Possibly Insightful Ramblings

This week was full of miracles and adventures, ranging from teaching wonderful people, to a wonderful fireside with a member of the Kyiv temple presidency, to translating a Relief Society activity at which we discussed metabolism, carbohydrates, proteins, and other such biological things, to giving out 21 copies of the Book of Mormon. On that note, our mission president informed us today that since our mission is placing about 1000 copies of the Book of Mormon each month [which is a lot for a mission with only about 30 companionships], the printers in Germany are going to dramatically increase their production of copies of the Russian Book of Mormon. That will hopefully correct the current shortage of copies of the Book of Mormon that we are experiencing and allow us to even more fully flood the land with the Book of Mormon. It's really exciting to be a part of this! I know that there is power in the Book of Mormon - a power that each of us needs in our lives. The Spirit o...

Sister Nay and Sister Burgoyne This week we had the incredible opportunity of traveling five or six hours by train to do exchanges with the sisters in Kherson and Nikolaiv. Due to a current shortage of sisters in the mission (which will end next week when three more sisters join us!), there is a threesome of sisters who cover both of those cities - living half the week in the Kherson apartment, then moving back to Nikolaiv for the rest of the week. So it was exciting that for a day they were able to be in both cities at once thanks to exchanges. :) After a lovely ride through the Ukrainian countryside (as a side note, I have had so many beautiful experiences lately as I've studied the scriptures in a little coupee on a train - those little rooms have taken on a very special place in my heart), we were met in Kherson by Sisters Bascom, Dickison, and Gottscheck. After having not seen Sister Bascom for six months, it was quite wonderful to get to be her companion again and s...

I feel like as time goes on in my mission, the frequency and intensity of miracles has been increasing. That's a sign that not only am I growing in faith, consecration, and awareness of the Lord's hand, but also that the Lord is hastening His work in this region of the world. And I am incredibly grateful to be able to participate in it and witness the many mercies and miracles God is pouring out on His Ukrainian children. This week we had one of the most powerful lessons I have ever been on. Seriously, it was definitely material for The District 3. I was incredibly moved by that experience, and will forever treasure it. Now for the necessary background information that hopefully is not super confusing. We are teaching this woman named Vika. She is about 25 years old and has a baby girl who is 2 months. Her entire family (basically) are members of the church, but she has never joined. Ever since I have been in Simferopol we've been teaching Vika's niece, Angeli...

Patricia was baptized this Saturday!!! Her baptism and confirmation were incredible, Spirit-filled events, and I know that everyone who was present was uplifted. In our mission lately we've really been focusing on making sure our baptismal services are sacred so that all can feel the Spirit and so that the convert will be able to remember that day for the rest of his or her life. And that definitely happened this Saturday. We met with Patricia a few times this week to finish preparing her for her baptism. At one lesson, we were discussing the Word of Wisdom in greater depth than before. It came out that she wasn't sure if she was ready to give up coffee. She expressed hesitancy, saying she didn't know if she could quit completely by Saturday. (In case you're wondering, that's not really something you want to hear the day before their baptismal interview . . . so we were slightly concerned.) We were praying very hard during t...

Sisters in the mission home right before transfers.  Missionaries by the branch New Year's tree.  Me and Оля at the best McDonald's in Ukraine. Right before she went back to Киев to work. Train ride back to Ɗнепропетровск to take Sis. Bates home. [Pretending to be happy :) ] Me and the Primary at the branch Christmas party. Sister Bates and I sporting our Ukrainian aprons and бабушка scarves.