Of Ancient Walls, World Cups, and Baptisms

What's up everyone? Another great week has come and gone in the Bydgoszcz world. So three big pieces of news for you all.

1. Some kind of ancient brick wall has been discovered in Stary Rynek during a renovation dig. It's the craziest looking thing ever. They're gonna be doing a dig to study for the next month or so now. I can actually see it out of the library window I'm in front of right now haha.

2. The World Cup is going crazy! We've been asking anyone and everyone we now about the latest updates (really good contacting method actually) and have been catching little snips here and there on cafe TV's when we walk by or grab something to eat. The US lost to Ghana in double overtime, Korea barely lost to Uruguay, and England got manhandled by Germany. Still many more games to be played though, so we'll see what happens!

3. A whole family here is really close to being baptized. The mom's name is Renata and she has two kids, an 18-year-old girl named Beata, and a 10-year-old boy named Adam. They're the sweetest family on the planet. Renata is just a funny, kind, happy lady, Beata is a karate-extraodinaire (found that out first hand) and Adam is giggly and shy. They're amazing to say the very least.

Anyway, that's what's up from this end of the world. Love you all, and the Church is true!

Starszy Davis

About darn time for an update

Hey everyone! I know I've been terrible at keeping this thing updated, but time is precious and short sometimes. I'll get better, I promise. So here's a shout from my new area: Bydgoszcz! It's a great town with a river that runs through it, and a very strong branch of the church as well. For some unkown reason, I have now been made a Zone Leader, despite the fact that I've only been here for five months.....rumor has it that there's a meth lab right beneath the mission office so that could have something to do with it haha

Man, you learn so much on a mission. One very cool thing is the ability to love absolutely everyone. By no means am I fully capable of this, but I try every day. The world completely changes when you view it through those eyes. You start seeing the good in everyone, and forget all the problems that seem to plague everyone. You press forward with hope, you can smile everywhere you go, it's just amazing! If there are any of you (guys in particular) who are still trying to decided whether or not to serve, I have three little words for you "JUST DO IT". It's not the easiest thing to do in the world, but it is by far the most valuable and rewarding. Love all of you!

Sincerely,
Starszy Davis

Constitution Day

May 3rd is Constitution Day in Poland, and is pretty much the same as 4th of July in the States. It was way cool to see all the soldiers of Polish history march down by the Babrikan gate of Old Town Kraków, ranging from medieval knights, to hussar cavalry, to WWII infantryman, all the while singing "Mazurek Dąbrowskiego", their national anthem. It's pretty tight, not gonna lie haha. I've made a link to it so you can hear it and read the lyrics. As for the rest of missionary life, things are going great here. We were challenged last zone conference to do a two-month study of the Atonement, and at the end, write a letter about what we have learned. It is practically amazing. I don't have words to even describe it, but I want to extend the same challenge to you: take some time to learn about who the Savior was and is, and the real scope of what He did for us. You'll be blown away, I guarantee it.

Okay so a little Polish culture moment for you all. Here in Rynek Główny, there all kinds of performers out during the day doing things ranging from singing Queen songs, being human statues that move when you pay them, and playing accordions in traditional dress. Also very common in Poland are what the missionaries call "Larry's", or homeless drunks. Their condition is a really sad one, but can be extremely entertaining as well haha the other night these two worlds came together. We were on our way home, and as usual the guy who sings Queen (quite well I might add) was out making big bucks. Right next to him was a Larry, totally wasted, shirtless, and with a bad "plumber" case, singing and dancing in the middle of all the tourists watching. Got it on video haha. That is Poland my friends. Doesn't get better than that haha.

I now have pictures and I'm not lying

For all those concerned, I now have pictures for you all. Just click on the Mission Pictures link, and enjoy. So long until next week my friends!

First Baptism!

So I need to finally tell the story of this convert I realized haha she's actually a little girl named Julia. Both her mom and grandma were less-active members when Elder Augustyn got here 8 months ago, so he and his trainer worked really hard with them and got them both reactivated. When they were working with Dadia, Julia's mom, Julia felt the Spirit so strongly that she began to tell them she wanted to be baptized. They taught her all the lessons, and she absolutely loved it. Her mom and grandma are very dear to her, and she loved the fact that they could be together forever. To make a long story short, she was baptized last Saturday. She's so happy now. Her testimony on Sunday was amazing too. It's so cool to see the Gospel and how it changes the lives of others. I love it!

Baptism

We've got a baptism on March 6th! First convert baptism in Kraków in 8 years. Poland is the best mission out there. I'll let you know how it goes, and I will...have....pictures, don't worry haha so story of the week, I tracted into this Catholic guy and right when I explained who we were, he went white, and made the sign of the cross on us while mumbling some Latin stuff. I assumed we had devils cast out of us or something. Hey, at least he was trying to serve us haha that's all that matters. Speaking of service, it's one of the best ways to show our love and care for others. I've found that out firsthand numerous times. I know Valentines has already passed, but this week take a little time serving somebody, whether it be a friend, family member, or that special someone. It'll make your week, or I buy you a pizza. Granted it'll be moldy when it finally ships back to the states, but hey, it's the thought that counts right?

Wszystkiego dobrego! :)

Starszy Davis

I lied

Okay, putting photos on Flickr is an absolute pain! So the news now is "I have the pictures finally, but I'll have to post them next week when I actually have the money high-speed internet." We use internet cafes here. Computers in the home are very rare (so are dryers, two-tub sinks, and food with preservatives haha)

Finally have pictures!

This week was way busy! Moved into a new, clean apartment. That other apartment looked like two drunks got into a brawl and didn't clean up the mess. Not much else to say at the moment haha just keep moving forward and know that God is with you. There's a scripture in D&C (can't remember it off the top of my head haha) that says to rely on the Lord so He can give you strength. And He does, belive me. I have firsthand experience! haha
Wszystkiego dobrego!

Piękny Kraków

Wow forgetting a camera cable was a bad move on my part...looks like pics will have to wait till next week haha. This week was pretty slow. Mostly me and my trainer are focusing on moving out of our current apartment into a far better one. The one we have now is practically a hole in the ground. Among other things, the washer broke, water leaks from the ceiling, and the fuses burn out every time we turn the stove on...we called the mission office about it and they practically yelled at us that those living conditions were unacceptable, and that we needed to move as soon as possible. Like music to the ears, I tell ya haha
Spiritual thought of the week: It was said of the 2000 stripling warriors that "they had more courage than anyone, even among all the Nephites" (Alma 56: 44-45) Never be afraid to stand up for what's right. People have laughed in my face when I told them who we were. All they accomplished was laughing at a 19-year old American. When you think about it, you've got a pretty powerful Father on your side. As the Poles say, "Nigdy nie baj się! Pamiętaj twoje dziedzictwo naszego kraju!" (Never fear! Remember the proud heritage of our nation!)
Pretty powerful stuff, eh? Miłego dnia, moje kolegi!

Starszy Davis

Witaj w Polsce!

So setting up a blog was way easier than I thought haha pictures will be coming soon! So it's now my second week in Poland, and I'm absolutely loving it! Taught four lessons last week, and we're working with some baptismal committments now. My trainer is Elder Augustyn, a native Pole that grew up in Chicago. It's way tight to learn the language and culture from him. Also went to KL Auschwitz I yesterday. Talk about a sombering experience. Pictures of said camp will be forthcoming. Peace out till next Tuesday!