Hello family! So Monday nothing much really happened. We did go to this cool market and I got some really good Greek olives. Later that evening, we were supposed to be helping the Elders teach English. But I couldn't go in there, I had an absolute emotional breakdown and it was just terrible. I hid out in a back room and just cried for a LONG time. Praying the entire time, I finally asked Heavenly Father to send someone. And a few minutes later, Sister Ludlow knocked on the door and came to the rescue. She asked if she could come in and if there was anything she could do. I asked for more tissues. She brought them, and I broke down again while explaining that I didn't know why I was breaking down. She immediately just started playing with my hair and scratching my back. Which immediately helped me calm down. It was a definite answer to prayers again. And I'm so grateful for that.
On Tuesday, we had Zone Conference in Katowice. It was really good! I was able to do a musical number with Sister Chandler. We did Sally DeFord's "Beautiful Savior." And I played the violin. It was fun! Kinda nerve wracking, but fun! And everyone seemed to really enjoy it.
Also, the whole conference was just way good. President talked a lot about the Book of Mormon challenge and how it helps us in our missionary work. He seemed very pleased with a comment I made about how it brings a literal power into my testifying of it and of Jesus Christ. He continued to talk a lot about power throughout the rest of that segment. Funny thing: He says he has little "President Chandler-isms" that he'll say. It made me think of Mom's "Krista-isms." Haha it's actually really cool though because I feel like the Chandler's have very similar views on the gospel and things like that as our family does. It's nice because everything just feels familiar in the things they teach, say, and the way they do it. I love being with them, and I was very sad to leave them again.
Me playing Beautiful Savior.
Missionaries at Zone Conference.
About to leave Zone Conference.
Me with Sister Berrett and Sister Lueck from my MTC group!! :)
On the train ride home, we met a super nice girl named Karolina. She's been to Portland and the Rose Garden and to Rockaway Beach (which she said was really sunny when she went and she liked it better than the beaches in California). But she was really excited to hear that I lived there. We all (all 6 missionaries haha) talked with her for the 2 hour train ride. She comes back to Wrocław in October for school and she really wants to hang out then. So that'll be awesome! (Fingers crossed that I'm still here!!)
We did a really fun Finding Activity where we did a "chalk talk." Basically, we drew out the entire Plan of Salvation on a path in this park. We also put some questions and wrote out scriptures for the answers (What is the purpose of life? Why is Jesus Christ so important? Why am I here?) And we even had some people stop and read the scriptures I had written!! So cool! And one of those ladies, Sister Ludlow was able to catch and give a Book of Mormon to her! And after that, Elder Stewart and I even had a quick, impromptu performance of a 2 second version of the Gallant Ship. We just did one set of the hook things haha! It was awesome. XD Okay.. onward! Funny thing: There are all these gypsies who go around trying to make you take these roses from them and then make you pay. We knew that if we stood in this one place long enough that one of them would try to give us a rose, so we waited. And then we handed the gypsy guy an ulotki and invited him to church instead!! HAHAHA!! And one more funny thing: Yesterday at Zone Conference, I lost the sole to my shoe. (Don't worry, they were hand-me-downs from another Sister.) So I told a few people that "I lost my sole." And pretty soon there were a whole spur of jokes about that. It was way funny! XD
Thursday, we had a great meeting with Doni. We kinda went over the baptismal interview questions, so he has an idea of how he needs to be ready for that. He said he feels really good about Jesus Christ. He believes that everything he's heard about Him is true. He said something like, "I just know and feel in my heart that it's true." He also said that he feels really good about baptism and wants to keep that good feeling! He is really excited to get baptized and doesn't want to wait super long. It's awesome!! I asked him if he's noticed a difference in his life from when he started to meet with us. He said he feels different since he's been meeting with us. He said he feels really good and feels like good things have been happening in his life. And he said that he's happier!! Yay!! :) So stay tuned the next few weeks to hear about his baptism!! :D Later, we had a skype meeting with Monika who is very Catholic and knows that we are not Catholic. But she has a Book of Mormon and loves it! She said she knows it's true! We're not exactly sure why she's wanting to meet with us though. We're trying to figure that out haha. And then, we met with Alicja. We can never have a normal "sit down meeting" with her. With her son, we're ALWAYS moving around and talking on the go... so lessons with her are kinda crazy and always unpredictable. But we reestablished a baptismal date for her since she's not going to be at church on Sunday and won't hit the required 3 times before August 31... so we set a new date for September 7th! So we'll keep praying for that!
Friday, wow... Friday was a day full of MIRACLES!! First, I had a really good phone call with Elder Dewey. He shared an interesting scripture with me in 2 Nephi 4:17-30. And he told me that in this section, Nephi was dealing with some depression. It was so crazy because I've read those verses SO MANY TIMES!! And I always thought he was just being humble by saying he had sinned even though God had done so much for him and things like that... but reading it under this new light... Holy smokes! Nephi was definitely dealing with some depression. And I can really relate to him. It was so cool to read those scriptures. I mean, he's basically saying, "If all these good things are happening to me, why do I still feel sad? Why do I feel the way I do?!" And I've definitely felt that as well. It's just nice to know that even a mighty man and prophet of God had some of the same trials that I have. It's almost reassuring too. Like, maybe God trusts me with this trial. And maybe I can be as mighty and faithful and courageous as Nephi.
Anyway, we ended up giving out 3 copies of the Book of Mormon today and getting 3 potential investigators! The first one was a really chill guy we met on the street. The second one, we were actually talking to other people who weren't super interested. His name is Mariusz. He stopped us and said, "I'll listen! I want to listen!" And he did listen! And now he has a Book of Mormon which he was very grateful for and wants to read, we have his number, and he will come to church on Sunday!
And then here's a story that I will try to make short: The Elders met Lisa in a park. She's from New York and trying to get a job here. In meeting us, she saw a lot of things which she referred to as "manifestations of faith." Meaning, that she had faith and the universe delivered. She was really big on faith and doing things and asking for things with faith instead of fear! I thought that was awesome! At first, she wasn't super interested in religion, but by the end of the night, I think that kinda changed. So, long story short, she didn't have a place to stay for the night and her phone was dead. Luckily, I just "happened" to remember a free phone charging station in Renoma. I had seen it once, but I'm glad I remembered it! (The Holy Ghost will bring all things to your remembrance!!) So, we got her phone charging and I made a few calls to see if we could find a cheap hostel or someone willing to let her stay the night. I called Isabel and she said that Lisa could stay with her!! Isabel is AMAZING!! So, we got them connected and everything is good! By the end, we gave Lisa a Book of Mormon. She was so grateful for that and for our help. She told us that normally she would probably be freaking out a bit, but with us she just felt really calm and peaceful! (YES!!) So basically with us and everything that happened, she sees a lot of "coincidences" that she doesn't think are just coincidences. Like I said... so many things lined up. We had so many miracles today!!
Saturday, we had quite a good turnout for Sports Saturday and then we had a great lunch with Babcia! She even made this super good Apple Pie thing. And later, we had a lesson with Lisa!! It was SO GOOD! There are some lessons I pray that we get to rewatch them in Heaven... this was definitely one of them. She is SO PREPARED!! She has one hundred percent felt the Holy Ghost in her life. She described it as feeling this energy, or as a warm feeling in her heart, where she doesn't feel scared and feels really good, and it's almost like it's a cloud or fluffy. It feels comfortable. She kept talking about how she feels like it's a sign that we came into her life and that our religion resonates so well with what she already believes. She was really grateful for "the beautiful words" we shared with her (Moroni 10:3-5). She marked it and said it really resonated with her and matches everything she believes. She said she would pray about baptism. She asked if we could meet tomorrow after church and talk about what she felt when she prayed. Amazing. She really wants to read the Book of Mormon and also she prayed for us at the end! She's just had so many experiences and beliefs about life that have prepared her to meet us and hear our message. It's incredible!! I'm way excited about her! Anyway, later, we went visited some of our neighbors. So I guess the only truly consistent way you can get let in to people's apartments is by being their neighbor and talking normally with them. That's what we did! We had made some snickerdoodle cookies and then delivered them to our neighbors and had fun meeting them. Apparently we're the first missionaries who have stopped by to say hello!! So I'm really glad we went!
Sunday, we had 4 people who came to church! (People we're working with anyway. Meaning nonmembers.) It was fantastic! And after church, we had a great meeting with Lisa. She didn't have the chance to pray because things got crazy and she really wants to take time to sincerely pray about things, which I like. She really liked church and said that everything resonated with her. She feels like our church really lines up with everything she believes. She really liked the Liahona with the conference talks. She really likes the stories and messages they share. She said she's really excited to read that and the Book of Mormon. Yay! She's waiting to hear back about a job and then she'll know if she's staying in Poland or not. Gosh, I hope she stays!! Anyway, later, Sister Ludlow and I went to a park. I played violin and she talked to people who stopped to listen! I don't think we've had so much consistency with people taking ulotki (fliers) from us. And we even got a really solid potential from it! A lady took a copy of the Book of Mormon and wants to meet! Later in the evening, we visited more of our neighbors. And we've heard the saying "the secret to missionary work is work." Which is true! But what's also true? "The secret to missionary work... is cookies!!" Everyone is happy to see us and invite us in when we're their neighbors and we have cookies. ;)
A pretty cool thing I've noticed this week is that I've been pretty busy my whole mission. Which.. I guess is a rarity? Because everyone always talks about all the long days they have of just going contacting. And the days where I've had that have been very few. I feel really blessed to be busy and have a lot of work to do! And it makes me feel like I am actually doing a good job here. And it also makes me feel like Heavenly Father really trusts me because He keeps sending me lots of people to help, serve, love, and teach. I've just been really grateful for that. And I think by working hard and showing that I'm not gonna let those blessings go to waste, that Heavenly Father will continue sending me those people. And I plan to be busy like this for my entire mission. Just helping and serving and preaching and working and teaching as much as I can.
Love and miss you all!!
Siostra Shaylin Carroll
A picture of me with some delicious ice cream in the coolest/cutest ice cream shop on the Rynek. (sorry I always send pictures of me with ice cream haha, but it's the BEST!!)
Sleepy Security Guard :)
A brand new/renovated/remodeled Żabka!! We don't actually really go there that much.. but hey, there were balloons so that's fun.
I didn't run away to the circus.... I ran away to join the best Gnome Band in Wrocław!! ;) XD haha sorry, I couldn't come up with anything funnier than that.
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