Mom and family and friendeees –
So new year was ridiculous. New year = every body gets drunk for a week straight. We had to come home new years eve before dark (which is like 4!) and we couldn’t leave the next day until 11 and then we had to be home again before dark. It was awful. Cectpa Lav and I were bouncing off the walls, we had so much energy! We made all sorts of treats, and a gingerbread house, and made up all kinds of stories and paraded around the house in our reindeer antlers that the sheets sent us…man…I hope we never have to stay in that long again… We spent new years eve day at a members house, Natalia and her daughter Youlia, and they invited their family and friends…we had sooo much food it was ridiculous…they can’t afford it. When we did our spiritual thought (we purposely prepared a low key one because her parents are SO anti…it was a miracle they even came when we were there) it got all awkward. We shared the Ponticello story (the wooden people one)…like that’s super low key…it’s a kids book…then we shared our testimonies and a scripture in the Book of Mormon. Her mom said, “Well unfortunately, girls, life isn’t that happy.” Then she immedietly changed the subject so we couldn’t even end in the name of Jesus Christ amen…and then they continued their conversion about money and ethnocentrism. Ugh…it was so awkward and Natalia and Youlia were just cringing for us. I knew her parents were against the church, but I had no idea how much. Youlia can hardly come to church because of them…we going over for her birthday tonight and instead of a spiritual thought, I’m bringing my guitar and we’re going to sing some hymns for them. Natalia is amazing. The seemingly easy thing would be to drop the church…drop us…and make mama happy…but nope…we’re trekking over tonight and she’ll keep working on them until the day they die…and then she’ll do their temple work…she’s a massive example to me. I don’t think I could do all that she does. She has no money of her own…her parents still provide for everything and in a way have a lot of control over her. Oh I love her.
So guess what!!!!!!!!! We woke up this morning to a beautiful layer of white! I WILL have a white christmas! Ukrainian Christmas that is…it’ll actually probably melt before then but I am soaking it all in! Literally…I have a hole in my boots It’s still snowing and beautiful and the grounds are all icy… great skating conditions…haha… people are freaking out. Crimea doesn’t get snow, so everyone was just outside this morning kinda shell shocked. All the kids were out playing and throwing snowballs…families were at sledding hills laughing together, couoples were all bundled up walking arm in arm…even the babushkas were a little less sour with little snowflakes on their shoulders and red noses…I just couldn’t believe it…this is a side of Ukraine that I’ve never seen before! I’m gonna pray for more snow days If they could only see that families are supposed to be happy together always! What a beautiful day!
Yesterday we went contacting at the end of the night after we got dogged on a couple lessons. It was freezing and windy and kinda creepy. We were up in these dark alley ways…even I had no idea were we were. We looked up at the only building by us and it had creepy windows… Cectpa was like, “We are definitely in a prison!” We booked it aimlessly until we miraculously found an exit through some gates that were miraculously open…It was way creepy but so funny…today we read in the white handbook, “Don’t proselyte in unlit or dark areas”…welp we learned our lesson….fine we won’t tract at the prison … :)
Lena is progressing so well! She is in the hospital right now with appendicitus…but she asked her dad to bring her her Book of Mormon…she really likes it! I found out how different hospitals are here…after going from top of the line IMC to this hospital…man…little shocked. Thankfully, her parents moved her to a private hospital which is a little better. So anyways we visited her and she was so weak…she hadn’t eaten for 2 days and she wasn’t allowed to sit…hmm…I want to look up that treatment for appendicitus when I get home…but she was her happy self and so excited to see us. I can’t even tell you how amazing she is…I hope the Lord can trust us to help her! I hope her parents can progress WITH her…I hope she can really gain a real testimony…she’d be amazing in our branch…she’d be a huge support to Youlia…and they’re neighbors! Kinda! Haha…I can’t get too ahead of myself :) I just love her.
We working hard to find a new progressing investigator this week…имена progressing. The work is slowing down with the cold weather and holidays…but that’s no excuse! Hey people…I’ve got a great new years resolution for you…goal #1 – obtain salvation. Maybe I’ll try that contacting today… if you guys have any tips or stories from what worked for you, I’m an open book!
Welp that’s alll…tune in next week for some new adventures of cectpa kjonez in the work of the Lord… haha…be happy and stay strong and happy ukrainian christmas!
Love you all –
Cectpa JONES
Ps…super bummer about the cd…oops! And yeah, I already erased a bunch…earth to me…I’ll see if cectpa k can send me a copy…she has all my pics… should I just send a cd again?
Pspspsps oh and dad…our AP is writing one of his cousins in jail and trying to help him have a change of heart…I told him your calling was at the jail and he asked me to ask you for some advice…maybe a couple examples and just advice would help…thanks :)
psps///have fun back at schoooly!
