Weekly Email - February 24th

Mom, don't freak out, but I am going to Białystok as the branch president up there. Transfers are on Wednesday, but I may not be leaving Warsaw until Thursday. I will be with Elder S who is already there.

(Note from Mom: I might just have mentioned that I wasn't keen on Bialystok before he left for his mission. It has to do with history. My bad!)

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This week was a complete blur to me. I know that on Tuesday we took a culture night at the Polish National Soccer Stadium where they have set up an ice skating rink in the middle for the winter... Yes, we ice skated in the national stadium. That was a treat getting to be in the center of Polish soccer and pride and doing something fun. I only fell once ha, ha, but I did develop a mean blister on my right food... Dang flat feet. We also went out and got "Mexican food" at burrito boys... One word 'DON'T'

On the missionary work front, things were slow. We had some potential investigators set up appointments and then fall through. We have been on a constant hunt for 2 months with no real footing.

I am excited to go serve in Białystok as branch president, it is a little nerve-racking, but I think I will pull through. I am currently the living mission record holder for most cities served in at 7. I am the nomad of the mission and have seen every corner of the blessed country that is Poland and so it shall be until I leave. I have tracted many a building in this land and talked to many a Pole from Szczecin to Katowice to Białystock to Wrocław. Let it be known that I have hugged the gnomes of Wrocław, sailed the boat of Łódź, and skated the ice of Warsaw in just 2 short years and now I will get to see the largest Russian Orthodox church in Poland in just a few days. My shoes have stepped on many a Krakowian cobblestone and many a Będzinian street graffiti.

Weekly Email - February 17th

This week was good. We were able to teach some really good street lessons, and get some new investigators as well. These people were really cool, and we had lesson at one man's house whom I met on the street on Wednesday. When I got to his apartment, he had invited some friends over that were part of a Christian alliance group (non-denominational Christians). They got a little bible bashy, but nothing I couldn't handle. I ended up just telling them that the only way they were ever going to find the answers they were seeking was by reading the Book of Mormon and asking God if it was true. He was just so sure that it could not be  true because the bible is complete, but he had never given it a chance. It is too hard to leave your comfort zone for the next step.

Other than that, I also had a great exchange with Elder W in Bemowo. We even made it to Adam's ties for lunch! We got some free matching "exchange ties" out of the defect box and so all is well that ends well. We tried to get some pictures for the parents as well ;)

I got to see some friends from Wrocław yesterday after church who were in town for a mini MTC and got stuck here for the day after missing a train. It was overall a good time and a good week.

 Elders S & B the Zone leaders.

 Elder W. getting his proof that he does use his camera to take picture to send home. Way to go Elder W.

 2 Arizona boys in Poland with their new ties from Adam's Ties.

Brian found his favorite treat. He owes his height to PB & J Sandwiches. That's what he got to eat if he refused the family meals.

 Here are the ties he picked up this week at Adam's Ties in Warsaw. Pretty nice. I see a paisley in there!

Weekly Email - February 10th

There was no e-mail message today, just pictures. We spend the entire time figuring out what classes he wants to take in the fall at the University.

Enjoy the pictures!

This is the metro station by his apartment. Pretty cool!

He was amused by the CTR (Choose The Right) video surveillance company.

This building that they tracted has been blessed by the local priest yearly. Someone is even keeping track.

 Melting snow! A welcomed site! Even the ducks seem to enjoy it.

This is a 57 cm (22.44") Pizza. This goes to show that not everything is bigger in the USA.

Weekly Email - February 3rd

Hi all,

 

This week was good. I made it up to Białystok on exchange with Elder S. It was definitely a city with a more "Eastern block influence". We had a good time though and got to teach one of their three members with another of the three present. Elder S had the best idea ever, after his camera broke, he just went and bought a new ipod touch and has a Polish dictionary, the gospel library, and a camera at his instant disposal. He was using it up a storm and it made me think "why don't they issue these to all missionaries?" Then I thought "oh, they do... in the states." But I thought it was genius. I saw D and K in the Warsaw train station on my way to Białystok.

The rest of the week was a blur.  I got back with Elder W and we did our normal work. I am really still missing Elder K and Wrocław. I feel a little resentment that I was ripped out of such a good thing in only 2 months. I felt as though I had no chance of leaving since there was a new area opening in Wrocław and I was coming into the final leg. I know the Lord has his own plans that I need to trust, but dang!

Hey, I know I said my release date is the 17th of June, but it may be changed to the 19th in light of some recent events (Uchtdorf is doing a mission conference here and will be in the mission home from the 16-19th I think). President does our exit events in the mission home so his current idea is to postpone us 2 days and then do it and just put us in 3-somes. Elder Baranowski's dad is still coming the 17th and President plans on releasing Baranowski to the stake president (under the care of his dad) on the 17th and he will just stick around Warsaw with his dad or something... So, that is that.

I have really been trying to get more pictures (especially after seeing how much use Elder S' ipod got) so I hope to get a lot more.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO HAILEY AND ERIK, MAKE IT A GOOD ONE!!!

Love you all, I am going to send my recording and pictures.

He is back taking pictures with Agnieska! I was wondering what happened to her.

This is a frozen river near their apartment.