Transfer and a Christmas phone call

December 23, 2013

So I was going to write a normal letter home. And this will become normal. But right now, some news: about 5 minutes ago I received a phone call from President Lochhead. On Christmas Day I am going to be emergency transferred to Lugansk. WHAT. 

Okay, now this week. Merry Christmas! To be honest, it does not feel like it is so close to Christmas. Maybe because I am so absorbed in the work, maybe because Ukraine doesn't really do the whole Christmas decorations thing. But really, trees only started appearing for sale this week. 

So Sister Ahlstrom and I did work this week. We did a lot of walking, a lot through random chasnie dom territory, looking for less active members and former investigators. I'm sad to leave her. 

I'm sorry if this letter is kind of short, and kind of strange; my head is kind of still spinning.

So Monday night was fun. We had FHE with the branch president and his family. He had us come over at 8:00pm, and then after sharing pictures, a short lesson from us, they pulled out a game. This is at like, 8:50 PM. Missionary rules are you are supposed to be back at the apartment by 9:00 PM, 9:30 PM if you are at a lesson. So we play a little bit, and then it is time for us to go. But then they want a picture. By the time we get out the door, it is 9:25 PM. We don't live far from them, but we BOOKED IT. It was sad how winded I got from the run, but we entered our apartment and my watch said 9:30 PM. Win. 

This week we saw a lot of little miracles looking for Less Actives, like getting into pretty much every apartment building so we could come right to their door (all apartment buildings are locked and you have to call the person you want and they can unlock it for you). We also went looking for this one lady way out in chastney dom territory, and we got helped on our way by a most wonderful babyshka who was probably 5 feet tall, missing many of her teeth, and was just nonchalantly holding a severed chicken foot. The biggest miracle though was when a Less Active woman we met Friday (I'm pretty sure I wrote about her) came to church this Sunday with her son! It was a dream come true. 

One last story. Friday we decided to go way out to the armpit of our territory, and spent the whole day wandering around chastney doms and apartment buildings. It was getting dark, we were kind of hungry, but we decided to make one last stop at a former investigator’s house that was waaaayyy out there. We get there, and they're home! And invite us in! What ensued was a kind of awkward, hour long visit that involved them insisting we sit in front of the TV as they played some religious lecture (in Russian of course), then eating their food with them, then sharing pictures (I got to see some cool pictures of the husband in his army days), and then finally talking about the gospel some and learning that they are basically satisfied with where they are. And then they gave us a jar of home-made honey to go. Ukrainian people can just be too nice sometimes. And then on the long walk home we came up to some railroad tracks, and I always get just a little nervous when I see them, so when I noticed them I paused for a split second. Good thing I did, because just then a car crossed them, and sent this huge wave of water right towards me. It only got a little of my coat and boots, but would have absolutely soaked me if I hadn't paused. Blessings. 

But really, that is about it for this week. I love all of you, I am so grateful for this gospel, and the incredible love our Heavenly Father showed us by sending us his Son - in the form of a tiny, helpless baby - to be our Saviour. John 3:16-17 - that is what Christmas is about. 

Love, and Merry Christmas!

Sister Tanner

On Christmas morning we got to Skype with Diana. She was in an internet cafe with missionaries at computers all around her so it was sometimes hard for her to hear us and us to hear her amongst all of the other conversations going on around her but it was good to see her and talk with her. It was 4:30 in the afternoon for her when she called. She had done morning studies and then went to the mission home for lunch. They had turkey and mashed potatoes and she said she learned how to make a creme pie as she helped Sister Lochhead. She also provided the Christmas background music, playing the piano with music that Sister Lochhead had asked her to play. They went out contacting in the afternoon and then to the internet cafe. Her new companion was there and in the evening they would board the bus for Lugansk. Her new companion has been in the mission for 12 weeks more than her and has been in Lugansk for 2 weeks so they will be learning the area together.

The temperature drops and transfers

December 16, 2013

So this week, aside from transfers, was pretty quiet. The week started out with drops in temperature and a decent amount of snow.

The snow boots are definitely not overkill anymore. I've slipped several times, but have yet to fall (fingers crossed). On Sister Pharis’ and my last day together, Wednesday, we went out of the house, took a tramby to a different part of town, and discovered we were sorely unprepared for the cold.

Sister Pharis had not even double tighted (a necessity now), and I realized that my fingers were in a great deal of pain, despite the gloves I had. I seriously thought I was going to lose them they hurt so much. So we had to return home and properly suit up before heading out again. 

On Tuesday we had a last visit with a less active in the branch, the home where we usually have borsch. This time we got a massive amount of cold mashed potatoes, cabbage (coleslaw really), and more fish than I would have preferred (which is really none). But hey, they gave us borsch to go. It was a little nerve wracking to think that soon I would be in charge of making sure these people got visited as I introduce my new companion to the area. 

So, faster than I wanted it to, Thursday rolled around. Transfer day. I totally called it on the new sister transfers. My new companion is Sister Alstrom! She has been out for nine months now, which makes her, along with one other sister, the oldest sister in the mission. She is great, really diligent, and I know we are going to work hard this transfer. I feel that good things are going to happen in Petrovsky this transfer, so be ready. She is also one of the new Sister Training Leaders, so I will be going on lots of splits to Center this coming transfer. Exciting! 

So, exciting as it is to be with Sister Alstrom, it was also really, really sad to say goodbye to Sister Pharis. But she's chillin' in Center until Friday morning, so I got to see her about 30 minutes ago for the first time when I came into Center to get on the internet and write this letter.

But it was hard to come home from transfers and not have her stuff in the apartment. And to wake up, and do normal missionary things, and not have Sis. Pharis there.

It’s just that adjustment period. Apparently it's also especially hard when it's your trainer you’re leaving. But hey, at least Sister Alstrom is great. 

Friday we had a lesson with another less active in the branch, and her cousin was there, who is apparently another less active in the area, who we didn't know about. So that was a little miracle, and she gave us her number and address and said we could come visit her. I told you - good things are coming to Petrovsky!

Saturday we returned to Igor's castle to do more service, digging a pit. We actually got a lot done. I somehow avoided having to dump buckets and just got to dig for two hours. Again, it just felt so good to do some good, hard, physical labor. He invited us back when it’s done to party in his pool. Afterwards his mom fed us some good taters and cabbage and stuff. Then he gave chocolate to just Sister Alstrom and I. We split it up among the elders. But, we are going to have to re-evaluate sisters returning to service, because Igor was maybe getting a little too friendly with us. It was funny to watch the two new/green elders in the district pick at the food on their plate, because it was actually pretty good. They have so much to learn. After service we all went to the church building together to have district meeting. It was sans shoes because they just cleaned the building. It was a very unconventional one, where we basically got to know each other since there are so many new people. 

On Sunday I felt like a big girl at church. Not only did I play piano/organ for everything, I was the one in charge of talking to the members. It's nice to understand and be understood. We were supposed to have a lesson that evening, but he called and cancelled (at least he called). So we went to the Preach My Gospel class and looked for some less actives. I also felt like a big girl on Sunday because I could properly take Sister Alstrom around our area. I did not do such a good job of that on Friday, and it was sad. You would think after 10 weeks in an area I would know it a bit better. But I think it all comes with the adjusting to no longer being a trainee.

So now it’s Monday. I just said goodbye to Sister Pharis for the last time for at least a year. It was kind of sad. But hey, here's to looking forward. 

I hope all of you are enjoying the Christmas season! It's a little bigger deal in America than in Ukraine, so soak it all up. Here, it's just exciting when I'm waiting to cross the street and the grocery store is playing Mariah Carey's version of "All I Want for Christmas." Of course, Christmas is the best when we remember the real reason for Christmas - Jesus Christ, and the incredible love that was displayed by him coming to the Earth. I mean, the Creator of this world came to it not in a powerful, fear inducing form, but in the tenderest of ways. He really is the Light of the World. 

I love you all,

Sister Tanner

In other news

Our apartment is becoming chillier and chillier, as we have heat but very drafty windows. Thankfully we have a little portable heater. 
Clothes are still working out. Except I now have a big hole in the heels of one of the pairs of my socks. I shall have to darn those up. 

 

Mother, where am I?

December 9, 2013

The new title of this blog should be "Mother, where am I?" Because I ask myself this question a lot. This week has been pretty chilly, a little snowy, but nothing like what America is getting it sounds like. And you all thought I was going to the frozen wasteland. The first day it actually snowed I maybe got a little too excited and put on my snow boots - they were definitely overkill. But the double tights are a necessity sometimes.

Last Monday was barrels of fun, as we toured the Shaktar (local soccer team) stadium as a zone. The tour was all in Russian, but I caught some of the translations for the senior couple, and it was just fun to look around. Plus I got some good pictures, which always makes a place worth it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

We did a lot more tracting this week, which can yield some interesting results. We had more people answer the door this week than before, but that also meant we had more people look at us, shake their head, call us "devyshkie" (young women) in a condescending manner, and generally act like we just ruined their day. Goodness people, we just wanted to share a message that has brought joy and happiness to our lives, and millions of others. To be fair, people also declined in more pleasant ways as well. The last apartment we tracted one day, this man answered who had previously received a tracheotomy, or whatever that is called. It was kind of trippy. Like talking to a Russian cyborg. He was very nice though. And then we had to walk down the stairs past some Ribiata (young men), who made some comments to/about us, that I thankfully didn't understand, and that when I asked Sis. Pharis about them she just said "not important."

 

On Tuesday, Sis. Pharis was not feeling very well, and during lunch hour was lying in bed for a little bit. I decided to finally fix this one skirt that I've been meaning to for a while. So first I prepared dinner for later that night (in the crock pot), then washed the dishes, hung up my laundry, made some herbal tea for Sis. Pharis, and sat down in our big easy chair to sew up my skirt. I suddenly felt so domestic. The mission changes you. I also had to laugh, because I remember when I first came into country, Sis. Pharis' last companion was telling me the next day was Sis. Pharis' birthday, and I should fix her some herbal tea, and I was thinking I didn't even know how to make tea. And now I know how much honey to put in, plus the fact that she likes to add a little cold water to it so it’s not so hot. Learning every day.

And now for a cool short story. So the sisters that serve in Center Donestk called to say they had an investigator that actually lives in our area, and they were passing him to us. His name is Slavic, and as they are describing him, I'm like, "wait, is this the Slavic I met?" Yep! This is that guy, way back when I was on a split in Center, that randomly showed up to another lesson, and I had that chat with. So I've met this guy, and he remembers me! Exciting. We've called him several times, and he's excited to meet, he's just really busy.

And now for a hilarious story. So last week I forgot to write about the time my boot got stuck in the door. Yes, on the way home one night on the bus, our stop came up, and the accordion door came open, and just happened to catch the very end of my boot. And that was it. There is no budging those accordion doors. There I was stuck like an idiot and couldn't get off. So we missed our stop. And now for an even better story. So we had Zone Conference Friday, which means we had to ride into center in the morning, when the busses are packed. The 77 bus pulls up, the bus we need, and which doesn't come around often, and it's already pretty full. Sis. Pharis gets on, this other girl gets on, and this thing is full. But I need to get on. So I did like a Ukrainian and shoved. Someone yelped. So now my feet are on, but my body is still kind of sticking out the door, and it's an accordion door that is now trying to close. The bus is moving, I'm still kind of hanging out, and this door is smashing me. Somehow I managed to wriggle myself enough that the door shut. I really did not think this bus was going to make it, it was so packed. You should have heard it groaning. So then we come to the next stop, and thankfully the driver doesn't open the back door (where I am). But the next stop he did, and it is just smashing me. Thankfully, my guardian angel, the girl who got on before me, and who I think is the one who yelped, yells to the bus driver to "close the back door!" But then on the way to the next stop someone indicated that they needed to get out - through the back. So the stop comes, the door opens, smashing me, and Sis. Pharis steps out. But I can't get out, because I'm smashed in the door. So guardian angel yells to close the door. Then the driver starts driving away, and everyone yells "wait!" So then I wriggle into Sis. Pharis's spot, they re-open the door, the guy gets out, Sis. Pharis and I step back on, and the fiasco is done. I was quite the spectacle though.

Zone Conference itself was great. We learned that the Lochhead’s Christmas present to us is that on the 31st of December we are all going to go see the Nutcracker Ballet! I'm so excited! :D Sister Lochhead also made each of us stockings, that our companion is supposed to fill by Christmas :)

Saturday was another great day. So at youth night Friday night, two elders in our District asked if we wanted to do service for one of their investigators Saturday morning. We were going to dig a pit. Of course we wanted to! So Saturday morning we head out into the freezing cold, and as a district we went out to this guy’s house. We took a tram-by to the end of its line, and then it was another twenty minute walk through chastney dom territory.

It was freezing, especially because I was not wearing my coat. Or a hat. Anyway, we get to this guy's place, and it’s a castle. He has built this place himself, and it has a tower.

 He wants another. The pit we were digging was in his basement, and it will eventually be a pool. We dug, put the dirt in buckets, and then dumped the dirt in his backyard to make a bike ramp as part of the bike course he's making. He already has a giant ditch in his backyard in the shape of the Judas Priest trident or something (not too familiar with Judas Priest).

 

This guy is awesome, even if he did originally ask if Sis. Pharis and I were here to make borscht. NO, we were here to dig, and dig we did. It felt so nice to just do some heavy labor.

Afterwards they tried to give us borscht, but it was going to take another hour, and we all had interviews at President’s house that day that we needed to get to. So they (this guy and his mom), gave us some chicken, potatoes, bread, and my first ever sala. Sala is basically fat. Maybe I was just in a good mood, because it wasn't as bad as everyone makes it to be. Not the greatest, but I didn't choke. So then interviews at President's which are always great, Sister Lochhead gave us homemade bread, and then we had to weekly plan. So it was just a good day.

In other news, this coming Thursday is transfer day. I am staying in Petrovsky, but Sis. Pharis is leaving me. She has one week in Center with another sister going home, and then she flies home next Tuesday. Weird. Stay tuned for my new companion! I've figured out what my options are, and they're all pretty great. The Petrovsky district is exploding though, a lot of elders are leaving. It should be exciting!

 

I think that's it for this week. I love you all :) Don't forget the real reason for this Christmas season. I've been taking some time to really study the Christmas story, and we can learn a lot from it, and the people that took part in it.
Until next week!
Sister Tanner

I meant to tell you last week, ever since you sent that first email about protests in Kiev, everyone has been talking about it. It's a big deal. People are a little more conflicted here though.

Q - What do you do for your morning studies?

A - Morning studies: 8:00am personal study (whatever I feel)

9:00am companion study (sing, read white handbook, read out of Russian Preach My Gospel, share what we learned in Personal Study, prepare for any lessons that day)

10:00am training. (soon, not any more!) there is a handbook for this

11:00am language study

 

Diana was finally able to upload photos, so here are a couple of photos from the Thanksgiving feast.

 

Thanksgiving

December 2, 2013

This week. This week started off great with finally getting to pick up my package! I am just very grateful I had a seat on the way home. It weighed 20 pounds. I also bought a new hat, which I now wear every day. There is now no reason for anyone to yell at me.

Tuesday. Tuesday was just one of those ridiculous days that stink but happen every so often. We spent a good portion walking around in the cold trying to find less active members and former investigators. Some didn't answer the door, and those that did were not interested. And then we got home, and I went to go flip on the kitchen light and the last remaining bulb exploded in a burst of flaming embers, which also caused a power surge which flipped all our lights off. Seeing as we had no clue where our circuit breaker box was, we were without main power. Luckily our outlets still worked, including the fridge. However, Ukraine gets very dark, very quickly, so we had dinner and such by the light of my little princess flashlight's lamp feature. That thing is a dream. Finally, much later that night, we discovered our circuit breaker box, and it's pretty sad we didn't find it before.

The Disney princess flashlight/lantern that has become an essential tool for Diana

 

Wednesday we had planned some time to cook before Thanksgiving Day. Nope. We had an appointment with a member that morning, which lasted forever, and I eventually lost track of what was being talked about. However, her apartment is absolutely beautiful, and this little oasis in the middle of a gray world. A lot of apartments are like this, actually. You enter this gray, crumbling building, walk around scary, graffiti filled halls, to knock on a sometimes fancy looking door, but other times scary looking doors, to then enter this beautiful, light, clean apartment. It gets me every time. Anyway, during this lesson we received two phone calls from this number, and when we called them back it turned out to be the office, wondering if we could be there in 1 1/2 hours. So we ran home to shove some food in our faces (we hadn't had lunch yet), and jumped on a bus to just make it there on time. Then we sat in the office for a while. Then we walked to some government building, and Sis. Pharis signed a piece of paper as some part of her de-registration process. Then we went home. Yes; three hours for Sis. Pharis to sign a piece of paper.

Thursday was Thanksgiving! So because no cooking had been done earlier, we had lots of cooking that morning before our dinner at 12:00 (okay, so lunch). I was in charge of potatoes, and boy, did I make a lot of mashed potatoes. It was ridiculous trying to stir those things around. I had grand plans for those potatoes, but what I got was mashed potatoes. And by mashed potatoes, I mean potatoes that were mashed. Sis. Pharis made lots of biscuits (we wanted rolls, but we had no roll recipe), and we also made an apple cake. Then we took the bus to the church with all of our food. Our Thanksgiving feast was actually a mild feast. We had the potatoes, biscuits, and apple cake, plus salad, fruit salad, brownies, apple pie, chocolate cake, and the grand center piece: the turkey. Two elders in our district were in charge of the turkey, and they found the last turkey in the district. Apparently they went wandering around all the meat places (there are many), asking "is this a turkey?" "NO. It's a goose!" "Is this a turkey?" NO. GOOSE." But they finally found a little turkey on the reenok (the outdoor market). It was rather small, and so the meat portions were tiny, but it was delicious, and made it a true Thanksgiving. We had our district (eight missionaries), the new senior couple in the area, a sister from the ward who is serving a local mission in the office and her friend, and a less active girl from the ward we invited. And that was our Thanksgiving feast. We were given two hours, and then we had district meeting. And then we had English club that night. Not my usual Thanksgiving, but a great one nonetheless, and a good time to reflect on all that I'm grateful for.

Friday we woke up to snow! The first snow of the season, besides that random day in October when I came into country. The snow didn't last long, but the temperature has stayed right on the fence line of snow since then. I don't have a whole lot to report on Friday, other than we planned for the coming week, attended youth night, and got pizza at the actually decent pizza place in Petrovsky. It was kind of funny as we were walking up, and I was like, "wow, there are a lot of people at New York Pizza tonight," and then I realized it was probably because it was a Friday night, and Friday nights, or weekends in general, actually mean something to the outside world other than weekly planning and church.

Saturday was operation sneaky photo. You see, each missionary is supposed to have a book with records on the members of the ward, or congregation they attend. These records are supposed to contain a picture. The books we had were incomplete, so our district set out to make a complete copy of this member book. However, apparently the ward members have been asked to have their picture taken by many past missionaries, but these pictures have since disappeared, probably with the missionary, and the ward members are not happy to have their picture taken again. So we needed to get these pictures in a sneaky manner. Most pictures we sneakily got at church, but there were some that we were responsible for, that we weren't quite sure who they were. So operation sneaky photo came in. We decided to bake them cake, deliver the cake, and in the process figure out who they were, and then either get a picture then, or know who they were so we could get one at church. It helps that Sis. Pharis is leaving really soon, so she could be like "I'm leaving soon - can I get a picture with you?" And then we just cut Sis. Pharis out. Long story short, operation sneaky photo was a success. In other news, I went to go buy contact solution, and I asked for "Re-nu" (the brand), and the lady could not understand me. Harder than speaking Russian, is speaking English in a Russian accent so Ukrainians can understand you. Ordering at McDonald's is a nightmare.

Sunday was my second time of hitting a grand slam. I played the organ in Sacrament, Sunday School opening hymn, played for Primary, and then for Relief Society. The great thing about it is I get to be in Primary, where I can understand what it is they are saying. Plus it was testimony meeting, which is a lot easier to understand than talks. So it was a pretty great church meeting. That night we were determined to visit this less active girl in the ward and deliver her cake, because we had tried several times before but we could never get with her. Little did I know, she lives deep in chasney dom territory (the houses), right next to the scary Ukrainian woods. And we went there when it was quite dark. So as we walked along by the light of my princess flashlight, I reflected once again on how I am doing things I never, ever, thought I would find myself doing. I must say though, as creepy as the world looked that night, the stars were absolutely beautiful. I tried to take pictures, but my eyes captured a lot more light than my camera could. I got some good pictures of me looking scared in the dark though. I also got a picture that looks straight out of a horror movie. Thankfully, we delivered the cake, and returned home, safe and sound that night.

So that was my week. It's December! I absolutely love the Christmas season, and I hope you all live it up this year. And by live it up, I mean get into the true spirit of Christmas, which is being happy, and giving of yourself, and serving others, and making others (and yourself) smile.

I love you all :)

Sister Tanner

I had lots of photos to upload, but for some reason I can't get them to work like I used to. Everything is in Russian too, which doesn't help. Maybe next week? I'm really sad...

Open house at the church

Group photo from the Sister's Conference held a few weeks ago

 

November 25, 2013

Хорошо. This week had its ups and downs like any week. The week started off last Monday with a lesson with an investigator - the first in a really long time. It lasted a really long time, he talked a lot, the member with us perhaps went a little too into depth, and I really did not understand anything that was said. Ha. It was exhausting.

But then on Tuesday we ended up in our apartment for a really long time as our bathroom received a repair job, and we planned this awesome game I came up with for English on Thursday. It turns out being in your apartment for a really long time is also exhausting, in a different kind of way, and also makes you go crazy. Amidst all this I did receive the exciting news though that I had received a package! Unfortunately this week, unlike many other weeks, I had no real reason to be in Center Donetsk, so I will go pick it up after I finish this internet session and buy a new hat because everyone is getting mad at me for not having a hat (this is Monday - 6 days after the phone call).

Wednesday was a really good day though. Sister Lochhead came and joined us in the morning to finish our studies, and spend a good portion of the day with us. She came with us to our district meeting, and then we took her to the home of a sister in the ward, who apparently she met the last time she came here, and they just became the best of friends. When we arrived, this sister had invited a friend over, so we had a lovely lesson over bleenie and compote. Then we dropped Sister Lochhead off in a taxi to return home, and we went over to a less active woman in the ward's home to have a short visit with her. So it was actually a really good day! And Sister Lochhead is just wonderful.

Thursday was also a good day. We went over to this one area to stop by some less actives (no one was home), but then we took our dinner hour and got bleenie and went to Metro! In Metro we got ourselves a little Christmas tree, and some lights to put on the tree. Apparently the lights have six different settings, and our tree is now awesome and looks wonderful next to our little nativity.

And now for a quick note on bleenie, and my relationship with it. It's conflicted. Bleenie, when I buy it at the bleenie stand and I know what is in it, is delicious. Bleenie, when I get it at a ward function or a member’s home and it is filled with liver, or mushrooms, or strange cottage cheese like stuff, can be a little harder to stomach. And so I love bleenie, but I also fear it. That is all.

Thursday night was English, and we played my awesome English game and people loved it. My goal was to get people to speak, and to also use prepositions like "over," "under," "around," etc. So when it was someone's turn they had to draw two pieces of paper. On one was an obstacle, and on the other was a tool. For example, they could have drawn "a hoard of zombies," and "a chair." They then had to explain how they would use their tool to overcome the obstacle. Each obstacle had a certain number of points assigned, and then they got an additional point for each preposition they used in their explanation. They had some pretty funny explanations.

Friday not much happened, but we had a lesson with a less active (the husband of the Relief Society president), and they fed us ever so delicious borsht again. Side note: I am really into dipping bread into my soup now a days.

Saturday was the big day: the church open house. I had been handing out flyers for weeks for this thing. Countless flyers. And guess what? We tripled the attendance of the last open house! Yes - we got a whole six or seven people to show up this time. My memory of the thing is somewhat of a blur, due to the fact that I was playing the piano for most of it. I should really just become a showroom pianist or something. I got the endurance down. I did get about an hour break when some of us missionaries went outside to sing hymns and hand out flyers to try and round up some more people. That was an experience. One, my ears and fingers started freezing, two, we were told we were stupid for not wearing hats (probably true though), three, Sister Pharis and I were told we were wenches, I think for wearing too much clothing (no, that does not make sense), and four - my favorite - one of the elders tried to hand a guy a flyer, and the guy blew an air horn in his face. Oh goodness I was cracking up at times. But hey, we tried. And 6 or 7 people showed up :)

Sunday was wonderful as well. We showed up to church to find a few less active members that we visit were at church! I was so happy. And then we had the Primary program. Oh goodness was it wonderful. The children all sang out, and when it was their turn to speak they would stand up and say their little part, and sit back down. This one little girl kept running off the stage because she had to use the bathroom. There were probably a little over twenty of them. Afterwards, because the Lochheads were here, they gave a presentation for the second two hours of church. It was the same one from the Saturday session of District Conference. And then they even ended it half an hour early. And then we had studies, and then back to the church to teach the little mission prep class in the branch. Two young women from the ward now come to it. But hey, my Russian managed to work alright during it, which was encouraging. Sis. Pharis and I have tried to be better about speaking Russian outside of the apartment, and I think my Russian is improving.

So that was my week. This week is Thanksgiving! My favorite holiday (the day of - the Christmas season is my favorite, but I like Thanksgiving Day more than Christmas day). This year will be a little different though, as my district is just planning on getting together and having a big meal, and then district meeting, and then English is that night. But we do plan on having a turkey. We'll see how that turns out ;) I hope everyone has a great week, and I encourage you to take a little time to reflect on what you are grateful for. I do that all the time here, and I can attest it makes you happier.

I love you all!
Sister Tanner

Q - Does your computer at the internet café automatically turn off at 90 minutes or do you just limit yourselves to 90 minutes?

A - The computer just shuts me off after 90 minutes. You buy time.

Q - Do you listen to music very often? Have the mission rules changed or is it still Mo Tab only?

A - We listen to music all the time. Mostly Christmas music right now. And its Mo Tab, or Russian classical, so I know all my Mo Tab pretty well now (especially Christmas)

Q - Have you heard about any of this?

KIEV, Ukraine (AP) — Thousands of Ukrainians marched Saturday through central Kiev to commemorate the 80th anniversary of a devastating Soviet-era famine that killed millions amid public anger over the government's decision to snub a potential landmark deal with the European Union and tilt toward Moscow.

The famine was engineered by Soviet dictator Josef Stalin in 1932-33, in an attempt to force peasants to join collective farms. Ukraine's parliament has labeled the famine, known here as Holodomor — or death by hunger — as genocide.

Meanwhile, over 1,000 activists protested on Kiev's main square, days after the government froze plans to sign the EU deal after pressure from Moscow. A larger rally is planned for Sunday.

After months of promising to sign a long-awaited political and trade accord with the EU, the government announced Thursday that it was halting those plans and would focus on restoring ties with Russian instead.

The move has been deemed a victory for Moscow, which has used threats and sanctions to keep Ukraine in its orbit.

Angry demonstrators gathered across the country to denounce President Viktor Yanukovych's turnaround, urging him to change his mind and sign the deal at a summit in Vilnius, Lithuania, scheduled for next week.

A - and we don't hear any politics. thanks.

 

 

 

 

Finding the less active

November 18, 2013

Well, first off the temperature has definitely dropped here, so much so that I pulled out my big coat to wear one day. But no one wears gloves yet.

On Tuesday we started off the week going to try and find a less active family. As we waited at the bus stop, Sis. Pharis and I witnessed two poor women trying to carry their groceries home with one excited stray dog following along which was quickly joined by an entire pack of stray dogs. I'm really glad that has not happened to us yet. When we get on the bus, Sis. Pharis immediately sits down next to this girl and starts talking excitedly with her, and I just sit in my bouncy back seat between two random men, hoping this means something good happened. Turns out this girl was a former investigator Sis. Pharis had met long ago, but who Sis. Pharis could never find records for when she moved here to Petrovsky. So it was truly a miracle when we ran into her on the bus and were able to exchange information. We eventually found the building of the less active family, but then the dom-a-phone didn't work, so we couldn't get in. But then after wandering around the building looking for another door, we come back and the door is open! Miracle number two. At this point I'm thinking they have to be home, it's meant to be. False. The building might as well have been abandoned it was so creepy. So no luck.

 

 And then, because we happened to have bought 100 grevin worth of almonds that Monday we decided to save money and walk home passing out church open house flyers. Turns out the walk home was probably about 4 miles. Put in another two for the walk to and from church that night for a meeting, and I walked about 6 miles that day.

Wednesday Sis. Pharis was feeling pretty sick, so I spent a good three hours making the most beautiful little book of less actives, where they are split into areas and there are spaces to record what happened at our meeting. We are supposed to have an official one from the church, but that's not the case. Mine is pretty great though. We did manage to go visit a less active that day, who informed us she had come to church the week before! Biggest head slap. We have been trying forever to get her to come to church, and the one week she decides to come happens to be District Conference and she showed up to an empty building.

Thursday was our adventure in Zombieland. Zombieland is area 6 in my beautiful book of less actives. It was a cold, drizzly day which just perfectly set the mood. (Side note - Thursday was transfer day, and I had to laugh thinking of the new missionaries' welcome to Ukraine). The best way I can describe Zombieland is just imagine you are on the set of a post-apocalyptic movie. Or maybe Zombieland. I don't know, I've never actually seen that movie. So we entered this one apartment building, got up to the second floor, and then realized I had forgotten my flashlight. These hallways are pitch black mind you. I took a picture of one, but then I just had a black screen on my camera and it kept throwing me off when I would flip through pictures so I deleted it. Anyway, we start moving down this hallway by the light of our dinky little cell phone, but then we got to this one part and it was just too scary, and then we heard a noise and then we ran out of the building. We also could not find the building of this other less active, but I think it may have been the bombed/burned out building. We did manage to find the mother of another less active, and she was nice to us, so we will probably return one day. After our return from Zombieland we spoiled ourselves and had dinner at this Italian restaurant where I ate an ever so delicious salad and pizza and a little cake. The place was practically empty, so we had really great service too. And then English club, which was pretty great and we talked about super powers.

 

 

 

 

This was in with the photos from Zombieland. It looks like the gate to an old estate. Click on it to enlarge it and you can see the faces of the carvings on the gate posts.

 

Friday we tried to pass out flyers, but no one wanted to take any from me. It was rather depressing. But then at youth night we played evolution and I was the reigning human for a long time, and none could dethrone me, so that helped heal my ego.

Saturday was the baptism for a little girl in the ward. On Tuesday they asked an elder in my district and I to provide the interlude music for when the girl and her dad were changing clothes after the baptism. So on Saturday we decided I would play out of my preludes piano book and he would make up an accompaniment on the violin. It actually worked out. And then afterwards when everyone was getting refreshments they asked us to play again, and oh, did we. I opened up to the beginning of the book, and we just played through the entire thing. Like the orchestra of the Titanic we went down with the ship. That place was all cleaned up by the time we finished. My pedal leg was burning and his fingers were swelling, but it was pretty awesome. And don't worry, we got refreshments. Oh yes. First, Sis. Pharis fed me something delicious as I played. Then another elder in the district provided us with a plate of food. Then a sister in the ward provided us with another two plates of food. So when we finished playing, this sister in the ward made sure we ate all our refreshments. Liver bleenie (like a crepe), mayonnaise pizza, and all. I felt pretty sick afterwards.

Sunday the liver bleenie had its revenge, as in I felt pretty sick most of the morning. And so I was exhausted during church which means Russian was just not clicking. But that's okay, because church is wonderful anyway. That night our neighbors came to inform us that something of ours is leaking into their walls, so we're starting the process of getting that fixed. They are very nice though, especially considering they can hear us working out at 6:30 every morning.

So yep, that's my week. Love you all,

Sister Tanner

P.S. I have yet to master the art of deciphering when a Ukrainian is actually mad, and when they are just talking normally. Like, I keep thinking people are mad at me, when they're actually trying to tell a joke, or invite me over to their house. It's a problem.

Q - What can you tell us about the church that you took a photo of? What town is it in? Any significance that you took a photo?

A - The church in the photo is just a big church in Center Donetsk next to the internet club. It was just one of the bigger ones I've seen, and it looked cool so I took a picture of it.

Q - What is the new Family History program you talked about?

A - There really isn't a set Family History program. It's really just using Family History more, and figuring out how to use the resources Eastern Europe does have.

Q - Is there an open house at the church coming up or do you just have them frequently and so always pass out flyers?

A - No, we have an open house coming up this Saturday; they just gave us a massive amount of flyers to hand out a couple weeks ago.

Registering in country

November 11, 2013

This week's theme was registering Sister Tanner in country so she doesn't become deported to Missouri like she dreamed four weeks ago. Or the one about going back to the MTC. But really. 

So Tuesday we had great plans for tracting and such, but then at 1:00pm we received a call from the office telling us to be at the office by 3:00pm to get me registered. Seeing as the office is an hour away, this required some plan changing. But all is well, for the registration was necessary seeing as my temporary visa apparently expired Monday. That night we wandered around in the dark looking for Less Active members and Former Investigators. Then we got on a tram-by (think the fun looking trolleys in San Francisco, but not so fun looking) and took it to the end of its line and then walked back home talking to those we met. By the way, it has officially been determined that death by a tram-by would be the most painful, because it would move so slowly over you. The walk home was actually exhausting and terrifying, especially when we walked past this sign that said "experiment" that pointed to this dirt road into the trees that ended with a chain link fence lit up by a single lantern.
 

 

Wednesday we couldn't make solid plans because we were waiting for a call to return to Center (downtown Donetsk) for more registration, but then the call came that afternoon that I didn't have to go until Friday, so we decided to just take a giant loop around our area and pass out the church building open house flyers to people. We actually met some very nice people, including a guy who said he'd be willing to meet again! So that brings our official investigator count to 2! TWO! Now, granted, we have not been able to get our schedules to coordinate (having to be in center for registration has not helped), but we have people willing to meet! And we've met other just nice people this week, which is just wonderful and great. Really though, this week has been encouraging. 

Thursday Sister Pharis was at the Lochheads all day for a Missionary Leadership Conference, so I was on a split with Sister Hassard in Center. We spent most of the time in studies, but then we had a lesson with a less active guy who they found the day before who apparently slipped through the cracks when the area was white washed. I thought I was getting better at understanding Russian, but then he showed up and started speaking really fast Russian, and I was just lost. But he was really nice, and I saw him at Stake Conference Sunday, so that's wonderful. That night Sister Pharis and I returned to our area just in time for English, where we discussed our dreams for the future. More and more people are coming to English, which is just exciting. It's good to be able to invite someone to something at the church without it being straight up church. The main portion has nothing to do with religion, and then at the end we say English is done, but they are welcome to stay for a musical number and spiritual thought. And most people stay. As we discussed our dreams, I also made a rather sad observation. In America, the whole "American Dream" really does exist. Like, you can say you want to do something or be something someday, and you truly believe it, and you have every right to believe it. But in Ukraine, people just don't have the same resources, and it's expressed in the restraint of their dreams. I love Ukraine, but I am so grateful to be born in America. 

Friday we had weekly planning, and then we were picked up to go to some office to finish my registration. Basically I sat on a bench until called, signed my name on a piece of paper, sat back on the bench, and left when told to do so. So now I should be officially registered and available to be drafted into the army. Friday night was also youth night, where we played various games with the youth that was actually quite enjoyable and not just exhausting and a mess. 

Saturday was not an official P-day, but it basically was. Because we had District Conference! It was in the Kelinisky (spelled that wrong, even for an English translation) building, which means it was 1 1/2 hours away. And all the missionaries in my zone had to be there at 2:00pm for a special presentation on using Family History. Basically, family history in the Europe East Area is much different than in other parts of the world, so our zone is going to be used as kind of a trial run of using family history. If we do it well and we see positive results, then we will be used as a model for the rest of the Europe East Area. Exciting. Then we had two hours before District Conference, so we wandered to find dinner, and then us sisters sang in the park outside the building as a form of stationary contacting. District Conference that night was really good with President Lochhead talking about simple things the members could do to help the missionary effort. He had four suggestions: 1. Use church words in your conversations with others that will invite questions. 2. Answer a question about the church with enthusiasm. 3. Give a testimonial - not a testimony (that one was hard to translate) - about the church 4. Invite people in a way that requires a yes or a no. He emphasized that if you invite, whether or not they accept, that is success. 

Sunday we returned for the main session of District Conference. People from all the Donetsk areas plus Mariupol, Lugansk, and Gorlovka came. All us missionaries, except for a few that fit into the English room, were shoved into this room where the Russian translation was being piped. But unfortunately the audio was really quiet, plus it was in Russian, so basically all us missionaries sat there and talked with one another for two hours, waiting for someone to come in and reprimand us. It was unfortunate, because I heard the broadcast was wonderful. After Sis. Pharis and I returned home we made some delicious brownies, got dogged on a lesson (they didn't show up), and then delivered the brownies to some Less Active families. 

So that was my week. Like I said, encouraging.

Love you!
Sister Tanner

Q - What does whitewash an area mean?

A - It means both missionaries were transferred out and two new ones transferred in who have nothing to work off of but the area book. 

 

Ukrainians LOVE their doors

November 4, 2013

Okay! So this week started off with Sister's Conference, where all the sisters in the mission (about 25) gathered at the Lochhead's apartment, and we got to know each other, got some spiritual upliftment, learned some tricks to the trade, and ate some delicious food prepared by Sister Lochhead. It was Tuesday and Wednesday, so yes, we had a giant sleepover. Sister missionaries all over the Lochhead's living room floor. It's amazing it worked. Let me just say, the Donetsk, Ukraine mission has some rockin' sisters. 

Thursday was Halloween! Not really celebrated here. But we had English that night, so we had a little Halloween party for the children. Many of the adults were being poop heads and did not want to participate. The children had great fun carving the pumpkins we bought, and I just didn't watch as they wielded our kitchen knives all over the place. We also had some face paint sticks that got a little messy when the four year old got them. We taught the children how to trick-or-treat though, which they quite enjoyed (hey! it ends with candy). I had a stimulating conversation with the adults about holidays, where I learned the best holiday is your birthday, and the more alcohol the better (these are not all members obviously). 

Friday was weekly planning, and then taking the trolley to the place of a sister in our ward to celebrate her birthday with all the other elders. We were all crammed into this little room eating strange meat cake. It was wonderful. Then we all took the trolley together back to the branch building to lead the youth in an exhilarating youth night. We said we would be in charge because they wanted some ideas, so we brought a little America back and had a photo scavenger hunt. They were not happy at first (they weren't happy to begin with because we all got there late and they were stuck outside), but they warmed up to it. 

Saturday Sister Pharis and I did some good old tracting. We went all the way to the top of a building, all 14 floors on foot (yes we felt it on Sunday), and started our way down. But we ended up skipping the top couple floors because we both just got an awful feeling in our gut, that said "get out - now." The lower floors were a bit nicer. Then we did some street contacting, and actually met a guy who was interested and we hope to meet with him this coming week - exciting! Then it was off to Metro, the Ukrainian Costco, to do some contacting, and also to grab some bleenee (Americanized spelling) at the bleenee stand outside. Bleenee is kind of like a crepe. Then a lesson that night with a less active, and back home. It's always good to walk into your nice apartment after a day on the streets, especially since it keeps getting darker and darker earlier. You just feel a lot safer. 

Sunday was church. I am sure it was lovely. I still understand very little of the discussions. I have to focus real hard. For dinner I made experimental apple pancakes. They were...all right. Not very fluffy though. 

And then Monday! Monday was zone sports, where we got together as a Donetsk zone at some field in Makeevka (Makiivka) and played soccer. These little kids were cheering us on at one point, which was adorable. Because we got there early, I also climbed this random rock formation with some other missionaries. It had some good views of the surrounding lands. The giant hills in the pictures are mines. 

 

 

That's about it for the week. Not terribly exciting, sorry. But here's a fun fact: Ukrainians LOVE their doors. Like your front door. Everyone's doors are different, and there are door and window stores EVERYWHERE. But really. There are more of them than America has McDonalds. 

Love you lots! Stay cool, stay in school. And remember God loves you :)

Sister Tanner

Q - How has your first week off of daylight savings been?

A - First week of daylight savings? Dark. It gets dark around 4:30pm, and will continue to get darker.  

Q - Do you have a curriculum for English class or do you just teach whatever?

A - No curriculum for English club, we just do our own thing. And it is NOT a class, only a club. We are not licensed and cannot officially teach, or we will get in big trouble. English has been shut down before.

Q - What do you do on P-day?

A - What do I do on P-day? Something with the district. It changes. There isn't a whole lot to go out and do, but you've heard about the fun things. We also walk the 15 mins to the grocery store, and walk back with all the groceries, studies in the morning, write home, and then FHE with a family that night. 

Q - Do you do laundry on P-day or throughout the week?

A - I usually do laundry through the week because it takes a day or two to dry.

Q - Do you know how many missionaries there are in total in your mission?

A - Sis. Pharis says there are probably around 75 missionaries total in the mission.

Q - Was your conversation with the adults about holidays in Russian or English?

A - In English, our conversations are in English. That's how they practice English because we can't actually "teach".

Keep listening to that spirit and I will keep having faith that the spirit will keep you safe.

And there are new pictures. The ones with Sis. Pharis and I are from the top of the building we tracted Saturday, and the others are from today.

 

Q - That is an interesting rock formation. Was it hazy in the distance or is that your camera?

A - It's hazy in the distance. I told you, the air here is just kind of dirty. They try to only have people serve 2 transfers in Mariupol because it’s so bad down there in particular. Factories and mines everywhere here. 

 

 

 

Stay warm   Stay safe    Share that light and testimony    I love you  

I love you :) This little light of mine, I'll let it shine!
Bye!