Szczecin. Bydgoszcz. Yesz.

Hallo Famila :)
How ridiculous is it that you are on the lake! Ah! I'm glad you are enjoying yourselves and having an amazing time with the extended family. I send my best greeting and would hug everyone there if I could lol. Thank you so much for writing me lol- especially you ma, that's like 3 or 4 texts full :) Thank you :)
It has been another incredibly busy and crazy week, that will probably make you tired again, Pop, if I go through it all, so I'll give the lay-out, and comment on the highlights.
Tuesday, we had Interviews with President, which were grand. President is such an amazing, kind, loving man, who is so full of insight and power. You can see in him how much he simply cares about us all. He was very kind to me, invredibly complimentary and truly was grateful for my leadership here in the NorthWest. I've loved every second of it. Since I was Six months in the country I've been here...I'm coming up on a year in the country very soon. I am officially an older missionary. Whoo :/ So strange. But, I was we made commitments for ourselves, and I commited to learn a scripture a day. Which I will certainly need to work on. Cos that's a lot of memorizing. But it will be very good for me.
President also dropped a hint...more like told me where I would be going next transfer, but I don't want to say, just in case it changes. I'm already falling in love with the place in my heart. Wherever I am called, that's where I'll go. I'm more then sure though I am leaving here- just because I've been here for so long. Elder Harvey has been in 6 cities already- he's only 4 months older then me on the Mish! Lol, I am an uber exception when it comes to staying in one place. But sincerely, I wouldn't have it any other way. The Lord so closely knows what I need and he knows how close my heart grows to these places.
That is one thing I have grown to just know, without a doubt. That the Lord does work through inspiration- Elder McLaws' letter this week blew me off my seat, it was so good. A couple things are kind of hard to appreciate without being on a mission, but when he said, "These are my people" that hit a tune with my heart. Especially here, in this small city of Bydgoszcz- I just love these people. Especially the ones who will listen for two seconds and let their heart contemplate the message of truth we present them. I know the Lord knew that I needed Bydgoszcz, and someone in Bydgoszcz needed me.
SO- after interviews, we drove to Szczecin. I talked to Sister Engbjerg for the Second half of the ride and got the scoop on how Her and President met. It was rich :P President bought us all ribs for lunch, and this crazy good soup. He really does spoil his missionaries. Kind of ridiculous ha.
We got to Szczecin late, and went up to the Branch President's apartment, Elder Daly's, and there we slept.
Zone Conference was truly amazing. I loved it- there in that new Chapel, on the 3rd story of a building in the city center. It was amazing. :) We had the chance to prepare a Zone Leader presentation, which went well. We talked about someting I felt very passionately about, and I think the Zone accepted it very well. Elder Rassmussen said it was the best part of Zone Conference. We talked about equalizing our time and being more effective- not simply being out on the streets all the time- which happens so much! So we made a plan and some ideas aimed at helping us as a Zone spend less, more-effective time on the street, and more time in the class room teaching. The dying missionaries gave their testimonies, which is always powerful- it's neat for me to see their close-to-last impressions at the end of their mission.
Elder Harvey and I stayed in Szczecin for exchanges the next day, because there are only three trains from Szczecin to Bydgoszcz, so this was by far most convenient. I was with Elder Daly, and we had an amazing day! So very good contacting- found some very neat people- especially one lady who was a frytki (literally means a french fry, but slang for one who tans very very often :P), but a very very kind lady with two children. She set up- tons of potential. Szczecin has only been open for a year now, and there are only 2 solid members. Henryk, who just left to Russia for 10 months, and Agnieszka, a cute 21 year old girl who is converted as can be. She's the one I gave a baptismal interview to last exchange I had in Szczecin who just blew me away with how ready she was. So, a family would do wonders for this literally miniscule branch. :) Elder Daly is still the man. I read in my journal a couple days ago how we first met. So funny :P
E. Harv and I caught a train back at 5 in the morning. We got up at 4:15, and I wanted to die. But we made it to Bydgozcz at around 9, went home and cleaned up, and had a respectable day.
The week, despite the fact that we spent 3 days in Szczecin, turned out to be quite fruitful, and leads to my highlights.
Andrzej Pappelbaum, is the man. He is progressing so well- he is truly sincere in his commitment to be a member of this church. He really, really likes me- he says I was the one who led him to this church, to this better life, and I was worried when I left, he would fall away, cos that often happens here in Poland. But we've had some amazing conversations lately, and he knows I will be leaving, and his only request is that I baptize him before I leave. How can I refuse him that :) He accepted the Word of Wisdom and Law of Chastity in a snap- he is really realizing the powerful feelings of the spirit he has whenever we meet, or he is at church, or anywhere near the Gospel. And that is so rewarding. He was especially touched when I told him that my family was praying for him, that they even know who he is. He is divorced, lives alone, and doesn't really have any family these days- he says I'm his brother, and I really do feel it. He is an amazing man. He will be a strong member of the church. Please continue to pray for him- if you want to write him a letter ma, he would super appreciate it :) If you have the time.\
Maciek, our 18 year old investigator, is also on fire. He has such a true and earnest desire to learn the truth, it is amazing. I love talking to him because he is so rational and has a maturity far beyond his years in terms of really thinking before he speaks, and being sensitive to the Spirit. I love teaching him so much. I played some piano for him too, and he loved that. He's praying about a baptismal date for the beginning of September, and he came to church last Sunday. We're meeting with him tonight :)
Good stories...dang it! I got nothing lol. Hmmm...ok I will be on the Look out. I'm sorry :P
Any questions y'all have? I wonder if you all are always wondering about some aspect of life here that I never remember to mention. Let me know :)
The transfer is just flying by- only 2 weeks left here :( I am really going to miss this place.
Next week, we're going to the biggest castle in all of Poland, Malbork, so e-mail might be later, or earlier then usual. Probably later though.
I hope you have an amazing day today, and please be safe. Everyday on the mission is a gift to me. I love it so. I know the Lord called me here to Poland for a reason, and I look forward everyday to finding those who are ready. Some days are slow and long, others fly by- but it's all a balance. It's when we well endure the slow and long, that we see the successful days. I've really learned that tender lesson of Godly hesitance- he doesn't always immediately step in, because he respects our agency and knows also the purpose of this earth life- to grow and learn. Also, if God always immediately intervened, every time we sinned, we would be immediately punished- realized that from reading an ensigh article. :)
I love you so fam. Have an amazing week, be safe, have fun and remember to pray for the people in Poland and for opportunites to share the Gospel in your own lives, in some small way. It is how the work rolls forth.
To next week :)

Starszy Michael Rushton Jr