Sunday, June 30, 2013

SHE MADE IT!!!!!

ALI HAS MADE IT INTO POLAND!!
Ali's old mission president(far right) and her new one


Ali  and he other two kolegas (companions)




He arrival at the airport!


playing tourist for a day. . .

Sunday, June 23, 2013

Ali and her comp. Sis. Petherbridge at the missionary broadcast. This was taken by a ward member who sat by them who randomly sent this picture as a text to my mom! SHE LEAVES TOMORROW FOR POLAND!!

Thursday, June 20, 2013

um... I just freaked out but I have to be really fast:) We got our travel plans just barely and we actually leave on June 24... in ten days!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!ah!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! okay... we leave at six o clock and we are flying on the 11:11 flight to Amsterdam and then to Poland.
The CHurch is tRue. act naturally:)
aka.. mom... I gues send everything with gma and gpa... ah~
~ALi
 
 
Dzien Dobry!!!!
Can't believe it's been another week... so to start this off, we were fed lies:) I am actually not leaving until July 2nd... so yeah. I went through a little emotional rollercoaster because everyone was counting down the days, and I was saying... I'm not ready, Poland... ahhh. Then I felt super excited, looking at pictures, and a new vigor hit me for language study! Then we got to class on Saturday and Brat Leimer told us that our date was officially July 2nd... I was pretty sad, which was dumb:) I went for a couple of days trying to work as hard as before, but the drive was not there as much, so I prayed. The answer to my prayers came on Tuesday Devotional.
 
~RAndom NOte... I don't know if you saw this mom, but the MTC is now the biggest it has ever been, so big in fact, that there are now three campuses and we all meet at the BYU Marriott Center for Devotionals! IT's amazing, and last week was our first week meeting at the Marriott Center.It was in the news,  " The Second Mormon Pioneer Trek" "Missionaries rebel and leave campus for BYU Marriott Center" ;) Just kidding, but it was really in the news.
 
Anyway, We kind of have the MTC figured out... slash not. So on Tuesday we went to class and then to dinner and they were serving Salmon and Quinoa... to understand the effect this had on us, picture a fat kid in a candy shop, or Tom Hank's Castaway finding a resurrected Wilson:) hahaha! also, last time we had salmon and quinoa was three weeks ago when Elder Nelson spoke to us. So we thought... Elder Holland... it has to be him. I went to choir , yes mom... :) I really like choir actually, especially with Sister Petherbridge, and I anticipated the arrival of a General Authority. And the answer to my prayer came, but not in the form of Elder HOlland. We heard from Elder Arnold of the Seventy. May I just say that I love him!  His sweet wife got up and talked for about ten minutes about how we need to be obedient. She told a story of how she lived on an Idaho Farm and one of her cows slipped through the fence and ate some grass, became bloated and died. How we must look at the commandments and rules of life and see them as safety nets, especially as missionaries! And then she told us how following the Lord's council for she and her husband helped her as she had to pack up their six children, all under the age of twelve and travel to Peru to be a Mission President! Mom, I thought you would probably appreciate that! I thought, wow, what an amazing woman, she is powerful and sweet. It made me think of how important it is that as women we keep our love and our compassion. Too often in the world we consider a sucessful woman to be proud and cold and emotionless. I think this woman was so powerful, and she made me think of my lovely mother. Kind and loving and sweet and wonderful!!! Then Elder Arnold got up. He bore such a powerful testimony. Everytime he started to talk about the Savior he became emotional. He spoke with power and dignity as he told us that he knows that we were taught at the feet of our Heavenly Father for thousands of ages before we were sent here. That we know what we are doing and we know how to do it. THat we are powerful in our own right, but only through the power of Christ. He said that we are missionaries, and if we see everyone we teach as that same child of God, we will be blessed in our finding. I loved that! I decided then and there that I would look at everyone as having had thousands of years at the feet of my Father. That they are truly His children, and that He cares about them so much! He  said we need to use our gifts, whatever they may be, to serve our people. He talked about thinking the best of everyone, and how his uncle found that to be a great tool during his mission. I thought of Rori, and how she has that ability.
~Rors, I know we've talked of this before. That you don't know if you want to serve a mission, and I think you need to listen to inspiration, obviously! But I would challenge you to begin now to prepare to serve. ONly good can come of it! I keep thinking about how great a missionary you'd be... cuz it's true! You too Bob!!!! I love you to death and people need your spunk!
Okay, off my soapbox... :)  When Elder Arnold spoke, I felt like I learned many things that I need to fix, and also that I am doing well... funny how that works! When he got to speaking about Obedience, he looked at his cute wife and said, on this topic I need say no more, my loving wife has spoken all you needed to hear! I loved that!!! He talked to us about how important the scriptures are. He held his Book of Mormon to his chest and cried, telling us how much he loves that book. And he testified of the Savior as if the Savior was standing there in front of him. It touched my soul. He was a powerfully humble man, and I felt impressed with how great a testimony he had. I think he has the gift to know of the Savior, and I prayed to have the gift to believe on his words and someday have as strong a love for my Savior, an area I feel like has been blessed so much on my mission!  I realized that I need to get my life together:) I am the LOrd's missionary, and for now that is all that matters. He will help me with language and all the other things because He needs me to teach the people of Poland! So now I really have 16 days, and I'm using every ounce of my time to prepare, and I feel so blessed. Prayers are ALWAYS answered. Always.
 
So... a quick lowdown on MTC life...
We get up in the morning and eat breakfast and we are in class by seven thirty. We have class/personal study/ language for three hours, then we usually have gym time. The past few weeks we sisters have been running three miles, it's great! The other day we were running, and Sister Paxton( a Bulgarian sister) said that if anyone drove by they would probably think we were at fat camp:) I looked around and she was right, there were probably fifty runners, and another fifty laying on the grass doing yoga and situps! hillarious! But I decided that Personal Study and Gym time are my favorites! I can get rid of some energy.
 
I have felt so blessed this week and the past few weeks to feel the love of my Father in Heaven. And today during the Temple I was thinking about how lucky I am to have a father on earth to understand the love of a Heavenly Father. I tell people about my dad all of the time. I love you so much dad! Happy FAther's day! I know that I couldn't be doing anything better, but I want you to know I love you so:)
 
Well, I eat lunch at 11:40... dinner at 4:40 so I hope to see Gma and Gpa! They are so lovely:) I loved the pictures of Grandma and Grandpa, I'm not sure who's with them, but I imagine one is Mary, You all look so good! Talia and Olivia look so adorable! as always, Harmi's B'Day is coming up! the big 12!!!!! exciting. Saw Kaitlyn Bastow, cutie! ANd Mik, I love her!
I love you all so much:) Happy Father's Day Dad and Grandpa Lane and Grandpa Bird! I am so glad to have such great examples of men in my life!
Muah!
 
Do Zobacienie
Siostra Hemming
 
Pictures...
Temple... it's so pretty
Gorgeous roses
Yay! I love seeing me with a tag! ( the temple guy asked me to read the tag,and I felt kind of cool:)
 







Friday, June 7, 2013

2 AND A HALF WEEKS TIL DEPARTURE!

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad, and Happy birthday my darling little Talia! The longer I'm here and the more people I meet the more I realize how lucky I am to have such an amazing family. What a Blessing! Today I printed off 40 names for sealings and did them all in the temple! It was so amazing! I love Family History:)
Wow! This week has been a rollercoaster, but wonderful as always. I am loving all that I am blessed to learn, and I feel like what Aunt Julie said about Heavenly FAther having to break us down so that He can build us back up is exactly right. I know this is only the beginning of my humbling mission, but I appreciate it all.
We started off with an excellent weekend. Whenever I begin to feel tired I just think that it means I am working hard, and I'm proud in it! Our district is doing well and we are all trying to focus on the language, and more importantly our testimonies. Sunday was AMAZING!  I feel so empowered every day, and Sunday I was feeling frustrated, and we had a beautiful mission conference. The speaker talked about Christ, and how we need to reverence His name always. That He is Godly. I was praying for better understanding of my Savior, and it came to me so powerfully that day. A sister sang I believe in Christ, and it gave me the opportunity to reflect on my belief in Christ. I realized that I don't only believe in HIm, I love Him. That lead to further reflection on my relationship with my Heavenly FAther. I realized that I am literally a daughter of God. That He loves me personally and blesses me with so much! This quote touched me so much... " Of all the titles of respect, love and admiration administered to diety, He has asked that we call Him  Father" ~ Quorum of the 12. The people of Poland are His children, as are we all. Can't wait to share that!
I felt very humbled this week. I think sometimes I get ahead of myself and think I'm doing well and probably become a little prideful, and then I have moments where I see that "as to my own strenghth I am weak", I need to give my all to my Savior, because I can't do anything without Him. I Love Him. I was scanning a Polish grammar book trying to learn a little more about Celownik, and I realized that I have sooooo much to learn still. I am grateful for this because I have to depend on the Spirit in lessons and speaking and that is the only way I can be effective.
We had an excellent class yesterday! We talked about setting goals for our missions, and I had already made some, but I reevaluated them and decided that I needed to make some changes. I made some daily goals and some long term. I can't wait to get contacting! I decided a long time ago that I would not let the Polish missionary stereotype get me down! As far as I'm concerned, no matter how many times I am rejected I still will believe that everyone I talk to could accept the message of the gospel.
sooo...
On another note, I leave in a little over two weeks!!!!!!!!!!!! Szalony!!!!!!! we speak our language every day, but I still make some major mistakes, czyli... during contacting I told an elder... "Very nice to meet you Madame"... that would be very awkward in Poland:) Overall though, I think it's great!  So... Mom, thank you so much for keeping me updated and showing me so much care! It means so much:)
I hope this is a great day for everyone! TAlia may be recieving a little something today... so watch for it!
 
I love my family:) The pictures in Hawaii are amazing! Adorable! And talia is an angel in her pics. I need some of Livi! Hawaii is awesome, I am enjoying being here. We actually get a lot of time to be outside and a lot of gym time, which is nice. Personal Study Time and gym time make my life! Everything is so magnified here, my abilities are so much stronger through the Lord. I'm so lucky to be a missionary!
 
Dear Elders are amazing, so thank you! Please tell Sister Liston( or if she reads this) that I am so grateful for her package! Cinnamon rolls are like water in a desert here and my district loved them:) So kind! Sister Bassett, you are an angel! I cried when i saw the pictures of Cara and I! and all of our missionaries, and Lorna Doon! amazing:) Mom, your package last week was like Christmas.:) Thank you for the Family History, I finished it so... if you feel like sending more that would be awesome. I saw Mikayla, I think Elder Fotu has seen her a million times but she lives in my building and I have been trying to find her more. She seems to be doing so well and has some adorable sisters in her district, I'm so proud of her!
 
I Love the MTC, I am so grateful for every moment. I love knowing that none of my time is my own. I have been set apart as God's missionary and I am working on using each minute to further the work. Each day I am trying to wake up and go "Yes! Heavenly Father I'm ready to go:) What do I need to do today!"
I love being a missionary. NO place better.
 
Love you all!
~Siostra Hemming
 
~ Mom:) Thank you so much ! I've been thinking of things and I think I've got a little list... More Proactive for Poland, It is pretty much necessary:) ... more socks for flat shoes, like six pairs... I need to know how much money is still on my card because I will need to pay to check my bags... I would love some printed off pictures of our family, so I can tape them on my wall... Great lash mascara in Black... that should probably be good! I will keep thinking though! 

Saturday, June 1, 2013

Week 4!!! ONE MONTH DOWN!


To dzien jest bardzo piekne!!
wow, another week! I LOVE being a missionary:) This week was a little slower because I loved our old zone, and I was pretty sad when they left, but it is picking right up again as Sister Petherbridge and I are training all the new sisters! So many! so wonderful. I'm pretty sure Heavenly FAther picked the most amazing people and put them in this zone. Great!
I feel like this week I have been so humbled. I have learned a lot about becoming the missionary that I want to be, and how much work I need to do, but I must say it is actually really exciting!
As for the title, I sincerely believe that if it was something you desired and were prepared to work VERY hard for, a mission is for everyone. I have seen miracles in the changes that have occured in myself and others over the last few weeks. It is amazing. The Spirit is so powerful. The enabling power of that spirit in everything I do has not ceased to amaze me. I am shocked by the ability I have to wake up on time ( sometimes early for workout classes in the morning:) and be invigorated and ready for the day. I was thinking the other day as I walked out of my residence, how precious it is that every day I have a purpose and I have a reason to be getting up and going. I am on the Lord's time and doing His work. How powerful! It is something I am determined to change about my life. BEcause I do have something to wake up for every day, I am meant to serve and love and give and help and work every day of my life, and I am so excited for that change!  I cannot believe how even those who struggle with language are really helped, and those who struggle with testimonies ( aka, all of us:) are blessed every day we do our best.
This week I have tried to get the most out of my personal studies, and I've really been focusing on learning more about my Savior. Every time I even think about it I get emotional. I have been so blessed with a million experiences this week to experience more charity. I can't wait to continue working on that as well.
Our Czechs and Slovaks left us this week! I was doing so well until Sister Roubicek left! I LOVE her, she's our old sister training leader and she and I had some amazing discussions, and I am so excited to see how she does on her mission. It was very lonely for a couple of days as the Polish, Bulgarians and Turks were the only ones left. I think we were all a little sad! But before I knew it, there were twenty six new missionaries coming in, and they are wonderful! We played a game of zone kickball and I was shocked at how many of us there were.  I am continually amazed at the missionary growth. THis week was also the week that the MTC expanded to Raintree:) and it was super empty, and then 900 missionaries came in on Wednesday! whoah!!!!  how wonderful:) The world better be prepared because there are a whole lot of missionaries coming their way!
I learned alot about the Atonement, and more how it works on the hearts of investigators. The Holy Ghost activates the Atonement in the lives of those willing to listen through the power of Christ, and in that process, He breaks down walls, opens hearts and touches souls. I know that as I open my heart and allow the Holy Ghost to work through me, others will feel the Love of Christ. Even in a smile. I realized that the power of  charity is key to missionary work, and I would encourage everyone to pray for it, prayers are answered! Especially as a missionary.
I have felt so close to the Spirit, and it's so amazing! We watched at talk by Elder Holland, so great! He talked about how we are never to leave a missionary discussion with Orson Pratt at your side, and the investigator sitting in the living room wondering what the body temperature of a celestial being is:) Basically, go to where your investigators are, love them where they are, and talk with them, don't teach them! Bedziemy Rozmaviac.  I love what I teach, and I need to show that in smiles:)
Family! watch Earthly Father, Heavenly Father. it is wonderful. I loved how it showed that our Heavenly Father's plan is simply really. He loves us and wants us to return to Him. That's all. And I am a tool in that effort!!!!! as are we all. A mission is for everyone.
Sister Ott met an elder who went to Spain, and he told her that his mission president went with Elder Perry to the temple before he left and that they told him that Europe would become as successful as South America. He said that he saw that! That the work is on fire! So take that negative attitude!!! :) I am not going in with any expectations. I know I will measure my success by how hard I work and how often I feel the spirit working through me, but the worth of souls is  great in the sight of God. And I have faith that every person in Poland who I talk to ( which will be EVERYONE:)  will have the potential to accept the message of the gospel. I don't want anyone in Poland to come to me after this life and say... " You saw me that day in the bus, why didnt' you talk to me"!
Be prepared Poland!
This week we had TRC, one of the post elders tried to hug me... awkward:)
My companion asked our teacher if he had "birthed" one of her friends in Polish, it was hillarious!
I trained some new sisters, and we had two more sisters move into our room, so now we are at full capacity with six! crazy!
The temple is amazing. as always.
I LOVE Polish! the language is pretty and fun and so interesting and brutal! such a challenge! love it!
 
I'm so sorry everyone didn't get to Hawaii! But the Listons are so kind, what blessings have come from mine and CRagun's friendship! Love them!
Mom, your packages are amazing!!! thank you soooo much. You don't even know how loved I feel from my family. Super blessed.
Dad, thank you for sending me some family history! I am THRILLED about it.
Rorski, Heathi Cat and Spence... you'd better tell me all about Hawaii!
Talia and Olivia, I love you both so much, you don't need Hawaii to have fun!
 
Aunt Meisha, I know that you are probably super sad, but just know that Mikayla will LOVE  it here! it is so wonderful and not at all the terrifying experience some people say. I have met some missionaries going to ARgetina! They are so excited. And Mikayla will do so well.
Mik, I'm trying to host on Wednesday, but we will see each other that day regardless! I will find you! And I heard your talk was so good, I'm so proud:)
My darling Wills family. I can't wait to tell the people of Poland about the personal experience I have had in knowing that families will be together forever, and that the spirit world is so close to us. I'm sure doing our darling Braxton's temple work was both hard and wonderful, but I know that he couldn't wait to have it done. Sometimes I think about how Braxton is probably doing his own missionary work, and that we can be in it together. When I need a little pick me up, I'll pray for some of Braxton's kind heart and his sweet smile, and endless energy. I love you all so much!
 
I need Jordan's address. okay. I love you!!!!!!!
Pa Pa!
 
Pictures:
The First one is of our whole zone before the old ones left!
The Last is a pic of my District:) So cute! Elder Anderson, Sister Whiteley, Elder Swicegood, Elder Pieper, Sister Mikalauski, Sister Petherbridge, Me, Sister Ott... bottom row... Elder Fotu, Elder Hardy, Sister Ellis! Love them!