Specialized Training Mission Wide June 7-9, 2011

This week started out in Katowice. It was Specialized Training week where the instruction from the Zone Leader Council will go out to the District Leaders via the Zone Leaders. The highways in Poland are all torn up, especially Highway 8. So President and the assistants (Elders Eastman and Garrett) took the EIC train to Katowice. Not too bad, in their own cabin, watching President Utchdorf from the April General Conference on an iPad. (good thing they enjoyed the iPad while they had it- you will find out...)

The training started with Elders Hillyard and Dabrowski instructing and Elders Sorn, Tribe, Garrett, Eastman and Davis listening and participating.

These two great Elders get it. They really understand the messages from Elders Teixeira and Kopischke. Added with Preach My Gospel and Short Bold Statements of Truth, great results are happening in our mission.

Outside the Katowice chapel on their way for a lunch break. Yes it was another "warm" day in Katowice.

While all of this was going on, Elders Jensen and Bode were heading out on the streets for contacting and getting the work done. They returned from a successful afternoon of proselyting.

At the end of every meeting, the mail and packages are passed out along with the latest issues of the Liahona and the Dobra Strona. Thanks Elders Davis, Sorn, Dabrowski, Hillyard, Garrett, Eastman and Tribe.

The next morning they drove to Bydgoszcz and along the way found this wonder for sale. I am sure it is still available if you are looking for a bargain. From what the Assistants told me, it is a cross between a giant wave runner, a one man boat or modified Jaredite barge.

In Bydgoszcz, a winner of a lunch has become the mini pizzas. Here Elders Buckner, Eastman, Torke, Siebert, Garrett, Nielson and Kalinowski enjoy themselves after the morning training.

The German trio of Elders Siebert, Torke and Fritzsch always love getting together for a visit. The companionship of Torke and Fritzsch is doing great in Poznan. Elder Siebert (the District Leader) is doing great in Gdansk.

Elders Kalinowski (District Leader in Bydgoszcz)and Fletcher are finding people in Bydgoszcz. Elder Fletcher is one of the great young missonaries in our mission. He is as hard a worker as we have.

During the training we had two great visitors. Brothers Isaac and Jarosz helped the Elders with Polish and just had a great laugh.

Brat Isaac is the Branch President in Bydgoszcz and Brat Jarosz was helping with one of the apartments as he then headed on to Gdansk.

On the return trip home, another interesting truck was ahead. You may need to zoom in and read what is written on this tanker- For Foodstuffs Only. Please tell me what Foodstuffs is???

Or perhaps I don't need to know....

On the third day, in Warsaw, they started out with training and then held a baptism later in the afternoon. Here Elders Augustyn, Garrett, Eastman, Kennedy, Vreeken, Lundin and Curtis are prepared for a wonderful day.

Elders Eastman was the investigator, while Elders Garrett and Augustyn were the missionaries in role play.

Then it was Elders Vreeken and Lundin (District Leaders in Warsaw l and ll) turn in teaching Elders Kennedy and Curtis (the Zone Leaders of the Warsaw Zone).

Lunch time. Sister Briggs joined us from the Family History Center with Elders Eastman, Kennedy, Curtis, Lundin, Vreeken, Garrett and Augustyn. (this is President Nielson writing, and Sister Nielson did not want me to post this- I had to sneak on- Sister Nielson had pneumonia for the past week and was finally able to come join us and she brought lunch for the meeting. She gives her all to this calling. I am grateful she is getting back to normal, I have missed her!!!)

While all of this was going on, Elders Rogers and Hooker went out contacting. These two young missionaries are outstanding with the language and missionary skills.

They couldn't wait any longer and off they went. It was a very busy week with travel and training but it was a great week. I love this mission, I love our missionaries.

A VERY Talented visitor comes to the Mission Home!

The other night we had a special visitor for dinner.....Jeffrey Skouson, a friend from Las Vegas who is the CEO of a company called Speech Level Singing. He was on an international teaching tour which had brought him to Poland. (This year he will be visiting 17 countries teaching instructors and students techniques of teaching music of others).He gave us some ideas for helping all the branches with Sacrament Meeting music. Often it is only the missionaries who can play the piano or organ. So he suggested we help the Polish members learn the cords found in the back of the Simplied Hymnbook and has promised to hold a special fireside for members and investigators next time he is in Poland....in about a year from now. Jeffrey...we will hold you to that! And....it was great to visit with you!

Sunday...a quick drive to Lublin and back!

Sunday morning President got up early and made a quick trip to Lublin. He was able to catch some of the members of this branch for a quick picture after the meetings. (L to R:) Elders Basha and Plumb, Beata and Czezary Gladun, The Potters--a couple from the states who now lives in Lublin because of work-- and our three medical students from Taiwan....Jasmine, Grace and Cody.

After the meeting, it was back in the car to get ready for a YSA fireside that was held at our house tonight where President Zelewski would be speaking to the Young Single Adults and Investigators of his District. It was a great night.

Front row (L to R): Alex, Damian, Elder Eastman, Solongo, Marta, Luiza; 2nd Row:Dominik, Emil, Elder Hancock, A shy Pole, Elders Lundin and Seridan; Back Row: Elder Garrett, Jury, Andrej, Sister and President Zelewski, Elder Murphey.

Saturday is ALWAYS a great day when there is a Baptism!

Katowice welcomed another new member into their Branch today.

Rafal was first introduced to the church by attending the Advanced English Class held in the Katowice chapel on Thursday night. As his interest grew, he met with missionaries and accepted the invitation to 'follow the example of Jesus Christ' and be baptized. (L to R): Elder Jensen, Rafal, Elder Sorn.

President Krzykawski, Katowice Branch President, welcoming Rafal into the Branch. He will be a great asset to this growing Branch. This church is for everyone who is looking for the truth. I am grateful that I belong to it. Yes, I'm going to say it........I love this church!

JUNE ZONE LEADER COUNCIL... June 2, 2011

PREACH MY GOSPEL...Our Zone Leader Council had many things to go over today. Besides the reporting and goal setting, we reviewed the instruction we received from Elder Teixeira. All that was taught today will go out to the District Leaders (via the Zone Leaders) next week. Back row (L to R): Elders Eastman (Assistant), Kennedy (Zone Leader Warsaw), Nielson (Zone Leader Bydgoszcz), Curtis (Zone Leader Warsaw), Buckner (Zone Leader Bydgoszcz), Hillyard (Zone Leader Katowice). Front row (L to R): Elders Garrett (Assistant) and Dabrowski (Zone Leader Katowice). Great meeting, great missionaries and great energy. I love this Church and these Elders!!!

The Harbers have been re-assigned!

Siostra Harber and I have to pose this one last time. The Harbers were reassigned by the Missionary Department and departed early this morning. They had completed their assignment in Poland, and the Lord needed them in another part of His vineyard. We will see these dear friends again in our home ward in Las Vegas, the Palmyra Ward, and talk of all the great memories and events.

But before they departed, we needed to get a piece of them to stay with us. Sister Harber leaves a piece of a favorite scarf...

Elder Harber, who was a great branch president in Lodz, will leave a favorite tie behind.

They both did a marvelous work and accomplished so much in their time in Lodz. We know they will again serve faithfully and valiantly in their new assignments.

They are finally ready to go through security, after visiting three different counters for miscellanous baggage fees and checks. We drove away leaving our friends to head on to their next assignment. Little did we know that security had called them back because of something they found in a carry-on bag. We were driving home when Elder Harber called us back to collect an item that his father had given him and security was going to confiscate it. So we collected it and will bring it home in July of 2013. Elder Harber...we have you covered! You will be missed!

Elder Lapot gets his assignment!

This fine Elder is ready to serve!

Elder Lapot was up bright and early this morning ready to receive his area assignment. And he is headed to.......

GDANSK! ...where his trainer, Elder Krzyminski, will be anxiously waiting for him. We have great Elders in this northern city who are using 'bold statements of truth' to find those that are ready for the gospel. With Elder Lapot going to Gdansk, Elder Tanner has been transferred to Kielce where he will add to the work going on there. Elder Waits goes from Kielce to Bialystok and Elder Vreeken transfers to Warsaw l to become the new District Leader there. All great transfers for great missionaries.

It was off to the office to meet with Elder and Sister Richards to be briefed about his MSF card and other financial matters. Since Elder Lapot is a Polish citizen, the residency card was not an issue...YEAH!!!

Elder Lapot spent the rest of the day with the Assistants...contacting and going on appointments. He is off to a great start. In the morning he will board a train and take the 7 hour trip to Gdansk!