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!!