General Conference!

Hey everyone it's been a few weeks so today might be a bit of a 2 birds with 1 stone kind of thing. 

So it's been a whirlwind of a few weeks, there's been no certainty to anything really, apart from that General Conference was on the 4th-5th of April. What an experience that was by the way, but I'll talk about that later. 

So to start, I got a new companion. President gave me and Elder Posacki  a surprise call last saturday, told us that he would be leaving on tuesday, and that I'd get a new companion on monday and that I'd be finishing his training etc. So that happened, Elder Posacki packed and left and I had my new companion. I then found out on friday that that would all be changing. I was told I'd be moving cities and getting a new companion which was a big shock, and I'll be in the same city as my trainer lol. I had a really nice 6 days with Elder Hancock but the Lord has different plans for us both and we just need to put our faith and trust in Him that it'll work out for our good. 

So I'm moving tomorrow. I get a fresh start in a new city called Katowice which is exciting, also pretty nervy but I'll be alright because I've got God on my side, and as Paul said, if God is for us then who can be against us? 

So it's been a pretty busy week haha but that's just part of being a missionary during the Covid-19 pandemic. At least the journal entries are a bit more exciting though haha. In the midst of all the craziness, I let my companion cut my hair for a bit of fun, and I think the only one who enjoyed it was him because it looked like someone had tried to cut my hair with a lawn-mower, but it gave us a good laugh and I fixed it somewhat later on so it's cool. It's one for the mission memories. I'd include a photo but I want to save myself the embarrassment haha.

Moving on, Conference happened! It was amazing and inspiring and uplifting in so many ways. I was overwhelmed with feelings of gratitude to know that we have a Prophet who leads and guides us. Each time he spoke the spirit entered into my heart and it's just such a blessing to have a living Prophet. All of the messages were inspired and the weekend as a whole brought so much comfort and peace to my soul. I'm so so so so excited to go back and listen to all of the talks. It amazed me just how personal each message felt. I realised that what made it unforgettable for me was the preparation I put in, and the hunger that I had to feel God's love. 

After a few hard weeks I just wanted to feel again that God loves me, a question that each soul yearns to have an answer to. I wanted to know what Christ thinks of me, I wanted to know what role I can have in this restoration and how I can help. I was humbled in my preparations, and taken back to the very basics, with a child-like desire to be reassured and comforted that everything will be okay. My questions were answered in an abundance, and my heart was filled with love. Of course God loves me, He sent His Son to die for me. Christ thinks everything of me and of you, because He thought us worthy of His blood, and He suffered all things both body and spirit, so that we can have the opportunity to accept His sacrifice and be found worthy to dwell in God's presence once again. We all have a role in this restoration, we have the right and privilege to receive revelation, to 'Hear Him,' we have the opportunity to go to the temple, to perform ordinances and enter into covenants and receive blessings from our Heavenly Father. We can enjoy all of the many things that thousands and thousands of Saints gave their lives for. The restoration of the Gospel is a marvelous work and a wonder. "The marvelous work is the work of the Lord's Church in the latter days, and the wonder is that He invites all of us, in spite of our weaknesses, to participate." What a blessing it is to be a part of this work, and to live in a day where the Lord speaks to His people.

 I hope you all had a wonderful weekend and I hope you all have an amazing week.

Starszy Ashworth x

Poland is very cool.

This week has been really good, probably one of my best since I've been here. I've had a couple of tough weeks but this week I've really focused on being happy and trying to find joy no matter what my circumstance is. My mum sent me a really good quote from President Hinckley about happiness, about looking deeply and searching for the good in life, and that's what I've done, and it's helped me to realise that happiness is a mindset. Of course we're not going to be happy and bouncy and smiling every day, but we can always be grateful for something, and we can see all the good in life that God has blessed us with. It takes time too, but all things that are worth it require work and time and effort. If we want happiness we have to seek it, we cannot wait for it to show up, it has to be something that we look for.

 I've been making a lot of friends here in Łódź. I'm really growing a love for the people here. There are 2 people in my ward who I adore, they're both a bit older but I just love them so much! It's a funny thing really, but when Heavenly Father let's you catch a glimpse of what He sees it just changes everything, these people are children of God, we all are, and when we see people that way our love for them grows and grows. Łódź is my home now, it's a funny place, sometimes scary, sometimes I feel like I'm back in the 60s or whatever but I love it! 

We're still going to the handicapped school as well, I love going there and seeing the smiles on people's faces, they're usually quite happy to see us but I think I love it more than they do. We had zone conference this week too, it was really good and I'm glad I got to see all my mission friends, especially my boy Starszy Jensen. It was also tłusty czwartek which is fat Thursday and the whole nation just eats donuts haha. I only managed 5 but as a mission we ate a total 655 donuts. These things aren't small either.

 My Polish is alright as well, but all thanks goes to Heavenly Father. I've been having good conversations with people, and I can understand maybe about 50-60% of what people say lol. Still scares me but it's actually quite fun being new to something. 

To finish off, I wanted to share something from the scriptures that really touched my heart, and grew my love and adoration for the Saviour. It's in the book of St. John in the New Testament. It's after Christ's resurrection and He appears to Mary as a resurrected being. The account says,
"And when she had thus said, she turned herself back, and saw Jesus standing, and knew not that it was Jesus.

Jesus saith unto her, Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou? She, supposing him to be the gardener, saith unto him, Sir, if thou have borne him hence, tell me where thou hast laid him, and I will take him away.

Jesus saith unto her, Mary. She turned herself, and saith unto him, Rabboni; which is to say, Master."

I loved this account because of the way that the Saviour reaches out to Mary. He appears to her as a resurrected being after doing what no man had ever done before, or ever could do, and rather than introducing Himself as the Risen Lord, proclaiming Himself and His glory, He simply calls Mary by name. This is when the realisation hits, and she recognises that it's her Saviour that stands before her. She recognised the love in His voice, the care, the kindness, the compassion and His gentleness. He reached out in the most Christ-like way possible, by ministering to the one. The Saviour teaches us a lesson here on how we should reach out to others and how we should minister. We need to do it in the same loving, caring and individual way. Let people know that they matter, let them know that you love them, and know them and care for them.

In short, try to be more like your Saviour because He's the best.

Love you all and speak to you all soon.

Starszy Ashworth x 

The city of murals.

So Łódź is the city of murals and it's actually living up to that reputation. The murals are awesome and there are always people doing wall art, and it's not just kids doing graffiti, they get the scaffolding out and everything and they go to work. I'll add some pictures for you because I saw a few cool ones this week. 

Łódź is starting to feel like home now, it's a funny thing really, but I'm starting to love the place and the people. I've realised it doesn't all happen in a day, and I can feel my love growing for them each day. I've also realised that it all starts with a love of God though. If we love God it only makes sense that we'll love His children also, and as we Love God and develop our relationship with Him, we'll start to see His children through His eyes and through the eyes of our Saviour.

This week has been a blur, which is kind of becoming a common theme haha, all I remember is having an interview with the mission president, and also this one day where we did like 4-5 hours of contacting on the streets. We walked forever and I spoke to a loooootttttt of people and about only 2 stopped to speak to us, but I had so much fun, because I'm on the Lord's errand, and I know without a doubt that His angels are round about me lifting me and strengthening me and supporting me. 

Also my Polish is getting better which is always fun to see. I did my first street contact on my own, teaching the person about the restoration of the church and the prophet Joseph Smith. The guy kindly declined the message but I felt so good, and I made sure that I gave all the thanks to my Heavenly Father because you know, we have to stay humble. In all honesty though, we're promised in Doctrine and covenants as we open our mouths that we'll know what to say and the spirit will guide us, and I have felt that promise being fulfilled, it's the coolest thing ever. 

I have a little funny story today as well, at least it's funny for me anyway, also pretty scary though haha. So in like my second week, I was strolling down this street and I saw this really scary guy and he made eye contact with me but it felt like he was literally staring right into my soul, it gave me the chills. Then I turned around to get another look at the guy, and when I turned around he was walking backwards while still staring at me and it was terrifying. I turned around about another 5 times and everytime I did he was still staring at me. Fast forward to this week, I'm walking down the same street and at the same point on the street I look up and he's walking past me and staring right at me and it freaked me out, it gave me the shivers hahah. Honestly it hasn't left my mind, but at the same time it makes me laugh.

For the Come Follow Me study this week of Lehi's vision, I watched a video with good insights on the scriptures and it really opened my eyes to things that I hadn't noticed before. In the vision, the tree of life is a representation of the love of God, and how is the love of God made manifest? it's made manifest in His Beloved Son, Jesus Christ, and from and Elder Bednar talk we learn that the fruit is a symbol for the blessings of the atonement. That's why the fruit is so sweet and 'desirable above all other fruit.' And in the vision there are 2 groups of people who partake of the fruit. 1 group partake of the fruit and eventually fall away from the tree, and another group 'fell down and partook of the fruit of the tree.' Now remember how the Love of God is made manifest in His son Jesus Christ. These people aren't just falling down at a metaphorical tree, they are falling down at the feet of their Saviour in gratitude, awe and love. This brought whole new meaning to these verses for me. I know that God loves us, I know that He cares for us and wants for us to return to Him and enjoy all the many blessings He has in store for us. Just trust in Him, and love Him and all things will work out for your good.

Enjoy your weeks everyone!

Starszy Ashworth x

18 Words of the Saviour

This week has been another good week, I've laughed a lot and I've had so many things to be grateful for, so many reasons to smile and so many reasons to give thanks to god. I am so blessed to be a missionary, so blessed to have the Lord on my side and so blessed to have a knowledge of this gospel. The language has been coming along so good this week, I have a newfound desire to continue learning and expanding my ability to speak. It also helps having a brother who can speak Polish, it's such a cool opportunity to go to the places he went, and to walk where he walked and share those same experiences.

 I've been studying a lot recently about the restoration, reading about the importance of the Book of Mormon and how it can change lives. I have a testimony of that book and of its divinity, I know that there is power contained within its pages and I know that if anyone wants to draw nearer to God, then they can by reading the Book of Mormon and turning to God in prayer.

 The devotional this tuesday was amazing, it was given by Bishop Waddell of the presiding bishopric of the church. He spoke a lot about the Book of Mormon and its role in missionary work, and he also gave a really powerful message about the Saviour and his 18 words. The first 5 words were, "Here am I, send me." From the very beginning, the Saviour was prepared to be our Saviour and redeemer, to rescue mankind and to give us hope, to heal the broken hearted and help us on our way back home. Much like the Saviour I have accepted my call to serve, I have said 'here am I, send me' and the Lord is relying on me to do his work.

The next 7 words were, "not my will, but thine be done." In the greatest display of love ever shown, the Saviour submitted to will of the Father and partook of the bitter cup. He took upon himself the sins and the sufferings of all those who had lived, those who were living and those who would live, that they would never have to bare lifes burdens alone. He completed the atonement which is infinite and individual, and helps us to overcome all of lifes challenges and sorrows.

The next 3 words were, "It is finished." The Saviour finished His work on earth, He claimed victory over the grave and completed the atonement on the cross. I'm doing this for him, he never gave up on me, so I can't give up on him. He finished his course for me, so I'll finish mine for him.

The last 3 words were, "He is Risen." Christ lives, and I share with you my testimony that I know this is true. I know that my redeemer lives, he lives and he loves us. He loved us to the end, and he loves us still. He is our advocate with the father, he pleads for our cause, and he will never let us walk alone. I love Him and will stand as a witness of Him in everything that I do, because I am not ashamed to be His disciple, I am not afraid to stand for what is right.

Have a great week everyone.

Speak soon.

Starszy Ashworth x