the oracle. that's me

fam bamily,

oh my gosh. there's just too much excitement in the air from reading so many wonderful emails. so many shoutouts to be made, but wait with patience, they'll come.

this week has been quite the whirlwind - understatement of the century. so transfers are usually on thursdays, but late on wednesday night we got a call from the ap's that we'd be together for a few more days. after i'd completely packed, of course. so my momma, c.armknecht and i didn't say our farewells until saturday. in other words, god loves us and gave us an extra surprise few days together. oh, what to say first.

well, since i was transferred, last week i had to say goodbye. we made special visits to cectpa lydia - my babushka friend from my first day here at church when i had no idea what was going on, and then iraida, and tamara, and sasha. i think the one that ripped my heart out the most was tomara, because i can't even describe the love i have for her and how much i care for her. we've shared so many tender experiences together, and it's likely that i may never see her again, though of course possible since i'm still in kharkov. just not likely. and in our last meeting together, after finding out that she might possibly be losing her job, we read parts of d&c 121 and 122 with her. my dear, tomara. and then we just plain sang some hymns, and ended with god be with you till we meet again. if i was more of a cryer, i think i would have been crying. and the best part was as we said goodbye and i told her if i ever see her again, i'll greet her with overwhelming excitement. and if not, then we will meet again in heaven. and she gave me her cute little smile and said that's exactly what she was thinking. I LOVE HER.

how about some more love. i love sasha too, though i know for a fact i'll see him again. he grew up in cold mountain, and kept telling me that he's practically in cold mountain every day. and thanks to his skill of showing up everywhere, he'll probably find us. it was lovely though, that we told him it was our last meeting, and then funny how the next time we met with him i was still here. jokes on us. :) i love him. it's so beautiful to see how people really can and really do change. beautiful.

this wouldn't be complete without mentioning my okrug (district). i'm not going to lie, our districts these past two transfers were good. REALLY good. so that's sad. i adore them all. and there's especially a soft spot in my heart for ct.johnson since we came into the mission together, but he's amazing and i'll still see him all the time and all is well. i think the best thing about ctareishini, is the ones that become like brothers to me. and ct. johnson even moreso than a lot of them, is like a brother. and there's just so much goodness in all the ctareishini in our district and so much wisdom. they truly just 'get it,' you know? the best. and love is everything. also, the name the oracle was given by ct.stoker and arrington. it's fine, i'm just really good at reading people. observant, much? and ct.johnson is super good too. it's almost creepy. anyway.

well, saturday was the day. my new area is the opposite end of kharkov with cectpa jillian bull. it's going to be a lovely transfer, though the first day was a little interesting. it was a joke trying to get a taxi to get my stuff moved thanks to incredible amounts of snow, but all is well. and then saturday night there was a christmas party at the central branch for all of kharkov, and i saw so many people from novie doma (my first branch). i love them so much. and they sang oh, holy night in russian! oh how i adore that song. i almost cried maybe. and i was having attachment issues after only a few hours away from c.armknecht because i love her so much, but don't fret. we're fine. good thing we're eternal friends. we decided that she's anne of green gables (she basically is) and i'm diana. it's precious. and i love c.bull. baby steps. it's hard being in a new area where i have no idea what's going on, but that's all part of the game. and we have a lot of work to do with the members and gaining their trust and being able to have their help in the work, so that's been a different story from where we were. but i'm excited about it and i feel super capable and ready to take on the world. and for those of you reading mike's emails, it sounds like we're both on that bandwagon right now. the joys. also, let's just talk about how it's a wayy nicer area, and i feel like i'm cheating the system with how nice our apartment is. it's a member apartment of a couple that's serving a mission in the temple in kyiv right now. i'm dying. mostly because of what i came from. it's going to be a good transfer. :)

mostly, i just love these people. and i'm excited to love some more. because love is what really matters. that's why christmas happened in the first place. did you know the word for christmas in russian is a word they use specifically for talking about the birth of christ? they have an entirely different word instead of just saying birth. i think it's beautiful. never forget the reason for the season. essentially, go out and share some love and cheer with everyone. :) carols included!

shoutouts: lauren rose avondet carey!! you're finally engaged! it's fine, i squealed and am super excited for you. i'm so happy for you!! love and miss you and marky - so you have to promise to send pictures and tell me all about it, which i know you will. // deborah ann ricks, i sent you a letter this week. and i'm so excited to hear about and see pictures of your wedding! it will be so adorable. // roslyn grandy, i love you. te iubesc. i really just do. your email made me smile big. and puh-lease. these emails do not go out to all of utah. just maybe most of it. :) hahahaa. jokes. // hannah!! your papers are in!! oh my hannah montana that's so exciting. my bias is obviously for ukraine, or at least russian speaking. but my guess is england! that's my official vote. i love you and can't wait to hear where you're going! oh the excitement that's in store. // mother armknecht and armknecht family, you are all wonderful. first of all, because you let your daughter come brighten my life here. second of all, because of the hat you sent for me! we laughed at the note and loved it. it's super soft. and when i wear it your lovely daughter was fond of bopping the little ball on the top of it. anyway. thank you!! i'm excited to meet you someday. and i'm excited that you met my momma. :)

whelp, i don't have much else to say. besides i love you all and i really am so grateful for your thoughts, prayers, and support. it really does make a difference. especially on the days where we're extra cold. and merry christmas!! we all know how much i love christmas. LOVE IT. the song of the season is что за дитя? or in other words, what child is this? i adore it. it's beautiful na-russkom.

anyway

much love,

cectpa em.