On Saturday, February 19, 2011 our investigators, Stanisław and Wiesława, were baptized along with 3 other people to make up the largest baptismal service in recorded history in Poland!!! Thanks to amazing planning from the Sister Missionaries in the Warsaw I Branch the Baptism was super smooth. All the people getting baptized showed up early, just as they were instructed too. All of them were excited for their baptism. Of course we were nervous and anxious for our investigators but also knew that they were totally ready. It came time for pictures, the time I was personally dreading…because Stanisław got pretty worried at the last baptism when he saw how many cameras came out (he is kinda self-conscious). I had told him I would tell everyone that he only wanted ONE picture taken. I did tell them. It didn’t help… the cameras seemed to simply come out of the walls… I still can’t figure out why EVERYONE and their mother needs a picture on THEIR camera… especially since they all know that all the pictures are going to be on Sister Nelson’s Blog. Anyways…somehow we made it through that…but Stanisław doesn’t exactly look happy in those pictures.
Anyways… they also brought their daughter to the baptism. She is 16 and is apparently not super anti-church but still not exactly interested, but she came to support her parents, which I thought was really nice of her. We started the baptismal service and had the two speakers. The other people getting baptized chose the speakers because our investigators said that they didn’t really have a preference for who should speak and that maybe someone else would. How thoughtful. They were great talks on Baptism and also the Holy Ghost, one from a 5 year member and another from a recent convert. The spirit was great, the music was nice, and everyone knew that this was a very special day for these 5 people.
After the talks we all got up and went into the baptistery to watch the Baptisms. Of course at this time no one can help but have a big giant grin on their face, it is kind of a really special moment and anyone there can feel that. The first one to get baptized was the little girl, I think she is 8. Then her mother was next. Then it Wiesława came out with Brother Magnuski, whom they had asked to baptize them both. It was so amazing to see her standing there in the water. And of course, as is always true, poor Brother Magnuski messed up her name twice…poor guy, but she was a good sport about it and everything was totally fine! :D Then it was Stanisławs turn, Brother Magnuski baptized him as well. All went really well and then finally the Assistants investigator, Emmanuel, was baptized by Elder Garrett. It was truly touching to see 5 people be baptized all at the same time! While they were all drying off and changing back we all went back into the Chapel and watched The Restoration on a projector (which I thought was a great idea!). We had a ton of people show up to support the new members it was really great.
When they were ready our new members came out and joined us until the movie finished. Following the movie each new member was kindly asked to share a brief Testimony. All of them were amazing but I must say that our two new members bore simply Amazing testimonies! Wiesława said there were 2 things that she would like to see happen in the next couple years. The first was that her children would come to knowledge of the Gospel and join the church, the second was that she would like to see the second chapel built in Warsaw and then progression towards a Temple here!!! How amazing is that! She is so cool. Stanisław also bore an amazing testimony about baptisms in different churches he has seen but how the baptism he went through, though similar in act sometimes, was much much different in feeling. He also then went on to talk about the restoration of the Aaronic Priesthood and the authority to baptize. He was throwing church history and dates all over the place! It is truly staggering the shear knowledge that these two have coming into the church.
After the meeting we had refreshments and they stayed and tried out all the American refreshments, lol because all the missionaries made them. It was fantastic to see them mingling with other members and really getting to fit in. They are just so amazing, I don’t think I will ever stop saying it! Well, that pretty much does it for the miraculous day of baptisms in Warsaw!
Until next time!
-Starszy Taylor
Monday, February 28, 2011
Saturday, February 12, 2011
Week 54
This week was a very busy week for us here in the office. Zone Conferences were this week so we were busy getting things ready to be shipped out to the mission, gathering up all the mail for all the missionaries. We had to pick up someone from England at the Airport. She came to help get all the financial stuff in order here in the Office, Elder Richards was very grateful for the training and help. We also had to take her back a few days later.
A few of our days this week were quite literally planned down to the minute, which is kinda odd here because we generally have some spare time somewhere.
On Monday we had planned with 2 other missionary companionships (Elders Lundin, Kalinowski, Hancock and Waits) here in Poland to go to Adam's Ties :D there are more ties there than I ever dreamed to see in one place... And they are gorgeous...and super cheap. 28zł for one tie, that is about 10$ and these things are top quality, it is amazing, I am going to come home with enough ties that I won't have to wear one twice in a year :) It was a super fun trip and we should be going again towards the beginning of February when everyone has more money again.
We had a great lesson with Stanisław (Staa-nee-swaav) and Wiesława (Vee-eswaa-vaa) (the aa sounds like the "o" in "on") on Tuesday at the Chapel. We talked about the 4th lesson and the Commandments. They already knew all of them and were extremely accepting. It feels kinda weird teaching them sometimes because they have prepared themselves so well over such a long period of time that they already know everything, which is totally opposite of anyone else I have ever taught out here. We also talked about what they thought of the baptism that they attended with us last Saturday. They really enjoyed the opportunity to see how everything goes. We set up with them to have their interviews on the next Tuesday. They are super prepared and I don't think that there is anything that could stop them at this point, they have already overcome a lot and made the decision to be baptized before even meeting with us again. It is so amazing to me how some people are so prepared to hear the Gospel while others can't even begin to fathom changing their ways in the least.
We have been keeping busy here in the Office, I am still on mission tech support lol. Elder Darowski is on a mission to get peoples records where they should be and the Branch Boundaries in the right places. Elder Darowski was also able to finally pick up his Decision that says he is now legal in Poland!!!! He was super happy, no more flights to England for him! We took care of our weekly office duties including all the stuff at the Post office...lots of fun...
Today for P-Day we went and did Yoga!!! It was super fun, and there were WAY more people there than we expected. I think we may be doing that kinda regularly for a P-Day activity. We also had the hope to go to the big park here in Warsaw because the sky was actually blue this morning and the sun was out! But when we got out of Yoga all relaxed and everything the sky was grey and kinda bleak so that plan got shot down
Well, that is pretty much it for this week, in a week we will be having our baptism for Stanisław and Wiesława! It will be amazing! Pray for them to have an amazingly spiritual experience as they follow Christ's example.
Have a Great week!!!!
-Starszy Taylor
P.S. I posted a few pictures :)
A few of our days this week were quite literally planned down to the minute, which is kinda odd here because we generally have some spare time somewhere.
On Monday we had planned with 2 other missionary companionships (Elders Lundin, Kalinowski, Hancock and Waits) here in Poland to go to Adam's Ties :D there are more ties there than I ever dreamed to see in one place... And they are gorgeous...and super cheap. 28zł for one tie, that is about 10$ and these things are top quality, it is amazing, I am going to come home with enough ties that I won't have to wear one twice in a year :) It was a super fun trip and we should be going again towards the beginning of February when everyone has more money again.
We had a great lesson with Stanisław (Staa-nee-swaav) and Wiesława (Vee-eswaa-vaa) (the aa sounds like the "o" in "on") on Tuesday at the Chapel. We talked about the 4th lesson and the Commandments. They already knew all of them and were extremely accepting. It feels kinda weird teaching them sometimes because they have prepared themselves so well over such a long period of time that they already know everything, which is totally opposite of anyone else I have ever taught out here. We also talked about what they thought of the baptism that they attended with us last Saturday. They really enjoyed the opportunity to see how everything goes. We set up with them to have their interviews on the next Tuesday. They are super prepared and I don't think that there is anything that could stop them at this point, they have already overcome a lot and made the decision to be baptized before even meeting with us again. It is so amazing to me how some people are so prepared to hear the Gospel while others can't even begin to fathom changing their ways in the least.
We have been keeping busy here in the Office, I am still on mission tech support lol. Elder Darowski is on a mission to get peoples records where they should be and the Branch Boundaries in the right places. Elder Darowski was also able to finally pick up his Decision that says he is now legal in Poland!!!! He was super happy, no more flights to England for him! We took care of our weekly office duties including all the stuff at the Post office...lots of fun...
Today for P-Day we went and did Yoga!!! It was super fun, and there were WAY more people there than we expected. I think we may be doing that kinda regularly for a P-Day activity. We also had the hope to go to the big park here in Warsaw because the sky was actually blue this morning and the sun was out! But when we got out of Yoga all relaxed and everything the sky was grey and kinda bleak so that plan got shot down
Well, that is pretty much it for this week, in a week we will be having our baptism for Stanisław and Wiesława! It will be amazing! Pray for them to have an amazingly spiritual experience as they follow Christ's example.
Have a Great week!!!!
-Starszy Taylor
P.S. I posted a few pictures :)
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