Hey all!
First of all, big news: the Russia Samara Mission is officially a TEXTING mission! Ahhhhh! OMGeeeeee!
Haha. It's really not THAT big of a deal. It's pretty restricted texting. But still!
Second of all: we had a baptism this week! It wasn't an investigator, but al little girl in our ward was baptized this past Saturday and it was the cooolest experience. Elder Malloy, one of the New City elders, baptized her and bore a really sweet testimony afterwards. She was crying and smiling and would NOT let go of him afterward. It was adorable.
OH! And tell Sis. Spencer "hello!" Lucenia told me that she said "Privet" while we were at the baptism. I guess she saw some pictures on facebook. Small world!
Also, Mom, you asked how missionary work is changing with the big influx of missionaries. WELL, I heard from one of the assistants that there will be about 100,000 missionaries in the field next year. 100,000! That's DOUBLE what it is right now. I don't know how accurate that is, but it sounds about right. As far as Samara, our missionary compliment will be raised from 69 missionaries to 76, which means that more companionships will be serving in already existing areas. They might have to open a few more areas for the sisters, but some of the areas aren't large enough to do that as of right now, so we'll see what happens. President also said that missionary work will begin focusing more on branch work-family history, less actives, that kind of thing, which is really exciting.
Also, also, I'll be in Samara this week for my first visa trip, which means I'll be able to pick up mail from the office (hopefully). I'd really, REALLY like to hear from you guys (Lark, Macs, Dad, Ben, Taylor), so if you want to sign onto Dearelder and write something, I'll be able to pick it up this Friday. SO, DO IT! It's been forever! If I don't hear from you before the end of the year, I can't make any promises about coming home after my mission, mmkay?
I think that's about it. I'm sorry this is so formal/boring this week, but my time is running out. We saw a bunch of blood in our elevator and syringes in the staircase on Wednesday morning if that counts for anything! haha. That's not funny. I'm sorry. I'll write more in my big letter home this week. And Mom, I PROMISE I will record every detail of Christmas is Russia.
I love you all. Be good! Keep reading and praying and diong the small things. I promise you they count in the long (and short) run. Thank you for all your prayers :)
Until next week,
Sister Sine.
Tuesday, September 9, 2014
Three Investigators
When did December happen? Hollly cow. As of yesterday, Isaac's birthday, I've been in Russia a full 2 months. And as of December 17th, Mom's birthday, I only have a year left here. Crazy, huh?
This week was jam packed with blessings. I don't even know where to start. We just have the best are in the world. I love all our investigators so much. And our branch. And Sister Pearce. It's all just fantastic. We had THREE investigators at church this week. THREE! We've had a hard enough time getting one to come, but we had THREE on Sunday. We rode there with Marina, who we were worried wouldn't come at first because she tends to shy awayfrom new things. Then Katya showed up, a 25 year old with a baby boy that we just met with this past week. Then Tanya and her mother, Elena, showed up. I was on cloud nine. Then I spent the rest of church feeling super nervous about everything the branch said and did. It was exhausting. But, the branch pulled through. (Sis. Pearce and I think they put on a little bit of a show for our investigators). In testimony meeting, Elder Bollough (who goes home in 2 weeks) bore a fantastic testimony, which brought both Marina and I to tears. Then other members shared their baptismal stories, which was great. In Sunday School things got a little crazy-we had a case of overzealous teacher, which kind of urked Marina. Then in Relief Society our new president, Vera, taught the lesson and ended with yet another testimony meeting in which Suzanna, the Elders' investigator, bore HER testimony. It was all awesome. We rode home with Elena and Tanya and Tanya started asking about branch activites and when they were, etc., etc. I'm really excited to see what happens with her.
And on Thursday, we experienced something that very few missionaries ever get to experience- EVERYTHING WE PLANNED ON, HAPPENED! We didn't use any of our back up plans! Everything worked out! It was a miracle. We were literally jumping up and down on the way home. Haha. It's the little things, y'know?
And then, we found a family to teach yesterday. It's sort of an inside joke with Sister Pearce and I, actually. There's a sister missionary on the District named Sister Myers and during one planning session she says, "Let's find a family." It's just such a missionary thing. I always make fun of it every time we set goals about how many people we want to find. And what do you know, we found a family! Their son is 8 years old (perfect, huh?) but he's a bit of a devil. He kept stealing my pure and rummaging through it. Then he stole my picture of the family and wouldn't give it back. I tried to be as patient as possible. I would've killed him if he ruined that picture, though. Our lessons with the family should be interesting. We'll definitely have to brainstorm how to keep him occupied.
Something we've been focusing on a lot this week is how we can get our investigators to 'flip the switch' to become converted to the gospel and want it for themselves. It's rough business, lemme tell you. I was reading in Mosiah 27 this morning and came across verses 26 and 27. It talks about us becoming new creatures through the gospel. Not only does it mention becoming new creatures, but it says that becoming new creatures is a necessity to inheriting the kingdom of God. So, I thought about how we extend commitments and WHY we extend commitments, and essentially we're asking our investigators to become new creatures. They're not just homework assigments or opportunities to increase their faith, they're the means but which they will be born again into new people. I began to think about that in conjunction with my own life and I realized that I do a lot of things oer and over again hoping that I'll change or that my life will somehow change, but it won't. In order for things to change, in order for us to change, we have to change how we do things. And not look back. So, if there are things in your own life that you know aren't consistent with the things that you want, change them. Change them unapologetically and don't look back. And make Heavenly Father a part of that process. If there's one thing I've learned from this past week (and these past two months), it's that Heavenly Father always has something in the works. If you ask him to, He'll usually let you in on it.
And Grandma, we had a FANTASITC thanksgiving as a district this past week. Everyone brought food and we all went around and said what we were grateful for. I loved it. We've also seen snow pretty consistently here. It snows pretty much every day now, if only a little bit. Last night, though, it POURED rain for a good 3 hours. We were soaked all night long. And when it rains here, puddles form everywhere. Not just little puddles, either. They're massive! And deep! It's kind of like a game trying to manuever around them. I love it.
Anywho, I think that's about it for this week. Things are going great in Russia, and both Sister Pearce and I really think we could have two baptism this month with Marina and Tanya. I really hope so. I really want them to have a relationship with their Heavenly Father. I know He loves them a lot.
I love you all! I hope December is treating you all well. I miss you! And I can't wait to talk to you guys on Christmas! I think we might just be able to work out a skype schedule so that we can talk to each other (ALL of us). We'll see!
Be great!
-Sister Sine
This week was jam packed with blessings. I don't even know where to start. We just have the best are in the world. I love all our investigators so much. And our branch. And Sister Pearce. It's all just fantastic. We had THREE investigators at church this week. THREE! We've had a hard enough time getting one to come, but we had THREE on Sunday. We rode there with Marina, who we were worried wouldn't come at first because she tends to shy awayfrom new things. Then Katya showed up, a 25 year old with a baby boy that we just met with this past week. Then Tanya and her mother, Elena, showed up. I was on cloud nine. Then I spent the rest of church feeling super nervous about everything the branch said and did. It was exhausting. But, the branch pulled through. (Sis. Pearce and I think they put on a little bit of a show for our investigators). In testimony meeting, Elder Bollough (who goes home in 2 weeks) bore a fantastic testimony, which brought both Marina and I to tears. Then other members shared their baptismal stories, which was great. In Sunday School things got a little crazy-we had a case of overzealous teacher, which kind of urked Marina. Then in Relief Society our new president, Vera, taught the lesson and ended with yet another testimony meeting in which Suzanna, the Elders' investigator, bore HER testimony. It was all awesome. We rode home with Elena and Tanya and Tanya started asking about branch activites and when they were, etc., etc. I'm really excited to see what happens with her.
And on Thursday, we experienced something that very few missionaries ever get to experience- EVERYTHING WE PLANNED ON, HAPPENED! We didn't use any of our back up plans! Everything worked out! It was a miracle. We were literally jumping up and down on the way home. Haha. It's the little things, y'know?
And then, we found a family to teach yesterday. It's sort of an inside joke with Sister Pearce and I, actually. There's a sister missionary on the District named Sister Myers and during one planning session she says, "Let's find a family." It's just such a missionary thing. I always make fun of it every time we set goals about how many people we want to find. And what do you know, we found a family! Their son is 8 years old (perfect, huh?) but he's a bit of a devil. He kept stealing my pure and rummaging through it. Then he stole my picture of the family and wouldn't give it back. I tried to be as patient as possible. I would've killed him if he ruined that picture, though. Our lessons with the family should be interesting. We'll definitely have to brainstorm how to keep him occupied.
Something we've been focusing on a lot this week is how we can get our investigators to 'flip the switch' to become converted to the gospel and want it for themselves. It's rough business, lemme tell you. I was reading in Mosiah 27 this morning and came across verses 26 and 27. It talks about us becoming new creatures through the gospel. Not only does it mention becoming new creatures, but it says that becoming new creatures is a necessity to inheriting the kingdom of God. So, I thought about how we extend commitments and WHY we extend commitments, and essentially we're asking our investigators to become new creatures. They're not just homework assigments or opportunities to increase their faith, they're the means but which they will be born again into new people. I began to think about that in conjunction with my own life and I realized that I do a lot of things oer and over again hoping that I'll change or that my life will somehow change, but it won't. In order for things to change, in order for us to change, we have to change how we do things. And not look back. So, if there are things in your own life that you know aren't consistent with the things that you want, change them. Change them unapologetically and don't look back. And make Heavenly Father a part of that process. If there's one thing I've learned from this past week (and these past two months), it's that Heavenly Father always has something in the works. If you ask him to, He'll usually let you in on it.
And Grandma, we had a FANTASITC thanksgiving as a district this past week. Everyone brought food and we all went around and said what we were grateful for. I loved it. We've also seen snow pretty consistently here. It snows pretty much every day now, if only a little bit. Last night, though, it POURED rain for a good 3 hours. We were soaked all night long. And when it rains here, puddles form everywhere. Not just little puddles, either. They're massive! And deep! It's kind of like a game trying to manuever around them. I love it.
Anywho, I think that's about it for this week. Things are going great in Russia, and both Sister Pearce and I really think we could have two baptism this month with Marina and Tanya. I really hope so. I really want them to have a relationship with their Heavenly Father. I know He loves them a lot.
I love you all! I hope December is treating you all well. I miss you! And I can't wait to talk to you guys on Christmas! I think we might just be able to work out a skype schedule so that we can talk to each other (ALL of us). We'll see!
Be great!
-Sister Sine
Tolyatti, Tolyatti
As of next Monday, I will have been in Russia for 2 months. I know I say it every week (and I say it to Sister Pearce every day) but time moves SO quickly here. I feel like Caitie just dropped me off at the MTC a month ago. Missions, man...
Anywho, this week had its ups and downs. We've been trying to figure out how to use our time more effectively in the winter since it gets dark around 4:30 or 5:00 and contacting at night is pretty useless. We're trying to come up with projects we can do to keep us busy, but we're running into a lot of obstacles. Hopefully something comes up. We've got 3 long months ahead of us if it doesn't.
We had some really great meeting this week, though. A while back we met a woman named Madame Nina, a 75-80 year old woman who's almost blind from diabetes and speaks perfect English. I love her with all my heart. I started talking to her on the street after a long day of people just saying "Ne Nada" (I don't need it). I said "hello," asked her how she was, and she asked, in perfect English, "Oh, are you from America?" I was shocked. Anywho, we've met with her a few times. She lives alone in an apartment on the other side of New City. At first, she said that she wasn't too interested in joining the church but wanted to know the history behind it, etc. So, we figured we'd use her visits to practice teaching the lessons and keep her company. I LOVE visiting with her. She has the best stories from living in America and working as an interpreter in the 1970s, and she's always trying to feed us and give us things. Two weeks ago she told me to practice speaking with rocks in my mouth to improve my English enunciation (sp?). Haha. She's like another grandma. Well, this last visit we taught her the Plan of Salvation (in English!) and it was probably the best lesson I've had since I've been here. The spirit was SO strong. We taught her about pre-Earth life, our life on Earth, the Atonement, and the fact that our families can be together after we die, which was especially key for her since her husband passed away a while ago. I can remember looking her in the eyes and telling her that she would see her husband again and knowing from the bottom of my heart that she would. It was the best feeling. She just kept saying that she felt very peaceful and that she knew what we were saying was true. I don't know quite what will happen with Madame Nina (she makes us call her Madame Nina since that's what her pupils called her), but I know she's a very, very special daughter of Heavenly Father, and I'm honored to be a part of her life.
THEN, thirty minutes after Madame Nina's visit, we met with Vitali. Vitali is impossible to meet with beause of his work schedule, but every time we meet withhim, his lessons go SO WELL, so we keep trying. This time we taught the Restoration and it went really, really well. We asked him at one point if he'd ever felt the Holy Ghost in his life and he told us a story about how he was driving one night and everyone in the car with him told him to go into the next lane but he didn't. He didn't know why he didn't, but a few seconds later there was a crash in the next lane over. He said he believed it was the influence of God. THEN he told us that he thought our meetings might be the same thing. He told us, "I don't know why I'm here with you in the park right now. I'm tired, I want to go watch t.v, I want to be at home with my family, but I'm here talking to two American girls about God. Why?" THEN he asked about church (it's out favorite thing when investigators ask about church), and said he really wanted to attend once his work let up. We'll see!
Oh, and Happy belated Thanksgiving! Our thanksgiving was a little weird, but I loved it. We had thanksgiving dinner after zone training this past Friday. Everyone brought something to eat, which made for quite the feast. Sister Pearce and I made two pies and a cake, which was a pain to lug with us to zone training. I was stuck on the world's bumpiest bus trying to hold a cake and a pie (which hadn't set yet, so it was basically soup), trying to keep them as level as possible. Haha. It was hilarious. My arms were KILLING me, but we couldn't stop laughing. I'm so glad I could be here this thanksgiving. Our district's just one big happy family; we really are like brothers and sisters. I love them all, and I've learned so much from all of their examples. I'm so thankful to be on a mission and to be able to share what I know about the gospel. When nothing else makes sense here in Russia, I know that the things that are coming out of my mouth are all true. We have the best message on the face of the Earth and I get to share it with people every day. God loves his children, we lived with him before this life and we can live with Him AND our families eternally. I know we have a prophet today, that we have ordinances on the Earth that can bring us closer to God that we could ever imagine possible. I know all of this is true. I love all of you. Thank you for all your support and love. Thank you for your examples and your love. It means the world to me.
I LOVE YOU ALL!
-Love, Sister Sine
Anywho, this week had its ups and downs. We've been trying to figure out how to use our time more effectively in the winter since it gets dark around 4:30 or 5:00 and contacting at night is pretty useless. We're trying to come up with projects we can do to keep us busy, but we're running into a lot of obstacles. Hopefully something comes up. We've got 3 long months ahead of us if it doesn't.
We had some really great meeting this week, though. A while back we met a woman named Madame Nina, a 75-80 year old woman who's almost blind from diabetes and speaks perfect English. I love her with all my heart. I started talking to her on the street after a long day of people just saying "Ne Nada" (I don't need it). I said "hello," asked her how she was, and she asked, in perfect English, "Oh, are you from America?" I was shocked. Anywho, we've met with her a few times. She lives alone in an apartment on the other side of New City. At first, she said that she wasn't too interested in joining the church but wanted to know the history behind it, etc. So, we figured we'd use her visits to practice teaching the lessons and keep her company. I LOVE visiting with her. She has the best stories from living in America and working as an interpreter in the 1970s, and she's always trying to feed us and give us things. Two weeks ago she told me to practice speaking with rocks in my mouth to improve my English enunciation (sp?). Haha. She's like another grandma. Well, this last visit we taught her the Plan of Salvation (in English!) and it was probably the best lesson I've had since I've been here. The spirit was SO strong. We taught her about pre-Earth life, our life on Earth, the Atonement, and the fact that our families can be together after we die, which was especially key for her since her husband passed away a while ago. I can remember looking her in the eyes and telling her that she would see her husband again and knowing from the bottom of my heart that she would. It was the best feeling. She just kept saying that she felt very peaceful and that she knew what we were saying was true. I don't know quite what will happen with Madame Nina (she makes us call her Madame Nina since that's what her pupils called her), but I know she's a very, very special daughter of Heavenly Father, and I'm honored to be a part of her life.
THEN, thirty minutes after Madame Nina's visit, we met with Vitali. Vitali is impossible to meet with beause of his work schedule, but every time we meet withhim, his lessons go SO WELL, so we keep trying. This time we taught the Restoration and it went really, really well. We asked him at one point if he'd ever felt the Holy Ghost in his life and he told us a story about how he was driving one night and everyone in the car with him told him to go into the next lane but he didn't. He didn't know why he didn't, but a few seconds later there was a crash in the next lane over. He said he believed it was the influence of God. THEN he told us that he thought our meetings might be the same thing. He told us, "I don't know why I'm here with you in the park right now. I'm tired, I want to go watch t.v, I want to be at home with my family, but I'm here talking to two American girls about God. Why?" THEN he asked about church (it's out favorite thing when investigators ask about church), and said he really wanted to attend once his work let up. We'll see!
Oh, and Happy belated Thanksgiving! Our thanksgiving was a little weird, but I loved it. We had thanksgiving dinner after zone training this past Friday. Everyone brought something to eat, which made for quite the feast. Sister Pearce and I made two pies and a cake, which was a pain to lug with us to zone training. I was stuck on the world's bumpiest bus trying to hold a cake and a pie (which hadn't set yet, so it was basically soup), trying to keep them as level as possible. Haha. It was hilarious. My arms were KILLING me, but we couldn't stop laughing. I'm so glad I could be here this thanksgiving. Our district's just one big happy family; we really are like brothers and sisters. I love them all, and I've learned so much from all of their examples. I'm so thankful to be on a mission and to be able to share what I know about the gospel. When nothing else makes sense here in Russia, I know that the things that are coming out of my mouth are all true. We have the best message on the face of the Earth and I get to share it with people every day. God loves his children, we lived with him before this life and we can live with Him AND our families eternally. I know we have a prophet today, that we have ordinances on the Earth that can bring us closer to God that we could ever imagine possible. I know all of this is true. I love all of you. Thank you for all your support and love. Thank you for your examples and your love. It means the world to me.
I LOVE YOU ALL!
-Love, Sister Sine
A Short Letter
Hey Mama Bear,
I don't have much time this week, but I wanted to write about something that happened this week that's really meant a lot to me. I repented for the first time this week! Well, I've repented before, but I went to President Sartori and talked to him about a few things that have been weighing down on me. I've made my goal for the mission to have a 'pavillion-less' relationship with God, and I felt like the first step needed to be repentance. So, I did. It's completely changed everything. I FEEL different. I never knew I wanted to feel this way, but now that I do, I look at things differently-missionary work, my thoughts, my relationship with God, my testimony, the scriptures. It's all different. I love it. So, for those of you out there who feel like something is off or something's bugging you, repent. Do whatever it takes, because coming out clean on the other side is SO worth it.
Other than that, this week has been a pretty boring one, all things considered. Haha. I lost 4 pounds this week, that was kind of cool? Our investigators are going through a bit of an overhaul right now-we're switching our teaching focuses and trying to become a biggere part of their lives. Right now, our investigators see us as something they can do when they have free time. We're working on changing that. Right now we have 3 solid progressing investigators (last week we had SEVEN), Natasha, Vladimir, and Shenya. We met a less active member with a 17 year olf this week, though, and we're hoping to teach her. She's the best. That reminds me- Mom, could you go on my facebook and send me the files of my sketches? They're all in one album. Just copy them and attach them to the email if you can. The girl's name is Tanya and she's an artist- I promised her I'd bring her some of my stuff to show her.
Anywho, I love you all, especially you, Mama and Papa Bear. I'll be sending pictures this week with the big letter. Be excited! I love you! I miss you all every day! Be great! BE STRONG! Be patient. God loves you. Do svedanya!
-Sister Sine
I don't have much time this week, but I wanted to write about something that happened this week that's really meant a lot to me. I repented for the first time this week! Well, I've repented before, but I went to President Sartori and talked to him about a few things that have been weighing down on me. I've made my goal for the mission to have a 'pavillion-less' relationship with God, and I felt like the first step needed to be repentance. So, I did. It's completely changed everything. I FEEL different. I never knew I wanted to feel this way, but now that I do, I look at things differently-missionary work, my thoughts, my relationship with God, my testimony, the scriptures. It's all different. I love it. So, for those of you out there who feel like something is off or something's bugging you, repent. Do whatever it takes, because coming out clean on the other side is SO worth it.
Other than that, this week has been a pretty boring one, all things considered. Haha. I lost 4 pounds this week, that was kind of cool? Our investigators are going through a bit of an overhaul right now-we're switching our teaching focuses and trying to become a biggere part of their lives. Right now, our investigators see us as something they can do when they have free time. We're working on changing that. Right now we have 3 solid progressing investigators (last week we had SEVEN), Natasha, Vladimir, and Shenya. We met a less active member with a 17 year olf this week, though, and we're hoping to teach her. She's the best. That reminds me- Mom, could you go on my facebook and send me the files of my sketches? They're all in one album. Just copy them and attach them to the email if you can. The girl's name is Tanya and she's an artist- I promised her I'd bring her some of my stuff to show her.
Anywho, I love you all, especially you, Mama and Papa Bear. I'll be sending pictures this week with the big letter. Be excited! I love you! I miss you all every day! Be great! BE STRONG! Be patient. God loves you. Do svedanya!
-Sister Sine
Second Transfer
Well, I'm officially done with my first cycle in Russia! It went by so fast. I can't believe it. I'm now a second-cycle sister in the Samara mission.
Anywho, so everyone says that transfers are rough business, but you never really understand until you've gone through one. The closer transfers got, the more I kept thinking about how much I didn't want to leave Tolyatti. I LOVE this place. I love the investigators here, I love the city, I love the babooskas, I love Sister Pearce, I love the branch. So, when Saturday came, I was really on edge. We got a call from our district leader, Elder Long (who is the best, by the way), saying that Sister Pearce had gotten transferred but that I was staying in Tolyatti. Sister Pearce and I started freaking out. She was hyperventilating pretty bad. Then 30 seconds later, he told us he was kidding. Sister Pearce almost got on a bus to go punch him in the face. It was HI-larious. Way to go, Elder Long.
That's a long way of saying that I'm staying in Tolyatti with Sister Pearce! Woohoo! At least five more weeks here! I'm so, so grateful. We have 7 progressing investigators right now, one with a baptismal date, and 4 more that we feel are really ready for baptism, and I can't imagine leaving them. So, I'm here in Tolyatti until at least the 17th of December, I believe.
I heard Obama won the election. I have to admit, I didn't like Romney all that much but I kinda wanted him to win. It would've been so cool to be out in the mission field with a Mormon president in office. But, hey. Thanks a lot, America.
Also, we had our culture night this past week. We got to go see Siberian dancers at the Philharmoni in Old City. It was absolutely breathtaking. It was all traditional Russian dancing and I was spellbound the entire time. I mean, I've watched Russian dancing before, but something about watching it IN Russia makes it so much cooler. Their legs! I don't know how they do the things they do! They're incredible. It made me fall in love with Russia even more. Sister Pearce and I were walking around doing drop bys the other night and we were just talking about how lucky we were to be in Russia, speaking in Russian, wearing Russian coats, walking about in the Russian snow, eating Russian food, helping the church in Russia. I couldn't ask for a cooler experience. I would love to come back and live here one day. Except it's super cold. There's a girl in our brach named Nadia who served in Novasibersk and she said that the winters in Samara are even COLDER than Novasibersk because of the wind. So everyone who says that Novasibersk is the coldest mission on Earth is wrong! Haha. Just kidding.
Anywho, that's all I got this week, I think. I'll try and send some pictures soon, but getting them developed takes up some precious P-day time, so we have to plan it out really well.
Annnd the timer is telling me that I only have 3 minutes left, which means I don't have time to type out my spiritual thought! BUT, that means you can think about it for next time. We've been studying why there's only one true church on the Earth this week since a lot of our investigators have been having issues with that. And it's been a pretty cool experience. SO, ask yourselves: Why is there only one true church on the Earth?
I LOVE YOU! I MISS YOU ALL! BE GREAT! MUAH!
-Sister Sine
Anywho, so everyone says that transfers are rough business, but you never really understand until you've gone through one. The closer transfers got, the more I kept thinking about how much I didn't want to leave Tolyatti. I LOVE this place. I love the investigators here, I love the city, I love the babooskas, I love Sister Pearce, I love the branch. So, when Saturday came, I was really on edge. We got a call from our district leader, Elder Long (who is the best, by the way), saying that Sister Pearce had gotten transferred but that I was staying in Tolyatti. Sister Pearce and I started freaking out. She was hyperventilating pretty bad. Then 30 seconds later, he told us he was kidding. Sister Pearce almost got on a bus to go punch him in the face. It was HI-larious. Way to go, Elder Long.
That's a long way of saying that I'm staying in Tolyatti with Sister Pearce! Woohoo! At least five more weeks here! I'm so, so grateful. We have 7 progressing investigators right now, one with a baptismal date, and 4 more that we feel are really ready for baptism, and I can't imagine leaving them. So, I'm here in Tolyatti until at least the 17th of December, I believe.
I heard Obama won the election. I have to admit, I didn't like Romney all that much but I kinda wanted him to win. It would've been so cool to be out in the mission field with a Mormon president in office. But, hey. Thanks a lot, America.
Also, we had our culture night this past week. We got to go see Siberian dancers at the Philharmoni in Old City. It was absolutely breathtaking. It was all traditional Russian dancing and I was spellbound the entire time. I mean, I've watched Russian dancing before, but something about watching it IN Russia makes it so much cooler. Their legs! I don't know how they do the things they do! They're incredible. It made me fall in love with Russia even more. Sister Pearce and I were walking around doing drop bys the other night and we were just talking about how lucky we were to be in Russia, speaking in Russian, wearing Russian coats, walking about in the Russian snow, eating Russian food, helping the church in Russia. I couldn't ask for a cooler experience. I would love to come back and live here one day. Except it's super cold. There's a girl in our brach named Nadia who served in Novasibersk and she said that the winters in Samara are even COLDER than Novasibersk because of the wind. So everyone who says that Novasibersk is the coldest mission on Earth is wrong! Haha. Just kidding.
Anywho, that's all I got this week, I think. I'll try and send some pictures soon, but getting them developed takes up some precious P-day time, so we have to plan it out really well.
Annnd the timer is telling me that I only have 3 minutes left, which means I don't have time to type out my spiritual thought! BUT, that means you can think about it for next time. We've been studying why there's only one true church on the Earth this week since a lot of our investigators have been having issues with that. And it's been a pretty cool experience. SO, ask yourselves: Why is there only one true church on the Earth?
I LOVE YOU! I MISS YOU ALL! BE GREAT! MUAH!
-Sister Sine
One Month in Russia
Hey everyone!
One month in Russia. It's official. This week's been a great one. We have seven progressing investigators. SEVEN. I don't know how it happened. Haha. I love them all. They're all doing some really great things. And we got a baptismal date last night! Woohoo! We're not celebrating quite yet; baptismal dates are pretty fragile. But he wants to be baptized, he knows he has to be baptized, and he's working towards baptism, so we're happy. His name is Vladimir, he's 23, and he's the coolest Russian man you'll ever meet. Seriously, I don't know why he lets us hang out with him.
We've been watching a lot of The District for training this week, which has spurred a lot of District-envy. Haha. It's getting bad. We watch all these segments about missionary work in America and how missionaries work with the ward mission leader and have members on every lesson, etc., etc., and then we go out and do missionary work...not...that...way. Haha. We've decided we're going to make our own version of The District for Russian missionaries. We're real excited about it. That's a lie. I'M really excited about it. It'll have segments on things like what to do when your investigator shows up drunk to a lesson or calls you in the middle of the night to tell you he loves you, and how to reactivate your ward mission leader before working with him (true story).
Joking aside, I love it here. I love everything about this place. I wouldn't trade it with any other mission experience in the world. I've never felt more genuine love from people in my entire life. I'm learning every day. I've learned SO MUCH from so many people. It's crazy. The other day we met a woman named "Madame Nina" or at least that's what she wants us to call her. We stopped her on the street and she started speking to us in perfect English. She was sooo happy to find English speakers. She invited us over two days ago for pancakes (which were delicious) and had a great discussion about the gospel in her living room. She's had a really, really, really hard life, but she has all the faith in the world. I'm so happy that I get to be a part of her life, even if only for right now.
Also, interesting news. We've been getting calls from church members and our investigators all week telling us to be careful on the street. Both Sis. Pearce and I had no idea why. It was kind of worrying both of us. Well, turns our President Putin visited Samara this past week and talked about sects in Russia and how they're affecting Russian society. He wasn't talking about Mormons, but the people who think Mormonism is a set think he was. So, there's been some talk about having to take our tags off for a few weeks, which would be crazy. Things are alright for now, nothing to worry about, but keep praying for the work in Russia.
ALSO, we studied Lehi's dream as a district this week. It was the coolest experience with the scriptures that I've ever had. I'd never gone that in depth with the scriptures before. My challenge to all of you is to read Lehi's dream and think about each individual verse as you read it. Cross-reference it, pray about what you can learn from it. I promise you you'll come away with something great.
Random notes: I saw a Russian Zach Galifianakis on the street yesterday. It was great. It was seriously like Zach Galifianakis as if he were playing Einstein in a movie or something. That's a terrible explanation-just know that it was funny.
I love you all! Remember who you are. Keep praying, keep reading.
-Sister Sine
One month in Russia. It's official. This week's been a great one. We have seven progressing investigators. SEVEN. I don't know how it happened. Haha. I love them all. They're all doing some really great things. And we got a baptismal date last night! Woohoo! We're not celebrating quite yet; baptismal dates are pretty fragile. But he wants to be baptized, he knows he has to be baptized, and he's working towards baptism, so we're happy. His name is Vladimir, he's 23, and he's the coolest Russian man you'll ever meet. Seriously, I don't know why he lets us hang out with him.
We've been watching a lot of The District for training this week, which has spurred a lot of District-envy. Haha. It's getting bad. We watch all these segments about missionary work in America and how missionaries work with the ward mission leader and have members on every lesson, etc., etc., and then we go out and do missionary work...not...that...way. Haha. We've decided we're going to make our own version of The District for Russian missionaries. We're real excited about it. That's a lie. I'M really excited about it. It'll have segments on things like what to do when your investigator shows up drunk to a lesson or calls you in the middle of the night to tell you he loves you, and how to reactivate your ward mission leader before working with him (true story).
Joking aside, I love it here. I love everything about this place. I wouldn't trade it with any other mission experience in the world. I've never felt more genuine love from people in my entire life. I'm learning every day. I've learned SO MUCH from so many people. It's crazy. The other day we met a woman named "Madame Nina" or at least that's what she wants us to call her. We stopped her on the street and she started speking to us in perfect English. She was sooo happy to find English speakers. She invited us over two days ago for pancakes (which were delicious) and had a great discussion about the gospel in her living room. She's had a really, really, really hard life, but she has all the faith in the world. I'm so happy that I get to be a part of her life, even if only for right now.
Also, interesting news. We've been getting calls from church members and our investigators all week telling us to be careful on the street. Both Sis. Pearce and I had no idea why. It was kind of worrying both of us. Well, turns our President Putin visited Samara this past week and talked about sects in Russia and how they're affecting Russian society. He wasn't talking about Mormons, but the people who think Mormonism is a set think he was. So, there's been some talk about having to take our tags off for a few weeks, which would be crazy. Things are alright for now, nothing to worry about, but keep praying for the work in Russia.
ALSO, we studied Lehi's dream as a district this week. It was the coolest experience with the scriptures that I've ever had. I'd never gone that in depth with the scriptures before. My challenge to all of you is to read Lehi's dream and think about each individual verse as you read it. Cross-reference it, pray about what you can learn from it. I promise you you'll come away with something great.
Random notes: I saw a Russian Zach Galifianakis on the street yesterday. It was great. It was seriously like Zach Galifianakis as if he were playing Einstein in a movie or something. That's a terrible explanation-just know that it was funny.
I love you all! Remember who you are. Keep praying, keep reading.
-Sister Sine
3 Months!
Hey, hey, hey!
Not a lot to write about? I feel like everything's changing back home! It's crazy. Time's going by so quickly. The 18th of October is my official 3 month mark. I can't believe it.
Anywho, lots has happened this week, but I have no idea where to start or what order it's going to come out in, so bear with me.
First of all, our teaching pool has gone through a complete overhaul this week. We've been dumped by a lot of people or "friend-zoned" but we've also found a lot of amazing people who want to know about the church. And last Monday we met a woman who's completely changed my entire outlook on missionary work. Haha. It sounds stupid, but it's true. We met a woman named Xania while out walking. I asked her for (fake) directions home, she pointed us in the right direction, then walked with us down the street, her little dog folling behind her. We asked her what she liked to do and she just started crying on the spot. She explained that her husband and family had all either died or moved away and that she lived all alone with her dog. She just kept saying how little hope she had, and how little she had to look forward to. It broke my heart. We talked with her about her life and introduced her to the Book of Mormon and asked if we could meet with her or help her with anything. She gave us her address but said she didn't have a phone, which makes things complicated. We stopped by her house the other day, but the babooska outside wouldn't let us up. They're a tough crowd, babooskas are. Anywho, the entire time I was talking with her, I just kept thinking about how little I could do for her. I mean, I could share the gospel with her and hug her and try to make her feel better, but the only help that would really mean anything would come from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I felt very small. In a good way. I am nothing in this work without Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Spirit. It feels great. haha.
Other than that, we've had a few good times this week. I went to Samar this week while Sister Pierce had her visa trip. I got to work with Sisters Young and Scoville, whom I'd met over Facebook and at the MTC. It made me appreciate Tolyatti a lot. Samara is really big, and really loud, and very busy. Contacting was a completely different ballgame there. I did get "prolongly-touched" by a drunk man, though. My first! I ended up giving him a Book of Mormon then fleeing as fast as my little feet could carry me. I also had an incident with a public restroom, or lack thereof, two nights ago. I'll save that story for when I return so that I maintain some dignity amongst those who read this. AND, this morning our washing machine almost set Sister Pierce's clothes on fire. There were actualy flames, FLAMES, in our washing machine. Haha. We could NOT stop laughing.
We're also gearing up for the long Russian winter. We bough bona fide Russian coats this past week at an outdoor market. We brought a member with us who haggled with the coat-dealer. It was pretty crazy. I just remember people throwing coats on me and shoving fur in my face and patting my hips a lot. But, mission accomplished. We got coats! Today we're buying boots, gloves, and hats.
Tell everyone at home that I say "hi" and I love them. Tell Larky that I'm trying to work on a birthday present, but I make no guarantees. And tell dad to write me! I miss all his fatherly wisdom! Also, if you could have Caitie mail me my memory card after she send the pictures to you guys, I've appreciate it. I'm running out of room here! And tell her that I love her more than Forrest Gump loves Dr. Pepper.
Thanks for everything you've all done (and keep doing) for me. I think about you all every day. I love you and I know I'm very blessed to have you all in my life.
Love you! Miss you!
Sister Sine
Not a lot to write about? I feel like everything's changing back home! It's crazy. Time's going by so quickly. The 18th of October is my official 3 month mark. I can't believe it.
Anywho, lots has happened this week, but I have no idea where to start or what order it's going to come out in, so bear with me.
First of all, our teaching pool has gone through a complete overhaul this week. We've been dumped by a lot of people or "friend-zoned" but we've also found a lot of amazing people who want to know about the church. And last Monday we met a woman who's completely changed my entire outlook on missionary work. Haha. It sounds stupid, but it's true. We met a woman named Xania while out walking. I asked her for (fake) directions home, she pointed us in the right direction, then walked with us down the street, her little dog folling behind her. We asked her what she liked to do and she just started crying on the spot. She explained that her husband and family had all either died or moved away and that she lived all alone with her dog. She just kept saying how little hope she had, and how little she had to look forward to. It broke my heart. We talked with her about her life and introduced her to the Book of Mormon and asked if we could meet with her or help her with anything. She gave us her address but said she didn't have a phone, which makes things complicated. We stopped by her house the other day, but the babooska outside wouldn't let us up. They're a tough crowd, babooskas are. Anywho, the entire time I was talking with her, I just kept thinking about how little I could do for her. I mean, I could share the gospel with her and hug her and try to make her feel better, but the only help that would really mean anything would come from Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ. I felt very small. In a good way. I am nothing in this work without Heavenly Father, Jesus Christ, and the Spirit. It feels great. haha.
Other than that, we've had a few good times this week. I went to Samar this week while Sister Pierce had her visa trip. I got to work with Sisters Young and Scoville, whom I'd met over Facebook and at the MTC. It made me appreciate Tolyatti a lot. Samara is really big, and really loud, and very busy. Contacting was a completely different ballgame there. I did get "prolongly-touched" by a drunk man, though. My first! I ended up giving him a Book of Mormon then fleeing as fast as my little feet could carry me. I also had an incident with a public restroom, or lack thereof, two nights ago. I'll save that story for when I return so that I maintain some dignity amongst those who read this. AND, this morning our washing machine almost set Sister Pierce's clothes on fire. There were actualy flames, FLAMES, in our washing machine. Haha. We could NOT stop laughing.
We're also gearing up for the long Russian winter. We bough bona fide Russian coats this past week at an outdoor market. We brought a member with us who haggled with the coat-dealer. It was pretty crazy. I just remember people throwing coats on me and shoving fur in my face and patting my hips a lot. But, mission accomplished. We got coats! Today we're buying boots, gloves, and hats.
Tell everyone at home that I say "hi" and I love them. Tell Larky that I'm trying to work on a birthday present, but I make no guarantees. And tell dad to write me! I miss all his fatherly wisdom! Also, if you could have Caitie mail me my memory card after she send the pictures to you guys, I've appreciate it. I'm running out of room here! And tell her that I love her more than Forrest Gump loves Dr. Pepper.
Thanks for everything you've all done (and keep doing) for me. I think about you all every day. I love you and I know I'm very blessed to have you all in my life.
Love you! Miss you!
Sister Sine
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