Cześć!!
Monday there's really nothing to report. Thanks for all the emails family! Except you Zach. You don't send me any... XD It was Independence Day yesterday (Monday), so that is why y'all are getting this email today! :)
Tuesday was GOING to be a normal day. Well, everyday is going to be normal... and then it's usually not haha. I honestly don't know how I'm still surprised by that. Nothing ever ends up as planned and things still surprise me!! Haha! Anyway, we were doing weekly planning and we called Lucyna (the older member who we're trying to help to stop smoking). She did not sound normal at all. We couldn't understand her, she was mumbling, sounding confused, etc. So we rushed over to her apartment to check on her. She did not look well and she was acting way different than normal. She was a lot slower, very weak, got disoriented and very confused, was hard to understand, she kept mumbling, had a massive headache, and even had to lay down while we were there. It was bad. Sister Aramaki and I honestly thought she was just going to die while we were there! Luckily she didn't. The Elders came and gave her a blessing. She was doing a lot better after that. We walked to the doctor together and she set up an appointment for the next day. We left after that, but we called a few times to check on her and she was doing a lot better. We still don't know what happened or what was wrong, but God knows and He was able to bless her with what she needs. It was crazy! But a cool experience to be a part of and to be able to help with.
Wednesday, we had a lot happen communication wise. Wiktoria called us about some recent updates on her situation. We're hoping and praying that everything works out. Good news is, her parents finally know about her situation and they are trying to help her. Wiktoria says her relationship with her parents now is better than it's ever been. So, that makes me really happy to hear that! (Earlier, she had said they didn't really care about her or what she did.) So it's really good progress. We were also in touch with Joanna throughout the day. She is finally getting some help in court and with legal things! We also had our District Council today which was good. A bit later, Sister Aramaki and I met with Lucyna (not a member of the Church). We talked about temples and she's really interested in that. She really wants to go, but doesn't want to be baptized into the true Church of Jesus Christ... even though she said she knows this is the true Church of Jesus Christ... yeah, doesn't make any sense. We asked if she would read the Book of Mormon and pray every day this week, so she can gain a testimony that it's true and that this Church is true. She came up with all these excuses as to why she can't and she doesn't have time... yeah. So, I guess she'll just keep coming to Church on Sunday until she decides to make time for it. Sadly (and not sadly, because our agency is a gift!!) we can't gain a testimony for her. She has to choose to do that for herself. After that, we had our first meeting for the Self-Reliance course. Anna, a Ukrainian girl who comes to English, had texted us and asked if our church did any programs to help people find a job. And that was way cool because we've been trying to figure out how to get the self-reliance course started here!! So, we set up a time to have it! Lucyna decided to stay, which seemed harmless at first... but when we were supposed to have discussions as a group, she just said something like, "Oh, well I'm already self-reliant and I have been for years. And I have a great job and I don't need this course. I'm just here to listen." I could not believe her!! And she continued to make comments that were opposite to what we were trying to teach. We asked the question about if we believe that there is a solution to every problem and she said no there isn't. And when we watched a video about how a father solved the problem of his son's worn-out shoes when the father didn't have money to buy new ones. Lucyna said something like, "That doesn't make any sense. They should have just bought new ones. That's a terrible solution." Aggghhhhh... basically it was just really frustrating the whole time. And I just felt so bad for Anna and she was on the verge of tears the whole time. Okay, so, here in Poland... it's really hard for Ukrainians. 1. Because of the language. 2. It's so hard for them to get jobs. 3. The Polish people are sometimes really racist towards them. (It's basically the equivalent of how Mexicans are sometimes treated in the U.S. People making jokes about them only working in construction and their accent and whatnot. It's literally the same here with Ukrainians and I hate it. Because the Ukrainians I've met are seriously so wonderful!) And knowing that background, you can understand more why Lucyna's comments would be really harmful. Anyway, sorry I went on that rant fam, but it was really bothering me. We just need to be kind, thoughtful, and sensitive to the people around us, because we never really know what their situation is. Anyway, we also called Lucyna (the member) to check on her. She went to the doctor today and they're sending her to the hospital tomorrow. She'll be in the oncology ward. So I'm guessing they're checking for cancer. I'm glad we made her set up an appointment yesterday!! Because she was just at the hospital last week and they didn't catch whatever this is. Hopefully all is well!
Thursday, we were able to have a meeting with Anna (Max's wife, the branch member). She wanted some extra English practice because for her calling, she has to report every week to her leaders in Germany... in English!! She gets really scared to do it, so we're just giving her more opportunities to speak in English with us! She's so cute, she also was wanting to talk about the Gospel because she wants to strengthen her spirit. I loved that!! So it's just really good for all of us. We had a really great conversation about God's love for us and she told us her conversion story (how she found the church). Later that evening, we went to Renoma and talked with people there. I talked with this super cute Turkish girl who didn't speak much English, but when she did speak, she had almost no accent! It was the weirdest thing, but so cool. Oh my gosh, she was so cute though. I was also able to talk to this guy, named Robert, from Southern Ireland (so the accent wasn't quite as thick, but definitely still there). It was so fun!! He is really interested in spirituality, so we had a great conversation about that. There were a lot of things on which we agreed. But, of course, there were some differences. Throughout our conversation, he basically just kept saying he had everything he needed in the Bible and didn't need any more than that. (Sound familiar??) Folks, I'm tellin' ya... I hear that prophecy fulfilled nearly every day. XD Anyway, I explained that the Book of Mormon is ANOTHER testament of Jesus Christ and that it only helps us learn more about Christ and come closer to Him. He still had the same argument, but we finished the conversation with agreeing that the most important thing is that people are trying to come closer to Jesus Christ. And hey, that's all we're trying to do as missionaries. Help people come into Christ! So if you or anyone you know are wanting to do that, please call up your local missionaries. If you don't have their number, you can set up with them on comeuntochrist.org. Or even just do research for yourself on that website. It's awesome!
Friday some cool things happened. Here are the highlights. We went contacting and just kind of wandered around, going wherever we felt like we should go. Never strong promptings to go in a certain direction, but just good feelings about where we were going. But as always, we are subtly guided and led. And God always makes our paths cross with those who are prepared when we're out and about. We met a 15 year old girl named Ania. Very sweet and mature. She was awesome! We talked with her for a while and she said that she had gone through a time of not believing, but was now "converted." We gave her a Book of Mormon and at least 3 different times during the conversation, she thanked us for it and told us how interested she was in it. She would say things like, "Seriously, I am so interested in this!" So just very genuine about it all. And totally chill about 2 random girls stopping her on the street to talk about religion. And she wants to meet!! Wow! I have no doubt that she was the "one" we needed to meet that day.
Another cool story from Friday, involves a Facebook notification I received. (I can't put this on the group email, because Karen is on there, and it might mess things up... but feel free to tell people about this story!!) Okay, I like.. never get these notifications, but this time it "randomly" told me that Sister Makylee Scherschligt moved to Bergen, Norway. Now, the ONLY reason I'm friends with Makylee on Facebook is because she sent a referral to us last transfer. And so it seemed totally out of the blue to get a notification that she moved. BUT the city she moved to is the same city where Karen Daehli lives. And what's more? Karen doesn't normally live there. She's only there because she is doing her 1 year of mandatory military service that Norway requires. So the fact that I got a referral from this Sister, became friends with her on Facebook, got this "random" notification that I never get, and then she "happens" to be in the same city as Karen?!?! NOT a coincidence!! So many details have been lined up and God is in all of them!! This Sister missionary has GOT to be just the thing Karen needs.
Okay, I just see little miracles every day! Saturday morning, we were heading on a train to go about an hour away to Legnica, to visit a member there. At the train station, we were trying to buy our tickets, but the line was way long. I started looking at signs to make sure we were in the right line. While I was doing this, Sister Aramaki said that an older lady ("an angel" as she called her) came up to her and told her which line to go to. The correct spot to buy our tickets had no line! But the lady didn't ask Sister Aramaki where she was going or which train she needed, she just told her where to go. And THEN!! She came over and told me, "An angel just told me to come to this line." I asked her who and where the angel lady was. Sister Aramaki had just turned around and seen her right before I asked. But she looked again after I asked her, and the angel lady was gone. She had disappeared! Whoa... Now, whether she was an angel from this world or from another, we don't know.. but either way, sometimes we get little miracles. And sometimes God lets us see them. Sure, to some, it might seem like a little thing. But I truly believe that we are guided and God sends people and/or angels to help us. This was definitely another reassurance to my faith. I feel so blessed to have so many of these experiences and see these miracles!
The Fall trees in Legnica.
Legnica felt like Oregon.. it was weird..
On the train to and from Legnica.
Fun fact: On the way to Legnica, I realized that most Polish houses and buildings have red Roof shingles instead of the black we normally have at home. So that's interesting!
Saturday we had a really good meeting with Agnieszka. (The member in Legnica) We were able to talk about the gospel, the scriptures, and her conversion story. She was actually a Jehovah's Witness before joining the Church. She said that she always thought it was interesting how the missionaries from our church could look at and take materials from other religions, but for Jehovah's Witnesses, it was completely forbidden. She didn't like how they just decided and told you what was true and what wasn't. She said it was terrible how you couldn't find out for yourself. Agnieszka loves that about the Church that we can always pray to know that things are true and find these things out for ourselves. Anyway, it was a great meeting and she's an awesome lady! That evening, we were also able to meet with Babcia and Lucyna. Both were great meetings! Lucyna was the most talkative in this meeting than I've ever seen her before. It was really cool! She seems to be making progress, which is good to see. We're making a plan with her to go on walks and try to help her kick smoking to the curb. :)
Sunday we had a wonderful experience. Joanna and Kajtek came to church!! They loved it! Afterwards, Adam was able to give both of them a Priesthood blessing. It was a blessing of comfort, peace, and council. And wow. They were beautiful! It was powerful. And the Spirit in that room was so strong! After his blessing, Kajtek was just beaming and smiling. After hers, Joanna was crying and even Adam cried a bit. It was such a tender experience. Before they left, Joanna told us that they felt something here. They loved it and she said they will definitely be back. She gave us both a Milka chocolate bar and both Joanna and Kajtek gave us hugs before they left. Wow. I am so grateful that they are so in tune and aware of their feelings. And that they are recognizing feeling something different here. It's a beautiful thing and I'm so grateful to be a part of it all!
Monday was Dzień Niepodległości or Polish Independence Day!!
So we didn't have our normal pday on Monday and that's why I'm writing my email on Tuesday! Anyway, we basically just did our studies, weekly planning, and finished up our presentation for Przemek's class. (We'll be going and doing a presentation for these 5th graders I think. It's about America and our lives there and why we're here in Poland. So that should be cool!!)
Then, we went out for dinner at this Georgian restaurant. And I honestly couldn't tell ya what we ate because it was in Georgian, but hey! It was good!! It was right next to the Rynek.
Independence Day on Plac Wolności.
Me and Sister Aramaki pointing out the Polish flag on Independence Day (there were Polish flags everywhere and it was awesome!!)
I felt weird about putting a selfie on the group email, but I wanted to show y'all that I wore the Polish flag on Independence Day!! (white on top, red on bottom!!) :)
Dinner at the Georgian restaurant with the Elders, Jami, and Wojciech (Wilbert).
The Georgian food (still no idea what it's called haha).
Love and miss you all!!
Siostra Shaylin Carroll
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