Sister Francesca Bruno Arrives in Prague Czech/Slavak Mission

CZECH/SLOVAK MISSION

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT

Badeniho 1

160 00  Praha 6

Czech Republic

Tel.: +(420) 224 322 215

                                                               

                                                                       

Frank A. Bruno 
123 Brandywine Drive 
Summerville, SOUTH CAROLINA 29485 
USA                                                                            

28 May 2013

 

Dear Brother Bruno,       

                        Sister Francesca Bruno has arrived safely in the Czech/Slovak Mission.  We are impressed with your daughter and want to thank you for all that you have done in preparing this wonderful young lady for her mission. Today we will do our best to keep Sister Bruno awake until early evening.  Tomorrow Sister Bruno will meet her new companion and then travel to her first area.

Attached is a photograph of her which was taken today just after she arrived in Prague. Sister Bruno will bless this mission greatly with her enthusiasm and dedication. We love her and pledge our best efforts in directing her service here. 

            Your daughter, Sister Bruno, has accepted a call that will change her life and the lives of those with whom she is serving.  These first few months will be full of new and challenging experiences. Your support in the form of encouraging and uplifting letters will help her greatly.

Our greatest hope is that each missionary has a positive and growing experience which will help give her a foundation for a lifetime of service to others. We appreciate the time you have spent raising and teaching your daughter to be such a responsible young woman.  Thank you for your willingness to share Sister Bruno with us.

                                                           

With warmest regards,

David R. Irwin

            Prezident Česká/Slovenská misie

                                                                                                                                                                       

Hi I'm Francesca Bruno | family, Czech/Slovak, missionary, Mormon.

Hi I'm Francesca Bruno Czech/Slovak Missionary

Everything Magnified 10X on a Mission

AHOJ MOJE RODINA A KAMARADKY!

 

This has been the hardest week thus far of my mission. Which seems silly because I'm only in the MTC... but I have found out that everything is magnified by 10x on your mission. Your spiritual sensitivity, your emotions, even your HUNGER!

 

I have been feeling really frustrated with myself because I haven't been learning the language. Czech is hard. It's really really hard. But not just that, I feel like sometimes my priorities are out of wack! Which was hard because I don't want to waste a single second wasting time on myself. I have realized this week that this time in my life, my mission, is so great because my relationship with God has been magnified by 10x. Every emotion that I am feeling I know has been for my benefit. As hard as it has been, and as much as I have cried, I have learned so much. And I am trying so hard to remember the motto Joy in the Journey. In the temple today the lyric "I am weak but thou art strong" kept going through my head. I can't even remember what hymn that is from... I hope it's from a hymn... I think? But it reminded me of the scripture Alma 26:16 "I will not boast of myself but I will boast of my God" I don't have much to boast of. My Czech is spatny (bad), my knowledge is incomplete, but I will boast of God because through him and his love, I can became perfect. HE SENT CHRIST FOR US! AND JESUS WANTED TO COME! Isn't that INCREDIBLE! Please don't ever forget that. I have been trying so hard to remember that every second because I have found that when I think about Jesus and all he has done, I think less about myself, and that is a wonderful feeling!

 

 I'm trying so hard to be like Jesus. On Sunday during Relief Society we got to hear from Janice Kapp Perry (the one who wrote that song, and As Sisters in Zion, and A Child's Prayer, etc) And guess what??? She rewrote the lyrics to As Sisters in Zion and now it's called the Sisters of Zion and it's about the mission age changing and about sister missionaries. We were the first ever to sing it! It was beautiful. It talked about how angels will be with us as we share the message of the restored gospel.

 

On tuesday we got to hear from ANOTHER apostle. Elder Russell M. Nelson. It WAS SO AWESOME! He said the same thing.How we can ask people who have passed on to help guide us with the work. We can pray for angels to help us. I know all of you can pray for angels too.

 

It's been a really hard week for you it sounds like and I just want to let you know how much I appreciate all of you! I know if you pray that angels will comfort you. You can feel comfort and security in their arms. If you are feeling lonely or sad PLEASE PLEASE pray. I am so silly. All this time I thought I had to do stuff alone, but it's not true. Heavenly FAther will help you and Jesus Christ will help you. In TRC we taugh a brother and he asked what if God doesn't answer my prayers. I thought about it for like a whole minute and then I said, Modlite se vic protoze Buh dava odpovidet a s jedna odpovidet, vy nepamatuji nic. (Pray more becasue God gives answers and with one answer you will forget everything else) That is how wonderful God is. One answer to your prayers and you can forget your other troubles.

 

And if you really need a laugh just imagine me, probably the goofy-est little girl on the whole planet trying to speak Czech... It sure makes my teachers laugh. And you know what, it's great to laugh! It feels really good. Men are that they might have radost (joy)!

 

Here's my testimony in Czech. I want to share it with you because I love you. Hopefully you can learn something from it!

 

s laskou

Sestra Bruno

 

P.S. I got my travel plans!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

SLC to Chicago

Chicago to London (Hethrow)

London to Praca!!!!!

 

CAN YOU BELIEVE I LEAVE THE MTC IN 10 DAYS?!?!?!?!?! UNREAL!!!! I miss you all. Can't wait to talk to you on MAY 27th!!!

Training New Missionaries at the MTC

AHOJ Rodina a Kamaradky!

 

I figured I would just write to all of you about my week because I have been running out of time lately. Hopefully I will be able to send some of you individual e-mails too! Sorry if I don't!!! I'll try to do better next week.

 

This week in the MTC=SO GREAT!

 

We had mission conference on sunday which was so awesome. Some of the topics addressed were reverence and how to become a rescuer. Since being in the MTC I don't think I really thought much about reverence. I figured oh yeah we are in the MTC, it's reverent. But then I realized that sometimes it's really hard because I still want to participate in the things of the world (not singing is probably the hardest part) and plus our district and zone are so close so sometimes we just get really crazy and loud. Reverence is so important in feeling the spirit though. I am definitely starting to tell the difference of when the spirit is strong and when it is just present and reverence has a lot to do with it!

Our MTC president talked about how we will have the opportunity to become rescuers and how we should cherish that. I hope that sometime this week all of you will take time to talk to someone that isn't a member about the church. You all are probably better at it then me! We challenged the person that we taught this week at TRC to do it, and I want to challenge all of you to do it as well. Even if it is just mentioning that you are a member, or telling them to visit lds.org or mormon.org or you could just post a mormon message on facebook. The more people that see it, the better. I can't wait to go out and share the TRUTH! And the truth is that the church is true!

 

At this weeks devotional we got to hear from some really cool people. One of them was a former NFL player, Chad Lewis. Look up his mormon.org profile because he is so cool! We also got to be ushers. It was so awesome. I felt like a flight attendent.

 

We also got the chance to be the missionaries that help teach the new missionaries that come in every week. I don't know if they did this when you were missionaries but the first day when the new missionaries come they go in a big room and they teach a member, almost like TRC but with a big group. They start off with two missionaries though and me and my companion were those missionaries! It was soooooo awesome. One of the investigators was an amputee who had an amazing experience with God where he talked to him and heard his voice. His story was amazing. I was just glad to be in the room. I felt the spirit soooooo strongly. I can't wait until I am in the field doing this and expressing God's love for the people. They need to hear it because it's so true!!!

 

Also this week we get to be host for all the newbies at the MTC. I feel like a pro here. 9 weeks is a really long time I am figuring out. The language has been the biggest struggle this week. I feel like I don't know anything. still. Which has been hard because I think I am working so hard, but I retain almost nothing. NOT FUN! Czech is so crazy because there are these things called cases were every noun in a different situation changes the ending and every pronoun does it too. It's so hard, but so good. I am learning so much. and luckily I have two more weeks to learn more!!!!

 

I miss you all. Tell me about your life. Tell meyour summers. JUST TELL ME EVERYTHING!!!!

 

Love you all

s lasku

Sestra Bruno

Prospective Arrival of Missionary to Czech/Slavak Mission

Brother and Sister Bruno:

Dear Parents of Missionaries coming in on May 28^th,

 

We are looking forward to meeting our new missionaries at the end of next month. There will 16 of them – 8 Sisters and 8 Elders. We are delighted! J

 

When they arrive I will email you (at least - as soon afterwards as I can) to ensure you of their happy and safe arrival. This email may come later on the 28^th or early on the 29^th - depending on whether or not the flight is on time.

 

I will also email a photo of your missionary with President and Sister Irwin and another photo of them with their companion.

 

May 28^th  is a Tuesday. They are expected to arrive at 2pm. The usual procedure is for the new missionaries to stay in Prague overnight. The next day they have an orientation with President and Sister Irwin and then go to their area with their companion – again this depends  on if the flight is on time or not.

 

Those serving outside of Prague have their P-Day on Mondays so you can expect an email from them then. Those serving in Prague have their P-Day on Saturdays.

 

Attached is some information regarding sending letters and parcels. This is very important so please print it out and keep a copy. Also – please share this with friends, family and ward members who will likely send mail to your missionary.

 

It is appropriate, if you wish, to send a letter and/or package to them now so that there is mail waiting for them when they arrive. J

 

As explained in the attachment your missionary’s special 4 number code is: 1281

 

Please don’t hesitate to contact me if you have any questions or concerns.

 

With warm regards from …

 

Sestra Judy Munro

Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints

Czech/Slovak Mission

Executive Secretary

2013061@ldschurch.org

Mail to the Czech/Slavak Mission

 Mail to the Czech/Slavak Mission

April 2013

MAIL TO THE CZECH/SLOVAK MISSION            

Information for Missionaries, Families, Relatives and Friends.

When you read this information you may think it seems really extreme.

It’s so different from what you’re used to. It’s just the way it is here. J

The rules of the US Postal Service DO NOT APPLY to the Czech Postal Service.

Below are some helpful guidelines to use when sending letters and packages to the Czech/Slovak Mission.  If any of these guidelines are not followed exactly, the package or letter may not arrive at the mission office and may be lost in transit.  Please share this information with family, friends and Ward members who may send letters and packages!

ALL LETTERS:

Please list the name of the missionary AFTER the name of the church on Mail Letters ONLY.

If the missionary’s name is placed first, the letter will not always arrive.  Below is a correct example:

Církev Ježíše Krista

Elder/Sister (Surname)

Badeního 1

Prague 6   160 00

Czech Republic-Europe

 

Letters and packages are delivered at least once a month to missionaries outside Prague when trips are made to their respective city.  When correctly addressed, packages and letters normally arrive in a couple of weeks. Please allow a month when sending something for a birthday. Christmas parcels should be sent by the end of October.

ALL PACKAGES:

DO NOT WRITE YOUR MISSIONARY’S NAME OR THE NAME OF THE CHURCH on PACKAGES!


ALL PACKAGES:

DO NOT WRITE YOUR MISSIONARY’S NAME OR THE NAME OF THE CHURCH on PACKAGES!



What do I write on the USPS shipping manifest?
o    List the recipient as David R. Irwin.
o    Write the address as per this box opposite.

Return Address

4 digit code

David R. Irwin

Badeního 1

Prague 6 160 00

Czech Republic-Europe

4 digit code

o    The package must be listed as a gift.

o    The total declared value must not exceed €40 Euros (roughly $49).
o    (If you need to send more than €40, separate into multiple packages.)
o    Make sure you list the items in the package and give them a value.
o    Do not list any items as having ‘no value’ or ‘$0’.
This will raise red flags at the Customs Police.

What items can I include in a package?
o    You can send clothing, candy, pictures etc.
o    Do not send - Medication, Beef Jerky, or Peanut Butter.  They will be stopped at Customs.

How will the Mission know which Missionary the package is for?
o    Each missionary is given their own 4 digit ‘packages code’. This will be sent to missionaries and their families the month before they arrive in the Mission.
o    Please write this number clearly on the bottom right hand corner of the package as well as up by the return address - so if our postal service covers one number, as they often do, we can see the other number easily.

How long does it take for mail to arrive?

o    When correctly addressed, packages and letters normally arrive in a couple of weeks. Please allow a month when sending something for a birthday. Christmas parcels should be sent by the end of October.


What do I write on the USPS shipping manifest?
o    List the recipient as David R. Irwin.
o    Write the address as per this box opposite.
o    The package must be listed as a gift.
o    The total declared value must not exceed €40 Euros (roughly $49).
o    (If you need to send more than €40, separate into multiple packages.)
o    Make sure you list the items in the package and give them a value.
o    Do not list any items as having ‘no value’ or ‘$0’.
This will raise red flags at the Customs Police.

What items can I include in a package?
o    You can send clothing, candy, pictures etc.
o    Do not send - Medication, Beef Jerky, or Peanut Butter.  They will be stopped at Customs.

How will the Mission know which Missionary the package is for?
o    Each missionary is given their own 4 digit ‘packages code’. This will be sent to missionaries and their families the month before they arrive in the Mission.
o    Please write this number clearly on the bottom right hand corner of the package as well as up by the return address - so if our postal service covers one number, as they often do, we can see the other number easily.

How long does it take for mail to arrive?

o    When correctly addressed, packages and letters normally arrive in a couple of weeks. Please allow a month when sending something for a birthday. Christmas parcels should be sent by the end of October.