Wrocław, Poland - God is Good! The Gospel is pure!

Legnica!  It is a beautiful little city full of strong members!
I'm so grateful that it is part of Wrocław - the members and city add so much!

krok po kroku!

Poland!  You never disappoint!
There is always something to look at!

Wrocław District:
Back row: Starszy Jablonski, Starszy White
Middle row:  Starszy Kryzer, Starszy Dooley
Front row: myself, Siostra Gheen

Exchanges with in Katowice!
L to R:  Siostra Gheen, Siostra Van Woerkom, Siostra Anderson & myself

Cześć Family and Friends!!!!

First thing I want to say is that GOD IS GOOD and the GOSPEL IS PURE! 

This week was CUDOWNY (WONDERFUL)!! 

We had two meetings with our investigators on Monday! The first was with the young, college aged girl! We talked about the law of chastity and it went of smoothly! That lesson can at times be taken really awkwardly. I was glad all went ok! She accepted all of it! We then started talking about her concerns again and if she has felt that she had received any answers! We talked a lot about prayer! Best of all she wants to receive answers and is doing her part! She is reading, praying, and studying everything she can! She said sometimes it is hard for her to focus when she prays - I had the thought to ask her to say her prayers aloud! (This always helps me to focus when I’m tired or distracted!)  She had never thought of that before and so she said that she would try it! That thought was not from me – IT WAS STRAIGHT FROM THE SPIRIT!  We also asked her if it scares her a bit to get an answer  - and she said it did! We talked about desire and about trusting God and in His plan! Ahh it was just so good! I will talk more about her later! 

The next meeting we had was with the lady we are helping to stop smoking! As of today she has not smoked in over a week! She is amazing! We had a really good follow up meeting with her that night and she was doing great!  Seeing people change is incredible!  

We also had exchanges this week in Katowice with Sister Van Woerkom and Sister Anderson! It was such a good time! We helped them track down some less actives and I was able to meet some of the members there! One member told us her story! She has such a strong love of the gospel and she recognized the need for truth, so she went looking for it! It was honestly amazing! I am always impressed with each member I meet that they have such incredible strength and love! I felt like we were best friends by the end of that meeting because of how dear she was to Sister Van Woerkom and me! I love those Kato sisters! I have always felt so blessed to be able to serve with such wonderful people! It was also my last exchange, which was incredibly surreal! I am so glad though I ended it there with those sisters! They are doing amazing things in Kato! Changes are headed their way! I feel it!

When we came home we had a meeting with our non-smoking investigator! While we were on exchanges we received updates and she still hadn't smoked! Sister Gheen and I both felt good about setting a baptismal date! We sat and talked with her about how she was feeling and her goals! We then asked her to be baptized for April 29! She agreed! We called President Turek to tell him and he said you should move it closer! After discussing this possibiltity Sister Gheen and I agreed that she could do it! The next day we started teaching her the lessons again! We started with the restoration and went step by step with her! She loved it all over again! She has a really strong testimony of the Book of Mormon! We then asked her if she felt she could move her date and she said yes! We moved it to Easter weekend! That whole Holiday is about new beginnings and this is going to be a huge one for her! We are so excited! She has changed so much! She has light to her and it keeps becoming brighter! She laughs now and smiles! She is more open and she has a new found confidence! She is beginning to feel the difference too! She can do this!

We also had two more meetings with our young, college aged girl! We sat and talked all about her concerns and everything she read! We were really open. Sister Gheen and I understood better where she was coming from! She is truly amazing! She loves the people at church, the teachings and standards! She really wants to know if it is true! It was such a good talk and we felt that we understood her better as well! The next lesson was about the temple! She had read a lot of things about it, what happens there and had some REALLY GOOD questions! We went over why we don't talk about everything that happens there! She understood how sacred and important it is to us!  We reviewed what the scriptures say about the temple and told her personally how we feel there! We cleared up a lot of things she had read! It was a really powerful lesson! The spirit was there so strongly! She really is amazing! She always thanks us for the lesson! She is making progress! I love her so so much!  I want happiness for her so badly!

We also met with the other young girl we are teaching! We talked to her again about the Atonement and what will happen after this life! She had a lot of questions! She couldn't believe that no matter what we did all of us would be resurrected! We explained to her how this is a gift from God! We talked to her about where we will be and how we can receive eternal life! She struggles to feel God's love for her! I feel she wants to believe in it! There is a difference in wanting to believe and trying out faith to believe! Sister Gheen and I both want her to understand that she is a child of God and that she is His daughter! She has so much light to her that she can't see! We had a really good talk about our divine identity and that this life isn't the end! She said she would pray about it and really think about it! She also agreed to pray about baptism and came to church! She is so sweet! I want to help her come to know who she truly is! She is starting to understand it all more and more!  Knowing that we are God’s children gives us direction nothing else can give us!

Sunday was just amazing! We had the Legnica branch here with us and so we had a huge group! We filled the entire chapel! There were miracles after miracles! The spirit there was just one of love and happiness! It was branch conference so President Turek and his wife came with their kids! The talks were perfect for everyone there! There were talks on the temple and loving others and missionary work! My favorite part was being able to lead the music as we sang the hymn the Spirit of God in Polish! There was such power to it! Everyone was singing it with such great emotion!  We (missionaries) sang with some branch members Lead Kindly Light! It was so beautiful! There were six investigators and potential investigators there!! YES SIX!!!!!! (I wish I could list personal names to people because sometimes writing my letters it seems so generic but for privacy and respect I don’t list them – just know they are so personal to me!) One of them is an older lady we teach English too and she just randomly showed up and stayed for Sunday school! After church we had a huge potluck! I loved sitting with the members and talking with them! They really are incredible! It was just such a happy day! 

At the end of the week Sister Gheen and I were talking at night about how amazing the Gospel is! I couldn't help but get emotional as I started to think about how much it has blessed my life and my mission and how I’ve literally witness it give “life” to people! 

GOD IS GOOD. He loves us. I know this is truth! I have never been more grateful to have the opportunity to serve! Miracles are happening! The gospel is true! 

Kocham Was!!!!

Siostra DeMordaunt

Wrocław, Poland - ODPOWIEDZI SA! or THERE ARE ANSWERS!

(Photo credit for the first three photos: Elder and Siosta Dalton! Thank you for emailing them to me!)

South Zone Conference
Front L to R:  Siostra Anderson, Siostra Van Woerkom, Siostra Gheen, myself,
Siostra Barney, Siostra Rawson, Siostra Dalton, Starszy Dalton
Back LtoR: Starszy Wojczik, Starszy Mandla, Starszy Pickett, Starszy Liechty, Starszy Jablonski,
Starszy Zamora, Starszy Kryser, Starszy Fezter, Starszy Toone, Starszy Haddfield, Starszy Dooley,
Starszy Wood, Starszy White, Starszy Fuhriman, Starszy Baldwin, Starszy Stokes, President Turek

My favorite Siostra Gheen!

Zone Conference selfie

Starszy Baldwin - memory lane for us in Warsaw!

Back:  White, Wojczik, Jablonski, Babel
Middle: Baldwin, Barney, Rawson, Mandla, Mandla
Front: Gheen, myself, Kryser

Boiseans! Starszy Wood and myself!

I don't care for sweater vests so of course Pickett and Liechty wore one over their suit coats!

Gdansk buddy: Starszy Fuhriman

Starszy Liechty - we were both "the new ones" in Szczecin my first months in the land!

Greatest Siostra Barney!  - long live our MTC District! 

Wroclaw Główny - train station!

Wrocław!

Cześć Family and Friends!!!!

To describe this week in two words: odpowiedzi są (there are answers)! This week was insane, but in the best possible way ever! There were literally days where Sister Gheen and I were sprinting (yes in skirts and giant coats) from one thing to the other and Man did I love it!! 

The week started out with us going to this incredible pottery place in Bolesławiec! Polish pottery is amazing! There are so many fun patterns and designs! Polka dots are my absolute favorite design!! I have been served tea and cookies on that china my entire mission! The store was incredible, and I could have stayed in there forever! My favorite thing is that on the bottom of each thing the person that painted it signs their name and of course it is also stamped with “Made in Poland!” It was such a fun Pday!

Tuesday we started helping one of our investigators stop smoking! She wants to get baptized but she needs to quit first! We cleaned her apartment out and started the program with the elders! As we were going to meet the elders, we realized we had forgotten to write down her address so Sister Gheen and I literally started sprinting through the streets of Wrocław! Hahaha we looked insane! We were a little worried about how it would all go but we just went for it! We washed everything and put air fresheners everywhere and searched and searched for any tobacco! During our meeting we gave her a goal to look towards baptism! She really wants to stop smoking! We all expressed how much we love her! The branch has been awesome! We set up a call schedule with the sisters, so she receives three calls a day! They have all been willing to do it! She has come so far! We have had some set backs but really she is changing! When we met with her Saturday we couldn't even believe how different she was! There was a different spirit in her home! She was so talkative and asking questions! She can do this! We have so much faith her and she is starting to have that faith too!

Wednesday we had the opportunity to do some presentations about America at a high school! Sister Gheen and I both talked about our states and then some differences between Poland and America! One of the funnest things was the root beer floats! They could not believe that we drink such a weird soda and that we add ice cream to soda! The kids were awesome too! 

That night we met with one of our investigators! We had planned for her to bring questions but she didn’t so instead we talked about keeping the Sabbath day holy! We talked about what the sacrament means and why we go to church! We asked her why she thought we keep the Sabbath day holy! She gave such a beautiful explanation that we need time to restart and to give time to the Lord! She said she had heard that in our church one time and had already decided to start trying it out! She said at times she would think of all the things she had to do but then she would realize that she could wait and do it the next day! She is seriously amazing! I asked her how she felt about everything and she said she felt better about it all! She still has questions but she knows that odpowiedzi są (there are answers!)! She gave the most beautiful prayer and sincerely asked to be shown the way and to know the truth! I felt the spirit so strongly and I almost got emotional after her prayer! We could tell that she felt it too! She is amazing! She is truly a Christ like person! She even went on a walk with our other investigator to help her to stop thinking about smoking! 

On Thursday we had zone training and as always I loved it! We talked about the resources and tools we have to use in our missionary work! We have so many tools, including technology, that we can use in our work to make it move faster! We also talked about working with members! My testimony of this has been strengthened so much here! The members are amazing and they always want to be at lessons! They help us so much and they try to talk with those they know and don't know about the gospel! We as missionaries have such a small part in the work here, there are so many more people involved! Something I loved that was said about the members is that, "These people here were prepared by God!" I know that is true! These people here literally give everything they have for the Church! They know what it means to stand up for your beliefs! They are simply amazing! 

At zone conference I had my last interview with president before my exit interview, and let me tell you that was surreal! I was emotional as we spoke Polish back and forth.  As always President knows what to say! I shared my concerns and feelings and he said things I needed to hear! It was just a good interview!

On Friday we visited with President Turek's mom! She is such an amazing woman! She has such a deep love for the gospel and has a really strong testimony of the restoration! She made us little sandwiches! We then met with another one of our investigators! We cover two areas in Wrocław: Wrocław and Legnica! We traveled to Legnica and met with her there! Her mom recently got baptized and she started to investigate! We talked about the Book of Mormon and she said that sometimes it is hard for her to understand! I asked her if she wanted to understand. She was honest with us and said she doesn't always have a real interest in this stuff! It got quiet for a moment and then I asked her if she still had questions! She replied that she did! I asked her where she could find answers and she laughed and said probably this book. I laughed and I said she could also ask in prayer! We talked about how that is exactly what Joseph Smith did! He asked in faith! We asked her to write down all her questions and that next time we would go through them! She agreed to do so and to pray about them! I told her that odpowiedzi są (there are answers!) and she would get the answers she needed! It was a really powerful meeting and the spirit was so strong! 

On Saturday we met with a new investigator! she is a young sixteen year old girl that Elder Jabłoński found! She is really sweet and she came to church last week! We talked with her about the plan of salvation! We didn't make it through all of it but we ended on the Atonement! She has never really been believing but she really wants to found out if God is there! We told her about how God loves us and that is why he has a plan for us! She said it was hard to change her faith really quick because she has been taught something different in school her whole life! She said it was hard to believe that God loves her when so many things have happened in her life! We talked about how the Atonement can take away the hurt of it all! We both bore our testimony of it! I told her no matter what we do or we are, we are worthy of God's love! It was an amazing lesson! She said she needed to think about it all and we challenged her to pray about it too! She even came to church the next day! She said she really likes it there! She is awesome and truly searching! We told her odpowiedzi są (there are answers!) and she is going to ask!

Sundays are always good here! There is just such a good spirit in the branch and there is just so much love! They are all here to help one another and they make us missionaries feel so welcomed and loved! 

THIS WEEK WAS JUST A GOOD SOLID WEEK! We are so blessed! It was really interesting because there were so many times this week where I was able to share so many experiences I had! I thought about how much progress I have made and it just really hit me that progress WAS MADE!! I realized how far I have come! I have still a long way to go but steps are being made! My prayers have become something different lately! I just feel so much peace at the end of them now! We told our investigators this whole week that odpowiedzi są (THERE ARE ANSWERS!, but I also realized there answers for me too! And we just have to keep figuring them out krok po kroku!

Kocham Was!!!!

Siostra DeMordaunt

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Wrocław, Poland - Wrocław is Wonderful!

Escape Room for PDay - it was so fun!
District bonding!

(Raquel didn't write what these pictures were from - ?)

Basil plant from the elders for Womens Day!

Our cute Wrocław babcia (grandma!) whipping up
some Naleśniki (Polish crepes) for the missionaries!  So tasty!

Babcia's 70 year old cookbook with the Naleśniki recipe!
I about died and had to touch it!

She's a pro at making them!

Legnica sisters!
These are incredible, supportive women!
We had an Enrichment Night Activity learning about skin care!

They have been so welcoming!

I sent my letter later today because we visited Bolesławiec to see the pottery.
It is beautiful!  Each piece is hand painted or stamped and often includes dots or florals.

Pottery for miles and miles!
It has been produced here for over 1,000+ years using local clay!
I wanted to fill my suitcase!

Cześć Family and Friends!!!!

Can we talk about a crazy week?!  Oh man we are busy, busy, busy, and guess what?! I LOVE IT!!! Seriously I could not feel happier! I just feel so good right now! This is one of those times where I can't help but smile all the time! The work here is moving along, the members are great, and the gospel is what makes it so great and real and true!

The week started with some awesome district bonding! We did an escape room! I realize those are becoming big in America.  You basically get locked in a room for an hour with clues to help you get out! We chose an underwater theme! It was so much fun! We were laughing the entire time but we made it out! Wahoo! A willing district makes life so much better! I love my district! We getting along really well! My comp and I are happy!  And most importantly this district is ready to work and get Wrocław moving again!

We had a meeting with our investigator who has the baptism date! She seriously is amazing! She is such a kind and loving person! She read some stuff about the church on the internet and had so many questions! At first I was so nervous that this might be our last meeting with her but as we started to talk I just felt peace! I was praying so hard that we would know what to say but then all of sudden I was just hit with this thought to not worry – we have nothing to hide!  The Lord has nothing to hide!  People can be as negative as they want but in the end the Lord’s goodness will prevail!  After my prayer I felt it would all work out! By the end of our meeting she said she still wanted to meet with us and most importantly she still wanted to learn! She still has questions and we’ll do our best to answer and help her understand. So grateful she is still willing to learn and work towards her baptism! Seriously this was such a testimony to me that Heavenly Father's hand is in this work! We still have a ways to go but there is peace with it all! I know it will all work out!!

We had a really cute holiday here in Poland! It is Dzień Kobiet or Women's day! This is different from Mother’s Day.  It is a day where all the women both young and old are celebrated!  Men and boys usually give flowers or something like that to the women in their life! The entire day everyone was carrying around tulips and other flowers! Our elders were so kind and they wanted to do something for us! They thought flowers would be a little weird so instead they got us a basil plant! Isn’t that funny?!  They hid it and we found it in a cupboard! It was so fun to be a part of the tradition!

We also were able to spend time with this cute old couple! They love the missionaries and they call us their grandkids so we call them Babcia (Grandma) and Dziadek (Grandpa)! They have the most amazing stories about war times and they love to feed missionaries! It was Dziadek's birthday and Babcia was telling me all about naleśniki (crepes) and how she makes them! All of a sudden she says “Let’s make some right now!” She pulls out this 75 year old cookbook and we started cooking! It was seriously so much fun! She swears by Polish flour and that it is “the secret” to cooking! LOVE IT!  Afterwards while we were washing dishes, she gave me life advice and talked with me! THE BEST!  They are seriously so sweet! It is such a treat to be able to be with them!

This weekend was also so much fun! We had a Relief Society activity with the Legnica sisters! Legnica is about 45 minutes away by train! We met at a sister's house there! Her house was beautiful! We talked about the history of Relief Society and visit teaching.  Then we had a lesson on how to keep your skin looking good! The entire time I couldn't help but smile! Poland is such a different place from the United States but as women we all worry about the same stuff! These Sisters are amazing! They have such a firm hold on the gospel and they love and support each other as much as possible! They make the church work here! It was such a loving atmosphere and the Spirit was so strong! I was taking notes on how to master this sisterhood!  One of the best parts was our investigator came! It was so good for her and the ladies were great at making her feel welcomed!!

Church this week was incredible too! I was able to finally meet all the members! They are amazing! We had two new girls come to church and they both want to meet with us! The spirit is so good in this branch – I sat there thinking how much it was encouraging us to be a better people.  The members want the church to grow as well! We also were able to go visit a less active! She leaves two hours away from Wrocław but we made the trek! We were so grateful we did! (She fed us amazing soup and made us home made bread!) She is a great woman with a kind heart and told us she loves the gospel! The spirit was so strong in her home – I’m praying she’ll understand how important she is to the branch!

I also wanted to share a funny story! I was leaving a message on a member’s phone.  I was at the end of my message and I said “W imię Jezusa Chrystusa…” (in the name of Jesus Christ..) and then I awkwardly paused and said “WHAT?!” in English and then ended! Haha! I died! I was laughing so hard! I think missionary life hits a little too hard sometimes!!

I am so happy and feel so blessed! God is so aware of us and if we trust in His plan, it will always work out for our good!! Let go, lean in with faith and trust the Lord!  Miracles are happening!! I know more are in store!!

Kocham Was!!!!

Siostra DeMordaunt

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Wroclaw, Poland - Focusing on Wonderful Wroclaw!

Siostra Gheen!
Excited to work with her!

Wrocław looks like a storybook!

There are over 350 Wrocław dwarfs all around the city!
There is even an app that helps you find them!  They are adorable!
This is the Wrocław Philharmonica Orchestra!

March 6, 2017  3:32 AM

Cześć Family and Friends!!!!

My first full week in Wrocław has officially been completed and oh do I love it here! I was definitely sad and my heart hurt in the beginning to be here instead of Warsaw but I knew I needed and wanted to be happy here! I set some goals and I got down on my knees and prayed and prayed! I feel so much more peace and closure!  I am happy! I feel so good about the work going on here – it is already up and running!  I am excited to see all the Wrocław has in store! I love my new comp Siostra Gheen! She is a hard worker and really wants what is best for the people here! I am excited to work with her and have learned so much already from her this past week.  Our friendship is growing and that is good for the work and our hearts!

This week started of with me being able to go the Branch President's home for family home evening with an investigator! He and his family are incredible! They have two little kids and are from The Ukraine! His wife taught the cutest lesson on Christ's resurrection using the glove example!  She explained how our bodies are the glove and our spirits are our hand! They separate at death and come back together when we are resurrected! It was such a cute lesson and the Spirit filled their home! It was so good for our investigator too! She is one of those incredible people in the world who is wanting to find what is good and right! This showed her that not only missionaries try to do what is right on a mission but that members do as well!!  They welcomed me with so much love!  Members can make such a difference!

The next day we were able to meet with her again! We talked about the word of wisdom! She doesn't have a problem with it and understands why we choose to keep it so the Spirit can dwell in our clean bodies!  We talked a lot about what it means to have the Spirit with us and how that can help us in our lives! She has been praying about baptism for a while now so we tied in how we can get answers through the spirit! We asked her if she felt she had ever received answers before and she said yes! We then asked her about baptism and a date she wanted to set!

But…first a little back story! Sister Gheen that morning had woken up and told me that she had a dream that she was going to be baptized on April 23.  We looked at the calendar and the 23 is a Sunday - people typically get baptized on Saturdays! When we asked her about a date she said she was thinking April 24 (Monday) so I suggested April 22 and she said “That feels right!” We were so excited! She is amazing and already has such an incredible light to her! I am confident that she will be ready! This was such a huge miracle for me this week!

The rest of this week was filled with me meeting people and learning how Wrocław life works! We are really trying to work with the members here! The members are incredible and so happy! They all gave me hugs and welcomed me to the branch! We were able to meet with some of them this week including President Turek's mom! She is co cute! The Turek family was converted when our President was young! I know that as we continue to work with members we will build the church here in Poland!

I love an activity that we do here in Wrocław! We go to two conversation groups! We sit and talk for about 30 minutes each round. A man hosts them in a local mall.  We can talk about whatever we want! It always leads back to the Gospel and I have loved getting to just talk about what it is like being a missionary here! 

Well…Wroclaw is incredible! The Lord knows what He is doing if we just submit ourselves to learn the plan!  I still love my Warsaw…and my Gdańsk…and my Szczecin…but for now I’m going to focus on loving Wroclaw!  And mainly through prayer my heart knows this is where I am suppose to be! I have felt so much peace lately with it all and I know God is so aware! I have already seen little miracles along the way (Companion! Investigators! Members! Conversation groups!) and I know they will continue to grow and grow! My district is amazing again and we are ready to see changes here!

I don't have much else to report as I am still getting use to it all but I know this is going to be a great transfer!! 

Kocham Was!!!!

Siostra DeMordaunt

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