We just met the new Mission President! We had interviews this morning and we were able to eat lunch with him as well. He is a great guy and I can already tell he loves us as the missionaries and the polish people as well. I am greatly looking forward to having him as our new Mission President.
This week has been really fast. I can't believe I have already been here in Wrocław for almost 2 weeks now! Elder Allred and I get along great. We finally found time this past week to really clean up our apartment, it has just been really hectic here because we don't spend a lot of time at home because it is so far away. By far away I mean at the end of the tramwaj line. It takes roughly an hour to get from our door to the chapel door. So a lot of the time we find ourselves staying at the other apartment here with the other Elders, who live much closer. We have been doing lots of contacting as well, lots of whiteboards which is great.
We had set up a couple meetings this past week, but all of them flaked on us... (didn't show up) but then on Sunday we had a miracle! Randomly at the beginning of church these two asian guys show up in normal clothes for church. We happily invite them in and get to talking, well, Elder Allred did because I was stuck behind the piano playing some prelude music. (Yes I did have to play in Church again, but I had a little time to practice this week and I didn't make any mistakes through 3 songs all with 3 verses! I was so happy and so nervous) He found out that they were Korean and that one of them was a member who served his mission in New York, and so he spoke English. His friend with him only speaks Korean so all the communicating we did with him was through his friend. They stayed for fast and testimony meeting, which was great. The Member bore his Testimony, and told us a story of how his sister barely missed being victim of a recent terrorist attack in Korea. It was a touching story. After Sacrament meeting we had the opportunity to watch the Restoration with them both. Bless the member, he was able to translate the English copy we had into Korean in real time so that his friend, who seems to be pretty interested could understand. Afterwards we bore our testimonies and explained a bit more about the Book of Mormon. When we asked if we could give him one he practically jumped out of his seat! He was so surprised that we would be willing to give it to him for free! And in Korean too! Unfortunately we didn't have a copy in Korean at the Chapel so we gave him an English one, which he was also just as grateful for, we will be getting a Korean copy soon. It was so amazing how Heavenly Father blessed us like that, even though the appointments we did have flaked us we were still able to teach someone!
English is also starting this week and we hope to have a lot of people show up for that! Sister Kimball is so great, she doesn't speak much polish so the people she speaks to usually communicate in broken English and she always invites them to our English class, so hopefully we have a lot come since we are just starting it this Thursday. On Whiteboards yesterday I really noticed that I can actually communicate with people here! I can understand most of what people are saying to me, and I can say what I want and I am getting to the point where it makes more sense to say it in Polish than in English. Occasionally I have to pray in English, and it is always so weird, I feel more comfortable praying in Polish now, its great! I know that Heavenly Father is really blessing me with the Gift of Tongues! How else could I possibly pick up a new language in just 6 short months!? I am so grateful for this opportunity to learn a new language, it is such an amazing experience.
Well, I think that is pretty much it for this week. We haven't been teaching a lot, been spending all our time looking for people who will let us teach them, which actually seems to be pretty hard here in Wrocław. We are trying though, and I know that as we keep trying the Lord will bless us with people who are prepared to receive the full Gospel.
Until Next week!
-Starszy Taylor
Tuesday, July 6, 2010
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Week 23
It is so amazing to me how much can happen in a week, how fast it can go by, and then looking back on it seems like forever ago...
Well, this past week I was transfered to Wrocław to be companions with Elder Allred! It was hard to say goodbye to Poznań and the members there, they are fantastic. I was also super sad to have to leave just before the sisters were going to have a baptism! Elder Contor has told me how great the baptism went! Oh how I wish I could have been there... such is a mission. I was able to say goodbye to some people which was nice. I was so sad that I didn't break the Contor Curse... He has never had a companion longer than one transfer...Until now! But it is weird cause he is going back with an old companion... oh well. I really do like it here in Wrocław though. We have a much larger branch here, it has about 15-20 people. Which is super nice because for the past 5 months I have been in church with less than 8 people...lol, and I have also had to do a bunch of stuff each sunday... I was expecting a bit of a break this sunday... Silly me...
Right before Sacrament Meeting was going to start the Branch President came over to me and Elder Allred and asked us if we played the piano... I don't know what came over me... but I said I played a little bit... Now for the background on my Piano playing "career"... When I was little my parents diligently tried to get me to go to Piano lessons, and practice at home. I did for a while, but eventually refused to go, I didn't like practicing... years went by, occasionally I would hear a song I liked and try and relearn how to read music so I could pick out a few notes here and there. I also played Percussion in Elementary School and Junior High, so I had a bit of music reading practice there too, but again...I didn't practice. Since being on my mission I have found time occasionally to try and pick out some songs on the piano. First in Kielce, then a bit in Lublin. In Poznań, for some reason, I was doing it more...Sister LeFevre was also doing it a bit. I was suddenly able to read the top line of a song and sight read it!!!! Holy Smokes how the crap did that happen....so ya... Sunday came around and as I said before, I told him I could play a little bit. "Great" he said (He speaks English too) "would you be willing to play for us today in Sacrament meeting, it is you or nothing." I should have said no... But I did it. I played the piano in Sacrament meeting for the first time ever! Aren't you so proud Mom and Dad :) all those lessons weren't for nothing! Never thought I would play the piano in church... It went...alright... I had to sight read 2 of the songs...had never played them before then...that was scarry... The members were really patient and grateful :D The Branch President told them it was my first time playing in Sacrament meeting.
Monday we did a Whiteboard, which was fun, always is...I swear I attract the crazy people or something... It is also always great fun when someone tells you "Your Wasting your time, we don't need your help, go home" All you can do is keep smiling :D Family Home Evening was great though! There is a really cool member here named Adam :D He is in charge of Activities in the branch. We also had the Korean Family come to FHE :D They have a daughter and a Son who is 9. He is so funny. The Dad was at work so he couldn't come. Sister Kimball (She is an Elderly Sister who is serving here in the Family History Center) Cooked Chicken Enchiladas for us!!! They were really yummy! At the end of FHE I was teaching the boy how to do a handstand! In Polish! I am so happy to be around kids again! this branch has quite a few! He picked up pretty quick :D I really like it here.
Haven't had any meetings with investigators yet, Elder Allred and I are still trying to figure out where stuff is here... We both are new to the city, so we have been spending a lot of time getting use to everything. We also live really far away... sad day. The weather is great here! Short sleeves are on and the sun is Shining :D Hopefully we can get out contacting soon and find some really cool investigators! I am excited to finally have a normal companion who isn't also Branch President. I should probably be staying in this city for a while too :D I may very well train here! When the next group of Elders come in (They are in the MTC now) there will be 9 of them! Which means that only 4 Missionaries will not train this next transfer! How crazy is that! Well, that is pretty much it for this week. I love you all!
-Starszy Taylor
Well, this past week I was transfered to Wrocław to be companions with Elder Allred! It was hard to say goodbye to Poznań and the members there, they are fantastic. I was also super sad to have to leave just before the sisters were going to have a baptism! Elder Contor has told me how great the baptism went! Oh how I wish I could have been there... such is a mission. I was able to say goodbye to some people which was nice. I was so sad that I didn't break the Contor Curse... He has never had a companion longer than one transfer...Until now! But it is weird cause he is going back with an old companion... oh well. I really do like it here in Wrocław though. We have a much larger branch here, it has about 15-20 people. Which is super nice because for the past 5 months I have been in church with less than 8 people...lol, and I have also had to do a bunch of stuff each sunday... I was expecting a bit of a break this sunday... Silly me...
Right before Sacrament Meeting was going to start the Branch President came over to me and Elder Allred and asked us if we played the piano... I don't know what came over me... but I said I played a little bit... Now for the background on my Piano playing "career"... When I was little my parents diligently tried to get me to go to Piano lessons, and practice at home. I did for a while, but eventually refused to go, I didn't like practicing... years went by, occasionally I would hear a song I liked and try and relearn how to read music so I could pick out a few notes here and there. I also played Percussion in Elementary School and Junior High, so I had a bit of music reading practice there too, but again...I didn't practice. Since being on my mission I have found time occasionally to try and pick out some songs on the piano. First in Kielce, then a bit in Lublin. In Poznań, for some reason, I was doing it more...Sister LeFevre was also doing it a bit. I was suddenly able to read the top line of a song and sight read it!!!! Holy Smokes how the crap did that happen....so ya... Sunday came around and as I said before, I told him I could play a little bit. "Great" he said (He speaks English too) "would you be willing to play for us today in Sacrament meeting, it is you or nothing." I should have said no... But I did it. I played the piano in Sacrament meeting for the first time ever! Aren't you so proud Mom and Dad :) all those lessons weren't for nothing! Never thought I would play the piano in church... It went...alright... I had to sight read 2 of the songs...had never played them before then...that was scarry... The members were really patient and grateful :D The Branch President told them it was my first time playing in Sacrament meeting.
Monday we did a Whiteboard, which was fun, always is...I swear I attract the crazy people or something... It is also always great fun when someone tells you "Your Wasting your time, we don't need your help, go home" All you can do is keep smiling :D Family Home Evening was great though! There is a really cool member here named Adam :D He is in charge of Activities in the branch. We also had the Korean Family come to FHE :D They have a daughter and a Son who is 9. He is so funny. The Dad was at work so he couldn't come. Sister Kimball (She is an Elderly Sister who is serving here in the Family History Center) Cooked Chicken Enchiladas for us!!! They were really yummy! At the end of FHE I was teaching the boy how to do a handstand! In Polish! I am so happy to be around kids again! this branch has quite a few! He picked up pretty quick :D I really like it here.
Haven't had any meetings with investigators yet, Elder Allred and I are still trying to figure out where stuff is here... We both are new to the city, so we have been spending a lot of time getting use to everything. We also live really far away... sad day. The weather is great here! Short sleeves are on and the sun is Shining :D Hopefully we can get out contacting soon and find some really cool investigators! I am excited to finally have a normal companion who isn't also Branch President. I should probably be staying in this city for a while too :D I may very well train here! When the next group of Elders come in (They are in the MTC now) there will be 9 of them! Which means that only 4 Missionaries will not train this next transfer! How crazy is that! Well, that is pretty much it for this week. I love you all!
-Starszy Taylor
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Week 22
Whew...as usual...don't have much time! Guess that has kinda been something you all have gotten use to by now lol
Okay...So, last monday I went on an Exchange with Elder Tribe, who is a zone leader in the zone, but only 1 group ahead of mine. He is so cool and tons of fun to be around and a great missionary. I went out there to Bydgoszcz and we had some meetings and then passed out a lot of English flyers! Came back the next day in the Morning for a crazy P-Day in Poznań because the Elders from Wrocław and the Zone leaders came in for the day! We had lots of fun and played some sports in the park. The only problem was the bugs.... never have I seen so many... It was like playing in fog...of bugs...disgusting... But the sports were fun!
We have also done a lot of whiteboarding this week! Which is great because it is by far my favorite contacting method! We always whiteboard with the Sisters, they are great! So dedicated and brave. I have never seen anyone contact like Sister Spear, she truly has no fear and will contact anyone no matter how awkward I think it would be. She is great. Sister LeFevre is fantastic too, both are super funny and we laugh all day long. It is such a step up from serving along in a city with just your companion, which can get really boring even if you are the best of friends.
On Thursday the weather finally worked out and we were going to FINALLY go try and have our sports Thursday! We changed our clothes and headed out with the Basketball and Volleyball. After walking for about 20-25 minutes we arrived at the park....only to find it completely under water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes...the entire park was flooded... If you don't know Poland has had a ton of really weird rain lately and for a couple weeks now everyone has been on Flood Warning and the river is practically over flowing! I was absoutely crushed that the park was flooded and we then had no where to play sports. On the way back we passed an indoor pool! ...and no we didn't go swimming lol, but we did go in and see if we could reserve it for the Baptism the sisters have on the 26th! They have been teaching Marta for about a month and she is so ready! Practically teaching herself the lessons! She is a miracle, and exactly what the church needs here in Poland. On Monday she had her Baptismal interview and will be baptized this Saturday by Elder Contor! He is super nervous :) I am super sad though because I will be leaving Poznań before then though :( And even worse, so will Sister LeFevre... ;_; We found out Transfers today! And I will being going to Wrocław! To be companions with Elder Allred! In a District with my trainer Elder Anderton! It should be a super fun transfer! I just hope it lasts a lot longer than this last 4 week one... I can't believe I have to pack again...
This week Elder Contor and I have been handing out literally hundreds of Free English flyers. It is so funny handing them out because everyone automatically says no when we start talking to them, and then they pause turn around and take the flyer after they realize we just told them we teach a FREE (Bezpłatny) English Class... it is really funny :D We better have a ton of people in English tonight!
On Sunday I had to give a talk in Sacrament meeting on Diligence. I used the story of Job, talk about a rough life and never giving up... shoot. Then later on Sunday we did another English Whiteboard, and more flyers! Right at the beginning we had these 2 either crazy or drunk (or both) guys stop and talk to us. They were funny, I took them aside and was talking to them so they wouldn't scare off anyone else that stopped to talk to us. They were crazy... and Polish people are notorious for being able to pull alcohol out of no where, and so he did. He tried to get me to drink it, thinking he was being really nice as a friend or something. I explained to him that we don't smoke or drink, they both shook my hand and told me I was a great man...lol. Then two girls walked past, who weren't exactly modestly dressed, I saw both of their eyes lock on them and they started muttering things between themselves. I knew what was going on so I firmly told them "Bądź Miły!!!" They both snapped to attention and looked right at me and said "Jesteśmy Miły" I thought it was funny. They respect us a lot and like us, One of them started cussing in English and Polish and I told him to stop that too, they were shocked at how high our standards were and kept shaking my hand and bowing their heads. They were really goofy, like 2 stooges really. Well that is my funny story of the week :D
Everything is going pretty good, sad I am leaving but always excited to get to know a new city... But this is the second time in a row I have only used 3 weeks out of my month on my bus pass...grrrr. Oh well
Thanks for reading :D
-Starszy Taylor
Okay...So, last monday I went on an Exchange with Elder Tribe, who is a zone leader in the zone, but only 1 group ahead of mine. He is so cool and tons of fun to be around and a great missionary. I went out there to Bydgoszcz and we had some meetings and then passed out a lot of English flyers! Came back the next day in the Morning for a crazy P-Day in Poznań because the Elders from Wrocław and the Zone leaders came in for the day! We had lots of fun and played some sports in the park. The only problem was the bugs.... never have I seen so many... It was like playing in fog...of bugs...disgusting... But the sports were fun!
We have also done a lot of whiteboarding this week! Which is great because it is by far my favorite contacting method! We always whiteboard with the Sisters, they are great! So dedicated and brave. I have never seen anyone contact like Sister Spear, she truly has no fear and will contact anyone no matter how awkward I think it would be. She is great. Sister LeFevre is fantastic too, both are super funny and we laugh all day long. It is such a step up from serving along in a city with just your companion, which can get really boring even if you are the best of friends.
On Thursday the weather finally worked out and we were going to FINALLY go try and have our sports Thursday! We changed our clothes and headed out with the Basketball and Volleyball. After walking for about 20-25 minutes we arrived at the park....only to find it completely under water!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Yes...the entire park was flooded... If you don't know Poland has had a ton of really weird rain lately and for a couple weeks now everyone has been on Flood Warning and the river is practically over flowing! I was absoutely crushed that the park was flooded and we then had no where to play sports. On the way back we passed an indoor pool! ...and no we didn't go swimming lol, but we did go in and see if we could reserve it for the Baptism the sisters have on the 26th! They have been teaching Marta for about a month and she is so ready! Practically teaching herself the lessons! She is a miracle, and exactly what the church needs here in Poland. On Monday she had her Baptismal interview and will be baptized this Saturday by Elder Contor! He is super nervous :) I am super sad though because I will be leaving Poznań before then though :( And even worse, so will Sister LeFevre... ;_; We found out Transfers today! And I will being going to Wrocław! To be companions with Elder Allred! In a District with my trainer Elder Anderton! It should be a super fun transfer! I just hope it lasts a lot longer than this last 4 week one... I can't believe I have to pack again...
This week Elder Contor and I have been handing out literally hundreds of Free English flyers. It is so funny handing them out because everyone automatically says no when we start talking to them, and then they pause turn around and take the flyer after they realize we just told them we teach a FREE (Bezpłatny) English Class... it is really funny :D We better have a ton of people in English tonight!
On Sunday I had to give a talk in Sacrament meeting on Diligence. I used the story of Job, talk about a rough life and never giving up... shoot. Then later on Sunday we did another English Whiteboard, and more flyers! Right at the beginning we had these 2 either crazy or drunk (or both) guys stop and talk to us. They were funny, I took them aside and was talking to them so they wouldn't scare off anyone else that stopped to talk to us. They were crazy... and Polish people are notorious for being able to pull alcohol out of no where, and so he did. He tried to get me to drink it, thinking he was being really nice as a friend or something. I explained to him that we don't smoke or drink, they both shook my hand and told me I was a great man...lol. Then two girls walked past, who weren't exactly modestly dressed, I saw both of their eyes lock on them and they started muttering things between themselves. I knew what was going on so I firmly told them "Bądź Miły!!!" They both snapped to attention and looked right at me and said "Jesteśmy Miły" I thought it was funny. They respect us a lot and like us, One of them started cussing in English and Polish and I told him to stop that too, they were shocked at how high our standards were and kept shaking my hand and bowing their heads. They were really goofy, like 2 stooges really. Well that is my funny story of the week :D
Everything is going pretty good, sad I am leaving but always excited to get to know a new city... But this is the second time in a row I have only used 3 weeks out of my month on my bus pass...grrrr. Oh well
Thanks for reading :D
-Starszy Taylor
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Week 21
Holy Smokes another week past just like that.
This past week really is just a blur it happened so fast! On wednesday we helped Clean up the chapel after the new floor was done being installed. We were really happy to finally have it finished and not smelling like rotting wood in the chapel... Then we had a lot of other Branch President stuff we had to take care of at the chapel so we spent a lot of our day there, cleaning and organizing everything for Sunday when we would have Branch Conference and coincidence would have it that we would have the entire mission presidency there with us.
Thursday we were finally going to have a sports day!!! And then the sisters forgot their sports clothes! And no one showed up anyways ;_; sad day. We also had our regularly scheduled meeting with Bożena on Thursday. She is so fun and somehow finds a way to stay happy even though she has such a hard life. She has to have dialasis every other day... But she is always so fun and happy. It is always wonderful to go visit with her.
Friday we had some lessons and they went okay, again only with members. I have not yet had a lesson with an investigator since being in Poznań... I blame the fact that we spend so much time doing Branch President work, like I have done my entire mission... It would be nice to have a normal companion that isn't also Branch President... they are always so stressed out. Later we went out looking for a place we had been told about where we could rent bikes for "free". We found it, then discovered it was not free, but 5 zł which is about 1.50$ so still really cheap but...not free :( We had an activity planned for Saturday to go on a Branch Bike ride, so we needed to scout it out and plan it a bit more. We decided to rent the bikes for a bit and explore, see where we could go. Saw some cool places, it was really nice to finally ride a bike on my mission lol. The activity on Saturday of course fell through because no one showed up... The branch has a unity problem here... So on Saturday we spent a long time contacting on the street. I am getting better, I can speak just fine, it is just hard to say the first words, always the scariest part.
Sunday we finally had the Branch Conference and all the Leaders showed up and we had pretty good church attendence. The Sisters investigator (who has a baptismal date!!!) Showed up and had a great experience hearing from the church leadership in Poland! After church we had to stick around for some meetings, then later we had a small whiteboard with no whiteboard lol so a no board... just group contacting really, it was fun.
Monday I had an exchange with Elder Tribe in Bydgoszcz, it was fun he is great. And now I am out of time and still have to write my letter to president!!! YIKES!!!
I love you all! We are trying to get 15 baptisms this month as a mission goal before president goes home at the end of the month, pray for us! We need a miracle!
-Starszy Taylor
Thursday - Sports fell through
Friday - Found bike place and rode them
Saturday, activity fell through, contacted instead
Sunday, branch conference
This past week really is just a blur it happened so fast! On wednesday we helped Clean up the chapel after the new floor was done being installed. We were really happy to finally have it finished and not smelling like rotting wood in the chapel... Then we had a lot of other Branch President stuff we had to take care of at the chapel so we spent a lot of our day there, cleaning and organizing everything for Sunday when we would have Branch Conference and coincidence would have it that we would have the entire mission presidency there with us.
Thursday we were finally going to have a sports day!!! And then the sisters forgot their sports clothes! And no one showed up anyways ;_; sad day. We also had our regularly scheduled meeting with Bożena on Thursday. She is so fun and somehow finds a way to stay happy even though she has such a hard life. She has to have dialasis every other day... But she is always so fun and happy. It is always wonderful to go visit with her.
Friday we had some lessons and they went okay, again only with members. I have not yet had a lesson with an investigator since being in Poznań... I blame the fact that we spend so much time doing Branch President work, like I have done my entire mission... It would be nice to have a normal companion that isn't also Branch President... they are always so stressed out. Later we went out looking for a place we had been told about where we could rent bikes for "free". We found it, then discovered it was not free, but 5 zł which is about 1.50$ so still really cheap but...not free :( We had an activity planned for Saturday to go on a Branch Bike ride, so we needed to scout it out and plan it a bit more. We decided to rent the bikes for a bit and explore, see where we could go. Saw some cool places, it was really nice to finally ride a bike on my mission lol. The activity on Saturday of course fell through because no one showed up... The branch has a unity problem here... So on Saturday we spent a long time contacting on the street. I am getting better, I can speak just fine, it is just hard to say the first words, always the scariest part.
Sunday we finally had the Branch Conference and all the Leaders showed up and we had pretty good church attendence. The Sisters investigator (who has a baptismal date!!!) Showed up and had a great experience hearing from the church leadership in Poland! After church we had to stick around for some meetings, then later we had a small whiteboard with no whiteboard lol so a no board... just group contacting really, it was fun.
Monday I had an exchange with Elder Tribe in Bydgoszcz, it was fun he is great. And now I am out of time and still have to write my letter to president!!! YIKES!!!
I love you all! We are trying to get 15 baptisms this month as a mission goal before president goes home at the end of the month, pray for us! We need a miracle!
-Starszy Taylor
Thursday - Sports fell through
Friday - Found bike place and rode them
Saturday, activity fell through, contacted instead
Sunday, branch conference
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
Week 20
Holy Smokes! Already on Week 20! And that is just weeks I have been in the country!
This week was fantastic! We had a mission conference, which is like a zone conference but very rare because the whole mission comes together. It was great to see literally everyone. We took a picture which I am almost sure my mother has sent out by now. Then we had some great talks from President Engbjerb and also from Elder Kerr of the Seventy. He is Scottish so he has a great accent, and was very energetic it was great. We had catered lunch and dinner, which never happens, but it was Presidents last mission conference before going home so he spoiled us. After Lunch we had the once in a lifetime opportunity to have a Video Conference between our mission, and Elder Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles!!! It was the first time in history that something like that had ever been done! It was great, we got to talk with him through the churches video chat system, this was the first time it had been done with a mission though. I got a lot of great notes and insights, it was wonderful.
I guess I didn't say much about my new companion Elder Rourk Contor last week so here is some stuff on him. He has a heck of a family tree, between a couple divorces and remarraiges he has 8 siblings and no matter how you slice it he is smack in the middle. He really likes cars and water skiing was also a runner in high school, long distance. He has never had a companion for more than a transfer! So hopefully I will break the cycle and stay here in Poznań. He goes home in December this year. He is a worry worm, lol, but I think being a missionary branch president does that to a lot of people. He also worries about the sisters we have in our district, always making sure they are in safe each night. He is really funny and thus far we get along great. He hates Warsaw, anytime we have to go there we are always the first to leave lol, no one really knows why he doesn't like it so much. He is also a great cook and cooks for me all the time! Any questions? Just e-mail me them :D
We still don't do a lot of teaching here, I think it is a pretty common theme outside of the main cities like Warsaw and Katowice. We spend most of our time finding new people to teach and working with members to strengthen the branch. We have a member here named Wiktor, he was baptized a couple years ago and is a bit younger than me. He is awesome! He speaks perfect English and Polish so we get to learn from him, and he is really funny, he combines english and polish to make stuff funny only to people who are bilingual in the languages, it is really funny. He is great. He plans on going to BYU this next winter semester So we would head to the US in December this year I think. It will really be great for him to see how the church opperates on a much larger scale! And what a strength that will be for when he comes back to Poland!
For all of you who have been telling me about weird weather you have been having listen to this... Yesterday we were out doing a whiteboard and it was nice sunny weather...finally... then about 15 minutes after we had started contacting and trying to talk to people we noticed off to the right that there was a a very ominous looking cloud swell coming right for us... Shortly thereafter the sky darkened... we felt the first drops of rain and new what was coming next. I sprinted for my umbrella, I pushed the button to open it and just as it was popping open this massive wind storm came out of no where, halted the expansion of my ubrella completely... I had to push it open and even then the wind was so strong that it was pushing it half way back down again! By now these huge rain drops are also attacking us at almost horizontal angles. We hopped the wall next to us and ran for cover. The poor sisters with us were having such trouble with their skirts, I felt bad for them but was so grateful that I get to wear pants... Luckily we were able to take shelter under a large building until the storm passed about 25 minutes later. Then the sun came back out and we continued our whiteboard. It was awesome see how even terrible weather like that cannot stop the progression of missionary work, we just toughed it out, then got right back to work, I was impressed with the sisters, they didn't complain at all, just laughed and had fun. Then later in the same day it rained on us again... and then stopped and more blue skies. It is absolutely crazy here!
So ya, our weather in nuts, but it is a nice temperature and not as humid as Japan was, so I can't complain lol. There is a really cool kind of event, marketplace kinda thing, going on in Rynek (main square) this week so we will be heading over there to check it out shortly, then we have a meeting with one of our members baptized last year later. Thanks for all the Birthday Wishes last week! It was really great to hear from everyone :D
I love you all! Always remember to be happy because the sun always rises the next day!
-Starszy Taylor
This week was fantastic! We had a mission conference, which is like a zone conference but very rare because the whole mission comes together. It was great to see literally everyone. We took a picture which I am almost sure my mother has sent out by now. Then we had some great talks from President Engbjerb and also from Elder Kerr of the Seventy. He is Scottish so he has a great accent, and was very energetic it was great. We had catered lunch and dinner, which never happens, but it was Presidents last mission conference before going home so he spoiled us. After Lunch we had the once in a lifetime opportunity to have a Video Conference between our mission, and Elder Hales of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles!!! It was the first time in history that something like that had ever been done! It was great, we got to talk with him through the churches video chat system, this was the first time it had been done with a mission though. I got a lot of great notes and insights, it was wonderful.
I guess I didn't say much about my new companion Elder Rourk Contor last week so here is some stuff on him. He has a heck of a family tree, between a couple divorces and remarraiges he has 8 siblings and no matter how you slice it he is smack in the middle. He really likes cars and water skiing was also a runner in high school, long distance. He has never had a companion for more than a transfer! So hopefully I will break the cycle and stay here in Poznań. He goes home in December this year. He is a worry worm, lol, but I think being a missionary branch president does that to a lot of people. He also worries about the sisters we have in our district, always making sure they are in safe each night. He is really funny and thus far we get along great. He hates Warsaw, anytime we have to go there we are always the first to leave lol, no one really knows why he doesn't like it so much. He is also a great cook and cooks for me all the time! Any questions? Just e-mail me them :D
We still don't do a lot of teaching here, I think it is a pretty common theme outside of the main cities like Warsaw and Katowice. We spend most of our time finding new people to teach and working with members to strengthen the branch. We have a member here named Wiktor, he was baptized a couple years ago and is a bit younger than me. He is awesome! He speaks perfect English and Polish so we get to learn from him, and he is really funny, he combines english and polish to make stuff funny only to people who are bilingual in the languages, it is really funny. He is great. He plans on going to BYU this next winter semester So we would head to the US in December this year I think. It will really be great for him to see how the church opperates on a much larger scale! And what a strength that will be for when he comes back to Poland!
For all of you who have been telling me about weird weather you have been having listen to this... Yesterday we were out doing a whiteboard and it was nice sunny weather...finally... then about 15 minutes after we had started contacting and trying to talk to people we noticed off to the right that there was a a very ominous looking cloud swell coming right for us... Shortly thereafter the sky darkened... we felt the first drops of rain and new what was coming next. I sprinted for my umbrella, I pushed the button to open it and just as it was popping open this massive wind storm came out of no where, halted the expansion of my ubrella completely... I had to push it open and even then the wind was so strong that it was pushing it half way back down again! By now these huge rain drops are also attacking us at almost horizontal angles. We hopped the wall next to us and ran for cover. The poor sisters with us were having such trouble with their skirts, I felt bad for them but was so grateful that I get to wear pants... Luckily we were able to take shelter under a large building until the storm passed about 25 minutes later. Then the sun came back out and we continued our whiteboard. It was awesome see how even terrible weather like that cannot stop the progression of missionary work, we just toughed it out, then got right back to work, I was impressed with the sisters, they didn't complain at all, just laughed and had fun. Then later in the same day it rained on us again... and then stopped and more blue skies. It is absolutely crazy here!
So ya, our weather in nuts, but it is a nice temperature and not as humid as Japan was, so I can't complain lol. There is a really cool kind of event, marketplace kinda thing, going on in Rynek (main square) this week so we will be heading over there to check it out shortly, then we have a meeting with one of our members baptized last year later. Thanks for all the Birthday Wishes last week! It was really great to hear from everyone :D
I love you all! Always remember to be happy because the sun always rises the next day!
-Starszy Taylor
Tuesday, June 1, 2010
Week 19
Well, today is my Birthday! finally out of the Teenage years!
So I have some stuff planned to do with my district (yes I have one now) so this won't be a very long post this week. (Kinda a common theme sorry) I wish I had more time on the computers but my companions are always wanting to go do something else... lol
I said goodbye to Lublin on Wednesday, it was sad but we had a great meeting with the Gładuns in which Sister Gładun threatened me saying that if I didn't come back later with my family that I would be dead...lol I told her I would be sure to return, since my mom pretty much told me the same thing. They were sad to see me leave, but they have seen this happen many times so they were prepared. Then on Thursday I caught an early train at 7:00 and said Goodbye to Elder Thomson and Lublin. The train was 6 hours long.... and I was in a cabin with 3 exchange students... who all spoke English, one from Mexico, Canada and Alaska. I can't tell if all English speakers are just really loud or if it is just because I am a native English speaker and don't have to think so much to understand. They were really loud though.
The transfer went well, I met Elder Contor on the Peron along with Sister Lefevre and Wiktor, who is an awesome member in Poland who has just applied to go to BYU in December. He speaks great English and helps a lot with our Polish it is wonderful. I like him a lot. We headed to our new apartment, which believe it or not, is better than the last one lol. This one has 2 seperate closets for us which is nice and we each have our own desk, which will help studies a lot lol. It is really nice to not always be in the same room. Elder Contor cooks too! Which is really nice :) but I have spent so much more on food since being here already.... So that will be interesting...
We do a ton of contacting here, most of which we do Whiteboards. Which entails setting up a whiteboard and writing a question on it and then contacting people and asking them the question. I like it a lot more because more people stop... and then we lead it to a Gospel subject :)
Sunday was fun, good to see some of the members, the Branch is pretty much exactly the same as in Lublin, size wise. After Church we went home to plan and then on an adventure around Poznań. On our adventure, we brought our ubrellas because we knew that it was very likely that it would probably rain...little did we know, they wouldn't help... right at the point where we were the farthest from our house, the rain came down, skies openned... I have never before seen rain like that... And I have been in some pretty bad rain in the past couple weeks. We got completely soaked. Shoes were soaked through, which has never even been close to happening before. Pants up to my knees soaked. It was funny, had to scream to hear each other because it was so loud. We had quite the adventure.
And of course, yet again, my companion is Branch President, which means I will be on the computers again on Mondays for Financial work. And go figure, just as I finished my legal work last week, my companion has (due to a mistake) to redo his legal work... so we worked on that on Monday too.
Everything is great, except that the sky is not blue...its grey...which is not how it is suppose to be on my birthday!!! Good grief it is June for heavens sake! Where is my sunshine!
Until next week!
-Starszy Taylor
P.S. (Sorry for any typos again...or grammatical discrepencies....)
So I have some stuff planned to do with my district (yes I have one now) so this won't be a very long post this week. (Kinda a common theme sorry) I wish I had more time on the computers but my companions are always wanting to go do something else... lol
I said goodbye to Lublin on Wednesday, it was sad but we had a great meeting with the Gładuns in which Sister Gładun threatened me saying that if I didn't come back later with my family that I would be dead...lol I told her I would be sure to return, since my mom pretty much told me the same thing. They were sad to see me leave, but they have seen this happen many times so they were prepared. Then on Thursday I caught an early train at 7:00 and said Goodbye to Elder Thomson and Lublin. The train was 6 hours long.... and I was in a cabin with 3 exchange students... who all spoke English, one from Mexico, Canada and Alaska. I can't tell if all English speakers are just really loud or if it is just because I am a native English speaker and don't have to think so much to understand. They were really loud though.
The transfer went well, I met Elder Contor on the Peron along with Sister Lefevre and Wiktor, who is an awesome member in Poland who has just applied to go to BYU in December. He speaks great English and helps a lot with our Polish it is wonderful. I like him a lot. We headed to our new apartment, which believe it or not, is better than the last one lol. This one has 2 seperate closets for us which is nice and we each have our own desk, which will help studies a lot lol. It is really nice to not always be in the same room. Elder Contor cooks too! Which is really nice :) but I have spent so much more on food since being here already.... So that will be interesting...
We do a ton of contacting here, most of which we do Whiteboards. Which entails setting up a whiteboard and writing a question on it and then contacting people and asking them the question. I like it a lot more because more people stop... and then we lead it to a Gospel subject :)
Sunday was fun, good to see some of the members, the Branch is pretty much exactly the same as in Lublin, size wise. After Church we went home to plan and then on an adventure around Poznań. On our adventure, we brought our ubrellas because we knew that it was very likely that it would probably rain...little did we know, they wouldn't help... right at the point where we were the farthest from our house, the rain came down, skies openned... I have never before seen rain like that... And I have been in some pretty bad rain in the past couple weeks. We got completely soaked. Shoes were soaked through, which has never even been close to happening before. Pants up to my knees soaked. It was funny, had to scream to hear each other because it was so loud. We had quite the adventure.
And of course, yet again, my companion is Branch President, which means I will be on the computers again on Mondays for Financial work. And go figure, just as I finished my legal work last week, my companion has (due to a mistake) to redo his legal work... so we worked on that on Monday too.
Everything is great, except that the sky is not blue...its grey...which is not how it is suppose to be on my birthday!!! Good grief it is June for heavens sake! Where is my sunshine!
Until next week!
-Starszy Taylor
P.S. (Sorry for any typos again...or grammatical discrepencies....)
Wednesday, May 26, 2010
Week 18
Well I finally got pictures uploaded! I have not added tags yet to them, but if I have time after writing this, that is what I will start working on
http://picasaweb.google.com/football80
As for this past week we had worked really hard to set up a lot of meetings, but like the past couple weeks here we were flaked by nearly everyone, sad day. We had our regular weekly meeting with Sister Kopeć on Wednesday, it went well, she is great but has back problems so can't make it to church right now :(.
On Friday we met with a man named Marcin, who we found in the Area Book. He is an amazing guy! He breeds gerbiles as a hobby, and travels to China every 3 months for a month long stay for work. He makes ties, and says Adam (someone who loves the missionaries and the missionaries all love his ties) is stiff competition. He is very culturally knowledgable and was amazing to talk to. He speaks 4 languages including English, at the end of our lesson he also gave me a Tie as an early birthday present! I was really happy because I don’t exactly count on getting many presents this year, not physical ones at least.
On Saturday we had a meeting set up, but when the time came he didn’t show up, and would not answer his phone. We also went around to the people who we had visited before, have been in contact with, but unable to set up an appointment. We thought it would be a fun idea to surprise them by stopping by. As expected though, they were busy... but I am sure that they know we actually do care about them.
On Sunday we were able to have Branch Conference so we had called everyone we know in the branch and any possible investigator who might come. We were expecting a huge turnout, but only 6 members showed up.... how lame is that... We were greatly disappointed, but what else can we do but call and remind people and encourage them, and pray of course. After church we went contacting and had a great lesson on the street with a man named Przymek. We gave him a Book of Mormon and after talking for quite some time asked for his information. He said he doesn’t give out his info, but said that he would like to read the Book of Mormon before talking further with us, we gave him our number and hope for the best. He had great questions and seemed really interested. The funny thing was that when we set out to contact it was perfect weather, high 60's and sunny. Throughout the contact/mini lesson it got significantly colder...and windy... and cloudy... shortly after parting ways we headed for the park since it should be nice this time of year and have plenty of people there. Shortly after reaching the park, we new it was coming...the rain....... We turned tail and headed straight home. It picked up a bit... we were on a bus. Got off the bus and crossed the street, pulled out the ubrella, knowing what was coming very shortly. The sky openned...and the water fell. We took off running, I used my ubrella as a shield against the rain in front of me, it was really fun I was laughing the whole time, super windy too. We got inside just before it really let loose! We sat and watched it for about 20 mins and then it stopped. We later went tracting and had a good experience with that, getting let in at the third door and being able to talk to the people that lived there. They wanted to know somethings about how Mormon live, and they were really interested because we were from the states lol.
Monday we had a meeting with the Gładuns, which was great, I got to say Good bye to them. It was sad, I hope sometime in the future to be able to return to Lublin. We also had finally set up with Mariusz, who use to have a baptismal date but we haven’t seen him in over a month. The time came, he didn’t. We tried repeatedly to call him, but each time we have tried that we find that his phone is turned off... That stinker...he has done this to us a ton of times now... We cannot figure out what is going on with him. Elder Thomson is really frustrated with him right now.
Well that is pretty much it, everything is going well. I am excited to see a new city with a new companion, but as always it is hard to say good bye to those whom I have come to know and love here in Lublin. I know that wherever the Lord sends me, that is where I need to go.
Thanks for reading everyone :D I am off to comment on those pics now :D
-Starszy Taylor
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