Monday, November 28, 2016

Warsaw, Poland - A great Thanksgiving! Light the world kick off!


Thanksgiving at the Chadwicks!
We had no idea the president's family was attending!
It is beginning to look a lot like christmas!
Our apartment has much to be desired - but the Christmas decor helps!
Sister Beem's mom made our Wesotych Swigt banner! 
We are proud of our little tree!
Sister Beem's mom sent us a tree with family pictures!
The Polish do Christmas right - everywhere is decorated!
Baked goods!
Polish doughnuts!
(currently 1 zloty = $0.24 USD)
On top of the Palace of Culture and Science
View from a building where we were tracking!
Cleats on a windowsill! People are nuts about soccer!
November 28, 2016

Cześć Family and Friends!!!!

I hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving! We had a good week and there was plenty of indyk (turkey) eaten! 

This week we weren't able to meet with our investigators because they both were sick! However, they are both doing really well! We are set up to meet this next week!

We had kind of a slow week contacting but we are continuing to see miracles every day! We met with a couple of people that we had met previously. A few were males but they agreed to meet with the elders so the work is moving forward here in Warsaw!!

Thanksgiving was amazing!! It started off with a lesson with this woman we called from our area book! We showed up at her apartment. We walked in and seriously it was the most amazing place ever! She is a fashion designer that has been all over.  She told us her life story! Her apartment looked straight out of a movie set! We were dying! She is a really spiritual person and we are excited to see where it all goes with her!

Thanksgiving night we were invited over to an American Family's house and boy were we spoiled! They brought out the turkey and really it looked like it should be in a magazine!! There was so much good food and we were so grateful to be able to spend Thanksgiving with them! We also had a surprise guest! Sister Beem and I were sitting waiting to eat when the doorbell rings and the youngest daughter says, " Oh the Tureks are here!" Sister Beem and I looked at each other wide eyed and then we both started laughing! It was so much fun to be able to have Thanksgiving with our mission president and his family! We were laughing throughout the night! I just could not help and feel so grateful the entire day! 

Now I know you may be thinking that Thanksgving ended that day but here comes Thanksgiving round 2!! As we were walking to the American Familiy's house we needed to call the elders, They were suppose to have had Thanksgiving earlier that day! We call them and to our surprise they weren't able to make it there and their Thanksgiving day hadn't been the best! Sister Beem and I decided to provide Thanksgiving for them the following day! We told them to meet us at the chapel for their lunch hour! We ended up making an entire thanksgiving meal (minus the turkey, chicken was provided by KFC)! They showed up and we all sat down as a district for Thanksgiving round two! It was so much fun and one of my favorite memories from my mission! I really could not be more grateful for my district!

I want to give a little update on our fish! He is doing amazing! He has really changed his life and even better he wants to change! He is so much happier and there is definitely a different light to him! I could not be more proud of him! He is headed in the right direction and he is making the change because he has a desire to do so! This is what the gospel is all about!!!!

I don't have much to write this week but I do want to invite you all to check out the Christmas video provided by the Church! The theme for this year is "light the world!" The video is incredible and it shows simple ways we can make the world a little brighter! This month Sister Beem and I are starting 25 days of service! The Church is also doing a similar thing! We will be doing an act of service each day leading up to Christmas! This is one way we can make the world a brighter place! I invite you all to think of something you can do during this Holiday Season to make the world a brighter place and light the way to Christ! He is the reason for the season! He has brought so much light into my life and I am grateful I have this time to bring that light to others!

Świeć Śwaitu!!
Light the world!!! 

Kocham Was!!!!

Siostra DeMordaunt


Monday, November 21, 2016

Warsaw, Poland - Progressing people! Powerhouse zone conference! Abundant gratitude!


The Taggarts - a sad farewell!  They are my heroes!
They were going home! Ahhhh!  I love them!
Always good to see Siostra Kamp!
Warsaw Zone Conference!
Back row: Starszy Reid, Starszy Hassett, Starszy Dickson, Starszy Barlow
Middle row: Siostra Beem, Starszy Rasmussen, Starszy Fetzer
Siostra Larsen, myself 
Warsaw Zone Conference!
Back row: Starszy Reid, Starszy Hassett, Starszy Dickson, Starszy White
Middle row: Siostra Beem, Starszy Rasmussen, Starszy Fetzer
Siostra Larsen, myself  
Myself and Starszy Hill
Siostra Sloan!  Headed home in December! I learned so much from her!
Starszy Dickson, myself and Siostra Sloan
(this is for our moms!) 
So great to see my comp Siostra Thornton!  
The Tureks - they are the greatest people!  I mean seriously they are so solid!
Dream Beem and some Polish public art!
Add caption
For Pday we visited the famous tie store all Starszi adore:  Collection Adam! 
It gets dark so early now! 
Starszy McMaster
Starszy Barlow
Starszy Hassett
Starszy Einfeldt
Siostry B & D!!
Here's a cute little excerpt from Siostra Beem's letter:
Cereal Killers: 
A few nights ago, Sister D and I ran out of Book of Mormons, so we went to our storeroom to pick up some more. As we were walking up to the building, we realized we forgot the code to get in. We were praying so hard that someone would happen to be coming through the gate when we needed to get through! We turned the corner...and A COUPLE WAS COMING THROUGH THE GATE! They then said, "you're mormons, right? This is your office (and pointed to our door)". We said, "yes, thanks for holding the door, etc". They said, "Wait, why don't you come in and talk with us?" We then entered a different building with and walked up two flights of dark stairs. Sister D and I were walking in the front, and the couple was behind us. At this point, I was honestly a little creeped out. We then enter this apartment (we're still thinking we're going to be teaching a first lesson or something at this point). We enter, and there are all these people walking around this large room holding bowls and cups and computers asking a few people questions. They put Sister D and I at tables that were next to each other and had us sit down and started asking all these questions. I had no idea what was going on (Polish wise) so I sat this one out. However, they knew Sister D knew Polish so they kept questioning her about allergies/background, etc. This whole time I'm thinkin' that my comp is about to get murdered or poisoned or something. Then, they brought Sister D a bowl with corn flakes in it.  I was so scared that the cereal was laced with something sketchy. And then they brought out another. And another. Turns out, she was just cereal testing. And she got a chocolate bar out of it. So, all was well. 

Cześć Family and Friends!!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! 

I first want to write about the lessons we had with our young mom this week! She is doing amazing and she is learning with every single meeting! We were able to teach her the Gospel of Jesus Chirst this week! We talked more about her baptism and what that will look like! She has grown so much and she is excited about her baptism! When we talked about repentance she said that the way we repent made sense! She is coming more and more closer with Christ! We also thought we were only going to be able to meet with her once because of her schedule but she randomly called us and said:  "I can meet right now!" We booked it over there!  We talked to her about commandments and why we have a Prophet! She agreed to follow the prophet and his teachings! She is absolutely incredible and so kind! She is progressing so well!  Sister Beem and I both commented after this last meeting that she seemed different! The Gospel can bring light and change into people's lives and we can see that happening to her! 

We also were able to meet with the young college student! She had read and prayed but she was still confused because she didn't feel like she received an answer! We talked with her  how sometimes we have to be patient when receiving answers (something I am still working on haha) but that God will always answer our prayers! It was amazing though because as I was telling her this, it was like a lightbulb moment for me...."Sister D listen to your own advice!" Heavenly Father definitely works in the way He knows we will understand it best! We had an amazing lesson with her! We talked about the first part of the plan, where do we come from and why are we here! She asked so many good questions! She was a little confused on why the fall was apart of God's plan! We explained it to her that God always wants us to be obedient but he also gives us the agency to choose! We explained it in two ways: 1. It is like when your mom tells you not to touch the stove because it is hot but you decided to touch it anyways and then you get burned, however you learn to never do this again because it hurt, this is how Adam and Eve learned when they partook of the fruit! They never wanted to be disobedient again because of the pain it brought them! 2. We gave the analogy with the commandment not to steal, God doesn't want us to steal but he doesn't take away the temptation to steal.  He gives us agency so we can choose to submit to the temptation or reject it! The temptation was also there for Adam and Eve even though they knew they shouldn't do it! She understood it! We then committed her to baptized! She is worried because she doesn't have strong faith in God but we explained that sometimes we have to show God we are willing to take the first step! She agreed to baptized January 14! We are so excited for her!!

We also had so many amazing miracles with contacting! I want to share three! 

The first was a young girl we stopped! She was just so happy and smiley! We talked about how to come closer to Christ! She was so sweet and the spirit was so strong! We exchanged numbers and we are so excited to meet with her next week! She is amazing! 

The next contact happened with a lady that had glitter eyeshadow! Sister Beem stopped her and she immediatelt stops and says, "Mormons I know who you are, I have a Book of Mormon in English oh is that one in Polish, Can I have it?" "Yes here is my number I would like to meet!"  Hello!  We will be in contact!  Sister Beem and I afterwards just looked at each other and died! We felt so happy and blessed! 

The final contact I want to write about is one that happened with a young guy! We stopped him and started talking to him about the Book of Mormon! Towards the end of the conversation he asks where we are from. We told him the states.  He then steps back and looks upwards and starts speaking English to us! He told us that he had just been on the phone with his friend and that they were starting their business and wanted it to go global.  They had been talking about the name of their company "Make Me More!" He then asked us what we thought of the name and the connotations.   We told him all the possible ideas but we agreed for the most part it was positive! He then started in Polish again and he told us he didn't think this was a coincidence and that the Book of Mormon could help him in his life!! It was incredible!!! We are truly so blessed!!

This week was just full of crazy adventures and random miracles! 

One of them was having Sister Sloan and Thornton spend the night! I loved those two so much!  

Another was bitter sweet! The Taggarts left to go home this week.  They took Sister Beem and I out to lunch! They have truly changed my life! They are people that I knew I was suppose to meet! I won't lie and say that I am not sad that they are home but I am so grateful for everything they have given this mission! They are some of my heroes!  It was such a blessing to spend time with them! 

We also had zone conference this week! We were able to have a member of the Seventy  come! President first talked to us all about 3 Nephi 11! I love this part in the Book of Mormon! He focused a lot of it on the part where Christ teaches how to baptize!  

3 Nephi 11:
22 And again the Lord called others, and said unto them likewise; and he gave unto them power to baptize. And he said unto them: On this wise shall ye baptize; and there shall be no disputations among you.
 23 Verily I say unto you, that whoso repenteth of his sins through your words, and desireth to be baptized in my name, on this wise shall ye baptize them—Behold, ye shall go down and stand in the water, and in my name shall ye baptize them. 
President explained that Christ is promising and almost commanding them that they will baptize! This is how we should look at our mission! WE WILL BAPTIZE!!! I loved this!! This is what we should believe is possible and is what happens and is happening! 
Elder Johnson spoke about how our mission is similar to that of Alma and Amulek's! He told us all the things we had all been told before we left of how hard it was to serve in Poland.  Alma was told similar things but he found Amulek and there are  Amuleks here in Poland too!  Not only that but Elder Johnson promised us that "it's time to see even more miracles!" It was such a power house zone conference!  I could not feel more blessed to be in Poland right at this time! 
This has always been one of my favorite times of the year! We have so much to be grateful for! I went back and read through my email last year during Thanksgiving and I realized how much more deep my gratitude is for those things I talked about! Here is just a few things I am grateful for:
1. My family! I can't even begin to say how much I love them! They have been my rock through everything! There is not a day that goes by that I do not feel their love for me and on days when it is rough I feel their support!  It keeps me going!
2. Trials! I would be lying if I said that a mission wasn't hard! I have experienced both the ups and the downs! However, after every low point I can look back and see how much I have learned! Trials are there to build us up but sometimes in the process we have to be torn down a little first! 
3. Second chances! I am not perfect but that is exactly why we have the atonement! Whenever I fall short I get a second chance through repentance! There is never a point where we are not offered a second chance!
4. The Savior! I wrote about this last time too but I have come to understand him so much more! I remember something a missionary had once said/asked -  "We wear Christ's name over our hearts but do we let Him into it?" I get what this means now! People literally change as they allow the Savior to enter their lives and hearts!
5. This beautiful land, people, and language! Words cannot describe how much I love this place! I get emotional even writing it! This place has become my home and these people have become my family! this lagnguage is hard but it is the most amazing blessing I have ever been given to be able to learn it!
6. My Heavenly Father! He and I have grown so much closer on my mission! Sometimes I know He smiles and shakes His head at me when I get frustrated and don't understand the "why's" but I have never felt such an immense outpouring of love from Him than I have on my mission! 
7. The people I have met here! This includes both Poles and missionaries! I feel so blessed to have become so close with so many people on my mission! With each new person I meet my life has been changed for a better (my new comp Sister Dream Beem included)!
8. Miracles! I do not believe now in coincidences, they just aren't possible! What is possible are tender mercies and miracles we see every day! God's hand is in our lives! We are never alone! 
9. The little things! I am so grateful for moments of laughter, for music, for pączki and pierogi, for dancing, for smiles, for tears, for love, for happiness, for forgiveness, for emails, for pictures, and for every little thing we have that makes life that much more incredible!
10. I am grateful to be a missionary! I am not the same person I was last Thanksgiving! I have learned with every new experience both the good and the bad! This has honestly been the best year of my life! There is not a day that goes by that I don't touch my name tag and think how grateful I am to be doing this with my life! The gospel is the most incredible and the most improtant thing in my life! It makes sense to me now! I get how it works! I love continuing to learn more and more about it! I love my mission!
I am so grateful for all of you!! Your support and love mean the world to me! I encourage you all to take some time and really answer the question: "What are you grateful for?!"  I love you all so much!! I hope you have a wonderful Thanksgiving!
Kocham Was!!!!
Siostra DeMordaunt

Monday, November 14, 2016

Warsaw, Poland - An INCREDIBLE week! A BAPTISM!


BEST DAY EVER!!!
Warsaw II District:  Starszy Barlow (Michigan), Starszy Logan Hassett,
myself, Siostra Talia Beem (Lake Oswego, Oregon), our beloved investigator!,
Starszy McMaster, Starszy Court Einfeldt (Cedar City, Utah)
Our "fish" and myself!
Starszy Einfeldt - I served in Szczecin with him.
I love the look on their faces!
HAPPINESS!
This pretty much sums it up!
In front of the PGE Narodowy or National Stadium
- home to Poland's National Football (Soccer) Team
It is huge!  Seats over 70,000 for concerts and 56,000 for sports!
The roof retracts
She is FUN!
This gives you an idea of how big it is.
November 11 is Poland's National Independence Day - there were Polish flags hung everywhere.
In 1918 on this is the day WW I ended and after 128 Poland was granted its independence back!
These people are INCREDIBLY tough and patriotic!  Their history is fascinating!
Nordic walking - a real sport here in Poland!  They use hiking Poles!  (Poles for the Poles! Ha!)
It uses more of your upper body then regular walking - I heard it started from X-country skiing.
Pierogi round II - but this time with fruit!  We had a meeting so we came
just when the eldersr were finishing up!
Happiness is a new companion that fits right in!
Yes we are putting our winter gear to good use!

Cześć Family and Friends!!!!

I can't express how incredible this last week was because so many incredible things happened!! 

First of all... CHRISTMAS IS HERE!!!!!  It snowed, yes it snowed for the first time on November 9! (Goes to show you it is never too early!) We were dying! Sister Beem is just as crazy for Christmas as I am! We just watched the snow fall and then of course we had to buy a tree so we went and bought a little plastic one that said it came with a stand and legs! However, when we opened the box there weren't any legs so we stuck it in a mug and tied a dish rag around it and called it good! We are making Christmas happen here already! 

We saw so many miracles this week! INCREDIBLE! We met with that young mom we are teaching! We taught her about the last part of the plan about where we will be after this life! She loved it! We then talked more about baptism with her! Sister Beem and I planned everything out and we felt that she could be ready by December 24 to be baptized! We extended the date to her and she said YES! She was so sweet and she asked if it was OK she didn't know everything right now, to which we replied of course that is why we are here, she then said it again with such a big smile that she wanted to be baptized! We were so excited! She is INCREDIBLE and we cannot wait to help her continue to progress towards baptism! This will be the best Christmas gift ever!

We than had another meeting this week with a girl from the Ukraine! We brought a member with us on the lesson! She is learning Polish and speaks a little bit of English but luckily we have a few Ukrainian members here! We taught her all about the restoration and she told us her biggest questions was "Who is God!?"  We talked a lot about that with her and how she can come to know who he is! It was a lesson lead 100% by the Spirit! It was a little bit crazy because we were speaking Polish to her, the member and she were speaking Ukrainian, the member translated it back to us in English, and we were reading from Russian Book of Mormon, needless to say we needed to rely on the Spirit! It was INCREDIBLE!  She agreed to read, pray, and meet with us again!

We also had the most INCREDIBLE opportunity to teach a family! We met with the mom and she is so cute! She was so open and willing to learn! She brought her daughter with her and to the picture in the pamphlet where it shows someone praying the little girl said, "Co to jest?" or "What is this!?" It was so cute! They are INCREDIBLE (yes that word again!) and the mom says they are trying to figure out where to go! She asked questions and was really engaged in the lesson! When it came to Joseph Smith we asked if it was possible that God could appear to him and she said "Yes I think it is!" She agreed to read, pray, and meet again! 

We are truly being so blessed right now!!

One of the last things I want to write about is what happened on Saturday! Sister Thornton and I's investigator that we had to turn over to the elders a month ago was baptized! It was so INCREDIBLE! He was different than I had ever seen him before! I could tell he was feeling something different! When I had asked why he wanted to be baptized he told me he couldn't describe it, it was something he just felt like he needed to do! He was so attentive the entire time! The missionaries sang Lead Kindly Light (at his request) for his baptism! The baptism itself was beautiful! I couldn't help but get emotional as I watched him! He has come so far and it was INCREDIBLE to see someone so willing to change their life and take such a big leap of faith! He was himself the entire time and as he was leaving the font he said "That was cool!" 

He gave such a beautiful testimony after wards, about the first time he met God and how he had then met the missionaries and he finished it with saying now I am now your member and that he felt good about it! The next day he received the priesthood! It was so beautiful and he just seems so much happier and different! I am so proud of him and I feel so blessed and humbled to have been able to be apart of it all! That moment of him standing there giving his testimony made it all worth it! 

My first few weeks in Warsaw were a struggle and yet I tried my best to push through and follow God's plan for me.  It was during these weeks we stopped this investigator while street contacting!  He was seeking!  He had promised to follow God because of a sincere prayer while struggling in an Ultra Marathon.  Our Heavenly Father answered his prayer and helped him.  He then went searching for how to follow God and in perfect timing we met him!  The Lord knows what He is doing!  Teaching him was a bright light in my worrisome heart.  He committed to baptism.  Siostra Thornton and I wanted to finish teaching him but we knew that turning him over to the elders was also a test of our faith.  Looking back I think what if I hadn't pushed through all my self-doubt and struggles?  The storm comes before the calm.  But if we continue to proceed the sunshine will always shine.  Our wants aren't always what we need.  The Lord's timeline is precise.  I now understand so many things why I was transferred.  I learned and had to rely even more on my Heavenly Father.  My testimony grew.  I'm humbled knowing that my Lord trusted me/us.  I love Warsaw.  I loved witnessing Saturday's baptism.  I hope I never forget to push through when the path seems unclear.

The final thing I want to share is something that hit me really hard this week! We have been so blessed during this transfer!  And I've been thinking about all the people we meet as a missionary!  Then a  member shared this spiritual message with us from Acts 8: 26-39.

26 And the angel of the Lord spake unto Philip, saying, Arise, and go toward the south unto the way that goeth down from Jerusalem unto Gaza, which is desert.

 27 And he arose and went: and, behold, a man of Ethiopia, an eunuch of great authority under Candace queen of the Ethiopians, who had the charge of all her treasure, and had come to Jerusalem for to worship,
28 Was returning, and sitting in his chariot read Esaias the prophet.
 29 Then the Spirit said unto Philip, Go near, and join thyself to this chariot.
 30 And Philip ran thither to him, and heard him read the prophet Esaias, and said, Understandest thou what thou readest?
 31 And he said, How can I, except some man should guide me? And he desired Philip that he would come up and sit with him.
 32 The place of the scripture which he read was this, He was led as a sheep to the slaughter; and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth:
 33 In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation? for his life is taken from the earth.
 34 And the eunuch answered Philip, and said, I pray thee, of whom speaketh the prophet this? of himself, or of some other man?
 35 Then Philip opened his mouth, and began at the same scripture, and preached unto him Jesus.
 36 And as they went on their way, they came unto a certain water: and the eunuch said, See, here is water; what doth hinder me to be baptized?
 37 And Philip said, If thou believest with all thine heart, thou mayest. And he answered and said, I believe that Jesus Christ is the Son of God.
 38 And he commanded the chariot to stand still: and they went down both into the water, both Philip and the eunuch; and he baptized him.
 39 And when they were come up out of the water, the Spirit of the Lord caught away Philip, that the eunuch saw him no more: and he went on his way rejoicing.
We read this and then talked about how Philip made the journey without knowing why! Elder Haskett then said something that hit me really hard he said, "I think we can see here that everyone is worth the journey!"  This is so true! I have met so many amazing people on my mission, both those who have listened and those who haven't!  The one thing I have come to know is true is each one of these people have definitely been worth my journey to Poland!  Everyone has great worth!  Saturday's baptism confirmed that again for me!! 
I love this gospel and I am so grateful for all the blessings we have been blessed with during this transfer! We are being lead krok po kroku (step by step)! Christ's gospel is....INCREDIBLE!
Kocham Was!!!!
Siostra DeMordaunt