Date
September 10, 2018
Area
Новгород
Companion
Mortenson
Week 23 -
Всем Добрый день! (Good day to all!)
My Russian fact of the week is about Гулять's. A гулять is a stroll. The Russian people LOVE to гулять: to just go on a walk around town or through a парк--of which there are МНОГИЕ parks in Новгород! We will go on гулятьs with people and just talk to them! I was never really into strolls before my mission, but I definitely think it's something I'm going to do more often when I get home! (It's very relaxing!)
On Monday we went to the Ивановы's for FHE. We helped Брат Иванов move some wood and some other yard work before going inside to have dinner. During dinner, I was pretty hungry, so I got maybe a little too much food on my plate... I thought it was enough, but Брат Иванов stopped me and said, "Woah! That's a lot of food for a skinny thing like you! You're a hard worker, though. One of the best we've ever had. Like a tank!" We all had a good laugh about that! We then played Janga with their daughters (Аня and Оля). They're super fun!! Super good family with a strong testimony! (They're one of the ones who come most regularly to church:)
We met with another girl this week: Май, who is a student here from Vietnam! Super cool girl. She doesn't know that much about religion, but we gave her a Book of Mormon and told her that there are 5 other main lessons about our church. She agreed to meet with us again next week, and was very happy that the Book of Mormon was hers! Haha!
We had two other lessons with Виктория this week :) We taught her about the Law of Chastity, (and about something else I can't remember). I don't know if I already told you all about this, but she has some problems committing to the commitments, because she's afraid of not being perfect at it. She asked a lot about "what if this?", "what if that?" about the Law of Chastity, to which we simply asked her "do you want to? Do you have a desire?" She said yes, and we promised her that as long as she wanted to, and she tried her very hardest, that the Holy Ghost would help her! She accepted that :) She's growing a ton!!!
I don't have a lot of time, как обычно, (as usual) but I want to promise you the exact same thing we promised Виктория. I know that if you have the desire to keep the commandments, and do everything that we have been asked to do--even if you are forgetful, or don't have enough time in your day--I promise that as you try your very hardest, God will help you. He will send the Holy Ghost, who will guide and protect you. I know that when we are headed in the right direction, and that when truly desire what is right, God will always help us reach our goals! And even if we miss reading our scriptures, God will still forgive us and allow us to try again. That's something I often bear testimony of to Виктория. I know it's true. God will always give you a second chance, and you can always repent, turn your life around, and make your way back to him. Christ has paid that price for you! I know it's true!
Remember that!!
Много любви, (Lots of Love)
-- Старейшина Шервуд