(I think these are from her trip to Bulgaria. A few missionaries had to go to renew their Visas. The top one is with her companion, Sister Howell. They were companions in the MTC together, so they are really enjoying being back together. The bottom picture is with two other guys that they were in the MTC with. They met up with them on the way to Bulgaria, I believe.)Hello!
I wish I could tell you all of the little details of my life!
Bulgaria...Oh, Bulgaria. This week was a long week - I had to check my planner to really see if I went to Bulgaria. But, the week was fun and enlightening - even with the random travels in between! Was Bulgaria really this week? I've decided I should be more creative in writing you.
So, This week:
We met with a wonderful lady - a journalist. We've been sharing with her the gospel and helping her speak English. She is a fabulous woman! We met her on Monday outside when she was interviewing a cute little violinist. Sister Howell and I decided to dodge in and out of the skater boys and gawking girls and take some photos of the beautiful governmental square while we waited for her to finish up her interview. (If we were in the States, there would have certainly not been such an obstacle course). She took us to a cute cafe where she spoke in English to everyone and made us translate for her! Everyone thought she was crazy, but she is just a reporter! Then we had a fabulous FHE with our branch! It came down to a nail bitter finish between two teams: Sister Howell and Tatyana against Lena and me! The word was ant. I lost.
On Tuesday we were awoken by the sweet ring of Nearer My God to Thee …at midnight...called a taxi...and in our sleepiness forgot our cell phone. Opps. The craziness of the trip was only just beginning. When we found our "coupet" (Don't know the word in English...it's basically a room on a train with 4 beds), much to our surprise and dismay there was a snoring man sleeping on the top. Fortunately, he woke up, muttered a few things and the best part...put his pants back on, climbed down, and kindly left our coupet in almost the same condition he found it in - just stinkier and staler. However, we were both disgusted - especially since he didn't even have sheets...he was straight out lying on a mattress and using a blanket. (In his honor we have attributed a name to these wool train blankets). However, that is life; we even succumbed to using blankets later on in our journey when it was just to cold to hold out any longer. We met some nice boys on the train the next morning that let us borrow their phone so we could call the elders meeting us in Kiev. We had some more encounters with the coupet phantom (I've decided he must be a train bum). And then our train was also way late getting into Kiev, which caused us to be frightfully afraid that we had bought the wrong tickets. However, after our adventures with a Russian speaking stewardess and just a little bit of patience we made it back to Kiev where we re-united with Elder's Hill and Behunin and found a van that was going to the airport.
We met two other elders from the Dniper mission (they were also in the MTC with us so it was fun)
We flew to Austria! I spoke German, well, what little I remembered (practically nothing and was probably smothered in Ukrainian). Spoke English. Spoke Ukrainian. Spoke Russian.
We met a lot of Sweeds! They were flying with us to Bulgaria, and they were just so beautiful I couldn't help talking to them. It was a group of retired people traveling to Sophia to make a boat trip. There were at least a hundred. There were many who spoke English, and it was a fun trip.
We had a fun experience at security. First E. Hill lost some expensive after-shave in Kiev.
On our way back (keep in mind we had already gone through security 2 times), Elder Macintosh lost duck tape (weird I know, but he had a wart) J
Then, after one more security stop, Elder Behunin lost about an ounce of mouthwash, and I lost a comb.
That just makes the journey more memorable! What else...Bulgaria is beautiful! We had lots of fun! I tried speaking Russian, but I'm no good. I'll learn though! We ate a lot! We found Oreos and nachos and Chinese food! Also Bulgarian cheese! YUM!
We came back on Friday, and went back to work! I was so happy to be back! So what did we do? We met 2 amazing girls and answered lots of questions!
Yesterday, we had church. Sister Larica came! It made me so happy to see her. She had some good questions for me, and I was thankful for her advice and opinions. We then ended the week with a bookstand! (A bookstand is a way of contacting people. We use a clothes drying rack and cover it with a table cloth and talk to people who walk by. We stack it with Knuha Mormona and other brochures about the church.) It was so fun. Also, lots of very opinionated people...but there is always the one that makes it all worth it. Plus we ended the night with breakfast burritos!
Well, I wish I could tell you the whole story!
I love you very much! I hope you know how much fun I am having. I strongly I know that this church is true. How thankful I am that we have a prophet, and how excited I am that He will be here soon! I know that Christ lives. I know that God loves us. I know that there is a purpose to our life on earth and there are answers in the gospel!
I love learning!
I love you!
Live!
Love
and have a baby!
Sister Murphy!
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