At first I couldn't really think of much to say but then I started thinking back on this week, and seriously SO MUCH HAPPENED! My life is crazy. Seriously! And I am so very, very blessed!
This week was really good. It has been a little stressful for us traveling everyday into our area for an hour in the morning and an hour at night so we are beyond excited that we will receive our keys tonight and will be able to move in soon! Despite the long commute and the difficulty of living outside our area, this week was really good.
Soccer jersey! :) hehe can't wait to see the boys in those short shorts :)
I've personally tried to do some things differently then I have in the past and for the most part, I have found a lot of happiness and success in doing them.
The first thing that I have really worked on this week is not being afraid to talk to everyone. I reached a realization that there is no reason not to talk to someone. After all, this could be the one chance I have to ever talk to them. I don't want to miss anyone so I have taken my talking to everyone to a whole new level. Not weird, just increased. I feel like I have talked to more people this week then I have in past weeks and it makes me really happy. I think as a newer missionary, I am often afraid of not knowing what to say, not understanding, or of the actual person. But I find (especially now as the older companion) that the Lord really does bless me more and more as I try to talk with everyone. It's really rough sometimes, but I am making the effort and so happy about that! I still have more to go, but I really do try every day to talk to more and more people.
Another thing that I have been working on is getting better at having conversations, meaningful conversations, with members. This one is really hard for me, especially since I am uncomfortable with my level of Russian still. Talking in Russian is hard, but talking about things other then the gospel (small talk) is especially hard, because I don't know any vocabulary. But as I have tried it more and more this week, I have been blessed with better relationships with the members.
Teacum, our pregnant church cat. She protects the church...kinda.
but seriously was bought to kill mice. She does a good job
So last Monday night, Sister Nielsen and I were in bed a little early. It was 10:29 when the phone rang. I jumped out of bed and answered the phone. It is Elder Hughes, the AP, calling to tell me that tomorrow President Klebingat wanted me to be on a conference call. I was confused and I thought about it, but couldn't figure it out. Fast forward to the next morning, I call into the conference call. The most random missionaries seem to be on it. I can't sense a pattern to who is on this call. Then President gets on the call and says, "Missionaries, I am calling to tell you that next transfer, you will be training a new missionary. Prepare now. Have a good day" Or basically just like that! So news out that next transfer I will be training! I'm kinda nervous! I will have been in the country for 4 months and will be training! Crazy! There are so many missionaries right now!
Finding out that I was training this week was surprising. I am really excited but also slightly nervous. I know that trainers have a huge impact on the rest of a missionaries' mission. I look back and am grateful for Sister Busch everyday. And I want to be that kind of trainer for my companion. I really want to inspire her. I'm working on being as exactly obedient and hard working now so that when we are together, they will be habits for me!
Today is Odessa's birthday! Happy Birthday Odessa! :) That's the city flag!
This week, we started our new transfer so we had our first new district meeting! I am seriously one of the only missionaries from my first transfer that is still in the district! And the only sister that it is the same! Crazy how quickly things change! Our new district is good! Lots of new missionaries!
us with giant cotton candy
my quote wall. Being dissassembled tonight
and the one in the bedroom. It's missing the picture of the nauvoo temple because I showed it to someone.
Tuesday we were in the church when a couple from American walked in and asked the Elders for a blessing. What a blessing to know that missionaries all over the world are always available and worthy to help when needed! We have great elders in Odessa Ukraine, so if you are ever here and need anything, they will be willing to help!
Wednesday we had a little miracle. We were walking down the street and there was this lady standing on the sidewalk, just standing. I went up to her and asked, "Are you interested in growing closer to Christ". She said yes. I gave her a Living Christ and she asked if she could come to Church. We said yes and offered to meet with her, to which she accepted. She said yes, and although it hasn't worked out yet, I'm sure it will. Her name is Olga and because she wasn't stopped on the sidewalk, we call her Olga Stopped in our phone. Makes me smile everytime :)
This week we also got the opportunity to teach Natasha, our recent convert. She is doing Fantastic! We met with her and taught her about temples. We showed her the Kyiv Temple Celebration Video (Makes me cry everytime!) and then talked about how she can go to the temple and do baptisms. I can't wait for that day!! Talking about the temples made me want to go to the temple! I really hope I can soon! I'm so blessed to have a temple in my mission! If I ever make it back up to Kyiv I am going to go for sure! :)
Natasha also gave us her new boyfriend as a referral. We met with him once and he seems interested and really nice! We are going to show him the Restoration video next time (At Natasha's request). Also Natasha is speaking at church next sunday so she wants help preparing! It is cute! Love her!
Something interesting that happened this week was in Branch Council. I became really aware of how much the Suvorosky branch wants to do missionary work. They have a mission plan and they talked about it. They committed (among themselves) to try and talk to their friends about things that made our church different. They set up a branch open house. Through all this, the missionaries were in the background, there to help, but not at all running the show. It was incredible.
I love you all! I had a great week and hope that you did too! You are all in my prayers!
Love,
Sister Ford
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