This episode of 'Dear Daughters of God', hosted by Stephanie Eccles, explores the theme of 'Finding your purpose: Stephanie shares her own journey of discovering purpose through scripture and prayer, highlighting a specific moment where a verse from the Book of Mormon deeply resonated with her, reminding her of her divine mission. The episode features a special guest, Kasia Haroldson, who shares her inspiring story from growing up in communist Poland, finding the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and eventually moving to the United States. Through tales of hardship, faith, and divine intervention, the episode emphasizes the importance of understanding one's divine purpose and the strength that comes from family connections The story concludes with Kasia's touching, efforts to aid her sister, and a miraculous tale of healing and spiritual awakening. The episode concludes with Haroldson’s touching song 'Little Dove', inspired by personal loss and her spiritual journey.
Thanks for listening! I'm on Instagram as deardaughtersofgod. Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=1iyjqx0cq4kbk&utm_content=qr66nqv
This episode of 'Dear Daughters of God', hosted by Stephanie Eccles, explores the theme of 'Finding your purpose: Stephanie shares her own journey of discovering purpose through scripture and prayer, highlighting a specific moment where a verse from the Book of Mormon deeply resonated with her, reminding her of her divine mission. The episode features a special guest, Kasia Haroldson, who shares her inspiring story from growing up in communist Poland, finding the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, and eventually moving to the United States. Through tales of hardship, faith, and divine intervention, the episode emphasizes the importance of understanding one's divine purpose and the strength that comes from family connections The story concludes with Kasia's touching, efforts to aid her sister, and a miraculous tale of healing and spiritual awakening. The episode concludes with Haroldson’s touching song 'Little Dove', inspired by personal loss and her spiritual journey.
Thanks for listening! I'm on Instagram as deardaughtersofgod. Follow me on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/invites/contact/?i=1iyjqx0cq4kbk&utm_content=qr66nqv
I am Stephanie Eccles. This is Dear Daughters of God, Episode 13, Finding your purpose. We are inspired by the true life experiences of those around us. My name is Stephanie Eccles. I'm an educator, counselor, school administrator, and natural storyteller. From my perspective as a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter day Saints, I share a variety of life experiences Bring us hope and joy in our savior. Jesus Christ. Welcome. Dear daughters of God. I address you that way because that's what you are to him. To our Heavenly Father, you are dear. Today, I'm going to start with a short story of my own. Then we're going to hear a series of stories that culminate into one end from a special guest, I'll introduce her in just a moment. I'm sure you've noticed we each have different personalities, aspirations, inclinations, and appetites. Well, there's a divine purpose in these differences. As my patriarchal blessing reminds me, it becomes a requirement to find that purpose and fulfill the measure of our creation. Our theme today is finding that purpose. Have you ever had one of those times when you're trying to read the scriptures and you just cannot focus? I've had that happen plenty of times. One in particular was this last summer. I was reading the Book of Mormon. I was having one distracting thought after another. I almost gave up on reading as I realized I was picking up the phone to follow through on one of these distracting thoughts. Then I said to myself, Are you going to let the adversary take the scripture time away from you? And I answered back out loud, because I was alone, with a no, I'm not. I grabbed this piece of paper and I wrote down the distracting task that I wanted to complete, that I thought, this is the same intervention that I would have given a student at school who couldn't pay attention. I was embarrassed that at my age, I needed an intervention. I felt so terribly mature at the same time. I knew I had trouble paying attention. It wasn't something new. I just it was hard to face right now. It seemed like. In the workplace, it suited me as a leader to complete many tasks, but sitting in front of scriptures with no title as executive director, this deficiency It was just nothing but annoying and even embarrassing to me. I finished writing down the distracting task that I would do after I read scriptures. I told myself that I could concentrate and then I knelt down and I prayed to my Heavenly Father for help. I asked that the Spirit would speak to me through the scriptures. I sat up again and I got the highlighter marker. I was ready to mark the passages that mentioned our Savior Jesus Christ, and I began to read again. I came to this verse in Mosiah rather quickly. It was in chapter 26, verse 20. It says, quote, Thou art my servant, and I covenant with thee that thou shalt have eternal life, and thou shalt serve me. And go forth in my name, and thou shalt gather together my sheep. When I read these words, and thou shalt serve me, and go forth in my name, and shall gather together my sheep, I knew that this phrase was for me and spoke to me. I thank the Lord for reminding me of my purpose. A memory of an experience I had had three years earlier while driving to work came into my mind. I'm on the freeway on my way to work early in the morning. I find myself caught up in a vision in my mind. There I was sharing stories in a podcast called Dear Daughters. I knew the stories I was to share. I felt guided by the Spirit of the Lord. It felt imminent. It was uplifting, a powerful and beautiful experience. I felt as if that is what I should be doing. Afterward, I was in a place of awe. I thanked the Lord for the vision I, I shed silent tears. As I got closer to work, reality set in. I wondered, how would I possibly fulfill that vision while holding my current position? It must be for when I retire, and that won't happen for a very long time. But now, when I was recalling this memory, now, I had the rest of the name of that podcast. It was Dear Daughters of God and had completed four episodes. But even so, I wonder, did I have what I needed to go on? considering my chronic migraines and human frailties, like the ones I mentioned. And the Lord reminded me again through scripture of my call To hear the rest of that experience, listen to Episode 7 Now, I want to introduce our guest, Hasha Haraldson, who is coming to us from Washington State, but was born and raised in communist Poland. As we hear Kasia's stories, keep in mind how her life experiences have helped her find her life purpose while on this earth. I'll bring her on now. Hello, Kasia. Welcome. Thank you for joining us.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:Thank you for having me to be here.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:We are happy to have you. Kasha and I met in December. kasha was sharing a story about her father who was raised in communist Poland, I was so touched by that story. And we've become friends. today she's going to share another story with us about her grandmother and her sister, But before we get into that story, I would like to give ASHA's formal biography. ASHA's journey started in Poland where she grew up with six siblings in a small town, soot by the Baltic Sea. As a teenager, she left her childhood home and family and moved to Warsaw where she lived with her grandparents. While adjusting to a new part of her journey, she attended school and worked. During her spare time, she would play and create music expressing her feelings through lyrics and music. In her early adult years, she met missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Leonard, a Saints who introduced her to the gospel of Jesus Christ. She was always a believer in God, but through the missionaries she learned more about the purpose and meaning of life. She desired to serve God, And a year after joining the church, she was called to serve a mission In the Utah Provo mission, while serving her mission, she was able to share her music and meet many wonderful people, which ultimately opened the door for her to return to America and start her education at Southern Utah University. Majoring in music. Kasha currently lives in Washington state. She's a wife, a mother, and a grandmother. She teaches music in her studio and loves spending time with her family. She also loves to share her testimony and experiences from her life's journey through inspiring messages and music. If you want to know more about Kasha and her journey, please visit her website at www dot ASHA's faith journey.com and ASHA's music.com and listen to her messages and music on ASHA's Faith Journey podcast. Kasha, you're gonna tell us a story about your grandmother and your sister decisions that your grandmother made, and how they affected your life. right? do you wanna start with your grandmother.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:I will start with my grandmother. my grandmother was born nearby Warsaw. She was only 18 years old when she got married. and very petite, very strong-willed and very driven since very early in her years she had four children, three boys and one girl, which the girl is my mother. Her first boy passed away when he was about a month old. He was born in December and in January he passed away because it was so cold. What they were living in this very small little house. I had two uncles and my mother. I had an uncle who was born during World War ii, So my mother actually is the second child. She's second, the oldest. And then my younger uncle was born 10 years after my mother. they grew up in nearby Warsaw in a little village, called Sad Dova. My grandmother was very dedicated to taking care of her children. there's one situation during World War II, it My grandmother had difficulties with delivering babies. my uncle, who was going to be born in 1942. Had some complications. So my grandpa had to go to Warsaw. That was the closest place that he get a doctor. And while he arrived to Wara, he and some other people that were on the street in Warsaw were caught by the Germans. They call it waki, which means the trucks will come to the city and then they will catch whoever was on the street. Didn't matter what they were doing, they would just grab them. And usually they would put'em in a truck and take them to, concentration camps, or they will just put them by the wall and They will execute them on the spot. It was very hard. Many people died that way. But my grandpa was caught and he was placed in front of the wall. so he was the one of them who they were put in front of the wall and then execute them so he didn't go on a track. Which in some way was, a blessing. That doesn't sound like a blessing, but it was because while he was standing there and the line. He was able to use his German and talk to his, this German soldier, and he asked him if he would let him go. And he explained to him what the situation was. And I tell you, God was watching over him because this German let him go and he was able to get the doctor, and my grandmother was able to deliver her little boy. it was a miracle.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:That is a miracle.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:yes, a miracle that led to other miracles in life later. one of them was, my mother was married when she was 22, and my dad was nine years older than her. during communism. he believed in freedom and he was outspoken. And because he was outspoken, that didn't serve him very well. He was, sentenced. to death.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:Oh my goodness.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:Yes. And then they changed his sentence to life. which meant either way he would die. Just longer, experience in the prison, this is all during communism. So at that time was, all affected by Russian leaders. but because of styling died, they changed and there was an amnesty. So my dad was, released earlier, which means he was only in prison for about four or five years. And one of the year he was in a solitary confinement, not talking to anybody. One year, one full year.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:For one year. in solitary confinement.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:Yes. So that's why when he came out of the prison, he was already like close to 30.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:Oh my goodness. what a terrible experience.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:Yes.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:He made it through a life.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:He may I know. It was like, wow. God saved him because he needed to have a family. he met my mother, they started family and they had seven children. And I am one of the family children
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:Yes.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:I also have a story of, life events that, I was not going to live, and yet I am alive. And, it's a blessing because of many events that took place.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:do you, wanna tell us what you mean by that?
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:Yeah. my parents, they had seven children altogether, but I am number five and my mom got pregnant right after my brother. My brother was born not long after. And so between me and him, it's like about, 16 months or so.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:And this is from number four to five. The
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:four
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:To the fifth child.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:Yes. So my. My mother and my dad were considering my mother didn't really want to do it, but my dad was, I, think he was just very overwhelmed. I dunno exactly what happened, but they just considered abortion. And, my mother did not wanna do this, but it was like, what to do question. And she decided to go to the church. And she prayed and prayed and that's what she told me, the story. And she said, when I prayed, I had such a strong feeling not to do this. this was just before she was going to the clinic to do the procedure. And she said instead going to that clinic, I just went to the store and I bought baby clothes. And that's how I was born.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:Oh, what a shift from the abortion clinic to going to buy baby clothes. what a sweet end.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:Right.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:Oh, and here you are. to tell your story.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:And here I'm, I have to tell you this story,
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:What a blessed end for, for you and your family.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:right? Right. Because so much happened because I was born and I really do feel God's power and direction through all this years of my life. Like even thinking about, just myself, how I always felt God's present in my life in different situations. But that's what another story, I wanted to say. What happened after this experience? we end up being a big family, but because of that, we did not have many things. And we struggled, especially during communism when we had those orations cards and we had to share small meals.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:Oh, there were ration cards. Were there.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:Russian cards. Mm-Hmm. During communism?
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:Okay. and this was in the eighties.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:Yes. This is in eighties. Mm-Hmm. Early eighties.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:okay, so, your family was probably much larger than the most.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:Yes. That's exactly so very uncommon during that time in Poland to have seven children. Usually people will have two, maybe one, maybe three the most. So we were this big family that people knew was everywhere, school and music school, they always remember this ska family. Lots of kids. Sometimes they will tease us and make some comments, but I, we just, we just lived
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:Yes, yes,
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:so,
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:yes. I can see why families were, were considerably smaller. Birth control was, very heavily into
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:Mm-Hmm. Right, Right, Because we were such a big family. My grandmother, she wanted to help us. She was, wanted to help my mother with the children. so she had a plan that they, of course, decided together that one of us could come to Warsaw.'cause that's where my grandmother lived. And we would live with my grandparents. she chose my sister, the Atta and she's three years older than me. But the atta first of all, she didn't wanna go. And also because she did not make very good choices at that time as a teenager, almost a, I would say young adult by then. So my grandmother decided she doesn't want my sister to come at the time. And I was just finishing my school, which is kind of like, you have it here K through 12. So it's like one, one building that you go for from when you kindergarten to, you 15 and it's when you graduate. I was just finishing that school and my grandmother and my parents decided that would be a good time to shift from this school to the other school in Warsaw, and I could start new school in Warsaw. And so when I was 15, I moved to Wara and start my life. A new chapter began for me.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:How did you feel about going?
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:I, I did not wanna go to my grandmother because like, my sister, we were afraid of a grandmother'cause she was very strict and she had rules and we had to follow those rules because she was not happy if we didn't follow the rule.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:mm, I see.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:we were rambunctious came from seven kids, from the big family, so it was always busy, busy in the house. here I come to this lonely place with three older folks as a 15-year-old. So that wasn't very exciting for me, but I accepted what needed to be done. now when I look from perspective today, I see that it was good for me. Living with my grandmother was very good experience, a blessing and an opportunity to learn, to grow, to understand things that I didn't understand growing up at my home with some many of us. But I did miss my family. I did miss playing music together and goof around and just doing things that we did as a family. So I was afraid, but Living with my grandmother helped me to see her from a different perspective, not just this grandmother who is strict with us, but a woman who once upon a time was a young woman and maybe she had some dreams that were not fulfilled. being 18 and start family and then war started and all those experiences that were happening and health issues, pregnancies that were difficult. I have a great respect for my grandmother and her wisdom. she passed away, in 2001 I lived with her, as a 15-year-old through the teenage years. then. And I was about 21. Something was going on in my personal life. it's been for a while, I always felt like there was a direction that God is watching over me. Like there was a bigger purpose maybe that my mother, when she was praying for this abortions, to do this procedure, and she felt strongly not to do it. Maybe not, maybe I just know now that God had a better picture for me better purpose. And I needed to come to this earth. now with looking at the events of life, which I share about on my podcast, more details, but I see God's hand.
Masha, tell us how you see God's hand play out in your life.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:so how do I see this? when. I lived in Warsaw. There was things already that I felt like there's something more, but I didn't have understanding. I always believe in God. So I attended, a Catholic church and I did all those things that were required. And you did the mass and you do the Fridays, confessions. There are all those traditions that we've done, but I felt like there was something missing in my life and I didn't know not that I was looking for some religions or something, it's just that it was something missing. And so when I was 20, this is also the time when, The der wall came down and, not yet, didn't come yet when I was 20, but when I was 22. But this was a period of time that there was just so many things were happening. The leg leg vaa and the communism was going down and just shifting, shifting in our country. And borders were open and other churches were able to come. that was the period of time that I met so many different people from different churches and had some questions myself. But before that, I was working in the office doing a paperwork that was my financial section. Totally different than today. The work looked like. We had big sheets of papers that we were writing with pen, the numbers for every worker, and that was their payments. So no computers, everything was done by hand. that was my job. So one day, I met this young girl who we were the only one who were young. Rest of them was like mothers, grandmothers working in that office. so sometimes we would have a lunch together. one day she gave me a Bible and I started to read the Bible and we would talk about God, and we will talk about different experiences in life and we'll share some little insights. And that was so, interesting because. I didn't have that in the Catholic church. Like you go to church, you have a mass, and people go there for one hour and then you go home and usually it's of course the priest reading the scriptures and we just listen. And then we go home. And at home we didn't do like a family scripture study or anything like that. It's so unfamiliar to us. so, but I did start reading and I had some questions and then I read story of, a musician, cliff Richard, he's a British musician, and he was writing his kind of like a conversion story, putting scriptures and his story. And I read that and I thought, oh, I, that's so amazing. That Christmas I went home and I experienced something. Incredible. It was me and my sister in bed, in the room and we were talking, and then suddenly I shared with her my stories of scriptures and the journey that I had with my friend. and then suddenly I saw a light and I felt such a warmth in my heart. And as I was talking, it was like emotional. My whole body was feeling it. And I said to my sister, do you, do you see this? Do you feel this? And she's see what, what? I don't, I don't know, are you talking about? And I didn't know how to explain it better than what I experienced, the light, the, the warmth feeling, but. She experienced some own personal experience that she said, I feel something too. And she was crying. So it was just like a amazing experience that, a wonderful feeling that I did not experience that before. It's such a joy and all mixed together now. I didn't know what that was at that time.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:so you were both, experiencing the spirit of God, but not realizing what it was.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:Right, right. we didn't know how to name it and what was happening. It's just that most amazing feeling. So this is my younger sister. I just wanna clarify that her name is Magda. But Atta at this time was busy with her friends and still not making maybe the best choices. She was doing her own things. That's what I would say. So I was not connected with my sister, but atta. So the next day I woke up and of course shared with my mom about this experience was six months later. So from December to June, I had some experiences, like I met different churches and people would invite me to their meetings. And I was in the process. I dunno if it's a process, the right word, a stage of my life that I wanna know more like what is my purpose? Where am I going, what am I doing in this life? And. All those things that I felt at that point about my life. Who am I, why I feel so different with the people that I'm surrounded with. It made more sense. I felt like there's higher power of understanding, not just going to church. There must be something more. So I continued to read the Bible and my grandmother was interesting. At the same time she was visiting with Jehovah Witnesses. Not that she wanted to change religion, but she was just curious. And this is also a period of time where, political changes were occurring in Poland. you would go to church and a lot of priests would talk about politics, and I think people were tired of that. They just wanna have some Spiritual messages. I think we all felt that. we had politics in tv and then you go to church and then priest would talk about politics. I think my grandmother was just enjoying talking about God with the Jehovah Witness. what I'm thinking.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:it sounds like she was missing that spiritual edification
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:Right. She,
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:used to having at church because she certainly, was a very devoted Catholic,
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:she was, very Catholic, strong Catholic, very traditional and, very, active in her church helping the preachers and the priests and volunteering if there was a need. So yes, she was very active. that's why I was very surprised when I saw her, having the Jehovah Witness. Coming. But sometimes I would listen to what they would say and then I would have a thought, oh, I will go and check. They were just sharing about the Bible. I will go and check and read my Bible. And oftentimes I would find that this is not what I I understand from what they would say. So it was very intriguing it was a beginning for me to, be more interested in reading the scriptures, the Bible, and I loved reading about Jesus. I loved the New Testament and I, cried when I read the stories of his crucifixion and that really, I was touched by the spirit, we all have a light of God in us. so I had glimpses of it, I would say that led me to where I meant to be, after meeting so many churches, I met another one
Stephanie test:Hasha, I would summarize your experience that you've described to us as a preparation time. You're given a Bible by a friend. You start to have discussions with her and your interest in the scriptures and your Heavenly Father and your Savior increases. You meet the Jehovah Witness missionaries and missionaries from other faiths. And your discussions, again, pique your interest in your Heavenly Father and in your Savior. And you're wondering more and more about your purpose on this earth. You go home for Christmas. One evening you tell your sister about reading the stories from the Bible. As you tell her this, you are touched by the Holy Ghost and brought to tears by this spiritual experience. To me, all this seems like a preparation ground for you to receive a greater light and knowledge in the restored gospel of Jesus Christ.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:Yes, you are so right. That's exactly how I, I see it now. And it's true. that day it was June 30th. that day my boss came up to me what day before, because I was leaving the 30th, the 29th. She came up to me and she said, we don't have workers. And we were wondering if you could go to ro. It's a town which I've never been before. all you have to do is just deliver the check, and that's how we will purchase the computer. And then they will send the computer. Very different than these days. Now you can just do transfer money and then you're done. Now I had to go with this check and travel five hours to deliver the check and then go home. That was my job. So I said, okay, I will. so morning the June 30th, I was working on the platform. train station. And while I was walking, and it was very early in the morning, so you can see people like going not so happy. And then I see those two young men walking, in front of me and I knew there was something different about them. They did not look polish at all. And so I passed them and that was pretty much it. It's just the thought came, they're not Polish, there's something intriguing about them. that was all. I went to the train. I sat in the compartment and in Poland the trains have eight seats compartments. five of them were full. I sat by a window by the door, and then two empty seats were in front of me. those two missionaries returned and sat in front of me. I was very intrigued to see what the name tags would saying Who are those young men? But I didn't talk to them until later, one of the missionaries was standing in a hall. while I was coming back, from a, like a little cafe shop, I asked him who, who were they? he said, there are missionaries from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. I was like, whoa, that is a very long name for a church. he asked me, have you ever heard of the church? I said, no, I've never heard of this church. he asked me, have I ever heard of Mormons? And I'm like, oh yes, I've heard the Mormons. They have lots of wives. That's all I've heard of them. he chuckled just like he did. And he says, yes, everybody in Poland has the same answer. We were not very educated on that matter. We didn't know, we just watched a movie, some kind of series, and there was, a story of Mormons who had bunch of wives and they were traveling somewhere west. that was my knowledge about the church, about the Mormons. Right. But not the church itself, we talked for a little bit, and this is very important because while I was talking to him, I felt the same feeling that I felt during that Christmas time. That was so powerful. I didn't tell them that I, that's what I feel. I just, I felt like I wanna talk to them more. But of course it was time for us to go. They went their way and I went my way. They took my address and they gave me a pamphlet of Joseph Smith story. And that was it. a few days later, I returned home to Wara. And while I was, laying and pondering about that experience, I took the pamphlet of Joseph Smith and I read the pamphlet and I read and I was, wow, this sounds so familiar to me. I feel exactly like Joseph, so many churches who say, we have the truth. Come to our church. when are you going to join us? I was like, wow. That's how I feel right now. So many, so I remember I kneeled down and I prayed, and I prayed and I said, please, heavenly father, help me to understand there are so many churches in the Catholic church. That's my tradition. That's my family. But there's this, what am I supposed to do? And I remember, I got up, my knees were so sore, and I went to bed in the morning while I was getting ready for work. I still thought of that experience and my prayer. And on the way home from work, I saw two other missionaries in the bus. Now I need to mention that the, during that time. The missionaries, there was not really a Poland mission, it was Vienna mission. so the missionaries were actually called to Vienna, and then they will be sent to Poland or Czech Republic or some other places, and that's how they would serve their mission. So they were really not Polish sand missionaries. they were just assigned to serve in Poland. at that time there was only four missionaries, young missionaries and a one old couple elder and Sister Ec, which, they were wonderful people. They taught us so much. as I mentioned, there was only four missionaries. Two of them I met in a train and then two others I met in the bus. that evening. Like I said, I didn't talk to them,
Hasha, I have to cut in here. I see your point. It is another one of your miracles. you met two sets of missionaries independently that were originally called to Vienna. In all of Poland, you met both sets That's amazing!
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:yes, a miracle that led to other miracles in life later
Oh, I'm glad you made that connection for us. Okay. Back to where you were. It was that evening.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:Yes that evening those missionaries came to my house and my grandmother opened the door and she had no idea who they were. And I didn't know'cause I was in my room. And then she called me and said, there's young men here. they came to see you. And I'm like, young men, who are they? then I went, and there they are. The missionaries that I met in the bus were standing in front of my grandmother from the bus. Yeah. They tall missionaries. And me and my grandmother were just like those little two ladies. so when they came in. I already felt something so powerful. When they came into my room and I had my first discussion and I told'em about my experiences that I had through those six months and much I feel like I want to learn more about God. I told them I wanna be Baptist, like Jesus, and I was just talking and telling all this amazing stuff that was happening, and those two missionaries just looked at me and they're like, what is happening? the next conversation came, next meeting. So this is like beginning of July. Next time when they came, we had another discussion and I told him I wanna be baptized like Jesus. And this one elder said, okay, so he gave me the date I said, okay. this one elder, he was greenie. He just three months maybe he was in Poland, he, you could see his open mouth. I was baptized on the 31st of July But I knew what I knew. it's like Joseph Smith, when he knew what he knew, you couldn't deny it. And that's how it was with me. I knew, and my grandmother. Was very supportive of that. She never made me feel like you are doing a wrong thing. it was like a miracle it was supposed to be.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:Really? That's, so amazing. and you know what this goes back to is that decision of your grandmother to you come rather than bayata to
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:Yeah. Yes.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:because your opportunity to meet the missionaries came with her decision to bring you.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:yes. yes. You're so, so right, because my sister was not on this place in her life to have even God that way. So yeah, I really do believe, like you were saying earlier, the preparation, the seed, the all those was just preparing me for something greater And so with that. Of course comes the joy and I felt like when I became a member of the church of Jesus Christ, I felt like I was completed. it's so powerful.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:like your home,
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:yes. yes though. not long after when I joined the church, even though I didn't have a lot of struggles with my family, but that's probably because. I learned July, and I got baptized in July. So there was no time for them to really talk to me and say something wrong with you, what are you doing? But after my baptism, they, I remember this one day, it was August I came to Saot to see my family and my siblings sat in a semicircle and they start asking me questions and they were like, interrogating. I said, when you know something and you just have to stay true to it. I told them, I don't have the kind of answer you want me to tell you. I don't know much about this church. Like historically, I don't know much about a lot of things, but I know what I feel. I know what was my witness and, that is enough for me because I know who I am. I know what is my purpose. Where before I didn't and that's all I could tell them. so they never bothered me about it anymore. But I think because I joined the church, there's just so many things happened between my family. The dynamics kind of start changing my grandmother, she would come to church every once in a while. She never joined the church when she was alive, but she wasn't against and opposed to it when I would go. I am very grateful for her support. when I made a decision to go on a mission, she was totally okay with that. after my mission. I returned to soot and I was helping my family. I felt like that's where I needed to go. I needed help the church in soot area.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:had other members of your family join the church?
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:yes, I have a sister who has epilepsy, She is a wonderful person. She always loved God. she joined the church. then, in November on my birthday actually, my mother and my sister, the one who I had experience with during Christmas, she joined the church too.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:So Two. sisters and your mother.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:yes, two sisters, and my mother, Just before I was living on my mission, I, told my brother, his name is Rashad. I just invited him and I said, just listen to the missionaries. Listen to what they say. I was already over a year a member of the church. I asked him to just listen. And so while I was in MTC, actually I got a letter from my brother he was telling me that he's going to be baptized in March. So two months later I went on my mission, he was baptized, and then when I was on my mission still, he received a call to England to serve Mission. So we didn't see each other for almost two years. after my mission because he was still serving his mission in England. then my sister served Mission in Russia, the one who was, who is the younger One?
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:Fascinating. three of your parents' children served missions. That's amazing.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:And the brother who currently lives in Salt Lake City. His daughter is serving in Lithuania right now. And my daughter serves Mission in Utah
Muta.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:Yes and her brother just got a call to Hungarian. So
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:Oh
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:it's just a, a chain of
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:yeah. So chain of events.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:That's why I feel like God he, meant this to be, I needed to be born so I can go to my grandmother, the missionaries,
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:Yes.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:some family members Got baptized
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:right. Your parents were greatly blessed by allowing your birth,
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:Yes. Yes.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:so many other people were
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:I always, yes. since I joined the church and I came here to the States, I was always interested in doing genealogy work, but it felt like. I'm so limited. I don't have records, I don't have journals, I have no stories that are recorded. I just knew my grandma, grandpa, and just great-grandma and great-grandpa. That was the closest on my dad's side. I didn't even know much about his, only about his parents, that's all. one day I remember I was doing genealogy work. This is after my grandmother passed away. So I was doing genealogy work and I found, I was thinking about my great grandmother, which is my grandmother's mother. She was actually living at the same time when I moved Wara. So there was my grandma, grandpa, great-grandma, and then me in Warsaw.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:I see.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:my great-grandmother's name was ska. So I had this thought look for the name ska, and so I put it in my heritage. I typed bonnet and I was looking, and then I found a name and I found the dates and I was like, oh, this and this city, the place where my grandmother was born. I was like, oh, maybe this is connection somehow maybe that's my branch. I was working deeper and I said, oh, but I don't know for sure. then not long after I, I received an email from a man whose name was Bonky and he told me that we are connected, that he has this tree, he has this family part that I was searching for. so we connected together. And from just my great-grandmother, it went like to 1600. I was like, wow. And this is my. Yeah, so this is my grandmother lineage, and I felt her presence, I felt her, felt her work, like guiding me and bringing me those names and families. And so I felt really, really strong about it. And so why am I bringing this? I bringing this because Beata, she had a very good connection with dad, with my father, and she loved stories. She loved listening to stories. And she could write probably a book about my dad and some stories that he shared with her. So I always thought of her, it would be wonderful if she would be interested in genealogy work and maybe do something like that. she did show an interest in doing some kind of records and stuff. I. Always felt to help my sister even when I knew she's not gonna come to and live with my grandmother. I felt bad in some way that I was the one who was going, not her. I wanted to help her. when I lived already here in the States and I was married, I heard stories about her, unfortunate events. She had to work, and take care of herself and this little boy. I talked to my husband and we thought we could help her if I can give her some opportunity so she could come to the States. at that time, this little boy was a little boy and took. About 20 years we were doing this whole process. Many years. six years ago that they finally got Visa to be able to come to the States. so she's been here for six years. but I wanted to bring this now to six years later. I will always be grateful to my grandmother that she was in tune to have me. It was like a divine intervention. Maybe grandma understood something that we all didn't, it's hard to say now because she's gone, but someday I would like to ask her. But I do believe she was in tune and I am grateful that I was able to be with her and then be led to the missionaries and all the stories that I just shared. Because today my sister, she's in America, her son has a very good job. But my sister, she's been struggling a lot with her physical and mental, Health. This few months ago she experienced some heavy, depression, anxiety, and, nausea and all those different symptoms that we didn't know what was going on. I took her to different doctors and she had a very bad experience in one of the hospitals in the emergency room. a very challenging three months, recently, my nephew called me and he said, I don't know what to do with my mom anymore. we met and she was like, not herself. Wobbly on her feet. She couldn't stand up still. she sounded so loopy and just not her. two days later, he took her to emergency room and in one of the hospitals. And in two minutes they submitted her, and they found out that she had a brain tumor all those times she was struggling. We didn't understand all the symptoms, what they meant. we are grateful for the doctor who was there because, two days later she had a surgery done and they removed the brain tumor. sadly, it is a cancerous. We don't know yet. What kind of tumor is that from the biopsy, but.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:but it is cancerous.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:Yeah. So when I found out, all those thoughts came to my mind, us as little girls and we loved laying down on grass and look at the clouds, looking at different shapes. That was our favorite thing to do when we were kids. so I just had different pictures of the time with her, and I thought, how much time do I have with her? I don't know. But I was so grateful that the surgeon did amazing job. she doesn't have the tumor. It's all removed. Right now she's recovering and she's doing very well. then on Sunday, she wanted to go to church. She actually said right after surgery, I feel like I want to be close to God. I pray to him. I pray that I will have faith like you do. I want to feel God's love. I want to trust him. then she said, I feel his power. I feel him. during that time when she was going through that surgery, I sent the message to my children and my family members. so many, so many people responded and said, we are praying for her. And she says, I do feel the prayer. she said, I am going to church. and she went to church She's I said, she's not a member. she said, I feel like I want to visit with sister missionaries. I don't wanna see elders. but I want to see the missionaries, sister, missionaries. I was driving and I prayed how I can connect her with the sister missionaries. I go to the church and as soon as I open the door, two sister missionaries are standing there just they were waiting for me. No kidding. I look at them and I said, are you in this ward? And they said, yes. And I told them about my sister. But the interesting thing was that the sisters were in this ward, but that's not the word that my sister supposed to be going the war that this was 12 o'clock. The war that she really supposed to be going was at nine o'clock in the morning. And we didn't know because the, the rectory showed that that's the 12 o'clock. And so it was like it meant to be that we will be there with the sisters. Were, because the area that my sister lives in, actually elders are covering.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:Oh, and she wants the sisters.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:yes, I was already emotional about this. I just felt wow, This is a gift from God at this moment. cause we, we missed the church the time that she's supposed to be. We came to a different ward and they're sister missionaries. And so I introduced the sisters to my sister and my sister. She saw them and she lost it. She cried. she told them how much she wanted the sisters. It was a tender mercy. That's what comes to mind. she was so grateful. my daughter who serves Mission in Utah, she said, I ask my mission to pray for her. And they did. I was going home and I felt like God is real. God loves us. He's mindful of each one of us. And sometimes when we feel like. God doesn't care for me. He does.
You're right. Kasha God does care. He cares for all of us. What an incredible story, Kasha. right up through the very end when you went to the later church time and came upon the sister missionaries, which is just what Beata needed.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:Yes. Yes, that's true.
Kasha, it's been so amazing to see your life's purpose unfold as you shared your life stories. It's left me with this feeling of wonderment in God's plan and joyfulness in my heart. Thank you, Kasia. Thank you.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:you are so Welcome you are so Welcome
Kasia, as I said in the beginning of our podcast, you are a talented musician and you've written many pieces of music, but one in particular we get to highlight in this episode is called Little Dove. I'm going to have you share with us how these lyrics came to you and then have you say the lyrics before we play the song at the end of the podcast as our closing number. Before we get into that, I'd like to remind all of our listeners how they can find you. Kasha has a podcast. It's called ASHA's Faith Journey. Be sure to tune in to hear more of her beautiful stories like the one she shared with us today. You can find her websites@www.kashasmusic.com and ASHA's faith journey.com. Kasha, tell us about Little Dove And how did you create these lyrics?
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:Yes. the song is called Little Dove I experienced few people who passed on very close and dear to me. One of them was my brother, my oldest brother, when I was just a new member of the church. It was a, I would say, a test of faith. Experience. then I had, when I was in college here in the States I learned about my cousin also very close. He passed away. He had some, addiction with drugs and affected his health. So when I learned about him passing, I sat to the piano and this, the song came to mind. It's called Little Dove. it represented this white dove of connection to God. these are the lyrics. Fly little dove, fly above the star. Bring me peace from above to my heart. I wish to fly like you. To have wings, to have freedom, to see those who I love to find those who are gone. Somewhere up there somewhere, white little dove fly above this world, bring us the joy of pure love from above. I know it's not for me to have wings and be like, you are. I have to stay on earth without wings. I will start to learn how to be free. So basically I thought of those people who are free from all those different struggles that they had here. And then they're moved, they passed on, and I wanna fly to them and feel that freedom. But I understand that that's not my. Time, my time to be here to learn how to be free, having different challenges and struggles or joy experiences, and learn how to be free by trusting God and have that inside remembrance that I can be if I the knowledge of Christ, because someday I will meet them, I live here and that's when I need to learn that freedom. I hope this makes sense.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:Oh, yes, Yes. A very, eternal perspective. The idea of wanting to be lifted from these earthly chains, these earthly hardships, the sicknesses, both emotional, mental, and physical of this earth, but also realizing it's not time yet
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:Yes,,
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:In the meantime, my freedom will come from, like you said, from my faith and my savior, Jesus Christ. and I'll have that freedom for now.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:Yes, Yes. I
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:Right? Right.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:together. Yes, that's true.
stephanie-eccles_1_02-12-2024_191530:Thank you.
Stephanie test:I want to thank Kasha Harreldson for sharing her story with us today. It has been a delight having her with us. Thank you, Kasha.
squadcaster-43df_1_02-12-2024_181530:you are so Welcome
Do you have a story where you have seen the Lord's hand in your life or a family member's life? I would like to help you tell your story. We could do it in a couple of different ways. We could do it in the form of an interview, or I could tell the story for you, whichever you prefer. Reach out to me at deardaughtersofgod at gmail. com. That's deardaughtersofgod at gmail. com. I want to thank you, our listeners, for tuning in today. I feel so special when you send me messages. It makes me feel connected with all of you. Some of you reach out to me in person and I appreciate that. Others leave reviews and let me know what you think of the episode that way. I'm so grateful for that. Some of you leave me direct messages and others leave me emails. Whichever way you like to communicate with me. I'm thrilled when you stay connected with me. Thank you for communicating with me. I will create a videogram about this episode with Kasha Haraldson and I'll place it on Instagram and Facebook, the Dear Daughters of God pages, and then you can see a picture of Kasha and her family members. Looking for that videogram. Little Dove is next. For now, I will say farewell, until we meet again. Fly, little dove, fly above the star. Bring me a peace from above to my heart. I wish to fly like you, to have wings, to have freedom. To see. Without we will start to learn how to