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