Dear Family and Friends!
Well I hope that everyone had a great Thanksgiving and Happy Birthday to dad again! Mom it sounds like you prepared a delicious Thanksgiving feast, way to be, hopefully you watched the Macy’s Day Parade. It’s just not Thanksgiving without it. Thanks everyone for the emails this week, Devin you always seem to know exactly what to say;) Taylor, stop fouling people, and K-dawg congrats on the engagement! So cool! I want to see pictures so send some.This week was pretty good. A little crazy but overall good. It turns out that my companion is now serving in Samara and I got a new companion. Her name is Sis. Stolyarova and she is from the St. Petersburg mission. She has been serving for over a year and she is a GREAT missionary! It has been really fun to serve with her for the last week and get to know her and see how she does missionary work. We had a great week with a lot of lessons and… we set a baptismal date!!! HUZZAH!Monday after we finished mailing the assistants called and said that I would be getting a new companion and I needed to be home and have everything done by 4 so I could let her in. We were out in Dochney and still needed to buy their food so we ran and got all of that done and then ran to my area, bought food and made it home just in time to welcome my new companion. She had been serving in Samara and her and my companion switched places. I am just glad to be in my area and to have a companion! That night we went and visited a less-inactive family and it was interesting to talk to them. Hopefully we will keep working with them and they will come back to church with us.Tuesday and Wednesday were pretty normal days. Lots of contacting and talking with people. We did have a great lesson with Valentina, our landlady, about the Plan of Salvation. She seems really interested in it and asked a lot of questions. I am very excited to see how she progresses. Thursday was Thanksgiving. We had a normal day of contacting and talking to people but I did make chocolate chip cookies for the special occasion and they turned out pretty good. We were able to convince Valentina to go to a concert at the Branch building with Luba the opera singer. She loved the concert and we were able to teach her before the concert which was great.The weekend was filled with contacting and tracting- every missionaries dream;) and then of course Sunday. Saturday night we did have a great lesson with our investigator Sasha and we set a baptismal date!!! He will be baptized December 12 and we are so excited for him. He is such a great kid and is very excited to come to church and participate. He is only 13 years old and reads the Book of Mormon and prays with his mom. I am so excited and it is truly a blessing from our Heavenly Father we were able to teach him.My companion did make me real borscht this week which was AMAZING and belini. She is an excellent cook and I am so excited to try lots of real Russian recipes with her. She is going to make piroshky today!!! I wanted to make pie on Thanksgiving but we just didn’t have time so maybe some time this week.As I think about my blessings from Heavenly Father it really is amazing everything that he gives us. He is so aware of us and what we need and sometimes…what will make us grow. I am grateful for the opportunity to serve on this mission. It is teaching me so much!!! Everyday I learn something new and I am grateful to be able to serve in Russia and with these Russian people. I love them! My companion and I also realized how thankful we are for P-day! Sounds funny but seriously. We had such a crazy, tiring week that last night we wanted to have a party because it was going to be P-day! Oh the tender mercies from Heavenly Father. Well I hope all is well with everyone! The church is true, help the missionaries and talk with your friends and family about the Gospel. Especially in this Christmas season it is so easy to talk about the Savior, our blessings, and everything we have. I encourage everyone to have a Family Home Evening with a family in their neighborhood and share the Gospel message. It changes lives. It is a gift from our Heavenly Father! I love you all!Whitney
Monday, November 30, 2009
Monday, November 23, 2009
Get a Haircut you Bumb!
Hello Family! And most importantly… HAPPY BIRHTDAY dad!!! YEAH!
Well another week has gone by in missionary world. All is well. It is getting a little colder here in Russia but overall it has been a VERY MILD winter. Huzzah. I think it’s all of the prayers going out;) thanks! We have had a little snow but not bad and so I am glad. My first comment for the email is Taylor, you are looking good in your pictures Maybe next time you should comb your hair though,or cut it? and yes I am very impressed with Missy’s picture taking. It’s too bad to hear about the football game but I’m sure next year…
Well big news first. My companion went to a conference this weekend in Samara and so I came to Dachney, a area in Saratov to serve with the Sisters here. We have been in a threesome since Thursday and no one knows when I will return to my area (I think I’ll be getting a new companion although I’m not sure). Although I miss my home and my area it is fun serving with the sisters here and seeing how different missionaries do things etc. It is also fun to live out of my plastic bag I brought, ha ha. The sisters here are Sister Tedrow, my MTC companion and Sister Averyanova, who was also in the MTC with us. She is from Rostov Russia and is an AMAZING sister! Holy Cow! She is good at this. Like I said it has been fun serving with them and getting to see a new area, new branch yesterday and meet all of their investigators here. I have to say the best thing so far was that at church there were treats. Why haven’t we thought of that before! One little Grandma brings treats and sets them out so as you come into church you grab a treat and then sit down. Genius! I was so glad to have that little refreshment right after sacrament to help me make it through Sunday school in a different language I also have loved the people in this area. They are so nice! We haven’t gotten yelled at once! Woohoo! One night we were out contacting and it was a little cold and really really wet, there was this strange mist in the air like snow and rain all mixed together, and we were talking to some ladies. They reached into their bag and gave us each these delicious pastry things because they saw we were missionaries and just said thanks and good job. It was so nice! Heavenly Father truly does look after his missionaries.
So I know everyone is probably awaiting the exciting news… yes I got my haircut. It was pretty shaggy and mullet and very big and so it was definitely time. Luckily, my companion was there to tell them what to do and what I wanted and I actually really really like it. It is different than anything I’ve ever done but it is good. And it is really easy to do curly which is good because I don’t have a straightener. I did get in trouble from Valentina, though I think that is inevitable. She looked at and asked where, how much etc. When I told her how much she just said, “kashmar” (nightmare). She said there was a place CLOSER and CHEAPER I should have gone to. But all in all she liked it. She is SO funny! She kills me with her comments.
This week we have been able to work with members a lot of nights and it has been so fun. I was also able to have a member be my companion yesterday which was a lot of fun. I have to say though that one of the members gets about 10 gold stars in my book for her courage and willingness to contact. She is in her 60’s I’m pretty sure and went out with us on a colder night. She was so brave and it was so fun to see how the Russians reacted to her. They actually reacted extremely well, a lot better than if it had been missionaries talking to them. She would just loudly say to people, woman, woman, we have a message for you. She would get their attention, introduce us as missionaries, and then say they have a message for you. After that is was all smooth sailing. We would just start into our message. How cool is that! She was awesome and I loved being able to work with her.
We met some interesting people this week and for the first time in my life, I rescued a cat? WHAT? Me? I don’t even like cats?! I guess I can truly say the mission makes me do a lot of things I wouldn’t normally do. The cat was on the sidewalk and had been in a big fight. It’s eye was all swollen and read and the tail was all mangled up. I just kept walking but my companion and the member we were with that night (Lena) stopped and were trying to find someone to take the cat in. We knocked on a couple doors of the houses around us to see if anyone would take the cat in but no one would. Finally we just took the cat into a warm proezd gave it some milk and the next day it was gone. Who knows what happened to it but you can’t say we didn’t try. We also met a very funny babushka on the street who wanted to be baptized. She said she was going to be baptized in the Russian Pravoslavny church but it was too expensive. They were charging 400 rubles and she didn’t have that money. She asked us at least 10 times how much baptism costed and each time we responded with It doesn’t cost. It’s free etc. She was just insistent that it had to cost something. We told her to come to church and see what it was like and then we could start teaching her and she could be baptized. She said she didn’t need to be taught she just needed the baptism. Oh good times. She unfortunately was not at church on Sunday so hopefully we will run into her again and be able to talk to her.
Well I love you all! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! This truly is a wonderful time when you get to think about your blessings and what our Heavenly Father has given us. Everything we have is from Him. Be grateful and go serve someone today. There are so many people in this word who need our help. As members of the church we should do more to help them see the light of Christ, recognize the love of God in their lives and feel of it! The spirit is so strong when we are serving and helping Heavenly Father’s children. HE loves each of us! The Church is true! Remember to help the missionaries in your area, even if you simply bring treats to church I love you all! Have a wonderful week and dad eat some delicious banana cream pie for me. You are the best, thanks for your love, support and prayers!
Sister Morris
Well another week has gone by in missionary world. All is well. It is getting a little colder here in Russia but overall it has been a VERY MILD winter. Huzzah. I think it’s all of the prayers going out;) thanks! We have had a little snow but not bad and so I am glad. My first comment for the email is Taylor, you are looking good in your pictures Maybe next time you should comb your hair though,or cut it? and yes I am very impressed with Missy’s picture taking. It’s too bad to hear about the football game but I’m sure next year…
Well big news first. My companion went to a conference this weekend in Samara and so I came to Dachney, a area in Saratov to serve with the Sisters here. We have been in a threesome since Thursday and no one knows when I will return to my area (I think I’ll be getting a new companion although I’m not sure). Although I miss my home and my area it is fun serving with the sisters here and seeing how different missionaries do things etc. It is also fun to live out of my plastic bag I brought, ha ha. The sisters here are Sister Tedrow, my MTC companion and Sister Averyanova, who was also in the MTC with us. She is from Rostov Russia and is an AMAZING sister! Holy Cow! She is good at this. Like I said it has been fun serving with them and getting to see a new area, new branch yesterday and meet all of their investigators here. I have to say the best thing so far was that at church there were treats. Why haven’t we thought of that before! One little Grandma brings treats and sets them out so as you come into church you grab a treat and then sit down. Genius! I was so glad to have that little refreshment right after sacrament to help me make it through Sunday school in a different language I also have loved the people in this area. They are so nice! We haven’t gotten yelled at once! Woohoo! One night we were out contacting and it was a little cold and really really wet, there was this strange mist in the air like snow and rain all mixed together, and we were talking to some ladies. They reached into their bag and gave us each these delicious pastry things because they saw we were missionaries and just said thanks and good job. It was so nice! Heavenly Father truly does look after his missionaries.
So I know everyone is probably awaiting the exciting news… yes I got my haircut. It was pretty shaggy and mullet and very big and so it was definitely time. Luckily, my companion was there to tell them what to do and what I wanted and I actually really really like it. It is different than anything I’ve ever done but it is good. And it is really easy to do curly which is good because I don’t have a straightener. I did get in trouble from Valentina, though I think that is inevitable. She looked at and asked where, how much etc. When I told her how much she just said, “kashmar” (nightmare). She said there was a place CLOSER and CHEAPER I should have gone to. But all in all she liked it. She is SO funny! She kills me with her comments.
This week we have been able to work with members a lot of nights and it has been so fun. I was also able to have a member be my companion yesterday which was a lot of fun. I have to say though that one of the members gets about 10 gold stars in my book for her courage and willingness to contact. She is in her 60’s I’m pretty sure and went out with us on a colder night. She was so brave and it was so fun to see how the Russians reacted to her. They actually reacted extremely well, a lot better than if it had been missionaries talking to them. She would just loudly say to people, woman, woman, we have a message for you. She would get their attention, introduce us as missionaries, and then say they have a message for you. After that is was all smooth sailing. We would just start into our message. How cool is that! She was awesome and I loved being able to work with her.
We met some interesting people this week and for the first time in my life, I rescued a cat? WHAT? Me? I don’t even like cats?! I guess I can truly say the mission makes me do a lot of things I wouldn’t normally do. The cat was on the sidewalk and had been in a big fight. It’s eye was all swollen and read and the tail was all mangled up. I just kept walking but my companion and the member we were with that night (Lena) stopped and were trying to find someone to take the cat in. We knocked on a couple doors of the houses around us to see if anyone would take the cat in but no one would. Finally we just took the cat into a warm proezd gave it some milk and the next day it was gone. Who knows what happened to it but you can’t say we didn’t try. We also met a very funny babushka on the street who wanted to be baptized. She said she was going to be baptized in the Russian Pravoslavny church but it was too expensive. They were charging 400 rubles and she didn’t have that money. She asked us at least 10 times how much baptism costed and each time we responded with It doesn’t cost. It’s free etc. She was just insistent that it had to cost something. We told her to come to church and see what it was like and then we could start teaching her and she could be baptized. She said she didn’t need to be taught she just needed the baptism. Oh good times. She unfortunately was not at church on Sunday so hopefully we will run into her again and be able to talk to her.
Well I love you all! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving! This truly is a wonderful time when you get to think about your blessings and what our Heavenly Father has given us. Everything we have is from Him. Be grateful and go serve someone today. There are so many people in this word who need our help. As members of the church we should do more to help them see the light of Christ, recognize the love of God in their lives and feel of it! The spirit is so strong when we are serving and helping Heavenly Father’s children. HE loves each of us! The Church is true! Remember to help the missionaries in your area, even if you simply bring treats to church I love you all! Have a wonderful week and dad eat some delicious banana cream pie for me. You are the best, thanks for your love, support and prayers!
Sister Morris
Monday, November 16, 2009
Are we human, or are we dancer?
Friends and Family!!!
Holy cow! Another week down and my first whole cycle! I can’t believe that we are almost halfway through November. Can you believe that Thanksgiving is next week! It is really weird to be a missionary because you totally lose your sense of time. I merely know when weekly planning is and that’s about it. I didn’t even realize Thanksgiving is coming up so soon. Thanks for all the love and support. Because we had Zone Conference this week I got my mail and I have to say thanks Kubo and the crew for the letters and just to let you know, I am still a dancer! They were fantastic! Mom—I still haven’t gotten the package you sent? I did get the Dear Elder. Mail is funny here because we only get our mail every 6 weeks at Zone Conference so I won’t get my mail until Christmas again. I am still in Octobrasky which is great because I love my ward and I love my area. I will do this whole cycle with Sis. Semikolenova which will be great.
This week has been another good week. We have been busy with lessons and with trying to find people to teach but we had a couple great lessons this week. Last Monday we were able to buy me a warm hat for the winter and buy my companion a warm coat so that was fun. The Rinok is always an interesting experience and we were both just happy to get out of there unscathed and with all of our money (minus the money we spent) We had Zone Conference as I mentioned which was awesome and a lot of fun. We were able to watch all of the Apostles who talked at General Conference so I was able to see Elder Holland’s talk and it was amazing. It is true, the Book of Mormon is a huge source of power for our church and with no doubt in my mind, it is true! It is such a privilege to get to bear my testimony of it countless times a day to people and simply say, “IT IS TRUE”. I met a missionary who knew Hal and Patty and I need to say privet from him, Elder Hillaryanov. He was at zone Conference with the President. He hadn’t been set apart yet because they needed a fill-in companion for a missionary while the new missionaries were still coming.
Well I’ll start with the funny things I did this week first and then finish with the spiritual (I know, lame). 1. Usually when we got into the elevator and push the button it takes a few seconds for it to work so we got in and I pushed the button. Unfortunately the one time the elevator works right away an old man was trying to come in and yes, the door closed on him. I felt so bad!!! He luckily just laughed and said it was fine, but I felt like an idiot! 2. While putting my shoes on after a lesson at a member’s home I leaned up against the door to pull up the zipper on my boots and completely fell over, yep, stupid again. The door was not all the way closed and so opened when I leaned on it and I fell into the proezd. No we just laughed, the member thought I was crazy and we moved on. It’s always good to have things to laugh about while on the mission.
This Sunday in church I played the piano, hoping to lure Valentina to our Sacrament meeting. Although she was unable to come the song went well and the members really enjoyed the song so all in all it was good. We had a good lesson with my investigator Natalya this week about faith. We were able to watch the Testaments and then talk about how a faith in Christ is so important. WE also talked about the importance of the Book of Mormon and reading it everyday. I love her so much and would do anything for her!!! This week we didn’t have a lesson with Valentina but we talked to her many times as usual. She had given us some DELICIOUS apple jam and we finished the bottle. I returned the bottle and she just gave me an admiring look and said, Good job Morris. She then came back with 2 bottles of jam. Oh she is a funny one!
I think today will be my first Russian haricut which should be interesting. My hair is so long now I need to get it cut! Other than that things are well. The Church is true. I loved being able to hear conference and feel of the strength from each of the apostles. Each one gave such an inspired and amazing talk and I am thankful for prophets who are able to know what our world needs. Thanks for the love and support! Love you all!
Whitney
Holy cow! Another week down and my first whole cycle! I can’t believe that we are almost halfway through November. Can you believe that Thanksgiving is next week! It is really weird to be a missionary because you totally lose your sense of time. I merely know when weekly planning is and that’s about it. I didn’t even realize Thanksgiving is coming up so soon. Thanks for all the love and support. Because we had Zone Conference this week I got my mail and I have to say thanks Kubo and the crew for the letters and just to let you know, I am still a dancer! They were fantastic! Mom—I still haven’t gotten the package you sent? I did get the Dear Elder. Mail is funny here because we only get our mail every 6 weeks at Zone Conference so I won’t get my mail until Christmas again. I am still in Octobrasky which is great because I love my ward and I love my area. I will do this whole cycle with Sis. Semikolenova which will be great.
This week has been another good week. We have been busy with lessons and with trying to find people to teach but we had a couple great lessons this week. Last Monday we were able to buy me a warm hat for the winter and buy my companion a warm coat so that was fun. The Rinok is always an interesting experience and we were both just happy to get out of there unscathed and with all of our money (minus the money we spent) We had Zone Conference as I mentioned which was awesome and a lot of fun. We were able to watch all of the Apostles who talked at General Conference so I was able to see Elder Holland’s talk and it was amazing. It is true, the Book of Mormon is a huge source of power for our church and with no doubt in my mind, it is true! It is such a privilege to get to bear my testimony of it countless times a day to people and simply say, “IT IS TRUE”. I met a missionary who knew Hal and Patty and I need to say privet from him, Elder Hillaryanov. He was at zone Conference with the President. He hadn’t been set apart yet because they needed a fill-in companion for a missionary while the new missionaries were still coming.
Well I’ll start with the funny things I did this week first and then finish with the spiritual (I know, lame). 1. Usually when we got into the elevator and push the button it takes a few seconds for it to work so we got in and I pushed the button. Unfortunately the one time the elevator works right away an old man was trying to come in and yes, the door closed on him. I felt so bad!!! He luckily just laughed and said it was fine, but I felt like an idiot! 2. While putting my shoes on after a lesson at a member’s home I leaned up against the door to pull up the zipper on my boots and completely fell over, yep, stupid again. The door was not all the way closed and so opened when I leaned on it and I fell into the proezd. No we just laughed, the member thought I was crazy and we moved on. It’s always good to have things to laugh about while on the mission.
This Sunday in church I played the piano, hoping to lure Valentina to our Sacrament meeting. Although she was unable to come the song went well and the members really enjoyed the song so all in all it was good. We had a good lesson with my investigator Natalya this week about faith. We were able to watch the Testaments and then talk about how a faith in Christ is so important. WE also talked about the importance of the Book of Mormon and reading it everyday. I love her so much and would do anything for her!!! This week we didn’t have a lesson with Valentina but we talked to her many times as usual. She had given us some DELICIOUS apple jam and we finished the bottle. I returned the bottle and she just gave me an admiring look and said, Good job Morris. She then came back with 2 bottles of jam. Oh she is a funny one!
I think today will be my first Russian haricut which should be interesting. My hair is so long now I need to get it cut! Other than that things are well. The Church is true. I loved being able to hear conference and feel of the strength from each of the apostles. Each one gave such an inspired and amazing talk and I am thankful for prophets who are able to know what our world needs. Thanks for the love and support! Love you all!
Whitney
Monday, November 9, 2009
One Cycle Down
HELLO friends and family!
Thankyou all again for your wonderful emails! The best part of p-day is getting mail and getting to hear from the “outside world” for a little bit. I have to mention to Jill that I find it interesting your cake didn’t work yet the brownies you sent me were amazing! What happened? Just think though, you still have 14 months to improve your cooking skills and cook me an amazing dinner when I get back. I loved hearing about Octoberfest and about mom’s fun trip to Virginia. HOLY COW Eva is HUGE! What happened! Dad thanks for your updates on the Idaho Outdoors. I do really miss those adventures. And Taylor all I can say to you is good job. Freedom is totally worth the price. Good luck with basketball tryouts this week, I know you we will be great and I hope that you have a coach;) SARA that is so exciting about your move to Las Vegas. That does mean that we will be very close to each other HUZZAH! And I’m sure mom is really glad that airfare is really cheap to Las vegas (and dad). Devin thanks for the poem. That is EXACTLY how I”ve been feeling this week.
This week has been good, a little colder and a little harder but good nonetheless. We’ve had some interesting experiences (meeting old grandpa’s while tracting) and some really good experiences. We had District conference on Sunday and so we were able to be together with all of the Saints in Saratov and with President Bennett. It was great to be with everyone and to see how the church is growing in Saratov. Our investigator Natalya was able to attend and I think she enjoyed the conference. It also was the end of a cycle!!! Hole cow! I’ve made it in Russia one whole cycle, hurrah! Think at the end of next cycle I’ll be on my first Visa trip, crazy. It looks like I will be staying in Oktabrasky with my mini-missionary Sis. Semikolenova. She is great and we have had fun serving together. I am just so impressed with her dedication to serve the Lord, she already served a mission and here she is on the cold Russian streets, getting yelled at, sworn at etc., all voluntarily. Wow! Because it is the end of the cycle and because we had district conference it means president and sister Bennett were in town this week. Sister Bennett unexpectedly dropped in the other morning for cleaning checks and we had an interview with president Bennett. It was great to be able to feel of their strength and get reenergized for the next cycle.
This week we met a lot of great people but I specifically wanted to mention a few. We met a young girl from Kenya the other week who wanted a Book of Mormon in English. She is going to school here and speaks English as her first language. We finally got a copy of an English Book of mormon and were able to deliver it this week. She lives in a dorm type place and so we waited for about 30 minutes for some girls to go up and get her because we couldn’t go up there. The wait was totally worth it though because she returned with about 5 of her friends who were also interested in the gospel. We had a great conversation with them and they asked the best question an investigator can ask, “how do you know the book is true”. AWESOME! In that situation all I could do was bear my testimony and challenge them to read it and find out for themselves. It was a great experience! I think they speak French with each other and so they were speaking in that and so I didn’t understand everything that was going on (devin, I needed you) but it was a great meeting and we are excited to meet with them again.
Here are some pictures from the week of my companion and I when we imagined going out in the cold! But in the cold is where people are! Thanks for all of your love and support. The church is true! Help the missionaries (are you sick of hearing that one yet). This week we had a wonderful member go out with us, after a long day of work, on the streets contacting. She was actually with us when we went and visited our Kenyan friends and was such a support and so sweet. The members here are amazing. She is at least 50 but was willing to give of her time, energy, support etc to help the missionaries. When we met her at our spot at 5 she simply said, “I’m yours tonight”. How cool is that. She was truly an instrument in the hands of the Lord and was willing to help out the missionaries on a cold winter night for 4 hours!!! WOW!!! Have a good week, eat some borscht (it’s delicious), drink some tea and think of me. Love you all!
Sister Morris
Thankyou all again for your wonderful emails! The best part of p-day is getting mail and getting to hear from the “outside world” for a little bit. I have to mention to Jill that I find it interesting your cake didn’t work yet the brownies you sent me were amazing! What happened? Just think though, you still have 14 months to improve your cooking skills and cook me an amazing dinner when I get back. I loved hearing about Octoberfest and about mom’s fun trip to Virginia. HOLY COW Eva is HUGE! What happened! Dad thanks for your updates on the Idaho Outdoors. I do really miss those adventures. And Taylor all I can say to you is good job. Freedom is totally worth the price. Good luck with basketball tryouts this week, I know you we will be great and I hope that you have a coach;) SARA that is so exciting about your move to Las Vegas. That does mean that we will be very close to each other HUZZAH! And I’m sure mom is really glad that airfare is really cheap to Las vegas (and dad). Devin thanks for the poem. That is EXACTLY how I”ve been feeling this week.
This week has been good, a little colder and a little harder but good nonetheless. We’ve had some interesting experiences (meeting old grandpa’s while tracting) and some really good experiences. We had District conference on Sunday and so we were able to be together with all of the Saints in Saratov and with President Bennett. It was great to be with everyone and to see how the church is growing in Saratov. Our investigator Natalya was able to attend and I think she enjoyed the conference. It also was the end of a cycle!!! Hole cow! I’ve made it in Russia one whole cycle, hurrah! Think at the end of next cycle I’ll be on my first Visa trip, crazy. It looks like I will be staying in Oktabrasky with my mini-missionary Sis. Semikolenova. She is great and we have had fun serving together. I am just so impressed with her dedication to serve the Lord, she already served a mission and here she is on the cold Russian streets, getting yelled at, sworn at etc., all voluntarily. Wow! Because it is the end of the cycle and because we had district conference it means president and sister Bennett were in town this week. Sister Bennett unexpectedly dropped in the other morning for cleaning checks and we had an interview with president Bennett. It was great to be able to feel of their strength and get reenergized for the next cycle.
This week we met a lot of great people but I specifically wanted to mention a few. We met a young girl from Kenya the other week who wanted a Book of Mormon in English. She is going to school here and speaks English as her first language. We finally got a copy of an English Book of mormon and were able to deliver it this week. She lives in a dorm type place and so we waited for about 30 minutes for some girls to go up and get her because we couldn’t go up there. The wait was totally worth it though because she returned with about 5 of her friends who were also interested in the gospel. We had a great conversation with them and they asked the best question an investigator can ask, “how do you know the book is true”. AWESOME! In that situation all I could do was bear my testimony and challenge them to read it and find out for themselves. It was a great experience! I think they speak French with each other and so they were speaking in that and so I didn’t understand everything that was going on (devin, I needed you) but it was a great meeting and we are excited to meet with them again.
Here are some pictures from the week of my companion and I when we imagined going out in the cold! But in the cold is where people are! Thanks for all of your love and support. The church is true! Help the missionaries (are you sick of hearing that one yet). This week we had a wonderful member go out with us, after a long day of work, on the streets contacting. She was actually with us when we went and visited our Kenyan friends and was such a support and so sweet. The members here are amazing. She is at least 50 but was willing to give of her time, energy, support etc to help the missionaries. When we met her at our spot at 5 she simply said, “I’m yours tonight”. How cool is that. She was truly an instrument in the hands of the Lord and was willing to help out the missionaries on a cold winter night for 4 hours!!! WOW!!! Have a good week, eat some borscht (it’s delicious), drink some tea and think of me. Love you all!
Sister Morris
Monday, November 2, 2009
A Month in Russia!
Dear Mom, Dad, and Family,
Thanks again for all your emails. I have loved hearing about what’s going on and what you have all been up to. So good to hear about AMI! CONGRATULATIONS! And Congratulations Conrad. This week has been really good. I can’t believe that I have been in Russia one month!!!! I made it!!! Can you believe it? It seems really weird that I can say I made it a month in Russia, hopefully I’ll be able to make it…a few more;) It is definitely getting colder and occasionally you look outside and see small flakes of snow falling, I am just waiting to wake up to a white wonderland but if that is the case, we will be okay. Sis Pike did leave this week but fortunately I have a great new companion. Her name is Sis. Semikolenova and she served a mission on temple square. I don’t know how long she will be with me but it has been fun to have a native Russian companion. She has also cooked me some yummy Russian food and so that has been fun. Mom you will be very surprised and happy to know that I eat tomoatoes every day and love them! Ha, who would have thought. It just amazes me that someone, who already served a mission, would agree to come out and serve again, in the cold, etc. etc. etc. It shows the strength of the Russian members and their desire to serve the Lord. Cool. Well this week has been pretty uneventful. We have walked A LOT and been to some interesting places, including our fun little village up in the mountains of Saratov (and dad it does change color, but is changing everyday to more bare and gray).
Monday was P-day and we picked up my new companion. We then did our grocery shopping and headed home for the day. I made onion soup (thanks mom) and apple cobbler. It was pretty fun to think that on Monday night you were all eating onion soup too for Octoberfest We then went out contacting. Tuesday night we had a really great lesson with our investigator Natalya, who I am in love with! She is progressing so well and we are so excited to see how she is doing! We had a lesson with Valentina (our landlady) on Monday night and read from the Book of Mormon with her and it went really well. We had tea and cookies and ate the apple crisp I had made (she loved it!) She then came into our apartment and started doing our dishes, what? She is so funny! She has to know everything we are doing and how we do it and help us do it… I love her. Because we were in a threesome for a few days we had to put our mattresses on the floor and all stay in one room. In the morning we were running a little late and so were not able to put the mattresses away before we went out. When we got back in we were making breakfast and all we heard from the other room was “PIKE”. (Valentina loves to say “PIKE”) She was so mad at us for having the room in such a mess, as she said “our beds weren’t even made”. Needless to say we apologized, cleaned up and had her come over to check again. She luckily said that everything looked good, gave us hugs and kisses and said “I don’t know why I didn’t yell at you, I must love you or something.” Love her.
Fortunately I have not gotten spit on or anything this week so that is good. My boots are working well and I inherited Sis. Pike’s awesome winter coat so at least I’m warm in the cold weather. I have to give a shout out to Kubo for the line “It’s okay I’m rich”. I never knew that I’d say it in Russia, but I did. We were on a lesson with a really really cute member of our ward who is about 20, Rita. She is awesome and so sweet and nice to come with us when we need her. We were getting on the Marshutka to go out to a different area which was pretty far away and we were getting out our money to pay. Because she was coming with us we decided we should pay for her ticket there and so as I got out my money and she got out hers I just said, “it’s okay, I’m rich.” Good times. We laughed pretty hard.
So not much else to report which I guess is a good thing. The church is true, missionary work is HARD but really good. Help the missionaries in your area (you’re definitely going to sick of hearing that) and go to the temple. I miss being able to go to the temple but look forward to going when I am back lots (that means you Jill, Katie, etc.). I love you all and hope you have a fantastic week! thanks for the love and support! you are all awesome! Love,
Whitney
Thanks again for all your emails. I have loved hearing about what’s going on and what you have all been up to. So good to hear about AMI! CONGRATULATIONS! And Congratulations Conrad. This week has been really good. I can’t believe that I have been in Russia one month!!!! I made it!!! Can you believe it? It seems really weird that I can say I made it a month in Russia, hopefully I’ll be able to make it…a few more;) It is definitely getting colder and occasionally you look outside and see small flakes of snow falling, I am just waiting to wake up to a white wonderland but if that is the case, we will be okay. Sis Pike did leave this week but fortunately I have a great new companion. Her name is Sis. Semikolenova and she served a mission on temple square. I don’t know how long she will be with me but it has been fun to have a native Russian companion. She has also cooked me some yummy Russian food and so that has been fun. Mom you will be very surprised and happy to know that I eat tomoatoes every day and love them! Ha, who would have thought. It just amazes me that someone, who already served a mission, would agree to come out and serve again, in the cold, etc. etc. etc. It shows the strength of the Russian members and their desire to serve the Lord. Cool. Well this week has been pretty uneventful. We have walked A LOT and been to some interesting places, including our fun little village up in the mountains of Saratov (and dad it does change color, but is changing everyday to more bare and gray).
Monday was P-day and we picked up my new companion. We then did our grocery shopping and headed home for the day. I made onion soup (thanks mom) and apple cobbler. It was pretty fun to think that on Monday night you were all eating onion soup too for Octoberfest We then went out contacting. Tuesday night we had a really great lesson with our investigator Natalya, who I am in love with! She is progressing so well and we are so excited to see how she is doing! We had a lesson with Valentina (our landlady) on Monday night and read from the Book of Mormon with her and it went really well. We had tea and cookies and ate the apple crisp I had made (she loved it!) She then came into our apartment and started doing our dishes, what? She is so funny! She has to know everything we are doing and how we do it and help us do it… I love her. Because we were in a threesome for a few days we had to put our mattresses on the floor and all stay in one room. In the morning we were running a little late and so were not able to put the mattresses away before we went out. When we got back in we were making breakfast and all we heard from the other room was “PIKE”. (Valentina loves to say “PIKE”) She was so mad at us for having the room in such a mess, as she said “our beds weren’t even made”. Needless to say we apologized, cleaned up and had her come over to check again. She luckily said that everything looked good, gave us hugs and kisses and said “I don’t know why I didn’t yell at you, I must love you or something.” Love her.
Fortunately I have not gotten spit on or anything this week so that is good. My boots are working well and I inherited Sis. Pike’s awesome winter coat so at least I’m warm in the cold weather. I have to give a shout out to Kubo for the line “It’s okay I’m rich”. I never knew that I’d say it in Russia, but I did. We were on a lesson with a really really cute member of our ward who is about 20, Rita. She is awesome and so sweet and nice to come with us when we need her. We were getting on the Marshutka to go out to a different area which was pretty far away and we were getting out our money to pay. Because she was coming with us we decided we should pay for her ticket there and so as I got out my money and she got out hers I just said, “it’s okay, I’m rich.” Good times. We laughed pretty hard.
So not much else to report which I guess is a good thing. The church is true, missionary work is HARD but really good. Help the missionaries in your area (you’re definitely going to sick of hearing that) and go to the temple. I miss being able to go to the temple but look forward to going when I am back lots (that means you Jill, Katie, etc.). I love you all and hope you have a fantastic week! thanks for the love and support! you are all awesome! Love,
Whitney
Monday, October 26, 2009
It's COLD!!!
Dear Mom and Dad ;)
Hello! Greetings from a COLD Russia! The last couple days have been cold here in Russia but it is exciting to see all the winter clothes being brought out. First things first: Sis. Pike is still my companion! YEA! Wednesday after she had all packed and we were about to go to bed, the AP called and told her she would be staying in Oktabrasky for a few more days after the conference. It was such great news to us because our investigators had been doing so well and so Thursday we headed off to the Conference and then she came back with me. We will pick up our mini missionary today in about an hour and then be in a threesome until Sis. Pike leaves maybe Wednesday or Thursday, we're still not sure. BUT all in all she is still here and we have had a GREAT week!
Thanks for everyone's emails, especially dad. It was awesome! So I'm not sure if I should start with the sprititual stuff or the boring everday stuff. I think I will start with the boring and end with the good spiritual stuff!
This week was pretty normal as far as missionary standards go. We had some great lessons with our investigators and had a really fun lesson with a less inactive lady we have been working with in our ward. I remember I told you about Luba (the opera singer in our ward) last week, but this week we took Luba and her boyfriend Artur (who was baptized about a month ago and is also an opera singer here). We had a great time singing hyms for the member and inviting her to come to church. She felt so special to have Artur and Luba there and as we were leaving Artur told her she could get her some tickets to the Philharmonic here if she would like to go (she's in her 70's and doesn't ever leave her house). Oh I wish everyone could have seen her cute face! She felt on top of the world to have a handsome young opera singer invite her to the philharmonic. The face was fleeting as she turned back into her normal self and said, 'hmph... I don't know.' It was awesome! I love missionary work!
We have continue working with Valentina and she continues to be as funny as ever. Just the other day we were at her house and had tea, afterwards we were doing the dishes for her. She then came into our house and did our dishes! What do we do with her! She also shared her 'big secret' for the week with us. She loves to know how we do things and what types of things we cook etc. Sis. Pike told her that in America we don't iron very many things. She asked if we ironed our sheets and we said 'NO!' She seemed a little apalled but a couple days later she told Sis. Pike very quietly, that very morning she had put her sheets on the bed, and didn't even iron them! Oh sweet freedom! I LOVE THE PEOPLE HERE!
Here we have many mnay people who are willing to be our mom's. Yesterday the weather was terrible. There were winds that were worse than Rexburg winds, cold cold cold pouring rain and just cold weather. By the time Sis. Pike and I got to church in a different area (Our investigator Natalya was going to church!!!!) Her boots were completely and totally soaked and she had to take them off. She took them off and her socks were all wet, she turned to me and said 'some babyshkas are going to get MAD at me and sure enough...our investogator saw, and being the mother she is,
made her take off the socks, put on some boots that were just lying around the church and, best part, hung her socks in front of the oven, on a broom, with the oven on all during church so her socks would dry out. She was so cute and worried about us being cold she gave us her pair of gloves (I had left my little mittens somewhere in Samara, whoops:() As we headed out she then wrapped Sis. Pike's feet in plastic bags and then had her put on her boots etc. The people here are so nice and loving and they just want to take care of you! It was great!
We had a lesson with her later that night and took a member of the church who is awesome. Renant was recently baptized and is our Branch Mission Leader. He is about 19 and studying here in Samara. I love seeing the dedication of these members here in Russia. They are so willing to go on lessons and help out with missionary work they really are an example for us and how we should be. Natalya LOVES Renant and so we had a good lesson talking about the tree of life etc. I love her and am so excited to continue working with her and see her progress. She went to church the first time this week and it was so fun to see her take the sacrament. I had to play the piano and so I watched as it got to her and she just winked at me and I just thought, this is why I'm here! The Gospel has just a powerful influence in people's lives and can change them! Oh it is so cool to be a part of this work! I am so grateful for the opportuinity to serve these people! I learn more from them about life etc. than I'm sure they learn from me about the Gospel but it so so cool to see the change that takes place and to see their love for this Gospel grow!
One last funny story! One day Sis. Pike and I had not had very much success at all! No one wanted to talk to us, it was cold, it was a little overcast and we were tired. Sis. Pike had just dropped her favorite earring off the balcony and so we were searching for it below in the bushes. There was a guy on his balcony smoking above us and as we were looking I felt something hit my head. I felt my head and sure enough, he had spit on me... awesome. Now I know he wasn't trying to, I think he just didn't realize we were down there but I just thought to myself...missionary work is awesome, I just got spit on and no one will talk to us. That is like the summary of a bad day in missionary work. I didn't want to complain and I knew that Sis. Pike was having a bad day too (her earring had broken) so I didn't want to complain and so I didn't say anything until last night. When I told her the story we both just laughed really hard for a few minutes and said I guess that's why its okay to have hard days, you get to laugh about them later.
Ok... time for the spiritual part. We had the conference with Elder Nelson this week and it was amazing. We were able to hear from President Schweitzer and his wife and Elder Nelson. We were also able to shake his hand and that was cool! I shook the hand of an apostle! YEA! He was so powerful and the spirit was so strong in that conference. We were able to sing Called to Serve and it was so neat to sing with all of us missionaries and an apostle, what we are doing here! While he was speaking I knew that this was WHERE I'm supposed to be and WHEN i'm supposed to be here. It is such a short time in the eternal perspective to give to the Lord. A year and a half and I'll be back home doing 'normal' things but right now I get to do AMAZING things. I get to talk about things that you can't talk about normally, I get to meet people and talk about their family with them, I get to testify about Jospeh Smith and the Book of Mormon on a regular basis and it is so cool! This truly is a once in a lifetime experience and I get to do it. I think my favorite thing that I learned from Elder Nelson was an answer to the question 'why me?' Why a 19/21 year old? His answer was simply, the Lord has always chosen the unlikely. Look at history. He gave the example of picking the army and the narrowed it down to 300 men judging by how they drunk the water (thanks dad! Those Old Testament FHE;s really payed off, I remembered that story!) Look at Joseph Smith. Look at Nephi. Look at Moses, David and Goliath, Abinadi, etc. We will always be in the minority but as long as we are on the Lord's side we will win. It was so cool to hear an apostle testify that it is the unikely, the people who can't speak Russian, the people who don't know what every scripture says (missionaries) that the Lord can bring about his grand purposes and bring about a great and marvelous work. He also talked a lot about finding common ground with those you talk to. He told the story of President Hinckly meeting Gorbachov(sp.) and asking if he saw the wood paneling in the room. He then explained that it was some type of walnut and it was actually the walnut from where Gorbachov grew up (I can't remember the name of the wood) but it is important to be smart and to talk to people about what they like, do etc. He also talked about the importance of questions and like a doctor asking the question 'where does it hurt?' Find out how the Gospel can heal them and teach that principle. Overall it was a great conference and I learned a lot about being a missionary and it got me excited to keep serving and doing this work. It is a great work! This is where I need to be and I'm doing what I need to.
Well time is up but I love you all! Thanks for the letters, the recipes, and all the love and support. You are all amazing! Do MISSIONARY work! Go out with the missionaries, invite them to teach in your homes, talk to their investigator's at church. The church is true, I know it! It will be exciting to work with my new companion and although it is sad to say goodbye to Sis. Pike she has served a great mission and is a fantastic missionary. I am so grateful for her example of how to make a mission fun. You don't have to be serious and intense with your investigator's. Love them, show them love and find out 'where it hurts' for them. That is the way to do missionary work!
Have a good week! Love,
Whitney
Hello! Greetings from a COLD Russia! The last couple days have been cold here in Russia but it is exciting to see all the winter clothes being brought out. First things first: Sis. Pike is still my companion! YEA! Wednesday after she had all packed and we were about to go to bed, the AP called and told her she would be staying in Oktabrasky for a few more days after the conference. It was such great news to us because our investigators had been doing so well and so Thursday we headed off to the Conference and then she came back with me. We will pick up our mini missionary today in about an hour and then be in a threesome until Sis. Pike leaves maybe Wednesday or Thursday, we're still not sure. BUT all in all she is still here and we have had a GREAT week!
Thanks for everyone's emails, especially dad. It was awesome! So I'm not sure if I should start with the sprititual stuff or the boring everday stuff. I think I will start with the boring and end with the good spiritual stuff!
This week was pretty normal as far as missionary standards go. We had some great lessons with our investigators and had a really fun lesson with a less inactive lady we have been working with in our ward. I remember I told you about Luba (the opera singer in our ward) last week, but this week we took Luba and her boyfriend Artur (who was baptized about a month ago and is also an opera singer here). We had a great time singing hyms for the member and inviting her to come to church. She felt so special to have Artur and Luba there and as we were leaving Artur told her she could get her some tickets to the Philharmonic here if she would like to go (she's in her 70's and doesn't ever leave her house). Oh I wish everyone could have seen her cute face! She felt on top of the world to have a handsome young opera singer invite her to the philharmonic. The face was fleeting as she turned back into her normal self and said, 'hmph... I don't know.' It was awesome! I love missionary work!
We have continue working with Valentina and she continues to be as funny as ever. Just the other day we were at her house and had tea, afterwards we were doing the dishes for her. She then came into our house and did our dishes! What do we do with her! She also shared her 'big secret' for the week with us. She loves to know how we do things and what types of things we cook etc. Sis. Pike told her that in America we don't iron very many things. She asked if we ironed our sheets and we said 'NO!' She seemed a little apalled but a couple days later she told Sis. Pike very quietly, that very morning she had put her sheets on the bed, and didn't even iron them! Oh sweet freedom! I LOVE THE PEOPLE HERE!
Here we have many mnay people who are willing to be our mom's. Yesterday the weather was terrible. There were winds that were worse than Rexburg winds, cold cold cold pouring rain and just cold weather. By the time Sis. Pike and I got to church in a different area (Our investigator Natalya was going to church!!!!) Her boots were completely and totally soaked and she had to take them off. She took them off and her socks were all wet, she turned to me and said 'some babyshkas are going to get MAD at me and sure enough...our investogator saw, and being the mother she is,
made her take off the socks, put on some boots that were just lying around the church and, best part, hung her socks in front of the oven, on a broom, with the oven on all during church so her socks would dry out. She was so cute and worried about us being cold she gave us her pair of gloves (I had left my little mittens somewhere in Samara, whoops:() As we headed out she then wrapped Sis. Pike's feet in plastic bags and then had her put on her boots etc. The people here are so nice and loving and they just want to take care of you! It was great!
We had a lesson with her later that night and took a member of the church who is awesome. Renant was recently baptized and is our Branch Mission Leader. He is about 19 and studying here in Samara. I love seeing the dedication of these members here in Russia. They are so willing to go on lessons and help out with missionary work they really are an example for us and how we should be. Natalya LOVES Renant and so we had a good lesson talking about the tree of life etc. I love her and am so excited to continue working with her and see her progress. She went to church the first time this week and it was so fun to see her take the sacrament. I had to play the piano and so I watched as it got to her and she just winked at me and I just thought, this is why I'm here! The Gospel has just a powerful influence in people's lives and can change them! Oh it is so cool to be a part of this work! I am so grateful for the opportuinity to serve these people! I learn more from them about life etc. than I'm sure they learn from me about the Gospel but it so so cool to see the change that takes place and to see their love for this Gospel grow!
One last funny story! One day Sis. Pike and I had not had very much success at all! No one wanted to talk to us, it was cold, it was a little overcast and we were tired. Sis. Pike had just dropped her favorite earring off the balcony and so we were searching for it below in the bushes. There was a guy on his balcony smoking above us and as we were looking I felt something hit my head. I felt my head and sure enough, he had spit on me... awesome. Now I know he wasn't trying to, I think he just didn't realize we were down there but I just thought to myself...missionary work is awesome, I just got spit on and no one will talk to us. That is like the summary of a bad day in missionary work. I didn't want to complain and I knew that Sis. Pike was having a bad day too (her earring had broken) so I didn't want to complain and so I didn't say anything until last night. When I told her the story we both just laughed really hard for a few minutes and said I guess that's why its okay to have hard days, you get to laugh about them later.
Ok... time for the spiritual part. We had the conference with Elder Nelson this week and it was amazing. We were able to hear from President Schweitzer and his wife and Elder Nelson. We were also able to shake his hand and that was cool! I shook the hand of an apostle! YEA! He was so powerful and the spirit was so strong in that conference. We were able to sing Called to Serve and it was so neat to sing with all of us missionaries and an apostle, what we are doing here! While he was speaking I knew that this was WHERE I'm supposed to be and WHEN i'm supposed to be here. It is such a short time in the eternal perspective to give to the Lord. A year and a half and I'll be back home doing 'normal' things but right now I get to do AMAZING things. I get to talk about things that you can't talk about normally, I get to meet people and talk about their family with them, I get to testify about Jospeh Smith and the Book of Mormon on a regular basis and it is so cool! This truly is a once in a lifetime experience and I get to do it. I think my favorite thing that I learned from Elder Nelson was an answer to the question 'why me?' Why a 19/21 year old? His answer was simply, the Lord has always chosen the unlikely. Look at history. He gave the example of picking the army and the narrowed it down to 300 men judging by how they drunk the water (thanks dad! Those Old Testament FHE;s really payed off, I remembered that story!) Look at Joseph Smith. Look at Nephi. Look at Moses, David and Goliath, Abinadi, etc. We will always be in the minority but as long as we are on the Lord's side we will win. It was so cool to hear an apostle testify that it is the unikely, the people who can't speak Russian, the people who don't know what every scripture says (missionaries) that the Lord can bring about his grand purposes and bring about a great and marvelous work. He also talked a lot about finding common ground with those you talk to. He told the story of President Hinckly meeting Gorbachov(sp.) and asking if he saw the wood paneling in the room. He then explained that it was some type of walnut and it was actually the walnut from where Gorbachov grew up (I can't remember the name of the wood) but it is important to be smart and to talk to people about what they like, do etc. He also talked about the importance of questions and like a doctor asking the question 'where does it hurt?' Find out how the Gospel can heal them and teach that principle. Overall it was a great conference and I learned a lot about being a missionary and it got me excited to keep serving and doing this work. It is a great work! This is where I need to be and I'm doing what I need to.
Well time is up but I love you all! Thanks for the letters, the recipes, and all the love and support. You are all amazing! Do MISSIONARY work! Go out with the missionaries, invite them to teach in your homes, talk to their investigator's at church. The church is true, I know it! It will be exciting to work with my new companion and although it is sad to say goodbye to Sis. Pike she has served a great mission and is a fantastic missionary. I am so grateful for her example of how to make a mission fun. You don't have to be serious and intense with your investigator's. Love them, show them love and find out 'where it hurts' for them. That is the way to do missionary work!
Have a good week! Love,
Whitney
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