We are rocking it here in Gdańsk, our district is tight, we are having fun, doing a lot of work, and building relationships. All of the things I have always wanted to do on my mission are coming to pass. Explnation:
On Wednesday we went over to Józef and Irena's and raked some leaves, well more like a lot of leaves, and then Irena and Halina prepared another huge polish meal for us. We had a lesson about charity and talked about the branch here in Gdańsk. I could feel these members' love and could understand what they spoke. They were grateful for our service and invited us back for some time soon.
Elder Platter and I also met with Jadwiga, a widow in the branch. We chopped some fire wood and gathered a bucket of coal for her. As we met she fed us this delicious homemade chicken soup and then for dessert she made a rice, apple, cinnamon loaf that she drizzled cream over. There was peace and comfort in her home, I felt the Spirit so clearly. I asked her about her ancestors and she brought out a tin box. She showed a few fun items including a little metal mirror case, which when opened up revealed her first temple recommend from the 90's. We also had a lesson about charity and unity and in our time there I felt such gratitude for being where I am and knowing that I couldn't be anywhere else.
We had another lecture at the university here, the students are studying religion, which helped and they were very kind and encouraging. Sister Grgich made a mistake that Elder Finch made in a similar situation (a lecture here in Gdańsk) a couple of years ago. She said that when Joseph Smith went to find answer he went "do lasek". Lasek is a little forest but because of the declinations of words in Polish with "do" (in English "to") lasek would become "lasku". Now usually, when we missionaries make these mistakes it doesn't really matter because we are generally understood, the problem with this one is that the word "laski" turns to "lasek" with the word "do" so it changed the meeting of her statement. Instead of saying that Joseph Smith went to the forest Sister G said that he went searching for an answer going to the "chicks" or "girls". Luckily, the professor spoke up and most of the class knew what she had meant but polish slip ups make me smile.
We had a YSA/MD (young single adult/ młodzi dorośli) activity with John (member from Nigeria studying for a year in Gdynia - a part of this tri-city area) and Patryk (the recently activated branch mission leader). It was fun, a small group but it helped to build relationships and confidence in one another.
Our finding efforts are going well, Elder Platter and I along with the sisters have found a lot of potential in our area, we are just trying to set up meetings with those we have come in contact with. Łukasz we met on a free table (when we bring a table out and lay free materials out on it eg. Book of Mormon, brochures, cards to mormon.org etc) and after switching numbers and walking away he sent us a little text with just a smiley face. Then one night Elder Platter and I were hurrying to a meeting (speaking english) when a guy in front of us turns around and (in Polish) asks what we are doing and what we are all about. It caught us off guard but he turned out to be interested and exchanged numbers with us. It was a fun week with a few other inspired path crossings.
Our meeting with Dawid was incredible. We planned to have it at the chapel with a member to help but things didn't work out last minute so we ended up meeting at Dawid's just the three of us (and Arek, his roommate who was doing homework, making weird comments spiratically but I think is interested). Despite the change in plans and lack of a member to help us it was a powerful meeting. Dawid is a sharp, student studying physics and math at the polytechnical university of Gdańsk. At the beginning of the lesson he seemed to be a little bored or distracted at times but it turned out to be spirit filled. We talked about faith, repentance, baptism, and receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost all focusing on the Atonement of Christ. He had his computer so we were able to include some videos (the first time I had ever done that but it was surprisingly helpful). We showed one with Elder Holland (an apostle of the church) explaining the Book of Mormon and the second was "Because of Him". ( http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_S3TI4bYerU - watch, it's good). He said that he always has known God exists but admitted that his baptism doesn't have much meaning. After we taught the role of baptism to purify and empower us as we decide to follow Christ he said that baptism would be very important. He still wants to pray and study to know if what we are teaching is true but he is ready to trust the answer from Heavenly Father and is confident that he will receive his answer. In the closing prayer Dawid thanked Heavenly Father for one of the most important meetings of his life. It felt so good to teach and testify about Christ and the way we can progress. There was unity, love, and the Spirit with us. It was so much fun.
My current planner is covered by a polish newspaper I was handed and on the front I found a caption that says "weźmy sprawy w swoje ręce" (let's take matters into our own hands) and that seems to perfectly describe what is going on in Gdańsk. We have plans to implement YSA, FHE (family home evening - activity with a spiritual lesson, a game, and some food), an English, musical fireside etc etc. We are on fire and it feels great. I didn't have time to exaplain my heading last week but I am striving to be a publisher of peace. In reading the Book of Mormon recently that is a theme that has stood out to me. To be successful we cannot be a perfectionist or self-critical, I learned that again this week. We do need to be humble and diligent, patient as well.
We have also been enjoying Poland. Last week we went to the beach in Sopot for P-day, where we sat, ate and jammed out to Sister Grgich playing on the guitar. Today we took a bus to Stutoff, a concentration camp about an hour out of Gdańsk by bus. This trip was harder for me emotionally than my trip to Auschwitz roughly a year ago. It is hard to see the evil in the world, to recognize the influence it has and how it affects others. This time I was able to connect my spiritual knowledge of God's plan easier, which was helpful. Poland is a beautiful nation with a messy past. I couldn't be anywhere else. I forgot how much fun it was to serve with Elder Platter and am thankful to be rocking with him for round two. The sisters are great, Sister Wood and I have experienced a lot of the same on our missions so it's nice to have somebody to relate to and learn from.
Life is good. Still hard, still crazy, but full of light and hope.
kocham was wszystkich,
Starszy Kimball
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