Letter to the Thompsons: Oct 19

Hello Grandma and Grandpa,

You are so wonderful!  Thanks for your examples of service and kindness and generosity!  I love you!  I look forward to your e-mails just as much as you do!

Yes, winter is coming.  But, the Lord has promised us to not worry about the food you should eat or the clothes that you wear.  Therefore I will trust in the Lord and be warm!

I don't think we've had frost and certainly not snow.  But, I know I will have to learn to love freezing!  Today I will pick up my coat.  I wanted it to be smaller, so I wouldn't look like a walking balloon.  It should be warm!  I'm excited.  We are also going to buy boots, a hat, and gloves today.  Then I think my companion and I will be ready for winter!  Yay for being warm!

Congratulations to Buddy!  How exciting for their whole family!  That's an amazing family.  Say goodbye to the Foxes and wish them the best!  What kind of mission are they serving again?

Well, thank you for keeping up with Gary and Betty.  They are practically family right!

Whoa...that's one expensive package.  Don't go crazy.  I'm doing great here!  I might just need to tell Sandra to make sure I have money on my debit card, so I can buy boots and other things.  I don't know how expensive they will be.  Elizabeth Edwards is a beautiful lady!  Make sure you tell her I love her!

I am doing absolutely great.  I love my new area.  I love my new companion.  She is teaching me a lot about enjoying life!   We are learning together how to be better teachers and effective missionaries.

The branches here are small. Which means we have a lot of work to do and many miracles.  Friday night we talked with a girl after English.  We have many amazing people we find through English.  The majority of the converts here are found through English.  She is a university student and lives in Kyiv.  But, she loves to hang out with us on the weekends.  We sang hymns after English and started with Joseph Smith’s First Prayer.  In between hymns we shared the restoration!  She doesn't like religion.  She doesn't understand.  She is confused.  So, it wasn't easy.  Friday she really didn't want to know more.  But, she loves the peace she feels with us.  She promised to come to an activity on Saturday.  However, she was too busy.  Fortunately, all day Sunday we have activities!  I copied a few poems for her and we called to invite her to church.  She came!  It was great.  During this time, she had talked to her step-mother about the church.  Her step-mom wants to read the book of Mormon.  On Sunday, Galina (our recent convert) received the gift of the Holy Ghost.  This really confused Yana (our wonderful English student).  She had a lot of questions and wants to learn more about it.  I'm excited to have the opportunity to explain to her about the marvelous news of the Gospel.  How God loves her and doesn't want her to be confused, and that His plan is simple.

Many more miracles!  Another one of God's children was brought to church by her sister-in-law.  She is elect!  We are excited to meet with her further this week and lead her to Christ and help her increase her faith in Him and His atonement! Her name is Maria or Masha for short.

We also are working with two families that just happen to live in the same apartment!  We consider that to be another miracle!  Well, I love you.

I am incredibly happy!  I am serving the Lord and I am so thankful for this opportunity!  I love you.  I am thankful for you!  You have done so much for me!

I hope you are smiling every day!  I hope you are happy!

Keep praying for miracles here!  Thanks for your thoughts!

We have some high goals and will have to be worthy of many miracles to achieve them!  But, I have faith.  I trust in the Lord and I want to do everything I can to help these people here understand that the restoration did happen, that there is a prophet on the Earth, that Christ is our Savior and He loves us, that God is our Heavenly Father and He wants to help us.

This morning I studied about our purpose in life.

How do we know if we are successful in this life?  We return to the presence of God.  So, what do we need to be successful?  We need to do the things that will allow us to return to God's presence.  That means we need to have faith.  We need to repent.  We need to get baptized and receive all other ordinances we can to help us.  We need to endure to the end.  So: We need to be obedient.

Well, that's all the time I have.

In the midst of our many errands we have invited some investigators to take the missionaries ice-skating!  Could be fun or embarrassing!

But...

You are the best

Love,

 

Sister Murphy

Letter to the Taylors: Oct 19

 

 Hello Sandra & Will,

You two are awesome!  I'm super thankful for you.

I am doing great!!  Well, I'm doing my best...trying to stay positive and enjoy everything including the awful moments.  And, I'm happy so I must be succeeding!

So, this is my probably 15th week here!  I love it.  It's beautiful.  The food is great.  The people are unique and sincere, and the church is growing!

Everything is rolling in Bila Tserkva!  Sister Nakashawn and I are planning for an excellent week involving work, faith, and miracles!  It's exciting to have goals and a plan and then trust in the Lord that if we apply our faith in Him and work hard amazing things can happen.  I really enjoy serving with Sister Nakashawn.  The branches here love her, so it's a great opportunity for me to see how she has earned their respect and trust.  And this area has so much potential for growth. We have been blessed to find some amazing people this transfer!

Therefore this week we will strive to be worthy to help these amazing people understand the wonderful miracle of the restoration of the gospel.

I love missionary work!

It's really strange; your messages always coincide with something I studied.  For example, I studied this weekend Alma chapter 7 (that's where I am in my Ukrainian Book of Mormon) I think it's about verse 11, 12, or 13 where it starts talking about the Atonement.  It's Alma on his 2nd transfer ( or 2nd area) of his mission (Like me)! and he talks beautiful of the need for an Atonement.  Well, in probably verse 15, 16, or 17 he says that even with our weaknesses that do easily beset us, I have many of those too; like food and just silly little habits that are not good for my spiritual development, we can overcome them through His divine help!  Awesome! I have been trying ever since then to tackle my weaknesses and let my spirit be strengthened, so my spiritual senses can grow to handle my physical nature.

Well, I just thought that was neat when I read your e-mail!!

So, thanks.  I am happy; I got a good computer with an incredibly awesome keyboard.  I can type like lightening, except the enter key is forever away!

Love you

Email to her Sister

Hello Sandra and Will,

How is life?  It sounds fantastic to be you right now!  Not that I would ever trade with anyone.  But, I'm glad your lives are the way they are.  You are trying to be obedient and you have the gospel!

I'm excited for what ever is next in your life.  I know that the Lord will provide for you - the next exciting opportunity.  Just look for it!

Oh, Glen!!  The crazy guy!  Good for him and I'm glad you had fun and served and were wonderful again!

I wish I could have seen your wedding.  Tell me about it.  What advice did you receive?   Sho she?  What kind of doctrine did you learn at this wedding, not that I need to know, but did you write it down so I can learn it later when I need it?

I really liked your e-mail, especially the FHE Part.  Thanks for sharing with me!  I wrote it down.  I'm going to apply it this week!

This morning during study I was amazed by the broadness of the gospel and yet, how simple the gospel is.  My first zone conference we talked about doing what matters, and ever since then we've been adding to it.

I found an awesome talk in an old ensign:  It's by Brad Wilcox called Getting Over feeling underappreciated.  It’s pretty awesome.   Look it up.  I only had two pages, the others must have had some pretty pictures on it.  It really helped me to learn to love more and be excited about being a missionary and more about being a member of the church.  Of course I am, but I don't always show it!  So, repent and change!  I also read an awesome talk this morning by Elder Bednar about discernment.  I'm going to work on loving people and seeing them as Christ would and discerning their goodness and even my  own goodness!  Isn't it crazy that both of us learned a little bit about love this week!

I finally realized that it's not just about doing what's good but what is important.

This week we were busy; we had a lot of good lessons and good plans.  But, in our efforts to plan, I felt that we were not quite as focused on baptisms, as we should have been. 

I learned that what I need to be focusing on in my own self is greater love and patience to wait on the Spirit in order to discern more the needs of the people I meet and how to help them want the gospel.

It's funny the circle of gospel understanding.  Everything is always connected back to a lesson learned previously.

So, Now I think I can connect the lessons learned about doing what matters, finding, and planning and align them with our goals of baptizing! 

Well, where is your Ukrainian friend from?  Who does he know that lives here in Bila Tserkva?

There is a girl coming out there who isn't a member of the church.  Crazy huh?  She met missionaries through English classes and I guess decided to study at BYU-I.

I can always use advice for teaching, finding, being better, learning, knowledge, etc.  What do you have? What does your husband have?  What do others have?

Thanks for your advice.  But sometimes I take things to seriously.  I am having more fun with my new companion though!  Well, we did have one struggle because we didn't understand each other and she handles things differently.  I got a little offended, so after we talked about it, we prayed and figured out what to do!

I am trying to love.  I love that I know that we are all God's children.  He loves them all and I just need to look for their good!

The language is tough.  But, I'm going to improve, I'm not afraid to just through words out.  I know I cannot get better if I don't try.  So, I'm trying and people are trying to understand me!  What was Will's experience like?  Does he have any language advice?

I love you both.  It's time to prepare for winter and prepare for the week.

You are the best.  I wish I could call you on Sundays after church like we used to do but for now it will be a weekly e-mail!

Have the best week

Love,

Sister Murphy

Email to her Grandparents

Hello Grandpa & Grandma!  

 

I have so much I want to say to you!

Thanks for your e-mail; it made me smile!  I'm so happy that you are enjoying life!  I know you are because you two are just so enjoyable!

I'm am super glad you received my package!  How was everything?  Chiggers STILL?  It's October?  That's crazy!

What an awesome temple trip!  Congratulations.  Sounds like it was an adventure!

Well, it's been another week.  Crazy how they fly by!  I know you are busy and I hope you always have something to do!  How are the crossword puzzles grandpa?  One day I want to finish ONE!  Grandma how are your pears?  Did you make any salsa this year?  So, almost a year left.  Wow, they go fast.

Well, now for my answers!

I do like my new area.  It is a small area - we have two branches that are very young (almost 10 years).  So, the church has only been here for 10 years.  There are a 140 members and still about 50% activity.  That means there are about 35 people in each branch.  We had a baptism Saturday!  I'll send some pictures to Sandra so she can put them up.  The people here are very simple.  Most of them have their own gardens with tomatoes and cabbages.  They are friendlier here and easier to approach - (as long as I'm smiling and happy)

Fruit trees are everywhere.  It's great, except that the trees are all going to sleep!

Today is a great day.  It’s about 50 degrees.  I'm going to alter my coat and look for boots to prepare for winter!

We are about an hour from the temple, my first area and the mission office (all the same place).  Everything has changed.  I was super spoiled in my first area.   We had a family ward next to the temple and the mission office (which has all of the supplies we could need including our letters and packages!).  We also had a beautiful remodeled apartment!

But, I wouldn't change anything about my new area.    Well, I would change our toilet seat, but that's minuscule don't you think?

 

I do have the best mission!  I love it!

This week I am going to try to love more.  Listen more and follow the example of Christ.

We watched conference this weekend!  It was great!  Saturday we didn't have translator sets so we watched it in Ukrainian with our ward.  Although I didn't understand everything, I knew and felt again that these men whose words were being translated into other languages were Prophets and Apostles of God!  I know their messages are important for the entire earth.  I felt proud to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  And proud that we are the only true church on the Earth today because we have the fullness of the gospel, which includes the Priesthood that enables us to have a Prophet of God.

Incredible!

My new companion is Armenian.  I love that I have been able to serve with such diversity.  She is beautiful!   I'm also thankful for the extra opportunity to understand a 3rd language.  (I'm not trying to speak Russian though; I still have to learn Ukrainian!  She speaks 50% in English.  I'm also trying to help her speak more English!)

I really feel that understanding my companion who speaks in a language that is (pardon the pun) "foreign to me" has been a blessing from the Lord. She is a joy to serve with, because she is happy!

So, we have some high goals and a great area to serve in.  Our members want to help us and we want to do our best to help them and build this area and improve the lives of those who live here.  We are finding.

We have English classes here and there are some amazing people we've found through them.  It's something I've never had the privilege to experience, because I've been a member of the church my whole life (thanks to you!).  But, they come to our class and say they love being here!  One girl I talked with on Friday - Yana - said that she wanted to stay!  So she did.  She stayed until 8:30 until after we finished cleaning the baptismal font, swept the floors and stacked the chairs.

Oh, so Galina got baptized on Saturday in between conference sessions!  It was a fantastic day.  Of course she was nervous.  But, she said she knew that the church was true and she was excited to get baptized.  She is in her late 40s and is a beautiful elegant lady.  I think she was a model for a few years.  She has a son we are going to meet with tonight and introduce him to the elders.  He came to her baptism and part of conference and said it was peaceful!

I love you both!  I'm excited for your lives and the people around you!  Send them all my love if you think of it!  Tell Jacob good luck.

Tell Joyce and Kevin to behave and have a happy week!  They are awesome!

How is Jina doing?  What is she doing?

I love you all!

Have a great week!

Sister Murphy

Hello Family!

Hello again on this beautiful Monday morning.

Happy Birthday again Grandma!   You probably know now that the "parcel" is from me!  YAY!!  Well, I hope it is and that you received the "parcel" I sent.

So, here we drink a lot of tea, and you might as well get started because when I get home that is something I probably will crave!  I'm sure there are some nice fruit/herb teas there.  I was always cautious to drink tea because I never knew which one was harmful to our bodies, but I've heard now that it is just red and black tea or maybe it's black and green.  Hmm…The colors red and black in Ukrainian sound just a like so, I'm always confused.  

Anyways, there is this weird food I sent home that is actually very tasty.  We enjoyed it one night with a cup of blueberry tea—hot chocolate might be just as good!

Another temple in Italy!  That's awesome!    Arkansas will come.  We have to build up Zion first.  We need to activate and prepare for the temple and then baptize!!

Tell the Williamsons hi and I hope you enjoy their company tonight.  

I think we had one day in the forties; it's getting cold.  It's almost Winter.  I was given a coat by one of the senior missionary couples who left at the end of August.  However, it's just a little too big.  So we are going to find someone who can hem it up just a little bit for me.  I think it will be difficult, but I don't really want to buy a coat, so maybe I'll just layer up and deal with it.

My suspicions were right!  I am now in Bila Tserkva.  I live in a little house.  It’s cute. Well, it's home.  Our land lord invited us to try her tomatoes and apples!  I'm excited about that.  The heat will be turned on this week!  I'm also very excited about that!  We've been using our gas stove and turning it on in the morning.  Fun times!  My companion is Armenian, which means she is very beautiful! . She is very nice. She speaks Armenian and I guess they learn Russian sometime in school or something.  She understands probably a majority of Ukrainian because, well, she's serving in Ukraine.  She also understands English, I think.  But, she speaks to me in Russian, so I'm learning to understand Russian. Hooray for opportunities.

It will be a challenge to communicate.  We have some high goals, but we want to be obedient and have the dedication to work.  I'm excited about this transfer.  IT STARTED THIS MORNING!  So, here we go.  I have an extremely happy companion.  VERY POSITIVE and that is what we are--very positive that we are going to find people to teach!  Pour your hearts out in prayer for us this week.  I love you!

Bila Tserkva is south of Kiev.  I don't know how to describe it.  It's smaller for sure.  We work with two small branches.  Many of the priesthood holders have been in jail. (I think they were in the Russian mob or something).  We also have 2 companionships of elders (2 elders in each branch = 4).  It's going to be a great transfer.  They are fun elders!  Today I think we are going to go bowling!  We'll see if we have time.

I know there are so many people here who need the gospel.  I want to share it with them.  I want them to find the true and simple path to our Savior.

We have a baptism on Saturday!  She is a beautiful lady!  Her name is Halina.  She is super excited about the gospel.  We are also working with another couple.  They come from a very humble background - it's been easy for them to accept the gospel, just difficult for them to understand.

It was hard to leave Borshahivsky.  It's a beautiful family ward, we had a beautiful apartment, and we walked by the temple every other day.  We had amazing people we were teaching...

Marina is having difficulties.  Her husband doesn't trust her.  Her son was sick and she had to miss church and other things.  We asked her if she would like him to receive a blessing.  On Monday we brought the Elders and had a nice visit until she received a text message from her husband.  He left a web camera so he could hear what would happen.  Well, we still believe in miracles.  So, we are praying to continue meeting with her and that her husband will also open his heart.  We met her on a Marshutka (bus).

Valentina is a super woman.  Her baptism is scheduled in 2 weeks.  She came with us to a very fun Ukrainian wedding reception!  She comes to church every Sunday.  We met her on the street!

We also taught English to two other wonderful ladies, Vika and Lana, but they wanted to learn more about the gospel right a way.  Lana is darling.  She is going to do a Ukrainian TV show about dieting.  Her husband left her because she wasn't as skinny as most tiny Ukrainians.  She is beautiful.

I hope they will both continue in the gospel and that I will see them again soon maybe at their baptisms!

We have a lot of work to do!

I never got to tell you about the crazy wedding we had.  Or other amazing stories...

Here is one.  We were on the way home from an appointment and there was this beautiful older woman who got on the bus.  She had two huge baskets.  She was coming from the cello (village where people have gardens and small homes).  She had baskets of fruit and flowers.  I told her how beautiful they were.  She held them up so I could smell them.  Lovely!  She didn't know what kind of flowers they were.  I told her they were marigolds in English, but they were HUGE!  My companion asked her about her family.  She is taking care of her parents—they are really old.  I gave her a calendar with the picture of Ukrainians beautiful temple.

Then, she dug in her basket and pulled out two of the biggest pears I have ever seen and said HERE!  She was the nicest lady I've ever met on a bus!

I absolutely love being a missionary.  It's such an amazing opportunity to build up Zion.  I am thankful that I don't have to do it alone.  Zone Conference was amazing.  I learned so much about missionary work and how to be an effective missionary.  This week Sister Nakashawn and I set some high goals and we are going to try to work to "punish our feet for supporting us" and incorporate what we can into our service this week.

I am thankful for every opportunity I have and I hope to grow and learn and always find ways to improve.  I'm excited to be in Bila Tserkva.  Yesterday, I saw two wonderful branches that can grow.  Today I saw many people who probably have no idea how much their Father in Heaven loves them.

I'm excited to find!  Even now, I'd much rather go out and see who wants to come to our baptism on Saturday than write e-mails.  I hope you have a great day!

One other thing: I don't want to be so boring.  What can I do to be more excited; besides learning the language...I'm still working on that.   I want to be happy (well I am happy) but I want to make others happy and when people are wrong, I want them to know I love them and that they change.

I love you! 

I hope you have a wonderful week.  Thanks for everything!  You two are the best!  Enjoy your yummy meals and your cute puppies!

Well, that is Chac. 

Love,

Sister Murphy

Getting ready for her first transfer in Ukraine!

Grandma and Grandpa,

Here are my questions and my answers to you!!  :) 

It is warm today.  I will have to buy a coat and some gloves soon though, Somedays the weather cools down.  But, I've been doing great!  I haven't been transfered yet.  You'll know about that.  (b/c...soon!)

I'll explain how it works if Sandra and Will haven't.  Each missionary is assigned an area and a companion for 6 weeks (everywhere in the world). So your guaranteed to see the same missionary in your town for 6 weeks.  5 weeks ago we got a call saying we were staying together in the same area even though we both had been there 6 weeks.  (They decided not to transfer us! YAY).  Normally, one missionary is transferred at a time so that someone is left with experience in the area, so someone knows who the members are and how to get to places.  They can also introduce him/her to the people they are working with and whatever useful information.  So, I've been in Kiev for almost 12 weeks (that means at the end of this week it's transfer time for our entire mission).  The mission is divided up into zones and from zones into districts and from districts into companionships.  At the beginning of each tranfer we set zone goals for the transfer, district goals to help us meet them and companion goals.  We have Zone conferences once every transfer.  My zone conference will be on Friday.  It is an inspiring event where President Steinegal and our missionary leadership teach us how we can be better and do the work better.  They introduce new principles to try in our work or tell us things we should change.  So far they are amazing!  We have district meetings once a week.
During each transfer (each 6 weeks) we have the opportunity to participate in exchanges.  Missionaries will switch companions for a few days to learn from other missionaries.  It's rare with sisters but our mission just went crazy with exchanges and I participated in 3!  So, I've served with half the sisters in the mission and half of the Ukrainian sister areas!  (My area is the best but I will leave soon.  But, I will work hard to make each area spectacular!)

I serve in the borshahivsky ward, right next to the temple site!  It's the best and it's beautiful! The mission office is also located in our chapel.  So, whatever we need we can get really easily! I have an amazing companion (who will soon train a new missionary again, and I will have to leave.)
Remember she is Ukrainian but has lived in Italy for the last 5 years.  She has taught me a lot about missionary work, having fun, cooking, and whatever else a senior companion is supposed to teach you.
I served one week in L'viv (remember my second week here)-- another paradise in the mission.  I hope one day I will go back!  They have two fabulous branches!

I went on an exchange to western Kyiv in (I think this is right) Harkivsky.  I was only there for 3 days, so I didn't get to meet many members.  If I serve there soon, I'm going to have to do some major deep cleaning on our first preparation day.

Then, 2 weeks ago I was on an exchange in Bila Tserkva, remember I had an Armenian companion who spoke
Armeanian, Russian, and about 50% English (Sister Nakashyawn).  It's a beautiful area.  We lived in the middle of our neighbor's (who is also our landlord) garden.  She also has an enormous apple tree!
(How do you make apple pie?)
I was there for 4-5 days and gave out 2 baptismal dates and met a few of the members.  I wasn't there for church though.

That's the story of what's been going on.  Does it make sense?

Now, in comments to your e-mail.  Introduce yourself to the elder.  PLEASE...for my sake.  You have no idea what it's like to be in a new area, having so much you need to know and so much you need to do, and know idea how to do it.  Give him some of your expert advice, tell him you want to support him.

So, in regards to a Christmas package, I hope you don't go crazy - I'll have to carry it all the way back to my apartment!

No, we don't get a lot of invites from members.  Things are just a little bit different out here.  People are poor (the exchange rate is 9:1 in our favor).  But, they are very hospitable.  We never know if we will be fed when we have an appointment.
I've been eating well.  I made us omletes yesterday for breakfast!

 Why did they close the temple in Germany?

Well, I'm sitting at a computer with a horrible space bar.  I have to really punch it down in between every word.  AWFUL...it's really trying my patience!

We will watch conference I suppose at the end of October.  It's kind of sad that I have to wait a few more weeks, but it will be amazing none the less!
The only broadcasts we attend are general conference and even for stake conferences only the Sunday sessions.   Missionary Work is very important, and I'm learning what a horrible member missionary I was before my mission.  Every day I repent and promise that I will take what I've learned and do my part as a member of the Church who has been blessed with a testimony of the Gospel and knowledge about the restoration of the fulness!

I cannot wait to hear about new temples too!  And everything inspiring that comes through the mouths of living Prophets and apostles!

So, guess what: I am getting transfered this week!  I leave on Thursday for my new area!  I am about 90% positive that I'm 80% on where I will go.  The office elders serve in my ward and they gave me two hints  (I swear I didn't ask for them and they weren't trying to tell me either):

First Elder Rayburn said in remark to something Russian I said to him that I should get used to it as I'll soon be speaking "Sergic" (the name for the Ukrainian + Russian "PIGEON" - (blending of two or more languages like Spanish and French = Creole in Louisiana)  In other words Ukrainian + Russian = Sergic, expect they don't have new words.  They just speak One sentence in Ukrainian and one in Russian and if they forget a word in Ukrainian they will say the word in Russian.  Did I tell you that every single Ukrainian speaks Russian and Ukrainian?  So, I'm trying to learn Ukrainian but Russian is thrust upon me.  I'm excited.  What other mission in the world do you have the opportunity to learn two languages?   Not that it doesn't happen here:  Sacrament Yesterday - Elder Miller spoke Russian, I spoke Ukrainian, the children sang in Ukrainian, the next man spoke in Ukrainian, the closing speaker spoke in Russian, the opening Prayer: Ukrainian & Closing Prayer: Russian.  Sometimes the Sacrament Prayers are even divided!  Interesting, huh!

Second they said I would have to play piano in this ward...
It was my last Sunday along with Elder Miller, so we both spoke for a few minutes in sacrament meeting.  After my testimony the primary sang "I love to see the Temple" (in Ukrainian obviously) and I thought it was absolutley lovely.  I was surprised by the number of children our ward has.  Elder Miller said, "There are a lot of children where you are going too, and you'll have to play the piano."
Oh, Elder Miller is just jealous.  Bila Tserkva was his most beloved area.  He wants to return.  But, with 3 months left I think he'll serve wherever he is being transfered to until the end of his mission.  So, yes.  I am 80% sure I'm going to Bila Tserkva.

Hooray for new and exciting things!  That means I'll be living in the middle of a Ukrainian garden!!  I had a great exchange there a couple of weeks ago.  I'll let you know for sure next Monday.

It is sad to leave here. We have two wonderful women preparing for baptism in October, and of course people I will miss serving.  I love this ward & it's members.  Okay, well I have a lot to do to get ready for transfers, like pack and clean, and learn a langauge (Ukrainian)  I still have miles to go!

Well, I love you.

Thanks for everything!

I am so excited for your birthdays!  I love you both! 

You two are angels!

Love,

Sister Murphy!