Go-carts, 'Grills' and More....

Yes, today was the day for the 2nd Warsaw Mini-Grand Prix....which actually means "The Elders vs. Andrzej Wencel". He has been a little 'bitter' since he was beaten out by Elder Tribe last time. He has come for revenge....but Elder Tribe has been transferred. No worries...He will beat whoever shows up!

Andrzej's team (President Nielson, Dominik and Alan E.--a former Polish Missionary who is here on a medical rotation) actually showed up a little early to get a practice run in.

It was an easy win for Andrzej....and he claimed his first prize of the day. And then the competition showed up.

Elders Taylor, Eastman, Garrett and Murphey in matching shirts to show unity!

It was time to 'gear up'!

While Andrzej was in 'the Zone'.....

...President Nielson was helping the Elders with a little strategy. Their plan...Just beat the guy in Car #18!

Each car was eased out onto the track....one at a time.

An action shot....yes, it's Andrzej!

A quick look at the scoreboard....Elder Garrett is in 2nd place.....and I can't remember who was in 1st :-)

With the race over, everyone is checking how they did...............and it's time for the winner's to take their places on the blocks.....

Elder Eastman (unknowingly!) covers up where Andrzej placed.

There...now we got it fixed! Andrzej (graciously) places 1st, Elder Garrett accepts 2nd place and once again, Elder Taylor came in 3rd. There is now only one last thing to do......

....call Elder Tribe in Wroclaw and tell him that he no longer holds the fastest time in the mission. A new record has been set! The Elders love this guy and we appreciate all he does to help strengthen the church here in Poland. He has a wonderful wife who will soon have their 2nd child....a boy!

After having a great time at the Go-Cart track, there was still much to do on a Saturday in the mission field. Today, the Warsaw II Branch was having a "Grill", and we needed to get there to see if there was anything we could do to help.

As President Nielson helped set out chairs.......

.......along with Dominik............

A new member in the Warsaw I Branch, Liwia, helped set up, also!

I went into the kitchen to find that Sister Briggs (Family History Center) and Sister Harding (wife of the Branch President in Warsaw II Branch) had everything under control!

Going outside by the grill I found Elder Tarasevich and Namra busily preparing the meat to be cooked. Everything looked great.....now we just needed some customers!

As the Members, Missionaries and Investigators started to gather.....

....Elder Harding with the help of his translator, Brother Kodem, gathered everyone for a blessing on the food.

It was great to see the Ewa and Brian Hapgood (former Warsaw District President) who have been traveling.

Everyone 'dug' into the food and it was delicious!

As you can see, we had a few visitors from the Warsaw I Branch like Brother and Sister Barchwic and their son, Piotr. All were welcome!!!

More mingling at the table.

We even caught a glimps of President Zelonka and Godfrey as they were working around the building making sure everything looked great.

Our newest member, Sara, was having a great time getting to know the members of her new Branch. Remember....she was baptized last week!

Immanuel (1st Councilor in the Branch) with his wife, Gosia.

There was plenty of food and plenty of appetites to satisfy!

Some of the great Polish Relief Society Sisters catching a few 'rays' of sunshine. The weather was perfect picnic weather!

Moms and kids alike were having a blast!

Between volleyball, basketball, frisbee and just plain visiting.....the YSA's kept themselves entertained!

There were several YSA Investigators at the grill today as well as members!

What a perfect addition to a perfect party....a little music! Anja (in the front in the white t-shirt) is being baptized next Saturday! We will be there! And how does EVERY perfect picnic end?

WITH A WATER FIGHT! And that is what happened....and of course many were drenched by the end of the day! Some things are just universal! It truly was a great activity. It was fun to mingle with the saints ( and those thinking about becoming one!) in Poland. These people have strong testimonies, they love their Savior and they love each other. President Nielson and I are so grateful to serve among them. We love you Polish Saints!!!

It was a great day....but something even greater is happening tomorrow! A special guest is coming to see me.

Shhhhh..... It's a secret.....but Grandma's ready for you!!!! See you tomorrow!

Leadership Meetings....Every Other Month!

It's time for Leadership Meetings in our mission again. Every other month, President Nielson gets his Zone Leaders, District Leaders and Trainers together for training. This month, we divided the group in half and did the upper part of the mission first.....in Bydgoszcz.

(L toR): Elders Torke (Poznan), Siebert and Krzyminski (Gdansk), Assistants Garrett and Eastman, Elders Nielson, Buckner and Kalinowski (Bydgoszcz). Sister Steadman is the beautiful one in the middle!

Instruction by our assistants, Elders Garrett and Eastman. This was an open discussion with partipation by all.

We were reviewing the guidelines of the mission, responsibilites of Leaders and their stewardships.

Here again, the attributes that make missionaries better and more in tune with the Spirit.

With training going on in the other room, some of us had to get lunch ready. Elders Fletcher and Fritzsch showing what we were serving....great individual pizzas and pastries from a little bakery around the corner from the church! Elder Fletcher just transferred in from Krakow and Elder Fritzsch from Lodz.

While training was going on, Sister Jones and I were doing walking the streets passing out pamphlets and pass along cards. Sister Jones has been in the country just less than a week, and she is fearless and speaks amazing polish! A great addition to our mission. We have not had Sisters in Bydgoszcz for some time and it is great to have them assigned there again.

Three great missionaries in our mission....and all from Germany! Elders Siebert, Torke and Fritzsch. Elders Torke and Fritzsch are companions in Poznan and Siebert is the District Leader in Gdansk.

Finishing up Leadership Meeting in Bydgoszcz, we headed back down to Warsaw to train the rest of the leaders in our mission the next day.

This group was active and ready to learn! Who attended? Front to back- Elders Hinckley, Ball, Eastman and Tribe. Elders Garrett, Davis, Augustyn, Sorn, Dabrowski, Hillyard, Curtis, Lundin, Kennedy and Sheridan.

Our Elders in Warsaw: Elders Lundin (District Leader Warsaw II), Sheridan (District Leader Warsaw I and Trainer), Elders Kennedy and Curtis (Zone Leaders-Warsaw).

From Katowice, Elders Dabrowski (Zone Leader), Sorn (District Leader & Trainer), and Elder Hillyard (Zone Leader).

From Lodz: Elders Ball, and Elder Augustyn (District Leader).

From Krakow: Elders Davis (District Leader), and Elder Hinckley.

And not to forget.....Elder Tribe! District Leader in Wroclaw. He is a former Assistant and we miss not seeing him!

This group was ready and eagar to learn! Elders Augustyn, Hinckley, Tribe, Ball, Sheridan, Eastman, Garrett and Dabrowski.

With Elders Davis, Sorn, Lundin, Hillyard, Kennedy, Curtis, Eastman and Dabrowski in the back.

After training all morning, a lot of DeGrasso Pizza was 'wolfed' down.....
.....then it was back for more training! Elders Hillyard and Dabrowski (Zone Leaders in Katowice) gave an outstanding presentation of not focusing on the box as much as what is in the box. The gospel is the message, the Pearl. In contacting, its still about teaching and bringing the message. Not about the appointment or what we would like to arrange. Teach to Find and Find to Teach.

It was a great Leadership Meeting where much was accomplished. It was so great to see some of the Elders from our cities far away that we don't get to see that often. Every one is doing well. We are baptizing everywhere and it is a good feeling. These missionaries are working hard to bring those who are looking to their Savior.

An added bonus....Later that night we had very special visitors for dinner!
Mark Broadbent and his wife, Melissa (Sister Castleton!) both former Polish missionaries came for dinner. They are here for the summer on business. (Brother Broadbent had been our 'Preach My Gospel' instructor at the MTC and Melissa had come in to help us with language.) They will be attending the Warsaw I Branch and are excited to reconnect with the people they served and loved. And.....Melissa is expecting!!! What a great couple and it was so fun to visit with them!

An International Baptism in Warsaw II !!

Today was a unique day in the Warsaw II Branch. It IS the International Branch in Poland, and today it lived up to it's name! Talks were given in Mongolian, translated into Polish from the pulpit and then translated once more into English in the audience! The one language we all had in common was the language of the Spirit, and the Spirit was strong here at the baptism of Sara.

(L to R): Elders Garrett and Eastman; Sister Khulan (a great member missionary); Sara and Brat Herman (Branch Mission Leader). An International Baptism in an International Church. That is what I love about our church. This church is for ALL people of ALL nations...and it's true!