Email to her Grandparents

Hello Grandpa & Grandma!  

 

I have so much I want to say to you!

Thanks for your e-mail; it made me smile!  I'm so happy that you are enjoying life!  I know you are because you two are just so enjoyable!

I'm am super glad you received my package!  How was everything?  Chiggers STILL?  It's October?  That's crazy!

What an awesome temple trip!  Congratulations.  Sounds like it was an adventure!

Well, it's been another week.  Crazy how they fly by!  I know you are busy and I hope you always have something to do!  How are the crossword puzzles grandpa?  One day I want to finish ONE!  Grandma how are your pears?  Did you make any salsa this year?  So, almost a year left.  Wow, they go fast.

Well, now for my answers!

I do like my new area.  It is a small area - we have two branches that are very young (almost 10 years).  So, the church has only been here for 10 years.  There are a 140 members and still about 50% activity.  That means there are about 35 people in each branch.  We had a baptism Saturday!  I'll send some pictures to Sandra so she can put them up.  The people here are very simple.  Most of them have their own gardens with tomatoes and cabbages.  They are friendlier here and easier to approach - (as long as I'm smiling and happy)

Fruit trees are everywhere.  It's great, except that the trees are all going to sleep!

Today is a great day.  It’s about 50 degrees.  I'm going to alter my coat and look for boots to prepare for winter!

We are about an hour from the temple, my first area and the mission office (all the same place).  Everything has changed.  I was super spoiled in my first area.   We had a family ward next to the temple and the mission office (which has all of the supplies we could need including our letters and packages!).  We also had a beautiful remodeled apartment!

But, I wouldn't change anything about my new area.    Well, I would change our toilet seat, but that's minuscule don't you think?

 

I do have the best mission!  I love it!

This week I am going to try to love more.  Listen more and follow the example of Christ.

We watched conference this weekend!  It was great!  Saturday we didn't have translator sets so we watched it in Ukrainian with our ward.  Although I didn't understand everything, I knew and felt again that these men whose words were being translated into other languages were Prophets and Apostles of God!  I know their messages are important for the entire earth.  I felt proud to be a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  And proud that we are the only true church on the Earth today because we have the fullness of the gospel, which includes the Priesthood that enables us to have a Prophet of God.

Incredible!

My new companion is Armenian.  I love that I have been able to serve with such diversity.  She is beautiful!   I'm also thankful for the extra opportunity to understand a 3rd language.  (I'm not trying to speak Russian though; I still have to learn Ukrainian!  She speaks 50% in English.  I'm also trying to help her speak more English!)

I really feel that understanding my companion who speaks in a language that is (pardon the pun) "foreign to me" has been a blessing from the Lord. She is a joy to serve with, because she is happy!

So, we have some high goals and a great area to serve in.  Our members want to help us and we want to do our best to help them and build this area and improve the lives of those who live here.  We are finding.

We have English classes here and there are some amazing people we've found through them.  It's something I've never had the privilege to experience, because I've been a member of the church my whole life (thanks to you!).  But, they come to our class and say they love being here!  One girl I talked with on Friday - Yana - said that she wanted to stay!  So she did.  She stayed until 8:30 until after we finished cleaning the baptismal font, swept the floors and stacked the chairs.

Oh, so Galina got baptized on Saturday in between conference sessions!  It was a fantastic day.  Of course she was nervous.  But, she said she knew that the church was true and she was excited to get baptized.  She is in her late 40s and is a beautiful elegant lady.  I think she was a model for a few years.  She has a son we are going to meet with tonight and introduce him to the elders.  He came to her baptism and part of conference and said it was peaceful!

I love you both!  I'm excited for your lives and the people around you!  Send them all my love if you think of it!  Tell Jacob good luck.

Tell Joyce and Kevin to behave and have a happy week!  They are awesome!

How is Jina doing?  What is she doing?

I love you all!

Have a great week!

Sister Murphy

Hello Family!

Hello again on this beautiful Monday morning.

Happy Birthday again Grandma!   You probably know now that the "parcel" is from me!  YAY!!  Well, I hope it is and that you received the "parcel" I sent.

So, here we drink a lot of tea, and you might as well get started because when I get home that is something I probably will crave!  I'm sure there are some nice fruit/herb teas there.  I was always cautious to drink tea because I never knew which one was harmful to our bodies, but I've heard now that it is just red and black tea or maybe it's black and green.  Hmm…The colors red and black in Ukrainian sound just a like so, I'm always confused.  

Anyways, there is this weird food I sent home that is actually very tasty.  We enjoyed it one night with a cup of blueberry tea—hot chocolate might be just as good!

Another temple in Italy!  That's awesome!    Arkansas will come.  We have to build up Zion first.  We need to activate and prepare for the temple and then baptize!!

Tell the Williamsons hi and I hope you enjoy their company tonight.  

I think we had one day in the forties; it's getting cold.  It's almost Winter.  I was given a coat by one of the senior missionary couples who left at the end of August.  However, it's just a little too big.  So we are going to find someone who can hem it up just a little bit for me.  I think it will be difficult, but I don't really want to buy a coat, so maybe I'll just layer up and deal with it.

My suspicions were right!  I am now in Bila Tserkva.  I live in a little house.  It’s cute. Well, it's home.  Our land lord invited us to try her tomatoes and apples!  I'm excited about that.  The heat will be turned on this week!  I'm also very excited about that!  We've been using our gas stove and turning it on in the morning.  Fun times!  My companion is Armenian, which means she is very beautiful! . She is very nice. She speaks Armenian and I guess they learn Russian sometime in school or something.  She understands probably a majority of Ukrainian because, well, she's serving in Ukraine.  She also understands English, I think.  But, she speaks to me in Russian, so I'm learning to understand Russian. Hooray for opportunities.

It will be a challenge to communicate.  We have some high goals, but we want to be obedient and have the dedication to work.  I'm excited about this transfer.  IT STARTED THIS MORNING!  So, here we go.  I have an extremely happy companion.  VERY POSITIVE and that is what we are--very positive that we are going to find people to teach!  Pour your hearts out in prayer for us this week.  I love you!

Bila Tserkva is south of Kiev.  I don't know how to describe it.  It's smaller for sure.  We work with two small branches.  Many of the priesthood holders have been in jail. (I think they were in the Russian mob or something).  We also have 2 companionships of elders (2 elders in each branch = 4).  It's going to be a great transfer.  They are fun elders!  Today I think we are going to go bowling!  We'll see if we have time.

I know there are so many people here who need the gospel.  I want to share it with them.  I want them to find the true and simple path to our Savior.

We have a baptism on Saturday!  She is a beautiful lady!  Her name is Halina.  She is super excited about the gospel.  We are also working with another couple.  They come from a very humble background - it's been easy for them to accept the gospel, just difficult for them to understand.

It was hard to leave Borshahivsky.  It's a beautiful family ward, we had a beautiful apartment, and we walked by the temple every other day.  We had amazing people we were teaching...

Marina is having difficulties.  Her husband doesn't trust her.  Her son was sick and she had to miss church and other things.  We asked her if she would like him to receive a blessing.  On Monday we brought the Elders and had a nice visit until she received a text message from her husband.  He left a web camera so he could hear what would happen.  Well, we still believe in miracles.  So, we are praying to continue meeting with her and that her husband will also open his heart.  We met her on a Marshutka (bus).

Valentina is a super woman.  Her baptism is scheduled in 2 weeks.  She came with us to a very fun Ukrainian wedding reception!  She comes to church every Sunday.  We met her on the street!

We also taught English to two other wonderful ladies, Vika and Lana, but they wanted to learn more about the gospel right a way.  Lana is darling.  She is going to do a Ukrainian TV show about dieting.  Her husband left her because she wasn't as skinny as most tiny Ukrainians.  She is beautiful.

I hope they will both continue in the gospel and that I will see them again soon maybe at their baptisms!

We have a lot of work to do!

I never got to tell you about the crazy wedding we had.  Or other amazing stories...

Here is one.  We were on the way home from an appointment and there was this beautiful older woman who got on the bus.  She had two huge baskets.  She was coming from the cello (village where people have gardens and small homes).  She had baskets of fruit and flowers.  I told her how beautiful they were.  She held them up so I could smell them.  Lovely!  She didn't know what kind of flowers they were.  I told her they were marigolds in English, but they were HUGE!  My companion asked her about her family.  She is taking care of her parents—they are really old.  I gave her a calendar with the picture of Ukrainians beautiful temple.

Then, she dug in her basket and pulled out two of the biggest pears I have ever seen and said HERE!  She was the nicest lady I've ever met on a bus!

I absolutely love being a missionary.  It's such an amazing opportunity to build up Zion.  I am thankful that I don't have to do it alone.  Zone Conference was amazing.  I learned so much about missionary work and how to be an effective missionary.  This week Sister Nakashawn and I set some high goals and we are going to try to work to "punish our feet for supporting us" and incorporate what we can into our service this week.

I am thankful for every opportunity I have and I hope to grow and learn and always find ways to improve.  I'm excited to be in Bila Tserkva.  Yesterday, I saw two wonderful branches that can grow.  Today I saw many people who probably have no idea how much their Father in Heaven loves them.

I'm excited to find!  Even now, I'd much rather go out and see who wants to come to our baptism on Saturday than write e-mails.  I hope you have a great day!

One other thing: I don't want to be so boring.  What can I do to be more excited; besides learning the language...I'm still working on that.   I want to be happy (well I am happy) but I want to make others happy and when people are wrong, I want them to know I love them and that they change.

I love you! 

I hope you have a wonderful week.  Thanks for everything!  You two are the best!  Enjoy your yummy meals and your cute puppies!

Well, that is Chac. 

Love,

Sister Murphy

Getting ready for her first transfer in Ukraine!

Grandma and Grandpa,

Here are my questions and my answers to you!!  :) 

It is warm today.  I will have to buy a coat and some gloves soon though, Somedays the weather cools down.  But, I've been doing great!  I haven't been transfered yet.  You'll know about that.  (b/c...soon!)

I'll explain how it works if Sandra and Will haven't.  Each missionary is assigned an area and a companion for 6 weeks (everywhere in the world). So your guaranteed to see the same missionary in your town for 6 weeks.  5 weeks ago we got a call saying we were staying together in the same area even though we both had been there 6 weeks.  (They decided not to transfer us! YAY).  Normally, one missionary is transferred at a time so that someone is left with experience in the area, so someone knows who the members are and how to get to places.  They can also introduce him/her to the people they are working with and whatever useful information.  So, I've been in Kiev for almost 12 weeks (that means at the end of this week it's transfer time for our entire mission).  The mission is divided up into zones and from zones into districts and from districts into companionships.  At the beginning of each tranfer we set zone goals for the transfer, district goals to help us meet them and companion goals.  We have Zone conferences once every transfer.  My zone conference will be on Friday.  It is an inspiring event where President Steinegal and our missionary leadership teach us how we can be better and do the work better.  They introduce new principles to try in our work or tell us things we should change.  So far they are amazing!  We have district meetings once a week.
During each transfer (each 6 weeks) we have the opportunity to participate in exchanges.  Missionaries will switch companions for a few days to learn from other missionaries.  It's rare with sisters but our mission just went crazy with exchanges and I participated in 3!  So, I've served with half the sisters in the mission and half of the Ukrainian sister areas!  (My area is the best but I will leave soon.  But, I will work hard to make each area spectacular!)

I serve in the borshahivsky ward, right next to the temple site!  It's the best and it's beautiful! The mission office is also located in our chapel.  So, whatever we need we can get really easily! I have an amazing companion (who will soon train a new missionary again, and I will have to leave.)
Remember she is Ukrainian but has lived in Italy for the last 5 years.  She has taught me a lot about missionary work, having fun, cooking, and whatever else a senior companion is supposed to teach you.
I served one week in L'viv (remember my second week here)-- another paradise in the mission.  I hope one day I will go back!  They have two fabulous branches!

I went on an exchange to western Kyiv in (I think this is right) Harkivsky.  I was only there for 3 days, so I didn't get to meet many members.  If I serve there soon, I'm going to have to do some major deep cleaning on our first preparation day.

Then, 2 weeks ago I was on an exchange in Bila Tserkva, remember I had an Armenian companion who spoke
Armeanian, Russian, and about 50% English (Sister Nakashyawn).  It's a beautiful area.  We lived in the middle of our neighbor's (who is also our landlord) garden.  She also has an enormous apple tree!
(How do you make apple pie?)
I was there for 4-5 days and gave out 2 baptismal dates and met a few of the members.  I wasn't there for church though.

That's the story of what's been going on.  Does it make sense?

Now, in comments to your e-mail.  Introduce yourself to the elder.  PLEASE...for my sake.  You have no idea what it's like to be in a new area, having so much you need to know and so much you need to do, and know idea how to do it.  Give him some of your expert advice, tell him you want to support him.

So, in regards to a Christmas package, I hope you don't go crazy - I'll have to carry it all the way back to my apartment!

No, we don't get a lot of invites from members.  Things are just a little bit different out here.  People are poor (the exchange rate is 9:1 in our favor).  But, they are very hospitable.  We never know if we will be fed when we have an appointment.
I've been eating well.  I made us omletes yesterday for breakfast!

 Why did they close the temple in Germany?

Well, I'm sitting at a computer with a horrible space bar.  I have to really punch it down in between every word.  AWFUL...it's really trying my patience!

We will watch conference I suppose at the end of October.  It's kind of sad that I have to wait a few more weeks, but it will be amazing none the less!
The only broadcasts we attend are general conference and even for stake conferences only the Sunday sessions.   Missionary Work is very important, and I'm learning what a horrible member missionary I was before my mission.  Every day I repent and promise that I will take what I've learned and do my part as a member of the Church who has been blessed with a testimony of the Gospel and knowledge about the restoration of the fulness!

I cannot wait to hear about new temples too!  And everything inspiring that comes through the mouths of living Prophets and apostles!

So, guess what: I am getting transfered this week!  I leave on Thursday for my new area!  I am about 90% positive that I'm 80% on where I will go.  The office elders serve in my ward and they gave me two hints  (I swear I didn't ask for them and they weren't trying to tell me either):

First Elder Rayburn said in remark to something Russian I said to him that I should get used to it as I'll soon be speaking "Sergic" (the name for the Ukrainian + Russian "PIGEON" - (blending of two or more languages like Spanish and French = Creole in Louisiana)  In other words Ukrainian + Russian = Sergic, expect they don't have new words.  They just speak One sentence in Ukrainian and one in Russian and if they forget a word in Ukrainian they will say the word in Russian.  Did I tell you that every single Ukrainian speaks Russian and Ukrainian?  So, I'm trying to learn Ukrainian but Russian is thrust upon me.  I'm excited.  What other mission in the world do you have the opportunity to learn two languages?   Not that it doesn't happen here:  Sacrament Yesterday - Elder Miller spoke Russian, I spoke Ukrainian, the children sang in Ukrainian, the next man spoke in Ukrainian, the closing speaker spoke in Russian, the opening Prayer: Ukrainian & Closing Prayer: Russian.  Sometimes the Sacrament Prayers are even divided!  Interesting, huh!

Second they said I would have to play piano in this ward...
It was my last Sunday along with Elder Miller, so we both spoke for a few minutes in sacrament meeting.  After my testimony the primary sang "I love to see the Temple" (in Ukrainian obviously) and I thought it was absolutley lovely.  I was surprised by the number of children our ward has.  Elder Miller said, "There are a lot of children where you are going too, and you'll have to play the piano."
Oh, Elder Miller is just jealous.  Bila Tserkva was his most beloved area.  He wants to return.  But, with 3 months left I think he'll serve wherever he is being transfered to until the end of his mission.  So, yes.  I am 80% sure I'm going to Bila Tserkva.

Hooray for new and exciting things!  That means I'll be living in the middle of a Ukrainian garden!!  I had a great exchange there a couple of weeks ago.  I'll let you know for sure next Monday.

It is sad to leave here. We have two wonderful women preparing for baptism in October, and of course people I will miss serving.  I love this ward & it's members.  Okay, well I have a lot to do to get ready for transfers, like pack and clean, and learn a langauge (Ukrainian)  I still have miles to go!

Well, I love you.

Thanks for everything!

I am so excited for your birthdays!  I love you both! 

You two are angels!

Love,

Sister Murphy!

Letter to her Grandparents

So, HAPPY ANNIVERSARY GRANDMA AND GRANDPA!!
How are you?  Did you kiss, hold hands?  Eat pie, cake, ice cream...everything?
Hello again!
Thanks for the update on your week.  Way to stay busy and active!  Oh, we don't eat fresh-water fish because they are caught in the Ukrainian water and there is bacteria that our American bodies are not used to.  So, we can eat fish and be sick for a couple of days, or we can just not eat fresh-water fish.  So, I eat salmon (something that is shipped from far away).

No, we don't have cars.  Every once in a while (maybe 3 times since I've been here) someone has given us a ride. We live in big cities...RIDICULOUSLY LARGE!  So, we crowd in already crowed marshrutkas like most every other Ukrainian.  We also take the metro or trolley buses.   A Marshrutka is pretty much like a public bus except here they are not public.  Every one has a route, so we have to know the main streets to know which "bus" to take.  Sometimes these "buses"  can be worse than a can of sardines.  I'm looking forward to more memories on the marshrutkas moving millions of people around the "Mictos" of Ukraine.  Oh, they are normally yellow!

Oh, this is interesting.  I met Elder Chapman at Zone Conference and then served with him and his district in Bila Tserkva last week.  He is from Springfield Mo. North Stake.  He is from Russia, but was adopted about 8 years ago. He has a very large family.  I don't remember exactly where he is from - somwhere close to Springfield.

Hmmm, so we had to move Marina's baptism.  Her son is sick, so she had to cancel all her plans (even work - which is also sad [poor]).  We still want her to come to church a few more times.

But, we invited another friend - Valentina to get baptised next month as well!  We are excited even if we are transfered!

So, Moroni arrived!  He's beautiful!  They still have to put on they "exoskeleton" of granite around some parts of the temple.  But, it's looking good.

I thought of more things you can send for Christmas...
POPCORN!!  I LOVE POPCORN, and it's expensive and hard to find here.  You can even just send the kernells if that's easier and I'll pop it on the stove!  Hmm, maybe mints...but not gum.

What do you think about pickled tomatoes?  I think you should try it.

And my mouth is watering from hearing about your pears.  I know those are good!

Well, I love you.  I hope you have a fantastic day and week.

How can you help the missionaries at home?  Ask them?  If you can't think of people to hear the lessons maybe you can meet the people they are teaching!

You are the great!

Love you,

Sister Murphy!

Ukrainian Weddings and other fun news

Hello Sandy & Will,

I'm glad I have two experienced and amazing people I can write to every week. So, I'm going to start with horrible favors.  Awful I know...

1^st I thought of something fun.  Google pictures of marshrutkas (маршрутка), crowed Ukrainian buses, for Grandma and Grandpa to see.  Oh, and maybe the temple so you can see the progress!

So here are the pics she requested.  These are all from the internet and supposedly are all from Kiev.  As you can see they cram a lot of people in them.  

(Editor's note: To read an article about the temple construction click HERE)

It looks amazing with the spire and Moroni.  Apparently customs did not want a spire of gold coming, so they had to change.  Wouldn't it be amazing to be an architecture that builds temples?  Yes.  It would.

How is the church in America?  How are the baptisms in Mountain Home?  In Russellville?

Tell Valerie I hope she’s doing well

Tell Sarah, AJ, and Amanda thanks for their letters!

Do you know the new mission address?  It's borshahivsky...or something like that in English.  (the mission office is actually were I serve)

Okay...

I would like some easy, practical but fun recipes and some amazing analogies to teach gospel principles.  Will how did you teach?  Share some of your geniusness with someone who needs it.  In fact, you can put this on the web site for suggestions and make it a fun activity.  You can ask everyone!  Your friends, etc.  How can I teach these people in simplicity and so they understand.  Diagrams I can use?  Mail them???  Whatever.  I love you!

Okay, new news.  Marina is going to have to wait.

Her child got sick.  Her husband doesn't approve, and she couldn't come to church on Sunday.  It's so sad.  I won't tell you everything because I want you to love all Ukrainian people as much as I do.  He just doesn't trust his wife.  He hid a web camera so he could see and hear us while we were there.  We asked the elders to come and give a blessing to their son and he got angry...

(That happened this morning.)

Today we went to see an "open-air" Ukrainian village museum.  It was nice.  We brought another lady with us.  We are teaching her English and the gospel.  She started to read the Book of Mormon.

So, this Saturday, no baptism, but their will be a wedding, my first Ukrainian wedding!  We went to help out ward members yesterday (it's quicker than yours.  They have one week to prepare, and it's going to be fun!)  I wish I could tell you all that they have planned.  She is a cute girl who just returned from Provo.  I guess her American boyfriend couldn't live without her.  He's coming here on Thursday to marry her!  (They have to do it civilly in Ukraine first.)

So, he's in for a big surprise.  Ukrainians are CRAZY FUN!  I'm totally going to have a Ukrainian reception!  They kidnap the bride, they do skits, they ask weird questions, they laugh, they eat, they sing. 

We've begun sister exchanges in the mission again.  It was interesting.  I served for 3 days Tues - Friday with Sister Ethington in Harkivsky two weeks ago.   (She is one transfer ahead of me.  We met in the MTC) Sister Ethington is learning Russian.  So, I heard 10x more Russian that week than I am used to!  Yay, I'm commencing my 3rd language.  I think I can probably offer a prayer in Russian!  (I'm not trying it yet)

It was rough.  I am so thankful for the experience I have gained from my companion - a very experienced and hard working missionary.  I had no idea how blessed I was, and HOW CLEAN my living quarters were!  Wow, it was fun though.  Their sinks didn't drain and their landlord left them a bunch of hmm...maybe a nicer word for junk would do...but, I cannot think of one. 

So, I came back and we got right to work again on Friday.  Busy weekend, busy Sabbath, and then we got a call a week ago.  We did exchanges again.  Except I was going  to Bila Sterkva (apparently it's paradise for Russian speaking missionaries).  I served with an Armenian companion, who only speaks Russian and Armenian!  YAY!  I got over the nervousness and was pretty excited.  Really! She is a very experienced missionary, so I did my best to communicate and learn from her!

It was nice, a beautiful area and people.  I learned a little bit of Armenian and a lot of Russian since she doesn't know Ukrainian.  We gave out two more baptismal dates!  Way fun!  Speaking of fun, the word in Ukrainian is Vescello and the word for wedding is Vescellya.  (see the connection - there is one!)

You have no idea how much having a vision of "finding" throughout the day has helped me.  I am excited to find more investigators.  I think it's reasonable to find someone every day of the week.  Why not?  We have almost 10 hours.  I love being challenged and I know I have a lot of improvement and work to do.  Everyday I am thankful for the people I serve and the area I serve in and my companion who has taught me so much.  But I want to be more effective in receiving referrals, inspiring members to be missionaries, and living and teaching by the power of the Spirit.

So, I'll try again this week!

With a better understanding on how to find!

This is an excerpt from a letter my mission president sent us:

"How vast, how broad, and how eternal are the things we’ve received, and which we offer to the world. The Book of Mormon is the book of greatest worth on the planet, and we give it away for free. The temple is the best built structure in the land, and people can enter without money and without price. What a testimony of God’s love for His children. "

Pres. Steinagel

Well, that's about all the time...we have an important lesson tonight.

I love you

Thanks for everything

I love popcorn...

We find out this weekend about transfers...

I know I can be better.  I have a lot of work to do.

Sister Murphy

Week 10:

Good Morning Family!

Happy Monday! Is it Monday? It's Monday here- Monday afternoon now! We have a busy day today.

Things are wonderful here. We have an amazing work to do here. The church is growing slowly here, but we are preparing to open the Kyiv temple in a year - which means lots of missionary work! Our goal is to double the baptisms! I'm super excited. I've only been out for 2 transfers but that is right when our mission started the goal. So far it's been miraculous - which is what happens when you do the work of the Lord! We have 2 weeks until our first baptism in this area! (We opened a new area for sisters - so we are very happy the Lord has blessed us to find this amazing woman!)

This week was different. Exchanges are interesting things! I learned quite a bit. But, I think most importantly, I learned how amazing my companion is! I am really thankful for the experiences I have had my first and second transfer and for the opportunity to serve with such an amazing missionary. And, she is a great cook!
This week also had its ups and downs. The highlight was re-reading chapter 4 in Second Nephi-maybe my favorite chapter. This time I read it - I realized that I don't need to "rejoice in sin." I think I was dwelling more on my weaknesses than on the opportunity to overcome them. So, I've committed myself to have a "rejoicing in righteousness" week as I try to do the right things.

I'm excited for this week and being more bold and finding more of the elect!

Funny news:

The Branch Pres. of Bila Tsterkva used to be in the mob. And he has a lot of his friends who were converted after him. Many who served jail time so they couldn’t get baptized!

Phew, the man with the really bad cologne just left. I can breathe now!!

I hope you have fun at the fair, and I hope you also tell people that there is a message they cannot find anywhere else about their relationship with God. He has given us this counsel to be prepared because he loves us! He loves us so He calls prophets to teach us. He loves us so He gives us scripture. He loves us so He reveals His gospel to us. Isn't it amazing that there are so many confused people out there and we are the only ones who have been blessed with the fullness? We are the only people who have the key to unlock the mysteries contained in the hearts of so many. Get lots of referrals for the missionaries. Tell people that they can learn about the teaching of our church. Tell them that we share this important message all over the world - even in Ukraine!!

So, I love you! I hope you are staying healthy. We are teaching 2 wonderful investigators. (We have more but these two are quickly progressing)
Marina is 26. She accepts most of the commitments we have given her. She loves to read the Book of Mormon and is excited to get baptized. Maybe you can pray for her husband in your prayers at home. Pray that we can meet with him and help him to soften his heart and develop this excitement his wife has for the gospel!

Natasha is probably 45-48. She is so much fun. We teach her English first. She is an active lady and is amazed that we are here as missionaries. She wants her son to be a missionary! After English we teach her the Gospel in Ukrainian. She prays at the end of our lessons and thanks God that we brought peace, light and joy in her life. She said she thinks about us before she does something and it helps her do right!!!

Our ward is amazing! The Angel Moroni will be added to the temple on Saturday at 2:00 pm. We are having a special presentation. I'm excited. We make American cookies, brownies, and banana bread at least once a week to share with our investigators and members who help us.

Oh, that's what I want some easy, good recipes. That would be easy to do. Maybe you can send me one with your next e-mail!

I'm getting your letters grandpa! Thanks for all the updates!

I love you both!

I haven't much time...and I still need to write to our Mission President!
I love you! I hope your smiles are bright and beautiful! Keep them polished!

Have a wonderful week!

I hope you are sleeping fine, and recovering from your crazy lives!

Love,

Sister Murphy

p.s. of course I'm waking up at 6:30. It's the getting into bed by 10:30 that's wearing me out. I try every day. I like to be an obedient missionary, a white handbook missionary, that means I sleep all the way until 6:30. No messing with these rules!

Okay, I was just trying to be pious. In most cases I'm up at 6:20.
My alarm clock broke...sad day...but thankfully it's routine enough. My body wants to live the laws too. My REM cycle is fully trained to pull out of deep sleep by 6 am and I'm "aware" until I finally just can't pretend to be asleep...and I worry that I'm late...so I get up to check the time, go potty, pray and make my bed. Then, I try to have a successful work out.

p.s.s. my pictures got deleted. I'm sorry!


YOU ARE THE BEST!

Week 9: Her adventures with restrooms

Dear Family,

 

There was a miracle that happened in Borshahivsky yesterday.  Ten of Heavenly Father's children found their way into His house of worship yesterday.  Amazing!  Four were brought by one wonderful lady who has the desire to share the gospel, two of which have been to sacrament previously.  We also had four investigators who joined us for their first time.  It was a beautiful sacrament meeting with beautiful testimonies of the restored gospel and our Savior Jesus Christ.  It was an exciting day!  Now, I hope to work hard and with the Spirit to see their understanding enlarge as they learn more about the love of our Heavenly Father and the Restoration of His church.

It's great to be a missionary!  I know I have lots of progress I can and NEED to make but, I am thankful for the potential and the opportunity to grow.  I know that I have potential to be like our Father in Heaven, and with each mistake I make or each time I fall short of perfection I can be encouraged (I love that word, and the word snuggled inside - courage - of which I need a lot more of!) by the love of our Savior.  I'm thankful that I can serve Him.  And with that, I know I can do better!

I need lots of help with fun things to do for all ages in teaching english.  It needs to be productive, so we actually help people and then we can get them interested in the gospel.  Do you have any  ideas?

Did I tell you there aren't public restrooms in Ukraine!  What an experience my first week here.
Also I love water.  Which generally means I have to go to the bathroom a lot.  (Like right now...)

My companions sister went to egypt this week with her husband.  We are looking at a few pictures.  They just did the resort stuff this trip (They saw the ruins a couple of years ago).
I want to take you to egypt!  After my mission...what do you say?  I bet your husband could find something to do!  I know you want to and I know you are thinking there is no way.  But, you just wait.

That's my dream.  Only for this hour on my prepartion day.  Every second after my dream is helping the amazing people here come closer to Christ.

YAY for the saving ordinances and principles of the Gospel!

Well, I will write another email later I have to find a restroom!

(She found a restroom and continued a few minutes later) :)

Oh, thank goodness!

I found one!  Well, I tried to explain to the lady and she was like what?  But, she showed me to the back room.  I was just like...I NEED TO GO TO THE TOILET!  She was fun.  And of course there a like 7 people waiting to use a computer!  What an adventure!  The nice lady who found me a toilet and who has a pretty skirt, let me get back on a computer that there is a line for!  She likes us!  She's going to get baptized, all because the crazy american had to pee!!!

So, basically, they have a porcelain square in the floor and you squat!  Rarely do you find toilet paper!  I've been in some nicer restrooms though!  And the worst, which is odd, was in an opera house!

Okay, now that I can breathe and think.

Can I tell you how much I love you?!? And how much I appreciate you!?!  

Our ward is a nice size.  It's one of the bigger ones in Ukraine.  Well, there is actually only one Stake in the entire Eastern Europe and it just happens to be in our mission.  There are probably only 4 wards...not sure yet.  We have the best though!  I love our nice little trip to church, and seeing the progress of the Temple - the House of the Lord.  Knowing that in some way, I can help prepare these people to enter.

So, September 1 in Ukraine is the first day of school.  It's a holiday here too!  It's so cute to see the kids dressed up for school (they were suits...even the little ones!)

 Grandma I hope you had fun at Relief Society and the fish was yummy.  I'm not supposed to eat fish.  Sad, but I can eat other things!
I love the mail you send me!  Thanks to grandpa and grandma I get a letter every week!  You two are the best!  I'm glad you are having lots of fun!  Have more!!  And in a year and a month or so we'll have a big party!

What do I want for christmas???  Not much, because I know it costs a lot to send stuff here.  I have everything I need here, so maybe some chocolate so I can compare the two!  What can I do for you? 

Oh, here is what I want: graham crackers, marshmallows, and chocolate!  I want to show Ukrainians what smores are!  Fun!!

Next week, I promise I'll send you pictures!  You are the best!

By the way more pictures please!

Tell AJ, thanks for his letter!  Congratulations on the amazing work in Russellville (they had 3 baptisms)

Also to the ward back home.  Grandpa said they had 3 baptisms as well!  WAY TO GO!  We are going to work that hard this week!

Pray for us & Pray for the people

Next week, I'll try to relieve my bladder before I write so I can send a few pictures!

I love you!

Have an interesting week and I'll read all about it next week.

Oh, I almost forgot.

Have you ever pickled tomatoes or mushrooms before?  Try it - they are yummy!  Small tomatoes (whole).  Let me know what you think about it next week!

Love you!

Sister Murphy!

Week 8: Merry Christmas! (Grandma says getting her emails are like Christmas presents so that's where she got the title from)

Wow,

Hello Grandma and Grandpa,

You eat out quite a bit!  I'm glad you are having fun!!  I have been eating well lately too!  By that I mean I eat lots of watermelon!  It's in season here and they are getting cheaper every week which means MORE WATERMELON!!!

Weird, we also talked about temple work in Church yesterday too!  (well I tried to understand...it was in Russian.)

May I suggest a very interesting chapter to read?  It's in Jeremiah 7:3-10.  It talks about how people think "ALL IS WELL IN ZION... we have a temple here."  In reality, they are not going to the temple or are going but for the wrong reasons.  The prophet Jeremiah is prophesing to the people of their wickedness and to repent.  He's also warning them that all is not well in Zion if they do not go to the temple.

I'm amazed at the people here.  Many of them are coming to the ward (at great distances) to research their genealogy.  It's so neat to see their Russian ancesteral trees on the  newfamilysearch.com  site.  They are super excited!  Have you been able to look at the website yet?  That should be your next adventure!  It gets complicated, but you two are the smartest people I know!

I'm glad you got my letter!!  Yay!  It took 2 weeks!  I wish I could send you more candy but, I thought you would at least like those!  I do too!  Congratulations to Jacob Maple on choosing to go on a mission! How exciting!  I wonder where he will go.  The more I'm out, the more I am getting excited about being a missionary.  But, in actuality I'm not very much different than I was before...(sad I know)

However, I do have a calling and authority to act in that calling.  I have rules I need to follow (that are wise and safe and help me to be a better missionary) but, I've learned that missionary work is not missionaries work.  It's the whole churches.  It's our responsibilty together.  The only difference is I am called - I am authorized to teach the gospel and prepare people for baptism.  The finding, testifying, and experiencing the amazing joy that comes with building the kindom of Zion on earth is for everyone!   Because I'm in Ukraine and don't know anyone, we often wander aimlesly among the thousands of people who live here.  It's a challenge to look into the faces of complete strangers and share with them a simple message that might interest them into salvation.  How much easier it is to touch the hearts of people I know and I can adapt the glorious message of the gospel to their needs.

So, I have come to the conclusion that missionary work is much easier for regular church members than it is for missionaries.  CRAZY!!  I know.  All you have to do is share the gospel with your friends, bring them and show them how amazing the gospel is and then assist the missionaries in their conversion.  If anything my mission has called me to repentance for not doing enough for the missionaries back home.  New missionaries (like my companion and I FOR MY FIRST area and assignment, we were both brand new to the area) have no idea where to go, who people are, who wants to help them, who they can serve, what they can do, who they can teach, sometimes they (I) might not know what to say.  I would think, that is a bit overwhelming (I CAN TESTIFY!!!  IT IS VERY OVERWHELMING!!)

So, I'll end that tangent for now.  But, I would (I'm learning this word in Ukrainian...so I'm using the english variant) EXHORT you (like Moroni says in chapter 10) to help your missionaries!!

Well, I got a little carried away!  But my companion and I have been contemplating on how we had no idea what our poor missionaries had to go through.

Is Sandra making stuff up on the blog?  Maybe it's the gift of twinship or something.  She knows everything.  I wrote her a funny story.  She should get a letter this week that you'll really like!!

Well, I love you!  I need to write to our Mission President!

I hope you have a fantastic day!

Love,  

Sister Murphy

(Letter to Sandra)

Hello again,

I just wanted to tell you that I am having much more fun and it's because I learned to not get frustrated!  My companion and I were not acting in unity.  

AND THEN,

I told her, and about 2 minutes into our conversation I realized that it doesn't matter if I say anthing at all in a lesson.  It doesn't matter what happens anywhere as long as the spirit was felt and someone's life was blessed.  I can simply  appreciate the miracle of being there!

So, we learned that I was frustrated because I didn't know what to say and when to say it.   She was frustrated because she didn't know where to go and when to go, and we were both trying to be too independent.  So, we have a new philosophy: WE ARE NOT GOING TO GET FRUSTRATED.   It's been better ever since.  SINCERELY!  We learned from the example of a missionary who has been serving a year and still has some horrible problems with the language.  He loves life and he isn't afraid to have fun.  He is fun!  And we both want to have fun too!

I'm sorry about your headaches...I think you are going through withdrawals, and they won't end until October of next year when I come home.  So, stop these phony treatments and write more to your sister the real source for your cure!
and eat a watermelon!
(not the whole thing...Will can probably eat half!)

I have been getting Will's letters, and they make me laugh.

Oh, what analogies can you give me for teaching simple gospel doctrine?

Think about it and as you think of one send it to me.  I'll be using them for a while so don't think this assignment expires!

I heard a good quote recently:  "Everyone already knows the gospel is true. They’ve just forgotten. Help them to remember. The Holy Ghost will do that. He will help them get through the amnesia and the deception."
 

We have an investigator - Her name is Marina and she knows the church is true!  She is getting baptized!


hahah quick thought...

I read a funny sentence in your letter: "church was ok today."

Well, church for 3 hours in SERGIC (1/2 russian & 1/2 ukrainian - which I still don't understand)  is always awesome.

It's also funny, because I'm a missionary people are afraid to meet with me because I'll make them do missionary work.  So, they walk away from me as I smile at them...

I hope this made you laugh and think.  Sure, maybe the talks weren't great, like yesterday I didn't understand why we were talking about her neighbors dead dog for 5 minutes but, I took the Sacrament and I renewed my covenants.  If everything else was horrible it was worth it!  

Oh, the other funny thing in combined rs and priesthood yesterday, the first half was on temple attendance and then the bishop addressed some things in russian, (my companion filled me in later..)

One funny thing he said: DON'T read from the ensigns during your talks!  We laughed about it.

Oh, dear,

and so...it's been a week!!

Keep me informed!

I have to buy a new watch!

Thanks for all you do.

Thanks for being so special.

Thanks for being you!

And thanks for your righteousness and example!

I love you!!

Love,

Cectpa murphy!

Week 7

Subject: Miracles - chodo!!!

Do you know the children's "Primary" song they sing to all of their visitor's who come to church on Sunday?  It's called the "Hello Song" (I think).  Usually it ends up in a competition between the boys and the girls on who can sing (or scream) "Hello" the loudest.  Well, I'm singing it to you today...this Monday afternoon in Kiev!

Hello family!

So, first (because it's today) cause to rejoice.  Today is Independence day!  My companion and I have a lot to do though so we will miss the parade in the center of town.  We've heard from most Ukrainians that it's a tourist trap anyway.  They celebrate tonight with lots of fireworks (we heard a lot on Saturday night too).  I think this country is still uniting and trying to find some pride.  They can do it!!  It's beautiful!

Secondly, you can rejoice with me.  We are preparing Marina for baptism!  She is a beautiful lady - 28 years old.  She has an adorable 4-5 year old boy, and a really awesome husband.  However, her husband is a little hardened against religion.  (They don't call it agnostic but I think it's safe to say that's what he is.)  We haven't met with him yet and of course he doesn't like that His wife meets with us.  They are a beautiful family though.  His brother was baptized into a church years ago and never wanted to see their family again.  So, he is probably afraid of loosing his relationship with his wife.  We have a plan though!  For sure the only thing we want is for their family to be stronger.

We are working with Natasha too!  She's awesome - we are kindred spirits!  She just got back from hiking in the Carpathians!  This week we will help her prepare for Baptism too!  She has a 20 year old son and she works all the time to provide for them!  He is going on a 10 day kayaking trip this week!  How fun!

Well, 6 weeks are over.  Crazy.  Now, we evaluate our goals and set new ones.  In 6 weeks 23 people added to the truth they already had about life and found the fullness!  The truth of the fullness of the gospel!   I am thankful for the knowledge of our Savior and of the Gospel.  How wonderful it is.  How simple it is and yet there are so many who are afraid to discover it.

I want to do all I can to be better - a better teacher, a better missionary - so that I can be a better example and lead others to Christ.

Saturday we had a fun service activity!  We served a beautiful family who live out in the country.  Homes here need a lot of work.  This family spent a few years studying in America (BYU-I!!!) and I think they are trying to Americanize their home!  We varnished a beautiful fence while other members mowed and digged and cut and well I really have no idea what was going on around me.

We've had a watermelon a week this month!!  It's been lovely!!  My companion can even beat the elders in a seed spitting contest.  (Except Elder Rayburn.  We just don't let him compete.  He has to be some reigning champion in Kentuky.)

Oh, Elder Rayburn, Have I told you about him yet?  He has been a member of the church for 2 years.  He was studying cello (music) when his cello professor somehow introduced him to the church!  His professor baptized him and one year later he decided to postpone the 2 years left he had of college to serve a mission.  We serve with him and Elder Miller in Borshahivsky.  Elder Miller is from Las Vegas and he learned Russian.  

Oh, I meant to tell you.  I got grandpa's letter  last week.  It was wonderful!!!  Thanks grandpa and grandma for your wonderful examples!  I love you.  Thanks for always working and never relaxing.  This week was a tough one, but only because Satan is trying really hard to discourage us and keep us from blessing the lives of God's children and bringing them to Christ.


Hmm, what do I need!  Well, I am thankful for all I have!  I want more pictures but, I can still serve without them!  I love you lots. 

Week 6: First her email to her sister and then an email to the Thompsons

Dear Sister,

Thank you for rambling!  I loved it.  I thank Heavenly Father for you every day and Will too! What a fun adventure in Yellowstone!  How neat!  Maybe President Obama will come to Ukraine for some foreign affairs stuff.  I know they are getting ready for an election here.  There are these tents set up all over Kiev with kids handing out these articles about one man.  We walk by them all the time and of course they want us to take them.  I always feel bad.  We hand out "FREE ENGLISH" flyers and I get frustrated at people who won't take them.  It's free and it's something they might be interested in, or know someone...and well...that's a whole other tanget.  So, I'm sure they think the same things when I walk by.  Except, I'm an American and cannot vote in their elections, and I'm a missionary trying to be absolutely unbiased and refrain from all political debates as a representative of the Church.  

So, I don't think I'll have time to send pictures this week.  But, next week I'll dedicate more time.  Good?  

Somehow the Lord blessed me, I had enough $ all week!  

Sister Morton, she has been here for 12 weeks already, has twin brothers who married twin sisters and they both had children who are only three months apart...twice! 

I'm glad your birthday was fun!! I'm glad you got to eat at Applebee's.  On our preparation day (Monday before our birthday) We went to TGIF's.  It was okay and of course expensive.  But, it was fun.  

Um,the candy, at least try some of it and let know what you think.  It would be nice if you can send it to g-ma, dad and others.   My favorite is the lobster one that says Pachku, which means on all fours...??? weird!  It has a chocolate center!

Last week's e-mail was a dissaster.  I had a ridiculously long e-mail about our ward "potluck."  It was an amazing experience! 

I am happy.  I hope this has been the most difficult transfer because if that is true, I'm super excited for the rest!  But, yes, it has been difficult.  Odnak (HOWEVER) Life was not easy for our Savior, Jesus Christ, and that gives me hope.  I'm trying to be happy -always.  That is my mission goal.  Look above the challenges and have hope AND BE POSITIVE.  Yes, it's frustrating, sitting through a lesson in Russian and maybe understanding 10% then listening to people speak Ukrainian and also only understanding 20%. But, I have been blessed so much.  I will be patient with my abilities and trust that it is enough for now.

My mind has been enlighted on missionary work...so on that note...ah, note, I miss the clarinet!  I love you!
Love your sister!!

CECTPA MURPHY!

Grandma  Grandpa!!!


Alright, new missionary in the ward!!!  I have lots of advice for you and the ward to make his life easier!

I love you lots!  Life is  good.  My birthday was a missionary birthday: complete with 3 cancelled appointments (we by no means wanted them cancelled!),  3 stop-bys - all wrong addressess from the ward-roster, and a not so happily ending contact in the park.  But, I had cake and ice-cream on my companion's birthday, plenty!!  We also bought a nice ice-cream treat in the middle of the day.  My spirits were up.  I enjoyed the experiences!

Food, well, we had one member invite us over.  She has been inactive for awhile, and recently returned.  We visited her and helped her have courage to bear her testimony in church.  She made us noodles and a "salad" and some meat I think it was chicken cooked in egg.  It was good.  When we visit, we normally have a cup of "tea" - herbal stuff, that's tasty, and sometimes Pechevo (Cookies but, not like chocolate chip cookies they are tea cookies and not like scones either.  They are purchased - not made) 

Everything is pretty good here.  I'm not supposed to eat fish and that's sad.  It's fruit season right now!  Yes, we do cook and fortunately my companion is practically Italian.  Her mom can also send packages on a bus (Really cheap from Itally) with Italian noodles and NUTELLA!! (THIS AMAZING Hazelnut chocolate spread) and Amazing Italian cheese.  So, we have been eating a lot of pasta salads and noodles.  She enjoys cooking.  I would rather eat something fast but sacrifice for the sake of having a good relationship and the fact that I'm still young, I'll learn from her for now!

My favorite food is Vareneky.  It is, well imagine raviolli noodles almost but, instead of sauce and meat inside it's mashed potatoes!  It's genious!  They actually have all kinds of vareneky- chicken, pork, whatever.  But I'm not eating much meat here.  Borsh is also really good.  It's a great soup.  They have a great cream here it's called smetana.  They put it in almost everything.  I don't know how to describe it.  It's like a thick cream, like sour cream but sweeter or maybe milkier.  So, they put that in borsh and on vareneky and on bread and in desserts.  It's crazy!  Speaking of dessert, ice cream is great here!  And they have a cherry vareneky that is just great with smetana and sugar!  I also love this sweet cheese thing with raisins also with a spoonfull of smitana!  Well, other than that, we've eaten a lot of fried eggplant and cheese and bread.

This week is the end of the transfer so our Russian speaking missionaries come!  I think there are 7 and one is from Fayetteville.  I met him in the MTC.  I'm excited, people here have never met anyone from Arkansas!  I probably won't see him much since he is Russian speaking- but we plan to represent!

Congratulations on the quilts!  A lady in the ward here is an excellent seamstress.  I tried and with some help from my companion, I suggested that we have a sewing night and make a quilt.  She said she'd see what she can get together.  I'm excited about working with the ward and gaining the trust of the members.  I do love them.  I never want to leave.  But, I'll go where the Lord wants me to go and love more Ukrainians!

Love,

Cectpa Murphy!

Week 5

This picture was taken when she was in Lviv for a few days while her companion was renewing her Visa.

Dear Sister!

You are so wonderful and I love hearing from you.  I want to see pictures!  I absolutely love that part in the book of the Chronicles of Narnia too!  I used it a lot in lessons and I'm pretty sure I made you read it before.  I love CS Lewis too.  My companion has Chronicles of Narnia in Russian (the movie) and we've shown the scene of Aslan's sacrafice to families to explain the atonement.  So many people don't understand the Atonement and why we need it. Repentance is also difficult to understand.  We cannot do anything by ourselves.  Christ is the only one who can really free us.  I just love the analogy!  

TREMENDOUS THANKS FOR THE PICTURES YOU SENT and an ENORMOUS thanks for the awesome package.  I cannot believe it was $40.  NEVER SEND ME ANYTHING AGAIN, unless it's a little note that costs only $1, which is what postage is probably now anyway.  Ridiculous.  So thanks.  We'll put the brownies into some good use for our members.  They will be our blessing brownies.  You rock, your husband rocks!   

Remember there isn't any perfect way to do missionary work.  Christ was rejected and many people misunderstood Him too.


This pictures is me with two pink elephants in my hands!  They are Italian elephants, one named Buon and the other named CompLeanno.   Their Italian names mean:  GOOD BIRTHDAY!!  So, I hope both you and Will are having a good birthday!

OH, by the way.  I also sent you a crazy package.  It wasn't going to be crazy except I didn't understand a word and my companion wanted me to "grow."  So, I sent you a little package, what she took from me.  Unfortunatley she didn't understand that I had other things I wanted to put in there and I didn't realize I had to explain that I had more stuff to send.  SO, I'm sorry.  But, I hope you like it.  I also didn't get to send you a note.  So, next time.  It cost 111 gruven.  Which probably is about 18 dollars so really not that expensive for Americans.  Although, here that's still a lot of money.  (We are supposed to budget for 300 a week).  Crazy experience it was.  Well I love you.  It's the week of our DEN HePOZEHHR!  Happy Birthday to us all!

Love CECTPA MURPHY!

Week 4

Yay,
Happy Anniversary Sandy and Will!
Exciting...[ps there is no word (clovo) for the word excite in Ukrainian so, if I use it a lot it's probably because I'm going through withdrawls] I tell people about you a lot and I was excited to say today My sister and her husband have been married for a year. (I totally learned that just for you!) (ale [but] I did not learn the clovo [word] for anniversary next year! (or next month for g-ma and g-pa)

So, I have a couple of favors to ask of you. First, funny story. You know how mission presidents always know what is going on with the missionaries in the mission? In my last interview with President Steinagel, he told me their secret. They google their own names and find their missionaries blogs. Pravda(true)! For example, the other day Pres. Steinagel was looking for a document. He googled his name and found for some particularly odd reason my mission blog created and updated by none other than my favorite and most amazing twin sister. He informed me that you have a picture marked incorrectly. I know I am wearing a green vest surrounded by probably 4 elders and my companion and Ulia (bapstism day). This is in Lviv, and not with my "new companion" Sister Movchanyk. However, I am standing with Elder Allan, Elder Ward, Elder Prowitt, Elder Fulton, and Sister Belatska (my companion for a week). If I sent you a picture of Sister Movchanyk and I, you would probably say: "wow, they look a like!". Everytime I tell someone I have a twin sister they want to know if it's Sister Movchanyk.

Thank you for your inspiring e-mails and yes letters (from my amazing family and friends!)
I am very happy that I can be here, now - at this amazing time. Every time I see the temple I'm reminded of the urgency in using the short amount of time given me to find the elect and lead them to Christ. So, this week I learned to stop feeling frustrated with my abilities and focus instead on having Christ's image reflected in my countenance. I hope that I can create curiosity in those who are lost beside me and that they can sense that I'm there for an important reason. I know I have hundreds of opportunities to improve and I hope each day I will be successful in becoming myself more like Christ so that I can be more effective as a missionary for Him.

Sister Mitchell actually put this thought into my head with her wonderful letter and testimony! We are all missionaries. However, I have the opportunity to work full-time for the Lord, not just some of time. So, every second counts. I think I told you last week about one of my favorite scriptures in Ether 12:11. "Through Faith was the Law of Moses given, but through Jesus Christ, God gave us a MORE EXCELLENT WAY....". I can always do more, I can always be better. But, the most important thing to remember is that the best way is Christ's way. If I am focusing on Him, He will make up for all of my weaknesses. This week I was focusing on just being ridicoulsly happy, to generate curiousity. Then, I received Tamara's letter that reminded me how important it is to reflect Christ. To have His image in our countenances. So, I do have a lot of work to do; in myself and helping others find Christ's true gospel too. We didn't have such great success last week, but this week we are going to work hard and bring the elect to Christ. We are planning a big "Potluck" on Sunday for the Ward. (New for Ukrainians...!!) We are going to get them excited about missionary work. It is through them that we can find the elect. There is a temple being built here, right next door to the very church we meet in. I walk by it at least 4 days a week. This will be the House of God, This will bless the lives of the members and all people living here. We have one year. What a blessing it is to find those people now, who will be prepared in one year (after their baptisms) to enter the House of the Lord. I'm EXCITED!

So, we cleaned a park on Saturday. They don't have a lot of trashcans in Ukraine, not as rare as public restrooms, but, litter is everywhere. So, people were curious and many of them liked the idea. We baked chocolate cookies for those who helped us. That was fun...American food! (And they enjoyed it) It's also morning, we haven't done our shopping yet and my mouth is watering thinking about the fresh produce we walk by. It's everywhere! Fruit trees are everywhere!
Next week we are also going to have a Pancake night! (Pancakes are also not a Ukrainian staple) So, the other favor, you know the pink cookbook you have, how about those syrup recipes. Are they easy?

Well, that is about it for time. I love you. I love life here. I love serving the Lord. I hope I can become better; a more effective missionary always choosing the more excellent way of Christ! I know it takes love and boldness together. I know this is important for all people on the earth to know Heavenly Father's plan for us and what we must do to receive His grace and mercy. The Gospel is the Way. Repentance and Baptism are the beginning ordiances. Then we continue, every day becoming more like Him, reaching our Potential. I am so thankful for a loving Heavenly Father. I am thankful for my family. Familes are central to our Father's plan because it is through them we can experience the love that He has for us. Just imagine how much you love your family. I am thankful for my Savior, Jesus Christ. Because of Him, this is all possible. What a sacrifice He gave and how it has blessed me- I still cannot imagine.

I'm excited for this week. To see the changes the Gospel of Jesus Christ can bring into the lives of the people of Ukraine. I was reading in 2 Nephi 29 about Satan. One verse says that he works carefully (In Ukrainian it says diligently) leading people to hell. Which means, we have to work dilligently and carefully to bring them back. We can be smarter and work harder. We HAVE to WORK HARDER and SMARTER. This is Salvation!
Well, I love you. I'm going to see if I can send some pictures.
I hope you have a wonderful day!

Oh, Grandma and Granpa, thanks for your wonderful letters and e-mails! You two are wonderful! Blackberries - I can just imagine all the pies. Stay cool!!

Love,

Sister Murphy