Cześć, family and friends!
First off, I am in a trio! SO MUCH FUN. We are still doing our missionary work, and we get to party at the same time! We are all crazy in our own different ways, so it makes life really entertaining. And story time with the siostry is not something anyone would want to miss out on.
We've got a pretty big workload because we are covering the work of 3 sets of missionaries. There aren't elders in Kraków, and I'm still in charge of all the people we were teaching in Katowice, so we have had a lot going on. I've gotten to meet some phenomenal people here who are so humble and who sincerely want to follow Christ, and that has been really humbling for me. And I've been able to stay in contact with the people in Katowice, so we are still able to help and motivate them.
On Tuesday we had a meeting with a girl named Gabi in the little Relief Society room--just the four of us in the chapel, which is on the third floor of a building. Gabi is super cute. But near the end of the meeting, we hear this noise, and suddenly there's this MAN in the room with us. He seemed like 60 or something, with a wiry little frame, and breath tinted with alcohol. But the thing that really caught my attention was his clothes.
I know of no better way to describe them than a homeless European man trying to dress up like an Indian. And as he began to speak, I realized that that was exactly what he was trying to be.
He opened his mouth and started blabbing on and on about Indians (in the midst of calling us kochane and aniołowie) I looked at the others. They all seemed to be just as much in shock as I was. So I told him we were in the middle of a meeting and couldn't really talk. And then I closed the door of our room on him, kind of just hoping he would leave the chapel.
About 15 seconds later, we hear him shouting "I LOVE INDIANS, OF EVERY TRIBE!!!!!!" And then he ended it like we end our prayers, I just feel sacrilegious repeating that part.
Then he opened our door again, holding a Book of Mormon, asking if it was about Indians. We told him yes, and he could have it. Then he *thankfully* left. So we thought that was the end of it.
Until the next day.
The three of us, again the only ones in the chapel, were practicing for a musical number. Sister Miller says something about how funny it would be if Indian dude showed up again.
And then suddenly he's there again. And he's drunk again. He starts another long rant, and also asks us if he can wash his hands (which are filthy). So we tell him he can, but then he needs to leave. Well, after he finishes he comes and asks Sister Christensen if she's an Indian and if he can schedule a meeting with us. I asked him what his name was, and with a grin, he replied (in English) "Janek! 'Crazy Horse' Janek!" We were trying to kick him out this whole time, but after the third or fourth time, there wasn't much more room for courtesy. So slightly politely, but very firmly, I told him to leave and that he wasn't allowed to be here, and we escorted him out.
For the next hour we were really jumpy at all the noises the chapel was making. But we told the building security guard about it, and now he knows not to let any more men who are dressed up like Indians up. And now we lock ourselves in the chapel unless we are expecting a meeting.
I've been writing a lot of quotes in my planner. One of my favorites: "Penguins in Kraków Zoo eat ALL DAY American vitamins!" --an extremely talkative lady at English class.
Our new mission president is phenomenal. He has given us the challenge to read the Book of Mormon in 40 days as a mission. I'm about 100 pages in, and the biggest thing I notice is how peaceful I feel as I read. And then I start getting insights about my life and how to be happier and how God cares about me and about His other children. In other words, the Holy Spirit teaches me. I know that the Book of Mormon is the word of God because I am experiencing its power in my life! And you can too, as you read it! It will bring you more happiness than food, money, social media, or a shiny car ever can. So choose to make your study of it a priority over all of those things. You can find your 100% satisfaction guarantee in Moroni 10:4-5 on page 529.
Love,
Sister Eberting
Pictures:
1. We had leadership training in Warsaw, and I got to see my MTC companion, Sister Berrett!
2-3. Making czebureki, a Georgian dumpling. They were really good. I haven't yet died from a heart attack.
4. The bubble mall in Warsaw.
5. Last Tuesday, saying goodbye to Sister Jenkins! She's home with her family now :)
More Pictures
