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 :)

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