18 months.

10/27/14

Well, hi there. 

This week was great. We were in Moscow for three days so my companion could get a new visa. I got to go on a split with Sister Southworth and it was a dream come true. We finally got back to our little Lipetsk town and had so much to do and so little time to do it. But it all worked out and was perfect. On my 18 month mark on Friday a few of our members left to Moscow to go to a training that the mission president and his wife put on for the auxiliary leaders. It was quite the ordeal to get our members to go because it was the first time they had ever been on a train and away from their kids. We finally convinced them to go and got them tickets. Then the day came and we got to go to the train station with them. We saw them get on the train and waved goodbye. I just felt so much happiness that somehow I ended up in Lipetsk, Russia where my best friends are these cute little people from Armenia. Watching the train pull away was one of those moments that I just felt so perfectly happy with. These people are learning and growing and magnifying their callings. And I'm the luckiest girl that I get to work with them and serve them. 

On Sunday the Mom of our family taught her first lesson as our new Sunday School teacher. She rocked it. She's the world's classiest, most put together human and she led a fantastic discussion. And the Dad passed the Sacrament for the first time. My proud mother feelings were definitely on overdrive. It's so cool to see them continue to progress and grow. 

A member came up to me this week and told me I was like a fairy from a fairy tale. That I just came here to do good for everyone and that even my clothes had good, kind fairy vibes. Hahaha. She's one of my favorite members because she's just this little tiny Russian babushka. She asked me to give her some of my skirts so she can wear them when she goes to the temple for the first time in the spring. She's the nicest soul for thinking I'm like a fairy when as you all know, I'm definitely not. I think one of the coolest things about being a missionary is getting to come here and live among these people and to truly gain a love and respect for them. They work hard, they love hard, and they do the best they can. I am happy to be here. 

Since the last time I wrote my 18 months mark on a mission has officially come and gone. Crazy. It has been the best 18 months of my life. I don't really have words to explain it, to explain the growth I've seen in others and in myself, to describe the way I feel about my time here so far, or to explain the love I have for these people and for my mission.  It's been more than I could have ever dreamed of. I love you all. Have a great week. 

Love, Sister Harris