Baptism!

haha so Siostra Grgich and I decided to play a little trick (a nice one , don't worry) on the elders this week- we swapped clothes, shoes, and even did our hair like the other. It was quite effective might I say. The picture still throws me off! haha. So we are wearing each other's hats, scarves, shoes, skirts, tops, coats- and for the picture's sake, the others' bags. She curled my hair, I straightened hers. :p Funny enough, the day we did it, the elders came to sneak up behind us, and freaked out when we turned around hahaha. Throughout the day, we all made comments- oh my gosh, it happened again! The little trick worked on the 2 of us as well haha. Made for a good laugh.

here we are at a "Polski Smak" restaurant-celebrating elder Kimball's (front right) birthday :)

so Gdańsk totally had a baptism on Saturday! from left to right are : Prezydent Kempa, Elder Kimball, Dawid (the "baptisee") , and Elder Platter. Such a great experience-iinvestigators, Dawid's friends, members came.. it was so nice. :) More pics to come. :)

here are more ppics of baptism. kind of awkward that Dawid's friend arek put his arm around me.. (he doesn't know that not hugging the sisters is a thing methinks- so don't judge, or judge that I look extremely awkward in the picture haha.)

from left to right: me, arek and kuba (friends of dawid), dawid, elders kimball and platter, members waldek and jadwiga, sister grgich

Wioletta is making a funny face hahah she's super awesome and we get along really well (she loves Queen and the Beatles so we bond over that ;)) This is at the hotel for Dawid's baptism

first few photos of me at the library giving a presentation on my Australian culture :)

This week was super amazingly awesome :D The biggest highlight was Dawid's baptism and confirmation. We hired out a room in a medieval-looking hotel (it was the only place available that we were able to find!) and used that for the service, and then used the hotel pool to do the baptism. It was a really special occasion for everyone. One member in the branch was baptised exactly 20 years ago to the day, and we had our mission president and his wife attend, and a progressing investigator and some others who'd never seen a baptism before. Yesterday Dawid was confirmed a member of the church and given the Gift of the Holy Ghost, and the room was filled with such a great spirit. After church, Sister Wood and I were able to have a lesson with our progressing investigator (we met him tracting a couple of weeks ago) and it was just a great lesson with Andrzej saying a beautiful, heart-felt prayer at the end. It's so refreshing hearing the simple testimonies and of investigators and new converts- they notice the things that sometimes I take for granted, like how great it is that we can say prayer in our own words because we are directly communicating with our loving Father in Heaven. It's also so good to see how the branch here are willing to fellowship new members or guests and help them feel loved.

That reminds me, we're starting a new 9-week transfer this week and I got the news that I'll be staying in Gdańsk yet again with Sister Wood, and Sister Bąk will be joining our companionship! :D I'M JUST OVERJOYED!! Firstly, I love Gdańsk and I never want to leave hahah. Secondly, Sister Wood and I've managed to get super tight this transfer and we work pretty well together in my opinion! Thirdly, SISTER BĄK!!! Ahhh MTC bud buddies :) hehehe, so yes, I'm super excited about the upcoming transfer. We'll have Christmas and the New Year, and this beautiful city and branch to enjoy.

This week, I had a really nice opportunity to talk about my Australian culture with Polish people! I was invited by a public library to give a short presentation on Australia, so I did :) I got to talk about Aboriginals (and I of course mentioned my beautiful nieces) our modern culture (including our multiculturalism) and why I'm here in Poland on a mission. I had my guitar and sung a few Aussie songs (Give Me a Home Among the Gumtrees, We Are Australian, Click Go The Shears, and Sister Wood and I sung acapella, that Aboriginal song that's on Bran Nue Dae). Everyone was really nice and complimentary afterwards (about the music, my Polish, and my ANZAC bikkies) and it just felt so good. I encouraged everyone to be proud of their country too, because Poland truly is a beautiful place. The day before the presentation, I also just happened to hear an Aussie on the street around the Christmas markets, so I interrupted his conversation and said "ARE YOU AUSSIE?" and he said yes and then we spoke for a bit (his dad is actually a Christian minister in Wollongong so that's cool) hahaha it was a tender mercy that I was able to hear that familiar accent. Don't get me wrong, I LOVE it here so much, but hearing that Aussie accent is pretty comforting sometimes :)

This week, Sister Wood had an idea that we should swap outfits for a day, so we did haha. It was pretty funny because we kept fooling ourselves and the elders into thinking that we were the other companion. It was also nice because Sister Wood has a super warm jacket and we went tracting that night, so it kept me warm :) I've been so blessed to know all these amazing missionaries so far on my mission (both in the MTC and my companions in Poland) and I'll really miss my trainer Sister Montesinos (she's going home tomorrow)- I've just had such positive experiences here. I'm so excited for this upcoming transfer. I see a lot happening in this branch, and it will be a sad day when my time comes to leave it!

Well time goes on and my will to work hard only gets stronger in this Polish winter! I love you so much and I'm so grateful for all your awesomeness. Excited for our Christmas Skype call (you've got to invite the nieces too)!

Love from Sister Grgich

Last Full Week of the Transfer

so, we all took our culture night this previous Saturday. It was a lot of fun! We all went to a handball game with the elders' investigator Dawid (far left). I discovered handball is a lot like football, soccer, basketball, and wrestling all in one haha. A prettyintense scenario, have not been to a public competitive environment in.. a while!

I got my (2nd) Christmas package hahah I'm so sorry, I just had to open it!! Full of those Aussie goodies :D You're all the best!

My companion Sister Wood and I at Westerplatte (a peninsula in Gdansk where they say World War 2 started- well, it was the first battle of the war between Poland and Germany)

Me on some fallen stairs (it was secured by poles and stuff- as in, metal poles, not the people Poles) har har stop Sister Grgich, you're too funny ;)

Selfie- me and my companion climbing the ruins

At Westerplatte- this is my district climbing amongst some ruins of an old guard building/barracks

The monument at Westerplatte (in remembrance of the Polish defenders). Don't let the blue sky decieve you- it was 2 degrees! But sunny, which was nice I've gotta say:)

so, kind of found ourselves in Warsaw for a couple days so Sister Grgich could do some legal work which was fun. Left to right are Sister Grgich, Elders Wolfley (office elder) Elder Taylor, and Elder Jaeger (office elder). There we are waiting fr the train back to Gdańsk.

so this is in the area where WWII began, in Westerplatte by all the ports. We got to walk around, see some ruins, lighthouses in distance, and see the Bałtyk :)

so here is where we spent some pday and following, enjoyed Da Grasso and an oreo pie thing :)

here is this ruin building- kind of fascinating got some legit shots inside on the various cameras, wouldn't mind returning there!

 

 

This week is our last full week together for this transfer- time goes by incredibly fast! Today for p-day our district decided to go to Westerplatte (they have a monument and a permanent outdoor exhibition to read about the history of the area) and whilst it was cold, the sun was out in full force and shone its beautiful rays on us for the majority of our time there, so all in all I'd say it was a glorious day :) This is where World War 2 had it's first European battle (so between Germany and Poland) and it also has a lot of significance in other times of history, so I'd definitely suggest googling it!

This week our district also went out to see a European Handball game, and an investigator Dawid who's getting baptised in the branch this weekend came along too (we chose this activity as our 'culture night' of the transfer). It was pretty fun to see the crowd and the teams all having a blast. Afterwards we all went to a Pierogarnia (a restaurant where they make and serve Pierogi- Polish dumplings) and spoke and just had a good time, feeling Polish and enjoying the atmosphere!

So last Monday, Sister Wood and I went down to Warsaw and back in 2 days so I could so some legal work, and we both got to stay the night with our MTC companions (so I saw Sister Smith again!!). It was pretty good, and being able to see my MTC comp again made up for the annoyance of being on a long train ride haha. Actually, on the way back, we had a great conversation with 2 people in our cabin on the train about what we're all about as mormons and missionaries (one man even took a Book of Mormon), so I would say it was an overall very successful trip! We also got to join one of the districts in Warsaw for their district missionary meeting, and we got to see President Edgren, so that was nice.

This week it's still been cold, but I feel like I'm already starting to get used to it. I still don't know if I could walk around with my ankles exposed, but maybe I don't need my gloves so much anymore ;). We've been doing a lot of tracting still (it's proven quite effective in my experience) and last week we got to have a lesson with someone in their home. It was a good experience and we got to explain a lot of simple doctrine. We also had a conversation just last night at someone's door, and even though the person was not interested in listening to our message (more wanted to tell us what Jehovah's Witnesses believe), it was a good experience for me, because it was affirmed to me yet again, why I love the gospel and the church organisation, and really reiterated the importance to me of my job as a missionary and being a representative of Jesus Christ, our Lord, our Saviour. It was sad to hear someone say that "Jesus was just a leader/guide". I believe I cringed when I heard this man's usage of the word "just". Yes indeed He is our guide, but He is also our Saviour, a part of the Godhead, one with Heavenly Father in purpose and mind, but a seperate being with an integral role to our salvation and happiness in mortal life and eternity. This man we had spoken to was so caught up on the fact that we must know God's name to be saved- it was, I must say, a sad realisation for me that people are so confused about life and God. We were able to bear our testimonies that our works and how we choose to live our lives are of more importance than anything else we do on earth. Jesus Christ indeed saved us all, and because of that, we will all live again with perfect bodies, but it's up to us to choose how we live our lives and whether or not we choose to accept the teachings of Christ, as to what type of life we want to have after this mortal one is over. I know that Jesus Christ was not merely a charismatic man, but is the focus and the reason for everything we do in life. It is ONLY through His Atonement that we can return to live with our Heavenly Father and our families in happiness after this life. Jesus Christ is the God of the Old Testament. He led the prophets and spoke to them through divine revelation for the wellbeing of all on Earth. He did live and die for all who would ever be born, He was resurrected that we all will one day be resurrected. I know that He did appear to people in Ancient America as a resurrected being, and taught them of His gospel. I'm so grateful for the Book of Mormon, the Bible and living, current-day prophets that lead and guide us today, and their combined witness that Jesus is the Messiah, the Christ.

Yesterday we had another great experience with teaching Dawid (he's getting baptised this week and we're all so excited for him!). We taught about certain commandments like following the prophet, the 10 Commandments, (including keeping the Sabbath Day holy) and obeying the law of the land. It's just so nice to teach someone that's so open and humble, and I love seeing how he's letting the gospel change his life for the better. He's such a great example to me, and I know he's already such a great example to his friends here in Poland. I've seen that it's not the easiest thing to do- go against the grain and join a church that your friends may laugh at or ridicule. But I know that he's making the right choice, and I couldn't be happier than to see someone make that progress in life :) Experiences like this just give me hope and remind me to keep working hard in inviting people to learn. There are prepared people out there waiting for the knowledge of the gospel, and all the efforts are worth it to find those people and help them on their way to a happier more fulfilling life.

There's a great video about Christmas on mormon.org by the way,- I really encourage you to watch it! It's called "He Is the Gift" and I hope we can continually remember what Christmas is all about at this very special time of year! (Poland is looking beautiful with all the lights and Christmas markets up, hopefully I'll get some pictures of it all next week!). Be loving and kind to each other, and be happy!!

Lots of love,
Siostra Grgich

I Hadn't Had An Experience Like That Before

I spilt a whole tub of powder makeup and I felt sad. true story.

Me in front of the Wielkie Młyn (Great Mill) around the corner from the Gdansk chapel

Sister Wood and I in our winter gear (it's so cold!!)

Left to right/od lewo 

Siostra Wood, Siostra Grgich, Starszy Kimball, Arek, Starszy Platter, friend from Turkey, Kuba

This week was really nice. My companion, Sister Wood and I made plans to visit as many people from the ward (including less-actives) as possible in the week. I made ANZAC bikkies and Sister Wood made Banana Cake, then we printed out spiritual thoughts from last General Conference and put them with the treats. We got to meet some new people and see some old faces, and it felt good to just talk with these people about life and the gospel. The main message we wanted to bring was one of unity and charity, and we encouraged everyone to make a conscious effort to serve others each day, so I encourage you to do the same! I remember when I was in Germany, and the missionaries had a similar lesson with me, and gave me a commitment to seek for opportunities to do at least one act of service each day- I felt a big change in myself after doing that. I'd say nothing takes away the blues faster than lifting up someone else.

Yesterday was a really nice Sabbath. Recently the amount of people coming to Sacrament Meeting have been sort of dwindling (maybe it's the Winter, but I don't know) but yesterday we had quite a few people which was nice to see (there were a few guests). There were still of course some missing faces, but we just keep praying for them and let them know that we love them, and hopefully they'll have the desire and ability to come next time. There's a German man (not a member) who used to come every week without fail, but he hasn't come for a while now, so last week I called him but didn't get an answer. Last night he called back but we were asleep, so this morning I rang and we had a good conversation in German (he doesn't speak Polish). I told him the branch misses him and the members ask about him (which is true) and it was good to hear that he has good feelings towards the members and missionaries. Sometimes it's hard to know how we can help others, but 1 thing I know and have learnt, is that it's just important to really care about people, be their friend and continue to love them no matter what. I've definitely seen when I go through hard times, friends have been a great means of support and it's often their encouragement that motivates me to keep pushing on.

In the evening after church and having dinner with the senior missionary couple here, we decided to visit a man we met at his flat on Saturday tracting. He had told us at the time we first met him, that he was busy but that we could come back. So we did, and we ended up having a good lesson about the Restoration of the gospel of Jesus Christ and we're going to meet with him again this week. It was pretty incredible to have someone actually listen and be fairly agreeable with what we were teaching- I hadn't had an experience like that before on my mission. He said he didn't really believe in God, basically because he's seen quite a few hardships and hasn't seen how God's been of help, so we bore our testimonies of the reality of Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ and we know that as he learns more, he too can find out of their reality. I hope that we can continue to teach him, and see how having the basic knowledge of who Jesus Christ is and what it means to know that He suffered and died for us, can change this man's life for the better. I'm so grateful that you, my parents, brought me up with a knowledge of God's love and how we can communicate with Him through prayer. Those basic principles are truly what's kept me grounded in life- just knowing that there is indeed a Savior Jesus Christ, we can live with our families together forever, we can be forgiven of our sins as we repent, and there is real purpose to this life that extends after the grave. Life is beautiful and meaningful :)

This week has been really cold, dark and in general, just gloomy so I hope you're having a wonderful time in that Sydney sunshine! I was showing some family photos to a member the other day, and she said you look nice mum and dad! I hope you're getting everything settled at baba's and I hope dad's not being too loud with his guitars ;). Love you so much!


Siostra Grgich

I Look Like A Polish Girl

Elders Quackenbush and Jeffs (from my MTC intake) and Sister Wood and I at Zone Conference in Bydgoszcz last week

A super-awesomely decorated envelope courtesy of my amazing sister Kate :) I carry it around in my bag and show it off to everyone haha

Me in front of a statue in the Gdansk Old Town (just felt like I should)

Sister Wood and I in the Solidarity (Solidarność) Museum at the back of a battery-powered truck (it might be a replica, I don't really know)

Standing on some stairs in the museum

The roof was a giant mirror, so of course we had to take a selfie

Bet you didn't know I was a camerawoman... and that carpet is actually hard floor

A photo of our district at the round table in the Solidarity Museum

 

Today we decided to do something cultural/educational again for p-day, so we went to the Solidarność (Solidarity) Museum in Gdansk with the elders in our district. Basically it's about how Poland came out of communism in the 80s, and the museum itself is located on a historically important shipyard site, where they say the Solidarity movement in Poland started (with protests and workers' strikes). It was cool to go around the different exhibitions and learn about how the Polish people worked together for freedom and better living circumstances. At the end of the museum, there was even a section about how other countries have worked for freedom (particularly from communism/socialism) and I saw an interesting film about Yugoslavia. It was pretty funny looking at all these photos from the 70s, and so many people looked like dad! With his moustache and afro hair and 70s clothes hehehe (I guess Slavic people sort of look the same). Anyway, it was pretty awesome and educating, so I was glad to finally go and see that today.

This past week when tracting, there was one day where on 2 seperate occasions, a person mistook me for their friend or relative haha. So one door we knocked on, and an older lady answers and her eyes widen and she smiles as she looks at me, and says "you look like my niece!" hahah but unfortunately I had to tell her that I'm not. After explaining that we were missionaries and wanted to share a gospel message, she looked slightly less happy haha, but was still super friendly and wished us good luck on our way. Then on that same day, we're tracting another building and an older lady again looks at me and smiles so big and says something about me being her friend, and asks where I'm living now hahaha. I unfortunately had to tell her the bad news that I'm not her friend that she thinks I am hehe, but the good news that we're missionaries! (she looked really confused). Anyway, so conclusion- I look like a Polish girl yay! We're actually hoping to do some more tracting this coming week- we've been having some interesting experiences, so hopefully someone will let us teach them again in their home :)

This week we're planning on visiting a lot of less-actives in our branch, to try and get to know them (I'm making ANZAC bikkies and my companion will make banana cake to give them)- so we're really excited about seeing some new faces and maybe reaching someone who needs a little friendship and sisterly love. We've also spoken about doing a musical fireside- so it's still on the agenda! I'll be sure to let you know how that goes (I love music!). Every morning as a companionship, we sing a hymn together and I play the chords on guitar. There's also a member who lives not too far from us, and we visit her and sing songs while I play, and it's super nice to just enjoy the music together. Music can be so uplifting, so thank you mum and dad for bringing me up in the best household ever! :D

Ok, I better go because my time is ending, but on Tuesday we had a really cool opportunity to see a bit of the city parade for Poland's national holiday, and it was nice to see people being so proud of their country and just coming together and enjoying each other's company. I love when people unite and you can just feel like one big family. I'm so grateful for my friends and family all over the world that are there for me to support me in both my ups and downs, and I hope that I can be that person for my family and friends too. Love your neighbour as yourself, and everything will be alright :)

Your'e the best!

Love Sister Grgich

Stutthof Concentration Camp

Me at a cafe with hot chocolate and an oreo cookie pie mmm so good

Me with Jadwiga at her home (super awesome church member)

On the Gdansk main tourist street in front of the "Green Gate" (Zielona Brama)

Cool-looking boat on the Motława River in Gdansk

A coblestone alleyway in the Old Town (Stare Miasto)

Me, my companion Sister Wood and Elder Kimball with Autumn leaves

Me and Siostra Wood at Concentration Camp

At Stutthof Concentration Camp

A memorial at the museum/concentration camp grounds

A dog at Sopot beach that decided to be our friend (ok so maybe Elder Kimball wouldn't consider him a 'friend')

Last pday we (the district in Gdansk) went to the beach at Sopot (one of the tricities here)

On our way to Stutthof- just hanging out on railway tracks as you do

My companion Sister Wood and I on the bus back to Gdansk

So on pday last week we went to the beach at Sopot and it was really chilly! But it was super pretty too, and I brought along my guitar and we just sat on the (very cold) sand and enjoyed nature and music :) At one point, an enthusiastic dog came up to us as we were eating and tried to eat my companion's food hahaha she got a pretty funny photo of it.

Today for pday we went out to a place called Sztutowo (or Stutthof in German). It's about half-way from here in Gdańsk to Kalingrad (a russian country/state/i'm not sure? above Poland) and took just over an hour to get to by bus. I'd heard about a concentration camp being near Gdansk and I'd wanted to visit it for a while, but we didn't get the chance to go last transfer. So yesterday we all decided that we'd go there today as a district, and I'm so glad we did. It was a very solemn occasion and it was of great interest to me after having been to World War 2 museums in Germany last year and the Sydney Jewish Museum earlier this year. It's certainly a different experience, from hearing/reading about all the atrocities that happened, and then actually being in the place where much of it took place. The first thing we did when we got there was watch an introductory film (I think we were the first ones to arrive, so the theatre was empty). It spoke about the history of the camp, and showed footage from a trial that happened after the camp's liberation, with many of the workers and commanders of the camp- who, as I remember, most or all of them plead non-guilty. We then walked around different buildings that had exhibitions within- quotes from prisoners, personal belongings, artworks and homemade toys, a large pile of men's, women's and children's shoes confiscated upon entry of the camp. We saw the different areas they slept, worked, ate, and were killed, including crematoriums and "surgeries". There was a large memorial (the museum itself is a memorial already) to all the victims of this heinous crime at the back/side of the museum. I can really only say when I study or learn about the terrible things that happened during this time, I can't help but think how this was all possible? How is it, that so many people could do so much evil? I must say that I have no real answer.
Near the end of the museum, there's a room that mentions the different legal trials that took place after the war, and many of these perpertrators got small jail sentences or even some were let off. It's not hard to think of how unjust and wicked this all was. I do know that there is a higher being, who knows all things, and has prepared a life for us after this mortal earth. All the pains and injustices of this world, will be no more after this life on earth is done. Jesus Christ has suffered for us all, that we may live again, and all will be accountable for his or her own sins. People will have the chance to live with their families once again, and never more to be seperated. I really can't fathom how it's possible for such horrific things to happen. I don't know why so many people had to suffer. I know that God does not wish for any of His children to suffer. But I do know that God is real and knows us all. The afflictions we go through on this earth, are not eternal. There is a lifer after this, and good will always prevail over evil.

This past week, my companion and I have continued to grow closer to each other, as we've continued to persevere in hastening the Lord's work. We had some interesting conversations with contacting people on the street, and I really can say that I've felt the Holy Ghost work through me to say the right things at the right time. Polish is still taking me some time to learn, but the Holy Ghost is always there for me and I couldn't be more thankful :) I'm so grateful for the members here, who are such great examples to me. I'm so grateful for the amazing experiences we've had with meeting new people, being strengthened by people that I've known for a while, and learning from my own personal studies of the scriptures and in talking to my fellow missionaries. I know that Heavenly Father knows all of His children, and has no greater desire than to see them succeed and reach eternal happiness. I'm so grateful for the comfort that comes from my knowledge of God's great Plan of Salvation. I would not trade the experiences I've been having on my mission for anything in the world. I am so grateful for the support I have from a loving family. You keep me going when the times are tough. I hope you can feel my love for all of you!! (say hi to Stevie and Madison and Kate and Mandy!!)

With love,

Siostra Grgich

All Saints Day

Singing Polish hymns together around the graves.

An incredible sea of light, something quite special!

Cleaning the graves and decorating them with flowers, candles and lanterns

A social sciences class to whom we gave a presentation about our church! :)

Sister Wood and I on the Ulica Długa (long street)- a big tourist attraction in Gdansk. It's filled with Dutch-looking architecture and is such a pleasure to walk along!

Dear Family,

This week I'm just going to send a short one because we're going to the beach again today eeeh I'm so lucky to be up here in Gdansk! 

Anyway, I want to tell you about something incredible that happened just yesterday. So my companion and I went to the senior missionary couple's home for Fast Sunday dinner, then afterwards we had planned to tract around their area until the end of our night. So we found a really big apartment building and only about 15 minutes after starting, a man let us into his home to talk! He actually spoke amazing English, so we ended up having the whole conversation in English (he had some incredible spiritual inisghts which blew my mind of how deep some of his thoughts were)- we were able to leave him with a Book of Mormon and although he wasn't totally interested, it was such a tender mercy to have someone let us in and talk (and I really felt uplifted by some of the points that were brought up in our conversation). Polish people truly are so friendly (once they warm up to you, that is!) :) Then, only 5 minutes later, another person lets us in their home and we end up teaching a super awesome girl about the restoration of the church and we leave her with a Book of Mormon as well. So two people let us in their homes in one night! I have definitely learned to love tracting in this transfer. My companion has been a great example to me of how to be light-hearted and yet purposeful at the same time. It's really helped me with being more courageous and trusting that Heavenly Father is with us all the way, and He will lead us to people in His timing.

One more thing I just want to say about this past week- so in Poland they have a holiday called All Saints Day (Wszystkich Świętych) where they remember their ancestors and other deceased people (such as soldiers) by cleaning the graves and decorating them with flowers, candles and lanterns. With all the candles lit (literally on every grave) it looks like an incredible sea of light and is something quite special! So on Saturday evening we went to 2 different cemetaries in Gdansk. The first was smaller but they had a ceremony happening where someone was playing guitar and they were all singing Polish hymns together around the graves. It was so nice to see how Polish people appreciate their history and remember those people who have lived and died for Poland to be the great country it is. 

The second cemetary we went to was HUGE- we were with the elders and and a friend who took us around to the graves of his family members, so that was really special to see a more personal commemoration on this holiday. It really made me think about how wonderful it is that we have knowledge about the Plan of Salvation, and how God is aware of every individual. It was also a little mind-blowing to think about all the people who have ever lived on this earth and who are still yet to be born. It's almost unfathomable to me to think that Jesus Christ loves and knows all of us, and suffered for us all. All those people. I think about how I could ever possibly give my thanks in return, and I know that all He wants of us is to live as He did- that is the best way we can say thank you. By living our lives in accordance with His teachings, we're showing Him that we value our lives and appreciate this precious time we have, and that makes Him happy because He loves us. He knows that when we live as He asks, we're only making life happier for ourselves. I've seen that time and time again, and I'm so grateful that I've been meeting more and more people who understand that and act as such great examples to me of how I can make life more meaningful.

Also I just want to say, I read 2 Nephi 4 today and it blew my mind of the awesomeness of it!! ;) For reals though! Nephi is a poet. Anyway, love you lots, have an awesome week, be meaningful and have fun!

Love you so much,

Sister Grgich