What a special weekend we have had here in Poland. A prophet of the Lord has spoken to us and told us that we are the pioneers that in Poland. He told us that we were called to serve Him, we accepted to serve Him, and that we each promised to establish the kingdom of God here in Poland. We need to focus our time and talents on what the Lord has called us to do. President Uchtdorf told us also that we need to be united in everything we do. Lift each other up, help each other and love each other. And we need to find out for ourselves, if we don't already know, that the gospel is true. He was wonderful.
So now I'm going to start from last Thursday. We were doing the programs for President Uchtdorf and everyone wanted to see them and correct whatever was wrong. Broke a mission rule that night!!! So Friday the 13th - the office elders went to the government office at 7:10 am to get in line for the legal work. You have to pull a number and then you wait till they call your number. When they got there the line was already out the door and down the block. At 10:00 am someone came out of the building and told everyone still waiting that they weren't handed out anymore tickets. So the new trainees that came in on Tuesday were now going to have to stay until Monday or later. We also held the trainer training meeting that night at the office. So I fixed them dinner. It was another long day.
Elder Whiting (standing), Elder Smith, Sister Blake, Sister Barth and Elder Jaeger.
Saturday, Wayne and I had to be to the chapel by 11:00 am and start putting together sack lunches for the missionaries. The Senior Couples all showed up about that time also. We made 105 chicken salad sandwiches, 105 ham and cheese sandwiches, cut up pineapple and cantaloupe, washed many strawberries, raspberries, and grapes. These all went into little cups - 105 of them. There also was a bag of chips, peanuts and cookies that some of the senior couples had made. Plus a drink. Plus there was a baptism going on and they were in the kitchen try to heat water for the fount and prepare plates of goodies for afterwards. The security for Pres. Uchtdorf told the baptism people that they had to be out of the building by 1:30 pm. Needless to say, they were not. So President Edgren told them just to take the dirty dishes into the kitchen and leave them. Guess who had to wash and clean up the kitchen? Anyway it was all worth it. We got to shake Pres. Uchtdorf's had and talk to him for a little bit. And Sister Uchtdorf hugged all of the girls. It was exciting. Here are a couple of pictures of the missionaries and Pres. Uchtdorf.
All the missionaries starting to arrive.
We were told to sit in our seats about 30 mins. prior to him coming. What an awesome crowd!
Here we are shaking his hand and talking with him.
After the conference and cleaning up, we had to go to the Mission Home and be with the missionaries that were staying there. President and Sister Edgren had gone out to dinner with Pres. Uchtdorf. Everyone was sitting at the table folding the programs for Sunday's meeting. I was in the kitchen trying to clean up a few things for Sister Edgren. When I looked out the window, Pres and Sister Edgren was walking up the front steps with Pres and Sister Uchtdorf. I turned around and said - "HE's HERE!!!! He came in and joined us around the table just like he belonged there. So here is my close up!
He was joking with the missionaries. It was really awesome. That's his daughter (in white) and his wife.
He was telling them what a beautiful country Poland is.
Saturday night we had Elders Stumpf and Fotu spend the night with us. Elder Stumpf talked to President Uchtdorf in German and he got a hug from Pres. Uchtdorf. Everyone was jealous.
Sunday we had to get up and go to the mission home to get some luggage and take to the Marriott Hotel for those Elders and Sisters that were leaving right from the conference. They had set up 500 chairs for the conference and every chair was filled.
Sister Roulstone led a choir. They sang in Polish.
This is everyone starting to come in to the conference room.
After the conference we had to make sure everyone got their luggage and get them over to the train station. Then we had to go over to the mission home again with the elders and sisters because Pres. and Sister Edgren were eating lunch with the Uchtdorfs at the hotel. The missionaries can't be alone in the mission home. We got home about 7:00 pm. We weren't able to go shopping this weekend so I made Wayne some pancakes for dinner. And I used the last egg.
So it was back to the government office on Monday. The office didn't open until 8:00 am, but Elders Smith and Meherg got there about 4:30 am and there was already a line. They were able to get numbers this time -50 thru 58. The new missionaries and their trainers showed up at about 6:00 am. They were there all day. At 2:30 pm, Elder Smith called us and said they were just calling number 38. They only got three of the 9 done because it was 4 :30 and the office was closing. So here it is Thursday and there are still 4 new missionaries here with their trainers, sleeping on hard floors and wearing the same clothes.
They are going to try again today and Friday if needed. We are going to have to figure all of this out and see what we can do differently. Our next transfer we have 15 new missionaries coming in. It's going to be a nightmare.
Our day at the office was crazy, too. So much to do. And we held FHE - another 15 people showed up. I had some of the Cafe Rio pork left over so that's what we fed them. Still haven't gone to the store. We are having toast and kool-aid for breakfast.
Teri is up in Utah with her children right now. Staying with Tracy and Jeremy.
Tuesday all of the "going home" missionaries left. Wayne had to take all of their luggage to the airport at 7:15 am. I walked to the office. But here they are in front of the mission home getting ready to get into cars and at the airport. It was sad to see this group go home. We got to know each of them very well.
Sister Lenhart, Swenson, President, Elders Baranowski, Harris and Lanham.
Elders Vernon, Tingey, Garfield, Lenhart, Harris, Godwin, Baranowski and Cieslak. Great group!
This is in front of the airport.
Okay, gotta go. There's a lot I left out, but not enough time. We love you all and miss you. Congratulations again to Rob and Michelle.
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