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 

Wdzięczność - Gratitude

Dear All,

Another week come and gone. Last week I was on a mission high - this week was a little more difficult but before I go into that let me talk about the wonderful people I am lucky to be with here in Wrocław.

Mx is very inellectual and seeks for proof. Sadly between our lessons he read and researched a lot of anti-mormon material (before my mission I had no idea how much there was!). However, the lesson was a succes! We went from his doubts and claims of misinformation to the end where he accepted that through reading The Book of Mormon and prayer he will find his answer. The problem is he doesn't feel like he's received an answer. It's hard, he progressed from having false thoughts to understanding how to find his answer this week but without a confirmation by the Spirit it's difficult to progress further. This week we will focus more on how to find answers through the Holy Ghost with humility and faith. We left it by inviting Mx to make up his mind whether The Book of Mormon is true or not and then pray to find out if he's right. He is a really smart, cool guy. I like him a lot. He wants to know truth. He knows that there is universal, eternal truth and he wants to find it.

Jb is incredible. He is practically a member. He says he has a little more time now to meet. He has great questions and faith. He wants this gospel and church to be true I think. He hasn't found received his answer either (basically what we are waiting on). Basically the key, two different people with different hesitations but it all comes to personal revelation. In order to have the desire and motivation to do all that Heavenly Father asks of us we must understand. We must receive a personal answer and see the blessings of following the commandments in our individual lives. That is what we are trying to help people feel: the love of Christ and Heavenly Father, along with building a relationship with Them.

Now this week was sort of funky, it went well for the most part but I just felt a little off. I'm learning a bunch and trying to improve. I need to rely on the Lord and others more in life. The love I receive from so many is countless and never ending. The thoughts and prayers from all over the world are reaching and touching me here. Thank you. I don't extend enough gratitude but I hope to express my sincere thanks for the love I feel, from all of you and my Savior. Through Christ comes clarity, peace, and light. Turn to Him in all things, especially when we need help. He is always there. 

z miłością,
Starszy Kimball

Dzień Dobry!

This has been my first transfer week, it was more stressful than I thought it would be but I am excited for this new start.

It's a big change being with Elder Meherg from what it was like with Elder Godwin. Elder Godwin reminded me not to compare the styles and never say anything to the effect of "well Elder Godwin and I did things this way." I thought it was obvious advice but it's been interesting learning how natural/tempting it is to say something like that. Changes are changes, for better, worse, or just simply different. It's taken some time to adjust to, in fact I am still am. I was thinking just before transfers about how comfortable I was feeling about things. The first transfer is crazy but then you learn. At first everything was out of my comfort zone but then as I learned and developed my comfort zone expanded. It's truly been a blessing to remember to turn to the Lord for everything. My prayers have again become more fervent and sincere. I do learn so many new things here but much of what I am being taught is remembrance. Repetition sometimes seems unneeded, merely redundant but it's essential for lasting growth. I am excited for this next transfer, to learn new things from Elder Meherg and have a fresh start. Elder Meherg is faithful and hardworking so I'm excited to see what we accomplish this transfer!

One of the greatest blessings about this last transfer is that I stayed in Wroclaw. Most people moved but I was lucky. The branch here continues to be a strength and blessing in my life. One of the best things about a new companion is a fresh start without specific expectations. We can always change and improve but with a new group of missionaries I feel like I can change things a little easier. For example at church yesterday, I talked to many more of the members and had deeper conversations. Before I was timid, unconfident, and relied on Elder Godwin. Now I feel more capable and want to get to know the members here better. With Elder Meherg there isn't that pattern of Elder Godwin taking the lead and me standing in the background. Yesterday I was more outgoing and engaged with the members, I think it also helps that I'm one of the "old missionaries" in Wroclaw, meaning the other missionaries (except for Sister Bown) are all new to the area. I love the members here. I want to serve and help them more but it's one of those situations where they are giving me so much more.

We met Mz on the street Saturday and invited him to church, he came yesterday. We then met with him and taught him a first. The lesson had a lot of tangents and didn't seem to have a great impact but we are meeting again. We will see. This week we have a lot of set up lessons, more than ever before - half are from the sisters (they are terrific!) - I am excited to meet and discuss the gospel with them.

Contacting has been a little tricky recently, I just have felt pretty discourage, especially in the group contactings (ex. whiteboards). This past week we had a whiteboard and I had a really successful time. I didn't teach or talk to more people than usual but my attitude was different. I talked to one bald guy with super sweet sunglasses, who said just two weeks before he had started looking into religion. He said he knew it was a priority but hadn't devoted much time to God. It was a testimony to me that Heavenly Father is preparing people to be ready to cross paths with us. They won't always become new investigators but I know that as we are there fulfilling our role of inviting others unto Christ we will find people who are ready to accept the gospel of Jesus Christ. 

Remember to not do things on your own! Rely on others and especially the Savior. I love you all.

Starszy Kimball

Transfers

Dzień Dobry!

My first first transfer comes to an end this week. It's frightening to realize, my mission is already going by so fast. So here is the big news:

I am staying here in Wroclaw but with a new companion, Elder Meherg (nobody here knows him so it's a mystery.) Sister Bown is staying and there will be a trio of sisters including Sister Wood from my MTC group. (Sister Bown goes home in February hence the trio) In addition we are getting another set of elders so we will have 7 missionaries and the Llyods! sidenote: our transfers are nine weeks long, most of the world has six-week transfers/ also this next one is a mega-tranfer of fourteen weeks because of the number of weeks per year.

I am really happy about things, I'm glad about staying in Wroclaw - I love it here and I feel like I just got started. Continuing the work here is a great blessing. However, I am also glad to change things up. I generally don't like change or groups splitting up so it's going to be difficult to say goodbye to Elder Godwin and Sister Poklinkowska. We will have new areas, I will be switching apartments, and I will be learning from different missionaries. Everybody here says that each transfer is a new beginning and those I do like. A new chance to recreate who you want to be. Especially since I was new I think it's important to switch people up so there aren't cemented perceptions. I feel like that limits me sometimes, being around people that know me and my weaknesses no matter how deep or superficial they may be. I feel like with this new transfer I will be able to work on different parts of myself, which is often hard to do when people already associate certain traits, habits, whatever with you.

Another huge reason I am grateful to stay is because of the branch. Yesterday, being fast Sunday, our sacrament meeting was devoted to testimonies. Our members are incredible. Their testimonies are strong and rooted in Christ. I was able to understand more than ever, which was great. I've probably said this before but our members are all about quality. Our mission is small, hard, has little success compared to the rest of the world BUT we are finding people who are searching for truth and they change their lives, devoting their time and priorities to Christ. Most of the members are converts themselves and they give me such hope, faith, and motivation to work harder to find others like them who want to come unto Christ. I am excited to find those people!

People:

We met with M this week, the sisters found him on a group contact, he came to church and they met with him for a little while but since elders teach men we started to meet with him. He is crazy smart and intellectual. He's a philosopher and knows a lot about beliefs of cultures from all around the world so I am really excited to get to know him and better.

While talking to people on Świdnicka, a street near the chapel (where we go a lot), I stopped this woman who believes in yoga philosophy, which shares a lot of Buddhist ideology. She was going off about self enlightenment and how God is this being that expresses Himself through feelings of peace, understanding, and light as we meditate. She had firm faith in her "Eastern Beliefs" and was closed off to anything else so we didn't talk to long. A little later she came back to find me and gave me a paper with the names of her favorite gurus. She was sharing her beliefs and what brings her happiness. It was touching and kind. I learned a lot from her. She had a profound understanding of truth that she has come to know by personal experience. Sadly, because of the way she viewed things she completely rejects "Western religion" as she called it. I don't understand why many people think that truth must be mutually exclusive amongst different religious sects. As I have learned about what different groups of people belief I love to connect the truth each has. There is no monopoly on truth, you can find it all around. M said that he loves learning about different perspectives to build his own belief. The great thing that the gospel of Jesus Christ offers is the fulness of truth with understanding of God's plan for us. Thanks to friends that accepted me, I learned from them to be open. That has been helped me be patient and understand where others are coming from. It's always hard to see rejection because of the joy I know others can experience as they choose to learn for themselves more about Jesus Christ and His gospel restored again on the earth. 

I always thought the examples of family and friends were to help to get me on my mission. Now that I'm here, everything they have taught me and their past and current examples are most pertinent as I carry out my missionary service. 

This next transfer I have a vision with many goals to accomplish a lot but I really want to focus on small and simple things. I used to hate that idea, all I wanted to do was the great and impressive things but my testimony of growing "by degrees" (Mosiah 21:16) has developed as I focus on improving and doing the little things.

I love you all. I love this work. I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I wish you all a great week!

z miłością,
Starszy Kimball

Hello all,

I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season!

This past week has been great!

Monday the 23 we had a zone conference with missionaries from Kielce, Krakow, Katowice and Wroclaw. President Edgren and the APs talked about some new focuses and gave training. We had lunch, a white elephant gift exchange, and watched the Christmas Devotional. It's always fun to get together  as a group of missionaries but this time especailly was strenghtening because it was Christ centered, the Spirit was so strong. 

The next day was Christmas Eve, sadly Sister Bown and I got really sick so we couldn't do much (all the missionaries in our district eventually caught the bug this week but we are all better now.) On Christmas most of us were feeling decent at least so we got together and made breakfast. We then watched LDS Bible videos and I'm a Mormon videos. Next we went to the Lloyds where we ate and played games. It was a lot of fun and laughs, it was nice to be in a group on Christmas. Tamara, the recent convert who was baptized a couple of weeks ago, joined the fesitivities the 24th and 25th. She is incredible. Her testimony is progressing and she is solid. Her family in Azerbaijan is opening up more and more as well. They now say that in a year they will support Tamara if she would like to serve a mission (yes she already wants to serve a mission!) They say they have seen a positive change in Tamara since she's met the church. Tamara says that as she has prayed her family has also become more open and accepting. Heavenly Father blesses us all specifically and intimately. His love is personal and present in our lives. 

I was lucky enough to end the day with a phone call home. Us missionaries all were able to talk and sing Polish carols to our families. I love my family. Families are such a vital gift from God and I am grateful for my own. Missions are helpful to reallign priorities and remind us of the importances in life. I know that families can and are supposed to be together forever. I feel so blessed to have the loving examples I do in my family.

I would like to focus today on an answer to a prayer I recieved this past week. At the end of the zone conference President Edgren invited all of the senior companions to share a short scripture and testimony about Christ. They were all heart felt and I love learning how others view Christ and to see the relationships they have built with Him. Sister Bown's words in particular brought peace to me. (she's in Wroclaw with me - our district is the best, I am so blessed to have them) Sister Bown talked about how she has never felt so effective as she does on her mission. She said that as we center our lives on Christ we will feel fulfilled. I often stress about how to sustain and remember all that I've learned and changed. I worry to know whether I am doing enough or how I need to improve. The simple answer is that as we focus our lives on the Savior we will be fulfilled. Through Christ comes peace, happiness, and light. I know that as we learn of Christ and build a relationship with him we will find answers. We will be happy. We will recieve everything that we need and even things that we want. We are fulfilled in Christ. As a missionary we don't get all the usual traditions of Christmas but what we do get is a clear focus of Jesus Christ, the Redeemer of the world. I recently was studying the titles of Christ, there are too many to mention but they show his role to us. Christ is there is uplift us, to help us, perfect us, and to love us. I love Jesus Christ and I promise that anyone who sincerely seeks to know him will find more joy and fulfillment than by any other means. 

I love you all and wish you a very Happy New Year

Starszy Kimball