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 :)

Week 4: Puznia, zawsze puznia

Jestem Siostra Young. I am Sister Young.

First name: Siostra

Last name: Young

I seem to have a bit of an identity crisis. I think if you were to call me by my given name, there is a good chance I would not think to respond.

Already I am almost finished my fourth week at the MTC. Sestra Rusick will be receiving her flight plans tonight and she will only be here one more week. WHERE HAS THE TIME GONE? Slight panic attack as there is still so much to learn!

Classes this week have been the best. We started to learn cases which most people are usually not excited to learn, but not me! Finally I am able to form correct sentences. Before when I formed sentences my teachers would correct my grammar and then say, "you'll learn about it later." Puznia, zawsze puznia. (Later, always later.) Teraz jest puznia! (Now it is later!) In the MTC we will learn 6 cases and then there will be a few more to learn in the field. This week we covered 2: Biernik  and Mianownik. Cases effect the form a word takes i jest bardzo wazny jesli chesz mowisz po polsku correctly! Siostra craig and I joke that Polish sometimes looks like someone hits random letters on the keyboard and then say it is Polish. vjdklagreahgjklerahgjkae 

On Sunday we watched a recording of a talk Elder Bednar gave to the MTC some years ago. It is called the Character of Christ and it has been one of my favorite talks at the MTC so far. In summary, the character of Christ includes turning away from self and turning towards God. When we turn inwards we become fascinated with the "self", the natural man. When we turn outwards not only are we serving others, but he said:

"Lose yourself in others, come unto Christ, and you'll find yourself."

His words resonated with me as I recall having thought to myself many times, "I need to go and take some time off and travel the world. I need to find myself." Word for word that last bit has definitely come out of my mouth. After listening to President Bednar speak though I realized I will never find myself when I am obsessed and concerned with the search for "self". I know the times I have learned the most about myself and have more confidence is when I am not focusing on myself. Maybe not necessarily in the present moment of service, but upon reflection am I brought back to the learned experiences. 

This whole week my companions and I have been commenting on one another's actions and remarking, "Whoa you're really turning outwards!" when one of us holds the door open for the other or when ever we do something kind. Or sometimes, "You're not letting me turn outward!" Turning so much can get complicated. 

However I do know this, that as we strive to turn outwards and serve others, we will become more aware of the many opportunities we can help one another. We will also become more aware of the needs of others and how we can best help them. 

Facemasks

saying goodbye to the Tahitian sisters <3

Week 3

Dzien Dobry!

Kocham MTC. Wait did i just say that? What is happening to me? I love hearing the little birds chirping in the morning, they remind me that life exists outside of these brick walls. 

However I am truly happy to be studying and learning here. I am already into my third week, how time flies. A good way to describe how fast time flies is to accept the fact I ran out of email time!

-Siostra Young 

(nothing too exciting happened this week but I'll be sure to have something good to share next P-Dzien)

the joys of MTC life: laundry time

Week 2: Krok po Kroku

Czesc!

They say the hardest week at the MTC is your first, I'd like to report that Siostra Craig and I have successfully made it through our first week! We have another Companion, Sestra Rusick who has been called to serve in Croatia and she has been at the MTC for 6 weeks!  She has been the greatest blessing and I doubt our first week would have been as pleasant as it was without her.I love my companions. Siostra Craig and I have the same schedule, we really do spend every breathing moment together, while Sestra Rusick has her own classes and elders in her district. Although we have only been together for a short while, I feel like because we have emotionally been through so much these past couple of days, my companions know everything there is to know about me. Maybe not so much about my life before the mission, but me as an individual and we are able to help and uplift one another. The other day Siostra Craig and I wrote in our journals, something I would have considered a more private matter before the MTC. Then we wanted to share with one another what we recorded. Siostra Craig is like my walking talking journal, we are so aware of one another and each other's needs there are no secrets. We laugh together, cry together, speak Polish together, and yes, like all missionaries... WE PLAN TOGETHER!

While I have not been here long, it feels like I have been studying at the MTC for a few semesters. We cover such a wide array of material, I know that without the Lord's help we would not be able to learn as much as we do. Each day we are bombarded with language lessons along wiht all of our missionary obligations to help prepare us. It can be rather exhausting but the nuts in the cafeteria make up for it!

Polish is hard! However I am so thankful for my previous years studying Italian at BYU, I have already had a few semesters stressing out over a language so now I get to skip the stress and learn Polish the way I discovered to learn Italian. I am not sure what that means, but I think it has something to do with accessing a different part of our brains. The language is dobje! My teachers are Brat Smalley i Siostra Bart. They are very helpful and I am confident that they will help me be proficient and confident enough to speak po polsku before I leave the MTC. Brat Smalley was in one of my classes at BYU last summer, we had talked when I received my call. Seeing a familiar face was a great comfort. I quickly learned how to read and sound out the words and somehow my memory is storing much more than when I tried studying for exams.Okay so it is not somehow, it is through fervent prayers and Heavenly Father's help. I pray everyday morning, afternoon, night, every time I eat, and any other time I need help for the gift of tongues. On Sunday I shared my testimony in sacrament meeting po polsku and I now say my prayers in Polish WITH proper grammar. Guess what, the gift of tongues is real!

Siostra Craig and I have taught five lessons po Polska! While our Polish was far from perfect and more like broken Polish with words such as , to see-to be-families-in heaven- together-forever the message was received and well that is always a relief. 

D&C 42: 14 reads "and the Spirit shall be given unto you by the prayer of faith; and if ye receive no the Spirit ye shall not teach."

Our first lesson with our investigator was not the best, but afterwards we worked really hard to have the Holy Ghost help direct us. As we studied and prayed before we taught, the Spirit made its presence known and our lessons become much more heartfelt. I know that our broken Polish may be difficult to understand, but with the Spirit's help we are able to teach. I have learned that I am merely a delivered of the Lord's message, when I put in my share of the work to study the language and seek after the Spirit, the Lord does the rest and we (Siostra Craig and I) are able to deliver His message. 

When I came out into the MTC my impressions was I can not wait to serve the Lord for the next 18 months. Now I feel impressed that in fact the Lord is serving me by providing me with such an opportunity to learn and grow spiritually. Wearing His name and representing His church is a privilege and I am so thankful that He has given me 18 months to serve the best I can. I know that I have been called to Poland as an "elect lady" (D&C 25 v3) to represent the Church and teach the people in Poland to help them come unto Christ through the ordinances of the gospel. 

Guess what: THE CHURCH  IS TRUE. I now know this as surely as I know my heart beateth. 

Krok po Kroku (bit by bit) I am learning more about the Spirit and the truth and it lights the way so that I can see where I must go. The Polish is happily coming along and I am excited to further advance our lessons.

Siostra Young

Siostras Young and Craig with their Polski Books of Mormons

the Zone 

Thank you all for the birthday wishes! I am now 20! So long teenage years, even though I still feel 19. Thank you Woozie, Elena, Grannie, Karyn, Roxanne, and the Campbell family. Thank you Low family for the Martinellis, my district and I enjoyed the beverage after a stressful day. I have learned to end every day on a sweet note: thus I am making progress through my Worther's bag and I will let you know when I run out MOM.

MTC

Czesc!

I am safe and sound in the MTC and loving it. Siostra Craig is the best and YES she is my companion. Our district is just us two, party time. Our zone is small, we have Turkey elders, Bulgaria, Adriatic North, Croatia, etc. Everyone is so helpful and kind. Our P-Days will be on Thursday, (we only have 5 minutes today)

love you,

Siostra Young