A Polish Wedding, Gingerbread houses and just plain old fun

Last post of 2012

Czesc wam!

Well I can start off by saying congrats to Jimmy and Nadia on another baby! geez little Brenda will be like 3 when I am home. Matt and Melissa's baby will 2, As well as Brian and Lauren's baby.   The family is changing. Hopefully they like me when I get home haha.  This week was a weird week, we had like no time really for proselyting because Monday was Wigilia which is Christmas Eve and its a big deal in Poland, so it was a full p-day. We did however hang out with what they call gypsys out here they are the darkerskinned people who are usually from Romania I think and they are comparable to.....Mexican's sorry don't know how else to put it. We have 3 YSAs who are gypysys or however you spell it, they are born and raised in Poland and don't speak Romanian just have blood does that make sense? Well we hung out with them and ate lunch and it was so much fun! they are so cool! I will tell you more about them later! and then Tuesday was Christmas and we hung out at the Senior couples home they feed us we made ginger bread house and it was just fun! They had some phones and we were able to call our families from them so it was good to hear from them! Gosh! everyone sounds so much older! talking to you guys really motivated me and pumped me up! t Wednesday we had our Christmas Zone Conference  that was so much fun! I got a cool tie in the white elephant game! it's from a place called Adams and it's a missionary favorite. It's in Warsaw and I can't wait to go. Ties are like 9 American dollars and the nicest ties ever, so I will be getting a bunch there when I go haha. We helped our branch President and he accidently grabbed our cell phone on Thursday so we waited for him to bring it back. That was funny though, he is great though his name is Adrian and he is one of the ysa gypsys as well.

 Friday we worked, but Saturday one of those gypsys got married! It was so cool to see a polish wedding, but it was weird a girl married them, and we were all sitting down even them the entire time and she says you guys will live together in happiness on this earth till death do you part....I hope....and all of us missionaries are like did she just say I hope? haha it was way funny, but hey that's how they do it here in good old Poland.  Sunday I helped teach Sunday school, that was fun my polish still isn't the best, but hey I did it and they understood so that"s good!  This Christmas was the best! Thank you all for your prayers! I miss you and love you all. I felt your prayers during the holiday season. Today I want you all to know the Book of Mormon is true! It blesses lives. I miss you all, but I hope your all being blessed while I am here if your not seeing the blessings then open your eyes god loves you I promise. If you don't believe me look at a baby....look into it's eyes and tell me you don't see God....he is true and son died for us. I miss you and love you have a good New Year be safe party it up ( safely of course ;) ) have a good week! would love to hear from you guys as well!

Love

Elder Harris 

Katowice Christmas Conference

 The Katowice Zone.  Seated: Elders and Sisters Sheley and Hutchinson.  Middle Row: Sisters Smithee and Howells, Elders Weir and Garfield, Sisters Holmgren and Ence.  Back Row: Elders Szymanski, Godwin, Neuner, Lanham, Brown, Bokinsky, Harris and Hayes.

 The Katowice District.  Elder and Sister Hutchinson.  Elders Brown and Bokinsky (District Leader), Sisters Ence and Holmgren, Elders Harris and Hayes (Zone Leader)

 Sister Hutchinson had planned a 'Cafe Rio' lunch for the Missionaries. It was fabulous....and tasted like the real thing! Sister Sheley brought yummy desserts.  Thanks so much to our great Senior Missionaries for making everything special for our Christmas Zone Conference!

  Elders Hayes and Harris were the fastest in finding quotes and statements in Round One.

 The entire Zone did marvelous in the Preach My Gospel Chase and everyone collected a prize as well.  Now it was time to enjoy our White Elephant Gift Exchange.  Everyone brought one gift and you could not spend more than 20 zl on any item.

In the end, there was trading and taking as everyone got something they needed or at least laughed about.  

Another successful Zone Conference full of fun, instruction and of course, the Christmas spirit. Tonight we drove to Poznan for our final Christmas Zone Conference.

Wesołych świąt‏ (Merry Christmas)

 Enjoying some bowling on my P-day

Hey! well I know I said I couldn't email but, we a found a place to email so I thought i would send a little one.  I want to wish everyone a Merry Christmas! Things in Poland are still going good it's freaking cold though! It will snow then the next day it rains and then good bye snow. It's all gone.  This past week was good we found a new investigator named A  from the Ukraine and he is cool he likes american sports and music so we get a long but, he came to our branch Christmas party and I felt as if I had to baby sit him and he doesn't respect polish people at all and is only here to work so it's really stress full when he is around then I finally asked him if he is interested in our message and he said sure if it will help him get to America.....so that sucks. My polish is improving I am leading every lesson now and asking all the questions and for the most part talking the entire time just throwing out words to the investigator, which is good practice. I now see why this language is in the top 4 hardest in the world it's tuff but, so much fun! Well not to much to say sorry but, I love you all and hope Christmas is good. Remember why we celebrate Christmas.....for the presents duh.. Please  remember why for reals and remember that our Father in Heaven loves us all the same and knows us personally. He knows what we want and need I treasure his love. I feel it so strong on my mission.  It helps me continue. When I miss home something little happens and boom my head is in the right spot. I see miracles everyday and I am grateful for them. I am grateful for you my family and love you all! Merry Christmas!!!

Love,

 Elder Harris 

PS: I tracked into people whose names were Janikowski and Grąkowski the real name of Gronkowski cool! Right?

Pic's from Poland

 Elder Harris with his new companion Elder Hayes

Elder Harris with one of his buddies from the MTC Elder Weier

Transfer week and a week before Christmas

This next week is transfers, so I found out yesterday whats going to be happening to me! I am staying in Katowice with Elder Hayes and my old companion Elder Mikolyski is now an AP! I am sad I won't be with Mikolyski anymore because he was awesome, but Elder Hayes is from wales and is so so so funny!!!! so I am excited for this transfer! Also hello Cole Tyler Cottingim! Witam rodzinie!( Hello Family) I  can't believe I will pretty much have a whole new family to see when I get home! 

This week was a fun one and stressful one. My companion actually left early so that sucked but we also had 3 straight days of nothing, but finding! no meetings set up nothing, it was long and really cold.  Saturday I stopped a kid on the road and asked him what makes him happy in life and he looked at me like okay dude why do you care so I go czy moge pitac? meaning can I ask? and he laughs and goes sure....I guess work food and family. of course this is in polish, and I go cool what makes me happy is playing rugby watching football talking to people about God and most important my family and right after I said that his face changed. He was like that's cool. You love your family? and after he asked me that the spirit was there even though we were outside and it was way cold I could feel it. We talked about families and how he likes going to church, but sees some faults in the catholic church, I even shared how my family from Poland are catholic and it doesn,t mean they are bad people I love them just as much as my Mormon family and he thought that was way cool! We talked a little longer and he goes to church every Sunday and prays all the time. I gave him a Book of Mormon, but he didn't want to exchange numbers, but we said he would read and think about. For  having a couple days straight of nothing but contacting that was a miracle  a tender mercies of the lord. Not only did we feel the spirit, but hey I was freaking speaking Polish! It was amazing! And also this week we met with Kris the guy from our English class and he recommitted him to read and pray and he goes okay and the next day calls and says we need to talk about his book after English again, so pray for him he is so ready! Also those nice girls I was telling you about? Paulina and Patrica? yeah Paulina came to English class and met with us after. We told her we can not met with her because we have sisters who can and she goes okay this stuff is interesting I can't wait to learn more. So it was a miracle she wasn't only interested in some American men, but also the gospel! Also this week we had zone traning and Elder Weir from my MTC group who is my favorite missionary was there so it was fun being able to see him! But this week was fun and full of stress, but hey that's a mission right? I love you all and wish you all a Merry Christmas. No email from me next week. Christams Eve is a big deal here in Poland so everything will be closed, but love you all and will email you all when I can! Moses 6: 63 Everything we have in life testifies of God, you see a huge cruise ship which a an amazing creation that man created and it's incredible then you think of a blue whale which is this massive 3 football field long creature that peacefully move through out the water. That's evidence that God loves us. I know he does. I promise he does remember Jesus this Christmas Season najdzieja wszyskto podzaku z wami!dzieki Jesusowi Christusowi jestesmy tutaj na ziemia. i wiem ze to jest prawdzwym z mojej calej serca! Bardzo kocham was. mam 

Milosc

Starszy Harris

PS: i am sorry can't spell in English let alone polish and google translate sucks for polish, but you can probably get the basics of what I just said,  plus I can't put some letters so sorry!

,

Christmas from Poland

This is what can in the mail yesterday.

Not a very big mission. This is every missionary serving in the Warsaw Mission.

Great group of young men and women.

Wesotych Swait!

(Merry Christmas!)

Eating my favorite food Mac and Cheese

Big Mac are a must. 

Well this week I got a new companion Elder Hayes from wales! So i am in a three some for now, but with transfers coming up next week who knows what could happen...wait that means Elder Myler goes home :( that sucks! but Elder Hayes is funny he has an accent so you already know that I am mocking him and trying to sound like him lol. Its starting to get really hard to remember what happens during the week,but this week we met with a guy from Nigeria named David who is tall!! I mean like 6 foot 7 tall he is a giant! but I contacted him hmm I don't know a week or two ago and finally we had time to meet, but he was telling us that when he saw me that he felt the spirit and had to listen and wanted to know more. Also just talking with him never met a more spiritual guy he puts TePuts to shame! Just kidding, but no seriously what an amazing guy so nice. He was miracle for sure! We also meet with this less active member named Andrzej Sadowski, and elder Mikolyski goes okay elder Harris you find a chapter we will read with him and your going to do all the talking gee garsh okay no problem!  I prepared and what do you know I can spit out some polish words and he understood me! Holy cow coolest thing ever! 5 month's in and I can kinda talk! haha we taught him twice this week and I taugth both lessons and when we meet with our old baptismal date named olek I was able to understand and jump in. It's incredible now I just got to keep studying and not slacking off. This week was hard though kept having thoughts of home and it would get me down, but then I would look at my pictures I have of my family and thing about them, they help me carry on. There alot of cool things going on here in Poland sorry I don't really know what to share or to say I suck this week, but I love you all! Congrats Brayden on your call Texas. Lucky it's warm there! Can't  wait to hear from you! umm I know this church is true I know gods loves us and he care about all of us even the ones who don't think he does. If your willing to look, he will help if your willing to feel it he will show you his love. Be like Enos and pray to him with a real desire and I promise you that he will answer! Lauren good luck with the baby and stuff and everyone have a good week!

Love,

Elder Harris

PSIi am eating McDonald's and Mac and Cheese

Elder Harris has a big HEAD

Elder Hayes favorite color is RED

Elder Mikolyski wants to go to BED

Because Elder Harris is TIRED

Yo Elder Mikolyski you are FIRED

Elder Hayes you look like your WIRED

Sorry Elder Harris is waiting for this to LOAD

Oh no Elder Mikolyski whats the CODE

Oh well Elder Hayes lets hit the ROAD

President Interview and a Baptism

The Missionaries of the Katowice District. This District is finding incredible people to teach. We thank the members for all their love and support of our Investigators and new members in Katowice.

Elder Harris and Elder Mikolyski (Zone Leader). 

These two look like they could be trouble. (I mean on the funny side)

The Special Event:  A Baptism...Two in fact!  Daria and Patryk were baptized and the Katowice Branch was there to support them. The above picture shows some of those that attended this special occasion. 

I love the fact that all the Missionaries in the district were there.  

How wonderful for these 2 members of the church to have this support. 

There's snow in the air

Baby it's cold outside

So this week we where riding in a tramwaje, which is like trax and all of the sudden we hear this old lady go "Pan Jezus!" which is taking the Jesus's name in vain, but we look over and this old lady has your arm stuck in the door and the tramwaje is moving, you would think this is sad but you gotta have been there it was so funny! she was being rude to everyone who tried to help her and told the tramwaje driver she was going to sue him or however you spell it and he goes you crazy old lady just walk home and we went on our way, but to hear everything in Polish was ten times funnier lol. But on that note my week was awesome we taught 20 lessons which is a lot in Poland its my second time over 12 on my mission I am usually around 8 to 10 a week which isn't bad but its a lot of contacting and finding on those weeks still. Nothing to exciting happen this week until Wednesday in English. We have a student who is an old man who is a really annoying and always has a comment that are on the wrong topic and after he always says dobrze poweidalem? which means did i say that right? (basically) and its like yes E sit down and shut up. Then he asked me to translate text from his family in Chicago and that was hilarious! he kept telling me I was wrong and  said okay then I won't do it so he goes okay your right go ahead...this went on for a good 25 minutes ha ha  But through out the week lessons just kept happening like we would get canceled on, so we would call someone and they would go I can meet now so we would and it was awesome! we had some good meetings too, we met a guy who wants to be baptized just needs to be taught totally cool but he lives in Kielce which is another city,where we have missionaries so we will talk to him this week about that, but he is awesome. Then we met with olek he even came to the baptism we had on Saturday! it was a blast too he liked, so we just need to get him to talk with his mom, hopefully she will. We gave him a for the strength of youth pamphlet to show to her so pray for him! But on Sunday Pres. Nielsen came to Katowice, to do interviews and see the baptism it always good to see him. but being in Poland really makes you realize how the gospel does bless peoples lives. I mean to see someone go from this totally sad down in the dumps person to after meeting with the missionaries be smiling and way happy. and to hear the members stories are great as well. I am so grateful to have been born in the church and to have had the chance to live and do what i have done. and to see how the Book of Mormon has really helped me. I love it! I honestly love reading the Book of Mormon every morning it makes the day so much better. and prayer...you don't have to go to Church to pray....everyone can pray and if you don't think god loves you ask him and he will show you his love if you really wanting to find it or to know I promise he will show it to you he has everytime I ask him on my mission so far. It"s hard being out here but so worth it at the same time, there are people I wont see at home ever again or things I can't do but there are people in Poland who I wouldn't have meet or done things I have done I love it. it's so much fun! I love you all and thanks so much for your prayers and help! and thanks to those who were involved with the Lynnae package I got it and its awesome thanks so much love you all have a good week!

Love

Elder Harris

Finally Picture's

Wish I could tell you who these people are. 

I know that Elder Harris and Elder Myler were teaching them. This was in Gdansk.

  

Elder Harris's new companion Elder Mikolski.

Elder Harris around Poland.

Thanksgiving in Poland

We had Thanksgiving on Thursday with our district and had some good food. We had smoked pulled pork, potatoes, pretzel salad, a poppy seed cake, corn, devil eggs, and juice. It wasn't the traditional Thanksgiving dinner, but it was so good. 

Looks like a fun group of missionaries.

What a great Week

Well Notre Dame lets win this one for the Gipper! haha I finally have a team that's winning...wow that's weird to say haha. But anyways everyone Happy Thanksgiving once again! Sounds like everyone had a blast eating watching and playing football. I didn't get to play football or watch it :( but we got to eat!!! I will explain later. But I am doing really good. This week was kind of a struggle,  language wise I don't know why, but I am having trouble with this. This language still its so frustrating. But then God gives me a tender mercy that makes me go oh...well Shawn stop whining  So I quickly get over it and just keep on lookin out Polish to people.

This week was great ups and downs, but that's how it always is right? 

Monday for Pday was nothing special we just relaxed and hung out, but it was nice to sit down and breathe for a second though. Me and Elder Bokinsky talked about football most of the time so it was fun. We had another exchange. geez!!! they are annoying I never get a normal Monday its really annoying at first I would be down with all the down time waiting for my companion, but ever since I got my back hurt and had to sit out a day I hate not working its the worse feeling ever.

 Tuesday was a good day though in some ways. For example I spent all night Sunday setting up meetings so we could teach on this exchange and not just contact,  I set up 3 it was awesome! then what do you know I call and confirm it and one who is a family we teach Bozena her daughter has a volleyball game so she cancelled whichIi understand, then Our old Baptismal Date I say old because unfourtunatly his mom is practicing catholic and says we can meet with him but he cant be baptized till he is 18. But he flaked on us. I called him and he forgot. Tis is  the second day in a row he did that. But one lessen went through with this guy named Pawel we taught him  first and watched the Restoration video. we didn't teach a whole discussion first, but went over  prayer and restoration because the sisters "taught him a first on the street" so we just went over that and it was a good meeting I was with Elder Garfield from my group and we did well. 

Wednesday is English day and I love teaching English, our class is so funny we talked about Thanksgiving and this guy who believes in science always has something to say about our church which is fine  We don't teach doctrine in the English class.We  just pray. So I don't know why he acts like that, and plus its free English dude. Just sit down and listen. But I can't say that haha. There is this guy Kris who is my favorite person in the class stands up and goes" Nicholys shut up your so mean to these poor people" in his little English he knows and then the guy goes your right I am sorry and then the class got better and we went around the room saying what we are thankful for and our member Adrian who is freakin awesome turns it into a testimony and everyone was like wow I like what he said...so everyone in class even Nicholys was touched so that was a tender mercy I needed for the day. 

Thursday was Thanksgiving and yes we did something we have a senior couple from Texas and they cooked bbq pulled pork, well they smoked it and it was amazing not going to lie it was so dang good! so we ate and hung out as Missionaries on Thursday for Thanksgiving it was the best.

 Friday morning I got bored and finally made ranch and wow that was heaven on earth so nice to finally get to eat ranch! I even found chicken wings and I was in heaven, finally chicken wings and ranch!!! but we also decided to call Kris and ask if he wants to meet and he said yes. We had elder Mcgrath, the senior couple on the lesson and we talked in English, then talked about the church and it was the most spiritual lesson I have had. It was amazing. Kris is a great guy and kept saying oh I want to read that I want to read that! so we gave him a book and invited him to church and sure enough he came, but left early so we didn't have much time to meet, but he liked it and I honestly see this guy becoming a member he believes in what we believe in so all he needs to do and get dunked. Then to top off the week I am reading in my personal study and I come across this scripture Alma 58:37 and it says this at the beginning "Behold it matterith not we trust in God...." and wow I have never been hit so strong in my life. This is not just a scripture for Members, but for everyone...if your having a hard time and think wow whats going on and this doesn't make sense I testify to you that it doesn't matter put your trust in God and know he loves you. I know for a fact he is our loving heavenly father and loves us all the same and knows us personally don't be afraid of him embarrass him. rather your "Mormon"or not he loves you and I have felt that love so much this week and I know you have too you just have to recognize it. Anyways I love you all and miss you all! Time sure is flying. Its almost Christmas. Have a good week!

Love Elder Harris

Back to Work

Well I cant believe it's already Thanksgiving this week, but I won't be getting the 5 F's this year :( Football, Food, Family, Friends, and Females, but it's okay because I am in Poland and how cool is that? Really cool right? This week started off crappy, but I am okay now. I had back spasms last Sunday to Tuesday night. I was on my back and couldn't leave the house! It was horrible. I was really missing missionary work...maybe I needed that kick in the butt. The worst part is, I wass on exchange and he had to sit there as well, but we got to know each other his name is Elder Skolimowski and he is way cool. Way into star wars so i feel as if I know whats going on with star wars now haha. But during my personal study I read Alma 37 and in verses 6,7, and 41 it says" by small and simple things the lord creates miracles "you all already know why I love that, but its true I have done cool things in my life and so far on my mission we are lucky enough to be the lords tools in helping a young boy named Olek be baptized next month so please put Olek and his family in your prayers so that he can make this step! One thing that is cool to see in Poland is how amazing the members are. We have 3 YSA members named Adrian Arek and Patryk oh and Gosia who are all amazing and their testimonies are so strong and the love they have for the church is incredible. I am blessed to be able to be around them. Also we have a member named Jozef who is this old man and every time his friend come with him and tires  to talk he tells him, in his old man loud whisper to shut up because I want to go to heaven unlike you....and its so funny he is being so Innocent about it. So innocent about it too it's hilarious. I love this mission. It's great and hard, but great. I am doing good and having fun My Irish are number 1!!!!!!!!!!! so all youl haters, yeah don't be hating haha. So I am having fun and doing good. Hope everyone is as well. P Diddy (Peyton) Happy birthday! Cant wait to hear from you all next week! Here is a quote sent to me by Gabe that has stuck with me and it helps me through the tough times "What makes you a man is what you do when that storm comes....one day you will bask in the sunlight and everything will be good." Work hard and dont back down love what you have when you have it and understand whats important because in the end everything will be good." Manti Te'o 

Love you all like I say a million times. I am grateful for you as my family and friends!

 

Love

Elder Harris

7 Flakes, Back Spasms, The AP's palying a joke. Fun Time's In Poland

Hey everyone! this week we got flaked 7 times which was a joke!!!! but hey what can you do people have their agency. but we did meet some cool people and of course i am having fun! no pics this week sorry i forgot my cord!



 Tues this week we had p-day since Monday was Zone Conference and I already told you guys about that but, on p-day we got to play touch football! it was 2 on 2, but still it was fun getting out there and throwing the ball around I brought out the rugby ball but no one really wanted to play, but they all wanted to learn how to throw it so I thought them. That was a blast then after that we had a lesson with they lady who gives us free haircuts her name is Bozen she is way cool and she has the cutest kids in the world holly cow her little daughter Paulina is adorable she is ten and we played ninja(mormon game) and we went all around the house till she finally beat me, but it was fun we taught them English and a spiritual thought and she made us dinner and she is the bomb at making Polish food. Polish food is so good. Not sure what it was, but it was amazing!!! and fun!Then on Wednesday we got flaked twice and had a full day of finding, didn't find anyone, but still fun. When we got home the APs called us and wanted to talk to me they told me that I am the next AP hahahahahah ust kidding, but Elder Myler was with them and and it was good to talk to him! he told me about Michal and Lukasz! Lukasz is reading the Book of Mormon on his own. He had the feeling to read so he did and what he reads they talked about in church! So happy to see that he is progressing! and Michal everytime they go over he asks in is loud polish accent trying to speak English HELLO MY FRIENDS! HOW IS MY FRIEND SHAWN DOING?? haha and they go with there kids to FHE at the Americans house!They are doing so well it was awesome to hear! I wish I had stuff to tell you about investigators here. I the Book of Mormon is true, but when I find some good ones I will let you all know hahaha. Friday was Elder Mikolyskis year mark and we burned a tie! it was hilarious! we fried that thing!  but that day we meet a less active who is a big teddy bear named Adam and he was an angel so then a less active named Andrzej, we found out he is now homeless and his wife died... he is a good guy but yeah so pray for him... but I am safe DAD don't worry haha then Satruday we got flaked twice again but after all day of finding the last guy iI contact I get his number and give him a book so keep your fingers crossed! and Sunday sucked, I am fine I promise everyone so don't call the mission home, but I am having back spasms so I am on bed rest until Wednesday, but I have everything I need. I am good, I promise lol so yeah. It's good to hear all about you guys and love you all I am having fun and doing good I promise! GO IRISH can't believe the Raiders aren't doing good, but sounds like they have a bright future at least they are young so I have faith as always! have a good week love you all!!!

Love
Elder Harris

PS Krisy or Mom I need the homemade mac and cheese recipe!

Zone Conference in Katowice

 This is Katowice Zone. Look how happy Elder Harris looks.
Love the smile.

 This is his little district. Went from 2 Elders and 2 Sister's in Gadnaks to this.

Katowice District: Standing: Elders Harris, Mikolyski (Zone Leader), Bokinsky (District Leader) and Vernon.  Sitting:  Elder and Sister McGrath, Sisters Ence and Holmgren.

STO LAT! During lunch we always find time to celebrate the birthdays that have taken place since the last Zone Conference in August. (LtoR):  Elders Neuner, Harris, Sisters Holmgren, Howells, McGrath, Sheley and Ence.

What Elder Vernon thinks of Elder Harris

I was reading Elder Vernon's blog, he was in the MTC with Elder Harris. They went on an exchange with each other this passe week. This is what he ha to say about Elder Harris. Elder Harris is still Elder Harris. Oh how I love to here what people think of my son. 

I also had an exchange with Elder Harris this week. It was a lot of fun and we got some good work done. 

He is a champion missionary, and quite a character. 

He has some great one-liners and adds a lot of liveliness to the district for sure. 

Day of the Dead Hoilday

 This is a Holiday in Poland where family members light up their love ones graves. This takes place on November 1st. I guess this could be like our Memorial Day. I like the whole candle thing. Looks pretty cool.

2nd week in Katowice

Hey everyone I heard I have a new cousin. Pretty sweet! He is so cute. I'm so excited to meet him.
 I am doing good here in Katowice. The City were you get yellow eye! so if i come home with yellows that's why haha.  The people are so nice and my branch is the best! but we do have a lady who is crazy and try's to go to the US and stay with missionaries parents her name is "K" so if a"K" from Poland shows up don't let her stay lol. I already know what Dad would say to her hahaha, but I have had a good week not to many lessons lots of finding which is fun but really long and makes the day drag on sometime's, but in the end its all worth it! This week I have been trying my best to better myself in maturity and hopefully it's working. I want to come home a new man someone who is still fun and funny, but a little more grown up you know what I mean, but anyways my companion is great we are always quoting Wayne's world and Ace Ventura and movies like that, it makes the long finding days way fun! He is also helping me a lot with Polish which I am so grateful for! but we had two lessons with an investigator named Olek but we call him Demon Olek, because he told other missionaries he is possessed by one...dude your 15 years young, but we decided to meet with him and just yesterday he agreed that after he finishes reading the Book of Mormon and still believes it is true he will become baptized so I am excited for that hopefully his parents let him they are okay with him meeting with us but we will see! also this week I went on an exchange with Elder Vernon from my MTC  group it was lots of fun and I learned a lot. I know. I became better by his example. So everyone has been asking about Halloween, so in Poland they will dress up and stuff but only little kids do and no trick or treating so that was kinda dumb,  but they have a holiday similar on Nov 1st call all saint day and they go and decorate all the dead people in their families graves with flowers and lights and then you walk around graveyards and look at them. Not sure how it's similar but that's what they do. It was okay not as cool as I was hoping it would be. On Saturday I found out we have an investigator who gives us free hair cuts so that's a plus and by missionary rumor she is a little attractive ..we have a meeting with her tonight.  I will let you know next week haha, but the reason I am emailing late is because we had Zone Conference yesterday and it was sweet I got to see some old mtc buddies and the spirit was amazing honestly Pres. Nielsen is amazing I have never felt the spirit so strong. He talked about showing love for you loved ones and change your attitude and think about the lord. it was awesome but i want you all to know that i love you and i know that this church is true and the Book of Book or Mormon is true.I hope everyone have a good week love you lots!

Love

Elder Harris

Winter has hit Poland

These are from President Nielson's blog.

 This is the scene of the big round-about as you look outside the Katowice chapel.  Lots of construction and lots of mud...aka: rain.  By the end of Conference on Sunday...

..this is what it looked like.  Winter had come to Poland!

A blanket of snow had covered the whole city of Katowice.

1st week in Katowice

Well hey guys got some cool news i have to shave everyday now because i actually have facial hair lol this week was sad and good at the same time it was transfer week and i left my first city and my trainer i was scared to leave elder myler because i am still learning polish and i feel as if i wasn't ready! but when i met my new companion we instantly clicked! he is from south jordan and went to bingham. his name is Elder Mikolyski he is really cool he is the zone leader and i am the jr companion. but so nothing too exciting really happened Tuesday was sad because i had to leave my amazing investigators  they were amazing! but Wednesday i had a long train ride that was a total of about 8 and a half hours which was a killer! but when i got into Katowice i noticed it was the ghetto of Poland  wow i mean like raider fans live here i swear! but to be honest i was excited and the first night we did a white board and i had to contact on my own which i did really well at i was able to communicate with people and they understood me and i understood them so i know i am improving thanks for all your prayers! like i said nothing to exciting happened this week but i am doing good and having so much fun. i had my first Sunday in a chapel not a library so that was really cool! pres neilson came because it was district conference or stake conference and every time he is here the spirit is so strong he is an incredible guy!!  and well yeah that about it i am doing the same old same old i love you all and pray for you all!

 

Love

Elder Harris

Gangster Missionaries