June 23: (Sorry it's late)

йцуккенгшщзхїфівапролджєячсмитьбю.
добре ден!  -   ранок!!!
я люблю вас!
сьогодні!
Sorry, don't mind that if you can even read it.  I wanted to use the cyrillic keyboard.

Good Morning!  I love you!  and Today!

So, yesterday we had the language countdown.  I told Sandra what my last word was but, it's quite immature for a missionary and I'd rather have you think I'm respectable!  I didn't think of it, it just slipped.  I had really decided to let my last words of english not be english at all.  I had said "Now" in Ukrainian and "ready!"  and then, we had 3-2- and out it came.  But, thats okay.  CTO (100) % Ukrainian for the next few weeks and my district is CTO(100)% dedicated.  We have decided to be the best district at speaking strictly in Ukrainian.  I'm also working on making my dreams in Ukrainian, but those are a little bit harder to control.  Maybe one day soon.  I'm not perfect.  I let the word stomach slip during breakfast.  Sometimes I don't think as fast as I speak (which is crazy because I'm already speaking Ukrainian very POVILHO (slowly).)

Well, Happy Father's Day!  The days kind of creep up on us here, so I'm sorry I wasn't better prepared.  I love you all and I'm thankful for all that you do!  Speaking of creeping days.  We have 2 weeks left here in the safety of our "school"  --  CRAZY.

Well, I already don't have much time left.  I've talked a little bit about my district.  I love how much we support each other.  I really feel unified.  It's not that difficult with only 5 missionaries and 2 companionships, so I cannot compare our district to the other districts.  I'm so luck though, and I just love my companion!
So, now I'll tell you about our teachers:
Sis. GeorGeivia (the most difficult name to pronounce, and the G's are actually almost like h's)
She is from Ukraine!  Her birthday was yesterday!  She is probably 29.  She is a convert to the church and has been a member for about 10 years.  She also served a mission in Kyiv and is amazing.  She is very hard on us BUT, I LOVE IT!  She is bold, strong, and wants the best missionaries.  She has been training all Ukrainian speaking missionaries and even Russian missionaries who serve in the Kyiv mission for 2.5 years.  She really is the best teacher here (we are told that by almost every supervisor and branch leader).  She gets results in obedience and language learning.  I love her!   

Oh no, time is up.  

The two other teachers are male and they served in Kyiv as well.  They are Americans and are very funny, but very supportive and amazing!  They tone it down a bit when we feel overwhelmed and frustrated.  One of them is our tutor so, we don't see him as much but, he helps us more on our needs.  He just got engaged.   Well, there was a whole lot more I wanted to tell you!   I love you all.

Things are going great here, only one more week.

Lots of Love,

CECTPA MURPHY

June 30: Amy's final week in the MTC

Well,

What a week...filled with all kinds of adventures.  I hope I have time and abilities (really fast typing skills) to tell them all to you!

I'll start with the most awesome news.  We had an amazing week BECAUSE it was mission President training.  Maybe a 100 newly called mission presidents and their wives were here for training and the MTC loves them. The MTC goes all out for them, or maybe they go all out because the teachers of the MTC presidents are the Apostles and Prophets.  So, it was just amazing knowing that although we couldn't see them, President Monson and the other Brethren were walking around somewhere.  Then, on Friday night we had an amazing devotional.  SO amazing that Sister Howell and I had to sing in the choir so we could get the best seats.  We weren't sure who would speak to us but, rumors were Elder J.R. Holland.  We waited patiently.  

This is what happens at devotionals:  We are supposed to be seated at least 15 mintues early (and usually it's a battle to find enough seats so we keep pushing up the arrival time).   At 6:45 everyone is seated (which means at least 1,000 missionaries)  and we sing.  We always have an amazing organist and it's just beautiful.  During the singing our guests arrive and take their seats on the stand.  First walks in Elder L. Tom Perry!  (He is the Chair of the Apostle's Committee on missionaries.)  He is adorable.  Next, Elder Neil Anderson and Elder Quinton L. Cook walk in together, followed by Elder Dallin H. Oaks, Elder Christofferson and Elder Bednar!!!  The last Apostle to walk in was our amazing motivating speaker - Elder Holland.  Can you imagine how amazing this meeting was?  

He talked about the Holy Ghost and teaching!  Believe me when I tell you I am not a very good teacher and I will be teaching the most important lessons anyone will ever receive in their lives.  It is my responsibilty to use effective questions, be enthusiastic, and help them realize how improtant the Gospel is to them.  I've realized I haven't been very effective at that.  Why is this church so important?  Why does it matter that there are living prophets on the Earth?   What does it mean when I say Joseph Smith saw God and Jesus Christ? 

There are hunderds of answers to these questions-personal, vague or standard.  We all have a responsiblity when we teach someone about the Gospel to be bold.  I'm working on developing more love for everyone - Christlike love.  He of course wants all of God's children to return to Him.  Why else would He suffer and sacrifice His life in humility.  He did it for every single person I meet.  We all can help others return to Him.  We are dealing with the Salvation of God's children.  I cannot make mistakes, but I do and HE loves me still!

Another tangent: Will said in a letter:  "I'm glad you are getting a handle on the language..."   I need to answer that.  I have confidence that the Lord will help me with what I do not know and what I need.  I'm working hard and progressing a lot (not because of what I'm doing only because I will be teaching HIS children).  But, I know I have a WHOLE lot of work to do.  Pray that I will have an amazing trainer, MAYBE A NATIVE!!!  Well, I know the Lord will give me what I need.  I know that I have to be diligent and have faith.  What an opportunity!  I'm serving Christ - I am a representative of Christ.  When I read that I think, No way.  I'm not worthy to do that.  But, who is?  No one.  Yet, He needs us.  So, we have to put our Hearts, Might, Mind and Strength into serving the Lord!

I love every single day, even the days when my district goes crazy!  (We do...)
I especially love my teachers (Sister G.)
She is really stressing over us.  I'm a little worried about her health.

I love the missionaries I serve with, especially my companion!  I'm going to miss her - 3 months and then split. 

O goodness, time flies!!!  Like what I'll be doing Tuesday morning at 8:35 am.  I'm leaving!  It's probably a 2-day flight.  We go to NY, Austria, then Kiev.

Tell andrew I said Hi.

Tell, the ward I'm sorry I haven't been the greatest at writing!

It's crazy busy.

TELL EVERYONE I LOVE THEM!

I LOVE YOU!

Can you believe I'm going to Ukraine?

I'm a missionary?

WOW!

Love

Cectpa Murphy

p.s.  I think about you a WHOLE lot more.  I just cannot write you!

Random Short Spurts to Family...ENJOY!

Grandma & Grandpa,

What a wonderful e-mail from you!  DUBNO, I love you!  (I'm not going to tell you what DUBNO means and I doubt you'll be able to translate.  I'll give you a hint: it's a WEIRD word!)  Your the best!  HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!   I think I missed it.  Days are all flying together.  I don't even know what day I'm on until we plan at night.  Life is so wonderful here!  I want a garden.  You need to teach me all your tricks.  Funny story.  So the MTC and the temple of course have beautiful grounds.  Every day they have people working on them changing flowers or nurturing trees.  It's amazing  AND It's lovely.  I don't know that much about flowers or trees but, you have taught me a lot more than most other missionaries here.  (APBiology helped a little bit too.)  When we walk around studying I can identify the trees and flowers and my district looks at me like I'm some crazy nature lover.  (I totally am).  

Primary is the best.  I miss kids.  Every time we are on the field working out, running, or walking I stop to say hi to the kids walking to their friends or something.  The best.   On Sundays there are always families taking pictures at the temple too or families in the branch presidencies, the cutest kids, dressed in their little suits and stuff.  I like seeing them!

I love you!

Have lots of fun with Joyce and Kevin.  Tell them how wonderful they are and of course I love them too!  (ZVIDhANO)

DObPE DeHb!
My companion and I are being really productive today.
Have I told you how amazing my companion is.  My biggest fear (Will helped funnel it) was that I wouldn't get a long with my companions.  The Lord definitely blessed me with an amazing companion!  She puts up with me and makes life so much easier.  I only have 10 minutes left so I'm going to type extremely fast.  DObRE!
Well, an amazing week.  Last Tuesday Elder Bednar spoke to us!  It was the most wonderful talk ever.  He talked about feeling the influence and understading the Holy Ghost.  It was simple.  His instructions were this:  Be a good boy, be a good girl, keep the commandments, and the Lord will work through you.  If you can find it, read it.  Wednesday we had more Russian, Ukrainian, and Armeanian Missionaries come!  I LOVE THEM.  Everyone is a convert to the church.  (10 years are less)  There are 7 (5 sisters & 2 elders).  One Elder will be going with us to Kyiv!  Oh, Kyiv has some amazing dress ties.  Every missionary and teacher from Kyiv wears the most beautiful ties I have ever seen.  

The other Elder just got Quarintined.  He has the flu.  So sad.  BUT, he studied at the Moscow Conservatory of Music - and is a renowned concert pianist.  They all have amazing sense of humors and they are super patient with my efforts to speak to them!  I occassionaly say some pretty crazy things - then we just laugh like crazy.  Oh, I gave my first talk in Ukrainian on Sunday.  Pretty exciting.   I'm in charge of the music in the branch, go figure.  It's nice, I get to force all of our new elders into singing and playing.  (Although I don't have to force anyone, everyone here wants to particpate and do everything!) 

Pres. Monson's daugther was here Sunday.  I shook her hand!  She told us some funny stories!

I have some amazing experience in the RC (people call in for free Book of Mormons or DVDs.)  I wish I had time to tell you about them.  My district is amazing.  We are having way too much fun.  Ukrainian is fun.  We are being blessed way beyond our means.  Although, I still have a lot of work left to do.

LOVE YOU LOVE YOU ALL!

Thanks for your support!

Love.

CeCTPA MURPHY!

Sandra & Will,
Thanks so much for the package...TOO MUCH FOOD.  I shared half of it with my district so, plenty of it has been taken care of.  Did I tell you I wanted popcorn? THE BEST!  Thanks!  I am healthy as oppossed to half of the MTC.  Um, I do eat a lot!  The food is okay and there is always a selection.  Don't worry, I'm not gaining weight yet!  You seriously need to try this schedule.  It's amazing how much you can do in one day.  I'm also so alert.  Try it for a week.  I DARE YOU!  

I'm going to judge Will, that's what sister-in-laws are for.  I could care less if he was a calligrapher his handwriting is still disgusting.  JUST KIDDING.  Will, I praise you everytime I talk about you.  

Love you both!

CeCTPA

Amy's latest letter

A short email to her sister followed by the longer one to everyone:

The Lord will heal us in our infirmities!

So, I like what you said, it's even more June now.  Indeed.  I love it
This is just my first e-mail today.  We are going to divide it.  So let me tell you first.  I'm am going to use the Lord's time wisely.  We have four weeks left (I'll get into that into my next e-mail) and Have a lot more work to do.  We have a new group of 80 missionaries all learning Russian and we'll be getting Native Ukrainians who will be trained in 4 weeks (since they already know the language).  So, we will all leave about the same time but, all of us will be on different flights since we'll be going to different places.  You should find some of the prophecies about this mission!  Crazy stuff!  This is really where we will Gather Israel.  By the way, I've heard that they moved the temple dedication back.  Do you think that if I am the best I can be and really learn the language, I can speed the process along?  Or is there more at stake than missionary work?  

So, this is the hardest thing I've ever done!  I'm doing ok.  I could be much better though.  It's hard to work w/ 2 other companions.  We all have different strengths, different ideas of work, of plans, and of what we need to do.  And one of us isn't even learning Ukrainian.  I will not be successful if I don't love them and see the necessity of change.
So, I'm only going to write one big e-mail.  I'm going to be bold too.  Good!

Sisters leave a lot of stuff, so I'm going to send you some crazy stuff I found but, it'll be fun!

Also, I found a German MTC workbook.  Some of it has been used but, wouldn't you like to look at it?  What do you think?  Also I found some Spanish dictionaries and another spanish MTC book.  Does  you or Will want that?  I love the give away box.  We have a nice collection of shampoo, conditioner, soap, and BUBBLES!  (R HE ZHAU)  (I don't the english version of the cyricllic alphabet.  It doesn't quite work.)  Well, you asked when we get mail.  2 x a day: Lunch & Dinner (ObID i  BECHIPR).  I'll save the more exciting stuff for the other letter.  

Love you strongly (I'll explain more of this later!)

CECTPA  M.

This is the longer email she referred to above:

DObPE DENb!   Moi  CHEDOVY CIM'R

I wish I could write to you all today ALe (but,)  I didn't use my time productively today.  SO, I'm going to type as fast as I can. Please (BUDLACKA)  excuse (VUBAhaTU)  my random thoughts and my attempt to write amazing Ukrainian words (CLOBO) using the English alphabet.  I would write to you all in Ukrainian, but that would take me15 months and, I've still got a lot (bAHATO) to learn. 
Um...weeks are like roller coasters.  You love every minute except for the minutes you want to get off.  BUT, Missions are way better than roller coasters...
This week my companion got sick.  She developed bronchitis, but it wasn't the swine flu!  YAY!  Seriously crazy infulenza.  The MTC was crazy this past week.  It was so packed, but missionaries are finally leaving and I'm so excited for all the good they will be doing.  

Oh, my companion, so of course we all had symptoms (it's all psychological.) But, she woke up Saturday and just felt terrible so, we had to go to the BYU health clinic  (MTC's hc is closed on Sat.) and she received three perscriptions and sleep orders.  So, that's what we did.  I absolutely love my companion and I really did enjoy the opportunity to serve her.  NO LIE!  PLUS, I actually got to get organized and review this crazy wonderful language while she slept.  Our teacher made her promise that she would courageously brave her illness and be in class on Monday.  Of course we were.  Our other poor elders (remeber Job?) - Elder Behunnan has had a rough recovery from his surgery and also missed class on Tues - Saturday.  That pulled out a companion - (stay together right).  Needless to say this little Ukrainian District has got to do a lot of work the next four weeks.  FOUR WEEKS.  Can you believe it?  July 6 is when we leave.  I know to you that seems like a long time.  BUT it isn't.  These weeks fly by so fast I'm going crazy thinking about being in Ukraine.  

The good news:
We received about 90 new missionaries last week.  They are wonderful.  Sacrament meeting was just fabulous!  Bad news: they are all learning Russian.  THE GOOD NEWS:  one of them is also from Arkansas!  He's great!  THE BETTER NEWS:  Late last night we had two sisters arrive into our room.  They are from Russia and spend the next 4 weeks with us.  They are beautiful sisters!  They get to go to the temple for their first time Thurs. and have amazing experiences here!!  THE BEST NEWS: we get 3 sisters from Ukraine tomorrow (their plane got delayed in Kyiv) and two elders!!!  Fabulous.  The sisters are going to be my best friends!  (next to my current companions.)  As a trio we are finally getting a long great.  I had a little breakdown earlier this week.  But, I learned something: It's great to work hard and serve the Lord.  That's why I am here.  But, I also need to be Christlike.  I had to learn that being Christlike might take me away from working as hard as I want but that's what Christ did.  He gave us all our agency and he served others and His whole entire life...
I'd say more but, I have 25 seconds
I LOVE YOU!!
BE THE BEST!!
I'll do my best!

Pictures of Sister Murphy

Funny Email about her district and the Swine Flu. Enjoy!

Hello my magical CIM'R...(almost...I cannot find the cyrillic alphabet...so for now, that will have to do.)

What an amazing week this has been.  So, I'm not sure if I told you that last week we became a trio and that it was tough.  Well, we had a companionship inventory and have had the best week ever.  This week has been by far the best week.  I'll start with Wednesday: Our Teaching Appointment (all in Ukrainian) was not that bad!  Well, it won't fly in Ukraine, but for the first time...sure I'll boast in what the Lord has been blessing me with!  Things are going great.  I definitely need to work harder.  I want to be exhausted every evening.  I have 36 days before I leave the country!! HOW EXCITING!

So, we have a lot more to learn.  This week we are meeting someone at a store and purchasing a few items.  Then we share a gospel message and go back later and teach for another 35 mintues.  What fun, but, that's tomorrow.  So, we've got a lot to do!

I want to tell you a little bit about my District now!  They are amazing.  Have you seen pictures yet?

I'll start with Elder Hill, he just got released from being the District Leader.  He is from Arizona and is quite accomplished.  He plans on going to Law school after his mission.  He has worked as a graphics artists and designed a pretty awesome label for a salsa company!  He's had some crazy work experience that I won't bother with.  He also play violin.  We are going to do some sort of musical entertainment in a week or so if we can find time to practice (5 minutes before lunch or dinner probably.  We are experts at completing a meal in less than 20 minutes! I know that's nothing but, we're working on it)  Our teacher calls him donkey - he loves to talk and has a great attitude.  He has great work ethic and is working hard!

Elder Behunan...we call him Job.  He has had illness after disease and is having a pretty bizzare surgery today.  The health clinic is where he spends all of his free time!  We are hoping this is the last of it, unless the dreaded swine flu strikes our branch.  (I"ll talk more about this later).  He is our new District Leader and he is from Utah.  He is very humble and has been blessed despite his trials.  He's learning fast!

Elder Penrose is awesome.  At first he seems very quite, but he isn't.  He has a very interesting life story and has overcome many trials!  I'm amazed at his patience.  It seems like he is having the hardest time learning the language but he works and doesn't give up.  He fasts at least once a week and has strong faith that he'll get it.  But, he has a lot of support back home (he's moved a lot as well: Chicago, Utah, and some Island where his mom is currently in medical school).
The Elders each get a package of goodies a week, Elder Penrose, though, almost one a day.  They share!

My amazing companion is Sister Howell.  We have been learning a lot from each other.  I'm learning how to listen!!  We are both learning how to work - effectively!  I'd tell you more but there just isn't words to express how much fun we have together.

Our new companion is Sister Mitchell.  She isn't in our district - she is learning Russian down the hall.  She has a great attitude.  With her I've learned to wake up every morning and say:  I'm so excited...do you know what today is?  IT's Monday - we have gym...It's tuesday - we are going to the temple...It's Wednesday - we have TA...it's Thursday - the best day of the week: WE HAVE SERVICE!!l....It's Friday - um...hmm...We HAVE GYM (we have gym every day but Tues. and Sun.  But, some days it is just more exciting!).   IT's Saturday - we have 4 hours of MDT!!    It's Sunday - totally the best day of the week - Sacrament !! 

Well, Today we had a great morning in the temple!  We were able to get there earlier enough to do init.  as well!  What fun!!

So, you know how I love PIGS a whole lot!  Well, they have come to the MTC in enormous numbers!  It's called the Swine flu.  I belive it's been a big deal around the world well, now it's a big deal in the MTC.  We are not allowed to shake hands (haven't been since like the 2nd week here).  We were safe until last week when the Influenza just started spreading like crazy.  Many missionaries are quarantined and no one is leaving this week!  It's going to be a mess today and tomorrow when all the new missionaries arrive.  Also, families are not allowed to bring their missionaries into the MTC and if the missionary is sick the mission is postponed.  It's so fun here.  We had to go to the health clinic and it was packed.  I hope I don't get sick.  Everytime someone coughs we laugh.  I'm going to eat an orange every meal...NO FLU FOR ME!  I hope.  

Other exciting things...it's JUNE!!  YAY!  That also means we will have the pleasure of listening to many Apostles and Prophets!!!  I'll let you know as the days come!

Well, I only have a few more minutes, but, I love you all.  I hope this e-mail helped with getting to know a few of those I serve with.  There are amazing missionaries here...and some not so amazing.

Hmm,  I'll tell you about the RC yesterday.  First call was awful...he was a very nice man, but, he liked to argue and might just be a little confused.  So, after that long and draining call I spoke to an amazing girl.  I'm so excited for her!  Well, time is draining.  I love you!  I hope everyone is doing well.

Make sure you send this to everyone please Sandy!

Sandra, you are a wonderful wife!

the best sister!

LOVE YOU ALL!!

Amy's Email to the Thompsons

I got your email!

I'm so glad!  YAY!!  My life is complete now.It's a beautiful day in Provo!  How is the rest of the World?   Love to Kevin and Joyce both.  I would not have know how to fix it so thank goodness for them both!  So, grandma grandpa, I heard peaches died.  I'm so sorry.  I love you!  Isn't the gospel great though!  We know that no matter what we are going through we can still find happiness thanks to Christ!  I absolutely love you, my entire family.  Families are the best and I'm so glad we can be together for eternity.  This week we lost all of the Russians and the rest of our group, so it's been crazy here.  But, they were ready to begin teaching.  

(Amy's District)

I have a district of 5.  It's pretty small.  3 Elders (male missionaries) my companion and me.  We are the only 5 learning Ukrainian and we were surrounded by a whole lot of Russian speaking and learning missionaries.  IT was great.  We could actually understand a lot of what the Russians were saying.   So, today was kind of lonely.  Yesterday was kind of lonely too.  The hallways in our Russian floor building are quiet.  Gym was rather dull, and our special spot in the cafeteria is always empty.  BUT, I didn't come on my mission to make friends.  I came to serve the Lord.  Although, it was helpful to have their support and of course we practiced with the Ukrainians.  Now we are the old group.  We are preparing to double the branch next week with 80 new missionaries though.  

I'm going to try speaking my language more.  100% by next week?  We shall see.  Of course it will be awful and I'll have to live with my dictionary (I pretty much already do.) The language is very difficult but, I'm loving the experience.  I know that Lord is blessing me!  But, I am excited about this opportunity and I have wonderful teachers. 

I think they moved us up a week and we might be leaving July 7.  I'm excited about that.  I'm always trying to remember who I serve, and How wonderful it is to serve Him!  I love 3 Nephi chapter 13 - so that is my goal - keep focused on Him and our purpose as missionaries.  Not only invite others to Christ but keep coming Closer to Him as well.  I want my heart and eye to reflect!  

We got a new companion.  That's been hard.  She is a solo sister going to Russia.  She was with the other Engilsh - Russian sisters, but we don't have anymore Russian sisters.  So she moved in with us and I've had to get used to that.  It's hard.  I was trying to be awesomely nice to her and she practically despised us because we are speaking Ukrainian, so I totally wasn't happy for a day.  Oh, well.  We'll learn to live with each other! I love keeping my schedule.  Why do we plan if we aren't going to follow it?  But, I suppose their are other things that are more important.  I think I'm to rigid.  I know I should loosen up a little bit and enjoy life a little bit more (Any advice would be great).  BUT, I also am learning a language in 3 months.  This is going to be an extremely hard week for us.  TOMORROW, we teach completely in Ukrainian.  It's going to be a crazy crazy experience and tough...

We are surrounded by the mountains out here.  They are beautiful!  

Tell everyone hello.  Things are wonderful.  Read 3 nephi 13.  That's what we all need to do:  Keep an eye single to His glory!  Come closer to Christ always!  Reflecft His light.

 LOVE YOU ALL!!

You are the best!!!
Have a happy day!
Love CECTPA MURPHY!