Break the Ice

My email will be short and precise. 

Repentance and forgiveness are great gifts that our loving Savior enabled us to have thanks to his infinite atonement and sacrifrice. It is the power to change our weaknesses and tendencies of mortal carnal humans into those of strength, self-mastery and godliness. (If you want to know what repentance is, I would refer you to my little sister, who gave an excellent talk in church the other week on the topic.) If we truly feel bad for something and have true intent to change, we have the BLESSING and PRIVILEGE to kneel down before our maker and decide to change our ways. It is awkward, and uncomfortable of course as we must change our habits and leave our comfort zone but if we do so and just break the ice in our own heart, the grace of our perfect loving Savior like a fire will burn inside of us, exstinguish our evil desires, and transform our lives.

We have been able to see the power of the great and all-encomposing sacrifice of our Savior and the restored Priesthood and authority of God spreading as a forest fire across the Earth, igniting a blazing faith and reliance in Christ leaving as a result beautiful fertile seeds of conversion which in turn, truly change for the best, the nature of people here in Kielce. 

We were in a visit with one of our investigators at the hospital, and a man by the name of Alex very humbly asked if he could join our discussions. Ever since then, he has recognized and began to apply the truth and power of this message of the restoration and the Gospel of Jesus Christ by accessing the power of the Atonement of our Savior through faith in Him and repentence and has been transforming himself into the man that he has always wanted to be. After our second visit with him he told us of a dream he had that night where an angel in white appeared to him and told him to slow down his life for a moment and listen to his mormon brothers. 

I believe with all my heart  The Church of JESUS CHRIST of Latter Day Saints is true, revelation exists today and that a loving God speaks to his children because he loves us. We just have to be humble and willing enough to listen.

Elder Wood

New Years

New Years was Insane. Literally just imagine a full-on firework show going on in-between all the buildings and houses. Basically, anywhere people could find a flat surface, they would launch fireworks(ones that the States in the U.S. deem illegal) all at once, from balconies, rooftops, driveways, paths and alleyways between apartment buildings, it didn't matter where. haha a massive free for all that lasted from 12:00 to 12:05. It woke me up cause i thought there was a machine gun in our house. I then watched from the window and took a video haha. It "blew" my mind.
Our whole district is staying together here in Kielce for another transfer even though I'm pretty sure my companion is annoyed of my Idahoan ways. ;)
Jarosław truly has turn his life around and became a new man He had his baptism and confirmation this weekend. It was amazing to see everything just fall into place perfectly, and his joy, success, potencial and confidence grow. Right after he got out of the water was the happiest I have ever seen him, he was smiling from ear-to-ear and laughing as he briskly walked up to me and said that we should hurry and take a picture together while he was soaking wet!! haha it was funny. But prezydent Najberg quickly shut-down the idea, and they walked back into the changing room chukkling.
The spirit and feelings that were present at the ordinances are something I really can't explain. It was not anything overwhelming or overpowering but rather the opposite. It was a spirit of such suttle perfectness, mildness and peace. So still, warming, relaxing, mature and quiet that it took place of all other outside noises, distractions, thoughts, or feelings. Although it was suttle and sweet, it was powerful and deafening. 

The Holy Ghost communicates to us in many different ways but as we come to learn and recognize the feelings of the Spirit. We can truly come to recognize the voice of God; speaking directly to us, his beloved children. He loves us and knows us, and he desires for each and every one of us, his children, to feel his love and profit from his perfect divine plan. 

Elder Wood

* Nobody wanted to meet Christmas Eve so we Karoled on main street and handed out Book of Mormons wrapped up as presents, it was also snowing which was cool.

* We stumbled across the Polish Stonehenge.

* Baptism and after

Christmas in Poland

Wigilia, or the Polish Christmas Eve was a huge success at our little chapel. Everybody brought food, the main dishes were Catfish, Potatoes, Piroggi and Beet soup. Elder Stokes and I prepared the traditional drink of Kompot! Where we are supposed boil a ton of fruits add some cinnamon and sugar and make some sort of punch. Ha, we didn't know what we were doing, but I just faked it, solely banking on my polish instincts to kick in....it didn't turn out too well ;) Tradition goes lsomething like this; everybody before eating, takes a piece of bread and then walks around exchanging bits of their piece of bread while making Christmas wishes to everybody personally for the coming year. Then we feast. 

After the feast,  the kids go outside looking for the first star of the night. Once they spot the first star, they can then run back inside and open all their presents under the tree from Saint Mikołaj. Then during the 25th they solely spend time celebrating with family. Then on the 26th the spend their time visiting and exchanging gifts with all their good friends. So basically here in Poland there are 3 days of Christmas! 

Our Wigilia was great because we had a handful of our invstigators come, including a guy we had just felt inspired to invite off the street a few days ago. His name is Robert and he is actually really interested in the spirit and feeling of warmth, happiness,joy, and just pure relief that he felt when he walked into the chapel. He mentioned to me a couple throughout the night how confusing the tangibility of this "spirit, or positive energy" was and he said he wished he could have it all the time. We promised him he could...We have been meeting with him since. It was a neat miracle.

For P-day last week we had the chance to travel to Kraków. We visited Auświtż and then we had dinner and walked around in the Kraków rynek. They had so many gigantic Christmas trees, stages, and little shops filled with antique hand-made Souvenirs, toys and prezents. It seriously felt as if we were in the 16th century, I can't really describe it, it just felt as if we were in some kind of ancient Christmas children's story. It was magical. The food was great too. They had these old-style meats(shish kebabs, hams, sausages and steaks) with potatoes and these really big whole sauteed mushrooms cooking over these big fire grills or big tin bowls in these little shacks.We got some and ate at a wooden table in the festive square and it felt like I was literally thrown back in time. That was a fun culture night. 

Then we got to work. We met with Jarosław a few times this week, he is building his understanding and faith, and truly changing his heart and countenance every time he reads and studies from the Book of Mormon and applies the truths and the commandments into his own life. It has truly been a blessing to see him change from being really really shy and confused, to very open, more confident, radiating with happiness and intelligence,  to spreading his joy with others! He even brought his brother to church last week when he was in town, and gave him a book of Mormon. 

We also met with Paweł a few times. A 25 year old post College kid who aligns himself with the lutheran faith because once he found out the catholic church didn't make sense, the lutheran faith was the closest that he could find to the truth. He has taken a real interest in the events of the restoration, and the Book of Mormon. We even visited him in the hospital towards the end of this week, and he said he wanted to just drop everything bad from his life and start fresh and fill the lack of something inside of him. We taught and testified of the Gospel of Christ( Faith, Repentance, Baptism, Receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost and enduring to the end). The power and the peace of the spirit we felt there in the Hospital Cafeteria during our meeting with him was was so strong. He said he would love to be baptized! It was an interesting experience. 

For the next few days during our time when we didn't have meetings we set up our little mormon get-up in the town square where the Christmas Bazaar was taking place. We were talking about our Savior and Family History. Miracle of the week, we met a chill young guy about 28 that is a professional geneologist. He said he loves the mormons and wants to team up with us in our new Family History initiative. It was an answer to our prayers because finding ancestors in Poland and Eastern Europe is rather difficult and none of us knew how to do it. So that was such an amazing blessing to have him offer to help us and teach us. I feel like in the coming weeks I will be able to find my Polish ancestors and help the members to do the same. They have taken a huge interest in it as well and are starting to catch the fire of finding and bringing together their entire family. Funny side story, We found Elder Stokes' like 10th great grandmother was Elizabeth Hart who was accused of being a witch in the Salem witch trails! haha it was so funny! (not the Salem witch trials but of the extraordinary relationship of Elder Stokes).

We also finally got into contact with a Professor who teaches U.S. History here at the university in Kielce, who has such a facination with the United States that he is willing to give us free polish lessons twice a week! He is sooo awesome, funny and helpful. It's mind-blowing just to see everything just perfectly working out. 

I could go on for eternity explaining the amazing experiences, blessings and miracles on my mission. But I would not want you all to just read my account. Go make your own story. For those of you who are about the mission age, or the thought has crossed your mind even once if you should go...GO! This is a once in a life time experience to see the miracle of the Atonement, the Hand of God, and the truthfulness of this great plan from a front lines perspective. You will increase your testimony, receive the absolute definite witnesses that you have been waiting for your whole life, make incredible lasting friendships, and change your life and the lives of your families for the better, as you bless, serve and change the lives of others while simply bring the world the simple truth of our Heavenly Father's love and plan for them. You will not regret it. PLEASE, listen to the spirit, take a leap of faith, start those papers, submit them, and just go forth with faith. You will be eternally grateful that you did. Your Father in Heaven will be with you every step of the way, along with your Savior, Jesus Christ. It's real. It's all true. I promise and testify. Go forth with Faith and you WILL see.

Starszy Wood

The security guard kicked me out of this lookout. 

Game Changer

This week was a game changer. We had zone conference with all of the southern Poland missionaries, where Prezydent Turek who is polish just layed the hammer and vitality of Family History and geneology work for our members, investigators, less-active members and even ourselves. That is the route we as a mission will be implementing to help the people of poland bind their famileis together and meet us as the Church of Jesus Christ once again restored on the Earth in fulness. Prezydent Turek spoke polish the entire meeeting except for two words," Game Changer". He pretty much dropped the mike, cause the room was dead silent and the spirit was really strong. It will be really cool to work with everybody on this and share it with them as well as find my lost polish roots. The missionary work here in the Poland Warsaw Mission is going to change dramatically as we put a big emphasisis on the importance and unity of the family.
All of us, no matter who we are or what we believe will be blessed and recieve more lasting, consistent, joy, satisfaction, contentment, happiness, and success as we emphasize the importance, unity, and togetherness of our families. For after all that is the most important work. "For the most important work you will ever do in this life, will be the work within the walls of your own home."many prophets and apostles ha. Change your game plan whatever it is to focus more time on your loved ones! You will and they will be happier. Have a good merry week and cuddle up to those you love most. And remember how grateful you are to have that blessed oppurtunity. 

Sincerly,
Elder Wood

1. Ran into some carolers advertising for one of their school projects.

2. our existing family tree. my trainer, his trainee, my trainee
3,4. Gave Andzej, one of our loyal english students a haircut, also convinced him to shave of his mustache. haha his wife kicked him out of the house when she saw him!

This week won't be long. Basically I've got to the point on my mission were I feel like I've been our here forever and I still have forever to go. Time is getting smushed together as the days are really vivid and exciting and fun but then they just fall into a blur behind me, as we wake up the next day cramming our heads with as much studying and polish as possible along with an infinite list of calls and people to talk to (in polish as well). But its great, we went out to dinner with a less active family on Saturday and I translated between them and the daltons throughout their conversation. At the end they, got my attention and just wanted to tell me how when I first came into Kielce like 3 months ago, I was quiet and my Polish was not so great but then they told me that they are suprised at how well and elequent I can speak now between that 3 month span. It was a little exagerated from them because my Polish is very very  weak witha grammatical error every two words and an unknown or made up word every three. But it still made me feel at peace. 

Even when we don't have that many lessons or interested people we still have a long list of things that we must accomplish. And the day always just flies by and is quite impossible to do everything we planned or hoped. Day after day after day.
 But you know what...I feel like everyone in the world can relate on that one, Life just flies by. There are always things to do, never enough time to do it. Especially in the craziness of the next month, It will fly even faster. But through it all, don't forget to stop for a few moments each day, and just look at who you have been blessed with around you. Recount all the incredible memories and incredible moments you have made through you lives with the ones you love. How much they mean to you and where you would be without them. Because these recollections and your loved ones will be a few of the only things that you can take into the life to come....Think about that. 

Elder Wood

p.s. We got to go back in time to the turn of the 13th century and visit a castle in the hills outside the city. The fresh air and getaway from everything for a few hours was such a relief. here are some pictures.

*** From mom:  If you have a moment, please send Bryton a cheery Christmas greeting!!  Thank you!!!
Bryton.wood@myldsmail.net 
or
Starszy Bryton Wood
Poland Warsaw Mission
ul. Wiertnicza 135, 1 Pietro
02-952 Warszawa, Poland

More pictures from last transfer

1. From our first day in Kielce.

2. On exchange in Legnica, The elders there do not have an apartment so they just sleep on mats in the chapel!

3. We are on a train to conference in Katowice.

4. We brought the Elders back with us for exchange and training.

Pictures from last Transfer

Have some time to send some pictures from last transfer.enjoy

1. Training in Warsaw with the assistants.

2. Trip out to the country-side to have a lesson and Dinner with Ela and Jaroslaw.

3. Daltons took us out to sushi on Elder Mulders last day in Kielce.

4. We forgot the trash, plus the egg yokes leaked through the bag.