Week 92: за трудностями идут благословения

We had a great week! We began teaching some various people that I'm really excited about! We had some really cool experiences with them! This was a big learning week and I feel like I learned a very valuable life lesson! I hope that I can fit everything that happened and all meaning here into this letter.

The People! 

We had yet another lesson with Alexander. We've kinda hit a stumbling block with him and his progress but this was a really great lesson. He's searching for evidence that the Book of Mormon is true but not putting in the time to read and study it. We tried to help him understand that the study and pondering with prayer is the best way for him to receive an answer. It was great that we had Dima on the lesson who had a similar experience and was able to share his testimony with Alexander. By the end of the lesson Alexander explained how he saw that faith is what will lead to knowledge rather than just searching for evidence or answers to questions like which tribe of Native Americans are descendants of the Lamanites. We are hoping that this lesson helped him a lot and that he's begun to deeper read and study.

The way that our week was laid out we had a couple of lessons each day and then a whole lot on Saturday and a whole lot for the following week. We stayed so busy on saturday and it's exciting that we will be doing even more teaching this week! 

This week we wanted to try and find more using Facebook and try to better incorporate all our tools. And I want to add my testimony to the fact that it's not so important which tools we are using as it is that we have many tools and are utilizing all of them to find and teach! I've seen as we've tried our best with the time we've set aside with each tool we've been able to find and teach many! This week using Facebook we found a wonderful brother named Atos. He was someone I had friended a time ago but had never messaged and as I was searching my friends list and felt inspired to write him. He was one of a few we had time to message that day. He has great faith in Jesus Christ and tries to help others know more about him on his Facebook page. We shared with him the Book of Mormon and sent it through the mail! He also asked if we would make a video that he could post on his page! And so we sent a little 5 min spiritual thought that he posted on his page! We continue to teach him and have a second lesson scheduled on Thursday. Miracles!! 

We began teaching a man named Lee. His native language is Chinese but he speaks good English. I enjoy teaching simply. Especially when it is your only option. In all honesty we should teach simply each and every time. That's how revelation is received simply and clearly. And I personally feel that the Holy Ghost can powerfully testify to those we teach as we expound upon simple truths. It was a really great lesson and it went ideally. I love when a lesson goes like that when there is a conversation they feel free to ask questions and clarify their understanding and he is really interested in knowing more! We are excited for the second lesson we will have this week. 

Also we finally had a second lesson with Ivan! He's the man that Sister Feldman and her companion found in Oregon that doesn't speak much English so we've been talking with him. We invited brother Nikolai on the lesson and it was pretty good! They hit it off and Ivan had about a bajillion questions!! Haha we are hoping he'll start reading and finding answers to his questions. It's crazy how we are teaching someone who lives in America to me. But hey that's missionary work nowadays!! We are grateful!!

Zone Conference!!!

This week we had a really good Zone Conference all via Zoom. Each missionary shared thoughts about the 3rd line from our mission motto, "Consecration is the Price" 

I've been in Kharkiv since we started having these as the topic of our Zone Conference and it's amazing to see how we all put in the time to ponder and study and as we all come together we share what we've learned and I feel like each and every time I learn so many new things. I really enjoyed our discussion and the strong spirit that I felt. 

Elders Quorum

I was inspired and uplifted from our Elders Quorum meeting on Sunday. I loved what was shared about the unique blessings of having a group of brethren who are taking care of one another. I truly love all these missionaries that I serve around. I'm grateful for their faithfulness, their examples, their testimonies that they willfully share. As we discussed as a Quorum I felt the spirit strongly and it was a pick up and up lift in my spirits.

Family History!

This week we spent about an hour a couple of the days doing some Family History work! This was really great. I've gained a testimony of its importance. Just like everyone on the earth needs the ordinances of the Restored Gospel all those that have lived on the earth need them too! And we are the only way they'll be able to receive them. We can't just shirk our responsibility and say, "My (insert relative here) does so much family history work and there isn't really much for me to do." There is plenty of work for all of us. I found more relatives this week that I have in all the other hours of my life that I've spent doing family history! The spirit was really guiding me and I felt the importance of that work! 

I had the opportunity to speak on Sunday in Sacrament meeting and that was really great!! I felt that the talk went well and it always seems like a great opportunity to help the branch know you better.

We had a couple of exchanges as well online that went well!! Honestly that's about the jist of it! Hope you're all doing amazing!!!

Spiritual Thought 

I want to share a scripture my advice to all of you!

Advice: listen to this talk I attached!!! Please!!! It'll change your life

Scripture: 2 Cor. 4:17 For our light affliction, which is but for a moment, worketh for us a far more exceeding and eternal weight of glory;

Elder Halls

Kharkiv has literally the coolest parks wow

We make our phone calls from benches in the park now!

Here's my personal favorite section of the store 

This is what happens when someone doesn't answer the video call