Limitless Love

Drodze ukochani,

This week went well. I had a companion exchange (where you switch the missionary you work with and where you work for a couple of days) with Elder Godwin - my trainer! (the missionary who I was with when I first got to Poland, he showed me the ropes of missionary work) He came down to Warsaw with me and it was so much fun! It was of course awesome to be with my trainer again but it gave me another chance to learn from him. I often think about how specific the missionaries in this mission are. Heavenly Father is actively a part of His work. Out of all the people from all times from any part of the Earth the missionaries here are supposed to be together. It is incredible to know how guided the work is from the missionaries we work with to those we serve. Elder Godwin teaches me so much about staying true and honest as well as being genuine and bold with people we talk with. It was incredible that this time around I noticed myself understanding more of what he said, in Polish that is. I picked up on his patterns or phrases that were completely lost on me before. It was a successful exchange. 

Things here with Elder Wilson are too going well. He is helping me in important ways. We have talked about what I need the most at this point in my mission and he has been a great help of answering all of the language questions as well as correcting things I say wrong. At the same time he is letting me take the lead. Honestly, it is difficult to take the lead when I am with a missionary more senior in the mission. The first week we were together I acted as senior companion (was the "leader missionary" out of us two) for one day, each week since then a day has been added. This way I can gain the experience while still having a senior missionary to help and teach me. The tricky part is having the confidence to just lead. Being with someone so much older, experienced, and capable is great but to try and take a leadership role can be challenging because I second guess myself a lot, thinking "what would they do..?" or "what do they think about..?" We have talked about it and Elder Wilson has been really caring and encouraging. That is something I am trying to work on now, I feel like I am getting better - I just need to have that confidence and then just go for it trusting the strength and direction of the Lord. 

Recently, I have been more enraptured by The Book of Mormon than ever before. Without specifically planning for it I will spend all of my personal study time in the mornings (each morning we have an hour to study the scriptures and missionary skills individually, then an hour together, and then an hour for language study) reading The Book of Mormon because I can't stop. It's funny, before my mission I always loved the scriptures, I recognized their divinity and the way they gave me guidance and brought me closer to Christ, however, it was difficult to find time to consistently study (as a family, for seminary, and personal study). It was something I struggled with: finding time, but now I can't pull myself away. I have just been blessed with so much understanding and insight every time I read, it's pretty exciting. The Book of Mormon is the word of God. It gives me peace and happiness as I learn how to live my life to its full potential. Each time I testify of the power of The Book of Mormon on the streets I can link it back to a relevant, personal experience - what a blessing. The only way to experience what The Book of Mormon has to offer is to read it. It is so simple and brings clarity to everything, I love it. 

This week it was tricky to find investigators. It's been trying but we are trying not to be discouraged. We tracted into this younger girl, Kasia, who was inetersted but didn't have much time so we taught we a short lesson and then set up for her this week. She has met the missionaries before, such a sign that people are being prepared, everywhere. We also had a long conversation with these two girls in nursing school: Aneta and Anastazja. We spoke with them for quie a while. Anatazja is Ukrainian (we meet quite a few people from Ukraine here in Warsaw - shout out to Elder Simons) and she is 18, engaged, and really cool. Aneta is 21 and super funny. We talked about everything: from what we believe, to our life as missionaries to Aneta asking if we attended "Hogwarts" before our mission because our Polish was so good (Elder Wilson did most of the talking) we must be super smart. She meant to say Oxford but mixed up with the school of witchcraft and wizardry - pretty funny. It was just great to talk to people and understand what was going on! My langauge is still limited but that conversation was such a break through. 

Recently, our mealtimes have been spent watching "The District" 1 and 2. (training DVDs about groups of missionaries) They are so good, I love them! They are funny and we laugh was we watch (either because of cheeseness or we can relate to what they are going through etc) but they also just get me so excited for missionary work, reminding me that there really are people out there who are prepared and want to live their life in harmony with the Savior's teaching - to have greater joy in life. At times it's hard to believe anybody will want to meet but the District showed me that those people are out there.

This leads into another realization I had this week during my personal, nightly prayers. I was praying for people that we had met and talked with on the street. I was praying with all of my heart in particular for Anja - this extremely impressive, smart, kind girl we met a couple of weeks ago. After that as I continued to pray for others I almost felt as though I couldn't pray as fervently for them because I had already "used up" my true miracle wish. I then realized how flawed that thinking was. The prayer for one soul does not diminish the prayer for the other. As I pondered I was filled with remembrance about God's matchless power and love. There is no limit to love. The blessings and happy experiences in life are endless. I think part of it has to do with the mentality of the Poland Warsaw Mission. The thought that one person might agree to meet with us or come to church is a miracle, I almost felt greedy or unrealistic praying for more. I have decided to tear that wall down. Heavenly Father wants the joy and salvation of all of his children, not just a couple therefore I must pray for them all - all with matchless, identical love and fervency. I know that God answers our prayers. I felt it on my mission as I feel blessings from those praying for me. Not until my mission has this assurety that others are praying for me been so strong. Now I know that this works the other way around. All of my prayers won't go unanswered. People will obviously have their free choice but I must ask God for blessings. Heavenly Father does bless us all the time but often there are so many blessings we miss out on because we don't ask. I have learned the importance of asking and not limiting my asking, espiecially for the behalf of others. I know Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ love us. 

I better stop my rambling there. It was just such an eye opener for me. I cannot have the view that I am limited to a small teaching pool or a set number of baptisms. I must not limit my prayers or the power of God. The potential in all of us, in the Lord's work in Poland is great and in order for great things to happen I can't forget that. I ought to remember what is possible through Christ - all things! How wonderful. 

Starszy Kimball