This week the weather was so nice and warm in Odessa--I'm hoping that the days of huge winter jackets are finally over (until next winter!). We went to the beach this week with the kids from the shelter for displaced families from Donesk and we played games with them and taught some english, fed the seagulls, and tried to find the prettiest seashell. They are the nicest kids and they also taught us some Ukrainian games:)
Quite a few people weren't able to meet with us last minute this week, so that was kind of hard, but we found a new investigator, Оля (Olga) and she is really awesome. She is going through a really hard time in her life and I know we met her right when she needed us. She is already reading the Book of Mormon and she's coming to an activity we're having today for Relief Society! Woot.
Friday was Women's Day which is like Mother's Day for us. It is such a cool holiday! It's also really big here and everyone is selling flowers and wishing women on the streets "happy holiday!" and it was such a good day! Two kids from english practice gave Sister Larson and I chocolate bars for women's day, and our branch president's family stopped by our apartment and gave us flowers and more chocolate:) The people here are the best! Sister Larson and I also baked chocolate chip cookies to give to women in our branch (they don't have brown sugar here so their minds are always blown when they try them haha).
This week while we were contacting on the streets, Sister Larson was letting me take the lead and start conversations (which I am learning to love) and I saw a Babooshka walking the other direction across the street and I had a feeling that I couldn't shake that we should go and talk to her. I tried to convince myself that it was just my own idea that didn't really matter, but I did a "We Bought a Zoo" 20 seconds of courage thing and we went and talked to her. She ended up being the nicest angel of a lady. She was so suprised and happy that two American girls chose to come to her country and talk to people about God and Jesus Christ. She took a Book of Mormon and it was just a really great conversation that lifted my spirits especially. It can be tough sometimes while contacting to stay positive and confident when a lot of it is people ignoring you or not being able to understand you. It was a tender mercy to be sure. This work is hard, but I always see so many blessings and tender mercies when I am devoted to this work and follow the spirit.
Alina is doing well--thank you everyone for all your prayers! She is still having a hard time feeling like she's ready for baptism, but she is SO ready and is such an amazing, bright light of a person. She still has some doubts but she will be baptized! I know it.
Zeena is finally coming to church tomorrow (because she's not working on Sunday) and we are so happy! She hasn't been able to come because of her job but now she can and Sister Larson is giving a talk so Zeena is super excited for that too:) She is having a hard time still with not drinking tea but I think going to church and feeling the spirit there will really help her.
That is about it for this short week! I love you all SO much and I so appreciate your emails and words of encouragement. Thank you!!
Love,
Sister Kropelnicki
At the beach with the kids from the shelter
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