Monday, April 14, 2014 3:56 AM Sometimes I Throw Up.

A Preface.

I remember, once upon a time, pre-mish but post-call, I was talking to my Grandma Young. And she was telling me that my Aunt Becky had told her that there wasn't a day that went by that she wasn't grateful for her mission. And i remember thinking, "Wow. That is BEAUTIFUL. I hope I feel like that!" And then, I remember being in Kraków, and remembering that story, and thinking to myself, "What in the CRAP kind of mission did Aunt Becky have? I can tell you right now - I'm less grateful for my mission than I've ever been for anything! This is a junker! What in the crap am I doing here?" ... Yeah. That was a pretty dark part of my life. But I sucked it up and hated life a little bit and kept going. (And along the way, there were DEFINITELY some awesome parts. FLIPPING AWESOME PARTS. But it was rough.) And now. Here I am. My mission isn't perfect. FAR from it. And - I'm not going to lie to you - sometimes I hate my life a little bit. But for the most part, I am EXCEEDINGLY happy. And - even more amazing - there is not a single day that goes that I'm not grateful for my mission. Aunt Becky - I salute you. You were correct.

A NOT Preface.

Okay. So. This week was a good week. Of my life. In Poland.

Monday.

We ... uh. Hmm. What DID we do? I don't recall ... But it was probably really fun. What can I say? Sister Mik and I - we're fun people.

Tuesday.

CULTURE DAY! Yeah boy! It was charming! We went to the Nicholas Copernicus Museum here in Warsaw (because the man is Polish. Who knew, right?). It was super fun! Except ... there were a gazillion children there. It's like three different countries decided that today would be a good day for a field trip, and what the heck, let's ALL GO to the museum! So that was ... interesting. It was a cool museum though! And it was really fun to spend some time with the D! They are such a good little bunch of elders. I like them. We also ate at a restaurant called the Blue Cactus. The food was edible, but overpriced. So I'm not going back there.

Wednesday.

We did English things. Like handing out English ulotki and teaching English. And we spoke in English (because it's the language we speak, and I'll be flipped if we only ever speak Polish amongst ourselves. That sounds like a junker). It wasn't an overly interesting day. But it was good!

Thursday.

We had a meeting with a member named Maria. She's cool. We're teaching FHE with her tonight (as in, today, Monday). She said she wants everyone to cry. So either it will be CRAZY spiritual, or a little scary. ... At this point, I'm not sure which will win out. Then we met with OLA THE AMAZINGEST WOMAN IN POLAND. It was great. She's just so cool! I love our lessons with her! We also had dinner with the sisters of Warsaw 1, and I got to talk to Sister Hemming, and it was JUST SO GOOD. I love Sister Hemming. She's an amazing missionary.

Friday.

We went out with the office elders to a members house - Krystyna Dyba - and cooked with her. It was SO MUCH fun! And whilst we were cooking, she happened to have her radio on. Because that's a normal thing to do while you cook, right? Right. And do you KNOW what song came on that radio? Eternal Flame. By The Bangles. Elder Baranowski and I sang a stirring duet. It was enchanting. Elder Smith was disgusted and was fairly open about that, but Krystyna was like, "Knock it off - look how happy they are! They're singing! It's adorable!" It was adorable. She's right. We made some kapusta, and it was suprisingly good. I ate Polish food! Yay! Then we did a white board, and Sister Mik and I talked to this SUPER awesome lady named Swietłana. She's from Slowakia, but speaks BEAUTIFUL Polish. And we had a really good conversation. She said she's going through some hard stuff and we talked about it and asked if she'd like to meet some other time to talk more, and she was like, "Fo sho!" And I was like, "Woot woot!" And then she told us that speaking to us had already helped her feel better, and that we had a feeling and energy about us that she'd never felt before. That would be the Holy Ghost, my friend. It was beautiful.

Saturday.

We met with Karolina. She's so cool! She's a member, and she's lovely. We love her. Then we met with this awesome lady named Ania, who's SO sweet. And she loves us. Then we did a SUPER AWESOME free table on the Rynek, and it was AMAZING. We barely even had to contact - people just walked right up to us and looked at everything and asked what we were doing! It was incredible! That does NOT just happen. No sir it does not. It was great. And I talked to this strange old man for a LONG time, because I couldn't find a way to ditch that conversation. But he kept talking to me about how he was FOR SURE going to America, so he needed to learn English. And then he just kept blabbering on to me, and then he called me "ładna" about 80 times (that means pretty ... aside from being old and senile, apparently he's also got pretty bad vision, bless him) and told me that if he were younger, we WOULD be dating. Ew. THAT'S not okay. So I told him I didn't think so (probably that wasn't the best thing to say, but whatevs. He was weird), and then he told me about how when he was younger, he was REALLY attractive. Gross. Then we had a lesson with an awesome member from Armenia named Vardges - he's SO COOL! Then we went home and ate ice cream and waited for transfer calls.

And now. The moment you've ALL BEEN WAITING FOR. Where is Sister Young going? Or is she staying? Drum roll, please! Sister Young is NOT staying. She is going to Gdańsk! What?! I know! I was a little freaked out too! I did NOT see that one coming! I was SURE I was staying! But I've got to be honest with you, I was really hoping I'd be leaving. Warsaw is good. I've learned a TON here, and I've had a GREAT transfer, but it's just not me. It's too big, it's too loud, there are too many missionaries milling about. It's just not me. So I'm pleased. REALLY pleased. And guess who I get to be with?! Sister Tobes! Woo hoo! I'm so excited! It's going to be BEAUTIFUL! Ah. What joy fills my heart. So yes. Gdańsk. The elders there are Jaeger (Elder Fogg's MTC comp) and Wegersen (spelling is questionable because GUESS WHAT THAT LAST NAME IS NORWEGIAN. Yes. The man is from Norway. My life just got 80 times more interesting). Also, there's a senior couple! BLESS THEM! I love senior couples.

Sunday.

Last Sunday in Warsaw! That was pretty crazy! I talked to some people, and took pictures with some people, and soaked up the joy that is a functioning branch in Poland. It was great! And then, do you want to know the cutest thing in the whole world? We were invited over by the Hungarians Kris and Lajoś for dinner, but we couldn't go. So we were at home packing, and Lajoś called and asked if he could bring us some food that he and Kris made. Is that not adorable? So we were like, "Flip yes! Thank you, you beautiful Hungarians you!" So we met him at the metro stop to pick up the food, and do you know what? The man brought us flowers. Yeah. That happened. He gave us each a beautiful little daffodil. Is that not the most beautiful thing you've ever heard in your whole life? It was great. And the food was delish.

So yes. That is my life this week. Yay for Sister Young's life this week!

And now I must go and finish packing my life into three suitcases. Please bless this is the last time I move before the BIG MOVE. I can't DO this again! I hate it! Moving is a crap fest. Especially when you're trying to shove your whole life for a year and a half into suitcases and throw it on and off trains and trams and metros. It's poop. I hate it. But it's okay! My moves are numbered! Speaking of which - let's all freak out about the fact that I have ONE TRANSFER CALL LEFT in my life in Poland! I'M FREAKING OUT! When did this happen? My life - it is crazy. CRAZY.

Love you all!

Siostra Young