Mission Two (hope)

 First off, if you are bored with these updates from us, you have two choices:

1. Reply to the email I sent and tell me to leave you alone

2. Ignore it

With that out of the way, here's some news and some info that might influence your choice. We have received a new mission call!

This call is to serve in Finland in the mission office there. We are scheduled to start the MTC on 27 December and fly to Helsinki 4 January.

I'm being careful NOT to say "we're going to Finland" because we know how that turned out last time. Can't believe that was three years ago when we were in a very similar situation, then things changed to Poland and all the new and great experiences there. Thus, terms like "called to" and "scheduled to."

It has been a great year here in Utah since January 15th 2021. Our intent, thanks to the generosity of Sherry, was to stay in her basement until we could find a place. This turned out to be such a good deal for us, well, we stayed. We've had a fun time doing things with and for our kids. Jean's skills with plants have been put to good use. There were many weeks that we drove to and from Utah County Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday. We really enjoyed it and enjoyed helping out in the small ways we were able.

Don't know why, but just about every job I (Stewart) applied for didn't work out for one reason or another and that left us free to do those things whenever the heck. Looking back, it was a good thing. It kept us free and humble enough.

One mandate from the 4 Bridge offspring was that we must not miss another holiday season after the three previous. You'll notice our start date is the 27th, so that box is checked.

There are many people we would've/should've connected with during this summer of love, but we failed. (If you need to, please see The Healing Power of Forgiveness (James E. Faust, 2007 Annual General Conference)

I know many would be sad to read one of these updates without a bridge with Bridges, so here's one you might recognize. We travelled to San Francisco in October to apply for our Finnish residency permits (visas), thus the Bay Bridge. That trip gave us a taste for how things could still not work out. You might know a little airline called SkyWest out of St. George Utah. We were lucky to be flying to and from SFO on the day that little airline's servers went down. The result was the joy of standing in a line that stretched "all the way back to Terre Haute" as ours and others' were delayed, delayed, delayed, then finally canceled. Sitting for hours in the airport is fun enough for anyone, but standing is even better. We did get out the next day, but the lesson is that even small things can upset the very complex interconnectedness. We will let you know if and when we arrive in good old Finland.

We got notified the day after Thanksgiving that our application for residency in Finland was granted. We received our residency cards (just like the Polish cards we had) a couple weeks later, which means we can legally and legitimately enter any time we please until July 2023. Excitement.

We'll speak in Bountiful the day before our MTC date. You shouldn't expect much, but if you want to know more about that (43rd Ward, 1000 N 100 W, at noon) let me know through an email or other.

I avoid trying to describe emotions here, but I have to say that we sincerely appreciate the love and support you give us just by being interested in what we're up to. It means more than you realize.

Wrap up

It's time to wrap this as we come to the close of our adventure. We are scheduled, but we know that schedules are uncertain like anything these days, to return to Utah on 13 January.

As mentioned in previous posts, a big part of the Poland mission has been the numbers of missionaries leaving and only recently arriving. The newly arrived young missionaries have more than doubled our ranks and it's been wonderful to see their joy and enthusiasm added to the joy and enthusiasm of those who had been serving here all along. It also gives us a lot more to do—a blessing. Knowing that senior missionaries have become more rare serving outside their home countries, there was no expectation in that regard. In November our president was surprised to learn that a couple was called to serve in the office, arriving in March. This put their assignment a month after our return date. Someone from the Area office called them in December and asked if they could be ready to serve sooner. They said yes. He then told them that the window for moving missionaries to Europe through the UK might close with Brexit becoming official on January 1, so could they be ready to leave for England on December 15. They again said yes. That put their arrival in Poland at December 29 with a 14-day quarantine at the England MTC. The new strain of Covid got all of Europe excited and Poland announced its borders would be closed to UK travelers starting December 22. Elder and Sister Rebeck and two young Elders and two young Sisters and we miraculously walked out of the Warsaw airport at 11:52 PM December 21, the Lord knowing was 8 minutes to spare.

With their earlier than planned arrival and quick learning, our presence is becoming redundant and thus we hope to fly out 3 weeks earlier than planned, already next week!

The week of Christmas was a different kind of busy, with vacating our apartment sooner and finding places for us to camp out, well, camp in. Now our tasks are trying to figure out how to say goodbye properly and what we will do once we're not missionaries.

It is still as if the end of our mission will never arrive, but here it comes, and packing these two years into two suitcases will be how we wrap it up.

***

Thank you for reading and thank you for caring about us during this story. We have loved every challenge and blessing that came from it.

Merry Christmas from old Warsaw

One of Jean's favorite things, making a cold, empty space feel like Christmas

And getting Elders to do what they learned when they were 7

The resultant warm atmosphere for our Christmas Zone conference

Having a merry missionary Christmas.

Singing Polish carols with the Warsaw Elders and Sisters in old town.

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).

***

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)

Poland mission

This answers are we still on our mission.

To 2/2/21, God willing.

Poland continues to provide unfamiliar photogenic streets in every city. 

Unassuming and unexpected places have almost become commonplace.

We visited the pair of sister missionaries holding the fort at Lublin. 

The Vistula has been the most important waterway for centuries, running through large cities from the south to the Baltic north. 

Warsaw centrum from this frequently crossed bridge shows the expanse to our part of the city.

After isolation, our president decided wisely that a summer mission-wide conference would provide needed rejuvenation. 

This is all of us, 25 young and 10 old called to invite 38 million. Yet undaunted. 

We often have occasion to be at the Warsaw chapel, situated on the opposite side of the city. 

One pleasant evening walking out with the assistants.

 

 Happened upon this salon with an appropriate name for Sister Bridge, known for cutting hair at the end of monthly mission funds.

What typical 18 and 19 year-old boys do when waiting to catch their 4-hour train ride home by twos. Face planted in their phone.

This scene outside the Warsaw chapel captures the unwinding of two days of hard playing and intense learning and renewing friendships with people they're closely connected to but separated from.

What is not seen is that each is typing a message, having another verify each word and its reply, and thus conversing about how God's plan has affected them personally and how it can also the person they only just met through Facebook.

Summer of '20

It's been a cool summer, not only because of the unseasonable temperatures.

A sure sign there's not much to talk about is when the weather becomes the topic. And here I am leading with it. Thus, life seems pretty routine, though we continue to have new and old experiences with new and old places and people.

Places are easiest to write about, no concern for concealing identities. Photos also tell much of their own story, so...

The city of Rzeszów is away on its own toward the border with Ukraine. The sun broke through dark clouds long enough for us to enjoy lunch on the square with the two Elders there.

Signs near home pointing the way to a city called Calvary Hill have intrigued for some time. We discovered it was only 30 km and were rewarded on p-day with a view of this very old castle with battlements. Pushing on down a dead-end dirt road seeking an ever better vantage, at length ended in somebody's front yard. Before they or their dog could chase us off, we snapped this.

The Warsaw Sisters have found and taught a young lady online whose city is a couple of hours out of the city. We were lucky to take them to see her in person for the first time. 

The details of the facade hold some mystery of what its pre-dilapidation housed. 

With 30 years of economic recovery, many old buildings have been restored or replaced, but in smaller cities relics hang about.

Happy missionaries beaming after sharing the gospel of love with a receptive receiver.

Could also be titled "I don't want anything, just a small cone, but let me see if I like what you got."

A rare moment of reprieve for our mission leaders, the Chandlers. They invited the other seven Warsaw missionaries and us for a good ol' American kiełbasa and teriyaki chicken 4th of July BBQ at the mission home.

Jean's healthy (and awesome!) idea to get bikes for the summer. A member fixed these old-timers up for us. We've since replaced the pilfered grocery baskets with some less, um, eye-catching.

Just a 3 km ride to the mission office each day is made just as quick as increasing our carbon footprint. Add the incentive of acceleration to beat the downpour cued each evening by our mounting up for the return.

Fortuitous signage: 

Mostowa=Bridge

Ulica Mostowa=Bridge Street

Labeling the Most lovely companion.

(Blue and white pointer, not related:

Zabytek=Relic)

Goodbye May

Items of interest are elusive at the moment. Weather good or bad is the most interesting bit of news. 

Mothers' Day blessed us with each of our children wishing their mom the best in person. Their love and connection allow us to be close to them 8 time zones away, not just on special days, but sometimes even more often than when nearby. We see how we all are blessed.

Here we've been focused on getting finishing missionaries home. Air travel is still restricted in and out of Poland so scheduling the old way is pointless since flights cancel unexpectedly. Special flights from Warsaw to Chicago have been arranged from time to time through the embassy. We got a group of five sisters on the flight this week and if Facebook is true, they arrived all smiles at their destinations yesterday. The bitter of goodbye mixes with the sweet of young people who've matured years completing faithful service. Joy goes along to those who receive them. 

The lack of incoming traffic is making our small mission even smaller. The work does not diminish. We will be attending a baptism this evening. We attended two others this week. Several more will follow Christ's example in the coming weeks. Mid-year begins with more ordinances than occurred in a year, for several years. Prepared people are connecting with the missionaries. Four or five or more are added to a companionship's list of new people to teach each week. Months ago they had goals to get 1 new person to teach during a transfer (2 months). All this finding and teaching is happening online, a skill they added only as the year ended. It's His work and He knew it.

***

Country scene that could just as easily be in Alberta, eh?

This un-retouched photo shows downtown Warsaw in the distance when a stormy evening sky transformed to the canvas for the blazing sun 

For our James's birthday today, this card on the rack at the post office sends the message right

Time enough

Like you, I wish I had something more to write than that things are about the same. On the other hand, I'm glad that I don't have some tragedy or trauma to report. So, I amend that and say that we are blessed to have nothing more to write.

For us, and probably for you, this time of restricted movement has afforded us the ability to pursue some of those things that we'd love to "if we could find the time." Actually, it's not that we have nothing to do, but somehow we're able to focus on more timeless things. Those that come first to mind divide into two categories: reading and writing.

How lucky to learn new things and have less excuses for getting to those that have held an interest for a long time. There is a lifetime of reading and learning to be had and we now have time to chip away at the stacks. We've opened up fountains not only from C. S. Lewis, but also from his guide George MacDonald, from inspired authors, from people who saw the Christ, and let's not exclude a new look at Nineteen-Eighty-Four. Taking time to really ponder, instead of pushing for a timed goal, and to immerse ourselves in holy writ opens constantly new vistas as well as produces peace.

With the two young elders (fortuitous juxtaposition) and sometimes our MP at the office we take turns to share a thought each morning. It's simple, it's short, each day one shares uninterrupted, and in those few moments we gain a new perspective hidden to us before. It also makes sharing between us companions more natural and easy. Amazing how something so simple allows all to be edified by all.

Writing things down is another endeavor that lacks some of the former excuses. Jean applied the ideas in a very simple hour-long method for getting a start on writing about yourself. She has used that same hour each day to do more with what she started. Me? I'm gonna do it! I said I am! Gosh!

***

We have a virtual mission devotional at the end of each day. At times others outside our mission join to share their expertise and life experience. People have compelling stories if asked. This week we were uplifted by JTM (James The Mormon). No music. He shared openly about his life. He's shared it elsewhere I'm told. He talked about his eventual turning and what brings joy. It edified because it was real and not self-promoting, but nonetheless solid. During the Q&A someone asked about him being a rapper. With an imperceptible grimace, as if anticipating the question, he turned his head downward. He answered, "That's just one very small part of me. It's something I like to do, but it's not who I am. It's like if you happen to like hiking and everybody introduces you as 'This is James, he's a hiker.'"

***

It was honestly refreshing to get out and do some "real" work this week 

when we got to help a young mother move.

Some of the great young elders and sisters.

We break in the office occasionally for a hand of Dalmuti.

You aren't playing it right without Jean's authentic king and peon accessories.

One of the useful bridges in Warsaw.