Hello Grandma and Grandpa!
Happy Monday Morning!
How was your week? Mine was fabulous! I will try to tell you everything (sparing the details...because I don't have the time!). So, We went back to L'viv! That was glorious! We spent a week as busy as we could work! We met some new girls and gave them Proclamations to read with their families and promised next time to discuss the differences between our churches. They were really beautiful girls! It was also Independence Day in Ukraine! 24th of August!
You know what I just realized. The name for August in Ukrainian is Sickle or harvesting!! Signifying the month of the harvest! Very significant!
L'viv is very patriotic and I was so blessed to serve there for this special day! Monday was the day of the flag, and our members decked us out in blue and yellow. I just stood there - it was an Ukrainian makeover - and although I love Ukraine, Ukrainians, and blue and yellow - a flag draped over me and a bandanna tied around my head just isn't my style. I loved the rushneks though! So, on Tuesday when we went out on the streets the people were dressed in Ukrainian vishavankas! They were so beautiful! Most of them are hand stitched and very symbolic. My companion was envious and was coveting the entire day! (We saw many beautiful vishavankas, and she wasn't wearing one!)
Well, we met with investigators and members and just had a great week of missionary work! I am thankful for my experience in filling up a planner! I can pack a day full! Sometimes it doesn't always work out, but we always have a back up plan! Sister Nekrasova was wonderful! She is a little angel! She read through the entire Book of Mormon during her mini-mission with me! She had never been able to complete it! I am so proud of her! Her testimony has definitely been strengthened! I am so happy to have had the opportunity to learn and grow with her!
Then, we went back to Kiev on Friday night. Lena, a member, borrowed a spot in our coupe, so that was fun!
So, Sister Nekrasova and I decided to go to her family when we got into Kiev - they were staying at a friend's house. This family has indeed been blessed for living the gospel, and they have testimonies and humility as a result of living the gospel and not after the manner of the world. They have the most beautiful homes. But, this family really is incredible! They are always serving, always helping, always donating, and never proud or puffed-up! It was fun to meet them and see Sister Nekrasova's family. However, we didn't have much time - we had to get to the church Saturday morning at 9:30 (so we only had an hour...just enough time!) Both families are incredible! I love Karina (Sis. Nekrasova), and I am so thankful she decided to serve, and we had the amazing opportunity to be together! It was a fun 5 weeks.
We made it to church...
Said good-bye and now I am waiting in Kiev for my new companion. Our transfer ended early, so the new, new missionaries are still in the MTC. They won't get here until Saturday. I'm trying not to be bummed that I'm out of my area for another week. Actually, this week L'viv doesn't have any missionaries! We are using this week for training! Apparently the first presidency has developed a new missionary training and this week our mission starts to incorporate it. So all our zone and district leaders will be in Kiev as well as missionaries who are training new missionaries. I am excited! I need to be a better teacher and that is what the focus is on- Teaching!
Well, Saturday Yana came up from Bila Tserkva, and we ate ice cream and told her about the prophet and told her to prepare herself because we were going to see the chosen representative of the Lord, and we did! We even got to sing for him! (well, the missionaries!)
We had a huge cultural celebration on Saturday! It was so fun to see members and many old friends who had come from previous areas I had served! I was absolutely in paradise! If that wasn't enough - we finally took our seats and out walk the Prophet, President Monson, President Uctdorf, and Elder Nelson of the quorum of the 12 apostles! The choir was already on the risers and the pianist was playing prelude. President Monson sits down on the piano bench! You didn't know that he played piano did you! It was hilarious! He was so fun! He teased the translator and even the apostles. He really understands the youth! The cultural celebration was amazing! Ukrainians are so blessed and talented and beautiful. But, there were representatives from the entire Kiev temple district. Armenians, Kazikstanians, Latvians, Russians, Belorussians, Georgians, Bulgarians, oh, I cannot even remember all of them. They all took part - sang, danced (Armenians really rocked!), acted, and told their stories and cultures beautifully! Ukraine was the highlight! It was fantastic and the costumes were all hand made - by members - all gifts and sacrifice to show their gratitude to the Lord! Absolutely beautiful! Oh, there was even an Ukrainian orchestra of members - they are super talented and the Prophet certainly enjoyed it!
It was a fantastic night!
It was a joyous night! It was a celebration!
It was a beautiful preparation for the dedication of the House of the Lord - the 134th temple on the Earth!
Sunday was perfect! We were given the special privilege of watching all three sessions! Not in the temple but, the spirit was still manifest and the messages were still penetrating!
The first session was so strong! Once again President Monson showed his humor and his light child-hearted disposition. I was grateful that I understood all of his comments during the setting of the corner stone. It really warmed my heart to see the purity of a prophet of the Lord and his love for this work.
This is a prophet of the Lord. He is truly a servant - receiving nothing and even on the only weekend when he had assigned to spend with his family, an 86 (?) year old man will travel to a foreign country to praise and glorify the Lord!
The other sessions were just as remarkable. My testimony is 100 times strengthened in the importance of the work of the Lord - saving His children including all those who have ever lived! I am confident of the blessings and the power that come from serving in the House of the Lord. I am determined to visit often and learn and grow in the knowledge of the Lord.
I was thinking about my character. When I receive a gift, I'm the type of person who saves it and cherishes it. I want to preserve it and maybe because of fear or desire to protect the quality I tend to not use it.
Well, the Lord is very generous with His gifts and they are eternal. The temple is a gift that we need to use more often! He wants us to use it to get as much out of it as we can. And the great thing is - it never wears out, it never gets old, and it is always indescribably beautiful. It is eternal - it is Heaven on earth! I cannot wait until I can go in and serve in this beautiful temple!
Well, now I am back in Kiev, will be with Sister Robinson and Sister Larson until Saturday when our new companions get here.
I'm excited!
I love you very much,
Have a good week!
A wonderful trip to the temple!
And Happy Early Anniversary!
I am excited for your party!
Love,
Sister Murphy
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