Look Behind the Swine

Sister Allen and Sara at their finest!

Sara cooking in the kitchen in Poznan

Sara in front of their grocery store The Lady Bug
on one of their morning runs.

Dearest family bamily,

Thank you for praying so hard and so sincerely for us. I feel your love and I'm so happy to see you all had a good time in Denver! It looks really fun. I love seing those pictures. 

Sister Allen is doing great! She is a woman of skills. I am growing to realize what I talented companion I've been blessed with! She is really good at singing (as I've mentioned) but not only that she is a really good seamstress. She made most of her skirts before the misson and they are all really cute. She helped me this week because my slit ripped and I am not really too good at sewing. So she helped me do it and now it is sewn well and will last. She is also a really good teacher---she really thinks about the lessons from the investigator's perspective and I love hearing her insights from the scriptures. 

She taught me something cool this week. Sister Allen had read the story in Matthew about the devils that Christ casts into the swine. And then the people don't want to listen to him. Well she said we need to 'look behind the swine'. There may be 'bad' or difficult things in the restored church that, on the outside, are hard to understand or easy to reject (polygamy, the rumor that we're a sekta) but we need to look behind the swine and see the Lord's hand working miracles through the members of the church and throughout the world (humanitarian work, service, love and care for fellow neighbors and friends, greater patience, moderation).

Something I learned from the scriptures this week: Our district homework was to study the way the Savior prayed. Next district meeting is about "revelation through prayer" so we are studying how the Savior taught us to pray. I noticed that Christ always prayed for the benefit of others. He also prayed humbly, and reverently too. I want to pray more like that. I also had a question this week: How to help someone become humble? I've been studying conversion/the Spirit and I noticed that one of the first things someone experienced in conversion was that they were brought down to humility. So Sister Allen and I have been pondering, How can we help the people in Poland and our investigators feel that? It was really great because I happened to turn to Alma 5 which is exactly the same problem Alma was facing. I don't think I could teach like him but he helped remind the people of how merciful the Lord was to them and to their fathers. He reminded them of Christ and testified of the witness he himself had received from the Holy Spirit. It was a good study. 

Our Christ-like attribute for this week is: charity. It is certainly one of the things that I can ALWAYS always improve on. And I think it is the 'magic something' behind every missionary success or miracle. Without it, all our work is worthless. And with it, we can have amazing experiences and be happy. 

Fun things from this week:
*We went ice skating with the Reeds and the Elders last week! So fun. And Elder Tiner taught me how to do a step over thingy on the turns. It was really great. Also Elder Reed made us breakfast for dinner and that was delicious. The Reeds are so cool.

*Our prayers were answered when both of us lost our camera cords! Luckily they were still here in the library but MOST luckily, God answered our prayers when we asked to find them.

*We're meeting with a really great lady, Irena, and this week we talked about faith, repentance and baptism with her. She described that there's "wind on her back" telling her that this is a good thing. We said "Hey, that's the Spirit!" She's doing great progress. 

* Danka told her family about the church. they got a little bit freaked out but hopefully it will smooth over soon. she's still feeling good about baptism and meeting with us.

* Marcin the elders' investigator gave a great talk in sacrament meeting! He is so cool.

* There is such a CUTE family. Husband is american from cali and the wife is polish. they have 2 little kids and we with the Reeds went over there last friday. we helped them clean for awhile and then we had a lesson. they are so cute! hopefully everything with them will keep going well.

*We had a really cool branch activity this week. We read the Family: A Proclamation to the World. It was really cool. The Reeds divided us into two groups--one read it from the perspective of an adult parent and the other from the perspective of a baby. It was really interesting. I invite you all to read it and think about how it applies to you.

 
*We met some really cool people on the bus the other day. I love contacting strangers sometimes. It can be such an adventure.

I love you all so so so much! I know that this church is true and that happiness and peace comes from living the restored gospel more than anything else. I love you and I know that Heavenly Father knows and loves each of us individually. 

Thank you for all you do and for who you are.

Sister Bezdjian

Sis Allen, Sara and the cobbler, zbigniew, who fixed her boots

her boots newly heeled and with a metal tab which clicks when they are out walking.
In the back ground is their study area

If you are thinking of sending Sara a package for Christmas the mission suggests sending it to the Mission office at the address below:

Please send packages to the Mission Office address in Warsaw. 

(Name of Missionary)

Kosciol Jezusa Chrystusa Swietych w Dniach Ostatnich

Ul Wiertnicza 135

02-952 Warszawa

POLSKA

a morning run in front of the chapel where they meet

Sister Allen at the lady bug grocery store

WALT DISNEY WOULD BE PROUD.......

Dear family,

Thank you for the package!!!! It was so nice to see hannah's handwriting and I love those carl bloch cards dad. Thanks for all the candy Mom too. Please tell Vicky Anderson thank you for the gloves! How did she know I needed new ones? Mine were getting kind of holey and I kept trying to sew them up haha. I am grateful that we're just one letter apart fam. I think most large missions don't get so many opportunitites to get packages or letters that mcuh so I'm really glad I get to see you (I love the pictures in the emails) and hear from you often. Thank you!!!

Sister Allen is doing great!  PIC OF SIS ALLEN FROM HER BLOG

She is a really observant person. I'm learning a lot by how she observes the atmosphere in lessons. She has really good feedback at the end of lessons and it's so cool to evaluate our teaching together. She is also REALLY good at singing so it is fun to listen and sing with her. I feel that it keeps our minds focused on the work but also in a cheerful way. I really like it. She also says "Go big or go home" a lot which is fun when we're planning and trying to do something. So we just do it all and somehow it all works out. 

Something I learned from the scriptures this week: Well this week was great studywise. Still studying Moroni and his attributes. This morning I studied part that says he "labored exceedingly for the welfare of his people" and was "firm in the faith of Christ." It was really cool to study those main words separately throughout the Book of Mormon and then see the connections. For example, Alma and the sons of Mosiah also "labored exceedingly" to bring the Lamanites to a knowledge of their truth. And once they were brought to the truth the Lamanites became so "firm in the faith of Christ" that they would rather die than sin and fight their enemies.

Our Christ-like attribute for this week is: remembering. So much wickedness and pride could be avoided with remembering. Remembering who we are, our relationship with God, why we are here on earth, and what Heavenly Father has done for us. It was funny because a few hours after we decided what our Christ-like attribute was, I was like "hey sister allen, what's our Christ-like attribute? I forgot." Ha ha. 

Anyway I'm excited to study this week and see examples of how Christ remembered the important things as well as the small things and how it was a part of His nature. 

Anyway, other cool things from this week:

* Danka, our baptismal date was sick but still came to church! She's so funny. She calls me "Bet." (I told her she could call me Bez when Bezdjian was too hard.) So in sunday school she made a comment that Bet called her and she loved to hear my voice. It was funny. Marta, this way cool member who is turning in her mission papers soon, asked what missionaries are? And so Danka said we're her psycologists because we listen to her and help her. That was nice to hear.

 
* Izabella, our other baptismal candidate took us on an adventure! Her kitchen was out for a few days so she asked if she could come use the stovetops at the chapel. Elder Reed said it was fine and we just had a lesson cancel so we thought, hey why not. So we had a lesson and then we ate lunch together. Then she told us she knew a place where some people might be interested. Our plans were to contact in a park but we figured, if Izabella's got some potential referrals, let's get them! It was a great adventure. We met quite a few people along the way and we offered to volunteer at an orphanage place. Really great. Later this week she answered the phone "hey ho, ho, hey" and so later after a lesson we were like Izabella why do you say that sometimes? And she's like it's from a bajki! (fairy tale.) and she's like you've never heard of flkdan jfkld;aj (some polish words I dont' know) and we said no. tell us! So then she told us Snow White and the 7 Dwarves in Polish and sang the "Hi, ho, hi ho, do pracy by sie szlo!" (the dwarf's song). It was hilarious.

 
* Another night we were following up on a potential back from Sister McAdam's day (SARA'S TRAINER IN GDANSK, WHO ALSO SERVED IN POZNAN AND DID A GREAT JOB KEEPING RECORDS) and it was great. She has 5 KIDS and couldn't meet then but we set up another time. At the end of the conversation we asked who she knew who'd be interested. She referred us to her neighbors upstairs and what do you know?! A cute family!!!! They're great and we set up with them too. Then later that night we met a mom named Malgorzata and her dog Feta. We met with her last night and sister Reed was with us. Great fun and she has 4 kids too. I'm loving this family thing.

 
*Arseni our recent convert went contacting with us (he's Russian/Ukranian) and evaluated our contacting.

 
*We --with the help of Sister Reed and of course the Lord-- got the standard of excellence! It was so fun to see the miracles. 

So one night it was about 10:26 and we were hungry and we have to be in bed by 10:30 and we're snarfing down a bunch of random food--like popcorn, broccoli, meat, cheese, and I said "welp, siost, this is the life of a missionary." and she goes "at least you're not picking up ulotki (flyers)." Hahaha. I feel like sometimes all I'm doing is dropping flyers all over the place and people help me and we start talking. Just kidding. 

Thank you for all you do and for who you are.

Sister Bezdjian

p.s. The knuckle-cracking is going better. But still I have urges and I crack, especially in personal study! Oh well I am working at it and I'm sure it will keep getting better. 

GUESS WHO IS NOW SERVING IN GDANSK!

 With Sister Ostler returning home to see Doctors, Sister Peterson transferred down to Warsaw II.  Because of the need, Sister Forsey and Bown, who are serving in Lodz will be transferred Friday to Gdansk.  Sisters Young and Peterson will be the Sisters in Warsaw II and continue to do great things.   Sister Masters will join Sisters Forsey and Bown in Gdansk in that wonderful companionship.  Gdansk is one Branch that flourishes with Sister Missionaries and this will surely be the case.  What a great new start for all of these tremendous Sisters.

 Gdansk was 'hopping' with missionaries.  President just transferred 3 Sisters (Bown, Masters, and Forsey) to that great city where there is lots of work going on.  Elders Finch and Myler are serving there as well.  Elder Basha was on an exchange with Elder Hayes. These two Elders had  helped the Sisters get moved up to Gdansk from Warsaw II and Lodz.  It was fun to meet up with this great group of Missionaries and spend some time with them!

 Chloe had a great time talking with the Sisters.  With the age limit for Sister Missionaries lowered, Chloe realized she only has 12 years to wait before she serves a mission.

Poznan...freezing but amazing

Thank you for your prayers and emails! I can't tell you all how much your emails brighten my week. I love hearing from you. Well some of you know but my previous companion, Sister Ostler is home now. She was still sick when I saw her at Zone Conference (WED NOV 7TH)

The Bydgoszca zone includes missionaries from the cities of Szczencin, Bydgoszcz, Gdansk, and Poznan.  the zone conference was held in Poznan. Below is the sisters from the Zone.

and so she flew on Saturday I think and is now home in Utah recooperating. Thank you all for your prayers for Sister Ostler so much. I know it must have been hard for her to go home but I am glad that she can trust in the Lord and His timing. I am also grateful to Sister Nielson for keeping such an updated, informative blog. thanks for sending those pictures from it mom. 

Sister Ostler, who is departing for medical reasons, leaves a part of one of her favorite sweaters.  She will visit with Doctors and will hopefully return soon.  She has had stomach problems for a couple of months and the hospital, doctors and tests were not solving the problems.  We are so grateful for all she did and pray for a speedy recovery and return.  

We are looking forward to hearing from Sister Ostler and her better health. 
She was (is) a great missionary!  FROM SIS NIELSON'S BLOG
SIS OSTLER IS A DEDICATED MISSIONARY WHO FOR 3 MONTHS PRIOR TO HER MISSION STUDIED THE POLISH LANGUAGE WITH THE HELP OF A RETURNED SISTER MISSIONARY.   WE KNOW GOD'S PLAN HAD SIS OSTLER SERVING IN GDANSK TO MEET AND INTERACT WITH AGNIESZKA AND TO SEE THIS WONDERFUL WOMAN AND HER FAMILY COME UNTO CHRIST.  WE DON'T UNDERSTAND ALL OF GOD'S PLANS FOR SIS. SHELBY OSTLER BUT WE APPRECIATE HER EXAMPLE OF  TRUSTING IN THE LORD.  HER FAITH IS VERY STRONG.  WE LOVE SHELBY AND ARE PRAYING FOR PEACE AND COMFORT AS SHE TRANSITIONS BACK TO AMERICAN LIVING AND FOR INSIGHT FOR THE DOCTORS HERE. 

Sister Allen is amazing! We are having so much fun together. I am getting to know her better and better and our teaching is improving. She is never afraid to talk to anyone and is always willing to listen to the Spirit. I admire her desire to be exactly obedient. Later this week we were walking home and usually we have dinner before 6 so we can use our "prime proselyting time" wisely but our investigators could only meet earlier so we ended up having 8-9 as our dinner hour. We were walking home from the tramwaj stop and our street to turn came up. But I just kinda had this feeling we should keep walking. Then Sister Allen turns to me and says, 'hey I feel like we should keep going.' So I was just like yep. me too. let's do it. 

So we kept walking and right after that we see this guy sitting outside an apt smoking with a girl. Sister Allen and I walked right up to them and we just knew it was with them were supposed to talk with. So we start talking and it turned out to be amazing! The girl took a book of mormon and we are going to set up later this week. So we had less than an hour for dinner that night but we just felt so good when we walked home knowing that we had followed the Spirit. 

Something I learned from the scriptures this week: Well since President talked about Captain Moroni in Zone Conference I decided to study him a bit more and his characteristics. So this week I broke down the sentences that describe him and I'm going to search those different attributes and how to get them. This week was "his heart did swell with thanksgiving to his God." So I looked up Heart, Swell, and Thanksgiving in the index of the Book of Mormon. I found a lot of really cool things and I love comparing Alma the younger's description of swelling of the word with the humbling of their hearts of the people of Alma the elder. I can't type all that I'm learning but it was very enlightening and I'm excited to study more.

 

Our Christ-like attribute for this week is: gratitude. We thought that would be appropriate considering Thanksgiving and all. I read about gratitude this week with Moroni and I'm excited to impliment it more. Sister Allen is amazing because on Thursdays we only pray for that which we are grateful for. Sometimes we forget in lessons with investigators but it is still really good to try to remember.

Other fun things from this week:
* We had a Joseph Smith party with the girls in our neighborhood (by the chapel) and Natalie, our cool member. We ate popcorn and watched the Restoration. It was awesome. And this next week I think we'll watch Finding Happiness. Their older brother is also very interested and really cool. 

* Bogusia our investigator was so EXCITED to learn about baptisms for the dead this week. When we read 1 Corin. 15 with her about baptisms for the dead she said "Jestem w szoku." I am in shock. But in a good way. She's so excited to learn more! 

* This sunday we had a lunch after church for day of independence for Poland! It was so yummy and definitely worth the crazy cooking sister allen and I did the morning of. And carrying huge bags of potatoes, a carrot cake, and the sacrament bread to church. It was all a good conversation starter on the way there though.

Sacrament meeting talks were based on the topics of freedom and gratitude, and the words spoken gave us all spiritual food for thought and reminded us what a precious gift freedom is to all of us. The Branch had an obiad for members and visitors to celebrate this wonderful day with everyone bringing their favorite Polish food – and was it ever good! The special treat of the day was rogaly, which is made only in Poznan. It is a pastry which is rolled out, a filing is spread over it, then it is rolled up and shaped into big crescent rolls with frosting on top. This is the traditional dessert for Independence Day. They are absolutely delicious! FROM THE REEDS BLOG

 

NATIONAL POLISH INDEPENDENCE DAY FEAST WITH THE BRANCH AFTER SACRAMENT MEETING.

* Life is just great! I am loving learning different ways of doing things and being inspired in different ways. 

Thank you for all you do and for who you are.

Sister Bezdjian

p.s. Thought of a competition for you all...I have yet to get a letter in Poznan. Whoever sends me one first, WINS!!! So go! Start typing or stamping or licking those envelopes ;)

SIOSTRA SARA BEZDJIAN

Stowianska 38 F M.10

61-664 Poznan, Poland

p.p.s. there is an activity in preach my gospel to stop a bad habit (eating too much, sleeping too late, adjusting glasses etc.) to kind of learn compassion for those who are trying to quit very addictive substances. I'm trying to stop cracking my knuckles and it is so hard! wish me luck guys. 


p.p.p.s. I LOVE YOU RAFFIE, LINDY, HANNAH AND ANDREW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

THE SISTERS HELPING OUT WITH THE ENGLISH CLASS FOR CHILDREN ORGANIZED BY THE SENIOR MISSIONARY COUPLE THE REEDS.

weekly email Poznan 2

ELDER STOCKFORD (FROM SPRINGFIELD OREGON RIGHT OUT OF THE MTC), ELDER TINER (FROM LAS VEGAS WAS IN THE MTC WITH SARA), SARA AND SISTER ALLEN (FROM PROVO UTAH WHO WAS IN THE MTC WITH SISTERS OSTLER AND PETERSON)

Dear Family,

Thank you for your prayers and thoughts. And thank you so much Mom for the pictures!!! They really do make my week. 

Sister Allen is such a trooper. She is a hard worker and has really strong endurance. She has been sick the past few days and in pain. Something's wrong with her stomach. But she has endured it all with a smile and a good attitude. I hope I could be like her if I was going through so much pain and sickness. We are having so much fun as a companionship and I am really learning a lot from her. 

Our Christ-like attribute for this week is: humility. I am excited to study this attribute and I'm going to look at ways that Christ exemplified it. 

Something I learned from the scriptures this week: Our district mtg homework was to look at how people feel/describe the Spirit in the scriptures. Because next mtg will be on the Role of the Holy Ghost in conversion. So I had some really good studies this week; looking at how Nephi, Alma, Enos, and other experienced conversion. Oh and back to Christ with the Samaritan woman at the well. I noticed that at first he was in the right place and at the right time to meet her. He asked her for what she had and offered her more. He also invited her to partake of eternal life. What stuck out to me this time that in order for the woman to come to the water and drink she had to 1) be clean and 2) be with her 

"husband" in other words we come to the eternal life together, as families. 

We invited the Spirit this week by really listening to our investigators and teaching to their needs. It was really rewarding to listen to the Spirit and teach the doctrine that would help them. 

Some fun things from this week:

* We had a Halloween party! I LOVE having a senior couple and a chapel. It is just fun to have more tools to find people and get to know them and invite them to meet with us. Sister Allen and I took the elders' tags and wore white shirts and dark skirts so we were elders. You can see pictures of it on the Reed's blog (so go google their blog! reedmission.com)!

*Natalie is amazing. She is one of our members and is one of the coolest people I've ever met. She's 12 years old and was baptized spring 2011. Her parents met the missionaries when she was 3 and ELDER JOHNSON (my first district leader in gdansk) called them 8 years later to meet. Well little did he know that they both, individually had been praying for help for their family. Well time went on and it turns out they didn't want to be baptized (they used to come to church frequently though) but Natalie did! So she joined the church and is just seriously amazing. 

NATALIE AND SARA

*The Reeds are so fun. I love them. They are so fun and energetic and loving. 

We spent "Day of the Dead" the first of november with them and had a blast. We went with them, the elders, and our member Natalie to the cemetery and had so much fun. You can look at the pics/listen to the recordings for more deets on that. On the way back in the tramwaj a hooligan pulled the emergency safety handle so the tramwaj stopped and that was an adventure. We got home all right though.

Candles such as these were on sale by the thousands all around the city.

Here we are on this beautiful fall evening in Poznan. This night was another occasion to gain an even deeper appreciation for this wonderful country and its people. We are so blessed to serve here as missionaries.
FROM THE REED'S WEBPAGE

Graves were beautifully decorated, and the candle lights could be seen for acres and acres all around us as we walked through the grounds. It was a stunning and beautiful sight. FROM REEDS WEBPAGE

One of the biggest holidays in Poland is All Saint’s Day which is November 1st. Families gather together to enjoy delicious food and to visit and decorate the graves of their deceased loved ones. It is a sacred holiday for the country, and everything is closed for the day so that people can enjoy their families and memories. The missionaries and Natalie came over to join us for dinner, and then we went to one of the cemeteries to get a feel for this special occasion in the evening hours. FROM REED'S WEBPAGE

 

*We're having fun memorizing scriptures to songs. Sister Allen is really musical and has a great voice. So we've mastered 1 Nephi 19:23 to the tune of the Circle of Life from the Lion King. I'll record it when she feels better.

*We went to a hospital last monday because this cute mom and her 3 girls and 2 sons live by the chapel. her daughter was in the hospital so we went and sang them songs and they loved it!! we hope they all become new investigators this week.

*Danka, a lady we met not too long ago has made the decision to be baptized! Her date is the 8th of December. And also Bogusia! an amazing woman who truly wants to follow Christ. Her sister drowned though so she is scared of the water but we talked about it this week and she has faith that it will be ok. (SEE LAST WEEKS POST FOR HOW THEY MET DANKA)

*Another fun small-world story:When i was in the MTC I met a Pole named Wiktor who was really nice. He is in Michigan now on a mission. Well I didnt' know his mom lives in poznan and is one of the sweetest ladies in the world! her name's regina, and she comes to church every week I think. We just have to help her read the Book of Mormon so she can, like her son, experience the blessings of the gospel. 

 

*I am so glad sister ostler is feeling better and that they've finally figured out what's up! We're going to see each other on wednesday for zone conference. I imagine she and sister peterson might stay with us--that's what sis mcadams and I did when we had zone conference in poznan, it will be fun to hear how everyone in gdansk is doing. 

Wow that's all for now. I LOVE YOU ALL. Really, I pray for you by name every day and I wish the best for you all. 

Love,

Sister Bezdjian

PICTURES FROM THE PUTTING ON THE WHOLE ARMOR OF GOD FIRESIDE 

BY THE REEDS -  SATURDAY OCT 27TH

Saturday evening we had a fireside for the Branch and visitors based on the Armor of God scriptures found in Ephesians and the Doctrine and Covenants. Our spiritual armor is vital to find true joy and peace in this world. Everyone seemed interested in the topic, members and visitors alike. We had 6 visitors in the meeting, making around 18 people in attendance. It turned out to be a great evening.

After the initial presentation, groups were assigned to make the various parts of the armor. This is the helmet group.
FROM REED'S WEBPAGE

ach group came up and put a piece of armor on Chris and explained their piece of spiritual armor. This is the spiritual man complete with his armor! FROM REED'S WEBPAGE

Here are all the armor builders. How we love these wonderful Polish people!
FROM THE REED'S WEBPAGE