Well brothers and sisters, ladies and gentlemen, another great week here in Ukraine. The weather is getting colder and colder, but I just bought a winter coat so I'm a little bit prepared for that. I don't think wearing shorts last week on P-day was too smart of a decision. Nearly froze to death, but hey I learned from that experience and wore pants today during p-day, a lot warmer, but still very cold. I also don't think that living in Arizona and Saudi Arabia prepared me for this kind of weather. But anyway, this week was so awesome for so many reasons. First off, I'd just like to talk about Ukraine in general and some of it's interesting things. First off, pretty much every day we are riding public transportation, and sometimes they are trams, and sometimes they are in something called a marshutka. They 're pretty much little buses that are pretty cool to look at but when you look inside you realize something, there is never empty space haha. In these marshutka's, we literally push our way inside and are touching the eight people that are around us. So many people, sometimes I feel like there are people standing on top of other people, but it's all part of the experience. Another cool thing about L'viv is how European it is. With all the Polish influence it looks like a western European city that is very beautiful and very old. I really do love living here in L'viv, the city is amazing, the people are even better, can't wait to see what the future holds here.

Anyway, one cool thing that I did this week was go on my first exchange. I know, my first full week and I'm already doing exchanges, haha no but it was a great learning experience and had lots of fun. I went on exchanges with Elder Abraham, one of the AP's here in L'viv. He's been on his mission for just over a year and knows the language super well. He gave me lots of study tips and it was nice to see how another missionary works and all the interesting things he does. Can't wait to go on more exchanges with people.

Another thing that happened here was district conference. Because L'viv is the biggest city in the district, they do conference here. So the day before, we had a branch activity where we spent a few hours cleaning the church and had a picnic, inside, afterwards. That was a fun activity and I got to practice my Ukrainian talking to the other members getting to know them better. I love the people in my branch and I hope to get to know them better over the next few weeks. Anyway, the actual conference was great as well, I didn't understand a lot of it as it was all in Ukrainian but I could feel the spirit which is more important in my opinion. Finally, I was able to meet the rest of the missionaries afterwards because they all came. There are only 34 missionaries in our mission at the moment, and it's super cool to be in such a small mission. Because I was able to meet the rest of them and talk to them and learn their name. With a mission this small, you get to meet and create a bond with all the missionaries. Also, I love all the other Elders and Sisters, they're such good people and I know that I'll get to know them better over the next 22 months.

Such a good week overall, taught some lessons to members, less actives, and investigators. All the lessons went really well and learned a lot from them. Taught everything from the plan of salvation to sharing the story of Enos and talking about personal study. Also did a lot of contacting on the streets, which is basically us out on the streets talking to people about our church. Little bit scary right now because I don't know the language too well, but it's super cool! I love the mission life so very much, it sure is hard sometimes, just like everything. But that is why we have the savior and his atonement. Trust in him, become like him, use his atonement daily, and I can testify that you will be happier and feel God's love for you more. Have a great week and love you all!!

Старійшина McGrath

Isaiah 33:2- Read it and feast upon the words. The saviors arms are always there, it's us who needs take the steps towards those outstretched arms.

The amazing opera house in L'viv

Pic of a street in L'viv

In the famous L'viv park as all the leaves are falling

Who doesn't go to McDonalds in Ukraine? 

Bowling on P-day today. Such partyyy

St. George's Cathedral in L'viv

Gotta get that selfie with Elder Baxter

 Inside the amazing Cathedral

Living life large in L'viv (week Дев'ятий)

Well, Brothers and Sisters, I have arrived. 

I now sit in the L'viv chapel, which is pink and is in a perfect location, writing my first long email to all you people back in the states or in Saudi Arabia. Both of which, are probably a little bit warmer than here. haha. Coming from Saudi Arabia did not prepare me for this. The plane ride to Ukraine was pretty long because we couldn't watch any movies or listen to any music. I was able to sleep a lot though which was nice. I also studied the scriptures and the language that I need to learn as quickly as possible, Ukrainian. Eventually, we did get here though and the first people we saw after we walked out of baggage claim was President and Sister Rizley. They're such good people and great examples. After a quick picture, we were then transported to the Rizleys apartment where we were staying for the night. There we did some paperwork and had our first meal in Ukraine. Sister Rizley prepared some amazing soup and then we had some ice cream. If I may say, It was quite nice to have some homemade cooking for once, after nine weeks of MTC food. Oh also, that night we found out which city we were going to be serving in. My first area is...L'viv!!! The main city, can't wait to go out and teach the people of this wonderful area!

The next few days were synthesis or training. That morning we met our trainers and my trainer is named Elder Baxter and he is from Payson, Utah. He is such an amazing Elder, has been out for about a year, and knows the language really well and has already helped me out a ton. He did track and field in high school and can play the piano really well. I know that we're going to get along real well and am super glad that he is my trainer. Can't wait to serve in the city of L'viv with him. Anyway, synthesis went really well and I learned a lot of important stuff on how to be an effective missionary and basically how to live as one here in Ukraine, quite a good experience. At one point though, on our first day of synthesis, we actually went out and did some street contacting. That was sooooooooooo nerve racking, was so scared to go talk to people about the gospel in Ukrainian on the street. But we went out and did it haha, Elder Baxter did most of the talking, but I was able to say a few things and help out a bit. The language is quite difficult, but I know with time and a lot of practice, I can get it down. Also, after contacting that night, we went out to eat at a restaurant named Love and L'viv. There I got my first taste of borscht. If you don't know what that is, it's basically beet soup with a bunch of veggies. It doesn't really sound good, or look good, or even smell that good, buttttt it tastes really good haha. Honestly, and I'm not just saying that to try and convince myself that it was good, it really was quite good, would recommend that to anyone. 

Another cool thing we did this week and that we do every week here in this mission was an English practice. Every Thursday night for just about an hour, we teach English to anyone that wants to learn, we don't teach them the gospel, just focus on serving them and helping them learn the language. I thought it was so much fun because I was able to talk to a lot of them and understand them as well because they were trying to speak in English. I love the people of Ukraine and hope I can serve them all the time throughout these next two years. After English class though, we invite people to stay and listen to a spiritual thought, and many people do. From this, we are able to find a lot of new investigators and teach a lot more lessons. This week, we were able to teach a few lessons. We taught an investigator the plan of salvation, it's so much different in the mission field and I love it so much. Even though the investigator didn't seem to interested in what we were teaching him, you could feel the spirit in the room and I was so grateful for that experience. We also taught a few less active lessons and I feel like those went real well. We taught about the atonement and shared a story from Alma about that. Lessons are amazing, and even though I don't know the language, I can understand a lot of it and chime in every once in a while when it's my turn to teach. Quite a learning experience and I can't wait to continue to teach.

One last thing I want to talk about in this email real quick was yesterday, Sunday. I was asked to give a 7-10 minute talk on Thursday and on Sunday, I gave it! haha My first week in Ukraine and I gave a full on talk in Ukrainian. A little bit difficult to prepare and I'm pretty sure I had some pretty bad grammar but I felt like it went really well. I talked about Christlike attributes and focused on faith. An opportunity I'll always remember. Anyhow, the people in this branch are quite amazing. I talked to a lot of them using my broken Ukrainian but could already feel the love that I had for them. Can't wait to see what the future holds over the next few transfers here in Ukraine. Love it so very much. Mission life is the best life!! Can't wait for a new week.

Старійшина McGrath

1 Nephi 3:7 -- I will go and do the things the Lord commands. I'm here in Ukraine and I know that he will prepare a path for me to help the people!! Feast upon the words on God every day!!!

Final day at the MTC with the L'viv group and teachers

Again, but with my good old Saudi flag

We went on a propeller plane from Austria to L'viv, super cool

Last selfie with Elder Swasey 

President and Sister Rizley are awesome!

At the airport in L'viv with President and Sister Rizley and my old MTC district

The letter that my parents got when I arrived in Ukraine.

Pic of a park in L'viv, so very pretty!! 

Another one in a park

Our board from a finding activity we did

My trainer, Elder Baxter, and me in front of the opera house on my first day.

Super cool, got this beautiful old opera house in the heart of L'viv

MTCee you later!! (Week вісім)

Wednesday: What a wonderful P-Day it was for sure!! This morning was the usual like always, laundry, emails, eating some food, and playing some basketball. Nothing too fancy, but important stuff that I gotta do haha. The highlight of my day was for sure the temple, like always. Today I did another sealing session. I love them so very much, the feeling that I get in there is like no else. And the knowledge that I have that doing this will bring families together forever and ever is the greatest thing ever. Honestly, the temple is just the best and I'm sad that next week is my last time going for 22 months, sad. Anyhow, the rest of my day was great, we taught Andriey. The lesson went pretty good and we taught about the restoration. I just love teaching and am so grateful for all your support. Can't wait for a new week and can't wait to fly out to L'vivv!! 

Thursday: Another day at the MTC completed. Such a good day I might add as well haha. Today we had our normal two lessons, one in the morning and one in the evening. This morning we had Brother Huth teach us where we did some language study, and focused on how we should plan a lesson for our investigators. Great lesson, so grateful for my great teachers. Tonight, our lesson with Sister Gray was quite fantastic! Since we finished teaching Katya, we got a new investigator today, her name is Christina (who is still actually Sister Gray haha). We taught her about God being our loving Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ being the savior of the world. The lesson went pretty great, went a little bit long, but hey there's always room for improvement and that's why we're at the MTC, to learn and grow as missionaries. Other than that, the lesson with Sister Gray was quite nice, we talked about diligence and how to more diligent in everything we do as missionaries. Anyhow, outside of classes today was quite nice. Played volleyball outside today. Crazy how nice it is in Utah this time of the year, in Saudi it's still OVER 100!! haha but yeah volleyball was fun. Such a good day, can't wait for tomorrow!! Get our flight plans tomorrow!!!! 

Friday: Such a great day!!!! Today we got our flight plans, getting soososos pumped to fly to Ukraine. We leave the 17th at like 3 in the morning. This morning, we had a class with Sister Gray. We went over grammar and talked about the Book of Mormon. Great class, but the class was cut short because we went to watch Elder Hale's funeral services at 10:30. Elder Eyring's talk in the service was amazing, he talked about how Elder Hales was such a true and loyal friend. Truly amazing. Anyway, the rest of the day was great. Tonight we taught Andriey during our lesson with Brother Huth. We taught him the first half of the plan of salvation, we didn't have enough time to finish the lesson because he asked some really good questions and I felt like the lesson went pretty well. There were a few stumbling points but no lesson is perfect. We can learn and grow from each and every lesson, that's what is so great about the MTC. Such a great day, learned a lot, and had some awesome fun!! 

Saturday: What a day, every day is so awesome. Always on a spiritual high and learning and growing, nothing better!! Ok, so the best part of my day was our lesson with Christina tonight. We taught about the Godhead and how important they are. We stressed the importance of faith and how without faith, we don't have a desire to follow Christ and do things like read the scriptures and pray every day. Because faith without works is dead, and work without faith is dead. It was such a solid lesson too, taught with such unity and really could feel the spirit. Nothing better than a lesson like that. Anyhow, the rest of the day was great as well, played some basketball, learned a lot of Ukrainian, and had a great PCL. Just one of those days where you get a Ukrainian headache at the end because you spoke and learned so much haha. But nothing better than that!!! Love the mission life and can't wait for tomorrow, it's fast Sunday, but gonna be an awesome day!!!

(Fast) Sunday: Well, the second last to last Sunday at the MTC has come to a close, such a good day!! This morning, we had fast and testimony meeting, where the spirit was so strong, and a great district meeting about following the prophet, perfect for the week after General Conference. Then my comps and I led the Priesthood meeting where we had an awesome discussion about how important it is to be worthy to hold the priesthood so we can help people when we need to. I love to teach, it's so much easier in English right now haha, but hopefully it'll be easier in Ukrainian real soon. Anyway, the rest of my day was quite nice. Tonight, after our devotional, as a district we watched Legacy again since we've seen pretty much every movie now. Legacy is a pretty good movie, just like every other one you can feel the Spirit which is what's most important. Such a great day, can't wait for a new week!! Last full week at the MTC!!

Monday: Oh such a good day at the MTC. The best part of the day was for sure our lesson tonight with Andriey. We taught him about the second half of the plan of salvation and focused on the Savior's Atonement. The lesson went really well and our unity is really improving which is super duper important to teaching with the spirit. Love my comps and so grateful for their hard work and diligence in serving the Lord with all their heart. Anyhow, the rest of the day was great as well, class this morning was quite normal and we had our first day of in-field orientation!! That was nice, I'm actually going to leave the MTC soon, I love the MTC but I can't wait to go to L'viv. We talked about the importance of goal setting in the field and how that can bring miracles. Such a good day overall, can't wait for tomorrow!! 

Tuesday: SUCH A GREAT DAY!!! For many reasons, first of all we had our last online TRC today where we taught the member about revelation. The lesson went really well, we could've prepared a bit more, but I could feel the spirit, which is the most important thing in a lesson. Then after TRC's we had our only class of the day with Sister Gray where we talked about the Book of Mormon and had 1 on 1 interviews with her. Such a good class, learned a lot and so grateful for them and all they do to help us. Also, today we had our second day of in-field orientation. That means we're one day closer to going to L'viv soooo pumpeddddd!! haha BUT the highlight of the day was the Tuesday night devotional. ELDER D TODD CHRISTOFFERSON came and spoke to us. One of the apostles came and shared with us the history and importance of the Book of Mormon. Loved his talk and the Book of Mormon is essential to our conversion and the conversion of others. Read it erry day!!! Such a good week, less than a week til UKRAINEE!!!!

Старійшина McGrath

2 Nephi 26 also the whole chapter!!! SO good, so many things we can learn!! Love the scriptures so very much!!

Selfie with My CYRLLIC TAGSSSS

Got a pic with the Georgians before they left to the field, sad to see them leave, awesome missionaries!!

Group pic with the best Elders!!

Some of the dumb things we've said in lessons in Ukrainian.
So funny and I think I won with the most dumb things said haha!!

L'viv crould selfie!! Love em all.

Генеральна конференція (General Conference, Week семи)

Wednesday: Such a good P-day. This morning we did our usual breakfast, laundry and emails. That was quite fun. The highlight of the day was for sure the temple though. Today I did sealings for the first time in my life. As missionaries we can only do sealings to children but the experience was like no other. Love the temple and wish I could go every day. Anyhow, the rest of the day was great. Tonight was our first lesson with Andriey, who is actually our other teacher, Brother Huth. The lesson went great, we taught about how God is our loving Heavenly Father, and how we can pray to him whenever we want. I love teaching lessons and I can't wait to help the people in Ukraine, such a solid day, ready for another week!!!

Thursday: Today was a great dayyy!! This morning we had class with Brother Huth where we did some grammar, talked about how to start lessons, and had some more 1 on 1 interviews. So glad to have such great teachers who only want the best for us and will help us all the time. Next, we had a lesson tonightwith Katya, her last before her "baptism." We taught her about enduring to the end and how the atonement and repentance have a major role in that. I thought that the lesson went really well and I can see the improvement every day in my lessons!! We need to keep on repenting and having that change of heart so we can feast upon all the blessings that come with being clean. We will be so much more happy and have so much more love for one another when we are closer to Christ. Anyhow, the rest of the evening lesson went well, we did our weekly planning and went over some vocab. Oh, also we got our Cyrillic name tags today!!! They're super duper coolio, I love my last name in Ukrainian. There was one problem with them though, the word elder was in Russian and not in Ukrainian so they're going to have to make new ones for us with the Ukrainian version of Elder haha. So almost got them! Overall, really great day at the MTC, and can't wait for tomorrow!!

Friday: Great day to be alive here at the MTC. Today we had another usual day of two lessons, one with each teacher. This morning, with Sister Gray, we did some grammar, learned some more vocab and talked about how to plan a lesson. She also shared a story that was one of the many miracles she experienced. This was an amazing story and I can't wait to head out to the field and get some nice experiences haha. Also, at the end of my PCL time I finally saw Brother Savage. He's a teacher at the MTC and his family lives in Saudi. Shout out to the Savage family, they're an awesome family!! Tonight, we taught Andriey and the lesson went great!! We talked about faith and how that leads to us growing and finding truths. Not our original lesson plan but we felt like that's what Andriey needed to hear, and we felt like he really learned a lot from our lesson. The rest of the lesson with Brother Huth went well, we focused a lot on grammar, sooooooo muuuchhhhhh grammmmar, haha still confusing but making some good progress!! Anyway, such a good day, can't wait for General Conference tomorrow, gonna be so nice!!

Saturday: Don't have much to write about today because all we did was watch general conference!!! Such a great dayyy, learned and grew so much. Listened to some amazing talks, probably my favorite one was Elder Stevenson's talk. If you haven't watched general conference yet, DOOOOO ITTTTTTTT. THERE IS SO MUCH GOOD INFORMATION AND YOURE QUESTIONS WILL BE ANSWERED. There were a lot of talks but they were also super amazing and I'm for sure going to apply what I learned today in hopes of becoming a more consecrated missionary!! Loved the day, other that conference I had a couple of district reviews and did a quick PCL. Such a good day and the prophets are true and the best for sureee!!!

Sunday: Oh another great day at the MTC. Another day of two sessions of General Conference!! Such good talks, my favorite today and probably my favorite overall was Elder Hallstrom's talk about miracles and how we need to have faith to obtain miracles. Also, we should realize that EVERYTHING we have is a miracle. Our bodies, families, friends, and the atonement. Without these things, I don't know where I would be, so grateful for everything I have. Ok also ITS OCTOBER!!! The month I head out to L'viv and preachhhh there!! Anyway, the rest of my day was great. Today, my three weeks ended as District Leader and I'm so very grateful for the opportunity I had. I learned so much and I was glad that I was able to serve my district, love them so very much. One of my comp's Elder Wonson, was called as the new DL, he's going to do so well, and the Lord will guide him to make the district the very best it could be!! Also,tonight we watched the film, "The Testaments." That is suchhhhhhhhhhhh a good movie, watch it!! The day was so good, can't wait for a new week!! Only two left at the MTCCCCC!! Also, watch General Conference if you haven't yet haha. You WONT regret it!! 

Monday: Oh wowzers a good day it was. This morning we had our last lesson with Katya, sad but that's life. Transfers happen. On Saturday, she got "baptized" so our lesson today awesome!!! She talked about how she felt peace during the baptism and she's so happy. Today, we taught her about families and the plan of salvation. Such a great lesson, thought we taught her what she needed to hear. Nothing better than a lesson where the spirit is strong and you know that what you taught helped the person. Anyway, the rest of the day was fantastic, we had a nice PCL where we talked about the Christlike attribute, worked on our lesson, and learned some more Ukrainian. And had a great lesson tonight with Brother Huth. We focused a loooooot on grammar, and how to start a lesson. Such a good lesson, learning a lot, and only 15 more days till I head out to L'vivvvvvvvvv. Can't wait!!!!!!!!!! haha hope you all had a great dayy!!

Tuesday: Such a nice day today. Multiple reasons as to why and i'll share them with you now. First off, we had another online TRC today. I love those so very much, today the person we were teaching was from Kiev and served her mission in L'viv. She was awesome and the lesson went fantastic. Other than the fact that she spoke pretty stinking fast and I didn't pick up on some of what she said, I quite enjoyed it. We taught her about Christlike attributes and how important they are to coming unto Christ. The best way to come unto Christ and grow more is to develop these attributes. Love being able to study them every week and work on becoming more like our Savior, the perfect example for us. Anyhow, the rest of my day today was fantastic, tonight we had a devotional where Sister Oscarson, the General Young Woman's President, spoke to us. It was an AMAZING talk. She mainly focused on the fact that the Lord gives us trials, cuts us down, to help us in the long run. When we make mistakes, face hard trials and heartaches, look forward and focus on Christ and you will overcome them. And you will come out a stronger, happier, better person. Love this gospel and so grateful for the MTC and all the great spiritual experiences. Can't wait to head out to L'viv though! Such a great week, can't wait for P-Day tomorrow!!!!   

Старійшина McGrath

2 Nephi 22, Read this whole chapter, feast upon the words and you will not regret it. The chapter is only six verses long but sosososoos good!! Put all our trust in the Lord and we will be blessed for it!

With the other Saudi Elder--Elder Spriggs!!

Found an older EFY friend, Elder Rawson. He's going to Dnepro 

L'viv crowd selfie