“God Be With You Till We Meet Again”

Hejka kochani!

This is my last missionary blog and the end of my full-time mission in Poland.

A few days ago, we found out my original flight home on April 7 had been canceled due to airport closures. However, the US embassy in Warsaw found me another flight! I will be flying into Chicago on Tuesday and then to Dallas on Wednesday 🙂 As I leave Poland, I leave a wonderful country that like the rest of the world continues to take extreme measures to contain the COVID-19 virus. As of today, there are 2,311 confirmed cases and 33 deaths.

This last special week of the mission has been amazing—although we were inside, we continued meeting and teaching people every day through Skype and Facebook. I am so grateful for technology!

It’s been such a dream and a privilege to get to be a missionary in Poland! I will be eternally grateful for my time here, and the wonderful people I have met, taught and served with. I feel just like Jacob in the Book of Mormon when he says: “the time passed away with us, and also our [mission] passed away like as it were unto us a dream.” (Jacob 7:26) That is what the mission has been for me. It has gone by so fast!

The biggest thing I have gained from serving a mission is an absolute knowledge that Jesus Christ lives and that He loves each one of us individually and perfectly. I know that He wants to have a personal relationship with each one of us! I know our Heavenly Father has a perfect plan for us, and I know that everything happens for a reason. There are no coincidences. We are in each other’s lives for a reason! I know Jesus Christ is our best friend, if we want Him to be. If we allow Him to be! Through Him and by Him we can receive a fullness of joy. I know that He wants us to find lasting happiness and peace. With Him at our side, we can overcome challenges and find peace in the midst of every trial. His promises to us remain the same—He says: “I will not leave you comfortless: I will come to you.” (John 14:18)

During the last couple days, I’ve been reading through 3rd Nephi, where Jesus visits the people in the Americas. I love chapter 17, verse 21:

“And when he had said these words, he wept, and the multitude bare record of it, and he took their little children, one by one, and blessed them, and prayed unto the Father for them.”

One by one, He ministered to the people there, and one by one He ministers to us. ❤️

I am so grateful for the Book of Mormon! I testify that the Book of Mormon is the word of God; that as we read it alongside the Bible, we can find answers to so many questions. The Book of Mormon brings such a special spirit, and I find great peace when I read. If you ever have any questions or would want to read together and talk about it, please let me know! 🙂 I love this book!!!

I also testify that Joseph Smith was a prophet of God and that through him the Gospel of Jesus Christ was restored as it was originally when Christ was on the earth. I am so grateful for a living prophet, President Russell M. Nelson who leads and guides the Church under the direction of God❤️ I’m grateful for the opportunity to listen to him during this next weekend! I am excited for the insights we’ll gain. President Nelson’s promise 6 months ago that this conference will be different than any other has already been fulfilled! I can’t wait to see what’s next 🙂 You can watch conference at churchofjesuschrist.org on Saturday and Sunday.

I have loved being a missionary. I am so grateful for each and every experience!!! Thank you dearly for all of the support and love :)) kocham was! Do zobaczenia wkrótce!

Z miłością, Siostra Baldwin

Hejka cześć friend and family!

You may have heard that recently a lot of missionaries are being sent home. We’re still hanging on over here in Poland! We are just one of a couple missions in Europe where missionaries haven’t been sent home as of yet.

Like the rest of the world, our life and work in Poland has been severely impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic. As of today, there have been 749 cases confirmed with 8 deaths. This increase in infections is following very well the geometric progression model that predicts a doubling of the infection rate every 4 days. It remains to be seen when Poland will flatten the infection growth curve. But things are pretty locked down now.

As missionaries, we’re still allowed to go outside and get fresh air, but we aren’t allowed to street contact or proselyte. Right now, our missionary work is all online. Despite the fact that our normal missionary schedule has totally changed over the last few weeks, great things are still happening. The message of the Restored Gospel of Jesus Christ brings so much hope and peace–something that is so needed at this time. ❤️

This week I also hit my 18-month mark as a missionary. These last 18 months of representing Jesus Christ here have been an absolute privilege and I am excited for the couple of weeks I have left. I love this Gospel! I love the joy it brings. I saw an inspiring quote this week that I wanted to share with you:

“Sometimes the Savior calms the storm.

Sometimes He lets the storm rage and He calms you.”

And it’s so true! Even when the world is full of crazy events and things we don’t really understand, we can find the peace and comfort we need in our Savior and in His promises to us.

“Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.” (John 14:27)

“Come unto me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me; for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.

 For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” (Matt 11:28-30)

“Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee;” (Isaiah 41:10)

I love you all! Życzę wam zdrowia!!! Kocham was!

Siostra Baldwin

Hejka cześć friends and family!

In one week, so much has changed and so here are some updates on missionary life in Poland and the effects of the corona virus:

As of today, there are around 150 known Covid-19 cases in Poland with 3 deaths, but drastic measures have been taken pretty early on to slow the spread of the disease. Despite the precautions, the number of cases is starting to grow exponentially though as of this week the numbers are still relatively low considering Poland has a population of 38 million people. As of a couple days ago, schools, museums, theaters, and malls are all closed for two weeks. The governors of different cities have encouraged everyone to stay home. Travel in and out of Poland has been banned and international flights have been suspended for the next 10 days. No trains are currently going west to Germany or east to Ukraine. A few days ago, President Trump also banned any foreigners from Europe from entering the US- however, the ban does not apply to US citizens. The situation is changing daily so what I share today may be much different in a couple of days.

For us missionaries, it currently means that although we are not in lock-down yet, we have a 2-week food supply just in case that becomes necessary. Currently we are not allowed to tract, street contact, teach English class, or hold any group meetings. But we are allowed to work on Facebook and keep having skype lessons 🙂

For me, the plan is still that I will come home to Texas in early April. When I cross the border, I’ll be screened for coronavirus and regardless of the results of the screening, I will at a minimum be self-quarantined in Texas for 14 days (unless something changes before then).

During the initial panic last week regarding the growing pandemic, many of the grocery stores were emptied of a lot of food; as of today, the stores have mostly restocked and this morning there was plenty of food, medicines, and (maybe most importantly) toilet paper!

During this confusing time when the situation changes daily and nothing really seems certain, where can we turn for peace?

The lyrics of one of my favorite hymns comes to mind:

Where can I turn for peace?

Where is my solace

When other sources cease to make me whole?

When with a wounded heart, anger, or malice,

I draw myself apart,

Searching my soul?

Where, when my aching grows,

Where, when I languish,

Where, in my need to know, where can I run?

Where is the quiet hand to calm my anguish?

Who, who can understand?

He, only One.

He answers privately,

Reaches my reaching

In my Gethsemane, Savior and Friend.

Gentle the peace he finds for my beseeching.

Constant he is and kind,

Love without end.

In a chaotic world full of daily changes and imperfect people, Jesus Christ is a constant. He is constantly there–our loving older brother who wants the very best for us. During this uncertain time, I have received a lot of strength from the knowledge that no matter what is happening in the world, His promise to us is the same–PEACE.

I also have a strong testimony that faith and prayer are powerful. When we have faith and we act on it, we open the door for God to work miracles in our lives. That doesn’t just mean we can sit back and do nothing—but rather that when we work together with God, we can achieve more than we ever could alone.

I hope you all have a wonderful, happy, and safe week! Wash your hands often, take this time inside to learn a new skill or read a good book, and tell someone you love them. I love you all!

Z miłością,

Siostra Baldwin

Pictures

-Singing hymns in old town with the elders

-old town is EMPTY

-riding the empty bus

-adventures in old Town

– No toilet paper!?!?

Hejka cześć friends and fam!

I’m constantly grateful for the opportunity to serve in beautiful Gdańsk!

This week:

-Had an awesome Zone Conference in Warsaw all about family history 🙂 It’s so true that as we learn about our ancestors, we learn more about ourselves! And of course, missionary work is done on both sides of the Veil [Dad note: the word ‘veil’ is a metaphor used to illustrate the physical and spiritual separation between the living and the deceased]!

-Started teaching someone we met on the train 🙂 She’s so awesome, keeps her commitments to read the book of Mormon and pray daily, and is just a ray of sunshine!!!

-Got lectured about politics for 40 minutes on a train ride to a lesson. During the whole thing I was wishing I couldn’t understand it haha

-Climbed up to the top of St Mary’s Basilica in Gdańsk today! After a 400-stair climb, the view was absolutely gorgeous!

To close, I want to share a scripture from 2 Timothy 1:7-

“For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Our God is always with us! We never have to be afraid of what the future will bring, because He is by our side. His promise to us is that He will not leave us comfortless or alone, but that He will be with us through everything. I testify that His promise is true for you! ❤️

Kocham was tak mocno!

Zawsze z miłością,

Siostra Baldwin

Hello dearest friends and family❤️

This week:

• There are no coincidences! God will put the right people in your path at the right time. I absolutely saw that this week 🙂

• Our friend Łukasz from Katowice came to visit!!! It was such a highlight of the week to see him!

• A new senior missionary couple—the Johnsons—have moved to Gdańsk! We were all so sad to say goodbye to Elder & Sister Bridges a few weeks ago, but it was wonderful to get to meet Elder & Sister Johnson this week. They are amazing!

• We got transfer calls! Siostra Frantz and I are staying in Gdańsk :))) And another Siostra, Siostra Littlefield is coming to join us from Warsaw so we’ll be a trio! We are so excited!

• -Went to Auchan (a big store kind of like a super target) with the Johnsons this week.. I was a little bit shook being in such a big store haha!

To close, I wanted to share a thought I loved from Sunday school yesterday. It was that the seemingly boring, slow moments in our life are part of the glorious plan our Father in Heaven has for us. We may not realize it in the moment, but these experiences are shaping us into the people HE created us to be.

That really resonates with me! Every little thing we do sculpts us as people. Whether it’s choosing to be patient and kind, remembering and showing our gratitude for our blessings, doing small or big acts of service or any other good thing, it all adds up for our good. God will bless us for it!

Kocham was tak mocno! Love you all! Have a wonderful week❤️🤗

Siostra Baldwin

Hejka cześć my dearest friends and family!!! ❤️

This week:

– Met Ivonna from Argentina at a finding activity!!! We approached her in polish but when we heard her say ”no hablo polaco” we switched into Spanish! We asked her if she’d ever heard of El Libro de Mormon and turns out she used to  go to church in Argentina:) she’s the coolest!

– this week has really been one full of languages because in an effort to invite more people to english class, we’ve been posting on Ukrainian Facebook pages! Since Ukraine and Poland border each other there are a lot of Ukrainians that live in Poland! 7 new people were in class this week and one of the couples came to church:))

– Got lost in a hospital complex on our way to deliver a Book of Mormon… But we made the delivery!!

– Got proposed to.. TWICE

– Got hit by a car. Basically here at most crosswalks there is no light–the pedestrians usually have the right of the way. So once you start walking on the crosswalk the cars will stop for you. This time though the driver wasn’t paying attention and although he was going reallllly slow he didn’t stop and actually hit Siostra Frantz and I!! He felt so bad about it but we were totally fine haha!

– Church was super great and busy as always:) So many people were there!! Someone even asked: “Why are there so many people here? Is it a special occasion?” It wasn’t a special occasion, just an awesome Sunday! The Gdańsk branch is growing!!! :))

– Taught Relief Society. It was awesome because we had a few people who only spoke Russian there but Siostra Marinella, our Relief Society President speaks both Polish and Russian and so she translated for us:) We focused on Elder Bednar’s address from this last conference, “Watchful unto Prayer Continually”. I would absolutely recommend it! ❤️

And lastly I want to share a scripture–Ether 12:11-

” But in the gift of his Son hath God prepared a more excellent way; and it is by faith that it hath been fulfilled.”

There is a lot of happiness to be found in this life. Without a knowledge of Jesus Christ and his gospel, life can be okay. But our loving Father in Heaven doesn’t just want us to have an okay life – He’s got greater plans for us! That’s why He gave us his son, Jesus Christ. Jesus Christ is The More Excellent Way – the way to find more happiness, peace and direction in this life than in any other way possible. He is our advocate, our loving brother and He can be our best friend, if we let Him. If we want Him to be. I am so grateful for that and for the perfect plan Heavenly Father has for each one of us!

Kocham was tak mocno! Modlę się za was!

Z miłością,

Siostra Baldwin

Pictures:

-returning to the mothership

-biedronka, the polish grocery store!

-classic polish street

-Jesus❤️

Hejka cześć friends and family! These last couple weeks:

-Our friend Adam got baptized! It has been so cool to see his progress as he has prepared for baptism the last couple months 🙂 

-Got to visit the Solidarność museum! The Solidarity movement is all about the Polish protests against communism behind the Iron curtain from the 50’s all the way to the late 80’s. It was especially cool to also learn about the protests that were also going on in Hungary (where my dad served his mission) at the same time. After visiting the museum I am even more in awe of the people here. The Polish people are AMAZING!! 

-Lots of talking to people on the street the last couple weeks 🙂 we’ve had some awesome conversations. I’ve been especially proud of Siostra Frantz–she is fearless and has such a powerful testimony! 

-Got the first door slammed in our faces in a while(we mostly street contact here haha) 

-Taught Sunday school with 5 minutes notice! The members in Gdańsk are so awesome and we had a great discussion on the symbolism of Lehi’s tree of life vision in the Book of Mormon 🙂 

To close, I want to share a quote I’ve loved this week! It says, 

“Our perfect Father in Heaven does not expect us to be perfect children yet. He had only one such child. Meanwhile, therefore, sometimes with smudges on our cheeks, dirt on our hands, and shoes untied, stammeringly but smilingly we present God with a dandelion–as if it were an orchid or a rose! If for now the dandelion is the best we have to offer, He receives it, knowing what we may later place on the altar. It is good to remember how young we are spiritually. “

As much as we study and grow and experience everyday in this life, we are still so young spiritually. I think that’s one of the beautiful things about life–our Father in Heaven is fully aware that we won’t do everything perfectly and that we’ll make a lot of mistakes along the way! But that’s ok, because that’s part of His perfect plan for us. Because of Jesus Christ, we can repent every day and every day become a little bit better, a little bit more like the people that God knows we can become. And in the process, we start to find the peace and the happiness God has promised us! 

Love you all!!! Miłego tygodnia!! ❤️

Siostra Baldwin 

Pictures:

– Polish winter and mistletoe growing in the trees in clumps 

– Adam and Ola! 

– Polish winter and mistletoe growing in the trees in clumps 

– The iron curtain and a communist parade 

– Starsi on exchange

–

Hejka cześć kochani!!!

These last few weeks have been such a whirlwind of fun and hard work 🙂 I LOVE Gdańsk!!!!!

– We had our Christmas zone conference! We sang so many Christmas carols, had a great devotional and went to the Christmas light show at one of the castles in Warsaw. My absolute favorite part of conference though was when Prezydent Chandler sat down at the piano and casually played the most beautiful Christmas medley ever! He and Siostra Chandler are SO talented.

As part of the conference Siostra Sjödin and I sang a duet in Swedish at the conference! We sang “Blott en Dag”, an absolutely beautiful hymn about taking things day by day and relying on the Lord through it all. Below is the English translation:

– Learned how to make Czech cookies with Natálie. She’s the BEST

– Christmas Eve (Wigilia) was amazing. We celebrated with members in the branch, the Bridges, and the Elders and it couldn’t have been better! We had more than the traditional 12 Christmas dishes, including Barszcz (delicious beet soup), Śledź (pickled herring, a kind of fish), Moldovan salad, Carp, Carp in jello, and so many more! And of course, the polish tradition is that you have to try them all! It was definitely a meal I will never forget!!!

– The Polish Catholic tradition is to go to mass at midnight the night of the 24th and we got to go! We were so tired but it was so much fun to stay up and go with our friend Martyna. We went to one of the really old churches in Oliwa Gdańsk and it was the Archbishop’s church so he was there for the mass! We sang lots of carols and then listened to the prayers. One part of the mass that was cool was when the priest sang parts of the prayers and then everyone sang the responses back. It was so beautiful!

-This week we had exchanges with the Lublin Sister and they came to Gdańsk! I got to be with Siostra Berrett all day and we had a blast! The elders in Gdańsk were on exchanges too so all 8 missionaries, plus some of our awesome Gdańsk friends joined us to carol in Old Town. Halfway through our singing it started ice raining, but we weren’t going to let that stop us! We went under a bridge and just kept on singing–and it was even better because it echoed all the way through Old Town! So many people stopped to talk to us and to take some video 🙂

-Found out Ela, a friend who comes to Zupa every Saturday finished high school in Argentina and is fluent in Spanish so now we both have someone to practice with :))

-Got invited to a Jewish concert at the synagogue by someone we’re teaching to celebrate the last day of Hanukkah. We went, hoping it would be at least as good as Fiddler on the Roof and it was even better!!! 😉

The Lord is with us through every experience. I can testify that He knows us personally, and that can continue to learn and grow even through our trials as we rely on our Savior, Jesus Christ. The Atonement of Jesus Christ isn’t just something that happened almost 2000 years ago–it affects you and me, every. single. day. Jesus Christ died for you personally, because He absolutely knows you and He knows the person you are capable of becoming. He is on our side!!! He wants us to be successful and happier than we can ever imagine!!! Because of him, we can find lasting peace in this life. When we are weak, we can find strength through him. When we are hopeless, we can find comfort and direction.

The Lord teaches us in D&C 121,

“… all these things shall give thee experience, and shall be for thy good.

Therefore, hold on thy way; Thy days are known, and thy years shall not be numbered less; therefore, fear not what man can do, for God shall be with you forever and ever.”

HE– all powerful, all loving God- is with us forever and ever! And with Him, NOTHING is impossible!

I also read a wonderful talk this week from this last general conference, called “Holiness and the Plan of Happiness” by President Eyring. I would definitely recommend it 🙂 It’s a great talk to start the new year!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!! KOCHAM WAS TAK MOCNO!!! ❤️

z dużo miłością,

Siostra Baldwin

Mail?!

Siostra Elizabeth Baldwin

Ul. Wiertnicza 135

02-952 Warszawa

Hejka friends and family! Merry Christmas! ❤️

Big news–I’m training a new missionary! After being in a trio for 2 weeks with my beloved MTC sisters, Siostra Jones and Siostra Sjödin, I picked up my new companion Siostra Frantz in Warsaw and we came back to Gdańsk together! She is AMAZING! I already know this transfer is going to be great! 🙂

Thanksgiving was fantastic! The senior couple here, the Bridges, had us over for a huge thanksgiving meal and it was so good!  We had every Thanksgiving food you could possibly think of- pies, turkey, potatoes, stuffing, green been cassarole and more. Several members from the branch and so many of our friends in Gdańsk came!

We got invited to present about our beliefs at a university class and it was amazing!The professor was so respectful and the students had a lot of good questions. Several of the students asked us afterwards for copies of the Book of Mormon! It was a great experience and a testament that there are people who are searching for the direction and knowledge the gospel brings–they just need to have it offered to them!

My favorite scripture this week is Mosiah 2:20-

“if you should render all the thanks and praise which your whole soul has power to possess, to that God who has created you, and has kept and preserved you, and has caused that ye should rejoice, and has granted that ye should live in peace one with another”

Because that is EXACTLY how I feel! I absolutely love being a missionary. I love teaching the restored gospel. I love learning new things every day. I love the scriptures, the Bible and the Book of Mormon. I love that they work together to testify of Jesus Christ, of His life and how thanks to Him, death is not the end! Families can be together forever! I love helping people develop a relationship with God, and I love the people of Poland with my entire heart. I absolutely love serving in Gdańsk. I’m so grateful for this time the Lord has given me to get to share the most important and joy filled message in the world! ❤️

Zawsze z miłością,

Siostra Baldwin

Xoxo