The Dirrrty South!!

FAMILIA!YES! I am in Katowice and I have had one of the craziest, most fulfilling and brilliant weeks of my life. Just so busy, so much change and goodness, I will obviously have to give you the shortened version, but it'll be good. It's like the Plates of Gold- it had to be shortened, but it was for our Good, so we could enjoy everything that was written lol. Kind of like the Plates of Gold. I'm so glad you got the package :) Victory. I loved the video of you opening it! I haven't watched the sunday dinner one yet, but I loved how much you guys liked everything. That chocolate is so luxurious, but it is the best. Hopefully you've enjoyed it among the other goodies. I love how long it took to open the coin purse. But you did it ha. Hope you can find some use for it all :) You all are amazing. Thank you for the package- i look forward to getting it. You all look so darn good. Just the same fam. :) SO this week truly has been just me going at 300000 miles per hour, getting thrown into a new city, traveling all over, and just good stuff! I think I'll keep it chronological, for the sake of clear understanding.I wrote you last monday, and didn't yet know who my companion would be. I found out the next day that it would be Elder Hughes! I couldn't believe it lol. No one ever serves with someone twice unless their and AP or something crazy happens. But I am with Elder HUghes again! And couldn't be more glad. He is the 6,000,000 dollar companion pop, if you remember. He really is one darn good missionary and learned the most when I was with him, and I have no doubt I'll learn some more ha. We probably will only have one month together, before the next mini-transfer comes out, which is not long at all, but it'll be amazing! Tuesday, we had Zone P=day in Warsaw. We got their pretty early, and caught a bus out to the Kabaty forest where we would do all our sports and BBQ and whatnot. When we got there, Elder McRae pulled up in the Huge van, and it looked like he was alone. But when he stopped, the sliding door opened, and ELder Broadbent, i mean Mark Broadbent popped out!!!! I flipped! Ha it was so so so good to see that man. He had just gone Study Abroad, and had hung out with all these girls from my ward at BYU who I hung out with, as well as Sydney Hancock, one of Christine's ultimate best friends, so that was crazy too! He gave me a letter from them that they had written the morning before. Pure craziness. BUt the Zone p-day was amazing. Talked to Mark (E.Broadbent) tons and played amazing Capture the Flag, and yes. That night we drove to Katowice. I had packed up all my stuff the day before in Bydgoszcz and so we all drove up to Katowice where teh next Zone P=day would be. I kinda had 2 p-days...which was way fun lol but I felt way lame. Kind of. Still really enjoyed myself. That night started my Threesome time with Elder Antczak and Elder Hedges ( a fellow Red-head) who would be "dying" 3 days later. From that day on, we spent so much time meeting all the investigators I would be taking over for, and helping a couple people who would be getting baptized that upcoming Saturday. The busiest days of my life. 6 meetings a day. Nonstop. I still haven't contacted on the street in Katowice yet. It's been insane! THe investigators here are a m a z i n g ! I will surely talk about them all with time, but for now I just want to talk a bout a few. Firstly, there is Ania, who is the single mother of 3 children. Her youngest, Michał, is 4 years old and is the happiest little kid, way wild, but very happy. Sebastian, is 10 and is obsessed with soccer. Good looking athletic kid, who needs this church in his life. He could have such an amazing future. Then there is Małgosia, who I have not met yet. But she is 14 and is apparently close to baptism. She struggles with some concerns, but as soon as she gets back from vacation, we will meet with her. Ania, was supposed to get baptized this last Saturday, but it had to be post-poned a bit because of something that was brought up in her interview. She will still get baptized soon, we're just wating on an answer from authorities higher than us. BUt she is amazing as well. She has a strong spirituatl testimony. She is so funny, but she will most certainly get baptized soon. She's about 38 years old, and I will send pictures as soon as I figure out by which means I will send them to you. SHe really loves Elder Antczak and Hedges, but she's taking the transition well. Next is Martyna and Natalia. Martyna was baptized in March and Natalia is her best friend. THey're cute way nice young girls and Natalia was just baptized this last saturday. They will both be amazing amazing members too. Seriously, so cool. I'll send you all pictures of everyone! They have really turned their lives around to join the church and really feel the truth of it all. It's a privelege to teach em.The Katowice Branch is somewhat known for the crazy members here. Bydgoszcz and Katowice are completely opposite of eachother. The character list is long, but i'll give you a few. First is Michał. He is crazy and sends really really creepy e-mails to missionaries. That's enough about him. He's really not mentally stable.Gosia is 28 ish and rocks the world because she is so normal and amazing. She is the relief society president and does such a good job.The branch President here is amazing- haven'y met him yet, but I hear nothing but amazing things.THere is Paweł next. Somethign happened to his vocal chords, so when he talks, it's like he just walked out of Practice with the Vienna Boys Choir. Wicked high voice! He has such a good heart though and in actuallity is not wierd. He just comes off as wierd. Amazing member though. Very excited about missionary work. There are so many more- I don't really know too many people yet, and I can't really explain the different feel of the branch in the alloted time I've got here lol. But, essentially the bramch has serious personaltiy, and I love it. For every not-100%-there member, there are a couple really really solid members. Missionariy work is going splendidly here, and there will be some growth in this transfer! I love it here so much.Kato is way dirty compared to any city i"ve been in, and way more real. Real life prevails- the first 10 minuites of Elder HUghes' stay here, we thought we saw a dead person. Just laying on the sidewalk, eyes open, way dirty, and old. He started breathing though eventually. I've seen more then 1 1-legged pigeon and way more larry's then usual. IT is a coal city- the śląsk, is what they call it. THe south in general is just a bunch of cities all crammed together. It is a good place. I really do love it. I loved serving with ELder Antczak and Hedges for the last 4 days. IT was so much fun, and so powerful meeting all these peolple.ANdrzej did not yet get baptized, not cos he doesn't have a testimony, cos he really does- he wants to have his feet firmly on the ground before he gets baptized in regards to his apartment and finacial situation, so that he can be a good, reliable member. Righht now he doesn't feel relaxed, because he doesnt have a firm place to live. ANd i respect that tons. He came to churhc this last sunday. ANd i will go down there soon to baptize him. Today, i saw probably one of the coolest things in the world. This old old old medievil castle, just in ruins. BUt it was well-enough preserved to walk thorugh it and explore. Oh it was amazing! I'll send pics. We ahve to go there when you all come. :)SO, it is official. Way too much happened this week, for me to properly explain. I hope you got a bit of the craziness and enjoyed it. I'll surely explain each person in better detail thorughout the weeks. I love you all so much :)The greatest part of this mission is seeing the GOspel change people's lives. Seeing it help them not only understand life and it's purpose, but to find happiness throughout it all. i love you so much, thank you for the videos and amazing support. You all are the best! TO next week!Elder Michael j Rushton Jr, :)