we almost gave a chastity lesson to a bunch of babushka's

I am sorry if this one is a little bit shorter. Everything is really good here. Our church was broken into this week and our computers were stolen so we are at an SKETCHY internet cafe and we do not have that much time. I have so many photos but I will have to wait to send them all until a day when we have computers that can do that. 

This week was one of the best, and hardest weeks of my mission. I realized that although it is so hard and it takes ALL of me and all of my heart to do this work, I NEVER want to leave. I am almost half way through and this is all I want to do for the rest of my life. How can I almost be halfway through? I just love being a missionary. Time is moving way faster that I like. Because I am finally at the point when I have just given my heart to these people. I wanted to tell you all that I can not return but I knew that maybe that would make you sad. Of course I want to see you all again, I know I have to go back I just don't want to leave Ukraine. This time is so special and like nothing else. It is already sacred ground for me. God is here. And it is purely marvelous miracle time. 

This week I learned a lot! And this week I had an english fast! I did it and my Russian deffinitely increased in even just the small time I gave up english. It was so worth it. It was a sacrifice I should have made a long long time ago! 

We got to do some fun things this week: 

Monday was zoo day with the Sisters in Center and I literally have the most awesome photos. But after we left the zoo I got really sad. Dad you know how I am about animals and these ones were SO sad. It was such a soviet zoo. One animal all pent up in a tiny cage just suffering. So me and the french sister morned while our companions had a grand ole ball. 

Later this week we went bowling with 2 investigators and a less active which was also a lot of fun. I met one of their sons and he is 9 and named Andrei and he was so cute and so helpful I almost ate him. 

Also we went to the opera and took a cute girl with us and it was MAGICAL inside. 

My favorite moment of the week:

Visited a semi-active family. (Roma our investigators family). They consist of mom and dad who are inactive, Olya active and almost 19, Igor 14 also active, Roma 9, Rita 4. We went over and tilled their other garden in the dark and then we made american chocolate chip cookies (or attempted to) in their Ukrainian oven. It was really awesome because after a while it was the entire family sitting on the floor of this tiny kitchen all together and I was coloring with Rita and we were helping Igor with atononmy in english and then we taught this spiritual thought that was incredible. So many times on this mission I have seen the spirit speak through me and my companion. I am bolder than I ever could have been and when I invite people I always know that it is Jesus Christ inviting them to do something through me. We were bold and told them they need to return to church and they knew it. We will continue to work on it. 

Also Danya who is our 8 year old investigoator who was supposed to get baptized but didnt come to church last week came to church sunday. We were so nervous he would be so upset because when we talked to his mom and grandma they were livid with us thinking we had messed everything up. We got to church and this sweet boy was in his best suit and a nice white shirt and black tie and he stood up on the stairs and said sisters I have prepared a speech for you all week!! It was in english and he said, " Hello Sisters. My name is Daniel. I am 8 years old. I like chocloate (long pause) icecream. And I love my family." HE WAS TOTALLY ok and he is more ready, more reverant and more tough and he will be a great member inDecember 12. We set such a far date because president told us he is sending Elder Kudibergen back down here next transfer and the family loves him so he will baptize him. Everything is well.

Also I gave another 10 minute talk this week! and they told me that i am sounding almost like a native! That was a huge complement. Russian has been so hard for me. ALSO we ALMOST gave a chastity lesson in relief soceity to a bunch of grandmothers. BUT the cute 20 year old 1 week overdue Relief Society President Liza came at the last minute and saved the day! Dodged a bullet there... ;)

We visited a lot of members and lots of less actives and lots of investigators. They all need your prayers and your faith that they can continue to change their lives. Things are pretty hard right now. War, economically and all. But these people are tough and God will not forget them.

I love you! Have a wonderful week. We may get to go to Kyiv for a Sisters conference this week I hope!

LOVE YOU SO MUCH!!!! 

Love, Cectpa Karren 

Plan of Salvation План Спасение

November 9, 2015

Thank you to all who have been praying and fasting for me. Miracles happen! And this week for the first week in a long long time I feel really good. I will keep on improving until hopefully this problem will disappear all together! I love you all so much. You are my angels.

This week one miracle that may seem little and silly was huge for me! We went to teach a woman in this little cafe place. We went in and it ended up being 2 hours. Seems like a lot but it was 100% spirit lead and it was incredible. All I had was a Russian Book of Mormon and we discussed the Plan of Salvation in detail. This woman left with the desire to finally know if God is really there and really loves her and has a plan for her specifically. It was a miracle because I had NO notes and I was able to teach with the spirit guiding me to teach straight from the Book of Mormon. It was one of those moments where you go in not knowing what you are going to do, and the Spirit just spoke through me. It was SO AMAZING to witness God working right there! 

I love the Plan. It is for us and we are so blessed to have the knowledge of it that we do. We taught another investigator named Lena the Plan of Salvation this week to and it was so amazing and spirit filled. She cried as we knelt and prayed together to know if the plan is true. She was so grateful for a knowledge that filled a huge hole inside of her because she has been searching and searching and found nothing like this anywhere else. But now she has this knowledge and the Book of Mormon and she cries she is so grateful. There was something I could learn from that as well. That we all have the gospel and that is SUCH A BLESSING. We need to be more grateful for the knowledge we have and continue to develop it because God has trusted us with it. 

This week really was a Plan of Salvation week and I realized how much this plan is so real! It is EVERYTHING to me. I am so grateful for a loving heavenly father who loves us so much. He is so amazing and his plan is brilliant. 

Funnies/not so funny of the week

I LOST our phone. That was SO bad! When we were at the doctors I left the phone there and then when we went back it had been taken. so for a few days we were phone-less and had no way to get a hold of everyone! It was pretty rough but finally we have a new phone. It is fine I am still a little bit silly and you all can laugh at me. 

Another funny: I was told by one less active that I MUST be an actress when I get home or he will be very upset because the world deserves to see my face. I just could not help but laugh at that. I just don't think that is me! 

We spent a lot of time on buses do to the things I lost this week and also doctors appointments and different adventures we got to have. ;)

Not so funny. We have to cancel this little boys (Danya) baptism for the 3rd time because he didn't come to church this week. He has been coming for 7 years but the branch wouldn't give us support the first time so we cancelled the baptism and pushed it back until he would come 2 more times in a row. Well his grandparents went out of town and his mom is not a member and we went over to pick him or or have his older brother bring him and no one answered. So he didn't come to church and we get to cancel it again. So much for Wednesday. I know it is all part of the plan and it will work out! Sometimes free agency  is frustrating!!! 

Please pray for my cute companion. She is having a really hard time. Because adjusting to missionary life is hard. She works so hard but unfortunately is having a hard time finding joy because the things that she felt good at and loved to do before are now hard here. The language is still hard and she just wants to talk but still cant really like she really wants to. It is all part of it but it is sometimes hard to find the joy when even the simple things get hard. 

One other blessing this week was we had SO many less actives come to church on Sunday. It was so huge because a lot of the work we do here in this branch is with the less actives and to see them come and take the sacrament and to participate and feel of the spirit was incredible. I love these people so much. I am so scared I will get transferred from this area. It has been so hard, I have shed so many tears, but at the end of the day I love this place with all of my heart and when I leave, I will leave my heart in Tairova. I love these people. I love that they are changing my life everyday. 

Sorry my thoughts are scattered and it is not very well written! Next time I will bring my journal so I can remember better what is all going on and write it better. 

This week I am going on a complete English fast. I am determined to conquer Russian and I know that God will bless me if I sacrifice what is holding me back. It is english and I need to sacrifice so I can teach and speak like God needs me to speak for these wonderful people! 

What is one thing you can sacrifice for the Lord this week? Seriously think about it. Write it down. Then do it for a week! 

Also write down 5 blessings and hang it on your mirror. Specific blessings. I did that this week and it was killer. It helped me everyday remember just how much God loves me and how much he blesses me!

I love you all so much! have the best week ever!!

сестра Кэррен

There are so many cats in Ukraine.  I am literally obsessed!  This one had a
 smashed face and he was guarding this shop.  I just had to play with him. 

Thumb wars with all of our hands.  I love Kristina!

Fall time in Odessa

We met the scariest man ever who positioned us for this photo. He was some sort of professional photographer and he was 100 percent nutsy. He whistled so loud and would growl. It was pretty epic. All in Russian and a fur hat. This is our scared to be here faces.

Famous stairs! So many of them they just keep going and going!!!!!

Ukrainians struggle to take good photos.  Almost got the statue in the picture. This was like the 10th try. 

Homemade headbands

We went to this big nursing home and we cleaned 6 floors! Walls, windows, floors, everything...so fun!!! And we ran there!

Old palace just over the sea.

City center

facade?

We tired our Tatyana out real good. I LOVE HER SO MUCH (the woman sitting next to me is one of my heroes)

Grateful

November 4, 2015

To all of our missionary parents

In America, the month of November there is a holiday called Thanksgiving, we give thanks for all we have been given or blessed with throughout the year. Tonight as I go to bed I have an overwhelming love and appreciation for each of you and for your missionary serving here with us in Kiev, Ukraine. I want you to know we love your missionary.  We are very blessed to have them here in this area, at this time. I want you to know that the work is moving forward. We have the best missionaries in the whole world. The Lord is very aware of each one of them, and is blessing this area in ways we have only dreamt about. This work is real. Your missionary is amazing. You can be very proud of them. It is an honor to serve with them. Our family loves each one of them and they are in our prayers daily. Thank you for supporting them. May your month of November help you to remember all that you are grateful for and blessed with.

We love you,

President and Sister Packer and family

Ukraine Kyiv Mission

vul. Yabluneva 1

s. Sofilvska Borshahivka

Kyevo-Svyatoshinskiy rayon

Kylvska oblast   08131

Ukraine

Mission Newsletter

“Let Your Light so Shine”

Ukraine Kyiv Mission

9 November 2015

Quote: “...O Lord...thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have light.” (Either 3:4)

Dear Elders and Sisters
Dear Elders and Sisters,
As a boy, I always wanted be an astronaut. I loved to study about the Universe and dreamed of looking back on the earth from space. I advanced to the highest level in our Young Astronauts club and collected patches from shuttle missions. I never realized the dream of becoming an astronaut, but even today, I have a Pinterest board dedicated to the wonders of Space. Luckily, for those of us who will never
make it to space, there are satellites that capture images of the universe that give a chance to see. The picture is of Europe at night from space. It is amazing to see how many lights there are.
Where ever there are people and advancement in civilization there is light. Some places shine more brightly than others do.
This morning, in a meeting with recent converts
one of the branch presidents shared the story of
his conversion. He said that the first spark of the
gospel light he saw in the eyes of the
missionaries he met on the street. A recent
convert at the meeting said she saw light within every church member she met as she cautiously learned about the church from a distance. What if God had a special lens through which He could look down at the world and see the spirituality of the people in different areas. What would He see if He pointed his lens on you, on your area, or on our mission? How brightly is our spiritual light shining in the darkness? How can we increase the light in ourselves and in our areas so it can more easily be seen? There is a spiritual light within all of us that isn’t always discerned by the world. This light is known to God and seen by those who are prepared. This light is either increased or dimmed within us. Obedience, diligence and repentance are essential to increasing our light. Every testimony you bear, every truth you teach, every scripture you read, every soul you lift, every prayer you offer brings spiritual strength and light to our area on the earth. Read the scripture chain below about light and decide for yourself what role you play and what you need to do.

“For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. The light of the body is the eye: if therefore thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light. But if thine eye be evil, thy whole body shall be full of darkness. If therefore the light that is in thee be darkness how great is that darkness. No man can serve two masters: for either he will hate the one, and love the other; or else he will hold to the one, and despise the other. Ye cannot serve God and mammon.” (Matthew 6:21-24)
“And faith, hope, charity and love, with an eye single to the glory of God, qualify him for the work.” (D&C 4:5)
“Harken and listen to the voice of him who is from all eternity to all eternity, the Great I Am, even Jesus Christ—the light and the life of the world; a light which shineth in the darkness and the darkness comprehendeth it not. The same which came in the meridian of time unto my own, and mine own received me not; but to as many as received me, gave I power to become my sons; and even so will I give unto as many as will reicieve me, power to become my sons. And verily, verily, I say unto your he that receiventh my gospel receiveth me, and he that recieiveth not my gospel recieveth not me. And this is my gospel—repentance and baptism by water, and then cometh the baptism of fire and the Holy Ghost, even the Comforter, which showeth all things, and teacheth the peaceable things, of the kingdom.” (D&C 39:1-6)
“Behold, I am Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, who created the heavens and the earth, a light which cannot be hid in darkness, Wherefore, I must bring forth the fullness of my gospel from the Gentiles unto the house of Israel. (D&C 14:9-10)
“And even so have I sent mine everlasting covenant into the world, to be a light to the world, and to be a standard for my people, and for the gentiles to seek to it, and to be a messenger before my face to prepare the way before me. (D&C 45:9)
“And this have I told you concerning Jerusalem; and when that day shall come, shall a remnant be scattered among all nations; But they shall be gathered again; but they shall remain until the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled. And in that day shall be heard of wars and rumors of wars, and the whole earth shall be in commotion, and men’s hearts shall fail them, and they shall say that Christ delayeth his coming until the end of the earth. And the love of men shall, wax cold, and iniquity shall abound. And when the times of the Gentiles is come in, a light shall break forth among them that sit in darkness, and it shall be the fullness of my gospel; But they receive it not, for they perceive not the light, and they turn their hearts from me because of the precepts of the of men. And in that generation shall the times of the Gentiles be fulfilled.” (D&C 45:25-30)
“Ye are the light of the world. A city that is set on a hill cannot be hid. Neither do men light a candle, and put it under a bushel, but on a candlestick; and it giveth light unto all that are in the house. Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:13)
“And I know, O Lord, that thou hast all power, and can do whatsoever thou wilt for the benefit of man; therefore touch these stones, O Lord, with thy finger, and prepare them that they may shine forth unto us in the vessels which we have prepared, that we may have light while we shall cross the sea. And it came to pass that when the brother of Jared had said these words, behold, the Lord stretched forth his had and touched the stones one by one with his finger. And the veil was taken from his eyes....”(Ether 3:4-5)

The Savior is the light of the world. You are too. Let Him increase the light within you! Let’s make this part of the world shine!
Love,
President and Sister Packer 

Pictures

letter to mom

Thank you for praying for me. You know you are a really good mom right? You have such amazing faith you are such an amazing example to me. dad needs to remember that Satan wants us to feel angry and discouraged. We should always look to God first. MOM DONT DOUBT YOUR FAITH OR WHAT YOU felt and knew was from God. Ever. 

https://www.lds.org/ensign/2000/03/cast-not-away-therefore-your-confidence?lang=eng

I love this talk. Read it when you have some time. :)

Thank you for all the scriptures. I wrote them all down and I will search them out more and more this week. You are so inspired. I love you. 

thank you for taking the time to think of all this too. I know this is a big trial for us all. But mom God needs us to be strong and to learn and you are learning so much. I can see it. What better way to grow and to grow a real relationship with each other and strengthen our family and relationship with God and Jesus Christ than through trials. This includes more than just me. This is for us all. I love you and miss you but I want you to know that your faith and prayers are working! So far we have found what else I can do to get better! And that is a huge step! I am doing well and being taken care of by my family, angels, God, missionaries, branch memebers, President and his wife, doctors and everyone. I am one lucky girl. I love you so much!! You are my best friend and hero and I love that this is helping us grow together even more. Be safe and be good and keep the faith!

You are amazing!!!!!!!

Have a wonderful week. 

Cectpa Karren 

I got a sweet calendar...

journal entries this week

October 26, 2015

Another P-Day in Odessa Tairova because I did not get transferred.  I will finish training.  I love this area with all my heart and seriously cant even think about leaving.  It’s my home and these people are my people.

This week was hard but fulfilling.   I always knew missionary work meant work.  It is all about finding the joy and working along side God, and then it is more than just “working.”  It is a pleasure and a privilege.

I am always grateful for a well-awaited P-Day to get to communicate with my family.  Their diligence, hard work, love, support, prayers, and sacrifices help me and this work so much.  They are some of my special angels helping to open people’s hearts and eyes here through prayer.

I LOVE PRAYER.  It connects us to God and connects us all together.  Greatest gift ever!  As I am writing this I feel REALLY GOOD.  I am on a spiritual high from the 2 family home evenings with some less actives, actives, and even one member family fellowshipping our investigator family.  We gave a killer object lesson and committed to baptism – SOON.  Then Grandma Tatyana (one of my all time heroes) bore her testimony and story of finding and accepting the church through true Joyful change through prayer and the atonement and gaining a true and personal relationship with the Savior.  It wasn’t an easy path – but she knew it was right. I love her. Lena came over tonight SO excited because she picked up her Book of Mormon today and just couldn’t stop reading it.  How amazing is that?  I love God. ☺  He is working miracles.  I’m so happy!

October 29, 2015

I went to the Dr. They probed at my stomach, did an ultra sound.  It all hurt but everything looks ok.  I have a lot of inflammation and my bowels and intestines are disturbed.  So I will basically cut FOOD out of my diet and take a whole bunch of medicine and see how it goes.  Sister Ivancovich was pumped to see my “1st” ultrasound.  Hahaha!

The sun was out therefore it was a beautiful day.  Later tonight we had ward family Home evening and they even pushed it back for us to go get our investigators.  We are so lucky to serve here and be with these people. I love my Jesus Christ.  He is so good.

The members were all so adorable and worried about my stomach and me. I have a lot of prayers and love.  My heart is so full.  I never want to leave…this work is Paradise.  

November 1, 2015

Aaah it is November. ☺ Today was Sunday.  About every other Sunday I get all stressed out because of what I witness at church.  It is not something that can be explained  - it has to be experienced to feel.  We are responsible for a lot of people here.  Of course they determine their own salvation BUT we do have stewardship for our area.  Never in my have I lived so completely for others.  I notice MORE than ever and I do get that “I’m responsibel kind of feeling.”

God amazes me.  How is it that he can be so patient with all of His children and never give up on ANY of us – after we CONTINUALLY do so much wrong or always turn away from him?  He never gets impatient or says, “That’s enough.”  He is steady, strong, and perfect. I love Him so much.  He does all I could never do.

Love,

Sister Karren

Mission Newsletter

“Take Care of Your Stewardship”

Ukraine Kyiv Mission

2 November 2015

Quote:
“Thou shalt stand in the place of thy stewardship.” (D&C 42:53)

Dear Elders and Sisters
We love and appreciate all of you! You are doing better than you think (I may include this every week). We have been so impressed with those of you with whom we have spoken in Russian. We are so lucky to have so many native Russian-speaking missionaries. I wish we had more so that each of you could serve with one! If you don’t have a native speaking companion then be sure to identify a native informant in your area with whom you can work. Learning the language is long and hard so do your best. There is a price that must be paid for the language and there is no way around it; the quicker you pay that price the more quickly you will reach fluency. SYL is key. Just humble yourselves and SYL all of the time.
Stewardship
While serving a mission, I really grew up and changed. The Spirit changed me in many ways to be more humble, more careful, and more thoughtful of others. I was wiser in my decisions, which is why I looked for a pair of safety glasses when I went out to edge the 1.5 acre lot where my parents live. In High School, I wouldn’t have thought twice about weed eating for 3 hours without eye protection, but now I wasn’t going to go out even if it meant I went out with a pair of safety glasses taped to my head because they were broken and the only ones I could find. The glasses worked great, for the most part, but as the day grew hotter and I began to sweat, the tape at the bottom of the glasses proved to be water tight, and slowly the glasses began to fill with sweat. Almost done, I decided just to push through and finish even though my eyes stung from the salty sweat. I could just see well enough, if I squinted my eyes and raised the bottom of my eyelids just beyond the rising pool in my safety glasses. As I finished, and just before I could get the safety glasses off, I noticed two men in suits approaching me. One of the men was my grandfather, President Packer, and the other was Elder Hancock the grandfather of Elder Hancock who recently returned home from our mission. I quickly tried to unwind the black electrical tape from my head before they got close enough to see. This proved to be easier said than done. When they reached me, the glasses were coming off and the sweat ran down my face cleaning off the weed clippings that were a testament to my day’s labor.

To my great joy, my grandfather was proud and not embarrassed of his hard-working returned missionary grandson and introduced me to Elder Hancock. Elder Handcock had just been called as a General Authority and was assigned to serve in the Europe East Area Presidency. Grandpa was training Elder Hancock at a Stake Conference held in my home town of American Fork, Utah. Grandpa invited me to join them for a leadership meeting later that afternoon. I quickly showered and got ready to go. I took my younger brother with me who had just turned in his mission papers. I wore my suit, my brother wore his jeans and flip flops. During my grandfather’s talk he made a comment about us being an example of the before and after of a mission. He taught the importance of missions and how they can change the young people of the church (My mission changed me because I gave everything I was to the Lord and let Him make me someone new, someone better.).
After the speakers, the meeting opened for asking and answering questions. For 20 minutes there were questions about the work in China, Africa, and I even answered a few questions about the work in Russia. Then a hand went up in the back, and a humble Elders Quorum President asked a question that changed the meeting. He asked, “I have three brothers in my quorum who struggle with feelings that they are enough, with all of the things they have going on in their lives. What advice do you have on how I can help them?” Before he answered this question, President Packer stopped the meeting and invited Elder Hancock to come up to the pulpit. He told those attending that he wasn’t only teaching the Stake but that he was also training Elder Hancock to be a General Authority. He put his arm around Elder Hancock and said, “That was the only good question we have had throughout this entire meeting. Why? Because it deals specifically with this man’s stewardship and how he can help those, he is assigned to serve. Who cares what is happening in China, Africa, of Russia.” He then told the attendees that he would only be accepting good questions for the rest of the meeting.
You have a stewardship. It is your area. You don’t need to worry what is going on in other areas of the mission or what is going on with other missionaries. You give your time, talents and energy to your assigned stewardship. Trust in the Lord because it is his area too. You can and should stay in touch with those recent converts in areas you have served. Follow the guidelines in the Missionary Handbook.
Another important stewardship while on a mission is your own spiritual, emotional, and physical health. Make sure you are taking care of this stewardship so that when you go home you will have experienced the miracle of a mission. May the Lord bless you as you labor in his Vineyard!
Love,
President Packer

personal miracle

October 20, 2015

Personal Journal Entry

My new planner <3

TRANSFER TOP TEN: first transfer of training

October 26, 2015

1. I got hit on by a girl

2. Nice evening, 1st transfer experience for Sister Ivancovich tracting a large apartment complex. Fought our way in past the grandma guard, and everything was going good, when suddenly a nice man with his manly atheist tatoo pulled out his gun on us.

3. Nataliya! Pure miracle and contact in Kyiv she was an answer to a prayer and now investigating the church. (Plus she thought I was native Russian #sweet)

4. Sometimes Sisters come to visit and one of them throws up on your floor and you and your companion both simultaneously step in it, then deep clean your feet in the moldy bathtub. 

5. We have a baby cactus named "waggle"

6. Literally dug a cat out from under a building. So basically we saved it's life and then just contacted with it for 2 hours. #Bookofmormonorcat 

Then we had to abandon it in front of a hair salon. #goodmothers

7. Becoming professional knitters with our Babooshka Tatyana #weareliterallyobsessedwithher

8. Our apartment is only a little bit dangerous and full of fleas so obviously we will still be living here. 

9. Seen at least 20 videos of one of our investigators belly dancing

10.As a treat for being good the primary children get to watch Jehovah's witness videos. #someoneneedstotalktothemediachurchdepartment

This week was amazing. This area has really been quiet dead and hurting for a year. AND GUESS what? God is REALLY WORKING HERE. And I get the privilege of being a long for the ride and to work with him. My companion is seriously amazing. This week we had a goal of 20 lessons, maybe that seems small for all of you, but seriously we usually mostly contact. We had 13 AMAZING spirit filled lessons with people asking how on earth we knew exactly what they needed to hear from us. We had to have a hard conversation with a family this week to push back a baptism for Danya (the little boy in the photo below) and we really had to call this family to repentance (to change) and I was so nervous. This week I was more of the BOLD missionary that I want to be. I invited so many people to CHANGE and the amazing thing is that with the love of Christ working through us when we invite people to do these things, I feel it really comes from God. It does not offend people. the branch, the investigators, everything here is changing and it is indescribable. I am a missionary. I know this gospel is true. IT CHANGES PEOPLES LIVES. It CHANGES MY LIFE EVERY SINGLE DAY. God is real. I also got to give a 12 minute talk on following the example of Jesus Christ. I wrote it all in Russian this time without first writing it in english then translating. IT went really well and for the first time we had 43 people in sacrament! THAT IS AMAZING. I get to stay here for another transfer, finish training and I never want to leave this area. I love it so so much. Missionary work, is work, and this work is changing my life for the better. I love you all and you are all amazing. have a great week! 

сестра Кэррен

Our little boy Danya

#bookofmormonorcat ???

rescuing cats

Our District

We are real RUSSIANS. Cheese!

Paninis

Our Babushka Tatyna taught us how to knit.