Roller Coasters!

Dear Family and Friends, 

This week was CRAZY! I can't believe all that happened. Seriously. So much. Like a roller coaster.

I'm not even sure where to begin writing about this! 

Pretty sunset view out our window last night

 

First of all, it started cooling down already and according to the members, summer has ended. Sister Larcabal and I looked around outside this morning, I think it is true. The leaves are all changing colors and falling off the trees already. WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN???? I thought it was still like May, maybe June. Time is passing so fast! Maybe it will snow soon? Haha probably not yet... 

So much happened this week, but when I look back, it feels like I emailed home like yesterday or the day before. I have to keep reminding myself that I didn't already write about these things. 

Also, I got sick again. I think it was because of the change in the weather? I don't actually know, but the elders sent me home to rest yesterday, and that helped a lot. It's just been like the flu or something. It's getting better though. Everyone has their advice for me. Haha it's so funny. I promise that I don't get sick that often, but I think that our recent converts think that I'm bouncing in and out of the hospital. They were so concerned. haha its cute. Also, If I got a dollar for everytime someone told Sister Laracal to tell me to "Stop being sick", I think Sister Larcabal and I would both be rich. We could buy a boat. or something else fun like that. Like I can just choose to stop being sick... it's not that easy, folks! But now that I'm actually feeling better, I'm so excited to work and work again! 

This week, we had some crazy cool miracles, but also some crazy sad things happen. 

Do you remember Oksana? We met with her this week to talk about the Plan of Salvation. It was probably one of the most beautiful lessons that I have ever had. We started our by singing "I am a child of God", and it just set the tone for the whole lesson. We testified and shared scriptures and our member was AMAZING. But the coolest part wasn't the lesson or us at all. It was seeing the Spirit work with Oksana. The Plan of Salvation was an answer to her, and it was so clearly obvious to her that it was the truth and the way that it was. She kept saying things like, "I always knew it was that way, It is the only way that makes sense... Oh course this is true, and true for everyone".

 At one moment, we asked her,"Oksana, did you pray and ask God if our message is true? If the Book of Mormon is true?" and she said,"Yes, I prayed". And we asked, "Did you receive an answer?" "Yes, I received an answer" she answered. "Well, what answer did you receive?" And she answered, "It's true. and peaceful." And our member bore testimony of the peace that the gospel, especially that comes through the Atonement. It was perfect because right after she bore testimony of the Atonement, We were able to ask, "Oksana, Will you follow Jesus Christ and be baptized by someone holding the priesthood authority of God?" The Spirit was so strong and it was such a perfect moment. She said that she wanted to be baptized, but her concern was that her parents would be against it. But she wanted to be baptized, so she decided that she would talk to her parents about it all. 

I felt the Spirit during that lesson so strong, it being maybe one of the strongest moments on my mission. It was so incredible. Sister Larcabal and I were amazed at the change that was taking place in Oksana. She was repenting, she was coming closer to Christ, she was feeling the Spirit, she wanted to change and be more like the Savior. It was incredible to see that change in her, and to be a firsthand witness of the power of the Atonement and the Gospel in someones life. 

 Last Pday in Kyiv

melted chocolate in a cup...it was divine :)

 

But... I said that some crazy sad things happened this week...

Saturday night, we got a call from Oksana. She told us that she had talked to her parents. Not only were they against her getting baptized, but they forbade her from ever coming back to the church, even for english practice. She isn't even really allowed to ever see us again. It was heartbreaking. She wants this so bad, but her parents threatened her that they would take away everything if she goes against them. I couldn't help but cry as I told her that the Lord was a Lord of miracles, and that we would continue to pray for her everyday. She promised to continue to read the Book of Mormon and said that maybe within a few weeks, her parents wouldn't be as strict. But its so sad to see someone that I love so much, come so close, and then be kept away. But I'm sure the Lord is still working with her, and one day she will be able to be baptized and receive all the blessings that she so desires. 

Game night! 

So that was the first said thing. That same night, when we called our other investigator from Africa, Julianna, we also got some bad news. But let me first tell you about her. 

We finally were able to meet with Julianna this week! She is incredible! She is so great! She is here in Kyiv, working for a month, before she goes back to study in Kharkiv. This normally wouldn't be a problem, we would just teach her and then pass her to the missionaries there and they would keep working with her there. However, Kharkiv is one of the areas in our mission that is closed for missionary work right now because of the war, so there are no missionaries there. So this is really her chance to hear the gospel, and to be taught by english speaking full time missionaries. It is like this perfect miracle that she is here. But Satan is working so hard to keep her from the gospel! She is working in Kyiv and is at work or traveling to and from work, basically every minute. She can usually only meet at like 8:45 at night, which is a slight problem, because as missionaries, we have to be home at 9:30 at the latest. Sister Larcabal and I talked about it and decided that teaching her was really important to us. How important? So important that after our lessons, we would run home to make it on time. Great way to use my talents, right?!?! The lessons that we have had are so full of the Spirit and she is so intent on reading the Book of Mormon and receiving an answer. She is amazing. Plus we just LOVE her so much and she loves us. 

So imagine how sad we were, when Saturday night, right after Oksana called, we got a call from Julianna, saying that something had come up and she was leaving for Kharkiv right away. No time to say goodbye. Oh we were so sad. On our way home, we bought ice cream and chocolate and ate it all. That's how sad we were. And we just cried. Both of our miracles were gone, so sad. Although we knew that Julianna could still find the church in Kharkiv and that the members could help her, we felt like she had been snatched away from us.

So yeah... that was pretty darn sad. BUT, imagine this. It's now Sunday afternoon. Sister Ford is sick and is in bed, resting. The phone rings, one of the Elders from our area is calling. Sister Larcabal answers the phone, it isn't one of the elders at all, IT'S JULIANNA! Turns out that she HADN'T gone to Kharkiv, she was still here! And she still can met, and actually has more time then before, so she doesn't have to meet quite so late! Sister Larcabal was so surprised, she almost fell over! When we got off the phone, both of us where so happy that we were screaming for joy. Ok...only sister Laracabal was screaming for joy... but it was a LOT OF JOY! 

So that was a lot of emotions in one little bit, but it was a great reminder to me that the Lord is watching out for all of us! It is HIS work that we are doing here. I know that no matter what happens with either Julianna or Oksana, the Lord is watching out for them! His plan for them is better then anything I can think up myself! He is letting me be an instrument in His hands, and although sometimes, he may call for a different note than I want, or he may call for a different tempo, he knows exactly what THEY need and when the song is complete, we will all see perfectly how He knew what was going to happen all along! I feel so blessed for the opportunity to see Him working with Julianna and Oksana, and I know that even when it seems hopeless from our point of view, he knows exactly how it will all turn out. And it will all turn out beautifully! :) 

I love being a missionary! I love being an instrument in the Hands of the Lord! There is no better place to be! 

Pray for Ukraine! Pray for Oksana and Julianna! 

I love you all! 

Sister Kati Ford