Last week when i said it was cold... i lied. it's FREEZING! Sure it was 3 degrees C, but i didn't take wind chill into factor. I don't know how much of a diff it makes, but later last Thursday we were outside the Hermitage and I had my puny little CA jacket on, zipped all the way up so it covered half of my face. Yea, my lips stuck to the zipper, it was so cold. And the whole city is on water (like Venice, i love it!) so it's freaking arctic.
The Hermitage...LOVED it! I only got to see part of one floor cuz we had an investigator to teach, but i LOVED it! For some reason I turned into a psycho tour guide and started telling my comps about the artists and the topics of the paintings like i was some old pro or something. Something happens to me when i hit art museums, i get so passionate and crazy. I give you full permission to make fun of me right now. I shrieked when i was cruising through one of the rooms and saw a DaVinci I recognized immediately. Then I almost died when I saw a statue by Michelangelo... oh man, so fun! I took a couple of pics. But i didn't see my fave piece by Rafael, so I'll have to go back.
Transfers were this week and so it was a crazy fest as usual. my comps and i stayed, so I'm happy. My AP Silver (short for his crazy Russian name) is down in Pskov now, but i still have Y and i love his new comp. Last night they asked so many questions about what they should do with their hair, what kind of products they should use, and stuff. They're so fun, I love them! And I think I told you about my phone call from Elder silver about not being allowed to do the elders' hair. Well, i guess that was HIS rule! haha! The office told me that now that he's gone, it's fine. (he's the one who yelled at me about the porn pics way back when, remember?) We were hanging with the APs on Monday and on the way home on the bus that night, a drunk guy came and sat by me, right before they were getting off at their stop. Silver told the sisters to "Watch her" in Russian, indicating me. I was like "I'm not a child, i can understand you!" haha I've never done anything wrong and silver acts like I'm some kind of problem sister or something. Anyways, the drunk guy confessed his love for me after a really funny convo as he was hopping off the bus and i was like "hmm... thanks." We'll see if he shows up to English or something, i gave him invites.
I finally experienced a BANYA! EVERYONE talks about them because everyone here thinks that banyas are a normal past time and the elders have funny stories about going to them. They're like public bath houses. My comps grew up going to them. Well, on Tuesday, I experienced one for the first time ever. What a psycho experience that was! We went with Ira, (our investigator who i love and is getting baptized on Sat.) to this ghetto alley and had the option of going in one of two doors. We walked into one and found ourselves in the middle of 150 Russian soldiers... Um! So we went to the other door... GHETTO! I was like, what have i gotten myself into?!?!?!?!
We paid and then climbed 9 flights of stairs to the top floor. We had our own banya to ourselves instead of going to the public one. We walked into the most scary, ghetto room I've ever seen and i just started laughing. It was unfathomable. There was a black, dirty Jacuzzi type thing, two showers, leather seats, a bathroom, a sauna, etc. So yea, we went into the sauna and put honey on our whole bods, which was actually pretty cool, cuz it just melted off and wasn't sticky at all. We did face and body muds and then beat each other with branches of hot leaves....don't ask me why...they say it's healthy for you... All in all, it was so weird. But I'm not gonna lie, KINDA fun! hahaha i was like "my mom is going to get on a plane to come and get me when she hears about this."
So, how awesome was conference!? It was weird that we got it a week later, and the audio and visual kept going out, so it took a bit longer than usual and we would just end up listening to the audio of each session. But i loved it! Okay, first off, it was a total party with like, 50 missionaries! So fun! Second, I don't think I've ever loved and appreciated conference so much! I needed it. isn't it funny how it always seems to be specifically for you... but everyone thinks the same thing too! haha! Well, it was for me. :) I thought the Sat. session was rad and really emphasized letting the world know who we are! I loved how the speakers totally hit on all the hard questions people have about our church and they just answered them all so matter-of-factly and confidently, i loved it! The gospel is simple, we can just be confident and comfortable in telling it how it is.
I LOVED Elder Holland's SMACKDOWN talk! He's such a freaking stud. I felt the spirit so strong during it. He was just so forward and honest.
I loved loved LOVED Sunday's session! Elder Eyring talked about how "quickly people are lifted up in the pride of their hearts and forget their God." It's so easy to do, to think that I'm responsible for my accomplishments instead of Heavenly Father. I've been reading about it time and time again in the Book of Mormon! I've been thinking about this lately as I've been reading and seeing how the Book of Mormon is for our benefit and for us to learn for our time.. Over and over again, nations were established on righteousness and in the ways of God. Then they become prideful and wealthy and everything and forget about God. It just sounds awfully familiar. America was established on God and he's been worked out of everything! It just scared me, because these nations were destroyed no matter how powerful they were. I don't know. I just don't want to see my rad country that I love so much go down in flames, you know.
I loved Elder Cook's (new Apostle!) talk! Live by faith and not fear. Well, you know I swallowed that right up because I'm all about Batman and facing fears. ;) A lot of the talks hit on this, how we need to not be scared, and how we should be comfortable bearing witness of our Savior. I loved it, because you KNOW I'm not scared to share the gospel, but sharing it in Russian terrifies me! This conference showed me that i need to get over that. As long as I'm confident in what i say, instead of stuttering and wincing as i try to remember the right words, people respond way more positively.
On Monday, I don't know what was going on, but i was on a major happy high and I just started going up to people and saying "hey, do you speak English?" in English, then chatting it up in Russian and inviting them to English practice. This is exciting because I've had a hard time contacting people in the city. But I just did it thinking, "hello! This church is TRUE! I know it. God knows it. There's no reason to hesitate!" I can honestly tell you that Monday might have been one of the most fun days I've had since I've been here. The more people i talked to, the happier i became, ESPECIALLY if they responded well. Which shockingly, MOST of them did!
My mission is so fun! Elder Eyring also talked about how the Holy Ghost will bring things to our remembrance if we keep his spirit with us. It was in a different context than this, but i took it for myself that I will remember the things i study in Russian. it's a promise we have, so I'm taking full advantage! :)
One of the times i was at Medem for a shot, I picked up a Time magazine and started reading an article about moms that i thought looked good... well it wasn't. it started off by asking where all the working women in the world had gone then disgustedly stated that they were all at home taking care of children. it said that children were being too pampered and that it's good for children to have things like daycare and such... basically the article blew me away and said everything opposite to what was said about women in conference. so now i get to one of my fave talks, by sister Julie Beck! "mothers who know," all about wanting to be a mom and how mothers are influence. Mothers are power. They are truly the leaders of the world, they affect it all! The spirit was SO SO crazy during her talk! I loved everything she said about how to raise kids in the home (the pre-missionary training center.) :) AH, I'm going off, sorry.
Anyways, i just loved conference. i loved hearing the voice of the prophet of the Lord. I love him. My heart jumped when President HInckley mentioned the gospel being in Russia. And how we're the 4th largest church , but he said "This is only the beginning." After hearing this conference i just want to invite EVERYONE we know to watch conference every year, because the messages are always amazing.
Thank you so much mom and dad for raising me with good standards and expecting good things out of me! I feel so lucky to already know what the heck I'm doing here, what need to be done and what i have to look forward to! I'm so thankful for our family! Its my fave topic to talk about in Russian. :) When sister cook said that "brothers and sisters can be best friends," i was like, duh. Mine ARE! I'm just so thankful our family will be together forEVER! I'm not ashamed to say, we're pretty rock death, our fam. ;)
I pray for you all, ALL the time and i miss you so much! i love how Elder Uchtdorf said how Jesus Christ wants us to succeed. He gave his life just for this purpose. And we need to endure JOYFULLY to the end! Well, I plan to, on my mission and in this life. :) Please tell Dad that I'm striving to represent his name as best as i can, and I'm proud i can wear it everyday next to that of my Saviors. I love you so much! (written on Oct 18, 2007)
March 29, 2008
Winter skirts and leeches
It's FREEZING! Today it's 3 degrees C... whatever that converts to. But 3 degrees in general just sounds absolutely revolting to me. Everyone keeps on saying "oh, you just wait..." like it's my death sentence or something. I'm excited to have the new experience of cold beyond my mortal comprehension, but I'm sure that curiosity and excitement will wear off the first minute and a half i have to walk in it. I guess we'll see. But for now I'm completely bundled and the girls keep saying i need to buy winter skirts... who knew there WAS such a thing? I thought a skirt was a skirt. But now i see that at night when we're walking home, i feel completely naked from the waist down. wow.
Elder Eyring and the new apostle were fun to watch. We are having conference this weekend, so I'm excited. They're going to have it in English and Russian, so yay, I'll know what's going on! :) Should be fun, we're watching it both days at the branch. PS, have i told you about the branch here? It's HUGE! Well, for Russia. I walked in and I was like, WHOA! Am I in America? Then they started speaking and i was like, nope. The building is 3 stories and it's the NICEST church I've ever been in ANYWHERE. It's so fun, I'm so thankful to be here!
OMG, the hospitals here are a nightmare, just like in Pskov! The one i go to is really nice because it's for Americans, but wow. We went to visit one of our investigators in a hospital and it was so scary... we walked in, it's all concrete, dark, rusty, no elevators, smells like human pee and puke, everything is moldy, our investigator was in a 10 by 12 ft room with 4 other patients... wow. I tell you, you can't even know until you experience it. The girls told me that it was normal and it's not as bad as some of the hospitals they've been to... i told them i would be dead by now, because there is no way i would go to a place like that. death vs. scary psycho hospital where you probably come out with more problems and diseases than you had when you went in? I'll take death thank you.
You want to hear something gross and funny? we went into the normal aptyeka or pharmacy the other day and they had a HUGE jar of 4 inch long leeches swimming around. I was repulsed, i started dry heaving, but i couldn't take my eyes off the jar the whole time we were there. I eventually asked the clerk how much they cost and they were only like $1.50 in American money. I actually considered getting just one to take home and name. you don't need to feed them or anything! But then my logic kicked back in and i remembered how grody they were.
A few tiny little facts or stories: The elevators here are sooooo scary mom! you would die! they're 3 by 3 feet and so rickety and we ride them all the time! AH! I always expect to plummet to my death! I usually have to just say to myself, "it's okay, if the cables break, it'll be like tower of terror at CA adventure and you love that ride. just chill."
I buy spices now from an Indian man at a bazaar near our house. I buy stuff like curry and this really good spice, i have no idea what it is, but he gives me everything for half price because I'm a missionary! I still need American spices tho, if you consider sending them! PS, thank you again for the pkg! :) The tuna was a big hit in our apt.... they had never had it like we make it.... weird.
Yesterday, we went to get on the metro and there was a HUGE crowd outside the station. I was like, no way we're getting in that line just to get IN to the station. Oh, but we did. Can I just tell you it was like the craziest mosh pit I've ever been in! haha! I thought i was going to die! And i got separated from my comps and i kept yelling, "DON'T LEAVE ME! DON'T LEAVE ME!" But it was sooo fun! I LOVE the city! Then the metro was packed, man, it's shocking how many people you can fit into one when you stack them. Hilarious experiences and i can't wait for you guys to come and experience it all too!
I love teaching with my new companions because i feel like I'm really a part of the lessons! I get to talk about principles and stuff instead of just testify, and i feel like my language is improving a lot... but i am just SO far behind that it's hard not to get frustrated. I feel like the biggest moron most of the time, but what can ya do. I just SO badly want to speak! It's hard to contact at all because nobody wants to listen and i have such a limited vocabulary that it's next to impossible for me to really talk to anyone. So I just hand out English invites. I really started wondering the other day if these people who say rude things or straight up ignore us will cruise to judgement after they die and watch their life back and see that moment when we tried to talk to them about the gospel and they dissed us hard and just be like, "....crap."
My favorite girl here, Era, is getting baptized in a week! i love her so much! And her mom Svyeta, is so amazing! I feel the spirit so strong when we go and teach them! Her mom wants to get baptized, but she works every Sunday so she's looking for a new job! WOW! I'm so happy!
Oh, guess what! Prez Putin was here the other night, at the opera as we were passing and we asked what was going on. Yea, he was there. And as we were walking by the side of the nice opera building, we looked up and it was night so the windows that were lit were in plain illumination for us and WOOOH, naked concert men just getting ready in these rooms, like, no big deal. The girls were scandalized and i was laughing hysterically. :)
I met a man named Max and he's HILARIOUS! He loves Elvis, but he talks like he's a southern black man and refuses to speak English. he hits on me all the time and everyone has to be like "STOP touching her!" It's only cuz I'm American tho. You should hear the things he says. And i just sit there and laugh! haha
Can I just tell you how thankful i am for things like girls camp and mutual, and things that i never really thought about growing up, but were there because of the church. I'm sooo thankful! They don't even know WHAT girls camp IS here! So i just sit and tell stories at night all about mutual activities and fun times at camp and stuff that i didn't even know i remembered. I feel so lucky for growing up in America. I miss everyone sooo much! I love you more than anything! (written on Oct 11, 2007)
Elder Eyring and the new apostle were fun to watch. We are having conference this weekend, so I'm excited. They're going to have it in English and Russian, so yay, I'll know what's going on! :) Should be fun, we're watching it both days at the branch. PS, have i told you about the branch here? It's HUGE! Well, for Russia. I walked in and I was like, WHOA! Am I in America? Then they started speaking and i was like, nope. The building is 3 stories and it's the NICEST church I've ever been in ANYWHERE. It's so fun, I'm so thankful to be here!
OMG, the hospitals here are a nightmare, just like in Pskov! The one i go to is really nice because it's for Americans, but wow. We went to visit one of our investigators in a hospital and it was so scary... we walked in, it's all concrete, dark, rusty, no elevators, smells like human pee and puke, everything is moldy, our investigator was in a 10 by 12 ft room with 4 other patients... wow. I tell you, you can't even know until you experience it. The girls told me that it was normal and it's not as bad as some of the hospitals they've been to... i told them i would be dead by now, because there is no way i would go to a place like that. death vs. scary psycho hospital where you probably come out with more problems and diseases than you had when you went in? I'll take death thank you.
You want to hear something gross and funny? we went into the normal aptyeka or pharmacy the other day and they had a HUGE jar of 4 inch long leeches swimming around. I was repulsed, i started dry heaving, but i couldn't take my eyes off the jar the whole time we were there. I eventually asked the clerk how much they cost and they were only like $1.50 in American money. I actually considered getting just one to take home and name. you don't need to feed them or anything! But then my logic kicked back in and i remembered how grody they were.
A few tiny little facts or stories: The elevators here are sooooo scary mom! you would die! they're 3 by 3 feet and so rickety and we ride them all the time! AH! I always expect to plummet to my death! I usually have to just say to myself, "it's okay, if the cables break, it'll be like tower of terror at CA adventure and you love that ride. just chill."
I buy spices now from an Indian man at a bazaar near our house. I buy stuff like curry and this really good spice, i have no idea what it is, but he gives me everything for half price because I'm a missionary! I still need American spices tho, if you consider sending them! PS, thank you again for the pkg! :) The tuna was a big hit in our apt.... they had never had it like we make it.... weird.
Yesterday, we went to get on the metro and there was a HUGE crowd outside the station. I was like, no way we're getting in that line just to get IN to the station. Oh, but we did. Can I just tell you it was like the craziest mosh pit I've ever been in! haha! I thought i was going to die! And i got separated from my comps and i kept yelling, "DON'T LEAVE ME! DON'T LEAVE ME!" But it was sooo fun! I LOVE the city! Then the metro was packed, man, it's shocking how many people you can fit into one when you stack them. Hilarious experiences and i can't wait for you guys to come and experience it all too!
I love teaching with my new companions because i feel like I'm really a part of the lessons! I get to talk about principles and stuff instead of just testify, and i feel like my language is improving a lot... but i am just SO far behind that it's hard not to get frustrated. I feel like the biggest moron most of the time, but what can ya do. I just SO badly want to speak! It's hard to contact at all because nobody wants to listen and i have such a limited vocabulary that it's next to impossible for me to really talk to anyone. So I just hand out English invites. I really started wondering the other day if these people who say rude things or straight up ignore us will cruise to judgement after they die and watch their life back and see that moment when we tried to talk to them about the gospel and they dissed us hard and just be like, "....crap."
My favorite girl here, Era, is getting baptized in a week! i love her so much! And her mom Svyeta, is so amazing! I feel the spirit so strong when we go and teach them! Her mom wants to get baptized, but she works every Sunday so she's looking for a new job! WOW! I'm so happy!
Oh, guess what! Prez Putin was here the other night, at the opera as we were passing and we asked what was going on. Yea, he was there. And as we were walking by the side of the nice opera building, we looked up and it was night so the windows that were lit were in plain illumination for us and WOOOH, naked concert men just getting ready in these rooms, like, no big deal. The girls were scandalized and i was laughing hysterically. :)
I met a man named Max and he's HILARIOUS! He loves Elvis, but he talks like he's a southern black man and refuses to speak English. he hits on me all the time and everyone has to be like "STOP touching her!" It's only cuz I'm American tho. You should hear the things he says. And i just sit there and laugh! haha
Can I just tell you how thankful i am for things like girls camp and mutual, and things that i never really thought about growing up, but were there because of the church. I'm sooo thankful! They don't even know WHAT girls camp IS here! So i just sit and tell stories at night all about mutual activities and fun times at camp and stuff that i didn't even know i remembered. I feel so lucky for growing up in America. I miss everyone sooo much! I love you more than anything! (written on Oct 11, 2007)
This city at night!
Okay, first off.... I'M IN THE MOST AMAZING PLACE ON EARTH! Well, at least that I'VE seen. :) AH! This city is so freaking beautiful! I'm madly in love with it and never want to be transferred again! I am having the time of my life! All the buildings and architecture and culture... it's INSANE! And I haven't even been to any of the palaces or hermitage or anything yet.
But I've got to tell you, this city at night... wow. it's a freaking FANTASY! I'm hoping the weather stays like it is now tho, because it's supposed to just plummet soon. When it's cold.... no fun. Just death. hahahaha! But the other night we were having sports night and it was just amazing, i can't explain it fully, but we were playing in the middle of a square with old buildings and palaces and the ice cream cathedral all around us and then it was getting dark and fireworks started going off right by us and when we were walking home there was a man playing acoustic guitar echoing on the cobble stoned street and the lights and wow.... man i am living a movie. Last night there were classical music students playing down in the metro for money, and it sounded AWESOME because it's all concrete down there and they were plugged in. I LOVE everything about this place! I can't explain it, you have to experience it.
I have to dress really professional being in center. Yay for collared shirts and jackets. But it's worth it. :) We see Prez and his wife all the time, so of course we're always with the office elders and APs and everything. I feel so IN on it all. hahaha
My companions names are Grigorieva and Varygina... I never remember, I'm always like "hey sister..." But they're cool. I feel like I'm learning the language a lot more with them. They MAKE me speak to people, so it's good. It's kind of funny, when i was with sosyak, I felt like i could understand EVERYTHING she said, and always laughed when she would speak to the elders in English and they didn't understand anything she said and i would have to translate. But now i think it's a blessing of companionships or something. Because we talked on the phone the other night... I did not understand one word she said. Not one. It was kind of sad. So I just told her i loved her in Russian and hung up. I did love her, but i am so thankful to be with these girls now, I'm not going to lie. And now i understand everything they say and nobody else does. The elders the other day were like "THEY SPEAK ENGLISH?!" hahaha
i like my apartment a lot. It's very clean, wood floors, nice shower, i love it. :)
So there is a group of Mormon American girls here that teach English and they're a lot of fun! One of them was like "do you know Brian W., he taught at the MTC" and i was like "know him? I'm dating him" ... hahahaha (that was with a Joe Jr. voice). No, but he was my teacher obviously and then she dropped the atomic bomb on me... he's engaged! WHAT THE HECK!?!?!?! That's traumatizing for the woman population. There goes the perfect man off to be married. hahahaha jk, his girl is totally cute... I just hope she deserves him. ;)
So last night was kind of fun because we were at English class and the American girls were there and they asked me what was being said and I translated for them without really thinking about it... then i was like UM!? I understand this stuff enough to translate... FREAKING RAD! Just a little pathetic fact about my life at the moment. :)
So I got myself some vitamins and I'm eating normal food so i feel a lot more healthy and better this week. Stores here are pretty normal, but not completely. No American cheese or anything. One thing I could do with if you WANT to send it are REAL spices! Like spices that i know. Like steak and chicken seasoning and TACO seasoning. They have nothing Mexican here. I'm still keeping an eye out for limes, I'm sure they HAVE to have them somewhere!
I got my pkg! Yay! I had to take the metro, two buses and walk a mile and a half in the pouring rain to get it, but it's here! Oorah! Thank you so much! They have post offices everywhere here but they send it to the most inaccessible one for some reason. THANK YOU I LOVE YOU!
I got another shot today, right before i came here to write. The hospital is so nice and I'm so thankful I'm not going to the one in Pskov for my shots! Sosyak told me she could EASILY give me the shots.... i told her i would rather die and she told me i was a stupid idiotic American who didn't know anything because buying needles at the normal pharmacy is totally normal. ....
I had some AMAZING spiritual experiences i wanted to share with you, but i guess I'll have to write them in a letter. i love you all so freaking much! (written on Oct 4, 2007)
I have to dress really professional being in center. Yay for collared shirts and jackets. But it's worth it. :) We see Prez and his wife all the time, so of course we're always with the office elders and APs and everything. I feel so IN on it all. hahaha
My companions names are Grigorieva and Varygina... I never remember, I'm always like "hey sister..." But they're cool. I feel like I'm learning the language a lot more with them. They MAKE me speak to people, so it's good. It's kind of funny, when i was with sosyak, I felt like i could understand EVERYTHING she said, and always laughed when she would speak to the elders in English and they didn't understand anything she said and i would have to translate. But now i think it's a blessing of companionships or something. Because we talked on the phone the other night... I did not understand one word she said. Not one. It was kind of sad. So I just told her i loved her in Russian and hung up. I did love her, but i am so thankful to be with these girls now, I'm not going to lie. And now i understand everything they say and nobody else does. The elders the other day were like "THEY SPEAK ENGLISH?!" hahaha
i like my apartment a lot. It's very clean, wood floors, nice shower, i love it. :)
So there is a group of Mormon American girls here that teach English and they're a lot of fun! One of them was like "do you know Brian W., he taught at the MTC" and i was like "know him? I'm dating him" ... hahahaha (that was with a Joe Jr. voice). No, but he was my teacher obviously and then she dropped the atomic bomb on me... he's engaged! WHAT THE HECK!?!?!?! That's traumatizing for the woman population. There goes the perfect man off to be married. hahahaha jk, his girl is totally cute... I just hope she deserves him. ;)
So last night was kind of fun because we were at English class and the American girls were there and they asked me what was being said and I translated for them without really thinking about it... then i was like UM!? I understand this stuff enough to translate... FREAKING RAD! Just a little pathetic fact about my life at the moment. :)
So I got myself some vitamins and I'm eating normal food so i feel a lot more healthy and better this week. Stores here are pretty normal, but not completely. No American cheese or anything. One thing I could do with if you WANT to send it are REAL spices! Like spices that i know. Like steak and chicken seasoning and TACO seasoning. They have nothing Mexican here. I'm still keeping an eye out for limes, I'm sure they HAVE to have them somewhere!
I got my pkg! Yay! I had to take the metro, two buses and walk a mile and a half in the pouring rain to get it, but it's here! Oorah! Thank you so much! They have post offices everywhere here but they send it to the most inaccessible one for some reason. THANK YOU I LOVE YOU!
I got another shot today, right before i came here to write. The hospital is so nice and I'm so thankful I'm not going to the one in Pskov for my shots! Sosyak told me she could EASILY give me the shots.... i told her i would rather die and she told me i was a stupid idiotic American who didn't know anything because buying needles at the normal pharmacy is totally normal. ....
I had some AMAZING spiritual experiences i wanted to share with you, but i guess I'll have to write them in a letter. i love you all so freaking much! (written on Oct 4, 2007)
Emergency transfer
Talk about huge drama and MAJOR action! So... i got emergency transferred out of Pskov... Just when i was thinking that the adventure HAD to slow down at some point. :)
So anyways, after a huge fight with S the night before, we seemed to be having a fine morning on Wednesday and i remembered that P had told me to call sister S about my cat bite, and if i didn't (cuz i didn't want to, it was dumb) then he would. So i casually called sister S thinking no big deal, The bite is almost all the way gone, it was just a courtesy call.
Well, she sounded like yes, no big deal. Told me she would call back... When she did, wasn't easy or nice about it, just straight up said "pack all your things, you're getting transferred TODAY on the next train or bus available.".... It was so shocking that i started bawling on the phone like a moron.
It was shocking because, not only was it so sudden and blunt and I'm sad because I'm missing my investigator's baptisms this week and next, but the night before, i had been praying and had gotten the distinct impression to call P and tell him i needed to be transferred. I thought that was dumb because i loved where i was and any probs i had been having with S and all, could totally be dealt with. so i said no to myself. And i cried. I'm a huge bawl baby lately. I even told K on the phone that i was getting transferred... jokingly, but oddly it felt like it wasn't a joke to me.
It was shocking because, not only was it so sudden and blunt and I'm sad because I'm missing my investigator's baptisms this week and next, but the night before, i had been praying and had gotten the distinct impression to call P and tell him i needed to be transferred. I thought that was dumb because i loved where i was and any probs i had been having with S and all, could totally be dealt with. so i said no to myself. And i cried. I'm a huge bawl baby lately. I even told K on the phone that i was getting transferred... jokingly, but oddly it felt like it wasn't a joke to me.
So that thought stuck with me in bed that night. The next morning when i prayed, I got the same impression. I said no again, thinking i was just being dumb and praying i wasn't turning into a dramatic psycho sister missionary and not realizing it. When sister S called with my transfer, it finally and distinctly hit me that when i was saying no, i was saying it to my Heavenly Father. I felt like he was saying that if I wouldn't follow his promptings as a missionary, he would find another way. Even if it was through something as stupid as a cat bite. I know that the transfer was right, whether it was cuz i needed to be here or sister Kirina who took my place, needed to be in Pskov, it was definitely meant to be.
So I packed up, but the next train was at 3am so we went to the branch and it was a total scandal. So it was a sad sad goodbye. We were all pretty devastated, but i know that it's right and I'm so happy to be here in CENTER!!!! YAY! Where I wanted to serve!
Another roller coaster i was stuck on yesterday was i got taken to Medem Medical by sister S and she left sosyak and me there so i could start on my first rabies shots. Well, they laughed at me and told me bites are normal here blah blah blah, as if i didn't feel stupid enough for being there, it wasn't by choice. They sent us away and then there were a couple hours of phone tag with sis S and specialist doctors and America and stuff until i got called for the millionth time and told that i HAD to get the shots they didn't care how much it cost. What a huge embarrassing ordeal.
So I packed up, but the next train was at 3am so we went to the branch and it was a total scandal. So it was a sad sad goodbye. We were all pretty devastated, but i know that it's right and I'm so happy to be here in CENTER!!!! YAY! Where I wanted to serve!
Another roller coaster i was stuck on yesterday was i got taken to Medem Medical by sister S and she left sosyak and me there so i could start on my first rabies shots. Well, they laughed at me and told me bites are normal here blah blah blah, as if i didn't feel stupid enough for being there, it wasn't by choice. They sent us away and then there were a couple hours of phone tag with sis S and specialist doctors and America and stuff until i got called for the millionth time and told that i HAD to get the shots they didn't care how much it cost. What a huge embarrassing ordeal.
So we trekked back to the clinic and while i was waiting, sosyak tried talking to a woman who was also waiting with her little boy, but she was American. So her and i chatted it up and i got her phone # and she told me several times to PLEASE call her about ANYTHING! I was like, No problem... hehehe she totally knew i was a missionary and everything. :) It's a whole family that just moved here from Illinois. wow. Definitely meant to be there at that exact time. So then i got my huge shots and left.
i love it here! it's so rad! i love the members and investigators i met last night and i like my companions. They're both native and very serious, but what can you do. This is exactly what I've been needing. hopefully i will learn Russian with these two! I've already learned a ton today!
So i don't know if i told you about meeting sasha's sister by cutting her hair, then going over to their apt to do her friend vika's hair. I love them, they're so fun! Well, this week we went over to meet sasha's mom, but sasha had to leave. Tamara, her sister, was still there tho and told us that sasha smokes again... horrible, so we obviously had to cancel her baptism. Not forever tho. :) Her mom was amazing tho! They're just so accepting and loving (which isn't common) and we found out why that night.
i love it here! it's so rad! i love the members and investigators i met last night and i like my companions. They're both native and very serious, but what can you do. This is exactly what I've been needing. hopefully i will learn Russian with these two! I've already learned a ton today!
So i don't know if i told you about meeting sasha's sister by cutting her hair, then going over to their apt to do her friend vika's hair. I love them, they're so fun! Well, this week we went over to meet sasha's mom, but sasha had to leave. Tamara, her sister, was still there tho and told us that sasha smokes again... horrible, so we obviously had to cancel her baptism. Not forever tho. :) Her mom was amazing tho! They're just so accepting and loving (which isn't common) and we found out why that night.
Her mom told us that she prayed to God because she's been struggling in life and is so poor and she didn't know how she was going to be able to take care of her two girls. She said God CLEARLY answered her. He said, "I am sending you two angels, messengers, who will teach you everything you need to know. And i will send them soon." Wow. She said that a couple of days later, sasha came home and said she had met with us and i guess all of them (including the grandma, which explains why she insisted sasha quickly go to us and take us flowers to thank us that one day) knew we were the ones. We were the messengers she was waiting for. I bawled... of course. It's a miracle. A Christmas miracle. :)
I know miracles like this happen, because God takes care of his children and he does send missionaries where they need to go... i just never thought i would be part of such an amazing miracle. it's real. It happens. So despite the fact that sasha's mother smokes and drinks a LOT, she accepted us in immediately, was so loving, was SO thankful for the BOM we gave her (she threw herself around our necks thanking and thanking us) and begged to know when we could come back to tell her everything. :) wow. my mission is amazing.
I have so much more to tell! But i don't have time!
I'll try to fit in another story... this one is stupid, but what can you do. I totally had a Dumb and Dumber bathroom experience the other night. We went and had dinner at Mama maria's house and she gave us REAL apple juice, which ps is my fave and we need an apple tree. I downed two tall glasses there and she gave me a big bottle of it to bring home. Well, an hour later i cruised into the bathroom like normal (thank goodness we were at home) and suddenly a weird rumble moved all the way up my bod like in a movie and HELLO! You can figure out the rest. wow. Why do we spend $ on laxatives that take 6+ hrs to kick in then make you sick for the rest of the day?! It was AMAZING! hahahahaha! This stuff is like gold! and all i could think about was how maria and my comp must have been laughing hysterically inside their heads as they watched me down all the juice. "stupid Americans"... ;)
On a more annoying note, i got another condescending talk about how I'm here on my mission to lose my rose-colored glasses and my fantasy world and to join the real world like S, because i sound like she did in 7th grade... wow. Coming from HER??? but i love her. don't forget that. :) But i was sick of it! I rather nicely (honestly) told her i didn't want to lose it! I'm growing here, but THAT isn't the kind of change i need. I told her it's not growth to become cynical! God gave me the gift of being happy and optimistic! SUE me! I HATE when she says, "you will see, you will see."... Yea, i will see your hair catch on fire as i throw you out our rose-colored window. She acts like a child and then gets all high and mighty on me because I'm happy?! I don't understand! Except that i do get we're from different cultures and obviously appreciate our own. Which is fine. We both think we're right. What can you do? Except i try to tell her, yea, it's cool, i love this culture (and i do it so sincerely) then it gets turned and she's like well yours is the worst! These people don't get America. They all want to go there, but then they bash it. They don't get how amazing it is. They don't understand how life could be. Whatever.
I have so much more to tell! But i don't have time!
I'll try to fit in another story... this one is stupid, but what can you do. I totally had a Dumb and Dumber bathroom experience the other night. We went and had dinner at Mama maria's house and she gave us REAL apple juice, which ps is my fave and we need an apple tree. I downed two tall glasses there and she gave me a big bottle of it to bring home. Well, an hour later i cruised into the bathroom like normal (thank goodness we were at home) and suddenly a weird rumble moved all the way up my bod like in a movie and HELLO! You can figure out the rest. wow. Why do we spend $ on laxatives that take 6+ hrs to kick in then make you sick for the rest of the day?! It was AMAZING! hahahahaha! This stuff is like gold! and all i could think about was how maria and my comp must have been laughing hysterically inside their heads as they watched me down all the juice. "stupid Americans"... ;)
On a more annoying note, i got another condescending talk about how I'm here on my mission to lose my rose-colored glasses and my fantasy world and to join the real world like S, because i sound like she did in 7th grade... wow. Coming from HER??? but i love her. don't forget that. :) But i was sick of it! I rather nicely (honestly) told her i didn't want to lose it! I'm growing here, but THAT isn't the kind of change i need. I told her it's not growth to become cynical! God gave me the gift of being happy and optimistic! SUE me! I HATE when she says, "you will see, you will see."... Yea, i will see your hair catch on fire as i throw you out our rose-colored window. She acts like a child and then gets all high and mighty on me because I'm happy?! I don't understand! Except that i do get we're from different cultures and obviously appreciate our own. Which is fine. We both think we're right. What can you do? Except i try to tell her, yea, it's cool, i love this culture (and i do it so sincerely) then it gets turned and she's like well yours is the worst! These people don't get America. They all want to go there, but then they bash it. They don't get how amazing it is. They don't understand how life could be. Whatever.
hahahaha sorry i am finishing off on this note! I just love my life, i love my "glass" world, and i love my family. :) What can i do? :) omg, i love and miss you so so much!
tune in for more drama next week! (written Sep 28, 2007)
Homesickness, haircuts & rabies
Hello family! I love you oh so very much and miss you more than you will ever know! This week has been kind of hard home-sickness and family-sickness-wise, but what can you expect when you leave the most hilarious, loving, crazy, fun family in the whole world back in the best bomb diggety dom country in the whole world... what can you do? Enjoy the adventure in front of you, I suppose. So I am. :)
After I wrote to you last week, we had a really fun p-day seeing some sights in Pskov. We also scoped the Mafia housing which is really nice even for American. We got interviewed by a news camera crew when we were exploring a ruin of a castle watch tower in the rain. I of course just stood stupidly staring at the camera with Elder K while my comp talked to the interviewer. I had no clue what was going on, but that's not a new feeling at all. You want to know why that's so crazy, tho?! Today we went to an old city outside of Pskov to explore all of the old ruins and churches and at one of the stands in the bazaar a woman said she recognized all of us from TV and wanted to know about our church and took a book of Mormon! Yay! :)
I bought my new pet finally! She's BEAUTIFUL! hahaha And so soft and fluffy and I love to pet her. Of course I'm talking about my coat. She doesn't have a name yet, but when I finally wear her for real, I'm sure one will come to me. The crazy lady who sold her to me didn't know what kind of animal she is... which I wasn't down with. She and i fought. "It's natural, girl, it's natural." "Okay, but what kind of animal is it?" "It's natural, it's natur-" "What kind of NATURAL freaking ANIMAL is it lady?!" My comp wouldn't even TRY to work a deal for me even tho I begged her to because you can work everything you buy in these Renix (bazaars) everywhere. The lady said i was too fat too. Yea yea, i know I'm tolsty (fat) but everyone doesn't need to tell me. HAHA they're very open here in Russia. So yea, now all I need to buy is my seal skin hat and I'm all set.
Sosyak taught my how to pee in a hole this week... it's info i needed because we're going to zone conference again this weekend and you know what that means. So we'll see if i can do what we practiced. :)
Totally random, but I'm convinced everyone has a twin in Russia. Everyone. I've seen IDENTICAL people to movie stars or random people i know, and I kid you not, Uncle Joe was standing by me on the bus today. Sometimes i think people are playing tricks on me, it's so weird!
Okay, here i was thinking that my whole schooling for hair was going to go to waste because I just left and went on a mission, but mom, you have no clue what a blessing it has been! YES! At least there is SOMETHING I can do to help in a big way, because i for sure can't speak the language! haha! But seriously, I cut 2 or 3 people's hair a day now! And it's such a blessing! This girl who I LOVE has been coming to church forever i guess and has been waiting to turn 18 to get baptized. But her mom saw the haircut i gave her and wanted me to cut hers too. It was such an amazing experience! She warmed up so much and wants to meet with us again!
We're baptizing a girl next Sunday who we started teaching just a couple of weeks ago and whose hair i cut. Yesterday she brought her sister to get her hair cut and it she wants to come to church too! There are two twin girls who I cut too and one of them screamed when she saw herself, she loved it so so much! There's a babushka (the one who always feeds us scary things) who has a daughter but none of the missionaries had ever seen her. She was always hiding when we went over, but a couple weeks ago, sosyak snagged her when she was making a dart for the bathroom and for some reason immediately told her that i do hair and school started that week and she asked if we would do HER daughters hair. it turned out really good, a totally Hollywood princess updo, because that's what she wanted. Ever since then, every time we go over she (daughter of the bab and mother of the little girl) tries to impress us and has nice tea and treats and stuff. And she hugs us and kisses us and sits and talks... it's an AMAZING turn around! These are just a few of the incidences, i don't have time right now to write the rest, but they're all amazing and I'm so happy I have this skill I can use! So random! So weird! SUCH a blessing! :)
Saturday was an amazingly spiritual day for us. We had the most amazing lessons, and got a baptism. The girl we were teaching (Sasha, whose hair i cut and who has the sister) said after the discussion that yea, she wanted to be baptized, and i just started crying! There was such a strong spirit and i just lost it! I of course tried to play it off all cool, but really i just fell apart. I learned that day not to judge people, because i didn't think she was serious about us teaching her at all, but the spirit was so strong and the thought just came so clear to me that it's not my choice who is ready for the gospel or not. It was amazing. I'm sorry, I hate giving you short versions of all these experiences.
I was asked to go up and give my testimony on Sunday, and it was really fun. Russian is coming a TINY bit easier and I'm suddenly understanding a LOT more, which doesn't mean too much but I'm ECSTATIC about it! :)
Then my life here in Russian went right down hill. This week has been pretty horrible in a lot of ways, but I know it's only because Satan is working on me so hard right now. I had a day or two of absolute high flying happiness and Satan decided to try to make me crash and burn... hard. But at least I know his game and I'm sooooo on it! :)
But luckily, we have two MORE baptisms the week after next, so we're going strong! President called last night and wanted to know details on our investigators to see for himself if sosyak and i really have so many! :) haha i laughed at that! But obviously it's not us, we're just here at the right time learning the right lessons and talking to the right people. I love the way missionary work WORKS! :)
OMG! I have so much more to tell you but absolutely no time! Oh, but maybe I should tell you that I got attacked by a psycho cat yesterday. hahahahahhahahaha! This cat was WEIRD! We were in a ghetto produce market near our apartment and this random cat was cruising through and i was like, "that cat has psycho eyes" because they were florescent glowing green like I've never seen before. I kid you not, the cat didn't jump... it teleported from five feet away to a lock-jawed position on my right hand. I didn't even react, I was like "ow" and shook it off, and by the time i REALLY realized what had happened the cat was gone. So i was bleeding everywhere and the dumb cat slobbered all over me and i was like "sosyak, um..." hahaha she was like "normalna" when i told her what happened. So now... i have to get rabies shots... lovely. What next? We'll see. (written Sep 20, 2007)
After I wrote to you last week, we had a really fun p-day seeing some sights in Pskov. We also scoped the Mafia housing which is really nice even for American. We got interviewed by a news camera crew when we were exploring a ruin of a castle watch tower in the rain. I of course just stood stupidly staring at the camera with Elder K while my comp talked to the interviewer. I had no clue what was going on, but that's not a new feeling at all. You want to know why that's so crazy, tho?! Today we went to an old city outside of Pskov to explore all of the old ruins and churches and at one of the stands in the bazaar a woman said she recognized all of us from TV and wanted to know about our church and took a book of Mormon! Yay! :)
I bought my new pet finally! She's BEAUTIFUL! hahaha And so soft and fluffy and I love to pet her. Of course I'm talking about my coat. She doesn't have a name yet, but when I finally wear her for real, I'm sure one will come to me. The crazy lady who sold her to me didn't know what kind of animal she is... which I wasn't down with. She and i fought. "It's natural, girl, it's natural." "Okay, but what kind of animal is it?" "It's natural, it's natur-" "What kind of NATURAL freaking ANIMAL is it lady?!" My comp wouldn't even TRY to work a deal for me even tho I begged her to because you can work everything you buy in these Renix (bazaars) everywhere. The lady said i was too fat too. Yea yea, i know I'm tolsty (fat) but everyone doesn't need to tell me. HAHA they're very open here in Russia. So yea, now all I need to buy is my seal skin hat and I'm all set.
Sosyak taught my how to pee in a hole this week... it's info i needed because we're going to zone conference again this weekend and you know what that means. So we'll see if i can do what we practiced. :)
Totally random, but I'm convinced everyone has a twin in Russia. Everyone. I've seen IDENTICAL people to movie stars or random people i know, and I kid you not, Uncle Joe was standing by me on the bus today. Sometimes i think people are playing tricks on me, it's so weird!
Okay, here i was thinking that my whole schooling for hair was going to go to waste because I just left and went on a mission, but mom, you have no clue what a blessing it has been! YES! At least there is SOMETHING I can do to help in a big way, because i for sure can't speak the language! haha! But seriously, I cut 2 or 3 people's hair a day now! And it's such a blessing! This girl who I LOVE has been coming to church forever i guess and has been waiting to turn 18 to get baptized. But her mom saw the haircut i gave her and wanted me to cut hers too. It was such an amazing experience! She warmed up so much and wants to meet with us again!
We're baptizing a girl next Sunday who we started teaching just a couple of weeks ago and whose hair i cut. Yesterday she brought her sister to get her hair cut and it she wants to come to church too! There are two twin girls who I cut too and one of them screamed when she saw herself, she loved it so so much! There's a babushka (the one who always feeds us scary things) who has a daughter but none of the missionaries had ever seen her. She was always hiding when we went over, but a couple weeks ago, sosyak snagged her when she was making a dart for the bathroom and for some reason immediately told her that i do hair and school started that week and she asked if we would do HER daughters hair. it turned out really good, a totally Hollywood princess updo, because that's what she wanted. Ever since then, every time we go over she (daughter of the bab and mother of the little girl) tries to impress us and has nice tea and treats and stuff. And she hugs us and kisses us and sits and talks... it's an AMAZING turn around! These are just a few of the incidences, i don't have time right now to write the rest, but they're all amazing and I'm so happy I have this skill I can use! So random! So weird! SUCH a blessing! :)
Saturday was an amazingly spiritual day for us. We had the most amazing lessons, and got a baptism. The girl we were teaching (Sasha, whose hair i cut and who has the sister) said after the discussion that yea, she wanted to be baptized, and i just started crying! There was such a strong spirit and i just lost it! I of course tried to play it off all cool, but really i just fell apart. I learned that day not to judge people, because i didn't think she was serious about us teaching her at all, but the spirit was so strong and the thought just came so clear to me that it's not my choice who is ready for the gospel or not. It was amazing. I'm sorry, I hate giving you short versions of all these experiences.
I was asked to go up and give my testimony on Sunday, and it was really fun. Russian is coming a TINY bit easier and I'm suddenly understanding a LOT more, which doesn't mean too much but I'm ECSTATIC about it! :)
Then my life here in Russian went right down hill. This week has been pretty horrible in a lot of ways, but I know it's only because Satan is working on me so hard right now. I had a day or two of absolute high flying happiness and Satan decided to try to make me crash and burn... hard. But at least I know his game and I'm sooooo on it! :)
But luckily, we have two MORE baptisms the week after next, so we're going strong! President called last night and wanted to know details on our investigators to see for himself if sosyak and i really have so many! :) haha i laughed at that! But obviously it's not us, we're just here at the right time learning the right lessons and talking to the right people. I love the way missionary work WORKS! :)
OMG! I have so much more to tell you but absolutely no time! Oh, but maybe I should tell you that I got attacked by a psycho cat yesterday. hahahahahhahahaha! This cat was WEIRD! We were in a ghetto produce market near our apartment and this random cat was cruising through and i was like, "that cat has psycho eyes" because they were florescent glowing green like I've never seen before. I kid you not, the cat didn't jump... it teleported from five feet away to a lock-jawed position on my right hand. I didn't even react, I was like "ow" and shook it off, and by the time i REALLY realized what had happened the cat was gone. So i was bleeding everywhere and the dumb cat slobbered all over me and i was like "sosyak, um..." hahaha she was like "normalna" when i told her what happened. So now... i have to get rabies shots... lovely. What next? We'll see. (written Sep 20, 2007)
I'm no rock star
I just spent a bunch of time trying to upload pics and it worked but now i don't know how to find them to send them because everything is in RUSSIAN! :) We're short on time today, we're going to some ancient ruins or something.
So, our little problem, I think, is gone for good. Well, let's hope it's for good! You can imagine how freaking paranoid i am now! Every girl at church loves to snuggle me and I've just been cringing and looking at their hair every chance i get! And I did two haircuts yesterday and the whole time I was waiting for a lice to show up!
So, our little problem, I think, is gone for good. Well, let's hope it's for good! You can imagine how freaking paranoid i am now! Every girl at church loves to snuggle me and I've just been cringing and looking at their hair every chance i get! And I did two haircuts yesterday and the whole time I was waiting for a lice to show up!
You know how my scissors are Washi brand? Well that means "lice" in Russian.... a boy pointed that out to me yesterday and I found that insanely ironic. We of COURSE have kept the whole things under wraps, and the Elders have been having a hey day guessing and thinking something is TOTALLY and HORRIBLY wrong (which believe me, I've let them know it isn't because I refuse to be a dramatic and high mantainance sister) and they have been bringing us blankets and icecream and stuff. hahaha
I love our elders, we have so much fun together! I'm SOOOO thankful they gave us blankets, because that night after I wrote to you, it was so freaking cold and all of our stuff was still wet (because nothing dries in this cold and humidity) so I spent the whole night awake in front of an open gas oven on full blast... it was totally torture. You know being cold is the WORST feeling in the world for me! Well, being cold AND tired reeeeeally sucks. But I had time between the hours of 3 and 4 to make thank you cookies for the elders, so ya know. Something good came out of it i guess. I look ridiculous though. I think we're going to go one more night tonight on the floor again. We have washed with lice shampoo 5 times since i wrote you last, so we think they're dead.
I happened to hear an amazing song by Yellowcard yesterday! One of the boys played it while I was cutting hair. By the way, my cutting hair has been SUCH a blessing on my mission! We've gotten so many contacts and lessons out of it! I do like one a day! But anyways, it's way funny how everyone here has TONS of American music, and they don't understand any of it! NONE! The girls in the ward have me sing songs to them all the time that they love (which ps is totally mortifying because, let's be honest, I'm no rockstar... sadly) and they just stare at me and then beg me to sing them again and again... it's hilarious. And all the brands and logos and words on clothes here are totally American, and they have no clue what they say. I know because i asked a man on the bus if he knew what his shirt said. Not so good. But no, he didn't know.
I love you oh so much! Truly madly deeply! Be safe and love the gospel because it freaking ROCKS!!!! :) (written Sep 12, 2007)
I happened to hear an amazing song by Yellowcard yesterday! One of the boys played it while I was cutting hair. By the way, my cutting hair has been SUCH a blessing on my mission! We've gotten so many contacts and lessons out of it! I do like one a day! But anyways, it's way funny how everyone here has TONS of American music, and they don't understand any of it! NONE! The girls in the ward have me sing songs to them all the time that they love (which ps is totally mortifying because, let's be honest, I'm no rockstar... sadly) and they just stare at me and then beg me to sing them again and again... it's hilarious. And all the brands and logos and words on clothes here are totally American, and they have no clue what they say. I know because i asked a man on the bus if he knew what his shirt said. Not so good. But no, he didn't know.
I love you oh so much! Truly madly deeply! Be safe and love the gospel because it freaking ROCKS!!!! :) (written Sep 12, 2007)
"Oh...and I have lice"
I have lice.
There's no good or easy way to say that. hahahahahahhahahahaha OMG! WHERE AM I!?!?!?!
So let me tell you the story. I know that it's Monday, but it's been a funny day from heck and we needed to email our families, so hey, maybe it was worth the lice.... ;)
So last night, Sosyak told me that her head was on fire and would I check her for bugs... So I sat her down in the kitchen, totally not thinking I would find anything, because lice is such a foreign thought to me (i should have realized i am in Russia and you don't get much more foreign than that,) and it's always been just a nightmare, not so much a reality for me that people actually CAN get lice. I parted her hair and AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! Totally saw lice!!! EEEEEEEE!!!!! I immediately started crying, knowing full well that if she had it, I did because we not only live together and are with each other 24/7, but we always have our heads together sleeping near each other and stuff. She was like "Normalna!" and didn't get why I was crying. (I only cried a little bit, I'm not a freaking wanny!) :) She checked me and I had some too... Oh. My. Gosh.
I called Sister S right away, and was in a little bit of shock at what I had just seen, so when Prez S answered I couldn't even remember my own name. hahaha While Sister S was on the phone with me and I had told her our problem and all, I accidentally without thinking yelled "SOSYAK! Stop scratching your FREAKING head and sit down!" really loud and angrily. She was scratching and flinging her head everywhere and running around the house laughing. During this lice issue I was slightly unhinged, and yes, I yelled FREAKING into the Mission Prez's wife's ear... I started apologizing, but she just told me she would be the same way. Anyways, we ended up having to go find a 24 hr pharmacy in the middle of the night and oddly there was a really long line (outside in the freaking 20 degree weather) at the one we found. Meanwhile, our district leader wanted to know what was happening and I of course refused to tell him and tried to play it off like it was no big deal.
Then there were two guy's behind us in line that were fascinated that i was American and they were being all perverted in Russian, to see if i could understand and react, which of course i didn't because they were so lame. When we got up to the window the woman was all loud about us having lice and the guys, in ALL seriousness were like, "you want to share your bugs with us?" and other stuff in Russian. Man, what a screwed up county... But guys here are like, "oo American? let's get it on" all the time. And lice is like, no big deal here. Like sosyak said, "Normalna."
So sosyak and I stripped and did the process we needed to with the hair rinse and everything and we immediately started washing ALL of our clothes, sheets, blankets all in the hottest water possible. It was the worst and FUNNIEST situation EVER!
Finally, after talking to my DL and Sis S. again a bunch of times, we sat huddled in our undies in front of a heater that we found (that sparks and ended up melting our plug socket last night) because we had wet hair, no towels, no blankets, no clothes and it was 20 degrees like i told you before. We couldn't touch the couches or anything until we could go buy stuff to spray it all down with today. So we pulled an all nighter just doing load after load of laundry and talking about the lice orgies (sosyak called them "orggies" so i had to tell you :) ) going on on our heads and laughing hysterically.
In the morning, after flat ironing each other's hair, we checked each other's hair for more lice about every hour, still just chillin in our undies because we don't have a dryer and all our clothes were/are wet. Guess what. Sosyak still had some bugs in her hair. So we went and got a spray for our bodies, a spray for the house, and more hair stuff.
So let me tell you the story. I know that it's Monday, but it's been a funny day from heck and we needed to email our families, so hey, maybe it was worth the lice.... ;)
So last night, Sosyak told me that her head was on fire and would I check her for bugs... So I sat her down in the kitchen, totally not thinking I would find anything, because lice is such a foreign thought to me (i should have realized i am in Russia and you don't get much more foreign than that,) and it's always been just a nightmare, not so much a reality for me that people actually CAN get lice. I parted her hair and AHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!! Totally saw lice!!! EEEEEEEE!!!!! I immediately started crying, knowing full well that if she had it, I did because we not only live together and are with each other 24/7, but we always have our heads together sleeping near each other and stuff. She was like "Normalna!" and didn't get why I was crying. (I only cried a little bit, I'm not a freaking wanny!) :) She checked me and I had some too... Oh. My. Gosh.
I called Sister S right away, and was in a little bit of shock at what I had just seen, so when Prez S answered I couldn't even remember my own name. hahaha While Sister S was on the phone with me and I had told her our problem and all, I accidentally without thinking yelled "SOSYAK! Stop scratching your FREAKING head and sit down!" really loud and angrily. She was scratching and flinging her head everywhere and running around the house laughing. During this lice issue I was slightly unhinged, and yes, I yelled FREAKING into the Mission Prez's wife's ear... I started apologizing, but she just told me she would be the same way. Anyways, we ended up having to go find a 24 hr pharmacy in the middle of the night and oddly there was a really long line (outside in the freaking 20 degree weather) at the one we found. Meanwhile, our district leader wanted to know what was happening and I of course refused to tell him and tried to play it off like it was no big deal.
Then there were two guy's behind us in line that were fascinated that i was American and they were being all perverted in Russian, to see if i could understand and react, which of course i didn't because they were so lame. When we got up to the window the woman was all loud about us having lice and the guys, in ALL seriousness were like, "you want to share your bugs with us?" and other stuff in Russian. Man, what a screwed up county... But guys here are like, "oo American? let's get it on" all the time. And lice is like, no big deal here. Like sosyak said, "Normalna."
So sosyak and I stripped and did the process we needed to with the hair rinse and everything and we immediately started washing ALL of our clothes, sheets, blankets all in the hottest water possible. It was the worst and FUNNIEST situation EVER!
Finally, after talking to my DL and Sis S. again a bunch of times, we sat huddled in our undies in front of a heater that we found (that sparks and ended up melting our plug socket last night) because we had wet hair, no towels, no blankets, no clothes and it was 20 degrees like i told you before. We couldn't touch the couches or anything until we could go buy stuff to spray it all down with today. So we pulled an all nighter just doing load after load of laundry and talking about the lice orgies (sosyak called them "orggies" so i had to tell you :) ) going on on our heads and laughing hysterically.
In the morning, after flat ironing each other's hair, we checked each other's hair for more lice about every hour, still just chillin in our undies because we don't have a dryer and all our clothes were/are wet. Guess what. Sosyak still had some bugs in her hair. So we went and got a spray for our bodies, a spray for the house, and more hair stuff.
District meeting was done over the phone and all the elders were still like, WHAT IS GOING ON?! Which who can blame them? I just kept on telling them it was something so gay and to forget about it. Come to find out earlier on tho, as P was guessing things that it could be, and asked "do you happen to have little friends?" and i so casually was like "yes, we have lice. NO you moron." hahahaha! Then he told me that This week and last week the other two elders who have BEEN to my apt had a "bug" prob that they kept really quiet and it was top secret. So we think it was either them or some of the girls in the branch that gave it to us because some of them... well... they would have it.
Anyways, the boys brought us over chicken fettuccine alfredo and ice cream and an air mattress because they found out we didn't sleep last night and now think something is wrong with our beds. I love them! Our district is freaking RAD! We got a BRAND new kid who totally knew who i was because i guess we were in the MTC together and it took me a while to figure that out and i then had to apologize for not knowing him. The other one is RAD and he came with us on the bus from St. Petes. We're totally best friends already (he gave me a Dr. pepper he smuggled in from Finland, how could I NOT immediately love him?!)
Anyways, the boys brought us over chicken fettuccine alfredo and ice cream and an air mattress because they found out we didn't sleep last night and now think something is wrong with our beds. I love them! Our district is freaking RAD! We got a BRAND new kid who totally knew who i was because i guess we were in the MTC together and it took me a while to figure that out and i then had to apologize for not knowing him. The other one is RAD and he came with us on the bus from St. Petes. We're totally best friends already (he gave me a Dr. pepper he smuggled in from Finland, how could I NOT immediately love him?!)
We were going to go stay at their place tonight and they were gonna go to the other elder's apt, but then i was like, if THEY get lice (if we still have it even after all the stuff we've done to get rid of it), they'll never forgive us. So i refused. They kept on asking what was wrong and I just told them we killed a man and to forget about it. Anyways, that's my adventure! I have lice. hahhaahaha we say that after everything now. "I'm going to the bathroom really quick, k... and i have lice."
I'm really sad you haven't written on here yet, because sosyak says this counts as our p-day and i was like, UM! My fam writes on Wednesday so that's not gonna fly. so hopefully and MOST LIKELY you'll still hear from me on Thursday. I'll definitely be checking my mail. Please write me a lot, I miss you so much! I LOVE the pics you sent! I wrote you some letters and put them in pouch so look for them. I love you oh so sososososososoosososososoooooooooooo much! :)
I'm really sad you haven't written on here yet, because sosyak says this counts as our p-day and i was like, UM! My fam writes on Wednesday so that's not gonna fly. so hopefully and MOST LIKELY you'll still hear from me on Thursday. I'll definitely be checking my mail. Please write me a lot, I miss you so much! I LOVE the pics you sent! I wrote you some letters and put them in pouch so look for them. I love you oh so sososososososoosososososoooooooooooo much! :)
And I have lice. (written Sep 10, 2007)
Fairy tales and the Holy Ghost
Okay, big thing this week... TRANSFERS!!! AH! It was one of the most torturous things I've ever gone through. I think it's really mean for us to know when transfers are. They should just spring them on us randomly from time to time, because for 3 days it's all everyone could think about. Let me just tell you that Sosyak and I SHOCKINGLY were left together in Pskov and we were THRILLED. Everyone, including me, was sure I was going to be transferred. But I wasn't so it's all good in the hood.
Yesterday was sosyak's birthday. I didn't know what to do, so i plastered our apartment with hearts before she woke up with messages on all of them. Then I made her hard boiled eggs, tea and toast (cuz it's all i know how to make) and made it into a smiley face with mayo because she's obsessed with smiley faces. and with mayo... :) Oh, and she likes twix, so i got her some HUGE ones and put them out for breakfast too. Last night we had a weird photo sesh and so i have some fun pics to send you, if ever i can! ERGH!
I told sosyak about the Little Mermaid yesterday and she told me the Russian version.... not so happy-go-lucky, believe me. She's like "yea the mermaid gets legs from the sea witch, but every step she takes it's like knives stabbing her feet." Then she goes on to tell me how a bad princess says that SHE saved the prince, Eric, and he believes her but then Eric got in a duel and was dying and so Ariel went back to the sea witch and traded her life for Eric's.... so she DIES at the end! WHAT THE CRAP!?!?!?! THIS isn't a happy fairytale! Sosyak said she loved this story and movie when she was little. She said most of the fairy tales end sad... No WONDER all these kids grow up to be alcoholics!
Oh, ps, after we emailed last week, us six missionaries went and had a bbq/picnic in an old war ruin on a provaslovic church grounds in the rain.
Kind of random, I see that Sawyer from LOST is modeling now. haha I walked into the store and saw a HUGE sawyer and I was like, THAT'S SAWYER!!!!! I get overly excited about anything familiar.
The other day, we were riding on the bus enjoying an old drunk man making a scene and fighting with everyone when suddenly we stopped at a bus stop and on walks Christian Bale's twin. Hello Russian batman! HELLOOO new boyfriend!... ;) I know I know, I'm a total missionary, it can wait.
I have discovered something, though, and you're going to think i'm ridiculous for JUST figuring this out, but for some reason yesterday it occurred to me that every time I'm on the bus I notice someONE. Like, you get on, and zone out, but usually one person stands out to me for one reason or another. For something stupid like a ladies nails are weird, or I like a guy's shoes, or for some reason I'm just aware of someone for no reason at all. I haven't noticed it before, but it's true. And if I don't contact THAT person, usually Sister Sosyak will. So yesterday we walked up to a bus stop with about 25 people waiting and I happened to notice, and looked a few times at a boy sitting on a bench off to the side. I don't know why, but I did keep on looking. Finally sosyak said let's go sit down and we did, right by him. I still kept on looking at him and finally sosyak started talking to him, first about English practice and then about the church. It's so cool to see people process the information and somehow RECOGNIZE it and like it in their hearts. That's what he did. It got him thinking, our bus came, we gave him an English slip and we left. That's when all of this occurred to me. The Lord truly is putting people RIGHT in my path and telling me who to contact by bringing my attention to them. If I don't act on the spirits promptings, he tells sosyak to do it. It's amazing how it works! I love it!
Sosyak gets to go to the temple tomorrow and I'm so jealous. I didn't realize just how much I missed it until I was testifying about it yesterday to one of our girls in the branch. I miss KNOWING we have the temple close by and can go at any time. The temple is just a dream to these people. A VERY distant and far away dream. I'm so thankful to live in America. (written Sep 6, 2007)
Guess who WAS transferred though.... J and.... D! So freaking sad! I was devastated. Everyone went to the bus station to see them off yesterday and it was a sad farewell.
Even bigger than transfers... Sosyak and I have 4 baptisms!!!! YAY! MIRACLE! I'm so excited! They're not FINALIZED, and I know that's a death statement, but I just had to tell you that we committed four people. :)
Even bigger than transfers... Sosyak and I have 4 baptisms!!!! YAY! MIRACLE! I'm so excited! They're not FINALIZED, and I know that's a death statement, but I just had to tell you that we committed four people. :)
Yesterday was sosyak's birthday. I didn't know what to do, so i plastered our apartment with hearts before she woke up with messages on all of them. Then I made her hard boiled eggs, tea and toast (cuz it's all i know how to make) and made it into a smiley face with mayo because she's obsessed with smiley faces. and with mayo... :) Oh, and she likes twix, so i got her some HUGE ones and put them out for breakfast too. Last night we had a weird photo sesh and so i have some fun pics to send you, if ever i can! ERGH!
I told sosyak about the Little Mermaid yesterday and she told me the Russian version.... not so happy-go-lucky, believe me. She's like "yea the mermaid gets legs from the sea witch, but every step she takes it's like knives stabbing her feet." Then she goes on to tell me how a bad princess says that SHE saved the prince, Eric, and he believes her but then Eric got in a duel and was dying and so Ariel went back to the sea witch and traded her life for Eric's.... so she DIES at the end! WHAT THE CRAP!?!?!?! THIS isn't a happy fairytale! Sosyak said she loved this story and movie when she was little. She said most of the fairy tales end sad... No WONDER all these kids grow up to be alcoholics!
Oh, ps, after we emailed last week, us six missionaries went and had a bbq/picnic in an old war ruin on a provaslovic church grounds in the rain.
Kind of random, I see that Sawyer from LOST is modeling now. haha I walked into the store and saw a HUGE sawyer and I was like, THAT'S SAWYER!!!!! I get overly excited about anything familiar.
The other day, we were riding on the bus enjoying an old drunk man making a scene and fighting with everyone when suddenly we stopped at a bus stop and on walks Christian Bale's twin. Hello Russian batman! HELLOOO new boyfriend!... ;) I know I know, I'm a total missionary, it can wait.
I have discovered something, though, and you're going to think i'm ridiculous for JUST figuring this out, but for some reason yesterday it occurred to me that every time I'm on the bus I notice someONE. Like, you get on, and zone out, but usually one person stands out to me for one reason or another. For something stupid like a ladies nails are weird, or I like a guy's shoes, or for some reason I'm just aware of someone for no reason at all. I haven't noticed it before, but it's true. And if I don't contact THAT person, usually Sister Sosyak will. So yesterday we walked up to a bus stop with about 25 people waiting and I happened to notice, and looked a few times at a boy sitting on a bench off to the side. I don't know why, but I did keep on looking. Finally sosyak said let's go sit down and we did, right by him. I still kept on looking at him and finally sosyak started talking to him, first about English practice and then about the church. It's so cool to see people process the information and somehow RECOGNIZE it and like it in their hearts. That's what he did. It got him thinking, our bus came, we gave him an English slip and we left. That's when all of this occurred to me. The Lord truly is putting people RIGHT in my path and telling me who to contact by bringing my attention to them. If I don't act on the spirits promptings, he tells sosyak to do it. It's amazing how it works! I love it!
Sosyak gets to go to the temple tomorrow and I'm so jealous. I didn't realize just how much I missed it until I was testifying about it yesterday to one of our girls in the branch. I miss KNOWING we have the temple close by and can go at any time. The temple is just a dream to these people. A VERY distant and far away dream. I'm so thankful to live in America. (written Sep 6, 2007)
Words I never thought I would utter
I'm so frustrated, don't even get me started, about the mail system here! I'm just trying to send you a disk of my pics and a TINY b-day present for H, and it's the biggest ordeal of my life. I'm like, "I'll pay whatever" and i still can't get them sent. it's ridiculous, but hopefully i can figure it out by the end of this week and have them on the way.
Transfers are this week and I'm sooooo
nervous! i don't want to get transferred yet! everything is JUST starting to work perfectly, but i hear a lot of missionaries, ESPECIALLY newbies, get transferred in one transfer. so we find out on Saturday. AH!
So, I'm vegatarian now.... words i never thought i would utter. I can't even spell it. but i think it's for the best. all the meat has made me sick and it's just gross anyways, so i made this decision. And guess what. The German elder, P, told me he didn't want to tell me before, but that the meat situation here.... lets just say it's totally The Jungle all over again, but nobody cares and there are no health laws... so good spiritual decision on my part... :)
I think I've told you about Agbaar, the Muslim man we are teaching. He's freaking GOLDEN and we love him! And he is always giving all of us and the branch amazing things to eat and stuff.
Then, one day they were cruising on the street and passed a man... who looked like meesha! And they called out his name... It was HIM! He was so excited they found him and has asked them back to teach him and his wife and gave them a couple ways to contact him and took a BOM and everything. Well, needless to say, the OTHER AP called back BEGGING for our forgiveness and thanking us a thousand times over. :) Had it not been for the pics, they never would have recognized him. Its a Christmas miracle! haha!
Hey, can you tell me what vitamins i need to be taking here? cuz I'm so unhealthy and i hurt. ouch. And I've stopped wearing eye makeup and i don't have any nail or toenail polish on... What have i become!?!??! (written Aug 30, 2007)
Transfers are this week and I'm sooooo
nervous! i don't want to get transferred yet! everything is JUST starting to work perfectly, but i hear a lot of missionaries, ESPECIALLY newbies, get transferred in one transfer. so we find out on Saturday. AH!So, I'm vegatarian now.... words i never thought i would utter. I can't even spell it. but i think it's for the best. all the meat has made me sick and it's just gross anyways, so i made this decision. And guess what. The German elder, P, told me he didn't want to tell me before, but that the meat situation here.... lets just say it's totally The Jungle all over again, but nobody cares and there are no health laws... so good spiritual decision on my part... :)
I think I've told you about Agbaar, the Muslim man we are teaching. He's freaking GOLDEN and we love him! And he is always giving all of us and the branch amazing things to eat and stuff.
Last Thursday we went home and called the mission office to tell them about our flooding incident, because we had to. Before Sosyak could say anything, our AP started SCOLDING her so bad. Why? Do you remember the guy I told you about on the train? Meesha. Well we sent the pics we took of him and us with a book of Mormon and our testimonies with his address to the Elders in Petersburg to go and give to Meesha in person because he loved everything we told him about the gospel....didn't go over too well. They DIDN'T go and contact him because of the pictures... They said, "it's PORNOGRAPHY!" We were like HUH?! He didn't have a shirt on in the pics. We didn't even THINK about that, which maybe we should have, but NO man in that train had on a shirt because of the temp and because it's just the culture here! Anyways, our AP went off like we had some kind of orgy with the guy! we didn't even shake his hand! It was retarded! Then he said, "We don't teach prostitutes." and I said "Well neither do we, but I WOULD if one wanted to sincerely know about the gospel." He didn't like that very much, so I didn't mention the fact that Christ taught prostitutes. So lame. So before first transfers I already made a notorious name for myself as the Porno pic sister... Why can't i just ONCE stay under the radar? haha
The story goes on tho. So i guess they pawned Meesha's address off on some other elders who tried to go and contact him but it just wasn't working out. First, they couldn't get the door buzzer to work (you know in all the apt buildings you buzz the number at the door and then they let you up.) Well i guess they finally got in, but meesha wasn't home and he has big dogs who barked and the neighbors got mad and told them Meesha was NEVER home. I guess this happened a couple of times, so they gave up.
The story goes on tho. So i guess they pawned Meesha's address off on some other elders who tried to go and contact him but it just wasn't working out. First, they couldn't get the door buzzer to work (you know in all the apt buildings you buzz the number at the door and then they let you up.) Well i guess they finally got in, but meesha wasn't home and he has big dogs who barked and the neighbors got mad and told them Meesha was NEVER home. I guess this happened a couple of times, so they gave up.
Then, one day they were cruising on the street and passed a man... who looked like meesha! And they called out his name... It was HIM! He was so excited they found him and has asked them back to teach him and his wife and gave them a couple ways to contact him and took a BOM and everything. Well, needless to say, the OTHER AP called back BEGGING for our forgiveness and thanking us a thousand times over. :) Had it not been for the pics, they never would have recognized him. Its a Christmas miracle! haha! Hey, can you tell me what vitamins i need to be taking here? cuz I'm so unhealthy and i hurt. ouch. And I've stopped wearing eye makeup and i don't have any nail or toenail polish on... What have i become!?!??! (written Aug 30, 2007)
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