Transfers!!!

Dear Family and Friends and Everyone!

Happy Transfers! Well...maybe only for me! This week we got transfer information for the new transfer that begins next Monday! The good news is that I am staying in Odessa! But I am not however staying in Center and I will no longer be with Sister Hunt or Sister Leavitt. Instead I am OPENING a new area (Suvorosky) and finishing training a Sister that came in last transfer! In mission talk, I am "whitewash opening with a trainee". I'm a little nervous because I don't know very much Russian and she doesn't know very much Russian, and we are opening an area where Sister have very rarely worked, but I know it will be great! The Lord will bless us, I know it! 

It's going to be a little crazy though because our new residence in Suvorosky will not be ready for 2 weeks so I will be living in Center (in my apartment now) for awhile and riding a bus everyday for an hour! But when it is ready, we will be living in a HOUSE! Like a real house. And the Elders that found the house told me it has a swimming pool! CRAZY! Not that I can use it...but anyways. I can't wait to see it! 

My new companion is Sister Nielson. Sounds familar?? It should because we were MTC roommates! And we did splits a couple weeks ago! And now we will be together! She is from Cali, older then I am ( but only by 2 months). She is cute and I am so excited to serve with her! She was also trained by Sister Busch, so we have that in common! 

Speaking of Sister Busch... we said goodbye to her yesterday! She finished her mission! She leaves Wednesday morning to go to America! I can't believe it! It is crazy! I feel like I was just with her and now she will be gone! So crazy! 

It's been a lot of goodbyes this week, Sister Busch and also all of the members and investigators in Center. I have been thinking a lot about goodbyes and have become very aware of the fact that during my mission, I am making eternal friendships. The members I interact with, the companions I serve with, the investigators I teach -- These are important friendships and relationships that I am forming. I've been made aware that these relationships are special, so I wanted today to introduce some of my friends to you! 

 

This is Adele. Whenever I hear an Adele song from now on, I will think of her. She is the member that told me that my Russian was too bad to pray. Awkward. It was my goal all transfer to learn enough Russian and improve my accent enough so that I could talk to her and she would actually listen. I figure my goal was accomplished because she told me that she enjoyed my testimony (that I bore yesterday in church) and that she would miss me. 

 

This is Valia. She is so cute. She has been a member of the church for 15 years I think and is so strong. Her sons have served missions. She was always willing to help on lessons. When I said goodbye to her, she told me that she thinks I will serve in Center again. I hope she is right! She loves Sister Missionaries, and was always sweet enough to ask about our investigators so that she could pray for them!!!

This is Mya. She is a darling old lady. We did service for her, and after that she was always willing to help us on lessons and finding less actives. We would go over to her house and talk to her and she would help us with our Russian. So nice! One of the best things I heard this transfer was when she told me that my Russian was getting so much better! :) 

This is Yawna! She is one of the less actives that we have been meeting with this transfer. We met with her on Monday and she told us that the care that we showed her helped her decide that it was time to return to church. Her daughter, Veka, also has been coming back to church! It is so great to see her at church everyweek now! 

This is Yulia. She is an Returned Missionary and one of my favorite people in the WORLD! She helped me so much! She helped me with the language and just always encouraged me! She was so sweet and bold! I learned a lot about how to be a missionary from her! She was always willing to help us. She also talks REALLY fast.  They use kisses for greeting and wipe where they kiss and then wipe their lipstick off! :)

My miracle of the week! This is Olga! Last transfer we met her, but then her phone number stopped working. This week, she got on the same bus as us and RECOGNIZED us and asked to meet! It was so sweet! I was so happy! :) We've met with her twice and yesterday she stayed for church and stayed after for the lunch and then after that for a Family History Course. We asked her if she wants to be baptized when she learns for herself that this message is true and she said YES! I am so excited for her! :) She has a darling son, Pasha! We are teaching her again (probably my last time) tomorrow! 

This is Ira! Ira is the relief society president in Center. I don't know why, but she LOVES me! Seriously! It makes me so happy! She helps us on lessons and is so nice and sweet! I think she will be one of the people that I miss the most. She is always looking out to help other people and does so much to help everyone else! I love her! :) 

Sister Hunt, Leavitt, and Busch. My companions so far. I have been blessed with great companions. I seriously can't imagine not knowing these girls! I can't imagine not talking to them. Although we hardly have known each other, I feel like I have known them forever! My companions and I have formed friendships that will last forever, the rest of our lives and beyond! I have been so blessed in that aspect! 

This is Neonila. One of our investigators. This is her on the way to a baptism that we went to. She is a character. She also has a crazy dog! But although she isn't really interested in the gospel, she always calls to check up on how we are doing, which is sweet. Scary moment of the week- when we were walking to the baptism, she just stepped out in front of a call, it almost hit her. Thankfully it didn't!!!! 

Sister Katia. I love this lady! She gives us referrals and feeds us Borsch. She told me she would come anywhere to help me if I needed it! She was always happy to help! She also wants to meet my parents (maybe on a trip to Ukraine...hmm...) She loves missionaries and always had referrals to give! I love her! She has such a strong testimony of this gospel! I was blessed to get to know her! 

Ukraine had great members of the Church here! What a blessing to be serving here! 

Also this week, we went to a mommy and child picnic! It was so fun and actually was with people from my new branch! I can't wait! :) 

 

 Typically ukrainian cat. Those are my shoes. 

Saying goodbye to City Park, with my ice cream :( 

 

 sister hunt and I matching

 

me and butterfly 

 doing service!

Love you all! Have a good week! Make friends with your missionaries! 

Sister Ford <3

First Email! and Pictures!

Dear Family,

Well...I'm still here!  They say that if you can make it through your first week then you are good! I guess we will see! I still feel good so that goods! 

Life at the MTC is so good.  Hard and tiring but good.  I really love it here, but I do miss everyone at home. It is hard because I want to write home everyday but we can only on wednesdays.  So even though I'm not writing back, keep sending me letters!  They make my day!  Write me everyday.  10 times a day!  haha...but seriously.  i should be grateful though, I have gotten more mail then anyone else.  my family and friends really do love me! -haha the shift button doesn't work on this computer...too many desperate missionaries writing home!- but keep the mail coming!  i love hearing from y'all.

jacob- I'm so proud of your ACT score.  I was crying when i read it, lame i know!  You are so smart!!  Everyone in my district knows about it because they wanted to know why I was crying.  Witicha State in the final four!?!?! What seed were they?  didn't i have Michigan in the final 4?  how am I in the family rank??? 

Zach- the dear elder didn't like whatever you wrote to me in russian, it turned it into numbers!  but yes, i can read and write russian now. Send me some in a letter and I will tell you what it means.  also, I will send home your names today! 

Tyson- I love you! Thanks for the mail!

Parker- the letter i got from you made me smile!  You are so cute!

So...MTC life!  My companion's name is Sister Sink, she is good.  We teach really well together!  Russian is coming along great, sometimes it gets discouraging but I just have to take a step back and look at it in the big picture, last week I didn't even know the alphabet and now I can read, write, bear my testimony, and pray all in Russian.  This might crack you up, remember Mr. Anderton.  His classes are most like what the classes at the MTC are like, minus the horse stories (that was for you, jacob!).  They are intense, almost always in russian, but a lot of fun.

The first day is crazy! You are on such a tight schedule, you don't even have time to breathe!  but it gets so much better!  i didn't sleep hardly at all, but i have slept really well since.  Except last night, one of the girls in my room was like, "How can you sleep with no bar keeping you from falling?" then i realized she was right, and I was a little worried about falling off the bed. But I haven't yet!  i have been talking in my sleep like crazy though, it must be the stress!!!!

My district is awesome.  We have 8 sisters and 3 elders.  that has never happened before!!  All the other russian districts can tell that we are new, simply because we are females!  As you can see, they even converted some mens bathrooms to girl's bathrooms!  We are taking over!!  I know a lot of the sisters from facebook, and they are fantastic.  I run with Sister clark (redhead) almost every day.  We run for 20 minutes then we play 4 square. i am a 4 square champ!!! They have all these records missionaries can try and beat.  The mile time for elders is a 4:44, maybe jacob can beat that when he gets in!  Gym is so great though, super chill and relaxed.  Then we have time to shower and get ready again, which i appreciate.  I'm so glad I practiced getting ready in 30 minutes, it has made a world of difference!

We have already taught 3 lessons all in Russian.  it is kinda tricky but amazing how the spirit can come, even if we can barely talk.  The Lord is blessing me with the gift of tongues, i am positive of it!  I can't wait to go to the temple today, since coming to the MTC I have been so much more in tune with the Spirit, I know that he guides me and prompts me!  i just can't wait to get Ukraine and start teaching and loving his people.  first I have to learn though!!

Easter was so great!  Probably the best Easter ever. i missed you guys but it was totally focused on Christ.  We had a huge missionary devotional on Easter morning and they served the sacrament.  over 3000 missionaries partook, crazy right!  When i worked here there were only 1500 missionaries.  it doesn't seem that crowded, russians know how this place works and we avoid the crowds.  but then Bishop causee spoke.  he is the presiding bishop.  it was so good.  Then we had meetings with our branch.  My district was on the way to district meeting when we were stopped by a huge group of people.  It took me a minute to realize that is was bishop causse and his family and security.  They asked where we were going and one of our sisters said, 'district meeting'.  He looked so confused for a second, then he asked where we were serving.  Kinda embarrassing but so funny.  his daughter took seminary from our mission president though! Small world, right! 

At our fast and testimony meeting that night, our branch president got up, talked a little bit, all in russian, then went to the piano.  i had no idea what he was doing.  Then he played a beautiful Easter medley.  It made me think how I know christ died for the sins of all of us, but that he lives today.  he lives, and he loves us!  What a blessing that it!

That night we had another devotional and our speaker was Sister Sheri Dew!  Oh my lanta!!! It was so great! I loved it so much! She spoke about asking God who we are and who we can become.  so great!  I loved it! 

Then we got to watch a movie then we went to bed.  it was a great day!  Thank you so much for the Easter basket, it made my day!  The necklace is perfect mom, i wear it everyday! 

Last night we had a member of the 70 come to speak. I sang in the choir, which was great!  If you are at the MTC, be in the choir.  There are so many people though that they have to limit who can sing.  It is first come, first serve!  But it was an awesome devotional. I felt like he was speaking just to me!  Loved it!

So I have like one minute left but to close--

Highlights --

 Letters, send more!

Being here

Devotionals 

seeing old friends (i saw Sister Hafen, and sister bay before they left on monday, what a tender mercy!) I have seen 19 friends here, which is awesome, and pretty good for someone that didn't go to a high school in utah!  I see them all the time and they make me smile!

Easter

More letters

Russians have the best meal times.  We eat early so everything is fresh! 
Also all the Russians are super united.  Maybe it is because there are so many of us, but we mesh well.  We have russian pride!

Lowlights --

Everyone cries here.  Like all the time.  Even the men. and our teachers.  It's weird but good too in a way.  

im a little scared I will fall off my bed.  pray for me that I won't!

i miss--

family
friends

chex cereal 

muffins

sitting on the floor.  It isn't allowed for sister going to ukraine, it is a culture no-no.  Hardest rule for me but its ok! 

craving --

cinnamon rolls!! 

and muffins

Funny --

YOSO- You only serve once! 

The language...i can't say so many sounds. sometimes it feels like i'm puking out words.  but people laugh at my attempts all the time.  i laugh at my attempts all the time.  

Apparently the MTC is like hogwarts.  First person to guess what house Russians are wins!!  i will explain it next week!! Haha. 

Tender Mercies-

seeing my friends
letters

favorite quotes
devotional speakers

I love it here!  Read Doctrine and covenants 18, people are worth a lot in the sight of god! God lives and he loves us!  christ lives and he loves us and suffered the atonement so that we could be with our families forever!  What a blessing! 

I love you and miss you!  Keep the letters coming! 

Sister Ford

PS- elders are weird!  I think i knew that already though! Great but weird! 

WRITE ME!  FOR REAL!! 

Missionary Picture A Day :)

So...for as long as I can remember, whenever I go anywhere, my Mom asks me to take lots of pictures. I'm not the best at it, but I really want to take pictures on my mission.  So I thought of trying to take a picture a day.  But instead of just taking any old picture, I have a "Scavenger Hunt" of pictures I want to take!  I made a list of pictures I want to take every transfer and then make cute handouts for each one.  Then I printed them out in put them in my mission binder!  I'm so excited to try and take each picture!! :) Hopefully I can get all of them! 

I added the handouts below for my fellow sisters!  :) Enjoy! 

Sorry for the typo! This is really for people in the MTC for 9 weeks! Oops!