Dorota came to our party, and dressed up as me. Dyed her hair red. Stole my name tag. Everything. It was so amazing :)

Goodness gracious great balls of fire. My family it is so good to be writing you again! Again, as always, your letters just lift me up and make me smile so much. No matte how long they are are whatever, they are just the best. I can imagine every little scenario so vividly I feel like I'm experiencing it with you. Like when Judge Rushton took a dip in the golfing creek, I felt the chill of the water, the pain on my knee and the steam of frustration and string of angry sounding words running through my head (;P). Really though, I live for your stories. You all sound amazing per usual, which brings me so much joy :) This week has been an amazing, eventful one to say the least. So much has happened and my mission life is definitely in for a little change- so I will fill you in on that :) Before I do - Pop congratulations on finishing out work. That is unreal!!!! You are a Judge in Murrieta. Craziness. So amazing. I am sorry you hurt yourself (even though I made fun of you) and I hope your feeling a lot better and getting ready for Hawaii, which will be crazy. Mom you are so funny ha :) You will love Hawaii- relax, drink lots of Pineapple juice with the mini umbrella things in the edge of your glass. I feel more relaxed just thinking about that. :) Crazy to think you'll be reading this in Hawaii, i love it. This week really has been amazing for quite a few reasons. The most crazy and anticpated part has certainly been transfers, but other then these Transfers, we've had some pretty amazing experiences. First off, we had Halloween this week. Spencer- I like you missed the day of Halloween. On the 31st of October I was hanging out in my apartment, making some Polish dish to eat lol. But the next day, was the Day of the Dead. November 1st is one the most celebrated holidays in Poland and at night, everyone brings candles, lights them and puts them on the graves of their ancestors. Everyone has work off- everything is closed except for McDonalds and it's a very special day for them. Irina, who is not Polish, wanted us to come to her house during the day to visit for a bit because she is usually to busy to have us over, but she had this day off. So Henrie and I met her at a Tramvaj stop, caught a bus together and went to her house. We taught the Plan of Salvation with this little Wood puzzle I bought off of Elder Maxey in the MTC and it went super well. Her son only speaks Polish so we did it in Polish and he really seemed to grasp all we were saying. We hadn't taught Irina this yet either so that was really great- both really ate it up. We asked if they would read the Book of Mormon together and they agreed. The meeting was just so light and comfortable and I truly did feel the Spirit there. I left the puzzle for Arthur to look at, cos he seemed pretty enthralled with it. Elder Henrie and I really taught in unison and it just felt good. We caught a bus back feeling really good. (quick flashback to the next day) At church the next day Irina said that her and Aurthur went over it that day again and that he explained everything to her. It was just so great. MM!! Just knowing that she realizes that this is important and wants to truly know it and be apart of the Lord's church truly brings me joy :) So after Irina's house we headed back home and then to our Halloween party with the Other Elders and Sisters at the Church. No one is outside on the Day of the Dead and it's disrespectful to talk about other religions over the graves of these Catholic People for various reasons- so we had a Halloween party. I threw together a cheap Raggedy Anne and Andy costume ( i was Andy ) and it was awesome. ALl the missionaries were dressed up- Elder Meacham and Jacobs went to the nines as a hillbilly couple. Elder Meacham was wearing a mini skirt...and a bra. And makeup. (and Elder Mecham just got called to AP hahaha). Jacobs drew some hardcore tatoos and had a pretty nice mustache drawn on to his face. It was hilarious and so nice just to enjoy each others company. We carved Pumpkins (the most deranged looking Pumpins you have ever seen...i really missed Bates Nut Farm right about then lol) and ate food and just enjoyed ourselves for a couple of hours. Then we got dressed, cleaned up and went to this gigantic cemetery and the place was just packed. People everywhere. It was like disneyland. But it was a Cemetery. There were candles everywhere, some graves only bearing one or two, some 30 to 70. It was quite a sight and I really enjoyed it. The graves were so ornamental and carefully carved and very epic looking. I kind of want to go back to look at it during the day- but it's an interesting concept to go and remember all your deceased ancestors on one special day. Literally going to where there bodies lay. It's probably a good time to remember all your anscestors and all they've done. The contrast is crazy from the states eh? We go to graveyards on halloween and get the geebers scared out of us, but they parade around it to merely remember. I love experiencing such a different culture. It's always an adventure :) Last Night, Sunday, transfer news was getting pretty tension-y. Everyone really wanted to know where they were going and I really wanted to know too lol. In a world where not a whole lot changes except for the person you are with 24 hours a day and the other people in your zone, transfers are a BIG DEAL. You all would get the biggest kick out of the value that comes with any sort of information about Transfers. The Office Elders are informed a good week and a half early as well as the AP's, and they relish in this fact. It's better then gold. So Elder Henrie and I were separated because he had to drive to the Czech republic for legal work. And so I had to go stay with Elder Jacobs and Meacham. After a string of events, we were driving home to Elder Jacobs apartment with the Office ELders- holders of all knowledge- and then they just told me. Elder McRae is going to be the new Warsaw South Central District Leader, which was Henrie's position. And I am staying In Warsaw as his companion. Elder Henrie is heading to Krakow as DL and I'm actually way stoked to get a new comp. Everyone says that McRae is just rad as can be. I'm looking forward to getting to know him to say the least. A lot of my zone is changed. Elder Mecham is in an AP trio now and Sister Squires, from the MTC group, going to be with Sister Castleton who is in my District. We definitely lucked out and I have a feeling this Transfer is going to blow by quicker then the last one. Which is kind of hard to believe. But i am very excited :) So this Letter has been pretty Random...and I have to add a few things that were Hilarious. Elder Henrie bought a skateboard this week...and skateshoes and a new jacket. He spent about 1000 zloty. Blew my mind lol. We went running in the morning...I went running in the morning and he skateboarded ha. He is one crazy kid. I wonder how lugging that around is going to be lol. I really am just so stoked for all the changes. Change is good and I'm just excited to see how it all turns out. I know it probably seems like I'm hiding all feelings of discouragement from you cos I don't often write about bad things that happen- but honestly, not too many truly discouraging things happen. Sometimes it's a bummer when people don't want to talk with us, but to tell you the truth, I am honestly really happy here. I know that the Lord will not give me anything that I cannot handle and I know that each challenge is just a learning experience. I am most certainly not perfect and I'm not Mr. Sunshine 24/7, but I do smile, quite often, I love so many of the Elders here and I know the Lord helps me through my problems. I just want you to know that I am so happy. I'm so happy being here doing this work. I'm so happy with the people here and am so blessed to be here. I love everything about POland. It's where I'm meant to be right now and though I miss you, my family, more than anything in the world, I know this is what I'm supposed to be doing and I wouldn't trade it for anything. I love you all so much. Life is so good!!! And we are so blessed. I know I am so blessed to have you all. To have the support of two beautifl little sisters who are amazing as all get out ( i brag about you both all the time) a brother who makes me proud every single day and two parents who love me and are there for me and think about me all the time and want nothing but the best for me. Thank you so much family. YOu don't even realize how amazing you are to me. Can't wait to hear form you next week :) Parents, enjoy the Hawaiian weather and just enjoy yourselves. You so deserve it. :) - Starszy Michael Joseph Rushton Jr.
p.s. For halloween, Dorota came to our party, and dressed up as me. Dyed her hair red. Stole my name tag. Everytihng. It was so amazing. :)