Week 26: SIX MONTHS-WHAT?!

Happy Monday everyone!

Yeah that's right! I've been out serving the Lord for six months already! Can't believe it? Well neither can I! But it's the truth!

We didn't have a heavy work week because of training meetings, interviews, and zone conference but I can tell you Sister Moore are on a spiritual high and we are pumped to get some new people to teach and get the work going again in our area. We've been struggling to find more people to teach and our weeks have been less booked than ever and I still feel like I have been the busiest I have ever been my whole mission. It's crazy how it works out like that!

We had a goal to make people in this country smile more this week and we made 33 Ukrainians smile since Tuesday, and we even got a creepy "I love you" out of it too (in Russian and then translated into English)! We're going to brighten this country up one smile at a time.

Speaking of smiles, I was full of them this week with all the crazy rain storms! We got caught in a crazy one but all was well with umbrellas and rain boots. And then Ukraine decided it hated me again and over night it was a sauna outside again, so I'm back to melting away. My trainee is from Las Vegas so she understands my problem with the humidity here. I'm just praying fall comes soon. A man I was talking to on the marshrutka the other day said there wasn't this much humidity 10 years ago. Too bad I was 9 then... oh well. I feel Heavenly Father's love for me just that much more when we get a cool rain storm.

In closing, I am just really grateful to serve a mission, here in Ukraine, in Borschagovsky, with Sister Moore, and at this time. I'm grateful for a lot of other things, but these have definitely been at the top of my list this week. I love you all and I wish you the best, wherever you may be. Have an amazing week!

Sister Vehar

I love rain and the temple

It poured. Yes, I promise I'm in Ukraine

 A little green I see everyday

My cute Sister Moore as Baba Svetlana, jazzing up some role plays

Week 25: I was alone with a man: NOT CLICKBAIT

Happy Monday everyone!!

This week was quite the wild one, regardless of every single one of our lessons falling through.

I don't think I'll ever understand Ukrainians. Here are a few instances why:

- A phone call with an inactive member of our church: Hello! We'd like to invite you to church tomorrow!- I can't- well can we meet you sometime this week so we still see you?- Sure I'm usually free in the evenings- Okay, which day?- Girls, don't worry about me! I'm fine, everything is in order. Have a good day!---- So yeah, we'll just stop by in the evening I guess.

- An impromptu visit with an inactive member of our church: Lets us in the complex after we essentially ring the apartment doorbell. Then we knock on their door- we hear them eating dinner- they don't answer. Moral of the story, don't let people in if you won't let them in. actually we got to leave them a note so that was good.

- Ukrainians don't try to understand bad Russian. I feel like we Americans are very understanding and we try to make sense of broken English or a mispronounced word. Not here though. Even if you have slightly incorrect intonation in your question, they will not understand the simplest of phrases such as “How are you?”. I've related it to someone coming up to me and saying I am a girl, or I am a girl? I just have to be patient and say something I learned in my first few days in the MTC seven times until I get it "right".

Okay so the title. I was not actually alone with a guy- my trainee was. It is the crown jewel of our transfer. Thanks to our third companion, I am blessed to have a video explaining the conversation. But, maybe you won't watch it- your loss- so I'll briefly describe. Sister Moore ran for the open elevator and hit our button per habit, but the doors automatically shut (being open a long time), separating us from our companion- which has happened before, but this time was different. Having hit the button already, the elevator kidnapped my trainee and took her home, screaming all the way up, growing more and more faint. She is obedient, however, so she tried to come back down to us to return within sight and sound, until someone else decided to use the elevator and called it to the eighth floor. This is where the title comes in- Sister Moore was alone with a man in the elevator for eight floors. Maybe not so funny for those of you at home, but to us missionaries this is the funniest thing in the world- a close second to when I dropped the keys out the window.

There are a few things that I am just so grateful for and I want to share. I am grateful for RAIN! Old news, but this week has actually had some really nice weather- we even pulled out the rain boots! Even when we had to walk in pouring rain and we were soaking wet, walking ankle-deep in puddles, we were laughing as hard as ever. I am also so very thankful for the opportunity I had to serve with Sister Smith-Driggs. Our trio has gone down to two today which makes us sad but we are also so happy that she is no longer a fugitive from the law- okay not really a fugitive, but go with it. I have learned so much from her and I wish her the best of luck in Estonia!

Everybody- missions are AMAZING! I'm out of time, but just think about that. I love you all!

Sister Vehar​

Wearing our Vyshyvanka at the temple with Sister Smith-Driggs

Week 24: Eventful and Uneventful? The Unending Paradox

Hello everyone! I hope you all had good weeks because mine was great!
Alright everyone we're doing bullet points again!

- We bought vyshyvankas last week! I'd include a picture, but they're all too embarrassing. Anyway, the lady we bought it from is interested in the Gospel! So we will visit her again with the Book of Mormon.

-We got a new investigator this week-her name is Olya! Sister Sutton and I just couldn't seem to meet with her, but it finally worked out! I'll have to tell more about her next week.

-We got Shawarma twice this week because Sister Smith-Driggs loves it and it's not in Estonia.

- Our blind and deaf babushka we go to every week still doesn't know we're a trio so that's fun! She also enjoys making animal noises out of nowhere so that caught a few of us off guard.

I'm sorry this week wasn't more eventful and I haven't had much time to email these past couple of weeks! Have amazing weeks!

Sister Vehar

Week 23: A Long Hard Week of Training

Hello everyone! Time is short and so will be this email.

-We are in a trio for the time being with Sister Smith-Driggs from my MTC district! She is having visa problems in Estonia and we are hoping they will be fixed by next week.

-I have introduced my trainee to shwarma this week! It is divine! We were also fed berry vareniki!!

-People must have a hobby of cancelling on missionaries because we had like absolutely no lessons. Lots of contacting!!! I'm definitely working on my weaknesses which are basically all related to contacting. I actually contacted a lady we contacted last transfer- Tanya the hip babushka!

Sorry it was a really boring week and I have like 2 minutes to write this. BTW CONGRATS TO MY COUSIN SIERRA FOR GETTING ENGAGED THIS WEEK!!! I love you!!

I love you all and I hope you have a great week!

Sister Vehar

 Shwarma-SO GOOD!

 Berry Varaniki

Sisters Smith-Driggs, Vehar and Moore

Week 22: Week One of Training!

Hello everyone!

I am very short on time so I'll try to fit everything in.

I officially said goodbye to Sister Sutton Monday night- Shout out to my favorite trainer in the world! Love ya!

I inherited my trainee, Sister Moore, on Wednesday after a crazy two days of transfers and trios and Shashlik (very tasty *skewered* campfire meat-)! Sister Moore is from Las Vegas and is super cute! I already love her to death and we are going to laugh the heck out of this next two transfers or so. I am guaranteed to stay in Borschagovsky for two transfers and finish Sister Moore's training. HECK YEAH!

Some fun things we did this week were:

- We had three potential investigators at church! Talk about herding cats!

- We bought matching rain boots!

- We taught our first lesson together with 5 minutes notice

- IT HAS BEEN CHILLY AND RAINY ALL WEEK AND I AM SO HAPPY. IT'S JULY FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE!

It is so fun training and I can't wait to to tell y'all more about it next week!

poka poka,
Sister Vehar

*Mom here. I was able to message via Google Hangouts with Sister Vehar Monday morning. She is doing so good. She says trying to speak with people there is really awkward since Sister Sutton went home. Sister Vehar says the other sisters that stayed at her apartment while waiting for their new companions were really impressed with her Russian language and that was a big confidence boost for her, even though she knew her Russian wasn't that good...she says they'll see in three weeks (these other sisters are only 6 weeks younger than her in their missions).

Some fun pictures were posted on the mission facebook page this week. I'll add those to Sister Vehar's pictures. 

This week, the Ukraine, Kyiv mission officially became the Ukraine, Kyiv-Moldova mission. It was a big transition as they sent home their 11 missionaries, reassigned 5 elders to the Ukraine, Dnepropetrovsk mission, and inherited both the Ukraine, L'viv mission and the Moldova (used to be Romania/Moldova) mission. The Kyiv mission just went from about 60 missionaries to over 100. Big, exciting changes! And Sister Vehar couldn't be happier with all that is happening there in Ukraine.

 My cute lil' child

 Sis Moore sleepin

 SWEATER WEATHER IN JULY

 Our booties!

 Sister Slocombe and Sister Vehar at the campfire cookout

Cooking Shashlik

The Kyiv missionaries get to attend the Kyiv temple one last time before returning home. Their companions get to attend too, such a fun treat for Sister Vehar. So wonderful to have a temple in her mission! She is able to attend quaterly, and any other special occasions, like this one.

Sister Vehar and Sister Moore at a baptism