that address doesn't exist. yes, it does. i'm standing right in front of it. definitely doesn't

fam bam.

first. it is necessary to say happy birthday to grandma! 80. 80 years of filling the world with delight, love, and service. and a loaf of homemade bread on the side. i hope you have the most beautiful month this month. your month. :)

welp. unlike most, there's much to be said for the past few days. we had sister's conference/seminar thing, which was an absolute delight. chaotic. full of crazy things happening. and getting to see all the sisters. not to mention we now have 21 sisters in our mission. what? it's weird. i haven't decided how i feel about it, but whatever.

i don't know how to put it into words. but it was a delight. we talked about sisters. about faith, hope, charity. about the caretaker. so many things. it was more for the older sisters than the ones that just got here, but they don't know that. in a nutshell, it was wonderful to see them. wonderful to be surrounded in a sisterhood. that essence of divine.

so, transfers. right.

welp.

am i maybe training the second youngest sister in the entire east european area? maybe.

is she a ball of sunshine from syracuse, utah? maybe.

did she know the erekson family (aka, sister erekson--now former companion) before the mission? maybe.

small world.

her name is sister krystal hassard. (pronounced like hazard.) she's darling. she's 19 and a few months. and real on top of things considering she's now on the other side of the world. i'm impressed. though of course there's the realizing this isn't exactly what she expected. hate when that happens. we're serving in abedinyoni. an area that hasn't had missionaries in it for a few months. the branch is the biggest and strongest in the mission. practically american. it's strange to me. they're so delightful. members are the best.

the thing about training is that there are a million different things to worry about in every given moment that the brand new balls of light don't even know about. so it's fine. i'm not worried about it.

it's exciting to see the fresh hope, perspective, and fire. sad to see the slight dream crushing as she realizes and sees that it's not what she expected. i think she judges me sometimes. the mtc trains you to. and it's okay, i let her judge me. not that i'm doing anything bad. mostly that ukraine is just ukraine. and that means random other things to worry about. anyway. she's delightful.

oh, not to mention the assistants called the elders in our district so they were waiting when our taxi arrived with all our things at the end of sister's everything and finally heading to our area. they were there waiting, had cleaned the apartment, and bought flowers and a few groceries. maybe they got a talking to by the assistants. but i'm not complaining. elders nice to sisters? what?
so.

remember tatyana? the woman from makeevka that got baptized on saturday? she sure did. it was delightful. i love the makeevka members. i miss them already. and her baptism was one to never forget. after the prayer was said, she crouched down into the water instead of leaning back, and the member baptizing her didn't have her back to be guiding her down. so then she bent her knees to squat down, and he pushed down on her head. it was real funny, real awkward. all were dying inside, members in a flurry trying to explain and then they did it again. the second time, the one baptizing her almost held her hand out. it was awkward. but never fear. she's now fully baptized and confirmed! makeevka's newest member. :) i adore her. when i call her, she recognizes my voice. love her. all the little miracles.

that's the thing. when you're stressed, worried about every little thing, killing yourself? that's not what it necessarily ought to be. there's nothing wrong with peace and love. it's always when you let go and let god light the way, miracles happen. things come from nowhere. it's not in our hands, and it's when we let go that all is well. that's what i've learned. it's not worth stressing and worrying. serve and love and give all you can. but don't worry. it's in god's hands. do what you can do. give your heart. that's all we're ever asked. nothing new. something we've all heard a million times. but now it means something so different.

so that's all i can do. have faith. only through faith are miracles wrought.

and sometimes. that's the only choice we have.

i'm scared i have to do cold mountain again. that's my secret. we have absolutely nothing. but. this morning i found deuteronomy 11:8-14. this isn't Egypt. this isn't cold mountain. there's a land of milk and honey awaiting. it will be different. training means miracles. god always sends miracles to greenies. so that's my faith and hope.

because that's all i can do.

have a little faith, little one. all will be well. things will work out.

wherever you are and whatever you do, have a little faith.

mustard seeds.

much love to one and all,
cectpa em.