Sestra Pyšňáková

My dear family and friends, [note: Dear family and friends]

It was another tough week! We've set up with so many people but then they don't show up or they cancel it. But Heavenly Father has been supporting us and we always find new people. Plus Heavenly Father blessed us with an incredible miracle this week.

For the past 2 weeks the mission had been buzzing about a leadership training that would take place on Friday, the 8th. Apparently the entire mission would be gathering in Brno and everyone was so tight-lipped about it that we all figured something special was going to happen. There were rumors going around that the Book of Mormon was finally printed po slovensky [note: in Slovak] and we thought that maybe we'd get it that day.

On Friday we took a bus to Brno with a bunch of other Slovak missionaries. It was wonderful seeing the entire mission. There's always such a powerful and special feeling when all of us are gathered together. President announced that the new mission president was called. His name is James McConkie. He'd served a mission years ago and has a family with 4 children ranging from ages 6 to 16. He speaks Czech and loves this mission. I appreciated so President's thoughts. We all love him so much and it's hard to see this change. But President, even thought he was getting emotional, said that President McConkie will be just what the mission needs for that time. He said the mission belongs in Heavenly Father's hands and whatever changes he'll do doesn't mean that President Irwin did something wrong. He did what was right for the time. I love that!

Well, we went over a Survey that our mission took because a general authority will be touring the mission next week. We went over the results. There was a question about studying the Book of Mormon everyday in personal study and although it was a good percentage, it wasn't the best. After the Survey President started his training about the scriptures and the importance of the Book of Mormon. It fit in perfectly since more of us should be studying the Book of Mormon daily in studies. What happened next is something I'll never forget.

President called up two elders - Elder Bird who is a Czech elder and Elder Meridith who is a Slovak elder. He handed Elder Bird the Czech copy and gave Elder Meridith the spiral bound rough draft copy of the Book of Mormon that Elder Tenney and I had held and read from months earlier. He asked Elder Bird to read Moroni's promise in Czech. He did. Then he had Elder Meridith read Moroni's promise in Slovak. Elder Meridith began reading and then President interrupted and said "Hold on!" He then pulled out from behind the podium a thin blue Book of Mormon.

It's here!!!!!!!!!!! The Book of Mormon in Slovak is here!

We all gasped! There in President's hands was a Slovak Book of Mormon. He handed Elder Meridith the copy and had him finish reading Mormon's promise in Slovak. Elder Meridith struggled to keep from crying. The room was so hushed, the Spirit was so strong and the peace was so tangible. I can't put into words the exact feeling. But it was incredible.

After he finished reading President bore the sweetest testimony through his tears. I've never seen him get so choked up about something. He said in all his years of church service he had never seen the adversary work so hard against something as he did against the publication of the Slovak Book of Mormon. He then proceeded to relate to us how everything that could have possible gone wrong had gone wrong. I could hardly believe how much opposition there was. But President wouldn't give up. He did all in his power to get at least 20 copies of the Book of Mormon to Brno - one for each missionary in the Slovak mission- and he did!

As we stood to sing the mission song, there was hardly a dry eye. As we sang:

"The seeds are sown, the field is white

in Czech and Slovak tongue

come join the harvest of mens souls

until God's work is done.

We are called of God to a land once cold.

Bringing forth His wondrous light

And with us the Lord labors here!"

The tears just rolled down my cheeks. The seeds are sown in Czech and truly now in Slovak tongue. How grateful I am that finally we have the Book of Mormon in Slovak. How grateful I am to be a part of this magnificent work. After the closing prayer the Slovak missionaries lined up and President handed each of us our own copy of the Book of Mormon. We then took pictures.

Mission President handing out the Book of Mormon.

Picture time!

Sestra Pyšňáková with President and Sister Irwin

All of us Slovak missionaries returned to Slovakia with a renewed fire, hearts rejoicing for this miracle. I wish you could have seen how these missionaries were just holding their copies so carefully, just thumbing through the pages. Our hearts are filled with so much gratitude! I returned to Bratislava with the biggest smile on my face!

I love you all! This is truly the Lords work! In this "secret" conference there had been several milestones made - a new mission president announced approval by the area presidency to open up a new area in Slovakia, Nitra, to missionary work and establish a unit there, and the Slovak Book of Mormon. President says it's significant and I agree!

S laskou, Sestra Mel Pysnakova