Dec 28

So, did you know that I get 2 Christmases this year?!?

It was a great Christmas Eve and I still have one more!

Most Ukrainians still celebrate Christmas on the 7 of January! What an amazing opportunity it is to remember Christ always. That is what a mission has shown me. The true spirit of Christmas is eternal. It's about loving others and loving them enough to want them all to have salvation. Being bold enough to knock on random doors, not knowing who will answer but that they are children of God. Maybe they want to know how they can know our Savior better. That is what we did just yesterday. And we found a woman named Ruslana. She is a younger woman who speaks English, but she wants to know why we - two Americans - are sharing a Christmas message.

Merry Christmas! I am excited for this time of year - when people's hearts are searching for change. They realize that another year just passed and they are wondering what will happen in the next. Well, I think they should know that they can have the best year of their lives in 2010! That is the message we are sharing and I'm excited to share it with everyone!

It was nice to hear your voices again! I love you both. That 30 min. goes fast doesn't it! Next time you'll have to write down some questions you want to ask.

Don't remind me. Only 10 months! That is about 300 days. Anyways, maybe I'll get the package at zone conference. That's on Monday. I'm more west now! I am in a beautiful city. I feel so fortunate! I have had wonderful companions and I've seen every city (but Odessa) that a sister can serve in! Kyiv, Lviv, Bila Tserkva, and Xhmelnitski! And, I've been with so many Russian speakers I might have a chance to serve in Odessa! No, I still need to work on Ukrainian.

I don't understand why I was feeling apprehensive about this transfer, but now I know that I just need to trust God with everything! I would say that I've finally learned that lesson, but it is one I thought I learned years ago and even just last transfer.

I am doing great; trying to apply all of the lessons I've learned thus far on my mission and continue to grow. I feel that I've learned so much but I know that I still don't know anything! So, I must always press forward.

Sister Gay is a wonderful missionary! She is a good teacher and I know that this will be a great transfer! I am excited to work with her and learn from her and grow together!

I didn't realize how much more relaxing it could be to have an American companion: one who understands the songs I sing, or the books I talk about, or even the weird things I say. She is a wonderful missionary and I love her already! I am super excited for this transfer. She is from Idaho (we all know how wonderful Idahoans are ... right Will?). She has 2 transfers left (12 weeks) and we hope to spend them both together. She opened this area for sisters last transfer (6 weeks ago). So, it is still relatively new. We serve with 6 other missionaries; therefore, our branch is half missionaries. Our branch president is Elder Thatcher. He is a senior missionary - a retired PE teacher from California. His wife is a mother of 10 boys (YES 10 Boys) and she hasn't eaten chocolate in 30 years. She is my hero! (Back then, it was thought that chocolate was like smoking and you shouldn't use it when you are pregnant.) Therefore, she stopped, but, get this, she is an excellent fudge maker, always has a bowl of M&Ms and has the best brownie recipe I've ever tasted. She was a caterer! Talk about self-discipline! So, I might be spoiled this transfer with couple missionaries who love us and can cook!

I love this city! I love the people and I love our small branch! We have one investigator who has a testimony of the church and wants to change her life. We are trying to help her find a job so she doesn't have to work on Sundays. Other than that, I still need to meet with other investigators and of course find a family who wants to be stronger.

I love this church. I love the scriptures. I love Prophets!

Read the follow the prophet section in PMG chapter 3 lessson 4.

Happy New Year!

Thank you so much for everything I love you!

Way to go on your family history!

Good luck this week.

I wish you the best New Year!

Love,

Sister Murphy!

Dec 21: Email to the Thompsons

Hello Grandma and Grandpa,

 

Pass my thanks to Kevin.  I got their message and It was very inspiring!  They are a remarkable family!

How funny: Shawn e-mailed me and he and a friend drove to the football game!  How did the Vikings do?

What made the Christmas program so good?

How Sad.  Sister Edwards was a beautiful lady!

Don't worry, I'll be home for Christmas next year and we'll make all kinds of crazy holiday treats!

Well, tell me some of the blessings you've seen!

I have a question.

Why did you accept the gospel?

Why did you let a couple of 19-year-old boys into your home?

Way to go!  You are doing more for the salvation of souls than I am!  Genealogy is so important!

I love you guys!

So, this week we are going to try to remember Christ more than anything.  I am so thankful for His life.  I wish I could always remember Him in everything I do, after all, isn't that one of the covenants we make every Sunday.

And truly, we are sharing a special message about Christ.  Pray that I can find an interesting way to share it so hearts will be filled with desire.

I know that Christ has restored His church.  That He, through the small and simple means of a young man named Joseph, reached out again to the children of God to share with us the fullness of His gospel.  He loves us just as He loved His children in times of the Old Testament.  He is concerned for us and only through Him we can find peace and help with the problems created in our times.  So, when the world was prepared and one heart was ready and willing, he began to establish His kingdom on Earth again.  Through revelations and scripture and the restoring of His priesthood - the power of God - we can find once more the Church of Jesus Christ in these Latter-Days, including a prophet.  God loves us individually and collectively and will communicate with us personally and as a generation living on the earth through a prophet.

 

I hope you have the best Christmas...find someone to serve!  Remember Christ!

I love the snow.

It's fun to play in, and my companion and I take every opportunity.

Here is a funny story.  We had one busy day with 5 lessons, and we were running all over the city.  Our last appointment ended and we were just a little late, so we had to go to another bus stop.  This was Wednesday and we were receiving snow all day Tuesday night and Wednesday so by the end of the day everything was beautiful and white.  As we left Love's apartment...(lybov's) we started running in the purity of fresh snow.  The evening was beautiful and we couldn't resist going crazy!  As we were having fun we noticed a trolley bus coming and we ran as fast as we could with our heavy boots in the deep snow to the stop.  We got on just in time, paid the fare and sat down enjoying the fresh winter air that was all around us!  The windows were all iced over, and we were excited to go home and enjoy a nice cup of hot cocoa or mint tea.  We made a few phone calls so that planning our next day would be easy!

However, as we rolled along we scratched through the ice to see if we knew where we were going... 

Unfortunately, we were just riding a long on a nice adventure to the end of town.  Opps...we realized our mistake to late and at the end of the route we got off and waited for a marshutka to take us back.  Another interesting tale to the night, we piled into the marshutka and had a seat.  We had about a 30-minute ride in front of us.  Imagine a big white van, maybe enough seats for 22 people, and anyone who can stand.  Well the seats were all full in about 10 minutes and our last 20 minutes we just kept cramming people in!  It was hilarious!  That is the adventure of public transportation in Ukraine.

I love you!

Okay, time to go...

Happy imaginations...

Merry Christmas!

Love,

 

Sister Merphy

Dec 21: Email to Sandra & Will

Merry Christmas,

So, how are you?

I'm a little bummed, I'm getting transferred on Christmas eve.  So, I have no idea where I'll be & with whom and when I'll hear from you!  I'm leaving all our exciting Christmas activities behind too!  We were helping our branches plan many exciting things.  I am worried that they won't have a pianist…how unfortunate.

But, I'm trying to be like a child.  What would a kid do?

Heck yes...I'm going to have another adventure!

Should be fun!!

I am very thankful for the opportunity I’ve had to serve in Bila Tserkva and with Sister Nakashyawn.  I learned many valuable lessons.  I am thankful that I can say I'm growing and trying to improve and I'm grateful that I can serve Heavenly Father - It's inspiring!  I wish I could say that more had happened in Bila these last two transfers...

But, I have hope in the future for these branches.  Through the next couple of weeks one family will find the help that they have been looking for as they change their lives to accept the gospel!  And that's exciting!

I'm still a young missionary, maybe not a greenie anymore though.  I've been here for 5-6 months.  Do you know that my mission is half way over?  Isn't that awful?

So, I didn't know you were driving to Arkansas...crazy!

How is winter treating you?  We had our first snow this past week and it got cold really fast!  There isn't anything really on the ground and I remember what cold really is!  So, I'm grateful for that knowledge to remind me how warm I really am!

Ukraine is wonderful!  It's a little strange to think that Christmas is next week in America.  I love Christmas and I'm trying to be as more spirited than ever.  I'm just a little early here but that's okay.

Good luck!  Why did you loose power?

When is Dan going to the MTC?   Where is he going again?

I really had an awesome district here!  So, I'm hoping the best for each missionary I served with.  It was fun.

Before we leave we wanted to have Christmas for a few families who are struggling in our branches.  I took a little money out of my personal fund to buy some nice gifts for some of the girls who have horrible families.  I'm going to miss them.  They are beautiful like all Ukrainians.  I've seen lots of poverty in Bila.

I now need to pack and prepare.  I'm going to try to have fun and enjoy every second of it though!

I also want to make cookies for the ward members, but I don't think we'll have time.

 

Missionary work can be frustrating.  I've been in Ukraine for 5-6 months.  I know that people need the gospel.  The field is white. So, I'm trying to stay positive and confident that somebody will accept it.  I'm always asking what more can I do and I'm doing everything I can to stay positive.  But, now it's the end of the year.  Our mission had a goal of 100 baptisms.  I was confident that we would have 1 baptism.   Time passed and nothing happened.  I know that I'm not perfect; I just hope that I did what I was supposed to.

I know I need to change.  I've learned a lot.  I am grateful for this next transfer and that I can start again.  I hope to have stronger relationships with ward members and people.  I really want to be like a child.

I was reading about Joseph Smith and something caught my attention.  After the first vision, he felt sorrow for his follies of youth, I don't remember how it was worded...His child jolly...

 

Well, that is what Satan wants; he wants us to be serious and unexpressive.  That would have been his plan...

But, would Joseph Smith been able to do all he did with out his child like energy and enthusiasm for life?

That is something I am now trying to incorporate now into my life, that enthusiasm for life and for people.

Well, I am still sending out letters for Christmas, so I need to continue on...

Good luck, Merry Christmas...

I love you!

Be safe and HAVE FUN!  Like the Prophet Joseph!

Sister Murphy

December 14 (Read to the very end, she's given everyone an assignment!)

Women in the world are all the same: they think they are too fat and not pretty.  Even here in Ukraine, where women are all models, they are always dieting and complaining about how they look.

 

Hello Grandpa and Grandma and Sandra and Will!

So, here I am one more week in Ukraine with two more weeks of this year.  It's grown old hasn't it.  365 days really fly by.  In Ukraine we say they swim by.

And yet, every day is precious.  There is always so much to do.

Pray for me this week!

We still have to find someone who is ready to accept the glorious gospel this year!

So, don't worry about the helicopter in my stomach.  I did eat some bad cheese the other day and threw up a few times on Thursday.  It wasn’t the best day of my mission for sure.  But, Friday was better!

I love being here.  Realizing that God is with me has really helped me open up and change who I am.  I'm bolder and it's easier to talk to people.  My relationships are improving.  When I think about them I really try to think about God being with us and about the fun we would have.

Well, I have some sad news:  I sent some treats home last week, so that may be good.  But the sad news: it was extremely stressing.  Therefore, I don't know if I'll ever want to do it again.  Seriously, we can complain about the American Post service all we want, but I don't think I will ever again!  I love mail.  I love packages.  I LOVE to send things too, as many of know, but not while I'm in Ukraine.  Okay?  Okay...

I sent your package to your address so look for it and find it.  Maybe it will still be interesting after passing through 2 custom authorities...

This week was TOUGH.  But, I think it was because Heavenly Father wanted me to learn something and I did indeed!  We worked and sacrificed and exhausted ourselves every day trying to share the marvelous message of the gospel.  I doubted if anyone at all was searching to find truth and if they weren't searching for truth what could I do to help them realize that they are missing out.  Many people are satisfied with their lives; with the knowledge they have.  But, I know that they can have more: more happiness, peace and understanding.

If you have any ideas let me know because I'm still trying to figure that out.  How do you share the gospel with people who don't know that they need it?

So, by Thursday night we were clueless almost hopeless...

So, by Friday Sister Nakasyawn and I had exhausted ourselves trying to find the elect.  We were pretty discouraged and overwhelmed although we knew that these feelings wouldn't help us.  We tried for weeks but every time we found someone who was ready...Satan fought back.  So, Friday - I guess you can say we were desperate.  Friday morning during planning we prayed several times to know the will of the Lord for us.  Therefore, in our prayers we humbly told God that we had done all we could and then we asked what He wanted us to do.  It was an amazing feeling to realize that there was absolutely nothing I could do but rely fully on Him and trust that He would bless us.  And, He did.  We both felt confident we needed to work with one family in one of our branches—an amazing woman who has a daughter who is inactive.  She has health problems and hasn't been to church and really doesn't do much.  She also has a daughter who is 8 years old who comes to church every Sunday with her grandma.  (Aren't grandmas wonderful?)  We set an appointment for the very next morning where we told them that Heavenly Father has a plan for them and it starts with baptism and continues to the temple where they can be sealed as a family.  We'll meet with them tonight where we hope to help them decide when to celebrate the baptism for their daughter and then the father.

I've learned a lot this week about relying on God and I've learned to take literally the Ukrainian version of the hymn “Come, Come Ye Saints.”  Instead of the phrase "All is well" as we sing in English, we sing "z Namu Boh" - "God is with us.”  How true and how amazing! I've learned to take more seriously my calling as His representative.   I try to think during every lesson - is this what He would say.  As a representative He will be with me and I need to make sure He is there and is felt by those I am with.

I had many epiphanies this week.  Mostly I've learned what it really means to be an instrument in His hands.  He is the MUSICIAN and the MAKER and all I can do is be the best I can.  Maybe I'm still (remember I played the clarinet...) a plastic horn, (Yamaha!!!)  but He can make me better until one day I've developed into the best wooden instrument with silver plated keys - practically perfect! And while I progress, I may still only be a plastic horn, but even a professional can sound good on a plastic horn and God is the greatest musician so off course as I let him work through me I can sound beautifully.

I also like this hymn:  well I only remember the 4th verse:  "Fear not, I am with thee, so be not dismayed.  For I am thy God and will STILL give the aid.  I'll strengthen thee help thee and cause thee to stand.  Upheld by my righteous omnipotent hand."

Last Monday we were visiting a less-active family.  Their father is an alcoholic.  He came in kind of drunk and wasn't happy with the message we were sharing with him...

He left, came back in and confessed he wanted help.  He was probably more drunk.  He got on his knees and begged us to help him.  We told us if he was serious, to come home from work in Kyiv the next day sober and meet us at church.  He did.  It was hard for him.  He wasn't the happiest man in the world.  I know it's going to be hard for him.  But, he really needs help.  So, we asked the elders to meet with him.  But, I still want to help him.  I'm thinking about doing something extreme.  I don't know if I can do it, which makes it even more applicable.  I'm thinking about giving up sweets or chocolate…something until the end of my mission.  It will be a good excuse to turn down a piece of cake.  “I'm sorry, I promised an alcoholic that I wouldn't eat sweets if he wouldn't drink.”

That's noble...

We'll see them Wednesday.

I had some really good cake on Saturday and we still have ice cream in the freezer.

Will that help you stop eating sweets too?

Today we are going to make an Armenian cake and party like two of the craziest sister missionaries that we are.  Do you believe it's possible to have 3 lessons on our Preparation day?  We are sure going to try!

Wish us luck!

I Love you.  I'm excited for you and your adventures next week!  Have fun in Arkansas!

What a wonderful time it is!  As I was writing this morning I listened to the Christmas devotional!  How fantastic it is to have prophets leading us today.  Like the directors of an orchestra, they enrich our lives and instruct us how to "play" according to the "composers" ideas.  

Have a great week!

Love,

 

Sister Murphy!

Oh: here is a blog assignment for all those who are reading this.  Write back to me your answers! 

"What blessings have you received from keeping a certain commandment?"

I’d also like any ideas for a fun game to play for my English students.

Finally: What did you do for Christmas?

 

p.s. I did get Dad's package!  It was awesome!  I was super excited and I also got a letter from dear elder!

He's the best!

 

p.p.s. I think I'll have to get married pretty quick after my mission...I'll never be able to say my last name right or spell it... 

Merfi...

morphy

myourphy.

murfi....SHO TAKE?

(Pick one those are all the different ways to spell it over here)

P.p.p.s. my Ukrainian is horrible...but...the Lord is powerful!  Together we make a great team!

Okay...love you

Again and always!

S.M

December 7: Second Email

I have a little more time to write:

 

How is life there?  Is everyone happy?

I hope so!  If not, do it right now.  Be happy.  It can be difficult.  Well, it is when you have to choose, but choose to be happy!

So, this last week I learned a lot!

On Sunday, I said that our Missionary Coordination Meeting was difficult and Sister Nakashyawn and I felt horrible.  Then Monday (p-day) after writing you and shopping at the market, we met our Missionary Coordination Leader and Liza (his 8 year old daughter).  His father passed away.  It was so sad.  We didn't know what we could do.

 

Then we had district meeting on Tuesday (another strange miracle...normally they occur on Wed.) where we discussed what we could do.  We decided in a last minute spur decision (after our meeting) to try to find him.  We knew the funeral would be that day.  So, we called everyone in our branches.  Now the miracle...only Sister Nakashyawn and I knew about it.  Crazy!  Each call led us closer to their apartment until finally we had to call missionaries who served here.  We were closer and then we saw a large group of people carrying flowers and a brass quartet.  This was my first Ukrainian funeral.  It was beautiful.  I won't describe it because it isn't one of the happiest ceremonies in the world.  But, it was a long day.  I am so grateful for the plan of salvation.  I KNOW that we will see our loved ones after death.  I know that there is a God.  I know salvation is possible and we can achieve happiness.  How do I know this—because of faith.  Many people do not understand this word.  Faith is spiritual knowledge.  It isn't something you can see but it is something you feel.  I have opened my heart, I have desired, and I have tested my faith in order to know.  Our faith can be strengthened by the power of the Spirit of God.  By this same Spirit and feeling I have come to know that the Book of Mormon is true and that God has restored His gospel in the fullness.  Because He loves us, He wants to help us.  He helps us through directing us through prophets.  Because I know that this is true I have chosen to represent Him and share this amazing wonderful news with the world.  I know that He chose me to serve in this wonderful country amidst these wonderful people.  I am excited to share with them evidence of God's love on Earth again.  We can hold it in our hands and analyze it ourselves as we read the words of the Book of Mormon.

I wish I could express myself better, especially in Ukrainian, but in my weaknesses the Lord can do great things.

We have a lot to learn during this life, and the gospel is what we need to have success and  happiness!  It's a blessing and a wonder for sure!  But, it's true and it's wonderful!

This week we had an exchange!  I served with Sister Movchanyuk again in my first area for a day!  It was so much fun.  The temple is progressing so fast!  They are laying the landscape and removing the scaffolding.  It's beautiful!

President Steinagel said that the temple is literally directing the people of Ukraine as they already use it for directions!  (It's on I guess what you would call an interstate around the city, a crazy busy street!)

The exchange was fun.  We did service in the morning.  People in Ukraine wallpaper everything.  (EVEN THE CEILINGS!  So, we wallpapered a former investigator's house (what if I didn't put the word house?  Would you have understood?  HAHA!  I almost forgot!).  She has a large family and no money.  So, the ward bought us the supplies and we spent a few hours in the morning gluing!  It was fun.  One of her beautiful girls was watching Madagascar, so we sang with her "I Like to move it move it...I like to move it move it...I like to move it move it...MOVE IT!"  That's one movie I'm going to have to buy in Russian!  Their father is in America.

They also had a gazillion cats...kittens and they were crazy!  It was fun trying to lay out wallpaper with goofy spunky kittens flying around all over!

My amazing trainer is an excellent cook, so we had some tasty pumpkin pasta!  You'll have to try that sometime.

Then we attended a baptism and I saw some former investigators, some of them progressing others not.  She is an amazing missionary!

Well, how are the Christmas preparations coming?  I hope swell!

I love you all!  I hope the season of Christmas is in your Hearts and you feel the Love of and for the Lord!

What are your Christmas plans?  I love Christmas and I'm trying to make the most out of it here, teaching my English classes Christmas carols and playing Christmas music for church.  It's actually celebrated here in January and they have 2 celebrations!  But, We have some fun service we are doing on the 25th.  We helped some women here make blankets for a women's psychological center and we are going to sing and deliver them on Christmas day.  This is what I want for Christmas: a picture of the family.

If you can!  Have you been doing any ancestry research?

Well, our time is almost up!  So, I love you.  I hope you are having a great day!  

Have a wonderful week!

 

Love,

 

Sister Murphy

 

P.s. Sandra and will, I'm glad you are having fun root beering it up and gingerbreading men!

December 7: First Email

Hello Family,

I am great!  I was reading a conference talk and found comfort from a hymn!  I can't remember the title, I just know the fourth verse, “The weight of your calling, Satan perfectly knows.”  So, I know that Satan is evil and anything bad or sad comes from him.  He really wants me to be discouraged and I'm trying my best to not let him win.  I learned this week that Heavenly Father knows my abilities, knows my potential and knows my progress.  He is happy as long as I am trying my best no matter how many times I fall.  (Like any awesome parent would).  I certainly hope I progress a lot and fast, but I just need to be patient with my self and in the mean time teach people what they need to do to receive salvation!

So, I guess I'm still trying, trying to focus on baptisms and everything that leads to it.  It is overwhelming.  It is difficult, but it can be fun and I love it!

We are trying to do our best with the branches.  The Pettys help out a great deal and we are working on coordinating together.  It's amazing to know that God's gospel is perfect and we just need to apply it line upon line until we are living it in full.

I love Sister Nakashyawn and although we think one of us might be transferred (which would be horrible) we are super grateful for the opportunity to serve together!

I also enjoyed our exchange this week.  Sister Movchanyuk is the best missionary I know (I am not biased).  It was wonderful to be reminded again of easy things I can do to be a better missionary.   I hope I can be a better companion.

We have super high expectations this week!!!

We've been really busy here.  It's demanding and overwhelming but it can be fun and I love it!  I'm so thankful for the opportunity to serve here in this wonderful country and these wonderful people.  I love the gospel.  I know this is the most important work on Earth: the salvation of the Children of God—our brothers and sisters.  It's important in all we do to live the gospel and apply its principles.  We are not perfect but they help us to be better.  We cannot do everything but God loves our efforts as we try.  I'm thankful for the wonderful examples in my life and your amazing testimony.

I'm glad you got the package!  (It took about 2 weeks, maybe 2.5.) YAY FOR EVERYTHING!  I hope you really liked the tie. 

Oh and I'm pretty sure the 500 gruven I sent is fake!  If it isn't, opps.  Have fun with it.  It isn't worth much, maybe about $50.

So, whom do I need to write?  Who wants letters?  I want to write, but the day goes so fast!  No snow yet, but it's getting colder. I'm sure it will be here soon.

Thanks for thinking of me, but don't go to crazy.  Diane's package took 4 months to get here and you don't need to send anything heavy.  What am I supposed to do with all my favorite American candy from Dianne?  Sandy and Will when are you starting your no sweets diet?

I'll do my best!  Okay.  I'm pretty weak, but I do need to develop!

Well, I need to develop a lot!

We are enjoying everything though.  It was fun for my Armenian companion and Ukrainian friends to try American Twizzlers (my favorite!!!) and Reeces Pieces (also the best candy on earth!!) and everything!   We are going to have a birthday party soon or maybe a baptism party!  That will be fantastic!  

So, nothing special, but it will be the best package in the world if it has a hand-written letter from my you guys!

Go Vikings!

So, you are calling on Christmas morning? If it's at 4 here in the afternoon that means it will be after our surprise ward party that I'm not supposed to know about.

Okay, I talked with Sister Nakashyawn and we think it would be better to call in the evening here around 7-7:30.  That way we can be home and still have time for a few appointments that day.  Hatarsho?  (That's Russian for Okay?)

So maybe like 11 your time...

Did you really like the tie?  I hope so.  It sounded like a fantastic birthday!  I love that you are giving all the primary children teddy bears.  Where did you get all the bears?  You all are so wonderful!  I love that ward!  I love everyone there.  I hope they all know that!  I'm excited for the Pieffers!  What a glorious thing is a baptism.  We are working hard, trying to figure out how to be good missionaries and how to help people understand salvation!

What a wonderful day!  I hope the ham is as tasty as all of your hams have been!  Thank you for your prayers... I need them.  Missions are difficult.  The hymn that says, "the weight of our calling, satin perfectly knows."  He's working hard on all of us, trying to discourage us.  But, we have to have faith and trust God who also knows our potential.  He knows when we are trying.  He wants to help us.  He knows it is an experience for us; He doesn't expect us to master everything, especially now, but we are here to do the best we can!

Oh, maybe you can send something small for my companion.  If you are sending food then we will share that.  You could send pudding or jello.  That is light right and not so unhealthy!  I made jello for Thanksgiving, but it was really weird.  We have one more pack we'll experiment again.

Thank you for the pioneer comment.  Ukraine is filled with modern day Mormon pioneers, trying to change their way of living to adhere to the standards of God.  Even welfare is new and very difficult here, but they know that it is what God wants, and they are going to start trying!  Yay, I'm glad Sandra will be there!  How fun!

The helicopter disease treatment is EXPENSIVE (well, according to a missionary's small budget: 400 gruven, so maybe $40)  But our missionary doctor and nurse, the Goths, said that it isn't a big deal and to wait until I get home.  So I will.  I don't want to affect my missionary work and I don't have any gross symptoms.

Well, I love you both!   You two are the greatest!

Keep enjoying life!  That's a commandment you know!

Oh, keep me informed on the Vikings Grandpa!

Have a great week!

 

Love,

 

Sister Murphy!

 

November 30

Good Afternoon,

It's afternoon in White Church anyways,

(Bila tSterkva sounds much better) – (That is where she is living now)

I'm kind of tired today.  I've been reading 2 Nephi 4 a lot and I really love Nephi.

How are you?  I am trying to be better, tying to be like Nephi and rejoicing and trusting in God so that Satan doesn't have power over me.  But, it is difficult.  I am also frustrated because of my iniquities and the only thing I can do is be better.

So, I know the things I need to change. I know the Lord blesses us, and I know that Christ made it all possible.  I am very thankful for this opportunity to serve God.  I know the challenge is to do what matters.  So many times I distract myself by doing things that I think are good, but if I really thought about it I would see that it might not be the best.  (Like Elder Oaks talked about).  Therefore, I am still trying to focus on tuning into the Spirit.  As a musician- that phrase has a simple significance.  It means I have to move something - change something in what I do to blend into the correct "path" of the pitch.

I know I'm growing and I'm thankful for the Love of the Lord and His endless opportunities to try again.

Oh, by the way, yesterday, Church was much better.  The active members here really do so much and they try so hard.  They just need more help! That's why we are here.

We are having a sister’s exchange!  We are excited.  I'm looking forward to the opportunity to serve with Sister Movchanuyk again.  She has taught me a lot and can help me progress more! Hooray!  That's a great mozshluvict indeed!

Thanks for the pictures!  You are beautiful, the horses are fun, your Christmas tree is fabulous, and your tomato soup is smachno!  You are a culinary designer!  (I loved the love!)

So, I'm glad you enjoyed your week!  I hope you enjoy this one.  As to our week, well...it was a typical missionary week.  I won't tell you the highlights or the lows because this week was packed.

Oh, I will tell you that I have a disease in my stomach called helicobacter pylori infection...like a helicopter!  So I just need to eat healthy and try to not eat sweets, something dyzhe tyazshko as a missionary.  People always want to give you cookies and tea and we always want to make banana bread.  Also difficult when your companions favorite foods are potatoes and white bread and we reward ourselves with ice cream when we reach our referral goals and when she had a birthday this month and received 200 trillion boxes of chocolates.

 

So, we dropped all of our investigators last week.  Crazy!  Yes, we decided that we were working to hard on trying to make them have desire, when in a town of 300,000 people you can easily find someone who has the desire on their own.  So, we did.  Her name is Nelly.  She is Baptist, divorced, has three amazing priesthood age sons, loves English, is a certified literature teacher (cannot find work now), and her parents own green houses.  She loves the Lord and loves to discuss the gospel and came to church on Sunday!  We have been trying for 6 weeks to get investigators to come to church and yesterday we had 3!  Our previous weeks were just random visitors.  We can get them to come for a lunch or something…

THE SACRAMENT IS SO IMPORTANT!!  I get to take it 2x every week.  What a great blessing.  And I needed it yesterday.  I said something not very nice out of frustration to our Missionary Coordinating Leader during our MCM after our first branch and before our second.

That's life...I'm trying to repent and have faith in the Atonement always.  I love the Gospel.  I love to serve.  I am learning how to be a teacher; it's the best education I've received, trying to apply what I know, trying to teach boldly and courageously, trying to do what is important, trying to love.

Oh, the Internet club is so fun!  The kids know we are American.  The guys all play the same video games.  They try to talk to us, and they think that we don't understand.  Well they are partly right (I don't understand)

 

WE had a nice thanksgiving district meeting.  The elders did a good job.  I made some kind of apple thing…tasty and Ukrainian Jello...HILARIOUS!  The Elders managed some tasty potatoes and a roast.  I also made some descent southern dressing!   Pretty nice, huh?!  We nayiluc.....ate a lot!  (We also brought corn and an Armenian desert, lots of juices...of course.  We blew out a fuse and broke a vase, all trying to fit in the tiniest kitchen!  It was great fun, and it all happened in an hour!  (We are obedient!!)  Oh, that was also the day we taught Nelly!  I am very grateful for that!

I know the church is true.  I know that God wants us to be happy.  He is happy when we are happy, so He does what He can to help us, including giving us instructions.  That is where I come in, sharing this happiness with others so that they can find the whole recipe to happiness.  I've decided the Gospel is like Thanksgiving dinner.  It's good if you just have potatoes and corn and dressing and you can make do with any kind of meat.  But, it's better with cranberries and pumpkin pie and apple pies and ice cream, a vegetable tray and gravy.  And it's the best when you have a real turkey.  That's what the restored gospel adds.  It's the ingredients and the recipe...it's all there.

It's the true feast.

And guess what...we can enjoy it every day.

Well, I wish I could tell you about everything about my amazing companion and my fun district.

I love you all,

HAPPY BIRTHDAY GRANDPA!!

Have a happy day. 

Be like Nephi!  Rejoice in the goodness of God.  Choose to be happy and don't let Satan have power over you!

We have a lot to do!

So, It's time to devote my time, labor, and energy to the Lord!

Pray that I can serve with my whole heart, mind, might, and strength!

 

Love,

Sister Murphy

November 23

You are the BEST!  YOU ALL ARE THE BEST!

I was sad yesterday night thinking about Thanksgiving and not having any idea how to make something yummy and then this morning YOU ALL THOUGHT OF ME and searched for recipes.

I am super blessed!

YAY!  HOORAY!

Ha…snow...I cannot wait till I know what life is like in Idaho, but it hasn't been that bad here not even any snow yet.  CRAZY!

Did I tell you the women here are supermodels?  They always have the perfect shoes and I cannot wait to see what they will wear when it snows (right now the majority are wearing boots with stiletto heels!!)

YAY!  HAPPY THANKSGIVING

Have a wonderful day.  I am happy and thankful for your wonderful lives and I hope everyone has a wonderful day!

Unfortunately, it is an American holiday, and my district has selected to do different things.  Well, Sister Nakashyan and I have decided to not celebrate.  Well, tonight we are going to have a VELUKEE CIMENEE VECHAR (extreme family evening!)

We are going to make jello salad or something and an apple pie, well that is what we will call it and pray that it tastes good and looks pretty.

We are going to talk about how we are thankful for the Atonement of Christ and the Book of Mormon.  Aren't they two of the greatest blessings we have in our lives?

I am extremely thankful for them.

It's so frustrating that people don't want to read the Book of Mormon.  It is a testament about Christ.  We can learn more about Him!  How exciting!

Well, I promise I will never make fun of any place you live in now that I've seen what life is like outside of America.  You have water, & you can drink from your faucet!  You have an amazing toilet, hot water, & fabulous mixer that I got you!!!  An oven!  Can openers!  Hmmm, I could go on...

Be thankful for that!

Honestly, you can live bez (W/o) a can opener...

If you could send this to Shawn’s girlfriend:  Tell her it’s a great idea.  Shawn: I love you.  I always share the picture of you and us with my mom at your wedding.  People always ask: "Is he a good guy?"  And I reply:  "OF COURSE!”

A memory: I remember my birthday.  You bought us all bikes and then we went on a nice relaxing bike ride.  I remember another day, we went to play basketball across the street.  It was fun, hot and sweaty!  I remember gigantic misquotes at a softball game! I remember chocolate milk shakes and hamburgers.  I remember being happy and laughing and crying because you tickled me so hard!  I love you and I hope you have the best year ever!

So, I'll congratulate you the traditional Ukrainian way:

Today's your birthday?  I congratulate you on the day of your birth!  I wish for you that you have happiness in the following year.  That you have success in your work and in your family!  I hope that you, Shannon and Liam create many happy memories, laugh lots and play a lot of golf!  I hope that you enjoy this next year and that it is the best!

Love, Sister Amy Murphy

Okay, so I am healthy.  Yesterday we taught a women who was poisoned once.  She didn't have a fridge, so now she doesn't eat anything but to live.  SELF-DISCIPLINE...she weighs like 43 kg...that's tiny.  She is a music teacher & was a au puar (???nanny)  in Norway!

She practically speaks English better than I do!

I want to be self-disciplined & give up sweets, but that will be after my mission when I've eaten every Ukrainian cookie and candy I can try!  Is that horrible?  Maybe that is why I'm paranoid about diabetes.  Well we went Tuesday...I gave blood and went back Saturday, gave more blood and we go back Wednesday.  I think everything is going to be okay.  He found bacteria in my stomach.  Our nurse said she felt peace when she decided to test me and thinks that this minor problem is something the Lord wanted for me!  I love Heavenly Father. He always wants to help us be happy!

Kay.  Do you know the history for the word O.K.?  It's some crazy king who was illiterate...

oh...and who was the pres. of France during ww2?

Okay, well...I don't have much time, but I want to tell you about yesterday.

Last night after church we met a teacher named Anna.  She is atheist.  We talked for about an hour in English about lives and things and then we asked if we could share with her our message, what we want to share with people.  Well, as we did I felt so amazed that I could be here in this country were 20 years earlier people were discriminated against if they believed in God.  I realized how amazing it is that Joseph Smith saw God.  That kind of puts an end to that question doesn't it.  God does exist.  He appears to His prophets.  He loves us.  He wants us all to know and feel His love.  I love this country and the amazing things happening here.  I am excited to be here.

I hope you have a happy thanksgiving.

We will eat something as a district on Thursday, and I will try to make potatoes, but we have been asked to do what we are called to do: CRY REPENTANCE TO THE WORLD!

I love you! 

Have a great day and especially be thankful for the Gospel!

Love,

 

Sister Murphy

November 16

Pruvit...

So, apparently that is a Russian word...made Ukrainian...and I was taught that it was slang...It's like Hey...

So, HEY!

Thanks for your e-mail.  Unfortunately I didn't get an e-mail from Grandma and grandpa this week.  But, I did receive a few cute little notes from Dear Elder.

Well, I'll take the time to reply to your e-mail...

I’m sick w/ something.  I’m trying to be healthy and I drink a lot of water. I have to go to the bathroom a lot. We actually have appointments all the time and despite the decline in facilities, (I don't think Ukraine is a first-world country) I'll go when I have to, even if that means in a bucket or a hole in the floor of an outhouse.   Did I tell you about the time with Sister Movchanuok?  That day all of our appointments fell through, including our Missionary Coordination Meeting.  I had to go to the bathroom, so we contacted a complete stranger for the use of their toilet.  It was dire.  

I told Will that tomorrow my companion and I are going to the American Medical Center and while I am there I'll do some kind of test.  Our nurse wasn't really concerned, but she is a nurse.  She can look at someone with a beam hanging out of his or her head and say: "Everything is going to be alright."  But, she's right.  I do need to take better care of my body.

Preach My Gospel (the missionary training book) actually mentions some habits that we can try to give up as we help others deal with addictions.  It talks about adjusting glasses and over-eating, so I try and TRY and try again.

 Will's last e-mail talked about sin and I know that anything that makes me feel guilty after is a sin.  So no matter how insignificant it is I need to control it.

Now I understand it actually has to do with our happiness.  Crazy...

Something funny, one of my English students (Kolya) is here!  He is 12.

Good luck with teaching!  You are such a kind person!  I am so thankful for you.  So, I am so in love with my mission.  I know I'm not perfect, but it is just amazing to think about being here.

Last week I experienced the joy it talks about in Doctrine & Covenants 10.  I thought about the changes evident in the people we are teaching.  If I do all I can, and do it right, with the Spirit, I can do more than improve the lives of my friends but see them accept and receive salvation!

So, I don't know anything about America or Obama. I hope things are going ok. 

Don't send me anything but recipes: like mashed potatoes or pie crusts, pumpkin pie, apple pie, chocolate cream pie...

I simply want recipes, through e-mail, so I can write, and then we can celebrate.

I was thinking about our branches.  The church is so new here.  The members are so young, and there is very little priesthood.  I wanted to have a "thanksgiving" night and talk about the blessing of the Book of Mormon and how thankful we are for the scriptures and encourage them to read every day.  Therefore, I wanted to make pumpkin or apple pies and maybe mashed potatoes and, who knows, stuffing?  Something easy.  We had zone conference on Friday and our amazing Sister Steinegal (Pres.'s wife) made a delicious lunch/dinner for us.  (I'm still in the Kyiv west zone, but both Kyiv zones were there).  (The mission is split up into zones and districts and then by companions.) We had dressing, cranberries, and all kinds of pies.  She had the Senior missionaries help us.  It's so amazing to see the couples here.  We have accountants, (they work in the office & go home this transfer.  It’s so sad.) legal missionaries, Humanitarian missionaries, doctors, and I don't remember the other 2 assignments.

EASY and CHEAP recipes...DOBRE?

You’re probably right about the I-pod and no CD/s.  I don't have a CD player.  I just want to listen to talks.  I have conference, but it only works on a DVD player.  So, maybe I'll buy a little one.  It helps in the work, not very many people have DVD players, so when we want to show films; it's a little difficult.

Well, I know that being physically healthy is important, so good luck on your diet!  I'd do it too, but the Petties made us cookies, and I'm going to want to eat them...PEANUT BUTTER!!  (That is a luxury!) And M&Ms! (another expense!)

Well, I'm going to e-mail President, and then with the remaining time I'll tell you about life & about our amazing goals and people we are working with!

Pray for a baptism...Pray for miracles...pray that I will be worthy and obedient and pray that I will do all that I can to meet and teach with the Spirit all day, every day!

I love you!

We are working with 4 amazing people from English: Ulia, Masha, Ulia, Yana, all 19-22.  Beautiful girls.  I love them.  I hope that they will trust me as we share with them the good news of the restoration.  It's true. God calls prophets because he loves us.  He loves us.  We are His children and of course He will speak to us.  How has He spoken to us in the past?  Through prophets!  Today, there are prophets again.

So real quick...

It's pretty amazing to think about the unity in our mission.  Every companionship will try to have at least one baptism this transfer.  That's exciting.  I love goals, and I love high goals.  This week was an exciting week.  One night after a lesson with an amazing girl we found through English, I thought about the good things changing in her life.  I was so happy to see that she was growing and learning more about the plan of our Heavenly Father.  Exceedingly Happy…and that happiness made me want more for her— Salvation!  Of course I prayed for her, but, during that prayer, I thought about Heavenly Father and how much He loves His children.  He really will do everything He can for us…the people I meet on the street, in my English class, sitting next to me on marshutkas.  So, it's really up to me.  If I do absolutely everything I can, then I can work with Heavenly Father as He does all that He knows needs to be done.  So, this week and this transfer I am focusing on doing all I can: doing more every day so that I can help those who are loved by our Heavenly Father.

Our district stayed the same, just a new elder to replace Elder Miller (he's younger than I am!!).

Our New district Leader is Elder Hamilton.  It's a great district.

He received a package (little one) and apparently customs is going crazy.  The economy is really bad here too, except 200x the corruption and I wouldn't be surprised if they just opened up his parcel to see what they could sell.  I don't know, that is just my negativity and suspicion.  Luckily it was just candy...

Remember the Christ stickers...use them! 

Well, boys all over the world love video games and there are only so many computers, so I guess I'll aid in the addiction and turn my computer over!

I love you,

Have a fantastic week.

Love,

Sister Murphy