Um. Is that a coffin?

Hey, everyone! This week has been nuts. So much happened because every day here feels like a year and a half. Kinda. Because at the same time it goes by really fast. Like I said, time is so weird. It's still really hot here. I've actually got a really good tan going. I definitely wouldn't have guessed that would happen in the Motherland.  his week was busy. We contacted a lot. We don't go tracting because it's relatively ineffective and it's illegal in Moscow so nobody does it in the outer cities either. I got my first contact this week! It was so cool. We had been trying to talk to people for about an hour. We go on the big walking street I told you about and try to share a message with people. I usually say, "May I ask you a question?" But in Russian obviously. They usually say no. We kind of make it a game to see how many different types of no's we get. Like there's just the normal no, there's the no with a hand wave, there's the we don't need it, there's the you're not allowed to talk to me, and my personal favorite: of course not. I went up to this family and asked them if I could ask them a question and they said of course not. Hahaha. It was great. So that happened and then right after I went up to this girl and she said I could ask her a question! So I asked her if she had heard of the Book of Mormon before. She said she hadn't so I went through the pictures in the front with her and had her read the first paragraph of the introduction. I bore testimony of the truthfulness of the book and that through it she would receive much happiness. Her name is Victoria, she's blonde, and probably around 25. I got her phone number and we'll be calling her this week. Cool, huh? I was so stoked. It was the best. We got a mojito from KFC to celebrate. We're living at the senior couples house right now because our landlord is staying in ours for 10 days. So we spent most of Friday cleaning and packing. On our way out of our apartment building I noticed something out of the corner of my eye because the entrance to the building is super dark. I turned and there was just a coffin sitting in the dank little entrance to our building. A pink, velvet coffin. Hahahaha. What the heck? We had noticed people were acting kind of strange that day and there was a lot more activity than normal. Apparently someone had died and it's customary to leave the body in the coffin and put it by the entrance of where they used to live so people could come by and pay their respects before the burial. Crazy, huh? Cultures can be so different. Like one time we were walking down the street and there was this super cute baby. His mom was like helping him walk and he was toddling down the street. But when he lifted up his arm he had this jungle of armpit hair. Like what the heck? He's like this little man baby. They make them differently here. Haha. Just kidding. But really. Also, the new mission president and his wife came to our area and we had a big meeting. It was cool to hear their vision for the mission and all they want to accomplish. We also had interviews, we each got 15 minutes. During my interview, President said, "I'm not saying this is going to happen but you need to be ready to train by the end of the next two transfers." So basically when I'm done being trained in 10 weeks I need to be able to train someone else. I'm totally down for it besides the fact that I really don't speak Russian. So that could be an adventure. Hahah. I know that if it does happen I will be perfectly fine because Heavenly Father won't leave me hanging. But the task is daunting right now when I can't even understand what ward members are saying to me. However, I know the gift of tongues is real and I know that I am learning the language even I feel super lost sometimes. It's all part of the experience I suppose. We also got to teach this family, the Tomononovs. They're my favorite people in Russia. It's just the mom, Olga (everyone here is named Olga. Or Tatiana. That's real.) and she has three foster kids: Lera (she's 14), Sergei (he's 9), and Maxim (he's four.) I love them so much. Being in their house was so cool because you don't see a lot of families here, or at least a lot that are willing to talk to you so it was so good to see the love in their family and that just like in America they tease each other and have fun and are a family. It was also good to feel that even though a lot of people tell me no, all the day long, that everyone can and will benefit from the gospel. While I was sitting in their apartment all I could think about was how much I wanted all the blessings of the Gospel for this little family. I wanted them to always know how much Heavenly Father loves them and that they can be together forever. I never want them to feel alone because they never are. Now I just need to take those feelings and bottle them up so whenever someone tells me no I can remember what it feels like to teach someone and have them listen.  Anyways. I love you all so much and hope you are doing so well. Have the best week ever! 

Love, Cectpa Harris

P.S I will try to get some pictures to you when I have more time. We're kinda short on time this week. Love you!

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