Chapter 6: Let's go to the beach, beach

Привет!

So I'm here in Illichyovsk... and loving it! Thank you for your prayers and everything. Leaving Kharkivsky was really probably the hardest thing I've ever done.

my new view, Black Sea baby

Sister Grandy and I had a great last few days together, of course on Monday we went and had Family Home Evening with Катя and her family. I don't think I've ever noticed the real importance of Family Home Evening until I have seen the difference that it has made in this family. Their relationships with not only one another, but the Lord as well has increased beyond comprehension I can't wait to do Family Home Evening with my own family when I get home! You best believe we will be having the best of times together family! 

Our last family home evening with Катя and her family

On Tuesday we had an incredible lesson with Наташа, really probably one of the best lessons we have ever had with anyone, huge thanks to Настя who was our member present on the lesson. It was so incredible to feel the spirit that Настя brought into the lesson. Every time Наташа would bring up a concern Настя could totally relate to her and testify that through the help of the Lord everything would be made better and as we rely on Him and do all that we can to follow him He will give us help. As we were finishing up the lesson Настя bore her testimony of how much she has been blessed after she has been baptized and how she is so happy she had made the decision.
We then helped Наташа pick a day for her own baptism, and if all goes well she will be baptized the day after Christmas, what a special Christmas present for her and her Father in Heaven!

The night before I left Kharkivsky we spent with my very best friends. Катя, Настя, Sister Grandy, and I went out to dinner we had a small make shift testimony meeting as we were eating in one of the booths of Пузата Хата and seriously it was just what I needed. A huge reason why I was so sad to leave Kharkivsky was because I didn't feel like I did enough. I felt like there was so much more I needed to do and I didn't do all the Lord wanted me to do in that area. But, as I listened to these girls testify, and not only testify but then share their desires of one day too serving missions, it was Heavenly Father letting me know that I did my work. These girls and their testimonies will influence so many others, their friends, families, and one day when the time comes for them to serve missions, they will find their own Катяs and Настяs who will then influence many more and the chain goes on and on, you get what I'm saying. Wow, I have been so incredibly blessed to have them in my lives. I am honored that Heavenly Father trusted me with two of His most precious daughters.

Dinner with my best friends

The trio being split up, obvi they are really happy about it

After dinner with them we took them out contacting with us, for old times sake. Contacting for me is always super fun, I love talking with the people here in Ukraine but when I do it with my best friends, really there is nothing better. It's so sweet to see how excited the girls get after we have an awesome conversation with someone and we ask them to learn more. Often times after conversations they would look at one another and just say "Wow! That was so cool!" My favorite was when the girls would walk ahead of Sister Grandy and I and start talking to people on their own. Family, I cannot wait until you meet them!! My petty little emails do not do them justice, they seriously are amazing. 

Настя saw me off at the train station

As the time came for me to leave it was just as though I was leaving home again for another mission. Instead of Mom and Dad dropping me off at the MTC, Настя dropped me off at the train station and it was way more heart wrenching than the MTC drop off. Настя kept hugging me asking me not to go and crying, it was really hard, I'm not going to lie. We waited until the very last minute to board the train and as I got into my cabin Настя found me at my window and just stood there. As the train pulled away my heart sunk, and it was such a sad time for me. But through this whole experience I have grown such a greater love for our Father in Heaven. I think of how hard it is every time one of His precious children comes to earth saying goodbye to them, even though He knows it is only a short period of time and soon they'll return I think it is sad for Him. As soon as I got to my new home I sent Настя and Катя a text told them I was home safe and sound and let them know about my journey. We talk at least once a day and let each other know what is going on and it has helped so much! Like it's not that hard being away from them. Isn't that just like prayer? Prayer is the coolest! Anytime we are feeling sad or lonely we can always just send up a prayer to our Father in Heaven and He will help us out! Oh man I love that guy!

The hardest thing of my life was saying goodbye to this girl who means so much to me

A huge thanks to prayer, I'm a happy sister once more. I love serving here in Illy and it truly is a new adventure! It's so different than Kyiv! And serving with Sister Parish again is so fun! She has come so far and it is so cool to see how amazing she is doing.

I love this work. So much. There is nothing else I would rather be doing. I am beyond lucky to be in the service of the Lord. And so lucky to have people like you that support me. Thank you!

All of my love,

Your sister, Sister Lee