Cześć Rodzina!!
On Tuesday this week I had my first Zone Conference. (Zone is just how they split our mission into smaller areas.) I am in the North Zone!! And so, our Zone Conference was in Poznań with about 20 other missionaries. It was fun to see all of the other missionaries from our zone. I had met some from the previous Polish district, in the 5 days we overlapped in the MTC. So that was fun to see them! And also, Sister Lueck was there too. She's serving in Bydgoszcz, but she's the only missionary in my zone from my MTC district. Anyway, Zone Conference was a blast.
I roasted my mission president.... WHAAAATTT?!?!
Also, I learned that President Turek is really fun and likes to roast people sometimes. It's pretty funny. I was kind of nervous for zone conference just because I don't really know what President Turek is like yet. But I ended up making some jokes and even a little one towards President!! *gasp* But he just joked back!! Haha, I was so scared though... Nothing mean. No worries. Also, President Turek was born in 1979 Mom!! So he's only one year younger than you!! (don't worry I took that out of the big group one haha) CRAZY!! He's SO YOUNG! Especially for being a mission president!
Wednesday was a really special day for me! It was February 13th, which is my little angel sister's birthday. Candace would be 12 this year. As I've mentioned in some previous emails, she's my little sister who passed away after living for a day. So, on Wednesday, I was able to remember her even in Poland! We had to do the second part of my legal work today and so we were at the Urząd again. Haha basically the exact same thing happened. The Ukrainians were making a list and it was crazy and corrupt and stuff. And then the SAME lady comes out again and created order!! We have been so blessed when we go there! So, we ended up getting into an appointment, I got my fingerprints taken, and got my passport stamped and now we just wait for my actual residency card!! But with how fast and smoothly it went, I am even more convinced that this is where I'm supposed to be and that God needs me here! We should not have gotten through my legal work that fast, but we did. It was a miracle.
While waiting a long time for our appointment though, the Elders wanted to hear my life story haha. I didn't really know what to say or what to tell them, but I eventually got to the part of my life where Candace was born. And I was able to tell them how that difficult trial was actually able to help my family grow closer to each other. It really solidified and strengthened us as a family and in our testimonies of God's plan for us. I know that He does have a plan for us and that families can be together forever!! Isn't that just such a wonderful and comforting thing to know?! I love that and I'm so grateful that we know and understand that.
Later on Wednesday, I was even able to release a balloon for Candace's birthday! That's one tradition that my family does every year is release pink balloons together. I'm so grateful I was able to even find a balloon (courtesy of Valentine's Day) to continue that tradition! :)
My balloon release on Candace's birthday :)
Thursday, Happy Valentine's Day!!! Talked to this random lady for a straight 25ish minutes on the street. Zofia was her name. She was super nice, but talked so much. She thinks that what we do as missionaries is beautiful and I'm pretty sure she wants to meet with us. So that's awesome! Haha, she legit reminds me of that one old lady in Anastasia who's like "go see Dimitri! But you didn't hear that from me!!" Anyway... Yeah! She asked where I was from and I told her Idaho. Straight up, the first thing that came out of her mouth was, "Idaho Potatoes!!!!" It was so funny! But hey, we're famous even in Poland!! ;)
Speaking of potatoes.. here's a super random quote from Elder Jenkins this week: "The only thing about America that doesn't need to be made great again, is Idaho Potatoes."
I just absolutely died. XD
On Friday, we made a TON of heart shaped sugar cookies for our "American Valentine's Day" party that we're having today (Monday). And we definitely listened to "the Nutcracker" while we made them. Haha, I really like mixing my holidays together I guess. XD
Making cookies :)
Also, on Friday, we stopped by to visit Maja because she hadn't been responding to anything!! And she was so nice and had seemed to excited to meet with us! Turns out, she's just been super busy. But oh my goodness, she invited us in and we talked for a while with her and her mom. Maja is just the cutest girl ever! She is so sweet and her English is so so good! (Which means I will be able to get to know her even though my Polish isn't all the way there yet... YAY!!!)
Friday night was THE BEST NIGHT EVER!!! Because we got the BEST NEWS EVER!!! As missionaries, we have only been allowed to email our families every week on Mondays. And then skype home for Christmas and Mother's Day. But now we are allowed to text, call, message, skype, facetime... WHATEVER we want.... EVERY SINGLE WEEK!!! Holy smokes I am so excited and we celebrated by making milkshakes and it was literally the most exciting thing ever!! *okay excited rant over haha*
We made Bigos which I guess is a super Polish meal. And it was SO GOOD!!
On Saturday, we met another one of our neighbors. And oh my goodness, I love them so much! They immediately invited us in and gave us chocolates, apples, cakes, and made us tea (fruit tea, which they miraculously had). We basically had an impromptu tea party. Oh my goodness I love Polish people!! Mirosław and Anja are actually going to be my Polish grandparents. I just decided that haha. But yeah, we got to know them quite a bit and were able to even talk about the Gospel with them. They even asked if we could pray together and THEY brought up the topic of religion. It was crazy!! And they just... ahhh.. I can't even describe. They are just the cutest and sweetest ever!! I love them so much!!
The apple we got from our neighbors!! <3
Miss and love you all so much!!
Love,
Siostra Shaylin Carroll :)
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