"Happy Girls are Prettiest"~Audrey Hepburn

What is it that makes us women feel beautiful? What is femininity? How can I really 
embrace my own self and my own femininity? 
Since I've been down here at school sensed myself becoming more and more aware of what others think, what others look like, their styles. I've become, in essence, more self conscious. 
WHY????
I've talked with friends and roommates, I've seen them obsessively eat small amounts of food. I've seen us all comparing and competing. And then, one day I actually recognized what it was we were doing. Since that day of reckoning, I've actually pondered the idea of beauty often. 
We just want to be loved. That's it. The bottom line.
We want love stories like Allie and Noah, like Elizabeth and Mr. Darcy, like Elder Richard G. Scott and Jeanene:) We want to be the object of love, and the embodiment of it.
Media has told us that we need to look or act a certain way to embrace this, but it is just the opposite, we need to embrace ourselves. Love ourselves. 
Here are some of my favorite quotes about loving ourselves and embracing our feminine beauty!     
"For beautiful eyes, look for the good in others; for beautiful lips, speak only words of kindness; and for poise, walk with the knowledge that you are never alone."

~Audrey Hepburn

"“deep beauty”—the kind of beauty that shines from theinside out. It is the kind of beauty that cannot be painted on, surgically created, or purchased. It is the kind of beauty that doesn’t wash off. It is spiritualattractiveness. Deep beauty springs from virtue."
~Elaine S. Dalton

"People are like stained - glass windows. They sparkle and shine when the sun is out, but when the darkness sets in, their true beauty is revealed only if there is a light from within."
~Eliabeth Kubler-Ross
And so my dear, wonderful, beautiful women:) Let us love ourselves? 
One Week. For this one week, when you begin comparing yourself to others think about what makes YOU happy? Service, Love, Fun, Spontaneity. Find your femininity, or make it! Life is to be created, not found! See your curves, your beauty points, find what you love about yourself. If you like wearing makeup, do it! If you don't, don't:) 
If any of you try this out, please let me know how it affects you:) Hopefully someday we can all change this enough that we "rid ourselves of vanities;)"(Thanks Jason). 
Joy comes from light. God has given us His light to shine, the light of Christ. So let's live the idea that " Happiest Girls are Prettiest" and love ourselves a little more. 
If you want another AMAZING essay on this, see....
https://lifeisrozie.wordpress.com/2015/03/08/are-you-beautiful-i-asked-100-men-what-physical-beauty-is-and-the-results-shocked-me/

The Return:)
I'm so sorry it's taken me sooo long to begin again.
Life coming home from this mission has been insane, filled with miracles, and just like any other fairy tale... filled with unexpected twists and surprises.
When I came home, life hit me fast. It was almost as if I was floating and everything was a dream. The mission wasn't real, but like a dream, but I wasn't completely back home either.
I felt very much in limbo.
I can only say that I felt pretty lost, but right off the bat I went to the temple. For those of you who don't know what a temple is... I'll tell you.
It's a house of the Lord, a place where families are sealed together, not just until death do you part, but for all eternity. I went there the second day being home, and I felt at home. So much peace. So much joy.
Miracles :
Three days after being home I walked into Deseret Book and was offered a job! I can still Skype with members, and I'm loving the opportunity to be home with my family. I've got to run, but I'll upload a few pictures and my next post I'll share some of the lessons learned!
Z glebokiej milosci!
Ali

Truth is Light!!!

October 6th, 2014

Moja Kochająca, śliczna, szalona, wierna rodzina(włącznie z przyjaciółmi),

If you're reading this and you haven't seen conference go watch it right now;)

Apple Picking...Yep...I live in a fairytale:)

I am so thankful to be writing you today from my little library off of Solidarności. It is a lovely day with lovely weather and a huge blessing for me. This morning I got up and ran through the old streets of warsaw to Ogród Saski and saw the Teatr Wielki:) drank some tea( fruit:) and I have a bułka( roll) from the local bakery in my backpack! I hung up my laundry on a drying rack and I studied the scriptures, I learned of the Prophet Joseph Smith and I studied some of the Book of Mormon. I read this morning from 2 Nephi 6 and 7. I learned that those who wait on the Lord are not ashamed. I think this means that they are not confounded, and they are not decieved, and they are not afraid to boldly testify of the truth of their message. I studied Polish with my sweet companion and I headed off to the library. Why am I tellling you the boring routine of my day...? Because I LOVE It!!! I love my mission.

I've been writing some of my mission history this week. I have been brought to tears many times as I've seen how the hand of my Savior has unfolded in my life and on my mission. It's amazing. He has changed me. Honestly speaking, the feeling of going home and the knowledge of leaving this beloved place hasn't set in yet, but I can say that I've been blessed with a clear vision of what the Lord expects of me at this time. Love, Service, and doing the right things for the right reasons. Hearing Elder Bednar's talk on that topic really touched me. It led me to thinking, why do I do what I do? Why do I go out on the street and find people? Why do I constantly try and think of new ways to teach and find? Why do I strive for obedience? The answer for me has differed at different times of my mission, to be honest, but I think that underneath it all is Faith. Faith in the Savior and His love for me and mankind. The gospel message that we are sharing is the only source of light that exists in the world. It is truly the only source of peace. It is the only source of hope. Otherwise all else would be lost. That is why! I have looked so much during my mission at the way that the gospel has blessed my life, and I am so grateful. It has changed me and my family and all of my Polish family! That is something that has helped me to see the gospel in action, I've seen it change and hold and unfold things into our lives that we never even knew we were capable of or that we needed:)

Culture Night....Romeo and Juliet

This week we had an interesting week. It was filled with lots of finding and honestly rejection. I am grateful for that, because this week we have sooo many people to teach and I'm so excited. The good contrasts the bad. We were able to find so much joy though in this week. One of the miracles was that we met with this woman named Jagna. She is wonderful and she and her family NEED the restored gospel. It is so beautiful! Our lesson was on the plan of salvation and the Spirit was so strong. I was so blessed to have that lesson and to know that I have to rely on the Lord to bring the Spirit. It was wonderful.Sister Smith is a Wonderful teacher and she is always helping me get out of my mission box and try new things and have new faith and love. It's wonderful! I am grateful for her and we are working on building a great friendship even this week. She has really brightened the end of my mission and we have so much fun! She will do great things.

I was really fasting on Saturday that I could learn something that would ennable me to progress when I get home, well I think the miracle of my week was conference because I was guided and directed that I am going to be able to do so many things. I am glad that my mission just jumpstarts my life because I've still got ALOT of changing to do and ALOT to learn, but I am so thankful to have learned so much of how to do those things. I loved the talk about boldly declaring what we believe. We need to be kind and loving, but I felt that this conference really showed me that there is great black and white in this world. I have chosen light:) How grateful I am to choose the light every day.  I was also very impressed with how many times the Lord instructed us to gain our own testimony. The promise is real, we will be taught from on high. Having our own questions is good, but we need to take them before the Lord and faithfully act in obedience until we recieve an answer. The Church is True:)

My lovely Iryna!!

In closing, I would like to bear my testimony. I testify that the gospel is light. I've seen the world and what it has to offer. Darkness, regret, momentary things. What does the gospel of Jesus Christ offer us? Joy, eternal light, hope, the knowledge and understanding to face trials with courage and to face disappointment with faith that the Lord holds true to His promises. Read the scriptures, the promises of the Lord are sure. They have come to pass and will continue to do so. It is up to us to decide if we choose to see them, these promises, and if we live worthily of His fulfilling them in our own lives. He is loving, and His atonement is all-powerful. It has the power to overcome even the deepest and most long-reaching sadness and regret. He ALWAYS wants our return. I also can testify that Joseph Smith was not just a prophet of God, but a wonderful, faithful, clean and prepared man. He was called of God to restore HIs church on the earth. This is truth. It has brought light into my life and so many others. Prayer is real, it works, and it is filled with power. The Temple is the house of God:)

I'm so grateful to have been a missionary in Poland. Kocham Polskę! Ci ludzie są moim ludem. Niby ten język był moim ojczyznym jęzkiem:) Jednakże, kiedy wrócę do swojego kraju, swojej rodziny a swojego domu wiem jedno, przynieszę z sobą relacje o które się troszczyłam. Z polakami, i przedewzystkim z Bogiem. Moje serce wie, bezgranicznie, że Bóg jest Moim Ojcem, że Jego Syn Jezus Chrystus jest Moim Zbawicielem, i że Jozef Smith był Jego Objawicielem w tej dyspensacji. Kocham was, i najwyższy czas bym napisała cos po Polsku;)

z miłością, Siostra Ali Hemming

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