Hello Family!
Another week come and gone and I'm here with a new
companion. Sister Chang
is awesome! She's nearly done with her mission which
means she gets to
teach me how to be the most effective missionary I can be.
She's the bomb
at Russian and is even making me learn our purpose and D&C
4 in Russian. I
may come back being able to speak both Ukrainian and Russian.
She's from
Taiwan and has been telling me about life there. Apparently there
is more
food readily available. That would be what she tells me, the girl
loves to
eat!
It's been kind of weird without Sister Moore, always is
when you first
switch. There's like this panic stage when you realize you're
with someone
new and they don't know your area, only you do, and you feel
totally lost
without your former companion. Then you quickly realize how
awesome of a
missionary you really are and how much you do know. It's an
interesting
phenomenon.
The change in the missionary age has been the
talk of the mission, and of
the International Branch. One thing I've noticed
while serving here, if you
want to know what's going on...ask the Americans
that live here! My
district leader called me Saturday night and asked me if
I'm ready to train
a 19 year old at the end of my mission. (We won't actually
watch conference
until this next week)
Life in Ukraine is awesome,
especially when you have a companion who
understands everything, it's been
really weird because my last two
companions and I were all on the same
language level.
I don't really know what else to say except for I love
you all! Have a
great week!
Love,
Sister Daniel
Thursday, October 18, 2012
An influx of revelation (aka General Conference) E-mail October 15, 2012
Hello Family!!
Well, it's been another week here in Ukraine and while it's fall for you mom, we're definitely on our way to winter here. Or what American winter would be at least! Don't worry, I'm staying warm, the heat finally came on so we're staying rather toasty in our apartment. Ukraine has an interesting heating system. Basically it is hot water running through the pipes. It's actually really effective.
We had the opportunity to watch General Conference here this weekend. It was awesome! We watched the Saturday and Sunday afternoon sessions with the International Branch so we got to see them in English, and then Sister Chang and I decided to watch the Sunday Morning session with our local ward. They played it in Russian, so I'll probably watch it again at some point, or wait for the Liahona to show up...in December. One thing I thought was really interesting during conference was the music, just some interesting arrangements, and selections. Life in another language is an interesting phenomenon during conference. I find when you sincerely pray to Heavenly Father for help, he'll deliver. Despite my lack of knowledge when it comes to Russian I still have a page full of notes from that session.
We've met some really interesting people in the last week. Each time we met them we really felt that the Lord had lead us there. We're hoping, praying, and working for a baptism soon, so I hope that we'll be able to share in someones joy. One sister just came into the mission and had a baptism that week. What a blessing that is. I remember in my first few weeks in Virginia and baptizing Norma there, it is an incredible boost to see someone in the waters of baptism.
There's not much more to say, I'm praying for you! Share the gospel. Lighten someones load. Love you!
Sister Daniel
PS- I've sent in a ballot request so I hope to vote in a few weeks!
Well, it's been another week here in Ukraine and while it's fall for you mom, we're definitely on our way to winter here. Or what American winter would be at least! Don't worry, I'm staying warm, the heat finally came on so we're staying rather toasty in our apartment. Ukraine has an interesting heating system. Basically it is hot water running through the pipes. It's actually really effective.
We had the opportunity to watch General Conference here this weekend. It was awesome! We watched the Saturday and Sunday afternoon sessions with the International Branch so we got to see them in English, and then Sister Chang and I decided to watch the Sunday Morning session with our local ward. They played it in Russian, so I'll probably watch it again at some point, or wait for the Liahona to show up...in December. One thing I thought was really interesting during conference was the music, just some interesting arrangements, and selections. Life in another language is an interesting phenomenon during conference. I find when you sincerely pray to Heavenly Father for help, he'll deliver. Despite my lack of knowledge when it comes to Russian I still have a page full of notes from that session.
We've met some really interesting people in the last week. Each time we met them we really felt that the Lord had lead us there. We're hoping, praying, and working for a baptism soon, so I hope that we'll be able to share in someones joy. One sister just came into the mission and had a baptism that week. What a blessing that is. I remember in my first few weeks in Virginia and baptizing Norma there, it is an incredible boost to see someone in the waters of baptism.
There's not much more to say, I'm praying for you! Share the gospel. Lighten someones load. Love you!
Sister Daniel
PS- I've sent in a ballot request so I hope to vote in a few weeks!
Monday, October 1, 2012
Transferes! E-mail - October 1, 2012
Well, the dreaded (or highly anticipated depending on your experience) six week mark is on us once again and Sister Moore is headed out to Lviv and I'll be staying here in Kyiv. My new companion will be Sister Chang. I've been on exchanges with her twice and I really like her. She's from Taiwan and is so funny. She also rocks at the mission language...well, her mission language which is Russian. Yep, I'm headed back into a companionship with a Russian speaker. It's a good thing we both speak English or our companionship unity might suffer. The last time we were on exchanges we had someone ask us if she spoke Russian and I spoke Ukrainian, how did we communicate. We just looked at her (she's a returned missionary) and told her, we speak in English. She also speaks Chinese so I might come back speaking more than one new language.
Mom, I think it's really interesting that you're taking an ASL class. I'm learning RSL/USL here. This isn't a joke actually, some members in our ward are deaf and they teach me how to say things every Sunday, it's fun. It's also cool that you're painting the entire house (or making John do it). I know that you've wanted to do that for a long time. I'm finally sending out postcards this week, one will be coming to you so let me know when you get it. Also, Sister Ricks, the office sister should have sent you some information on a hotel that is here in Kyiv close to the temple, I hope you got it. My official release date is May 1, and she said that you could come in April 30 and after departure meetings I could just be released to you. That's actually a really good time of year to be here, I'm not looking forward to winter coming. Hopefully I'll be warm enough. I think I'm going to buy better boots.
Zach, your email was very creative. I'll have you know that I read it out loud every week. Sister Moore always laughs with me. I hope everything is going okay at school. Keep your head above water and your GPA up. It's important. Also don't forget, no matter how good a date, you can't get married before I get back! That's an order!
John, you haven't written me so there's nothing to say.
But seriously, I love you all and definitely feel your love and support so thanks so much. The mission is great, trucking along. I'm hoping I'll be able to send you baptism pictures this transfer. Scary thought: at the end of this next transfer in a month and a week, it will be my one year mark!
I ran the 5k this week, President was very impressed. He bragged to the seventy that was here visiting, Elder Don Clarke. My face was redder than a tomato. After our special conference with Elder Clarke, on Saturday, Sister Moore and I ran to the temple from our apartment. Not an easy task. I'm excited to come home and run with you mom.
Love you all!
Sister Daniel
PS, If you want to keep up with my study, I finished the Book of Mormon a while ago. New goal: Read the New Testament. After that, I'm going to work on the Doctrine and Covenants. A cool section I found today in the Old Testament. Proverbs 31:10-end of chapter describes a virtuous woman. I thought it was really cool.
Mom, I think it's really interesting that you're taking an ASL class. I'm learning RSL/USL here. This isn't a joke actually, some members in our ward are deaf and they teach me how to say things every Sunday, it's fun. It's also cool that you're painting the entire house (or making John do it). I know that you've wanted to do that for a long time. I'm finally sending out postcards this week, one will be coming to you so let me know when you get it. Also, Sister Ricks, the office sister should have sent you some information on a hotel that is here in Kyiv close to the temple, I hope you got it. My official release date is May 1, and she said that you could come in April 30 and after departure meetings I could just be released to you. That's actually a really good time of year to be here, I'm not looking forward to winter coming. Hopefully I'll be warm enough. I think I'm going to buy better boots.
Zach, your email was very creative. I'll have you know that I read it out loud every week. Sister Moore always laughs with me. I hope everything is going okay at school. Keep your head above water and your GPA up. It's important. Also don't forget, no matter how good a date, you can't get married before I get back! That's an order!
John, you haven't written me so there's nothing to say.
But seriously, I love you all and definitely feel your love and support so thanks so much. The mission is great, trucking along. I'm hoping I'll be able to send you baptism pictures this transfer. Scary thought: at the end of this next transfer in a month and a week, it will be my one year mark!
I ran the 5k this week, President was very impressed. He bragged to the seventy that was here visiting, Elder Don Clarke. My face was redder than a tomato. After our special conference with Elder Clarke, on Saturday, Sister Moore and I ran to the temple from our apartment. Not an easy task. I'm excited to come home and run with you mom.
Love you all!
Sister Daniel
PS, If you want to keep up with my study, I finished the Book of Mormon a while ago. New goal: Read the New Testament. After that, I'm going to work on the Doctrine and Covenants. A cool section I found today in the Old Testament. Proverbs 31:10-end of chapter describes a virtuous woman. I thought it was really cool.
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