This week was wonderful! We spent a lot of time with the members, building relationships. This is something I've always wanted to do but have had a hard time with - here it's been easier and more natural.
We had dinner with Józef and Irena on Tuesday. They are an older couple that were sealed in the Freiburg temple last Spring. They invited us to help them prepare the graves of their son and parents for the holiday on the First of November Wszystkich Świętych (all saints day). It was fun to be in the hustle and bustle of the best cemetery, cleaning the graves and marking them with flowers and candles. We then went back to their place for some lunch where Halina (the oldest member in Poland, 87) joined us - she is currently living with Irena and Józef. We went over to theirs for a third time on Saturday to be the translators between them and the senior couple the Shaws. We were fed three times by them this week and the food was delicious. We had pumpkin soup, pickle soup, potatoes, chicken and pork, cabbage salad, pickled peppers, plum dessert. It was all so good. Józef has been a member for a couple decades and so has Halina. They invited us back to rake their leaves this next week and feed us some more. We love them already, we are pretty tight with them.
We also visited with Jdawiga. We elders and the sisters made our way to her place just south of old town in Gdańsk. We got to know her: she is from a Belarussian family but moved to Poland when she was 3. She grew up in the same area where she lives now and told us about the history and culture. She is widowed and her son lives far away, which is hard. She took us on a walk around her area showing us her elementary school, the cemetery where her parents lay, and a couple fortress from World War 1.
We were invited to be the guests at a lecture at Gdańsk University. We were surprised how young the students were (our age - I forget that I would be in my second year at college if I wasn't on my mission). Patryk, the 20 year-old branch mission leader accompanied us. We taught, bore testimony, had a great time. The teacher thanked us for our words and emotion. We were invited back to do it again this week!
We have met some cool people. Dawid is a young student and Przemek is a father/husband who showed us around the beautiful old town of Gdańsk so we've finally seen it. We are having fun, working hard, and experiencing success.
Sorry to be so brief but life is good!
Love,
Starszy Kimball
Last weeks letter:
We are settling in quite nicely. Gdańsk is so beautiful and fun, I'm enjoying it. The buildings, hills, trees are pretty and we went to Sopot this past week where the best beach is and saw the coast. I am very lucky.
Saturday was deathly cold with relentless winds but other than that the weather has been pretty good. We met some cool people this week but still aren't meeting with any one concretely. We celebrated Stan's birthday with him, he turned 30 this past week. He isn't a member but comes to church, family home evening, and English class. He hasn't received an answer about the truthfulness of the Book of Mormon and church yet, he also seems to be trying to figure out his future. We would like to be helpful friends but at this point the choices and decisions ahead are really up to him.
We have had some good experiences going home to home. Older residents start complaining about how late we knock, questioning our motives bothering them "past midnight" at about 19:30, which makes it tricky sometimes. We have met some large, vicious dogs this past week and I am pretty sure they have taken a couple years off my life as the suddenly attack out of the darkness. Thank goodness for the gates but I don't think my heart can take much more of it.
Last year in the darker colder months our schedule was adjusted so that we could take dinner at 20:00 rather than 17:00. It seemed to make sense since people aren't on the streets as much and they are going to bed earlier. This year President Edgren received specific instruction that we should stick to the normal schedule. It doesn't make to much sense to me at face value, that excited me though when I heard because when we are asked to do something that doesn't make sense and is hard I find that miracles of promises happen. This past week we have had our share of miracles during that odd time between 20:30 and 21:00. On Monday night we were walking home from visiting a neighborhood. We past by a homeless man who asked us for some money. As missionaries we aren't allowed to give money so we walked on. As we were doing so I looked down and saw in my bag a plate of peanut butter cereal bars the Shaws (the missionary senior couple) had made for us for our journey to Bydgoszcz the following day. I knew money was out of the question but I thought that this was something we could give. We turned around and headed back to the weathered-faced man and I pulled out the plate. I told him that we had no money to give him but these treats were his. He asked "all of them" since there was a plate full. I assured him that they were all for him but he continued to repeat the question two more times. Elder Platter then handed him some McDonalds fries he had left over from earlier in the day. As we walked away I felt a warmth in my heart. I have been praying to see ways in which I can do little acts of service, even more I have been praying to be aware of them because I know they are around but am often unfocused to see them. The perfect remedy for selfishness, self-doubt, self-pity, and fallen spirits is service. It can be frustrating when I go out everyday and offer my testimony of something much more valuable, life changing, and sweeter than a plate of cookies but nobody is interested. Sometimes I think I forget the value of an understanding of Christ as our Savior. I know that Heavenly Father puts people in our paths to help and when we do we are happy. Sacrifice is worth it, the way we come to know of these eternal truths is by experiencing them.
As I mentioned we went to Bydgoszcz this past week, my first time. We had a zone training given by Elder Whiting, Elder Hubbard, and Sister Owen all from my group - it was super fun. It's my first time being in the north zone (historically known as the party zone). The bond of missionaries is unique and powerful. As I mentioned we went to Bydgoszcz this past week, my first time. We had a zone training given by Elder Whiting, Elder Hubbard, and Sister Owen all from my group - it was super fun. It's my first time being in the north zone (historically known as the party zone). The bond of missionaries is unique and powerful.
President and Sister Edgren came up to Gdańsk this past weekend. They took us out to dinner on Satruday and we saw them at church on Wednesday. As they left President Edgren said that "things feel good here in Gdańsk" after having just concluded our church meetings. I know he put a new group up here to see some change and I think it's working. I am getting to know the branch, I spoke in church and then translated for President's talk - being the oldest missionary in a city (with Sister Wood) puts the responsibility on and I'm grateful to be growing and feeling set free.
One of my favorite topics to talk about with people is our potential. Realizing our potential is the goal. The first step of realizing is t be aware of our potential, what we are capable of becoming. The second meaning of realizing our potential is in the execution process as we fulfill the measure of what we were created to be. Each of us has been blessed with the ability to choose and act for ourselves. Our potential is much greater than being smart or successful in our careers; we have the potential to love, uplift and support one another. We are capable to make others happy and providing strength and wisdom from our own experience to help empower them. The perfect example of this loving servant is Christ. I am completely convinced of the power we have to bless others because of the love and support I receive from my family and friends along with my Redeemer and Enabler Jesus Christ.
No comments:
Post a Comment