Hello everyone! The flowers and trees are blooming up a storm here in Odessa and I am down to the final stretch with Sister Larson as my companion (ahhhh not ready)! Time is going by so fast and I feel like I still have so much to learn from her, but we still have a week, so I have time before I need to freak out (haha, jk sort of).
Last Monday we did a quest room with our district and it was actually super fun (even though it was all in Russian)! We had to make it to "heaven" and we started in "hell" (but it had no scary parts at all, it was a puzzle escape room--not one of the insanely scary ones that they also do here haha), and we're pretty sure that during a couple of the parts, the escape room workers just took pitty on our lack of Russian knowledge and just let us through haha.
We also had exchanges this week with our STL's which I was more than a little nervous for because it would mean nativagating crazy marshrutka's and knowing when to pay and get off for our meetings sans Sister Larson, but it went pretty good and it made me not so scared about when she will be gone (still a little scared though). We also did singing contacting in the park althogether and it was really fun! We sang hymns and tried to talk to people about the Book of Mormon. Singing's my favorite (name that movie)! We also made delicious apple piroshki with the STL's and I felt a little sick from all the piroshki I ate, but 100% worth it.
Sister Larson and I tried really hard this week to push ourselves to get 10 meaningful conversations each day (one of our mission goals) and it was so cool to see the blessings of lengthening our strides. One of the evenings it was getting late and we had had 9 conversations that day and we really wanted to get 10 (you know where this is going). We found a lady sitting on a bench and we started to talk to her about the Book of Mormon and she was interested in learning more! We got her contact information and talked about prophets a little. It was great.
I also found out how to pick the best oranges this week from the nicest babushka at the gorcery store by our house. She started to talk to me and I didn't really understand at first and I told her I'm learning Russian and I'm from the US and she told me she has a daughter that lives in NYC and I told her I'm from Washington, and I told her that we're here as missionaries and that we also have a free english practice here and she told me she wants to learn! It was a cool conversation and one of the first that I've had not with Sister Larson by me. It gave me a much needed confidence boost and I'm grateful for babushka Anya. She also showed me how to pick good oranges so now I'm a pro.
Saturday night we got to watch conference at our branch building in Odessa center and it was the best!!! We're watching the rest of the sessions this Saturday and Sunday but I heard they're building another temple in Washington woooot. Sister Larson and I made taco crock pot chicken and cinnamon and orange rolls and the other missionaries brought toppings and other deserts and we had a party upstairs watching conference in english. It was so fun (but still a little stranged out that there was no "big" announcent because even our Mission President thought there was going to be one... but it's all good).
Sunday was THE best. We thought only Alina was going to come and were really worried about Zeena because she hadn't anwered our calls for 2 days (usually she's really good at answering) and we were worried that something had happened, but then she came into sacrament a few minutes late! And a less active member that we've been working with, Elma also came and bore the sweetest testimony about how her life and her desires have totally turned around for the good since she's come back to church. We also walked to the Opera House with Zeena afterward and took a picture together. It was doubly awesome because Zeena started to teach the lady that took our picture about the Book of Mormon! It was so awesome! Zeena is literally the best. I love her to death.
Random other stuff:
While we were trackting in an an apartment we had an angry man threaten to sick his dog on us. I feel like that has to happen to every missionary at least once on their mission.
This week after english practice, one of the people that comes, Larissa, gave us flowers because she is the sweetest, and we saw a cute Babushka and gave them to her on our way home. She started to cry and told us how we were sent from God because she has been feeling so lonely lately. I felt blessed to be able to help her, but also sad that there are so many lonely people out there that just need a smile or some kind words. Look for people that need some love! It will bless you as well as them. We need more love and kindness in this world. I'm so grateful to be able to be a repesentative of Christ and His infinite love for everyone here in Ukraine. It's the best work.
That is all for this week! I love you all!
Love,
Sister Kropelnicki
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