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...