February 17

Hello,

Well, I hope I didn't ruin your monday by not writing. We just had an extremely busy week. But I love you! I appreciate your constant love and your letters! Make sure you get Betty and Gary's new address please. Those two are wonderful angels! Way to work hard through the winter! Don't worry, I'm experiencing the same frustration in regards to winter here too. Every day I wake up and I hope it will be warmer. Sometimes it is, and it's glorious. I rejoice, and I dream about the day I can stop wearing boots and my winter coat. But then I spend the next day outside, all day, like missionaries who are trying to find people to teach, and it's freezing! So, I know I need to be patient. At least it isn't in the negative degrees anymore! That's a blessing. We are just hanging in below freezing and when the wind picks up...it's cold! But, it's beautiful and white and pure! Just what we are trying to help the lives of the people here turn into! It's time to repent and now!

Not to just cover up with a layer of snow, but really cleanse our selves through repentance and baptism! How nice of your children! Joyce is also an angel.

So, we don't have a stake. We are just a collection of branches in the mission. There is only one stake in our mission and that makes up only the Kyiv branches and wards.

I think the package arrived! I'll just have to get it the next time I go to Kyiv, maybe in 3 weeks. Hooray!

I love you both, I don't have much time.

We had our zone conference on monday in Lviv. It was a nice train ride at 1 am Monday morning and a beautiful conference where we talked about the Book of Mormon. I know that it is true. We also talked about how much we are expected to do this year to prepare for the temple. Can you believe how lucky I am. I am one of the selected few who can serve in this amazing mission to dedicate a temple of the Lord. I am so lucky. I will be here, there is no doubt now. We are suspecting August or September. What a great blessing!

Then after that we had another LONG train ride to Kyiv where all the sisters in our mission gathered for a Sister's conference. It was so wonderful. We have great sisters. I've served with many of them who are going home and I love them so much. We had TACOs to eat too. I LOVE MEXICAN food! Then we went to an opera. It was just a grand adventure! It was fabulous. It's my second, but the first for all 3 acts. Pres. came with us...we had permission! We watched Romeo and Juliet...beautiful! The orchestra had two magnificent clarinet players and it just made me so incredibly happy. Then we caught a train back to Xmelnetsky, and we got in at 5 this morning.

I love my companion. I love my mission. I love my leaders. I love my grandparents. I love my family. I love the Book of Mormon. I love this church. The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is true. It is the only true church on the earth. I am hearing wonderful things about my previous investigators. I'm so excited for the work here. We have so much to do which means I need to get better! I'm excited to improve!

I love you!

Have a great day!

Even if it's not a mOnday!

Love,

Sister Murphy