Week 75

Happy last (past) Monday everybody!
Yep I'm catching you up on last week We're just gonna run you through some highlights.
-We made smores with a member and contacted with her- we met a man who now won't stop calling us and I pray doesn't come to English practice
-I contacted two drunk guys who were hilarious because one was hitting on me and the other was just such a homie and roasting his friend for doing so. At least Sergei understood that I'm here to talk to people about God.
-We went up to Kyiv for zone conference. I saw Sisters Pixton and Soucie, even though neither of them are in my zone! And zone conference was bomb. We got smartphones and I had to give my departing testimony. THAT made it real that I'm going home soon.
-MY FAVORITE HIGHLIGHT- So one of our investigators from English practice, who we've only met with once and didn't understand she was an investigator, came up to us this week and said, "I want to be a Mormon, what do I have to do?" Literally almost cried. She also asked what she would need to do if she changed her mind so we'll work with her. She's only 14 though so she'll understand better after we meet.
-We met with a slightly crazy less active and she had four puppies! It was hard to pay attention honestly with that and the fact that we were outside and a spider started making a web on my skirt halfway through the lesson. They're just lucky I didn't run screaming out of that place.
I can't think of anything else, but I love you all!

All the missionaries going home from our zone. I thought it'd be funny to put my arm on the podium and make it look like my arm was around the elder (stupid missionary humor), but in the end I just look fat, so I guess joke's on me

Week 74: When men throw potatoes

Hey everybody!

Good news! My toe is back to normal size, but turns out I'm allergic to bees. So that was fun.

I saw a man throwing potatoes at a pigeon this week while we were contacting because there weren't any customers. I wonder if he ever thought that wasting potatoes on a pigeon maybe isn't the best advertisement. What's done is done.

We were at a less active's this week and she asked for a Book of Mormon because she wants to give it to her friend. "He needs Jesus"- Lena, my girl, we all need Jesus, but hey I'm glad someone wants to do some member missionary work here!

We went to Kyiv this week for Sister Goncear's interview with President (I don't get mine until the end of my mission literally sweating bullets) and it was a fun day with the Kumfermans and we got to go to the templeand then we went to the bus station to go home and the last bus came with only three seats and four missionaries so I just sat on Sister Goncear's lap for twenty minutes until a lady got off and I took her seat. Fun times.

As for the work, one of our investigators will come to church when it's cooler which is really funny to me cause I remember winter and everybody seeming to say they'll come when it's warmer. I guess the weather never seems to be just right for these Ukrainians.

I really love Sister Goncear. She is just a savage. We showed up to a less actives apartment and she said "oh girls I'll just come on my own." Goncear: " We both know you're not coming on your own". Basically I wouldn't rather finish my mission with anyone else.

That's about all I got. Love you all.

Sister Vehar

My toe-You're welcome!

Week 73: A bee stung my pinkie toe

Hey everyone!

Yeah, it's short, but be glad I sent one at all. Yep, a bee stung me- stinkin' vengeful creatures. I don't understand why it had to do that cause I accidentally murdered him by stepping on him, but what's done is done. I have a third big toe. Worse, is that Sister Pixton had to leave us, but I'll see her in 5 weeks.

I actually want to share a spiritual experience I had this week. After the hard week last week, I prayed to the Lord and asked if He would allow me to see some fruits from my labors since I was having a hard time seeing any at the moment. Sister Thompson called me this week and told me a bunch of miracles of a man with a baptismal date that I gave a card to and just opened my eyes to some of the fruits of my efforts here. And also Milena, an investigator I taught in Borschagovsky almost a year ago just got baptized this week. I'm not saying this is all because of me, because that would be completely presumptuous.  I've just realized that every small effort goes somewhere. My efforts from one year ago brought forth a result now- I am just blessed that the Lord allowed me to see that one. Maybe my efforts today will bring something forth next year. I won't be here to see it, but that's not what matters- that's not why I'm here. All I need to know is that I'm dedicating all my efforts to the Lord and He is using me as his tool right now. What kind of tool am I? Only the Lord knows. But, I know the requirements I need to fulfill in order to be worthy of the privilege to be an instrument in the Lord's hands and I think this is the highest privilege any of us can possibly achieve in this life.
Alma 37:6 Now ye may suppose that this is foolishness in me; but behold I say unto you, that by small and simple things are great things brought to pass; and small means in many instances doth confound the wise.

Love you all,
Sister Vehar

Week 71: Short and Sweet-just be glad I sent an email

Happy Monday everyone!

It was just your average week as a missionary in Ukraine. One investigator drops you (which doesn't even surprise you because you are thinking of dropping them) and we got a new investigator. We met lots of rejection on the street, but in the end you don't care because of the potential you can see in this new investigator. Her name is Natalia. She's a young mom, and after the first lesson she just asked the golden questions, "Why am I here?", "Where did I come from?", and "Where am I going?"- We got the answers for you next time girly!

We also met this cool family that has tons of potential. They introduced themselves as Helen and Mary- they are adorable and I can hear the water filling up the font already.
The trio life is lots of fun. We are just so intimidating to all these people because they don't want to talk to us at all, but life is great.

Saw a HSM clock at an old lady's house.
Saw an American trash can
Not our baptism but we're just glad some people want to follow the Lord

Week 70: Cherkassy (AKA PARADISE)

Okay everyone, I apologize for being literal trash and not emailing forever- but I've been transferred to Cherkassy already and I am in literal love with the branch and the area and my companions- that's right I'm in a trio with Sisters Pixton and Goncear- also sad news... not even 24 hours after my move here, President Kumferman called us and told Sister Pixton that he needs to transfer her to Borschagovsky after three weeks. We're depressed, but of course, whatever the Lord's will is.
So I literally live right off the river (a five to ten-minute run at least- yeah my trio makes me run in the morning- they're lucky that the river is at the end, otherwise I would refuse) and there are trees everywhere!! It's literally so gorgeous here, but it is hard when it's hot and I'm contacting and to my left people are boating, and the trees make me want to camp- WE CAN DO THIS.
The people here are amazing- I already love them with all my heart. The branch is a literal family and the ward council is actually concerned about missionary work- I didn't know that existed tbh. I almost cried in ward council. It was so beautiful. Hopefully, we'll find some new people this week so I can tell you more interesting things about the work.
Love you all tons. I'll have to figure out how to send pictures cause the library here doesn't have a way for me to do it. I wish you could see my paradise. President must love me a lot to let me die here:)
Sister Vehar

Week 67: Flood Number 2

    Yeah that's right everybody you read right. WE HAD A SECOND FLOOD. I'm honestly not even surprised anymore. It's okay. I guess this means God knows we can take it. Keep it comin! This time we weren't so fortunate to stop it before it got out of hand. It came like a thief in the night. 3 AM I wake up to our doorbell ringing and 28 missed phone calls from our "neighbor"- we were sure it was just another drunk stalker- well the one time we were wrong. That was a fun day with only 4 hours of sleep. Our floor is super warped now and the neighbors might hate us, might love us, we're not quite sure anymore. The poor woman is nine months pregnant and it was her birthday, so I completely understand if we aren't her favorite people after waking her up at 2:30 AM to water dripping in her face.
    I've just seen tooo much water this week. The weather is bipolar and it has poured on us too often. We showed up to a lesson soaked. It looked like we hopped in the shower with our clothes on and ran straight over. I had to run to the bathroom and ring out my hair so water didn't drip all over her floor. We also got caught in a heavy rain storm that literally came out of nowhere on the way to church, so we did a musical number for Mother's Day SOAKED. It's all good though.
    We actually saw an awesome miracle this week. A complete inactive member we've gone over to a few times called us Saturday night and asked what time church starts and ACTUALLY CAME!!! Good things are happening over here in Kharkivsky!
    I love you all so much and I hope you all have wonderful weeks. Keep up in the service of the Lord. We are all missionaries, whether or not we wear the black tag. It is each of our duty to share what we know to be true so that everyone has the opportunity to accept and act for themselves. Find ways to serve and share this week!




Sister Vehar

Week 66: Man on an Electric Unicycle with a Raccoon

    Well, this month has been quite the crazy little guy. Shortly, Satan has been working really hard on us, trying to discourage us and so forth, BUT IT AIN'T WORKIN. Literally, yesterday, I did not feel like talking to anyone but I remembered Elder Holland's talk "Open your mouth" and he said if you ever want to punch Satan in the face, open your mouth. I've never wanted to punch Satan harder so I opened my mouth on the bus just to spite him. Maybe the wrong intentions, but we got a good potential English student now. We've just decided that he's workin hard on us cause he doesn't like how hard we're working, so we're gonna work even harder. TAKE THAT.
    We are also so done contacting men cause they are just gross and the fact that I approached them somehow comes across as I would love to marry them or go to the bar with them... NO THANK YOU.
    I saw a man on an electric unicycle with a raccoon. so yeah that happened.
    I am so glad to be doing the work of the Lord and literally, this has been the happiest time of my life. Hands down. No matter how much rejection and opposition, nothing can top this. Best decision I have ever made.
    I've learned a lot about faith recently and I want to share two principles with y'all- doubt your doubts before you doubt your faith, and you will not find answers unless you're looking for them. It's ridiculous if we think that asking for the answer and then just waiting for it to show up is how it works. If you aren't 100% sure, act anyway. God won't let you make a serious mistake without warning you first or even blocking up the path you're going. God truly loves us and He wants us to learn and grow while we're here. If we didn't have trials or difficult situations we would never be stretched or improve. I love you all so much and I hope you all have amazing weeks and find a way to serve others and show Heavenly Father your love for Him.

Love,
Sister Vehar