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
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