“I Will Not Fail Thee, nor Forsake Thee”

Happy Monday!

I LOVE BEING A MISSIONARY!!!! SERIOUSLY SO MUCH!

Okay so first off I want to tell you that I got a new hair do, and I love it! Everyone here always says "You look like you are one of ours!" Oh how I love it when they say that, when they try to claim me as one of their beautiful Ukrainians! Really people are so surprised when I start to speak and they hear my accent, because they thought for sure I was Ukrainian. (Coming back to my roots huh Grandma?) So last week I decided to see just how Ukrainian I could look. We called up a less active who owns her own salon and set up an appointment. With my limited vocabulary and good hand gestures I got through and I love my hair! It's so cute! But I'm a loser and I forgot my camera today, so I can't send pictures :( Sorry, you'll just have to wait 'til next week! Okay now for important missionary stuff!

We had zone conference this week. You all know how much I look up to President Klebingat, really so much. He is still like a celebrity to me. Every time I see him I get so excited and the spirit just hits me. Have any of you ever been in a room and then an apostle walks in and you just feel like "Woah, he is called of God!" That's how it is with President Klebingat (and honestly it would not surprise me in the slightest if he is a general authority in a few years, actually I'm gonna call that one). He is so awesome! And so smart, I can't believe all that I learn every time I am with him. He is the best missionary in this whole mission and it is so cool to have him lead us. We also were privileged to hear from his sweet wife as well during the conference and she is not one step behind her husband they are such a great pair so firm in the gospel. Oh, how I wish to be the wife of a mission president one day!

Speaking of wife... LEXI! Wow, okay, prettiest bride in the whole world! Sister of mine! Oh my goodness. I was just squealing when I opened the pictures today and the other missionaries were asking me what was going on, I showed them the pictures and they just "oooed and awwwed" Really I don't know if I have seen a prettier bride than you. I wish you wouldn't have stolen all of the gorgeous genes! But I will forgive you because I love you. I wish you the happiest married life! Cheers to you and Nico from Ukraine with much much MUCH love!

How great was conference everyone? Truly incredible. If you have not watched it yet, what are you waiting for?! We have a living prophet of God on the earth. Isn't that a miracle? Not only a prophet, but apostles and teachers and men and women who are called by God to help us and direct us and our paths. This conference was especially special for me for so many reasons. One of our less active members who hasn't attended church in years came and listened to a prophet's voice and he was smiling ear to ear the whole time, and we also had another very special guest at conference. :)

I'm sure all of you are thinking the same thing Настия, Настия what is going on with Настия? She is as incredible as ever! Wow I don't think anything has made my testimony grow as much as meeting with her has. At the beginning of the week she was having a pretty rough time. She just wants to get baptized. She is so hungry to learn more, and to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost, but her father will not allow it. We have seen how this has been hurting her and we've just been thinking and praying and just pleading with Heavenly Father to help us know how we can help her. On Saturday morning Sister Grandy suggested asking if Настия would like a blessing, I felt so dumb we hadn't thought about it before! That night we had an awesome lesson with her. I told her how I cannot understand what she is going through, as much as I want to understand her perfectly I cannot, but I testified that I knew there was someone that did and that was her Savior. I told her that Heavenly Father is aware of her and wants her to know how much He truly does love her. We then explained priesthood blessings, how they work and why we receive them. After we asked her if she would be interested. And she was so excited that she could receive one she could hardly believe it! One of our elders gave her a beautiful blessing and when he was done we looked up and Настия was crying and crying. She kept asking "Is this normal? Why am I crying?" I said "Remember the Holy Ghost? That's him!" She was so comforted by that sweet blessing and it was another testament to her that we do have a loving Heavenly Father. At the end of the lesson we invited her to attend conference with us and she said "Yeah! Can I bring my friends?"

Sunday morning Sister Grandy and I sat on a church bench with four teenagers, and we listened to General Conference. Wow. I have to admit I was a bit nervous. Conference for some people is hard to get through, I kept praying and praying that they would find interest in every talk that was said and every talk was beautiful. I knew that Настия could only stay for the first morning session and I knew that President Monson was going to be the last speaker, I prayed with all my heart that he would be inspired to say something that Настия would need to hear. Something that would confirm her testimony that he is the prophet on the earth today. As he began talking about a priesthood blessing that he had given I was so grateful that Heavenly Father had answered my prayer. Настия had felt the spirit so strong when she received her blessing only the night before. I know it was no coincidence that President Monson spoke about blessings to only remind her of her own blessing and her own relationship with our Father in Heaven. The church is so true.
 

Listen to President Monson's talk here:

“I Will Not Fail Thee, nor Forsake Thee”

I know that Heavenly Father hears and answers our prayers! I so know that to be true!!!!

I love you all so much and I encourage you all to take heed to the words spoken in conference, study out the talks and apply the teachings into your daily lives, it will bless you I promise!

All of my love,

Your sister, Sister Lee


P.S. HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY TO THE SWEETEST GRANDMA IN THE WHOLE WORLD!!! LOVE YOU!!!!!

P.S.S. HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY TO THE COOL TWINS! JESSE AND DESEREE'!!! AND ALSO TO MY OTHER AWESOME BROTHER EZRA!!!!!! LOVE YOU MORE THAN WORDS CAN SAY!!!!!!!