Do widzenia Wrocław... raciej do zobaczenia!

Transfer Week! 

So let's cut to the chase: I am moving to Warsaw and will be with Elder Wilson (the most recent Assistant to the President - there are two missionaries that work with the Mission President, President Edgren here, and he has been one of them). I am very excited.

This week has been wonderful. I felt that it was the end of my time in Wrocław so I feel as though everything came to a natural close. I am sad to leave but have loved my time here and am excited for what lies ahead. Speaking on Sunday with Elder Finch and Sister Call was humbling, it's funny - even though I talk to and teach people everyday I still don't like public speaking, I guess I like the more intimate, relaxed, informal setting of a small group or even one-on-one conversation. The church meetings went well and I was able to extend my farewells to most of the members and some investigators I've worked with (sadly Tamara, Ola, and Sister Kuchno - some of my favorites - were gone).

I had an exchange with Elder Caskey and it was great, I learned so much. I try to go into exchanges/ situations where I will be working with other missionaries unbiased but Sister Bown worked wth him in Poznań for a couple transfers and Elder Godwin (my trainer) was in his is stake/ institute class, and his sister even dated Elder Caskey's brother. They both love Elder Caskey so I was pretty excited for the exchange. Elder Caskey is really cool and we had a lot of fun. He is currently zone leader in Katowice (Kato for short) so I got to go down again, which means I also got to see Sister Poklinkowska from my first district! Kato may not be the prettiest city in Poland (czyli [Polish for "meaning"] most missionaries say it's the ugliest) but I like it, especially having had the opportunity to visit now 5 times. Katowice is said to be the most industrial city in Poland. Whenever I am walking around I like to imagine it's sort of what Western Europe was like during the turn of the century with the industrial revolution. They use a lot of coal so the smell is in the air and many buildings are covered in black. It's quite a progressive city but it also means that there is construction everywhere. It's busy and fun. I really do feel at home in Poland, whether it's visiting different cities or looking out at the countryside/ small towns on train rides it is very European.
The highlight was our lesson with their investigator Krzysztof. He is incredible, he stays on track and just gets it! He is impressive and I am excited to hear how he progresses. Elder Caskey is a great missionary. He knows his stuff, he is smart, confident, hard-working, and is a really great example. The two greatest lessons I learned (mainly because they are what I needed not too groundbreaking) were 1. Roleplays can be enjoyable and productive. I have always understood in theory how roleplays could help but I just haven't had too much success sadly. Elder Caskey is good at them. He had us each choose one point from the lesson we were teaching (plan of Salvation), so it wasn't too overwhelming, and then we each taught the other, first in English and then in Polish. After that we practiced teaching together. It really helped me. 2. I need to learn how to speak up. I often have things to say but being the junior companion and not understanding everything/ being able to respond to everything I don't get much in. I often find myself a little annoyned at my senior companion not letting me speak more but I realized that they don't know what I do or do not understand and I can't wait just wait for a pause, mainly because they are rare. I just need to jump in! I am really looking forward to this next transfer with Elder Wilson, I am excited for all the things I have to learn from him.

While reading Jake's and Zach's emails this week I was glad to see some pictures. It was fun to see their name tags with different languages. It's so funny to think that we are all learning and speaking these crazy language! I am excited for when we all meet up after our missions and can speak - being a missionary is just the best. Polish is coming. My language is moving forward for sure. It's still very inconsistent, in conversations sometimes understanding 90% other times 20%. Overall though it's good. Many people (friends, family, teachers in the MTC) told that after 6 months in the country I will start to feel comfortable. That means two more months so I need to keep working hard, it does seem less and less impossible each day. 

Also one last tidbit I would like to add. I was reminded of this on the tram ride over to the library. People here are very considerate. The tram was packed for some reason so seats were scarce. As more people came on many younger passengers got up from their seats to allow others to sit. It is common practice here to give the elderly and women priority when sitting. This is so simple but just reflects their culture. Being very Catholic as a country, Poland has great values prizing family at the top of their priorities. It reminds me of a few other instances I've witnessed. Once what waiting to meet up withs some other missionaries we saw a blind man in the district seemlingly having some struggle using his walking stick to direct him down the side walk. An older woman on a bike road past and about 20 seconds later I saw her turn around, get off her bike, stop what she was doing, and talk to the man. She proceeded to take him by the arm and they were off, she helped him get to wherever he was heading. Then last night when we were tracting (knocking on doors to talk to people) in a klatka (appartment building) we saw an old man walking up with a young girl carrying a suitcase. After she dropped off his bag and made sure he was set she headed off back outside, she was only there to help him out. I have found that these little acts of loving service are a strength of the Polish people. They are kind and respectful. I have learned the importance of these small acts of service - they are so important. I always wanted to make big changes and save the world (which I still am trying to figure out) but the best thing we can do is to do all of the small things for those around us. There are so many opportunities everyday and we must take advantage of them! "By small and simple things will great things come to pass." Alma 37:6

Poland is beautiful, it's where I am supposed to be. I love the Polish people and am so grateful for their example to me. I encourage us all to take time to look for situations where we can perform small acts of service or kindness - then don't hesitate but act upon those thoughts and ideas. I promise that it will bring happiness into our lives as well as the lives of others. I love you all and hope you have happy week.

z miłością,
Starszy Kimball

Cześć wam!

This past week was overall very positive. We had a few slower days to allow Starszy Meherg to recover from his headache. I was able to serve him more this week and my love for him has grown. My mother always told me that the way to love somebody, especially if it doesn't come naturally at first, is to serve them. It's true that Starszy Meherg and I are very different, with different views, methods etc. However, we have learned to work well together. Really it all comes down to love. There is a quote that I love from Mother Teresa, "When you judge others you don't have time to love them" or reversed "if you love others you don't have time to judge them." Now I paraphrased there but it's very true it all comes down to love because when we have that love we can understand each other and work things out to become stronger. Our communication is better as well as our effectiveness in working. Things here are great.

In terms of work this week:

We had a lesson with Donata and her friend, Franek, who she brought along. Elder Garett and I found her and taught her a lesson on the street one evening during our exchange. We were able to meet with the two of them last Thursday. They are faithful Catholics and already have strong testimonies of the Savior and Heavenly Father. Their interest seemed to decline by the end of the lesson, meaning there was a lack commitment to any of our invitations. We tried to reset up by asking what time works for them and they started mentioning MONTHS rather than a day of the week. They said that school is taking up their time right now and later on, maybe in the summer, they will be able to give more time to meeting. They were genuine and kind just comfortable where they are.

We had a meeting set up for Mx. We invited Ola to be there and I was pretty excited for it. Max has so much potential he just needs to see and understand itI find myself likening scriptures and talks from last General Conference (which two activities have been filling my personal study recently) to him. He's been on my mind a lot and I just see so many links between what I think he could benefit from (judging by our meetings) and what the gospel has to offer. Sadly, he flaked the meeting but we still have hope. We haven't been able to set up with him for a while and then when we did he didn't come, he also hasn't come to church when he says he will try too. I hope he's still interested and committed to work with us to find truth.

My Polish is coming along, my understanding is making leaps and bounds - of course it always depends on the day, contact, conversation but it's coming. I'm working harder than I have been and I'm seeing the results. Yesterday in sacrament meeting I understood the majority. Church always helps because it's "gospel lingo" and Sister Zań gave a really good talk. Simple and powerful: the best kind. The Zańs also blessed their baby son, Piotr, yesterday and Wooho Lee received the Aaronic priesthood and was ordained to the office of a deacon. It was all in Korean - so cool! The Lees are impressive, the kids know Polish pretty well and the parents basically just know Korean but they come to church almost every week. That must be really tough. Learning Polish is a real challenge but it's very rewarding.

Zone training was a major highlight of the week. Our leaders (current zone leaders: Elder Lanham and Elder Caskey, Sister Training Leader: Sister Wendel) are faithful and great examples. I learned a lot from all of them and saw ways I could improve: how I share the message of the restoration with The Book of Mormon, being tactfully bold, and being unified. They each did a station. I'm not sure if I have ever mentioned this before but "unity" is probably the most important word in my opnion. I feel like it encompasses the gospel: Plan of Salvation and our prupose. I have an exchange with Starszy Caskey starting tonight. I'm looking forward to that as well, I think between training, this exchange, and a review of this past transfer I will be able to put together some great goals to work on.

Life is great! Our district is great! It's potentially our last week together because this weekend we get transfer calls (since it's the first of the two shorter 7 week transfers). I love you all.

z miłością,

Starszy Kimball

Miłego Lutego

This week has been great, so much better!

Prayer is real, the prayers being said for me have blessed me so much and I have never been so aware of the blessings I have in my life thanks to the prayers of others since my mission. I have never felt the thoughts and prayers of love so tangibly.

We taught Jb this week, he is great! He comes to church and loves learning about the gospel. He is so hungry and eager to learn it's very humbling. Sadly right now life is busy for him: it's the end of the quarter (he works in finance), he has a pregnant wife and they are in the middle of switching apartments. Time is his biggest challenge at the moment. He wants to read more from The Book of Mormon but it's very difficult to find time. He is very sincere and hopeful though, we just need to figure out how we can help make reading The Book of Mormon a greater, less stressful priority in his hectic life.

We also met with Pł, he told us that he cannot accept the new doctrines that come with The Book of Mormon and the Restoration but is still open to meeting with us. It sounds like next lesson we are really going to need to have a heart to heart about The Book of Mormon and the importance of reading it to find answers because if he doesn't he won't progress and there won't be much point in continuing to meet. He is faithful however.

I love Fast Sundays (Fast Sunday is usually the first Sunday of every month when we fast for two meals and donate the cost of those meals to help the poor), the members here (as I repeatedly say) are wonderful and I love them so much. I feel like out of everything their testimonies are easiest to understand in Polish. Sister Kuchno asked us elders for a priesthood blessing, it was such a humbling experience. It was the first blessing I have done in Polish. The Spirit was present. She is someone in particular I have learned and received much from, she is so faithful and loving. 

This week I have found the reality of miracles. We have a huge stack of old Liahonas and Ensigns in our apartment. Elder Meherg and I were flipping through them when he found an article that touched me. It was a simple recount of the absolute faith of a young child. The story taught me something that the other missionaries here have helped me realized. Our Heavenly Father is a God of miracles. Miracles happen today, everyday, they occur as we pray for them with faith. Thanks to the great love our Father in Heaven has for us he blesses us with miracles more than we (at least I) realize. I sometimes forget this, not so much the love but the miracles that happen around us. 

I was reading this morning in Jacob, in Chapter 2 he takes the responsibility of teaching his people upon himself. Their lives and salvation he claims as his personal responsibility. That really spoke to me. The people in my life are mine, they are a blessing to me and I need to accept that responsibility I have over them. Such a humbling prospect but an exciting one too. I have decided to commit to take the responsibility of sharing the gospel with people that have been placed in my life. 

This past week I stepped up my game. I have worked hard since I got in the country but my diligence and intensity increased. It feels good, I am being blessed and I am progressing. My understanding is coming. I still have a long way to go but my comprehension, what I have been struggling with most and what hinders my communication with others most - understanding - is becoming easier. 

Life is good. Elder Meherg and I are doing well, we have an exchange starting this evening with Elder Finch and Elder Garret. I am excited and a little nervous to be the senior companion for a couple days but overall I'm really looking forward to it. 

Thank you always.

z miłością, 

Starszy Kimball