Yes....Meals on Wheels! You can't get a group of Missionaries together and not have a lot of food involved in the process! Elders Kennedy, Sheridan, Hillyard, Waits and Augustyn help get it from my car to the kitchen of the Wolska chapel. With limited branches and members available, the Food is part of the calling. 
Attending this meeting are....Elders Nielson and Buckner (Zone Leaders Bydgoszcz Zone), Elder Tribe (the new District Leader Wroclaw), Elder Augustyn (District Leader Lodz), Elder Sorn (the new District Leader Katowice), Elder Seibert (soon to be District Leader), Elder Davis (District Leader Krakow). And now for the other side of the room................. 
Elder Sheridan (District Leaader Warsaw I), Elder Kalinowski (District Leader Bydgoszcz), Elder Hillyard and Kennedy (Zone Leaders Warsaw), Elder Plumb (District Leader Gdansk), Elder Lundin (District Leader WarsawII), Elder Leimer (Zone Leader Katowice) and Elder Eastman (Assistant). Not shown: Elder Garrett (Assistant). 
The main goal of this meeting was to reinforce the contacting method- Short, Bold, Statements of Truth. When contacting, you approach someone and you have 3-4 seconds to say something that will cause them to listen or avoid you. Short, Bold, Statements of Truth (God is your Father and He knows exactly what your challenges are; The Book I hold in my hands is proof that God lives and there is a living prophet on the earth today; God surely loves you because He sent these beautiful children to you,...), are statements that will touch the heart and cause someone to think. Avoid the long "runway" (Hi, I am a Mormon Missionary from Utah, and we are here today to tell everyone about...- by now they are gone) say powerful statements that allow the Holy Ghost to tell the person that what you are saying is true. These people have "spiritual amensia"---they have all heard these things before, and the Light of Christ tells them it's true. We are just allowing the Holy Ghost to remind them.You Testify of a Truth, You make them A Promise and you then Ask An Inspired Question- "What would it mean to you if you knew God had a specific plan for you? What would it mean in your life if you knew there was a living Prophet on the earth today? What would it mean to you if I could share with you what a living prophet proclaimed to the world just last week? What would it mean to you if you had a book that could help you raise your children to become great adults? Allow them to think and let the spirit direct your next words and actions.
A much deserved lunch break was taken; and we welcomed Sister Briggs, the Family History Center Missionary, as we sang "Sto Lat" in honor of her birthday.
After lunch, there was role-playing to practice what we had learned this morning. And then...we were off! Heading to the 'fish-bowl' --downtown Warsaw near the main train station to find those who were searching for truth using "Short Bold Statements of Truth, Testifying, sharing a Promise and Asking a Meaningful Question"...straight out of Preach My Gospel!
The 'Army of Helaman' ready to go and make a difference in the country of Poland. These are great leaders in the Mission. There are excited to share what they have learned and with Short, Bold Statements of Truth they will contact everyone they see. Look out Warsaw....here we come!
Even President Nielson was able to find a few that spoke english well. He even made one appointment to teach.
Elders Augustyn and Nielson having a great conversation. These two Elders 'get it;' and they are using this method with great success in Lodz and Bydgoszcz.
Elder Kalinowski has become "fearless" with how he approaches people.
Elders Garrett and Sorn found a 'Bold Statement of Truth' that caught this man's attention. Elder Garrett is also training Elder Sorn to be Bold as you tell people these Short Statments of Truth... nothing more than what we know and believe to be absolutely true.
Elder Eastman is not afraid to tell everyone about the Book of Mormon. He is really good at letting people know that he is a servant of the Lord.
Elders Garrett and Sorn with another man who they are Testfying, Promising and Asking Inspired Questions to.
Again, Elder Eastman with more people just in front of the Train Station.
Elder Garrett is getting people to stop at this busy spot in front of the "Glass Bubble" Mall- the Zloty Terrace.
Here they are again- Elders Sorn and Garrett.
Elder Davis from Krakow is also having success explaining the truth of the message.
Elder Sheridan has this man listening to what he is testifying of, promising about and getting him to think through asking an Inspired Question.
Elder Nielson and Augustyn have these two men listening and really conversing about truth and their message.
On the bench, Elder Kalinowski is spending 15 minutes teaching this man about the Restoration. The first goal is to teach, not get appointments, but to teach.
Edlers Plumb and Buckner are again having a good and in depth conversation with this young lady. This is a busy afternoon and these Elders are getting people to stop and listen to their messages.
Elder Kennedy and Waits asking this man an Inspired Question. I do not know what it was, but they had a great conversation and set up an appointment to teach him this Saturday.
Elder Hillyard as he is walking in front of the "Stalin Building". Elder Hillyard is one of the most energetic missionaries in Poland. His desire to teach and approach people inspires all of us.
Here, Elders Siebert and Hillyard are telling this man how much the Lord wants to help him with his family. These missionaries are practicing what they learned today. They will teach these things (again) in their District Meetings next Tuesday and go out with their District and practice with companions. This is not anything new. It IS what the Poland Warsaw Mission is doing, and we are seeing results.
A much deserved lunch break was taken; and we welcomed Sister Briggs, the Family History Center Missionary, as we sang "Sto Lat" in honor of her birthday. 
After lunch, there was role-playing to practice what we had learned this morning. And then...we were off! Heading to the 'fish-bowl' --downtown Warsaw near the main train station to find those who were searching for truth using "Short Bold Statements of Truth, Testifying, sharing a Promise and Asking a Meaningful Question"...straight out of Preach My Gospel! 
The 'Army of Helaman' ready to go and make a difference in the country of Poland. These are great leaders in the Mission. There are excited to share what they have learned and with Short, Bold Statements of Truth they will contact everyone they see. Look out Warsaw....here we come! 
Even President Nielson was able to find a few that spoke english well. He even made one appointment to teach. 
Elders Augustyn and Nielson having a great conversation. These two Elders 'get it;' and they are using this method with great success in Lodz and Bydgoszcz. 
Elder Kalinowski has become "fearless" with how he approaches people. 
Elders Garrett and Sorn found a 'Bold Statement of Truth' that caught this man's attention. Elder Garrett is also training Elder Sorn to be Bold as you tell people these Short Statments of Truth... nothing more than what we know and believe to be absolutely true. 
Elder Eastman is not afraid to tell everyone about the Book of Mormon. He is really good at letting people know that he is a servant of the Lord. 
Elders Garrett and Sorn with another man who they are Testfying, Promising and Asking Inspired Questions to. 
Again, Elder Eastman with more people just in front of the Train Station. 
Elder Garrett is getting people to stop at this busy spot in front of the "Glass Bubble" Mall- the Zloty Terrace. 
Here they are again- Elders Sorn and Garrett. 
Elder Davis from Krakow is also having success explaining the truth of the message. 
Elder Sheridan has this man listening to what he is testifying of, promising about and getting him to think through asking an Inspired Question. 
Elder Nielson and Augustyn have these two men listening and really conversing about truth and their message. 
On the bench, Elder Kalinowski is spending 15 minutes teaching this man about the Restoration. The first goal is to teach, not get appointments, but to teach. 
Edlers Plumb and Buckner are again having a good and in depth conversation with this young lady. This is a busy afternoon and these Elders are getting people to stop and listen to their messages. 
Elder Kennedy and Waits asking this man an Inspired Question. I do not know what it was, but they had a great conversation and set up an appointment to teach him this Saturday. 
Elder Hillyard as he is walking in front of the "Stalin Building". Elder Hillyard is one of the most energetic missionaries in Poland. His desire to teach and approach people inspires all of us. 
Here, Elders Siebert and Hillyard are telling this man how much the Lord wants to help him with his family. These missionaries are practicing what they learned today. They will teach these things (again) in their District Meetings next Tuesday and go out with their District and practice with companions. This is not anything new. It IS what the Poland Warsaw Mission is doing, and we are seeing results.
What an INSPIRED program! Elder Kennedy is already writing home about its effectiveness, and we all can see that it's going to work!
ReplyDeleteI sure do like seeing the photos of the missionaries in their "element" :-)
Was there any special idea behind choice of location of that exercice? Would you write more about that?
ReplyDeleteJudi and Stan you are doing an awesome job. Elder Buckner thinks you are the greatest. Love to read his emails each week. Scott Brooksby
ReplyDelete