Week 9: Her adventures with restrooms

Dear Family,

 

There was a miracle that happened in Borshahivsky yesterday.  Ten of Heavenly Father's children found their way into His house of worship yesterday.  Amazing!  Four were brought by one wonderful lady who has the desire to share the gospel, two of which have been to sacrament previously.  We also had four investigators who joined us for their first time.  It was a beautiful sacrament meeting with beautiful testimonies of the restored gospel and our Savior Jesus Christ.  It was an exciting day!  Now, I hope to work hard and with the Spirit to see their understanding enlarge as they learn more about the love of our Heavenly Father and the Restoration of His church.

It's great to be a missionary!  I know I have lots of progress I can and NEED to make but, I am thankful for the potential and the opportunity to grow.  I know that I have potential to be like our Father in Heaven, and with each mistake I make or each time I fall short of perfection I can be encouraged (I love that word, and the word snuggled inside - courage - of which I need a lot more of!) by the love of our Savior.  I'm thankful that I can serve Him.  And with that, I know I can do better!

I need lots of help with fun things to do for all ages in teaching english.  It needs to be productive, so we actually help people and then we can get them interested in the gospel.  Do you have any  ideas?

Did I tell you there aren't public restrooms in Ukraine!  What an experience my first week here.
Also I love water.  Which generally means I have to go to the bathroom a lot.  (Like right now...)

My companions sister went to egypt this week with her husband.  We are looking at a few pictures.  They just did the resort stuff this trip (They saw the ruins a couple of years ago).
I want to take you to egypt!  After my mission...what do you say?  I bet your husband could find something to do!  I know you want to and I know you are thinking there is no way.  But, you just wait.

That's my dream.  Only for this hour on my prepartion day.  Every second after my dream is helping the amazing people here come closer to Christ.

YAY for the saving ordinances and principles of the Gospel!

Well, I will write another email later I have to find a restroom!

(She found a restroom and continued a few minutes later) :)

Oh, thank goodness!

I found one!  Well, I tried to explain to the lady and she was like what?  But, she showed me to the back room.  I was just like...I NEED TO GO TO THE TOILET!  She was fun.  And of course there a like 7 people waiting to use a computer!  What an adventure!  The nice lady who found me a toilet and who has a pretty skirt, let me get back on a computer that there is a line for!  She likes us!  She's going to get baptized, all because the crazy american had to pee!!!

So, basically, they have a porcelain square in the floor and you squat!  Rarely do you find toilet paper!  I've been in some nicer restrooms though!  And the worst, which is odd, was in an opera house!

Okay, now that I can breathe and think.

Can I tell you how much I love you?!? And how much I appreciate you!?!  

Our ward is a nice size.  It's one of the bigger ones in Ukraine.  Well, there is actually only one Stake in the entire Eastern Europe and it just happens to be in our mission.  There are probably only 4 wards...not sure yet.  We have the best though!  I love our nice little trip to church, and seeing the progress of the Temple - the House of the Lord.  Knowing that in some way, I can help prepare these people to enter.

So, September 1 in Ukraine is the first day of school.  It's a holiday here too!  It's so cute to see the kids dressed up for school (they were suits...even the little ones!)

 Grandma I hope you had fun at Relief Society and the fish was yummy.  I'm not supposed to eat fish.  Sad, but I can eat other things!
I love the mail you send me!  Thanks to grandpa and grandma I get a letter every week!  You two are the best!  I'm glad you are having lots of fun!  Have more!!  And in a year and a month or so we'll have a big party!

What do I want for christmas???  Not much, because I know it costs a lot to send stuff here.  I have everything I need here, so maybe some chocolate so I can compare the two!  What can I do for you? 

Oh, here is what I want: graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate!  I want to show Ukrainians what smores are!  Fun!!

Next week, I promise I'll send you pictures!  You are the best!

By the way more pictures please!

Tell AJ, thanks for his letter!  Congratulations on the amazing work in Russellville (they had 3 baptisms)

Also to the ward back home.  Grandpa said they had 3 baptisms as well!  WAY TO GO!  We are going to work that hard this week!

Pray for us & Pray for the people

Next week, I'll try to relieve my bladder before I write so I can send a few pictures!

I love you!

Have an interesting week and I'll read all about it next week.

Oh, I almost forgot.

Have you ever pickled tomatoes or mushrooms before?  Try it - they are yummy!  Small tomatoes (whole).  Let me know what you think about it next week!

Love you!

Sister Murphy!