New Transfer!

Well im stayin here in Warsaw. Elder Swicegood is with me now and we are just rollin! Its pretty awesome being with someone that you served with in the MTC. He's such a stud and has taught me a ton about all kind of things. 

Man i got like no time. I just used all my time to e-mail a member that is a little less-active. And I love him. He is such a stud but just kinda lost right now. Love him though. So i just took like 30 mins to type him up a e-mail. I heard he is doing better though. His name is Bartek. Keep him in your prayers. He changed my life.

This week was crazy. Transfers was insane. But everything went well. Solid missionaries came in. They are amazing. A quick miracle that happened was......

We had a baptism in our branch. His name is Janusz. Elder Caskey and I taught Janusz about 5 weeks ago. We had his first lesson with missionaries. And it was such a good lesson. He is so prepared. And he excepted baptism on the first lesson. And since then we had to pass him off to other Elders cause he was in their area. But so good.

Today we have a couple meetings that im stoked for. A family that has a Dad that is a less-active member. But the wife and kids have never met with missioanreis before. And then another lady that we met last night that set up for today! The family with the Dad's name is Grzegorz! Keep him in your prayers. And we are just talking to all kinds of good people. So we are pretty stoked. We will let you know what happens! 

We had District Conference this last week. The talks were so awesome. I was reminded about how important the companionship of the Spirit really is in this life. Do you guys remember the last time you felt God's love of His Spirit? We all have some kind of Natural Man inside of us, and sometimes we give into it. These things push the Spirit out of our lives. The speaker invited everyone to make a list of things that push the Spirit out of our lives. Look at that list and remind yourself when you are in the moment of choice. That the Spirit of the Lord is essential. 

Man I love you guys. I just feel so blessed. Time is flying. And im scared for my mission to end. I still got a while though! So im just pushin along! Lovin it out here! love you guys!

keep inviting the Spriit into your life as you do the simple basics daily.

ofa lahi atu

z miłośćą

_Elder Fotu

This is my favorite talk from Conference! I loved it. Helped me think a lot about the people that I talk to on the streets! Love you guys! 

October 2014

Hey Family! Crazy week! Luckily we got some extra time to e-mail today! It's monday the 13th. And its transfer week. So sunday my new comp came in. Elder Swicegood. My boiiiii. We were companions in the MTC. Here's a beautiful pic of us for ya'll. Im super excited for us to work together this transfer. Although I loved my last companion, Elder Caskey. So sunday he came in along with many other missionaries that will be going home tomorrow. So that night was crazy with getting everything together. 

Sacrament meeting on sunday was the best Sacrament meeting I've been in on my mission. Probably the best in my life. The branch presidency was changed. And Rafał Pogorzelski became the new branch president. This is the member that Elder Caskey and I have been working with the past couple months. We met with him and his small family at the beginning of the transfer. And he asked us for a priesthood blessing. After this we just had trust in our relationship and he was giving us referrals and hittin the streets with us and just so excited to build the kingdom of God. In a meeting we had with him we were talking about his conversion story, and his dreams. He used to be atheist and then found the church. And when we asked about his dreams for his life he responded, "Well, I want to build the church in Poland." It was amazing to see the priorities of this guy that has a family living in a small 2 room apartment. But his very first priority was God's kingdom. And that really hit me hard. Over the months it was amazing to see the Lord prepare him to be ready to be branch president. Here's a picture of him making some BOMB pizza for us.

I love my mission. The people here. There is something else about them. Many when they return home from church they are hit with people making fun of them for being mormons. They are hit with family members that wont talk to them cause they feel like they have betrayed the Catholic church. They really are the best members on this earth. When they become members they realize that the support system is very small. But the ones that hold on strong, lean on God, and are converted to Him. I just kinda sat in Sacrament meeting and just soaked it in. And realized that I only have 6 more months, that I will only be able to experience something like this for the rest of my life.

Alright well im probably boring you guys. Heres a funny story. Maybe I already told you guys...... Im not sure.... But about 3 months ago we were playing football at the park outside the chapel. I was wearing my favorite hoodie. (Its like dark red, blue, and grey stripped.) I think our cousin Butch left it at our house or somethin. But I was hot so I hung it up on a tree. I didnt realize til a couple days later that I had left the sweatshirt at the park. And I joked with my companion that I would see a homeless man wearing it.....sure enough 2 months later we were playing and a homeless comes walking by carrying plastic bags full of cans..... I just sat there and was like Elder Caskey thats my sweater. And everyone just started busting up laughing. Then I ran over and ripped it off his shoulders..... haha no im just kidding. I just let him wear it. But pretty funnny. I may have already told you guys that.

Man I love you guys. I loved conference obviously. Im gonna be studying it alot. I listened to half in polish. But my favorite talk was probably Elder Christofferson's. Im gonna be studying that so much cause there is so much good in it. 

Hey im out of here. Got to take missionaries to airport early tomorrow morning and  then pick up the news ones! Im stoked! But hey I love you guys. I love hearing stories of my family doing missionary work and doing good work. I love it.

Keep killin it! Remember the basics. And love. Its the most important. Obedience always comes with love.

_Starszy Fotu

October!

Family!

Man what a good week. General Conference is always the best! As we listen to the words of the Lord we realize our strengths and weaknesses. These inspired thoughts and feelings we receive are supposed to change us. Write down your promptings and bind to act on them. Pray for a vision. A vision for yourself personally, and your family. "You don't get what you want, you get what you see."

There will be obstacles in achieving your vision. President Thomas S. Monson said, "To live greatly, we must develop the capacity to face trouble with courage, disappointment with cheerfulness, and triumph with humility." 

Continue to study the words of the Prophets and Apostles. You will be inspired on what you need to change in your life.

This week we had an awesome moment. We have splits with the members. I was lucky to be put with Rafał Pogorzelski. Such a stud. He is the Dad that we taught at the beginning of the transfer that asked for a blessing. And has just been helping us with missionary work. We were in the park and we were only there for 30 mins.And had two sweet conversation. One being with a lady that actually lived in park city for a year or so with a mormon family. haha so random. And another with a lady that took the missionary lessons ten years ago, and she said that while she and her family were meeting with the missionaries, that started her husband conversion in Christ. But they are Catholic. But it was so awesome to see the member exchange numbers with her. Rafał just called 30 mins ago saying we have a meeting set up with the family this wednesday! When the members sacrifice their time for the Lord's work, He blesses us with so much success. 

But everything is going well. Next week is gonna get crazy with the new missionaries coming in. And a new transfer starting. I have three transfers left. Pretty crazy. But everything is going well. Just gotta keep pushin myself to get better and better. This week im pretty sick. I didnt get much sleep last night. I woke up in the middle of the night and laid in bed for 2 hours. So i got up and sat on the couch and looked at the transfer board tryin to figure out transfers.

love you guys! Thanks for your support and prayers! 

_Elder Fotu

Elder Caskey and I at T.G.I. Fridays!