Monday afternoon we were supposed to go to this service thing, but I guess it wasn't happening then? So, Monika (this lady we know, who is involved with SO MANY service activities, it's insane!)... anyway, with Monika and the other ladies there, we just ended up having and art class almost. Haha, it was super random and we were way confused because we had been told it would be where the service was. So we ended up doing art and someone had Michael Buble playing on their phone in the background....... which I'm pretty sure we're not allowed to listen to on the mission, but it's out of our control, so I wasn't complaining. ;)
On Tuesday, we did our weekly planning in this cafe/coffee shop which was SO MUCH FUN!! And we got the BEST hot chocolate ever. Yeah, weekly planning in Europe is so great!! Anyway, during our planning session, we got this random call from an Indian guy named Yaks (not like the animal, think like.. "say ahh" as in... pot haha!). Anyway, he told us that he had gotten our number from his friend Joseph who we didn't know either. We thought it was a prank call so Sister Godfrey just started talking to him about our beliefs and telling him about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. And instead of it being a prank call and him just hanging up, he actually... basically just agreed with everything we said and he wants to meet with us about religion. So THAT was exciting!
On Thursday we got on a train and traveled to Gdańsk for exchanges! (Basically, exchanges are just when we just trade with another set of missionaries and we have a different companion for the day.) So, the train ride was about 5 hours to get there. Szczecin is so far away from everything haha. Fun times. BUT the good thing is, I LOVE riding on trains. I just think it's so much fun!! Also, it's like.. the "Harry Potter trains" like the ones you see them riding in when they go to school at Hogwarts! (sorry for anyone who won't get that reference...) But just know that I love the trains. :)
On Friday, I was on exchanges with Sister Dixon!! She is in her last transfer, so she goes home in 6 weeks! (Transfers in our mission are 9 weeks by the way, in case anyone was wondering.) Aaannnnnddd... yeah! I actually met her brother in the MTC, and he's going to Frankfurt, Germany. Surprise, surprise... his name is... Elder Dixon!! hahaha! And he was companions with my friend, Kelly Haskell in the MTC, so that was a fun connection.
Gdańsk is SO PRETTY!! They have some really old buildings here and also they have "Old Town" Gdańsk. So, just this super classic European looking part of town with the buildings, lampposts, cobblestone, shops, town square, etc. And it was a DREAM!! I loved it.
Old Town Gdańsk.
Also, I taught my first lesson in Gdańsk!! It was with a member of the Church... but STILL!! It was good practice! I was able to meet Magda and her mother, Bogusia.) And they were so sweet!! They even made Barszcz for us! (That's how it's spelled in Polish.) Aka... Borscht: basically it's beet soup common in Russia. And it was pretty good! I liked it anyway. But I love trying different foods, so to all you nonadventurous folks out there... be careful. XD
On Saturday, we took the train back to Szczecin and oh my goodness it was just the BEST train ride ever!! And no, I'm not just saying that because it was on a train haha. But we were in a cabin with this lady and her 2 adorable kids!! There was Bucky, her 2 1/2 year old son, and Małlida is her 8 year old daughter. They were SO CUTE and so much fun!! Małlida had this sticker book she wanted us to help her with and I'm sure her Mom appreciated the help because she was a typical crazy 8 year old haha. :) But I have never been happier to have stickers covering my entire arm. :) XD
Also on the train, we were able to talk to this man, Raymond, with the Elders as well. And he was super interested in learning more about the Church and he wanted to read the Book of Mormon (we gave him a copy) and he wants to meet with the Elders!! And we also talked to a 16 year old girl, Kamila, who does fire dancing, "gymnastics with fire" is what she called it. WHAT?! So cool!! We're really hoping to meet with her too, but we'll see what happens! So yeah, Saturday was SUPER great!!
Sunday was really great too!! We had 5 people come to church!! We almost double ourselves this week!! We were so excited!! And Sister Godfrey and I gave talks/spoke in church today. And yes, it was in Polish!! So, I gave my first full talk all in Polish yesterday. ("Full talk" meaning 15 minutes and longer than the one I gave in the MTC haha.) And we finished off the week with Sunday "Family Dinner" at the Williams'!! It's so fun!!
This morning, we got pastries from a bakery on the way to get our groceries for the week... just right down the street. Ahhhh I love Europe!! :)
This week, I want to talk about faith!! Faith is so important in everything we do. But probably the most important thing, is that our faith cannot grow without us acting on it. It is only after we take the first few steps and take action that our faith can grow and miracles can start happening. I encourage everyone to take those first steps of faith in whatever you're doing in life right now. Whether it be deciding to take a new job, figuring out where to go to college, searching for chances to serve, trying to find God in your life, or just trying to figure out what's next. I know that by taking those first few steps in faith, we can be guided as we continue to act in faith.
Miss and love you all!!
Siostra Shaylin Carroll
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