*Quick reminder, my new email is jones.emma@latter-daysaints.ru
Hello friends!
I hope you all had a wonderful week! I still can't believe I'm here, and yeah... let's talk about the things I did:)
So, Sister Krumperman has been trying to get me more involved with things, because, well, I still don't speak Russian (surprise!). Whenever she sees someone on the street she feels like we should talk to, she turns to me and this is what happens:
Sister Krumperman: Sister Jones, go and ask that woman if she speaks English and if she says yes, ask her where the internet cafe is.
Me: What?? No. Why?? She probably doesn't even speak English, we're in Russia!
Sister Krumperman: Go go go, she's about to cross the street!
Me: Why can't you do it?
Sister Krumperman: I'm talking on the phone. *Proceeds to make a fake phone call*
Me: Oh no.
But then I talk to people! And it's ok! And some people do speak English! And then we invite them to our weekly English conversation group and it's all good:) We meet a lot of college students that speak very good English, and the people that don't speak English are so sweet and try to pull out their phones to use Google translate.
Tatiana, who has a baptismal date on March 23rd (!) is really struggling with quitting smoking, which she needs to do before she can get baptized. Her faith is so incredibly strong though! She really knows who she is, and she understands the joy that this gospel can bring her. It is painful to see her struggle so much with this, but she is so strong, and I know that God will be able to help her through it.
I was reading in the Book of Mormon this week (obviously) and I just got finished reading in Alma. There is a story at the end, where all the Nephites and Lamanites are at war. Moroni and his armies are struggling with a lack of food and men, and the government is not backing them up like they should. Moroni sends a pretty heated letter to the chief judge, Pahoran, who he assumes is the cause of all of this. Pahoran responds, and tells Moroni all about what has been going on and why he hasn't been able to send any support. There were lots of rebellious groups at the time that were trying to get Pahoran kicked off the judgement seat. However, even though Moroni was pretty frank with how upset he was in his letter, Pahoran was forgiving and very humble. I think he is a really great example. Even reading Moroni's epistle to Pahoran, I was getting frustrated for him, but this is just like in life. We don't know what is going on in other people's lives. We don't know the things they struggle with in different aspects of their lives, in their minds and hearts, or even just how they think about things in general. We can take from the example of Pahoran, and try to understand those around us and have patience with them. Getting upset with others doesn't ever really help anyone. I love the Book of Mormon:)
So that was my week! I'm sorry there was not a lot about Russia in this email or crazy grandma's, but just know that Russia is wonderful. Also, I got a magnet this week with Vladimir Putin holding a puppy, and it says "All Goes Well", and I'm very excited about it.
Thank you for all your emails and support! I have less time in the field to email so I'm sorry if I don't respond to you all every week, but just know that I do read all of them and I love you all so much!
Sister Jones
