Dear dear cemya -
What a week...ha...i can't believe I'm already here again typing away. They play really good music here...like modern day amercian music that I would listen to...I fell a little bit guilty, but at the same time, it's a mercy for me. I can only listen to so much russian disco. It's so funny. They mix in English and say funny phrases like "you are so delicate like the trinkets on a bracelet." and "I you love" for the WHOLE song...haha...
So we witnessed a miracle this week. Seriously. I don't think I told you about Cаша and his mom that we met on the street near our house. They passed by just like anyone else, but Cectpa K felt so impressed to stop her again (after she was far behind us) Her little Саша is about 6 and is handicapped. We told her again, that if she would just listen to us, we could help her. She said "You don't know how I'm feeling. You don't know what it's like to not have an exit from this (meaning Саша)" We explained that there IS a way! We can be happy! The Plan of Salvation is real! We agreed to meet later that day in the park...however I was a little suspicious because she said she didn't have a phone and didn't want to meet in her apartment. Lo and behold she didn't come. Cectpa K said she has never felt the spirit that strong when talking to someone, and when I got my first look at her little boy and his massive smile, the tears came. We both wanted to teach her...to help her so much, so why didn't she come? So we searched for her. We went to parks and stores and stopped people with children asking if they knew of her (she would stand out with her little boy). Many people knew of her, but didn't know where she lived. We asked all our investigators who lived around where we found her. We prayed together every night that we would be led to her. For almost three weeks we kept this up. We were waiting outside our appt with Алла on Thursday(she had canceled both tuesday and wednesday) because Cectpa was on the phone with our Zone Leader. I saw Саша! He stood out like a massive light on that playground...i basically punched cectpa in the arm and we hung up the phone and just stared for a little bit. You have to understand that we live in a huge complex with maybe 40 квартиры (huge apartment buildings where everyone lives) with 10 or so floors and 10 or so stairwells in each building...i can't describe it well cause i'm a horrible writer, but basically there are a ton of people where we live...the chances of us stumbling across one person are 0. So we gathered ourselves and built up the guts to go talk to them again (he was with his dad) We told him our story... that we have been searching for them. He was so surprised, taken back, open to us...it was a miracle. He used to be a successful businessman with a lot of money, but Саша was born and needed a lot of help and surgeries. He has three holes in his skull and the blood can't get to his brain properly meaning his developmental system is all wacked. He gave everything to help him and they're struggling to find money for one more surgery. наталя, (natalia) the mom, has a really hard time with it. She feels trapped and drinks to escape. Владемир (Vladimir) the dad, loves Саша, but only wants to him. They are still a family though, being held together by this little boy. He gave us his number, her number and said he would like to meet with us, but she doesn't know if наталя would be so open. We called her yesterday and just said we want to help...she agreed to meet with us too.....holy cow. I can see how much this gospel can help this family if they are open to it... I have never felt this much of a desire to help someone... I can't describe how close this little boy is the his heavenly father...he has this permanent smile on his face, though he can't speak, struggles to walk, doesn't understand... what a blessing for that family! I still can't believe we found them. Heavenly Father saw our faith, our desire, and he helped us. He is our real, loving, father in heaven....that's my testimony!
So needless to say, we are praying even harder now...for open hearts, willing minds... we're moving with зра... We have a lot more to work out than we thought. She want this, but she's not quite working for it yet. She dogged us a few times this week (however she did meet with us 3 times) including church. We found out today that she is still smoking, drinking cofee, and drinking a little bit. We had an intense lesson today. We copied the list in PMG of all the qualifications for those who want to be baptised (set out my 1st presidency and D&C 20) And went through each of them and told her that she will have an interview and needs to be ready. It doesn't matter that she won't be baptised this next week...we need to help her gain a testimony, act on her desire, turn towards god and stay there...she want's it, but she needs a lot of help. Goods news is we didn't scare her away and we're still meeting with her tomorrow :)
We finally started meeting wtih Инна again...I love her... haha, she is still really busy, but she's giving us 30-45 minutes a couple times a week. She said she loves when we come because we lift her out of the stresses of the world for a little bit... :) She calls cectpa K "Полинтчки" (Polinichkee - cutesy form of her name, Polina) and just calls me джонс "the jones"... our next goal for her is church...and daily prayer...
Ukraine is as great as ever...transfers are this week and we're losing Elder Belnap and Makloop. We found out that Cect. K will be her until she leaves (3 days before Christmas) meaning I'll be here for a little while after that...maybe... I already can't imagine leaving...i love these peeps...
We had a hilarious talent show on Saturday...there was a boxing match and screamo band out in the center (right outside the Приход ) but we were just pretending to be raindrops and singing funny songs inside... what a great contrast... I sang in 7 different languages (thanks beln) including lion kings "BAH SA VANE YA!" haha... it was embarrassing for me, entertaining for them. I bought a guitar (for way cheap) and it's been entertaining at the приход... President Neilson is so great...he's smart, strong, and understands missionary work. He is not overly strict, which is a blessing for me, but we live by the rules. Obedience is the price.
Life is so good...i'm trying hard to be as effective as a i can. The parable of the sower says is well... as missionaries, we're throwing seeds all over the place... I need to think about where I'm throwing though... just into the wind? just places where the thorns are too thick, where the ground is too rocky to take root, where the birds eat them up? Or am I taking care to place seeds in fertile ground and patiently wait and work for that seed to become a strong well rooted beautiful fruit bearing tree... it's true that missionary work takes strategy and thinking...god gave us brains, and we're meant to use them, not just waltz out of our apartment and toss some seeds around. The last verse of the parable says "and all who have ears to hear, let them hear" As far as I have seen, everyone has ears here...haha...it's easy to talk about it, but a thousand times harder to do...Heavenly Father expects a lot out of us, but he also provides a way to do it...I'm still seeking to be uncomfortable :)
Thankyou so much for sending packages! I won't get them for a while, but I look forward to them...I actually got Modern Russian at the MTC...the started giving it to missionaries because so many people wanted it...but no worries, I'll find someone, no doubt, that needs it!
I discovered that I can make tortillas...my tum tum has never been happier :) they're so easy! and i feel so domestic making dough...
I so excited to get those pictures of grandpa and lizzie skydiving (so dad went too?) i have the coolest family... sounds like a blast...I look forward to you letter gpa jones! Give roy boy a kiss for me...he's probably huge... ugh...wowo
congrrats dan and taryn on the house-diddly! i think you shouldn't make the neighbors pay you rent in money, but in horses...lets make roy into a cowboy...haha...i'm siked to see it :)
J-fus...you're becoming smarter than all of us...keep working hard... you'll be glad you did!
WElp everyone else, i'm happy as a clammmm...love you all...stay strong, don't say swears...
с любовью...счастлива!
сестра джонс
ps... don't forget about Obama in the garage...take him for a ride up the canyone or something...give him some fresh air...
pspsp - Sadie. haha. i love that dog. hose pictures of grandpa and lizzie skydiving (so dad went too?) i have the coolest family... sounds like a blast...I look forward to you letter gpa jones! Give roy boy a kiss for me...he's probably huge... ugh...wowo
congrrats dan and taryn on the house-diddly! i think you shouldn't make the neighbors pay you rent in money, but in horses...lets make roy into a cowboy...haha...i'm siked to see it :)
J-fus...you're becoming smarter than all of us...keep working hard..
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