Gratitude

Hello all, 

I can't believe that the people we welcomed into the MTC leave in a week, time continues to be in a weird, warped state here in the field.

It was a good week. We worked hard, talked to a lot of people, but didn't find any new investigators. We had another couple whiteboards this week. I'm not sure if I explained that but it's when we take a white board out and write something on it, usually a question and as a district (here that is my companionship and a set of sisters) we approach people, ask them the question and start conversations about what we believe. It's funny because I would never stop to talk to people or accept a card from someone but that's what we do all the time and a lot of people do stop. I love whiteboarding because you can feel the unity we have and it's pretty successful. 

In terms of Polish I need to accept the fact that I can't say what I want to so I just need to share a simpler testimony or thought. It's frustrating when what I say doesn't make sense or seems too simple but I'm sticking to it and I know I am being blessed and helped along the way. I am learning slowly (I'm really going to get refocused on language study this week) but I do love it at the same time. Polish weird and hard but it's the best. 

Starszy Godwin and I are doing well. We are learning more about each other and its starting to be normal now. I was having a hard time tracting (going to door to door, knocking and asking to share a quick message) one night (just not enjoying it too much) and the thought popped into my head "if you're not having fun doing missionary work you are doing it wrong." I realized that when Starszy Godwin and I are happier and enjoying ourselves we are more effective missionaries. We can be reverent representatives of Jesus Christ while having fun, in fact we are supposed to be happy. That was a great thing to realize and work on this week.

Marcin is our 18-year-old investigator. We aren't quite sure what's going on with him. He seems to have an ever changing story. He says that he isn't being investigated by the police but by his parents and uncle (who is a police officer) about whether he is meeting with us. He seems to be under a lot of stress and worries about his family kicking him out of the house if he joins the church. Starszy Godwin thinks he has medical paranoia. For me the language is a big barrier, especially with Marcin is seems, so I don't understand most of what goes on when we talk about that stuff. He has a decent testimony but with it a lot of doubts. Starszy Godwin and I taught the Priesthood lesson in church yesterday. We based the lesson on President Uchtdorf's talk from this past General Conference, "Come Join with Us".  We highlighted his point about about doubting your doubts before doubting your faith. Marcin will be at family home evening tonight so we will follow up to see how he's doing. 

Jarek continues to come to church and have a solid testimony of the gospel and knowledge of the Book of Mormon. Recently, his family hasn't been interested or very supportive (they aren't against it but are indifferent) his wife used to come to church and made some friends but hasn't come for a while. President Cielenski thinks we should wait on a baptismal date because he doesn't want to split up the family. This past week we talked with him about being an example to his family and trying to pray together and invite the Spirit into his home. We gave him a copy of The Family: A Proclamation to the World and he hung it up in the living room. We are going to keep working with him and his family to hopefully get them more united. I think that lesson I probably shared the most coherent thought yet. I mentioned how my dad is a huge example to me and I know his kids look up to him. I relayed how I love the Book of Mormon because of the many examples it contains. I said how the greatest men weren't the smartest or most powerful but instead were the most obedient and most faithful. He is so cool, he fed us again: fruit tea, salami and tomato sandwiches and some danishes. He's awesome.

Then there is Danuta and Boleslaw!  So they are grandparent age but don't have any grandkids because their only daughter can't have kids. Their son-in-law is a member though so they got in touch with us through him. They've been meeting with the elders for months now and they are great. So we went over and they have a little schedule all planned out. We go to the store down the block and buy their water (we car it because it's too heavy - sort of a weekly service they wait for us to do) juice, and pastries. We then share a scripture and thought from the Book of Mormon, they bring out their Lutheran Bible and share something with us, and then we have juice and pastries and talk/ have a mini Polish lesson as we go along. They agree with everything we say but don't really get it. We aren't sure how productive we are there but they call us their grandchildren because they don't have any. They say God blessed them with us to help serve them and help them because they don't have any grandchildren. It all ends with a hung from Grandma Danuta and a prompt goodbye at the time we say we need to be out by. They are so funny, missions are the best because you get experiences like this! 

Danuta and Bolewlaw also added to our week by letting us know that Jarmark would open this past Friday! Jarmark is the local Christmas market/ fair and it is AMAZING! There are so many stalls full of fun Christmasy things. There is a roller coaster, a giant german spinning fan (the thing that you put candles in and it spins), a place to buy Christmas trees, and so much more all in the center square in old town. It is the best, we've already spent as much time as we can there. On Saturday we went there for lunch and got some local food. The more traditional stands have these huge pans divided into three segments with different foods in each one. I got potatoes, kielbasa, and Bigos (cabbage dish with some meat)  it was all so good and fun. I love Christmas the season has already begun here. 

The branch is great. We had 30 people in sacrament meeting on Sunday - huge! It was exciting. We had Marcin and Jarek, they are both pretty solid investigators but I just want to find people. They were both already investigating when we arrived here in Wroclaw and I want to find some people. It's hard but I'm committed. I blessed the sacrament with Mariusz (the only other active, real priesthood holder in the branch besides the branch pres, district pres, or missionaries.) They didn't make me repeat it so I guess I did it okay. Church is great, the members are strong and the Spirit is present. I really want to find families. The church has been in Poland for a few decades now but hasn't grown much. People are baptized and then fizzle out, it's super unsustainable right not. If we get some strong, supportive families then 1. it will really help the branches and 2. will be more sustainable because then faithful members will grow up in the church and hopefully remain for generations to come. Our district (Sisters Bown and Poklinkowska, Elder Godwin and I) were talking about how whenever we see a couple with a stroller walking by we have an instinct to pounce. Being a missionary is just fun and funny.

The cold is starting, it's not too bad yet and it hasn't rained but the temperature is dropping and after being outside all day we would know. Also it's getting darker so it's not the best combo, it's hard to get people to stop when it's 6:15 but feels like 9:30 and its freezing cold with the wind blowing but some do. I see a lot of tracting in our future. 

There have been quite a few Ukrainians that I've bumped into. Last week at church there was a guy who said he lived near Donetsk who is a member. Then while whiteboarding there was a girl who's going to school here but it from Ukraine. So shout out to you Starszy Simons. It reminds me of all the other missionaries I'm serving with and the many lives that are being blessed from it.

To end I would like to leave a quick Thanksgiving thought. It's one of my favorite holidays because it's a time to remember all that we've been blessed with. I am so grateful for my family and friends. I am thankful to be here in Poland with the people around me. I am so thankful for my Savior Jesus Christ and the everlasting blessings of the Atonement. Christ along with Heavenly Father have given me more strength than I knew they could. I see that the more I rely on them the more I can do. I am so grateful for the truth I have in my life and for this opportunity I have to share it. 

z milosca, 

Starszy Kimball

Jak sie macie?

Hello!

This past week I have developed out of survival mode and now feel like I am getting to work. I'm now thinking a lot about this transfer and things I want to do. I'm no longer pining for the end of my mission to come because I have so much I need to do before that comes!

Something I forgot to mention last week was how fun it is to finally be in Poland. In the MTC we talked a lot about Poland: the people, the language, the culture etc but it's so great to finally be here. Polish is everywhere, people are speaking it, it's on all the signs everywhere, its real now!

So just a lowdown of life here... Our apartment is super nice, we live next a funeral parlor but haven't seen any hearses drive past or anything so it's not too glum. We are really close to the chapel and the town square so it's convenient. I'm not sure if I mentioned the chapel last time but it's in a pretty office building. It's a good size and has everything we need, it even has one of two family history centers (which is open to the public) in the country. The gmina (branch) here is awesome! Our Branch President is Pres. Cielenski, he has Cerebral Palsy so is on crunches, has a lazy eye, speaks English fluently, is the biggest jokester, and is the best. He has a wife and two daughters but we haven't met them yet because Sister Cielenski is housebound, expecting their third really soon. The Calls are an awesome family. The mom is Polish and their dad is American (but lives in the states, they don't see much of him) so the kids all speak perfect English and Polish. There is Cindy 17, A.J. 14, and Cynthia 11. They run the show: they play and lead the music, translate for speakers (like our senior couple,) in priesthood A.J. taught last week. They are great. Poland needs more families! Sister Kuchno is 50ish and the only member in her family, she is the nicest person in the world. Sister Malinowska is about to retire, she's been a member for 22 years and is super cool too. Ola is 20ish, she's in college here. In the MTC when I taught Brat Tribe as "Olek" he was actually playing Ola so it's super cool to meet her and hear her real story. She likes to hang out with the missionaries, like this past week for our dinner hour she took us and the sisters to this cool hot chocolate place - knowing locals is the best because they know all the best places around. Mariusz is kind of a quiet, odd man but he's there every week doing the sacrament and besides President he is the only other priesthood leader I know of besides the missionaries. We also have the Lee family. They are Korean, the kids speak Polish and English but the parents only really speak Korean. We stopped by one evening to say hi and then they were at church yesterday - I hope they come regularly Pres. made it sound like they were sort of less active. It must be hard though, I definitely sympathize with them about language difficulty.

Polish is hard. I feel like I haven't really improved since being here. All of our MTC teachers said that we would learn more in the first 3-4 weeks than our whole MTC stay but so far that hasn't happened. I know I need to work harder and be patient. The hardest thing is understanding people. I can sort of express what I want but understanding what other people are saying is super difficult. It makes talking with investigators really hard, and building those relationships even harder. I'm trying though. So far it's the small talk that's been the hardest. It's interesting because I thought that it would be the hardest to go up to people on the street and boldly invite them to come unto Christ, and although that takes practice, for me it's harder to spark conversation. I feel like finding people would be a whole lot more successful if I could start conversations and be relatable - especially on trams or somewhere when we have more time to talk. The language barrier is hard. I kept thinking this week, I will just start doing all of that later once I can speak. Then I realized that's how I will learn. Plus I can't wait, I need to talk to people and act upon promptings now. Work here is just hard. It's physically hard walking all-day; mentally hard trying to figure out what people are saying and stressing my brain to flip to Polish; and it's emotionally hard being a weirdo and receiving a lot of rejection. The thing is despite how hard it is I'm happy and I'm excited to get out and work everyday. I remember dreading this stuff before coming on my mission but being here, acting as a representative of Jesus Christ comes with such power and blessings. It's incredible.

Investigators! Sadly, we haven't found anybody from "finding" (contacting, tracting etc.) yet but we are still working. We have two progressing investigators. Marcin is 18 and was found by the last elders here. He has a lot faith and a testimony of the Book of Mormon but has doubts still. He comes to church and Family Home Evening (a monday night spiritual activity with members of the church here)  every week. He is ready for a baptismal date but we can't extend one because the police are currently investigating him. His cousin had some drug bust and he was there or something so he's being omnitored, hopefully that will be over soon. He has a lot going for him though so I'm excited.

Jarek is 50ish, he's got a wife (who seems a little anti-church) and three kids all about 17-22 I think. He's been investigating the church for a LONG time. He's been taught all the lessons, has had multiple baptismal dates but keep getting cold feet and backing down. Starszy Godwin stressed that baptism isn't the pinnacle to your journey. It's just the first step, it's very necessary but he doesn't need to be so apprehensive about it. He's already living most if not all of the principles he's been taught: he prays, reads the Book of Mormon and comes to church pretty regularly. Once he is baptized and confirmed his life will generally stay the same except he will have the gift of the Holy Ghost which will strengthen and help him. He's a taxi driver but is unemployed right now unfortunalty. His house was about half an hour away by tram. It was a fun experience, when we went inside all the lights were off (except for a lamp on the kitchen table) and the heating wasn't on. It was messy with questionable sanitation. He fed us though, with dirty silverware and plates but it was all fun and good. We had kilbasa so I have officially had that incountry now, it was delicious. He is kind of rough around the edges but is a really nice guy and he has a testimony, which is really all that matters. I'm excited for him.

Radek is in our private English classes on Thursday. There are usually 3 students but two of them (college guys) missed this week so it was just us and Radek. He is 32, a bus driver, has a wife and two kids. He's coming to English to get better work so he can better support his family. Since it's private on Thursday our spiritual message is longer. We taught him about the restoration and watched the 20 min Jospeh Smith - Restoration movie. He didn't really seem interested and told us that he didn't want to offend us but faith isn't that important to him. We both felt that he and his family needs the gospel (well everybody does) but them especially. He's really cool and he's someone I really want to focus on.

This past week we did a whiteboard. Meaning, we go out on the street write a question on a white board, or we did the plan of salvation too, and then we ask people to answer it or whatever - it's absically a converstation starter. For me so far it ws the most successful method of finding. There was one Catholic couple who had never heard of us and I they stopped and talked to me for about half an hour. It was cool because we were all in the same area but split up to talk to people. The couple were super open and faithful themselves. They were also extrememly patient with me as I tired to formulate sentences or asking them to repeat themeselves 3 times. The sisters got their info because I don't have a phone so we will see if anything comes of them but I am excitd to do whiteboards in the future.

So just a few random thoughts to tie things up:

Polish people are just as bad as mixing up Sweden and Switzerland. My companion is have Swedish so whenever either of us talk about our bakcground people mix things up. I don't know what it is that seems to prevent the rest of the world from understanding the difference. 

Elder Godwin is awesome. I may have mentioned before but we are similar in some ways and opposites in others. I like it because in some ways I really look up to himand in other intances I see how I would have done things differently. I think this is good for me to cause me to think for myself. With Brat Tribe in the MTC I basically just wanted to be him whereas here I am learning a lot of Elder Godwin and we get along well but I also am growing in confidence and figuring out how I would do things. 

We had zone training in Katowice (about 3-4 hour strain ride away) which was fun to meet new missionaries here and learn.

The cold here is beginning. When I first got here it was really pleasant but it's already begun to get colder and colder - looking forward to this winter...

The gospel is light. I love it. I love you all.

Starszy Kimball

Jestem w Polsce!

More has happened this week then the rest of my mission combined!

So back to the MTC (seems like forever ago already) As you could probably tell by my last email I was pretty freaked out and scared about coming here, Elder Yentes described me as an emotional wreck my last week, which wasn't completely off. My last few days were so good. It was sad saying goodbye but our teachers gave us really good advice, getting us excited to come, plus it snowed on Sunday ending our MTC with happiness.

Monday (a week ago, again seems like yesterday and an eternity back) us Polski's got on a bus to Provo train station. We took the frontrunner to Salt Lake, then got onto a tram to the Airport. Who knew that Utah was this public transport savvy? We then flew from Salt Lake to Detroit to Amsterdam to Warsaw. I was able to sleep for most of the long flight so I was lucky. Some of the group did a really great job at being missionaries from the get go, on planes and stuff. Then there were others of us (me) that were lame. It was really humbling, I said some dumb things and made a lot of mistakes but it was a huge growing experience for me and a humbling one too. Plus I know that Heavenly Father won't let someone go adrift because of my weaknesses. 

Anyway, we arrived in Warsaw greeted by President and Sister Edgren. We were all excited and a little nervous to meet them and they are the best. They were both welcoming but seemed a little unsure and nervous themselves - they are new and we were their first set of missionaries to come that they'd never met (they met the group ahead of us in the MTC I think) It's fun to try and figure things out all together. Kathy Carter was also at the airport to greet us. She is really good friends with the Edgrens. It was nice to see a familiar face. President Edgren is more quiet but firm. I am really excited to have him. From what I have heard from older missionaries he is more my style, he expects obedience and hard work to be givens and wants to focus on deeper issues. He puts a lot of faith and trust in us, guiding us to trust our own judgments and follow the Spirit. I don't know him super well but so far he's great. Sister Edgren is nice, she has this sort of dark wit. She's just real and fun and I really like her. Our first night we were welcomed, fed, and were really tired so we went on a walk around the town of the Mission home (just outside of Warsaw) with President Edgren. Then we all showered and collapsed to bed.

The next day we got up and went into Warsaw. President Edgren, with Sister Edgren and Kathy, took us to a park and read us the dedicatory prayer for Poland. Spencer W Kimball gave it. That morning I had just read in the Book of Mormon why Heleman had named his sons Nephi and Lehi, so they would remember their ancestors. It was really a neat experience and reminded my of my heritage and the great family of examples I have to look to. Whenever I think of my personal pioneers I can't help but think that the people of the church here in Poland are the pioneers for this beautiful country. They are such a blessing to those that will come after them! Afterward, we had pierogi for lunch, so good, and then went to the main square. There we were met by some of the missionaries serving in Warsaw, split up and contacted for my first time. It was actually really fun and got me excited to do it some more. After walking around some it was time to get back to the Mission Home.

When we walked in we were met by all of our trainers, which was kind of funny because we didn't know who was going to be with whom yet. We all gathered around and President Edgren has each trainer come up, point to the city on the map they would be serving and then said who their trainee would be. We were all super excited and nervous. The sisters went first and then the elders. (has the suspense built up enough yet) So I am currently in Wroclaw with my trainer Elder Godwin! (more about that in a minute) In the MTC I feel like all of the companionships were mismatches. Meaning that the pairs were all very different and didn't naturally mesh together, which I think taught us all a lot. However, with our trainers, as each missionary was going up and names were being called I felt like almost all of us received missionaries that just fit. It's like after the MTC we were ready to be trained by someone we would connect with. Not to say we were all twins but it was just an observation I made. 

So after the excitement we all went to bed, Elders Hubbard and Whiting and Sister Peterson were called to serve in Warsaw so they left that night. The next morning the rest of us all went to the train station and stemmed off going our seperate ways. As ready as we all were (after 9 weeks) to leave each other and get with some new missionaries we were all really close and it was sad to say another good-bye. Missions are full of good byes. Starszy Godwin and I then took an eight hour (yeah 8 whole hours) train ride from Warsaw to Wroclaw. 

As soon as we arrived our sisters were waiting for us to help take us to our apartment. Sister Bown only has two more transfers left and Sister Poklinkowska is from the group right before me. They are great, like with most people here I don't know them too well yet but today we are spending P-Day as a district so I will get to know them better. 

I'm almost out of time but have so much more to say. Sorry, I wasn't very wise with my email time today plus it being my first week I had a lot to write President but next week I will give you more (in the field we have a lot more time to email, so that's really nice!) 

My first night we dropped off our bags at the apartment and then immediatly went to the church for an English lesson appointment. On Wednesdays we have a class and then Thursdays we teach a private group. Free English class is a mission wide service. The three guys could speak English well so that was nice, Elder Godwin did the English lesson part since I had had no time to be taught but then for the spiritual message he turned it over to me at the end to bear my testimony of the Book of Mormon. We then went home, unpacked a little and went to bed. The first night was a little hectic but that was good because it got us going from the start. 

Wroclaw is great. It is so pretty and I feel at home even more than I thought. It's a really big city with beautiful architecture, a lot of the prettiest buildings are part of the University so we're a college town which adds to city life.

I have so much more to say and will in the next one but here is the lowdown. We meet for church in an office building, it's really nice and pretty big. The Branch as 35 active members but about half were gone because it's a long weekend (today is Independence day here so I forgot to say it before but happy holidays.) We have two investigators Marcin and Jakub, we will meet with them this week and I will tell you more next time. Basically I feel spoiled and lucky to be here. It's a nice big city and the church is huge here with great members - a lot of the other cities have 2-5 active members. I am super blessed. 

The first couple days here were really hard. It's still diffcult but not in the same way. At first all I could think about was the end of my mission and when I got to come home. Then I had a a change of perspective. My trainer, Elder Godwin, helped me realize how much there is to do on a mission. Once I started thinking about goals and where I want to be at the end of my mission I was a little more patient for the end to come. Also I realized being here how rare this time is to be a set apart missionary where my whole focus is inviting others to come unto Christ. I want my whole life to be centered around Christ and right now is the only time that I don't have to worry about school, work, family etc. I am excited and motivated to work.

Polish is hard and daunting but doesn't seem impossible, at least right now. I've been told that I shouldn't worry about it until 6 months down the road. 

I want to end with this. Life is hard. Sometimes harder than we think we can handle or at least want to handle. It's not always exactly what we want or how we pictured it but that's okay. Be happy. Being happy is a choice. There is so much to focus on in the world, in life that it's up to us. At first, I was sad and lonely - which was sort of needed - but then once I realized the blessings and strength I was receiving I was happy. I can tangibly feel the strength I am receiving from the Lord. Life is hard, it's supposed to be but it's also supposed to be full of joy. Now I genuinely look forward to each part of the day and I am so excited to serve. I am learning so many principles and new things I want to do or progress in. Be happy, do things that bring happiness. I am so grateful for this gospel and for the love I feel from so many. 

I pray that you will have a great week.

Starszy Kimball

p.s. I just read dad's email about syd giving a copy of the book of mormon to her friends. Tell her how amazing she is. I got immediatly stragnely super emotional when I read that. She is just an example, blessings are real. I love you so much

sorry I couldn't say more, next time I will, I promise

doing laundry at the MTC

Do Zobaczenia MTC!

This last week has been crazy! 

First off, mission call news! Jake and Emily Simons got their calls :D Albania and Hungary! I am so excited for them. They are joining Zach and I in our region of the world, which is excellent. They are going to do so much good! Now being a missionary, hearing people's calls means so much more, I am so happy for them.

The Polski district heads out on Monday morning and we get to Poland Tuesday. We are... well honestly all over the place. We are excited but nervous, we talk to our teachers and calm down a little bit but then think of something else and become all stressed and scared again. It's just really overwhelming. It's always sad when you leave somewhere, I have always hated the "lasts" of everything, i.e. last volleyball game in gym, last Tuesday Night Devotional etc. It's been melancholy some days but overall I am happy. 

I'm ready to go as well. Recently, I've felt like I am starting my mission over again and will basically have to start from scratch but this week has helped me overcome that. On Monday we skyped with some members in Poland and taught a lesson. It was scary and they corrected us A LOT, one of the Branch Presidents was pretty tough but it was all useful. It made it all more real. For me the worst is the unknown so I think once we get to Poland things will be better. Last weekend was really hard, I was feeling pretty down and sort of had a pity party for myself. I talked to Starszy Hubbard and we were able to get over ourselves. We are probably the most similar and it's nice having each other. I like it here where there are so many missionaries. Soon it will just be me and my companion and we might comprise the total church membership for that city. However, in other ways that will be easier. Again, pros and cons and time will tell. 

Overall life is kind of crazy and honestly that's how I feel right now. Luckily, it's not about me but about the people of Poland and whenever I remember that I feel peace and happy. I really am excited to go and know that I have been well prepared during my time here. I have been able to learn so much about myself and my life as a missionary. I can definitely see all the blessings and realizations I am having. I know this work is inspired and I can't wait to really start! Write you all again once I get to Poland! 

Love, 

Starszy Kimball

p.s. Since I leave so soon I won't be getting any dearelders or anything that you send to the MTC. Also being my last P-day here and before I leave I am really busy so to everyone feeling neglected by me, I am sorry but I will write you back once I get to POLAND!