Pretties and Parties

From email sent October 29, 2010:

Poland is very beautiful and the people ,for the most part, are really quite nice and friendly, probably would be more so if I could speak the language better, but keep on trying, it's a VERY DIFFICULT language to learn and my memory just ain't what it used to be.

Pictures include beautiful tree, Fall in Bydgoszcz a mistletoe tree, here it's a parasite that grows in lots of trees, and a birthday party for one of the elders

Halloween Party

from email sent October 28, 2010:

this year in Oct.there are 3 Fri, 3 Sat. and 3 Sundays and that won't happen again for about 834 or so years. interesting bit o nonsense, Someone has way too much time on their hands to figure that out, not me, that's for sure, tomorrow we are planning a Halloween Party for the branch here, not really a big holiday here, some of the western events are just coming here, so we're looking forward to a great time. BOO

one of the elders just called and wanted an idea for a costume, I suggested a "Larry" that's what they call homeless people here, or hobos are the same thing. not a lot one can do with your basic black suit and white shirt maybe a penquin...love ya bunches, Mom

Classes, Travelling and a Birthday Party

From email sent September 19, 2010:

jak sie masz?( how are you?)the class went well, we reviewed reading a pattern envelope and the guide sheet and how to make t shirts. Sister Zan said to thank you so much for sending them, seriously the Burda patterns are a joke however there is a place on line like ebay one can purchase patterns very similar to American ones, only have to have an account and I don't know how to see the catalog, perhaps on line as well. who knows, I just really appreciate you sending those. one set is left in Wroclaw for that branch and the sisters will trace off the sizes they want and not cut the patterns, hopefully that is the way it will be done.
So on tuesday we leave for Warsaw and the senior outing and then the plan is to go to Morlbork, the largest standing castle in Europe and be there for two days and come home and then Sept. is nearly over, time is flying by so fast. amazing.

But don't know how I will deal with Christmas, this will be a first ever to be alone, well not alone there are other missionaries here and will probably have them for dinner , it's a three day event and we've already been invited to Andziej and Alicja's for one day and the 26th is Andziej's birthday and he said we had to bring him a present , even if it's just a sucker and wrap it in BIRTHDAY PAPER. they are fun kids and they are kids, he is 23 and she is 26, and they have huge responsibilities in the church, he is 2nd counselor in the mission presidenct and she is the RS pres and institute teacher and also teaches Sunday School on Sunday a month, Andziej is traveling most of the weekends visiting other branches, that's a lot for kids that young, but they do well. Oh and his favorite pasttime now is Books and Runs, even if we just have 15 minutes, it's " shuffle those cards and lets do a hand and save the score til we can play again, and Alicij's favorite thing is to beat him in cards, rarely happens and she saved the last score sheet and is going to frame it and display it, funny kids.

Busy, busy, busy

From email sent September 16, 2010

What a week this has been, first we had zone conference cancelled, our area authority had to remain in Germany for other meetings so couldn't come. I don't know when conference will be, probably another week when we have a milliion things to reschedule. like we did this week, Guess that's the way it goes, a million things to do , or nothing. rather have a million things, time goes by faster.

So next week the schedule at this time is for the senior outing in Warsaw on Wed and thur,travel on tuesday , leave for Morlburk Castle on Thursday evening and be there on Friday and come home on Friday pm. gonna be exhausted from all that travel and then it's nearly Oct.
The sewing classes are going great and leave tomorrow for Wroclaw for two days to teach there and do alterations for the elders, Usually just shirts and suits. sometimes mending their slacks. I do enjoy it and it's a good way to serve. so maybe my purpose is to do just that, oh and teach them how to play Books and Runs. Probably will need more decks of cards if I get transferred again, not in the plan, but one never knows.

Message from Poland

from email sent September 6, 2010:

Dzien dobry,

Tthe work in Poland continues to go forward howbeit very slowly, The vision of L. Tom Perry is truly correct as the youth are the ones generally more willing to listen to the missionaries. Institute here begins in Oct. after a long summer break, so many kids leave the city for the summer it's hard to have much of any kind of program. so we're startig again and hopefully all the kids will return. I do stay busy teaching sewing classes, go to Wroclaw once a month and teach a group there, 4 YW and 4 RS. sisters. and this week will start teaching another class here in Bydgoszcz.

It's so much fun to see the sisters, young and old, excited about making their own clothes. We started with making pajama pants and after class in Wroclaw the sisters did a little fashion show wearing their new pjs and did a funny little stomp dance. it was way cute. This month we are doing baby blankets, a different way to bind the edges, simple projects, but learning none the less. it's great fun.

In August I received a package from my girls, love to get packages and letters and emails with pictures. Among all the goodies from my family there were two letters from Primary kids in their ward in Phoenix with Flat Jim and Flat Choco. two little missionaries to serve mini missions here in Bydgoszcz. we had a great time doing splits with other missionaries and going to church. They will be returning to Phx. this week after about two busy weeks serving here. Hopefully I can attach some pictures. Not always successful there. .

do widzenia, Siostra Austin

Gift of Tongues and Out of Harm's Way

from email sent August 31, 2010:

did you get the email with the Polish words, 'When I get home you can speak some Polish to me. I cannot carry on a conversation, but know lots of words and can read Polish, just dont know what all the words mean, but still learning. Among all the blessings President Ron Smith blessed me with when he set me apart, one of them wasn't the gift of tongues, in fact he set me apart for an English speaking mission, however he did bless me to be kept out of harms way and I am so thankful for that blessing. crazy drivers over here , no speed signs and autobusses and tramvies everywhere, driving like crazy. If one were to get a license, the first thing to do is take the rear view mirror off the car and not see what is going on behind.

Polish Words

From email sent on August 30, 2010

here are a couple of Polish words to learn with Polish and english spelling and pronouncation

good morning dzien dobry (gen doe-bry)

hi czesc (chest)

good bye do widzenia (doe vid-zen-ia) w's are pronounced like v's

thank you dzienkuje (gen-kulia) sounds like julia with a k

please prosze (pro-sha)

thought this would be fun to learn. It's a very hard language and there are 7 different case endings for words.so it is hardfor me to carry on a conversation, but I know lots of words. I probably sound a lot like a little kid just learning to talk, duh.... I am. love ya bunches, MOM