That Light Groweth Brighter and Brighter until the Perfect Day:)

September 29th, 2014

Free Apple Fair!  Tons of Apples...I love the FALL!

Dzień Dobry Mój Ukochanie!

Once again, I'm totally taking up Aunt Kathy's calling people Lovey:) Because it's totally polish and she didn't even know it:)

This was a miraculous week. Seriously. This week I made a new best friend! Sister Smith and I began teaching a woman named Alina. Our lesson with her was so heaven sent for us all. She just opened up and shared with us a really sad story about her family and how she has lived a very hard life, but the whole time she has held on strong. She is a miracle. The first lesson started off a bit rocky as she pulled out all this anti stuff. Some people's religion is anti-mormon I've decided. It was interesting because she started asking us questions and then pulled out her computer as if to read something but it ended up being this movie. I was shocked at how quickly spirit warned us to turn it off. It didn't have like any images or anything, but it was just blasphemy. We told her to turn it off right away and as soon as we did so the spirit began to fill the room again. It was amazing, I know that if we listen to the spirit we will make right decisions, and it actually gave us the perfect background to talk about the things of the Spirit. If something is open, light, peaceful, loving and joyous it is of God, if it is dark, sheltered, fearful, scary or hidden it is not. That's it:) I am shocked at how much I am blessed to learn every week of my mission.

Trying on my "Ever After Dress"

Anyways, we love her! She is truly searching and super open, she has alot of questions, but that is something that has touched me so deeply is that the gospel has ALL the answers.

 We also learned this week that we should NEVER think that miracles have ceased. There is a family here in Poland who I lOVE! They are filled with wonderful and sweet women who we need in the church. But mostly from breaking the law of chastity they have slowly fallen into inactivity. This week we decided to meet with them again and try to help them in their journey( keep in mind they were very much opposed to reading the scriptures and coming to church). Well Sister Smith ,who is the ultimate teacher, shared with her some personal experiences. It opened the lesson up and she came to church on Sunday!!! Whoo hoo!!! Also, another less-active who is meant to be so strong ended up coming to church on Sunday and I was able to share with him some insight I've received during my trials as a missionary. Miracles.

Family History Board with Barbara

In all of this I am left wondrously in awe at the amazing power of the atonement of my Savior.I know that ALL that is unfair and unright in this world will be made right in the atonement of the Savior. Hearing from people every day about the things they see as being wrong in the world has only made me more in awe of the shattering burden He bore. I don't have perfect understanding, but I have faith that in Him all is overcome. I have seen it in my own life and in others. It is a miracle.

Siostra Hemming and Anna at her baptism

On Saturday this wonderful woman named Anna was baptized. It was so cool because I had heard about her( she's in the other Warsaw branch) and such, and finally a couple of weeks ago I met her, she looked at me and said, " I know you". She was someone I had found with Sis. P. a while back, and she got baptized:) Her baptism was lovely and she was glowing as she bore her testimony of being clean of sin and the Spirit's power. She said she'll be a kingdom builder;)I am being really blessed to see the fruits of my labors at the end of my mission, as some people from Kielce are also preparing for baptism. I am so grateful for this opportunity.

Well, I'm excited for another week. Sister Smith is amazing and I LOVE teaching with her. She's helping me remember too all of the fun and enjoyable things that I love:) She is a miracle for me as well at this time in my mission and life. I sure love her.

Have a good week! The Church is True. The Gospel works.

Love, Siostra Ali Hemming

Sacrifice Brings forth Blessings:)

September  22nd, 2014

My Lovely Family!

This was a week of miracles! Sister Smith and I had a lot of opposition this week. Seriously. But I will tell you that Heavenly Father just swooped in and made miracles happen as we strove to be obedient and work hard. On Monday we were out talking with people and we met this WONDERFUL couple. They are both very believing and have such great values, and we began to share with them the gospel of Jesus Christ. It was beautiful as it made so much sense to them, they wanted to meet with us again and we are setting up a date soon! I also was able to spend some time this week practicing a song for Zone Conference. It was lovely. We sang Come Come Ye Saints, and I was brought back many times to my own family history today. It was really quite cool. I don't think it's ever meant so much to me as it means on my mission, the examples of my stalwart ancestors who sacrificed everything for the truth of the Restored Gospel. I am grateful to be a missionary and learn the law of sacrifice a little better.

We also had Zone Conference this week. It was funny because I was beginning this last week to just feel a little bit tired at weekly planning. I definitely was just going through the motions, and at Zone Conference we talked All about the importance of making goals and plans and following through on them. ON talking with Heavenly Father about them and having faith to let them come through. That was inspired to me, and I felt so much better, why? Because I remembered what I've learned so many times. It's about the people. I could care LESS if I got three new investigators or whatever, but understanding and loving and caring about three new children of God. Building relationships with them and seeing the gospel change their lives, that is why I love having new investigators. So I am thankful for that conference, it was also my last conference. Which was really sad. I love these missionaries and have come to feel so much joy in their successes!

We met with Phoung this week! She is our investigator from Vietnam! She is wonderful and deeply spiritual. I don't know anything about Buddhism, but I know that she is filled with light, and is ready to learn about the gospel in it's restored form.

Saturday was absolutely INSANE! We were literally running from lesson to lesson, but we had the chance to throw something funny in there....

It was Elder Peacock's birthday and so we were at the store figuring out what to get him... my eye caught on this Scooby Doo toy thing:) So we came up with this idea that  we would get him this toy and some biscuits( scooby snacks) and then meet them at lunch dressed ever so slightly like Scooby Doo characters. I was Velma and Sis. Smith was Fred:) It was so funny! We showed up and I put on some glasses and we just kept making some weird comments like" alright gang" and " jenkis", and finally we gave him his present and it all made sense. It gave us some good laughs and was super fun!

Scooby Doo Birthday!!!!!!

Yesterday was Ward Conference and I was stunned at the strength of these Polish Saints! They are wonderful and oh how I will miss them. They have just come leaps and bounds since when I first met them all and the church in Poland is in the hands of the Lord. That is shown by the strength these saints have. They are stellar.

This week I learned about trials in the scriptures. I was so touched by hearing of Nephi building the ship. I always thought it was interesting that Nephi tells many details of getting the ore and the metals. This time though, I caught the connection. Did Nephi know that as he was being shown by the Lord how to make the metals and the tools that the Lord was showing him how He makes men strong? How we are tried in fiery furnaces and upheld by His hand so that  He can deliver us out of our trials as brightened and sharpened tools that He can use in the building of His kingdom? I wonder. The Book of Mormon this time around reading has reminded me time and time again that the Lord delivers us, but only after helping us become who He needs us to be. Let us not forget that His hand made the billows, and His hand the wasters to destroy( Isaiah 54). This has influence me so much on my mission, nothing that we are given will be too much for us, if we only trust in the Lord.  I am certain of this, and have been showed this time and time again.

My mission has brought me more joy and understanding than I ever imagined in a lifetime. I love the Lord for letting me serve in Poland! I love these people and this country, this is His church, it is evident because of the change that it enables in the lives of those who try it's truths. It is true:)

I love you all! Have a great week!

Siostra Ali Hemming

Miracles and UFO's

September 15th, 2014

Hello my dear family!!!

E-mailing is kind of weird... sending something by computer all across the world, I'm so thankful for it, but it's pretty crazy...

Sister Hemming and Smith

This weekend was the relief society conference for the Warsaw district and it was wonderful! The coolest part was that two of our investigators came, one of them is named Hanka, she's this sweet old lady who is really interested in the gospel and is progressing well! She came to church as well but we'll talk about that part later... well it was crazy because another lady that came is named Jagna. She is this wonderful mother of three kids who referred herself and is very believing! I have such high hopes for their family. We taught her this morning about the Tree of Life vision and I shared my testimony of the Book of Mormon. As soon as I started talking I was just overwhelmed with emotion at all the times in my lfie when I have felt afraid or lonely or sad or whatever and I've read that book. It calms my soul and opens my heart. It speaks peace to me and tells of a loving Heavenly Father and of our true potential as members of His family. It shares the all encompassing message of the Atonement of Jesus Christ, and then at the end of leaves us with a promise, that we can know, for ourselves and not just secondhand if the book is true! If it's message is real. I have a testimony of it's truthfulness. Anyways... Jagna is so wonderful and we are hoping to meet with her whole family soon and then help them make that lovely trip to eternal marriage! I know that that is what everyone wants anyways, they just don't know where to find it.

Eating pumpkin soup! Yummy!

 I studied this morning about the Holy Ghost. If we want to live happily and have our lives directed all the time by His influence then we must align our desires to be with His. We must seek out our desires and work on them that we may have His love in our hearts and the Holy Ghost can direct us calmly and with hope to our desired destination. I am excited to look at my desires and seek that the Holy Ghost can have greater sway in my life that I may live as Heavenly Father would that I live. These are the two areas in which my testimony has grown this week.

This one will be shorter because I'm just feeling kind of e-mailed out ... but I think that I have to share this experience...

So this weekend we were with the women from the district and we had a meeting set up. She came and she is 15 and so sweet so we grabbed some young women to come in on the lesson with she and her friend. It was so cool! The lesson was wonderful and I was so proud of these young women, but at the end we invited her to pray. She was so touched and said she would pray, but she was a little afraid. Right as she began her prayer one of the young women's phones went off.. that would be bad enough, but the song was like a UFO creepy song that you'd imagine hearing on E.T. or something!!! It was hilarious!!! I couldn't even keep it in I just opened my eyes and we all laughed, after she got her phone turned off I was so grateful as the spirit rested in our hearts again and she was able to pray at the end! ha!

Then this morning I was on the deck jump roping and Sis. SMith calls me in and is like... Sister Hemming Help! I run in there and she's turned the blender on with the top off and it sprayed smoothie all over her! It was pretty funny:)

Also, this week Sis. Smith was a little sick and on Sunday she was feeling sick at church so we went out to get some fresh air and suddenly our sweet investigator Hanka come out and Barbara and they're all fussing over her and making her sit down and in like 10 minutes practically the whole branch is out there and someone's offering to call an ambulance and someone else is offering to take her to the doctor, and she's just laughing and feeling super silly:) We had to pretend we were going home for lunch break before they'd let us leave. It was sooo sweet of them.

Sis. Smith is doing so well and I"m proud of her. She is a little trooper our there working even when she's feeling sick. She's also really hilarious and we are able to laugh and have fun together. I have been SO blessed with great companions.

I love these Polish saints and all of these wonderful Polish people. They are truly my people. I feel very grateful to be in Poland!

Here are some pics!

Love ya!

Siostra Hemming

History Majors:)

September 8th, 2014

Dzień Dobry,

I'd write more things in polish on my e-mails but honestly I have to go into a different font and such and it's kind of a waste of time:) But anyways... back to the more important things...

Sister Hemming and Sister Smith

Sister Smith is here:) On Monday I may have haggled my way into staying by myself at the mission home with the Edgrens. It was sooo fun!!! I had comp-prayer with Sis. Edgren and just kind of sat and pondered and I prepared myself a little for training. It was really a miracle experience as I was able to talk with the Edgrens and really council with them. They are so cool! I just admire them and honestly we are going there again today because Sis. Smith has never been to the mission home and Sis. Edgren wants to see her. Anyways, on Tuesday we went to the airport and we picked up Sis. SMith! It was exciting standing at the outside of the opening doors and looking for a 4'11" girl with blonde hair and alot of bags:) She has adjusted super well and it going to do great things in Poland!!! I have to say that it has really helped me just feel right new and that Poland is the coolest place in the world. She is also a sassy history major, and since I am also going to study that I think it's pretty funny because we are really similar and get along well.

Ali's new companion Sister Smith

This week we had some great miracles. First off there is a young man named in our branch who is a wonderful member and has a powerful testimony. Testimonies are the coolest. Anyways... we have been worried about him lately because he is inactive and has been having a harder time. I've been thinking about it alot ( I feel that my focus has changed and now I'm alll about helping those who have forgotten) but basically we felt really strongly last sunday to set up a mtg. with this member family( who are REALLY hard to set up with ) and it was a miracle because we set up with them and the lesson was great, but the real miracle happened afterwards. We were walking back to the bus stop and we got on a random bus ( or not so random ) and this young man was on it! We ended up talking with him for like 40minutes as we rode back home and by the end Sis. Smith had felt to ask him to read Moses 7.. which is a lovely chapter on God's love and character... and he ended up setting up with the elders! It was sooo cool and helped me remember that Heavenly Father loves His children. We always need to remember that. Those who are straying and need lifting up will ALWAYS be helped. It's like the story of Joshua in the Work and the Glory( bear with me dad;) but he has sooo many times to choose to change and every time the Lord loves him enough to give him time and time again. It is this way and I've seen it so much on my mission. Obedience bring trust, which is what we all desire Him to have in us, but as Pres. Monson has said, His love simply is. I was grateful for this lesson this week.

Another miracle happened because I was blessed enough to really feel some love for asian people this last transfer. Well guess what??? WE got this self referall who is from TAiwan and she is amazing! She met the sister missionaries in ....... Temple Square! And she is really excited to meet this week and I can't wait either.

This was a good week. It was stressful and new and all the things that come with that, but it was filled with real miracles and the Holy Ghost. Speaking of which, I have one more miracle... yesterday we were feeling pretty dull. Sometimes this happens, but we were walking back on Nowy Swiat and I hear english... in an american accent. So I just asked this group of young people where they were from. It was so cool because we started talking and they're from all over the U.S. and are on a ship study abroad to 26 different countries! Cool:) but one of the girls was from Georgia( I want to live there someday) and she said that she's had a really hard day and she's baptist, but she went into a small empty church and prayed. Well we found them right afterwards and we talked a while and then read her a part of Ether 12:4 and she just started crying and said that she was so grateful to meet us and she knows it was from Heavenly Father. It was really cool and made me excited for member missionary work and making more relationships when I get home.

Sisters Hemming, Poklinkowska and Moncur

Speaking of relationships, I feel that has become the most important thing to me now on my mission. Building relationships and sharing what I feel and have experienced to be truth. It is great anda  work in progress:)

I love you all and have to tell grandma Bird happy birthday!!! And this week my sweet mom and aunt erika get to celebrate their birthdays. I couldn't ask for a better family! Also... Rand you looked beautiful and glowing:)

I am so grateful for my mom and I"m so thankful to be her daughter. I have learned so much about what an elect lady she is as I've been on my mission! I hope someday to become maybe half as patient, upbeat and faithful as is my mother;)

z miłością!

Siostra Hemming

 

The Pearl of the Gospel:)

Sept. 1st, 2014

Hello Hello my lovely family!

Well this was a great week, it's actually Sis. Moncur's birthday and so I don't have a ton of time to write but I want to let you know some miracles and lessons learned from another week in the Lord's service.

I think one of the biggest miracles from this week was the feeling at church! This branch is wonderful and like every branch in the world has imperfect people and has had some issues and this week we had so much love and laughing and fun at church. It was so cool. I love that I have been blessed to really stay in certain areas and build relationships and show people that I love them and care about them and want them to progress towards and in the pearl of the gospel.

It's been such a miracle that I've been able to see their progression and that I get to be a part of the work of the Lord in Poland.

I've learned a lot this week about patience with yourself  and understanding the progression principle. It can't come all at once! But It can start with one little step right now.

The Pearl of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ, is just that. The Gospel. There are so many other things that it encompasses, the temple, talks and doctrine and understanding, and these things are essential! But the real pearl is that the Savior atoned for our sins, He loves us unconditionally, and we are called to repentance and to change and to greater love and greater faith so that we can grow closer to Him. I think that is such a cool idea and this week I've realized that I am like Nephi. I do not know the meaning of all things, but I know that Heavenly Father loves His children.

As I'm preparing to train Sis. Smith I've been thinking about all of the lessons I've been able to learn on my mission. I am so grateful as I'm brought back to the idea that I rely on Christ for perfection. It comes in time, after a lifetime of seeking Him and serving Him and loving Him. It comes, but not until after this life. And certainly not before I return from my mission:) It is a daily fight to be faithful, and we are to seek the kingdom of God TODAY and let tomorrow worry for itself:) This week at church I really had that strike me and I wanted to share it! Also, there is a talk from July 2014 ensign that everyone should read. It has really helped me, It's called Perfection in Christ or something like that. It's by Elder Gong. It was written by inspiration and understanding!

Yesterday was President's birthday and so we all went to the mission home and surprised him and had a BBQ! I ate funeral potatoes!!! It was so much fun to sit there and talk with the missionaries and Pres. and Sis. Edgren. I'm pretty darn blessed to be here in Warsaw and have those opportunities. I love being around these missionaries and seeing the light in their eyes! We made up a version of Follow the Prophet for Pres. Edgren, maybe a little sacrilegious but we thought it was hilarious! It came from my parents;)

I sure love you all and I know this will be a wonderful week in the service of the Lord:) Being a diligent and engaged missionary is my goal to the end. To accomplish what it was He sent me here for!

The Church is Truly from God, it is His kingdom on the earth! Not just another church, but truly His organization of people doing their best to serve Him.

I love you!

Siostra Hemming