friends and family!
It was another busy, great week here in Nickoliav and Kherson. We have been doing tons of Area Book work, and it has been successful. Since we are the only missionaries in Nickoliav, we got all of the Elder's area books, and now we have like 8 books between the two cities. It's craziness! We are still trying to find a good balance between two cities, member work, less active work, investigator work, area book work, contacting, and everything else. There is so much to do everyday, but we will get it done eventually I hope..haha. This last weekend was one of my most favorite weekends on my mission!! Friday started out wierd because we got dogged twice with lessons, but we had a lesson that night. We had a lesson scheduled with a family (mom, son, dad), and they brought their co-worker. They all spoke english, so that was a surprise!! But it was seriously one of the best lessons and best nights of my life here in Ukraine. They were so wonderful!!! They fed us this crazy delicious meal. We had home-made juice, bread, meat/potatoes, cucumber/tomato/mint salad, delicious strawberries/cream for dessert, and pork tongue. Yes, pork tongue!! It's a delicacy here, and I actually loved it!! I might need to pick some up for myself haha. It was probably the best meal I've had here. And they were just awesome! We got to know them and they got to know us, and we reviewed the Restoration with them. They were very accepting and had great questions!! They didn't want us to leave, they kept asking us to stay and then we settled on us coming back haha. It was just a warm, comfortable, awesome environment to be in. So refreshing to have lessons like that!! Both Sister Johnson and I walked out of there and we were like "whoa, that was awesome." we fell in love with their family, and i'm pretty sure they liked us! I told them this story about how sometimes people will tell us that we speak really good Russian, and then other times when we will ask someone a question in russian, they will say "we don't speak english, speak in russian" hahah. they laughed so hard, and then i told them how sometimes when people don't understand us i will say "i am speaking russian, i just have an accent because i'm from america!" and then they will understand everything i'm saying after that. They thought that was the most hilarious thing they have ever heard and they about lost it laughing so hard. haha i just love little things like that as a missionary!!
On Saturday we were in Kherson for a branch picnic. Let's just say it wasn't like a ward picnic at home haha. We did it at this little beach area, and it was a hot day. Some of our branch members just weren't shy at all and just stripped down to their underwear and were just hanging out like that haha!!! This one older woman just stripped down to her lacy black bra and underwear, and just did a little tanning while we were cooking haha. The elders almost died haha they were like "ugghh tell her to put her clothes on!!" we just laughed. Then sister johnson and I just played a little bit of soccer and volleyball with all the men in their underwear. It was pretty hilarious to say the least. It's totally normal for everyone here, just a tiny bit awkward for us missionaries. Words can't really describe it, but use your imagination haha. The beaches here are just interesting haha. People are just not shy about their bodies, and we see a little more than we would like to haha. Sister Johnson and I didn't want to wear jeans because we would have died of heat stroke, so we just wore skirts. We got some pretty wierd looks, and i was thinking to myself "yes i know that we are dressed modestly which is like a fashion blunder here, but ya'all are practically naked, which is not cool!" haha ukraine never ceases to surprise me. For the picnic we brought rice krispie treats (we actually found marshmallows here, miracle! and they tasted pretty close to american rice krispies), and everyone was obsessed with them! They were like "girls, how do you make this?? I need this recipe!!" so we tried explaining it but between us 6 missionaries, none of us knew how to say marshmallow. so we just tried to explain that they were round white sugar balls and no one was understanding it haha. so we brought a bag to church to show them, and everyone was so happy. We tried writing down the recipe, but they just couldn't understand that it was simply butter, marshmallows, and cosmo stars (ukranian version of kind of rice krispies). They couldn't understand that it was that easy haha. So we decided to do a relief society activity and we will demonstrate how to make rice krispies haha. They were delighted, and i'm sure it will be a great activity this weekend.
Sunday school yesterday was hilarious. This one guy who is an investigator loves to say prayers, so he was like "I will say the opening prayer!!!" so he stood right up and said it and was like "Heavenly Father we are grateful for this church, and for the prophets like President Monson and even Nephi and Lehi. We love them. Bless this day! In the name of Jesus Christ, amen." hahaha he always says he is grateful for Nephi and Lehi in his prayers, and it always makes me laugh. In class the investigators/members got into a little argument about unimportant things, and this guy next to me was about to lose it haha. So we just handled it like champs and calmed down the argument and I assured him that it was all good and that his questions were good, then he is like "I need more marshmallows!!" and grabbed the bag and ate a few, then was totally content. I swear so many funny things happen every single day!! Ukranians are so entertaining sometimes.
Well, everything else is going great. The work here in two cities is overwhelming and I swear our lives are just back and forth and sometimes I feel like we are so busy but didn't get anything done. BUT, the work is great and the work of saving souls is not a small task. I love being a missionary and I learn so much every day! The language is still a challenge and I have moments everyday when I feel like I know nothing, but it continues to improve slowly but surely. I love serving the people here and creating bonds with wonderful members and nonmembers here. The work is moving forth, and I love it!! I love you all!! Thanks for your support and prayers!
Cectpa DeMille
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| Sis J cutting up meat for picnic |
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| Birthday |
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| Birthday |
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