Zion's Camp

Oh boy.  Well, here we are again on a Monday Preparation Day and I'm sitting here e-mailing.  It's pretty crazy.  I can't believe how fast the weeks are going.  This one did seem to be really long, but looking back it seems like it was just yesterday I was in the random library e-mailing :)  Now I'm in an enternet cafe.  Kraków is such a beautiful city, have I told you this?  It's got cobblestone streets, several universities, good ones, and really old beautiful tall buildings.  There are pigeons everywhere, and this week is really hot.  Gregg, I feel for you.  Actually I think Jenny might be burning up too, and Scott for sure will be in Jamaica!  :) crazy, so no complaints!  Just loving it!

I hear that Gregg is going to be a Zone Leader!  And Jenny may train soon!  And Scott and Nathan are about to get their endowments, whoa... the world is evolving at a rapid pace! :)  It's pretty cool!!! 

I'm going to tell you a few stories, then I've actually got a ton of people to e-mail today for some reason, so yep...

Story #1: The Boy with the Broken Bike

We felt like we should go out and try to find this one girl and where she lives - we get out there about an hour and realize it is taking a long long time, but we felt like we should go out there, that perhaps there was at least someone on the way.  So as we talked to everyone along the way, we get on this bus when we meet this boy named Andrzej.  I think I may name one of my sons Andrzej some day - it's way cool... And he's a red-head with freckles, and he's rather tall, and he's 18.  His bike had broken and he'd tried to fix it but ended up just getting smeared grease stains on his face :) haha, he was the nicest kid.  He also said some fun words like 'prestiż' :) when I told him we studied in the states... haha... Well turns out this bus ends up breaking down too!  And so we spent probably a good 25 minutes getting to know Andrzej and letting him feel our good energy - aka the Spirit! - and then we were able to give him a Book of Mormon and get his phone number!  He ended up telling us that his mom died of cancer three years ago, he has two siblings and a father who owns his own business... man... he said it was really hard.  But he was so kind... and he just had this awesome soul, I could just tell! :)  I'm so excited to just watch the rest of all these stories someday, and to imagine in my mind what I want to happen.  I wish that he'll just read it all, and pray, and then read the bible, and pray more, and then meet with the missionaries, have a super awesome spiritual experience, know the TRUTH and get baptized and stay strong for EVER!  That's what I want to happen.  He's just too cool to not bring with me to the Celestial Kingdom, along with a million other people I've met in Poland.  These people - I love them. I just wish they could break free from the traditions of their fathers.  They can do it, it's just going to take someone... maybe just one person... to start the fire... and I want to help feed the flame!

Story #2: Exchange to Wrocław

I got to go on a lovely exchange to Wrocław this week!  I hope I helped out in Wrocław, all I know is that they definitely helped me.  Sister Blake is twice the woman I'll ever be and she's just so great.  Sister Ellis is also there and just working so hard, with so much faith, and so much trust in god.  I'm grateful for the Sisters in Poland, we we seriously have such a great group, perhaps the greatest :) AND Wrocław is GORGEOUS, i'll send some pictures

Story #3: Zion's Camp

So, Presient Kucia, the coolest Branch President in the entire world, decided to have us watch a clip about Zion's Camp for Sunday School yesterday - during Church!  I wonder if you can find it on line or rent it or something... it's so awesome.  It focuses on two boys in the camp and how one dies and just the craziness they have in Zion's Camp.  They get clear back to Missouri and then God tells them to come home. So yeah, they get out there and come back and some people are like 'WHY are we going BACK!?'  why would God tell us to come home - all we want to do is fight!   But they are obedient and out of those tested individuals comes the leadership of the early church of saints!  9/12 of the Apostles are chosen from that group!  How cool is that!  And sometimes I just feel like certain things are so hard, why this, why that - aaah and I know I shouldn't play the why game - but you know what, god has a greater plan.  He always has and always will and he commands and revokes, he giveth and he taketh away.  He knows what he's doing.  Trust him.  WE HAVE to TRUST HIM!

I know that Christ is Our Savior.  He felt it all.  He knows it all.  I can't comprehend it, but I know it's true.  He is Alpha and Omega, beginning and end, and he's also my Big Brother.  He loves you.  And you knew him, so we must come to know him now.  He is not out of our reach.  He still wants to succor us, he still wants to comfort us.  We must let Him.

I love the mission.  I love this sweaty, painstaking, at times heartbreaking work.  I know who I'm doing it for.  And we can't let Christ take the cross by himself.  We've got to carry it with Him.  -- Sister Hemming shared that insight with us this week, she is such a star.  I'm so grateful for my companions and what they are teaching me.  I'm trying not to compare myself and just be TEACHABLE :) because I have so much to learn from them :)  I love Sister Young and Sister Hemming.  We have so much fun in this three-some thing.  It's going to be weird not having it someday.  We're only about half way through this transfer, so another 5-ish weeks.  :)  Love it!

O.k., love you all!

-Siostra Amber Allen

Sisters Ellis and Blake on my exchange

Tis a Gift to be Simple

WELL... what to say?  I'm in a new library cuz the other one is closed for vacation... "WHo closes a library!?"
So...today I go to Wroclaw for exchanges, i get nervous for exchanges because i feel like i should be able to...anyways...i get nervous but i know god will be with me, so its gong to be alright.  Sorry this keyboard is super crappy and i have to erase every three letters..so this may not be a long e-mail! 
I was also going to try to send pictures today ale niestete, nie mozliwa...

Ive been trying to decide whether or not to realize that I have three months left.  I seriously had pushed it out of my mind so well that when President asked me in my interview how much time i had left, I had to think about it.  He told me that when he was a Stake President they told him when he had about a year left that his time was winding down.  They told him that because they realize that you tend to maybe do some things a bit differently if you realize you won't be there forever... thing is i don't want to think about coming home really.  It's kinda scary  -- and i'm going to miss poland and being a missionary like crazy... so im going to stop thinking about coming home and just know somehow in the back of my head that iv'e only got three months left so i'd better put it all on the table.

This week I had a cool experience.  i felt like i should clean up my pile of clothes.  I mean, of course I should do that, because you don't want to live in 'squaller' - but like i hadnt felt like doing it before and that morning i just felt like i should.  So, i did..and as i was organizing my 4ft. by 6 ft area where i keep all my clothing AND my luggage, my blue skirt with pockets fell to the ground and i heard some clattering...uh...what is that?  So I pick it up and look in the pocket and there's my Karta miejsce.  this thing is like gold... you must have it at all times when traveling autobusem i tramwajem.  And i didn't have it on me for like 2 days - at least one, and here in Krakow the bilet checkers check you OFTEN.  So i just KNEW that god had prompted me to find that and that they were going to check for bilets that night.  I even told my companions. Sure enough, there was a bilet check that night... crazy.  Thanks Heavenly Father!  So, my friends, just always listen to the Spirit, simple but grand.

Tis a Gift to be Simple:  this week i got frustrated a bit...and got sticky...i must be patient, and simple.  i must remember that God has it all under control!  i'm so grateful to know that God has things figured out and we can just relax and yet work hard and be obedient too.  No need for the anxt. 
K, well, wish me luck, this week is going to be a great one!

HAPPY BIRTHAY Nathan! 
love you!
-Siostra Allen

Fragile: Souls

This week we had an awesome experience when we ran into a family again that we had met about two weeks ago. We LOVE them they are so cute! We had planned to go out to a girl's house to visit her, she told us she wasn't interested and we hadn't had a whole lot of luck out there, but as we came back home we met that family and then knew why we'd gone out there! So glad that God puts people in our paths!

Also a cool experience, when I called a girl on our potentials list and she told me she had gone to her catholic priest and talked to him about the Book of Mormon.  Apparently he had told her not to read it and that they don't believe in it.  He also somehow explained to her that we are responsible for Adam's transgressions - which we are not.  So I explained to her how we are not responsible for another person's sins and that babies are pure and holy.  I told her she could read and pray about it and ask God for an answer and not to ask a priest or to ask the missionaries or anyone else, but to ask God.  She asked how she could recognize an answer.  This is such a hard question for me.  Because the answer is VERY specific for every person.  But it's through the Holy Ghost - I explained it will feel good and happy and asked her how she feels when she does something good for someone else - kind of like that!  Yes.  So I know that child baptism is an incorrect tradition.  I also know that the Book of Mormon is so true.  I know that something has to be 100% prawdziwy to be of God.

There was a hard lesson we had with a man  here in Kraków this week as well, he told us that we are making up our religion, that every religion has a book or something tangible like the Book of Mormon that they base their belief off of.  He said that when we pray we're just making up our answers that God is giving us.  He says that there's a certain way the brain works ---yadda-yada-yada.  And that was pretty much the whole meeting.  He was thinking up a pschyciological and theological and scientific way to explain everything.  But he still believes in God... that's the weird thing.  He thinks that God just doesn't get involved in our lives... WHOA.  The mnóstwo amounts of dziwny rzeczy są tutaj... And yet we just testify and hope they'll someday see the light.  I know God answers prayers.  I know He lives.  I know that I need to trust Him more.  I'm repenting of it and will do better this week, it's a promise.

I want to speak better polish.  I want to see some people baptized.  I want, I want, I want - Haha!  That's very selfish, I just realized. 

These people need us here, and we're here to just show them that God loves them.  Even if it is through my smile.  So I'm going to strap my smile back on and head out there again.  One more day, Lord, once more into the fray.

I'm glad that it's hard, I guess, so I can experience the joy of the days and moments that are good that much more.  I'm glad it's hard so I could say I served a mission in Poland for the Savior.  I'm not the only one out here.  I also don't believe Poland is really a 'hard' place, it's just getting softened and some day these catholic churches are going to be changed into Stake centers if I have anything to do with it.

I love you all!

- Sister Amber Allen

The Walls are Continually Before Me

Gunna switch it up:  Here's some fun things I learned this week:

 

Thy Walls are Continually Before Me

Walls...There's all kinds of them.  Big ones, small ones, made of brick, made of clouds, or metal, or thoughts... And usually walls are associated with problems.   Christ has us written upon his palms and our 'walls' are continually before Him.  This statement has been stuck in my mind for quite sometime and I reflect on it then and again... And it's just amazing to me that we are so well known to the Savior of Mankind.  Sometimes I hit walls.  Don't go thinking that I don't!  This missionary work in Poland is not easy.  Sometimes I wonder... and have to stop myself... this wondering stuff, it's no good.  I've got to have faith and not wonder... 'what if's are icky...  Basically, Christ knows me.  He knows how to succor me.  I've just got to let Him in and remember it wasn't easy for him either.

 

Instruments in His Hands

Brat Onken in church yesterday painted me a really awesome picture of how we are Instruments in the Lord's hands.  He got up to bear his testimony in Sacrament Meeting and talked about how we should really just be instruments and life wouldn't seem so hard.  If we just turn our lives over to God and stop fighting against His will and if we just were teachable and not stuck up... Brat Onken graduated in music at BYU and he plays the piano like a pro.  So his idea was about the Piano and how pianos don't boast in themselves, they have no pride when you play their keys, instead they are just showing off what the player knows how to do.  Really all we have and are we owe to God and we should have less pride.  Something I need to definitely work on!  Having a 'Not My Will but Thine' attitude is really what this life is all about.  Sometimes I get all worried that Poland isn't progressing, that we're seeing nothing... ok not nothing but very, very little, that maybe I'm doing something wrong.  But then I think about how hard we work and I think that perhaps if God wanted the work to move forward it would... maybe it's just not his time yet.  So why am I so impatient!?

 

Called to be You

This one has been especially on my mind lately.  And Because of that, when President Edgren talked about it in our Missionary Leadership Council Meeting, I knew that the 'mantle has been passed' as they sometimes say, or that he for sure is in tune with the Spirit.  I know I wasn't called to be someone else.  But sometimes I feel as though I ought to be.  Sometimes I feel like I should be just as good as one of my previous companions, or be baptizing as many people as Gregg is, or have as much faith as Sister Hemming, or be as funny and spiritual as Sister Young... but then I must remember we're all a part of this big puzzle, and we're all different for a reason.  So what ere thou art act well thy part!  And I'm trying, promise I'm really trying!

 

Heavenly Father Approved

I read a talk this morning from this last April General Conference, by Elder Kopischka and it was about how we should be seeking the lord's acceptance and approval and not anyone elses.  This is also hard for me.  I know that people expect you to help people get baptized here in Poland, I'm trying, promise I'm really trying... But what does GOD want me to do?  Doesn't he want me to help people get baptized too?  And so I'm praying hard to figure this one out.  I know that I'm working hard, but I definitely could use His approval. So this week I will be praying to feel it, to feel that my strength and my energy is enough.

 

Do not avoid things that are hard

Yeah, okay so that's pretty self explanitory... What doesn't kill you makes you stronger... it just hurts.

 

The Youth are Ready and Rising

Sounds like there's some crazy things happening with this influx of missionaries.  I'm so excited for the world to just get blown away by these missionaries.  The rising generation is so much better than me.  These new missionaries are blowing ME away.  I am comparing myself, and need to stop, but seriously - - their polish is better, they are figuring things out faster than I ever did... and the bar is ever rising... I feel as though I'm getting a bit left behind or old or... ugh!  No!  I don't want to slow down, I don't want to.  I don't want to be the one just training the ones with energy, I want to give my energy too...Sometimes I just wonder where is it?  ENERGY the pace is quickening!

 

Live Like you Mean it: Plan with Revelation: The Natural Man Wastes Time

President Edgren really emphasized planning.  I love planning.  It's hard sometimes because we mostly do our planning at night or on fridays when it takes forEVER, but in the end, if you plan well, you get results.  Please be planning your days and weeks!  And plan for the WHO!  When you think 'oh I'm going to bear lake, I'm going to luke's baseball game, and james' football game and...and...and' instead of thinking of just the places you are going, think of WHO you will see there.  What do they need?  What are their problems?  What can you study in personal scripture study TODAY that will HELP that person?  Plan ahead and the Lord will richly bless you, it's a promise.

"Inspired plans: Make no small plans, small plans have no power to ignite the hearts of man"

 

Arms WideR Open

Not just arms wide open, but WIDER.  President Edgren also talked about this.  We've just got to love, and love, and MORE LOVE!

 

Also, to say 'have fun' in polish you can say this, 'bawcie się dobrze' and I've been saying that every once and a while and apparently both of my companions thought I'd been saying 'Babcia dobrze' which means 'grandma well' um... HAHA!  They thought I'd been wishing everyone a good grandma... so that's fun...

 

Also, when I was in Warsaw I got some updates on some of my investegators there.  The one is 16 years old and her mom won't give her permission to get baptized but she's got a TESTIMONY of the BOOK OF MORMON!  That's great news!  I just pray and hope she can hold on until she's 18, when she can make her own decision.  Another sister is having a hard time gaining a testimony of living prophets and didn't pass her interview, so pray for her.  Ciesława is still sick and I guess isn't close to baptism either... arg...but we keep a chuggin'! :)

 

More one sentence awesomeness:

Get up in the morning and say 'i fear no man.'

They don't know what they don't have time for, we do - Be agressive

No plateauing and no excuses

Attitude is EVERYTHING

There was a story our president told us about a man who used to go down to BYU to watch the football games and return early Sunday morning and then got a calling in the bishopbric and wanted to know if he could just skype for the one meeting in the morning and then catch a different session of church later in the afternoon... um... president edgren was his stake president, I think, and told him he'd let him make the decision but that he told him, 'I envy you for the sacrifice you are able to make, this is something you love so much and you have been given a chance to give it all up for Him'  - man... what a way to look at life.  I should think about this when it's hard.  I'm giving it up.  Giving up the comfort and the... easiness... and man, I should be grateful that I can sacrifice for the Lord.  Besides, it's not like I'm one of the Sons of Mosiah who served 14 year missions!  Or Alma and Amulek who watched their recent converts burn in a fire, their women and children too!  Man... I'm lucky, really lucky.  And I'm not like Abinadi who died before knowing if he really did any good... that is quite a story.  Oh how I am grateful for the Book of Mormon!  And the Savior, who experienced it ALL.

 

Yeah, one more thing, President said that this country is really amazing.  That it's history is tragic, heroic, and amazing.  That God loves these people.  I got a bit teary eyed as he spoke when I again realized how much I love Poland.  I love this country.  Sometimes I forget how much I love it, but then there's the times I remember and those are really sweet.  President says he can see the day coming when the membership in Poland will reach 'Critical Mass, and quantum leaps'  - it 'may not be on our watch' but I think it'll get there, he said.  So I'm just hoping for that.  I pray really hard, and try not to doubt!  It's all going to be okay!

 

Yes, so I love you all, and I can't believe nathan is leaving us and there will be an even smaller band of the Ben 10 left in Provo.  Well, all the more blessings, I guess!  I know that the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints is TRUE!  God lives and loves us!  Keep up the good work and thanks for all the prayers!

Love,

Siostra Amber Allen

The Krakow Threesome

Well, I wanted to have the subject of my e-mail be 'We're Comin' in Hot, Kraków.'  Haha... but wasn't sure if it sounded too high-school... :) Oh my, oh my.  I am learning lots of lessons here in Kraków, fam, and they are hitting me FAST.  It's amazing how much you learn from each companion you have and Sister Hemming is no different.  THIS GIRL IS A FIRECRACKER!  She's SO ready to hit the road running and I'm SO proud of her, like SO proud of her.  She's teaching me faith all over again - I think every new missionary does.  It's that 'trainee faith' you hear about, I forgot about it.  But they have such high expectations and there's no such thing as limitations and it's so good.  Also reminds me how TOO realistic I get sometimes.  I could stretch my imagination a bit more and expect more miracles!

This week, we saw lots of amazing things happen. It's interesting being a trainer and starting to think more about your trainee's and their welfare more than my own. I pray for them so much. I love them so much. And I want the best for them. I see how hard it is for them and what an adjustment they are making and I just want them to see miracles, and we have seen them, this week! We prayed to know where to go, as we were planning Saturday night, and Sister Young felt we should go to visit a former investegator named Monika. I wasn't really feeling the same, but I sent thoughts heaven-ward and thought that I should let her have this decision to make. And so we did it the next day and instead of Monika we met Joanna. Joanna is Monika's roommate and is searching for her 'droge w życiu' (way in life) and she really was interested!!!  And she's so cute and college-age and doesn't agree with the institution of the Catholic church, automatically AWESOME.  We shared about the Restoration and gave her a book of Mormon and she is willing to meet again. This really brightened our day and let Sister Young know that she was important in the eyes of the Lord, let me know that God is really looking out for her as well.

I've learned a lot about being a mother, actually, in the last week. It's one thing to have one child, but a whole other ball game to have two. It requires love in all directions except inwards. I mean, I can like myself, but I HAVE to be thinking of others at all times. I love it. I love to love, and I want to do it more effectively.

I've been reading in Alma recently, Alma 12:30 says 'And they began from that time forth to call on his name; therefore God conversed with men, and made known unto them the plan of redemption, which had been made from the foundation of the world; and this he made known unto them according to their faith and repentance and their holy works."  - whoa... I LOVE THE BOOK of MORMON - yeah, 'God conversed with men' and he STILL DOES.  He can converse with YOU and he converses with ME.  I also have enjoyed watching how much Sister Hemming prays.  She comes home and prays, she prays more than once during personal study and at other times of the day.  I pray a lot in my head, but maybe I need to be making more of an effort... and kneeling really helps.  I just wish everyone in Poland knew they could have that personal conversation with God.  I wish they knew that plan of redemption.  I wish they knew that if they just had a seed of faith and if they'd just TRY to live the laws God has given us, the world would be a better place SO much quicker!

 

We also recently got April's General Conference talks in Liahona form FINALLY!  And I've just been eating that thing UP!  I read president Monson's talk that says "Appreciate the sacrifices which your parents so willingly make in order for you to serve.  Their labors will sustain you, their faith encourage you, their prayers uphold you.  A mission is a family affair.  Though the expanse of continents or oceans may seperate, hearts are as one."

OH HOW I LOVE THIS QUOTE!!!  I'm so grateful for you guys!  You are the sustaining, encouraging, praying force behind what I'm doing here and I love you for it.  I'm also really grateful for the families and parents of the two women with whom I'm serving right now.  They miss their families and love them dearly.  They talk about them all the time and I'm especially grateful to here that there are other great fathers in the world.  There are a lack of those, I believe, and not discounting the mothers, we love our mothers SO much too, but the world is lacking in good fathers and we are so SO grateful for our dads.

 

Mom, I watched part of the broadcast, but only part...not sure if we'll ever watch the whole thing while here... but I watched Elder Perry's talk - SO GOOD!  Aaah!  I'm so excited about this missionary stuff... cuz guess what!  I'm a SISTER MISSIONARY when the world is EXPLODING!  :) aaah!  So cool... Mom I didn't see you in the choir, but Sister Hemming was singing in the choir WITH you! :) So that's cool!  And thanks for being there, and singing, it made me excited to watch!!  The Lord is hastening his work, PLEASE everyone BE A PART OF IT!!!

 

Anyways, I think you are all at Bear Lake?  So send my love to everyone!  I got an e-mail from Tasha today which made me SO happy!  I just want to hold baby Tyler SO BAD!  I also got an e-mail from Sister Folsom and one from Sister Bezdjian who left me last week, she's home!  WEIRD!  And she saw Sister Ostler and... man I just miss them so much. 

 

Oh wow.  This week I feel really old.  Have I said that before?  Just feeling older as the days go by... and they go by so fast.  We're in July now?  What!?

I know that the Lord is looking out for us, he loves us SO much!  He showed us a great sunset last night even, and I loved it.  I love Kraków!  And we're seeing miracles, tons of numbers and books of mormon in the past few days!  I'm so excited for this transfer, we're going to rock this town and see some baptisms, I know it.  Hobie Ho Here we GO!  (spencer, that was a Spader reference, when's the last time you read those books?)

Love you tons,

- Siostra Amber Allen