Baptism in Poland!

This weekend was wonderful. We had a meeting with Slawek the day before he was baptized with a member who asked if he was ready. The member told him that he could take some more time if he had any doubts (I wasn't too happy with the member) but Slawek replied that he was ready. He had no doubts: he knew that Joseph Smith was a prophet and the Book of Mormon is true because he prayed about it. Oh, it was amazing. The baptism was wonderful. This time Slawek and both the speakers were an half an hour early so there was no need to pace. Everything went smoothly and beautifully.

This week I became a "real man." According to Polish tradition, if a man wants to marry a Polish girl he has to eat tar-tar (probably spelled wrong) with the girl's father. This proves that he is a real man. Well for Sister Harber's birthday one of the options to try was tar-tar so the Pole of the group (Starszy Augustin) made it for us, and we all tried it, and we are all living. Just so you know, tar-tar is basically raw meat with onions and garlic.

General Conference in Poland: The Lodz District Missionaries

We were also able to watch one session of conference---thanks to the Harbers! I don't think I have every been this excited to watch conference. Since the time difference, we watched the Sunday Morning conference session after dinner at 6 p.m. It was crazy to see the snow on the trees in Salt Lake. It has been getting warm here already. We already sleep with the window open. Although the choir did appear to be in the witness protection program with their blurred faces.  I really like President Uchdorf's talk to keep moving forward. Then Elder Bednar's talk helped us realize how we can recognize the light. I also liked President Monson's talk on temples. Like my trainer said- "on a mission, conference is uber applicable."



Facebook was really invented for Missionary MOMs!

Hello Family,


So today we had an adventure trying to find the Internet. Just so you know,
there isn’t very many places to use it. So right now I have five
minutes and a library card I don’t need. They didn’t tell us until
after we paid for our card that the Internet wasn’t working.
So anyway I am so excited to be an AUNT. VICTORIA is beautiful!!! I am
jealous I am not there. But we had many adventures this week. It has
been tough not really having anyone speak the language very well, but
we are still working hard. For example, getting directions over the
phone in Polish is not an easy task---PROSTO--- but what does that mean?
Straight which way? Needless to say a 15 year old was sent out in
the pouring rain to find us 10 blocks away. I think they really wanted
to hear about the gospel. You never know what will happen on
a mission. I love you all! Congratulations Caprise!

Mom- I got the jelly beans right when my sugar supply ran out. The
mailman hand delivered it. How did you plan that? Also no news on the
dress, but we will see.
Love Siostra Steadman

Thanks to the Senior Missionary Couple, I also received this note and picture via Facebook:
I know the girls didn't get to email much today... they had quite an adventure trying to find a place and ended up coming here and printing out their emails and sending something short. At least they got to read their emails when they got home. Let me know if there is anything you need to communicate.

Your daughter is doing great.. and has a wonderful, positive attitude!!! She's great to be around! Love,
stra Harber

Senior Companion

It really has been an amazing blessing to work with the Danielwski


family. They are amazing examples of faith. Their baptism was one of

the best moments of the mission but meeting with their extended family

and hearing them share their testimonies might have topped it. Patryk

(10 years old ) said the opening prayer and as the Grandma said, “I am

in shock, these boys wouldn't do anything with religion and now they

are reading and praying.” Tomek and Joanna explained to us that they

want to help share this joy with others. They have amazing powerful

testimonies, and it is wonderful to watch them progress and grow. They

leave this week for Germany. I feel like I am leaving my family again,

but I know they will be able to withstand and stay firm with their

testimonies. (yesterday was our one month mark from when we had our

first meeting). It is now time for us to find another family.

“God hath called me by a holy calling to preach the word unto this people and he hath given me much success in the which my joy is full.” Alma 29:13. This is really how I feel. I can't explain how amazing it was to see the Danielewski family standing in white, ready for baptism. They were like angels. It is a day I will never forget. They all bore their testimony at church for sacrament meeting; it was incredible, one after another. I spent the entire Saturday night jumping/smiling for joy. My face hurt.

So after we sent our companions off on the train, Elder Fridge and I took pictures of us and the phone. It is a sign of power---the only difference between Elder Fridge and me was that he handed over the phone when his senior companion showed up. I still have it. Yikes! I went from barely getting to use the phone to the next day calling every member in the branch to remind them about the baptism of an entire family. I am also the longest serving missionary in Lodz so on Sunday after Sacrament Meeting, the Sunday school president came up to me and asked me as the senior companion if I would teach the gospel principles class. Wow things change fast!

Miracle Week

THE MOST AMAZING WEEK!!!!!

> This has been a week of miracle after miracle. I know the Lord answers prayers. Wow, I don't even know where to start! In our mission we have a standard of excellence that is a goal for each missionary companionship to achieve. Sister Bautner and I made it our goal to achieve it this past week since it was her last week to be able to. This next Sunday is District Conference, so we are not having church in Lodz. Anyway we totally DID IT! In fact- we were able to meet the Standard of Excellence for our District as well! It was totally a matter of faith, hard work, and answered prayers.

1. We needed to have 2 baptism dates- Done---We got 4!



> Miracle Story: I have gained the strongest testimony of the power of the Book of Mormon. I know if people read it, they will gain a testimony and see it change their life. The Family (we called them The Family because they are amazing and rare to find) is progressing more than imagined. We had our first meeting with them last Sunday. The father started to read the Book of Mormon daily and on Friday was almost done with First Nephi. The 13 and 10 year old boys started to read on Tuesday and on Friday were to chapter 12. The three of them accepted a baptism date on Friday without any hesitation. Tomek (father) knows this is the best thing for them. I wish I could explain the love and the great spirit that is in their house. The mom wouldn't read and so doesn't have the testimony that the others have. It really showed the difference between reading and not. However, they all came to church on Sunday. And loved it! We went and picked them up and I was able to walk with Wictoria (yes, spelled with a W- makes the v sound). There is nothing better as a missionary to walk in to church with an entire family. The first thing they said is that it was warm here---a distinct contrast to the Catholic Church. There was an amazing spirit during Sacrament Meeting. Afterwards, we asked them what they thought, and they said it pleased them very much---Tomek told us that Joanna was even convinced. They couldn't stop smiling. I am so excited to meet with them tonight. I cannot believe it has only been a week since our first meeting I already feel like they are family! Their baptism is set for the 5th of March- right after transfers. I really hope I will be here for it!

Happy Valentine's Day from Poland

Going whiteboarding!

P-Day races.

We had a wonderful Zone conference in Warsaw. So we didn't have any meetings on Monday or Friday, and yet we were able to have 20 lessons. It was awesome to be busy. Meal times were taken on trams. I am praying every week to be like this.  Like most weeks this week has been a roller coaster with highs and lows, but some of my favorite things that happened this week were: an investigator saying she gained a testimony of the Book of Mormon through reading it and applying it to her life; an investigator encouraging a member to pay tithing to see the blessings; teaching a complete family and the father saying he felt something while reading Moroni's promise; having a member invite us over to teach her friend; and hearing people's first prayers. Being on a mission is incredible.

"We are all daughters of God"

Visiting Jakub in the hospital. The sisters found his mother's membership record while digging for names to contact. She suggested they visit her son in the hospital. They usually had to bribe their way in. Christmas 2010.

This week we had a different look to our branch. It was AMAZING. We had three less active members show up all wearing suits. Here are three priesthood holders that our branch desperately needs. One, we had a left a note at his apartment in December. We had never heard back but then he came to church a month and half later. Then Jakub walks in the door. It was amazing to see him out of the hospital and in church!

This week, I have had some amazing lessons. The first was with a Amara, a less active member from Mongolia. She speaks Polish, too but not English. She invited us over for dinner and also Emily (the student from America). She fed us these tasty Mongolian meat fried things. She also told us that she likes it when missionaries eat a lot. Unfortunately, I was sitting next to her, so I ended getting a lot more food on my plate than planned. Everytime it looked I might be close to finishing, she gave me more. Good thing we run all the time.  Anyway during the spiritual thought, Sister Bautner and I read the Book of Mormon in Polish, Amara in Mongolian, and Emily in English. As we went around the room reading, I was impressed by how worldwide this religion is. This gospel is for everyone. And as Amara said, "we are all daughters of God."