It
started out fraught with frustration in a hot kitchen while I half
burned and spilled the lemon bars mom sent me in my christmas package
all over the oven. (They worked out in the end &were super delicious
by the way... well the middle non-burned part:) ) Then we had weekly
planning set to the background of a constant fall of light snow with
random spurts of huge heavy flakes displayed outside our window. (First
snow!!! that sticked!) Then we had a chocolate cake we grabbed from the
store nearby with a candle that sings a super high pitched, annoyingly
funny rendition of "happy birthday" and my dear Sister Sveta called with
a long stream of birthday wishes (Russians can go on for minutes of
wishing health, happiness, love, fulfilled dreams, riches, great
posterity.. etc, etc, etc.) It was amazing. Sveta is such an amazing
woman. She's so sick.. some sort of condition with her stomach which
makes her unable to eat very much and she has to take lots of
medication, but she still comes out with us, loves us, and
remembered my birthday. :) That evening we were to work with Sister
Kazak. Her feet are hurt somehow so it hurts to walk, but she was
determined to "take her turn with the missionaries." I love her example,
the faith and zeal but I felt pressured to have a meeting set up for
the evening so that she wouldn't have to walk in the cold for three
hours. Thing is we didn't have anyone to meet with. So she's calling us,
and our branch mission leader is calling us asking us what kind of
plans we have and we've got nothing, having tried our hardest. Then she
calls us back a bit later and she says, "I've got someone who will let
us come over, my sister-in-law. But she said we can only stay for a
bit." I'll make the story shorter and just say that it was the most
glorious, Spirit-guided, love filled Restoration lesson I have had the
opportunity to teach on my mission. It was wonderful. Such a sacred
time. And although there are a few things I can think of that we could
have done better, it was pretty much by the book and by the Spirit. Just
perfect, and I know that it was all because of the faith of Brother and
Sister Kazak who have tirelessly tried to share the gospel with her and
invited her to come to church and read the Book of Mormon. We were just
privileged to be there when she finally open her doors to the
missionaries for the first time. And she liked us. :) Sister Kazak said
many times and was very excited that Natalia (her sister-in-law) liked
us. haha :) And Natalia accepted our invitation to be baptized when she
knows it is true, which means she's open! and invited us back over to
teach her the Plan of Salvation. My no new investigator streak of 4
months finally ended in the best way.
There are many other things to say.... Ah! The weather is great, we
have lots of snow but it's not too cold. :) bad timing for the card
though because I planned on buying new boots today and have run out of
personal money.... umm I'll figure something out. :) My comp and I are
so excited for Christmas!!! Sister Scott had a little shrinky dink
christmas tree that we made little ornaments for. it was so fun! :)
Love you & talk to you soon!
Also, transfer calls came and I'll be in Balakova for 2 more months. A|& I will skype
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