14 Feb 2017

Ok, school- We've discovered a new issue in the plan: The official end date of my final transfer here in Poland is September 5. Nearly everyone in my group who is going home is going to have problems with school and all that, so the people in charge (we don't know who) are 'working on it' (we don't know what that means, or how that will all work in relation to transfer schedule, and school schedule). But we assume that we'll get back in time for some breathing room. John  says that it'll be by this month that he finds out, and if you need to choose before finding out, getting a room in Heritage halls will be just fine. And yeah, Elder Haskett and I talked about rooming, and it'll be totally fun with him being near me ;) When it comes to math class, I did take, and pass BC calc, but the things that max mentioned I do not remember, so I'll need to take the refresher course. Probably the one that carries on throughout the semester, considering we don't know when I'm getting back. I think that answers all the questions... 

Wait til the transfer is over before you send the package. There's a very very large chance that I already know where I'll be, considering one of the AP's told the Elder who's going to be my companion who then told me, but we'll still wait, because the AP loves trolling people:)

The week was good, there isn't much to report from this week, except that K.'s father gave her permission to be baptized! She's going to be baptized the 25th, or, the second to last day of the transfer, and that's going to be amazing! three baptisms, one at the very beggining, one in the middle, and one right at the end! THATS SO COOL! I don't know what finally changed the people's minds here, but the work is moving forward way faster that it has been over the last couple of years!

The only contact we had with the one ex-member was a telephone call where he said that he didn't want to meet with us... Sorry for getting you all excited about that. He says that he just can't pay tithing. I remember a story that Elder Platter used so long ago when someone we were teaching had doubts about tithing. He asked him if he made sure that if the person paid tithing, he would meet all his financial needs and give him enough to survive, and the person said 'yes'. Then Elder Platter asked "so why do you trust me more than you trust God?" It was really powerful, and in the end he actually did pay his tithing. But when I related the story to the excommunicated member, he just laughed and said that it still wasn't possible. In the end he just said that he'd think about it, and would call me if he wants to meet.

Highest point this week was definitely when K. told us that she was allowed to be baptized! She was so happy, and told us that she wants to share this happiness with other people, so basically she's going to be a fire member missionary!

Best food is probably what we ate at the Dalton's on Sunday! They made curry, and compared to the fact that I'm trying to live really cheap and am only eating plain things that aren't really well put together meals, any dish like that is gourmet to us!

President Turek is amazing! We get to see him about three times a transfers, and he makes sure that he has personal interviews with every missionary once a transfer. He does a really good job at inspiring us, and really knows what he's doing! It's probably very stressful, especially considering that he's still got his own family to take care of, which normally is a full time job, but he manages, and he only every helps us! I'm so glad I got to serve with him

We were already allowed to be pretty flexible with our schedule, so the changes made haven't made such a huge difference. But it is nice to know that they're trusting us to use our time more wisely, and it is good training for real life. I might just have to be one of those guys who uses a daily planner in their every day life...

Love you all!

Elder Liechty