it's a grand night for singing

mayee cemyoo ee droozya!

first of all, HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOUGY! i hope sherry and naomi are spoiling you for your 26th today! i've been thinking of you. :)

that awkward moment when typing in english what it says in russian, really just isn't the same thing. on sunday in music and the spoken word (the sisters get to watch every week before relief society!) they sang the song from my subject line which is from state fair, which of course meant i relived that lovely moment from our family reunion while they sang it. :)

i have so much to say! it's been an interesting week. gatovee?

last thursday through sunday were some very good days. i couldn't even tell you exactly what it was, but moment after moment i kept receiving validation in my russian abilities. and the best part was on sunday when the branch president (president cranney--used to be the mission president in moscow. love him.) walked by and mentioned that he gets a report every week about each of us from our teachers, and in his own words, he said it sounds like i'm just 'walking on water.' that's a weee bit of an exaggeration, but it was still an excellent few days. and then, of course that streak ended with me giving a talk in russian on sunday (we all have to prepare a talk every week and don't know until the very moment whether or not we're speaking). soo that was cool. and that high has come down a little since then. but it's still exciting. someday i'll know pa-russki. someday.

this week involved much loving of our elders, greater understanding of one another, and of course, me being sappy and loving them like family. because really, they are family. i think the most priceless moment where i truly could see that love had penetrated every member of our district, was in the moments this past week when there's not room where people are already sitting in the cafeteria, so everyone gets up and moves so there's room. the first time it was for me and c.coulson. and the next time it was for our other syostri and c.egbert asked the ukrainian elders to move down one to make room. this probably doesn't even make sense, but it was super sweet. i love them.

and let's just talk about how much of a crack up all of them are. haahahaha. never a dull moment.
the thing is, i realized near the beginning of my mission something that i think some of the ctareishini are only starting to realize. for me especially, my call is not only to the people i already love so much in ukraine, but also to the other missionaries--namely, the ctareishini (elders). i think that's part of the reason i've been filled with so much love for each of them individually from the beginning, and i've been super blessed with being able to be an instrument in the lord's hands to help them, and to see how i can help them when i otherwise probably wouldn't know where to start. additionally, i can see how i've been placed in certain positions to help the ones that need it most, and to know who it is that needs more of my attention in one moment or another. it's exciting. and it's exciting that they trust and love us. i don't know how to explain this little realization of mine, but suffice it to say, they're great. and any language ability i do have isn't coming from myself. it's coming from being blessed to pick it up in order to turn around and help the others pick it up. i love my ctareishini. they're family. :)

after having it roaming around in my head multiple days in a row, i decided on saturday night that if i could choose the legacy i'm leaving with people throughout my life and especially during my mission, i would want to leave a legacy of love. i never want anyone to doubt my love for them or willingness to help them. i want to be someone people always can feel loved and comforted by, even if that means nothing specifically. with my elders, sometimes it's just in the way they turn to us for help, or when they're saying something dear to their heart and you can see they're willing to open up because they trust us. it's beautiful. i don't know if that makes sense. it was more eloquent in my journal. ha. but that is my goal: a legacy of love. there's a certain power just in the knowledge that you're loved. so if you're reading this, i promise you're within that realm of my love. i think even if there are a million things i'm not good at, i can love. and sometimes, that's all people really need, right? love and trust. true charity. i've always been a sap and overly prone to being filled with love for people, but since being on a mission? it's OUT OF CONTROL. haaaa. but seriously. and the best part of all this is having me make this realization and the realization that my calling extends just as much to the other missionaries as it does to the people in ukraine, on sunday one of the members of our branch presidency as well as the relief society speaker mentioned this exact thing and that we should all figure out exactly what our role is and exactly what our legacy will be. a step ahead of the game, i am. cha-ching. (yoda talk. member how ct.gelwix is obsessed with star wars? haahaha. he's a little fireball, that one.)

the new russians arrive today!! we're so excited. we we we we so excited. it's been a few days filled with reflection of when i first got here so long ago. i'm awfully glad to be on the other side of the fence now. brat eckersley showed us pictures of his mission in donetsk the other day on his last day with us and told us stories. andddd i want to be there NOW. but am terrified to. so it's all good. i can't believe we only have less than 5 weeks left!

did i mention that? we're losing brat eckersley because of the change of schedules and everything with school starting. we're sad about it. buuuttt hopefully we live. our teachers actually have lives outside the mtc? say whaaa? haha. jokes. :) but seriously. speaking of, happy start of school to everyone!

during the fireside on sunday i for some reason started thinking about my grandparents and all the wisdom they've shared with me over the years. and i realized how much i think i took that for granted. my grandparents are the best. my whole family is the best. sometimes i think i forget about all the people i have back home loving, supporting, thinking of, and praying for me, but the past day or two, i've been thinking of that a lot, especially because mike mentions it so much in his emails. knowing that i have that support and prayers really does mean the world to me. some days more than others, obviously. but it's the best. lots of love from me to all of you who may read this, because if you're reading this, it's safe to say you know me and by reading it alone you are supporting me. :)

okay, a few shout outs are in order. last week i was lame and had none: BRITTNEY SEGER!! you are PREGNANT! i knew it. so excited for you. :) :) // rachel bagley, is your old roommate megan hatch going to a russian mission? if so, she totally comes in today. i can't remember if she's in our zone or not though. oops. either way, i'll see her all the time. russians stick together. :) // kenzie/steve/whoever sent the package? you are my hero. i got it on thursday! barely 24 hours after i asked for it. you're the best. did you get the sd card of pictures? i don't even know what some of those pictures look like, so if you have questions about people, let me know. ha. :) // claira gale wilson, in one of our role plays this week, ct. harrison referenced mosiah 14 which is basically the same as isaiah 53 which reminded me of that one night you and i were chatting about that and other things a few years ago. i don't know if you even remember that, but i thought of you. and love it. // mom, will you tell arielle's mom to tell arielle thanks for the letters? i'd ask for her address and write myself, but i know i might not get a chance, so it's probably easier this way. // aunt kathy! i wrote you a letter today! // grandpa beckham, your little note at the top of your letter this week made my whole day complete. the added 'darn it' for emphasis was the best. i love you!

this life is the best. it's absolutely not always easy, if ever. but i wouldn't trade these experiences for the world. as it says in the song 'the olive tree': "what joy we'll find in our lives as we serve the king of kings." no truer sentence in all the world.

[okay. scratch that. maybe i'd trade the food. we've had a few rougher than usual days lately. ha. but seriously. opaaaaa. oi vey. everything else though is hunky dorey. and elders that get cookies for us when they have the out of this world delicious chocolate ones makes it kind of worth it.]

lots of love to all, cectpa em.

ps. what was up with the fire on the mountain by grandma's last friday? we're outside on the east end border of the mtc all the time by the gate since our classroom is right thare, and that was kind of an interesting surprise. glad it's been quenched.

[Emily is referring to the fire in Provo Canyon on August 24th that was set off by two teenagers. For more information: http://www.sltrib.com/sltrib/news/54761604-78/fire-provo-schofield-charges.html.csp]