Well hello there my family! How are we this fine morning? I am just FREAKING AWESOME! It's so great. Do you know why? Because exactly 1 week from RIGHT NOW I will be boarding a plane for Amsterdam! Yes. Amsterdam. You read that correctly. How exciting is that? I mean, I REALLY (and I mean REALLY) wanted London. But alas. This will do. At least it's not Chicago, right? Just couting blessings. It's fine. And I'm super excited! Because I'm going to Poland! In a week! In a week I am going to Poland! GAH!!!!!! I will mail a copy of the travel plans to you uygs, but just for now so you know. We leave SLC at 11:10 on Monday (so I'll be calling from the airport in SLC, I'm guessing around 9 or 10? I don't really know how this all works. So just standby. And I want to talk to the kids, so PLEASE PLEASE check out the little munchkins from school so I can hear from them too! We arrive in Amsterdam at 8:05, then fly to Poland at 9:45 and arrive at 11:40. And then I WILL BE IN POLAND! GAH! ACTUAL FACTUAL POLAND! You may sense some excitement. That's because I'm pretty freaking excited.
And, before I forget, EMILY YOU ARE THE LAMEST. I will, however, forgive your neglect (which has been EXTREME and offensive ... but whatever) if you can send me the lyrics to Amsterdam by Imagine Dragons. Sister Pearson and I cannot remember how that song goes, and it's making us crazy.
So today is our last PDay here in the MTC. Pretty crazy. We did a session at the temple this morning with our whole district, and it was so cool! I'm going to miss them all so much! Especially Starszi Olsen and Owens. I mean, at least the rest of them will be in the same country as us. They're going to be in England! Our little Polski Family is falling apart! Ugh. I think about it, and I want to cry. Can I just say how NOT A FAN of this I am. We keep telling them to just come to Poland with us, but they said something about wanting to go where the Lord called them. Whatever that's about. Anyways. We're going to have Family Reunions ALL THE TIME when we get back (I'm going to make this happen, whether they like it or not). So it's fine. And besides, we can write our English Elders since they'll be in a different mission, so I guess that's something of a consolation prize.
On Tuesday, Elder Scott came for our devotional. As in Richard G. We finally got an apostle! I can die happy now (thought if it's all the same, I'd rather live). But it was SO good. I love that man. He is amazing. He gave a wonderful talk about prayer, and it was so good! He also gave us an Apostolic Blessing, in which he said those learning a foreign language would MASTER it. Not just learn it, or stumble through it - no no no - we will master it! How amazing and comforting is that? It makes me feel a little better on the rough days.
We do in fact sing in Polish. Not very well, usually. But we certainly try! We don't have hymnals in the traditional sense of the word. We do have a little mini substitute sort of thing though. It's got about 100 songs in it. Apparently they're "working" on a Polish hymn book now, but our teachers didn't seem super convinced by that.
Nervous? Ha! Of course I'm nervous! I mean, I'm totally thrilled and I can't wait to go, but there are certainly a lot of nerves involved. This week we'll probably talk more about the culture (at least, we're all HOPING we will!).
Our Language Reviews are exactly that - reviews of the language lessons we've already gone over. Generally speaking, they're long and boring and pretty confusing. But of course we'll get it eventually. It's just, there's so much to remember. And we're going to learn so much more once we're actually out in the field. So that's where we're at, language-wise. Pretty, uh, pretty fun stuff.
My zone. They're quite a group. Yeah - a lot of our languages have similarities. Apparently when we get back and we're actually able to speak, we'll be able to understand the other languages pretty well. But for now - not so much. What I love most, is that EVERYONE in our zone says czesc. Which is just cute. I mean, it's not in their languages - it's only Polish. But everyone says czesc to us, which is fun. We're a pretty fun district. They all just want to be more like us. We don't have any Russians - I'm assuming they're their own zone. We mostly keep to our district, occasionally mix it up with our zone. Except at meals. We're all together at meals. Which I'm not necessarily a fan of. I kinda miss our little Polski Family dinners back from the old days. But it's fine. It's still good.
Funny you should mention The Olsen List. It has been completed. We're getting copies today, and then I'm going to laminate the original for Starszy Olsen to give to his companions. It's pretty great. I'm a genius, what can I say? Honestly, it's the most hilarious list that's ever been compiled. Though it might be funnier if you actually know Starszy Olsen ... regardless, I will be sending a list and the a copy of the introductory letter that will go with it. It's just so funny! I'm excited. It's great.
A massive thanks to EVERYONE for the mail - I appreciate it so much. And an EXTRA SPECIAL thanks to Grandma and Grandpa Barnes - thank you SO MUCH for the packages! I wear my Jazz shirt with pride (whether they're in the playoffs or not, they're winners to me - cute, right?), and I love it SO SO much. It's the best. And the pie was super delicious - sometimes you just need pie! I am exceedingly grateful.
Much love, everyone! Thanks for all the love and support I've received here! You're all amazing.
And OH MY HECK NEXT WEEK I'M GOING TO BE IN ACTUAL POLAND! GOOD HEAVENS! I just can't even handle it. It's crazy. CRAZY! Ah! I'm so excited!
FOR THE BLOG:
Officially Out
This is it, guys! In one week, I will be out! Out of the MTC, out of Provo - I will be out of the county, for goodness sake! I just wanted to give one last little bloggy post from the prison.
I am so excited to be going to Poland. Not only to be going to Poland (admittedly, that's pretty legit), but to be sharing the Gospel. The Church is true. I love it so much, and being here has helped me to realize how very important it is, and what it has the power to do. It can change lives. It's changed my life. I love it, and I will never stop loving it.
Wiem ze Bog jest nasym Ojcem Niebieskim. Bog jest bardzo kochajancy, i wie nas. Jesli zaufamy On, On bede pomaga nas. Zawse. Rodzina jest bardzo wasny, i jest wazny do planu Boga. Ja kocham moja rodzina na zawse. Jozef Smith jest prawda prorok, i piewsze prorok tenu dyspensacja. Jezus Chrystus jest moj Zbawiciel. Kocham On, i wiem ze On kocha mi. Zadoscuczynienie jest dla wsyti ludzie, i ma moc do pomaga nas. W imie Jezusa Chrystusa, amen.
Sorry - that spelling is sketch for about a gazillion reasons (chief among them is the fact that this keyboard doesn't have a Polish option so I can't use any crocas or crescas or e funkies or a funkies or l funkies ... just don't worry about it. Also, it turns out Polish is difficult, and the spelling is occasionally a bit questionable), but that's my testimony. I know the Church is true. I know that I have been called to preach the Gospel in Poland, and there's a reason. Maybe I don't understand, but surely God does. He's sending me exactly where needs me to be, and that's enough. I trust Him. I can't speak the language perfectly - probably I never will. But be that as it may, the Spirit will speak when I can't. I am so grateful for my Savior, and for His sacrifice for me. I am grateful for the knowledge I have, and the comfort that it brings. I'm so glad that I'll have the opportunity to share this message of hope and peace and love with the people of Poland.
This is it. I am almost [OFFICIALLY] out.
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