Monday I was able to Skype all of you!! And see Nauvoo and the stage and everyone there!! And that was wonderful! I loved feeling like I was a part of the Pageant, even just for a short little while. So thank you for doing that. I loved it.
Tuesday I'm pretty sure you already know was a rough day. But we still did weekly planning and went to Skytower and talked to people in English.
Wednesday was also really rough. But some good things definitely happened. We had a meeting with a less active member named Agnieszka. And I think she's finally starting to realize that her inactivity at church actually has an effect on more people than just herself. She's been wanting her son Daniel to get baptized, but recently she said he doesn't seem interested anymore. I explained that it's probably because he has no idea what the church really is because he's never been there! So we made a goal with her to be back in church on September 1st. It would be a straight miracle if she came because she hasn't been to church in 8-10 YEARS!! I'm praying that she'll come. Right after that, we did some tracting in the area and found a lady named Alina. She invited us in for hot chocolate. Took 2 steps into her house... MISTAKE!! It was an absolute disaster. She claimed she was in the middle of cleaning the whole apartment... yeah... no... She was pretty crazy and was running around getting stuff for us and I don't even know what. But whenever she wasn't in the room, we'd dump our hot chocolate down the drain (her dishes were filthy too.. so it was a safety thing haha). To sum it up, this was my experience with Alina: She's running around being crazy, while we're in there dumping out our hot chocolate while Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" is playing... weirdest thing of my life... XD But hey, she practically begged us for a copy of the Book of Mormon and made us write down her number and told us to come back in a week! So we'll see. XD
After that, we had a really good meeting with Doni! He said that he prayed one time this week and he's still trying to figure out how to do it the right way. But he said he felt refreshed and good after he prayed: like a new person, or renewed. He felt really good. Which was exciting to hear! We taught the "Gospel of Jesus Christ" today and so we committed him to baptism. We suggested August 24th as the date to be ready for baptism and he said, "Sure, what time?" WHAT?! Yeah, so he definitely wants to be baptized. It probably won't be on August 24. Just because we want to make sure he's ready, he understands really everything, and that he really has a testimony of things. But we're on the right track with him!! He's going to pray about it this week to see if he feels like it's the right thing for him to do. Then, that night, we went tracting and were let in by a very nice man named Konrad. We talked about our religion and God and our experiences and things. He got very emotional talking about a hard time in his life and how God helped him through it. He's not super interested in our church. But we still invited him to sacrament meeting and he did the whole "I'll come to yours, if you come to mine" sort of thing. So it looks like we'll be going to Catholic Mass on Saturday night!! XD That'll be a first.
Despite my extreme challenges on Wednesday, there were a TON of blessings. In missionary work and with getting the help I need. I was very grateful for those. They were VERY needed. When I got home Wednesday night, President Chandler called me and like I already told you, he was very caring. I just felt SO much love from him. They truly do love and care about the missionaries so much!! He was totally non judgmental and just so kind and loving. He was really glad I reached out and really wants to help me as much as he can. I am so SO grateful to have him as my Mission President. I'm definitely being loved and taken care of over here.
On Thursday, we had our first District Council of the transfer. We now have 3 cities in our District. We've got Legnica, Katowice, and Wrocław. And we have 10 missionaries!! That's about.. A little under 1/3 of the entire mission!! Kinda cool. Anyway, nothing too much happened today missionary work wise. We did have a meeting with Alicja, but only about half of what we had planned because she was feeling kinda sick. But a LOT happened health wise. I had a phone call appointment with Elder Dewey, which went well. On Wednesday, he had me fill out a health questionnaire. And then we talked about it, clarified some answers, and he's sure that I'm dealing with depression. Shortly after that appointment, probably about 2 hours later, I got a call from Sister Chandler (which I had been expecting), but I wasn't expecting what would come of that phone call. She asked us if we had anything going on Friday or Saturday, and asked us if we could come to Warsaw. We didn't have any lessons planned with people. Normally, we have about 2 or 3, but this week nobody had been scheduled for those days. That was a definite blessing/miracle. Sister Chandler said they wanted me to come and visit them, stay at the mission home, and spend some time with their family! And of course, I'll be talking and making a plan with President and Sister Chandler. It's kinda crazy because just the previous day, I had been thinking about how nice it would be to spend time with President and Sister Chandler as sort of parents. Because that's what they were starting to feel like to me. This was such an answer to prayers, but I was not expecting things to happen this nicely. I'm feeling such an outpouring of love from my Mission President and his wife. And my Heavenly Father. And it's reminding me that, I am not forgotten!!
Friday morning, we hopped on an insanely nice train and headed to Warsaw. Seriously... it was the nicest train I've been on here in Poland. Playing classical music, providing drinks, the train crew coming through the cabins... felt like an airplane, but wow. Kinda crazy!
Me and Sister Ludlow on a train.
On the train to Warsaw (this is my face when I realize I have no idea what we'll be doing when we actually get there. XD)
So that was a fun start to the day! :) We spent the day with President and his family. They are incredible! We basically just took the day off and took a break from things. President just wanted to get me out of my environment for a bit and relax. He told me he really wants to make sure I'm happy and that I enjoy my mission. We were able to go to the Warsaw Uprising Museum, which was really interesting and really cool. Then we went out to dinner at a really good Polish restaurant and explored Old Town Warsaw. It was beautiful. And we finished the night with super good ice cream. It felt like I was with a family again. And I've really missed having that feeling.
A selfie we took in Warsaw at dinner with the Chandler's!! (obviously I couldn't put it on the group email because President has asked me to keep this on the down low, so that's what I'm doing.)
With the Chandlers in Old Town Warsaw.
That night, I met with President Chandler and his wife. We talked about a plan and how the priority is definitely my health and emotional well-being. He gave me a wonderful priesthood blessing and they both expressed their love for me. I really feel it. I expressed my gratitude to them for everything they've done and are doing for me!! They said they were happy to and also that they loved having me visit them and their family. They said they loved seeing me interact with their kids and how good that was for them. They said it's been good for all of us for me to come visit. Honestly, it felt like my adopted family and it was nice to have some siblings to hang out with for the day. I'm just so grateful for everything and I really feel their love for me.
I feel so blessed because they took an ENTIRE day!! Just for me!! And spent it taking care of me!! I feel so loved and blessed and grateful. I am SO LUCKY!! It was so nice to feel like a part of their family. And it was so nice just to relax and take my mind off things for a while. I loved being able to spend time with them and talk with them. It was exactly what I needed. This was a literal answer to my prayers.
Saturday morning, we got up and exercised with Sister Chandler and Ellie (their 17 year old daughter). It was really fun! I was able to go on a run with Sister Chandler and we were able to just talk for a while. It was really nice. I wish I could run with her every day. Then, we had waffles for breakfast (which I haven't had those in FOREVER!!). And after that, the Office Elders were there to pick us up and take us to the train station. So, we said our goodbyes to everyone. Hugs from Ellie, Emily, and Sister Chandler and a handshake from Sam. (President had left earlier in the morning to go to Szczecin!!) And we were off back to Wrocław with me feeling refreshed from that little summer trip and from having some good family time. I'm so glad I still have a long time to be with the Chandlers. I love them so much.
Sunday was pretty good. We had 3 people in church! Lucyna, Doni, and Konrad. Konrad stayed the entire time!! And for Sunday School, he originally said he could only stay for another 30 minutes, but then he stayed another hour and a half! (Sunday School went late) And then after that, he talked to the Branch President for a while and seemed to really like him. And Doni is just super solid! He really liked church! (It was his first time going to church EVER!!) And he wants to keep coming. He's really involved with all the activities we do and it's so awesome!! After church, we went tracting out in a town called Biskupin. They had SO many cute little houses and everyone was so nice!!
Super pretty houses and gardens we saw while tracting in Biskupin.
I had some really good conversations with people. I talked to this super cute old man about his beautiful garden and his family. And I had so many people tell me that I speak Polish beautifully haha. Later, we went over to the Branch President's house for dinner, banana bread, and a game of Yenga! (That's how they pronounce Jenga here haha) It was so fun to be with their family. They are awesome!!
The Branch President's kids! Michał and Mira!
This street in Biskupin totally reminded me of G'ma and G'pa Carroll's neighborhood in Beaverton, Oregon. What do you think?
This week, I've been thinking a lot about prayer. More specifically, answers to prayer. I definitely received direct answers to my prayers this week. I know that. I know that God does hear and answer our prayers because I have experienced it in a very real way. I was reading the talk "Answers to Prayer" by Brook P. Hales which I highly recommend. I really liked this part of his talk:
"The Father is very aware of us, knows our needs, and will help us perfectly. Sometimes that help is given in the very moment or at least soon after we ask for divine help. Sometimes our most earnest and worthy desires are not answered in the way we hope, but we find that God has greater blessings in store."
I know that God is aware of us and He wants to help us. Sometimes we don't always see His hand in our lives, but it's always there. I've felt Him very close to me this week and I am so grateful for that. I'm grateful for His love and care and that He allowed me to feel that this week.
Love and miss you all!!
Siostra Shaylin Carroll
Me and Sister Ludlow with our Chimney Cakes!! (we've been eyeing them for a whole transfer and it was time...)
I guess I really like banana things?? (please excuse the fresh out of the shower hair haha) XD
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