Surprise Instagram from Szczecin branch member!

Madre D - Always grateful when you receive a little piece of Poland when least expected!  Love these "soul sisters!"  

#soulsisters

Gdańsk, Poland - A Great Last Week in Szczecin! Gdańsk awaits!

Note from Madre D - the first four pictures were sent from Siostra Cutting (missionary couple in Szczecin).  The Cuttings are a wonderful comfort and source for the Szczecin Branch and its missionaries and their parents!  They encourage, host dinners, and love - what more could we ask for?!

Siostra Cutting wrote:  We were prepared to show you the beauties of Spring in Szczecin.  But today it is snowing!  Seriously...on the 26th of April?  If intermittent snow showers is what it takes to create the Spring we see her, we'll take it.  Spring in Szczecin is unlike any we've experienced!

Siostra Cutting we love you and Starszy Cutting too!  Thank you for all you do!

On Pday we went to the top of one of the many Cathedrals to catch the view!

My Szczcecin!

I'm going to miss this girl!  So wise with insight!

So many feelings about this city!

My district wasn't allowing me to be nostalgic!  And kept making me laugh!

There are stands with bike to rent throughout the city! And so many trails!

We have such a great district!

Maybe it's a good thing we aren't serving a mission where we have to bike!
Did I mention I love my companion!?

My last Sunday in our branch was full of hugging and love!

Oh Ola - I'll miss you dearly!  Thank you!

I adore these twins!  I think I wasn't ever homesick because they were in my life
and reminded me so much of my own siblings!

Mighty branch members reside in Szczecin!
I'll be forever grateful for their examples and love!

This is MY family!  I love them with all my heart! 
They took care of me and my companions!  They are generous and so Christlike! 
One of my first letters home I wrote how I felt like I already knew them!  
Thank you sweet family!  I love you!

A lock of love for my family on the bridge!

Forever locked!

Farewells are never easy - especially when you are so grateful for the time together!

(My luggage is out of control!  Two large, one carry on and one guitar strapped to my back!  But I made it to Gdańsk without trouble!)

Einfeldt is headed south to be a Zone Leader and luckily
I'll still be in the same zone as this district!
Siostra Sloan is going to train one of the four sisters coming from the MTC!
Elder Garrison will be with Elder Leichty (yes he is coming back to Szczecin!)!

It was hard to say good bye to Siostra Sloan - she helped
me through a few rough weeks as well as taught me so much!
Love you Siostra Sloan!

Tuesday, April 26, 2016

Cześć Family and Friends!!!!

ITS TRANSFER TIME!!!! 

Just to give a small update I was transferred to Gdansk with Sister Young!! I will talk some more about it later on in my letter!!!

This week started off absolutely incredible! The young man we have been working with has been progressing really well! We had our second lesson with him on Monday night! He came to family home evening and the whole focus for that night was making prayers more meaningful!! He was really interested and asked great questions!  We then were able to teach him afterwards about the Plan of Salvation! He was so engaged and again asked really amazing questions! 

Sister Sloan and I both felt good about it and so we invited him to be baptized on May 21st!

Halfway through our lesson an incredible thing happened, one of the members came in and we invited him to join the lesson! When we asked him to be baptized the member bore his testimony of his own baptism and explained what it means to be baptized! 

Our investigator accepted!! 

The feeling that came over me was incredible!! It was the most amazing, spiritual, joyful moments!! We were so grateful the member came in and helped with the lesson - his timing was perfect!!  Here's another example of how much we are being watched over and are truly in the Lord's hands!! Our prayers were answered!!  The Spirit was so strong in that room!! I can't wait to see how he continues to progress in learning the fullness of Christ's gospel.  Sister Sloan promised me updates on everything!!

Our English Club was also absolutely incredible this week! Three young medical students have been coming together!   The class was so much fun and just comfortable.  These three students said they loved it because it makes them speaking!!  One of our goals at the beginning of the transfer was to improve the English class - it is inspiring to see this goal progress!!

Later in the week we were able to meet again with our investigator who has the baptismal date! This lesson was really incredible!! We talked about the Gopsel of Jesus Christ. When we came to the end of the lesson we talked about enduring to the end! Our investigator opened up to us and talked to us about some things he deals with in his life! We were able to testify and promise him blessings!! 

The Spirit was so incredibly strong and I could feel God's love for him so strongly!! Sister Sloan said the most incredible closing prayere.  There was so much peace and love it that room! I couldn't help but become emotional afterwards! It hurt me to see him struggling!  I  just want the peace that comes from the Gospel for him so badly!! I know he is going to continue to progress and will see the blessings that come from the everlasting Gospel!! 

A great miracle happened to me as well this week!  Right after I had found out I was leaving Szczecin we were doing a district finding activity in the park when I stopped this man and started talking to him! I explained what we believe and I invited him to church! He said he would come! 

While talking, I was struggling to remember a Polish word at the end of our conversation so I accidently said it out loud in English.  He said in good English, It is ok you can speak English!"  I talked to him about what happens in church all in English! 

He asked if we had a confessional before our meeting.  I then explained the repentance process to him and how it is between him and God! He agreed with me and promised he would be in church!! 

I had to give a talk in church on Sunday and as I was reviewing my notes he walked in! I gave my talk about everything I have learned in Szczecin and just bore my testimony about how much I loved them and how much Heavenly Father loves all of them!! 

After Church we had linger longer and he came up and talked to me! He said he wanted to thank me! He told me how he had been sitting in his university class that day and had been thinking about all these different directions in his life in which he didn't know what way to go! He said he had asked God for a sign! He then went to the park to walk and think and then I stopped him! 

He told me he believes that I was an answer to his prayer.  He thanked me and told me he was going to start meeting with the missionaries! He then asked where I was going to for my transfer.  His sister lives in Gdansk!  He gave me her information to contact her!  I was in complete amazement!

I could just feel the Spirit as he was talking to me! I told him God always answers our prayers and he agreed! It was amazing!  And in some settling way I felt like I was ready and suppose to go to Gdańsk!!  

As I said my prayers that night I thought back to what I had prayed for that morning.   I had asked to be an instrument in the Lord's hand that day!! I didn't do anything special to stop this man - the Lord just put me in this man's path to help him!  Our prayers are answered!!!! There is no doubt in my mind that we are loved and that we are listened to!

I am sad to leave Szczecin! It became my home away from home! I will forever love these people!  They loved and helped me more than they will ever know.  I am so grateful for everything I learned there!  Szczecin willl never leave my heart!  It is part of my mission's history.  I leave feeling good.

A few weeks ago I could NOT have said this...but...I am willing and ready for this new adventure in Gdańsk! I know that I am needed here in Gdansk.  I feel so at peace with the fact that I was transferred!  I'm grateful to serve with Siostra Young!  I know from past exchanges that she is wonderful!  I am excited to see what this new transfer will bring!  

To top it off I consider myself lucky that Szczecin will always have a special place in my heart!!!

I love you all so much!!

Kocham Was!!!!

Siostra DeMordaunt

Szczecin, Poland - Pay your electric bill, an Investigator who is seeking, Prayer is powerful!

Solidarity Square - The Angel of Freedom Statue is in the back
- it states the names of those that died in the uprising.
The square is set with "waves" (concrete) and the angel is in a boat.
The angel commemorates the fallen of the anti-communist uprising.
I love this land and strong will of its people!  

Siostra Sloan at the fountain at Bionia Square!

Art in the park for Pday!  I was so nice to have good weather!

My companion the artist at work!

We went to sushi for "Cultural Night!  Delish!
(We are encouraged to have a cultural night once a transfer!)

Lovin' every second of this meal!

Starszy Garrison & Starszy Einfeldt!

Cześć Family and Friends!!!!

This week was amazing!!!  There were so many miracles that occurred and it was an adventurous week as well!!!

This week started off a little bit crazy!! 

Within our mission we are the only apartment that has to send in our electric bill to the mission home... Sister Sloan and I sadly did not know this!! 

We came home Monday after P-day and had no power! We tried everything and finally after making dozens of calls and learning Polish vocab for electrical stuff we soon realized our mistake! We spent the night kind of camping! We used a flashlight to get around our apartment and to get ready the next morning! It was crazy but so much fun! Sister Sloan and I laughed and kept saying this is all part of the experience!! We learned our lesson and we now know we need to send the bill in! 

This week we also had so many miracles! We met some incredible people while contacting that we are hoping to set appointments.  And we gained a new investigator! He is absolutely amazing!! 

We had our first lesson with him and taught him about the restoration! He had come to church the previous week and had taken a Book of Mormon! As we were explaining everything he said "that is in the Book of Mormon" and we were a little confused until he explained how he read the introduction and the first couple of pages! We could not believe it! 

All of his questions were really thoughtful and good.  He told us he wants to understand God better and that is why he wants to meet with us! We committed him to read and pray.  He said he would do it! He even said the closing prayer at the end! Prayer here is a little hard to explain because most people say written prayers so we have to go over it a little more.  He is searching! We had invited him to Church again but something came up so he couldn't come.  Siostra Sloan and I were a little nervous but he then sent us a text and said he is still interested and wants to meet!  We are meeting with him again tonight! 

He has come to different Branch activities and always participates! I am so excited to see how he progresses!! This once again just showed me how much God's hand is in my life! Sometimes it can get discouraging and you even start to doubt if there are really prepared people out there but God works in His own time within the free agency of others.  If we trust in Him we see miracles! 

Another miracle that happened this week was with the woman we had taught but could no longer meet with because of her boyfriend! Sister Sloan and I both felt we should send her a text just to touch base and see how she was.  We sent her a simple scripture about hope and told her we were thinking of her and loved her! She replied and said that she reads the Book of Mormon often and that what we said about receiving answers from the Book of Mormon is true! 

Sister Sloan and I were so incredible grateful! This was a huge answer to my prayers! I have been praying non-stop for her that she would continue to read, pray and gain her own testimony! Her text confirmed that she had been doing just that! I am at peace with this right now. I pray that there will come a day when it will all work out and she will learn the gospel!! 

The final miracle is small but it was significant to me! 

Sister Sloan and I were able to sing in sacrament meeting this week! We sang " Ty zawsze ze mna badz" or " I Need Thee Every Hour!" We had been practicing all week! I woke up Sunday and I had a soar throat! We practiced before church and my voice kept cracking! I prayed that I would be able to sing in order to invite the Spirit! 

When we began singing I had no problems with my voice. I felt the most incredible Spirit in the room! This may seem small but for me it was huge! God really does listen to our prayers! He wants to help and bless us! I "re-learned" this again this week! 

Sister Sloan and I read an article on how to deepen your prayers! The author wrote about a formula and put it in a diagram.  It is:  whenever you ask for somthing you want and you're not totally sure if it's something God wants for you, tack on the phrase "but if not" and then add soemthing you're sure God would want for you.  

The diagram went like this:  

My desire + "but if not" + a Godly desire = praying for something God CAN grant!  

Sometimes we pray for what we want and we forget to align our will with God's!! He wants to bless us but we have to be willing to trust Him and say "but if not" I trust you because I believe you know best!! 

I love this Gospel.  I am so grateful for prayer.  I am grateful for a Heavenly Father who knows what I need better than what I do! I know our prayers are answered!

Kocham Was!!!!

Siostra DeMordaunt

Szczecin, Poland - Talkin' with the chalkin', Never complete darkness!

"Chalk Talk" about the different dispensations!

Polish ice cream is AMAZING!
Different than American - smoother and creamier!

Favorite flavor?  Salted Caramel!
Second?  Coconut with real flakes!

Best ice cream spot in Szczecin!
New flavors every week!

(Note from Madre D:  Notice those Dutch crocus flowers in the background! Yowza!)

Nick - a BYU fan in the making?!
He wears it well!

Go carting for Pday activity! I'm on the right!  So fun! 

Companions that ride together stay together!
Grateful Siostra Sloan and I are on this ride together!

Cześć Family and Friends!!!!

This week flew by way too quickly!! It is crazy to think I am already nearing the end of this transfer!! 

WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE?!!

We were able to listen to Conference this week in English!! I love, love, love Conference!! The talks are divinely inspired and so many of them were directed at me!! I love the advice always given at Conference!! 

Something that struck me this Conference was how much our Father in Heaven loves us and how we don't need to be perfect in order to receive this love!! I love the quote from Holland that says, "The great thing about the gospel is we get credit for trying, even if we don’t always succeed." We sometimes do fall short but we have the atonement and a loving Heavenly Father and Savior that want to help us get back on the path!! Just as Uchtdorf said" The sheep is worthy of divine rescue simply because it is loved by the Good Shepherd." I love, love, love conference and the guidance given was exactly what I needed to hear and it made me aware of some things I need to improve on!!

This week I was able to have a miracle!! I honestly can say miracles happen every week and even every day but this was huge for me!! 

We decided to do a chalk talk about the different dispensations!! We drew it all out and then as we started this lady came up and began to talk to Sister Sloan! We are friends with her and she began to talk and ask questions! I didn't feel that I was needed so I decided to go and contact... by myself!! I was a little scared at first just because I still don't understand everything people say but I was determined to do it! It seriously turned out to be one of the biggest blessings for me! 

I first talked to this young mom. We talked about how God has a plan for us and how she can learn more about this plan through the Book of Mormon! She said she was interested and took the book! She then gave me her number and said she wanted to meet!! I walked away and seriously almost burst into happy tears! I felt so good and it reminded me of my purpose as a missionary to bring joy to others!  I eat, drink and live missionary work, but moments like these make my heart beat a little stronger!

I then spoke with a  young guy about the restoration! He also was intersted!  While exchanging contact information he said he would like to come to church! I was so excited!! An he came on Sunday!! He sat in Sunday School and was reading the Book of Mormon the entire time and participating! We are hoping to meet with him again this week! 

After having a zillion rejections each week - these were exactly what I personally needed!! It was huge for me and reassured me that I am here for a reason and that people are out there searching for God and truth!

I just wanted to share a quick spiritual thought of something I found during my studies this week!!

I am reading in the book of Alma right now and I came across a scripture that has now become one of my favorite scriptures!!  In Alma 28:14 it states:  "And thus we see the great call of diligence of men to labor in the vineyards of the Lord; and thus we see the great reason of sorrow, and also of rejoicing - sorrow because of death and destruction among men, and joy because of the light of Christ unto life."

This scripture has never stuck out to me before but it did this time!  It gives me so much hope that even in a world full of darkness we always have a light we can turn to and this is Christ!!  I am sooooo grateful that we are never in complete darkness and that I am able to help others discover the Light of Christ within them! 

I love your light in my life too!

Kocham Was!!!!

Siostra DeMordaunt

Szczecin, Poland - Call me Maria! Ha!, Gen Conf in Polish, Look for the Miracles

Our new found friend!

Demonstration of attenative listening skills!

An incredible promise is within this book!

Cześć Family and Friends!!!!

This week was a good week!! I definitely learned a lot this week.  I know I say that every week but I am so grateful that I am continually learning while on my mission! I don't think I will ever stop learning here. I am grateful for times when I am able to see what I need to improve on!!

This week was my first time playing guitar on the streets while doing a finding activity!! I haven't had a strap for my guitar and I was finally able to get one! Sister Sloan has an incredible voice!  We were able to sing hymns in Polish together! It was amazing how people would want to stop and listen and then talk with us as missionaries! Music really can invite the spirit and I am so grateful for how many times I have felt the spirit in my life through music!! I kept feeling like I was in the Sound of Music as I carried my guitar on my back through out Szczecin!!  Call me Maria!!  Ha!  But then there is the song, How Do You Solve a Problem Like Maria?  Ha! I definitely don't want to be anyone's problem!

This weekend was also General Conference!! For missionaries General Conference is like the Super Bowl! Everyone gears up for it waiting to hear the talks and figure out how to play this game of life better and become better players!!  This General Conference was different though than any other - it was all in Polish!! It was so crazy to be sitting in the chapel in Szczecin and listening to it in Polish! It felt super surreal! 

I wasn't able to understand all of it but I was able to understand the gist of it!! Oh the Polish language! - I am grateful for how much I was able to understand! I have come a long ways since the MTC. Sometimes I forget to see how much progress I have made! It was incredible to be able to sit and listen to all the General Authorities talks translated in Polish! I am excited to be able to read and listen to the talks in English throughout the week!  Double the fun!

I just want to say though that I know that the leaders of this Church are called by God! I kept thinking it over and over again as I listened to them! They are full of so much love and light and I am grateful for all their counsel!! They have provided me with comfort over and over again!! I know that Thomas S. Monson is a Prophet of God!!  He may be old but his service for the Lord is incredible and he is aging like the rest of us!  He has worked hand in hand with and for the Lord for the majority of his life.

I also experienced an incredible miracle this week! Sister Sloan and I were contacting before the first session of Conference and we were trying to invite people to it! We met this one guy and stopped and talked with him! He asked as he was talking to us "Do you believe in the Holy Ghost" and we answered "yes" and he said "I feel Him!" We continued to talk and invited him to Conference! And guess what?  He came!! He then stayed and talked and asked questions to the members! The members are incredible here!  They were able to answer any of his concerns!! He now wants to meet and learn more!! A huge miracle for us!!  The Lord is so aware and His hand is in our lives in all we do! I am so grateful for every day miracles that Heavenly Father places in our path!!

I am so grateful for this time of year and to be able to learn and grow from Conference!!  

I know my letter is short this week but my week has been solid and I can't ask for more than that!

Stay close to and practice what you know is good and from the Lord!  I will too!

Kocham Was!!

Siostra DeMordaunt