Opposition can be a blessing

For the last time.....Time flies. Thats kinda all I have to say.

This week was amazing. My companion is the greatest. Elder Berlin just keeps my on my toes all day and I love it. He has so much faith. He just got in the contry 6 months ago, I still remember picking him up from the airport, and on sunday he was made the branch president here in Szczecin. He just has so much love, faith, and hardwork. He is gonna be awesome.

Alot happened. We had a baptism on friday. These two twins. Born in Florida, and moved to Poland a little while ago. They are hilarious. Only 14 years old but so smart and spiritual already. They are so fired up about spreading the gospel and building the church. Nicholaus, the boy, bore his testimony and it was really powerful. He got emotional as he talked about when he started meeting with the missionaries, he figured out how God speaks to him. And now he knows that he and his sister are supposed to be here. They are such studs! I love em!

Before the baptism we had breakfast with President and Sister Edgren at their Hotel. President gave us all interviews. President actually gave me a temple recommend interview. Those questions get me everytime, especially the first three questions. My eyes swelled up, and it just felt so good to answer those as a missionary. And I think im just so excited to get back to the temple. Its really weird to me that I can say, next week im going to the temple. It's been so long.

I don't feel like there is much to say cause I can talk to you all next week. I feel like this phrase is really said over and over again. But I really do love my mission. I love this country, the people, and my Heavenly Father.

The main opposition I would say for missionaries in Poland is probably loving the people.The people just have this little hard shell on the outside where they arent really willing to let anyone in easily. Its definately possible though. But that opposition has been the greatest blessing and trial i've experienced so far in my life. I have more charity to gain but I have the biggest love in my heart for these people, this country, the restored gospel, and my Heavenly Father, because of that opposition.

Here are a couple pictures. With the branch here in Szczecin. This saturday I have a train to warsaw an im gonna be in the Warsaw I branch this sunday.

Its gonna be really sad to say by to these people. But im excited to see you all! I hope we all can figure out how to change ourselves and come unto our Savior, as well as bringing our brothers and sister along with us.

z miłośćą

_Starszy Fotu

pic with the Branch here in Szczecin

pic with the Twins (Alex and Nick)

So many blessings!

Well I stayed in a city for a whole week. Here in Szczecin it is pretty amazing. I love it. I think most of it is because my awesome companion. Elder Berlin is such a boss. I love it, so much love, commitment, and hard work. Exciting things are happening. We are working with a guy name Mariusz. He is pretty amazing and really wanting to find truth and follow Christ in his life. We also are like befriending a group of religous kids form another church. We like went to their little like YSA activity. It was pretty awesome to see such searching and believing kids. Pretty much we might set up a some things with them, and we will see how open they are to recieving the restored gospel!

Everything is just going really well. This week was alot easier to stay focused on the work and area cause we are just focused on the area and branch and what not. There were 16 in church. Which was awesome. The branch president is a missionary. But we are excited cause the YSA really has potential to explode here.

This saturday the other elders in the city have a baptism. For two twins that are polish but grew up in america. They are awesome and just really smart 14 year olds. The next week they also have an awesome kid named Janek set up to be baptized. It been pretty amazing. We played soccer with some people that we are teaching the other day. And my body is super soar from that. My excersizing schedule got thrown off a little, and my companions ELDERBERLIN90x is a little too hard for me. But we are running around and everything. Today for P-day we are just running to everywhere. The store, library, park, chapel. The weather is getting really nice! Its awesome.

I just got a talk from my friend, And it helped me realize that I could have been doing something a little differently for a while. But I cant really remember who its by. But its about making decisions. And when we make a decision God is giving us that opportunity to make a choice. We need to pray and seek for guidance and ponder the thought out in our mind, make a decision, and then ask the Lord if it be right. Instead I think too often I had been praying for guidance, pondering, and wait for Heavenly Father to give me the prompting to do what is right. Instead of making the decision, and acting on it til I later feel his confirmation.

Im so grateful for my mission. Its not really possible to put into words of how I feel about it. Its been amazing to build a love in my heart for many different things, and I would say the most important things. People, the scriptures, family, friends, the gospel, and most important our Heavenly Father and His Son Jesus Christ. I've built so much love and built my knowledge of them of who they are and what they have done for me, what they do for me, and what they have promised for me as I continue to do my best.

Its been amazing to see the hand of the Lord here in the missionary field. But also at home in teh lives of my family and friends. I've seen so many lives changed for the better since I left, all of my sibilings have been touched with the goodness of the Gospel, my little brothers are strong men in the priesthood and preparing to be the best missionaries. Im sure in you are reading this you have grown closer to your Savior over the past four years. If not I invite you to do so. 

Next week is my last week to e-mail. I think. But I love you all so much. Thanks for the support. I dont think I would have gotten this far without the support from home.

Trzymajcie się! Kocham was!

_Starszy Fotu

Claim Your Blessings

Im not really sure where to start! I am now in the city of Szczecin, Poland. President called me on sunday morning and told me that an Elder got really sick. (Elder Quackenbush;) he is such a stud!) And he was in the hospital in Warsaw. So im not in Szczecin with Elder Berlin! The biggest stud ever. Its a little weird being back here in Szczecin. Its like I never left. I love this place. I've never seen the branch members so happy. Alot is going on in this city. It is now back to 2 sets of Elders. My favorite senior couple just went home (Elder and Sister Gay) It was a year and a half ago I brought them into Szczecin. They are some of the most amazing people I've met on my mission. Wanna hear somethin awesome.... They had 12 kids....They were able to go home during their mission for a week for their youngest childs wedding. They were able to be in the Celestial Room with all of their kids and their spouses. Thats pretty amazing. Rightous living! They have so much charity for all around them.

But yeah so some crazy changes happening. I was just gettin comfortable with Elder Campora in Warsaw. But im lovin it with Elder Berlin here.

So we had General Conference. It was pretty amazing. Saturday night I walked into the one and only chapel (building) in Poland. Its a really special place for me. And as I sat down I was just overwhelmed with love and joy for these people and this country. Im not sure I will get many chances in my life to love a country and group of people like this one on my mission. I watched all of the conference in polish, so now I am listening to it in English.

I loved Elder Holland's obviously. The way he described the Fall, and the purpose of life was so amazing to me. He has so much fire behind things and love. Also Elder Pearson's talk was pretty amazing. The line that I loved...." Casual obedience and lukewarm commitment weaken faith." Nothing but the best. Thats all the Lord suspects. Im so grateful that my mission is helping me build simple daily habits to show my comitment and love to my Father in Heaven.

Im gonna love studying conference this week. And then setting goals where I need to. The Spirit of missionary work is so amazing. It cant really be described clearly, everyone just needs to experience it.

Just gotta keep grinding it out! We got a couple really good things going on in this city. After Elder Allen and I finished doing our little training tour thing around Poland, these two groups of Elders found over 10 baptismal dates. They just caught the vision so well and applied the things.

Well I love you all! I've had a good birthday so far;) I love my birthday cause we can always listen and hear what the Lord has for us through conference! Im so grateful for all the support back at home. Thank you all for everything!

trzymajcie się! ofa lahi atu! z miłośćą

_Starszy Fotu

Transfered!

Right now I am with Elder Campora in Warsaw I! We are Zone Leaders.... haha i've never been one so its kinda new. But we are super excited about the work! Campora is such a boss! I love him. He has so much love for everyone around him! We are gonna killin it this transfer! We are waking up at 5:45 every morning and doing P90X! I can barley type this e-mail right now, my arms are dying.

The mission continues to explode! a little over a month ago we had 6 baptismal dates. There are now 27. Pretty exciting. The mission had around 45 in all of last year. So its really exciting to see the mission really connect to their purpose and be able to explain it easily and simply! 

Quick miracle! This past week the sister missionaries were on a tram. And this man approached them and asked what branch they were in. He asked if "Elder Fotu was in the same branch! And he would be in church on sunday!" So its emanuel! The man that was working in Utah for a little and from Nigeria. A member in park city picked him up on his way to work to give him a ride. And invited him to church! 

Emanuel came to soccer on saturday and then to church on sunday in a suit! He is such a stud. He told me about how he has been reading the Book of Mormon for a while now. (we lost contact a couple months ago cause some crazy things happened with him, getting hurt and sick and being in the hospital) He said he just loves the Book of Mormon and has been having some life changing dreams and believes they are from God. Sacrament meeting was really good. We had Fast and Testimony meeting. The members really testified of the missioanry work and the important of the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I think because of their strong testimony Emanuel asked me..."what are the requirements for baptism?" We sat down with him and set expectations promised blessings and set a date for April 25. Yes thats my last saturday in Poland. We are pretty excited.

Things are really exploding here. And im so stoked to kill it with Elder Campora!

I loved reading in the ensign about the difference between mistakes and sins. or sins and weaknesses. or forgiveness and grace. Polecam czyli.....I recommend it!

But I gotta go! I love you all! Keep killin it!

Prepare for this weekend! We receive from the Lord what we are prepared for. Im so stoked for conference! Loves

_Elder Fotu

-Shout out to Selu and Ty for their birthday! I love you guys!

Im a little lost.... But stoked!

So sorry this email is so late. I wasnt able to email today for longer than 15 mins. So its about 9:00 at night right now. Im sitting in the mission home. Sister edgren is letting me send a email home real quick. We just had a little farewell for my comp elder allen, who is heading to california tomorrow! He extendd 30 days for us to travel around. It was so amazing. The miracles that we saw as the Lord continues to hasten his work here in poland! 

For me..... I have no idea what im gonna be doing for the next couple weeks. President has been thinkin about it. Weve talked about some ideas but nothing super concrete. He just drove the other elders home so i think when he gets home we will talk about itand decided. But im super excited wherever i go! 

It has been really amazing for me to learn from the 15 different missionaries i was able to do exchanges with over the past. Its been so fun and uplifting. I feel like im so much more connected to my purpose of helping others come unto Christ by receiving restored truth! The restored gospel! That is truely the greatest thing on the mission. The purpose that we have. Its so amazing. And i get really sad and choked up when i think about the day when i wake up and i cant walk out the door and constantly start preaching the truth and inviting others. Its a little harder to keep those thoughts out about home but i feel like im doing a decent job of keeping them out. 

I think we just need to always remember our purpose in life. Its all the same. The mission is just a little more intense. And im so grateful for the basic habits ive learned on my mission to keep that purpose in my life.

Continue to invite others to come unto Christ. Thats my thought for this week. Invite all. We all have that responsibility. Whether it be our sibilings, friends, family, stranger...anyone. Fear is the only thing that stands between us. Fear God instead of Man. Love God and all men.

I love you all. I love these people. Ill serve them and God til the end! 

Elder Fotu

Shout to my brother Garrett that i havent seen in ages! Have the best birthday yet! Ofa lahi atu!

16 marca 2015

Crazy week! We left Wroclaw on monday and headed to Lodz to do a training! After Lodz we went straight to szczecin which was a really long train ride. It was pretty weird returning back to szczecin and seeing old faces and walking and teaching on the same streets. It was pretty awesome though. It felt like I had never left there. After szczecin we went to the city of Poznan. Spent a couple days there. Yesterday in church there were 8 people present. 6 missionaries and 2 members. I blessed the bread and water. And spoke in church on obedience. It was pretty awesome. There was a member there named marta. So solid. She is pretty amazing. Just got back from her mission in Chicago. She started her mission here in Poland cause of Visa problems. And I remember being in her district. Its weird serving with her and now she is home. The foundation of members being built here in Poland is pretty amazing. I love it. I've never seen such faithful members.

Couple awesome things happening in the mission. The area presidency in Europe was wanting to close the gap between our progressing investigators and baptismal dates. Because we had so many progressing investigators without a date to progress towards.....which doesnt make much sense. Progression sky rockets when they have a goal in mind and we promise them that as they show their faith, God will answer there prayers. Thats really what our training is focused on. INVITE others to COME UNTO CHRIST by receiving RESTORED TRUTH. The words invite, come unto Christ, and restored truth. Very simple but sometimes hard to explain clearly to investigators our purpose. We are helping the missionaries build practical skills with these. We are helping our investigators understand our purpose by clearly setting expectations and inviting them to act. (setting expectations and extending invitations) so simple but so powerful. In setting these expectations we promise the investigators that God desires to make a covenant with them (a two way promise). And that as they learn of these restored truths they will desire to make a covenant with their Heavenly Father by being baptized. Its been powerful and amazing to see the results. At the beginning of our trips the mission was around 6 investigators with a baptismal date and 28 progressing investigators in all of Poland. Today we now have 17 progressing investigators with a baptismal date and 23 progressors. Its been amazing to see the Lord's hand in his work. The miracles are everywhere. We are finding the Lord's prepared children by his Spirit.

I love traveling around. I love these missionaries. I remember before the mission I had a hard time with accepting people as they were. If someone was a little different than I was, I didnt want much to do with them, I wouldnt go out of my way to know them. Many of these missionaries are so different than I am, but I've felt this love in my heart for them. They are pretty amazing and fearless in the work of the Lord. Its so fun and fulfilling to work with them throughout these exchanges. I love it. It keeps me fresh and excited with two hands to the plow and no looking back.

 Ill send some pictures from these past couple cities! Love you all!

_Starszy Fotu

1) Marta the member from Poznań

2) Missionaries in Łódź

1) Elder Larsen and I #LPpride

2) Poznań missionaries

our beautiful train ride (elder allen and I)

March-9-2015

We don't have much time! We have to catch a train at 17:00 to Łódź!

We are now in our 6th city! And in the best city, Wrocław! I love this place. It's pretty amazing to be back. But im leaving today;( I hope I will be able to come back for a little later....

Im gonna send pictures of our little tour around Poland.

Its been a really good experience for me to train the missionaries and build a better connection between us and our Purpose as the Lord's missionaries here in Poland. Its really humbled me and helped me become better! And we are practicing with thema and putting everything into action.....

Really quick we are teaching how to become better connected to our purpose of "inviting others to COME UNTO CHRIST by receiving RESTORED TRUTH." We are training on how to connect these two points as quickly as possible whether is be on the streets or tracting in our finding efforts. Or in teaching like sit down lessons with investigators and members! Doing these things by setting expectations and extending invitations.

In the training we do role plays with the missionaries, then in the middle of it we say ok.... Lets go role play on the street! Its alot of fun and its fun hitting the streets with tons of missionaries like a huge force and just talking to every person we pass. Its been really affective. Yesterday my companion Elder Allen was on exchange with another missionary. They were in a sit down lesson and did the same exact thing as we did in the role play with setting expectations of Baptism and how if they listen to our message then they will want to make a covenant with God by Following Christ and being baptized! They set a lesson with this kid named Jakub before they even taught him the first lesson! Pretty awesome. Now Jakub knows what to expect and we arent hiding this baptismal invitation anymore. The number one way for others (non members) to come unto Christ is to have faith, desire to change and repent, and make a covenant with him by baptism.

Every time we hit the streets with each companionship and district we have found new investigators in every city so far. There is 26 progressing investigators in the mission (which is more than usual) and the baptismal list is full. Its pretty amazing when we return to the basics of connecting to our purpose the Lord hastens his work!

Real quick a good experience... Last night the Elders in Szczecin called me. They visited a former investigator named Bartek that Elder Vernon and I found over a year ago. When Elder Vernon and I met with him back then he wasnt very interested in changing his life and finding out if God really existed. The Elders there now called him and set up with him. When they walked in Bartek said, "You know when Elders Vernon and Fotu were here over a year ago I wasnt very interested. But now I need it. I need to know if God is real cause its too hard in life to live without it." They had an amazing lesson with him and he is moving forward. We are going to be in Szczecin this week. So we are pretty excited!

Everything is going so well. Thank you for your support and all you do! I love you guys!

Keep killin it!

loves

_Starszy Fotu

1) missionaries in wrocław

2)missioanries in Kato

3) missionary in Kielce

1) my norwegian baby Elder Weggi

1) my brown man from Austria Elder Garcia (he is filipino)

3)whiteboard in a blizzard with big snowflake in front

1)missionaries in Lublin

2) Member (Daniel) from Katowice

3) Robert Dedyński from Wrocław

ALL WHITE EVERYTHING

Hey Friends and Family!

It was one of the Best weeks of my mission! As some of you might of saw.....We had a baptism. It was the first person that I saw start from the beginning of meeting the message of Christ restored gospel. And Walking into the waters of baptism to make a covenant with God. It was probably one of the best experiences of my life.   It was beautiful.

I've seen the change that comes from the gospel many many times on my mission. In my life and in others. But it was awesome to be part of this.   He went from drinking daily to living the Word of Wisdom! And living according to all the commandments! Its been amazing!

Ill wrote more next week...

Elder Allen and I are traveling the next 20 somethin days. Giving training on how to Invite others unto Christ in thge phase of Teaching(in lessons) and Finding (on the streets and tracting) pg 196 in PMG. Its golden. This is when we are successful as missionaries when we extend the invitation. That is our resposibility. Invite others. And Expect the fruits of baptism and commitment keeping.

I love my mission.

The experience of baptizing was pretty amazing. But I wouldnt say I feel anymore successful than when I have recieved rejection on the streets while extending the invitations.

I love the mission! The work in Poland is hastening! I know there are prepared souls in every mission. If we truly believe that, then we will perform the work by the Lord's Spirit. He knows exactly where they are. Be lead.

I love you all. The basics are key throughout our whole life.. Im sorry for the short e-mail.

quick funny story. We were in church. and sister pogorzelska comes up to me and says.... "Elder Fotu are you busy after church...... And I said No...why? she said, cause Marysza wants to play with Elder Fotu......(Her little daughter that i've sent you guys pictures of) Marysza runs over to me right at that moment and starts talking to me. And Her mom (sis pogorzelska) says ok Marysza we have to go to primary. And picks her up. marysza just starts bawling and sayin I want to play with starszy fotu...."Chcę się bawić z starszym Fotuem!!!" haha it was the cutest. Here is a pic with them!

Love you guys!

Trzymaj się!

_Starszy Fotu

-Family and Friends-

Hey everyone! I hope everyone is doing good. Mam nadzieję że wszystko w porządku u was wszystkich! Mam nadzieję że zima już się skończyła i macie piękną pogodę!!!

Well every is going sooo welll! We are right in the middle of transfers! So Im leave my apartment. Im going to be with Elder Allen! woot woot! He is supposed to be going home tomorrow but decided to extend for 30 days! President is sending us around to EVERY city in Poland to conduct exchanges and do some trainings! So I got to go to every city! Im so stoked to spend time with the missionaries! We have 10 different cities, 11 train rides, and all in 25 days. We are pretty stoked. Its gonna be crazy busy living out of a suitcase and traveling so much. But I couldnt be more stoked! Elder Kimball is coming to be AP with Elder Retallick! Im so stoked for them! Elder Kimball and I were set apart by President Bangerter! They are the most awesome missionaries!

So im pretty stoked for that! I get to go back to my old cities for one last time and see the members there. Im so excited.

Well this week was pretty awesome. I dont really feel like Im leaving my area. But Im excited to do the training and exchanges with the missionaries. Since being in Warsaw i've learned so much. My last transfer in Wrocław was pretty rough I think. I had probably never had such low confidence. I didnt really could be Assistant with being an example and leading everyone. But I learned so much. And Im so thankful. I remember getting into the first mission leadership council having no idea what to do and how I was going to do the training. But just having to rely on the Lord fully and teach by the spirit. Thats probably the biggest thing I've learned since being here is how the Lord speaks to me through His Spirit. It has built a lot of confidence and faith in the Savior.

Read Doctrine and Covenants 50:24

I hope we all have a time where we reflect on the light that we can receive from our Father in Heaven. Everyday.

I love you all. Thanks for everything. Keep killin it!

_Starszy Fotu

Spring is coming!

Another awesome week in Poland!

I gotta be quick so Ill just get to what I wanted to share with you all!

Thursday we had a whiteboard on the street. Asking people questions. This girl named Ola. So prepared. I stopped her and she said she had time so we sat down on a bench. I asked her a little about what she believed in. She said she goes to church and believes in God but doesnt like some things that the Priest say. She said she focuses more on what she feels inside and what God is saying to her more than focusing on what is written. She was so prepared. Cause so many people just focus on what is written and proof leaving no room for faith. We spoke about a little while. Then I told her about the restoration and God calling a prophet. She asked more about Joseph Smith. And in the end she said this all makes sense that God would send someone to bring everything back together. She is so prepared! We are meeting with her on thursday! So pray for us! 

Well every week we send out an e-mail to the mission! And so im just gonna copy and paste my spirit little thought into this e-mail! You can apply to your lives just like we do as missionaries.

In Proverbs 29:18 we read, "Where there is no vision, the people perish" The plan of Salvation gives us a long-term vision in this journey through life. The definition of vision is a mental image of what the future will or could be like. What is your vision of this week? What vision do you have for yourself in your mission? What vision does your investigator have for themselves? If you have one for yourself then write it down and make goals to do act. Help your investigators see the vision they can have for themselves with "coming unto Christ".

I love you all! I couldnt be more blessed to have the support that I have from you all. This next week is gonna be a little crazy with transfers. So I might not get much time to e-mail. But I will let you know where im going next week! Lets just say Im really excited for it! Keep killin it. Love God and your fellow men.

z miłośćą

_Starszy Fotu

here are some pics!

Dagmara (from szczecin) and I. She's probably my favorite member in all of Poland. Cause she is so faithful.

My little girl Marysza. She's the best thing ever.

Jak się macie?

Cześć Wam!

Tęsknię za wami bardzo. Ale jeszcze skupię się na swojej misji. Kocham ten kraj, kocham tych ludzi;)

Well this week was pretty amazing. First off we had some awesome zone trainings. The Zone leaders and sister training leaders are pretty amazing here. They've really stepped it up and being examples for all the missionaries and training well.

So here's a story for ya'll.......

We were at a Zone Training in Warsaw and at the end a Sister got a random text saying....."hey i was in church a while ago. Im not a member but im really interested in meeting with the missionaries again...." So that by its self was a miracle....

After Zone training we were on the streets talking with people and just really were pondering on what we could do to find those prepared. (finding ideas) We contact alot....we tract apartment buildings alot... the best tool to find and in all missionary work is the Spirit. So we were pondering and ran into a man that told us to wait outside his apartment building cause he'd be right back to talk with us about our message. As we waited we continued to talk and ponder ideas and we were just really feeling the spirit and felt like we were close to thinking of a good idea. As we waited this old grandma came up to us and just started going off about how crazy the world is and how people dont have jobs and just went off (who knows why). hahaha it was kinda funny. But as she kept going off I kinda sat and thought for a moment why is this happening right now when we are trying to seek the Lord's help. So I actually decided to listen to what she was saying.... And I cant even remember what she said but it made me think of school and college....And eventually led us to think of going to the universities in Warsaw and seeing if we could do like a presentation for classes that were studying religion. We talked about it and it was "first a thought that pressed upon our feelings." We got excited and planned out some ideas. The next couple days we went to a couple universities to find out if we could do so, the universities were either on break right now or too late to talk to the right people. And we would have to come back in a couple weeks. Our energy died down a little about it, but we were still excited to go back cause we felt it was inspired.

On Friday the Sister missionary that received the miracle text after the zone training called me and said she had met with the girl that was interested. She said the girl was awesome and really interested in changing her life with Christ. She also said the girl is studying at the University of Warsaw and has a class that studies religion....They dont have much information on "mormons" so they were wondering if a couple missionaries could come do a presentation.......haha yessssssss..... Pretty amazing. So we are going to the university on the 19th of February... and sooo stoked about it! The sisters wanted us to prepare it cause they have only been in the country for a couple months so dont speak the language as well as my comp Elder Retallick. (he's a beast) But the sisters that called us are so sick they speak polish so good and just are killin it.

Well thats my miracle story. Wait another one......

Well people changing... thats what we are doing. We are pretty bold with people on the streets. But its ok cause you can be as bold as you want as long as you go off the spirit and most importantly your motive behind it. I can seriously feel a love inside for these people. I dont wanna leave ever. So ya'll may never see my again;)

But early in the e-mail I mention how the spirit worked with me..... I really studied and pondered how the Lord speaks to me. Its probably one of the hardest things to figure out as his children. But In the D&C 8:2-3/128:1

really good scriptures for receiving revelation. Also true to the faith topic:revelation.

But for me.... I have to be prepared. I usually have to be pondering. And the Lord will put a thought into my head....I ponder that and it will eventually "impress upon my heart." It was a huge testimony builder for me that our heart follows our mind. So learn to control your thoughts and then your heart will be there also. If you dont like a commandment or you dont enjoy doing the Lord's will, "pretend" and show your faith that you do in your thoughts. And through the atonement of Christ your heart will change.

Im done preaching. I love you all.

z miłośćą

_Starszy Fotu

February!!!

Well I guess thats another month.....February is here. Everytime I hit a first day of a new month it just kind of blows my mind. So now i've been out for 21 months. When you get close to the end you have more and more thoughts come to your mind of home and the people you will see in a just a couple months. But I feel like im doing pretty good in keeping those out and staying busy. No time for that stuff.

This week was pretty amazing.

We did some follow up trainings this week. Tuesday night we stayed at the mission home. And Wednesday morning we woke up to drive to Bydgoszcz. As some of you saw President worked us in P90x. haha He's a beast. It was fun. Till after. It took my legs a couple days to recoop. After the work out my comp had some of the smoothie and President made for us. And he accidently forgot the protein powder had milk in it. My comp has a light allergy. So that wasnt good. President felt sooo bad. So we took him in and President and I continued to Bydgoszcz to do the training. It was actually pretty awesome to talk with him for so long about alot of things and just get his wisdom and stories.

The trainings went really well. So we are pretty excited!

What else happened.......

I love slidding on the snow and ice everywhere we go.... and the other night i slipped pretty bad right in front of this couple on the street. my comp thought that was pretty funny. Then we were walking and I kinda like approached this couple and started..."Dzień dobry! Jesteśm-......" and almost slipped on my face. They kinda started to laugh but didnt feel bad enough for me to stop and hear my message.

But everything is going really well. Here in poland we tell people that we are here "to help others come unto Christ by helping them receive the restored gospel" (our purose as missioanries) and when Polish people hear the word "gospel" they think of the Gospel of John or Mark or Matthew. So they are pretty confused. When really the Gospel is the 5 points. (faith in Christ, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and ETTE) So we started saying We are helping others unto Christ by helping them receive these restored truths. And they say well what are the restored truths.....So im like well let me tell ya...

ha but everything is going really well. We will be working with President on getting a transfer board figured out. Where missionaries need to be and with whom. Its a pretty amazing experiences. Besides that we continue to work with Piotr (Peter) this week. And Find those seeking the truth.

We've also figured out that there isnt really anything too crazy in missionary work. And we should always follow the feelings we have no matter what. We've felt prompted to go back to doors where they tell us they arent interested. And we've seen the fruits. The Lord has prepared his Children. We need to seek his spirit and find them.

Last thing. President related our calling to one of the disciples whom was with Christ.

what if..... you were in Jerusalem or The city of Corinth back then....And Peter or John was in your city...And after you passed away you realized that John or Peter was among you in that city......but he never invited you to come unto Christ....cause he was scared to be embarrassed or he was too tired....how would you feel? A man was given the calling to bring ALL MEN EVERYWHERE unto Christ......but he was too scared to extend an invitation....

As missionaries we have that same calling (full-time). As members in the church we have that same calling. Whether is be with our friends, in our homes with our families, or with strangers. Make sure you are acting on the promptings you are receiving. Someone has been prepared for you to invite them.

Love you all so much.

_Elder Fotu

Poland Warsaw Mission

This week was pretty crazy. We drove down to Katowice and did an exchange. It was pretty awesome. We found a lady that was really prepared for the gospel. She was divorced in the Catholic Church and now her children couldnt be baptized because of it. She wasnt very happy about that.

We went to Kraków after on wednesday. We picked up Elder and Sister Charles from the airport! And took them on a trip to the salt mines. Its pretty amazing the things people have done underground. The tour was about 2 hours. And we only saw 2% of the mines. There was a part with some salt that just looked like normal stones. But it was 95% salt. The other 5% changed the whole color. Elder Charles talked frequently about "Almost obedient, almost blessed" Some little things keep us from those huge blessings. The 5% in the salt kept it from being white.

There was also another part in the Salt Mines.... You turn this corner and there is just this huge beautiful chapel. With big chandeliers and paintings/ carving in the wall. It was pretty amazing. Ill try to get a picture. But we are standing there like in amazment and Elder Charles comes over to us and says in a very calm voice......"Elders I have decided.....the catholic church is true....." haha it was pretty hilarious.

But there was so much that I learned from them both. It was an amazing experience.

Sitting in the trainings and zone conference the spirit is very strong and we are inspired to do many things. But the real changes happens after. I have had some fears on my mission of being bold with people or missionaries in teaching moments. But I realized that a fear is...an unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. We can have as many fears as we want......as long as we dont fall to those fears. Fears can be a blessing, just like opposition can be. As long as we exercise faith. Thats when the weaknesses and fears become strengths and part of our nature.

I can't really explain how much I love it out here. The relationships you create or eternal. The work is divine.

I love these people. I love the Lord, and Im working on fearing no man!

Love you all so much.

For all my friends who are home......."When I called you as a missionary I called you as one forever...two hands to the plow looking straight ahead." _Elder Holland

Stay thirsty for the gospel. Remember the number one priority in life is building God's kingdom. Whatever you are doing make sure that is the result in the end. Whether studying or working for a future family or reaching out to those who are lost.

Tons of love.

trzymaj się.

hold yourself.

_Starszy Fotu

Blessings, Blessings, and more Blessings.

Well this week was a winner. Its amazing how when we raise our expectations, its a form of showing our faith, and the Lord's brings miracles according to faith. But it's been amazing to see and hear of the missionaries experiences as they've showed their mental faith.

First off, Emmanuel! We had a solid lesson with him last monday. I picked up my comp from the train station, Elder Hon (who I trained), we were on exchange. And we went straight to the meeting. We had lost contact with Emmanuel for a while cause he was sick and in the hospital, but he called us wanting to meet. And he said he would be baptized on Feb. 7th if he received an answer from God that it was true. We are stoked about that. Also we have another kid named Peter (Piotr). Younger kid probably our age, studying Law. Such a nice kid. But he is just so ready to receive the gospel. We had an amazing first lesson with him and we are look to help him progress towards following our savior this week! So pray for us!

Many things are happening. Its about to get really busy. This week we have 2 exchanges with zone leaders. So the whole week will be exchanges. Next week we will travel down (roadtrip!!! woot woot!) And do an exchange with the zone Leaders there. And from Katowice we will drive to Kraków to pick up Elder Charles of the Area Presidency who is coming in to do a mission tour. We are taking him to the Salt Mines. So if you guys wanna look up pictures of that  I hear its pretty cool. We are gonna try to work in going to Auszwitz also.....But we will see;) We will have the Mission Tour with Elder Charles and his Wife. And then we will probably be working on transfers with President after that. 

This transfer has been really good then cause we've been able to manage our time better and really hit the streets and find those prepared. We've been so blessed. And I get a little anxious when I hear about time or think about time and how fast its really going. When I sit in sacrament meeting I just look around at those there, and just feel so much love and faith coming from them. They really do amaze. Ill always remember them for that.

Yesterday was a pretty fun day. In church I was translating into english. We have this mic and these little headsets for those that speak english. Its pretty intense and keeps us up on our toes. But its really fun. I was translating with Elder Fogg. He's from Cottonwood High. Ill actually be on exchange with him today.

The church is growing. The Kingdom of the Lord cannot be stopped. And we should always have it as our first priority in all that we have in life.

I love being here. Im so thankful for all of your support! Love and miss you all!

Pray, Read, Temple, and Serve.

z miłośćą

kocham was wszystkich! trzymaj się! tęsknię za wami!

spoko.

_Starszy Fotu

The New Year!

This week was pretty amazing. We had new years.... which was crazy. This country goes all out with their fireworks and alcohol....which is a disappointment. There is fireworks ALL throughout the night that keeps us up usually. It usually doesnt keep me up but I go the worst nights sleep this year cause i had a bad little cold. New years eve we are supposed to be inside by 16:00 cause it gets so crazy. And all 20 of the missionaries in warsaw were invited over to the mission home to stay the night. It was way fun. Some of you saw the selfy I took on Sister Edgren's I Pad that she posted on instagram. It was a party.

We ate some food. And then we watched Meet the Mormons! haha It was pretty awesome. I love the film. Its pretty amazing to see what the gospel does for peoples in their lives. That really is the gold found in it. I love it. I loved the humanitarian man that went back to his country and built water wells and schools. Its pretty amazing the vision that he had to have to do all of that. I think I want to be a humanitarian later in life. The football scenes of the Coach at Navy really made me miss it. But I know there is more in life.

Well this week we had Zone Trainings. Thats where the Zone Leaders take everything we taught them in MLC and teach their zones. The Zone Leaders and Sister Training Leaders are very young. But it was amazing to see the preparation they did and the fire they had as they taught it. I can seriously see the mindset and expectations that missionaries have changes. And I know this hastens the work of the Lord. Cause when we have high expectations we are prepared to teach those who the Lord has prepared. The Lord blesses us when he trusts us. Now the question we can all ask ourselves is, Does the Lord trust you?

Not only the mindset of the missionaries is changing but also the members. In Church yesterday the third hour was focused on the Area Plan for Europe that the Area Presidency has come up with. Some of the members just have the biggest desire and commitment to build the kingdom here. We are super excited for that. The Lord continues to hasten his work here. I can testify to all of you of that. Ive got a feeling that he is about to pour out his blessings on Poland.

Well we are working hard in our area and have a lot of potential that could really come through for us this week. A man named Emanuel last night got back in contact with us. He was a referral from Utah and actually from Nigeria. He is so humble and we lost contact with him for a while. But he wants to meet today. So im pretty stoked for that! Today we have a exchange with some Elders from the City Bydgoszcz. And guess what.... my trainee Elder Hon is comin down with me. So we will teach Emanuel tonight. Pretty stoked about that!

Well time is running out. I just want you all to know that I love the Lord. Elder Clarke when he gave us some train he asked us if we had any family members that hadnt accepted the gospel. Im lucky enough to have my close family in the gospel. But he continued to ask what we would do to help them receive the gospel? Ive been on the streets imagining if these people around me were my own siblings. At first is was really sad cause so many people said..."nie mam czasu.." ( I dont have time) But then for those that stopped I realized that I was bearing my testimony with more of my heart.

I think thats what Charity really is. When we truly understand what it means to all be brothers and sisters. We are all on the same path and have the same goal in life. On your mission is the best time to try and realize that and apply it. 

I love it out here. The Lord loves us. We should love him.

Love and miss you all! Thank you for the Support!

_Starszy Fotu

Week 1 of 2015!!!!

Wasssgooood! I can't believe 2015 is here........

So crazy. This has been the fastest year of my life! But most definitely the best year of my life! In our call letter as missionaries it says we will experiences the greatest blessings and happiness than we have yet experienced. I had no idea about that when I opened up my call 2 years ago.

It was an amazing week. Obviously amazing to talk to my family for a little while! (And braxton and connor) haha crazy crazy story......

So we had something called MLC (mission leadership council) this past week that we had to prepare and teach to all the zone leaders and sister training leaders. It was amazing. The mindset of the mission is really changing. And President Edgren has a really good freind named Elder Clarke on the Mission Board for the church. Its his calling. He is one of the most amazing speakers and just people. I've never seen someone speak with so much power because of his dedication to doing missionary work. He never stops. He is always grabbing people by the arm and telling them they need to hear the gospel. So Elder Clarke skyped us on the 26th. He pretty much just hammered us with everything on changing the mindset and expectations of missionaries. It was amazing. He started out by saying....."I have a really good friend name Danny Humphrey...." haha my face was just like what... And I just like looked up and he noticed some how through skype. And he asked..."Do you know Danny Humphrey?" hahha I was like yes I do. He asked how and I told him about how I talked to connor just yesterday! haha It was pretty funny. But the mission leadership council was pretty. The leaders in the mission are young and ready to go to work. Im so excited about it. Cause I know the mission is about to get poured on with blessings cause of our mental faith and raised expectations. It makes sense too that the Lord blesses us when he trusts us as missionaries. And he trusts us with his children when we are prepared. And we are prepared when we are expecting it to happen! 

So for my little spiritual thought is gonna be from our e-mail that we sent out to the missionaries in the mission......This is week we end the year 2014 and start 2015. A perfect time to check our progress and recommit ourselves to reaching the potential that the Lord has in store for us. We've achieved many goals this past year and maybe even fallen short. President Dieter F. Uchtdorf (in Janruary 2014) explained that when we fall short of our goals, "we can be empowered... Even though we might fall short of our finish line, just continuing the journey will make us greater than we were before."

He also taught about the old proverb, " The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second-best time is now." Keep in mind who the Lord wants you to be not only in 20 years but in eternity, set goals and make plans to develop the best of habits. And choose to plant a greater love of Christ in your heart now. If there is hope in the future, there is power in the present.

We are excited for our area! We've got tons of faith and high expectations! So we will let you guys know about that soon!

Thanks for everything! Have a good week!

Loves

_Starszy Fotu

Christmas is here ya'll

Well again I don't have much time. The mission just keeps getting better and better.

I really do love just preaching the gospel on the streets and inviting people to repent. Meaning invite them to learn more about the gospel and pray and read. But it really is amazing to feel the Spirit work through you. Its pretty amazing now to cause im able to teach a little more clearly and people actually understand me a little more. I love it. Thats probably what im going to miss the most from my mission. Preaching the gospel to these people. They are pretty amazing.

Well its Christmas. I've been really trying to make this Christmas special. Last year was really special. It was my first Christmas away from home. Also my last Christmas at home was pretty amazing. With Emma in the hospital, our family united, and running around trying to make the Christmas right for the young kids (Isaac and I buying that ugly tree) but the kids still loved it.;). I feel like every year im recieving more light and understanding of Christmas. And if we really do so then we find parts in our lives to recommit ourselves to Him.

I love being here cause the service of bringing others unto Him has been a bigger service in my life.

We have alot of potentials that should work out once the holidays are over. So pray for us!;)

This week is very very busy. Today we will drive 3 hours to Poznań with President and Sister Edgren. And We have Christmas Zone Conferences and then MLC (mission leadership council) So alot of training and changing;) Really working on changing the mindset of the mission and the missionaries. Showing them what real success is (our committment) and helping them raise their expectations. This will help us have more converted and committed missionaries, but also more fruit in the work.

Continue to remember the basics. I hope I can take that from my mission. Doing the basics everyday. Never forget your highest priority in life. Building the kingdom of God.

Love you all! Remember Christ. He was born, lived, died, rose again, and lives. Continues to serve us. Use the power from his sacrifice of love.

_Starszy Fotu