Katowice District Conference- May 1, 2011

This weekend we found ourselves down in the southern part of Poland attending the Katowice District Conference. We were very fortunate to have an Area Seventy as our visiting Authority.

President Nielson, Elder Fingerle (Area Authority Seventy) and President Pawlik (District President).

Meetings started on Saturday soon after we had picked Elder Fingerle up at the airport.

A special thank you to Ewie Pawlik, Cindy Call and Kate for doing such a good job entertaining the young children during the Adult Meeting Saturday night.

After several hours of meetings, we joined the Elders to visit, discuss missionary work and have some dinner. Elder Fingerle was most helpful with some translation problems on our pass-along cards and some of the voice translations on our Church DVD's.

The next morning (Sunday)as we walked to the nearby chapel, we were greeted by a great band as the Poles celebrated Labour Day on May 1st.

We stopped for a minute to enjoy the music....then it was off to District Conference.

One of the most important items of business at the conference was the calling of a new District Presidency Counselor. The Katowice District Presidency: Elder Moon, President Pawlik, and President Andrzej Kucia...the newly called 2nd Councelor.

Three of the Branch Presidents of the Katowice District: President Krzykawski (Katowice), President Cielinski (Wroclaw) and President Dziubla (Krakow).

Here is Karol, a recent convert with Elders Klosowiak and Krzyminski who serve in Kielce. Karol gave an outstanding talk in District Conference today.

Elders Marsing and Tribe serving in Wroclaw attended the conference with Mariusz and Jolanta. She is a recent convert and is so great.

Adam, one of our best member missionaries, and his good friend Krzystof and Krzystof's sister, Danuta.

Pawel (who is engaged!), his soon-to-be step daughter Kornelia, Jozef and Marek, 1st counselor in the Branch Presidency in Katowice.

Sister Sheets, Ula and Krystyna.

Adrian (2nd from the left) and some of his friends who are investigating the church...Lukasz, Dominika, and Arek. Adrian is a great missionary member; he always has friends with him.

Halina (Katowice), Me, and Jolanta (Wroclaw). These two great sisters have only been members of the church for a few months. They are delightful!

Carlos and his wife, Ella and son, Nathan.

Adam from Wroclaw and Dorota from Katowice. Friends from YSA. Great Young Single Adults in the Katowice District.

Our Senior Sisters....Sister Sheets-Family History in Wroclaw; Sister Moon-Member/Leadership Support and YSA in Wroclaw; and Sister Austin-YSA in Katowice. A big THANK YOU to these Sisters (especially Sister Moon!) for all the great food that was provided for the conference. It was delicious!

Elder Hooker, Dabrowski, and Sorn with their Investigator, Rafal, who has a baptismal date.

Brother and Sister Zan and their youngest son. Their other 2 darling boys were somewhere having a great time! They are strong members from Wroclaw.

A special visitor...Elder McRae...a former missionary who served in Poland and who was traveling in Europe. Here he is shown with Tomek, a great member from Katowice (and it was his birthday today!). The Elders in Kielce couldn't stop talking about Elder McRae and the great job he did with lessons while visiting there. Thank you for the visit and your teaching.

You might have noticed white corsages on some of the members. Sisters Mann and Allen had them made and they were given to all members who had been baptized in the last year. These new members were recognized during conference so all could meet and get to know them.

Agatha Cielinska (District Young Women's President) and daughter, Emilie....it was getting to be a long day!

Marek with Gabby and Nataniel Pawelczek and Gosia. Katowice Branch.

Wioletta Call (District Relief Society President) and Sister Malinowska. Wroclaw.
The day was coming to a close....many meetings had been held today. But the kids were in great spirits.....

Here we are playing a revised version of "Don't Eat Pete"! L to R: Cindy Call, David Pawlik, AJ Call, Aaron Pawlik, Cynthia Call, and Ewie Pawlik waiting for parents to finish meetings.

  Lots of good counsel, lots of visiting and a great spirit was felt by all! The members in the Southern part of Poland are strong and ready to share the gospel. Our missionaries are ready to teach with the Spirit. Things are happening in Poland! I love this church, and I love it here!