Hello everyone and happy Monday! This past week was definitely a change from the past couple weeks running around Ukraine and trying to figure out what’s going on. We had the opportunity to work in Dnepr all week this week (except for a day in Zap). As always a lot happened, and therefore please forgive me if it seems like a sandstorm of thoughts, experiences, and blessings. I don't even know where to start but we will figure it out. So buckle up, hold on to your hats, and let’s talk a little about this week!
How blessed was the day when I was able to once again be reunited with the savory spices, and delicate scents and aromas of Sister Shepherd’s world famous taco soup, and it was a wonderful day indeed. It has been very exciting to have snow in my life again. When we got back from Odessa there was a downpour, and our slightly dirty city of Dnipro became a WiNtEr WoNdErLaNd! The dirt, cigarettes and sin was washed away, and all that was left was a pure landscape of freshly fallen snow.
We started the week off with our Mid-Transfer Training, and it was a great opportunity to see how much they had all progressed, (even if they all weren’t able to be there in the room.) It did seem to me however that Sister Wirthlin didn’t get the memo that they were not all coming, and she made a very large smattering of delicious foods, for some very very small people. So needless to say the remainder of the week's meals were planned ahead, and found in the mission refrigerator. A blessing in disguise, a disguise which looked an awful lot like soup.
Later that day we had the opportunity to do exchanges in Zaporizhzha (Zap), the area where Sister Sowards began her mission; as well as a place where everyone in my district has served, and about which all speak very highly. After going and seeing what all the fuss was about I too am starstruck by the rustic beauty that is found in the soviet factory town that is Zaporizhzha. I had the opportunity to serve with Sister Franzen who is relatively new to the mission but is a very intelligent woman, and has so much potential for good. I am blown away time and time again about the aptitude of the new generations of missionaries.
As we were returning to Dnipro we made a busload of Indian friends. Not a joke, we made a literal busload of friends. Upon our return to the kingdom of Dnipro we immediately ran to the theatre to meet the Elders and the Shepherds to go to the ballet “Don Quixote” which was a lovely experience, and one that made me realize that I don’t really want to do professional ballet.
We also had the chance to do exchanges with the sisters in Pobeda, (On the same day our Elders did exchanges with them.) It was great to get to see yet another new area, and be able to work with Sister Nestripke who is a fabulous and outstanding missionary. I stand all amazed… While I was away in Pobeda Sister Sowards unintentionally found herself a valentine, and in her well intended show of holiday spirit ended up confessing feelings that even she didn’t recognize (Because they didn’t exist). I guess that’s why we have companions.
The next day was the long awaited holiday dreaded by missionaries all around the world. Save only Sister Sowards who has a hand and an eye for cute card making, and glitter wielding, and cardstock cutting. We had lunch in the office, (which wasn’t soup.) It was the wonderful gourmet food found only in Black sheep, which is a very orientel fancy ramen shop which hits the spot fine and dandy.
Saturday we made a grechka soup, and that was a mistake… Our Elders were in Kamianske, and had a very gourmet meal (Including fried ice-cream) And world famous donuts. So that was a bit of a let down. For us.
Our Sunday was a rollercoaster of both emotions and events. Which I could never adequately share. Even if I wanted to. So to be brief Elizibeth came to church and got along really well with all of the members, our Elders were in Kamianske and if I do say so myself Dnipro is not the same place without them. But at least they gave a card to a crazy lady and we had the lovely privilege of teaching her the restoration.
It has been a long week, but the hand of the Lord is so very prevalent.
As for a spiritual thought, I want to talk about fear. The first thing I want to say may come as a shock. Fear is very scary. Fear is one of the devil’s strongest tools against the children of men. It finds a way to grip us at our weakest moments, and seek to tear us apart, and fear seems to be one of our biggest stumbling blocks, because it is the attack that always seems to know us personally. It is an attack which we help to feed sometimes. They grow, and they rip at every fiber inside of us. They tell us to doubt, they tell us to shrink, they tell us to stop. I am here to tell you, you have nothing to doubt, you have every reason to stand tall, and you had better keep going. I would like to talk a little bit more about some of these things. First I would like to talk about doubts. Doubts will come, that is just a side effect of being a mortal, the important thing is dealing with those doubts before they have a chance to take root, and further pollute your garden. We are the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. We have sacred truths that are perfect for fighting against such doubts, and each individual who has been on the path of true discipleship has the tools necessary to remain strong in the faith. We have been given pillars to lean on until we can find out for ourselves where the safe path lies, if you have a testimony of the Prophet Joseph Smith, but don’t know for sure that we have a true Prophet today, lean on that pillar of Joseph Smith, and seek your answer prayerfully, and through the scriptures, and just listen to that man speak. He is an inspired servant of the Lord. God never intended to force his children to follow his commandments, he never intended to force us to follow the Savior, he never intended to force us to choose his way, that’s not his plan, in fact, that is the plan of the adversary. Our LOVING Father in Heaven however never intended us to have to find out on our own, he has given us many tools, and gifts, and opportunities to find out for ourselves where the truth is, and how to find it. He never wanted us to seek out the worlds answers, or to try to find the answer based on our own “wisdom” it is “Wisdom in me…” (him) We have the scriptures, we have a living prophet, and if you aren’t sure about those things, we STILL have a Father in Heaven who desires our happiness, and desires our salvation, and desires all of the good things of this life, and the life to come. Having a Father like this is key, and KNOWING that we have a father like this is so important. Because we have such a Father we know that we can ask him for ANYTHING. He won’t always give it to us in the time, place, or in the way we expect, or even want sometimes. But if it’s a righteous desire he will deliver. That is why we encourage all of the people we are teaching to pray, and ask about this. Because we know this gospel is true, we know that it’s right, we know that if they ask sincerely they will get the same answer that many of us have. This is the correct way. Which leads to the next point. You have every reason to stand tall, you need not shrink before fear. We are promised that our dispensation shall not fail. We are promised by modern day Prophets, those in the Bible, and those in the Book of Mormon. We are in the final dispensation, and with that comes blessings, knowledge, and joy in this life. Don’t miss out on these blessings, this knowledge, and this joy. The truth is in this Church.
“I testify to you that our promised blessings are beyond measure. Though the storm clouds may gather, though the rains may pour down upon us, our knowledge of the gospel, and our Love for our Heavenly Father and of our Savior will comfort, and sustain us, and bring joy to our hearts. As we walk uprightly and keep the commandments, there will be nothing in this world that can defeat us… Fear not, be of good cheer, the future is as bright as your faith.”
-President Thomas S. Monson
With that I echo what I said earlier, we have every reason to hold our head high, and stand tall. We can not bear all things now. Not alone, and luckily we don’t have to, we have a loving Savior, and a loving Father in Heaven who are walking with us the whole way if we take hold of their hands “Which are stretched out still.” Stand tall, and don’t stop. You take one more step, and know that you are walking beside the greatest life that this world has ever known. We have no reason to fear. This is the truth. We will be attacked, and we will be tested, and we will sometimes give way to our fears. But when we do, I urge you alongside many before me, and many after me. “Be not afraid, only believe.” I know that this Church is true. I know that there is joy here. Therefore, I have no cause to fear. I know in whom I have trusted, and I will trust in him for all the days of my life. In the name of Jesus Christ amen.
LOVE,
Sister Kropelnicki
(P.S. This letter may or may not have been written in part by the AP's...you decide)
Had mid transfer training but we did it by Skype with all of the new sisters but Sister wirthlin made us all breakfast and lunch!!
Went to a don Quixote ballet and it was actually pretty good!
