So last week we had two exchanges with the Sisters from Poltava and Saltovka. They both were so much fun and were full of contacting (because our planned meetings didn't quite work out) but we got lots of great contacts and conversations and it is always fun to show off the best city in Ukraine! ;) Speaking of which, the Christmas decorations are all going up in the huge square by our branch building and we walk by it every day and it makes us so happy!
Also, some sad news but the Shepherds are officially in Dnepr center as the office couple so that the old office couple can go home, because one of them got really sick :( so sad all around but now we have Sister and Elder Hong in our district instead so at least there's some good news! They are awesome :) And we can always call sister Shepherd in the office when were needing some of her :)
We also met with Jane, a returning member who we are working with and we talked about the importance of the Holy Ghost and she talked about the first time she felt it strongly that she could remember and it was a really great lesson. We also practiced a song we were going to sing for our branch lunch on Sunday. She has an amazing voice!
We had lunch with Niki and talked about mission stuff and talked about the new missionary handbook (SO good!) and I think it made her even more excited to get out there on a mission!
Sister Labonova invited us over this week and taught us how to make блинчики (like crepes) at her apartment and it was so fun! She is the best and she let us eat them afterwards. I also learned a new Russian phrase, первый блин всегда комом, "The first pancake is always a lump," aka practice makes perfect ;) And that is a true phrase because my first crepe was definitely a lump.
On Saturday we did some service for a newly married couple in our branch and we helped them clean out their backyard (everything from sawing a piano in half to creepy old dolls to someone's buried dog?). It was a good time! Service is always a good way to start the day, even when it's like -15 outside! We also went over to the Shepherd's apartment for last "family dinner" before they left for Dnepr and it was bitter sweet. It's weird how close you all get and then people get transferred and everything changes! But we've had a lot of good times with them and they will always be our grandparents away from home!
Sunday we had our lunch all together and it was so fun! And man, the branch went all out on the lunch. Ukrainians do not mess around with food. It was all SO good!! We sat by Martin and talked about baby pandas and how healthy bamboo is for you. It was fun. We also did some music numbers and people bore their testimonies about experiences they had during the Harvest Day that our mission did a little while ago.
Sister Egbert also started to pack on Sunday :( That was sad.
We also were able to meet with a returning member, Sister Larissa and her husband and we talked about how they can feel the Holy Ghost like they felt it when they were new to the church. It was a good lesson and the spirit was really strong. It was our first meeting with her while I've been here so we also got to know her a little bit better. She also had like 12 cats and a dog that would bark at me every time I moved haha.
Wednesday we had lots and it was wonderful! We sent sister Egbert's bags to Dnepr (always an adventure, every time without fail crazy stuff happens. You just have to go into it expecting it!), so that was a relief for her to have that out of the way--sad for me :( We met with two member families back to back and I'll say it again, we just have the greatest members. One of the couples we met with had served in the Kiev temple for 4 years so they talked about that and with the second couple we talked about the iron rod and we played with their crazy adorable cat and they fed us SO MUCH food, we were struggling towards the end but we soldiered through ;)
And then today! Today was the funnest day, we got together (it's the evening now so you get an update) with the Kharkiv missionaries, ate so much good food (color me impressed, even the elders brought home-made things and it was GOOD like cinnamon scones, potatoes, cookies, rolls, the works), played games and laughed so hard and had a testimony meeting. It was just fun! It's been a while since I've been a part of something like that and it was needed for all of us I think. Definitely a good day, plus we got to think about all the things we have to be grateful for. Being in Ukraine and away from everything I know and love, and seeing the people here and how many of them have so little but still treasure what they do have, has taught me a lot. It's hard to put into words but we are so blessed in so many ways, and that's great and wonderful but it's good for nothing unless we acknowledge it and use what we have to bless others. We have what's really important, and I am grateful every day (well, sometimes it can be a little harder to be grateful ;) that I can be here to share the light of the gospel with these people. Life is good and I love being a missionary!
And I love all of you!!! Happy Thanksgiving and take a moment to really think about your blessings, and not just today but every day! You'll find there is so much to be grateful for even when times are hard.
You are wonderful!
С любовью,
Сестра Кропельники
Nikki :)
Sister Labonova!
Sisters!
Thanksgiving
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