14 December 2015

The most hideous Advent Wreath ever

Their Christmas tree:)

Welp.

We're the Primary leaders.

The baptism of Grzegorz and Malwina hasn't happened yet, that's next week. But they have two kids- 5 and 2 years old. And they are more rowdy than any kid I have ever seen in my whole life. They're absolutely insane but lovable. So in all, I'm the piano player, Family Home Evening director, and one of two primary instructors. Elder Cutting really has no problems with doing things like that. Like, he's already asked me to set two people apart to their callings in Polish, and expects the missionaries to give like, 20 minute talks on Sundays. It's worked out so far, so I guess he's got a working plan.

Also, I'm singing in front of everyone for the Christmas Sacrament meeting next week.

The mission is pushing my bounds in more ways than I ever thought

Speaking of that market thing that we went to, we've met a ton of really nice people, and have invited them to this open house we're actually doing today! So hopefully that works out well. But one thing that did happen there... eugh... Remember how I told you about that Polish dish that is like, some leftover meat parts surrounded by this gelatin? I ate that.

It was disgusting.

There are some decorations here, but not really like the States. in the Centrum, where all the malls are and stuff, there's more lights, but still not a lot. Nor are there christmas markets. the holidays here are different, though, Everything starts on Christmas Eve, which they call "Wigilia", and they party through the New Year, so I don't think much happens before Christmas. 

The piano's good... I still only play with one hand while in Sacrament Meeting, but while practicing I'm able to play both hands, just pretty slowly, so I think I'm getting as much help in this as I am in everything else. But the problem is that I'm the only person in the Branch who knows what music is. One of the sister missionaries can sing pretty well, and conduct, so she does that. But it's tough. So that means Elder Berlin can't play guitar. One thing we even noticed, was that when he's singing by himself, he always manages to turn the song into the minor key!

Here is a list of our investigators-

Tomasz and Mateusz Synak- They're brothers, but we meet with them separately, and they both seem more interested in just seeing what the church is. But hey, technically, they're progressing

Michał- he's our star-child. We actually just got a baptismal date for him for Jan 30, and he seems really interested. He and he's fine with knowing that answers come in time, and that as he keeps searching, they'll come. 

Daniel- He's from Ukraine, actually, and has met the chruch, and is really excited to be baptized in February when he turns 18. But he's got a smoking addiction, that we're working with.

Simon- we just met him a few days ago, but hes a real, honest truth seeker. And he has a lot of deep, soul searchy questions that are all answered perfectly by the Book of Mormon, so that's awesome.

Piotr and Małgorzata- The proffesor and his wife, who have known the church for like, 40 years. He knows the BoM better than everyone in the world, and no one really knows why they don't want to be baptized. She just recently started to really investigate, though. And they're both Buddhists.

Grzegorz and Malwina- With a baptismal date. The problem that they live 50 minutes away is that he often works in Ireland, and she doesn't have a drivers liscense, and no busses run out where they live. So we'd have to use the Cutting's car to get there, but that's not really an option... Also tithing is a big issue with them. Money's real tight in every home in Poland. 

Jan Pakora- the father of two youth in our branch (we got some!) His wife is also a member, but he doesn't really have a huge interest in the church

We see the Sister missionaries during district meetings, mutual, english class, institute, and on sunday. And some service projects we do. Which aren't often at all. 

We always E-mail first thing in the morning now, but we are planning on seeing this cool German tower that was used during WWII, so that'll be neat!

Also, it's crazy- the pretty much childlike (not childish) faith that these people have here is amazing! Like, we grow up in the church and we hear about miracles, and everyone I've ever asked is like "yeah, I believe that God could heal me, but I just don't think that he would" and all those stories of being careful of being dissapointed if a blessing doesn't work. BUT we gave a blessing to one of the members, who had five days of migraines straight, and then caught the flu, and right afterwards, she looked super healthy again. Like, two for two actual miracle healings that I've seen! I feel like we're selling ourselves short back at home. Or maybe it was just me, but the power of the priesthood is God's power on earth. When Christ was healing everyone, we think of that as that great time and power that he had, but I have it, Dad has it, and a ton of other men have that power. THAT is something pretty amazing.

Oh yeah, we had Advent. But there was nothing green in our house at all. Or candles... so... (see picture above)

LOVE YA!!

Sam

From Kent's letter:

A lot of times I talk about how things are struggling here, but don't let that fool you- Those who are members, Dagmara, Jan, Łukasz, Nick, Alex, and Joanna, are probably some of the strongest members in the world. Nothing will get through them. With them, the branch will float. That is for sure. The mission is fun, I am enjoying myself, don't worry about that!