Spring Has FINALLY Sprung

Friends and Family!
Welll as predicted we have started to SWIM here in Saratov but I personally feel that it is better than freezing in random people's podezd's as we gather strength and courage to face the wind and cold again:) Anyone who has served in Russia can appreciate the confused looks on people's faces when they walk down their stairwells and see two young-adults with tags standing in their stairwells bouncing up and down to try and warm up their feet;) BUT it's ALL worth it. It has been another great week in "missionary-world" or as Elder Holland says "the real world" and this mission is continuing to see miracle after miracle!!! It truly is a great time to be serving in the Russia Samara Mission.
Monday and Tuesday this week we were in Samara and then Wednesday the all-entertaining and fun VISA Trip. This time we again flew to Lithuania and had a great 30 minute lay-over, got on the same plane we had come on to go back to Russia. It really is fun to get back onto the same plane and see all the stewardesses faces as they see us again and wonder why a group of young-adults decided to take a 30 minute "vacation" to Lithuania but everything went well and we all made it back safely into Russia without any jail time or harassment.
Thursday we had interviews with President Bennett and I got to meet the new mission couple who will be serving in the office. The Templeton's! They are SO cute and I am so excited to get to know them better and to have them as a part of this mission. On the way to the office (about an hour bus ride) i got an awesome tour of downtown historic Samara from the lady I was sitting next to on the bus. She pointed out all of the main building, statues and what they were etc. It was so great to be able to talk to her and to know more about Samara and just Russians in general. She worked at the Police Station and she knew a lot about the history behind the buildings and the statues.
Friday I had the AMAZING privilege to ride back to Saratov with Sister and President Bennett and the mission drive, ROMAN. It was so great to be able to talk to Sister Bennett the whole ride down (less than 5 hours with Roman-- 7 in a bus;) We got to talk a lot about the mission and how a mission really changes who are you and more importantly who you will BECOME. It was so fun to be able to talk to her and I defintely felt very blessed to have that once-in-a-mission opportunity. I then returned to my area with Sister Stolyarova which was great. It was so nice to be back "home" and to start working normal again.
We had a good weekend and on Sunday it was District Conference. The meeting was fantastic and we were able to have an investigator there so it was really cool. I love to hear Presdient Bennett speak and the members just love him. It truly is amazing what he has done for this mission and how our mission has changed. We really are experiencing SO MUCH success here and it's thanks to him and his hard work (and of course the Lord). We had a good lesson with Natalya and Irina Ukrainskaya Sunday night. Overall it was a good week and we are looking forward to another good week this week. The time really is starting to go faster and that SCARES me to death. My companion goes home at the end of this cycle and then we'll see who gets to come "kick" it with me in Oktabrasky (the best area in the mission).
The highlight of the week was definitely our RUBBER BOOTS. We bought some really cheap rubber boots this week and Sunday night was the first night warm enough to wear them and it was fantastic. WE walked right through the middle of all of the puddles, just like when we were little, and I have to say I felt a little rebellious again. It was really fun and it just reminds me to take advantage of the little things. The little things in life are so important and really bring us the greatest joy. So this week (of course I have to have a committment in every email;) LOOK for the little things that bring JOY. Maybe its rubber boots, maybe it's the looks on people's faces in their stairwells and maybe it's just the little buds that are popping out of the ground. Heavenly Father loves us and gives us so much everyday if only we will look. I love you and hope everyone has a FATASTIC week! Stay dry and share the Gospel.
Sister Morris