Travel and The Good Life- October 25 2009

Dearest family of Mine :)Thank you tons for the letters. They rock, yet again. For real :) I loved the video as well, mother. Thanks tons. You all look wonderful as normal. I really can't believe i've been gone for that Long ma. It doesn't really seem right ha. At the same time, I know the down hill is the shortest time, but it's also when you're going the quickest- when you can do the most! It's not fair at all ha. I love 100 percent teaching with Elder Strobehn. He is so old in the mission, but he's staying alive, and we are so happy teaching the people we are. He uses scriptures so well, and we kind of just teach in sync. It's fun, and the things you discussed in the lesson stay with you, after the lesson is over. I'm just loving it :) This week has been different for sure. Like I told you, I think about weeks, from Sunday to Sunday, so last week, I traveled toooons and toooons and I never ever wanted to get on a train again. And to be honest, the days have just slammed together in my brain, but some really neat things have happened from that last Wednesday I wrote you- I'll do my best to remember.First, answering you're question pop, Ania is doing ok. I had intended to talk about her more this week, after my lack of info in the preceeding letters. She is struggling with the normal hardships of being a single mom of Three children with out steady work. Which adds to a lot of troubles. She doesn't handle stress very well, she raises her voice semi-often to her children, and she needs to understand the gospel some more. We're trying to meet with her often, and it's coming along. I care tons about her and her family. They have so much potential. Their lives can be changed by the Gospel, but at the same time, they have to give the Lord something to work with. They have to be open for change and molding, and that is something Ania is working on developing. She says she is ready to change, and she says she will, but she has a hard time putting it into action. I sometimes am at a loss of what to do. She's a good woman, and her children are wonderful. They have simply lacked direction in their life for a long time, and I think I, as well as several members of the church, expect her to simply change on a dime. Her desire is there, and as her faith grows, so will her amount change. She will be a solid member of the church. She just needs some changing time. And we'll continue to do our best. O goodness it's so stressful sometimes. I've never had to raise a family. I know what I would do though, what I would change in her situation. I just can't force her to make those changes. I can only encourage, and that's what we're doing. Any advice is welcomed, parents especially. All prayers, also, are very welcome. In other news, we spent another weekend in Tarnowskie Góry, at another pizza place, discussing the Gospel. It's so intense trying to solve some of her concerns. She is by far, by a mile, one of my favorite investigators, and her interest in the Gospel and desire to grow in Faith us unmatched by any investigator i've met. Her Jehowa's Witness past has left her with several intense beliefs, and gospel concepts that she is having a hard time making sense of in the Church of Jesus Christ. For example, she takes all Bible scriptures very very literally. In Corinthians 14 it says that women should hold their silence in church, and if they have a question, they should ask their husbands at home. She is shocked when women speak in church. Part of me is just amazed that she has enough faith to just live that, despite the apparent unjustice. It's similar to the fact that women in the church do not have priesthood authority. That takes faith to accept and live. To her though, it's just part of the Gospel. But we know it's otherwise, through revelation. And to be honest, I've been searching for a good answer for her, but i've been coming up blank somewhat. Do you, ma or pa, have any higher wisdom on that topic? I have come to the conclusion that the culture in that time was significantly different than it is now, and that in that particular letter to the Corinthians, it's purpose was to correct improper behavior. Possibly the women were acting up? Grandpa, do you have any help for me? Ha, this is my "favor" letter I guess. I wanted to tell her that the church is no where near perfect, especially here in Katowice, but it is the church of God. It is still growing and will be growing here for a long time. It will get better, and it needs more than anything, strong members like Ela and Carlos who will bring equally strong people in. I feel Ela's pain more than she knows. It's hard when Church isn't to the quality you know it should be. But it never will get that way until we get enough solid members to support this Branch. So, she left, crying. I sat in a chair, dejected. I think she cried because she has such high hopes for everything we're teaching her. Carlos, came back a minute later, asking if we would go talk with them for a while, and we did. It ended up ok. We didn't clear it up yet all the way, but things will be fine, and she will someday soon be baptized. She is truly phenomenal. I pray you can meet her and Carlos and Nathan when you come :) Carlos has somewhat changed our missionary work here in Katowice. He is the epitomy of a member missionary. He is bold and he is amazing, and we love him and his Family. We were walking in the rain to the member who lives in Tarnowskie góry, when Carlos called. He asked where we were, and I told him. He said "wait there!" He drove up and took us to Kazimierz's house. It was amazing. The best part was, when he picked us up later, with a Girl he had knows for awhile. He had told her about us, about the Gospel, and asked her if she would like to talk to us. We drove to a little milk bar, and sat down and we taught a short lesson to her. SHe is very interested, Ola's her name, and she is also amazing. Her boyfriend and her own a small ranch out there. We look forward to teaching them too! Go Carlos!Tonight we have some amazing meetings with some SAWEET! people. Namely, Tomasz, our 29 year old lawyer who were trying to set up with probably the most solid female member of the ward. I think it'll work :P At 8 i'm getting on a train to Warsaw. Tomorrow morning I have a plane at 730 AM to England. I'm flying back that evening at 5 PM. There's our Leadership conference the next day at the Wolska Chapel, in Warsaw. Busy busy! It's so sad being away from our area, I seriously dislike it! But I think this is the last time I'll have to disappear for awhile. :) Fam, I think I'm going to have to end this. Don't have too much longer left. All is so well, and our investigators are really rockin the park. Just got off the Phone with Dominik who's in teh Hospital. We're hoping we can teach the kid so right when he gets out we can baptise him!Gosia's skin disease is not contagious. It's not so much a skin disease as much as...I don't know, an organism malfunction. She just has these random sores that just open up. It's so sad. It's not contagious though. She'll be ok. She really is amazing. Ok, pray for us here in Katowice. I love you so much Family and pray for you often. I know that all is well and it gives me such great comfort to see and hear from you every week. It's the best. :) I love you all so. Have a wonderful week. And any help there would be much appreciated. :) Feel better Papa and Mama. I love you both so much and am so glad that you raised me in this Gospel. Sisters and brother, hold tight and listen to the parents. :P Love. z ogromną miłością,Starszy Michael J. Rushtonp.s. I'm going to have to pull that money out to by my 89 zlot train ticket to Warsaw...we're out of Zone Funds and i'm at the bottom of my personal funds. But i don't need more money. We get our funds sooner than later. :)p.s.s Spence, I know exactly how you feel ha in the video. It's ok, enjoy it while you can ;) The teasing that is. Ha. Love you kid. p.s.s. I haven't talked to Jimmy Boy forever,and I worry he thinks I don't love him any more ha. But I think about him all the time. I sent him a box forever ago, and I'm not sure he got it. If you could pass that on, it would be much appreciated. Tell mama Grossman I love her too :) p.s.s.s AHH! I forget to tell you, that Fabian is coming back to Church!!! Yes!!! Major victory for the Lord's team! :) He as well as the member that fell away. Both are back and feeling good :)