July 20, 2015
All is well,
I
will forever be amazing by how much can be done in a 24 hour period on a
mission. And what happens in a week is insane. I feel like Nephi,
saying that my journal cannot hold a hundred of the things that happen
out here.
We've still been doing
loads of contacting, but honestly with the way I've been eating lately
it's probably okay that we've been doing a lot of walking. The weather
here has been HEAVEN lately. It's been constantly in the 20-25s (I think
that's about 75 degrees F). This week while contacting we met a lot of
people who gave us the magic phrase, "I'm interesting, and I want to
know more." I have heard that so rarely on my mission that I literally
feel overjoyed whenever I here it and it's hard not to freak people out
with my excitement.
This week
early in the morning we stopped a girl who seemed to be in a hurry, her
name was I. We told her who we were and she quickly asked us, "do you
know where I can find a fortuneteller?" We asked her why, and she said
that she wanted to know the future so that she could get revenge on her
husband. They've been married 6 months and have been fighting
constantly. We quickly responded that revenge will not help anything.
Instead we opened up to Moroni 7 with her in the Book of Mormon and told
her that charity and love is the only thing that will heal their
relationship. Her heart was immediately softened. She took the Book of
Mormon and came to church with us this Sunday :) She's a bit of a
hooligan and took a few smoke breaks before and during church, but we'll
work on that. I'm so excited to see the changes in this girl's life
thanks to Christ. I love meeting people that the Lord has prepared for
us! Another time she may have rejected the missionaries, but the Lord's
time is so perfect, and he sent us to her in a time of need.
 |
| Brooklyn in 2003 showing her Patriotism |
This
week I found a little hymn book that I bought in the MTC. I haven't
sang hymns in english in foreverrrr and I miss it so much. So lately at
night I've been locking myself in the bathroom for 10 minutes and just
singing hymns to myself in my lovely native language. I have to admit
that I almost cried when I sang, "America, America God shed his grace on
thee...." (I'm pretty much asking to make myself homesick). Buuut...
honestly I've never felt more at peace that I need to be on a mission at
this time. I looove America, I love my homeland, but I am so grateful
to be in Russia for right now. I know that as long as I am here, I am
needed here.
I love my
companion so so much. I have never laughed more in my life I think. Last
night we had a lesson with a less active member whose legs are too old
to bring her to church. Sister Sotnikova spent half the lesson trying to
convince this 75 year old woman to do online dating. She is the
funniest person, and the nicest and the most selfless and most humble
and patient.
Also, sitting on
the bus the other day, I turn around and see that my companion started a
conversation with the largest man I have ever seen in Russia. He told
her that he is a championship body builder, and then she asked for his
autograph. He asked her what her name was and was probably expecting
something like, "Katie" or "Lena" but she said, "Sister Sotnikova" she
was laughing so hard when she thought about how absurd and nerdy that
sounded later. Her next question was, "shouldn't you have body guards or
something?" and in the cockiest voice he says, "за чем мне охраник"
which in english would probably mean, "why would someone like me need a
body guard?" ah... people.
We
are writing at the office in Samara right now and in 3 hours we will be
on a train to penza to do exchanges with the sisters there :) it's a 5
hour train ride, yaaaay! So much better that marshootkas. I remember
taking 5 hour bus rides in those last summer, such a nightmare.
Love you all :)
Sister Brooklyn Wilson
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