Don't worry, Siostra Johnston has taught me how to properly pack one, so we're good!
Ah, it's that time again! My boss companion Siostra Johnston is going to be training a new missionary in Katowice and I am now serving in Warsaw II with Siostra Larcade! I'm so happy we're back together again! I can just tell that this transfer is going to be amazing, I know that this is where I'm supposed to be, thanks for all you do!Tuesday, December 29, 2015
Monday, December 21, 2015
Wesołych Świąt!!
That's Merry Christmas in Polish! How are you all?? Sorry for the delay, we are emailing late this time because we went to Oświęcim (Auschwitz) today.
This week has been so amazing!! From Monday to Wednesday, I went on exchanges to Wrocław to be with Siostra Pauga who is from Australia. She is so much fun! We went to a school in Legnica and sang Christmas songs to a few classes, they were so cute! The students were singing along with us and everything! Afterwards they thanked us and even gave the missionaries cards and ornaments! We then went to go see Hania and sang to her as well. On my second to last night, we went to go take some milk to a member who hasn't been able to make it to church and she was so grateful, Ela (she is a talented seamstress) even introduced us to her husband Tadeusz, and he showed us his library. He even took a book and promised to read it through! Despite the fact that we were almost struck by a car on two occasions, I'd consider it a great exchange!
On Thursday, we got to go introduce ourselves and sing Silent Night in Polish, English and other languages. It was great!
I hope you all have a wonderful Christmas! You are all so awesome!!
Siostra Herrera
Monday, December 14, 2015
Merry Christmas!!
Hey everyone, unfortunately we are very short on time today, so I just wanted to wish you all a wonderful holiday. Don't forget to share "A Savior is Born" with your friends! https://www.mormon.org/christmas
Let me know if any of you want to Skype so I can fit you in! :D
You're all great! Wesołych Świąt!
Siostra Herrera
Tuesday, December 8, 2015
Cześć, wam!!
Hey everyone! I'm sorry I've been dropping the ball these past couple of weeks, but I have plenty to make up for it!
What a beautiful week this has been, we were able to see Priscilla and Mickey after not being able to meet with them for a week, and we dropped of our Secret Santa! This year President said he wanted us to have a gift to give that would go to someone who is not a missionary, so missionaries bought or made gifts for other missionaries to give to someone they were teaching or someone in need. I hope that makes sense! Our gift was a bank shaped like a house, but instead of putting money inside, the person could write what they were grateful for on a slip of paper and stick it in the house, so when they opened it on Christmas, it would be a house full of gratitude! Neat, huh? Priscilla and Mickey were so happy to receive this gift, and we were later able to see them at our movie/FHE night (yesterday). We watched The Work and the Glory.
We taught plenty of lessons this week to Anna and Krystyna, I can feel that my Polish is getting better, all I have to do is be brave! Yesterday in particular was a miracle, because I am normally nervous to do free tables, but where we were, there was a giant Christmas tree with beautiful blue and white lights with a star at the top, I thought of the new Christmas video from the Church, and I realized that in this world of beauty, there is no room to fear or feel discouraged if we want to be better. Only the Lord knows our potential, and He will always help us realize it. I made a commitment to Him yesterday that I would do my best to be brave and always pray to Him. As a result, I was able to teach three lessons during the free table and give a book to Konrad. He had a lot of questions and seemed very sincere. I know now that if I want to keep this Spirit, I must keep walking and never look back on my past mistakes.
My goal for the rest of my mission is to always have something to be grateful for, Thanks for all you do!!
Look! I'm on TV!
Siostra Herrera
Monday, December 7, 2015
P-day on Tuesday
Hey everyone! I just wanted to let you know that our district will be going to Częstochowa tomorrow, so our p-day has been switched. You are all so great, I love you!
Siostra HerreraMonday, November 23, 2015
Thanksgiving!
Hey everyone! Siostra Johnston and I have been hitting it hard with contacting and free-tables and have seen many miracles! We were able to teach several lessons and gave out books!
This week were are working on having Priscilla pray about a baptismal date, I love her!
We are also planning out for two Thanksgiving dinners, one for the branch and one for our district, for our culture night we were able to see Disney on Ice! We have a limited amount of time today, so I will post pictures next week! Sorry!! In other news, we are probably getting snow on Thursday!
I love you all so much and am grateful for you letters! Thank-you!
Scripture to ponderize for this week is: Helaman 5:41
Love you!!
Siostra Herrera
Monday, November 9, 2015
Autumn
Hey everyone!
How are you all doing?? This last week, Siostra Johnston and I went to Warsaw so she could do MLC (Sorry, I can't remember what that stands for, but it's for leaders in the mission), and I got to be in a trio with my former companions Siostra Benson and Sloan! Did I tell you that Sisters Sloan and Larcade were MTC companions with Siostra Gustafson and I? They are so great!
We ended up going to English class with Elders Wynne and Torres(he said that he'll get me a mole recipe one day!) and afterwards went to the Rynek to go contacting, we had some interesting lessons. We had another nice lesson with Priscilla and Mickey on Thursday and then went to go see Anna who is a recent convert. On Saturday, we had Sobota Sportowe (Sports Saturday) and the Elders had invited their investigator, Marek for some ultimate Frisbee, I didn't end up playing because I was sick, so I went solo contacting while keeping watch over peoples' stuff. We had a great turnout for church and President Urban even ended up inviting two of his family members to take lessons from the Elders starting on Wednesday.
One of my favourite members is Kumo who is here with her mother from South Africa, she is really sweet and always comes out to white boards and free tables with us. She is trying really hard to learn Polish, so I will talk to my companion to see if we can help her more.
My scripture to ponderize for this week is Moroni 10:20
"Wherefore, there must be faith; and if there must be faith there must also be hope; and if there must be hope there must also be charity."
Love you all!
Siostra Herrrera
Monday, November 2, 2015
Welcome to District 12
Hey everyone! So sorry for the delay, I want to let you all know that I've been transferred with Siostra Johnston to Katowice! I really love the feel of this city, it is so alive!
My new companion comes from a family with 6 other siblings and she is the second oldest in her family. She hails from Texas! We have a lot of fun comparing cultures and interesting facts about our home states. Siostra Johnston told me about 'mums which is short for chrysanthemums that girls wear on the fronts of their dresses for Prom. If you want to have a good time, look on Pinterest for some examples (czyli "Texas 'mums")!
This week in Katowice, we were able to teach Priscilla whose boyfriend Mickey is a member of the Church. She is very sweet and already has a strong testimony of the Gospel! The Elders also had a baptism for Matheusz, and he was baptised in a lake! It was freezing but beautiful!
Yesterday was All Saints' Day, it doesn't really bear resemblance to Halloween, but people in Poland go to the cemetery to clean their ancestors' graves and put lamps on them. My camera is broken from when we went to Zakopane, so I will need to get pictures from my companion! Before we went out with our district to see the cemetery, we got a few trick-or-treaters, the first was the cutest little girl in a witch costume, she was so sweet asking for candy!
One thing that I'm not sure I've mentioned yet is that there is an older film floating around Poland that is about the Amish, and the translators mixed up the words for Amish and Mormon, so now many Poles think we are Amish until we show them our phones and tell them that we actually use electricity. Could be worse, I suppose!
Poland truly is a place of miracles, even though we aren't getting 5 baptismal dates a week, I feel joy hearing about the success of others in the mission, knowing that it's becoming a better place one baptism at a time. :) The people we talk to everyday see our tags and are beginning to see the Savior's love at work. I love my mission.
Wzystkiego dobrego!
Siostra Herrera
Monday, October 19, 2015
Puddle Parkour
Hey y'all! Or for you Polish speakers, cześć wam!!
We may have a new investigator, her name is Małgorzata and she has three kids! This Saturday, we also got to go to a concert at Święty Mikołaj (Saint Nicholas), but guess who invited us? The guy who played Jesus in the Testaments! That's right! I got to meet "Jesus"! His name is Thomas and he is Danish. After the concert, he greeted each of us and shook our hands and when he came to me, he appeared shocked! He asked where he knew me from and I said I didn't know, so he asked if I was on the set of the Testaments and I replied no that I had watched it before I was baptized. I was pleasantly surprised! Thomas then said that we must have met in the Pre-Earth life! He really is the embodiment of Christ! Cheerio!
Siostra Herrera
Monday, October 12, 2015
General Conference was a blast!
Hey everyone! Sorry for the delay, I was using an i-pad to email last week and couldn't figure out how to access the list for you all.
I love General Conference! One of my favourite talks was "That They Do Always Remember Him". I love the opportunity to repent each day and be worthy to partake of the Sacrament each week. Life is hard, but we always have the Savior walking with us every step of the way. I know that Jesus Christ is not only our Savior and Redeemer, He is our Brother. He loves us so much, even if we have the tendency to turn away from Him. I had only a vague idea of who Jesus Christ really was before the missionaries taught me about Him and the great Plan of Happiness. I know that He lives and that He didn't begin His suffering for us on the cross. He didn't just die there either. He began His suffering in the Garden of Gethsemane, suffered the trials of judges and the cross, He died and was ressurected after three days. He ministered to both the people of Jerusalem and those living in the Americas, the Nephites. He created the world and everything in it, and He presented Himself as G-d's chosen son to carry out His work for our salvation. Our part is to have faith in Him and commit to keep His commandments. We need to pray for the guidance of the Holy Ghost and then act on those promptings. Prayer is how we talk to our Heavenly Father and the Scriptures is how He speaks to us. The Book of Mormon is the word of G-d and has helped me to better understand my purpose, pull through trials of faith, and know what I can do to be a better sister, daughter and person. I has made my prayers mor meaningful. I love the Book of Mormon! Please take some time to read this wonderful book! It will change your life!Monday, September 21, 2015
Rowery, Deuxième Partie
Last week, we got to hear from Elder Patrick Kearon. I love him! We talked about the Repentance Train:
-It's a place that is warm, away from the cold outside worldMonday, September 14, 2015
Primary
We don't have much time today, but I wanted to let you know that everything's great and that I love you! Siostra Bąk and I get along really well and on Sundays I get to teach Primary! These childeren are my sunshines! Yesterday, we learned about using our talents. Earlier, Brat Tim and Łukasz were demonstrating technique with Brat Tim's violin (I wish I could have played too, but my nails are too long), and we got to tie that into our lesson. We talked about different talents that we all had and how even if we have the same talent, we use it differently. How Heavenly Father blesses us even when we make mistakes!
It was so easy for the kids to understand, and so exciting to learn about with them. It really struck me and even this morning I was thinking about it as I got ready for the day. Jesus Christ has forgiven me of every thing I had repented of. He has literally helped me be born again. Multiple times. If that isn't a reason to smile and talk to everyone I see, I don't know what is! Our guilt, burdens, and pains can literally be taken away! No matter how far you have fallen, it is impossible to be somewhere where His light and hope can't rescue you! He is G-d.
I am just so grateful for His light and love in my life. I say this often, but every day I think about how magical and beautiful my life is. I know it's this way only because I have chosen to give up the things I thought I wanted for the things He knew I wanted. Its scary to let go of what we cherish, but who better to trust than someone who knows our hearts perfectly? He knows what we truly want, what truly is buried in there, so far that we don't realize that part of our heart exists.
I am just so grateful for my Heavenly Father and His perfect plan! His plan to send me here on earth and experience the life that comes with it!
I love you all so much! Please learn of Him!
Siostra Herrera
Monday, September 7, 2015
Stick it to the Man!
What a great week! Now, sometimes as the missionary, we follow promptings of the spirit and work together to understand what we will really teach when won't be according to plan. Then other times, because of our own stubbornness, He just sends us a big huge brain confusion. I think He does that so we won't mess up the lesson when it really matters. It's happened to me a couple of times on my mission, and it's hilarious when it does. It's a nice reminder of the need to be truly humble and understand that G-d knows His children and their needs. I am just a little instrument, a little tool that God uses to serve his children.
People give us missionaries too much credit. We don't do hardly anything, the Spirit is the one who truly teaches these people. But I am grateful to be along for the ride!
Other than that, this week has been a wonderful one. We like to grab Kiełbasa or other delicious Polish food at the Biedronka for dinner every now and then. Don't worry, I weighed myself the other day and have yet to gain weight. You are blessed in many ways as a missionary, one being G-d letting you enjoy your Polish sweets consequence free!
I am so grateful for this work and for my mission. God truly knows me perfectly, because he sent me to this mission, right now. There have been challenges, people, and things that have taught me so personally, it is phenomenal. I can't even begin to describe how much I love Poland. I love these people so much. I don't want to leave them, I want to stay here and keep serving them because they deserve it! These people deserve the best, they are choice sons and daughters of G-d!
I am really excited for Mission conference! Before my mission, I didn't understand the purpose of spending so much money to have people meet up for these training meetings. But now I realize that I depend on them to rejuvenate and refresh me. Missionary work is tiring, but these meetings let the spirit enter my heart, and give me that extra power and push to move this work forward.
I love you all at home so much! I am so grateful for the support that comes constantly. The letters that just pop up in the mail box on a hard day, or the Emails from friends I haven't heard from in a while. It just really means a lot, more than I can express, to know that there are people who love me. I think everyone could use a little more love, actually I know they do.
Love you!!
Siostra Herrera
Monday, August 31, 2015
Cierpliwość, Siostra Herrera, Cierpliwość
I have come to understand who Christ is and what He's done for us so much more than before, and I know that knowledge will just keep growing. I think my new favorite word in Polish (right up there with samochód (car) and dziobak (platypus) is zadośćuczynienie. That's how we say the Atonement po polsku.I just can't believe it. And yet I know it's true. I know that Christ paid the price for our sins and He understands us so perfectly and so completely and so wholly. When I ponder about what He has done, I just feel so humbled and kind of like a small grain of sand on the California coast. I know that without our Savior Jesus Christ, we are nothing. And yet to Him, we are everything. He knows us and understands us. We have one person in this whole entire world who looks at us and sees who we really are and who we are to become. He knows me and because of that infinite knowledge He has of who I am, He has an infinite love for me. That's one reason why it's so important for us to love others if we wish to share the Gospel. When we really spend the time to understand and know our fellow brothers and sisters on this earth, we can't help but love them. When we learn to really and truly love them, we can't help but want them to see the happiness that comes only through knowledge of our Savior Jesus Christ and who He really is. He's not just a prophet, He is our redeemer. He hasn't just taught us the way to live, He hasn't even just shown us how to live, because of Him we do live. I am so grateful for Him and if I gain nothing else out of the entire months I immerse myself in this service, the testimony and understanding of Christ that I've been able to grow will be sufficient.
Siostra Bąk and I taught a lesson to Tim and Agata's family and really interacted with their son. Since Tim is a violinist, we thought it would be appropriate to share the General Conference talk, "The Music of the Gospel". https://www.lds.org/general-conference/2015/04/the-music-of-the-gospel?lang=eng
I love what it says here:
"We can invite our children to sing along with us in unison as we practice kindness toward a neighbor who is in need.
It won't come all at once. As every accomplished musician knows, it takes diligent practice to perform beautiful music. If early efforts at making music seem dissonant and discordant, remember that dissonance cannot be corrected by criticism. Dissonance in the home is like darkness in a room. It does little good to scold the darkness. We must displace the darkness by introducing light.
So if the basses in your family choir are too loud and overbearing, or if the string section in your family orchestra is a little too shrill or a little bit sharp, or if those impetuous piccolos are out of tune or out of control, be patient. If you're not hearing the music of the gospel in your home, please remember these two words: keep practicing. With God's help, the day will come when the music of the gospel will fill your home with unspeakable joy."
I think this applies to missionary work in that we need to have patience (cierpliwość) to work with our companions, our districts and the people we're teaching. It's the good times we remember when we're on our missions and how hard we worked to bring others that same joy. That joy is what I've felt whenever I've walked into an LDS home. It doesn't matter if the house is spotless, if there are children or pets running around, the Spirit is the same. It's love. This is one of the many things I'm learning on my mission. I love it! I love you all!
'till next week,
Siostra Herrera
Tuesday, August 25, 2015
Pictures, sorry I forgot!
1. Siostra Holden is going to my first area, Łódź! Yeah! Best city in the world!
2. Ah, Elder Mulder, we were both born in Łódź, and he is now going to KielceLetter from the Stuckis
Can someone tell the Stuckis that I got their letter and thanks so much? I forgot to write down their email in my planner! I am sending a letter to them!
4th Transfer in Wonderland
Dzień dobry, Rodzina!! Jak się macie? I am happy to report that I am staying in Kraków and Siostra Bąk is my new companion. She is in her last transfer (in missionary terms, this means I get to "kill" her), I just love her spirit. Exciting, no?
Also, my MTC companions, Siostry Sloan i Larcade have made it to Poland! Our entire district is here now! Words cannot express the joy I feel of having our district whole again. I know that each one of us has a refiner's fire. These last six months have been mine, but I am so glad for it! I know that our trials are meant to build us, and that Heavenly Father knows best. Always! I know if we just pull through our trials, hard transfers, addictions, strained relationships, distractions, whatever they may be, Heavenly Father will bless us tenfold. I have seen this miracle for myself. I have made sacrifices, and I know that I can do hard things. We can to hard things. He who has suffered for us all knows our hearts. My trials have built not bitterness in my heart, but love. I have love and a desire to be the person G-d wants me to be. I don't fully know who she is yet, but she is a better person than I can ever hope to be, and that is only possible though our brother, Jesus Christ. I love my mission!
I love you!!
Do widzenia!
Siostra Herrera
Monday, August 17, 2015
Re: Transfer calls next week!
I almost forgot! If I move cities, I will email on Tuesday.
On Mon, Aug 17, 2015 at 3:38 PM, Cindy Herrera <cindy.herrera@myldsmail.net> wrote:
I have seen how much my heart has been given to God. I just feel it, I feel a yearning and a desire to do what He wants me to do. Before my mission, I was maybe slightly influenced, consciously, by what my Father in Heaven wanted me to do with my life. Though He may have been unknowingly guiding me, I still felt like it was my life, my decisions.
Well that has changed in me a lot as I don't want my life to be for me anymore. I really want my life to be for Him, for my G-d. I have found so much peace and happiness as I have put my wants second and His wants first. I mean, just so much peace! Sorry, there is a fly flying around and bothering me. Okay, yes, peace.
I don't think I really understood what it meant to consecrate my life, to really be a member of the Church. In a way, I made some of my covenants sort of innocently, unknowingly. I mean, I had a knowledge when I made them, but now I understand them more completely. And I have really come to learn that those covenants mean so much more than I ever thought. Those covenants mean everything. God means everything to me now.
I just want to live my life so that I can continue to be His tool, so that I can continue to let Him work through me no matter what that call may be. I just know that if I do that, then I will become a better person than I ever expected, and I will do more good than I could ever know. So I think that is the biggest change I have seen inside myself. My desire to continue to do His will the rest of my life. And the ability to recognize and follow that will.
Another thing I have learned is that that will is different for everyone. Yes, some things are the same for all of us. Christ has laid that out clearly to us in His Gospel. But all of the details are individual, the Gospel is for everyone individually. I have learned so much about that. We are individuals with individual talents and strengths.
I think also, this sense of consecration and this strengthening with my Father in Heaven has caused me to also chill out. I just feel less stressed. I have really learned that the things which I don't need to control, I don't need to control! I can just trust in G-d. The only choice I need to make, is to trust Him. I can feel it in my heart, too, when I am trusting Him. There is always a very prevalent peace that comes when my heart is trusting Him. Some days I do better than others, but that is okay, because improvement is a part of this Gospel.
I just feel like my eyes have been even more opened, and I know they will continue to be for the rest of my life. It's just so cool, though. My mission has cultivated within me a yearning to learn more, to search for truth and to understand my Father and the things of God better. I really feel like the path in front of me is as long as ever, but I can see it clearer now. Maybe not the details clearer, but the direction of the path is clearer. I have no idea what the future holds, but I have learned how to handle the fact that I have a future.
Man, missions are the best. The Gospel is great. I love being a missionary. I love sharing this happiness with others, no matter what form that may be. I love it, I love all of it! And I know that that love comes from God because all that is good comes from God. All that is not good, God allows to happen, yes. He allows it to happen. But if we learn of Him and of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then we can also learn why he allows it to happen. We just have to search and ask and pray and search some more!
Well, I love you all. Keep smiling and keep praying. Praying helps you keep smiling. I have a definite testimony of that!
Transfer calls next week!
I have seen how much my heart has been given to God. I just feel it, I feel a yearning and a desire to do what He wants me to do. Before my mission, I was maybe slightly influenced, consciously, by what my Father in Heaven wanted me to do with my life. Though He may have been unknowingly guiding me, I still felt like it was my life, my decisions.
Well that has changed in me a lot as I don't want my life to be for me anymore. I really want my life to be for Him, for my G-d. I have found so much peace and happiness as I have put my wants second and His wants first. I mean, just so much peace! Sorry, there is a fly flying around and bothering me. Okay, yes, peace.
I don't think I really understood what it meant to consecrate my life, to really be a member of the Church. In a way, I made some of my covenants sort of innocently, unknowingly. I mean, I had a knowledge when I made them, but now I understand them more completely. And I have really come to learn that those covenants mean so much more than I ever thought. Those covenants mean everything. God means everything to me now.
I just want to live my life so that I can continue to be His tool, so that I can continue to let Him work through me no matter what that call may be. I just know that if I do that, then I will become a better person than I ever expected, and I will do more good than I could ever know. So I think that is the biggest change I have seen inside myself. My desire to continue to do His will the rest of my life. And the ability to recognize and follow that will.
Another thing I have learned is that that will is different for everyone. Yes, some things are the same for all of us. Christ has laid that out clearly to us in His Gospel. But all of the details are individual, the Gospel is for everyone individually. I have learned so much about that. We are individuals with individual talents and strengths.
I think also, this sense of consecration and this strengthening with my Father in Heaven has caused me to also chill out. I just feel less stressed. I have really learned that the things which I don't need to control, I don't need to control! I can just trust in G-d. The only choice I need to make, is to trust Him. I can feel it in my heart, too, when I am trusting Him. There is always a very prevalent peace that comes when my heart is trusting Him. Some days I do better than others, but that is okay, because improvement is a part of this Gospel.
I just feel like my eyes have been even more opened, and I know they will continue to be for the rest of my life. It's just so cool, though. My mission has cultivated within me a yearning to learn more, to search for truth and to understand my Father and the things of God better. I really feel like the path in front of me is as long as ever, but I can see it clearer now. Maybe not the details clearer, but the direction of the path is clearer. I have no idea what the future holds, but I have learned how to handle the fact that I have a future.
Man, missions are the best. The Gospel is great. I love being a missionary. I love sharing this happiness with others, no matter what form that may be. I love it, I love all of it! And I know that that love comes from God because all that is good comes from God. All that is not good, God allows to happen, yes. He allows it to happen. But if we learn of Him and of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, then we can also learn why he allows it to happen. We just have to search and ask and pray and search some more!
Well, I love you all. Keep smiling and keep praying. Praying helps you keep smiling. I have a definite testimony of that!
Monday, August 10, 2015
Guess who learned how to ride a bike...
in a pencil skirt and on cobblestone! That is what our district did for Culture Night, today, we went to Zakopane, Tatra National Park and crossed the border into Slovakia! Don't worry, we had permission!
We do service every week at a Catholic soup kitchen and it is really awesome! Monday, August 3, 2015
"Nie bój się, tylko wierz!"
Hey everyone!
What a great week it's been! We have been able to teach 3 less-active lessons this week, and one of our recent converts, Sylwia brought her mother to Open House and she helped us teach her mother about the Plan of Salvation. We were missing the Daltons this week because they went to the YSA conference in Romania, but it sounds like everyone who went had a great time and made new friends! We are currently working with President Kucia and Brat Tudor-Hart on working better with our members, I am so grateful for the dedication that the Kraków branch has, the Open House was a success!Siostra Herrera
Monday, July 27, 2015
Ogrodzienieć
Title means green castle, it was very pretty and we played capture the flag. We only have 10 minutes, so sorry!
Monday, July 20, 2015
Oświęcim
I have been learning a lot about patience as a missionary. The fact is that, I am not in control of anything. Through studying the plan of salvation, so many aspects of missionary work just make sense. When we understand why we are here, we understand why things are hard, why things aren't happening, why we need to do certain things. We know what blessings are, we know what trials are, and we know who we are. I think about how great The Book of Mormon is, how great the hope we gain from a knowledge of latter day prophets, but the single most important doctrine for people to learn about from us is why we are here.
The plan of salvation is not just a piece of what we believe, the plan of salvation is what we believe. I am so grateful for the peace and hope I have from learning about it, and that peace and hope is why I am not discouraged one bit that things aren't happening on my time scale. This life is much more than me.
So the other day it was raining and it was just absolutely gorgeous. There are just some times where I am here and think about how I am totally living a fairytale. But I know it's not because I am living in Poland. It's not just because I am far away from home doing things I would have never imagined. My life is a fairytale because of the Gospel. I know what choices are the right choices to make, and because I make those choices, my life is blessed. When we do the right things, our lives will be fairy tales. This Gospel is the path to happiness. If you don't know that yet, find out. If you do know that, then tell someone else. I don't know why in the world we are so afraid to spread happiness!
I love you all. All of the emails, letters, love from my friends and family back home do more than any of you could know. I read and treasure each one. They get me through some tough times. I am so grateful for all of you. Stay beautiful. I love you all so much.
G-d loves us. We are his children. I know it. I want everyone else to know it. It is such a happy day when someone learns who they are.
Bardzo kocham was!!
Siostra Herrera
Monday, July 6, 2015
Kraków- The City of Dragons
This week was a great week, just like the rest. It is hard to not have a great week out here in Kraków. It is possible to have a hard day, maybe a hard two days, but it seems that every week ends up great! Of course I learned from an African man at a bus stop that the secret to being happy and having a great week, is hope. He said that the African people carry a hope in their heart for tomorrow. They believe that tomorrow can be better and so with that hope, they are able to be happy today. We are meeting with him soon, he was super cool!
So look at the world news, now back at me, now back at the news, now back at me. Ah, you must think that the world is a pretty rough place. Full of zły (evil) people who just want to tear each other apart. Well let me tell ya something, turn off the television and step outside! Why am I beginning on such a random tangent? The other day we looked down the street and saw the tramwaj (streetcar) coming. We put our legs in high gear and started booking it like usual. We made the tramwaj with enough time to hold the door open for a cute little old lady. Then we started moving forward.
All of a sudden we hear a ton of honking. I sort of ignore it, but Sister Holden looks over and taps me on the shoulder. We see a man with his window rolled down beckoning at us. The tramwaj stops at the next przystanek(stop) and we step outside as he hands me my wallet out his window. This man saw my wallet fall out of my bag, got out of his car, picked it up, hopped back in his car, and followed us to give it back to me. That wallet had all of my MSF fund, my karte pobytu, and all of my credit cards. I learned two things, not to keep my wallet in that pocket anymore. But the more important thing I learned is that a simple act of kindness can inspire multitudes of people. We got back on the tramwaj and all of a sudden EVERYONE wanted to talk to us. Everyone started talking about how nice that was of that man, and how people like that really are still out there today. This man got a tramwaj full of Europeans talking to each other about a Gospel principle. To echo the words of Joseph B. Wirthlin, "Kindness is the essence of greatness."
I've been thinking a lot about Jesus Christ. Naturalnie. I've been thinking about how smart he was, but how we know that he came to his knowledge grace by grace. Christ taught in parables so that all could understand, but to teach in parables, he had to understand what it was he was talking about. For example, to teach about a shepherd rescuing the one sheep, you first need to know what a shepherd is and what he does. Before Christ ever taught in parables, he first had to learn. That got me thinking about how much I am learning here as a missionary, and more importantly, how I am learning.
It blows my mind that people see the Book of Mormon and automatically dismiss it. Hand me a Jehovah's Witness Bible, I'll read it. Have an atheist tell me why he doesn't believe in God, I'll listen to him. This life is about acquiring knowledge, as all knowledge, all truth comes from God. So why reject an opportunity to acquire more knowledge? If the Book of Mormon isn't true, your great aunt Anabelle will still make that fruit cake, the oil will still changed tomorrow, you will still have that birthday cake for Jonny to make. But I know that the Book of Mormon is true. It is just more truth, more light to illuminate us! How exciting! How wonderful that we get so much truth in such a concentrated form! Now instead of Aunt Anabelle making a fruit cake every year until she dies, you get to be sealed to her and eat that fruit cake for eternity! Now instead of the oil being a chore to overcome, you realize god has given you the ability to change oil so you can help old man Jenkins down the street change his! Now you get to teach Jonny that in 10 more birthdays, he'll be able to serve a mission, share the Book of Mormon with others, and go change his world! The Book of Mormon and the truth that it illuminates dispels the fog and helps us see life in a more brilliant way!
I am so happy to be here, to just love these people in Kraków. These people are phenomenal, they are so loved by their Father in Heaven. Now it's just my job to give them a few pointers to help them see it! I can't wait for the day when all of these people here, these people I love so much, understand who they truly are. I just really love them, I really do.
I also love all of you. I am so grateful for your prayers, support, and letters. I love you all so much, every person back at home. I think about you and I pray for you constantly. You are all so special to me, and so special to our Father in Heaven. I hope you all have a fantastic week! Because you deserve it! And remember, if your day seems pretty hard and you aren't feeling to great, just let your heart be filled with the hope that tomorrow brings.
Kocham was!!
Siostra Herrera
Monday, June 29, 2015
Transfer Time Part Deux
Hey y'all!
I wanted to let you all know that I've walked the plank and am now serving in Kraków with Siostra Holden, she is from St. George, Utah and has lived in the Bay Area of California. Starszy Mulder who also served in Łódź, but broke his toe, so now he's in Kraków, too! It's nice to serve with a familiar face! Well it dawned on me today, just about 15 minutes ago, this really is the best mission in the world. It is the best mission because it isn't just the Polska Warszawska Misja, or the California Carlsbad Mission. It is the best mission in the world because, in fact, it is all one mission! Yes, for logistical purposes there are mission boundaries, but in reality, there are no boundaries to this mission. This mission is borderless and eternal. It is the exact mission that we read about in Moses 1:39 "For behold, this is my work and my glory—to bring to pass the immortality and eternal life of man."
This mission is His mission. It is the mission of the most almighty, expansive, all knowing, and magnificent being in the universe. His mission is just as wielki (great) as He is. Now that, my friends, is something cool.
In this sense, then what does it mean to be a missionary? Well, if His mission is borderless and eternal, then you may best bet that his mission doesn't just last 18 or 24 months on this earth. It is so much more than just putting on your little black name tag and talking to people about the Gospel.
This mission is to help people discover who they are. Whose they are! It is to help people take their vision from their shoes and look up to their creator, to their loving Father. It is to help people learn how to enjoy that beautiful sunset behind the rolling vineyards and oak trees, knowing that that sunset was put there just for them at that moment, to enjoy and cherish.
Really, this mission is hope. It is hope that there is something better and something bigger than what we can see. It is also the hope that comes from the knowledge that we can change. I treasure that knowledge as much as any other principle that I have come to learn of in my life.
I don't know about you, but for me change and hope are intertwined. I can't hope for anything, if I don't think anything will ever change. I also can't change anything, including myself, unless I have hope that some greater power than myself will assist me in the task to do so.
This mission is the best thing that will ever happen to you, you just need to let yourself do it.
Today, we're emailing later than usual because we went to go see the Kościuszki Mount, it is a giant grave for Tadeusz Kościuszko who served in the Revolutionary War. He is buried in American soil! Ever heard of the Kościuszko Uprising? Look this dude up!
Do widzenia!
Siostra Herrera
Monday, June 22, 2015
Skryzpek na Dachu
What an awesome month we've had! Before I came out into the field, I made a promise to myself that I wouldn't let fear keep me from using my talents on the mission. This week, we got to prepare for Open House and we were asked to each teach parts on the Restoration and Plan of Salvation. Elder Garrett also prepared some musical numbers and asked Siostra Benson and I to perform a duet! I never really thought my singing was good, but even though I was scared, our district encouraged us and Elder Garrett said he was very happy with the results! We had members and investigators come and Rafał brought his girlfriend, Asza! I feel so humbled that Heavenly Father helped me realize my worth as His servant!
Every day here in Łódż is filled with love, fun, challenges, and G-d. It is the most indescribable and amazing thing, to be here and devoting all of my time to the Lord. Being a missionary is the single greatest experience that has happened to me so far in my life and I am so eternally grateful! I love these people so much! I love you so much! I love my friends back at home so much! I miss all of you but I am also so grateful to be here. This is where I am supposed to be. Ah, being a missionary jest najlepsze (the best)!
Every day here in Łódż is filled with love, fun, challenges, and G-d. It is the most indescribable and amazing thing, to be here and devoting all of my time to the Lord. Being a missionary is the single greatest experience that has happened to me so far in my life and I am so eternally grateful! I love these people so much! I love you so much! I love my friends back at home so much! I miss all of you but I am also so grateful to be here. This is where I am supposed to be. Ah, being a missionary jest najlepsze (the best)!
I almost forgot, we got to see Fiddler on the Roof! What a blast!
I love you all and will promise to respond to your emails next week, as we are out of time.
Do widzienia!!
Monday, June 15, 2015
Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner
Hi everyone, sorry about the delay! Emailing was hard for the past couple of weeks, but I wanted to let y'all know that I am doing ok here in Łódź and that we are working hard to find new investigators! The 28th is the anniversary of missionary work in Poland, so all of the members are invited and all of the missionaries are coming to help out! That's also the day of transfers, so I will let you know if I'm walking the plank or not (remember that Łódź means boat?).
We got to go to Julianów and tracted the domki (homes/houses as opposed to klatki- apartment buildings) and got let in by a lady seemed open to our message, we gave her a book of Mormon and promised to come back soon. 
Monday, May 25, 2015
Siostra Benson's Birthday i Jutro jest Dzień Matki w Polsce!
We are going to E. Wedel's and bowling and Manufaktura! Woo!! Also I apologize, I don't have pictures because I forgot my drive and we are getting kicked out for the second time today. I apologize! I totally dropped the ball on that one... I love my companion so much!
Bye!Monday, May 18, 2015
Never Give Up!
We don't have much time and we are getting kicked out, so I will make this quick. Deciding to serve a mission is one of the greatest decisions can make. Yes, things can be hard sometimes, but that doesn't mean that Heavenly Father has given up on you. All you need to do is try your best, but you don't have to run yourself ragged. :)
I love being a missionary. I love talking to people all day and just noticing them and loving them. When we take the time to care about others, we really just feel more love towards ourselves. There's something special about having the boldness to say hello to others.
Every person you meet is a Child of God. Every person you know needs that hope and that assurance in their lives. It's a not a matter of, if you come to know these things are true, but when you come to know these things are true. I know that missionary work isn't exclusive to just us missionaries, and anyone who thinks that is making it so hard for us serving full time. We need help from members, we need the support and sacrifice of time from those serving in the wards. We can't do it alone!
Don't ever be afraid to talk to someone. The worst they can do is ignore you, and at that point, they feel more uncomfortable when you do. Look into people's eyes when you talk to them, show them that you care. People need each other, we are not meant to be alone. We are meant to be cared for. And we can't only be cared for by other humans here on this earth. We need the light and the beacon that comes only through Jesus Christ. I'm not here to preach about Jesus to everyone, I'm here to witness that he is our Savior and our Redeemer and that the only way we can be truly happy is by learning from him and learning of him. That's why I have such an affection and faith that Poland, very soon, will come to a knowledge of who Christ truly is. They are so happy, and so friendly, and so loving now. Imagine how they will be once they are restored to a knowledge of who they truly are! These people deserve the truth, they deserve the comfort and they deserve the knowledge far more than anyone I have ever met. I love these people with my whole heart and I won't stop until each one of them understands how much more they can become!
These people are incredible. You look into their eyes and you know that there's an ever so thick veil keeping them from their full potential. It's not what saints in the states think at all. Europeans are not so settled and proud that they don't want the gospel. You see in their eyes that they're yearning and striving for that thing, but it's almost like they're afraid to find it. They are the friendliest people you could ever meet. Almost too friendly, they always say my Polish is so good when I know it's not! But they've been able to understand me and I can understand them so wzystko będzie dobrze!
Kocham was!!
Siostra Herrera
Monday, May 11, 2015
Nothing like buckeyes! With Polish ingredients!
-Buckeyes-
-Ingredients
3 cups confectioners' sugar
1 cup creamy peanut butter
4 tablespoons (1/2 stick) butter, at room temperature
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 cups semisweet chocolate chips
-Directions
-use ice cream scoop to dip
-close toothpick hole
1. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.
2. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, or using a handheld mixer, beat together the sugar, peanut butter, butter, and vanilla at medium speed. The dough should end up slightly crumbly. Roll the dough into 1-inch balls. Place the balls on the prepared baking sheet and stick a toothpick into each ball. Place in the freezer and chill for 1 hour.
3. In the top of a double boiler, or in a bowl snugly on top of a pan with a few inches of simmering water, melt the chocolate chips, stirring until smooth. Holding a ball by the toothpick and placing a fork under the ball to stabilize it, dip it into the hot chocolate, leaving a small hole of the peanut butter dough showing at the top of the ball as the "buckeye." Let the excess chocolate drip back into the pot. Return the buckeye to the baking sheet. Repeat with the remaining balls.
4. Cover loosely with plastic wrap and refrigerate for at least 2 hours or overnight. Remove the toothpicks before serving.
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Buckeyes
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Pictures
I will miss Siostra Slagowska!
NOTICE: This email message is for the sole use of the intended recipient(s) and may contain confidential and privileged information. Any unauthorized review, use, disclosure or distribution is prohibited. If you are not the intended recipient, please contact the sender by reply email and destroy all copies of the original message.
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