Last week we had a Thanksgiving dinner at the Lloyds (the senior missionary couple here.) They said we could invite investigators so both the sisters and us each had three investigators (one of the sisters' guests was K, a Recent convert) there, it was quite the event. We were able to share a big American feast with them all and it was a nice relaxed setting to get to them all better. The food was delicious! In between dinner and dessert we all went around and said what we were grateful for, everyone did it and it was awesome. Everyone there had a good time, there was enough of us to make it fun but few of us to make it intimate and everybody was included. We had M, J, and J2 there. Overall it was fun, the Spirit was definitely present and it was just a happy night.
J is a star, he is strong and doing well but his family just isn't on board. His son came down and talked with us last time, he was nice, had a lot of questions and doubts. He was a teenage son without a strong belief in God but at least he's not against it. We gave him a brochure and asked him to try praying and to look out for answers. Sadly there's not too much to progress towards until we hopefully can meet with J's wife.
M is good. He has a lot of questions and is really searching. He's really patient with me and is trying to get to know me better which is nice because being the junior companion who can barely speak most people aren't that interested in talking to you but he is. Hopefully this week we will be able to meet with him and get a better sense of where he's going.
J2 is awesome. We only met him our first Sunday here and then we was incommunicado since then. At the dinner we were able to talk to him a lot, in English because he was fluent so I understood what was going on. He said that he searched a lot of churches and referred himself to the missionaries here. He said that according to him this is the one church that makes sense and has the truth. He's golden BUT unfortunately his wife is against it so we need to work that out because we see much progress.
It's been a great last couple of days, we were out of town because we had a zone conference in Katowice. This past Monday our whole zone (Wroclaw, Krakow, Kielce, and Katowice) met up and went to Auschwitz together. World War II is a hard topic to discuss often. People want to treat it with the right sensitivity and respect as I will try to do. I noticed a few different points while being there.
1) It didn't seem real. We were walking along the pathways and through the buildings of where such catastrophe occurred but it was hard to realize and understand that it had really happened. We saw the shoes, glasses, hair and more of the prisoners but it's hard to believe that it could really happen.
2) Getting a glimpse of what people went through was a testimony to me of the strength that we have as humans. Many were so valiant and strong and as Heavenly Father's children we can receive so much help and are already blessed with such power within us, it is inspiring and motivating to realize what we are capable of getting through. Amazing examples.
3) We discussed why we went after the trip. A lot of the missionaries didn't like it and found it depressing. I find trips like these to be interesting and although it's hard to find an appropriate adjective it was good. It's important to learn what happened. For me it's important to realize that this still is happening around the world. It sparked my "save the world" instinct I developed in High School.
I have more to say but not the time.
That night we caroled and contacted back in Katowice, I got to talk to a Belgian guy from Flanders but we spoke in French and English. that was super exciting, he didn't seem too interested but we got his number so we'll see. We then had hot chocolate at the senior missionary couple's house.
The next day we had zone training with President and Sister Edgren and the AP's (assistant to the president - missionaries chosen to be leaders for the mission and help the mission president with responsibilities). I learned a lot and it was fun to meet more missionaries here and spend a couple of days away.
I finally feel more capable and ready to work. I'm not as hesitant and I really want to contribute now. I love you all.
Starszy Kimball
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