Men are that they might have joy!

Hello!

baby, it's past being cold outside IT'S FREEZING!!!!

I'm in love with my life, honestly in love. I'm sorry if you get sick of me telling you how much I love my mission all of the time. But that's just how it is. If anything I really hope it just motivates you to do missionary work because truly it is the best work ever. There is nothing more satisfying. There is nothing that can bring you more joy than when you are giving service and spreading the pure love of Christ. Truly remarkable.

We had an awesome mission conference this week. President Lawerence, from the area presidency and his sweet wife, along with the Klebingats, came and spoke to us. Talk about a spiritual feast. I learned so much, I've already seen a huge difference in everything as I have applied the things I learned to my studying, my missionary work, and just my life in general.

Angela was baptized on Saturday, such a special experience that was, as the day she had looked forward to for so long had finally arrived! She was so ecstatic about everything and to just share in her joy on her special day was the greatest blessing anyone could have ever given me. SHE WAS SO HAPPY!! And, Heavenly Father was so happy! You could just feel Him beaming down at her, as His love filled the room it seemed that every care in the world just melted from everyone's shoulders and everyone just realized "Oh yeah, this is what life is about." This is what life is about, BEING HAPPY. Men are that they might have joy! I'm sure Angela was the happiest person in the world at that time, and she still is beaming. We were just with her, outside (and it is FREEZING seriously SOO COLD outside) and she was so happy! She just kept talking about how warm she always feels, how grateful for the decision that she made, and her gratitude for our Savior is overwhelming and has helped me to once again strengthen my testimony of the Atonement! I have felt the love of my Savior and my Heavenly Father so much lately. It has been unreal.  

Angela at her baptism! :)

So I have a little brother here, Bogdan,  and I love him. He's 14 and really he reminds me so much of Simon (shout out to Simon, he added you on Facebook so be looking out for that! He knows English pretty well so you guys can totally chat it up!) so of course we totally hit it off. He comes to all of the activities we have but has never showed interest in the church. Every time I'm with him I think of Simon and how bad I want Simon to serve a mission one day, and now I just have that desire for Bogdan too! On Saturday night I sat Bogdan down and I started talking to him about The Book of Mormon and he ate up every word, he loved everything that The Book of Mormon talks about. He loved the story of Joseph Smith, how amazing that he was only 14 at the time. I invited Bogdan to come to church the next day, and he was a little hesitant saying that he wanted to sleep in and what not. On Sunday morning I prayed so hard that Bogdan would come. Church started and Bogdan was no where to be seen, but with in two minutes of the meeting he came bouncing in the chapel as we began to sing the opening hymn "How Great Thou Art" tears were falling down my face. My little brother came to church with me! And my sweet Angela was sitting next to me preparing to receive the gift of the Holy Ghost. I am so happy to be a part of this work! The joy I feel is incredible.
Friends and family, I'm going to have to ask you to keep me in your prayers again. I am being transferred again! Already! I've only been here one transfer, so I'm pretty bummed. I have already fallen so in love with this area and the people here so it is going to be very hard for me to leave. I have some good news about it though. They have started telling us transfers a week in advance, so I still have one more week to spend here in Illi. Other good news, I'm serving in an area I've always wanted to- Billa Tserkva, not too far from Kiev, and I'm serving with Sister Barnes one of MY sisters from the MTC! So I'm really excited for that, we will have so much fun together! With me leaving it means only 2 more emails with words from Баба so I really hope you soak them up!

Words from the Wonderfully Wise Baba:
"How do you expect to grow if you never are challenged?"
This week we went to a less active with Baba and the less active has had some hard trials in her life, and this is what Baba said to her and it is the truth. We are challenged but use it to our benefit! I have had such a good life, with very few major trials. But there are those of you who may be given challenges and burdens hard to handle. This does happen. And let me tell you what I think, no, what I know about that. Trials are given to those who can handle them. They are given to the strongest of people. Those of you with trials think of how highly our Heavenly Father thinks of you! He knows you can handle them! And as you overcome them you become a strong person, the person that you were placed on the earth to be. But please, never for one second think to take on these trials alone! Take the yoke and pull through together with Christ, as you do so, these challenges will be accomplished. Things with out the Lord are really scary and maybe even impossible, but with Him they are so possible. Take the help given to you.

I love you all so much! I have such a strong testimony of the truthfulness of this church. It was restored by the Prophet Joseph Smith and to him I am forever grateful. I know that I have a Savior who loves me so much and is always with me, willing to help me through every trial and challenge I have and as I take his help I find myself so blessed! I know I have a LOVING Heavenly Father He loves me so much! And I am so grateful for His love. I'm so grateful for the happiness and peace I have found in living this gospel and I invite all of you to do the same!

Have a good week!

Your sister, Sister Lee

on blistery P-days when my companion is feeling sick I make pancakes Papa Lee style, every shape imaginable!

If you aren't having fun, you're not doing it right.

Happy Monday!

our little sister :) she wanted to be a missionary too!

Well, Illi had me tricked. I thought I had completely missed winter but I think it's coming now. The weather has been so nice, here on Saturday it was almost 60 degrees! But yesterday a super cold front came in. Living on the sea has it's ups and downs, like when the wind blows, it really blows and it's a cold wind, you know the kind that just bites - burr! Good thing I got my cute hat just in time (thanks so much sisters!) and all of my other winter supplies I already started to pack away. Ha! Thank you weather for keeping me on my toes. It's been pouring rain all day with a thick fog and it really shows no sign of stopping... what am I a weather man? Okay, now for the stuff that you are really interested in!

Анджела is amazing! She has strengthened my testimony so much. I am so blessed that Heavenly Father has put her in my life. She is such a huge example to me. She already appreciates the gospel so much and has the faith that every person longs to have. This journey of coming to church and completely changing her life has not been very easy for her. She has many friends who are not supporting her in her decision and many people who are really just giving her a hard time. And, on top of it all, Анджела has cancer. You can tell that very much of the time she is in a lot of pain and with not much support, it's just hard for her, but not once has she complained. Not once have I ever heard something that wasn't positive come out of her mouth. She is such an example to me! The testimony that she already has gained is so awe-inspiring, I wish all of you could spend just five minutes with her in a room and feel of her spirit, it is so special to be with her. At the beginning of each meeting we have with her we usually spend about ten minutes where she just tells us her missionary experiences of the day, who she had the opportunity to testify to, and how she did it in one way or the other. Man, she is so awesome! Her baptism is planned for this Saturday, and she is so excited about it. I think she tells everyone she sees, to come, it is so sweet. But last night she was feeling really bad, she had to go to the hospital, so loved ones please keep sweet Анджела (Angela) in your prayers, I know she would appreciate it.

my boots were made for walking... they did me well may they rest in peace.. (actually I love them too much I think I'm going to take them to a boot repair today)

So, a funny story from this week, Sister Parish and I were walking down the street after a lesson, talking about how it went and this man came up and started talking to us in English, he heard us speaking in English and was so excited. He lived in America for five years and got back a few months ago. He said he wanted to practice with us but saw us with our Books of Mormon and said he didn't want anything to do with the church. But he kept on talking with us and kept on bringing up the church, but then said he didn't want to talk about it, he was just acting too cool for us, but still wanted to talk ha, it was pretty funny! Anyways at the end of our conversation I told him about our English practice and told him that we will have a spiritual thought at the end and everything, he took our card and was like, "I'll probably not come, but whatever." As we walked away I told Sister Parish that he was going to be so interested in the church and get baptized next month. That night he came to English practice, he stayed for the spiritual thought and he loved it. He met with the Elders after that and has met with them a few times since, and he now has a baptismal date in February. The gospel is so true and so wonderful, people are literally drawn to it, it's so incredible.

I believe I talked about Баба Лидия (Baba (babushka-grandma) Lidia) when we skyped. I LOVE HER! I want to be just like her when I grow up, seriously! Every time we are with her I learn so much, I seriously take notes while she speaks to us and she loves it, ha! But I have decided that every week I would write a little blip about what I've learned from Baba and share it with you.

Words from the Wonderfully Wise Baba:

  "The second you feel sorry for yourself, you let Satan win." 

Satan tries so hard to bring us down, but really we should just be happy, for all that we have, and all that we have to live for. Yes, days are hard but never should you feel sorry for yourself, do things to make your days better. Lift others and in turn your spirits will be lifted!

Isn't Baba so smart!? Goodness I love her!

I'm never going to tell you life is easy, because I would be lying to you, but I can say life is good! My mission has been so hard, so hard, but because of that it has been so awesome! I have grown and I have learned so much, more than I ever have, because it has been the time in my life when I have been the most challenged. If you're having challenges or hard times, don't get down on yourself. Look at the good in everything, see what you can learn from it. I promise there is good in everything, there is always something to be happy about!

Remember life is to be enjoyed, not endured. Heavenly Father wants so that we are always happy!

I love you all so much and I want you all to be happy as well. If you aren't having fun, you're not doing it right. Have a good week!

All of my love,

Your sister, Sister Lee

on the marshutka to Odessa for a youth activity