Now Let Us Rejoice!

Yay!

Isn't there so much to rejoice about? Life is so amazing! We are so blessed to live at such an exciting time as this! I have never felt closer to my Savior as I have these past few days. I remember in the MTC making it a goal of mine to really know my Savior better and how grateful I am for the opportunity that I have to wear his name over my heart everyday and be with him everyday as I testify of him and his atoning sacrifice for us. Truly there is nothing better.

So Sister Grandy and I had a day this last week where we just sat down and seriously evaluated the work we were doing and we set personal and companionship goals that would ensure that we really are doing everything the Lord needs us to be doing right here and right now. After the goal setting and talking things out I was so pumped to just get outside and talk with EVERYONE! I thought missionary work was fun before? WOW! I could never even begin to imagine how much fun my mission truly would be. One of my goals was to be Mariel, well Sister Mariel Lee, like, use my personality in everything I did. Usually I'm pretty good at that, but sometimes when you're out on the street for a few hours, it's hard not to become a little robotic, but never again will I be robotic! Every person on the street is going to get a real taste of Sister Mariel Lee, and it has been so much more successful! Like Heavenly Father called me to be here to use my personality because the people here need it, and you bet I'm going to give it to them! I love this privilege that I have to serve God, seriously it is such a privilege like it is so beautifully written in Alma 30:9

"Now if a man desired to serve God, it was his privilege; or rather, if he believed in God it was his privilege to serve him"

It is so my privilege to serve God and I thank Him for that every day.

This week was Halloween! Yay, I love holidays! We had a movie night at the church for it,(I dressed up as a true Ukrainian, Mom, you would have loved it, I was pretty cute, but no camera :( (I'll dress up again and take pictures and send them later!) We decided to show 17 Miracles for the movie night, and we had probably more non members there than members, it was awesome! As the movie started a very authoritative Russian voice was the voice of Levi Savage and I just thought wow this is going to be so good! As it went on I realized that the same voice that was used for Levi Savage was the voice for EVERYONE. Are you kidding me? I was freaking out. Like how are people going to enjoy this movie when it is only one voice the whole time. We thought about it and we decided this was what Heavenly Father wanted us to do, so we kept it, as the movie went on and as you just paid attention to the spirit, it really was not a bother at all. After the movie I talked with our investigators and some members about it. I talked with our friend Катя and asked her if it was okay with the only one voice. She just said "There was only one voice? I hate it when movies do that, but I didn't even notice!" It was a Halloween miracle! Really everyone loved it and the spirit was so strong, goodness I love my pioneers. There was a part in that movie where one of the pioneers was saying it would all be worth it as long as their posterity was faithful. I am doing all I can to make their sacrifice worth it!

The next day we had another exciting event. We went to a concert put on by the church and it was lovely classical music, Mother you would have died. It was so fancy and beautiful, I felt like I was on a cute date with Sister Grandy, Nastia, Kamilla and her mom. It was so fun!

We did so much service this week! It felt so good!!

Sorry I'm running out of time the rest of the email might be crazy..

I just have to tell you one of my very favorite things of my mission is working with members here who for some reason or another have stopped coming to church. I love meeting with them and helping them remember their testimony and helping them get the real light and joy of Christ back in their life. We have been meeting with Катя a 16 year old girl who just came back to church by herself, she hasn't been since she was first baptized when she was 8, I asked her what made her come back and she just said she felt like she was just compelled to. She asked us to teach her all of the lessons because she really is just learning everything again and being with her is so awesome. She now comes out with us any chance she can and helps us on lessons. She is incredible. Yesterday was testimony meeting and one of the other less actives we are working with bore his testimony and it was amazing. I love building Heavenly Father's Kingdom here!

Sorry that's all for today folks! I love you all so much! I'm so grateful for your love and support! You all are the best. I encourage all of you to find something in your life to rejoice about, because LIFE IS GOOD!

All of my love,

Your sister, Sister Lee