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| 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:)
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| 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.
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| 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!
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| 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.
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| The wonderful baptism of Ania. Notice it is performed in a swimming pool! So great |
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| 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!
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| Ali with a sweet member named Ella |
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!
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| Ali in Kielce!!! She is so happy and loving it!!! |
Love , Siostra Hemming
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