Transfer Calls & Smarphones!!! (3/25/19)

Cześć!!

Can I just say how much I love being able to Skype home and see my family? It's the absolute BEST!! I have such a testimony that families are a gift from God and that we were placed in our families for a reason! Families are truly meant to help us learn and grow. And they're also there to support us in times of need! Families are the BEST!! And that's why God's plan for us is centered on family!!

On Tuesday, we were able to go and visit Agnieszka (Maja's mom) and help her clean her apartment. By the time we were done, she was so impressed and happy with how clean everything was!! (Thanks for teaching me how to do these things Mom!!) After we had been there for a while, Maja got home from school and we all had lunch together. They found out that I played a little bit of guitar and asked me to play for them. So I did! Like I said, I just play a little bit, so I was just messing around with some chords and things. I haven't played in SO LONG, so I was grateful to play again. They also really wanted me to take the guitar home with me to borrow it, because I guess nobody uses it here haha. So next time we go there, I might be bringing a guitar back with me. XD

Wednesday, we had a really great lesson with this super interested guy named Robert. And his wife Jolanta decided to come on the lesson as well. We were meeting with them through Skype since they live kinda far away. We taught about the Word of Wisdom because Robert had been wondering about that and had some questions. It was super crazy though because Jolanta COMPLETELY agreed with it and already is living within those standards!! She was even teaching Robert!! She helped explain so many things to him that we were saying and that the scriptures were saying. She was SO SOLID!! I was so impressed. She was even to the point where she was saying we shouldn't be having too much of anything or addictions to anything. She said, for example if we're addicted to sugar, we shouldn't even have that. Wow.. I had no words.. (but maybe that's because it was in Polish. ;) Haha kidding!!) And Jolanta was even telling Robert to stop drinking coffee. It was so funny! But yeah, they're really solid!!

Thursday, we met with these 2 guys named Łukasz and Mateusz. They were 2 friends who I guess had met with the Elders (or just other missionaries before). Anyway, we had a quick meeting with them and just briefly talked about some things about our church. But we set up to meet with both of them again. So we had 2 new investigators!! We also had a really good meeting with Karina later in the day. She's still reading the Book of Mormon which is exciting! But she doesn't feel like she needs to have a testimony that it's true. She thinks that the good things it teaches are enough. We'll keep working!

Friday Morning, we were able to meet with Brother Mathias and have a training over Self-Reliance. We're going to be using this as a tool here in the European missions to help members, non-members, investigators, anyone! find jobs and become self-reliant. Because God wants to help all His children to be happy and taken care of. :) It was actually a super cool training! And oh my goodness.. missionary life literally prepares you for every other aspect of life!! It's crazy! By being a missionary, you are trained in what it takes to be self-reliant in every aspect: spiritually, physically, mentally, emotionally... It's so great! Missionary life is just training for life haha!! And everything we do as missionaries can be used when we are applying for jobs (Missionary: Are you interested? No? Do you know someone who would be? vs. Applying for Jobs: Are you hiring? No? Do you know someone who is?) I guess it's more like job networking though. Anyway, I've rambled on long enough about that. But basically, self-reliance is a super cool program!! 

Well Saturday was a way exciting day!! We were able to have a really good meeting with Grażyna and really get to know her. We're going to start working on family history with her as well!! She is the sweetest lady! Really shy and quiet, but just so sweet!! :) We really connected with her during our meeting as we talked about our families. (Also, President Turek texted us earlier that day because he really wanted to know how it went! Which is crazy because 1. He doesn't normally text to hear about lessons. So this was a big deal. and 2. Today was transfer call day so it was already crazy for him!!)

So yeah! Saturday was Transfer Call Day!!! WHOO!! Made it through my first transfer!! CRAZY!! I will be staying here in Szczecin with Sister Godfrey for another 9 weeks. And we are getting 2 new Elders! Elder Thornton (who is currently Assistant to the President in Warsaw) will be coming to Szczecin and training the one new Elder coming in Monday (today!). We won't meet them until Wednesday. But we are super excited to have Elders coming back to Szczecin! (haha we were talking about how these new Elders are doing exactly what Sister Godfrey and I did when we came. They are whitewashing the area and also it's a new missionary being trained; just like I was!)

Also on Saturday (yes, it was a very big day!), we received news that our mission (The Poland Warsaw Mission) will be able to use Smartphones in our missionary work now. I am SO excited for this! I never wanted to be in a technology mission, but after being in the MTC with iPads, I see how useful they can be in missionary work and I am SO EXCITED to be able to use them to help hasten to work of the Lord!! Technology is a powerful tool that can do so much good when we use it correctly!! :)

On Sunday, we had quite a few less active members there which was really exciting. Sister Godfrey and I performed a musical number. I also conducted the hymns (like every Sunday). Haha in such a small Branch, you have a lot of responsibilities as a missionary on Sunday's. XD But it's fun!! I also taught the Sunday School lesson on the topic of the conference talk "One in Christ." It was a really good talk! And we were able to have a really good discussion! Also, I taught that in Polish which was hard, but really good practice for me. :)

Wow, so much happened!! Hope you all have a lovely week! (Spring Break for some of you lucky ducks, so enjoy it!!) Go and spend some time with your families!!

Love and miss you all!!

Siostra Shaylin Carroll

Musical number practice with Karina!

The rest of the pictures are from exploring around some Cathedrals here in Szczecin today. One of them had this observatory at the top with an incredible view!!

There's one Biedronka in Białogard and Mały Koń: A deer is a small horse (3/18/19)

Cześć!!

This week was so exciting, I couldn't decide on a subject line!!

On Monday, we had a lady, Grażyna, who is a member of the church actually stop by for Family Home Evening and we have been trying to meet with her ever since we got to Szczecin!! And she told us the reason she came was because we were so persistent and kept on trying to visit. So persistence works!!

On Tuesday, we took a train to Gdańsk for exchanges. We had the most fun/funny train ride over there because of the people in our cabin. Oh my goodness, they were hilarious! It was these two 19 year old guys and this other young couple. And we were all laughing and joking together. Then they went off forever and were roasting/making fun of this little town called Białogard. They just laughed and laughed about how there's absolutely nothing there, but "oh, there's one Biedronka!!" (a super common grocery store that is EVERYWHERE here in Poland, so it literally means nothing that they have one Biedronka there in Białogard.) Even the one guy who is from Białogard was making fun of it. I don't know why it was so funny to them, but I was dying just listening to them and oh my goodness... Anyway, we're actually still in contact with those 2 guys and hoping to set up a meeting with them!

Super fun train ride to Gdańsk!!

Oh! And we were trying to figure out the word for deer in Polish. And one Polish guy was like, "Oh! Deer!! It's like a small horse!!" And again.. we all died laughing!

On Wednesday, I went on exchanges with Sister Aramaki! It was really great! We were able to go to a service project. We also worked on Facebook (There are only 2 sisters in our mission who are assigned to do missionary work on Facebook and it's the Gdańsk sisters.) And we talked to some people on the street. Also, a few people throughout the day thought that I was Polish!! They were so surprised when I told them I wasn't. Then they asked about my grandparents and if they were Polish. Haha, one lady even told me to translate for Sister Aramaki since she looks like she's not from here at all! XD

On Friday, we were able to do a family history finding activity. We talked to a lot of people in this beautiful park about their families!! It was so much fun! We met these 2 teenagers and the guy seemed way interested in learning about his family. But the girl just sat with a blank face (almost angry looking). But the more we talked with them, we finally broke the Polish girl and got her to laugh and smile and open up!! Yeah! Sometimes Polish people can be really closed off and distant, but once you get through that, it's so great! We also talked to this old man who was just like a grandpa. He had this big, white beard, these super blue eyes, and a hat that made him look like a sailor. He was just the nicest ever! He told us a TON about his family and family history and such. He wasn't interested in the gospel, but he said his friends might be. I guess they all hang out in the park together when the weather is nice. So we will be going back there and meeting his friends sometime!

On Saturday, we went and volunteered at ParkRun again. 

The Elders got their transfer calls! It's actually a week early because we have Emergency Transfers since one of our Elders has to be reassigned to America because of legal work problems. So basically, they need to move people around earlier than planned. Anyway, Elder Jenkins will be going to Warsaw and be working in the office. And Elder Moody will be going to Kielce and finishing training Elder Cheal (an Elder from my MTC group). So, it will just be us Sisters up here in Szczecin for a week. Maybe more.... Basically, President Turek (our mission president) is waiting a week to see what happens here in Szczecin and in other places. And then he will decide if he wants to have Elders back here in Szczecin. So we don't really know what's going to happen right now. I hope we get Elders back though because things are really starting to pick up and we need all the help we can get here!! It's a good problem to have though, being this busy. :)

Sunday... HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!! Also, here in Poland, they do something called "name day." It's almost like having another birthday. Basically, every name has a day assigned to be their name day and that's their name day. Haha pretty straight forward. Anyway, I thought it was funny and really perfect that the name for name day for March 17 was Patryk (American: Patrick). CRAZY! XD

Happy St. Patrick's Day!! (see the green in my food??) :)

So yeah, Sunday was super crazy, but really good! Grażyna came to church on Sunday!! And we set up a meeting with her for Saturday. We are so excited that we finally get to meet with her. I guess this is her first time coming to church in a long time. Like.. 5 years!! (if I understood correctly) Jan Tamborowski was also there as well. He's normally too sick to come. And Karina was there too! That was her 3rd week in a row! (She's more active than some members!!) Technically speaking, people only have to come to church 3 times before getting baptized, so Karina can get baptized now. We still have a lot to teach her though! Anyway, Karina, Sister Godfrey, and I sang "God Be With You Till We Meet Again", per the request of the Elders who are leaving Szczecin. And it was good! Karina thought it was fun too.

After church, we met with Bogusia, a lady who we, and the Elders, have been flaked by SO MANY TIMES!! But we went to her house for obiad (lunch) and talked with her for a while. Holy smokes, she is so nice!! Immediately, she gave us hugs and told us not to call her "pani." (The formal/polite way of addressing someone. Like, Miss or Ma'am, etc...) So right away, we were on a pretty personal level with her. Bogusia has been to America 5 times to work there for a while. When she was in New York, she met with the missionaries there and even went to church. She also thought it was so nice that the missionaries gave her a Book of Mormon in Polish! She told us that she would start reading the Book of Mormon this week and she will come to church next week and meet with us after church too. I'm SO GLAD we were finally able to meet up with her. Basically, we just set up a ton of meetings on Sunday.

That night, we said our goodbyes to the Elders with some nice, solid handshakes. XD Gotta love the life of a missionary. :)

Sunday Dinners with the Williams and Elders Jenkins & Moody.

Quick thought: One of our investigators, Mikołaj wasn't wanting to ask God for anything. I just wanted to talk about how it's okay to ask God for things we need! God is our LOVING Heavenly Father and He wants to help us. He knows our needs and wants, but we need to ask Him. He WANTS us to ask Him. And then He can help us.

In 3 Nephi 14:7-8; 11 it says:

7 Ask, and it shall be given unto you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.

8 For every one that asketh, receiveth; and he that seeketh, findeth; and to him that knocketh, it shall be opened.

11 If ye then, being evil, know how to give good gifts unto your children, how much more shall your Father who is in heaven give good things to them that ask him?

Heavenly Father wants to give us good things and answers and help in this life. He hasn't left us alone. But prayer is the tool we have and the way we can talk to Him. If you need something, JUST ASK!! He is waiting and will listen. :)

Love and miss you all!

Siostra Shaylin Carroll

Karina, like Ocarina of Time!!/Meets Pole, doesn't meet for 7 weeks... Meets Ukrainian, lesson 2 days later XD (3/11/19)

Cześć Rodzina!!

This week we did some contacting using the Book of Mormon and were actually able to talk to quite a few people who wanted a copy for themselves. On Tuesday, we had a really long conversation with a man named Dominik and he took a Book of Mormon. Also, throughout our conversation, it was super rainy and windy and he STILL stayed on the street to talk with us, which was really cool. Also, there was a super pretty rainbow which made me happy. :)

On Wednesday, we met up with a girl named Gabrysia who we met last week. It was actually really crazy because she was on the tram reading a book in English! So we started talking to her in English and found out that she has a friend in America. More specifically, a friend who lives in BOISE, IDAHO!!! How crazy is that?! So yeah, we met up for lunch and talked for a while. She said she wasn't really interested in switching religions, but was really interested in studying different religions and the books that we study from. So we can start with that!

Pancakes w/ Gabrysia (no Gabrysia in picture, sorry).

Wednesday night, we taught English at Polites again and it was super great! After the class, we actually ended up being on the same tram as some of the students, so we were able to talk more. One kid is Aleksander and he is 15, turning 16 in August. (So he's Hailey's age!!) And he is just super polite and nice and I feel like he would be my little Polish brother or something haha. Anyway, at Polites this week there was a Greek girl, Sofia! She was actually from Thessaloniki!! So we were able to talk a bit about Greece and some things there. (It's super lucky that I visited Thessaloniki in September. There have actually been a few connections I've made with people because of that!) That was way cool!!

Thursday night, we went to this thing called "Spotkanie Przyzupia" which is basically like a soup kitchen, but outside. Basically, these people make soup and sandwiches and then they go to a park and hand it out to homeless people. We went and started talking to the other people volunteering there as well. We talked to Maria, Maria (no I'm not stuttering...they were both named Maria... haha I love Poland. XD), and Eszter. They were super interested in finding out what we did as missionaries and what our church was about. The Maria's were mainly just curious about things. But Eszter wants to meet with us to learn more about our religion and what we believe and what we do and things like that. Eszter is actually from Hungary and she's here working and volunteering in Poland. She's been learning Polish too, just like us missionaries! Anyway, we're hoping to meet with her pretty soon. And leaving that service activity was really interesting... let's just say there are some crazy homeless people.... XD

On Friday, we went out and visited with some members of our branch; Brygida and her daughter Kesja. We taught a lesson to them, talked for a while, and helped them start putting together some cabinets in their kitchen. It also happened to be International Women's Day!! So we celebrated that with them and we also were allowed to call home to our Mom's today which was surprise, but really great! Haha, I called and the first thing my mom said was, "Are you okay?!" Which, by the way... I TOTALLY called it that she would say that. ;)

Happy International Women's Day! 

Lunch with Brygida, Kesja, and the Williams.

Later that night, we had a meeting with Monika which went well. She told us that she thinks our church is the true church of Jesus Christ, but also she thinks her church is as well..... are you confused? I am too. XD She also said that the Book of Mormon is true and it's not just a story, but it's true!! She just barely started reading it!! And she's already saying that!! But she still doesn't want to join the church. So we'll keep working with her.

On Saturday morning, Sister Godfrey and I ran a 5K at Park Run here in Szczecin!! Whoohoo!! Haha, it was pretty crazy because it was SUPER windy and rainy and yeah, it was definitely an adventure!

Szczecin Park Run.

Later, we had a meeting with Karina! We asked her if she's been reading the Book of Mormon and she enthusiastically said, "YES!!" and then proceeded to go on about it. She LOVES the Book of Mormon and is just eating it up. She said it's such a good story and in her words, she said, "I'm WAY into it!! Please don't spoil it!" Haha, she thinks we're gonna give spoilers to how the story goes. XD And she loves Nephi and just thinks he's the greatest. (if you don't know who that is... I invite you to read the Book of Mormon and find out!!) She is definitely going to keep reading it and we're also going to meet with her again! So.... we have another investigator!!! We taught the lesson of the Restoration today and we also invited her to be baptized when she knows these things are true. She said she would think about it, but right now she feels like baptism shouldn't be necessary and that it should only matter what's in your heart.

On Sunday, Karina came to church!! And in Relief Society (like Sunday School but just the women), she participated a lot and said some incredible things. She said that last night she was thinking about how God is our Heavenly Father and we are His children, so why shouldn't we talk to Him like He's our Father, because He is! And He wants to hear from us! We talked about how we can keep Jesus Christ as the focus and center of our day. Karina said that we can do that by trying to be like Jesus and when we are trying to be like Him, it's pretty hard for Him to not be the center or focus of our day. Wow.. I have no words. She's amazing!

**When the Elders kept calling Karina, "Karolina", Sister Godfrey got mad and just said, "It's KARINA!! Like Ocarina of Time!!" It was the best thing ever. XD**

After church, we met with Mikołaj, a man from Ukraine. Karina was still there, so we just invited her to stay for the lesson with him if she wanted to. And she stayed!! And oh my goodness.... she basically taught right along with us!! I couldn't believe it!! Okay, quickly about Mikołaj. He is super humble and really, really faithful!! We asked him if he would read the Book of Mormon and he said that of course he would. We asked if he would pray about it and ask if it was true. He said no, but this is why. When he prays, he only thanks God that he is alive and thanks him for his blessings. He doesn't feel like he can ask for anything, that's how humble he is. I was amazed!! We also have another meeting set up with him, so we have another investigator!! That's 2 for this week, which was incredible!! :) We were really excited!! And oh my goodness, I am so excited to keep teaching Mikołaj!

Okay, back to Karina! She shared some thoughts with Mikołaj about prayer and how we should pray. And she helped explain some things. She's basically a missionary already!! And it was the same lesson she had just had yesterday (not exactly the same, just the same topic), so she was really able to understand it. After Mikołaj left, we asked her what she thought of it for the 2nd time. She said that it "confirmed her thoughts about things and helped her feel better about some things." So I'm super glad she was able to be on that lesson with us!! Ahh, she's incredible!!

Earlier today (Monday), the missionaries in Szczecin were able to go on a tour of this World War II shelter underground here in Szczecin!! It's the biggest shelter here in Poland. I think they said it was 5 stories and that thing is so, so solid. Nothing is getting through that. Anyway, the tour was super cool and interesting. It really helps you to appreciate where these people come from and what they've been through. It's incredible to see how the city has recovered from that as well, and rebuilt everything! They are so strong! Ahh, I love Poland!!

Szczecin WWII Shelter under the train station.

My quote of the week: "Poland is like the Idaho of Europe! Everyone forgets about it, but it's the best!"

-Yours truly ;)

Love and miss you all!!

Siostra Shaylin Carroll

When in Mierzyn... buy a map!! and Fat Thursday Final Score: 235-231 (3/4/19)

Cześć!!

On Wednesday, Sister Godfrey and I decided to go and visit Maja since she stopped answering our calls and texts (again...) But unfortunately, our map of Szczecin didn't include her town (right on outskirts of what it shows on our map). So basically, we spent the afternoon wandering around Mierzyn. I should say, wandering around the WRONG SIDE of Mierzyn!! We never found her house. The one time we had been there, it was already dark, so yeah. Oops.... Haha lesson learned... buy a map!! Eventually we made it back to the bus stop that would take us back to the city center, so that was good. And we taught an English class that night at this organization called "Polites." (please don't say it like an American haha!) And there were 7 teenagers there who spoke English really well! So that class will be fun to teach because that means it will be more like an "English Club" where they can practice speaking English and we play games and it's great!!

FAT THURSDAY!! Tłusty Czwartek!! So.. Smacznego!! :D Basically, this is an official holiday here in Poland. It's the last Thursday before Lent and so it's kind of like a "last day of feasting." Basically the Polish people just eat a ton of Pączki (Polish doughnuts) all day. There's huge sales on pączki, huge lines, and it's awesome! Our Mission is split into 3 different zones and so this year, we had a zone vs zone competition to see which zone could eat the most pączki!! And the North Zone won!! WHOOO!!! Haha we beat the South zone by 4 pączki!! It was 235-231!!!! Basically, as a whole, the entire Poland Warsaw Mission ate over 500 pączki!! And one Elder ate 33 himself!! AHH!! CRAZY!!

Pącki on Fat Thursday.

The lines on Fat Thursday.

Also on Thursday, we had another lesson with Monika. She had told us previously that she didn't want to read the Book of Mormon by herself and she wanted to do it with us. But when we got there, she told us that she had been reading a little bit of the Book of Mormon on her own! We committed her to do the 21 Day Book of Mormon Challenge and she said she would. She also keeps telling us that she will never join our church, but she loves meeting with us. And she also told us that she doesn't think it's a coincidence that she met us. Basically, not for herself, but for her daughter. She really wants her daughter to take the lessons from us and learn about our church. But she's "not interested" herself. Hmmmm... ;)

Friday, we unfortunately had 3 flaked/canceled meetings.... which kinda stunk... But we were able to stop by Maja's house and talk to her Mom since Maja wasn't home. We got her Mom's number, so now we can call Maja's Mom to get Maja to answer her phone so we stop dropping by unannounced hahaha. XD We were also able to go to a Children's Hospital and hand out all the Valentine's Cards. They were overjoyed to get them and everyone looked WAY happier than when we first got there. It was great! :)

Side note: Polish people are OBSESSED with KFC!!! It's totally different from KFC in America though. But there's literally KFC's everywhere and I don't understand why.... XD

On Saturday morning, we went to a new service opportunity that we had found out about. We went with this girl, Ola, who we met at Park Run last week. Basically, we went and did service with a bunch of Catholic Nuns. Definitely an interesting experience. I don't think I've ever talked to a Nun before... but now I have! Oh, and like.. all the nuns there spoke English. Which was super random and cool!! We also did a Family History finding activity and talked to people about their families. Sister Godfrey dared me to start a conversation with this one man and so I did. We didn't think he would be interested at all, but then he actually turned into our best contact and conversation of the day. It was really great! Now, aren't you glad I'm such a daredevil... haha! XD :)

On Sunday, we had 3 people in church who weren't members!! It was awesome!! We had Karina come too! And she loved singing the hymns and actually participated a ton in Sunday School and that lesson. It was SO COOL!! She originally came just to practice a song with us afterward. But at the end, she did not seem in a hurry to leave. She seemed like she just wanted to stay there with us all day haha! I asked her what she thought about church. And she said it was really nice, cool, and she really liked it! And she's planning on coming next week too. (She's not even being taught the lessons right now!! I mean, hopefully soon! But she's already coming to church!!) It was super exciting!!

Quick thought: The scriptures are so powerful and it's literally God's word for us. Here's an idea I learned this week that I loved: Pick a "protection scripture" that you can remember whenever you're tempted or sad. This should be a scripture that helps you remember Jesus Christ. This scripture can encourage you, comfort you, strengthen you, give you hope, protect you, and help keep you focused on the right things. I think it's a brilliant idea. Everyone should do this! And memorize it too. :)

Love and miss you all!!

Siostra Shaylin Carroll

Us celebrating Tłusty Czwartek and Elder Moody's birthday as a district :)

At the creative art workshop hosted by Monika Dyker-Woźniak. Today we had a guest Grażyna Nowicka! We talked about what we like and don't like about ourselves, about different emotions we feel in different life situations and how to deal with those.

At the creative art workshop hosted by Monika Dyker-Woźniak.