Huge Rynek and the Shining Sea

Dear Fam-The letters rocked this week- I usually print them out and read them after a few days to give me a little boost if I need it, but today I won-t have the chance to- I write from an amazingly large and very neat library in Gdansk, the beautiful city by the sea that every missionary in some part of their heart desires to serve in. Just recently the branch up here got a new chapel- it's own building. Not quite like the one in Warsaw, which is practically like one in the States, but more like the one in Bydgoszcz- just a really nice free-standing building that is turned into a chapel. We will be having Zone Conference there. Today though, we have Zone P-day in Gdansk, where we will be playing a little soccer on the beach, walking around the city and what-not. I so look forward to it it's kinda ridiculous :P We had it planned, and than it got shot down, cos Pres doesn't want any more Zone P-days for certain reasons, but we got Elder Guinn to lobby for us and we kinda...won lol. It probably sounds like we had to really barter for it, but in all actuallity it just makes sense to do it here. So the whole zone will be here together and then tomorrow Zone Conference. Sweetness eh? lol. I can't believe you just finished Easter Break. Easter seems like it was 4 weeks ago :P I'm glad you guys had the chance to hang out a bit and relax- Zion's Trek sounds amazing. I loved that thing when we went last time. DJ'ing a dance- it actually was Ma and Dad's anniversary huh. lol So long ago, but so good :) I can't believe your anniversary is coming up already. Goodness. :) Happy Anniversary Mom and Pop :) Last week I most certainly was feeling some frustration in terms of finding people and teaching people, and the struggle for new amazing investigators still wages on, as well as trying to include the members, but it was definitely better this last week. Some small victories make it all worth it. :)First off, that man Marek who I called last Saturday, we met with him Sunday, and then we set up again for Wednesday, the day I went to Poznan. Well, side-track, but I went to Poznan and it was amazing. That place is so gorgeous, I think i said "Wow, that is beautiful," at least 27 times when we walked on the Rynek. It was SOOO BIG. I wish I could properly explain what a Rynek is- but simply stated it's the city square, filled with old buildings, amazing restaurants and architecture. I also realized that being in small Bydgoszcz for a mere month, made anything close to a big city- Poznan for example- seem humongous. To get there, I had to wake up at 6, and catch a bus to the Train Station to make my 7:20 train and then when I got on the Train, it was packed, so I stood in the aisle. A girl was sitting next to me and somehow we struck up conversation- we talked for the entire 2 and 1/2 hour train ride to Poznan, in Polish about so many random things, including the Gospel. She lives in Bydgoszcz but Studies in Poznan. When she comes to Bydgoszcz again we're going to meet, talk about the Gospel and then I'll dish it over to Poznan where she will get baptized. Cos she is golden. My exchange was with E.Warenski and we had an amazing time- contacted some really neat people, white-boarded (i forgot to tell you I can't white-board in Bydgoszcz, it's illegal :() and had an amazing District Meeting. I was happy with how well the district is doing there. I got to see Sis. Gardner, from my Group who I hadn't seen forever. A way good experience :) SOOOO on when I got home the next day, we got into our house, and I asked E.Jones how the meeting with Marek went, and he said, "Look at the Board (where we write all the zone baptismal dates)" and I looked. And his name was there for May 16th! Woo baby! We've met with him twice since then and he came to church yesterday. He doesn't smoke, drink any of the forbidden substances, drugs, nothing. He rocks. And he didn't smell at all the last couple of meetings. Double score! Along with this success came a heart break as well. E.McCuisstion and I taught this lady (who E.Brewster and I had found) English on P-day evening when we work. Afterword we taught her a lesson and McCuistion said that was one of the best meetings he has ever been on in his entire mission- top 10 he said. He's 6 months older than me in the mission. It was amazing. She is in her 50's, her name is Barbara and she was truly ready- open, so happy, funny. We set up again for the next week. I called her yesterday because we we're going to be gone and she was a different woman. Not happy at all, I know for a fact something happened and it just messed her up. I couldnt' believe it. It really hit me- I'm not giving up on her though. She was too ready. But it could take a long while, i don't know. I'll be praying for her. I'm a bit nervous for Zone Conference, cos we have to give a presentation. But it'll be good lol- we're talking about being yourself and implementing all the Lord has given you in your missionary efforts- your personality, your experiences, your abilities into helping the Polish people see the goodness of the Gospel. I hope it goes well :) After Zone Conference I get to go on exchanges with one of my very best mission buddies- E.Meacham. The kid was AP and is now the District Leader in Gdansk, and he dies at the end of this Transfer. We're going to have a rockin exchange though before that happens. I have to go right now- but Meacham is going to California during the summer and he said he'd love to meet you, my family. He's going to bring a few things home for me and whatnot and you would love to talk to him. He is the man and a half. I'll give you more details next week, but right now I gotta jet! II love you so much. I can't tell you how much you mean to me and how much this Gospel means to me. It is true and we will be together forever. Have an amazing week. Suck the marrow out of life :) Elder Michael Rushton