family. this might be short. this might be long. probably the former.
first of all, PRESIDENT IS BACK! i love that man. he and sister campero flew straight into kharkov on friday with the new senior couple and was at our zone conference on saturday. i love him. something about the world is set at right once more. that said, president podvodov - the counselor presiding while president was away - is also wonderful. because of the zone conference we had three senior couples in our branch on sunday. the members didn't even know what to do. speaking of, if anyone who reads this is in that demographic, you should probably think about serving a mission. and then not denying the call if you get called to a place like this. senior couples are so needed! and the members adore them. in other words, just a thought from the front lines.
last week in a split second as the metro doors opened someone asked for directions about which metro line to take for where they were going. in a split second, i replied. the same thing happened again on the way home. look how far i've come. speaking of, for those that asked about general conference, it will probably be the same as when i first came into country. we'll get to watch it a week after - so in two weeks. funnily moreso that i'm still in the same place as i was then, though obviously serving in a different area. they broadcast it in center branch and all kharkov gathers. i'm out of control excited.
on wednesday of this week marks six months since i arrived in ukraine. six. one of those important numbers. i've been thinking a lot this past week about where i've been, all the experiences i've had, all the people i've met, etc. more than that, i've been thinking about how much i've changed. kind of like mike mentioned in his email, i've changed and am continuing to change. an obvious statement, of course, but especially after this winter. it changed me. for better or for worse? sixes, probably. you can all be the judge. funny too that i'll be in the same place for conference. it's weird because the environment is the same, but so much different am i. everywhere i go in this city practically is saturated with memory of something that's happened there - a fact especially true of cold mountain specifically. there's something about this place - cold mountain moreso than xtz. i've also thought a lot this week about the atonement (what else?), and then of course our zone conference last saturday was focused on that entirely. so much between all these lines. sorry about that. if nothing else, i've thought a lot about the all-encompassing nature of the atonement this week. it fills all things. fills them with love.
we met with natasha a couple of different times this week. one of which was a dream, the other a nightmare. more important, though, all of her daughters were home for both of them because of spring break or something. well, the five that live at home. snejanna, janna, lada, lucita, and vinera. vinera is my new best friend. she's the three year old. actually, they all are if we're being honest. but especially her. it kills me that i can't hold them. but i'll get over it someday. in short, i love that cute little family of girls. i love the gradual increase of light in their home. light, peace, and love - generally speaking, anyway.
love is at the center of everything. this week i've been so blessed with reminders and a greater focus on how much i love these people specifically.
much love to all to pass around to everyone you meet,
cectpa em.
ps. armknecht family, i know you already know this, but your daughter is incomparable in how wonderful she is. and she has such a way with written words. life changing, really. anyway, profound thanks for sharing her with me. :)
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