September 13th

Hello Grandma and Grandpa!

How are you!  I love you!  I want to wish you a happy anniversary!  Actually there are many well-wishes from Ukraine: my companions!  Members and investigators - Viktoria, Lyudmilla, Zoya, Lena, Olena and Maxcim, so many!  They all also wish you health and happiness and lives filled with love!  I wish you lots of laughs on your celebration!   And remember me!  Know that I love you and that if I was there, I would be sure to have lots of hugs and kisses to congratulate you!  So, remember me and remember to spare a few seconds for those hugs I've sent you!  This week was fabulous!  We had a busy week, and I feel very blessed!  The Lord really lead us and we had some really powerful lessons!  It was crazy though!  It was for sure a jump in for my companion!  But, we had a great first week!  We found 2 families!  and a few other amazing elect women.  Many of them were very alert and had told us how they are confused and are searching to strengthen their relationship with God.  It was just fantastic.  Now, we are just left with the challenge of what to eat!  That is always something new - learning to adapt to the differences in companions.  So, some funny stories.  Our oven is possessed by Satan...and he tried to ruin my lemon bars - but...he can never win.  We made the best lemon bars I've ever eaten!  (We did have to make another crust, but challenges only make us stronger!)  

Another interesting experience.  We went to a cello with a member to serve them.  It was a perfect day!  Well, besides the point on the extremely crowded marshytka when my companion fell on top of a drunk man.  She's okay, and well, he was never well to begin with.  Those that were squished in the "machine" with us enjoyed the experience - the squishing of the drunk.  No, I shouldn't joke about it.  But, this man was quite ridiculous.  The worse part is that there were 2 and it isn't a rare experience.  Well, at least I have never fallen...

It's been very rainy.  But, I think it's normal.  We are just moving so fast I don't know if I realize it.  But, I do love the rain!  I love umbrellas, and I love that we can still contact in the rain!  Well, it isn't the best contacting - but, there are still people who are not rude - we don't stop them in the middle of the street or anything, but we just give them little fliers or calenders!  It's fun in the rain!

Sho She?

O, I have to finish the story... so we went to the cello!  And walked a long way grabbing a few tart apples and random bitter berries until we found a small quaint white house with a very lovely humble lady!  She is the mother of 5 (her two youngest are 2 and 8 and they are angels!)  We talked with her and then had the most fun time talking with her daughter (8 years old).  She wants so much just to be loved and to hear that she has nice things and that she is special.  She showed us everything that she has!  Even her children's bible that we read to her!  She cannot read, but we alternated!  I would read, and she would quote it back to me!  She was such a sweet girl!  The elders had a fun time with the 2 year old and the drunk father who wasn't quite acting his age.  No, he was very well-behaved, but I think he was just embarrassed.  He wants a better life, but he just doesn't have a strong enough desire to stop drinking.  But, that's why we went.  We talked about the temple and the power that they can receive in their lives if they begin to prepare!  Then, we told them they need to prepare, and we want to help them!  It was very nice.  I know the mother wants it, but she is the only one supporting their family.  She works as much as she can.  Well, it was a very nice day!  And the walk and ride back were also more enjoyable for my companion!
However, when we finally got back home we planned on making phone calls and calling as many people as we could to have a successful weekend.  (Oh, it was Friday).  So, as we were running up the 5 flights of stairs (or whatever it is) mostly because I had to use the bathroom, but when we got to the top and I tried to open our door I couldn't.  I asked Sister Carpenter and she couldn't.  We were stuck.  We have a very stubborn door that usually requires a nice kick (seriously) before he will open.  And after all the kicking in the world - our door was still denying us.  As it happened, on our way out of the apartment that morning, our door handle (which was already broken) was pulled out and...we just left it.  Therefore, we couldn't open the door!  We were stuck!  And I had to use the bathroom.  It was miserable.  I called everyone I could think of...starting with our Landlady who said it was too late but, if we needed a place to stay we could go out with her.  Called all the members in the church that I thought could help and finally found one who said he could help!  (Not because others didn't want too, we have great members, but, they just didn't know what to do or were working).  So, the member still lived 30 minutes away.  I called the elders.  I called our landlady again and she said if we were willing to pay lot of money...we could get it fixed tonight.  She is a great landlady, so I wasn't mad...it was seriously just the circumstances.  But, she also had called a few friends that lived by and told one nice pleasant cholovik to be a man, and go help two young ladies.  He did!  My landlady called again and I told her I believe in miracles and in prayer and I told her to pray and we would too!  We did!  Artyur opened the door!  It was a night of rejoicing!  We even made popcorn to celebrate!  And, I went to the bathroom!

Well, the next day our landlady came back with a Mauster to fix our door handle finally!  So, hopefully there won't be any further problems!

I hope this week was as great as this week!  They can go up and down!  I love serving the Lord!  I love teaching people that their is more truth to find and the Book of Mormon is the key to finding that truth!  I know that we have a responsibilty to help others understand this!  Well, I love you!  I hope you have a great anniversary!

You are amazing!

You are loved!

And I am so thankful for all that you have done for me!

I am sending you a letter finally today!  I'm sorry it will be a little late!  But, celebrate again!

Always!

You love eachother, you are great grandparents, and everyday can be a celebration!

Love,

Sister Murphy!