Stepping in

Of the six senior couples who serve in Poland, three of us are assigned to help with young adults, along with supporting our individual branches. Four of the six senior Elders serve as branch president as well. We've been blessed to work with Elder and Sister Murri who have led the YSA efforts so well and are now returning home (Eden, UT). We met with them and Elder and Sister Womack (Vancouver, WA) to learn all that they know and figure out how we will carry on in that assignment.

Elder and Sister Murri in Toruń
near a section of the old city wall

We had to find a centrally located city to be fair, so Toruń was chosen and we had to wear p-days all day and take in the picturesque old town. Just one of those sacrifices you make as a missionary.

Elder and Sister Womack listening intently
whilst enjoying some refreshment

Interesting contrast in styles

The Vistula (Visła) is the longest and most
important river in Poland, flowing from the south
all the way to the port city of Gdańsk

Elder Olschewski navigating to a good spot to baptize Karol

Among the three YSA couples (now two) we have a goal to support new young adults by attending their baptism whenever possible. Baptisms don't happen every week or month, so it's special to be a part of it. We traveled to Katowice in the south to witness Karol, a fine young man, accept baptism. They had found a pool to rent at a rehabilitation center to do the ordinance after meeting at the branch. The branch members gave great support with a dozen people attending. It was also a treat to meet the pair of Elders and Sisters there and see a little bit how the work goes in that city.

Elder Silski and Elder Wagley with Mateusz and Natalie
changing their family history

Today is transfer day and all around the mission people are crying. There's also excitement for the changes and new challenges. We are so sad to see Elder Wagley leave us in Gdańsk. He has been a solid support for us during our time here and he's just a great young man and missionary. He'll spend his last 4 weeks re-opening an area before returning to Ohio. All the missionaries are great, of course, and saying good-bye is a fact of missionary life, but that doesn't make good-byes easier.

Exactly one transfer ago (9 weeks) the Elders received a phone call from a Facebook sister in England who's serving her mission there from Germany. She gave the name of a man who lives north of Gdańsk who made contact through FB and wanted some questions answered.  Thus they met Mateusz and his wife Natalie.

I could write much about Mateusz and Natalie, but to condense who they are I'd say they are golden. Mateusz is a real manly man who thinks deeply about the things that really matter. Natalie is a strong, independent woman originally from Czech and a great mom to their daughter (1). 

He researched all sides of this Mormon religion before the missionaries even met him, so that the Elders were amazed at what he and Natalie already knew and all the expected concerns were already resolved. One telling bit is that they were listening to the Mormon channel! Incredible.

Finding the right spot where we could be undisturbed.
Interesting sight at the beach with two dressed
in all white and the rest in the
kind of suits and dresses you wouldn't expect.

Being the kind of man he is, Mateusz determined to be baptized in the Baltic Sea. I mentioned before how cold that sea is, I mean, colder than ice cold. Seriously. We knew he could handle it, and Elder Wagley too, but we were concerned for Natalie, because she is more than eight months along. They eventually decided that she would be baptized next week in a pool that we hope to arrange. A nice bonus is that Mateusz received the Aaronic priesthood Sunday so now he can baptize her.

Real men

When Elder Wagley ventured first into the water to find a suitable spot that was deep enough, we all watched in anticipation for his reaction to see if this could actually work. He said, "This is really not bad, it's kinda pleasant." It was a given that Mateusz wouldn't flinch, and he didn't. The two zone leaders waded in with their suit pants rolled up to be able to hear the ordinance. Afterward we enjoyed a picnic with the family, us missionaries, and Mateusz's mom. The day had been forecast to be cloudy and cold, but was sunny and warm, beautiful.  We were alone on this long strand. While we were enjoying lunch and the great day, Elder Wagley was looking at the sea, reflecting on this experience at the end of his mission and rolled up his pants to dip his toes in one more time. He yelled "This water is freezing!"