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!
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.
Szczecin Park Run.
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
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