I canNOT keep myself out of Bydgoszcz. I can't do it! And - let's be real - I don't really WANT to anyways. Who would voluntarily leave Bydgoszcz?! (... Elder Swicegood would. He's been there for eight months, end of this transfer. He wants out. But he doesn't know what he's asking for! Mark my words - the man will leave next transfer, and then he'll spend the rest of his mission missing that Zion of Poland.) Anyways. Bydgoszcz. This lady right here - this sister typing at the computer wearing the blueish-greenish sweater and the gold watch with her hair in a ponytail because the Heat of Summer is arriving in Gdańsk - went to B-Town TWICE this week.
Yes, my children.
You read that correctly.
Twice.
Yes, my children.
You read that correctly.
Twice.
Glory, it was the best week of my life! (Except for those weeks I actually spent in Bydgoszcz 100% of the time - those were pretty good weeks.) I love Bydgoszcz SO MUCH.
B-Town Take One.
I went on exchanges! Woot woot! That was QUITE an adventure. I arrived in Bydgoszcz, hopped off my train, and was greeted by the Bydgoszcz District in full (minus Elder Swicegood who was going on exchanges with Poznań, and Sister Barth. For obvious reasons. ... She was in Gdańsk. That was the obvious reason.) And they were like, "Hey, you made it! We're so glad you made it!" And I was like, "Uh, yeah, me too ..." Confusion. And they were like, "Well, Elder Fogg didn't - we've got no idea where he is. So we're glad you're here!" And then, I had stress. WHAT?! Elder Fogg was LOST? Somewhere in POLAND? And no one had heard ANYTHING from him? Glory! THAT is not okay! Stress. SO MUCH of it. But we were like, "Well, good luck, fellas. Hope he turns up soon! We're going home to plan. Peace." And then we left. So we get on the tram. Sister King, that cute little missionary, gave me a bilet. I stamped said bilet. The bilet checkers checked said bilet. And then, they got out their ticket writing tools. And I was like, "Um, przepraszam. CO TU SIĘ DZIEJE?!" It turns out the bilet I had stamped had been previously stamped, and Sister King had given it to me by mistake - bless her heart. So they hit me with a fine for 180 zlots. THAT hurt like a mothah. That is SO MANY ZLOTS. But it's fine. (Bah! Get it!? Fine? Because it's got a double meaning - meaning one being okay, and meaning two being a ticket. I didn't even do that on purpose!) We got home, Elder Fogg finally showed up (apparently there was some confusion in Inowrocław - that city is NOTORIOUS! At least when I was stranded there, I had Elder White for company and a phone. Elder Fogg was stuck there with a Larry. For two hours. With no way to call anyone. ... That poor kid) - life goes on, wiesz? Tuesday was far less interesting. But that's probably for the best. We did missionary stuff. You know. It was a LOVELY day, but nothing out of the ordinary. And Wednesday I got home without too much trouble, so it was also uninteresting. But it was a really nice exchange! It was so much fun to be with Sister King for a couple days! She is SO much fun! And she's a great missionary - I learned so much from her! She's a doll.
B-Town Take Two.
GUESS WHAT, GUYS? THERE'S A THIRD DISTRICT IN POLAND NOW! Yes! That is a TRUE STORY. (To clear up any confusion, a district is to a branch, what a stake is to a ward.) And we got to be there for the creation of it! Yesterday we went in to Bydgoszcz, with a bunch of people from our branch (we had 24 members/missionaries from Gdańsk there! That is INCREDIBLE!), and saw a bunch of people from the Poznań, Szczecin, and Bydgoszcz branches and their missionaries, and boom! Just like that, they made a district! Ooo OO! It was so exciting! There are things happening in Poland, guys! Glory, I love this country. It's so beautiful! And there are now THREE DISTRICTS HERE! I'm so excited. It was SUCH a great meeting. All the talks were SO beautiful. There are such solid members here, in this part of Poland. It's amazing. I love 'em. And I got to see them! I got to see Karolinkuśku! And the Kagele's! And the Zalewski bunch! And a gazillion missionaries I love! It was a BEAUTIFUL BEAUTIFUL DAY.
Bydgoszcz. I'm TELLING you! I don't know WHAT it is about that city, but it's INCREDIBLE. I would DEFINITELY go back there for my last transfer. I would actually request that. ... I'm going to request that. The branch, the members, the city, the missionaries - I love everything about that blessed land! SEND ME BACK, PREZ!
In Other News:
Sister Toby and I have a problem. It's called - according to Elder Tufts - "the giggle bean". We are SO GIGGLY. This past week - I tell you. We have been struggling. Why is everything so funny? (A Hint: Because we are funny people.) We laugh at literally everything. We're having a grand old time. It's sometimes awkward though, because other people - they can't quite appreciate it the way we do. We were talking on the phone with Sister Overlord Sister Barth, and we were laughing so hard I had to leave the room, and Sister Toby had to tell her we'd call back in a minute. We couldn't keep it together! Oh - and YESTERDAY. Glory, it was embarrassing! We were talking with Elder Wegs and Sister Edgren, and Sister Tobes made a face at me, so NATURALLY I burst into uncontrollable giggles. Naturally! What else was I supposed to do? ... Sister Edgren was not overly impressed. Well, alright then. I can't live my life to impress other people. It's just really awkward when we're giggling, and people are like, "Oh, did we miss something?" and we're like, "Yeah, nope. We're just easily amused." Live your life, am I right?
This lady asked me if my parents are white this week. That was a first. I'm used to the confusion that comes with the last name of Young. I've gotten that enough, I'm used to that now. ("Young? That sounds Chinese. Are you Chinese?" "... Am I Chinese?" "Yes." "... Really?") The other day, we were talking to this really cool lady named Barbara, and she was like, "Young? Are you Chinese?" And I was like, "Um, no. The name is actually from England." And then she was like, "Oh. Hm. Czy twoje rodzice są biali? Are your parents white?" I beg your PARDON? Are my parents WHITE? What? I don't get it. Do I LOOK like my parents could be anything but white? I'm not being racist here when I say that - I'm just being confused. Honestly, do I look anything but white? Confusion. I experienced a lot of confusion.
Last Saturday was Norway Day! Hooray for Norway! (The Resident Norwegien Elder Wegs informed us. We didn't do anything to celebrate. However, in our defense, we aren't Norwegien.)
I've become addicted to Snickers. Because they're delicious.
Ines came to Bydgoszcz for the conference! It was really good for her. I love that woman. She is SO SWEET! She just needs to learn to doubt her doubts, and not her faith. How do you teach someone that?
Talking to people on the streets about baptism is kind of awkward. But you know what? It's kinda cool - it's like, either that contact ends REALLY quickly, or you get into a really good Gospel discussion right off the get-go. So it's nice! We like it!
Sister Toby is a hoot. I love that girl.
I also love Poland.
And Bydgoszcz.
And Gdańsk.
And Snickers. This has GOT to stop!
Peace, kids.
Siostra Young
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