HAPPY YEAR MARK!

Dear everyone,

"And it came to pass that the first year of the reign of the missionaries in the land of Ukraine had passed away" 

That's the text message that I woke up to on Thursday.

 

Can you believe that I have been on my mission for a whole year???? Woah. That's right. This last Thursday was my year mark! Ever since last Thursday, I start my day by reading the journal entry from this time last year. It is crazy to see how far I have come and how much I have learned and grown. Coming on a mission has been such a great blessing for me. I have gained a stronger testimony of this church and the restored gospel, and although days are sometimes hard, there is NO WHERE else I would rather be! I love sharing the gospel, I love teaching and preaching here in Ukraine! I love it all! Sister Winsor and I had a blast on my year mark. We ate some yummy treats, went to English, and at night did some fun "year mark" partying. It's all on video, so we can enjoy it together when I get home :) It was a BLAST! :) 

 Me on my year mark

I still can't believe how "old" I am on my mission. I'm like approaching grandma age now. Oh boy. But despite my old age, I'm carrying on! This week was so good! I LOVE BROVARY! It is still so cute and good and I love it :P Something that is very different from Suvorovsky is that the majority of Brovary is families. Like big families, especially by Ukraine Standards. But even from American Standards because one family that we visited has 9 kids!! Also a large number of the families here are moving to America, so someday you can all meet them. 

But this week we spent a lot of time with the recent converts in our branch. We are really working on helping them review so that they know everything that they need to about the gospel! they are 3 great guys and it is fun to teach them! They all have such a strong desire to live the gospel! :) 

We also met some of the families in our branch! On Monday, we had a really fun FHE with the Branch President and his family. Our branch president does translating for general conference so right now he is working on translating all the talks for conference. Pretty cool job. He's not allowed to tell us about the talks but he gave us some sneak peak topics haha :) He has 3 darling kids and it was fun! :) 

This week we also cooked with our landlady. We made Galapsie, which is like stuffed cabbage rolls. She kept going off about how healthy it was and then added about 3 cups of oil...so I don't think they were that healthy but they were super yummy! :) 

Me in the selo!

Wednesday we did SERVICE in a selo, which is like a village. There is a family there with 9 kids. The husband slipped on the ice ( sound familiar??) and got hurt so they need a lot of help. So we helped in the garden there and it was way fun! We also have a lot of service this week! I am so excited :) 

 

doing service with the Clark family on Wednesday

We had a game night on Saturday! I learned a new game, "California Speed". I lost every time but it was really fun. Someday I will win. Ping-pong here is very intense...I  wasn't very competitive with everyone else. haha 

There is a man here that comes to english all the time, and he knows a lot of english! We met with him and he helped us with our Russian. It was probably the best russian help I have ever gotten. So good! I love russian! It's just like a big puzzle to figure out! :) 

I love being a missionary! I love this gospel! I love all of you! Watch General Conference this week! :) All of it! We have been teaching lately about general conference and how if we spiritually prepare for conference, the Lord will answer our questions! :) I KNOW that is true! I am on my mission today because the Lord answered my questions at a general conference! :) 

I love you! Pray for Ukraine! :) 

Love, 

Sister Kati Ford 

Hello from Brovary!!

Dear Family and Friends! 

HELLO FROM BROVARY! I feel like anytime I write Brovary, I just need to put a little heart right next to it. This little city is just so CUTE! I can't even handle it. I just feel like it was made right for me. We are emailing from the church right now and I look out the window to a TRACK! Like 9 lane paved track, with people currently training for speed walking, javelin, discus, and running events. As I'm typing this, they are filling up the Long Jump pit with sand. I really hope I get to watch a meet there :) Right behind the track is the beginning of Victory Park. It is a huge park, with fountains, statues, a lake and so many trees and grass and people outside. We can literally walk around the park for 3 hours and never have to leave. We also ALWAYS run into people from English and Investigators and Members there, it is really awesome! 

we got some cotton candy in the park

The new branch is also so cute! There are so many families and kids! It's bigger then Suvorovsky, but not by much. The members are all so nice and sweet, they were super welcoming. Sister Winsor and I did a musical number together yesterday and it was fun. I played the violin and now basically everyone loves me. Nice perk :) Also, people in Brovary are beautiful. Seriously. And they are always out running and walking. So healthy. 

cute welcome :)

 

Also my new district is super cute! I'm again with 4 sisters and 2 elders. The elders are also Zone Leaders, so they will be on exchanges a lot. Our district is super diverse, with one elder from Germany and one sister from New Zealand. But it's really funny, because I tell members that I'm from Michigan and they are like "WOW! I've never met someone from Michigan before, that is so cool!" and then they like freak out a little. it's fun :) 

So as far as this last week goes, it is crazy to think that I was in Odessa only a few days ago! I spent my last few days there saying goodbye to all of the members. It was really sad. I even got to go into Center and say goodbye to Katia, one of my favorite people from Odessa. When we were with there, I started with a prayer, and she said, "Sister Ford, your Russian is almost perfect! I'm so proud of you!" It was a huge compliment and it built me up! I love her! We also had a really fun game night! Those last few days were so crazy, appointment after appointment! I had everyone write nice things in my friend book, so now I will be able to remember them forever! :) 

 district pictures

I finally got a picture on the CHAIR! :) yay! Last day there! :)

But at last, Wednesday night, we boarded a train and got up to Kyiv. The next day was really fun because I got to say hello to everyone there for transfers! Also, someone was going to go to the temple at the last minute, but then she couldn't, so I got to go again! I am literally the luckiest! Twice in two weeks! that is like American style! I LOVE THE TEMPLE! I got to go with all the sisters from my new district :) they are all so cute! My companion's name is Sister Winsor. She is from Texas, is 21, has been on her mission for 2 transfers less then me, and has always been in Brovary. She is cute and funny and we get along really well. She loves Snickers (frozen...) and to cook. Which is nice for me. :) I'm excited to serve wtih her! :) 

Thursday we had english. Another thing about Brovary, so many people speak really good english. So english was a big discussion group and it was REALLY fun! I loved it! We do it a couple times a week, so I am excited for it! :) We also have a great Ward Mission Leader. He is so cool. His birthday is today, just by the way.... We all met together to talk about missionary work and it was really good. They also love to index here (like Family History)! So we help people learn to do that which is really fun.

There are 3 recent converts that I have met here, two black men from Africa, and one Ukrainian that speaks english. So we do a lot in english. It is so different! I'm missing teaching in Russian. But they are all so cool and solid. Also, every Saturday, there is soccer in the morning! So fun! I still can't play, but it was so fun to watch! 

soccer on Saturday

 

This biggest difference between Brovary and Odessa is the language. People here speak in Ukrainian. It weirds me out. In church they would be going off in Ukrainian and I would try to understand but wouldn't get it all, but then they would switch to Russian and my ears would be so happy :) I promised some members that I would learn some Ukrainian, so we will see how that goes. The other big difference is here everyone is involved with Maidan. Like our members go and are there. We have another recent convert that I haven't met that is living on Maidan. So different than Odessa! 

 

So yeah! I'm really loving life! Missionary work is awesome! I know that I'm supposed to be serving here right now and I love this work! I love the church and I know that it is true! :) I love you all! 

Love,

Sister Kati Ford

Here we go again...

Dear Family and Friends,

I really feel like I just did this whole email thing... Oh wait, it was only 5 days ago... Oh well!

Here is the LAST EMAIL FROM ODESSA! wow. Next week I will be in Kyiv. yay! I'm excited to see where this next transfer will take me! But as for right now, I'm still here in Odessa, where I spent the last 5 days saying goodbye to EVERYONE! It's been CRAZY! This week. Seriously...So much to do and people to see. It's a little stressful. But not too bad, because people are literally "breaking their backs" (hehehe couldn't resist) to meet and say goodbye. I have my little "Friend Book" and I've been pasting pictures of me with members and having them write little messages to me in it. They are the CUTEST and when I get home, I will just have the best memories of all my favorite Ukrainians! 

This week we had the Odessa District (like stake but smaller) conference! It was like an introduction to general conference for us :)! Seriously. President and Sister Klebingat spoke and we had two members of the seventy speak! So much spiritual feasting!  It was almost all in russian, even President and the Seventy so it was fun to realize how far I have come in Russian. Whereas 1 year ago, I didn't know any russian, now I can listen to talks in Russian and understand almost all of it and take notes and learn from them! Russian is the COOLEST! :)
 Oh yeah, some of the missionaries did a musical number, like me! :) So that was fun. We sang "Like 10 Thousand Legions Marching". Do you know it? if not, that's ok. Neither did any of us when the choir director told us that we were singing that one. But it was fun! We had our conference in a Office Center Place. But it was funny because all the pictures on the wall and everything were army and fighting and war and it was just kinda ironic because of the whole situation here in Ukraine right now. So that was humorous. haha :) 

A big theme from our conference yesterday and also from the Leadership Council that I went too has been the importance of acting. President Klebingat spoke yesterday in the conference about how becoming a saint, isn't really about doing some big or crazy thing (like crossing America with a handcart) but rather doing the small things everyday! :) He talked about how if families aren't doing daily scripture study, or family home evening, they just need to start. Today. Tonight. Not tomorrow or next week, but right now. I thought about how that applies to my life. I don't have a family to do family home evening with right now, but I do have goals and desires that I want to achieve, so I just need to start. right now. and do! And I will see the blessings that come as I do the small things daily :) President Klebingat promised us that being a member of this church becomes fun, not a burden, when we, with energy, set and achieve our goals. Isn't that an awesome promise! I don't really know about in America, but here a major stumbling block that people face is that "the church requires too much work, requires me to be too good of a person...so on...". So having President teach them that the answer to the problem isn't to have the church require less, but to have the individual members require more of themselves, was exactly what they needed!!! 

This week, I said goodbye to alot of members, which was sad but also fun! I love the members here in Odessa! I promised several of them that I would come back with my parents and my husband someday, so prepare for that. Also, on a more humorous note, Ukrainians have a special culture of things they say to missionaries that are leaving. Like, "Sister, I desire you good health and happiness, cute children and an amazing husband". If my future husband got more attractive every time I heard that, my husband would be more attractive than Moroni. So yeah... 

Odessa has really taught me a lot, especially about the church and early pioneers! I have been blessed to see the church grow and mature in ways that I would never be able to see in America! The church is small here, but it is strong and the members are strong! They are incredible examples to me and I love them so much! I really hope and plan to come back someday and visit, because the bonds that I have formed are so strong and eternal! I love being a missionary and forming these relationships! I love this gospel and this church! I know that this church is true and that Christ leads and guides it today through the living prophet, President Thomas S. Monson. I know that he is a prophet of God and am grateful that he called me to serve here in Ukraine, in this SPECIAL part of the world! 

Love you all! 

Until next week, and KYIV! 

Love, 

Sister Kati Ford 

I am the luckiest! :)

Dear Family and Friends and EVERYONE!

How is everyone doing? Today, here in Odessa, it is beautiful, sunny, and warm. People on the street are happy and smiling, and these two sister missionaries are just LOVING LIFE! :)
This last week was SO good. Ukraine is such a special place to serve. For the first time since January, Sister Lamoreaux and I and the whole mission worked ALL WEEK! No lock down! :) We hear that the tension in Crimea has calmed down alot, although nothing has really been resolved. Apparently, this Sunday is supposed to be a big day because of the election in Crimea and everything. However, I'm not at all worried because President Klebingat (Mission President) and President Bennet (Area Seventy) are both going to be in Odessa. Nothing scares President Bennet and I'm pretty sure that even less scares President Klebingat :)

But besides an up look on the Political Scene, this week was GREAT in so many little ways. I had some really special experiences! :)

our english club that we went too

First of all- I serve (and am concluding service) in the best cutest branch with some of the lovely-est people I have ever met. 

 Our cute Relief Society :)

 

This week we met with the other Sisters and Raisa and her grandchildren. We did a cute little theater and acted out Lehi's dream, the tree of life. It was the cutest. We had a tree and apples and an iron rod and it was just so special. At the end, we taped the meanings of the props to the props. Raisa had played the part of the great and spacious building, so we taped "pride" and "sin" to her. Sofia and Seva thought that was the best. They were laughing and laughing so much.

FHE with Raisa and gang :)

We also met with Natasha Kvacnitsky. She is the seminary teacher for the one active young women in our branch. That young women, Anya, was also there when we went over. Natasha was very sweet and told us all about the whole political situation. Although I'm not sure how sweet it really was because as a general rule, Ukrainians have a PRETTY grim outlook on what is going to happen. But it was fun. We had tea and cookies and it was fun. Anya told me an interesting story. About 6 months ago, we had a missionary fireside. She came and she told me last week, that after the fireside, she went home and prayed to know if she should serve a mini-mission (many youth here have the opportunity to serve for up to 6 weeks, so that we don't need trios). She told us that she received a strong answer YES! I'm so excited for her, as she prepares to serve a mini-mission in the summer. I'm grateful for the opportunity that we have to help the members here, I never would've guessed when we planned that fireside that it would give her the desire to serve as a missionary. The spirit truly works in special ways to motivate us to help others! 

 

MAIL! :) 

 

 

 EXCHANGES :)

 

Also, we had a GREAT meeting with lovely Sister Nina. She is older, very communist-ish in demeanour, but the cutest lady. We asked her to teach us how to make something Ukrainian and she agreed easily. We learned how to make a this bread treat, fried thing. I don't remember the name right now. But it was so yummy, and stuffed with apples, my favorite :) 

 Cooking with Nina :)

She has a daughter that is not active, and a granddaughter, Sasha. Sasha fell in love with Sister Lamoreaux and I. For some reason, I'm not sure why, she calls us Татя Форд и Ламоро which means Aunt Ford and Lamoreaux. It was super funny because I'm just "her favorite aunt" and Sister Lamoreaux is her "favorite black aunt". But she spent the whole meeting playing with us, hugging us and telling us how much she loves us. It was so cute! Another special moment was when I showed her my family picture album. I have a picture of our family in front of the Gilbert temple. When we got to that picture, she said, "храм! temple!" and refused to look at any other picture. How special is it, that even at a young age, she recognizes the power and special spirit that the temple brings! :)

 Sasha and I 

We also met with many less actives this week. Saturday was Women's Day, a very special Ukrainian/Russian holiday. that is like Mother's Day, but for all women. All day people congratulated us, simple for being women :) We got flowers and chocolate and it was special. It's a tradition that I will continue when I get home, for sure :) It is the smartest holiday I have even heard of! :) But we took cupcakes to lots of people in our ward, and they loved it!

cupcakes :)

One lady, Lydia, invited us in and talked to us for like an hour. She had been having a very hard day. Her children had been over earlier and they, as a family, had created a plan. All 3 of her children have military obligations, so they are all on alert for being called into service. Her children are all expecting the worse, so it was hard for her. It was very special for us to be able to share scriptures about peace and hope. We promised that everything would be ok and that God had a perfect plan for her and her family. That visit was somewhat funny because we knocked on her door, she opened and the first thing she said was, "Girls, brace yourselves for war. Come in" Sister Lamoreaux and I just looked at each other... we didn't even know what to say. haha funny...

giant dolls at the new mall!

caramel apples!

This week, we were asked to start teaching temple preparation, speedy version, to Ira, a young women that had her mission papers in. So last week, we taught the first 3 lessons. So SPECIAL! The Spirit is always so strong when we talk about the temple. We were able to talk about why we go, why we need to be worthy, and what blessings come from the temple. I LOVE THE TEMPLE! And then, in a tender mercy beyond what I deserve, and in a very last minute way, Sister Lamoreaux and I actually got the chance to GO TO THE TEMPLE yesterday! It was so special :) 

 temple :)

 

We got to go do a session! I love the temple! I love the peace there and the specialness of being there! It is just so calm and peaceful. There is no worry about war or stress or the outside world in the temple. If you are feeling overwhelmed about anything, go to the temple- it will clear your mind and give you peace :)

In another miracle and tender mercy, while I was waiting in the church to walk to the temple, I saw someone very special! SISTER HUNT! She was there to go to the temple too! What a great reuniting that was! I LOVE HER! And then, in another special moment, while I was waiting for a dressing room at the temple, SISTER LEE AND SISTER BARNES from my MTC district also walk in! Oh my heart was so full of gratitude! Seriously, my favorite people that are also here in Ukraine, were at the temple too. With no planning. It was a testimony to me that the Lord loves me so much! :)

sister HUNT :)

Speaking now of transfers, Finding out that I was leaving Suvorovsky wasn't exactly a surprise, but still left me with a heavy heart. I know that everything will be great in Brovary, and I'm excited to serve there, but leaving somewhere after serving there for so long is sad. I really feel like I have special relationships with the members here. I bore my testimony in church on Sunday and told the branch how I have served in Suvorovsky for 10 months, longer then I've lived in any of my last 4 wards in America. I told them how I really felt at home and part of the branch. It was really special to testify to them that they were special people and that this church was true. I even started crying, which was slightly embarrassing, until I realized that about half the congregation was also teary-eyed. I'm grateful for the time that I had to serve here, because I was really able to see the results from some of the "seeds" that I planted in my first transfers. There were members that were barely active when I arrived, that are now completely active and inviting friends. There are recent converts with waning testimonies that are now awaiting mission calls. These little things that I have been blessed to see have testified to me that "no effort is wasted" and that the Lord puts us in a specific area to use our specific talents! This next week will be crazy saying hello and goodbye to everyone!

my favorite grandmas :)

But speaking of Brovary, I heard a lot about it at our meetings yesterday from other missionaries. And I didn't hear anything bad - which says a lot, people are honest in our mission. EVERYONE loves Brovary, the members, and the area. I am the luckiest to be transferred to such a special area. I'm excited, although slightly nervous for the new. oh, and the Ukrainian. Church services and singing and such are almost always in Ukrainian, Should be interesting. but an adventure :)

matchy matchy this morning on the train.

Poor last minute train ticket buying resulted in us 

sharing acabin with two men. Awk. haha... 

it wasn't too bad, it was only the last 2 hours.

Keep me posted on how everything is in America! Also, I want to see pictures from the cruise :) I love you all so much! I love being on a mission! I love this church and this message that we share! This church is true! :)

Love,
Sister Ford

PS- Maybe you are thinking that maybe my mission can't get crazier... Think AGAIN! I heard a rumor that anyone trained in Odessa will need to go on a VISA TRIP??!? Say what?!?! So if the rumors are true, Sister Hunt and I will be reunited to go to Bulgaria, Latvia, or somewhere else like that, probably in May or June. Guess we will see :) haha

Sorry but...

Hello!

I'm afraid that today you won't get a letter from me, aside from this. Sister Lamoreaux and I just found out about an hour ago that we will be leaving in about 3 hours to go to a conference in Kyiv. So we will be on a train today, in kyiv tomorrow, and back again tomorrow night! Little crazy, but we are excited! It was a little crazy because we had to move around some appointments, but it will be good! But we will email on WEDNESDAY or THURSDAY, so look forward to a great email then! Also, it gives you more time to tell me all about the cruise and send pictures :)

In other news, everything in ukraine is still fine. Our work is good, and we didn't have anything too crazy happen. People are telling us that war is coming, but I think they are just expecting the worst, and I really think they just enjoy scaring the missionaries. But as far as ukraine looking like a war scene and people dying or Russians invading Odessa, still hasn't happened. haha We hear that the news is stretching the stories a LOTTA bit.so yeah... I  guess we will just have to wait and see! :)
 Also, as far as missionaries going home, we are having 3 leaving early (except 2 of them already left). My companion, sister Lamoreaux is the luckiest, she barely missed the cut for leaving my 1 transfer, she is just so grateful that she decided to extend, otherwise she would be gone! Can you imagine, getting a call from the mission president, saying that you are going home the next day?!? Well, it happens! So make the most of every minute and live each day and do the best each day like it is the last, because it could be! :)

Also, we got TRANSFO information this week. Guess what... I'M LEAVING! :( Goodbye Odessa. I'm sad, especially after being here so long, but I'm also excited for new adventures. I still have about 10 more days in Odessa, so I'm looking forward to meeting with ALL the members, eating ALL the odessa bread treats and buying an Я люблю Одессу t shirt! Next Sunday is the District Conference so yesterday was my last sunday in the cute little Suvorovsky branch. I bore my testimony and started crying... of course. But I'm just so grateful for having served in this special little place for so long. It feels like home and the members feel like family! But I'll tell you more about all that when I really email! :)

But I will be transferring the BROVARY! Hello, Kyiv! It is a small city about an hour and a half outside of center Kyiv. From what I hear, it is small, cute and we live right across the street from a huge park. There is also a full sized legit track there, really close to the sisters apartment. (If I can ever run again...haha) The crosswalk symbols are hearts instead of circles, so I think I will just LOVE it :) Also, it is a ward instead of a branch! Should be so fun! I will be serving with Sister Winsor! I don't know anything about her, so it should be fun! She has been there her whole mission and is 2 or 3 or 4 transfers younger then me! I'm excited :)

Anyway, I love you!

Send me more emails!

Love,

Sister Kati Ford

Also, thanks for the package! :)

I'll send pics then :)

Who ya gonna call? Ghostbusters!

Dear Family and Friends,

Hello! How is everyone? Happy March! Can you believe that this month is my YEAR MARK! CRAZY! :)

This week was CRAZY! We had so much going on, but it was so good! It is definitely weird being in Ukraine at this time as far as I know, everything is fine and will be fine. Things have been a little different.

 

 I'm doing a little chocolate fast. So we ate all the 

remaining chocolate last night. So much chocolate

our swarma friend, cooking up for us today :)

Thankfully, Sister Lamoreaux and I found the answer to all the problems in Ukraine... As we were in a taxi, coming home from an exchange, the following words comforted us "Who ya gonna call?!? Ghostbusters!" I have no idea why that was playing... but hey, with the Ghostbusters on our side, I think we're safe :) In other words though, they play the weirdest music here...
Yesterday, our church services could've been titled, "war, war, the last days, and more war", but I think our church little branch is a little dramatic! We just spent the day at church, where basically every testimony talked about war and the last days, then Relief Society which was about "How to find Peace in Troubled Times", :) They even planned out their emergency plan in Branch Council. You know, "If a massive atomic bomb goes off, what is the plan? If aliens invade, what is the plan? If if if..." So many Russian words that I have yet to learn!

It was really funny because in the midst of everyone talking about all the problems in Ukraine, a little grandma stands up. Sister Goncharova. She shuffles up to the stand, where they help her climb on the kid's stool. This last week was the 20th anniversary of her baptism. So we had taken her cupcakes and talked about baptism. But anyways, she starts testifying about her baptism and how important baptism is and then all the sudden she says, "Our sisters are so great! They brought me cupcakes and we talked about baptism. and oh, our sisters... Ford! Kelly! (then she forgot the names of the other sisters) they are great! I love them! They are so good!" and just going on and on. I was standing at the side of the room (standing hurts less) and all the sudden everyone starts looking at me. I feel my face go bright red. There was two returned missionaries in the back, they give me a thumbs up, the old grandpa in the back winks, and yeah...sufficiently awkward, but in a cute sort of way.... If you want to make a babushka love you, celebrate the day of her baptism! :)

This week we spent a lot of time with Natasha, the recent convert. She has really been having a hard time in her life, so we have been trying to support her. We ate lunch with her one day, and another day we went over to her house with the senior missionaries from Odessa. That lesson was so good, and the senior elder was able to give her a blessing! I don't think that she has ever received a Priesthood blessing of comfort before, and she felt the Spirit so strongly. She was so happy after, it was amazing to see! :) I love her so much!!!!

Also this week, we were asked by a man to come and visit his English Club.So we did. IT WAS SO FUN! Imagine twenty 14 year old girls, 2 boys, and a teacher (who doesn't speak english as well as his students think) :)! We introduced ourselves, I drew a somewhat decent map of the United States and we showed where we were from. We sang the National Athem. (and NONE of us -all 6 misionaries - hit the high note...) and then they sang the Ukrainian anthem for us! Then we split into small groups and just talked. I was with a boy names Vova and a girl names Sasha! They were just the cutest! It ended with us inviting them ALL to our english practice, I really hope they come! :)

My cute english friends :)

Wednesday, Sister Lamoreaux and I did an exchange! It was so fun! I was with a cute Sister Steinaker and we ROCKED Tairova. We met with a lovely less active, that I fell in love with (I hope I see her again), helped a lady and her sad, cripply dog, accidentally went to a lady that they had planned to see the next day, met a man on the street that insisted that I come to dinner with him (who knows what happened when I didn't show up...I think maybe the elders went...haha I don't know), and taught English! It was so fun and just a typical missionary day! Sister Steinaker is so fun and so self-confident! I have a great respect for her and I love her! She is from Arizona, so that automatically makes her awesome!

Sister Lamoreaux and I are actually involved in war and the results are getting pretty violent. It is usally intense at night, but we have a huge advantage against the opponents. I speak of COCKROACHES! We have so many....I don't know what to do anymore! I think that the more we clean, the more we get... Doesn't make any sense.. But since when have cockroaches made sense???... So bottom line, pray for Ukraine, and also pray for the Sisters-Roach War of 2014. Because this week we are TAKING THEM DOWN! We finally were able to withdraw money so we will be buying bug spray and paste and traps and all that - TONIGHT! There will be no mercy.(except for the good kind, that the gospel teaches about!) :)

so yeah...Nothing like walking down the street and getting a phone call, answering and hearing, "hey, go inside" That happened two different days this week, usually at the most inconvenient times. Once, as we were about to teach English, the other as we were about to go on our other exchange. So... hmm... hopefully there won't be anymore of that :) 

 Lock down picture! :)

 

I'm glad to hear that everything is looking up! I don't like all this talk and problems! :) But one thing I know for sure, the Lord is watching out for his missionaries! I don't think I have ever once, not felt safe on the street! I'm sure that nothing will happen to me or any of the missionaries! God has a perfect plan for each of us! I read in my personal study today President Monson's talk from the last conference. I loved where he said,  "Were it not for challenges to overcome and problems to solve, we would remain much as we are, with little or no progress towards our goal of eternal life". He also shared a poem that I loved, 

"Good timber does not grow with ease

the stronger wind, the stronger trees
the further sky, the greater length.

The more the storm, the more the strength

By sun and cold, by rain and snow,

in trees and men good timbers grow"

So, apparently, God is just forming our mission, the people here in Ukraine, and me into  really strong trees, or a really strong people! And It's true! I can see so much how I am learning and growing. So I know that I can keep going, because it is making me better! I'm learning study skills as I sit inside, patience as I try 5 banks and 8 ATMs before getting money, hope as I comfort people here, and humor as we look for ways to lighten the load of others! The sun is still shining (figuratively...cause its cloudy) and I am still happy! The church is still true and God leads it! I know that all the leaders of the church are watching out for the missionaries here in ukraine, and I'm grateful for all the love and prayers from everyone! :) I love you all!

Have a great week!

Love,

Sister Kati Ford