Thanks again

August 29, so long since the last update from here. And here it's already time for Thanksgiving.

It's not that nothing has happened, it's that the things that have happened are mostly the same things and once expressed, novelty is over and interest is questionable.

The restrictions resulting from the pandemic being global, we can only share how it has affected us as missionaries in Poland. I've mentioned that our fellow servants have dwindled monthly and in two weeks we say goodbye to 5 more great young missionaries and 2 great old missionaries. That'll decimate us to 16 plus 8, down from the complement of 46 and 12. Not a big mission even with a full roster, but the difference is drastic. Small branches of 4 or 6 members that are used to the support of 4 or 6 missionaries now have at most 2, even 0.

The reduction in force brings that kind of challenges, but missionary finding and teaching is experiencing a Covid wave.

The day after October General Conference 2018 is the day we entered the MTC in Provo. Another October conference we watched in Gdańsk. The most recent we watched from our apartment in Warsaw. The two previous both seem like last week or a life ago. Two reassignments divide our memories like yellow and blue recycle bins as if decades, yet all end up in the same heap.

Zone Conference day was an hourly progression on repentance. Sister and President Chandler called us each to deeper introspection and higher faith. A full day spent with no other purpose. The results were private but apparent. At 1:00 AM Warsaw time, Jean got spammed with one email then another dinging her mobile. Blurry-eyed checking what the phone was going on about, she read Reassignment, Missionary called to Poland but serving in the US. Another, and another until 17 in the mission inbox. There's now12 Elders and 5 Sisters waiting out their 14 days at the England MTC, scheduled to land in Poland Friday after Thanksgiving. 5 more scheduled for December. A math whiz can see there are more new missionaries than old who can show them the Polish ropes. Some will have twins. These are not all new missionaries, they have been faithfully serving and waiting in their respective temporary assignments, some for almost half their mission life. All hands on deck here as we prepare for this infusion. They're getting daily doses of all the zone conferences they've missed and a chance to work with the older missionaries one-on-one finding and teaching people in Poland in Polish. Repent and He immediately blesses you (so said King Benjamin and so say all of us).

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My birthday remembered by the office Elders. Exceptionally weather highlighting the view at my desk.

Our favorite hotel when inspecting missionary apartments in Kraków

A bridge that's stood for 8 centuries. On a tram once I stood for 8 minutes.

Try to picture the scale by comparing the altar and the stained glass.

Enjoyed a "senior" conference at the 1231 Hotel, named for its history, with some old timers. 

From the back: Miskins (Syracuse), Johnsons (Parowan), Pres & Sister Chandler (N. Carolina), Southards (Queen Creek), Womacks missing because of Covid (Vancouver WA)