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 

An okay week.

This week was an okay week. Missionary life is busy, sometimes repetitive, actually mostly repetitive but I wouldnt want to be anywhere else. Some days have been tough this week, it feels like you're pushed to your limits but I'm always reminded of the love that my Heavenly Father has for me. No matter what he's there, He hears the silent pleadings of our hearts and He helps us in our quest to become more like Him.

We visited the handicapped school again which was really fun, always boosts the spirits and helps me to see all the things I should be grateful for. We also had one of those cool missionary things happen where someone just rocks up to the chapel and asks to be taught. It finally happened to me lol. Good times. Only a short one but speak to you all soon. Peace

I bought some T90's!

So for those of you don't know what T90s are, they are some of the most legendary football boots ever and I found a brand new pair for about 20 quid haha. So when I actually get the chance to play football I'm gonna be like Rooney, Henry and Bergkamp mixed into 1 player. That also probably made no sense to most who will read this hahaha, but basically I'm just really excited that I found my favourite football boots ever. Oh, they were also the only pair left and they were in my size. Happy days.

For the week, I've been busy, it's been the usual contacting and meeting with people and all that good missionary stuff. 

On Thursday, a Babcia from the ward came and made us some Polish food at the chapel for FHE and it was amazing. It was basically a cornish pasty (if you don't know what that is then look it up) and then she made some barszcz for us which is beetroot soup and I actually loved it which I never thought I'd say haha.

Also, last week for the first time in forever I did leg day and I have been regretting it now for 4 days and counting haha. I've literally been struggling to stand up and walk about haha and I can hear my dad saying, 'get on with it you wuss,' hahah. That makes my dad sound really mean but he's not, he's the best and coolest dad ever.

So for personal study this week I've been mixing it up with Plan of Salvation study, the Restoration study and then reading all of the scriptures from the topical guide about the Saviour and it's been really good, and so many times this week I've been reminded of the mercy of our Heavenly Father in providing for us a Saviour who came to Earth to rescue us, to literally save our souls and allow us to one day enter into the rest of our God. There's a quote from Elder Jeffrey R Holland that I just love and it says,

"That first Easter sequence of Atonement and Resurrection constitutes the most consequential moment, the most generous gift, the most excruciating pain, and the most majestic manifestation of pure love ever to be demonstrated in the history of the world. Jesus Christ, the Only Begotten Son of God, suffered, died, and rose from death in order that He could, like lightning in a summer storm, grasp us as we fall, hold us with His might, and through our obedience to His commandments, lift us to eternal life." 

It's so powerful and so true! 

I'd love to hear from you all! I hope you all have lovely weeks.

Starszy Ashworth x 

I Got Called Fat!

Cześć wszystkim!

This week has flown by again haha, I don't know where the time is going. I've finished my first transfer which is crazy to think. It's been a very busy week, we've had so much to do but it's been nice to have a busy schedule haha. Our investigator/friend, not sure what the technical term is haha, is sooooo cool! We had another meeting this week with him and he brought 2 friends with him which is the best. It was funny because his two friends didn't actually know eachother, he just brought them both along with him and they got to know eachother at the meeting haha. It was fun though, it's nice to have some friends finally that we can meet with and hopefully we can share with them the glad message of the restored gospel.

We do service at a handicapped school and it's my favourite part of the week. They are all so happy and when I'm with them I can feel the light and the love of Christ in abundance. They take joy in the simple things, and it's so inspiring for me. They don't have much, they're held back by the limitations of their minds and their bodies but they are so full of love and happiness.

I guess my only funny story from this week is that I got called fat hahahah, I made the mistake of showing a lady my pictures of my family before the mission and she looked at me, and in english said, 'you are more fat now.' You love to see it haha.

There's a really good talk by Jeffrey R Holland called how do I love thee? It was given at BYU and it made me really think. As I thought about my Saviour I asked, 'how do I love thee?'
The answer is how did Christ love me? We can show our love for our Saviour, our Heavenly Father and all of His children by loving the way Christ loved. While we'll never have to bleed from every pore, and suffer on the cross, we can still give of our time and our efforts and our love to others. We can still be kind, patient, gentle and compassionate in the way He was. We learn in Acts that He simply went about doing good. Christ is the perfect example in all things, and so if we're ever wondering how we can better love others, how we can better serve others, if we're ever wondering 'how do I love thee?' just remember 'how did He love me?'

"Verily I say unto you, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me."

Have a blessed week everyone!

Starszy Ashworth x   

'On jest Polakiem? NAPRAWDĘĘĘĘĘĘĘ?'

This week was a mixed week. It was tough emotionally, I really struggled with the language and it was just a tough week, but at the same time we finally started to make some progress. We got our first investigator which is so good, it's been such a blessing and I can see how the Lord is blessing me day by day. I've been reminded again and again that this is the Lord's work and He is at the helm, and we need only look toward Him and He will guide our paths and help us to do the things He needs us to do. I've felt the power of the atonement in my life, it's carried me through the hard days and I really have been 'finding strength beyond my own. 

As I said, we finally have someone that we are teaching and he's the best. He's such a nice guy and he's open to learning more, and more importantly he's our friend. It makes all the hard days worth it when you find someone like him, and I can't wait to see his progression. 

Something else really cool is that I bought a 1970 press of the Let It Be album by the Beatles, and I love the Beatles so much, so that was a highlight. Then we had zone conference, it was a good day but I've got awful blisters on my heels so the walk back from the train station to our apartment was a painful one haha. 

Funny story from this week is we keep bumping into this one guy on the streets, it's happened 3 times now and he speaks to us for like 30 mins haha. Anyway, we have a service missionary here in Łódż called Starszy Kapela, and he also served with my Brother as a full time missionary which is a fun little fact. We were out street contacting and we stopped this guy and he asked where we were from, I said England, my comp says America and then Elder Kapela says that he's a Pole. The guy stopped for a second, looked at us and then said, 'On jest Polakiem? NAPRAWDĘĘĘĘĘ?' which means like this guy's a Pole? really? but it was so funny because Elder Kapela is as Polish as it gets and He just stood there in disbelief like are you kidding me. I've realised it doesn't do it justice over email but it's been something that's made us laugh all week haha.

This week I've marvelled again at the Saviour's love for me and for all of you. I read in Romans 5 that 'Jesus died for the ungodly.' He died for me and He died for you. The Son of God came to a fallen world, to save a fallen people. He thought me, a sinner, worthy of His blood and I will always be grateful for this. It's hard to sometimes understand, and while I'll never fully comprehend and understand it, I'll always be grateful for it and I'll always love it. Nothing is more important than our relationship with our Saviour. I've said it before but it's because it's true and I want you all to know how much He loves you.

I hope you all have an amazing week, speak 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

I'm a missionary (still doesn't feel real).

So this week I was on exchanges, which means I went to a new city and had a new companion for a couple of days. We were walking around and it hit me again that I was a missionary and I looked at my companion and I was like woah I'm a missionary. 

I still sometimes can't believe it, my whole life I've been waiting to serve a mission, the missionaries were like superheroes to me, and now I'm here living in Poland, fulfilling my dreams and it's the coolest thing ever. I get to share with people the message of the restored gospel, a message that can and WILL change lives. 

It's a message that brings hope, peace and comfort to the soul. Without the gospel and without my testimony of it, I wouldn't be able to have hope in the fact that I'll be with my grandad Brian again, but because of the message of the restored gospel, and through the Holy Ghost, I know that I'll see my grandad again and that I can live with all my family throughout the eternities. This is just one example of how the gospel has blessed my life and the comfort that it brings. 

There are countless examples and I see it each day and I am so so grateful for it. But, back to exchanges. I was with one of the zone leaders called Elder Long and the guy was a machine. I learned so much from him. We spoke to a ton of people and We did a street display which was fun. I spoke to like 50 people and about 2 people stopped to talk but that's just the life of a missionary here in Poland haha. It's fun though, as I've mentioned before, I know that the Saviour is there with us, He promised us that He always will be, and He doesn't break his promises. 

I read a really good talk earlier this week by Jeffrey R Holland called songs sung and unsung, and there was a quote in there that really touched my heart and it says, 

"But I plead with each one of us to stay permanently and faithfully in the choir, where we will be able to savour forever that most precious anthem of all - 'the song of redeeming love.'" We all have moments where we feel like there is no place for us in the 'choir', where we feel that we're just not quite good enough but I know with all my heart that this is not the case. A kind, loving Heavenly Father knows our hearts and He knows our desires. He blesses us for wanting to do good, He blesses us for wanting to improve. We are exactly what our Heavenly Father wants us to be, and with His help He can help mould us into what He knows we can become. 

One thing I've learned from my short time on my mission is that because of the Saviour Jesus Christ and His infinite atonement, divine love and compassion are never far away, and a loving Heavenly Father is always close by. Just keep going, and do your best, because that's all that our Heavenly Father asks for. 

Speak soon everyone and have a great week!

Starszy Ashworth x