New Missionaries!!!

A trip to the airport to pick up new arriving Missionaries is always an adventure. This trip was no different. We are used to lost luggage....that is a regular occurence...but this trip we also lost the Missionaries! After waiting at Terminal A for quite some time, President sent the Assistants to Terminal B to look for them...and they were found!

Our newest Missionaries of the Poland Warsaw Mission. I'd like you to meet them one at a time!

Sister Folsom is from Sherwood, Oregon. She was asked to say the blessing on the food tonight at dinner, and her Polish is amazing! We are excited to have another Sister in our Mission.

Elder Roberts is from West Valley City, Utah. As he set foot outside the airport, he said that he felt like he was home. He is ready to serve the Lord here in Poland.

Now, Elder Pofelski's parents may not recognize his luggage. He 'borrowed' some to walk out of the airport. This great Elder's luggage (neither of the two suitcases) didn't make it to Poland with him, but he has a great attitude. We expect to see his bags tomorrow. Meanwhile, we were able to supply him with all he needs for the next day.

Elder Gudnason is from Iceland and knows several languages. He is excited to add 'Polish' to the list. He is ready to serve and is prepared having lived in Iceland, Germany and Denmark.

We had two extra people waiting for these Missionaries to arrive. The first was Ada Jarosz who has just returned from two semesters at BYU Provo. Ada was able to go volunteer at the MTC to help our 3 Elders and Sister learn polish. The missionaries were excited to see a familiar face.

And...Brother Jarosz...pretending he was a new missionary ready to serve. (He is Poland's biggest ham!) And we love him!

Starving Missionaries eating our traditional 'Welcome to Poland' dinner...spagetti! They devoured it! We also were saying 'good-bye' to two great Elders who have received new assignments...Elder Murphey (2nd from right) is leaving the Office to be a Zone Leader in Bydgoszcz, and Elder Garrett (Center) our 1st Assistant is being transfered to Gdansk. We will truly miss these two Elders and appreciate all their hard work. Good luck in your new assignments. We love you! In fact.....we love ALL our Missionaries. There are not better Missionaries anywhere in the world. We feel blessed to serve along side them!

A Visit to Kielce....

After dropping the Senior Missionaries off at the Mission Home, minutes later (Literally!), President and I jumped in our car and headed to Kielce. We had a dinner date with.....

.....these two great Elders, Elder Tanner and Elder Klosowiak.

Elder Klosowiak and Elder Tanner have been working hard to bring the gospel to all who will hear in the city of Kielce....and we saw the results of their hard work the next day at church!

Sunday Morning...Kielce. There was lots of excitement in the air as members and investigators started to arrive. Pictured above are: Elder Tanner, Wlodek and Halina (Investigators), Anja and Franek, and President Najberg.

This young family was found contacting (on Saturday!) and came to church. Also pictured are: Ella (a faithful member and Primary President) and Elder Klosowiak.

Some of those attending church in Kielce. It was a very full Sacrament Meeting in Kielce today. Besides members, there were 13 investigators attending.

The first Sunday of the month, members Fast and give the money they would have spent on food (or more) to the church. This money goes to help those in the Branch who may need some help. Also on this first Sunday, members of the church bear their testimonies of the truthfulness of the gospel. Many testimonies were born and the Spirit was strong in our meeting.

A very special testimony was given by David Pawlik....it was his first, and he did a great job. This young man is going to be a great missionary someday!

Senior Missionary Conference

Friday afternoon we were anticipating the arrival at the Mission Home of all our Senior Missionaries. Along with the Zatylny's, who are serving in Gdansk, was the return of Dominik Lyzwinski. He had served a mini-mission with the Elders there. After an interview with President Nielson, he was given a 'job well done' handshake and his cell phone! We hope this is a first of a few mini-missions Dominik will serve before putting in his papers to serve full-time! The Elders and members tell us he did an outstanding job while in Gdansk. Thank you Dominik.

The Zatylny's made great time coming from Gdansk and actually arrived a little early. So...

...I put them to work making hamburger patties and cleaning chicken. They were happy to serve, as usual! And they were a HUGE help to me! Thank you!

The Senior Missionaries of the Poland Warsaw Mission. Back row (L to R): Elder and Sister Moon, Sister Sheets, Elder Tarasevich, Sister Austin, Sister Tarasevich, Sister Briggs. Front Row (L to R): Elder and sister Richards, Sister and Elder Zatylny, Sister and Elder Simons. We were able to have a great meeting with these Seniors. The Moons and the Zatylny's took some time to report the group on their wonderful accomplishments in their branches. The President and I had some instruction. With the 'instructional' portion of the Conference over, it was time to get ready for the 'Grill'. I had lots of help in the kitchen...including the Tarasevich's daughter, Robyn, who had recently returned from serving a Temple Square mission.

President and I 'showed off' our aprons we had just received from a dear friend. (Thanks, Janee', they were perfect!)

Elder Tarasevich was our main 'grill man' with Elder Moon keeping him company. The hamburgers and chicken were delicious....GOOD JOB, Elders! It rained all day so the festivities were moved inside.

As in feeding the young missionaries, we have found the best way to serve a crowd is buffet style...and it worked with the Senior Missionaries, too!

We were able to 'squeeze' all 16 of us around the dining table. It was cozy...and the company was the best!

After dinner, there was time for visiting and sharing ideas. Our friend, Jeffrey Skousen, had showed me how to teach members how to play hymns by using chords. Here I am showing the Sisters this technique. We are hoping to teach those interested to play in our various branches.

That night, the Seniors who live in Warsaw returned to their homes. Everyone else 'bunked' at the Mission Home. The next morning, we met for breakfast and everyone made a sack lunch. We were all excited.....we were going on a Field Trip!!!!

At 9:30 sharp our translator, Kasia, was in front of the Mission Home with our 20-Passenger bus!

All set and ready to go see the sights of Praga....the oldest part of Warsaw which is located on the east side of the Wisla River.

Our first stop was this collection of over-sized musicians. Praga is known to attract musicians, artists and entrepeneurs. On the side of the 'drum' is a list of songs and numbers you can text to hear 'the band' play.

Many of the buildings are pre-WWII. Praga was not directly involved in the battles so they suffered little damage. The people love the 'broken down' look.....it adds to the character of this district.

This 'building', being so modern looking, seems to stick out like a sore thumb!! (It is the Polish IRS building!) Very out of place.

I had to include this picture for any electricians in America....and it had been raining all morning! No personal injury attorneys here! I am not sure if there are building codes either, or at least they don't seem to be enforced.

Another look at the buildings in this suburb of Warsaw.....Notice the wood house on the left. It is an original and the oldest house in all of Warsaw....being about 160 years old. It is now attached to a very old brick building.

There are several big factories, a Vodka Factory, a marmelade factory and others that now host as art galleries.

The building with the windows covered in red was very significant after WWII when the Russians were in control. Even though Poland supposedly had its own leaders, about 80% of the government leaders Russians. It is here that they took people to be interrogated to see what part they had played in the Uprising and how 'loyal' they would be to the new government. Many heated verbal 'battles' took place here. Many were convicted of political crimes and either executed or sent to Siberia.

After touring Praga, we passed back over the Wisla River to the Citadel, a 19th century fortress built by a Russian tsar to intimidate Warsaw after the 1830 Uprising. It was a notorious political prison for years and is now used by the Polish military. The phrase over the entrance gate: Gate of Execution. Thousands of prisioners were shipped to Siberia to work in concentration camps (working in mines or in forests cutting trees) on Soviet territory from this point.

A portion of the prison is an exhibit of life in the concentration camps of Siberia. This is a part of history that when I was in school, we never learned about this...possibly because not much was known about what was happening in these eastern block countries during Communist times.

This is a replica of the map of the Warsaw "Pact of Friendship and Cooperation" where Germany and the Soviets 'penciled' the boundaries of Poland. With one line of a pencil, millions of lives were affected. The big signature is Stalin's.

Group photo outside the Pawilon-X Museum...a part of the political prison. It was a great Senior Conference. Great instruction on how to be better Senior Missionaries, great company and great memories. Thank you to all our Seniors who serve so well. We love you and appreciate all you do to further the work here in Poland. (A special thankyou to Kasia for coming along as our translator!)

Southern Poland....Interview Trip!

Well, we re-grouped on Monday and then we were back on the road....but this time by train and with our great Assistants, Elders Garrett and Eastman!

Katowice was our destination. President has said he is not driving to Katowice again until all the road construction is finished which means we might be riding a few trains!

Getting into Katowice, we take a short walk to the chapel. Downside of riding the train...it is difficult taking supplies to the missionaries.

As President starts his interviews, District Meetings are taking place.

Elder Davis, the District Leader in the Krakow District teaches Revelation through Church Attendance. The importance of feeling the spirit in Sacrament Meeting was emphasized.

Elders Hancock and Davis role-play what they have just learned.

The Krakow District: Elders Hinckley, Hancock, Davis and Bode.

In another room, Elder Sorn, the District Leader of the Katowice District is teaching the same lesson, only to his district. This was an interview trip so both Districts were in attendance, but each District met separately.

Role-play is an important part of every District Meeting. It helps the Missionaries develop better ways and methods of teaching the gospel. Something may seem difficult until you understand how to do it. Pictured above: Sisters Austin, Allen, and Mann. Sister Austin is the investigator and Sisters Allen and Mann explain what the scriptures say about attending Church.

Sister Mann is now the investigator, with Elders Sorn and Jensen teaching.

The Missionaries of the Katowice District: (Standing) Elders Sorn, Dabrowski, Jensen, and Hillyard. (Sitting): Sisters Austin, Allen, and Mann. Transfers are in one week. There may be some changes in this District.

With District Meeting over...it's time for a little DeGrasso's Pizza! Then...

Elders Hillyard, Garrett, Bode, Sorn and Jensen.

With interviews over, it's time to race back to the station to make our train.

The Katowice Zone Leaders, Elders Dabrowski and Hillyard were worried about us getting on the right train, so we had a 'personal escort'. (The Assistants had gone on to Krakow for a two day exchange so we were on our own!) The Katowice train station is undergoing remodeling and it can be confusing.

We made our train, but it was late and very crowded. We got the last two seats that were together. It so happened that couple sitting across from us were from Chicago. We had a nice three hour conversation about everything- including the Church and what we believe in. Funny how things just seem to always work out. We made it ......with only one small hiccup!

As we were boarding the train, Elder Jensen and Elder Sorn came running to our platform. They had found Elder Eastman's bag in the chapel that he had left by mistake! He was off on an exchange with literally the 'clothes on his back'! We had left at this morning at 6:30 am, and made it back to Warsaw about 8 pm. It was a long but very productive day! Interviews are always great and to see how all the missionaries are doing. I love this Church and these missionaries!!!

Interview trip...Day 4...the Last Day!

Day 4...Sunday...our final day of interviews of the Northern part of Poland. We reunite with the faithful members of the Bialystok Branch.

Standing (L to R): Krzystof, Zoja, Patrycja, Elder Smith, Robert, President Libert, and Elder Waits. Sitting (L to R): Angelika, Ella, Grzegosz, Karolina.

Elders Waits and Smith with thier investigator, Patrycja, and Krzystof---a member of the Branch that helps with lessons.

Following Sunday meetings, the Elders had a great lesson with Patyicja. She is a wonderful young lady who is gaining a testimony of the Church of Jesus Christ. What happens to a person when the spirit touches their heart and tells them that these things are true is wonderful to see.

After visiting with the great members in Bialystok, we headed to the Elders apartment to inspect and see how things looked. The apartment was spotless. Their mothers would be proud of them. Things were in order, changes had been made to make it their home and not an assigned place to stay. Well done Elders Smith and Waits!

As we headed back to Warsaw after 4 days on the road (we traveled about 1200 KM or 775 miles), we realized this has been a 4 day National Holiday and the roads into Warsaw would probably be crowded. Along the way, it's summertime and the people are out selling berries. They stack jars in groups for miles along the way. We hardly ever see anyone stop and buy anything. Especially today, if you stopped and got out of line, it would take you forever to get back into the flow of traffic!

Another interesting Polish bridge. About 70 km outside of Warsaw the traffic stopped. It took an hour and a half to travel the next 40 miles. It was a great trip. Interviews with 23 missionaries, great visits with members, temple recommends, investigator lessons, good visits with branch leaders, sacrament meeting talks, Sunday School lesson and just a wonderful time with the missionaries and especially with my companion. We love Poland, there is so much history here. This region of the country from 1795 to 1918 was governed by Russia. In 1918 it was Poland. In 1941 it was Germany. In 1944 it was under Communist rule. Finally, in 1989 it regained it's freedom as Poland. What a great country.