poland week 2

Czesc Family!!

How are you all? What a wonderful week in Gdansk!! It's crazy. So much happens in so little time. I have been seeing so many miracles. I have no doubt that the Lord's hand is in Poland, helping us find the people who are ready to hear the gospel.

A miracle we had this week was yesterday. It was kind of a rough morning because of the issues in our branch and I could see Sister McAdams was having a hard time. (Basically the majority of the members are 85 or older and can be kind of mean or stuck in their elderly ways.) when we got home I really felt like I should pray and ask the Lord to lead us to a family who was prepared to hear the gospel. So we went out proselyting towards a potential investigator. She wasn't home but we kept tracting around that neighborhood. As we were walking, a woman was walking toward us and we stopped to talk to her. She was about to cry and she basically told us she was fighting with her husband and she had a terrible day and need to be alone. So she said thank you (didn't want to give us her number or anything) and walked away. Sister McAdams and I looked at each other and we both felt prompted to run after her. So we did and just asked her if there was anything we could help. She turned around really fast with a smile and tears in her eyes and she told us how she had met some Elders 10 years ago. And right away she took a pamphlet and gave us her email and said thank you and seemed really open. She said we could email and meet sometime. So then we kept tracting around and we came to a house, rang the domophone and she came up behind us! She said I live here, come on in and have a drink. We came in, met her husband and taught a first lesson. They both said they'd read the Book of Mormon and she cried during Sister McAdams's opening prayer. It was really amazing. They have a son and a daughter and they are so prepared to hear the restored gospel!

Something I learned in the Book of Mormon or Preach My Gospel this week was: from Alma 62:49-51. I must continually remember what the Lord has done for me and humble myself exceedingly before him. Such good verses. And Helaman 3:35 too--growth is so gradual and consistent.

We have been meeting a lot of Muslims lately on the streets and they already have such strong beliefs about prophets. Hopefully we can help the ones who are staying here in Poland come unto Christ. It's interesting that they believe the Bible so strongly but not in Jesus as the Messiah. We invited the Spirit this week by: praying ALWAYS. We have prayed specifically for our investigators and future investigators and those with baptismal dates.

Thank you!

Sister Bezdjian

Our New Missionaries Take Off to Their Assigned Cities

Everyone is out the door and ready to hit the streets running. Sister Folsom and Young (Wroclaw), Sister Masters and Jones (Lodz), Elders Dabroski and Tiner (Lodz) and Sisters Bezdjian and McAdams (Gdansk). One last picture of this great new group of missionaries and these outstanding trainers.

second day in Poland March

 After the morning business if was off to the Rynek with Elders Murphey and Tanner for some contacting. There they met up with some of our fabulous Sister Missionaries..

 Sister Bezdjian talking with a lady about the Book of Mormon. Sister Sheahan who just transferred in from Poznan is there to help and add her support.While our New Missionaries are out contacting for the very first time in Poland, exciting things are happening at the Mission Home. Their new Trainers arrive! Training this transfer are Elder Dabrowski, Sister McAdams, Sister Jones and Sister Folsom. President Nielson met with these great missionaries as their trainees were contacting on the Rynek. Now....let's see who goes with who!!!!

 Sister Bezdjian will be trained by Sister McAdams. And they will head north to the beautiful city of...

 GDANSK! There are some great people being taught the gospel in this seaport city.

 All our New Missionaries with their Trainers. The bonds of friendship and love were immediate. That is the wonderful thing about the gospel. You make instant friends because of your love of spreading the gospel and your love of the Polish people. Two things that all missionaries have in common!

Displaying new laminated signs that will be hanging in every missionary's apartment. We are 'finders', and what we are looking for are those who are looking for the true gospel of Jesus Christ. We are also Successful Missionaries as we are Committed to help these people become faithful members of the Church. All these great Missionaries will be boarding trains in the morning for their various cities. They are eagar and ready to Find those who are willing to follow the Example of Jesus Christ. We love these new missionaries and their great trainers.

Second Day in the Mission Field: Everyone was up bright and
early- kind of. After breakfast and getting some things in order, the new group
walked to the Mission Office. It was starting to rain, but that did not dampen
anyone's spirit.

in poland!

Dear Family,

Hello! What a week. So much has happened!

So guess what? I'm in Gdansk!!!! (yes dad, i'm saying it in the German voice) with Sister McAdams. She is amazing. I love her so much already! She motivates me every day to be diligent in my studying and in our tracting. Something I learned from her this week was applying the battle/war chapters from our Book of Mormon (Alma 49-53ish) reading to our investigators. It's good to share with the investigators things like "oh, we were reading the Book of Mormon this morning and this scripture reminded us of you and how..." It really shows the investigator how we can apply the Book of Mormon to our daily lives. And it helps us think of them more too. We have high baptismal goals to accomplish before she leaves.

Our Christ-like attribute for this week is: charity. We want to have charity for the Lord, each other, and the people of Poland. Charity is very tied with patience. Sometimes it is discouraging when people don't want to try to see if the Book of Mormon is true but the few people who tell us they'd like to read it, or they want to find true are worth every slammed door. We had a cool experience when we ran into a lady named Ola this week and she said she had just been talking with her friend about our church that afternoon--so rare! Seriously NO ONE has heard of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints! Some might think it was chance but I know that we were doing what the Lord wanted where He wanted us. Hopefully we can meet with her. I am building my faith that people are being prepared by the Lord to hear the message of the restored gospel.

Church was amazing. The branch is so tiny. Like seriously, the room where we have sacrament meeting is like one of the primary rooms. Maybe two put together. Pictures soon! And chocolate packages too. Anyway I bore my testimony this Sunday to kind of introduce myself and I totally cried. Wonderful first impression right? Oh well. Ok not much time plus I know you all are busy busy! Hence, bullet points.

*first lesson! with less active thai woman named samjiit! so nice. barely speaks english let alone polish! who knew my first lesson would be in broken english using an ipad to google translate hard to charade words? anyway she really wants to pay tithing even though she works on sundays. so sweet! also we went to her house with all my luggage...(it was easier trainwise) so funny hauling it up to her apt to teach a simple lesson!

*Lesson with Lidia, a recent convert! she was baptized a week ago. She says reading the scriptures is like eating chocolate and she has two of the cutest kids in the world! I love her so much already.

*met a guy named Piotr...seemed super interested in reading the Book of Mormon! I hope he calls us!!! couldn't get his number...grrr

*funny moment: old man spit on my face while talking about how we all need to love each other. haha.

*other funny moment: another old man, 3 min later gave me all his spare change. I tried not to take it but he was like I know i'll be blessed by God for this!!!! hahaha.

*Talking with this Muslim guy named Mohammed about how we can know what in the Bible is true and stuff. Can't wait to set up a mtg with him.

*This babcia (grandma) in the ward named Halina is A SAINT. She is awesome. Super strong and kinda spunky too! Pictures soon.

I love you all!!!!!

Thank you so much for the package mom!!! You're the best. I will be writing you all letters today but please write me an email on here. then I can reply you individually!

Sara

p.s. can only email family...so please write me back! But DEAR ELDER WORKS FOR POLAND. idk how long it takes but it does.

also my address is:

Sister Bezdjian

Ul. Brzozana 9C/1

Gdansk 80243

Elder Victor Slawinki from Poland heading to a State side mission. He let us know our accents were terrible - just wait until we get to Poland.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE MTC

This group of new Missionaries still had a little energy once we arrived at the
Mission Home, so the Assistants took them on a short walk to visit the Willanow
Palace...A beautiful 'mini Versailles'. Also, one of the 'few' buildings in
Warsaw that was not destroyed at the end of WWII by the Germans. From the truck
parked in front of the palace, you can tell that it is being renovated.

Below:

This is the place where President Kimball dedicated and opened Poland for
the gospel and also President Monson offered a prayer of gratitude and
supplication in 1986. We had a prayer after this photo and now these
missionaries are ready to raise their voices.

Arrival to Poland

Per the President's wife:

Sister Bezdjian from Salt Lake City. She really speaks Polish well. She also
packs her luggage like a seasoned veteran. Two light suitcases and yet
everything she needs. She will be so thankful at transfer time.

Some mundane facts of MTC life:

as written by Sara 2/28/12

*sometimes we joke about who is the funniest companion (Siostra Masters and Siostra Young tease but they really know I am the funniest)

*we laugh at our teachers' mannerisms

Brat Hughes always backs into the chair or wall

Brat Rushton always is tucking in his shirt

Brat Broadbent taps his foot and sometimes stomps it

*we eat peanut butter and hot chocolate almost every meal

*Sister Master' Mom sends us "sneaky snacks" like gold fish and fruit snacks and we are sneaky with them

*Striving to stay under 20 min for lessons

*reminding Starszy Tiner to not ditch us for the Bulgarian Elders

mtc week 8! final countdown

Guess what? 6 days and we will be leaving!!!! How exciting is that??!?!

I love the MTC so much and I really love my companions, and our district and teachers. But I am VERY VERY excited to be out in the field! Can you believe it's comign so soon? I hope to call you in the airport!

This past Tuesday Elder Holland came to the MTC. He told us some amazing perspective-changing things:
*Everything we ask and want for our investigators is what Heavenly Father wants for us. WE are God's investigators. I thought that was interesting.
*Let the mission/the gospel change you FOREVER. "Never go back to what you were--even if you were terrific."
*Use the Book of Mormon more. We read 1 Nephi 1 (only 20 verses long) together and we talked about what Lehi/all prophets do. So investigators will know that prophets:
-pray -converse with Divine Beings -are given holy books -warn of sin -prophecy of Christ
He then told us that that is Joseph Smith's story. So cool. I had never seen that chapter that way.

I really love Elder Holland. I wish I could have talked to him! But oh well. Another day.

This past Saturday Elder Christofferson was in Poland!! So cool. Our mission President sent us multiple emails about how great it was and how proud he was of the missionaries and their spiritual preparation for an apostle.

We have another "Pday" on Saturday to do laundry and pack so I may get to email again then. If not, we'll talk on Monday for sure!! I can't wait to talk to you Dad, Mom, Andrew, and Hannah (even though you'll be in Puerto Rico). We'll have to figure out the time difference, just talk to mom about that please. it'll be before we leave SLC, or after we land in Chicago. Let me know what works better for all of you.

And remember I love you!!! Also if you have thoughts about a verse/chapter from the Book of Mormon please write me it!

LOVE YOU,
Sara

oh yeah guess what else?!?! WOJTEK AGREED TO BE BAPTIZED!!! We're so excited about that. we've had some really good lessons lately. yay. soon it'll be back to square one though haha.