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