Happy New Years!!!!

 December 30th, 2013

Hello my darling family! I love you all so much and it was such a joy to hear from you this past week. I will tell you what happened last week.

On the 18th, we had Wigilia... which is a Polish New Years Eve. That was with the whole branch and it was wonderful! I loved it:) But Polish food is pretty heavy, and I think I'm not used to that ( I don't actually eat Polish food very often:) We spend Tuesday baking with the Relief Society Prezydent because we don't have anyone else who can help her... crazy:) But it was great and a great cultural experience. Then on Monday the 23rd we went to Katowice and had a Christmas Zone Conference. I sang O Holy Night, and it was wonderful to be able to share my talents! I have learned alot about that this week, about how we need to use and share and cultivate our talents in order that we can keep them and multiply them!

Monday evening we went back to Kraków and spent the night there. I was so excited to go and contact on the Rynek!!!! I love contacting by the way, we meet the coolest people and it's a great time to practice my polish:) The Spirit can always tell me what that specific person needs, which really has helped me see the Heavenly Father knows us all personally.

On Christmas Eve we woke up and had our P-Day in Kraków with all of the other districts from katowice!! It was awesome:) We had a great breakfast and spent the day touring Kraków and it was lovely and a beautiful sunny day! We then went back to the Kraków chapel and watched some bible videos and played backgammon! ( my new favorite game:) That night we made a mad run for the train... It was so close to leaving, and we spent some of the night on the Polar Express( not really, but we did take a train and it felt very Polar Expressy:) I loved that. When we got home we ate dinner... salad and beets (  I know. it's pretty ridiculous;) and then we read the Christmas story from Luke 2 and also from 1 Nephi and the Tree of Life. It was a beautiful experience and as I could her our neighbors getting drunk and laughing I realized how very grateful I am to have the opportunity to be a servant of the Lord. No Christmas in my life will ever be the same. Then I said my prayers and went to bed.

The next morning we woke up and had orange juice:) Then we opened our presents. I don't have time today to e-mail and thank everyone, but I am so grateful for Grandma and Granddpa Bird and the calendar and poem! I will e-mail them next week about it. And to Grandma and Grandpa Hemming for the thoughtful gifts. Seeing grandma's handwriting was so sweet to me, and Zeus has already been my cuddle buddy a couple of times. We got ready ( czyli batman t-shirt) and spent the day with the Elders! It was so fun. We played soccer ( I'm actually not bad) and we ate food and we played games and I beat Elder Raines at backgammon... then he beat me:) It was wierd, I always pictured my mission Christmas to include lots of work, but since everyone gets drunk in Poland on Christmas we aren't really allowed to go do proselyting. Anyways, it was a great day.

Then I paced the floor trying to decide what to say in the phone call. I don't know why but it made me nervous. Sister Moncur and I had talked about how it might be better if we called closer to each other so that she wasn't just sitting around for an hour after I talked to my family and freaking out. THat's why when you called I said that we should wait an hour... but after I heard my sweet family's voices I couldn't ever wait!!! I just want you all to know that I love you so much! you are such a wonderful family and this week was filled with comfort and peace for me. I loved to listen you you and hear your voices. I then said my prayers and went to bed. It was a bit hard the next morning, but as I put my trust in the Lord I was completely fine. Oh how blessed I've been:)

This week we had an absolute miracle happen. We were really trying to have the faith that Karina could get baptized, and it was a miracle because on Sunday she had her meeting with Elder Raines and she passed, with one problem... her husband didn't allow it. So Sister Moncur had the great idea to fast for her! So we started fasting and striving for more faith. We went over to their house and made pierogi! It was with pig livers and chicken hearts. literally:) But it tasted good! Then the Spirit took over. We ended up knowing exactly what to say to him and he ended up agreeing to her getting baptized and even said he'd bring a soup to it!!! It was a miracle to say the least. I have been so blessed to see so many miracles. Pray for her. Her baptism is this week Saturday at 15:00!

I love you all so much! Have a wonderful new year and be safe!
Love, Sister Ali Hemming:)

making fish for wigilia!

Riding home from Krakow!  Felt like we were on the Polar Express!!!

My Christmas Eve dinner!!

As long as there's Christmas I truly believe that HOPE is the Greatest of the Gifts we receive!!

December 16th, 2013

Hello my Lovely Family!

I have loved reading your e-mails, my one from my little Heathie touched me so much. That he has faith that I am doing what the Lord wants...:) I love my Little Siblings! If only you knew:)

This has been a very influential week on my mission. I have learned so much, I think that Heavenly Father knew that I was getting a little lost in the logistics of missionary work and a little too bez oczucia:) There have been a lot of experiences this week that have led me to think about my personal testimony of the work. I have been praying so very hard and am grateful for a renewed sense of who I am and I hope to share my testimony with you accurately in this letter.

Karina is doing so well! She and her husband and their sweet little family were all in church this week, and we went to their house on saturday to eat with the Elders. The leaps and bounds that their family have made just add to my testimony that this church changes lives to be in accordance with God's will, because it's His church, so it really makes so much sense! Her date is january 4th, and I am praying so hard that she will be ready, she just needs to take the step. I know it will start her live over, give it to her new, and she can become better than she ever has been! ( which is hard to believe)

We had a great week and found some great new investigators. We had a great discussion with one of our english students who I love! She is reading the Book of Mormon and she says that the scriptures are helping her to find more joy in her life, that is because they are from God. They are from the Father of us all! One of our investigators, as I was sharing my testimony about how we are all children of God, said that we should trakt and when they open the door say .. " Cześć kochanie! tęsknie za tobą:)" basically Hey darling... I miss you. I thought it was a good idea, but then I got a call from one of our contacts asking me on a date... and decided better not;)

At this time of the year I have been reflecting on the reason. The reason I'm doing what I'm doing... the reason that I plead that others will also be a part of this great work, and the Reason is found in my heart. The Savior. It's all for Him. His great sacrifice for me cannot be repaid, but I can give my all for this short time ( and really my whole life) to come closer to Him. I read a talk from Elder Holland that talks about teaching the atonement. It says that we can't expect to come close to Christ without having to walk some couple of steps in the general direction of Calvary. I know that I will never experience even half of what He did, but I am so grateful to give this time to come to know Him, " as He is" ( moro. 8:) I read from Jesus the Christ when it talks about the fig tree that is all leaf and no fruit. It caused me to look inside myself. I sometimes get caught up in working hard and acheiving goals and pushing the work that I forget my real purpose. During this Christmas time, let us all FEEL the meaning of CHristmas. Take a step back from the craziness of life to reflect on the Savior and His ultimate sacrifice, His love. As Joseph Smith said, Let us " treasure up the words of life". I can't think of any work that depicts life more than "Savior".

As my only Christmas in the mission field ( maybe... except for with my stunningly wonderful  husband someday:) I would like to testify that this is His CHurch! It is simple and beautiful and is just makes sense. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that His works and word are from God for us in these days. Have miracles ceased? Definitely not!

I love you all! I will talk to you on Christmas:) By the way... I'm trying to think... I know that you are all going to really want to talk to me super early in the morning... but if it's okay with you I think I'd actually rather you called later at night. That way I can look forward to it all day and after the call I can read the scriptures, say a prayer and go to bed, so that I can start the next day fully focused. I know that kind of takes the fun out of it but I'm thinking that if you called me at like 10 o-clock in the morning... on the 25... so it will be 18 my time that would be so great! I also only have 40 minutes, so if you think that you could write down or think of what things you want to talk about that way we can use the time well! I really just want to hear you all and what's going on in your lives and such!

I love you all sooooo much!!!  I can't wait to serve the Lord this week!

Love, Siostra Hemming!

As long as there's Christmas

Our wonderful Zone! Love them all!!

December 9th, 2013

Hello my lovely family!!! I can't believe that Christmas traditions are already underway... time is so crazy! We had a great week this week and I am so grateful for the people and the work that is here, what a great time of year to be a missionary serving the Lord!

I can't lie, it's also super nice to be able to spend a long time to e-mail, for the past while I've been so rushed, and I'm super grateful!

So we started off the week with going to Aushwitz, I loved that experience. To be able to learn about the strong and wonderful peope of Poland again was so touching. It was odd, I felt that there was a spirit of reverance there even more so at this time of year, and I was able to have my testimony of the power of the Atonement grow. Then we went as a zone to Katowice and went caroling! What an experience, I was able to talk to and meet some amazing people and it was wonderful! I LOVE our zone, the sisters in our zone are so powerful and lovely, I love them all! There will be some lucky men who someday get to marry these sisters! I got to talk with Prezydent Edgren and Sister Edgren for some time, and I just love them! Then we came back and put our experiences to work!

We were able to find three new investigators this week, and they were all such miracles. People being in the exact right place at the right time! It is the work of the Lord. Both times we put our trust in the Lord and did what He wanted and we were led to these people! I have been trying so hard this transfer and last to establish the relationship between missionary and others. There have been some experiences where we've met people who were investigators and they really were just the missionaries friends. They had absolutely no idea why the missionaries were actually here in Poland, and I don't like that, so it's been a bit of an endeavor, but I think that as we use our time wisely, follow the rules and love the people, they will know that we are here to help bring them closer to Christ. We have no other purpose.I think it's so important to show them love and care and obey the rules of times and such. I remember often what dad said about leaving right after you finish the lesson, I think that makes a HUGE difference!

Auschwitz...what a sad place but SO important to remember!

Sister Moncur and I have just been learning from each other and trying to figure out how to work better together, I have been trying to learn more about how to not take it all on myself. I think that I have the tendancy to take everything on myself and feel like I have the responsibility to make everything work out exactly right and make sure that everyone's happy and I have been realizing this week that I am called to take advantage of my talents, work hard, have faith, and leave the rest to the Lord. I can't do everything, and I'm not supposed to. Elder Raines told me this week that when he was AP Prezydent Edgren would ask them to do all of their work and still have the model area, and he said that he told Prezydent that he couldn't do it, and prezydent said, " that's right, you can't, but the Lord can, and you have to go to Heaven for help". That helped me a lot, and I want to work on it this week! I need to work on the basics, prayer and dependency on the Lord! I'm just super grateful that He's patient in helping me learn the same lessons time after time:)

We are listening to Christmas music as we work out and really any other time we're allowed! I love it! I think I've just realized that I only get one Christmas on my mission, so I'd better use it well! I can't wait to share the message of " good tidings and great joy" with everyone in my path! whoo hoo! We are also buying a tree today, and I just love it!

Sorry this is so long, but just so you know there was a hurricane in Northern Poland and it was a pretty crazy week this week with super cold wind and snow, but i'm healthy and well! We are trying to find new ways to find people even in the cold weather!

I love you all so much, please be safe and have a wonderful week this week. Bask in the Spirit of Christmas, which is really just the Spirit! I KNOW that the Savior lives. He is our Savior and He loves us all more that we can even comprehend. This church is His church, which means that through it we can be closer to Him than through any other way. Any other way.

I love this work!!!! so much love from Poland:)

Thank you for the package!!!!! It brought me so much joy to see all of my lovies! ( I got that word from Aunt Kathy, but the Polish people totally use it!) What a sweet family I have been blessed with.

~Sister Hemming

• 
  

What is this!!!!

 December 4th, 2013

So I'm so sorry that for like the fourth week in a row I don't have time to e-mail:) We had a split second opportunity to go to auschwitz again... and of course I took it! We then got to go and spend the whole tuesday and monday with the whole zone in Katowice!! It ws such a miracle and so needed. I've been needing the boost that comes from being with other missionaries and it was so wonderful! Presydent Edgren came and Sister Edgren and I loved to be there with everyone!!! I was able to talk with Sister Blake again, she is such an example for me, and I loved spending time with the missionaries! I swear that the best missionaries in the whole world are in Poland!!!

I will for sure be e-mailing a huge e-mail next week, but for now I will just tell you that I am doing well, that we got the package!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! yay:) I am so grateful for the thoughtful pictures, for the gifts ( don't open till Christmas:) and for everything that you all do for me!

This week was a great one, but also a little bit hard. We had a lot of people flake us, but recieved a lot of contacts. IT is so interesting to hear about other missions, where they make a goal to contact fifty people a week. I am positive that we contact that many people in a day.. easy! But I think it's important to know that missionary work is the same everywhere, it is the work of the Lord!

The lights are going up in Kielce, I will be sure to get some pictures, I love CHristmas and have been finding joy in loving it even more in Poland:)

Sister Moncur is doing well, I hope I don't wear her out, but she's so kind and loving and has so many wonderful talents and traits that I need to learn from! I love to be here, I love you all so much, and I am so grateful that you are who you are!

So sorry I can't write anymore, but I will for sure be able to e-mail in a week! I love my family, and was so grateful to have a long talk with Elder Raines about how much my mission means to me. It is seriously an experience for the Eternities, I just hope that I'm able to do all that is required of me in my short time here!

So much love from Poland!

Siostra Hemming

Happy Thanksgiving!! Turkey Turkey!!

November 26th, 2013

• Happy Thanksgiving! Turkey Turkey:)‏

Hello hello!!! Everyone brace yourselves for the miracle of my life...

Karina and Przemek and one of his friends and their whole family came to church!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I seriously almost had a heart attack. I was so filled with joy I didn't know whether to laugh or cry, so instead I just went into the bathroom and had a little talk with my Heavenly Father. I have been so blessed to learn this transfer that so much is accomplished by prayers and faith. We had a lovely lesson with Karina this week and I cried when I told her that I know that I was blessed to come into a family who had the fullness of the gospel. I love you all so much, I am so blessed!

Okay mom, I will give you a little update of my life:)

I get up and study with Sister Moncur, we usually go running around Kielce in the mornings, and I love it:) Then we study, and I've just changed my ideas( thank you Sister Blake) so that now we try and make our comp studies into a more spiritual study experience instead of a long talk about the outlines of every lesson and exactly what scripture we will share when. It has really helped me keep the Spirit with me! I LOVE my Savior! Then we usually have some crazy schedule of meetings all over Kielce and we try and talk to everyone the Spirit says on the way. ( literally I think we contact at least 50 people a day..yep!) Then we usually either go home and eat lunch i.e. pasta or rice or veggies or a salad. or we get a roll and cottage cheese at the local market. Then we have more meetings and we usually work until about 8:00 p.m. and then go inside for dinner. It's wierd to eat so late, but we feel safer being in earlier, and it gets pretty dark here at about four o clock! what? Good thing I have some sunshine in my seoul every day ( cara:) Then we laugh and listen to music and write in our journals and plan for the evening and then get ready for bed! And then I sleep, like a rock:) We make these detailed plans daily, but they always seem to get pretty crazy! We spend some time with Włodzimierz often because he is so kind to help us get better at our polish! I am so grateful for that!!! He does a lot for us.

Well yep. I haven't made anything to crazy to eat yet, except we made cookies the other day, I haven't had those in forever! We don't really have a ton of time to spend on finding and making crazy recipes. NOt to mention that I haven't got any idea what the recipe actually says!!!!!

Anyways. Sister Moncur is amazing, she is just a little tought cookie. She works hard and isn't afraid, and I love her. I want to love her more and serve her more, so that she can feel at home here in Poland, because I remember wanting that so much my first transfer. I was so lucky to have my lovely Sister Allen to help!

Well, they don't celebrate Thanksgiving in Poland, because that's just an american thing, but they do start to get some decorations put up for CHristmas!!! I can't wait for all of that. But this week we ate dinner with a huge group of ewangelikal churches. We had stuffing and some pumpking pie and it was soooo delicious and we were all speaking english and I loved it so much. It felt very homey, I know they have so much truth, and we just want to add to it! That's what's so great about the gospel, it helps us add onto the truths people already have!

I love being a missionary, I love you all so much,and I can't wait to report on the miracles of the week of THanksgiving! I pray for you all every single night. I pray that my dad can know how much of a powerful influence for good he has made in my life, and my mum to know what love and service and selflessness she has taught me!
I love Poland:) Have a great week my lovelies!
Love, Me

Sorry It's So LATE!!!!

Sorry we haven't updated in a long time about Ali. We've had computer issues but here is her latest e-mail!

 

Hello!

So last week was Poland's independence day so that is why we couldn't e-mail:) But I am doing so well and my new companion is so sweet and I love her! Her name is Sister Moncur and she's from Idaho Falls.

This week we saw so many miracles. We had a baptism, Piotr. He was confirmed in church on Sunday and I had been praying that some of our less-actives would come because I really needed their support for Karina! I had a thought to send two of them texts early Sunday morning and they came! I was too busy worrying that everyone was sitting next to someone and felt comfortable that I didn't even realize that I got exactly what I prayed for until I took the sacrament. I had a lot to repent of after that. Sometimes I get too caught up and forget to be grateful for all the little blessings, which is the worst thing I could do! Then that night we met with someone we found trakting, his name is Oskar and hes so cool!!! We were able to find five new investigators this week, and then to top it all off, Karina called me and said that her husband, (Przemek) wants to come to church next week!!! WHAT? that is a 180degree turn from a month ago. I met him today, and he was super kind and willing to talk and I was really grateful for this experience. I went home and fell on my knees and felt like I could burst I was so happy!

I am loving my mission so much. It's so hard, but I am grateful for every minute. There isn't a time I regret being here. I am grateful for the Christmas season and the peace and binding it brings. I love these people so much, my heart is with them. I never want to leave Kielce! I know the Lord loves us and cares for us and wants the best for us.

Rori, I am so glad that your play went well and you look so beautiful!

I hope that you all have a lovely thanksgiving. I am so grateful for my wonderful family and all that you do for me. I am so blessed and have been given so many miracles, what that says to me is that more is expected:) I have to have more faith!

Gratitude! It's amazing!

Love, Sister Hemming:)

1. Independence Day!( dad, you'd think this was cool)

2. me and Sis. Moncur!

3. My favorite Kawiarnia aka cafe:) And my favorite book! in my favorite language;)

Happy Halloween

Happy Halloween (November 4th 2013)

My Sweet, Lovely Family!

I can't believe that you already had the first snowfall! Of course you won't find it hard to believe that yesterday I went out in a jacket and flats and no umbrella and it decided to rain cats and dogs( I might add that it hasn't rained in weeks!) Needless to say, I ended up trudging through the streets with soaking shoes... but we found two new investigators! I've learned so much this week about doing the work of the Lord!

So... pierwszy... since I know you all are wondering what's going on... drum roll...

I'm Staying! In Kielce:) whooo hoo! and I'm training! What? I know. How can the sister who can't even correctly dress herself for the rain train another sister. I admit that at first when prezydent told me that I'd be training I thought that I still don't really know anything, but I have learned alot about how I need to trust in the Lord this week, and that played into my reaction. I know the Lord qualifies whom He calls. I am grateful for an opportunity to pick up the pace. To rely completely on the Lord. To strive to give Him my every waking thought!

This was a crazy and beautiful week! On halloween we had a great crepe breakfast! yay:) I got a package from the Listons on Wednesday! Perfect timing! I am sending them a letter, but tell them thank youso much! It was filled with the best things:) Candy Corn... and cute halloween decorations. We had a great time on Saturday with Prezydent Najberg on the cemetaries. I will show you some pictures, it is amazing!

We had a lot of lessons and were really praying to find five new investigators... As I felt and meant what I said in my prayers and then matched it with action, the Lord's miracles fell into our paths time and time again.  We are teaching a sweet lady named Sylwia. She is a single mom ( we are now teaching 3 mothers with children... something I only dreamed of in Kraków). We have had a hard time meeting with her because she's really busy but I feel prompted that she will be of great strength to the branch, so I know the Lord will prepare a way.

Sister Barth has been so amazing this week( and every week) but this week she just worked so hard. She was a great example and influence on me, and I'm a little sad that just when I feel that we start to work really well together we get seperated, but more about that later.

For my miracle of the week I would like to share a very special experience. I normally don't like to talk about the hard things but I think this is for the best of everyone! I was feeling a little bit under the weather on Saturday but I was really excited to get out and find people! So I prayed and went to work. It was especially hard that day. No one was talking to us and on top of that some people were pretty rude. I began to feel frustrated, and I said a prayer... " Please help me to love this:)". I contacted the next lady I saw and she was getting really mad at me. Telling me that she's already Catholic and how dare I be in her country and tell her that she doesn't know about God. I tried to share with her that I am so glad she already has faith, and simply wanted to invite her to learn more about this thing that has brought me somuch happiness. She then proceeded to tell me more unkind things. I walked away and was feeling a little emotional( yep) and all of the sudden I had this feeling of peace and love wash over me. It was so enobling and enabling. I felt love and strength. I KNEW in that moment that I am a daughter of God. That He loves me, and that everything and every sacrifice and every blessing ever made by myself or my ancestors was for something that is true! Right after that I met this lovely lady who was so kind and took a Book of Mormon and set up for tonight! I said a tearful and heartfelt prayer of thanks after that. The Lord is so mindful of us. As we do what He wants. And only then can we feel the full extent of His love.

I bear my testimony that it's real. I know it . I wouldn't be here if I didn't. I know if for myself and not just as a tradition or a nice story, God Lives. He loves us. And His church is on the earth as proof of that love. The Church of Jesus Christ of latter day saints!

I love being amissionary! I can't wait to meet a new companion and get moving on a new transfer filled with humbling experiences and growth in the Lord!

I love you all so much!
Love Sister Erika Alexis Hemming

The Power of Thoughts

The Power of Thoughts (October 21st 2013)

My Darling Family!

Wow, what a week:) Well, for starters I got a little bit sick on Monday... probably from the galereta;) But all is well now and I am grateful to be back working and giving my all. It is getting a little bit colder here, but we have been blessed because I've only had to wear my big coat one day. We will have a lot of lessons and are striving to find some new investigators. Kielce is blooming!!!

I have learned alot this week about the power of thoughts.The Prophet Joseph Smith said that he would treasure up in his mind continually the words of life. Then he was prepared to deliver sermons filled with revelatory power. I have made that my goal this week and will be striving to give every conscious thought to the work of the Lord. Unfortunately the opposite is also true. Satan will try and get our thoughts to be focused on things that have no real value to us, and can even be harmful. I love the scripture that focuses on thoughts, words and deeds. They all make a huge difference!

I am going to Auschwitz today, which is a three hour drive. I'm so sorry this is short and I can't write anyone else back, but I have wanted to go for a long time. Our good friend Włodzimierz is taking us in his car, and President okayed it and I am so excited. I know that's probably not an appropriate response to this, but I have studied alot about it, and am prepared to see a piece of history that I hope will NEVER be repeated.

We have seen miracles this week in Kielce, I will share one with you really quickly. Last week as Sister Barth and I were walking to the Library , our investiagtor Virginia was sitting at her booth( her family own a booth at a bazaar). We went up to say cześć and suddenly we felt inclined to stop and pay closer attention. ( sometimes my excitement gets the best of me... quiet dignity sister hemming... quiet dignity:) but she was sitting at her booth, with the Book of Mormon( in bulgarian) sitting on her lap. She had her hands clasped and was fervently praying. Wow. what an absolutely beautiful experience. I was so grateful to the Lord for having blessed me with the opportunity to see that wonderful moment. It will forever be a highlight of my mission.

We had a beautiful week and loved the changing of the leaves. Please pray for Virginia that she will see the importance of one true church on the earth, and that Karina can talk with her husband. She is such a wonderful woman, and just recently invited us to the baptism of her children... in the catholic church. That actually meant a lot to us, because we see her trusting and loving us just as we love her with all our hearts. It will be a great opportunity to meet her husband.

I testify that I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God. That God has restored His church on the earth, and that it was restored through a living prophet. We learn that the only way to come to God someday is through the Atonement of our Savior Jesus Christ. I know that is true. I'm still figuring out the Atonement for myself, but I know that is has more power than we realize. The pain of guilt can be completely overcome with the beauty of His love. Joseph Smith also said that man my come closer to Christ by the teachings of the Book of Mormon than any other book. That means that this church is essential to all men. I LOVE that I can share such a powerful message with the people in Kielce.

Mom, thank you soooo much! I know it can't be easy for you to find time each week to write me, but they mean the world to me. I see your personal growth as well as the families and I am built by your testimony. I feel the same way as you do... I want to just have more opportunities to serve , when I get home I want my life to forever be in service to the Lord. I am so grateful for having learned to put Him first.

I love you all so much! So much love from Kielce!

Siostra hemming

Count your Blessings... ( not hard!)

			10/14/2013

HELLO MY DARLING FAMILY!!!! I just wanted to scream that out here in the library, I have the best family ever! oh I love you all so much:)

I have seen more miracles in these months of my mission than are normal in a lifetime I'm pretty sure. THis week has been the best week of my mission so far:) I have learned so much and struggled alot, but I have grown in a testimony of the need of humility, the importance of the Holy Ghost, and most importantly, the all-encompassing and loving power of the atonement.

It started out as a pretty tough week for me. I dont' know why but I struggled. I prayed and prayed for help and pretty much just felt helpless. As I strived to work and do my best, I saw a small change, but it was when I realized the need for REAL faith and real humility that I saw the miracles begin.

The scripture that has hit me this week is this " seek and you shall find, knock and it shall be opened unto you" along with " I stand at the door and knock". The Lord really is mighty to save. He is patient and loving and once again I am touched and grateful for the knowlede that Uncle Shawn gave me one day. " Christ bought the whole bike. He and He only can save us and help us get on the right path. We don't pay for part of the bike. Our work is to show our gratititude and become closer to Him". Please let him know how grateful I am for He and Aunt Erika and their love and advice for me! I am so blessed!

We started out the week in Kraków... again:) I don't know why I ever said goodbye! It is always a beautiful experience. We learned alot about being those clean vessels of the Lord. What a responibility, what a blessing! Then we continued on with our week. We met a new investigator, her name is Virginia and she's Bulgarian! She came to English by complete miracle. ( we had given her mother an ulotka at her bazaar and she found it right at 17:00 and told her that she shoudl come) Elder Lanham( exchanges) met her and was talking to her during english and ended up asking her if she'd like to meet with us. She came in and started off with sharing a beautiful experience she had had with prayer and with the HolyGhost. She is so amazing! We had another lesson with her and watched the REstoration movie in Bulgarian. I felt the Spirit and I KnOW that Joseph Smith was a prophet and that he was humble enough to be called to restore the work. I know that because of the Book of Mormon, and even though I didnt' understand the movie, I felt the Spirit. Appartently she did too because she accepted a date!!! She will be baptized on November 9 and She is truly praying and trying to decide if this is from God. But she said that she knows that Joseph Smith saw a vision. Oh how prepared people are!

Sorry my e-mails are so long, but my heart is always so full:)

We also had a super crazy experience with Karina. She is such a woman!!! She has dealt with so much and this week had to deal with more. Her husband is a good man, but he has a problem as a alcoholic. ( I absolutely detest alcohol the word of wisdom is FOR SURE from God) Basically she and her kids had nothing to eat for three days when she came to our meeting she said she couldnt' stay because she had to get food cards for teh kids. WE immediately got to work helping her and said we could drop off food for her that night! I LOVE how the church works that way. We got with the Elders and made a big dinner( spaghetti and french bread and salad:) and brought it over. They weren't home and as it turned out her husband got home that day and brought them money. So we were stuck with this HUGE thing of spaghetti... needless to say we ate itfor like three days:) But I was grateful for the chance to serve.

I love love love love love my mission:)I'm so grateful for the experiences I am having and I hope they will make me into a worthy servant for the rest of my life. I hope that we all have a week filled with gratitude. I am so grateful for what I have been given. I have no idea why I'm so blessed but I do know one thing. Where much is given, much is required. So I'd better get to work!

I ate Galereta. So basically when you cut all of the gross parts of a chicken off to throw in the trash... they don't throw it away. They mix the gross ( chewy fatty and bloody) parts of the chicken and then they mix is with oil and carrots and then they put it in Jello.... It was my meal after fasting... it was interesting. But I really am so grateful for the love of the sweet poor people who served it to us.

I love the Lord and I know His atoment is real and all encompassing. There is nothing we can't do with Him, and nothing we can do without Him.

I lvoe you all and pray for you nightly!

Love, Siostra Hemming

I LOVE CONFERENCE

10/7/2013

Ali walking in a park in Kielce

Hello my darling little family! Or not so little... as I saw my gorgeous Rori at homecoming! I swear I just barely went to my first homecoming with Cragun... wierd! She looked so beautiful and so old, I am very grateful that she is modest and looks like a beautiful young woman! I would expect nothing less:)

Ali

This has been a week of miracles, I'm pretty sure every week is and I am so grateful for that. We started out pretty worried. One of our investigators, Karina has a baptismal date and is really progressing toward becoming a stalwart member. She was taught by the elders before we got here and it's been a miracle that we can be here because she couldn't have met with the elders... you will find out why. So on Friday of last week, her husband called us and was pretty mean and was saying all of these things in lightening fast polish( which we don't even fully understand at normal speed) and ended up saying something to the effect of ... we don't want to meet with you. My wife is not interested and she already has her own church, don't ever meet with her again. I am sure you can imagine that we were pretty sad about it. But Sister Barth had faith and we continued on planning that she would meet with us. We heard nothing from her for four days and were trying to give her some space for a while. Every tuesday we have district meeting in the chapel and make goals and become edified:) We were sitting there this tuesday and suddenly we hear these little kid voices and I think to myself... that sounds like Kasper( her son) and as the voices get closer I become certain it is her son. We run out into the foyer and she is standing there with her children and says... "Hi, I'm really sorry to interrupt but my husband deleted your number and I didnt' know what to do and I'd like to set up a meeting tommorow."

I literally almost died.I was so shocked! ( Have more Faith Sister Hemming!)

She said that simply her husband had talked with someone at work who told her wierd things about us and was really upset and so he called us and then deleted our number from her phone. She told us that she prayed alot to know what she should do. She told us she recieved a very firm answer that she should meet with us again. She said that she KnOWS without a doubt that she needs to be baptized, that she has found the church of God and that she knows that this is the direction she needs to go. I cannot even explain how I felt. Just so grateful. So joyful. We set up for the next day and then knelt down and thanked Heavenly Father for letting us see miracles. Oh how blessed we are.

The next day she shared her life story with us and really opened up. She is a woman who has been through the worst that life has to offer. Poverty and loneliness and abuse, but she has stuck to her faith in God and has also seen many miracles. She was told from every doctor that she could never have children but prayed to God to help her and was given three absolutely beautiful kids! She is an amazing example to me. Most of the time I sit and wonder why I was called to be a missionary when the people I teach are better examples to me than the other way around. All I know is this. The work is true and the Lord loves and cares for each of us. She has shown me that.

We have had wonderful experiences with her all week and are hoping that she will be able to talke with her husband and that he will allow her to be baptized. We have prayed so hard that his heart will be softened . What a powerful experience that was.

Ali's companion Sister Barth

I love Sister Barth and I am so grateful that I can be a part of the work here in Kielce. I don't know what the Lord has in store for Poland but I know it is something beautiful and marvelous and I feel so blessed every day to be here and be a part of it. I hope that I can give a broken heart and a contrite spirit to the Lord every day to renew my drive to do my best. I love these people with all of my heart!

Any one for Apple Crisp..Polish style?

I watched the Relief Society mtg. and was brought to tears many times. It is so interesting how a mission has softened me so much, i cry ALL THE TIME! :) But usually because I am so overcome with love and gratitude! I can't imagine anywhere else better that I could be. This is the place;) Ania was in General Conference yesterday and was asking us about how she pays tithing because she wants to give her part to the Lord's kingdom. She is amazing! We also were able to watch the first session of Saturday conference with Prez. Najberg. But it was in English, so he couldn't understand. It was an example of me of faith and obedience that he stayed the whole time and watched it... in english! What amazing members.

The wonderful baptism of Ania.  Notice it is performed in a swimming pool! So great

Ania and Ali

We had a few funny moments this week. Most of them associated with our lack of understanding of Polish... or the fact that I am the worst cook in the world:) We made No bake cookies but didn't have a pan or anything to put them on... so we cleaned of the counter and just plopped them on there! super funny! then they wouldn't dry so they were pretty squishy, but our english class liked them all the same!

Ali with a sweet member named Ella

Polish food....cabbage rolls

Polish Cake

Cauliflower Soup!

     I know that the Lord lives. I know that the Atonement has real power and that Heavenly Father is Loving! He loves us even when we don't love ourselves, and He helps us see our potential. Sins and doubts are overcome through the Lord, and they sometimes take a long time, but the Lord is mighty to save;) I know that Conference is a time to listen to a prophet of God. Just think about what that means! I know that conference and probably everything else associated with the Savior has more meaning to me on my mission and will have more meaning after my mission. I am ALWAYS grateful I chose to serve. the 80,000 missionaries out will all come home stronger. It is the Best decision I have made yet, and all other decisions will be affected by it!

I love you all so much!!! I hope you have a week filled with the power of the atonement. I pray for you every day!

Ali in Kielce!!! She is so happy and loving it!!!

Love , Siostra Hemming

ANIA!!

9/30/2013

 

This week was absolutely amazing! First off, I am so blessed to have the most amazing family:) Thank you for your prayers and your love and your example. I have the best family in the whole world.

So I went to Kraków this week, it was pretty weird to be completely honest. I know that the Lord's work is wherever I go, but I am definitely tied to Kielce. I loved Kraków, so it just showed me that this is where I need to be right now. I did get to be with a trainee, Sister King. She is wonderful and taught me a lot. It was so nice to be back in Kielce, and with Sister Barth and with our lovely little gmina!

Ania got baptized this week! We ran around with our heads cut off a little bit at the beginning and then we really prayed and everything fell into place. She came and looked so beautiful, we do it at a pool here in Kielce. We had prepared a meeting, I spoke and then she got into her whites and Prezydent Najberg baptized her. She was so happy, she told us that she had been reading the bible as a young girl, and that she really loved it and felt that there was something more that she wasn't finished and that the Lord told her that she needed to wait until she found what was more. Wow! She is so amazing and so prepared. She entered the waters of baptism with a huge smile and came out with an even bigger one! I thought I would burst I was so happy! It was humbling and beautiful to me and I love that woman more than I thought I could for such a short time. After her baptism Sister Barth and I did a musical number. I sang and Sister Barth played the violin, she is so talented! I love that girl! Then we had some food( chips and cookies... polish style) and we took her to the bus. It was a moment and a day I will never forget and I am so grateful to the Lord that I could be part of such an amazing experience!

Then we went to church the next day for her to be confirmed... she is a single mother, and one of her children is seven years old and he is handicapped. It was a little bit crazy because he wouldn't let her leave him to be confirmed and then he was being really agressive and I know she was really stressed, so we have to do her confirmation on Wednesday. Long story short, I am so impressed by her patience and love with the members. She could have been offended so easily but wasn't and just loved everyone!

I know that the church is true. I know that the Lord Jesus Christ atoned for all of us, and that we take our first step at baptism. I love this place! I hope you all have a great week!

Love,
Siostra Hemming

Conference is this week!!!!!!!!!I get to watch probably one session of each, I am so excited!  I love fall here!

Never Give Up....Never Surrender!

A professor from the University took these three pictures of the missionaries in Katowice and Kielce.  He sent them to us via email which was so fun to have! I am so thankful for him taking the time to do that!

The missionaries singing hymns on the train!

Missionaries on the train going to zone conference

9/23/13

Hello Hello...  Dad... the title of this e-mail is for you:)

Well this has been quite the week!!! On Monday we had to head up to Warsaw for Sister Barth to get her Card to live in Poland. We didn't find out until 9:30 the night before... so that was exciting! Once again I could see the gorgeous landscape from the train... that's one thing you miss on freeways and in planes. Landscape. Poland is so beautiful! We had a lot of meetings this week and a million miracles. I think this week was one of the most growth for me here on the mission.

First off, I cannot believe how prepared people in Poland are! That's why this title is so fitting;) Ania is still going strong for her baptism this Saturday, and we've had to teach her all of the lessons in only two weeks, ahhh! I will share more about her...

Ania is a young mom, 29 with two children. She's divorced and her husband doesn't help her in any way. She lives an hour away by bus from Kielce and has to take it in here every time that she has a meeting with us. Her son is seven and has autism and really struggles in school so she spends her days with him in school, and then comes home and takes care of her daughter who is 5. She is amazing! She came to English and started reading the Book of Mormon and then just started coming to church and when we first met her it was her second time in church, she met with us and scheduled a baptism and every single lesson she had read and prayed and recieved answers and it's such a testimony builder to me. The things I used to thing were hard at home I have realized are nothing compared to what people here have to do, they are strong and amazing! She finished the whole book of Mormon on Tuesday and has been praying with us and her prayers bring tears to my eyes every time! We met with her and talked about the Blessing of the Holy Ghost, and I was able to share experiences when my dad was able to give me preisthood blessings and the comfort and love I felt from both him and my Heavenly Father every time, I reflected on the opportunity to recieve direct words from my Father in Heaven and to learn more of His power on the earth. It is so true!

I learned alot this week about pride. I learned alot about how if I am to be consecrated in the way that I promised then I need to give every conscious thought to the Lord. That I need to make my desires and my will in line with His, not just my actions. I also learned from President Uchtdorf about patience. It is a beautiful talk from Preisthood session 2010, it is a key trait that I need!

Another miracle story, Karina... she is amazing! She is the Elders and was given us. She has three children, and is a young mother. How blessed we are to teach young mothers, for I know from experience that as " we know that our mothers know it" we are strengthened. I told her about my mother and how I know she knows it! ANyways... she has a baptismal date and hasn't told her husband she wants to be baptized yet... So ... we taught her about fasting and we told her we would fast with her. She has a new baby so she said it would be hard to do it with us and she said she didn't know if she'd make it to church... We fasted. and prayed. hard.  When we called her the next day she was so excited, said that she fasted and that she felt strong and excited and that she would be at church for sure! So on sunday I think I realized what they mean when they say that the heart was filled with joy. I felt so much joy as I could see Karina and her sweet kids in church( her little boy sat next to Elder Brown while he passed the sacrament... so touching... I thought of my little Harmie and Heathie who I haven't heard from in a while..:) and ANia was asking me about her confirmation ( she gets baptized on Saturday!!!) and I was so happy!!! The Lord answers prayers.

I am so grateful to be here in Kielce. We really are pampered by the members. We had two dinner appointments this week( and since i've never had any that was amazing). This sweet lady who has almost nothing fed us a three course meal of soup and these cabbage rolls and cake, and I love these members! I could stay here forever!!! We have a lovely little apartment that is clean and well-kept, it is funny in Poland... we have a hot water heater that literally heats up water with an open flame before it gets to you... we have a gorgeous view. Our chapel is in a pretty building and as the leaves are changing for fall it is really so beautiful!

The story about Anne made me cry! The Lord is in everything. I know He helps and blesses us. I prayed for them so hard this week, especially Alan. I am so proud of him and his words. They will help me on my mission!

I am going to Kraków on a training exchange this week. I'll be with a trainee so wish me luck! I know that this is the Lord's work. I got the package and I am so grateful for such a great family!!!!Thank you so much, the letters are great and I will start reading one today!!!  I loved the peachie o's and the white shirt and socks as well.  It is such a great blessing to have such support.

Love your mission!!!

Love Siostra Hemming

Crazy Fast P-Day..

 September 16th, 2013

 

Hi Family, So sorry this is really short, but we had to go to Warsaw today and so I only have like thirty minutes to e-mail. I just want you all to know how much I love you. You are amazing! I think all of the time about the amazing family that I have. Thank you for your examples to me.

I have had an interesting week so far. It has been amazing in terms of investigators, and I'm so grateful to Heavenly Father for His constant hand in this work. We had miracle after miracle, and I love that I get to be a part of it! Sister Barth is amazing, she has taught me so much. I am trying to find the good line between hard work and also taking time to minister to the one. I am grateful to mom and dad both for their e-mails, they are both what I needed. Charity and giving it all to the Lord. I am going to try something new this week to further dedicate myself to His work. To love His children like I never have before, and to serve with my all. To be worthy of the miracles He is placing in our path.
I
sometimes feel frustrated with my imperfections, but I guess that's why we have them, to better them through the Atonement. I know that I can do nothing without His help.
This week was absolutely amazing. I felt so empowered and such a love for the people of Kielce and the people in our branch. Prezydent Najberg is wonderful and always willing to sit in on lessons, and the elders before us left a wonderful feeling of love and teamwork here in Kielce. I am so grateful to Elders Lanham i Blohm for their service to build good relationships. I hope that I can leave something of the same for those who follow me.
We had a miracle this week, well... we had many, but one in particular. We met with Ania, who had been to church twice of her own accord. We had someone flake a lesson and so decided just to call her on short notice. She said she actually had time and came right in. WE were prepared to teach her about the restoration and give her a book of Mormon, we asked her how she felt about it and she told us that she's almost finished the whole thing. I had to pick my jaw up from off the ground. She then proceeded to tell us about her life experience with the Lord and how she feels closer to Him than to most people. She told us that she feels the Holy Ghost when she reads the book and has a testimony that it's true. She also loves church... Sister Barth invited her to be baptized and she said chcaiłabym ( I would like to) .... we gave her the date and she was so excited, smiling the whole time. We met with her once more on Sunday and she has continued reading and praying and still feels good about it!!! She has two children and one has a really bad case of autism I think, but she is an angel and tries her best! Heavenly Father blessed us so much this week. Now I feel a greater need to do my work and serve with more than I ever had.

I have to go, I cried when I heard about Anne, and also when I heard about your experience being a missionary and a mom mom:) I know that hard times happen for everyone. I don't profess to understand how people feel, but I feel very much that Heavenly Father has our future in His plans. He love us. He wants us to succeed, and eternal perspective may sometimes look very unfair to us. I will pray for them, a more amazing family I can't think of.

MOm, keep me updated! I'm so proud of you. Think about the difference between a bird's eye view an a worm's eye view. One there was a man who made the most beautiful cathedrals in the world. He had two brickworkers... when the people asked one what he was doing he said that he was laying bricks... all day... every day.... when they asked the other bricklayer he said that he was building the most beautiful cathedral in the world. One had talked with the Cathedral Maker and realized that he was doing a bigger job than just laying bricks!

We have set our goals high this transfer...

72 mission baptims by the end of the year

35 baptisms in our area this transfer( 8 companionships)

3 baptisms for us. We were blessed to have two baptism dates this week. Keep praying for the people of Kielce! I love them sooo:)

I love you all so much, sorry about pics, next week I want some of MOm's birthday. MOm, thanks for always teaching me to be optomistic, an amazing trait that you have!

Love , Siostra Hemming

well....Who loves Kielce? I DO!!!!!!!!

Good Bye to Sister Allen and Sister Young.  This is Ali's 1st companionship while serving in Krakow.  She will really miss them. She learned so much from them.  Off to Kielce she goes!

 September 9th, 2013

Culture night in Krakow.  So FUN!!  Crazy companions..hahaha

 

Hi family... first I need to say that I have the BESt mother in the world. I really am convinced of that. Mom, I hope you have a really great birthday, and we will celebrate it in Kielce I will take pictures. You are so beautiful, and I just watched the talk from 2010 April conference by the relief society president and decided that you are just who she was talking about! I love you so much!
so.... I'm in Kielce... It's a goregous town with one main big street and then a bunch of little streets. Our house is only like a half hour walk from the kaplica... which is absolutely insane... since it was an hour by tramwaj in Kraków.

I had a crazy week last week, We met with alot of investigators and had an amazing time. I can't believe how sad it is to have to leave people behind. They are really some of my best friends. But I know that I am here on the Lord's errand and will do whatever He needs, and right now He needs me in Kielce... or maybe I need to be here... or both:)

We sent off sister Allen on Tuesday because she had to go and get her trainee, it was sad but I will see her again... so no worries;) Then it was a Sister Young and I day, I LOVE her! She and I became not just companions, but friends same thing with Sister Allen :) love them. She is funny and kind and a hard worker and grew so much this last transfer. Then on Thursday we seperated. I am SO glad I only had two bags. We live like 15 minutes from the tram stop... so we were walking that whole way with these huge bags... then we had to put them on the tram( it was HILARIOUS) then we had to figure out how to get them up the the dworzec... all in all... quite an experience. I took a Harry Potter train to Kielce... and I just want to say that Poland is the Most Beautiful Place in the whole world. There were green rolling hills and super thick forests with little towns and bright colored trains oh my! I can't believe how lucky I am to serve here! I arrived in Kielce and met Starszy Brown and Starszy Pieper(MTC:) and our Branch President came and helped me haul my bags up Sienkiewicza. I am honestly lost for words to say how amazing our branch is. Poland members are powerful.

Ali, Sister Young and Sister Allen with Sister Allen's former companion who came back to Poland for a visit.

Sister Barth is so great! I am so excited to learn from her. I think that we can both put some great aspects into missionary work here in Kielce. She works hard, but she also knows how to love the people. I think that this last transfer I just tried to work so hard that I didn't think of anything else... I loved the people but I could have done so much better. I have made it a goal to contact and teach and serve with more charity this transfer, for that is how Christ would do it if He were here. Which is really who a missionary is. Someone who does what Christ would do. I love what you said mom, about how I just need to get out of the Lord's way in a sense. I just need to pray to be humble and let the Lord work through me. And I think that charity is a big part of that! Missions are the most amazing things.

I want you to know that I learned this week that prayers are real. I felt a little nervous to get here, but as soon as I reached Kielce, I felt so calm and peaceful. I have felt strengthened and uplifted, so that I could enjoy my mission here in Kielce. I was wondering why I felt so happy, and I read the e-mail and I felt prompted that your prayers have changed this week for me. Thank you so much! I know that prayers are real, I don't think I've even tapped the potential of faith and prayer but I know that as my mission continues I will be able to do that!

I'm sorry this one is so long, but alot happened:) Sister Barth is from Cedar City and is an angel! She has been here four months and we have an adorable little apartment( our landlady came to visit and we're going to her house for dinner tonight:) It is small but has an oven! yes! I can make pies for everyone and show them service in that way... which i've been missing.

The elders before us have made such wonderful relationships with members that we can benefit from, I am going to work on that more this transfer as well! We got to church and this amazing lady came running and was so excited to have sisters in Kielce and hugged us and kissed us( a big thing in Poland)! It is so great to feel loved!

Okay, I hope all is well at home, I pray for you all nightly and I know the Lord blesses the families of they who serve Him. Like Prezydent Bednar said. I can't believe conference is coming up. A year mark from the announcement. All I can say is I am so glad that Heavenly Father was patient enough to continue to prompt and prepare me for a mission. I wouldn't want to be anywhere else. The experiences and amazing spiritual moments are abounding and I love to learn languages and see the gift of tongues, to learn how much sense and power is in the restored gospel, and to love and serve people in a place I probably never would have gone, to love people I NEVER would have met. One of our investigators from Kraków, Anna, met with us on Wednesday and gave us a card and a picture. She cried the whole meeting. I cried too. I love these  people. I love missionary work. I am so grateful to be here and serving the Lord. I know it's hard but it is powerful and there is more than I even realize going on behind the scenes here in the Lord's work. I would tell anyone who doesn't know about a mission that it is the BEST decision I have made so far, and every decision after it will be positively effected by it. As I strive to live a Christ centered life, everything else falls into place.
Thank you for your support! Mom, I love you and hope your birthday week is the best yet!

I love you all!
Love, Siostra Hemming

(sorry... forgot my camera:) to next week!                

Miracle Week

Sister Allen, Young, Theresa and Ali.  This lady is Ali's angel!

Hello Family! I hope you all had another great week with school and football and basketball and soccer, all is well here in Kraków... but I'm not going to stay here for long... I'm moving to Kielce! with Sister Barth. I've heard it's a beautiful little city, and I'm excited to go see what the work of the Lord is like there!

This week was absolutely amazing. We really wanted to show our faith this week. So we set our goals higher than we ever have before, and trusted more in the Lord to get us there. Prezydent Edgren said this " Remember that those who try and do something and fail are infinitely better than those who try and do nothing and succeed."I like that... but I think I learned this week that there is always opposition, but that the Lord has all power, and He can make all things for our benefit!

I think I will share it in order of miracles...

1. Monday...we planned a great lesson with Magda and wanted to committ her to a date. But she ended up leaving right after the restoration video because her friend called. It ended up being a blessing because my personal faith in the Prophet Joseph Smith was strengthened so much to share that week.

Ali eating yogurt on a rooftop!

2. We had a great lesson with Anna and Brat Dziubla, he is the best! He is a bold man and he just states what he knows to be truth. I can't believe how much I've come to love all of these members! They are wonderful! We met with Magda again, and she miraculously set a baptismal date, for the 21st! She had a lot of doubts, but it worked yout and it's so great!

3. We had 6 people in english! whoah! I loved it:) Then we were searching for a less active, but couldn't find their address, and ended up going out to a less active who has two kids but we hadn't seen in church for months, she also didn't answer her phone... we didn't even know if she lived there anymore. But we went out and she was there! and so willing to meet with us and she has the most adorable two children! I hope to serve in Kraków again so that we can all be better friends since I've only met with her twice now, but she is so sweet and made us tea and oh I love the church!

4. We had a great little lunch with Darek, also less active. He is really a great guy, and has a great love for the missionaries! Then we met with Michał, he is amazing, and he accepted a baptismal date and is super excited about it! So great! ahhhhhh:)Also we had culture night... which was super fun, I will share that in pics.

Amber museum

Amber museum

5. We met with Anna and set a baptismal date! also a miracle as she doubted being ready to recieve it! amazing, they are all prepared by the Lord to be strong members in this church. It is really such an awesome experience. Then we had a movie night with our investigators, they are such great women, and I hope they all accept the gospel someday! Sister Onken came, she's the best!

6. Met a girl who has struggled her whole life and taught her about the plan of salvation. What a perfect plan that is, I think I forget how it was made by God. So amazing!

7. Teresa came to church! she is such a sweet old lady, and I will always call her my aniołką... little angel;) She is so great and I will need to write her whenever I can. I love Poland:)

So yep... an amazing week with three baptismal dates. I feel confident that they will keep moving forward. Kielce just got a chapel! yes! I love changing it up, and am excited for a new challenge. I think that it is becoming fall as it's pretty chilly as of late... :) Also... we had some crazy experiences this week, We brought out a board with the Plan of Salvtaion on it and stood up on a brick wall and sang, that was exciting! The Elders were nervous I think...hahahaha! We ran a few times... in the middle of Kraków... in skirts and dresses:) Oh I love it!

Culture night in Krakow!! FUN!!!!!

I love how we know where we were. who we are.where we will be. How we will get there. That God is loving and that Christ is our Redeemer. It's amazing! I love how they always teach the plan of salvation in the Book of Mormon... Most people just try and guess what's going on... but we know! I am so grateful!

I know that hard things happen in life... I learned more about faith this week than ever before. I learned that it means that we acknowledge the opposition but also know that no matter what, the Lord will make it all work out for our good if we have Faith. I learned how to be better at not trying to take things on myself that I can't change. Just give them all to Him, He already took them. It's so beautiful!

crazy Elders!! haha

cool medieval rings

I love you all, I pray for you each day, be safe and Do all you can to deepen your conversion. I love being a missionary! If anyone is thinking of serving but unsure...I would say... why not?! It's the best experience to prepare you for life. You are in the service of the Lord, and He guides and blesses you so much. I read in my heritage that a man in Utah who was a pioneer said that he would not trade his experience as a handcart pioneer in the Martin handcart comp for anything, because he paid that price to become acquainted with God, and it was a price he considered a privelage to pay. Wow! I want to come to know my Savior so much deeper, and my Father in Heaven. Let us tap that potential more this week:)

Ali in Krakow at night.

I love you all so!

Siostra Hemming

Pictures of the Rynek.  It is SOOOO beautiful!

Yummy pig food.

The missionaries in Krakow!!