AP's are working hard as we are preparing for the arrival of the new Mission President, Pres. Turek

The exhaustion is ridiculous this week lol. We made it through the first 3 days of the transfer and everything went so well!

So much has happened in the last week and a half, so I'm just going to work on recapping as much as I can remember!

So Wednesday was just one of those days. I don't understand it, but every time on my mission when I'm just having the worst day ever, really really good things are about to come-I just have to keep pushing through, and make it through the storm. It's so interesting to me how that works... but needless to say Wednesday was super super hard. With all of the anxiety and thoughts about my group leaving, I was a disaster. I haven't had so much hip pain since the surgeries. It was crazy how it just popped out of nowhere! And the pelvis pain was unreal. It put me down and out for a little while  and i worked on getting myself back under control. So that day we had a meeting with a less-active all the way out in Praga, across the river. I thought I was going to die, and then after we showed up, he wasn't even home, and wouldn't answer his phone. It was a definite test of patience. Well afterwards we had a meeting with the Jarosz's(some of my favorite people in the world), and taught Sara english. She's great. And afterwards we had a meeting with that less-active(sorry we're not allowed to say names of people a lot of the time for legal and safety reasons... this world is a crazy place) for the first time, and his wife! we had just eaten at the Jarosz's, and then we walk in and sit down, and no joke they brought out the biggest plate of food I've ever seen in my life... and then they brought out another one. We had an entire plate all to ourselves. I've never eaten more in my life and I thought I was going to die, but had to finish it. It was pretty intense. Well the meeting went amazingly, and the only reason that his wife isn't preparing for baptism yet is because we ran out of time because they both talked for so long about how much they love the church, and the book of mormon, and us, and Jesus Christ. It was a huge miracle, and we are so excited  to meet with them tomorrow night. It's going to be another miraculous night. 

Thursday we had a great day, and met with an investigator, A..., and had a great meeting with her. The Spirit was a definite help, and it went well. Right afterwards, we were able to meet with a less-active named Andrzej. Turns out last time elder cowley and I were together 6 months ago we ran into him on a tram, and he told us that he is a member from katowice, and needs to come back to church. So we had one of our first meetings with him since, and it was amazing. We gave him a priesthood blessing, and the Spirit was there so strongly. It was amazing! He is so receptive to the Spirit, it's insane! We are hoping that good things will come of it for him! So that night we had culture night with the district. We ate fish and chips(my boy Elder Jones is in the district-he's from Wales), and then went to another mime show. It was legendary! We had such a good time with the district. I love going to the theatre and seeing all of the performances. That's something I'd like to continue doing later on. 

Friday just regular missionary work and trying to find people! We taught a few pretty good street-lessons, and planted some seeds. 

Saturday and Sunday were the same-still working on keeping control of my mind and thinking about the positives. 

MONDAY:Well monday happened. We met with president early in the morning and started planning for the new mission president. That was crazy. Then we helped my departing group do what they needed to do that day, and had the departing testimony meeting. It was one of the harder things I've ever had to do-sitting there and realizing that all of these elders are some of my best friends, and that they are all going home to live normal lives and listen to music and go to college while I'll still be in Poland. It was pretty tough, but I'm doing a lot better. Miraculously, I was able to meet with the psychologist that day, which really really helped. I also had my departing interview with Prezydent Edgren. I love him. it was a great meeting that I really needed. He is helping me change my perspective to one of gratitude that I have so much to "put on the altar". that makes me feel a lot better about what I'm doing here instead of just being here alone trying to do what I need to do. I talked a ton with Elder Coutu. It's crazy what missions will do in helping you make some of your best friends you've ever had. We had a long talk that I think was pretty needed for the both of us. It was good. 

Tuesday morning I was awake at 4:00 am saying goodbye to all of the boys. Later that day, we picked up the new group of elders and sisters. We took them to get their pictures taken, and to get some lunch, and then we took them out contacting. It was really fun. They're a great group, and you just have to love them!

Yesterday we woke up and had trainers' meetings, and then took everybody to contact in Centrum while they waited for their trains. It was awesome to get to do some street work after it all and get my mission back up and running. 

Today all of our lessons got cancelled so we decided to take pday today instead of yesterday. It's been a good day, and we got a lot done that needed to be done today. We're having dinner with elders jones and mcpherson here in a few hours before we teach english class. It's going to be a good one! 

The pain is continuing to decrease and decrease. I'm getting a lot better at just accepting the fact that I'm going to be here for a little while without my elders and sisters, and that it's all going to be okay. There are some big promises that have yet to be fulfilled on my mission that I am excitedly looking forward to in the future. Big things are going to happen-I can't wait to see what they are! I love you guys, and I'm grateful for your emails this week. They were much needed.

District Pictures

Presiden Turek's first week in the Warsaw, Poland Mission

Well there it is!   We've more or less planned Prezydent Turek's first week and a half, and called all of the leaders in the mission to get them on board. It's all going to work out. We pick him up Thursday afternoon... and then the fun begins!

Bad picture but I'm alive!

Father's Day.....A quick note to dad

So this week is more crazy than all of the 90 year old grandmas still walking around in Poland. I won't get to actually have pday and send emails until friday this week. I will, however, be able to get on tomorrow for just a second and read the emails that you send. In other words, please send your emails as usual(they are  much needed this week), but don't worry when I'm not able to email until Friday. I'm still alive, we're just so so so busy that we won't get any time to do anything until later in the week. Thanks for your love and support, and keep the prayers coming! Love you guys!

Happy Fathers' Day, Dad! I love you! I'm so grateful that you've been able to teach me, and be right there next to me all the way! Like I've said before, you're the perfect Dad for me, and always have the right experiences, and thoughts that keep me going and help me see the bigger picture. I love you! Have a great Fathers' Day.

Week of June 13th...

Well there went another week! So a few cool things happened this week:

There was a baptism for an american 8-year old from Washington. His mom is fully polish, and his dad served a mission here, and then after married the mother. They wanted to come back to the 'mother land' to baptize their son. Turns out they're related to EVERYONE in poland. So they invited all their non-momber friends and family. It was awesome. They asked me to play prelude and play essentially all the music for the baptism, which was pretty cool. Then, he was confirmed in front of everyone, and they asked who he wanted to help confirm him, and he pointed straight at me hahah. it was pretty awesome. After the confirmation when he was shaking hands, he stopped at me and we had a 15 second custom-made handshake with something about spiderman and batman, and crossing fingers and such. haha it was pretty cute. They also had a special musical fireside that night that everyone came to, and it was amazing to hear someone sing so beautifully in polish. I needed that!

We went over to Kaja's house last night to celebrate a Jewish holiday(she's a converted jew to mormonism and she's one of the most amazing members we have in poland). We learned a ton about the jewish holiday, and about the bible, and ate jewish food. Then we left and stayed the night at president's house. It was great. This morning we were up planning transfers with president by 7:00. It was awesome, and we spent a solid 3 hours, and got mostly there. There will just be minor changes after this. Everything is coming down to it. My group with all my boys leaves here next tuesday morning early. This would have been my last week emailing in an alternate universe... it's tough, but I'm so glad that God has an individual plan for me, and I am so grateful for everything He's been blessing me with on his alternative plan!

That's about it this week.. things are going to get crazy. I'll fill you in when I can. I don't know if I'm going to be getting much of a pday next monday... my group is leavfing, and we'll be helping them, and then the new group comes in... so we'll see!  I lov eyou guys!

We CONQUERED THE BEAST of a week! May 6, 2016

It's done!!! The week is over. It's been an absolutely gigantic week, but with innumerable miracles, we made it through!

So  monday we really didn't have a pday-just enough to jump on and let y'all know that we were still alive. We spent a lot of time getting ready for zone conferences, and ifnishing up the final touches on a lot of projects. The day flew by, but by the end of the day we felt prepared and ready.

Tuesday morning we woke up at 4:30 am and got on the 5:45 train to Kraków. We raced to the train, made it in good time, and did studies on the train. We got to Kraków at like 8:30, and ran and jumped on this tiny ghetto "bus" to Oświęcim. It wasn't a bus it was a sketchy van that was so dark inside that there could have been someone hiding in there right next to you and you wouldn't have known until it got lighter a little bit into the trip. Elder Cowley and I weren't about to wait, so we bought a ticket into Auschwitz for the next Polish group, and went into the park to "wait for our group". What we realized was that if you took off your listening devices and your sticker, you looked like one of those people who just get to go wherever they want. So that's what we did. I've been learning that if you just act like you know what you're doing, and are walking with a purpose, Nobody is going to say anything to you. So we went to see all of the big things in Auschwitz, and got a bunch of really good pictures(pictures to come). It was eyeopening just to see what human beings are capable of doing to eachother. It was incredible to see. Then, we got on another bus, and went over to Birkenau. that place is HUGE. They really did want to kill the entire world. Man. After that miracles happened and we barely made a bus which allowed us to make another bus, which got us back into Kraków at the perfect time. We went and saw the Wawel castle and its cathedral(we were two of the last people they let in that day). It was incredible to see. It looked like all of the cathedrals in Italy, and was just as old. It was awesome. It is so interesting, though, the difference in the Spirit between our church buildings and temples, and those not of our faith. There really is a tangible difference. That was cool to see. We toured a few of the nearby cathedrals in Kraków( it was one of the only big cities in Poland that wasn't absolutely destroyed during the war because it was too beautiful-which means that it has some of hte most historic buildings in Poland). We also went and got "U Szwagra"-one of the most well-liked kebabs across poland by misisonaries. After that, we even got to go out and work with the Kraków elders. I went on splits with Elder Wood. He's a stud. I love that guy. He's a trainee, and we worked really well together. I think that was one of those small reasons why I needed to come back to Poland. So that was cool, and a really big blessing for me to be able to help out.

Wednesday, we woke up and had zone conference with the south zone. It went really well and the Spirit was there strongly. It was so good to see all of the missionaries, and especially my boy Elder Blunt! That was the first time I've seen him since I got back...! The Daltons are also amazing. They're the senior couple down there, and it was awesome to visit with them. Right after the conference, we jumped on a train and got back into warsaw with just enough time to find something to eat and hit the sack.

Thursday we woke up and went to the chapel and had zone conference with the Warsaw zone. Also directed by the Spirit, and also went really well. Elder Jones bore a testimony at the end that was exactly what I needed to her(we get along great and are usually in the same place emotionally lol) He said something along the lines of: "Happiness doesn't actually mean having a smile on your face all the time. When you're happy, you wouldn't have it any other way". My Mission. It's been so so hard and such a struggle for me every day, but overall... I wouldn't have it any other way. The Lord has  plan, and I'm just out here trying my best to follow it. I really liked that. Right after the conference, we jumped in the Edgren's car and drove to Poznań. Again we got in just in time to eat, and hit the sack. We stayed over with Elders Ashworth and Alvarez. They are both studs! It was super fun. Elder Ashworth is from Manchester, and is huge into soccer. You better believe I wasn't about ot miss that opportunity-so we went out early Friday morning and played some ball on a nearby court. It was awesome to get out there and play again. The Poznań conference went super well(one of my favorite conferences ever), and besides that, the north zone has a special place in my heart. It was great. Again... right after the conference we got in the car and got back pretty late into warsaw. Saturday there was weekly planning, a baptism from Warsaw II, and sports saturday. It was super fun!

So probably the biggest accomplishment this week was our kebab excursions. Missionaries all over poland always argue about which kebabs are best... and we realized that all of the famous kebabs were in the cities that we were going to. Soooo we ate all the kebabs lol. Definitive answer: Krashkebab in Poznań took the gold, followed closely by U Szwagra in Kraków. There you have it. We did the impossible. Goodnight Poland!!

Auschwitz Poland

The train leading into Auschwitz

 

Krakow Zone Conference

Warsaw Zone Conference

Elder Fetzer

Elder Blom!

  

Kebobs in each city.....We'll let you know where they are the best.

Nothing has changed with my main homies

Zone Conferences....No time for Pday

Hello y'all!

So this is going to be super quick this week.... THIS NEXT WEEK IS GOING TO BE INSANE. Elder cowley and I aren't taking pday today(except for this little short time to write home and tell you we're alive) because we're going down to Kraków at 5:45 tomorrow morning. We have zone conferences this week-Wednesday in Kraków, Thursday in Warsaw, and Friday in Poznań, and so we're going to be gone all week. But, President told us how hard we've been working, and expressed to us that he was okay with us getting a cultural experience when we could with all of our traveling between cities(I think he knows I haven't seen like anything in Poland). SO, we're getting on a train, and going to see Auschwitz tomorrow. It's only an hour and a half outside of Kraków, and we're just taking our pday tomorrow and going to see it.

It's going to be such a good experience, and something I've always wanted to see! The Lord is blessing us!  Other than that, we're just trying to work through all of the things going on in the mission, and get our last little preparations for zone conference in before we head down. I'm so excited to get to work with, and teach our amazing missionaries! Every single one of them could be doing what we're doing and teaching the rest of us, so I'm honored to get to work with Elder Cowley and do what we're doing! The gospel is true! Sometimes it's the only (seemingly illogical) things that can turn everything else in life into something beautiful and spiritually building. I am so grateful for my Savior and how He has carried me for such a long time.

I am excited to be able to use my knowledge and experiences to help out the other missionaries. I love you guys! Have a great week! I should be able to talk more next week. Love you!

These pics are so polish: We went out to the National Park Łazieńkowski and sat on the grass during a meal hour on Sunday and listened to a performer go up and play an hours worth of Chopin music. It was awesome, and there were so many people! We're going to try to set up a finding activity in the upcoming weeks to contact the people as they come to and leave from the park. We'll see how that goes if we try it! :)

District Conferences over Skype and the Organ in Sacrament meeting...

This week was so good. I literally don't know how the Lord got it all done. we had meetings with 4 or so people that we've met in the last few weeks, and they are awesome!! They are all set up to meet again this week, and we are trying to get members on every lesson we can.

It's going to be a miracle! Elder Cowley and I are working well together and just doing work. The Lord is carrying me through every day. I think I'm finally getting to that point where "your happiness and your love will far outweigh your trials." It's been awesome. I don't have as much anxiety about getting out the door anymore(even though there still is some), I'm loving the people, and everyone we're working with, and I'm getting so excited about the work. Big things are coming. I'm so excited for them! 

This week we had an exchange with the zone leaders from the South(Elders Einfeldt and Haskett). They are a bunch of studs... I love those guys! We had a perfect exchange. We met with members and asked for referrals, we were led to prepared people, we talked to a bunch of people at unexpected "dead times" of the day at tram stops and such, and just had a great day. the church is so true! It was awesome. On top of that, the forest last pday went so well. I'll forward some pictures... but it was just good to get out of my box and relax a little bit. One of the biggest miracles. There is an inactive ex-branch president here in Warsaw that I have been calling forever. We FINALLY got set up with them this week, and brought the District President with us, and went and met with him and his non-member wife. it was a good meeting, they let us share a spiritual thought, and most importantly, they talked about inviting us back. We really feel like there is something we can do to help them. I am excited to see what that is!

 Besides that, yesterday I had to play the organ in church(very interesting, indeed), and then sight-read the special musical number in church. Talk about flippin' a bean during sacrament meeting lol...the Lord definitely helped me through and made great things happen outside of my control. It was pretty awesome.

We decided with President this week that we're doing a district-leaders conference via skype tomorrow morning to talk about things we can improve(referrals and "an attitude of finding" and

such.) It's been cool to see how the Lord has blessed Elder Cowley and I with so many different experiences these last few weeks that allows us to testify of those things. We are excited to present that this week, and then to get to work on all of the things we need to do! The Lord is blessing us and being so good to me!

The National Forest with a Zone

Elder Cowley, Elder Einsfeldt, Elder Haskett and Elder Q

We visited the Forest in Poland May 15th, 2016

Man it's great to hear from you... always one of the best parts of my week! It sounds like life back there has been crazy! Jeremy Did it!  Not that anyone was ever worried, but he did an amazing job! I was just thinking about that... there's only going to be 4 at home here in a little bit, and 2 of us will be out on missions at the same time...that's crazy! Thanks so much for the pictures. It's awesome to get to see what it's actually like back there. Jeremy is such a funny kid hahaha I miss him.

Things this week were great. Miracles are happeneing, and we're just plugging along. It's flying by out here... I just realized that a year has turned into only 7 1/2 months... and then it's all going to be over. The good thing is, I'm finally starting to feel good doing missionary work. It's still hard and painful, but I'm starting to enjoy different parts about it that I didn't see coming. It's been good. We stayed out late(I called president haha) on Saturday night bbecause they had a Museums night across poland, and people were just walking into our chapel. So we spent a solid 4 hours teaching lessons with memebers, and leading them around the chapel. Itw as awesome. It is finally Spring, and the weather is amazing. Zone trainings went well, and yes I got to play the piano. Tell Colby that he HAS to keep playing. It's SO worth it to be able to play all the hymns, and ot know chords to mix things up. He'll be grateful one day! I remember those days all too well... ;)

Whats new.... we have an exchange with Elders Haskett and Einfeldt this week. They are both super young in the mission, and are zone leaders in the south. We are excited to get them stoked about missionary work, and give them some things to work on that will help them and the members of their zone. We met with a guy named Kas(abbreviated, of course). He's a bible scholar, and knows the bible better than anyone I've ever met... he's probably only 24. He agreed to take the lessons from the missionaries, so we're really excited to meet Thursday. Other than that, we're headed out to the forest today, which I'm super excited about. It'll be fun to hang out with the district and have a good time. :)

The National Forest in Poland.