Привет всем))))
This week was a crazy week (but not as crazy as this upcoming week is going to be, oof). We had a competition with the Elders to see who could make the most friends in a week and we made 4 friends in the first two days! We already met with 2 of them, Liza and Toma. Liza is working here in a bakery and is studying English. Ultimately, she wants to become a translator. She is also planning on going to China at some point, as she speaks some Chinese too. She was really cute! She showed us all her favorite places in the city, including a music theatre and a cool church:) Toma is here studying finance. She works at a waffle shop (where we met her) and we went walking with her and her sister who was in town. I am just really excited about our new friends:)))
We had a few meetings with some of the members this week as well. We went over to visit a really cute (mentally insane - like literally) grandma on Tuesday. It was so much fun! We literally just sat for an hour and sang her songs from the hymn book. It's crazy how much songs can calm people and bring the spirit.
This week was also March 8th! International Women's Day! The men in the branch set up a surprise for us after church. They made food, had presents, and gave us flowers:) For the presents, they had a bunch of balloons. We were supposed to pick one, pop it, and a piece of paper inside would tell us what we won. I won.... toothpaste! It was really funny!
Just like I did at the beginning of my mission, I have been thinking a lot lately about how grateful I am to be here as a volunteer. I have learned so much that I never would have been able to otherwise. I have grown so much as a person, and developed a relationship with my Father in Heaven that I didn't realize was possible. I could have done these things at home, but I don't know if I would've chosen to. Being here has been wonderful because each and every day, your purpose is to live as the Savior did and to follow His gospel.
I hope you all had a wonderful week!
Sister Jones
1. Me riding a bull
2. Papa John's is spelled JUST LIKE Jones in Russian
3. a pretty temple:)
