Last Man Standing/I'm still standing, better than I ever did... (3/30/20)

Cześć!!

Monday not a super ton happened haha. We did our normal preparation day things. I went by 3 post offices to look for this random cookbook, but there was an insane line for all of them just to get INSIDE. So, I did not do that today... Seriously, people were actually standing 6 feet apart!! Craziness... later, we got donuts from Stara Pączkarnia because... you have to!! XD 

We got donuts/pączki!!

Then we emailed and I was able to call all y'all. Found out a TON of my friends are going home... Oh, also, I don't know if I said this, but the Polish missionaries in the MTC right now are being reassigned stateside. So... there goes my trainee. Yeah, I'm pretty bummed about it. But right now, the only thing I want is to stay in Poland!! With my friends going home left and right... I kinda feel like the last man standing. This is insanity!! But yeah, the nightly devotional was good! I always look forward to those.

Tuesday we had Zone Conference!! We did it through a Zoom Call (video call) with everyone in the Wrocław Zone. So that was definitely a first. It was really good though! We talked a lot about revelation and different ways to receive personal revelation. 

Zone Conference through Zoom!

In preparation for zone conference, we had all reviewed President Nelson's conference talk "Revelation for the Church, Revelation for Our Lives." It was really good to watch that again. This was a quote that really stuck out to me this time through:

"Our Savior and Redeemer, Jesus Christ, will perform some of His mightiest works between now and when He comes again. We will see miraculous indications that God the Father and His Son, Jesus Christ, preside over this Church in majesty and glory. But in coming days, it will not be possible to survive spiritually without the guiding, directing, comforting, and constant influence of the Holy Ghost."

I think this is something we can all relate to in some way. With the need to have church at home now, we need to have the Holy Ghost with us to guide and direct us. We are taught that the Holy Ghost will guide us to know what to do. This includes guiding us in our gospel learning and study. We all need the Holy Ghost at this time. Especially for comfort in such uncertain times. We are promised to have the "comforter" (the Holy Ghost with us). This is God's reminder to us that He hasn't left us alone. The gift of the Holy Ghost is such a huge blessing!! I hope you all are learning more about that in your lives now.

Wednesday morning, we had our District Council like normal. We all talked about how our video call meetings are going and about ways to make it fun and break up the monotony of social distancing life haha. Oh! So the Szczecin Elders are meeting with Szymon in Szczecin!! He's the kid I met there who lived in England for a while, is super funny, loves tanks, and came to our English class for a while. He feels like a younger brother to me. The Szczecin Elders have met with him a few different times already through video call. And they're teaching him the Gospel!! I'm so happy! :) 

Later, I did a musical number to record and post on Facebook. I've been wanting to use my violin more, but didn't know how I could do that. I knew I could play it, but I didn't really want to just have violin. But there's nobody here who could accompany me. Except... me??? Soooo... I played around with the piano, figured out how to record the song on the piano first. And then I could press play on the piano and.... voilà!! I accompanied myself on the piano while playing the violin for "A Child's Prayer"!!! I was pretty proud of myself for being so clever. Hahaha! XD I posted that on Facebook the next day, so hopefully you all saw it and enjoyed that. If not, feel free to go and check it out. :) 

Later, we went and did our weekly planning at this little park by our house. It's this grassy area that's right along the river. So we took towels and laid them out. We were there right at sunset. So we were able to watch the sky change and watch the stars come out!! It was so fun!! We don't get to see the stars a whole lot because in the summer, it's way too late. And normally in winter it's too cold to be out. Well... it was still cold... but we still saw stars! So it was great!!

Us doing weekly planning under the stars. Also, soon after sunset haha.

Cathedral Island right after the sun went down.

Thursday we headed to the chapel for a change of scenery as we usually do. We happened to run into Iza on the way. She needed some help with some things, so she came with us to the chapel. Now.. there's a rule/law in Poland right now that if people are walking outside, they're only allowed to be in 2's. So, I had to walk ahead of the group so that we weren't "together" and so that we were doing our proper social distancing outside. Plus, the Police Station is right across the street from the Chapel... so the stakes are high! XD So crazy to me that this is real and something we actually have to do! Anyway, we were able to work on Facebook for a while and I posted my violin video, whoo! XD Then, we headed home and had a call with Zoe to practice English. And then, after that, we had a first lesson with a guy named Himanshu! He's someone I started messaging on Facebook a few days ago and he was interested! Yay! It actually wasn't too bad having the first meeting through video call. It went really well and the Spirit was still very strong. Himanshu said he definitely wants to meet again, read the Book of Mormon, and pray. He said, "I want to know if this really is true. It would be good to know. And I want to have this feeling you talked about! So I'm willing to read and pray." That was so cool to me! I'm so happy and grateful we could still meet him, even through technology. That night, we were part of Institute. It was my first time going to Institute and I never thought my first time going would be on my mission! It was really good.

Friday morning we had a meeting with Claudia over the phone. We talked a lot about the Holy Ghost and receiving answers from God. We talked about different ways that she would feel the Spirit and be able to recognize when she is receiving those answers. Claudia really wants to make sure she's 100% sure the Church is true before she gets baptized. When she gets baptized she wants to have the intent of staying for forever. She said she wants to be all in. She has this fear that she's going to join the church and then in a year just leave. I don't see that happening at all! But I think she's just a little nervous. She's doing so well though! 

After that, President and Sister Chandler came to visit us for the day. We just spent time together relaxing, taking a break, and talking! We were able to do puzzles and games and have lunch together. I always love spending time with the Chandler's! :) Later, we were able to work a ton on Facebook. I was able to set up 2 meetings and have a bunch more in the works! :) Later in the evening, we had our mission devotional. Sister Jensen and I gave the spiritual thought for today. It went well! Except for the fact that right before we were supposed to share, our connection cut out and it totally looked like we were trying to run away from doing our part in the devotional hahaha. But we got back on and all was well! XD We talked about faith, experimenting on faith, and asking our own questions. It was great!

Saturday morning, I'm pretty sure I talked to every missionary still serving in Thailand. XD I was trying to get in contact with the missionaries who received the referral for MiuMiu because I hadn't heard anything from them yet. I was eventually able to track them down. But I had to go through at least 9 different missionaries to get to the right Sisters serving in her area. I found them! They have all the info and are so excited to start talking with her!! Also, they are natives to Thailand. So MiuMiu will be taught by people from her own country!! How cool is that?! 

Then, we headed to the chapel and were supposed to have a meeting with Claudia, but I guess things were chaotic at her house and she couldn't leave for the call. Then, all the missionaries deep-cleaned the chapel which was good. I even was able to put my organization skills to use and organized the bookshelf and made a game closet/cabinet, and things look nicer now!! In the middle of that, we found out that Elder Long will be leaving on Tuesday!! Crazy!! Just a week early, but they all have a way to get home!! So that's exciting! And Elder Zabriskie will be coming down to Poznań from Gdańsk. It will be fun to serve with him again! Not to mention having his piano playing skills here in Poznań! Whoo! Someone I can duet with who isn't me!! XD 

Anyway, we also had 2 other lessons planned. We met with Martyna and talked for a while. Then, we read the Book of Mormon all together which was nice. She's doing well! Martyna is awesome! We don't have to worry about her a whole lot. :) Then, we had a first lesson with Hasan! He's a guy I met through Facebook! At first, he was just more comparing our religions. But then, the more we talked the more interested and sincere he became. It was really cool to see that switch happen as we talked with him. By the end, he was asking us how he can read the Book of Mormon and said that he definitely wanted to and would read it. He also said he would pray about it and we were able to teach him how to pray. He also asked when our next meeting would be and so we set up for next week. I know the Spirit definitely touched him during the lesson and he could feel it. It was a really cool experience! Especially because I'm sometimes worried that the Spirit won't be felt because we're not together physically. But then I'm gently reminded that the Spirit has no bounds. It will work through whatever means we use. And that was really cool to me.

By the way, we found out that the decision to send missionaries home (at least, in our mission in Poland) is now up to the mission president, parents, and the individual missionary. So basically, I'm 100% staying until June! Whoo!! I feel so so blessed! And I'm so grateful I get to stay on my mission here in Poland!! :)

Sunday we had a big testimony meeting through Zoom which went well. We also had our regular group calls for "Come, Follow Me." Everything went well with those. We had our call in reports with our District Leader, Elder Mitchell. We count up the number of "meaningful conversations" we have each week. For me, that does not include people who haven't responded or people who aren't interested. That being said, I had 26 meaningful conversation with people through Facebook messenger this week. Holy smokes! It's so cool to see how fast the work is through technology!! 

Later, we were able to go to the Womack's to partake of the sacrament, break our fast, eat dinner, and have our District Devotional. It was also Elder Long's last evening in Poznań, so it was fun to spend some time all together and say goodbyes. 

Sunday at the Womack's (I was in the middle of our call-in report with our District Leader).

Later in the evening, we had our nightly devotional. President Chandler decided that he wanted to start sharing "pearls of great price" from each of us. Just thoughts, insights, revelation, and experiences we have been having through this time as missionaries during COVID-19. Things that we wouldn't have experienced without being in the situation we're in now. This morning, thoughts flooded to my mind and I really felt like I needed to share them with President. I hadn't originally been planning on sharing anything. But then, he ended up using mine in the Devotional Sunday night. It was really cool! Maybe someone really needed to hear it. Anyway, here were my thoughts:

As we're teaching people strictly through the digital realm, I'm sometimes worried that the Spirit won't be felt because we're not together physically. But then I'm gently reminded that the Spirit has no bounds. It will work through whatever means we use. And that was really cool to me. But in thinking about that more, the Spirit really is boundless and we can't and shouldn't put that in a box of how, and in which ways, the Spirit can work. We're given these tools of technology and Facebook to do our missionary work. And as missionaries we teach by the Spirit. It doesn't matter if it's through a screen or in person, as long as we are sharing the Gospel and teaching by the Spirit, those we teach will feel the influence of the Holy Ghost. That's definitely something unique to this time of "coronavirus missionaries" is that we work solely through technology. I don't believe God would give us these tools and have us use them without the promise still intact of, "where two or three are gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them." In this extremely technology driven era of missionary work, I feel that God is giving us more of His Spirit and not less. He pours His Spirit out on us as we find, communicate with, and teach these people. It's just another way He shows us that He is very much involved in the details of His work. What a blessing to be part of this work, especially at a time like this when we can see the Lord's hand so abundantly and so often.

Love and miss you all!!

Siostra Shaylin Carroll

Found a pigeon in its nest!! I've been wondering where in the world they actually lay their eggs because you never see them in their nests!!

Rynek!!

Cool cobblestone Rynek picture.

Little metal model version of the Rynek.

We won a daily competition with this picture in our masks haha.

What hours of Facebook work looks like... Haha just kidding, that was just towards the end. XD

These signs started popping up on all public transportation. Buses and trams. And they all had different numbers. (It's the maximum number of passengers allowed on.)

Our drive home from the Womack's! I love Polish streets!!

Letter from the Refuge/Quarantine *ahem* Social Distancing day 7... (3/23/20)

Cześć!!

Monday, right after sending out my email, Elder Womack had a phone call with Claudia!! They had been texting for a while and then she just called him. Turns out, she's still really wanting to meet with us! Wow! That was such a relief! But she seriously is having this internal battle, I know it. The fight and struggle between good and evil is real folks! But she knows what she's felt, (we know it too) and she can't ignore that! So that was happy news to find out on Monday. Later, I was able to talk to all y'all for a while which was awesome! In the middle of that, we went to this big park and played frisbee for a while with the Elders. It was such a beautiful day!! That night, we had our zone call with everyone. They have a specific set of instructions for missionaries being kept inside in quarantine. It's called "Coronavirus: Activity Plan for Missionaries." Since... you know we don't have Netflix and Disney plus, they've given us MANY ways to stay active and involved in missionary work even while inside. So, we will be staying very busy!!

Tuesday was Day 1 in Quarantine!! (partial quarantine) WHOO! Happy Saint Patrick's Day y'all!! XD We spent most of the day inside, with the exception of going on a walk to get some fresh air and save our sanity. We did our weekly planning, which was kind of a joke haha. But we actually still have lessons planned with people! We were also able to work on Facebook a lot and message a bunch of people. And that basically sums up Tuesday. 

Happy St. Patrick's Day!! 

Ooh fun thing though: the Elders decided to start making a Quarantine Vlog type thing and told us to do one too. So every few days, we'll be doing updates on the situation, how we're feeling, what we're doing... should be pretty entertaining!

Wednesday we had District Council, so we were able to go to the chapel! Yay!! We love getting out haha. For District Council, Kaitlyn Dyshkant joined our call and talked about more tools we can use for family history! Whoo! Funny moment: She was using my account as an example and to show all the Family Search tools. So she was showing us some different things and was showing how to add a person, like a parent or child... And on mine, she clicked, "Add a spouse." Everyone was laughing and I just said, "Oh... oh dear... let's not!!" Then Elder Long said, "Ooohhh what's his name?!?!" XD Who knew family history would turn into that?? Haha, it was funny though. After that, we all took a trip to Auchan and bought some puzzles to help fight the quarantine boredom. We got a 4,000 piece one, so it should last a while. XD We all went back to the chapel and started on the puzzle while working on Facebook, talking to each other, doing family history, listening to music, and messaging people. It was pretty fun actually! I even found more Polish ancestry that I didn't see before!! 

Okay, so Elder Benson in our mission is a dancer! And he decided to choreograph something for all the missionaries to learn. Then, he wanted us to record the dance and send it to him so he can make a big video of all the missionaries dancing. So, after everyone left the chapel, we learned, practiced, and recorded the dance!! Whoo!! Haha Elder Benson is WAY good so we all spent half the time just feeling inferior. XD But it turned out not too bad and when we sent us, Elder Benson and his companion Elder De Baun said we were "DANCE MASTERS" so I'll take that compliment. XD It was a lot of fun though, really!!

A nice screenshot of us doing a dance that Elder Benson choreographed.

Thursday we had a mission-wide video call!! I've only had this one other time and it was when President Turek was here. And that was when a few missionaries were getting deported because of legal work things... yeah, that meeting was not good. XD But this one was! Basically, President Chandler was explaining a bit about coronavirus, what's going on in the world (since we don't have access to the news or pages on the internet that give updates...), and some stats of things. He explained the reason why Poland is one of only TWO missions in all of Europe that isn't sending missionaries home right now. This is because of the number of cases per million people. Right now, we only have 9 cases for every million. So Poland has done a really good job with things! They also clarified that we are NOT in quarantine, but we are social distancing right now. Anyway, they then introduced what our official schedule looks like for now. We're doing some cool things. So every day, we have a "mission activity." A few of them are District Devotional, send a spiritual thought home to your family for their in home sacrament meeting, call home for 15 minutes, write a personal history, etc. And every night at 20:30, we're having a mission-wide devotional. It'll be really cool to have a nightly devotional!! So there are the updates there...

Missionwide Devotional Call! 

Then, we were supposed to have a meeting with Piotr through video call... but technological difficulties made that impossible, so we were going to try again the next day. Then, we had a call with Zoe to have her practice her English! The call was pretty difficult with her as well. These people have terrible connection! So that makes things difficult... but we still had fun with Zoe!! She makes me happy. She's such a sweet girl! We sent her a screenshot of a primary/children's song. She wants to learn it on the piano. So we're teaching the Gospel, English, and music. BOOM. Haha! 

Later, we worked on family history and Facebook. Karolina, a less-active/returning member messaged me to tell me that she wants to work with me instead of with the Elders haha. She really likes me! Which is a huge blessing, because then she's willing to work with me!! She said she really wants to change and come back to church. But she just doesn't know how to start. That's so awesome!! It made me so happy!! I'm excited to work with her! :)

Friday morning, we had a meeting with Claudia through a phone call. It was a great meeting! She's doing really well, actually! Things kind if turned back around this week. We had a great lesson about the Law of Chastity. She really likes the Law of Chastity and all the good things that come from living it. We talked about how she went through a little period where doubts and questions started coming to her. And hard challenges on top of that. (Like her mom and coronavirus and whatnot.) We talked about how Satan is really working hard to stop her from progressing and is trying to make it really hard for her to keep going down this right path. She's smart. She recognizes this. We talked about how the closer she gets to her baptism, the harder things will get for her. We encouraged her to always remember the feelings she's had and the times she has felt the Holy Ghost. And to hang onto that when the hard times do come. At the end of the lesson, we set another baptismal date with her. She set this one. She thinks pushing it back a week will be good, so she is now set to be baptized on April 3rd! :) I couldn't be happier to have her back on date! 

Later in the day, we had another failed meeting with Piotr haha. We'll figure out how to make the wifi good soon... And later we had a short meeting with Kasia (internet problems...). BUT it was still a great meeting! She's been reading the Book of Mormon a lot and says that she finds so much peace as she reads it. She loves the books of Nephi and has been writing notes in a notebook about her favorite verses! All on her own! She's so good!! She's really starting to apply the scriptures to herself and I love that! :) 

We also worked on Facebook a lot. I had an insanely long and active conversation with this guy named Mateusz. It started out fine, but then he thought I was lying about being American because my Polish was "too good"..... what the heck?! And he also was telling me that I'm in a cult and that he was offering his help to get me out. What even...?? And that's the story of how my afternoon was spent with yet another person telling me about "what I believe." Wow. Oh, and after not responding to him for 3 hours, he came back and messaged and said, "Hey, so I was thinking about it... and maybe I was a little too closed. This could be interesting to talk about in person. Maybe we could talk about it over drinks sometime." (But after quarantine, he said. Haha!) And THAT'S the story of how a guy went from telling me I'm in a cult, to asking me out for drinks... Adventures in the life of a missionary, am I right?? 🙄

Saturday was pretty mellow. We had 2 meetings though! One through video call and one through a phone call because their video still was not working. First, we met with Kasia and talked about the Sabbath Day and also about baptism. She said that she's actually been thinking about baptism quite a bit on her own. She feels like she doesn't know enough yet and that there's still so much she needs to learn before she can be baptized. But I think the desire is there and we planted that idea, which is good. She's actually going to be praying about baptism this week. 

Next, we had our meeting with Piotr. We ended up talking a lot about the Godhead and how they are 3 individual, distinct beings. We read in 3 Nephi 18 about Jesus Christ's relationship to God, our Heavenly Father. And talked about how Christ showed us the way that we should so everything; even praying. He seemed to accept it and said it made sense. Later, we were able to do Facebook work. And GUYS!! Holy smokes, I'm messaging the most amazing guy!! (Lol that sounds weird haha, but seriously he's so cool!) After just sending my "script" message to him, he said he wanted to know more and that he actually had some questions. The conversation went so well! He was really grateful because he said nobody had ever taken the time to answer his questions before. Eventually I sent him the website after he was asking what religion I'm a part of because "the religion you're talking about sounds so good!" I sent him the website to learn more and let him know I was heading to bed, but would talk with him more the next day. He was happy about that and agreed to talk more. Mind you... this is a 19 year old guy. Who just immediately opened up and asked all these really deep questions he had. He is truly searching!! Wow, I'm so excited to keep messaging him!!

Sunday was a day full of meetings. We started out with our sacrament meeting. It was once again a very spiritually uplifting experience. It's so cool how in times like these Heavenly Father just pours His spirit out on us. :) After that, we did a video call for Sunday School and to discuss the scriptures from "Come, Follow Me" this week. It was really good! I actually loved it!! We were able to lead the discussion and ask the questions. It was such a good, hopeful, uplifting discussion!! Then, we did another one of those, but for the Polish speakers. 

Video call with the Elders while waiting for everyone to get on for Sunday school.

After that, we headed to the Womack's and had a District Devotional. We read and discussed the Conference Talk "Called to the Work" by Elder Bednar. It was really good, especially now when so many crazy things are happening with missionaries going home and/or getting reassigned. It's good to remember that we're on the Lord's errand, He will send us where He needs us, and He will have us finish our missions when He needs us to. As hard as that last one is to accept... Yes, I am worried. Not going to lie about that. 

All us missionaries on the balcony after dinner at the Womack's.

On a happy note, we had our Mission-wide Devotional that night. We have a daily mission competition and Sunday was a meme competition. (We had to make original memes, not just share them.) Mine got 2nd place!! Whoo!! 

My meme!! Story: We're really hoping that coronavirus doesn't spread anymore here in Poland so that no missionaries have to go home!!

Also, for part of the Devotional, they used a video I had shared on Facebook. The one of Gus Mickelson and his companion singing, so the whole mission saw that! That was really happy for me. :) And yeah, wow, what another crazy week!

Please please please pray that we get to stay in Poland!! I keep seeing friends going home left and right. Please take this the right way... I don't want to come home!! Not yet. Not like this. I just want to stay until June! But of course, it's in the Lord's hands and I'll just have to trust Him.

Love and miss you all!!

Siostra Shaylin Carroll

Not to cause a stampede or anything... but we found toilet paper!! (Or maybe we're past that phase now? Everyone good on toilet paper?)

Beautiful blue sky!!

Journal entry about earring back!!

My earring back between the shoes!!

"2020 feels like the level up I wasn't ready for." -Me/Coronavirus has hit Poznań!! (And everywhere else it would seem...) (3/16/20)

Cześć!!

Monday we had a fun pday with the Elders and Claudia. We went and saw some cool cathedrals here. I call this activity "church hopping," when we go and see a bunch of different churches. So we went church hopping and Claudia was answering a lot of our questions of what things are inside of cathedrals and what they're for and different practices of Catholic people. It was all very interesting. Before my mission, I knew a bit about the Catholic religion, but now, I've learned so much just from being here in Poland and around so many Catholics all the time. 

Inside of a big cathedral we saw today.

More of the interior of that church (proszę bardzo).

The famous headbutting goats of Poznań!! XD

After that, we went out for lunch at a place called "Pan Kejk." (You actually pronounce that as "pancake," but with a tall "a." Haha I love it when they do play on words!) That's where we were when you called the first time, Mom. And Claudia was able to meet Mom!! Whoo!! So that was exciting because I've been wanting that to happen for a long time! :) 

The Elders, Claudia, and us at "Pan Kejk" :)

This pancake place had a bowtie in the mirror in the bathroom, so that was kinda fun.

Later, we wrote/sent our group emails and called home, which I always love. Then, we had family night and played Monopoly, the Poznań version! Elder Draschil just bought it today. Before playing, he frantically asked (and practically begged) me, "Sister Carroll!! I've played Monopoly exactly twice... do you want to be the banker??" And so, I was the banker whoo!! XD Anyway, it was pretty funny to see a lot of people play Monopoly for the first time. Let's just say, I won as the banker because I had the most money mwahahaha. XD And yeah! That was Monday!

Tuesday nothing super crazy happened. Well.... Coronavirus has officially made its way to Poznań!! Whoo!! XD I heard 3 cases at first, but in checking, it sounds like there's just 1, so who knows. Regardless, coronavirus is in Poznań! Good thing President had us do our shopping this week! Anyway, I'm not worried about it. And we're prepared for if we have to be quarantined. "If ye are prepared, ye shall not fear." (D&C 38:30) And in the words of boy scouts (RIP to that) and Scar from the Lion King, "Be Prepared!!" XD Hahaha... 

Anyway, Tuesday, we did all our weekly planning and such. We got in contact with a lot of people. We were able to call and check on Bożena and talk with her for a while. Then, we sent a Book of Mormon to a referral we had received. Then, we tried to make a drop by visit to this one family I've never met, but they weren't home. And we were able to work on Facebook! I had more good conversations with people. Okay, so this guy gave me 2 referrals for his friends who he thought would be interested. One of them answered and was not only interested, but she told me to get in contact with one of her friends who would definitely be interested. And she kept following up with me to make sure I had sent a message to him. She REALLY wanted me to talk to him! So that was a first... and it was awesome!! 

Also, today, in thinking about Claudia, I was trying to think how we could help her even more. For a while (even back in Wrocław), I've been having the thought that we need to have Blake skype in for a lesson and help us teach. But I've never been teaching anyone who it felt like it'd be right for. Lately, I can't stop thinking about it and I really feel like Blake needs to be on at least one lesson with us. So, we'll explore that option. But be on the lookout for that story!! :)

Wednesday was Corona Shopping day!! Whoo!! Haha! First, we had District Council and then lunch with the Elders and the Womack's. After that, we went to a big grocery store called Auchan instead of the regular Biedronka. We had to do shopping for emergency supplies for 2 weeks. We got a ton of canned fruits and vegetables, some flour, water (we have been slowly stocking up on that because it's HEAVY!!), some frozen veggies and fruits, beans, oats, and yeah! It was a party. And no, we did not buy toilet paper. We're not THAT typical. We still came out under the amount they gave us to spend. (450 złoty. We spent 295 złoty) So we had to go back shopping the next day to spend it all I guess? Anyway, it was funny because throughout the store, you could tell who was doing regular shopping and who was doing what I like to call "Corona Shopping." Haha! Just look for the water and toilet paper. Oh and flour and noodles. XD Speaking of that.. the aisles with grains, rice, flour, and noodles were just completely stripped. Only a few things were left of those types of things. I've never seen anything like that before and it was so crazy that this is actually real! XD Either way, we have our 2 week supply. So IF anything happens, we're ready. 

Empty shelves!! Can't you just see all the rice that used to be there?? XD

I thought it was funny that we were going corona shopping and then the games "Ticket to Ride: Poland" and "Pandemic" were right next to each other. XD

Our 2 week emergency supply! Whoo!!

After that adventure, we were driving back to the church when I checked the church website and saw that apparently after March 16, missionaries will be doing their MTC training via video training!! And that General Conference will be broadcast only?!?! CRAZINESS!! I mean, I know President Nelson said it would be an unforgettable conference... but I don't think he meant it like this!! XD Hahaha! Oh, also, all the schools in Poland are closed for 2 weeks because... corona. XD And I guess it's officially considered a pandemic now? I just can't believe I'm living through something like this right now. What a fun story for the mission I guess. XD Anyway, we had English that night and we actually had people come still! Whoo! It went well and we had a good time in class.

Okay, NOW there are for sure at least 3 cases of coronavirus in Poznań!

Thursday the first coronavirus death in Poland happened. In Poznań. A 57 year old woman. It's actually Zofia's friend's mom, so that's really sad for her. First thing, the Mission Office called and told us that we didn't spend enough money. So we had to drop everything and go shopping at Biedronka. If it were a competition to see who could get the most without going over... I think we would win. Haha! They gave us 450 złoty to spend and we spent 449,45!! Whoo!! (Originally we spent 295,87 and they said that was too low haha.) 

Anyway... Thursday was a hard day. Claudia canceled our meeting 5 minutes before. She's acting really weird. We don't really know what's going on with her. But she said she would be at church on Sunday (that was pre-announcement...). We reminded her of our meeting for Friday and she said she'd be there. So that's good. We had another meeting cancel later because of coronavirus... But we still had one meeting with Ola! Through video call! It was good! We talked all about baptism and what her feelings are about it. We talked about the blessings of being baptized, being an official member, and having the gift of the Holy Ghost. Hint... there are so many blessings!! She still feels like she needs time to think, study, and pray. But she is seriously one of the most prepared people I've taught on my mission. Honestly, if she said she wanted to be baptized tomorrow, I would have no hesitation because she is ready! She just needs to feel that as well. She is going to be studying and praying about a specific date to be baptized. Because, we talked about how if we want specific or direct answers, we need to ask specific questions.

Wow, every day this past week... it just feels like we get new news every 30 minutes!! It's insane! Needless to say, Friday was a whirlwind of emotion. In the morning, the Womack's called and told us that all the Senior Couples had to go home because of coronavirus. Now, Poland wasn't on the list of 22 missions affected by that instruction. So we were all in shock! It was so sad! 

Anyway, we had a meeting with Claudia, but I guess her Mom kinda has them on lockdown because of corona. So, we were able to have the meeting through Facebook messenger. She has still been reading the Book of Mormon and is in Mosiah now, which is awesome! She had some questions though. Her biggest one was about the Church's stance on LGBT and same-sex marriage. We explained that we love those people just the same and that they are of course welcome to join the church. But we also explained that they have to live according to the same commandments and the gospel of Jesus Christ, just like everyone does. At the end of our meeting, when we asked about baptism again, she said she wasn't sure anymore and needed to think/pray/read about things before she's sure. I'm just glad she's going to keep reading and praying through it! I have no doubt she'll get the right answer, it's just a matter of whether she chooses to listen to and act on that answer. She said she's not 100% sure if she knows the Church is true or if she wants to live by "these restrictions." And that made me sad. I hate when people see the commandments as restrictions. Because God does everything out of love for us. He would never make us do anything that doesn't ultimately lead to our happiness and benefit!! And maybe it hurt so much because I know just how strongly she has felt the Spirit and felt the difference. I know she feels it!! She'll come around eventually, for sure. I just don't know if it will be during my time here. So, yeah, that meeting added to the heavy heart on Friday... 

Luckily, we were able to go to lunch with the Womack's and spend some time with them! Which was much needed. 

Us and the Womack's went to lunch at McDonald's because we thought they were leaving Poland. So it was a quick, last little hoorah.

Later that evening, we had a video call meeting with Kasia! We talked about obedience and following the prophet. She even talked about how times are crazy and scary right now, and so it's really nice and good that we have a prophet to guide us and that we know what to do. She understands and it's awesome! She also told us that she showed the temple video to her parents! They LOVED it and thought it was so beautiful! She said that she will often tell her parents about our meetings and the things she's learning. They really like it and definitely approve of her meeting with us. We'll have to try having a meeting with the whole family sometime! Also, Kasia wants to start meeting more often now that there's nothing to do because everything is closed. That meeting helped turned the day around! 

At the end of the night, we got a call from the Womack's saying that President Chandler had just gotten off the phone with the Area Presidency and that the seniors are staying!! What a relief!! I had been so sad and felt so alone when we first found out they were leaving!! What a crazy day...

Saturday was another day of just trying to figure things out. First, we were able to go and visit Bożena. Her Name Day was on Friday the 13th, but she had dialysis, so we celebrated with her on Saturday instead. Name Day is like.. almost a bigger deal than your birthday here in Poland. I think it's when babies or kids receive their name from the Catholic church. Or something like that. Anyway, we brought her a card and flowers and she had prepared a really nice lunch for us. It was a pretty traditional Polish spread that included meat, deviled eggs, bread, and a meat and cheese platter. We had a good time visiting with her! 

Bożena made this food for us.

Us and Bożena.

After that, we headed to the church and had a meeting with Martyna. We talked with her about the new youth program. We invited her to make goals in all the 4 areas and to use this as a way to come closer to Jesus Christ. She said she would do that this week. She also said that she would talk to her mom and ask about baptism again this week. She said she would do that as well. She's doing well! We just keep trying to support her the best we can. 

After that, we had a meeting with all the missionaries in Poznań and Sarah (the Relief Society President). We made a plan for ministering and taking care of the members during this time. We also made plans to do a group video call with everyone on Sundays, to make sure they get "spiritually fed" every week. We also made plans for how everyone would get the sacrament every other week. It's so cool to me how the Church continues to function, even in times like these. We have systems and plans set up for these types of situations. I love seeing how prepared we are. It's really comforting to me.

Sunday was such a cool experience with having church at "home." So, we obviously can't be in our apartment or the Elders' apartment. (Nobody is allowed in our apartments.) So, we still met at the church, but in the family room instead of in the chapel. It was us, the Elders, and a member named Wiktor. But wow! What a powerful memorable experience! I'm so grateful to have had the opportunity to partake of the sacrament on Sunday. What a blessing to still be able to renew my covenants, remember Jesus Christ, and have the promise (once again) of His Spirit being with me always. And the spirit that accompanied the prayers was so strong. It was probably one of the most spiritually powerful experiences I've had during the sacrament ever. I don't know if partaking of the sacrament has ever felt so individual and personal as it did on Sunday. How blessed am I.... I hope you all had special, sacred experiences with having church at home and I hope you all wrote about it in your journals! These are historic, memorable times and we should be recording our thoughts and feelings about it all! 

After our meeting, we had a meeting with Piotr. We talked about following the prophet and the Word of Wisdom. He really liked talking about how a prophet is here to lead and guide us. (Especially in times like these!) Piotr told us that he finds peace as he reads the Book of Mormon! And he really loves reading it. He also said that as he read in 1 Nephi 16, he couldn't help but think of what's going on in the world today. He said that the scriptures are so applicable to us! He talked about how they had to be faithful and as they were faithful, God would guide them and tell them what they needed to do. He said that he feels that's very important for the things the world is going through right now. It was really exciting to me that Piotr is really studying these things and he's obviously being taught by the spirit. I love it when people really apply the Gospel to their own lives!

There's a lot of unknowns right now. Unknowns about what's going to happen with coronavirus and how that will affect us as missionaries in Poland. Unknowns about Claudia and what will happen with her. Unknowns about what will happen with the work here in Poland. But a few things are always known: 1. That God loves us and 2. That He has a plan for us. And I know it's cliche, but really.. it's true! He has the full picture. We don't. He has a purpose for everything. We don't understand His purposes yet, but we trust Him. Trust in the Lord. Trust in God. It reminds me of a scripture:

Mosiah 4:9

"9 Believe in God; believe that he is, and that he created all things, both in heaven and in earth; believe that he has all wisdom, and all power, both in heaven and in earth; believe that man doth not comprehend all the things which the Lord can comprehend."

And trust in His timing. He will make everything work out. We just have to do our best, act in faith, and trust that God will take care of everything that we can't.

Trust that God is aware of, and will take care of, all the unknowns.

Love and miss you all!!

Siostra Shaylin Carroll

P.S. I don't have coronavirus.

A beautiful sunset on Friday night. Definitely a needed tender mercy amidst all the crazy!

They even have barricades on the trams and buses to protect the drivers by keeping people away.

Despite all the Corona Crazy... These flowers were so vibrant and beautiful!! :)