Oh, the Weather in Poland is Frightful in August

Can you believe how fast this summer is going? Here the days are incredibly long, but the weeks seem to flying by. I have been told by many sources that this is the worst summer for weather that they have had. It just keeps raining. This has made it difficult to find people. On Saturday we didn't struggle with the issue of being rejected all day, we couldn't find anyone to talk too. We tried tracting and contacting. No one was on the street and no one was at home. We think they all left to find better weather.

However the rain has provided different ways to find people. For example, on Thursday a huge rainstorm hit while we were contacting. We had an umbrella, but it was raining hard enough it would hit the ground and I promise come back up. It is amazing how quickly the street clears. We took cover in a cookie shop :). In the end we were able to have a good conversation with the store owner. In other words I believe that we now have a reason to try every variety of cookie at the shop.

We also had a cool meeting with a young girl. I am not sure if she will go anywhere right now, but it was one of my favorite first lessons. First of all when we set up to meet she didn't want to meet at the chapel so we agreed to meet outside. Unsurprisingly it was raining so we ended up having our meeting at the chapel. She is Protestant, and it is amazing how many of her beliefs align with our beliefs. For example, she does not believe that we should pray to Mary. She believes that our bodies are our temples and that the Ten Commandments still apply today. It was incredible to hear someone explain to us the same things we try to explain to other people. She is very curious in the Book of Mormon, so we will see what comes of it.

This Sunday was great---we had a lot of members at church. Every Sunday it is almost like going home. The family with 8 kids who live in another city were in a car crash last week on the way from church. The mom and six of the kids were in the van with the dad the 2 kids following behind them in a car. The van with most the family was involved in the crash, and they rolled 3 times. The van was totaled. Miraculously, all of them were okay. However all of them were sent to the hospital and some of them to different hospitals. It was amazing to see how the branch family was here. Members were called and they had people to be at each of the hospitals. The branch here really is a family to help and serve. Then despite everything the entire family was at church again this week. Half the family took the bus in order to be at church.

This week we also had a family from Germany come for church. The father is Polish and the mother is German. Their children mostly speak German and little Polish and a little English. They also brought their daughter’s friend who isn't a member and only speaks German and a little English. I am always amazed at the fact that we are able to have conversations. They are supposed to be here next week and in YWs, so we shall see how it will go.

Olivia just got back from EFY in Germany. She told me that part of the week they had to learn the waltz. I don't think we ever learned the waltz when I was at EFY. She also said that she had a weird American partner. Oh, she is great.

We also had a family who went to Germany to go to the temple for a week. They said that in one of sessions the German missionaries came. It made me very jealous. However they told us that they thought of us while they were there.

Our district is completely out of Books of Mormon luckily we have someone coming from Warsaw tomorrow. We hope to get mail, too. We haven't gotten mail for a month so we are excited.

I love you all

Love Siostra Steadman

Sorry about last week, for some reason the email didn't get sent. But I sent it today and so it is like a two in one day. Now you kind of understand how it is like for us on mail day. This Friday we got mail from Warsaw, and it has been over a month so it was like Christmas. I got mail from some friends, Sister Goodloe and the primary kids, the cousins, Grandpa Peterson, Sister Harber, and Sister Whitbeck. It always fun to get letters and see how everyone is doing. We also got some cases of Ksiegi Mormona. Good thing because I actually had someone come up to me and ask for a book but we didn't have any to give.

Sister Harber told me she had contact with a bishop in Germany and the Danielewski family is doing great. They have started doing baptisms for their family members in the temple and are preparing to receive their patriarchal blessings. That is the best news to get. It is always to get letters from kids they manage to make me laugh and feel the power of their sweet testimonies.

This week was a lot like last week. We did a lot of contacting and searching. As a district we are trying to come up with new ways to find people. Anyone have any good ideas?

Church this week was awesome. It was a packed room. The elders got kicked out to the hall. We had the family from Germany, another couple from Germany, people living in Ireland, England, and from other cities of Poland. It is amazing that no matter where you go, the church is the same. No matter what language everyone has the opportunity to accept the sacrament. Testimony meeting was great as well. It is amazing to hear the testimonies of Polish people. It gives me hope that we will find someone who wants to talk to us.

On a more funny note---this week Sister Garcia and I taught Sunday School to two German 13 year girls. One speaks a little Polish and the other a little English. We watched the Restoration movie with them which we had in German and then tried to talk about it. When I decided to serve a mission I never knew how many lessons I would teach were they didn't speak English or Polish. We also made Sunday dinner for the district. I tried to make Manicotti. It was a fast Sunday so everyone liked it, but it wasn't the typical Manicotti. We had to improvise a little with Polish ingredients.

Kocham was!

Siostra Steadman