Date
December 11, 2019
Area
Warsaw
Companion
McArthur
Warsaw, Wroclaw, Legnica, DEUTSCHLAND
I had one of the best weeks on my mission! I wanna break down the week day by day.
Tuesday
We went to the airport and picked up the new missionaries!! We have 3 new Elders (2 from England) and 1 sister! We took them out finding on the streets for the first time too. Its always an honor taking the new missionaries out contacting for the first time! I'm stunned by how talented the new group is.
Wednesday
We had the trainer trainee meeting today, and had some good finding time! We also attended a meeting for members in the north of Poland, led by Elder Kopischke from the Europe Area Presidency. He talked about Eternal Families, and how important family is. He told us, that if we ever want the church to grow in Poland, we need to connect families of members (aunts, cousins, uncles, etc). We know that Exaltation is a family matter. We cannot make it back without families. He taught that we are to stop "comparing" ourselves to other churches, for all will obtain the heaven they preach!! For example, a lot of people desire eternal peace...the Holy Ghost presides over the telestial kingdom, and the Holy Ghost brings lasting peace. There's their reward! But we, as members of The Church of Jesus Christ of latter-day Saints, strive for something more...eternal life with God and our families thanks to the restored gospel.
Thursday
We had Zone Conference with Elder Kopischke, and it was amazing!! He gave our mission an assignment to find 5 couples in each unit. It was cool to feel the power of the Holy Ghost confirm his assignment. After the conference, Elder McArthur and I had dinner with the mission presidency, and Elder and Sister Kopischke!! We ate some way good fish.
Friday
We took the transporter van on a roadtrip down to Wrocław for the South Zone Conference. It was awesome, and we carried everyone's christmas packages, so we felt like Santa's elves haha. We also tripped down with the Gdansk Elders and Lublin Sisters. It was awesome. The south conference was also way good. I learned so much from Elder Kopischke, specifically about faith, the power of Gods words, and family history. At night, he had the member meeting for the south, so we went and drove Sister Kopischke to the airport, and then before the meeting, we met with some people I taught when i served in Wrocław last year. Once the meeting began, Elder McArthur and I decided to find someone on the street to bring inside. So we prayed, and told the Lord that we wouldn't go in until we found someone. Well the Lord came in clutch and provided us with a young skater kid. We talked with him, and he taught us some moves, and then we invited him inside! I almost died on the skateboard, but it was worth it cuz he came! He only had 10 minutes, but he came and felt the spirit! The Lord helps us accomplish the thing commanded of us.
Saturday
We had a mission leadership council, and then I was able to meet up with my friend that I baptized last year! Afterwards, we headed with Elders Puff and Chugg toward the new area called Zgorzelec. We had a pit stop in Legnica on the way, and ate some lunch with the Elders there, and did some finding. After, we drove the rest of the way to Zgorzelec! Zgorzelec is a city in Poland that borders the town of Görlitz, in Germany. We used to have missionaries in Zgorzelec, but it closed down 2 years ago. But now, Elder Uchtdorf told us to open it back up, so we finally were able to send missionaries there!
Once we arrived, we found a secluded area near a pond, and dedicated the city to missionary work, and later we blessed the apartment. The spirit was way strong, and we knew that miracles were ahead. Cool thing, is that Thomas S. Monson prophesied a temple in the German town of Görlitz, which would be a miracle for both Poland and Germany. We are confident in that prophecy. Zgorzelec is now opened for the Lord's work!
Sunday
We went to DEUTSCHLAND! We had a beautiful walk along the Nysa Łużycka river on the way to church in Görlitz. The river divides Germany and Poland. It's crazy how different everything is just across the river. On one side, no one speaks German, on the other, no one speaks Polish haha! So we got to meet a whole bunch of German members at church and even had a dinner appointment at the branch president's home! After dinner, I got to go finding with Elder Puff, who is fluent in German. I was able to bear my testimony, and start conversations with people in German! It was cool to preach the gospel in Germany and in Poland all in the same weekend.
Monday
Elder Chugg and I went finding all day! Between the 4 of us in Zgorzelec, we found 22 potential people to teach! It was an amazing day, and I learned a lot, especially about miracles according to faith.
It was an amazing week, and I want to bare my testimony, as a servant of the Lord, of the truthfulness of this work. He lives, and I know He continues to hasten his work in Poland.
Kocham was
Starszy Edwards