POLISH FUNNIES

1. Ile zębów ma dentysta? )How many teeth does a dentist have?)

-Sto ma, to logiczna! (he has 100, this is logical!) 

So a dental place is called a Stomatologiczna which if you break it up, makes a punny Polish joke!

2. Beczka! -Barrel! What to say when laughing. You might want to try slapping you hand you your knees or something for effect.

3. Miód na serca -honey to the heart

4. Every now and again I switch inbetween English and Polish and sometimes I say weird things or make interesting comments when chattering away with Sister Grgich. (Nothing unusual.) What I forget is that when I switch into Polish, more people are likely to understand me. I am usually too preoccupied with the happy thought that I may have cased something properly to consider the effect an unfortunate person at Piotr i Paweł might have when a scattered Canadian girl is chattering away when all of the sudden they hear: 

"Dzięki Szatanowi" 

I think I am going to be a little better about thinking before speaking. I think there is a reason Heavenly Father wanted me to learn Polish, less speaking and less awkward remarks!

-when the sister's in Gdańsk go bowling (watch out! This is also our approach to missionary work.)

​-on our way to Poznań! We had zone-training. "Early morning trains are our favorite!" -said no one ever

SPIRITUAL THOUGHT:

Matthew 13: 45-46 (Bible)

"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchant man, seeking goodly pearls. Who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had, and bought it."

Jacob 2: 18 (Book of Mormon) 

"But before ye seek for riches, seek ye first the kingdom of God."

After we do this, we will be richly blessed both in temporal and in spiritual thigns. I know that as we prioritize the Lord in our lives and commit to living righteously, he will bless us according to our needs. We will want for nothing more as our lives will feel filled up, to the rim of the glass. Remember when you were a kid and tried to put in as much milk as you could before spilling? Our Heavenly Father wants to do the same.Let him bless you, invite him into your lives. The merchant man recognized and understood the worth of the gosel in his life and gave all that he had. 

Have a great week, Sister Young

The Commonwealth Companionship part 2

JESZCZE RAZ JESTEM W G! BÓG NA PRAWDA MNIE KOCHA. 

(I am in G one more time! God really loves me.)

Let the Common Wealth companionship continue to preach the gospel. And Prezydent E put Sister Grgich and Sister Young together once more and took a step back, he nodded it head and must have said, "it is good."

Do you know what else has been good? This whole weekend. The amount of happiness oozing out of this Sister missionary is... maybe concerning. Okay so STORY TIME!

First we went to the zoo and I pet a kangaroo. Sister G got to say hello to her mates. (That was our culture night which we turned into culture day.)

​Then I went to Warsaw and was reunited with Sister C as I had to go to the Urząd for some paper work. I now have a residence card. Sister C bless her lovely heart made me pumpkin pie! Okay well she made Sister G and I pumpkin pie. FROM A PUMPKIN! Not from a can you get at Smith's grocery store but a real pretty orange pumpkin. What a domestic goddess. 

Okay then we found Joseph Smith. Kinnnnnnnd of. The Taggartmobile took us less active finding and we were looking for a member J. S. which is practically the same name. Anyways it was creepy and dark out. We used the GPS which doesn't do much when in Poland but it got us in the right area. After some knocking around and chatting with the people we found out his home is further down the road. Back in the car we go and well we start driving down the road. FINALLY after thinking we missed it we saw a sign telling us his address. We pulled up and Sister T stayed in the car, she gets the heebie-gajeebies sometimes, and got out. We're knocking on the doors, knocking on the windows. Someone is inside but not answering and it is dark so we are poking our way around with a flashlight. Then there is another house on the property and we ask the man smoking a cigarette if he knows J. J comes out and so we are able to talk with him and his creepy buddies who think they can go on dates with us. Polish people. Anyways HE was kind and very polite. Niestety (unfortunately) he does not have interest in coming back to Church at the time being. We were able to share a few things with him and he was very touched that we came out all this way to find him. It has been years since he has had contact with the Church. (Well no wonder, he lives in the middle of nowhere!) His 8 year old daughter A came out and we talked with her for a bit too. We hope to return around sometime before/around Christmas and who knows, maybe things will be different. I BELIEVE IN CHRISTMAS MAGIC, czyli miracles.

Saturday we found out we will remain together for this next transfer. BEST CHRISTMAS PRESENT EVER!

Then BOOM it was and I think yesterday was my favorite day since being in Poland. It started out with a delicious bowl of cereal and a brisk walk to the church building. The weather was on point. Then in sacrament we had another miracle! A man from Ukraine who had out of the blue called Sister G some time ago came and brought his Polish fiance. He had met with the missionaries in the Ukraine and is here hoping to stay in Poland. TWO POTENTIALS PEOPLE. A POTENTIAL COUPLE. A BEAUTIFUL HAPPY COUPLE! I love Ukrainians and my Ukrainian heritage. Thank you GRANNY! Anyways so they will be coming to English this week and we will see about setting up and learning more about them. 

Next we taught K (YW). Miałyśmy lekcę o cierpliwości. K is sharp for an almost 14 year old girl and having YW lessons is not only fun for us but it really makes a difference. She normally would be with the primary kids (aka her brother and sister + Klaudia) for the other two hours. Sometimes I see a little fist pump in the air when we tell her we have a lesson for her.

THEN IMPROMPTU PRIMARY LESSON dla K od mnie. Wienz the last hour of church some people had left so there was no one in Primary except lonely K because her mum is in RS. I see her sitting at a table playing on a tablet and was reminded of the gazillion of times I was all alone in Church (well alone in the sense that there weren't other kids) and how much it meant to me when someone would through something together for me.

-well there you have it, I had to think fast and accomadate her short attention span and mine. Oh and not to mention the language barrier, but she is always happy to correct my spelling and I mean she is one of the few people who actually understands what i am trying to say! The green letters say, "God created the earth for (the purpose of) us, we are thankful for the planet which we live." Then we drew things we are thankful for and labeled them, such as our families, stars, seasons, temples, the Book of Mormon, lego... you know, the works!

Church was great and I really worked on talking with the members, especially the ladies and finding times we could meet and ways Sister Grgich and I can help. LOVE AND SERVICE make the world go round. That and gravity and other forces but... wiecie o co mi chodzi.

Still the day is not over! Okay so then French Toast at the Taggarts, było smaczny.

THEN O. Sister G and I met O trackting a couple weeks ago but due to us being sick and busy and her being sick and busy, we were only able to meet for the first time last night. What a beautiful daughter of God. She is 23 and studying ecology and one of the many Universities. She had a short contact with some missionaries many months ago on the streets and that was it. She was surprised when we knocked on her door. (They all are.) Anyways we had a lovely lesson in the chapel, we showed her around and got to know each other a little better. She patiently listened to me as I told her about our loving Heavenly Father who reveals his gospel to prophets. Sister G would then politely clarify the things which I said. We proceeded to teach as so and then we were talking about the Book of Mormon. She asked questions like, "Where should I start reading?" And, "When can we meet again?"

WHOA I AM SORRY, who are you? Are you even real?

Happy feelings all around for O. We set to meet with her for alter in the week. Sister G and I may have skipped home...

THEN TODAY IS THE DAY! M IS GOING TO BE BAPTIZED! I have to give a talk on the Holy Ghost po polsku, we'll see how that goes. I guess you'll just have to wait to hear about it all until next week!

POZDRAWIAM!

Biscuits

the T's are the senior missionary couple here in Gdańsk. They are the greatest and I commend them for their hard work and diligence. They don't speak any Polish although President (he is the Branch President) T does his best and tries very hard. He is not bad, probably better than me! 

This week we did some detective work with the T's. We have a bunch of records for members in the Branch, funny because there are not very many members in sacrament meeting! AHA! So we are trying to go out and find some people who maybe need help or got lost. 

On our way to E z Taggartami samochódem, we were driving along and I offered the T's one of my favorite little biscuits I keep in my bag. They said, "no thanks," and we kept on driving to E.

We were out to visit A, a lady who should she still be around, would have ONE HUNDRED YEARS on Christmas day. Her neighbour informed us that she actually moved away twenty years ago to the US and that she is probably, ona prawdopodobnie nie żyje. (We didn't have a number to call before hand which is why we had to drive all the way there.) Polish people are notorious for moving around and well, finding them is impossible. Like I said, it is detective work!

On our way back to G I start eating my biscuits, they come in a pack of four. THEN ALL OF THE SUDDEN SISTER G OFFERS MY BISCUITS (MINE NOT HERS) TO THE TS! WHO DOES SHE THINK SHE IS? I was so upset, especially because the Ts said yes, I begrudgingly gave them each a biscuit with a forced smile on my face and well I kinda threw the last one at Sister G. (I am not too proud of myself here) I was mad and OCD. I really looked forward to eating the other biscuits with my tea when I got home.

Well it didn't take me too long to realize yes I can be very OCD and that I should have been grateful for the opportunity Sister G opened up for me to share and love. This experience cause me to reflect a bit about service and loving others.

How easy it is for each of us to schedule in time to go and volunteer or help someone in need. Great, that's the service for the day and CHECK! We like to serve when we want to serve.

I learned: it is the times when we are reluctant to do something good that we should do them. In my case it was sharing my biscuits with the Ts and my companion. The Saviour did not just love the people as he desired, he did not just help one person and considered his work for the day complete. He did not just atone for out sins and moved on with life. NO! It is the encompassing compassion of the Saviour that endures and touches our lives every moment of every day when we enable it to. He loves us and is ALWAYS there.

3 Nephi 27:27 "therefore, what manner of men ought ye to be? Verily I say unto you, even as I am."

Moroni 10: 32 "Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you, that by his grace ye may be perfect in Christ; and if by the grace of God ye are perfect in Christ, ye can in nowise deny the power of God."

Christ is our perfect example. As we strive to follow him in all that we do and say, we become better and we will learn- we will learn of his love for us and for others. When we try to love as the Savior loves, we will love more perfectly.

I thought I was justified in begrudging act of handing over my biscuits. It seems so silly to me now I KNOW. However instead of thinking about being a good person as a checklist and filling in a check box each day, it is the continuation of collecting check-marks that matters more. It is going out of our way and serving and loving others when maybe seems inconvenient to us that matters the MOST.

This was my lessons which I learned that made an impact on me and how I can love and serve more fully. I hope maybe it can help others and their pursuit to serve. I understand that my head can be a little thick at times and well, I get to learn some things the silliest of ways but hey hope it helps and makes sense!

LOVE YOU ALL! HAVE A GREAT WEEK. TRANSFER CALLS COME UP THIS SATURDAY! 

​-me and the pigeons (filthy animals)

Oh CANADA!

"Hey I found Canada!" This week I wanted to express my gratitude for how richly my life has been blessed. I thought I would try to keep it to 20, something for each year I have. In Polish we say, "mam dwadziescia lat," (I have twenty years.)

1. the example of my Saviour Jesus Christ and His Atonement

2. goodly parents

3. being sealed with my family for time and all eternity in the temple

4. the Book of Mormon

5. temples

6. the capabilities of the human body

7. LOVE -which sounds cheesy and even I kind of flinch at the cheesiness of it all, but it is true!

8. the different seasons

9. art which inspires and teaches

10. music that uplifts 

11. a beautiful Earth 

12. a living prophet

13. nuts- almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts, pecans (you name it, and I am thankful for it) Right now there are nuts being sold on the streets with the fruit stands. The Polish understand my needs.

14. general conference! (If you haven't already seen it, go watch it.)

15. cultures and traditions

16. Keanna Woidak

17. Benjamin Jensen (I thought they deserved there own numbers)

18. opportunities to travel

19. opportunities to learn

20. the kindness which others have shown me and which they show to others. I have been blessed with the greatest of acquaintances and I am so thankful for their examples. Thank you!

AND well I can't just stop there! I love my companion Sister G who helps me so much. I am like a lost little puppy sometimes, she helps me by not helping me but then when I get really lost she is always there. I am so thankful for such a wonderful and considerate- not to mention PATIENT and loving companion. She really has made a big difference in the lives of the people here and in mine. I want you all to meet her and not only hear her Aussie accent but to know for yourselves what a delight this girl is! (She has a blog,siostragrgich.blogspot.com -i haven't visited it myself and well I hope are feelings are mutual!)

And well we maybe had interviews with the Mission President this weekend and let's just say there may be a good chance the common wealth companions will be together a little longer! No promises though. That begin said, for anyone wondering where to send mail, just in case I am not here in the future weeks to come, the mission address is the safest!

Love you all and have a HAPPY CANADIAN THANKSGIVING! Thank you everyone for the wonderful letters, I promise I will write back soon. Enjoy the pumpkins, cinnamon, warm tea, cider- it is one of my favorite times of the year.

Siostra Młoda

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Our Miracle Referral!

K G, our miracle referral! I don't know what I have shared recently, between talking with my comp, my family, my journal, i tak dalej, I often forget what has been said już and what I want to say. I promise to put more effort into these little updates!

We have been teaching K fror quite a while now. Last week we met with her on Tuesday. Then we returned to go and help her clean her apartment. I thought of my Mum and how she never asks to help, she just starts doign something. So we practically invited ourselves over and cleaned for a couple of hours and then shared a lesson.

The next day her Dad, K texted us and asked us if we could go and check on K because she was feeling unwell and he was at work. So being the flexible missionaries we are, we rearranged some plans so that we could make it to Gydnia thanks to Elder and Sister T, the senior missionary couple. Poor K's body hurt, her condition causes for some unpleasant days.

We helped her. We loved her. We made her lunch, and took her beast of a dog Krowa (cow) for a walk. Then Elder T (President too I guess because he is the Branch President) gave K a blessing. Afterwards there was much peace, we left hoping we had been able to help.

Then came Sunday. K had accepted the invitation to come to Church this Sunday! Because she is kind of confined to a wheel chair, Sister Grgich and I wanted to make her first time visitng as pleasant as possible. We met her in G where we took a train back to for church. After sacrament she looked at me and told me it was all lovely! We talked about the wonderful family atmosphere and the warmth from the members. She was the greatest and such a blessing to have in Relief Society. She participated and everything. The members and her interacted- było finiej. I have so much respect for this young woman.

Then afterwards we all went over to the Taggart's for dinner!

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Sister G and I love K. She says "hi" to you all as well. Her countenance is one of gratitude and humility- I can not imagine finer qualities. She gracefully removes herself from her wheel chair and to the ground as others asssit her onto the train. First they move her wheel chair and then they pick her up and help her back into her wheel chair. She does it all calmy and with dignity. (I get a little mad at the lack of thought gone into providing all the trains and trams with ramps for wheel chair access...) This beauitful woman and her beautiful Spirit touches me. Her desire to learn more as she has been searchign so long for truth helps me value the truths that I do know, which I treasure up. 

The funny moments from this week almost all came when we were with K. The best was when Sister G checked her phone after dinner at the T's her Dad, K had texted us (yeah we are close like that) and he asked, "czy moje dziecko żyje......? :)<3" (Is my child alive?)

Anyways I'll try to send some pictures from Westerplatte, but you'll have to look up the historical significance on your own, nie ma czasu this week to explain!

This week was crazy busy.

This week was crazy. Crazy busy and crazy fun. I think there were some days where Sister G and I only speed-walked to and from appointments, maybe even a light jog.

First exciting news... everyone ready? Drum roll please! M. K. has a baptism date. A beautiful beautiful sweet date of baptism. Her husband has been a member for five years and she has been coming
to Church and participating. I wish I could say it was a result of Sister G's awesome companionship and Spirit but no. The Spirit is the teacher here and there have been many other missionaries and members who have helped her progress to this decision. She is so sweet and sassy, the branch needs her.

I learned from M that Heavenly Father has his own plan for each of us and that he prepares each of us individually for what will come next in the future.

Thursday we had mission conference, so we woke up at 4 20 IN THE MORNING to catch a train to Warsaw. Oh baby were we ever exhausted. We made up a song though about Pączki which we hope to record later. Whenever we go by tram or train, the pączki are there.

President K shared some fabulous words with us. We talked about missionary work from the start of our day, what we do, how we do it, and why. We talked about finding, contacting, and teaching. We also talked about the Spirit and feeding the people milk as opposed to meat because sometimes too much information all at once is not what they need. Who would have thought? Jokes już wiem.

Then we traveled home to our warm beds and enjoyed a blissful sleep. 

while at her mission conference, siostra young ran into one of my(sydney) fellow sister missionary's sister! small world :)

Friday we were able to work with K in YW again. I remember when I was in YW. How exciting is was to work on the goals and set my own. We are going to try to teach her YW on Sundays (she is the only one and has been going to primary for the two hours because there is also no Sunday school for her.) She was so excited. Smiles and fists were pumped into the air. Unfortunately she has been sick and couldn't make it on Sunday, but next week!

Then Saturday was the mother-load of appointments and running around. Our first meeting went a little over and so did the rest. Bit by bit we became more and more behind in our appointments. Our first was with the lovely Jadwiga who doesn't speak much English besides, "please sit down Madam." Ja made us nalaśniki! She had me do the mixing.

Sorry for the lack of posts everyone! but this week TRANSFERS

LAST OF THE WARSAW DAYS... for now:

the week started out with a loving exchange with Siostra B. She serves in Warsaw II and so I spent some time in a new area. Siostra B has a lot of love. She loves the people and over the exchange I really came to love the people we met with too. It helps too when you share a message over a cup of warm tea. (Stinging nettle boiled with a mint tea bag added to the pitcher.) We delivered homemade banana bread, read poetry to an old lady, and visited with a young American mother. I had nevr felt so edified and uplifted by the Spirit as we did our best to bring the Spirit into the homes of the people.

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Then as you already maybe know, K baptism was on saturday! I admire this girl so much, she is a wonderful example to me. Her faith and desire to continue learning and treasuring up the gospel, the scriptures and the history of it all is... words can not describe how wonderful it is. I learn so much form her, about the people in Poland and the Jewish people in the scriptures. In General Conference there was a talk, is it wonderful to you? The gospel of Jesus Christ is delicious and truly wonderful, it will add light to your life and help you share light with others. Kaja's light shines so brightly and I am so thankful that I was able to be there as she was baptized.


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and the rest of the week was a blur. We had our culture night as a district and visited the Copernicus Museum. I have some really fun pictures from that, however it takes so long to upload them, maybe I will send some later. Then we also had Sport Saturday, we had some members come and investigators and played some basketball. (My skills are lacking but I tried.)

The next thing I knew I got a phone call from President E for transfers.

I spent the last few days visiting with the people we have been teaching. My favorite night was spent at the C family, they had us over and we shared some scriptures and bore our testimonies. I met Brother C for the first time, he shared his testimony and his favorite scripture as well. Teaching families in their homes is maybe the greatest feeling ever. Especially bcause it was the C family, the parents met in Mexico and it felt like we were in Mexico for a bit. The kids are lovely and I will miss them. -i'll be sending a picture

I also ate my first Polish Pączek (rose flavored) -i'll be sending a picture

And I said goodbye to my lovely A and my favorite Polish twins, H and E.

Now, I'll be serving in, any guesses?
G! With my fabulous Aussie companion Siostra G. Next week I'll tell you all about it.

30.VII.2015: the ARRIVAL

Perwszy Transfer: Warszawa 

Downtown Warsaw

Kolezanke: Siostra Gammon i Siostra Pierson

Me and Siostras G i P

30.VII.2015

"I am in Poland! And I have all my luggage!" 

-that was exciting because we barely made our flights, one plane was delayed right after another. Our last flight from Munich to Warsaw was rescheduled because we didn't make it despite all of our running and billowing skirts in the airport. We made it thought,m safe and sound with all of our luggage. Our first night Sister E made real food. Those hungry nights in the MTC are in the past, because the food here in Poland is najlepszy (the best!)

I quickly came to learn a few things upon arriving in Poland:

1) Polish is a wonderful but crazy language, i understand about 10% of what people say and i think they understand me even less. Just kidding it is not that bad, they are all so sweet and say "Oh but your polish is so good, you've only been studying for 2 months?" 

2) they do have peanut butter and it is so good. 

3) many people speak english

There is is much to say and I don't know how much time I will have. We write our emails in a Public library and I do not really know how long we have. There are also red squiggly lines underneath every word I write because the computre doesn't recognize these English words I am typing, so I apologize if the spelling is way off. 

Maybe I'll just share some experiences and then if I have time I will share some pictures, dobsze?

Yesterday was my first Sunday in Poland and my first time attending sacrament meeting tylko po polsku. The Branch is small but the people are strong. I enjoyed hearing the testimonies shared, many members talked about eternal families and the temple. 

After Sacrament we helped out in the primary/nursery. There were about nine children in total. Polish children are so very cute, when they talk it doesn't matter what they say because little children speaking Polish might just be the cutest thing ever. 

"nie moge" (I can't) M would always say when jej m asked her to do something. There little high voices and oh my goodness it is seriously the best.

We sang Jezus wants me for a sunbeam for singing time. Sister g studied piano at BYU for two years so she was our pianist. 

the first verse of Jezus chce bym byl promykiem goes like this:

Jezus chce bym byl promy-kiem

i swietcil dzien po dniiu:

sta-ral sie zawsze zyc dobrze

i wiernie slu-zyl mu

promykiem, promykiem

jezus chce bym byl promy-kiem

promykiem, promykiem, 

promykiem bede wiec dzis

every day I try to record a funny moment from the day and a miracle. Siostra B had shared with us that she had done that on her mission. I will be filling up a lot of journals I guess while I am here. Anyways the funny moment for Sunday was we taught a member fro the Phillipines in the evening and she gave us a box of chocolates alogn with more chocolate. As we rode the bus home after our meeting I offered k woman) one before talking about the church.

One of our companionship goals this transfer is to talk to at least one person each time we ride the ram/autobus/metro. Slowly I am becoming a little savy on all of this transportation. At least that is what I think until my companions start going the other way. All in good time I suppose.

The other story I wanted to share was my FIRST DOOR TO DOOR CONTACTING. We were in the other sisters area (Siostra Cand K.) I was with Sister K and the first door we knocked on a man answered. His name was A. Anyways he said, "normally I wouldn't invite you in, but today I feel like I will." He said he would give us five minutes to talk.Sister K can understand Polish much better than I can. We went inside and as always we wre offered some tea or coffee. The other great thing about Polish people is that they love tea- I am defrintiely in the right place! He had many questions, we talked about the first vision, temples, baptism, piligamy, homosexuality- you name it, we talked about it. He was 100% Catholic like almost everyone we meet, but what I love about Polish people is that they are so open and happy to talk abotu religion. They are so eager to listen and to learn, even if it is not there own belief. We had probably been there about twenty minutes when we hear a knock on the door, he goes and ansqwers it. Then three sister missionaries: Sister P, G, and C all walk in. We were sitting around a small table in his kitchen talking about the gospel, it was so fun and he was so kind and patient with us. When one person shared their testimony, he would look to the sister next to her and say "now it is your turn," and then we would go in a circle. We took a couple "selfies", a universal word I thought was just maybe American. We invited us to comre back again, his sister will be in town this week so we will have to stop by!

Anyways it is fun. The people are so wonderful and each day there is a little experience where I think to myself, "even if the rest of the day was going to bad (which it never is) this experience was worth it."

I can easily forbget the heat, the humidity, and the little sleep when I pray and make the decision to be happy. I know the families are eternal and I am so thankful for my own family. I talk alot about families with the people I meet, they ask, "if your fmailiy is so important, then why are you hear so long?" I know the message I have to share has been and is a blessing in my own life. Knowing that I will be with my family brings me joy and helps me be a better person, we are only closer and stronger as a family because of the the gospel. I feel responsible to share this message with others, my hope is that I can help others come unto this knowledge because I know it will bless their lives too. 

Until next week! Dowidzenia, 

Siostra Young

Week 9: NIE MOGE SIE DOCZEKAC!

NIE MOGE SIE DOCZEKAC! (I can not wait!)

I am left asking myself, "wait, is this real life?" Then the words from Elder Holland's devotional address come to mind, "THIS IS REAL LIFE." There is not messing around with Elder Holland.

On Monday Siostra Craig and I will be leaving the MTC and heading to Warsaw Poland, here is the flight itinerary!

Here are some of the highlights from this past week at the MTC:

Siostra Craig and I were talking with a sister going to Japan. She asked what language we were speaking and we told her Polish. She said, "really? I heard Polish, Finnish, and Japanese, were the hardest languages in the MTC!." Before our teachers would always tell us the same thing, that Polish was one of the hardest languages. I thought maybe they were a little biased, but nope it is now official! Polish is one of the hardest languages at the MTC. 

That being said I love the Polish language. There is so much thought and care put into the grammar and the words. I really do feel blessed to have been given the opportunity to teach in Polish. The cases have come along nicely, I finally memorized all six. I have to spend a little time going over the plural form of the cases, but they are not as difficult and I already have a few memorized. what I love about the Polish language is the way it sounds: a little bit of an asian tang here, a throaty sound there, and maybe a little finnish... my point is that is is unlike any language I have ever heard. I love it and can not wait to hear the people speaking way too fast for me to understand when I'm in Poland!

The teachers. The teachers at the MTC are the best and definitely inspired to be here. We said goodbye to Brat Smalley yesterday, it may have been a little emotional and a little leaky. Today is our last day with our other two teachers. They have become like our mentors and I will miss them very much. They have spent so much time with us and have helped us in so many ways. I want to make them proud and can not wait to see them around BYU campus after mission life and give them a big hug!

Also along the musical lines I played the cello in one sacrament meeting. Sestra Duffy sang with her angelic voice and Elder Isaacson played the piano. We performed I Know That My Redeemer Lives and it really was a wonderful opportunity. I PUT THOSE CELLO LESSONS TO USE MOM AND DAD. Thank you for patiently encouraging me to keep playing the cello and practicing.

On Tuesday we had elder Nash from the area seventy came to speak with us. We sang in the choir, Precious Savior Dear Redeemer (music by Brett Stewart) and I had goosebumps the entire time.

Here are some of the lyrics:

Precious Savior, dear Redeemer, thou wilt bind the broken heart.

Let not sorrow overwhelm us; dry the bitter tears that start.

Curb the winds and calm the billows; bid the angry tempest cease.

Precious Savior, dear Redeemer, grant us everlasting peace.

At the end of Elder Nash's address he said, 'Don't Hold Anything Back from the Lord." 

I could maybe stay at the MTC for a whole year and still feel like there is still so much for me to learn. For in a very long time I finally feel like I am exactly where I am supposed to be. I know that Heavenly Father has a plan for each of us. When we match up our lives with His plan, we feel an overwhelming sense of joy and peace. I am so happy to be here and I am so excited to go and serve the people in Poland. There is still so much for me to learn, but I am also ready to go and learn out in the mission field. I recall a familiar feeling when I went skydiving last summer. I did not know exactly what I was doing, had I taken the time to stop and really ask myself if I knew what I was doing, I might have chickened out or had some kind of panick attack. However I went on that sketchy little airplane and I jumped into the big blue sky. I fell through clouds and looked down at the beautiful Earth and I love every single second of it. I am ready to go to Poland. I cam so excited to meet my mission President, the other missionaries, and the members. 

Until next time, when I'm in Poland, 

this is Siostra Young, leaving the MTC after nine weeks.  

Week 8 Nie moge sie doczekac!

Nie moge sie doczekac, tomorrow we will be getting out flight plans! 

Siostra Craig and I had another milestone in our lessons this week. We had another Skype lesson with Ewa and it was really exciting. I wrote in my planner right after we taught her...\

"our skype lesson with Ewa was the greateset! Siostra Craig and I were able to be ourselves and let our crazy/fun/excited personalities shine through, while keeping the Spirit of course."

What made this lesson different from our past lessons is we were able to engage Ewa as well as ourselves as re related experiences. The whole time we were smiling and focused on teaching people not lessons, which is KEY.

This week we also set up a baptismal date z Tomekim. 

Anyways this week has been great, the goal has been to "collect drops of awesome." Sister Melville, the Branch President's wife shared a talk which inspired Siostra Craig and I to "colelct drops of awesome." Example: you say your prayers today, great you collect a drop. Maybe you pick up some garbage, another drop. You hold the door open for someone, add a drop. You work out and fell great, another drop. Maybe you go out of your way to introduce yourself to someone sitting on a bench, hey add a drop. Anyways it is about collecting drops of awesome. Even if we do not fill ur bucket up with "drops of awesome," that is okay. Through the atonement and grace of Jesus Christ, our buckets can be filled. We are asked to try our best and that is all.

Thanks Mom! 

From Canada to Poland with love and a little spunk! 2 more weeks!!

"My Branch President's wife gave this to me. I don't even like nutella, I like Peanut Butter but desperate/stressful times call for stressful measures."

Week 7: CZAZ LEPCIEC!

CZAZ LEPCIEC! (time flies)

Next week we will be getting our flight plans! How is this possible?

This week the most exciting part was our Skype appointment. We skyped Ewa (Eva) in Poland, she is a member in Bydgoszcz and shared a short message with her. I loved every single minute of it, even if I only understood about 20% We shared a message about endurance, but more importantly enduring happily. I shared a quick story of the West Coast Trail. The hike was probably one the of the hardest hikes we had committed to. I quickly learned when that when my frame of mind was positive and excited, time flew by. In contrast, when I thought about myself and how difficult the hike actually really was, time did not only seem to drag on, but to freeze. I can thank my parents for that lesson! Life is not always easy, but if we go into each experience with a desire to endure and to learn, all will be well.

Week 6: Smacznego!

MTC FOOD HACKS:

(for anyone future missionaries entering into the MTC, but let's face it, the only people who reads this blog is my family.)

1. when you have a cookie, heat it up in the microwave for 15 seconds. It'll taste like it just came out of the oven.

2. There is a salad bar/wrap bar. You can totally make a wrap on half of the shell then fold it in half, stick it in the microwave, and boom QUESADILLA. Smacznego!

3. there is oatmeal in the mornings, however it is way overcooked. I like to heat my milk up in the microwave and add some of the cinnamon granola. It is so good.

4. to make the soup a little more appetizing and the rice a little more appetizing, mix the two together.

5. when you go to the temple, go the cafeteria on the lower floor. As a missionary you are allowed and they have CELESTIAL WAFFLES.

6. Wednesdays they have ice-cream sundays for new missionaries coming in. Grab a plastic cup and fill up on candy. It is a good on the go snack.

7. I'll send pictures of my favorite salads when there is nothing else that looks worth eating

8. pray for a roommate from Utah because they will have tons of packages. Sestra Rusick had her own pantry

9. it is always nice to have a hot cup of tea every now and again

Well it is week 6 at the MTC! This week we had about 18 new missionaries come into our zone! We have new Croatians, Bulgarians, and Slovenians.

This Wednesday was a special treat, Siostra Craig and I were asked to Host the incoming missionaries, we helped them check in, get their books, i tak dalej. We actually did that last week but I could not remember if I mentioned that in my letter. However ten tydzien (this week) we were asked to be special guests in one of the orientation meeting. We were to be an example companionship for a door approach. We "knocked" on an investigators door and met with them. We greeted the investigators and asked them questions, setting the new missionaries up to start teaching. We found out our teachers had recommended us, so that was pretty cool. However meeting someone and getting to know them po angelsku jest trudny i a bit strange because we are so used to being personal in Polish. 

Our devotionals these past two weeks have been great. Last week was Elder Holland and then this week Elder Christofferson! Elder Christofferson answered some missionary questions he had been asked before. One question was about recognizing the Holy Ghost. He explained how recognizing the Holy Ghost is like learning a new language and the textbook to that language is the Book of Mormon. Sometimes I think of the Book of Mormon as a huge story, which it is, but it can also be a textbook and an instrument to help us become familiar with the language of the Holy Ghost.

This last week Siostra Craig and I had an amazing experience with out investigator Karina. When we taught her, we had prepared a lesson on the 10 Commandments. She wants to be baptized but is scared to ask her husband who struggles with some things. Anyways as soon as we started to teaching her, Siostra Craig and I did something we never really thought we would do- at least not until we were out in the mission field. We took our lesson plan and mentally kicked it to the curb. We felt impressed to share a different message with Karina and we were eld by the Holy Ghost. We taught an UNSCRIPTED UNPLANNED LESSON all in Polish. Sure our Polish was a little... tragic shall we say but the message was clear enough for Karina to hear. We read in first Nephi chapter three, we read in a circle and took turns. After the first ten verses or so we asked her what she thought. Her eyes lit up as she was excited to learn that while yes these stories were written long ago, they apply to her and her life. She learned that because Nephi had faith he was able to draw strength and that she could too. The lesson as a whole was by far our best lesson ever, but more importantly was how we were able to help Karina learn more about her loving Heavenly Father and how she can come closer to Him. 

What a week, I can not wait for the next!

"And I shall make you fishers of men" - Matthew 4:19

Madi food. 

Week 5: "ALL I WANT TO DO IS SPEAK POLISH!"

Dzien Dobry!

Life at the MTC this week has really been the greatest of all the MTC weeks. Maybe it will be the greatest of them all, I don't know, but I will tell you all about it:

On Wtorek (Tuesday) I had CMS with Brat Smalley one of my Polish teachers. In CMS we meet one-on-one and discuss all things we want to improve on, language studies, personal studies, spiritual studies, i tak dalej i tak dalej (etc.) Brat Smalley asked me, "What kind of missionary do you want to be?" 

His question really struck a note within me, I have not given much thought to what I want the people in Poland to think of me. Do I want them to think of me as hard-working, Christ-like, a great teacher... ideally I would like to become all of the above. Brat Smalley told me I will change on my mission, all missionaries do. Theoretically the change is for the best, we are made better as our lives are touched by the Lord through helping others come unto Christ. He shared a poem given in a talk from April 2001 by Elder Packer: A Touch of the Master's Hand

’Twas battered and scarred, and the auctioneer

Thought it scarcely worth his while

To waste much time on the old violin,

But held it up with a smile:

“What am I bidden, good folks,” he cried,

“Who’ll start the bidding for me?”

“A dollar, a dollar”; then, “Two!” “Only two?

Two dollars, and who’ll make it three?

Three dollars, once; three dollars, twice;

Going for three—” But no,

From the room, far back, a gray-haired man

Came forward and picked up the bow;

Then, wiping the dust from the old violin,

And tightening the loose strings,

He played a melody pure and sweet

As a caroling angel sings.

The music ceased, and the auctioneer,

With a voice that was quiet and low,

Said, “What am I bid for the old violin?”

And he held it up with the bow.

“A thousand dollars, and who’ll make it two?

Two thousand! And who’ll make it three?

Three thousand, once, three thousand, twice,

And going, and gone!” said he.

The people cheered, but some of them cried,

“We do not quite understand

What changed its worth.” Swift came the reply:

“The touch of a master’s hand.”

And many a man with life out of tune,

And battered and scarred with sin,

Is auctioned cheap to the thoughtless crowd,

Much like the old violin.

A “mess of pottage,” a glass of wine,

A game—and he travels on.

He’s “going” once, and “going” twice,

He’s “going” and almost “gone.”

But the Master comes, and the foolish crowd

Never can quite understand

The worth of a soul and the change that’s wrought

By the touch of the Master’s hand

In addition to Brat Smalley's inspired message, we were privileged to hear from Elder Holland (quorum of the Twelve Apostles) for our Tuesday Devotional. The message shared in devotional was also about change and how we should expect to be changed on our missions. Through our conversion to the Gospel, we will change. 

The change that takes place through conversion is part of eternal progression, in other words, after we change there is no going back. 

In summary of Tuesday's messages I decided, I know I will change on my mission. I know that as I work hard and diligently study the scriptures and the Spirit's guidance, I will learn more about the gospel and my faith will be nourished. Through my efforts to be better, I know my life will change. I know that as I help others come unto Christ, our Maker will touch the lives of others. I want the people of Poland to know their worth, to see the perspective with which their Savior sees them. I know that as I help others come unto Christ, I too will develop a closer relationship with my Heavenly Father. I desire to serve the people of Polish selflessly and to learn true empathy for Heavenly Father's children. 

I came across my missionary scripture for the time being:

(Mormon 9:27)

"...Doubt not, but be believing, and begin as in times of old, and come unto the Lord with all your heart, and work out your own salvation 

with fear and trembling before him."

Then Sroda (Wednesday) was a break through day with the Polish language. We started out trying to SYL (Speak Your Language) throughout our day which I believe helped us speak better Polish in our class. Siostra Bart was so happy, she told us our improvement from our last class was so amazing, there may have been some water in her eyes.

I think of SYL like my freshman drawing  class at BYU:

My teacher Mr. Larsen emphasized learning how to access the more creative part of our brains. The part that is not so analytical and needs facts to process information. To succeed in the class it was necessary we accessed the portion of our brains which helped us see objects with a different perspective. If that makes any sense then GREAT!

You might be asking "o co chodzi?" (As in, okay Siostra Young, what are you getting at?)

Chodzi mi o to (I am getting at this) when we learn how to access the part of our brain the processes different languages, we will become faster and more efficient in said language. Wienz (so) because Siostra Craig and I really made an effort to fill our day and well past days with Polish, I think are brains are starting to readjust and rewire themselves!

In summary: THE GIFT OF TONGUES IS REAL AND ALL I WANT TO DO IS SPEAK POLISH!

Our Polish lessons became so much smoother throughout the day, we were able to better help one another and teach with the Spirit. We were more excited and enthusiastic than before, all in all, it was a dobry dzien. 

Siostra Bart shared an analogy with us after we finished teaching her o ewangelia Jezusa Chrystusa, she notice our excitement and taught: The restoration in like a box. Inside the box is a pearl and the pearl symbolizes the gospel. Well it just so happens pearls are my favorite, wienz ewangelia Jezusa Chrystusa jest teraz moj favorite!

That is all I have to report for this week! Next week: my favorite MTC food hacks. 

-Siostra Young

Sometimes we complement each other

Each day is one step closer to POLAND!

Elder Holland came to speak :)