A picture is worth a thousand words......

So another really good week has passed with a little snow on Thanksgiving morning, a little turkey in cultrual hall with some of the Warsaw servants, and little, (very little) time to catch our breath. But a wonderful baptism held for Eustace Obi by Elder Berry from Rexburg and who has only been out about a month. Sister Spear, (who is standing with her companion, sister Marshall below) spoke at the baptism and related a story she recently learned about of her great grandfather back in the early 1800's about his baptism. Apparently he had been friendly toward but not really interested in the Church or any religion for that matter. He happened to accept an invitation to attend a local meeting by the Elders which he did and heard the Bishop, (Bristle England) prophesied the content of which deeply touched his heart. After the meeting the Bishop saw her G. grandfather outside on the sidewalk and asked him how he felt about the meeting when he told the Bishop that it touched his soul from head to foot and said he wanted to be baptised. The Bishop asked him when and he said "right now!" Some clothes were found and he was taken into the water of baptism. Afterward the Bishop told him that his talk had been directed for him and him alone. This evetn started the Church on Sister Spear's mothers line. Other pictures are of President Nielson, (a little blurry) in the Nission office, a photo of the Family home evening group playing "straw ball" which is an atempt to blow the ping pong ball off the table using only a straw. Also, our group of young and older singles at the Institute class, held every thursday evening. In our office with a picture of sisters Allen, Lefevre, and elders Darowski, Torn, (Germany), Davis, Crittenden, and Torke posing with a home made snowman. The office elders, Darowske and Torke and Jean and I,

More Pictures, Less Talk

So, a big hello to all who are following our Blog. We hope you are all well, happy and comfortable as we approach the Thanksgiving week which as you might guess is not celebrated here in Poland. Anyway, the pictures this week include our new Mission Office, (we're on the 2nd floor) and wouldn't you know it the Las Vegas Tavern is nearly next door and is open 24 hours....of course! Inside the office is Secretary General Richards, (sister, in my chair) and two of our sweet sisters who were hard at work when I caught this photo making a paper mache snowman while waiting for some travel money for the train back to their area. (sisters Brown and LeFevre) Then on a foggy morning the front and rear of our apartment complex. And finally, a shot of our 'memories from home', on our credenza, the boys and the G. children and new to our Fridge is a collage made by the Richards/Spear family and two recent pictures of Shaun and Maggie Richards, which was sent by mail, (our first envelope!) which made our week.
One brief story story of interest. In our small Branch there is a couple about to marry. They live in a small town where there is no LDS Chapel so they have to drive 100 miles, (not kilometers) each way to come to Church. And if this is not bad enough most of the roads are just short of an accident, especially in the country so this is at least 4-5 hours one way. So for them to get nmarried in Poland, first they must have a civil marriage, then if they choose to marry in the Temple they must do so within 5 days or wait one (1) year to re-apply. Since she is Russian and from Kiev this is where they will drive to, (about 7 hours) right after their civil ceremony to get their Temple marriage. They met, oddly enough a few years ago as both were then living in Warsaw and went on a Temple excursion to do Batisims not knowing each other.....until they happened to meet on the Temple grounds in Germany. And now you know the rest of the story....... It's interesting how we often don't realize how good, (comfortable) we have it until you see the sacrifice and how rough some people throughout the globe, both in and out of the Church have it to find what they want, need or are looking for. Most, these days can drive across town to the Ward or Temple where here this couple have to journey 200 miles to attend the Branch meetings where 20-30 people currently attend. We drive into the Branch 10 minutes before the meetings begin and see maybe all of 4-5 cars in the parking area. Then you start to see both members, investigators and missionaries walking towards the Church from different directions having just got off the train or bus. Until next Sunday............Blessings!

Tidbits!

So, here are a few random photos of life in Poland. This is the way the cars park, on the sidewalk, over the curb, and basically anywhere they can find space. Essentially, it turns a two way street into one. The refridgerator in our apartment has on it a few itmes including my 'homework' assignment given to me before we left from Avery Mainor. I was suppose to have had it done 10 weeks ago but didn't do so. I'm hoping for an April 2012 completion. Forgive me Avery! Also, there is a painting from our granddaughter Addy showing a Polish flag which we treasure and a soap wrapping of the best smelling soap ever given to Jean, (Sister Richards) by her visiting teacher, Lisa Mendenhall. Then a pic of most of our kitchen with one who doesn't cook anymore, (who has time to cook, she says) but who makes the kitchen look better nonetheless. The picture of me is on our balcony, (4' X 6') looking into our living area but most important wearing the beautiful tie that was given to me by Tiffany Orien, (Mainor) before leaving. And finally, a view shot from our deck into the center square that is a play area betwen the 4 units which make up our complex. If the grass looks wet it may be because we just finished our 10th day of rain. It seems to me that we relocated from Oregon (to LV) to leave the rain......and here we are again.
Our Branch had about 15 members in it today for the meetings and these along with 11missionaries and/or couples made it look like a regular meeting. (Almost!) We really do have a group of very wonderful and dedicated young and older people serving here who go about their business without complaint and with great gusto. It seems the key to me is to not dwell on what a wonderful life we left behind and just dig in and concentrate on the work. Love the people for they are trying their very best to make the Church work here and to try and blend in with them as if you have been here most all of your life. Pres. and Sis Nielson have their hands full and are on a schedule that boggles the mind. I don't think either of them are getting any sleep. While the Pres is gone to meetings around the country, Judy, if not with him is preparing meals for new missionaries, visitors, guests and the list goes on. She may never want to cook again. They are both doing very well and it is easy to tell that their service is much appreciated. We haven't had time to visit any interesting places yet but will do so including the new Pope Palace they are building nearby honoring the Polish Pope, the Uprising Museam, Old town and of course the concentration camps to name a few. More next week..............

Fireside

The Young Single Adults held their fireside at the Mission Home on Sunday evening. Jean and I have in addition to our duties in the office, the call to work with the YSA in the Warsaw 1 Branch. This involves a Monday family home evening, a Thursday institute meeting, movie night on some Fridays, service projects as they come about and other involvements such as youth conference and outings, etc. They are presently a small group of about 10 with only 3-4 actually coming out on a regular basis so we have some serious work to do. Jean is thinking about teaching some English classes as we get more involved.

The above photos are of the group who attended the Fireside where Jean and I spoke a little about our conversion. All spoke enough English that we didn't have to use a translater. It was a good evening with one non-member in attendance. The kitchen picture is Jean, Judi Nielson and sister Marshall, a senior sister who is transferring to Canada fixing some homemade dumplings which were sweetened and topped with berries and whipped cream....yummie!

We have been here 3 weeks now and the weather has been mild until the past few days where we saw more rain in a 48 hour period than LV gets in a year. And the worst of it is that there is no place for it to go so there it sits!

We, meaning Jean, I and our GPS took a trip across town to the IKEA store. Our Polish downloaded GPS has been serving us well until now where it took us everywhere except to our destination. Finally, I had enough so I pulled into a service station and asked in my best Polish, where I was. Everyone in the place looked at me like I was sort o af poor lost soul.....which of course, I was. Finally, I pulled out my map and said, "help"! So four of the men standing near by started in the 'help' process. After about 10 minutes they were arguing and yelling and carrying on so I just picked up the map and went back to the car as they continued to banter back and forth. For a moment I thought there was going to be a fist fight all because of Mr. Ikea. Anyway, we finally found the place by the only means left......LUCK!

We are now moved into our new Mission office....what a 'trip' that has was. The address is as follows:

Kosciol Jesusa Chrystusa

Swietych w Dniach Ostatnich

ul. Wiertnicza 135, 1. Pietro

02-925 Warszawa Poland

I send this to you in case anyone wants to send gifts, money, food, new clothes, expensive jewelry, even a new German brand car or any other such wonderful goodies that all senior missionary couples from Las Vegas should have.....................

-

Day of the Dead

This national holiday honors the dead by buying candles and flowers and placing them at the grave sites. Flowers are sold for weeks preceeding the Day and hundreds of people are seen at the various cemeteries throughout the country. These pictures. at a cemetery near the Branch show one of the flower/candle kiosks on the Sunday before the holiday. The candle photo was taken at the "Uprising" monument where a mass of candles are placed as the people pay tribute to the movement which set the stage for great change in the years ahead. It was a most beautiful site and as we strolled through the cemetery in our Church clothes with our LDS name tags, we were looked at by nearly everyone who, no doubt were wondering why these 'non-catholics' were here. But we made it without incident and were glad we had the opportunity to see all of this.