Dzień dobry, family and friends! This week was just wonderful. To begin, let's have a short Polish lesson!
Sister Harmon and I were out contacting, and we were walking back to the Rynek (city center). There was a cool dude walking the same way as we were, so I started talking to him. What I was trying to say was "Też śpieszymy się tam," meaning we were also heading in the same direction as he was so we could have a conversation at the same time. But instead I told him "też śpiewamy tutaj," or, in other words, "we are also singing here." He didn't seem super impressed with our singing though, because the conversation ended there.
On our way to a cathedral to make sandwiches for homeless people on Wednesday I saw an old babcia sitting on a curb next to a shop, so we stopped and talked to her. She had a water bottle full of a popular beverage and she said she was either 87 or 97 (old people here are surprisingly agile). We asked what she needed help with, and she said we could buy a dog or a cat or a bird from her so she would have money. We tried to convince her to go to the plaza where we hand out sandwiches, but she was pretty adamant that we needed to buy a dog or cat or bird from her. She seemed pretty content with her spot on the curb, too.
On Thursday we went with our friends Elżbieta and Iwona to a Protestant meeting where a pastor talked about the Passover. Iwona kindly translated for me, and I didn't actually want translation, but I was to afraid of hurting her feelings, so I didn't say anything, even after two people got mad at us….so it was an hour and a half of feeling really awkward, but the meeting was also really cool. The pastor excplained some of the symbolism of the passover, and there was some pretty good music. One of my favorite parts was the guy playing the 5 string electric viola.
Also, here's the best part: they passed around wine samples! I got to turn down wine for the first time in my life! I'm pretty sure Sister Harmon was afraid I would drink it.
On Friday we went to Zabrze to visit Anna, who is mostly homebound. Her son is Atheist, but last time we met altogether, the elders gave Anna a priesthood blessing, and we could all feel the Holy Spirit very strongly. And that means that her son felt it too. So on Friday, we talked with Anna (who can talk and talk and talk and talk!) while the elders met with her son! And her son is showing interest! I can't really convey how happy this makes me.
Saturday was really good. We were in Zabrze in the morning again trying to find some formerly interested people, but they weren't there. However, we found a cute street with pretty houses, a rabid little dog, and a lady who said we could come back.
We also went to Sosnowiece to visit a less-active member. She was really sweet, and we are going to start helping her prepare to go to the temple.
Sunday was wonderful. Right as we were opening the dorr to go into the chapel, I stopped a lady, who actually seemed pretty interested, and she said she'd come to church next week and took a Book of Mormon. Then we made a boatload of pasta for break-the-fast after church. Agnieszka (our friend who would never come to church even though we invited her a lot) was at sacrament meeting! And so was Karol, Mihał, and the less active member we met with! After break-the-fast we and our friends all went to a dom pomocy (the same one we always go to) to sing Easter songs. Oh, it was glorious!! There were 11 of us altogether who crammed on a tram to Chorzów, including our friends, interested people, and members! And they all made friends with each other and were having a good time. Nothing could have made Sister Harmon and me happier.
At the dom pomocy, our old people just loved it! Mihał had his guitar, and he sang a few classic Polish songs in addition to the ones we had planned. One of the old ladies was leading the singing with her arms, some were clapping along, some were singing along. My heart and soul are SATISFIED!
Sandra brought a friend to church yesterday. Afterwards, while we were preparing food, they came back to the kitchen. Sandra came over by me as we were talking and whispered (under the guise of getting a biscuit) "get her number get her number get her number," and then I realized, yeah, that would actually be a really good thing to do. Sandra is the best member missionary ever, and her friend was super sweet. And yes, we have her number now :)
Basically, this week has been phenomenal. I feel like the work is starting to move along here, and I just love being a missionary in Poland and in Katowice!!!! Sister Harmon and I tried really hard to use our time very efficiently this last week, and even though it was pretty draining sometimes, I feel like God saw our efforts. He's got a plan for these people in Katowice, and we're excited to keep finding out what that plan is.
Love,
Siostra Eberting
PS Keep watching or reading General Conference. It's the word of God especially for us.
PPS my next P day will be a week from Tuesday because Monday is still part of the Easter holiday here.
