Okay, So I don't have a whole ton of time this week... we
aren't even getting most of our pday until like Friday.... and let's be real-we
probably won't get it then either hahaha... so this is just going to be an
information bomb of my feelings and experiences this past week, and this
upcoming week. Here I go. (It's a good thing I'm a fast typer!)
So Elder Cowley and I are working together with President
to plan and conduct Missionary Leadership Training this next week, so a lot of
our time this week was spent planning and preparing for that. We have literally
been so busy we haven't had time to get all of our meal time, or studies... so
that's been interesting! Every second of free time has been spent pondering or
studying, or discussing what needs to be shared, and how the meeting needs to
proceed. It's 4 hours long, so it takes a little bit of preparation.
I learned how to drive stick-shift for reals this week.
Our car is a stick-shift and I had a solid hour to practice on it one night,
but we got it down, and now it's a piece of cake. It's great because it feels
the same as that old 450 quad we had... except the clutch is with my foot
instead of my hand. No life-endangering experiences yet, but I'll keep you
updated! ;) lol jk we've got this mom.
We had a meeting with K. (we're not supposed to actually
say people's names anymore since all of the legal things... so I'll just use
first letters). He already had a baptismal date for this upcoming weekend, and
has been preparing for that. He is a university professor, and is thus very
analytical and logical. It was really cool to be led by the Spirit on that
lesson, and be able to have different ways that I think about the gospel be
able to help him understand how he can apply it to his life. He won't be
baptized this week, but I am confident that he will get there in the near
future.
We met with a less-active YSA this week that has been
missing for ages. Nobody has had contact, but we set up a meeting and went and
had lunch with him. It was awesome to see him. There has been a lot of drama
with him lately, so we are hoping that he is okay. We'll keep working and
praying for him!
I conducted the baptismal interview for Brother
Mazurowski. His wife has been a member of the church od dawna. He has been
taught by Elders Burdick and Jones, and was baptized this last Saturday. He is
awesome, and the interview went great, and he's going to be a great addition to
the branch.
We met with W on Saturday-he's 21 and a college student
studying law... he's a stud. We had an amazing meeting with him, and were able
to practice some of the things that we're going to be teaching in MLC this next
week during the meeting. We're working on setting expectations with
investigators and putting the ball in their court, essentially. It went really
well! He just about picked a date, but wanted to think about it more before he
gave a decision.
There was a ward picnic this week. I really feel like
we're making it "in" with the members. I was talking a ton with
President Pogorzelski, and we had a great time. We also got invited to dinner
in the future at the District President's house(Dresler's), and to the Jarosz's
house again... they are some of my favorite people on the earth, and we're so
excited!
Brat Mazoriwski's baptism happened Saturday night. It was
crazy. There were SO many people there. We had K there, so I was sitting next
to him helping to explain things, while simultaneously translating the meeting
using the wireless microphone for all of the non-polish speakers. Then I had to
put that down to go up and lead the music, after which I said the opening
prayer. It was a crazy meeting, but everything went so well and the Spirit was
there, strongly!
Yesterday was a MIRACLE. We had church, and noone
unfortunately showed up.. but we did have a meeting with my man E..... He is
from Azerbaijan. He speaks Japanese, English, French,some Polish, Russian(i
think) and Azerbaijanian. He's a stud. He lived
in America for a year during high school with a christian family. He is
studying for his MBA here in Poland, and is a stud. I had gotten a prompting to
go out of my way to get him last friday while we were shining people's shoes
for service on the patelnia(the 'frying pan' in polish... but it's the place
between both metros and the tram stops, right in city centrum.) He was stoked,
and I shined his boots, and there was a french BOM there right on the table
next to him. He has already been reading it, traveled an hour to our chapel to
meet right after church. We met with Agnieszka(she's the best ever.. I've
talked about her before) and him, took him on a chapel tour, introduced him to
all the members, and then met with him. He is gold. Literally he's so ready it
gets me hyped. He wanted to meet all the members, was asking if he could bring
all of his friends, said he loves the church, and he loves how he always feels
so good there. "It's like I'm coming home"... yeah I almost died. He
picked a baptismal date for June 4th, and we felt prompted to promise him that
if he does everything he needs to do, that he can know in in 3 weeks that the church is true and get baptized. He's
amazing. We are so excited for him, and cannot wait for what is in store!
This week is literally the most crazy week of my life. We
stayed the night at President's house(we've been spending a lot of time over
here preparing for MLC), and then met this morning. We are in charge of getting
the departing group off...(Elder Burdick is leaving. I love that guy more than
anything... I'm super sad about it, but he lives way close to BYU and we'll for
sure stay in touch). Then tomorrow, we have to get to the airport to pick up
the new missionaries, take them to the mission home,get them organized, get
them to get legal pictures done, get them lunch, get them to the office, take
them contacting, and then have a testimony meeting and get them to bed. We're
staying over that night so that we can take 2 of them in the morning back with
us. We are getting 2 trainees to stay with us all day Wednesday to show them
the ropes, and hopefully give them a good example of missionary work that they
can use in their missions. Thursday we are playing a large role in the
trainer/trainee meeting at the Wiktorska chapel. Friday we probably won't get
pday because we have to weekly plan, transfer plan, clean the apartment for the
first time in forever, shop, prepare for MLC, and meet with people. And then Saturday
is MLC. It's going to be quite the week, but I am so happy and so ready to do
what needs to be done. I haven't felt better in a long, long time. The church
is true, the work is good, and miracles are happening!
Funny moments with president and sister edgren this week:
I was in the kitchen getting something to eat when sister edgren dropped a
glass bowl. President had house slippers on so he gave me a piggy-back ride out
of the kitchen. I tore my pants jumping onto his back.
Also, while staying the night last night, I ran upstairs
just to the front room to get some letters from my bag just in my G's... and of
course president was right there. We played it off so cool, though...
it was hilarious. On top of that, we had a kinda family
prayer with the edgrens this morning... and then held hands to start the
prayer, so jokingly I reached for sister edgren's hand to say the prayer and
then just played it off... but then she grabbed my hand and we ended up holding
hands during the prayer. So that was great...! hahaha I love them.
This week might actually kill us, but it's going to be a
huge adventure! Thanks for your prayers and letters and support. Then mean the
world! Love you all! Sorry I won't have any time to write back individually
this week.. .duty calls! Love y'all!
ps: last funny story. President calls me 'Dr. Q on the
piano'... so I'm also playing the piano for MLC this week lol.
