New year, new outlook

This is the fourth time I've sat down to type. If you've been looking for some indicator that we yet live, I'm sorry. We do.

We made the transition from Gdańsk to Warszawa at last, and tonight in our apartment we feel we can actually say we "live" in Warsaw. We've had stuff scattered in three places for the past six weeks so this marks us landing.

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We had the joy of another Gdańsk baptism this weekend, not in the sea, but in the only church font in Poland, which is in Warsaw. Adam decided to be baptized after seeing the font last month. Tonight we returned from his confirmation in sacrament meeting in Gdańsk. What joy as he witnessed that he has been looking for God since he was a child, and it turned out, God was always with him, he just didn't know it. As soon as he read the first chapter of the Book of Mormon he knew it was the word of God and it would help him be a better person. The opposition of family and friends has solidified his resolve and faith.

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We have been saying goodbye these weeks to the beloved Małachowskis who returned to England last week after their mission in the office. The large hole they left is now filled with us. For our part, we get to be uplifted daily by interacting with all the missionaries in the country as well as with our President and Sister Chandler. Though it's hard to explain the special relationship with the young missionaries when it's only you and them in a remote city.

I've said before, change is part of missionary life, and we've got sufficient of it. There's been lots of doings, but you'll have to take my word on that cuz I ain't writing any more tonight or there will be a fifth time starting with no finish. 

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Let's see what pictures we've got...

 I've documented the seasons weekly from our Gdańsk apartment balcony. 

For the first time this winter there was snow. It came on December 28! 

(It was gone on the 29th)

One of the many people who love Jean. 

New Year's Eve was freezing, but required one last visit to the sea. 

"Bro, I thought you were gonna be in the 3 Kings parade."

"Yeah, didn't you see the camels?"

"I saw one camel. Were you on the camel??"

"Eh, not exactly... I was a camel's rear hump."

"Oh."

 For ten months, every Saturday we were at the home of Ola cutting mountains of onions and other savory fare to go into the soup cauldron. Ola noticed that I always went for this knife out of the dozens. She began setting it aside for me. As we said goodbye, she made a precious gift of it.

Our first Saturday away, there the knife sat. Ready to work.