French Wisdom. E.Causse and our boy Fabian!‏

Family!!!Holy smokes this week has been one amazing one to say the very least. So many amazing, mission-making experiences. :) But before I shoot into the letter, you guys sound like your doing so darn good, as usual. Solid as a rock, the family is. :P I can only imagine how amazing you girls look out on the soccer field, scoring goals left and right, and Spencer, your song is RIDICULOUS. I was crying listening to it, cos you just rock lol. How cool is that my brother? I so look forward to rocking out with you when I get home. I'll e-mail you about the chamber thing seperately :) Well, can you believe it? Today marks 11 months on the mish. That's almost 12. And 12 is a year lol. To be very honest, I am so grateful that I have another year left. I feel like I'm barely getting a hang of being a missionary and there is still so much left to learn and so much more I'm supposed to do. More and more I realize the perfection of the Lord's plan for us, and his principles. There's a reason he calls 19 year old boys out on a mission. I don't think I've ever felt to inadequate in my whole life. Not in a way that "I can't do this,"but in a subtle way that keeps me focused and always trying. I know I can't do this, can't teach these poeple and help them have spiritual experiences, become a master of doctrine and scriptures, without the Lord's help. Inadequacy is a blessing to me these days lol. It keeps me learning everyday. And there is so much to learn. Polish is a deep deep subject and The Gospel is even deeper and I'm still wading in from the shore. A couple steps more every day. There are a couple highlights that I look forward to trying to relate lol. The first one comes from Zone Conference, with Elder Causse. Three of the four Zones were combined in the Warsaw 1 chapel and it was a brilliant day! Elder Causse, President Engbjerg and Sister Engbjerg taught us for the day. Elder Causse stressed his comments on planning, on the practicality of missionary work- how we need to not be afraid of talking about baptism with these people. And it's true-E.Hughes and I talked about how if we explain to these true investigators of truth what baptism is, then there's no reason to fear it. He taught about planning for the lasting conversion of investigators, cos not all investigators who get baptized are like you Ma lol :) Talked about planning in general how it is a spiritual matter and it's true. E.Hughes and I have really been trying to plan like we should and give the Lord the opportunity to guide us to those who are ready. lol It's honestly not that exciting to anyone who's not on a mission, but it was pretty amazing for us lol :PThe day after Zone Conference, all the Zone Leaders stayed or came to the Mission Office in Warsaw where we had the Mission Council with Elder Causse. That was one amazing experience, to say the least. We all sat down at this big table, facing eachother - E.McRae, Antczak, Mehner were all there :) - and then it started. Elder Causse explained to us that this was a mission COUNCIL, just like other council's, the Branch Council, High Council, Council of the 12, and Mission Council. He explained to us that we were to, during this council, discuss what this mission needs to do to move onward, and upward, to make movements to where we are baptizing quality, kingdom-building people to help the church grow here in Poland. He explained how he had sat on a council of the 12 Apostles- Elder Perry started it, giving the topic of discussion, what needed to be resolved, etc, and that the council started. It was free, when an Apostle wanted to talk, he raised his hand, and spoke, and others could add onto it, all until it funneled to a conclusion. E.Causse said,"we're going to do it like it's done there. We will begin." And we did. And it was amazing lol. Again, nothign life-chaning for those not on a mission, even in this mission lol, but we discussed what we can do as a mission, and what steps need to be taken, and it was neat. I felt, again, inadequate to be there. All these missionaries I look up to were there, and so many good insights were given. I felt blessed to be there :)Fabian Kierzkowski was baptized this Saturday! In a pool near the Church, he was baptized. It was probably the strangest baptism I have ever attended, and there was some disrest here and there, it was warm in the room, but the moments surroundign the actual baptism were beautiful. E.Hughes and I were the witnesses, and as he was baptized, it was calm and the Spirit was there. I sang a solo=- no one else knows how to sing, or play piano here lol- and he bore his testimony. It was solid, simply and exactly what a testimony should be. I'm so proud of the boy. He's in a tough family situation, but we're going out to meet his parents this week, and see what we can do to help. He was confirmed on Sunday, and also recieved the Aaronic Priesthood! The boy is a kingdom builder. I feel blessed to be part of his life and conversion. :)Goodness! So much to write! but no time at all! We achieved the Companionship Standard of Excellence. We worked hard, contacted all day Sunday in the pouring rain, and it felt good lol. The Lord blessed us indeed.I made 4 loaves of banana bread with chocolate chunks in it for teh baptism - it's a rarity here and the Poles go bonkers over that stuff. We handed out to members and investigators - definitely a good way of reaching out to people. We made this one rather depressed investigators' lady's day :) Always a great feeling :)Fam, I'm sorry I've got to jet - I'll have time to share all these stories I can't write here with you another time, no doubt :) I love you all so much and I know this Gospel, this Plan God has for us, is amazing. I've got so much left to learn, but I'm trying my best :) I love you so. Elder Michael :) p.s. Grandma Rushton-I got both of your letters :) ANd i thank you for them so very much :) I will write you soon! p.p.s. I got Christine's package in the mail when I went to Zone Conference! , and it was rockin :) Such an amazing CD (Sufjan! :) ) and a way cool tape- birthday present. I loved it so much :) If you could let her know. Thank you :) SO much love family. :)