"High on a Hill was a Lonely Goater"

Sister Ott, Sister Hemming, and Sister Poklinkowska

May 26th, 2014

Hello my lovely little family!

I just had this song in my head today:) I always anticipated that Poland would be something like the Sound of Music, and it is ... in the country, but I love it in the city just the same.

This was a wonderful week. It was SO hot. Yep. It's summer. And I bought 2 kilos of strawberries for a snack this week! Yay!!!!

This week we began with some great lessons and a wonderful P-day. I really love to enjoy the culture of Poland, even when we're talking with people on the street I can look at the lovely architecture and the classy people and feel so grateful that I am a servant of the Lord in such a wonderful country. Sis. Poklikowska was sick this week and so we stayed in for a couple of days. I have to admit that at first I kind of had a freak out. I made some calls, area book work, and then I cleaned the house. Then I didn't know what to do with myself. It made me realize how much time I wasted before my mission. So... I painted:) Yep. It was wonderful. I feel likeit was lovely to paint a picture of the temple and I felt so relaxed and myself. I love that the Lord gave us talents and even blesses us to use them for His work:) I think I'll give the painting to someone.

Unfortunately this week our lovely little Elżbieta kind of fell off the face of the planet. But I really am learning how to just take heart and continue seeking the " elect who hear His voice". I am confident that those who don't hear His voice are also elect, but the timing isn't right for them at the moment.

MTC district reunited!!

Speaking of becoming a more Christlike missionary;) we had MLC this week and I felt so uplifted from this! I especially loved to see all of my wonderful mission friends there. There were six  missionaries from our MTC group there! Elders Hardy, Swicegood and Pieper, Myself, Sis. Ott( love her!) and Sister Petherbridge. Most of them I haven't seen my whole mission. It was such a delight to see them grow and become leaders and strong people. I sure love them. We talked about contacting with baptism again. I am still learning how to better do that but I think it gets better every week. We are striving to focus the contacts less on just the event of baptism and more on the "coming unto Christ" part of it all. I feel so empowered and strengthened by this. A bold missionary who can testify of the powers of the Atonement and the Savior of the world.

One thing I've been thinking about lately is that I am still learning so many of these gospel principles myself. I learned that a good missionary is one who is engaged. Engaged in the work, in the people's lives, and more importantly is willing to give of themselves. I have determined to share what I'm learning with those around me. For instance, I am learning that the Atonement is for those who are imperfect, not just to wipe their slates clean, but more importantly to build on that slate a beautiful masterpiece, one that blesses other's lives. This is a wonderful blessing for me. I think it takes me here to Poland. Me, Ali Hemming;) I am determined to have been ALL IN during my mission. Not just fillling missionary shoes, but making it a part of MY eternities. By blessing other's lives and sharing of who I am. I have never fully understood this on my mission, but I am glad I'm learning it now.

Also... this week we met and started teaching a FAMILY! I have prayed for this my whole mission!!!! THey are so wonderful. THey have two sons who are young( preisthoooooood!!!!!!!!!) And I am so grateful. They are średnio wierzęci and I sure do love them. We can't wait to have a follow up lesson this week. Pray for them!

 I had a pretty hard day yesterday in terms of anxiety.  One of the blessings of this trial is that I really can bless other's lives, that's really all I want to do. I have taken alot of examples of strong and powerful women from around me. Emma Smith, Grandma Mary and Lois, Stephanie Clark Nelson, Sis. Edgren, My Mom, Elizabeth Steele, and Aunt Cami. As I have thought about my hard times and struggled and wondered if this will ever really go away, I have been led to see what good the Lord can make of this. I understand others better, and I can be a force for good. Blessing the lives of many women with the knowledge I am gaining and have gained. It meant a lot to me as I had a hard day. I fasted and felt strengthened and a vision ( not literally;) was given me of who I can become and what kind of a servant I can be if I " endure it well". I know this is true. I am certain that my Heavenly Father answers prayers. I know that the Savior understands our pains and our emotions and our lives. I know this is true for all mankind. The enabling power of the atonement is just for that. I am certain that it also has worked in the lives of many not of our faith. Oskar Schindler, and many of the people who were part of the Warsaw Uprising. What a wonderful message!

Package from home....wonderful!

Sis. Owen is going to Kato and Sis. Blake is coming to us! So we are going to have a wonderful companionship of Me, Sis. Poklinkowka and Sis. Blake. It's funny because I always wanted to serve with them, and now I get to:) I am a little nervous, but I am also prepared and I know it's from the Lord.

I got a package this week! Actually two. It was a blessing because I was praying that it would get here and it came on the perfect day! I got one from the Listons and my Family and one from Grandma Janice and Grandpa Lane. I am so grateful for these things and I don't think anyone but missionaries know how WONDERFUL it is to receive a little piece from home:) Thank you so much!

Well, that's all this week. I can't wait to let you know about next week:)

Much love!

Siostra Ali Hemming

 

I'm a Lumberjack in my own forest!!

May 19th, 2014

Hello Hello!

It's Summer:) Well. narazie... It is so warm today and the sun is shining and I am making sushi for P-day:) Life is good:)

So this was a miracle week. It's interesting how we don't really do too much differently and one week ends up being more visibly successful than another... well I'll just count my blessings! So we started off the week having a miracle lesson on P-day! Yay!!! I love how I've learned so much about how much I am loved in seeing how much Heavenly Father loves others. We found this man on the street after FHE at the chapel and we brought him in for a lesson and he spoke excellent English so the Durrants (senior couple) were on it! Miracles! Speaking of Senior Couples I'm making a pitch for them! We need them SO badly here in Poland and President told me to tell Uncle Bruce he should come out( His words, not mine:) I guess that they know each other really well, he also knows Kristin... speaking of which President said she got married? I love their family!

Family History Board

This weekend we were able to be part of "night at the museum" it is where all of the museums in Warsaw are opened for free all night long! The church was registered as a family history center and so Sis. Poklinkowksa and I and the Assistants went in to the chapel and talked about family history. I met the sweetest young girl who drew a picture of me while her parents went into the center. So lovely! We also made a family history board and are going to use it more often!

I think one of the greatest miracles of my week happened while we were trakting. So... rewind.... my first week in Warsaw I met this couple from china on a tramwaj... they were adorable but didn't' speak hardly any English. So I gave them a mormon.org card and showed them how to find it on their phone. Then... fast forward... on Wednesday we went tracting and this sweet Asian man answers the door and lets us in... then I see his wife and she starts talking to him ( in Chinese) and he says... we met you on a train. It was the same family!!!!! They have a daughter who is seven and we are meeting with them this week! The Lord is SO mindful of all of His children. I love them already:) The only trial now is figuring out how to learn Chinese in two days( shouldn't be that hard;) but I really think that we need to find a way to skype with a member or something... zobaczymy.

Warsaw!  I love this city!!

This week we had a lesson flake. So we followed up with a back up plan to visit a less-active. I love her SO much and when we got to her house she had been crying pretty hard. We said a prayer and started to talk with her. Her father was in the hospital and was dying. We tried to comfort her and during our lesson she got the call that he had passed away. IT broke my heart. She is such a wonderful daughter of Heavenly Father and she kept saying that she was so grateful she wasn't alone, so I KNOW that the Lord answers our prayers and watches over us. She then went on to share a very painful childhood story, and I know that this moment was actually for me to learn something extraordinary. The atonement of the Savior Jesus Christ covers and heals and saves and comforts and builds us in every stage of life. I know this to be true. At different times in my life and in my mission especially I have felt that when people share these deep and painful stories I have felt so down and sad for them. At this moment I was able to feel for her, but have perfect clarity that if she turns to the Savior of mankind, it literally can be as though it never happened, or better yet, it can build her and make her into someone He can use and bless. This is the glory of the Atonement. It enables and ennobles us in our trial and weakness. It takes a person who has suffered and endured much pain from mistakes and other things and ennobles them to feel deeper. love stronger and serve better than they could otherwise. I remember learning this lesson slightly during the time of Braxton's death. I know that the Lord ennobled us all the reach higher heights and appreciate it more because we knew lower depths. I am eternally, eternally grateful for the sacrifice of my Savior. I am growing my faith in Him, and though it's not a perfect knowledge it is planted and rooting in fertile ground. I am forever grateful for my mission, which has softened my heart and deepened my understanding. Eternity will be lovely, no wonder the angels praise His name. They are so grateful to HIm and His sacrifice.

I know that is a very personal testimony, but it is for the sharing:)

I am ever more aware that I may not have a ton of time left in Warsaw, so I'm trying to work hard and love the culture of the big city:) I sure do love it here. The people in our branch are so wonderful and I can't wait to see the growth that is coming in Poland. The Lord is hastening the work, and He's hastening the growth of the workers:)

Now for some funny moments...

Sister Poklinkowska and I have had some funny polish moments this week.

1. I have been saying for My WHOLE MISSION that we need to plant seeds of faith in what.?.. GRAVES. Yep. I was contacting this lady and I used this same sentence and she started laughing, I was caught off guard and she told me that I was trying to say that we plant them in the ground and help them grow but instead I had been saying that we plant them in graves. Yep.  We had a good laugh! Keepin me humble:)

2. Sister Poklikowska and I were talking with this less active and telling her about how she is in control of her life. She gave a Polish idiom example in Polish and I didn't fully understand it... something like I cast my own fate... anyways. later that day sister P. was like... " I love how she said that, we are lumberjacks in our own forest..." And I had no idea what she was getting at, so she explained that that is what she thought this lady said. Hilarious!

There are always many more, but I loved this one:)

I love you all so much! Thanks for sending me a package! I can't Wait!

We read a lot of family history this week and I"m so grateful for the family I have!

Do usłyszenia!

Siostra Ali Hemming

Revelation!!!

May 12th, 2014

 

Skype with my family on Mothers Day!!

Hello my family!

It was so wonderful to see you all on Sunday:) That day we all went back from church and we sat in the office and I waited while Sis. Poklinkowska skyped and I was feeling so excited! I love being able to talk to my family... I think that it was so wonderful and I am so grateful for technology. I love technology, but not as much as you you see:) At Christmas I wrote down all that I wanted to talk about and this time I just went in and was ready to see my cute family!!! I love you all so much. Your testimonies and love meant so much to me. Right after talking with you the Assistants were waiting in the hallway and were like, Okay Sis. Hemming... time to run:) Why? because we had the coolest miracle happen! A wonderful lady in the other branch was being a missionary on the plane and met someone who she loved right off the bat. They chatted about their lives and this member and her husband shared with her the power of the Plan of Salvation. They wanted to meet with her and she lives in our area but they haven't gotten in contact yet so we went to talk with them about it and see what we can do. I already love this girl! so send some prayers her way;)

Polish Guard on May Day!

I've been focusing a lot on giving my all to the work, and I realized that I want to carry that trait with me into the future, and so I was grateful to let those two things coincide, talking to my family, and talking about helping other families. I love being a missionary!

 

We were able to find a new investigator who has a baptismal date this week! I testify that the new revelation President Edgren recieved( which is really just the old revelation to preach the gospel) is so inspired...

 

Polish cemetery...so cool!

We had a wonderful week and were able to teach a lesson with a couple of less-active members and also a family whose wife is a really active member and the husband isn't a member at all. It was a wonderful discussion about the Atonement and it's power and why it had to happen and our views on the role of the Savior. It was lovely. I felt so blessed with a lot of miracles this week. That lesson was one of them. Another was that on Thursday we had  a lot of lessons scheduled... Sis. Poklinkowska and I were super excited and then one by one the investigators flaked us. I was pretty disheartened by this and I went into the bathroom of the chapel to say a prayer. At the moment my prayer ended Sis. Poklinkowska came running in and said that our last lesson of the day came! It was a wonderful lesson and she accepted a baptismal date and came to church!!! Miracle. Then also because of that we ended up seeing a sweet less-active who I love. She is pregnant and hasn't been to church for a while because of that, and we got to see her! Then on Saturday we went to the branch party and she came, along with another woman who is SO wonderful and is a new mother and less-active. I love this work. That was such a wonderful day.

HUGE bubble blowers in the parks:)

 

Well, this was a great week. I think it's funny that you got stage fright because I kind of felt similarly... crazy:) But after the discussion I said a prayer, it's really powerful because I'm sure you did too. So we did basically have one... on different sides of the world, but I know that it doesn't matter where we are praying, it is all heard by our Heavenly Father. Next time I see you we will have a family prayer for sure:) I like being the guinea pig anyways;)

 

Some funny moments from the week.... I love Polish people. They have taught me a lot about being blunt and honest:) They are certainly that way.. i can't tell you how many comments about my skin I've heard from everyone and also comments about how if I sit on the cold ground I won't have children or that I will die an early age from not wearing nylons:) It's is soooo sweet and Hilarious. It's just because they love and want to help.

Some cute members who I LOVE!!

  

We went to the Young Women's lesson this week and talked about personal revelation. I think that one was for me especially. It was a miracle. The women opened up and were so kind and we love them sooo much! I think some of these members will be my best friends forever;) It's hard not to be friends with those you love.

 

Well, I sure love you all! I am searching and learning about relying on the Lord. I think it's these more abstract personality traits that I'm striving to accumulate and they are tricky. I know how to work hard, I know how to be obedient, but I think the Lord is teaching me how to acquire traits that require faith and trust and hard work:) Turning my heart to the Lord, and serving Him with all my capacity:) I have been learning alot about hearts lately, You should all read about it too. Broken heart. open heart. loving heart. pure of heart. turn your heart. I love all of these phrases! The scriptures and the atonement tend to teach us how to reach and become those traits that are inside. I think that is beautiful!

I am doing well and am happy:) It is so great to be a missionary!!!

Love Love lOve, Siostra Ali Hemming

Like my Mother does:)

Like My Mother Does:)‏

Hello my Lovely Family!!!

This was a great week! I am loving Warsaw and especially my companion, she is so wonderful and we get along so well. This week we had a lot of really great moments...
I went on an exchange with Sister Blake and we had a great opportunity to get to know each other better. I am so grateful for the chance I have had to be with her so often! It's crazy since we have never been in the same city until now but I think I've been near her my whole mission. She is doing so well and she and my sweet Sister Owen are such a cute companionship. We just had so much fun running around serving people and searching for Less Actives and enjoying speaking with people about the gospel. It was a great experience.

On Wednesday we had zone conference and it was SO powerful! President called us all to repentance. He started out saying that we as a mission are expected to reach new heights, because of this we need to leave behind those things that would hold us back. It could be our family, worries about home, disobedience, or anything really... so in light of that... I won't be writing home anymore...

Just kidding:)

But I have really searched for those things that would hold me back and I am focusing all I can on making charity my purpose. That everything I do may be fueled by that charity! Love for my Savior and for others. I think this will come by thoughtful prayer and seeking to better understand the atonement of the Savior for myself and all mankind! Czyż nie jesteśmy braćmi i siostrami? We also talked about something that is going to change my mission and my life. We discussed getting to the point. To znacze że we are going to be speaking with people about how much Heavenly Father Loves Them. Because of this love, He wants you to change your life, so that you can reach your potential and have everlasting happiness. This joy that comes from purity and cleanliness doesn't need to be yours after this life, but now. This joy comes from repentance and faith in the Savior. We invite all men everywhere to show Heavenly Father that this change is real by entering into the waters of baptism and making a covenant with Him. This covenant will cleanse us of our sins and we are reborn in the light of His love! Sharing this message has REALLY made an impact on my life, and I now feel strongly that even though as a person we all have weaknesses, I feel the most in line with the will of God than ever before in my life. I Love my mission. I love my Savior.

This week Poland had a few holidays and so we were able to spend some time being more Polish on the old town!!! It was so fun and I was reminded ( like I am every day) of the joy and beauty of the country I am serving in! I LOVE Poland!

I also got to spend a whole day outside in the rain. It was hillarious! Sister Poklinkowska and I were trying to find a less active who lives pretty far away, and it was POURING. Needless to say we didn't find her, and we ended up freezing... my shoes are eradicated. Nevertheless... She came to church the next day!!! It was a miracle. The whole day when I felt a little grumpy I just thought of my optimistic mom:) I am so grateful that this time of the year I can celebrate my mother!! I sure do love her!

During Zone Conference we went out contacting about repentance and baptism. Preaching repentance. wow, what a novel idea. But so much purpose and light has come into my life as I just get to the point:) Anyways... Sister Poklinkowska found a super awesome lady who od razu accepted a baptismal date! her name is Elżbieta and she is the sweetest! So we've been teaching her, we also found the sweetest girl named Kasia on a park bench and are set up for this week! It was a good week!

A few other random thoughts... we met some people from France.. I forgot EVERYTHING! It's okay though:) Also... Dad... do you know someone named Cory Anderson who served in Paraguay? And did you know that President Edgren's son served in Paraguay? We had dinner at the mission home last night! It was sooo delicious. I miss home-made food. Sister Edgren said on a P-day she'll teach me how to cook something... I have learned how to cook a few things, so don't fret! It was such a wonderful meeting and I got to be with my Sister Petherbridge who is also a sister training leader. It was cool to be together a year later!

Well I sure do love you all a lot!I do get to SKYPE though!!! So that will be so wonderful. I will be able to skype at 8:00 your time on Sunday... So I need to know our skype address, if you could send it asap we got the okay to check it during the week.

A great week. I can say I've learned so much and am excited for the miracles that lay ahead!

z miłoscią
Siostra Hemming