Week of January 18th...

I feel like I start all of my emails out the same way, because I usually type things how I would say them in person.... which means that usually the first word is "well....." and maybe a little bit of a sigh? I don't know... life is super interesting :)

So yeah. Well I'm back in the office lol.  I've considered just saying that much and letting y'all figure out the rest, but I feel like that wouldn't go over well, plus mamma quack might fly over here this time to figure out what's going on, so I won't do that!  The medicine they were given me to help with all of the problems was definitely helping. I saw  a HUGE difference in my ability to walk, and in my pain levels. However, no matter how long I took the pills, I always maxed out and plateau'ed. I got on this pretty regular 2-day cycle. The first day was great. I was really smart about how much I walked, and resting, and eating well, and I usually made it until about 19:00 that day before I broke down-meaning until I got to the point very suddenly where I wouldn't let myself open my mouth because I knew I was going to say something I would regret later that night.  The pain was pretty terrible, and it would take me a solid 20 minutes to hobble back home from the nearest tram stop(like 1/3 kilometer) from the house. Once I got home and applied ice for a long time and said a few prayers, then everything would be pretty good. Then the next day in my two day cycle would be terrible hahaha. Within 30 minutes of finishing studies I was already having some pain, and needing to lie down as soon as we got to our meeting. The Lord carried me. I had the Spirit, and was told when to stop, and when to sit, and when to go home for the day, and that's what we did. Elder Cowley was great about allowing us to follow the Spirit. It was hard. Then, on Wednesday of this week, President had to bring me some refills on my medicine, and he told me that he had been considering bringing me back into the office to give me a solid 2 weeks of not moving to see if we could get the problems to settle down and then we could go from there.  He knows how much I hated that idea. He told me to think and pray about it, and that he would do the same. So I did. I thought about it a lot, and prayed about it, and definitely got the answer that that's what I needed to do. I will admit that it was really really hard for me to accept, because of my pride and selfishness.... (yeah I'm working on that)... because Elder Cowley and I were at that time BLESSED with 4 of the 6 baptismal dates in Poland, and were so busy teaching lessons that we didn't even have enough time in the day to keep scheduling meetings. It was hard to submit to His will, but once I did, so much peace came with it. So I'm in the office now with Elder Campora. We are instructed to be productive when we can be in the office, but to rest and try to get over it. But I've been in here for

5 days and nothing is getting better... which means that (drum roll please...).... I'll get to do everything all over again! I've thought about it a lot, and I am doing so much better with that whole idea this time around. I know that the Lord is preparing me, and He is going to show me just how far He will go with me-which  means that I'm going to be carried for at least a sizeable distance! I'm focusing on the little things like always having the Spirit, and on looking for the positives. That's something I've really learned that has made a night and day difference in my life. The days that I actively focus on having a good attitude, and am GRATEFUL instead, everything changes.  It's all do-able... I can make it. I've been practicing that every day, and it's made a world of difference.

I'm keeping myself sane with studying. I found a polish language book in the apartment that I read just about everywhere when there's nothing else to be done. It's a nice thing to help me get my polish back and not lose my mind. On top of that, I found a Book of Mormon student study course... and it is blowing  my mind! I look forward to learning and reading from it, even during my meal hours... just to keep my mind busy. It has made a world of a difference!

I'm happy, I'm still alive, and I have faith in my Savior that everything will work out in the way that it should. I love Him, and have a testimony that His plan is so much better than my plan, even if His goes through some rough terrain. It's hard being a missionary again, but I wouldn't trade this experience for the world! I love all of you! Have the best week of your lives!

Week of January 11

1/11/2016

God is so good to us missionaries. Oh my goodness this week has been one of the craziest weeks of my LIFE! So many miracles are happening, and so many people are changing, and so much is getting done!

I'm going to have to take this chronologically since SO much happened and I don't want to miss it:

Monday: We met with Aleksander-actually Олег-(who came to fhe), and talked with him about the restoration! We actually did something really sneaky! Elder Cowley and I have this goal to use less-actives to strengthen our investigators, which in turn strengthens them...

it's awesome! So we had a member talk to Aleksander for 15 minutes while we ran and met with Władek(wearing the blue sweater in the pictures I sent home). We strengthened him and helped prep him for the meeting, and then we brought him right back in and we met with Aleksander. Władek is a miracle because he is PERFECT for Aleksander bc he speaks Russian and Ukrainian, and is remembering his testimony.

Plus, he just randomely showed up for the first time on Sunday, the same day Aleksander showed up... dont try and tell me that's a coincidence...! Well Aleksander accepted it all, took a Book of Mormon in Russian, and promised to read it and pray about it! We then went to the YSA fhe and spent some time with the YSA trying to strengthen them!

Tuesday we had random meetings and preparation for zone training on Wednesday, and calls... but SO MANY of our potentials actually wanted to meet... we were getting so stoked!

Wednesday: Zone Training. it was intense. We had been preparing and prepping for zone training for a while since we have one of the biggest zones in the history of the mission... so that was a bit scary...! I had a solid 25 minutes straight of the microphone, talking about being on time and then exercise and how that helps us be able to prepare ourselves for the day! It was so much fun! The Spirit was there strongly and we were able to say the things that we needed to say, and it was pretty great! President and Sister Edgren told us multiple times how much they enjoyed it, which was good to hear! I got to see Elder Berlin, Elder Wright, Elder Weiler, Elder Sidwell, and so many more of my boys! I sent the pictures that I have... so hopefully that's enough! After zone training we had to fly out of there and head to a meeting with Olek! We taught the first half of the plan of salvation, and he got stopped up at the resurrection... he didn't think that people got resurrected... and our polish/russian barrier wasn't allowing us to explain it perfectly... so we ended and talked about it next time. THEN, we met with Paweł, this super super less-active guy! Spoiler alert: He promised to come to church, then did, and then told us not to worry because he's not going anywhere. It was beautiful!

The monitor just told me I have 5 minutes left... so speed round!  We met with Paweł about the restoration... it was awesome and he really wants to come to know!The Frączek family... they're the best!

Jan 4, 2016...

So this week was a rollercoaster of a week. I had some pretty high days and some pretty low days. I think I'm finally on the uphill after a long battle with the negatives, which is SUCH a blessing because that was getting way old.

This week was the craziest week ever. Elder Cowley and I had a bunch of different random things to do this week because we're zone leaders, and it was transfers. We ended up having the weirdest week ever because every day something different would come up that we had to deal with, and we were so busy.

On Wednesday we found out about Elder Wilcox. He has been struggling for a long time with depression(I told you guys it was a real thing(lol) and it finally really got to him. He came into Warsaw on Thursday to have his last Pday before he left on Thursday. Elder Jourdan and I both simultaneously called president, and president wanted us two to spend the day with him and make his last day enjoyable. That wasn't hard because those two are two of my best friends in the World! We had an awesome time, and I think I was able to help with the situation a little bit because I had done it before and I could relate a little bit. I think that was one of those reasons why I needed to come back to Poland when I did. that night was new years eve.... and Poles go absolutely insane on new years eve(Sylwester) with fireworks and alcohol.... so us missionaries were ordered inside at like 16:00.  Elder Jourdan and I got Elder Wilcox off, and then we spent the rest of the night catching up. It was very needed.

I've been feeling a lot better about where I'm at on my mission at this point. These last 2 weeks I have been absolutely fighting to find myself again-I haven't been as happy or energetic, and doing missionary work has been the biggest struggle for me... .and that's been killing me, because at the end of my time in Poland last time, I was at the peak of my mission. szczecin has exploded since that transfer, and it feels so good to see it.(We took the stats from that transfer with E. Jourdan Blunt Berlin and I and it was pretty cool to

see!) But I was comparing that point where I was just absolutely loving it-to now when I'm struggling... and that was hard. I got a priesthood blessing, and the main thought was that I was "admonished to be patient". So I've kept praying, and being patient, and everything has gotten so much better. I feel good phyhsically and emotionally and spiritually, and I'm ready to get GOING this week.

Unfortunately the next day Elder Jourdan was reassigned to Katowice and Elder Mulder went to Kraków... which means that Elder Cowley and I are now both zone leaders and district leaders lol.... so we're working with that. We have a huge zone training(we have one of the biggest zones in the history of poland) on Wednesday, that we're preparing for with the STL, and also District Meeting, and DAR meeting and everything else to plan. today was the first day since the beginning of the transfer that we actually got to take meals and take studies... so that's pretty great! I'm talking about Being on Time, and Exercise(hahahah go figure), so I'm really excited about that!

I've been trying to call all of the companionships in my zone to check in on them and let them know they're not along(it gets lonely out there all by yourself and I remember being ecstatic when the zone leaders called), so that's been fun! I've gotten to talk with Elders Berlin and Weiler, which was super sweet and something I had looked forward to!

Mom and Dad I found the sickest suit I've ever seen in my life at the store for a steal so I had to buy it. It looks super good, and it's European, so it's just one more thing that will help me remember not to gain a ton of weight... :)

We moved apartments this week without telling President. Elder Cowley and I felt really good about it(it was the Spirit and we just rolled with it). It will also save us betyween 3-6 hours a day riding on trams that we can be doing other things). So we moved and I'm going to call this week and tell president, and show him how much time we've saved and all the good things that have happened. he loves when missionaries just fix a problem, and THEN tell him about it... he's such a businessman and I love it.

So Sunday was one of the greatest days ever. We met at the Warsaw chapel(kinda a big deal), and had fast and testimony meeting. I was praying for othe gift of tongues because I really wanted the members to know what kind of missionary I am so that they will trust us, come on lessons with us, and share their friends with us.... and I was freaking out because my polish speaking isn't ANYWHERE where it was before I left. I waited until I felt the right time, stood up, and straight up gold just started flowing. The Spirit was there and I knew what and how I wanted to say everything, and I only made one casing error (zwrócić=return an item. Wrócić=to return oneself), and the members loved it. Do you remember Ula? She was the member I ate with on the train last time I was here, who gave me the Poland Warsaw tie??

Well she's in my ward and she started crying when we were talking and I just about hugged her but I couldnt... but I'm really really excited to get to work with her. She has two sons who want nothing to do with the church and I really want to change that.

Oh... so miracle moment.... We were just about to leave church, and straight up this Ukranian guy walks into the chapel and wants to meet.His name is Aleksander(Olech) and he speaks ukrainian, russian, and a tad of polish. We grabbed a member and took him on a chapel tour and had a meeting with him. We taught a first, and challenged him to baptism, and he accepted. He's planning on the 13th of February. He's also coming to FHE tonight, meeting with us Wednesday, and coming to the baptism on saturday(hopefully). The meeting was a product of the gift of tongues... because this guy doesn't know much polish... but can speak in russian and ukrainian. So he was using russian and ukrainian, and we were using polish, and he got everything(with just a little bit of charades). It was the coolest thing ever. I love the gospel and I love speaking polish.

Health: Everything is going so much better. My back is doing alright, pelvis and associated areas are definitely improving, and my legs are doing perfectly. It is SUCH a miracle. I love it.

Well that's all... I sure love and miss you guys, but I'm doing good here and I'm loving it!