July 9, 2018 Russian Speaking Mission Now :)

 New Companion Sister Pryschepchuck from Ukraine

I'm Going RUSSIAN!!

Well everybody, this has been the craziest week yet. I have been called to go Russian.🤤 The craziest part is that we are covering three missions! I will start from the beginning of transfer day.

The Morning of transfers, my companion and I had to pack all of our stuff because we were getting white washed and the apartment we were in wasn't going to be used anymore since they combined our areas. So we fit all our stuff in the car and drive to the O'Hara's, who were just baptized a few months ago and had breakfast with them! I love them so much. So we drive to the Mission Office and when we get there, some sisters come up to me and say, "You're going Russian?!" and I'm like, "Wait what??" I still was so confused like where they heard that from so 5 minutes later, I walk over to another group of sisters and they come up to me and say, "You're going Russian!" I freaked out. My companion Sister Pryshchepchuk was right there I felt so bad, I gave her a hug but I could not control my emotions I was in shock! It was very surreal and scary I could not believe president thought this is where I needed to be 10 months into my mission. But oh my goodness it has been so great since our first day together! I love Sister P so much, She is from Ukraine. We went over and talked with Pesident and he asked how I was doing, I told him good, just did not see this coming at all. He told me he did a lot of praying about this, and he knew this is where I needed to be. So I am excited to be here, there is a reason and I am excited to find out what that reason is!

We had our full P-day on Wednesday for the 4th of July. We hung out with our zone pretty much all day, from 12-6! We had to be in my 7. But our whole zone is elders from the Seattle mission so it has been interesting not knowing anyone and getting to know them. The culture of our missions are so different, it is so weird how each mission has different ways of doing things. We are the only sisters in the whole zone sadly! It has been such a blast getting to know everyone though.

Our 1st District Meeting together was so funny, The way we do our District meeting is different then what the Seattle missionaries are used to. We have our purpose memorized and 3 Nephi 5:13 and recite it in English and Spanish and they all failed at that 😂 

Our Russian Lessons are so crazy, I can't understand anything obviously, so Sister P translates when she can, but it's hard to pitch in because I never know what they are talking about ha. There are a lot of Russians in Washington, we get so many referrals each day! Russian work is way different than English work, and we drive so much.

Each Saturday we have English class where we teach to Russians, but everyone that normally comes was out of town, but I am excited to experience that! On Saturday, our Zone Leaders texted every one and said we are going to do a "Spiritual Attack" where we meet together to pray and go out for 2 hours and work and come back and share the miracles we saw. It was so cool. We had no idea what to do because all of our referrals are so far away it wouldn't be worth seeing them in that short time, so we picked a potential to visit. We knock the door and Delorise answers, an English woman, not what we were expecting, but we get talking with her and she invites us in. We Talked a lot about the Book Of Mormon and also the Restoration. She had a copy of the Book of Mormon and a plan of Salvation pamphlet on her table! Her son who lives with her was taking the lessons, and she did for a little bit, but stopped. we shared with her 2 Nephi 33:10 and Words of Mormon 1:7. She said, "Yeah, I have no doubt what happened in the Book of Mormon is true, I'm sure it is." so that was awesome. I told her that she should come to church tomorrow and she said she has been to our church before and really enjoyed it, so we told her to write down a question she has and if she will go to church, her question will be answered in some way! she goes, "I know why you were sent to my home today, so I could have a desire to start learning again and to go to church!" Man, this lady was so cool! We got her number to follow up. She isn't even in our mission though haha! so we will have to find the elders and refer her to them. 

The miracle doesn't end there, we hear a family downstairs in this home and we ask if they speak Russian, and she goes, "Yes they do! Do you want me to introduce you to them?" we were like yes! So we go down there and start talking with them, they were on their way out to go camping, but told us to come back next week. It was a double miracle! wow, the Lord is so good.

Saturday night all the missionaries were invited to go to the "Ensign Symphony" in Seattle if you brought an investigator or a less active member with you. They are the "Motab of Seattle" I guess, but it was soooo good! We brought Svetlana, who is less active and so funny! We didn't get home till around 11:00! But it was such a great experience and President and Sister Wilding were there.😊 

Last transfer miracle:

The last week in Oak Harbor, we were trying to visit a young women in our ward, but there address was not in LDS tools, so I was trying to go off memory where she lived. We passed a house that I really thought was hers, but we kept driving to make sure. I was pretty sure, so we turned around and parked on the opposite side of the road. I was examining the house and someone looks at us though the window and i'm like, "Sister someone is staring at us." It was awkward so we got out of the car and before we get to the door, this guy opens the door to us. He says hello, and right away, I knew it was the wrong house. We asked if they were the Loomis' and he goes, "No, we are the Harris'." We get talking and he goes, "So are you guys trying to sell us something?" and were like no! and explain what we are doing. Right away he tells us that he has been waiting to be baptized, but he wants to wait until he knows he won't sin anymore. We explained to him that we can't avoid sin in this life and we shared 2 Nephi 31 with him and how we need to repent now then be baptized and repent afterwards. He goes, "Oh, that makes sense, could I have one of those book, or do you have an extra copy?" We were like yes of course! Oh my word it was so crazy how receptive he was! He told us that he actually just got back from a mistake today. So he really wants to change. Sister Pedersen asked him if he came to know this message to be true if he would be baptized on August 18th, and he said, "Yeah I think I could be ready by then? 7 weeks? Yeah we can do that!" Holy Moly let me talk about preparedness, the Lord is guiding us in every aspect of the mission, If I knew it or not, we needed to knock his door at that time and we didn't even know it. He is 20 so we did a pass off lesson with the YSA elders, But I will never forget how amazing that contact was.

I am so grateful for all of the experiences I have had on my mission this far, I know the Lord puts us where we need to be and I am excited to be serving the Russians in Washington! I love you all!