Some great missionaries return home to their families.

The day came when some of our Mission's finest missionaries departed for home. Elders Davis, Plumb, Nielson, Garrett, Eastman and Darowski all left their marks on our mission and the people of Poland. This is at the airport when today they will be flying via Paris for home. It is 6:30am and they are about to board the plane. (As we found out later- there were delays and they missed their connecting flights in Paris which meant instead of all flying together to Salt Lake and arriving in the afternoon, some now went via Atlanta or Chicago and will be arriving at midnight or later. We are so sorry for this wild trip home.)

The last night in the mission home. It was a fun time to listen to their experiences and the joy of serving. This is a special group with great personalities. Everyone had a favorite request for the night.

Sister Briggs came to the mission home to help prepare for the dinner. Thank you for all your help. She is so good to assist in everything.

Leaving behind for all the mission to remember him by was Elder Nielson's favorite tie. Everyone in the mission loves Elder Nielson. Idaho Falls, Idaho will be expecting him.

Elder Eastman was one of our great assistants. He, too, was loved and respected by everyone. He was always a joy to have in the Mission Home. He will return to Mapelton, Utah.

Elder Plumb was everyone's silent hero. He spoke Polish so very well and impressed everyone. He will return to St. George, Utah. He came through for us all the time.

Elder Darowski served in the Mission Office and was wonderful. He made life so much easier for the President and the mission. He returns to Orem, Utah. He also gave President a great tie which he will wear often.

Elder Davis is a great man. We could count on him to do whatever we needed. He traveled around the mission the last two weeks helping companionships and showing them how to do missionary work- the right way. His home is Syracuse, Utah.

Elder Garrett was a champ. He served faithfully all the time and had fun doing everything. What a pleasure it was to be around him. He was another great assistant. On the way from Gdansk to the mission home, one of his bags was stolen. Even though he was disappointed, he didn't let this get him down. He was a leader all the way. He returns to Kaysville, Utah.

We called them the "Yellow Group" because their cards on President's Transfer board were in yellow cardstock. We will miss these great leaders and Elders. We know all of them will go on to do great things in life!

Our two current assistants (Hillyard and Dabrowski) saying goodbye to former assistants (Garrett and Eastman). Interesting sidenote: Garrett trained Hillyard and Eastman trained Dabrowski.

Goodbye for now. We will see you sometime in 2013. We love you Elders Davis, Plumb, Nielson, Garrett, Eastman and Darowski. Keep the Mission in your prayers.

A President Nielson Wish for the Wolska Chapel

From the first moment President walked into the Wolska Chapel on the evening of June 30, 2010, he commented, "This is too nice of a cultural hall to not have a basketball standard". He has been trying to figure out how to solve this. What is a Church cultural hall without a basketball hoop? Since Elders Garrett, Eastman and Nielson came in the night before, because of being far away in Gdansk and Bydgoszcz, they headed out early at 7:00am to assist and have their last big "service project" in Poland.

As things were getting underway, the Assistants- Hillyard and Dabrowski arrived having just dropped all the trainers and trainees off at the train station. The hall had parts and pieces everywhere.

Godfrey had been outside and came in to help. This turned into a big project. Some of the pieces didn't fit, but Godfrey came to the rescue with drills and manpower.

The group decided to make this historical day a memoriable one also. So they signed a piece of paper as participants and then made their own "time capsule". Guess where they buried their document?

That's right... inside the pole! This was a great day and a fun experience. They had to hurry and finish the service project, however; because Elder Garrett had his passport stolen the day before. In order for him to fly home tomorrow morning, he needed to be issued a temporary passport from the US Embassy.

The excitement was building. This was becoming a reality.

After a couple of mistakes from not reading the instructions and being too anxious to put things together, they finally finished and actually played for a few minutes before addressing the passport problem. It looked so great to see this. Our only cultural hall in Poland and a place for everyone to play basketball (and hang things on or around for branch socials).

Its done! The finished product. Now you can play basketball in the Wolska Chapel. This was an historic day. President thinks they can send him home now, because his work is finished....

Trainers and Trainees head out to their assigned cities!

It's finally here! Today is the day we 'push' our new Missionaries out of the 'nest' and into the real world. Gathering for a quick breakfast before loading everyone up, everyone is excited. It's 6:45 am, and I had counted on 12 for breakfast but 23 showed up. (There was plenty of food...another miracle in my life!) There are even a few missionaries missing from this picture who were still loading suitcases...like our hard-working great Assistants!

Ready to drive to the train station to travel to their assigned cities are: Sisters Marshall and Forsey (Katowice); Sisters Leppanen and Sheahan (Poznan); Elders Hayes and Hooker (Wroclaw); and Elders Jensen and Van Bakel (Katowice).

We will see all these great missionaries again next week at the Katowice Zone Conference.

Here are some familiar faces....Elders Nielson, Eastman and Garrett! They are traveling to the States tomorrow....but where are they going with President? Stay tuned! It must be cool....look at the smiles on their faces!

Anyone looking for our last two Trainees, Elders Walter and Dopp, assigned to Warsaw?

All cars were full, so Elder Murphey and Elder Myler are trying to figure out how to get them and all the luggage to thier apartments in Warsaw. It could be tricky! But between buses, tramwajs and the metro line they are sure to make it!

A very busy 3 days....and it's not over yet! Missionaries returning home are arriving at the Mission Home in a few hours. There is bedding to be changed, (lots) of laundry to do and meals to prepare! I better get going! We head out for 8 days for Zone Conferences and I don't want to come home to this. Still....i love my missionaries and this church!

New Missionaries meet their Trainers!

First FULL DAY in Poland! These new Missionaries are on their way to the Mission Office for orientation and to begin their legal work to live in the country. (L to R): Elders Dopp, Van Bakel, Hayes, and Walter; Sisters Forsey and Sheahan.

The Mission Office is only minutes away from the Mission Home, and President Nielson takes this opportunity to teach,train and visit. There is much to learn regarding what is expected to be a Missionary in the Poland Warsaw Mission....basically, BE OBEDIENT to all mission guidelines as outlined in Preach My Gospel and the white Missionary Handbook.

Once at the office, the new Missionaries begin orientation with Elder and Sister Peck, our great Office Couple. We really DO appreciate the Pecks. They spend long hours in the office making sure this mission runs as it should. Thank you!

After Orientation, they head to the Rynek (Old Town) to do a little contacting.

The Office Elders and the Sisters from Warsaw I have volunteered to be their companions to make sure their first time at 'contacting' in Poland is a great one!

Trying not to be obvious, we 'spotted' Sisters Mann and Sheahan talking to a man. They ended up teaching him the first discussion on the spot, got a phone number. He was excited to accept and read the Book of Mormon. Nice work, Sisters! Way to spread the gospel!

Now, while our New Missionaries are busy getting the hang of missionary work, guess who arrived at the Mission Home?

THEIR TRAINERS! Elders Murphey, Myler, Hooker and Jensen and Sisters Leppanen and Marshall. These great Missionaries are our first to go through the 'In-field Training for New Missionaries Program'.....a 12 week training course for new Missionaries and their Trainers. It has come to us from the Missionary Department, and we are excited to use it.

Trainers and Trainees -- together for the first time. BUT...no one knows who is going to be with whom! Here come the assignments....

Elder Walter will be trained by Elder Myler....and where will they be serving?

In the Warsaw I Branch....where they just had two baptisms last week. A great branch with lots of missionary work going on.

Elder Dopp will be trained by Elder Murphey.

Elder Murphey was just transferred from Bydgoszcz and will be serving with Elder Dopp in the Warsaw II Branch...probably the largest in Poland. Great people and an excitement for missionary work as well.

Sister Marshall will be training Sister Forsey....

...and they will be serving in Katowice where we just held a wonderful District Conference. Again...we thank our members for the great job they do there helping the missionaries.

Sister Lepannen will be training Sister Sheahan. And where will they be serving?

In the beautiful city of Poznan! Poznan has had several baptisms this year and will be dedicating a new chapel soon. They grew out of the old one. That is the kind of grow we love to see.

Elder VanBakel and his Trainer, Elder Jensen ...

...will also be heading down to Katowice to serve there together. Two new missionaries in a city that is ready to be converted!

And our final new Missionary, Elder Hayes, will be trained by Elder Hooker.

And they will be serving together over in Wroclaw where the members there are so good about fellowshipping their new converts.

After meeting their new Trainers, visiting and getting to know them for a few minutes, it was back to instruction time with President Nielson. These new Missionaries come from the MTC well prepared, and they are fast learners. We expect great things from them AND their Trainers.

After training, we all sat down to a great meal together, a testimony meeting, 9:00 p.m. Planning, then it was off to bed. It was a wonderful day. We love our missionaries and know they work their hardest to serve the Lord while they are preaching the gospel in Poland. What better way to spend 18/24 months than this! I need to close....tomorrow starts VERY early. Another full day!

POLAND WARSAW MISSION TRANSFER 10 NOV 2011

MISSION OFFICE-
Assistants- Hillyard & Dabrowski Office Elders- Johnson & Curtis**
Office Couple- E/S Peck Office Specialist- Sister Briggs**
BYDGOSZCZ ZONE-
Zone Leaders- Lundin &; Vreeken**
Bydgoszcz- Tanner & Ball (DL)
Gdansk- Waits & Berry** (DL)
Sisters McAdams & Steadman
Poznan- Buckner (DL) & Rogers
Sisters Leppanen**(Trainer) & Sheahan
Szczecin- Kennedy & Fletcher

WARSAW ZONE-
Zone Leaders- Sorn & Krzyminski**
Warsaw I- Myler** (DL & Trainer) & Walter
Sister Mann &; Garcia
Bialystok- Hannemann & Sheridan
Lodz- Gladun** (DL) & Leimer
Basha & Bode & Smith
Sisters Allen & Ellis
Warsaw ll- Murphey** (DL & Trainer) & Dopp
Sisters Bailey & Jones
Lublin- Marsing & Roberts

KATOWICE ZONE-
Zone Leaders- Siebert & Klosowiak**
Katowice- Jensen** (DL & Trainer) &Van Bakel
Sister Marshall**(Trainer) & Forsey
Krakow- Kalinowski **(DL) & Pofelski
Kielce- Hancock & Gudnason
Wroclaw- Hooker **(DL & Trainer) & Hayes
Sisters Stay & Folsom

Transferred ** Asssignment change TRAINEE/New Missionary

Our New Missionaries Arrive!

We are so excited to welcome these new missionaries to the Poland Warsaw Mission. Let me introduce them to you one at a time......

This is Elder Van Bakel from the Netherlands. Yes, that is where President Nielson served his mission as a young man. They spoke Dutch all the way home.

Next is Elder Dopp who is from Ammon, Idaho.

We have a new missionary from Newport, Wales...Elder Hayes!

Elder Walter calls Palmdale, California his home.

We also added two great Sisters to our Missionary pool. Sister Sheahan is from Hamilton, Montana, and...

...Sister Forsey is from Highland, Utah. What a great group! All are excited to be here and are ready to work....hard!

An interesting side-note: This nice man came through the terminal gate and walked directly to us to let us know that we have great missionaries and would be out shortly. He was there on business- developing video games. Bishop Farnsworth is from North Carolina and grew up in Mesa, Arizona! President Nielson knew is father and uncle. It is ALWAYS a very small world in the Church!

Off we go to pack up the bags and head to the mission home.

Everything fit in the transporter! It is so nice to have a big van again in the mission.

After dropping their bags off in their rooms and having a tour of the mission home, it was time to eat. A good home-cooked meal is always appreciated after a very long plane ride!

While President was finishing up initial interviews, these talented Missionaries gathered around the piano and sang hymns in Polish in parts! I am always so amazed at the talents and abilities of our Missionaries. They all have much to offer and are willing to share. We love them already!

As I post this, our six new Missionaries are all sound asleep. They were all very tired and were ready to go to bed early. It will be a long day tomorrow....but exciting. Tomorrow....they meet their trainers who will also be staying in the mission home tomorrow night. (I better get some rest!)