She left today. I took a picture of her but can't find my camera. I went to meet her at 5 in the morning like a good sister. I gave her a long tight hug. I told her to be good and work hard. Then I got back in my car and cried all the way home.
Yes, out of sadness. Happiness? That too. I'm really going to miss her... miss taking a break from work and walking 300 feet to the cafeteria to have lunch with her... miss her dropping by my classroom or desk to teach me some new Russian word that I would immediately forget... miss smuggling her in contraband items and not feeling remotely bad about it... miss her asking me for advice... miss asking her for advice... miss it even when she would only speak to me in Russian and draw pictures to translate. It was a completely unique experience having her at the MTC with me. And I will miss it.
However...
I know what she's in for. Now I don't know exactly what experiences she'll have and I know they'll be completely different from my experiences as a missionary... but I know how much my mission shaped and defined me. It made me who I am today. It taught me most of what I know about myself and my Father. It's something I've always wanted for her. So as I parked my car at my apartment at 5:19 in the morning and laid my head on my steering wheel and cried, I cried mostly because...
I.
Could.
Not.
Be.
More.
Excited.
My mission has meant everything to me and makes up a large portion of who I am today. It'll be nice to have a sister than can understand that in a way all her own.
So, she's gone. And I'm sad. But I cannot wait to hear about her challenges and successes, her trials and triumphs, her refiner's fire and her growth and maturity. I'm happy.
Look out Ukraine. Here she comes!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
Monday, August 17, 2009
Some of the last day pictures.
She's leaving tomorrow morning at 5 AM.
We ate lunch one last time in the cafeteria and then took some pictures.
She's excited and a little nervous but mostly excited. And I'm excited for her...
...But I'm really really really going to miss my shissa.
Sunday, August 16, 2009
10th email: August 11th, 2009
Sorry about last week...we were having some difficulties...ha
SO...I'm leaving a week from today! We got our flight plans (probably the most exciting thing thats ever happened here...it's like opening another mission call...k not at all) But I leave here at 5 tuesday the 18th...i fly from slc to New York at 8:30 ish (about a 2 hour layover)....then from New York to Vienna, Austria (another 2-3 hour layover)...then from Vienna to Dnipropetrovsk! (about a 16 month layover) WAHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! It's so crazy that it's finally here...that i'm going to be a real live missionary. talking to real live ukrainians.... ! So this week has been hard to focus, but we're still working hard. We're 100% russian, which is SO hard, but i know i've gotta do it...sacrifice now for those people...
I spoke in church on sunday! pa-roosky! (in russian) Pres. Callister does it Pres. Scott style where he just calls you right up from the audience...so he calls me and one of the russian elders...great. Ha, it was so fun though! I struggled through part of it, and was a bit slow when I read my verses (I spoke on Virtue) but I recovered every time bearing testimony. Sister Jensen (one of the branch pres. wives) brought her friend from Armania who has only been a member for a year...Antonia...she came up to me after, with her bright orange hair and big red lips...and she said "I can't believe you have only been speaking this launguage for 10 weeks! I just don't believe it!" OBVIOUSLY she heard the spirit and not me...ha...it was a good booster for me though.
THANKYOU always for the hilarious packages mama...you know me...mangos...mmmm...and tomatoes? haa...those ones were struggling...maybe try to recite some poetry to them like grandpa :)
Today we basically spent all day at the temple! We did a session early then we were able to do some family sealing with the russian elders and cectpas...SO amazing...almost my whole zone was in one of the huge sealing rooms and our sis. callister and pres. callister just owned as the couple the whole time, and all us kiddies took our turn for these missionaries families....wowee...pres. callister is incredible...he reminds me of a nine year old trapped in a 70 year olds body....he looks old, but I promise you, sister callister passes him cheerios during church.
before i forget, what up with my debit card? will you send me a dear elder this week (have some one help you mon - i love you but youre challenged) about how much is on there and everything...theres a possibility that i have to pay about $100 extra just to take a second bag...a new lame rule...so i want to make sure thats all squared away!
Becky Swim left for taiwan today! it's kinda weird, she's been my little buddy for this entire time...but i have never seen a missionary more ready to serve the lord in my life! Not only is her chinese amazing, but her faith in what the Lord WILL do for her is unmatched. Loverr...
We are the old hag missionaries here. We've hosted a billion times cause they don't know what else to do with us, and we watch all the cute new sisters come in with their newly pressed skirts and make-up and hair and smiles...and then we look down at our nylons with runs, constant pony-tails, and mismatched clothes...Ha...i love it.
I'm going to miss some things at the MTC, mostly just people, but I can't wait to leave...i've got flutterbyes in my tum tum... I'm SO ready to go... I know i've dont all that i can here...i've worked as hard as i could...i've got a lot of resources to give the Lord so that he can make me and mold me into the missionary those people need. I have a lot to learn...a lot lot... but don't worry...i got this. oh man alive, i can't wait.
Welp...remember i'm so happy...love you all! Next time I write I'll be in UKKRRRRAAAAAAIIINNNE!
stay strong!
c lyoubvoy
cectma jones!
oh and i'll probably call in the morning from salt lake, if not than from new york...i forgot when I'm there though...and i'll just call home...dear elder if you want me to call you cell
LOVE YOUUUUU!!! THANKS FOR EVERYTHING! HERE I GO! :)
SO...I'm leaving a week from today! We got our flight plans (probably the most exciting thing thats ever happened here...it's like opening another mission call...k not at all) But I leave here at 5 tuesday the 18th...i fly from slc to New York at 8:30 ish (about a 2 hour layover)....then from New York to Vienna, Austria (another 2-3 hour layover)...then from Vienna to Dnipropetrovsk! (about a 16 month layover) WAHOOOOOOOOO!!!!!! It's so crazy that it's finally here...that i'm going to be a real live missionary. talking to real live ukrainians.... ! So this week has been hard to focus, but we're still working hard. We're 100% russian, which is SO hard, but i know i've gotta do it...sacrifice now for those people...
I spoke in church on sunday! pa-roosky! (in russian) Pres. Callister does it Pres. Scott style where he just calls you right up from the audience...so he calls me and one of the russian elders...great. Ha, it was so fun though! I struggled through part of it, and was a bit slow when I read my verses (I spoke on Virtue) but I recovered every time bearing testimony. Sister Jensen (one of the branch pres. wives) brought her friend from Armania who has only been a member for a year...Antonia...she came up to me after, with her bright orange hair and big red lips...and she said "I can't believe you have only been speaking this launguage for 10 weeks! I just don't believe it!" OBVIOUSLY she heard the spirit and not me...ha...it was a good booster for me though.
THANKYOU always for the hilarious packages mama...you know me...mangos...mmmm...and tomatoes? haa...those ones were struggling...maybe try to recite some poetry to them like grandpa :)
Today we basically spent all day at the temple! We did a session early then we were able to do some family sealing with the russian elders and cectpas...SO amazing...almost my whole zone was in one of the huge sealing rooms and our sis. callister and pres. callister just owned as the couple the whole time, and all us kiddies took our turn for these missionaries families....wowee...pres. callister is incredible...he reminds me of a nine year old trapped in a 70 year olds body....he looks old, but I promise you, sister callister passes him cheerios during church.
before i forget, what up with my debit card? will you send me a dear elder this week (have some one help you mon - i love you but youre challenged) about how much is on there and everything...theres a possibility that i have to pay about $100 extra just to take a second bag...a new lame rule...so i want to make sure thats all squared away!
Becky Swim left for taiwan today! it's kinda weird, she's been my little buddy for this entire time...but i have never seen a missionary more ready to serve the lord in my life! Not only is her chinese amazing, but her faith in what the Lord WILL do for her is unmatched. Loverr...
We are the old hag missionaries here. We've hosted a billion times cause they don't know what else to do with us, and we watch all the cute new sisters come in with their newly pressed skirts and make-up and hair and smiles...and then we look down at our nylons with runs, constant pony-tails, and mismatched clothes...Ha...i love it.
I'm going to miss some things at the MTC, mostly just people, but I can't wait to leave...i've got flutterbyes in my tum tum... I'm SO ready to go... I know i've dont all that i can here...i've worked as hard as i could...i've got a lot of resources to give the Lord so that he can make me and mold me into the missionary those people need. I have a lot to learn...a lot lot... but don't worry...i got this. oh man alive, i can't wait.
Welp...remember i'm so happy...love you all! Next time I write I'll be in UKKRRRRAAAAAAIIINNNE!
stay strong!
c lyoubvoy
cectma jones!
oh and i'll probably call in the morning from salt lake, if not than from new york...i forgot when I'm there though...and i'll just call home...dear elder if you want me to call you cell
LOVE YOUUUUU!!! THANKS FOR EVERYTHING! HERE I GO! :)
9th email: August 4th, 2009
welp...this stoopid computer signed me out after i wrote my entire email...so now i have one minute!! alls well ...i'm happier than ever...my tummy is full of sweet jamba from lizzie...i'm healthy, learning...and becoming closer to the savior!
love you mucho
cectpa jones
hi again.
now i have 30 seconds...missionary life is so fun...we only speak russion
i love you sooooooooooo mucho
o
love rella chile
yayayaya
love you mucho
cectpa jones
hi again.
now i have 30 seconds...missionary life is so fun...we only speak russion
i love you sooooooooooo mucho
o
love rella chile
yayayaya
8th email: July 28th, 2009
so. today was spectacular! It was four of our cectpas and four of our elders first time through the temple today...amzaing! I was Cec. Kukhta's escort... haha...me trying to tell her what clothes to put on all in russian...very funny. But the spirit was there. I realized how amazing and far reaching missionary work really is. These wonderful sisters, most of whom are the only members in there family, come and do the same thing for other people that their missionaries did for them. I love Lehi's Dream when he talks about trying to bring his family to him. He says repeatedly, i beckoned them to come the the tree "by which I stood" and to "come unto me". He said with a loud voice, pleading his family to come. As a missionary there is only so much we can do. We have what will bring anyone happiness, rest, purpose...100%...but we don't leave "the tree" so to speak and drag them up to it. We stay next to the gospel, and search and preach with ALL WE HAVE...and then the steps people make towards the savior are on their own. Just as I was cec. kukhta's escort today, thats what I will be for the next 18 months...escorting people, so to speak, to salvation...and just as we parted at one point so she could go on her own, so it will be in the mission. I am just an escort. This is their life! i dunno, this makes me work harde...I stole my little tag and put it with my recommend to remind me of it...i stole from the temple. great.
Seeing those cectpas come into the celstial was incredible. I told myself and God that this was my goal for the people that we bring unto him...celstial kingdom, nyet tolka kreshenya (not only baptism). Oh and I'm going to baptize, don't you even worry. The Lord has prepared THOUSANDS in Dnepr to receive this gospel and I will find them...mos def.
So the missions hard...only two people that I can think of actually told me that before I left (lizzie and heidi m.) It's joyous and building and spiritual, but ridiculously hard...and it's not jsut the language. Satan puts all these thoughts in our heads and are straight up stooopid...stupid satan...cec. kukhta today couldn't stop laughing at satan...i like her attitude :) But when i do everything that I absolutely can, than the Lord will pick up my slack...in all reality, he's there throughout the entire journey...his arm is always outstreched to us (thats a MASSIVE theme in the scriptures...its incredible...i think in the isaiah chapters and my fav. is D&C 123:17) So no matter what...no matter who is supporting and who isn't, no matter how tough my companion is, no matter how much my life has and is changing from 2 months ago...my father in Heaven is aware of all it. He's my source of strength, assurance, friendship, understanding. Prayer saves me every day!
Some random stuff that I know you love...we're on sto percent pa-rusky! 100% russian all the time...it's ridiculous...its great how saying "i will see you at the time time we eat food in the morning" counts for breakfast when you can't remember the word
i'm not gaining any weight...i'm probably loosing it...i'm never really hungry and the food is funny looking...but i love it! i make good food statues
umm...oh i found out that I'll be leaving in the middle of the mission to renew my visa somewhere...probably czech republic...woohoo!
uhm...andrea you are amazing...i'm going to go eat summer right now! thankyou!
brat pearce gets back tomorrow! he's been gone a week and a half...elder ku said he's like our mama bear and we're his little cubs....elder ku says weird things
love you alllll!!!!!
love me
Seeing those cectpas come into the celstial was incredible. I told myself and God that this was my goal for the people that we bring unto him...celstial kingdom, nyet tolka kreshenya (not only baptism). Oh and I'm going to baptize, don't you even worry. The Lord has prepared THOUSANDS in Dnepr to receive this gospel and I will find them...mos def.
So the missions hard...only two people that I can think of actually told me that before I left (lizzie and heidi m.) It's joyous and building and spiritual, but ridiculously hard...and it's not jsut the language. Satan puts all these thoughts in our heads and are straight up stooopid...stupid satan...cec. kukhta today couldn't stop laughing at satan...i like her attitude :) But when i do everything that I absolutely can, than the Lord will pick up my slack...in all reality, he's there throughout the entire journey...his arm is always outstreched to us (thats a MASSIVE theme in the scriptures...its incredible...i think in the isaiah chapters and my fav. is D&C 123:17) So no matter what...no matter who is supporting and who isn't, no matter how tough my companion is, no matter how much my life has and is changing from 2 months ago...my father in Heaven is aware of all it. He's my source of strength, assurance, friendship, understanding. Prayer saves me every day!
Some random stuff that I know you love...we're on sto percent pa-rusky! 100% russian all the time...it's ridiculous...its great how saying "i will see you at the time time we eat food in the morning" counts for breakfast when you can't remember the word
i'm not gaining any weight...i'm probably loosing it...i'm never really hungry and the food is funny looking...but i love it! i make good food statues
umm...oh i found out that I'll be leaving in the middle of the mission to renew my visa somewhere...probably czech republic...woohoo!
uhm...andrea you are amazing...i'm going to go eat summer right now! thankyou!
brat pearce gets back tomorrow! he's been gone a week and a half...elder ku said he's like our mama bear and we're his little cubs....elder ku says weird things
love you alllll!!!!!
love me
Sorry!
Sorry I've been so lame about updating this. I must think that since I see her every day everyone else must know what she's up to as well. She flies out on Tuesday and I'd imagine that I'll be more religious about updating her blog when I don't see her. Anyway, she's doing really well! Her teachers LOVE her and are really grateful for her. She's speaking Russian like a champ. Well, I don't know how well she speaks because I don't understand a word of what she's saying but it sounds legit. Anyway, I'd better post the last few emails and then tomorrow I'll give a good update with pictures and videos of when I say goodbye to her... something I am NOT looking forward to. :(
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