Things I LOVE about my mission

Привет!

Hello! Oh my cute lovely friends and family! I love you!

Things are going great here in beautiful Kyiv. I love it more and more every day! And though I am still making A LOT of mistakes with the language. I do see a little improvement. And I am very happy I haven't lost my sense of humor. I feel as though I would die if I didn't have that here, with all the mistakes I make. I have realized while advertising for English Club is when I make most of my mistakes. Instead of asking kids if they study English I have been asking them if they teach English. I was always so surprised at the looks I would get when I asked the question because usually they study English in school here, as I asked Sister Wease she said "Uh, yeah.. you've been asking them if they teach English." Haha! Or just a few minutes ago we were wanting to buy some treats as I was ordering them at the little window I asked the lady at the counter "Can I please get a boy snickers?" When I wanted to ask "Can I please get a little snickers?" Haha, her face was priceless! I realized what I said and started busting up laughing, and then asked correctly while apologizing. Haha, you would not believe how hard Russian is, but I'm loving it! And I do know I'm improving.

When church is in Russian I can almost understand all of it, so that's really good. I even commented in gospel principles yesterday so that was exciting! We as missionaries did a musical number for the ward. We had been practicing the EFY medley in Ukrainian and we finally got it sounding very nice, with Sister Wease and I and Elders Crookshank and Steinaghal. Elder Crookshank had recorded the music on the piano like 10 minutes before sacrament meeting, as we got up to sing during the meeting he hit play on the keyboard and nothing happened. Our music was deleted! So we just sang "Come Thou Fount" acapella  in Ukrainian. The members loved it. They are so sweet, they love everything! We had ward lunch yesterday. Oh my I cannot even begin to tell you how much I love my ward! They are so loving, it really is just like a big family. And of course the food was delicious!

Ward lunch... mmmmmmmmmm

Is this even a can opener? It was what I used haha

I'm really getting accustomed to things nicely here, I feel like I never really got a big culture shock, like I feel like I just belong here.

So how about I tell you some of the things I LOVE about my mission:

-The marshutkas (the cute little buses we ride around in here and there and everywhere)

-The metro (I don't know why but I always feel like I'm in a movie when we go in the metro)

-People here are ALWAYS buying flowers for their sweethearts! It is so cute.

-The fruit that the cute бабушка (grandmas) sell everywhere

-Everyone is always outside! Whether they are walking their dogs, rollerblading, or taking a stroll around the block with their family.

-My wicked tan lines that I'm getting. (Don't worry Mom and Des I am wearing sun screen on my face)

-Our tea parties that we have at every appointment.

-English club. It is so fun, I've made so many friends there. :)

-Our cute apartment. We actually have a super nice apartment that I am so grateful for.

-The food. It's quite a problem actually. I LOVE all of the food here. It is all so delicious.

-Our morning run. As much as I hate running, I love how good I feel after and it is always so beautiful in the morning, it is worth it. And with how much I'm loving the food it is definitely necessary!
-The clouds. They are unreal. I don't know how they look so different here but they do. Unbelievable.

-The sunsets. When I left St. George that was one of the things I swore I would miss the most but the sunsets here. WOW.

-I love that there is two forms of "you" in Russian. There is informal and formal, when people ask me to talk on the "Ты" with them I get so excited because I know that it means we are like friends.

-Sister Wease. My cute best friend. Greatest trainer. World's best companion. Everything.

-The people. They are so real. Real people with real feelings, oh my goodness they are incredible. I love just listening to them tell us their life stories, with so much emotion.

 -And last but definitely not least. The real purpose of why I am here. I love preaching the gospel! I LOVE IT! I have the best life in the world. It truly is the greatest opportunity!

Seriously is this real life?

Friends and family I love you all so much. Thank you for your prayers and support. They are making some HUGE changes to missionary work pretty soon. It is something to get very excited about! Something BIG is happening I can feel it.

I am grateful to be a missionary at such an exciting time as this, truly the last days. Rounding up the last people who are ready. I am grateful for the change that my mission has brought about in me. You always hear that your first convert on your mission should be yourself and it is true. I have come converted to the gospel and I love it! Every minute living worthy of the Holy Ghost always having his company is such a blessing. I love the testimony that I have gained and that it is constantly growing.

I know that this church is true! I love it! I love my Heavenly Father and I love my Savior!

Have a great week everyone!

All of my love,
Your Sister, Sister Lee

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