Testimonies of the Book of Mormon

Most of the missionaries from our MTC group

Sister Smith and I in southern Gdansk

Sister Bąk and I

Some of the Sisters from my MTC group

This email is really hard to write because there are Germans in this internet cafe and I'm eavesdropping haha ;) Anywho, last week we had Zone Conference in Warsaw and got to wake up super early to catch a train in! We got a bunch of our mail from the office and got to see lots of the other missionaries so there were big smiles all around like this --> :D haha It was a really good conference- the mission president (President Edgren) spoke about so many things that I have just been studying in the past week- it was cool how relevant everything was/is to me. We spoke about being disciples of Christ, and how important it is to learn His doctrine so that we're prepared with strong testimonies and more importantly with an ability to teach by the Spirit. We also learnt how to improve our finding methods- how we can talk to people and be better at setting up lessons and helping them become progressing investigators. There were so many great ideas from the different missionaries, and it was a really uplifting experience.


Last week we had a small, but important experience. We were walking around the city trying to talk to people about the gospel, and one lady was staring at our badges and Sister Smith and I of course stopped her to introduce ourselves. She was with her husband and they had a pram (although I'm not sure where the baby was..?) anywho, it was a family so we were so excited that they stopped and wanted to talk! So we started talking and getting to know them, and they told us they were Jehovah's Witnesses, and they din't see a need in another book of scripture. I was able to bear testimony that God really did call another prophet- Joseph Smith, and he translated the Book of Mormon by the power and under the direction of God. I told them that if this actually happened- if God and Jesus Christ really did appear to Joseph Smith in 1820, then that is the greatest event to happen on the earth since the time of Christ. To my surprise, they actually nodded and agreed that if it was true, then that really would be the most important thing that's happened since Christ was on the earth. I know that if people have honest hearts, and just give our message a try, they will find out the truthfulness of it through reading and praying about the Book of Mormon.


Sometimes I get a little shy in my missionary work, and I think, oh these people don't want to read this book, they're happy enough with their lives, they've told me no once so I should just leave them now. But I know that it's worth at least telling those who will let you, how important this is for them, and how much God loves them and wants them to find this out for themselves. Of course I know it's not good to pester people, but I think people don't know what they're saying "no" to. That's why it's so important for us to start teaching people the message of the restoration, as quickly as we naturally and tactfully can- then if they still choose to say no, I at least feel better that I gave them some information that might come back to their minds at some point in their life in the future. This message really is so important, and everyone deserves the chance to accept it. I generally do a good job at being persistent with sharing the message, but I think that experience has taught me maybe to ask that question to people more often- if this really happened, wouldn't you want to know about it? I'm grateful for all the learning experiences I have daily- and I'm continually looking for ways to improve my finding and teaching skills.


We had many, many other amazing experiences this past week- we met with a young woman who is a rock in the gospel and in the branch :) We love her so much- we're trying to help her with her Personal Progress and we're trying to meet with her more regularly. We also were able to see someone we had found tracting and invited to church, actually come to church! It was really cool that he came, afterwards the Elders had a lesson with him and we hope that he'll be able to continue to meet with the missionaries and come to church :) We had some more guests join us in our branch yesterday, so that was really nice. I love the summer time! Today we plan on going with the Elders to the Solidarność museum here in Gdansk- it should be good!

Hope you have a fabulous week and give everyone a big hug from me!! (especially Alexa and Mandy :D)

Love from Sestra Grgić

Zone Conference!

Sister Smith (MTC comp) and I. This is with Elder Hon (my Zone Leader) photo bombing in the background

This is Sister Kuchar and I talking with Elder Charles (he was presiding at our Zone Conference).

All of my MTC sisters reunited (except for Sister Woodward- not sure why we didn't get her in the photo!)

Sister Kuchar and I at Zone Conference in the Warsaw chapel

Hi Family! This week I went to Bydgoszcz again! I got to serve with Sister Antczak (she's in her first transfer, and from Texas and is super awesome and sings Australian songs with me) while her companion Sister Owen went to Gdansk and stayed with my companions. We had a really cool experience, we spoke to some people on the streets, sung some songs, taught English class, met some more cool people and then had a great lesson with a Ukrainian girl named Ola who's preparing to be baptised soon, and a member from the branch. I had such a great time and I learnt so much from the other missionaries there :) We prepared a lesson about how to get answers from the scriptures, and it went really well! We were able to teach about how it's important to pray with specific questions in mind, pray to focus during study, then really ponder the scriptures and look for answers. It was really cool having a member on the lesson too because she helped explain a lot of the concerns our investigator had and gave a second witness to what we were teaching. I really felt blessed with the Gift of Tongues- I know God is helping me learn this language, there is NO WAY I could speak as well as I do now all on my own. I'm so grateful for the many ways my Heavenly Father allows me to grow and learn.

On Wednesday I came back to Gdansk and we were able to have a beautiful lesson with a less-active member in our branch. She is the first member I actually met in Poland and she let's us call her our Polish Grandma. She made us Naleśniki (pancakes) and we had a great time talking with her. Sometimes she gets really sad so it's good to just be with her. I'm glad I've had many different trials in my life, because I know they allow me to sympathise with others. I know I don't always understand how other people feel, nor would I pretend to, but I know that all our pains can be healed through Christ. Some things take time (and I can see that a lot in my own life), and it's always so important to have friends to care for you and support you. I can't say enough how thankful I am that we have the organisation of the Church, that allows everyone to be cared for and aims to not let anyone get left behind. One thing we're really trying to work on in the branch, is encourage the members to fulfil their home and visiting teaching assignments. People just need to feel loved! I know that when the members can learn to look out for each other, the church will continue to strengthen and all will be blessed, by being concerned for "the One" (Luke 15:4- "What man of you, having an hundred sheep, if he lose one of them, doth not leave the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and go after that which is lost, until he find it?").

This week we also had Zone Conference and we got to go to Warsaw! Elder Christopher Charles (an Area Seventy) and his wife came and spoke to us about the missionary work and gave us a lot of encouragement and inspired counsel. They're both converts to the church and told us amongst many other things, how they came to know the church is true. It was so good to hear from them bearing bold testimony of the gospel. They told us of how one of the missionaries that taught them had only been out for a very short time, and had prayed when he had opened his mission call, that he would find a family that had been prepared to teach the restored gospel to. It was humbling to hear or the kind of missionaries that taught Elder and Sister Charles, and it really encouraged me to make sure I'm the best missionary I can be- humble and loving, yet bold and courageous enough to share the message with those that my Father in Heaven has prepared. After the conference (and getting to see so many of my missionary friends!) I got to stay in Warsaw with Sisters Kuchar and Simkins and we managed to speak to a lady on the tram about our message. It was again a miracle with how we were able to speak Polish with her (and be understood!) and we were able to leave her with a Book of Mormon. We hope she'll read it and want to find out more :) We were able to talk a lot (Sister Kuchar was a great friend to me in the MTC) and the next day (Sunday) I got to go to church there before heading back to Gdansk. I got to meet a few of the members in their ward and I was overcome with the Spirit and immense happiness as I sat in Sacrament meeting. I felt the Lord touch my heart and comfort me. I was looking around at all the families, the old and young, some people who have no other family members in the church, and I just thought how beautiful it is that we have the church in this country. I'm so grateful that we have that chapel, and many other temporary places around Poland for the saints

I Went to Salt Lake!

Outside a really cool door at Salt Lake temple :D And kids playing in the background haha it was so nice to see children running about- we hardly get to see any youngins here at the MTC

Outside of Salt Lake Temple

Me inside the Tabernacle (amazing acoustics- dad would love it)

myself and Sister Gericitano (I think that's how you spell it) at the Christus Statue

Conference Centre from the outside

inside the conference centre (those amazing pipes!)

Me and the German sister! (woo)

myself, aussie sister and nz sister outside the Conference Centre.

back-stitching in the church's humanitarian centre with Sister Gericitano (from Perth)

YAY Birthday!

Pressies from the Devisons and the Grgichs

Class Photos

Hey fam-bam(and other-bam)! This last week has zoomed by, and I have so much to tell you about. So first thing's first, I went to Salt Lake! Ah, it was so amazing! So on Friday, my companion took me to the cafeteria at 5:45 in the morning, and got ripped from my side, as we said our goodbyes and I went to eat breakfast with the other international missionaries. I must say, it was so strange to not be with my companion for the day! So after a very quick breakfast, we went to the coach/bus and were on our way to the Great Salt Lake! The views are so beautiful, and our bus driver gave us an amazing tour-guide commentary of the surrounding mountains, and buildings, and temples (there are like 5 on the way from Provo to Salt Lake) and he even showed us the area where prophet Thomas S. Monson grew up! It was pretty neat to leave the MTC bubble, and I even met another Aussie girl (she's from Perth and going to Chicago). It was so cool to talk to someone without having to repeat myself every 3 sentences hahah

So then when we got off the bus, we went straight inside the temple. It is so magnificent! There were so many people (so many weddings!) and inside the actual temple, the artwork and architecture is so beautiful. We did a session and it was just so inspiring. It really helped me see things from a different perspective. I definitely encourage anyone who gets the chance, to go to Salt Lake temple!

So after the session, we went outside and split up into smaller groups so that the lovely Temple Square Sisters could take us on a mini tour. So first they took us around the temple- one of the sisters was German, so I was so excited talking to her just wanting to talk about Germany! Haha but we also spoke about some symbolism of the temple. One really cool thing they told us, was that when you actually look at the walls of the temple, there are a lot of big black spots on the granite (i think that's what it is). They're marks in the stone blocks that probably could have been removed in later days, but for whatever reason, they've decided to keep them. And it sort of makes it really unique, and she related it to how we as missionaries, are not perfect, but we are still beautiful in our own individual talents and spirits.

After walking around the temple, we got to go inside the tabernacle (the old building where they used to have conference, and now they use it for choir concerts and as an overflow room when the conference centre is full). It looks really strange from the outside (sort of like a UFO-type thing) but on the inside it's pretty amazing, especially just to think about how many prophets and apostles and great saints have just been in those walls, and declared their testimonies of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was actually really solemn to just sit and look around and feel the spirit. After the tabernacle we got to go to the Conference Centre. It was also really special, particularly because I'm so accustomed to seeing that building on the big screens when we watch conference via satellite or internet, but here I was in the building itself, just enjoying the spirit as the sister missionaries spoke to us some more about special symbolism and some major events that have happened there.

At the end of our short tour, we had a bit more time and got to see the Christus statue where they had beautiful hymns playing, and then we went through some rooms (mainly targeted at non-members) which outlined the Plan of Salvation through videos and props. It was so special, and all of us were crying at the end of the presentation. I am so grateful to have a knowledge of this Gospel. I know that families can be together forever only through the Atonement of Jesus Christ. Because of Him, we can repent of our sins, and return to live in true happiness with our Heavenly Father who loves us and cares for each one of us so much. This life truly has a purpose, and there is not a soul in the world that God doesn't care so deeply about. I am so grateful for you, mum and dad, for bringing me up in the knowledge of this Gospel. Without it I'd truly be lost, and wouldn't have the amazing life that I do, with the knowledge of Christ that I do have. I love being a missionary. I don't know what could be better than teaching people about the amazing plan of happiness that Heavenly Father has for us, that we all rejoiced for before we came to Earth.

After the tour, we had a quick snack and our last stop was the church's Humanitarian Centre. They showed us a video of what the centre does, and how many people it affects (it's truly great, look it up online if you haven't already!). We then got to back-stick some quilts for about 20 minutes but then had to go. It was also a really special place to be in, just because of knowing what good that place does for so many people in the world- regardless of religion or race or gender or anything else. There are great paintings of Christ all around the centre, and it just really makes you remember how important it is to have charity-the pure love of Christ. I love my Saviour so much, and I know I have such a long way to go, but I'm ever trying to be more like him.

Well, a lot of other things happened this week, that have just been such a testament to me of how God loves His children, but for now I have to go (no time!) and the next time I write you, I'll be in Poland!! Ahh so exciting :D Have an amazing week, and be good to each other. Tell the girls I love them
I love you so much,
Siostra Grgich

I Just Had The Best Experience Ever!

I went to the temple today and it was so awesome! I just had the best experience ever. After the session, my companion and I spent some time reflecting in the Celestial room, and we both had such a precious, beautiful time of personal revelation, and I'm so glad that I got to ask my companion about things, because she's such an amazing, scholarly thinker. I love it!

So mum I got your Dear Elder letter yesterday and it made me so happy to see a letter on my desk after a long, hard day of work and study. That is so cool that Brother Carroll is still here! Now that I know that, I'll look out for him when I go to the field or temple haha. And yes I've been writing to Georg (the Polish man that's been coming to my ward) and he's really been helping me with my Polish! Ok so onto my week

Well Sunday was really nice, and everyone complemented us on our song. It was a little hard doing it acapella, but I think it worked out okay! I'm so excited for Poland, because as soon as I get there I'm going to buy a guitar and/or ukulele and I can't wait to learn some more hymns/uplifting songs. We keep getting speakers for our Tuesday and Sunday devotionals who talk about music, and it just makes me happy to know that other people love music as much as I do (and probably even more!).

So yesterday we got to Skype with a member in Poland, and my companion and I decided to talk about the first principles and ordinances of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. It was a really cool experience, and the girl we spoke to was super helpful and encouraging. It made me happy to be  going to serve amongst such choice spirits, and now I hope I get to serve in Bydgoszcz (where she's from). Our teachers keep telling us cool stories from their missions in Poland, and it always gets me super excited. Sometimes I wonder where I'll get called to serve in my first area in Poland, but then again it really doesn't matter, because I know I can help people wherever I am, even here at the MTC.

So there's a sport/game they play here called 'four square', and it's sort of like when we played playground handball, but instead of a tennis ball, it's with a bigger, soft ball. So a few days ago, I was getting ready to play (just standing in my square) and then the tallest/biggest Elder in the gym (who was playing an intense game of basketball I assume) ran into the back of me accidentally, and it seriously felt like a car ran into me. I was fine at first, but the next day everything in my body was aching and it was really hurting. So as I was really considering going to the doctor (but freaking out at the same time because I didn't want anything to be majorly wrong), a Sister in the room next to ours told me she could try and fix my back. She's no professional but I was just in so much pain so I begged her to try and fix me. After about 20 minutes my back felt so much better and when I woke up the next morning I felt like my bones were back in place. I'm so grateful for tender mercies like that, that show me God is looking out for me.

Yesterday we taught our investigator Jacek, a lesson on the Law of Chastity. We had planned this lesson for a long time, and worked really hard on it, so we were so excited to teach it. Just before the lesson, we found out that we only had 10 minutes to teach, instead of our normal 20 minutes. It was really hard at first for us to have to adjust with the short notice, but once we prayed and went into our lesson with him, we felt the Spirit so much, and I knew that God gave us the very words to say in the very hour we needed them- like he has promised. My companion gave a beautiful testimony (I'm so incredibly grateful for her) and I really learnt a lot from the lesson. I love how many skills I'm learning here, and I wish I had time to tell you more stories, but I'm unfortunately running out of time. It's ok though, because I'm sure you're learning a lot too back home- we always have new things to learn so long as we look out for them!

I hope you're all feeling better with all those sicknesses going around! You won't believe it mum, but I actually haven't been sick ONE time since being here in the MTC- it's crazy! Normally I'm the first person to get sick (and multiple times a year), but knock on wood, I'm still going strong :) It must be that super healthy MTC food I've been eating... ;)

Ok, I'll send some photos now! Love you so much

Siostra Grgich

Sunday walking, outside the MTC!

My companion and I with an Elder that's just left for the Frankfurt Germany mission (woo!)

My companion Siostra Smith, myself and Siostra Kuchar on the field. (I bought a Poland shirt hehe)

Look, we're just so excited to teach the Law of Chastity haha, but really! (if you ever get a chance to look at the pamphlet for that, please do because the photos are gems!)

A lesson plan on Prophets, that my companion and I worked really hard on (one of our new investigators is really tough to teach, but we have faith!).

One of the sisters next door, toilet-papered the exit of our residence room for Sister Kuchar's birthday :D

Two of those elders are twins- both speaking Polish, one going to Poland and the other going to England (pretty cool!). And the other elder is an Aussie, going to Bulgaria, and then there's of course Sister Bak!

Siostra Bak sleeping on the bench

Some of the Polish Sisters whom I love so dearly!

Outside Provo Temple on our Sunday walk. The Elder next to me is now in the Sydney North Mission, so look out for an Elder Hsu, mum!

Half Way!

So 4 weeks down and 5 more to go! Crazy stuff. Well, this week was pretty interesting! We got to host again yesterday (which is when we go to the curb where the new missionaries get dropped off, and then take them with their bags to their bedroom and classroom etc). I hosted 3 sisters- 2 going to California, and 1 going to Denmark (which was cool coz I just told her the entire time how much I love Copenhagen and how cool the people are etc. and also cool coz her classroom is on the same floor as mine!)

Ooh, I met 2 elders that are going to serve in Melbourne (speaking a chinese language) and I gave them Tim-tams, and I taught them how to do a tim-tam slam, and now every time I see them in the cafeteria, I teach them stuff about Australia. I always get so excited when I meet people that are going to serve Down Under! I also met 2 elders going to the Sydney North mission, and I told them that my mum works in the Sydney Temple, so they'll look out for you mum!

Every week we have something called "TRC" which is where we teach Polish speakers (normally return missionaries from Poland) but it's not meant to be like an investigator- rather just a member like how missionaries would go teach at a member's home. Anyway, there was this guy called Fenton, and he knew the Irelands! I think he served at the same time as them (I'm not entirely sure if I understood him perfectly, because we were speaking in Polish haha but yeah, he has at least heard of them, and thinks they are awesome people, coz i showed him my keychain that they gave me, and he thought it was cool). Anywho, so that happened.

Something funny, this week when we were playing Volleyball, everyone was asking me how to say my name, and they're like "Grrr-gich" "grrrr-gich" and then it was my turn to serve the ball, and Elder Firth (going to Turkey) says just as I'm about to hit the ball "Grr-get em!" and I was just laughing so hard. It was pretty funny. I dunno, maybe it's not that funny, it's a 'you had to be there-moment' haha.

Uhh, ooh, this week for the service activity, I went with Sister Bak, and we cleaned some showers, and we got to wear crazy goggles and use a cleaning gun/hose thing. And we just sung the whole time while cleaning, so that was heaps of fun. I'm really gonna miss all these sisters when we get assigned to all our different cities in Poland.

On Sunday, our class (district) sung "Come Thou Fount" for a musical item during Sacrament Meeting, and it sounded pretty awesome if I do say so myself ;) And the other day, the 2 Polish classes were singing an opening hymn, and one of the teachers said he wants to record us singing before we leave for the field. I love how musical the Polish missionaries are- i feel so blessed :)

Also on Sunday, I was looking on the Polish church website, and there was a link to Mormon.org in POLISH and I was like 'yaaaay', so I watched a few videos (English speaking, but Polish subtitles) and it was really good for me to learn some new phrases. There were also some videos of Polish members giving their testimonies, so Sister Kuchar and I were trying to understand the videos, and we actually were able to get quite a bit out of it. Mind you, we had to pause after every sentence, but it was nonetheless very insightful.

What else happened this week? Well my class are having just a ball of a time repeating everything I say in their attempted Aussie accents which is sometimes annoying, but mostly pretty funny haha. I don't notice the weird things we aussies say, until they (the americans) start repeating it! When I was watching some of those "I'm a Mormon" videos, I saw some aussie ones, and it really made me appreciate Australia. I love that place so much. Ahhh ok better not get myself homesick. I really love the mission though for reals :) Ah, all the Croatian/Bosnian/Serbian missionaries are leaving on Tuesday, and I told them to look out for any Grgic families and to ask them (if they meet any) if they have family in Sydney, coz they could be related to us haha. Lucky missionaries going there!

Okie doke, well we gotta go put our laundry away now, and then go teach some Polish speakers when Pday finishes. Let me know how you're all going, and don't hesitate to 'Dear Elder' me if you feel so inclined!

Love you so much,

Siostra Grgich

Sister Bak and I Cleaning the showers

The drawing on the board is Starszy ('Elder' in Polish) Quackenbush and I. I'm the one saying "nohrr" because that's how they all think I say 'no' in my aussie accent. And the "meh meh meh" is Starszy Quackenbush teasing me

Just a Photo of my crazy class

This is of my awesome friends who've all left for the Quezon City Philippines mission this past Monday (although 1 elder is still waiting to leave hopefully next week or something). It was sad to see them go because they're my first MTC friends, but all good.

Making Memories :)

Ok, so I don't have a lot of time to write you (as always!) but I wrote down a list of what happened this week so I can tell you! (You know how bad my memory is)

SO, first of all I had to get 2 immunisations done last week (Typhoid and my 3rd dose for Hep A and B) and they were so painful haha- I've still got a tiny bruise, but all is well! I'm strong hehe

Ok, so we celebrated the 4th of July (USA independence day) with a devotional in the big hall for all of the missionaries, and then we were allowed to go outside and watch the fireworks going off from BYU right next door. That was pretty fun, and especially awesome because we all got free Magnum ice-cream wooo! (I've been eating a lot of ice-cream here at the MTC. Every day is HOT AS) I think I've got a pic or 2 of that day, I'll send them through later.

We had 2 very awesome devotionals this past week- one was Neil L Anderson and his wife spoke to us about the Holy Ghost, and it was so inspiring and uplifting. I just love how blessed we are here with so many wonderful uplifting opportunities. The other devotional was AMAZ-A-ZING- there was this guy called Josh Wright (I think..) and he's a professional pianist, and he played some classical music as well as churchy music and spoke about stories from his mission a few years back. It was like sitting in a concert almost, so I of course loved that time to just listen to beautiful music through my earholes and relax.

Oh, and I think at that same devotional, I met Ann Nicholl's (spelling?) grandson (Elder Whitmarsh I think) who's serving somewhere Spanish speaking, so that was cool. I don't see him around because all the Spanish speakers are on a different campus to the main one here which is a shame because you know me and my Spanish! All good though. He's very tall indeed, just like she said! That was cool to hear another Aussie. There's actually one Aussie elder in my zone, he's going to Bulgaria, so we always speak Aussie to each other and it's pretty funny (and probably obnoxious to the Americans haha). Our zone normally plays sport together, so we've been going a lot to the field and playing volleyball and kickball. It's nice that we have time everyday to do sport. It's one of my favourite times of the day now.

Well sad things of my week- almost all of the international people that were in my intake are all gone now. I miss seeing their faces, but it's so cool to think that we're all around different places of the world with the same purpose of helping people come closer to Christ. Also sad, (sort of) I kept losing a lot of things this week haha. So one day after sport, I left my nametag in the pigeonhole thing where we keep our tags and stuff, so I had to run all the way back with my companion to get it. And on the way, I managed to drop my ID card (it broke off the chain it was on), so then I had to run around and look for that. And then today after sport again, my companion got my badge and stuff for me, but somehow my watch got overlooked, so I had to run back and get that today. So a little but stressful, but I'm all good! Lots of exercise I guess!

And for something maybe slightly funny... so last week I waxed my underarms and Siostra Bak was helping me, and then she wanted me to do hers, so I did them a couple of days ago, and she pretty much died of the pain (she's never had it done before) and all the Polish sisters (our room and next door) came in to look and laugh hehehe I'm not sadistic, honest! But yeah, that was quite the memory-making moment.

Well, Kate, I really want to see a picture of this chicken! I'm so jealous. I wish I had a chicken. And I laughed so hard about your makeup being dishonest remark. TRUE DAT sister. I love you so much. And mum and dad and nieces and Mandy I love you so much too. And thanks mum for sending me stuff! I hope I get it in time! And I'm so happy for Isabelle's baptism! Thanks for telling me stuff from home, it's good to hear from you.

Love you, be happy, be productive, be charitable,

Siostra Grgich 

 

4th of July! Siostra Smith gets a fireworks crown hehe

Some new friends we made here at the MTC

Myself and the lovely Siostra Bak

ls being girlie-girls and putting on makeup (which Kate likes to call, 'dishonesty' hahaha)

My companion and I with 3 elders going to the Philippines on their mission (they leave next week). One of the elders lived in Austria last year so I speak German with him it's pretty fun.

My Polish class (minus 2 sisters)

A lot of the Sisters in my zone (Polish, Croatian and Slovene)