Good things.

11/17/13

This week was just as good as last week, if not better! We seriously had such a golden week. Huge things are happening here. And honestly, it's not us at all. Members are starting to get involved in the missionary work here and it's making all the difference. We had another finding activity this week, movie night. Movie night is something I love because when I first got here I prayed so hard to know what to do to find people and strengthen the area. Movie night is what we came up with. So we had movie night this week. 18 investigators came. 6 members. I don't know if that seems big but for here it's huge. And so many miracles came from it. A man I contacted my second week in Russia came and watched the movie with us. I love him so much, he's like my Russian grandpa. He's now going to start taking the lessons with the Elders. A random lady that had received a flyer about our movie night came and brought her daughter. She wants to know more about the church and we'll be meeting with her this week. So many inactive people that we haven't been able to get a hold of came. Three new investigators came to Church the next day because of it. It was so successful. Another one of my favorite things that happened this week is one of our new investigators. She's probably one of the coolest ladies ever. I had really wanted to teach someone that I had contacted on the street. And then this lady came to English Group. Then we had a lesson with her a couple of days later. Then she came to the Movie Night. Then she came to Church. And stayed all three hours. And we had another lesson with her. She's so perfect. And I remember our first conversation on the street, it all started with an invitation to come to English and I think we will be inviting her to be baptized this week. Cool, huh? I'm way excited to be here and to have the opportunity to love these people. I love you all and hope you had the most fantastic week! Love, Cectpa Harris

Chudas.

11/10/13

In Russian the word for miracle is, "chuda." Which basically perfectly describes this week. So at the beginning of this week we were feeling a tad upset because we've been contacting like crazy mad fools, getting so many numbers but not actually meeting with anyone. Our teaching pool had pretty much been drained so we didn't have anything to do but contact. So we hit the streets and contacted and contacted and then contacted some more. We were handing out so many invitations and talking to so many people but then when we would try to call them, nothing would work out. So frustrating. We've set a baptismal goal for this transfer of two people for each companionship in our district. It was actually the coolest thing. Our district leader asked us all to think and pray about how many people we thought could get baptized this transfer. Then at District Meeting we all reported and we had each decided two people. Then we got down on our knees and prayed about our goal and decided for sure that we would each try to bring two people into the branch. So, the fact that we couldn't meet with anyone was making us crazy. Then. Saturday. Saturday was bound to be a crazy day because our zone leaders had a baptism and baptisms are always the craziest and coolest. The person getting baptized was a guy from China so the service was in English. We had some of our Chinese investigators come too and we were able to do a lesson with them right after. Then we met with someone we had contacted earlier in the week. Holy cow. I love her so much. She's the happiest Russian I have ever met. And she has a darling baby and the lesson was so good. Then we had a lesson with one of our members from Africa. She's the coolest and agreed to give out two Book of Mormons at her youth hostile. Then we had a dinner appointment with these people we had met on the street. They're all from Malaysia and probably some of the coolest people you will ever meet. One of them has been looking for a church because his mom was Buddhist and his dad was Christian so he's just been way confused his whole life. And we're like, "We got your back. Everything's about to get real clear." Then, we got a call from an unknown number from someone who had received one of our invitations on the street. And she wanted to meet. That day. And talk about the Church. That never happens. Mind blown. So right after our dinner appointment we had to sprint to meet her. Our lesson with her was so good and she asked all the right questions. And after that our intense International day was over. I've never been so exhausted in my life. Just kidding. That's a lie because my first week in Russia made me want to die from exhaustion but this was a different type of tired. It felt good to be that tired because I knew I had nothing left to give, that I had done my best that day and that we had seen miracles. Seriously, so cool. Our whole district is on fire right now and I know that so many miracles are coming our way. I'm happy and healthy and loving my life. I know this Church is true and I wouldn't trade this experience for the world. I love you all and hope you have the best of weeks! Love, Cectpa Harris 

Solid Week. And lots of layers.

11/3/13

This week has been way good! I got a new companion, I can't tell you her name or any details but this is her last transfer before she goes back to the USA. I think she thinks I'm a little bit crazy which isn't totally inaccurate but we get along. She actually has served in this area before and spent the majority of her mission here. I felt kind of dumb at first because everyone calls her the Queen of this area. But it's actually been way good. I feel like my ability to speak Russian has really increased and I've been trying to talk to everyone. This week was so cold. It was the first week that I wore thermals under my tights. So cold. I do not want the cold weather but I hear the snow is way pretty so I am excited for that. I'm blown away that it is already November. What the heck. Seriously, that's crazy. Anyways, everything is good here in Russia. Just a little bit frozen. We actually went to a funeral this week. It was crazy. Russian funerals are off the heezy. They just have the dead person in their house. There weren't any seats left except ones that were super close to the dead person's face. So we sat there next to the way dead person. Then they asked us to sing so we got to move. Praises be. Haha. It was also a babushka's birthday in our ward. She's 93. That's so old for a Russian. Half of our branch went over to see her and sing to her. It was seriously the coolest thing. The Spirit was so strong because it was really this lady who had brought all of these people together. That's all I have! I love you all. Have the best of weeks! Love, Cectpa Harris 

Halloween and other things

10/28/13

This week our branch had it's annual Halloween Party. It was so fun. I wish I could send you pictures because we had such a good time. There was games and music and food and dancing. My companion and I dressed up as a cat and a mouse, mostly because it was all we could find. Russia doesn't actually celebrate Halloween so this is just something the Missionaries have brought here. Everyone loved it though and it was so fun to see everyone partying it up. We also got a transfers call this week. I'm getting a new companion but staying in the same area. I love my area so I'm stoked about that. I will miss my companion a lot but I've been way lucky to have her for this long! We actually had a way cool miracle this week. We got our first referral from a member! It was a way solid lesson and the member came with us and the lady had so many questions. She's totes getting baptized. Well, I hope so. I think she will. We have so many prospects for baptisms this transfer and I'm excited to see where it all goes. I'm happy and healthy and loving life. Russia is the best. Seriously. I love it so much. I love you all and hope you have the best of weeks! Love, Cectpa Harris

Golden week.

10/21/13

This week was way good! I'm so happy about it. We have four new investigators! Guess what? Three of them are Chinese students studying Russian here. Haha. The irony. They're probably the cutest human beings on the planet. I love them so much. They aren't fluent in Russian or English so we basically do these modge-podge lessons of English and Russian and then have Chinese teaching materials so they can read what we are talking about. But seriously, they're so great. They're so ready for the Gospel. I cannot imagine how it will be when China finally opens for missionary work because these girls are so ready. We also had a way good lesson with someone who got one of our English flyers. She's way receptive and wants to bring her sister to our next meeting. I also got to get visit some of our African inactives. Holy cow. I love the Africans. There are a lot of people from Africa here because it's way cheap to go to school here. It was kind of an International week I guess. So good. It blows my mind how widespread the Gospel really is and how it is legit sweeping the earth. I'm way happy to be a missionary at this time and especially in Russia. I was sitting in church yesterday and was just kind of struck by how cool it was that I am in Russia and how much I really do love these people. It's definitely been a process and there are still ups and downs; but I have really come to love these people. I'm excited to see all these people progress! Hard to believe that this week marks my six month mark on a mission. Only two-thirds left. Crazy town! I love you all and home you have the best of weeks. Love, Cectpa Harris.