports and are athletic so that will be a fun connection.
There are only two Slovak speaking missionaries there now with two Polish speaking missionaries that have been reassigned at least temporarily to speak Slovak.  They only are companions with each other so it will be fun for them to have Elder Peck and Elder Pace join them!

Elder Rhea has been there almost a year and has only lived in two "flats" so Tyson probably won't be moving around much.  It looks like he will have the opportunity to form life-long friendships with his companions!

Elder Rhea loves all his companions along with the English speaking missionaries sharing their flats.  He loves the new Mission President (and the old one) and he loves their branch presidency... I'm so glad he is a positive missionary.  I think he will get along great with our boys!

They either do their own cooking or the branch presidency feeds them SO looks like Tyson will need some recipes!