Elder Dabrowski departs for California

The last two days have been busy and wild. Yesterday morning we spoke with Elder Dabrowski who was currently serving as the District Leader/Trainer in Lodz. His knee has been bothering him for months but really hurting him the past few weeks. After visiting, consulting with Doctors and prayer, it was determined that he should head back home and have this taken care of.

Elder Krzyminski and Myler met him at the Train Station and brought him in for his final night in Poland (at least for now). This happened fast. He leaves in 18 hours...

He has seen this 'scene' many times as an Assistant, and now it was his turn. He leaves something of him behind for us to remember him by and think of. This is a great missionary.

With us tonight were the Assistants (Krzyminski and Myler). A couple of phone calls were made, luggage was rearranged, memories were talked about as the night quickly passed.

This morning before the ride to the airport, Elder Dabrowski and Krzyminski wanted to go 'contacting' one last time. These two came out in the same group and are really close friends. As hard as Elder Dabrowski (and others of us) tried, we think Elder Krzyminski still plans on attending Ohio State. So these two will not see each other back at BYU in the Fall but at one of our mission reunions.

At the airport we ran into Brother Pew who was on his way home after studying music composition here for the past year. Elder Dabrowski translated for him often in the Warsaw II Branch. Accompanying him to the airport was Brother Pew's teacher, Pawel Lukaszewski, a renowned sacred music composer here in Poland, and his son.

In the picture we are smiling, but the tears came shortly after. Elder Dabrowski completed an honorable mission. The Lord needs him back home with family and all that will come. This is one the many great Elders that come into the Church then go and serve the Lord with all their energies. He has been a missionary longer than he was a member before being called. He has shown us all what it means to be "Called to Serve". We love you, Elder Dabrowski; and we know you will keep the work in Poland in your prayers. 'Till we meet again!"

A Wonderful Sunday at the Warsaw I Branch.

Meet two of the newest members of the Warsaw I Branch. One-month-old Helena and Ewa had a very special day today at their first Sunday in church. Their father gave each of these beautiful little girls a name and a blessing. What a wonderful way for a man to use his Priesthood! Here the girls are shown with their proud parents, Bogdan and Julja. It was a special day for another girl....one who has spent many years in church! Maja received her Young Women's Award today which represents countless hours of work...service projects and completing goals regarding her temporal and spiritual welfare. She sets a perfect example for the Young Women in the Warsaw I Branch as she serves in the Young Women's Presidency. (L to R): Kasia (President), Karina, Maja (2nd Counselor), Sara, Anna (1st Counselor). Also, Krzysztof was ordained to the office of Priest in the Aaronic Priesthood. This wonderful man was baptized last week. President Dresler (Warsaw District President) and President Rzyeczycki (Elders Quorum President Warsaw I) participated in this great event.

The Church is growing in Poland thanks to great members who keep the commandments and love one another!

POLISH Missionaries at the MTC in Strength!

This is really a unique picture of the Polish speaking Missionaries currently at the MTC. We have two groups learning Polish- which in itself is rare. Plus Poland has two of our own Polish Missionaries at the MTC going to other countries AND there are two Missionaries learning Polish that will be serving and speaking in another country besides Poland. So here they are:
Front Row: (L to R) Elders Skolmoski, Rittmanic, Raines, Jespersen (these Elders will be arriving in Poland June 19), Zelezniak (arriving May 15), Lyzwinski (arriving at the Washington Tacoma Mission May 22), Bokinsky, Register (both arriving in Poland June 19) and the two Elders that will be serving in the England Leeds Mission (I don't know their names because they are not on President's list- sorry). BackRow: (L to R)- Sisters Holmgren (the May 15 group), Allen, Ostler (both in the June 19 group) Modzelewska (going to the Romania Moldova Mission May 15), Howells (June 19) and Peterson (May 15). Wow!
We love them all. President has been working on their transfers and has faces, names and information all memorized. We can't wait.

Our plan to revise the English classes taught by our Missionaries progresses.....

Progress is being made on revising the manual for teaching English in Poland. Shown above are rough drafts, photos for the cover and pictures that will be used for the 'Parent/Child' classes. The entire Mission will be moving to this new manual the week of June 25th. I appreciate our Senior Sisters that have devoted hours to make this 'finding tool' an even greater one! The 'English Committee': (L to R) Sisters McGrath, Tarasevich, Peck, Jensen and Reed.

May's Zone Leader Council Meeting.

Meeting monthly with the Zone Leaders in the mission is always a great experience. These good Elders are diligent in making sure 'the water gets to the end of the row' in regards to what is discussed. Standing: (L to R): Elders Basha and Waits (Katowice Zone); Elders Hancock and Fletcher (Warsaw Zone); Elders Sorn and Hooker (Bydgoszcz Zone). Sitting: Elders Krzyminski and Myler (Assistants). As I was putting my camera away, I noticed this unexpected act of making sure this Missionary 'looks the part'! Good job, Elder Waits, for making sure you looked like a representative of Jesus Christ. Today is a holiday in Poland....that means EVERYTHING is closed. What do you do with 8 hungry Missionaries? You feed them at your house. And that is what we did! We celebrated Cinco Di Mayo 2 days early with chicken enchiladas and homemade salsa and chips.

Being the 'time-efficient' Elders that they are, dessert was ice cream 'on the road' as they headed back to the Mission Office...a .7 Kilometer walk. We love these missionaries (and all of them in Poland) and know they are serving valiantly and talking with everyone.

We have a new Senior Couple...the Sheleys Arrive!

Meet the Sheleys...a great couple from Caldwell, Idaho, who have called to spend the next 18 months in Poland building the Church. Sister Sheley...followed by her husband... Elder Sheley. This couple is excited to be in Poland, and they are ready to serve in whatever capacity (and city!) the Lord needs them in. After getting a good night's rest, everyone was up early the next morning. Elder and Sister Peck from the Mission Office were at the Mission Home to orient the Sheley's and get them started on their legal work. Before heading on the road, we ran to the Mall for Residence Card photos AND this much needed piece of equipment....a GPS! Elder Sheley was thrilled to see that his bank cards were working in Poland. It's time to put the Sheley's in the car and start them down the road to their new assignment.

And where are they going to serve? WROCLAW...a beautiful city in the south western part of Poland. The members and missionaries alike will be excited to meet this great new couple! Welcome to Poland, Elder and Sister Sheley! These next several months will be life changing! We are so grateful for the spirit this great Senior Couple brings. What a blessing it is to have Senior Couples that will serve anywhere and do whatever you ask of them. The only question they ask is, "what can we do to help you?" It is so rewarding to hear of their testimonies and support.

Thinking about serving a mission? Every couple should have an opportunity to do so. What a way to thank the Lord for all he has blessed you with! Get your papers ready...and come and serve with the thousands of Senior Couples around the world. This church is true!

Visiting 2 District Meetings in one day!

What are two very happy Missionaries who serve in Lublin doing in Warsaw? Elders Kennedy and Mikolyski are here for District Meeting. The Lublin Elders travel into the Warsaw II District Meeting every other week to keep up-to-date on training. Other Missionaries in the Warsaw II District all show up at the same time: (LtoR): Elder and Sister Jensen, Sisters Mann and Forsey, and the Office Elders-Murphey, Tanner and Gudnason. (The Office Elders are always popular because they bring 'much loved' mail!) With the Assistants (Elders Krzyminski and Myler) showing up, it's almost time to start the meeting. But first... One last group picture in front of the Wiktorska (WarsawII) Chapel. In the front row are Elders Pofelski and Siebert (District Leader) who were inside setting up for the meeting. This is a dynamic district. Great hard working Missionaries! But President and I won't be attending their meeting...We just stopped by to say 'hello'. We have an appointment somewhere else.... You didn't guess McDonald's, did you! We are actually heading over to the Wolska Chapel where the Warsaw I District is holding their District Meeting. Since it is a 'travel day', the Bialystok Elders will be there; and President needs to interview them. So, why not bring a surprise? (It's also a Holiday in Poland and the only place we could find open was Micky D's).

Everyone was delighted with 'Big Macs' and fries! Another great group of hard-working, 'plan, teach and find' by the spirit Missionaries! (Lto R): Elders Ball and Walter (Bialystok), Jensen (District Leader) and Manwill, Fletcher and Hancock (Zone Leaders).

We have just a little 'down' time (2 hours) before heading to the airport to pick up a great new Senior Couple! Gotta go!