Power of Prayer

Things have been busy all over the place it sounds!!!  I have gotten so much news today from everyone! I don't know if I can take it all in.  Ha ha!

Thank you for keeping the cars clean.  I laugh at that, really.  It almost seems like I have some sort of ownership in them (wink, wink!).  Maybe someday.... Thank you though, it does make me smile to know that someone has been keeping them clean.  Who knows, maybe it could count as family time if you all have fun doing it!

Congratulations ALEX on your engagement!!!  That's so awesome.  I'm really happy for him.  I know he has talked about it for a long time.  I remember him trying to show me rings a couple of times and talking with Alexis and I when we were on Face time about Kelly.  That is so awesome. 

Logan,  keep working for it!!!!  That is so awesome about Candice!  It's so cool how Heavenly Father places these people in our paths so we can teach them.  So, does she work at American Eagle also?  Whatever happened to Alexandra?  Hope it all goes well. 

Congrats dad!  So the Proksch's are back in it!  Ha ha!  I don't think there is anything that i could tell you that you don't already know about your new calling in HP Group.  I wish you luck and hope that you always remember the Savior in your counseling.  He will always guide us where it is needed. 

Mom, that's a toughy!  I'm not sure where I would go with that talk subject.  I would probably explain the Godhead and express that our Heavenly Father lives today and that he will always guides us where we need to go through the atonement of his only Begotten son and through feelings we get from the Holy Ghost. 

Grandma D., I got your letters!!  It was so fun to read!!  Thank you for the Christmas card.  As usual, how are the cats? How are you doing? 

I got the picture of Juan, the puppy........What the heck!!!  That little burrito turned into a chimiCHUNGA!!  I wish I could see that little ball of fun.  It's hard to believe he is that big.  When I left he didn't even have his eyes open yet! 

Well, I guess I could tell you guys a little bit about what has been going on in my life. Nothing too extravagant lately. The usual, I guess.  New Year's was interesting. Not.  12:00 hit and we heard all of the fireworks going off and we were like, "Is it midnight or something?" ......"yep"........."oh.....cool" and that was it.  This past week has been better as far as teaching goes. We have taught some lessons this week.  Sounds pitiful, but it's not bad for where I am at.  I am excited more so for this week.  We will be teaching some NEW people!  Hopefully, my enthusiasm will help my companion be a little bit more motivated about missionary work.  I never thought I would have to try and reactivate my companion.  I have asked the Lord for help numerous times lately.  I just want to know how I can best reach out to my companion and say LETS GET TO WORK.  I would talk to the mission president, but my companion has the phone pretty much 24/7.  I have spent a lot of time on my knees and I plan on spending more and more time on my knees as I get further along in my mission. The guidance that I have been given this week has been incredible.  It has gotten to where I pray probably 20 times a day now.  I love it!

 

I don't want to make it seem like every week I am just writing things that are not good.  We are doing good.  I will say that I enjoy it most when we are in a lesson.  It isn't me nor my companion speaking. The spirit guides the lesson and I walk out of those people's homes happy to be a missionary.  I love being a missionary.  I love everything that comes with it as far as learning and spiritual growth. Companions aren't always the best, but the Lord knows my purpose for being out here.  It is for me and for those that I teach, not my companion. 

Elder Proksch

Another Proksch Missionary

It probably seems like the only time I write something on this blog is when I send a missionary out.  Well, it's probably true because, guess what?  We sent another valiant son out on a mission November 19th this year (OK, OK, so I'm a little behind here.)  The third Elder Proksch is serving in the Jacksonville, Florida mission and it has been such a blessing to our family, especially because he is in the U.S. and we are really not too far from him.

I'm catching everyone up with a couple of his emails (definitely shorter than the ones his brothers wrote!).  Enjoy the journey....

Hey guys!! 

So my P. Day isn't until Tuesday but I have some time to write today and figured I would. 

Everything is finally starting to slow down. I have been up to my neck with a schedule. The first day was just trying to figure out where things where and figuring out what to do. On the first night we started teaching as a group to some "investigators". people who where converts but acting like they were investigating. I'm sure Logan can help explain a lot of this. The first two days were just crazy. Just running from place to place and being in a class or meeting all day until 9:30 at night. I have a calling that my companion and I have. We are the Sacrament coordinators. It has to be like the easiest calling out of all of the calling that were given. ha ha.

After my meeting Thursday night when we met our branch president, I was walking back to my room with my companion and I saw Grant. He didn't answer at first and in fact he didn't even answer to Grant.  I should have called him by "Elder Heath"! haha  When I finally got his attention he was so excited to see me. He gave me a big hug and we caught up a bit. I think he was just happy to see someone he actually knew. I would be too. So apparently if I remember correctly he leaves tomorrow. I am so excited for him. He looks like he is ready to get out of here. It's funny my district and I all look out the window and go OOOOOHHHH LOOOOK!!!  IT'S THE REAL WORLD!!!!  It's so beautiful, as we press our faces up against a pane of glass. 

The only struggle there is here really is the sisters. I didn't expect for them to even be in the same classes or buildings or really anything with us. It's just weird to be intermingled with them so much. Sometimes it takes the Spirit away and I don't like that. It gets frustrating when you are in personal study and you want to think about something so you look around the room but you feel awkward because there are four sister missionaries sitting right there. I wish we were a little bit more segregated than we are. I will be fine though. 

That is so crazy about Juan, the puppy!! send me a picture of him. Thanks for the picture by the way. I look so dashing. haha JK. 

Well, it's lunch time so I have to go. Love you all. Hope your day is going great!!

(2nd letter....)

So i cant really remember what i write people in all of the letters that i write but i wanted to tell you guys that my thanksgiving was awesome. We had a super laid back day and we got to have like a truckload of the spirit dumped into our souls. We got to listen to Elder Bednar talk and that was awesome!! i got to send a couple of texts to him as well. Part, well most of his talk was question and answering. they passed out cell phones and told us to send him questions for him to answer. It was really cool. 

My testimony has really grown a lot this week though. I am so grateful to be here in the MTC and to be able to serve the Lord. Its hard to share sometimes because it means so much.

The other day is when i really feel i gained a testimony of my own of the Gospel. We taught and investigator and asked him to pray for the knowledge of God. After that lesson and for a couple of lessons to come i asked our Heavenly Father to help our investigator feel something. Any thing at all. i just wanted him to feel the power of the Lord. I knew that if he did feel something, anything, that the spirit would be planted in his heart and that from there it would only be able to grow.  We went in Friday to teach our lesson. We asked him how he was doing and if he had done the things we had asked. The mood of the room changed and he said, yeah i did. I prayed for help and i got and answer from God. He told us that he didn't believe in coincidences and that he knew the help he received was from God. I didn't know hat to say. My companion and i were so happy. it was such a relieving feeling because finally after five visits, we were able to get somewhere. I knew in that moment that our Heavenly Father answers our prayers. Even though this was our teacher acting as an investigator, i took it seriously and the Lord STILL answered my prayers. I know that me being here is preparatory to the rest of my life. This has been the most spiritually uplifting thing i have ever experienced in my life. The spirit has literally made me tired some night where i cant even write in my journal. 

I hope everything is going ok back at home.  If you haven't yet, bless the house. choose a day that is happy and calm. Feel the spirit when you bless the house and live up to that blessing. Be honest with yourself and help others along your way to get closer to our heavenly father. 

Elder Proksch

(3rd letter....)

Hey fam!!!  So, I am here in Jacksonville.  I have spent most of the evening at the mission pres. house.  I had a real meal!!!  It was awesome. Tonight has been wonderful as it is.  I still have no idea what I am doing.  BUT!!  I am enjoying it and I am excited to meet my companion tomorrow.  I have no idea when my p day is so I am not sure when I will be able to write back but ask me some Q's and I will try my best to answer them.  The flights went well.  The first one was a little bumpy, but the second one was just fine.  It was actually kind of funny. Some elder sitting in front of me threw up on the guy in front of him.  ha ha ha!

Well, I am on my way, but before I go I was told to give you guys this website.  I think it is a mission blog or something. 

FloridaJacksonvilleMissionNews.Blogspot.com

Elder Proksch

I got the package on Saturday.  It happened super quick and I was surprised at how fast it got here.  Thank you so much for the package though!!!  I am so happy when I get packages.  I would say the only thing that I can think of that was left out was the bike lights and the clip for my bike lock.  I can't carry the bike lock unless I have that clip.

The blanket is heaven and the helmet is nice.  :)  I added the TP to the stock pile and the paper towels were nice to have.  We use them a lot.  Thank you.  Everyone is jealous about the keyboard. They all are asking me if they can use it and I just tell them, "Sure!!....if I can use your Ipad to email my family".  ha ha ha ha!  It's been fun.  My companion is so cool!  His name is Elder Shelton.  He knows a lot and he is a great trainer from what I know....but what do I know.  Fleming Island is great.  Believe it or not it kind of feels like I'm in the Carolinas. The scenery is similar because in the northern part of Florida it's more like the country.  It's more "The South".  The only thing that tells me it's not the Carolinas are the trees and the grass.  I like the area though.  I am still trying to get used to everything.  I asked my comp. about that and he said it usually takes half of a transfer to get into the swing of things and then you can really get some work done.  That's ok though.  I'm happy with how things are going.  I haven't had a Florida orange yet.  I know, I know.  I need to get with it.  ha ha!  Actually, if there is anything that I would really like in a package it would be cooking utensils.  No one here believes in real food.  It's hard to cook sometimes, but I manage.  :)  My companion and I live the law of "consecration".  We share the groceries and the bill.  It makes for good groceries and it works out really well.  The families here feed us like every single day. The only day I don't have a dinner this week is Friday.   

My bike is awesome. No problems whatsoever.  It is new.  I got it from a bike shop real close to the apartment with a bottle carrier, bike lube, allen wrenches, and maintenance warranty for 600.  I will be taking real good care of it so I can sell it for as close to that as possible when I leave my mission. The other bikes they had there that were mountain bikes where like 8 and 9 hundred so I got a hybrid for a good price.  A couple of other missionaries have the same bike and they said they loved it.  It is a Specialized.  It's grey with green letters.  As far as riding it goes, we never really ride very fast anywhere.  It's pretty laid back.  In fact, I think like 85 to 90% of our mission has cars. You should see mission conference. There is like 100 cars that are all Chevy Cruz's, Toyota Camry's, or little Hyundai's that all have these dinky bike racks on them.  It's like some sort of wanna-be cyclist convention.

So apparently we are in a smaller area of the mission so we don't get a car but we have some awesome members here. We have a guy who is 21 who goes out with us pretty much every day. He doesn't work right now but he wants to go on a mission and he has a lot of experience already. I guess the sisters kind of reactivated him and from then on he stopped smoking weed and drinking and now he wants to go on a mission and he is the only priesthood holder in his home. He is really setting an example for his family.  It's awesome.  His mom, grandma, dad and brother all come to church. His name is Madison.  He is really cool.

Things are going well out here on the Island.  It's really not an island but that's what people say.  You should see our apartments. They are super nice.  It's like a vacation. There is a clubhouse at the office that we go to for the computers and WIFI, and it's like a hotel.  I am so spoiled here.  I would take a picture but my camera decided it wants to eat batteries.  I tried the cord and the cord was fine but the camera just eats the battery to no return.  It's frustrating. Thank you for the cord though.  I'm sorry I didn't get that figured out before I left.  I feel bad that I asked for the cord before I knew what was wrong.  I just ask my companion to use his camera with my SD card to take pictures, so it works. 

Well, I have to go, but I hope I answered your questions alright.  I love you guys.  Keep up the good work!!  You're AWESOME!!!!

Elder Proksch

Last Full Week!

Oh, boy!

 I don't even want to pretend like I know what I want to say.  What a ride this has been.  I feel like I have learned so much, but at this very moment, unable to recall exactly what it was that I learned.  Ha ha!   Not to worry.  I think that's just part of coming home.  So I guess the trick now is just getting everything ready for the missionaries that come in behind me. 

This week we had zone conference on the fourth (and yes, we did sing our national anthem for President Kretly).  It was great and definitely what I needed just before coming home.  Thanks for the reminder about thanking President Kretly.  Let me tell you, this man is smart.  There is a reason why he has so much money and I got a little taste of that on the fourth.  They talked about the difference between an extraordinary missionary and an ordinary missionary.  Some of the things were small, but you could see what difference it makes, others were a little more obvious.  During the conference a comment was made in a video that some people desire to change, but only change their behavior and forget that the other side of that change is their nature. You may change your behavior, but can you change your thoughts and how you see things and perceive them?  As missionaries we help our investigators do this, but doing it alone is much harder. I figured right there that I have a few things that I would like to change about my nature that I guess I have only been pretending to change.  That's just it... some people pretend to change (change in behavior) and never make it complete.  All this talk about change and I sound like Obama... ah ha ha.  I suppose it's a tradition among returning missionaries, but I feel I have only learned how to change instead making any big ones.  I feel I will be much the same person getting off the plane as I was getting out of the car.  

Anyways, that was one of the big points in the zone conference and something that really struck me as something I needed to do.  I also learned that in order to make changes or do anything, you have to make a plan.  Things generally run smoother with a plan.  It's also with a plan that you can refer back to to make necessary changes to reach a goal.  Some very smart people, much smarter than I, thought this up and it works fantastically. 

So, this week by Friday morning I should be on a plane headed for Maputo.  Then by Monday its on too South Africa and I start my way home.  Every time I think about coming home I think to myself, is this really life?  Is this actually happening?  I'm on camera right now somewhere and people are laughing at me.  It's weird but I am really excited to meet everyone there.

Today I am going to check up on the dress and make sure it's ready and I am also going to play soccer with a bunch of Brazilians from our mission.  Boy, do they love playing soccer!  I think I am going to miss that quite a bit.  A bunch of people who love playing soccer and speaking Portuguese with them.  They are so funny some times, they just make me laugh.  If I hadn't gone to Mozambique, I think I would have definitely gone to Brazil. 

I really don't have much else to write about now, but I'll tell you all about it in a week I guess.  ha ha ha!  In a week.... that's nuts!!!!!!!

Lots of love,
See you soon!

Elder Proksch-------> saying that for the last time is weird

Trying to Stay Focused

Well, this week wasn't very exciting, aside from the church at two o'clock in the afternoon.  Manuel and Aida still haven't opened their process because he has been sick and the weather has been bad.  We have been trying our best to help him out. The whole practically "not having a companion" mental thing is starting to wear on me right now because it's hard to try to remember everything and do it at the same time.  Even though I know what needs to be done, its hard to take care of all of it on my own.  Anyway, that's why I have decided this week to have the best week of my mission and do my absolute best because this week is really the last full week of work that I will have because after this we are going to visit families that we have baptized in the surrounding areas.  Also, we are going to be doing some last minute preparations.  I believe I don't have the right to mess up his last transfer or the way he wants to spend it, but then again I don't think he has the right to do that to me.  He doesn't fight me on anything.  If I were going to leave the house he will go.  He just doesn't do anything in the proactive sense.  I can't say I blame him because it's hard to feel like anything you do is going to make a difference these last past weeks, but that's not an excuse.

I'm not upset, just tired, but I'm going to have a good week this week.  I have a firm determination to make it a good one.  Sorry this letter is kind of a downer.

In another note, I did buy the capalana for the dress and the lady at the store said it was very beautiful, so I am trusting her judgement, but be warned... it is African, so there is color!  The ties will be made of the same fabric, so it's going to match.  One of my friends on the mission who is now home is finishing up the work on the nativity and a few other things.

So just  a few updates.  Next week will be better, I promise.  I hope you guys have fun on the bike ride.  Super jealous! ha ha

Elder Proksch

Clear an Area for the Spirit

Wow, sounds like Reid had a full week.  I am so proud of him and the things he is doing.  He is definitely following the right path.  I can't wait to see him again. 

This week was tough, but fast at the same time.  Difficult because motivation is at an all-time low, but fast because things are wrapping up here.  It's hard to be motivated when you have so little time left and everyone takes a chance to remind you, not to mention they all seem more excited than you.  I really am excited, I just try to keep it off my mind.  Not to mention, my companion is way trunkie, like off the deep end kind of trunkie.  Unless I plan it, we aren't going to do anything.  So, that's why I'm going to make these last few weeks the busiest weeks of my mission so I can stay focused on working rather than a clock (it is really hard not to stay focused on the clock).  This week we are going to be doing a lot of stuff.   I don't know what yet, but I know it's going to be a lot.  No spare time either. 

Manuel got sick this past week and hasn't been able to send in the papers to open the process for marriage.  Not a very big deal, but he will need to get better soon if we are going to do this.  Agostinho and Tereza are coming along and this week they should have enough money to buy all of her documents again (long story).  Other couples are coming along as well, but no new advancements. 

On the branches splitting: First, the split was necessary if  the mission was to reach it's goal of having enough branches for two stakes.  The reason for two stakes is that all the members are so spread out.  To have a stake conference you would have to fly everyone there.  Also, we have to get clearance from the First Presidency to create a stake here. We're almost there, but not quite.  We should likely have a stake here by 2015 or rather two stakes.  The church is waiting for these branches to start functioning like wards or more like them with the leadership and other things that happen in a ward.  Like I said, we are close, but not quite there yet.  Elder Bednar is over our area right now and we have to get his okay.  I am assigned to the Chamba branch and we go to church at 2 in the afternoon.... yay fun :P  At least our investigators have no excuse now.

Something I have come to learn here in Mozambique is that more often than not you have to clear an area to have the Spirit.  For example: when you teach a lesson you more often than not have some kind of loud music in the background and it makes it difficult to hear and impossible to feel the Spirit.  In today's world I think it is much the same.  There are times when, if you need to feel the Spirit, you need to clear a place for it or stand in a holy place.  This place may be a location or it can be time that you have set apart.  It can be anywhere.  The reason why I stress the Spirit in this "holy place" is because part of the work of the Spirit is to sanctify (or purify).  Like medical tools are cleansed and sterilized by a flame, you can get a clean start, a fresh look at something that was maybe clouded by the noise of the world.  The Spirit is there to help us see things as they really are.  To discern sin from good and to make the right choice.  So stand in holy places to receive His direction and make the right choice.  Find out what brings the Spirit strongest for you and use it to your advantage.  This doesn't mean go looking for trouble and then try and bring the Spirit there, but more like Nephi and Lehi... make the best of your situation (Helaman chapter 5).  Some reading there to see what I mean by making a holy place in a hostile situation.  Pay attention to what it does to the Lamanites.

Well, I gotta go.  My time is short now. 

I love you,

Elder Proksch

Splitting Branches

Wow, sounds like lots of stuff happening on your end of things.

Well, as for this week, it was more of a test, for our investigators, that is.  For church this week we decided to see who would remember and see who had a desire to get there. Come to find out, there are a few people that we are teaching that have a real desire.  Manuel and Aida,  Agostino and Tereza and a few other investigators chose to show up with their families in part.  I did this to kinda figure out who we should focus on because we have a lot of families we spend a lot of time during the week running from place to place trying to manage our time and make it so we can progress all these families, but it's nice to know who needs help and who doesn't.  Or less help, for that matter.  A few people we haven't seen yet this week so we are going to visit them and see what happened or why they couldn't show up at church. 

So the progress continues with Manuel and Aida.  They are getting closer and closer with their documents and they are only missing one more thing before they can open up the process and get married.  Their date is set for the 28th of this month and would be a very sweet ending to this mission.  Not to mention, all the other families that are going for the same date.  Just over all craziness as we come into the final weeks here.  I worry if I am going to be able to do enough to have these families in and through before we leave. It's rather stressful, but there are a lot of problems that we don't have, so I am grateful for that.  During the week I am not usually focused on going home and that's a blessing , but I am sure as it closes in I will have less breathing room.  It doesn't help that everyone in the house is way more excited about it than I am.  I suppose that's par for the course, though.  I really kinda don't know what to write about right now, it's been a pretty normal week here in Chamba.  Oh ya, I almost forgot, they are going to split the branches here on the 15th.  President Kretly will be coming to split everything up and that is exciting.  It's been a lot of work just to get to this point here and I am glad its finally paying off.

I am glad to hear about Reid and his accomplishments.  It was good to see the pictures of everyone and how things are going.  I really wish I could go on the bike ride with you guys, that is killing me, but I am just as excited to get home and to ride anyways.

Sorry I have writer's block today.  I am doing fine.  Just can't think of anything to write about.  Let me know if there is anything in specific anyone in the family wants from Africa.

Lots of love, 

Elder Proksch

Unseen Miracles

Wow, sounds like you guys had an exciting week.  So, it's transfers this week and Elder Mavile and I are being separated .  I hope I have learned enough from him to continue with the success I am having.  On the brighter side, he is not leaving the house, but rather just trading rooms with my new companion Elder de Oliveira.  His name means "of the olive tree".  He is from Cabo Verde and I have known him for a bit.  He goes home the same time as me, so that is interesting.  My companion is going to work with his old comp Elder Bender (also from Las Vegas).  Enough about transfers, I want to talk about all the success that your prayers have brought this week.

12 people at church this week and three families out of those twelve people.  I have never had such constant results and I feel now I will see what exactly contributed to that success.  Everyone is progressing on their way and we even found new families.  Gonsalvez and Julia, they have a beautiful new baby girl named Adilina.  She has the biggest brown eyes ever and she always looks at whoever is talking, which is gratifying to know that someone is playing close attention to what we say... ha ha!  Really, we have only sat with them twice and this past time he asked us about if we had a way to help him give up his drinking.  After telling him that we could, we also read him Ether 12:7.  It was really good and his wife is really smart.  Manuel and Aida are super stars.  They are collecting all their documents and getting closer and closer to their baptism.  Soares and Domingas are struggling because Domingas won't come to church.  She always promises, but never comes and it's been six weeks.  I hope we can help her or she gets some spiritual strength somewhere so she can come to church.  Agostinho and Tereza are coming along.  Agostinho had a relapse because he's trying to stop drinking.  It's tough for him, but he's showing some real grit and trying to get the papers for his marriage.   Their neighbors (we are going to need some extra prayers for these guys) Carimo and Ayissa are trying to get their marriage papers too.  She is 18  and he's 24 and the legal marrying age is 21 here in Mozambique.  These things are not usually very easy to get around because they have to ask the parents permission to get married, so we are trying to attack that.  I think I could go on about a few more families, but I think I will stop their to tell you about someone else.

William and Judit, I received a phone call this last past Saturday from Elder Oryang and that was really nice in and of itself.  He's such a cool elder.  He called me to tell me that finally William and Judit were baptized!!!!!!!!!!  I almost jumped out of my skin I was so excited.  It's such a relief to know that miracles still happen when you're not around.  It seems to be a theme for me on my mission that all these miracles happen when I'm not looking.  I spend a lot of my time not seeing the fruits first hand, but I know that they are there.  Maybe that's what Elder Anderson (Quorum of the Twelve) meant when he came and talked to us at the MTC when he said, "Become comfortable with things unseen."  I have received a lot of calls and notices like that on my mission and I am thankful for the missionaries that have the faith to continue with a family they don't know that well all the way to baptism.

Sorry if the letter is kinda short.  Not much time today.  Lots of moving around

Love you guys tons,

Elder Proksch