What a beautiful, happy week it was!
I'm learning more and more that who you're with is what makes life
rich, where you are is just the backdrop. This is what makes contacting
one of the funnest, most thrilling experiences. We come in contact with
such a variety of individuals and responses within steps of each other.
For example, the other day we were walking saying hello to everyone and a
woman all the sudden starts yelling at us, telling us to go back to
America... we keep on going and like literally two steps later an
elderly man who was clearly in his own world was not aware of what just
happened to us greets us with a huge, golden smile, calling us dear
girls and is all sunshine and happiness... told us we were beautiful (in
a non creepy way), thanked us for being here and told us all about his
pension like three times.
Actually, the male gender in general has been warming up to us
recently. Sister Clyde must be putting the pharamones on in the morning
cause we keep getting creepers. We must be a pretty easy target,
two foreign sister missionaries who talk funny and don't understand a
whole lot. We're not allowed to contact men but if they address us, then
we can talk to them. It always goes alright at first but then when they
start asking if you have a boyfriend... haha poor Sister Clyde's been
getting the brunt of it this week.
Mom asked if I've been able to keep in contact with the teaching
pool. The answer is yes and no. It's different here than in America
(obviously), in that we honestly don't even know our investigator's last
names, let alone where they live. We only know where one of our
investigators live (Arina and Anya) because they invited us over. All of
our other lessons are done at the branch building (the white/grey
building I sent the picture of). We currently have quite a few people we
are teaching but we can't usually see them more than once a week sadly.
It's hard to keep them progressing when the process is so stalled. But
everything's going great! The work has picked up and we've got lots of
work to keep us plenty occupied. Some exciting news with investigators:
Olga came to church! We hadn't seen her or talked to her in like a month
so that was a surprise! And she showed me that she's all the way into
3rd Nephi! Sister Clyde and I aren't sure where to go from here though
since her situation is still kinda sketchy.
Also, Vadeem is moving along. Before when we asked him to be baptized he
agreed enthusiastically but he had no idea what the meaning behind it
really was but now we had a lesson with President Klimov (our branch
president) and he has a much better understanding.
Here are some more random things I've been jotting down about Russian culture:
-You know those track suits you see Russia wear at the Olympics...
the white ones with the red swirlies and "Russia" on the front? yeah, I
see 'em everywhere. Especially on people who were obviously not in the
olympics.
-And you know those mystic wolf shirts you expect to find at a gas
station in Wyoming that were starting to get popular with the hipsters? I
see those here too oddly enough.
-Men wear purses. Okay man-purses.
-Or people in general will carry shopping bags to carry their things and will use the same bag over and over.
-Women wear tights a lot, especially black nylons which their wear
under skirts, shorts, pants, whatever. AND I HAVE NEVER SEEN A RUN! Some
form of black magic I presume.
-Old men play chess in the park. :) So cute.
-They really like accordian music.
That's it for this week. I'll leave you with a quote I love.
"Even if you use your strongest faith, God will not always
reward you immediately according to your desires. Rather, God will
respond with what in His eternal plan is best for you. He loves you to a
depth and completeness you cannot conceive of in your mortal state.
Indeed, were you to know His entire plan, You would never ask for that
which is contrary to it even though your feelings tempt you to do so.
Sincere faith gives understanding and strength to accept the will of our
Heavenly Father when it differs from our own. We can accept this will
with peace and assurance, confident that His infinite wisdom surpasses
our own ability to comprehend fully His plan as it unfolds a piece at a
time.
с любовю,
сестра джонсон
I'm getting transferred! to... the Avrora branch!
Which is like our next door neighbor to the west. It's where the mission
home and the assistants live so I'll be right there when the new
president comes in July. My new companion will be Sister Moffet. She's
from Olympia, Wash.. I've met her a few times and the most accurate
description I can think of to describe Sister Moffet is cotten-candy
flavored bubbles. She's precious. Ahhh... it's so weird that Sister
Clyde and I are parting ways! Especially when we have grown so close the
past few weeks and have really got the ball rolling in our area. I'll
still see the missionaries and members in my district fairly often (like
on saturdays--sport day) but... but.. my investigators... Dang I'm out
of time. Sorry for the short letter. And sorry about Mahonri. I try not
to think about it because when I do I cry! Goodness I loved that dog.
Here are some pictures of my member friends. Tamara is the woman with
Sister Clyde and I and Sister Sartori is in the other. 
