FAMILY! Happy Christmas to you...i will not believe that it's already the middle of December. What happened to July? haha...time is flying before my eyeballs and I can barely stand it. Cectpa Kondrateva is leaving on Saturday. Like home leaving. Моя Мамочка!! It'll mos def be a new adventure. She's so funny right now...she just doesn't know where to put herself...here or home. I'll really miss her!
Our нина doesn't have a baptismal date anymore. She decided that she's not ready to live the law of chastity. You know, she wants a family so badly, but she's not quite sure how to do it right...but she still wants to be baptized and she came to church yesterday. Church yesterday was AMAZING! We had 4 investigators show up which is an absolute miracle....we had a great meeting, low on the crazy comments, saturated with the spirit. It was 3 of our investigators first time at church, and first impressions mean something. It was a real answer to our prayers! One of our new investigators (well the elders are meeting with her and her mom) is just...i can't even describe her...i just exlope with love for her. Her names Lena, she's 19 years old, and she's consistenly coming to everything...english, fhe, church, p-day stuff...she is open to the gospel, understanding of our sweet language skills, happy to help out with anything, and just shines with christ's light. She's the first person in Ukraine that I've felt a real, sincere friendship with....of course I love the people here, but theres a difference between that love and friendship. She's a blessing for ME! I straight up was like, "Hey Lena, we have church tomorrow at 10...you should come!" She was like "OK! I will!" and then she actually does...ugh....i love her. I hope and pray with all my SOUL that there will be more to come for her...
Our work in Sevastopol is picking up again...we hit a hard month this part November when we literally lost 6 or 7 investigators in one week. That followed no-show after no-show and hours of tracting and contacting with no success. Maybe it was a little refiners fire, if you will, or the droop in the sine curve before it slopes back up...but I know that consistancy (or constancy :) haha) is key through those times. If we prove to be just as strong and diligent - if not more - through the crappy times, then we prove to God that we can't be shaken through a little rumble in the road. Then He blesses us with exactly what we need. I love what Dad wrote me last week, about "concecrating" this time to the Lord. I'm trying to up my anti (anty? auntie? ha) this month...to really use my calling as a missionary to build up Sevastopol. It's just, we have the help from God right now and I don't want to waste it. I'm trying to figure out how to be the most effective I can and stay sane at the same time. It's SO easy to get caught up in the "thick of thin things" as President Monson says...even if they are good things. President Scott said that somtimes Satan doesn't bother distracting us with the big things that he knows won't shake us, but he distracts us with other good things, "righteous" things, that only serve to distract us from our main purpose...returning to God in families - and helping people around us do the same. I experience this everyday...like on the marshrutka when I could have a 30 minute ride home to be off in my own world and give my brain a break...or not. When I'm on the street and laughing and recalling funny memories with my companions, walking by people we pass...hmmm. Or at church when I could be "getting a lot more out of my english scripture study"...or try my hardest to be intune and respect the speakers and teachers. It's a constant struggle... but i'm getting better!
It got cold this week and snowed for like 8 flakes and then stopped :( The rest of the mission is in a winter wonderland...lame. We'll see...maybe we'll wake up to whiteness...i really should be grateful for the warmish weather...a least i still have all my toes and fingers and stuff. I heard that a missionary up in Poltava lost two fingers this week from frost bite. haha..just jokin
This morning we went on such a great adventure...We woke up way early (well just at 630...it's still early for me :) and ventured into a little grove of trees and burned cectpas shoes and a couple of her shirts...we bought some stuff at the renok (I still don't know what it is) but the lady said that it would definitely burn...well it burned....right in my face! I built this great little fire, thinking all was all cool with my fire-making skills, and then doused it with the mystery stuff and once the match was lit, so was everything else :) man alive...haha...gave me a little fright is all. I'll never buy a mystery fire burning liquid from the renok again....
WElp...love you guys a whole whallop and a heap! I'm loving life and working hard and trying to serve the Lord the best I can. Keep you encouraging and uplifting letters coming! They help me a lot. Hwave aw gweat week...stay strong...cover yous...pray for the robbers to trip and fall...urge the donkey backwards and forward...please pass the butter...I'm a little ballet swan...sprinkle the "seasoning" on the food at the cannery...and stay away from the nursery...i heard it's dangerous and broken....
lots of loveeeeeeeeeee
cectpa jones!
ps...do you want me to call christmas eve late or christmas day late or after christmas?
Monday, December 14, 2009
Monday, December 7, 2009
26th email: December 7th, 2009
Momamomamomachka! And family and friendssssss!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
IT'S ME! Guess what I'm listening to right now...stairway to heaven, boston, journey...the goods. It's on in the Internet club and its making me so happy and I feel like a little rebel...haha. Missions make you weird. OK MOM. Look back at the past 5 emails and you'll see that I got the packages at halloween! Haha...I loveeed them so mucho and everything was there and intact and hannah montana loved the journey to ukraine on those UNO cards...dont worry! I'll let you know the second the others ones come...thankyou soooooooo much for not forgetting about lil Rel in Ykraina...love you. I got the envelope with pictures and your questionaire this week! And you'll be proud to hear that I already sent you a letter with all the answers :) Should be there sometime. I loved those pics of Roy boy...i think he looks like a turtle. Haha...i also got a nice package full of candy from my relief society presidency...they're the best! We found a christmas tree and we named it Doug. He's a sad, tiny little fella, but once we slap some lights and ornaments on him, he'll perk up, I'm confident. My companions said no to the big tree...but thats okay :) We're too poor for it anyway. Welp, another fabulous week in Sevastopol! We really are in the best city...I've only worn my winter coat once and can STILL get away without wearing nylons. Happy happy day. We have a lot of fun in our little threesome – i've learned to just laugh at the fact that I'm surrounded by russian all day. I learned a ton this past transfer. I learned that one of the biggest temptations that we're faced with is feeling sorry for ourselves and getting stuck in our own little pity parties. One night I was wading around in such a pity party, thinking, “Ugh, Heavenly Father, I know you need me here right now to learn something and to serve and to do some good...but how am I supposed to do any good with two strong, russian-speaking companions?” I was thinking all this to myself as my sisters were gabbing away about something and then, like a rhino to the face, I realized that one of my OBVIOUS blessing is right in front of me. I pray every night and ask God to help me with russian so that I can understand it better, respond in an understandable way that doesn't hurt people's ears...bam...start listening to your companions cectpa jones. I felt so ashamed after that...that when God was trying to answer my consistent prayers, I was wading around singing my own little pity song. So often God IS there...he's answering our prayers at the same time that we're complaining that He's not! So now I'm trying to soak in every phrase and word order that they use...this is a HUGE blessing, and I've got to use it!
So Neena's getting baptized :) WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! You know what she said when she came into our 3rd meeting? “Will you baptize me? I know this is true...i prayed and read the Book of Mormon just like you said! I feel so good and special when I do. I can't believe you found me on the street!” Uhhhhh. Wow! We were like, welll, there are a few commandment you need to keep, there are a few lessons we need to go over, you need to gain a firm foundation of a testimony! She was like, “Ok, so we meet for about an hour...if we meet for two hours, can we move up my date another week?” Hahah, I literally laughed...she's amazing. She flat out accepted to live the law of chastity, though she has a boyfriend...she broke up with him. She flat out accepted the word of wisdom. She flat out accepts Joseph Smith as a prophet of God. We give her assignments to read in the book of mormon, and she decides to read to the end of the book....i just love her. This is so new for us! So her date was for this Saturday, but she got sick on Sunday and couldn't come to church, so we had to move it back to next Saturday...but our hopes are high for it actually happening ;) I can't get too excited too soon because then I just disappointed too fast, but she's got my faith and we're supporting her a lot. She's a lovely lovely beautiful lady – I hope her desires are pure...I hope satan goes on vacation these next two weeks. Era is back in action, but progressing like a slug. I'M the one that needs more faith and patience in her though. To be honest, her job is suffocating her...not just that she works all the time, but the product she sells is one of those “quick fix” products that is supposed to make you soo energetic and happy....it's a piece of plastic in a velvet cover that you sit on...all for 5000 hriven ($600)...it's killing her and the faith and spirit that she used to have. She claims she's not tired and she has joy every day because “this is her mission”, but we see how this is draining her...but this is her job. What else is she supposed to do...if she doesn't believe in her product, or act like she does, she won't sell anything, than she won't have a job. Finding work right now here is virtually impossible. We don't know what to do. I pray the Lord will provide some kind of way for her to open her heart to Him.
I love being on a mission. I'm so happy that I have to biggest and best chunk in front of me...it's already been so good. Cectpa K is so sad and confused to be going home. We're sad too to loose her...but we've got some amazing plans for her last week... :)
I'm glad you found the tree stand! And we have lights! You know how happy that makes me :) And dad sent me pics of the dogs...Sadie is HUGE! I remember her being half that size...maybe just cause jack is scrawny...i miss the dogs...I think I want to get my own when I get home...what do you think about that? Haha...it'd be so fun. And about calling...i have no idea what we do...i forgot about it until last week when lizzie reminded me...the elders said that we just call you a couple days before and then you call us on our cell phone...i dunno...i'll tell you next week...lov eyou gotta go!!!11
love cectpa jonesy
ps....send me that cinnamon roll recipe!
Psps - love you all...stay strong!
IT'S ME! Guess what I'm listening to right now...stairway to heaven, boston, journey...the goods. It's on in the Internet club and its making me so happy and I feel like a little rebel...haha. Missions make you weird. OK MOM. Look back at the past 5 emails and you'll see that I got the packages at halloween! Haha...I loveeed them so mucho and everything was there and intact and hannah montana loved the journey to ukraine on those UNO cards...dont worry! I'll let you know the second the others ones come...thankyou soooooooo much for not forgetting about lil Rel in Ykraina...love you. I got the envelope with pictures and your questionaire this week! And you'll be proud to hear that I already sent you a letter with all the answers :) Should be there sometime. I loved those pics of Roy boy...i think he looks like a turtle. Haha...i also got a nice package full of candy from my relief society presidency...they're the best! We found a christmas tree and we named it Doug. He's a sad, tiny little fella, but once we slap some lights and ornaments on him, he'll perk up, I'm confident. My companions said no to the big tree...but thats okay :) We're too poor for it anyway. Welp, another fabulous week in Sevastopol! We really are in the best city...I've only worn my winter coat once and can STILL get away without wearing nylons. Happy happy day. We have a lot of fun in our little threesome – i've learned to just laugh at the fact that I'm surrounded by russian all day. I learned a ton this past transfer. I learned that one of the biggest temptations that we're faced with is feeling sorry for ourselves and getting stuck in our own little pity parties. One night I was wading around in such a pity party, thinking, “Ugh, Heavenly Father, I know you need me here right now to learn something and to serve and to do some good...but how am I supposed to do any good with two strong, russian-speaking companions?” I was thinking all this to myself as my sisters were gabbing away about something and then, like a rhino to the face, I realized that one of my OBVIOUS blessing is right in front of me. I pray every night and ask God to help me with russian so that I can understand it better, respond in an understandable way that doesn't hurt people's ears...bam...start listening to your companions cectpa jones. I felt so ashamed after that...that when God was trying to answer my consistent prayers, I was wading around singing my own little pity song. So often God IS there...he's answering our prayers at the same time that we're complaining that He's not! So now I'm trying to soak in every phrase and word order that they use...this is a HUGE blessing, and I've got to use it!
So Neena's getting baptized :) WOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!
I love being on a mission. I'm so happy that I have to biggest and best chunk in front of me...it's already been so good. Cectpa K is so sad and confused to be going home. We're sad too to loose her...but we've got some amazing plans for her last week... :)
I'm glad you found the tree stand! And we have lights! You know how happy that makes me :) And dad sent me pics of the dogs...Sadie is HUGE! I remember her being half that size...maybe just cause jack is scrawny...i miss the dogs...I think I want to get my own when I get home...what do you think about that? Haha...it'd be so fun. And about calling...i have no idea what we do...i forgot about it until last week when lizzie reminded me...the elders said that we just call you a couple days before and then you call us on our cell phone...i dunno...i'll tell you next week...lov eyou gotta go!!!11
love cectpa jonesy
ps....send me that cinnamon roll recipe!
Psps - love you all...stay strong!
Monday, November 30, 2009
25th email: November 30th, 2009
Haha – a christmas bush?! I died when I read that! Probably because we're searching our eyeballs out for a stupid christmas tree here...they just don't exist. Next plan is a little trip to the mountains with an axe.... ha...i'm joking mama. But good luck with the bush...I'm trying to figure our how you'll slap a star on the top...or throw the cherries... :) Christmas here is celebrated in on January 7th and is absolutely nothing compared to New Years. ALL types of fireworks are legal...no rules, just explosions everywhere...i can hardly wait! We're planning a Westernized Christmas party at the prixod on the 25th...and yes we tracked down a Santa Costume...and yes they asked me to be Santa....HOHOHO!!!!
Thanksgiving was great! We ordered pizza, watched “UP”, and played games in Sinferopol (center of Crimea) While the elders played footbal, cectpa K, Lav and I ventured over to some botanical garden that wasn't too botanical...all the flowers were dead...BUT there was this really cool and thick forest in the back and we heard from a babyshka that the squirrels will eat out of you hands! We frolicked over like little kids with our pockets full of walnuts from the babyshka...but I tell you...those squirrels are EVIL. They look exactly like the killer bunny on monty python except with a huge fluffy white tail...red eyes, huge ears...and they scamper around like humming birds. It was like being in a cursed forest....hahaha...oh Ukraine! Great thanksgiving...and you won't see pictures of me with elder anderson...he's up in Dnepr or something, and only Crimea got together for thanksgiving...sorry! Have you not gotten that picture cd yet? You should this week...well who knows actually...but I think it's coming! Woohooo!
I spoke in Church on Sunday :) It actually turned out a lot better than I thoughts it would. President gave me the topic of “The Blessing of Work”, a talk in the new Liahona that we only get in Russian...hmmmm...give a talk and my resource is only in russian... and speak for 20 minutes... hahah...no I worked through it and pulled together my thoughts. I think everything went well...people understood and I hope they felt the spirit through my mistakes. I love that topic. I promise you a billion times over that it's through OUR work that God can work. It's definitely not at the exact same moment for most things...to tell you the truth, I'm still trying to see how God will work through me to touch the hearts of His children here in Ukraine. I see it every day with my companions and I know I have the same calling they do...the same purpose and responsibility and support that they do...so I not going to quit working at it. I know that love and sacrifice speaks louder than any words ever will, so I'm trying to make that the center of my service here. I've come to terms that I'll never express with eloquence or depth, like my sisters, the beautiful blessings of the gospel in russian. I will always be the American missionary that came to Ukraine trying learn Russian to communicate with people...because I love the people here. I want to strengthen our little prixod so bad... I want to find someone that receives every ounce of Christ's gospel and loves it and wants to live it...I want our members to receive a stronger witness that Christ is our Savior and become more active in His church...so bad...I hope the Lord can use me. I know I've got to work a lot for it...so that I can be a properly welded, sharpened, strong, capable tool in His hand... I know it's not just “Alright Lord, I came on a mission...I suffered through the MTC...I can testify and contact in this language...I'll do what I'm told...ready go! Changes lives!” I have to change something and repent everyday of something I'm not doing right...every day! I know with my hard work and faith, I will be able to help someone come to Him...and stay with Him. I'm so grateful that you've taught me my whole life to work hard at everything I do...school, work, church callings...whatever...that is definitely a family learned trait from example and “contracts” and high expectations! Thankyou!
Speaking of investi-alligators...we have a new, fabulous lady that we are teaching. She was one of those, “Lets go back and talk to that lady” people that passed us on the street...on our way back, she turned around wanting to come back to us and was surprised to see us already half way back to her :) She had a lot of soul-searching questions...she felt guilty after her mother died because she was mean to her...she had no idea what to think about life after death...We met the next day...then two days after that, then the next and again tomorrow. She takes notes when we talk, reads what we ask her too, comes with questions, and PRAYS! We kinda don't know what to do with ourselves. It's like the dog that chases after the car and then finally gets it...and doesn't know what to do with it. Haha...no it's fabulous...the spirit is always there in our lessons. Cectpa K is the talkative powerhouse who loves to answer all the questions, Cectpa Lav brings in the spirit with her first word...she has a serious gift of sharing her powerful testimony...and I struggle through what I want to say, use a ton of scriptures (cause they speak better than I do in any language), and then look up at her understanding, but confused face and resort to my testimony. After I shared what I knew, she asked me, “So how did you receive your testimony that this church is true?” And it's funny how quickly and clearly I was able to answer her, without searching for words or organizing the order or conjugating... in short, we'll see. She's fabulous, but we'll see!
We are meeting with Era today for the first time in a month...we're either going to stop meeting with her, or seriously make some big steps. I pray for her every night...I hope the spirit can get through to her today.
Today we went to balaklava again...i love it there :) We went on a boat ride out in the middle of the Black Sea! Well not in the middle, but pretended...i sang yo-ho-yo-ho a pirates life for me! The whole way out...our captain thought I was weird. The whole way back, I took the ropes he uses for tying up the boat and held them like reigns and sang “On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer and VIXEN!” and so on...then he thought I was just crazy. I love the sea and the salt-water smell and the water and the sea spray...oh man...it's like heaven.
I'm ticked about the game. I got like 80 texts from different elders and the senior couples with various stupid comments like “Sis. Jones, how bout them cougars” and “overtime...3 points...happy day...hows it feel?” and “merry christmas cectpa! Go BYU!” ugh... why are all missionaries byu fans. Haha..the rivalry is still alive and well and making me crazy here in Ukraine.
Thankyou for everything family dearest or as the say here in Russian, “family expensive”...I wondered how much I had to pay to be sent to you guys... couple thousand hriven probably. I'm doing great....having at least a couple hilarious adventures every day...depending a lot on God...being humbled a lot...cleaning my apartment with a branch witch broom, you know...the regular...HAPPY DECEMBER! Weird...i felt like a just barely left
с любовью всегда
сестра джонс!
Pssss – :)
Thanksgiving was great! We ordered pizza, watched “UP”, and played games in Sinferopol (center of Crimea) While the elders played footbal, cectpa K, Lav and I ventured over to some botanical garden that wasn't too botanical...all the flowers were dead...BUT there was this really cool and thick forest in the back and we heard from a babyshka that the squirrels will eat out of you hands! We frolicked over like little kids with our pockets full of walnuts from the babyshka...but I tell you...those squirrels are EVIL. They look exactly like the killer bunny on monty python except with a huge fluffy white tail...red eyes, huge ears...and they scamper around like humming birds. It was like being in a cursed forest....hahaha...oh Ukraine! Great thanksgiving...and you won't see pictures of me with elder anderson...he's up in Dnepr or something, and only Crimea got together for thanksgiving...sorry! Have you not gotten that picture cd yet? You should this week...well who knows actually...but I think it's coming! Woohooo!
I spoke in Church on Sunday :) It actually turned out a lot better than I thoughts it would. President gave me the topic of “The Blessing of Work”, a talk in the new Liahona that we only get in Russian...hmmmm...give a talk and my resource is only in russian... and speak for 20 minutes... hahah...no I worked through it and pulled together my thoughts. I think everything went well...people understood and I hope they felt the spirit through my mistakes. I love that topic. I promise you a billion times over that it's through OUR work that God can work. It's definitely not at the exact same moment for most things...to tell you the truth, I'm still trying to see how God will work through me to touch the hearts of His children here in Ukraine. I see it every day with my companions and I know I have the same calling they do...the same purpose and responsibility and support that they do...so I not going to quit working at it. I know that love and sacrifice speaks louder than any words ever will, so I'm trying to make that the center of my service here. I've come to terms that I'll never express with eloquence or depth, like my sisters, the beautiful blessings of the gospel in russian. I will always be the American missionary that came to Ukraine trying learn Russian to communicate with people...because I love the people here. I want to strengthen our little prixod so bad... I want to find someone that receives every ounce of Christ's gospel and loves it and wants to live it...I want our members to receive a stronger witness that Christ is our Savior and become more active in His church...so bad...I hope the Lord can use me. I know I've got to work a lot for it...so that I can be a properly welded, sharpened, strong, capable tool in His hand... I know it's not just “Alright Lord, I came on a mission...I suffered through the MTC...I can testify and contact in this language...I'll do what I'm told...ready go! Changes lives!” I have to change something and repent everyday of something I'm not doing right...every day! I know with my hard work and faith, I will be able to help someone come to Him...and stay with Him. I'm so grateful that you've taught me my whole life to work hard at everything I do...school, work, church callings...whatever...that is definitely a family learned trait from example and “contracts” and high expectations! Thankyou!
Speaking of investi-alligators...we have a new, fabulous lady that we are teaching. She was one of those, “Lets go back and talk to that lady” people that passed us on the street...on our way back, she turned around wanting to come back to us and was surprised to see us already half way back to her :) She had a lot of soul-searching questions...she felt guilty after her mother died because she was mean to her...she had no idea what to think about life after death...We met the next day...then two days after that, then the next and again tomorrow. She takes notes when we talk, reads what we ask her too, comes with questions, and PRAYS! We kinda don't know what to do with ourselves. It's like the dog that chases after the car and then finally gets it...and doesn't know what to do with it. Haha...no it's fabulous...the spirit is always there in our lessons. Cectpa K is the talkative powerhouse who loves to answer all the questions, Cectpa Lav brings in the spirit with her first word...she has a serious gift of sharing her powerful testimony...and I struggle through what I want to say, use a ton of scriptures (cause they speak better than I do in any language), and then look up at her understanding, but confused face and resort to my testimony. After I shared what I knew, she asked me, “So how did you receive your testimony that this church is true?” And it's funny how quickly and clearly I was able to answer her, without searching for words or organizing the order or conjugating... in short, we'll see. She's fabulous, but we'll see!
We are meeting with Era today for the first time in a month...we're either going to stop meeting with her, or seriously make some big steps. I pray for her every night...I hope the spirit can get through to her today.
Today we went to balaklava again...i love it there :) We went on a boat ride out in the middle of the Black Sea! Well not in the middle, but pretended...i sang yo-ho-yo-ho a pirates life for me! The whole way out...our captain thought I was weird. The whole way back, I took the ropes he uses for tying up the boat and held them like reigns and sang “On Dasher, on Dancer, on Prancer and VIXEN!” and so on...then he thought I was just crazy. I love the sea and the salt-water smell and the water and the sea spray...oh man...it's like heaven.
I'm ticked about the game. I got like 80 texts from different elders and the senior couples with various stupid comments like “Sis. Jones, how bout them cougars” and “overtime...3 points...happy day...hows it feel?” and “merry christmas cectpa! Go BYU!” ugh... why are all missionaries byu fans. Haha..the rivalry is still alive and well and making me crazy here in Ukraine.
Thankyou for everything family dearest or as the say here in Russian, “family expensive”...I wondered how much I had to pay to be sent to you guys... couple thousand hriven probably. I'm doing great....having at least a couple hilarious adventures every day...depending a lot on God...being humbled a lot...cleaning my apartment with a branch witch broom, you know...the regular...HAPPY DECEMBER! Weird...i felt like a just barely left
с любовью всегда
сестра джонс!
Pssss – :)
Tuesday, November 24, 2009
Sand Animation- Ukraine's Got Talent
This is incredible. Props to Richie for sending it to me. Maybe Kathy will learn how to do this on her mission.
Monday, November 23, 2009
24th email: November 23rd, 2009
Ok so I'm typing on microsoft word this time so I don't loose everything again...and it also explains why all my grammar errors are being corrected...stupid computer...let me make my own mistakes.
Ok...Cectpa Lavryenenko...haha...I just laugh when I think about her :) She's from Western Ukraine (where they only speak Ukrainian) and is a convert to the church. Her dad is a member, but not yet her mom...”yet” she emphasizes. She speaks english absolutely perfectly...she sounds more american than me...she basically is more american than me! She knows more about how to make american food, more about where cities are in Utah, more about our traditions...it's hilarious. Though she speaks english like a fiend, her and sister Kondratyeva yap yap gab gab in russian all day. It's great. I'm really learning a ton from listening to them. Sometimes I look over at them and I'm like, “hey, the sister misisonaries!” then I'm like...oh, thats me. Haha...being in a threesome is weird, but like I said...I'm learning a ton. Cectpa K will leave December 20th, so she won't be here for Christmas...so cectpa Lav and I will have a straight up Westernized santa down the chimney christmas...we've already talked about chopping down a tree. Cectpa Lav is a bit smaller than me, short dark hair, and a cute doll face...she's always smiling and laughing and she always wants to play cards and make tort (cake)...she's brought a lot of energy to our companionship! She's been out for a year now and will probably spend the rest of the time in Cevastopol...I think I'll be with her next transfer, but who know...President Nielson is ochin unpredictable!
Today we ventured to Bakchesirai, a sweet cave city in the middle of the mountains...oh what a breath of fresh air!!!! Literally, fresh mountain air is like oxygen for my soul...well it really is oxygen...stupid analogy...anyways...we wandered through the mountains and the city, stopping in random caves and pretended to be cavemen...we climbed up (safe-white-handbook-appropriate) to these cubby caves carved into the mountain, but when we got down, we kind of lost the path and ended having to climb through a barbed-wire fence and go down the side of the mountain. It sounds a lot more dangerous and risky than it was, but I loved it. I miss my random adventures...this satisfied my craving :) And on top of that, the weather was ridiculously fine...short-sleeves, and I'm pretty sure I got some sun...i love Cevastopol!
We're still working with Rosa and her babyshka, Valentina. They've come to church the past two sundays, and Valentina is actually, genuionly (whatever...the computer says I can't spell “genioun”...ughhhhh...go away little squiggly red line! В настоящий.. Haha...got it in russian) interested in the Gospel. Rosa is still a saint, but she needs support from home in order to be baptized. She's too young to venture down the road by herself...who am I kidding, she's already on it, but I think Irina is a little against her being baptized...Oksana is still with us. We have a hard time meeting with her, but she really loves and respects and trusts us. It meant a lot that she wanted to fast with us...Just Irina...We're praying that she can have an open, soft, and understanding heart to the faith and desire of her family. She likes us and our message, but I think she just thinks it's a little weird. I understand...we're a strange oversize brady bunch to the rest of the world...if they only knew how awesome our party is going to be in heaven, they'd leave their vodka parties and come to ours :) We have another great investigator, Olga. She's Enna's friend...enna just loves us and invites all her friends to our lessons, but won't progress a bit...how do you drop someone like that? Hard situation...but Olga is great...she's a happy, smiley, jolly women...she invited us to her perfume party...weird...i smelled like a mix of pansies and old ladies when I left...but what do you do? After we had a fabulous lesson with her about the Book of Mormon...no matter how awful we smelled! Era is making us crazy...it's been a month and she's flakey as ever. I really don't understand at all why she said (and continues to say) she wants to be baptized. Ugh...she has made my patience a thousand times stronger!
For thanksgiving, Crimea is getting together so the ELDERS came play football...lame. I'm planning on having a three on two game with the sisters, whether they like it or not :) imagine...me, two ukrainians, one russian, and one armenian, playing american football...in Ukraine. Just the idea gives me tingles :) We're watching “forever strong” at the prexod in Sinferopol and ordering pizza and playing games. Our district is having our own real thanksgiving dinner that night...pizza does not cut it! I'm making mashies (even though I won't eat them...i can't eat another potato for as long as I live...how cectpa k eats them breakfast lunch and dinner, i'll never know) and pies...haha...we'll see how that goes...the mission has made me a WORSE cook...if you can imagine. :)
Speaking of...papa, I need a cinnamon roll recipe...we want them for Christmas! And mom, chicken and broccoli cass. ...i found curry!
I'm thankful for all you all you all...I feel the same as basically every other missionary, and I appreciate my family a ton more now that I'm away... I realize how good I've got it. God's blessed me more than I deserve with my friends and family. I love you all and miss you a little bit, but my heart is here right now. Everyday I try to discuss with the Lord what needs to change with how I'm working. Everyday I feel like we talk with eachother and work out an agreement of sorts about what I'm going to do and what I need to do. It's really just what He needs me to do, but it's becoming what I want to do. Think of how unstoppable we can be if we align our will with God's! A- He's kind-of all-knowing, loving, and divine and knows what works the best for us and for those around us...and B – if we stop fighting against the grain and start moving with Him, we'll pick up the pace and He'll make us faster and stronger and happier than ever! If I want something and am trying to reach a goal, I want God behind me 100%... My goal is to bring souls to Christ, and I'm pretty sure He's okay with that :) I still need help figuring out how to do it most effectively with my little hurdles of language and satan and incompetency... but I know that as I live worthily for the Spirit to be with me, He'll guide my steps, my words, even my mood. Sweet. We have to ability to basically be walking forces of truth.
Welp love you all...i'm working harder than I ever have in my life and stupid satan is like a whip in my face, but my reliance and love for God is my rock...with Him, I cannot fai! I hope you're all so happy and working hard in whatever you're doing! Happy happy thanksgiving...tell everyone I love them and kiss the ground of zions for me :) And as you eat your delicious pumpkin pie or honeybaked ham...just think of me...and my pumpkin pie...that i'm planning of making out of REAL mashed up pumkin, with random alternative spices, and all in a pizza pan, with hand whipped cream... I already feel bad for my district :)
love you...thankful for you...stay strong!
Love cectpa jonesy
pcpcpss – mama...thankyou for sending packages...gorsh :) I'll let you know when they get here...do you want me to send home anything for Christmas? I have zero money, but I could send something small
pspspsps Happy birthday Taryn! You old hag :) hope it was wonderful! You're my companions age...weird! Give roy boy a kiss for me!
Spspsppps – LOVE YOU!
Ok...Cectpa Lavryenenko...haha...I just laugh when I think about her :) She's from Western Ukraine (where they only speak Ukrainian) and is a convert to the church. Her dad is a member, but not yet her mom...”yet” she emphasizes. She speaks english absolutely perfectly...she sounds more american than me...she basically is more american than me! She knows more about how to make american food, more about where cities are in Utah, more about our traditions...it's hilarious. Though she speaks english like a fiend, her and sister Kondratyeva yap yap gab gab in russian all day. It's great. I'm really learning a ton from listening to them. Sometimes I look over at them and I'm like, “hey, the sister misisonaries!” then I'm like...oh, thats me. Haha...being in a threesome is weird, but like I said...I'm learning a ton. Cectpa K will leave December 20th, so she won't be here for Christmas...so cectpa Lav and I will have a straight up Westernized santa down the chimney christmas...we've already talked about chopping down a tree. Cectpa Lav is a bit smaller than me, short dark hair, and a cute doll face...she's always smiling and laughing and she always wants to play cards and make tort (cake)...she's brought a lot of energy to our companionship! She's been out for a year now and will probably spend the rest of the time in Cevastopol...I think I'll be with her next transfer, but who know...President Nielson is ochin unpredictable!
Today we ventured to Bakchesirai, a sweet cave city in the middle of the mountains...oh what a breath of fresh air!!!! Literally, fresh mountain air is like oxygen for my soul...well it really is oxygen...stupid analogy...anyways...we wandered through the mountains and the city, stopping in random caves and pretended to be cavemen...we climbed up (safe-white-handbook-
We're still working with Rosa and her babyshka, Valentina. They've come to church the past two sundays, and Valentina is actually, genuionly (whatever...the computer says I can't spell “genioun”...ughhhhh...go away little squiggly red line! В настоящий.. Haha...got it in russian) interested in the Gospel. Rosa is still a saint, but she needs support from home in order to be baptized. She's too young to venture down the road by herself...who am I kidding, she's already on it, but I think Irina is a little against her being baptized...Oksana is still with us. We have a hard time meeting with her, but she really loves and respects and trusts us. It meant a lot that she wanted to fast with us...Just Irina...We're praying that she can have an open, soft, and understanding heart to the faith and desire of her family. She likes us and our message, but I think she just thinks it's a little weird. I understand...we're a strange oversize brady bunch to the rest of the world...if they only knew how awesome our party is going to be in heaven, they'd leave their vodka parties and come to ours :) We have another great investigator, Olga. She's Enna's friend...enna just loves us and invites all her friends to our lessons, but won't progress a bit...how do you drop someone like that? Hard situation...but Olga is great...she's a happy, smiley, jolly women...she invited us to her perfume party...weird...i smelled like a mix of pansies and old ladies when I left...but what do you do? After we had a fabulous lesson with her about the Book of Mormon...no matter how awful we smelled! Era is making us crazy...it's been a month and she's flakey as ever. I really don't understand at all why she said (and continues to say) she wants to be baptized. Ugh...she has made my patience a thousand times stronger!
For thanksgiving, Crimea is getting together so the ELDERS came play football...lame. I'm planning on having a three on two game with the sisters, whether they like it or not :) imagine...me, two ukrainians, one russian, and one armenian, playing american football...in Ukraine. Just the idea gives me tingles :) We're watching “forever strong” at the prexod in Sinferopol and ordering pizza and playing games. Our district is having our own real thanksgiving dinner that night...pizza does not cut it! I'm making mashies (even though I won't eat them...i can't eat another potato for as long as I live...how cectpa k eats them breakfast lunch and dinner, i'll never know) and pies...haha...we'll see how that goes...the mission has made me a WORSE cook...if you can imagine. :)
Speaking of...papa, I need a cinnamon roll recipe...we want them for Christmas! And mom, chicken and broccoli cass. ...i found curry!
I'm thankful for all you all you all...I feel the same as basically every other missionary, and I appreciate my family a ton more now that I'm away... I realize how good I've got it. God's blessed me more than I deserve with my friends and family. I love you all and miss you a little bit, but my heart is here right now. Everyday I try to discuss with the Lord what needs to change with how I'm working. Everyday I feel like we talk with eachother and work out an agreement of sorts about what I'm going to do and what I need to do. It's really just what He needs me to do, but it's becoming what I want to do. Think of how unstoppable we can be if we align our will with God's! A- He's kind-of all-knowing, loving, and divine and knows what works the best for us and for those around us...and B – if we stop fighting against the grain and start moving with Him, we'll pick up the pace and He'll make us faster and stronger and happier than ever! If I want something and am trying to reach a goal, I want God behind me 100%... My goal is to bring souls to Christ, and I'm pretty sure He's okay with that :) I still need help figuring out how to do it most effectively with my little hurdles of language and satan and incompetency... but I know that as I live worthily for the Spirit to be with me, He'll guide my steps, my words, even my mood. Sweet. We have to ability to basically be walking forces of truth.
Welp love you all...i'm working harder than I ever have in my life and stupid satan is like a whip in my face, but my reliance and love for God is my rock...with Him, I cannot fai! I hope you're all so happy and working hard in whatever you're doing! Happy happy thanksgiving...tell everyone I love them and kiss the ground of zions for me :) And as you eat your delicious pumpkin pie or honeybaked ham...just think of me...and my pumpkin pie...that i'm planning of making out of REAL mashed up pumkin, with random alternative spices, and all in a pizza pan, with hand whipped cream... I already feel bad for my district :)
love you...thankful for you...stay strong!
Love cectpa jonesy
pcpcpss – mama...thankyou for sending packages...gorsh :) I'll let you know when they get here...do you want me to send home anything for Christmas? I have zero money, but I could send something small
pspspsps Happy birthday Taryn! You old hag :) hope it was wonderful! You're my companions age...weird! Give roy boy a kiss for me!
Spspsppps – LOVE YOU!
Monday, November 16, 2009
23rd Email: November 16th, 2009
I'm computer retarded and lost my email again...this'll be short, sorry!
I sent home a picture cd on tuesday and it should get there sometime in the next century...haha, who knows. Sorry I took so long...i just wanted to get my money's worth for the cd :) The biggest news this week came wednesday night...we were soaking wet and beat tired after our 10 flights of stairs up to our apartment and President called with a little surprise..."We're sending you Cectpa Lavryenenko!" Haha...we had no idea and she was coming the next morning...that's right...i'm in a fabulous threesome :) She is a little Ukrainian angel who is more american than i am :) She speak english perfectly without an accent and brought along with her all these american games and food (peanut butter, oreos, teriyaki sauce, wheatables, almond mm's, mint cookies...i died) She brings such a love and light to our companionship...i love her. In the process of moving our apartment around in preparation for her, our massive closet almost fell on me and one of our beds DID fall on me...i'm really good at moving furniture :) Rosa is amazing as ever...she came to church with her babushka. She (babushka) has been searching for truth her whole life and brought rosa, met with us the second hour with amazing questions, and then stayed for relief society and participated. We fasted with Oksana on Saturday (her request...she's having a hard time...haha...it's a miracle...she lives to eat :) ) I hope this helps her gain a testimony. gotta go, love you all so much...i'm happier than ever...the church is true, god lives, christ is our redeemer.
love cectpa jones
ps. mom, cectpa lav. doesn't have a ton of support from home...will you send her some christmas stuff? maybe send us some ms. clause pjs or something...like i said, she loves americans and our traditions...also my tape is the normal big size
ps/ thanks
pspsp alot
I sent home a picture cd on tuesday and it should get there sometime in the next century...haha, who knows. Sorry I took so long...i just wanted to get my money's worth for the cd :) The biggest news this week came wednesday night...we were soaking wet and beat tired after our 10 flights of stairs up to our apartment and President called with a little surprise..."We're sending you Cectpa Lavryenenko!" Haha...we had no idea and she was coming the next morning...that's right...i'm in a fabulous threesome :) She is a little Ukrainian angel who is more american than i am :) She speak english perfectly without an accent and brought along with her all these american games and food (peanut butter, oreos, teriyaki sauce, wheatables, almond mm's, mint cookies...i died) She brings such a love and light to our companionship...i love her. In the process of moving our apartment around in preparation for her, our massive closet almost fell on me and one of our beds DID fall on me...i'm really good at moving furniture :) Rosa is amazing as ever...she came to church with her babushka. She (babushka) has been searching for truth her whole life and brought rosa, met with us the second hour with amazing questions, and then stayed for relief society and participated. We fasted with Oksana on Saturday (her request...she's having a hard time...haha...it's a miracle...she lives to eat :) ) I hope this helps her gain a testimony. gotta go, love you all so much...i'm happier than ever...the church is true, god lives, christ is our redeemer.
love cectpa jones
ps. mom, cectpa lav. doesn't have a ton of support from home...will you send her some christmas stuff? maybe send us some ms. clause pjs or something...like i said, she loves americans and our traditions...also my tape is the normal big size
ps/ thanks
pspsp alot
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