Week 33

This is the last week of the transfer, and with a new mission president he is switching up the procedure a bit. i found out on Saturday night that i was being transferred and to where and he's gotten away from transfer meeting. just some time this next week I've got to find myself over to my new area. i knew it was coming, its funny how you can feel it. i won't tell you where im being transferred to yet (not like you'd have the slightest idea where it is) because my mind is still in this area as i have a few final meetings and get Irena ready for her baptism. Its interesting, before hand we found out transfer info the Tues before-then you had to leave your area on Thurs. and i think the old president changed it to this so that there wasn't a huge farewell and whooped dee-do about leaving the area with the members on Sunday. but even though i found out i'd be leaving before Sunday's meetings, i just knew it still was the best thing to not tell anyone or make a big deal of taking last pictures or anything...its just better that way. but there are still the members who can read the signs and just figure it out. Its an awesome feeling to know i will be missed in this area. I've really made a huge effort (okay, maybe it didn't take too much effort because it was a natural desire) to meet and get to know the members and serve them. And that has really happened the past two transfers. its the blonde hair.

If i won't be remembered for my good works, at least they'll remember me as the blonde missionary :) its an interesting feeling to leave. i know i will see these members again. and its not because i have faith that i will come back to visit, but that we will meet again in the next life and continue the work of the lord together there too. Just a cool feeling.

This week was just too big an adventure to handle. It was fun. We met with members who said to make sure we tell our parents thank you for letting us come out here to serve them. we met with less actives and helped them wipe the dust off their book of Mormons and read with them. We went to the 'lavra' for our cultural experience which is the big provaslavnian monastery here and maybe went at just the wrong time so we found ourselves stuck in their temple during one of their services. talk about cultural experience, we just wanted a quick tour of the grounds and peak inside. We also helped set up for a wedding reception (we counted it as our service hours for the week). We set irina's baptismal date for this Sunday after church, and if we can't pull everything together before then, it will be the next week. I don't think i'll be able to go since i'll be in my new area, but we'll see. I'm not too worried about it. I know the work just keeps going forward and forward and it is the lords plan that new missionaries come in to switch things up a bit and get things done that others couldn't.

I know my emails are usually probably show how depressed i am, so i am sorry if this one disappoints :) its hard. time heals things. then there are bigger mountains. i know a lot of you are struggling at home with your own trials and tribulations, but let me remind you that the best thing to do is apply the principles of the three missionary lessons-the miracle and gifts of the restoration, the plan of salvation, and the gospel of Jesus Christ.

i love you,

sister kylie little

ps...funny story. so everyone remembers the dialogue from the sandlot about 's'mores' right? "...how can i have so more if i haven't had anything to eat yet..." or something like that. well me and my companion had a moment like that, but in Russian, recently. We were in a candy shop and the lady behind the counter was waiting for us to choose what kind of cookies we wanted to buy (they are all behind the counter) and she has her bag open ready to grab whatever kind we say. as we're deciding we hear her say "pobolshe?" we're like "shto?" (what) she said again "pobolshe" we were so confused..."pobolshe" means 'a little more' so in Russian we were like " pobolshe chevo?" (a little more of what?) because we still hadn't said what kind of cookies we wanted...and she says, "net, vie polshe?" OOHHHH.....(no, are you polish?) no. we're not. Me and my companion get mistaken for polish people all the time. for the blonde hair, not the accent. i still sound like an American. oh well.