Week 29 & 30 Miracles all around!

I love being a missionary! It is such a sacred and blessed opportunity to share the gospel, to bring hope,purpose and prospects of eternal life into the lives of others. My favorite part of missionary work, is feeling a bit of Heavenly Father's love for these people here. Each of us are daughters or sons of our Heavenly Father. He loves us more than we could possibly comprehend. He has an individual personal 'plan of Salvation' for each of us. He knows exactly what experiences we personally need to go through in order to learn, grow and reach our full potential. Which that potential, is divine potential. We all have the potential to one day be like our Heavenly Father. And it is thanks to our Savior, Jesus Christ's Atonement that that is possible. 

This week was a week of miracles, and to be honest, I have seen a miracle every day of my mission. Whether it seems large or small, the Lord works in all of our lives, we just need to open our eyes to see it. And when we open our eyes....we realize that all of life is a miracle. Think about that for a bit.

So first last Monday, It was Sister Swenson's birthday! :)
As a zone we went to Auschwitz, which is why I didn't e-mail. We all expected it to be a depressing experience....but it actually turned into a very spiritual one. For me, as I went through I kept on wondering why I wasn't getting sad, instead I was overwhelmed with love, hope and a reassurance that all of the victims were welcomed home with open arms into the Savior's loving embrace and that that hard time was just a small fraction of eternity and is nothing compared to the joy they are experiencing now. They were treated terribly physically, but nothing that happened, could hurt them spiritually. Heavenly Father has all power, and Jesus Christ's Atonement covers everything unfair. 

I realized how important it is for us to focus on our spiritual progression. This life is not that long, its not meant to last forever, its just a small testing period. 

Talking to the other 7 sisters in the Zone, they had similar experiences of feeling Heavenly Father's love and reassurance. 

That night, the entire zone went caroling in Katowice. We stood on the street corner and as we felt impressed to, we would either contact or sing (in the end doing both) and it was a night of miracles. We ended up with more than 30 people stopping and listening and desiring to learn more about this glorious gospel. It was a beautiful sight, full of the Christmas Spirit, which is the Spirit of Christ.

Next day we had zone conference, which was great! They introduced the 'adjusting to missionary life' packet, which is all about dealing with stress, which has been helping me a lot! It was a great zone conference where we discussed the importance of the Spirit being as strong as possible in the lessons. Also about kneeling at the end of lessons.

A funny and wonderful moment this week was when Sister Swenson and I were out contacting and I talked to a man who said 'Już jestem' being he's already a member! It was so cool. He's a member from Austria and was visiting for the weekend. That's the first time that has ever happened to me.

Investigator-wise: Sabina is wonderful, I love our lessons so much. she is progressing. Also we have another lesson with Natalia this week. :)

Have a great week everyone!

Love you all! 

Siostra Ellis 

Week 28 Tender Mercies

November 25, 2013

Dear wonderful family,

I love you all so much. This week was full of many tender mercies. It is such a blessing to see Heavenly Father's Hand, every single day...if not every single moment. There are so many things I took for granted before my mission. I feel like I took almost everything for granted. How amazing Utah is and how blessed we are to have so many members in one spot. We have a ward and a stake. We have a patriarch that lives in the same country that speaks our own language, not only that, our patriarch lives a few blocks away, could even walk if necessary. With that blessing, it is very easy for us to receive Patriarchal blessings when we are ready....Polish members don't have that luxury. I also took for granted the security of home and how strong the Spirit is everywhere. We have an amazing ward building, that's HUGE. Our ward, before my mission, was I thought, a smaller ward, before the change and everything....no its huge. Also, I took for granted the fact that people understand who missionaries are. We are so blessed. As the saying goes, you don't realize what you have until its gone. I feel so abundantly blessed that in a year's time, I will be back enjoying all those blessings, which makes me more determined to give these amazing Polish members all I can before I leave. 

I'm so grateful for all of you, for your love,support and prayers. For your encouragement and patience and well...everything. 

I'm grateful for the chance to be me, and to be able to understand a little more of who I actually am. 'We can not determine who we are by actions, by mistakes or accomplishments, we find our identity by asking the One who created us'.  (yes, that is a quote I just made)

Tuesday- taught a young adult aged (25 +/-) woman named Sabina. She's awesome. We're teaching her English and the gospel half-and half. She's Catholic and isn't planning on changing anytime soon, but she's super curious and has intense questions. I have no doubt that in time as she learns more she'll want to have all of the gospel as part of her life.

Also on Tuesday taught Natalia. She is also a young adult-20's. She is married and is pregnant. She is wonderful. She is searching for truth and has been going to all sorts of different churches to find it. Though she suffers from skitsofrenia (I have no idea how to spell that word, so its phonetically spelled), which causes her to really fear praying, 'because she does not want to hear voices inside her head'. Previous experiences in other churches have worsened her physical state, causing her concern. She's amazing.

Both Sabina and Natalia are so wonderful and we thankfully get to continue teaching and working with them. 

Wednesday- a miracle happened as we were calling people on the potentials list and Jadzia (dzi making a hard 'juh' sound, like 'ju' in judge'), answered and said she wanted to meet right then. So we dropped what we were doing and went and taught her. It was an amazing lesson, led by the Spirit. She understands so much about having a personal relationship with Heavenly Father and that means for her. Its beautiful. She's Catholic, and not interested in changing, yet. Absolutely love Jadzia, she's amazing.

Thursday- we were trying to get a hold of a member, who apparently never was actually baptized. Teressa, she is an older lady, very old, but very active despite that. She's always doing something and very hard to get a hold of. So we went to her house, she didn't answer, so we were walking down the street and suddenly...there she was! She was walking down the street, so we were able to talk to her and spend a little bit of time with her as we rode the tram with her to the next place she was going. Love that lady.

Friday-had another lesson with Sabina, which was great. Though from the start of the day I was feeling dizzy and semi-nauseous. By the end of the day I was only semi-conscious and we came in early and Sister Swenson insisted that I go to bed early.

Saturday- we had a wonderful morning looking for a less-active, her house was really hard to find, making it a great adventure, despite her not being home. Then by the time we got to the chapel...well I was sick again. I was shaking at that point and I broke down crying in pain. I had the Elders give me a blessing. I am so grateful for the Priesthood and that the Elders were at the chapel, and that they live worthy to exercise the Priesthood. I was still sick, but blessed with 'the wisdom and faith' to make what choices I needed to. Which at that time was going back home to rest and get better. A beautiful miracle was that I was completely better while I was outside, able to contact and get home without a single sign that I was sick. I then slept for the rest of the day, waking up near the end of the day to make a few calls to investigators and potentials.

Sunday- I was well enough to go to church, take care of everything and everyone, have the missionary meeting with the stake president, then during lunch, my body 'gave out' again and Sister Swenson and I went home and slept some more. Then woke up around 6:00 to get out the door to go try to teach a family who lived nearby, apparently they don't actually live there. But some teenage girls gave us a referral to the nearby block (apartment complex), and we went and tracted every single one, which no one did want to listen, but I know that we were supposed to do all that for a reason, planting seeds is important too. We were able to talk to one family for a few seconds before the mom shut the door, so we were able to leave 'A Family: Proclamation to the World' in their mailbox, which will surely help them.

I love being a missionary. I love the gospel.

Oh and I'd love to share these quotes that you can share with others:

"In addition to inviting us to hold personal and family scripture study, Heavenly Father wants u to regularly study and apply what we have learned in Conference." ('General Conference:Strengthening Faith and Testimony' by Elder Robert D. Hales)  are promised that as we put our trust in Heavenly Father and head His counsel in faith we will be blessed with greater strength and also more peace and comfort in our lives.

"We move forward together. This is our opportunity, our responsibility, and our blessing. This is our destiny- to prepare the kingdom of God for the return of the Savior"- '(Power in the Priesthood' by Elder Neil L. Anderson)

Have a great week everyone! Have a great Thanksgiving! Happy Thanksgiving!

Love,

Siostra Ellis

 

P.S. I am grateful for our Savior, for His love, for His Atonement and everything He does for me. All the good that I am, I am thanks to Heavenly Father and our Savior.

Week 27 Krakow! Loving the missionary life!

Cześć!

Ok, I have 7 minutes to write this letter, ready, set here I go.... ;)

So Kraków is absolutely amazing! It is a beautiful city full of happy wonderful people, I absolutely love it here! :) Also, the branch is amazing. Relief Society was just officially organized with a presidency called this past Sunday. Its a small branch, but the members are amazing and there is such a special spirit there. I absolutely love all of them. The work is amazing, Sister Swenson and I whitewashed and well Sister Allen and Sister King, the sisters before us did a great job of finding potentials and already setting up a bunch of lessons for us, its wonderful. It is quite the contrast from last transfer, I'm loving it.

I love being a missionary, I love the gospel and I love my Savior. I love my Heavenly Father and I'm so grateful for everything He gives me, which is SO much. I am so blessed.

I love you all of you, have a great week.

Siostra Ellis

p.s. sorry that I didn't have much time to write 11/12/2013

Week 26 A crazy eventful week, memorable to say the least

November 4, 2013
So this week was all over the place, so much so, looking back its really funny everything that happened. Sister Lenhart and I are still laughing about it. 

Tuesday, Wojtek was baptized. It was an absolutely wonderful experience and the joy of his decision was felt by all of us. 

That night....one of our investigators that had a baptismal date (not Dagmara or Lucyna), turned out to be, well...possibly dangerous and we followed the Spirit and left as fast as we could. 

Wednesday, the amazing Jola spent an hour telling us all these lies from off the Internet and trying to tell us that we were wrong and sadly misguided. We bore our testimonies, still gave her a hug at the end, and she said she'd give us a call if she changed her mind. I have hope she recognizes the truth and accepts the gospel one day soon. 

Thursday was Halloween and we were able to read stories to some kids in school, which was enjoyable then we went out to Inowrocław to teach Dagmara and Lucyna. It was a 45 min train ride, then we got lost and ended up walking for another 45+min, just to get there and have them ask why we came, they thought for some odd reason we were cancelling. But it ended out well and we have another lesson with them on Tuesday and the Branch President is coming along. He sees the potential in them as well and wants to help, which we're so very grateful for. (Shout out to all the wonderful Branch President and Bishops out there and everything they do). 

We then had culture night that night and spent it listening to Mozart's Requiem, with Lydia Kagele (part of the American family) and then looking at the graveyards with the beautiful lanterns.I have fun pictures, but the computer isn't letting me send them right now, next week. 

Friday was All-Saint's Day. Poland in general doesn't celebrate Halloween. During All-Saint's Day they spend that day...and the entire week-end remembering their family and their loved ones who have died. It was interesting seeing the contrast between those depressed thinking about life and 'how little time they have left until the end' to the members who were thinking about how they need to do more temple work for their ancestry. Sister Lenhart and I went around writing resurrection scriptures on the sidewalk, no one was willing to talk, but we wanted to help anyways. 

Saturday, I was sick the entire day, and never left the apartment sadly. But I received a blessing Sunday morning before church. I am so grateful for the Priesthood and all those that live worthy to hold it. I'm not sick now. Yesterday was full of the Spirit and wonderful opportunities to talk to people. Then transfer calls came: I'm going to Kraków with Sister Swenson. She was MTC companion's with my current companion Sister Lenhart. President Edgren gave me a very nice compliment on my Polish, so apparently I'm doing better with the language than I realized. 'Dzięki Bogu, na prawdę- Thanks to God, really'  Gift of tongues is real! 

I'm grateful for ups and downs that make great memories! :) 'The down's make us appreciate the ups even more, and make great memories to laugh at later' 

I'll be leaving Wednesday, taking a 9 hour train to Kraków, staying with the sisters currently there (Sisters Allen and King), and helping them get to where they need to, then welcoming Sister Swenson to Kraków Thursday afternoon. 

I'm so grateful to have the knowledge that God, the Greatest Being, is my Heavenly Father. He loves me personally and is helping with the very finite details of my life. :) 

I'm so glad to be on a mission. This is the true church. Jesus Christ is our Savior and I'm grateful for His loving Atonement. 

Miłego Dnia! 

Love, 

Siostra Ellis 

Week 25 Miracles happening all around

Yes, there are miracles happening in Poland. The Lord's Hand is evident everywhere.

First off, there is a baptism on Tuesday, his name is Wojtek, the Elders have been teaching him for the past transfer, and its awesome and amazing.

Second.... We are now teaching three people, who are progressing and preparing to be baptized on December 7. They are Elżbieta, Dagmara and Lucyna. Elżbieta met with the missionaries last year and had a baptismal date, somehow the missionaries lost contact with her and when we got back in touch with her, she still wants to be baptized and is now keeping all her commitments. Sunday was another miracle with her, as she had told us that she couldn't come to church because of a floral class she has for her job. We had promised her that if she desired to keep God's commandments that a way would be made available to her, but she had felt like it was good enough to just go to her old church that week, and wasn't showing signs of coming then to our surprise, yesterday as we were greeting members before branch conference, she walked in! First thing she said was "you were praying for me weren't you?". I'm reminded how much prayers make a difference.

Then Dagmara and Lucyna, they are for sure an amazing miracle story. Saturday night we received an unexpected phone call. Someone had called the Wrocław sisters trying to get a hold of missionaries for the Inowrocław area (closest area is Bydgoszcz). So the Wrocław sisters (yes, wonderful Sister Blake and her trainee) called us up and told us the story and gave us their number, we called them and set up for the next day (yesterday). Funny enough, we originally thought they said 'inowrocławska' which is a street on the bottom of Bydgoszcz and not that far....then we figured out that it was in Inowrocław, which is a 45 min car ride. Second miracle and wonderful blessing: Brother and Sister Kagale drove us out there. The lesson was absolutely amazing as the first things they said after we started was: 'So we want to become Mormon, how do we do that? Is there something like Baptism? Who decides that and how do we prepare for it? What do we need to do?' We answered their questions and they are happily preparing to be baptized on Dec. 7. It was an amazing, perfect lesson, where they actually were telling us our role as missionaries. How they needed us to be the guides to prepare them for baptize and to help them know what to do, and we reassured them that that is exactly what our purpose is, that's what missionaries do. Our work is to be guides for the investigators, so they know how to strengthen their relationship with Heavenly Father  and their Savior Jesus Christ and what steps they need to make/ what they need to do in order to prepare to make that sacred covenant of baptism with their Heavenly Father.

Miracles are happening all around and I feel so blessed to be an instrument. Its all the Lord's work, we are just blessed with the privilege to enjoy being an instrument and seeing the Work being done. Yes, the Lord is hastening His Work, what a glorious time to be a missionary and to even be alive :) We are all so blessed to live at this time in history.

 

Funny story this week also....Sister Lenhart and I have been living below our privileges ;) As we just figured out yesterday how to make our futon beds into actual beds instead of couches.... a week before the end of the transfer. :) Now we have actual beds, its wonderful :)

Transfer calls are next Sunday, how fast time flies, I'm willing to do whatever's next :)

Also random happy thought, we are teaching a wonderful mom, Ania, her family is so adorable and precious.

 

Some random scriptures I was going to include last week but forgot:

Alma 34:16

D&C 123:11-17

2 Nephi 22:2

 

część polski (a piece of Polish)

"Moja dusza brzydzi się grzechem. Moje serce lubuje się w prawości, i będę chwalił święte imię mojego Boga." - 2 Nefi 9:49

 

Have a great week everyone! Remember to S.M.I.L.E. :) (spiritually minded is life eternal- eternal perspective means the greatest joys are ahead of us, and even more reason to rejoice now for the many blessings we have right now. :))

 

Also, thank you so much for all your prayers, support and love. Thank you for all that all you do to further the Lord's work, whether full-time missionary or not. Thank you so much.

 

Love,

Siostra Ellis

Week 24 Life - a time of learning

October 21, 2013
This week went well and I love being a missionary! It is such an honor to represent my Savior Jesus Christ and to be an instrument in bringing others closer to Him. 

This week Sister Lenhart and I tried some new things. Sister Lenhart, last transfer had drawn the plan of salvation in sidewalk chalk on the sidewalk, so we decided to do that here. We did it two different times, first time was by the chapel and we drew an arrow at the end pointing towards the door of the chapel, saying 'witam' (welcome). The other time was by a park in a busy area. We sadly didn't have a lot of time to actually teach after drawing it, but it was there for everyone to see and learn from and enjoy until the next time it rained. It was so much fun. Also, during one of the rainstorms Sister Lenhart and I went to an underground tunnel area that connects the tramwaj stops, and Sister Lenhart sang while I contacted. 

This week I've realized how grateful I am to have an eternal perspective and the knowledge of why we're on earth. I like how my companion explains it: "Life on earth is like going to school, we leave our parents for a little bit to learn and to grow and then we return home" Right now we are separated from our Heavenly Parents, but They still want to hear from us. Heavenly Father has given us the gift of prayer, so we can still communicate with Him, despite being separated. He sent His Son, Jesus Christ, to suffer for our sins, pains and to overcome death so that we could have an Advocate, so we could talk to Him in the name of our Savior; and so one day we could return home to Him. Heavenly Father has set up everything perfectly so we can return home in His presence one day, all we need to do is follow our Savior, Jesus Christ. His infinite love can strengthen and uplift us. His love motivates me and comforts me, I know They are both here for all of us, because of everything They help me through on a daily basis. This eternal knowledge not only keeps me going, it brings me joy :) I love my Heavenly Father and I love my Savior Jesus Christ. 

I hope all of you have a great week. 

love, 

Siostra Ellis 

Week 23 A mission - a wonderful blessing and opportunity

October 14, 2013
This week was awesome. Full of new experiences and new things to be learned. Lately I've been sick, I learned an important lesson about slowing down and taking care of myself, but also of having the wonderful opportunity to get out and work. 

Met an amazing young woman named Klaudia this week. We met her on the street and she saw us first and was excited to see us. She readily accepted the Book of Mormon and at this point already read 20 pages. I'm super excited to teach her this week. 

We're still teaching Jola. She is absolutely amazing. She has such a strong spirit. She has had such amazing spiritual experiences. Some of which include having dreams of parts of the Book of Mormon before reading it. She knows that the Book of Mormon is from God and has already read a lot of it. Its such a blessing and privilege to teach her. 

Something I was really thinking about today was about the blessings of being on a mission. I am learning life-skills that will bless my future children and generations to come. I am being guided by my Heavenly Father through the Holy Ghost, being personally taught on what I need to do. It is such a blessing to be on a mission. Then, of course, the most important part of the mission, which I rejoice in: being able to share the gospel and see it help others and being able to serve my Heavenly Father and my Savior, Jesus Christ. A chance to show my gratitude for all They so willingly give to me. 

'count your many blessings, and it will surprise you what the Lord has done', truly I am amazed, humbled and grateful for how much I am blessed with on a daily basis. 

As my mission president, President Edgren just said in a letter to the Polish missionaries: "keep the faith, trust in the Lord and thank Him for the ride". 

Also, something I'm very grateful for: the Atonement. We could not change, grow nor learn from mistakes without the blessing of the Atonement. We could not change ourselves into who we can become without the Atonement. It is a liberating, joyful gift to have. 

2 Nephi 31:21

2 Nephi 9:49 

Miłego Dnia! 

Love you all, have a great week! 

Siostra Ellis 

Week 22 Onward and upward!

October 7, 2013
This week went well, and Sister Lenhart and I are now teaching an amazing woman named Jola. She had already read part of the Book of Mormon and had tons of questions before we even met with her the first time. She is wonderful and is actively seeking truth. It is purely evident that the Lord has prepared her to accept the gospel. Our second lesson is this coming Wednesday. I'm excited :) 
I just found out (literally a few minutes ago in an e-mail from Sister Blake), that a wonderful lady Rebekah, that I had talked to, around the second week being in the country, finally has met with them and desires to be baptized! :D My heart soars with this, she never had time to meet with us and every time we did set up, it fell through. I have spent many nights praying for her and I am so glad she has finally been able to meet with the missionaries and finally has the truth she's been looking for.  (I think I may have even told about meeting a Rebecca those many weeks ago, its the same one!) 
General Conference was absolutely amazing! I hope all of you were able to listen, enjoy and learn from the wonderful talks given.
I would love to add my witness that I know my Heavenly Father lives and loves me and each of you. I know that He knows me and the situations that I'm in perfectly, He has everything planned out for me to succeed and so does He have a plan for all of you to succeed-to return to our heavenly home one day. We're all in this together, let's get everyone Home. Let us all be instruments in the hands of our Heavenly Father and our Savior Jesus Christ in bringing all of our fellow brethren and sisters closer to Christ, and eventually back to our heavenly home. 
Somethings I noticed stressed in General Conference: applying the Atonement (truly the most magnificent, loving gift from our Savior and our Heavenly Father that could ever be given us), covenants (these promises aren't just what we need to do, but also ensure that Heavenly Father can help us in every way possible.) Also through application of the Atonement and these covenants we make, we are becoming more like our Savior. That's why we're on earth, to become like our Heavenly Father by following our Savior, Jesus Christ's perfect example. 
"Fear not, only believe' is the Poland Warsaw motto, and it is a wonderful motto to live by. 
I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is our Savior Jesus Christ's church. This is His gospel and He directs His church through a wonderful prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. I am grateful for this knowledge. 
Have a wonderful week everyone, and know that I care about and love each and every one of you, and more importantly your Heavenly Father loves you beyond comprehension and there is nothing that He will not help you with. Just ask and see :) 

Love, 
Siostra Ellis 

                                                      Bydgoszcz

                            Watching Gen Conf with the Elders at Kagele's home

Week 21 Exchanges, Great week, & Upcoming General Conference

September 30, 2013
Cześć! 

Hope everything is going well for everyone! 

This week was great, its definitely colder now, winter is coming fast and it is COLD! Its going to be interesting to see how freezing cold this winter gets. 

So this week was an adventure. We've had lessons and we 'whiteboarded' (or more 'display-boarded'-we set up a display showing different things about prophets, explaining how we have prophets and apostles now and we went and talked to people about it). The highlight this week was for sure exchanges. So Monday, I was supposed to leave for transfers, but as soon as I boarded the train, Sister Lenhart answers the phone and quickly tells me to get off the train. Apparently Sister Bown's train was full, so we postponed exchanges for an entire day, that was very entertaining. Tuesday evening, about a two hour train ride later I arrived in Poznań. That night, the next day and Thursday morning was probably about the most non-stressful days I have ever had on my mission. Yet, we were still teaching lessons and being diligent and productive. (Which I didn't realize was possible, as I usually have at least a little stress). Sister Ott and I had so much fun and it's amazing seeing how much both of us have grown in just the past two months. We have both learned so much in just the past two months. 

So about General Conference, because of time zone differences of course we can't watch it at the same time. 

This is the schedule as far as I understand: 

Relief Society is on at 4 pm to 5:30 Saturday night, then Saturday morning (live) session at 6 pm to 8 pm. 

Then on Sunday Priesthood session is from 11:00 to 1:00, then Saturday Evening is 2 to 4, then Sunday morning is a live broadcast at 6 to 8. Then Sunday evening is 10 to 12 pm, which obviously, we'll have to watch at a later time, during P-day probably.  I'm excited to be able to listen to it in English :). 

Polish wise, as far as I understand only the live sessions of Sat morn and Sunday morning are available in Polish at those times I already mentioned, then all others.... come later I presume. 

An excerpt from 'Preach My Gospel' (pg. 75):

"We have frequent opportunities to sustain church leaders. Sustain means to support. We are to prepare ourselves so that when the prophets and apostles speak, the Holy Ghost can confirm the truths they teach, and we can then determine to follow the counsel they give us." 

Quote from 'Four Titles' by President Dieter F. Utchdorf (April 2013 Priesthood session)- think about missionary work: 

"This is a most noble labor that will challenge our every sense and stretch our every ability. Do we desire to see the heaven's open and witness the promptings of the Holy Spirit showing us the way? Then let's take up our sickle and put our back into this great work-a cause much greater than ourselves!" 

Another quote from the same talk, (remember, none of us are meant to be perfect at this moment, just striving for it and our Savior will help us every step of the way.)

"Let us never lose sight of our Advocate and Redeemer as we walk toward Him, one imperfect step after another" 

I love you all, remember to focus on what's most important! 

Love,

Siostra Ellis                                  

Week 20 By small and simple things

Cześć!

"By small and simple things, are great things come to pass". We finally have two investigators this week and we were let into one other wonderful lady's home. From these small amount of lessons we've been able to teach and very few people we've met with, will come great things. Friday when taught a wonderful older lady, it was wonderful, being able to help her and bring the Spirit into her life. This is what I live for- helping people come closer to the Savior and the blessings He and Heavenly Father so readily give us. The week was full of no one answering their doors, no one listening to us on the streets and every lesson set up being flaked.....which made the end of the week when we did meet with people, that much sweeter. :)

My appreciation for my Savior grows with every rejection, door slam, and snappy words I receive. He Himself was rejected, Our Savior and He suffered everything- willing and with the purest love. The least I can do is try my best to be an effective servant in His Hands to help His Sheep come back to Him. 

-And this is life eternal to know our Savior and Heavenly Father, truly I have seen the tiniest of glimpses and I know that all of this is worth it. Feeling their love and presence in my life as I go about doing their work is the most priceless thing. Their love is the most desirable, as said in 1 Nephi when talking about the Tree of Life, God's love is the most desirable. It is wonderful. 

Its exchanges this week, so I'm leaving today to Poznań and will be there till Wednesday afternoon. I will be on exchanges with... Sister Ott, my MTC companion. :) Sister Bown, our sister training leader, will come up here and be with Sister Lenhart. I'm pretty excited :) 

Have a great week everyone! Take some time to pray and read the scriptures, your personal relationship with Heavenly Father and your Savior, Jesus Christ, is worth it! 

Love,

Siostra Ellis 

                                          Nutella

                                                  Polish Dryer!

Week 19 Last week and this week

September 16, 2013 
So to catch you all up from last week and then this week... 

Last week I left Wrocław on Tuesday afternoon. Monday I said goodbye to Lucyna (just found out she has a baptismal date for October 12!) and to Czesława (who's baptismal date for Oct 12 is set in stone! (it was dependent on if she received an answer before) Tuesday morning. I love them :) Tuesday night was spent in Katowice and while contacting I was able to find one person and one entire family who were willing to meet with the missionaries that was awesome. Then Wednesday I traveled with Sister Blake to Warsaw (they had the trainers come into Warsaw this time) and then met up with Sister Lenhart. Oh, apparently I was the first missionary she had ever seen contact on the metro (others have, just not any of her companions or missionaries around her). We were in Warsaw until Friday, living in Sister Lenhart's Warsaw apartment, so meaning we were living with the other two sisters and we slept in the study room and I slept on a mat on the floor for two nights, it was fun. During that time in Warsaw, we went contacting, former hunting and helping the other sisters move into their apartments. Sister Packard and Sister Mikoloski came inon Thursday and we picked them up from the train station and helped lug their luggage to their apartment. While contacting and all of that during those two days I was able to find 4 different people willing to meet with the missionaries in that area. One particular one was an amazing experience as we met him while we were waiting for Sister Packard and Sister Mikoloski to buy their 'city cards'. 

There was a teenage boy sitting reading a comic book, right next to where we had put our luggage to wait for them...definitely not a coincidence, and I realized that, so I talked with him and he spoke English, what were the chances? We taught him bits of the restoration and plan of salvation, and gave him a Book of Mormon. I testified my heart out....and I saw it touch him. He said it sounded true and familiar, despite never hearing it before...just like it should. Our spirits KNOW, it will have a familiar ring because we really did live with our Heavenly Father before this live, because He did create a plan for us and that's why we're on earth right now. Our mortal minds may not know nor comprehend everything, but that doesn't stop our spirits from knowing. This guy's eyes shown and he said he was coming to church, will read the Book of Mormon and willingly meet with the missionaries and learn more. I know Heavenly Father put me in that spot at that time, for the purpose of teaching that guy. I'm grateful to have had the opportunity. 

Friday we traveled to Bydgoszcz, and I was completely exhausted....so I slept 3 out of the 4 hours of the train ride. Poland is mostly agriculture and forestland. Which I love. :) I feel right at home in Poland. Bydgoszcz is smaller than Wrocław and is not a big city like Wrocław. Its much more peaceful and has a whole lot more trees. If you look at a map of Bydgoszcz, the north and south ends are entirely green with forestland. I think they're 'national forests'. The people here are extremely nice and understanding. They're also really 'real' and down to earth people, they don't have as many 'walls' and seem a whole lot more comfortable out of the streets than in Wrocław, probably thanks to it being a lot smaller of a city. 

This week was spent looking for less-actives, formers and lots of area book work. It takes a lot of time compiling and updating an area book from scratch. Some of these records we're working with haven't been touched in years. We're also making a big huge map and putting together a formers book. Something funny.... I never did any area book in Wrocław, such as organizing or calling. Sister Blake did all the calls and everything was organized perfectly already. So I've gone from not knowing very much about area-book (outside of lessons and such, very familiar with keeping up-to-date accurate records about lessons :)) to being VERY familiar with area book. Also, grateful for all the missionaries before me in Wrocław that had already done all the work, and the accurate records that they kept. Please, future missionaries, current missionaries- keep your records accurate, in all aspects! Someone 5 years later may need to be able to read your handwriting or even want to know something about the person so they can teach them the gospel :) (there's some humor hidden in there for the day ;)) 

We didn't teach very much this week.... 1 member lesson, 2 active member lessons and 1 other lesson. I was really weird and different from the 15+ I was used to.... I realized how much work missionaries before me had done in Wrocław to make that possible...

We had a really cool experience this past week while trying to find the less-actives this past week, in the rain (its rained almost everyday, its been fun :) I love rain, even if I'm contacting out in it for hours :) (not sarcasm ;))) This lady as we passed by an apartment, stops us and calls out to us. She tried helping us find where we were looking for, to no avail, but then told us to come inside and she met us in the doorway of the apartment. She asked if we were Mormons, we said yes and then said, "We're missionaries of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints" (in polish). Then she just asks for some paper, writes down her name and number and hands it to us.She then said, "I visited Salt Lake City and I like how happy the families are and how Mormons live their lives, I want to learn more" (She actually speaks English a little bit and she said that all in English) We're meeting with her sometime this week :) Also had some other miracle finding experiences, and was able to set up lessons for this coming week right there on the street. 

Some information on my wonderful companion as some people have requested. First, she's awesome. She is 22, part of the older group of missionaries. She will hit her half-way mark of her mission in a few days. She speaks Polish pretty well. She is very musically talented, especially in playing the French Horn, she has played with some of the finest musicians out there. We're planning on using this amazing talent sometime this week to introduce more people to the gospel. She'll play hymns on the french horn, we'll have a 'free table' set up and I shall contact and answer questions.:) 

The branch here is amazing, its one of the bigger branches in Poland, 40+ members. Its primarily men, with only about 7 active relief society and 4-5 young women. We're planning on having those numbers be much higher by the end of this transfer :) (we're planning on at least 4 baptisms, there has to be at least 4 women ready here, since there hasn't been sisters here for the past two years). Oh and I'm the pianist, no one plays the piano and they were over-joyed when they learned I play the piano, as their pianist was one of the Elders who had just been transferred. 

One side note I have felt impressed to include: Every single person that reads this-know that you are NOT alone. There are always people ready to help. If you have relief society presidents and other leaders available, talk to them, or other people you trust. You always have people to turn to. There are also three people who will never NEVER ever leave you. That is Heavenly Father, our Savior Jesus Christ and the Holy Ghost. (The gift of the Holy Ghost is one the most precious gifts, enabling us to always have Spirit with us) Romans 8:38-39, there is NOTHING that come between Heavenly Father and His love for us. He will ALWAYS love us, and is always, always there for us. We need only get on our knees and ask. I love you all and I want all of you to feel Heavenly Father's love for you, its real and it is the most precious thing ever. It is what I hold the most dear to me.

 

Scriptures from last week: 

D&C 123:17

D&C 122:7

Scriptures from this week: 

Alma 7:24-26

Romans 8

Alma 38:5 Heavenly Father will always deliver us from our trials and suffering, in His timing. He will send angels, I can personally testify of that. 

God bless all of you. 

Have a great week and I send my love! 

Siostra Ellis 

Week 18 Opening a new area!

So sadly, this will be a short e-mail considering the library apparently closes in 5 minutes...didn't know that when we started. 
So first off, I love Bydgoszcz. We're starting completely from scratch...don't even have an area book. We are compiling one right now from the females from the Elders' area books. Also, our area is the entire city, our job is 'to find the women who are ready to hear the gospel, teach them and prepare them for baptize'. Therefore the Zone Leader said we can contact anywhere in the city. They're going to figure out areas for tracting though. 
The apartment is super super nice. 
Amazing things happened this week. I'll have to tell next week. 
Success is not dependent on the area, its dependent on determination to find. 
I love missionary work. 
Hope everyone has a great week.
Sorry for me short letter.
Siostra Ellis

                                               Sisters Lenhart & Ellis

                                              New District

                                                       Ice cream!

Week 17 Transfers...and more

September 2, 2013
So with transfers..... I am being transferred to Bydgoszcz! Sister Lenhart and I are opening up the city for sisters. We are the first sisters ever in the city! am I excited? YES!

Its so cool, because the Lord has been preparing me for this the entire transfer. I have been prompted to write down what needs to be done if I ever white-wash or start an area. I am so grateful. 

This is going to be amazing adventure, doing the Lord's work, His way in His timing :) I love being a missionary and I love this people. I am sad to be leaving Wrocław. Something funny...everytime a person walks by, I light up, because... well its a person and I have a chance to share the gospel, and then when I talk to them I feel glimpse of the Lord's love for them. There's been some people that we met even last night, that I'm so sad I won't be able to help teach, but at least they are going to be taught and they will be taken care :) 

This week will be interesting with transfers, as I leave tomorrow for Katowice, stay the night there, then the next day travel to Warsaw, then stay in Warsaw until Friday with my new companion, Sister Lenhart, then on Friday travel to Bydgoszcz. I have a lot of train rides ahead of me this week. Hopefully with people nearby that I can talk to and share the gospel. Trains are great, because people obviously have time and its a relaxed and comfortable environment. 

Sister Blake and I acheived the standard again this week. We also taught 21 lessons. That was a really huge blessing. An example of enduring and seeing the blessings :) We were able to serve this week and really get back to our 'crazy hectic' schedule that we had back in July (that we haven't had since). 

Also, I have felt support of angels this week, I know that there are people on the other side of the veil, helping each missionary. This is such an amazing work to be a part of. A work that goes beyond just one of us. Its a group effort of everyone, on this side of the veil and the other. 

Scriptures of the week: 

Alma 42:31

1 Nephi 9:6- Heavenly Father truly does prepare the way and takes care of us. 

Mosiah 2:20-24,41 (This comes from amazing experience Sister Blake and I had and this set of scriptures were able to bless mulitple investigators)

Isaiah 61

Alma 12:14 

2 Nephi 33:6

2 Nephi 1:15 we are all in the arms of our Savior's love, and it is the BEST place to be. For me, its home. :) 

I love our Savior Jesus Christ and our Heavenly Father and I am so grateful to be able to serve them. I'm grateful to be able to give them everything that I can right now. 

Siostra Ellis 

Week 16 One last week of the transfer!

August 26, 2013

So this week is the last week of my first transfer! This transfer is one week longer than normal (9 weeks). No idea what will happen next transfer, I'll find out next Sunday. I know the Lord has it all figured out and I'm excited to see what amazing people He'll send me to next, if I even leave wonderful Wrocław. 

First, we had zone conference this week and our Mission President, President Edgren has a wonderful vision of Poland! And he's given us a bunch of 'responsibility' to do this! Officially....we are a 'white-handbook' and 'Preach My Gospel' rule mission. We have NO rules other than what is stated in there, with the responsibility to remember the dignity and sacredness of our calling and to only do what is in line with this sacred calling. As Elder Durrant, a senior Elder said, "Its time for everyone to either sink or swim", its up to us to make our own personal rules relying on our personal relationship with our Heavenly Father as a guide. 

2nd part of President Edgren's announcements which is important for all missionaries: the importance of using ALL resources the Lord has given us to further His work. All of our talents, all our gifts that He has given us. Every single thing can be used to further the work. So we now have the responsibility and obligation to 'go to heaven' in prayer and creatively and come up with new ideas that we can bring people closer to our Savior. Some things that have already been done: drawing plan of salvation on the ground in sidewalk chalk, bubbles in the park, and many others (only bubbles were by Sister Blake and I).

We now have two people with baptismal dates for October 12, Tomek and Czesława, we've only had two lessons with them. I'm excited to see their progress in the coming week. 

There were some amazing experiences this week as to me seemed like people were coming to us! A lady came to us on the train, and by the end happily left with a Book of Mormon and with the intention to coming to church if we gets her job and moves to Wrocław. Then, one of our investigators, Marta invited her friend to come in on the lessons, and we're teaching her now; and then Tomek has already been looking into the church and is friend's with Czesława (one of our formers that's now progressing) and came over during our lesson with her and now he's coming to church and progressing towards baptism. Also, Lucyna is hopefully bringing one of her friends. These investigators are 'catching the wave' even if they don't know it! ;) Its wonderful! I love seeing these people who are actively seeking the gospel and now we're able to give it to them. The Lord is actively a part of His work and I'm so grateful to be able to see it and recognize it. 

Also, I want to share my testimony, out of everything I know, I KNOW this: 

I know that Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ are there for us. I know that they know us by name, and are involved in every single thing that happens in our lives, helping us every step of the way. 

"What comfort this sweet sentence gives, I know that my REDEEMER lives!"

Miłego Dnia! 

Love, 
Siostra Ellis

                              Castle front and back with Sisters Blake & Ellis

                                          First Polish Meal

Week 15 Greatest of all gifts-Our Heavenly Father's love (1 Nephi 11:21-23)

August 12, 2013

Dźień Dobry!

First to answer some questions about food and weather. Weather..... a couple of the days recently it has been super hot, and then when it cooled down in the nighttime, it caused thunderstorms, I loved it. The thunderstorms reminded me of Heavenly Father's power and His love for me. I felt the protection and love that He gives each of us. The rainstorms have been absolutely beautiful. Sister Blake and I have only been caught in one of the many rainstorms (what a blessing!) and it was hilarious huddling under a small umbrella trying to walk home without getting soaked, it was a great moment. It's really been cooling down lately, I think last night was the first night that it got slightly cold with the window open. The super nice weather has been a blessing, since there has been so many people out and about that we've been able to talk to.

Food, it doesn't seem that different to me. We cook most, like 95% of our meals. Which consists of ham and cheese sandwiches, sorta. Its not ham, its a different type of meat that tastes similar and different cheeses, I like fresh mozzarella and gouda cheese now (never tried it before now). Cheddar is not very popular here. Also, the bread here is super tasty, and fresh. Everything is organic, non-organic doesn't exist here. Once in a while, Sister and Elder Durrant will invite us over for a meal, which is always so wonderful and such a blessing. Sister Durrant is an amazing cook :). Last time, she made french toast with the most delicious buttermilk syrup. My first meal with an investigator is this Friday :)

This past weekend was amazing as President and Sister Edgren visited Wrocław and we had a fireside, they also spoke the next day in Sacrament meeting. I love the vision they have for Poland. It was absolutely wonderful. I found out how blessed we are to have such a young lively branch and we have a couple of families, which so far Sister Edgren said only one other branch has children. I love this branch so much, they are amazing strong people.

This week I realized what a blessing it is to know that God is our Heavenly Father, that the most powerful and all knowing God, is our Heavenly Father. He loves us dearly. Truly with our Father in Heaven and our Savior at our side, what can we not do? What obstacle is still great? There is nothing that stands in our way in doing the Lord's work and what a great knowledge that is to have.

Going to a castle for p-day this week! (I feel so blessed and loved!)

Scriptures:

D&C 38:7-9

Alma 26:11-12,16

D&C 64:33-34

2 Nephi 25:26

Have a wonderful week everyone!

love,

Siostra Ellis

                                             Tiffany at the train station