jakemcgrathmission: Unusual Usual Week (Week Сорок сім)

Well, this was a greatly, normal week. The last three weeks, we have traveled out to L'viv and Kiev, which have made for some decent emails, but it means that we weren't in Rivne for a good chunk of the past few weeks. So, it felt pretty good to just be in Rivne and work 100% in our own area. So, my goal of this email is to make it at least a little bit interesting. So I got a few good stories for you. The first of which happened this past Wednesday. We were asked by a member to help them do some service, and it was quite the experience. Most people in Ukraine live in Apartments, and we were asked to go and meet someone at an apartment and as we were heading there we found out that we were going to be moving a few things from his apartment in the city, to his house out in the village about 20 minutes away by a car that we took there. The hardest part was for sure a couch that we had to take from his apartment. It literally fit through the door by less than an inch, and it was pretty dang heavy. Plus, this member lives on the NINTH floor of an apartment building, so there was no way that we were going to carry it down all those flights of the stairs. So we brought it to the elevator and pushed, pulled, carried, did everything you can do with your hands to put in the elevator and by the skin of my teeth it fit into the elevator. For sure one of the bigger tender mercies of the week, I don't think we could have carried it all the way. Anyhow, the rest of the service was good, we ate some apricots, took a car out to his house in the village, and set the couch up there. One cool thing that we did at the end, was go through his garden and look at all the plants that he has, super nice garden if I may say so.

Anyway, the other story that I have happened on Sunday. Usually, every week a missionary will speak during Sacrament meeting because there aren't enough members for us to not speak so often, and this was my week to give a usual 20 minute talk. So, we're going though sacrament meeting and all is well. The other two speakers showed up and were prepared to give a talk. The first speaker goes up, after we all have the wonderful opportunity to take the sacrament, and gives a good, normal length talk and we were still on track. Sadly, the second speaker goes up and gives a five minute talk, which left extra time for me. As I walked up, both the branch president and the first councilor told me I had the rest of the time and to walk the clock. I ended up speaking for a solid 30 minutes, all in Ukrainian and it went decent. I probably testified about everything I knew at the end to make sure we finished at the right time, but I made it, sweat everywhere, and I basically said every Ukrainian word that I knew. All is well though, I love speaking and the opportunity that I have to share my testimony will all the members here in Rivne.

The rest of my week was great as well. We did a lot of finding, stop-bys at less actives, and had some great lessons with investigators and members. We also had exchanges this past week with the other Elders here in Rivne and I had the chance to serve with Elder Wonson for a day, which was super good. We had some wonderful lessons and found a really solid new investigator. All in all, a super good week full of normal, awesome missionary work. There is nothing better than serving a full-time mission and helping others find more joy through the gospel of Jesus Christ. Have a great week all and talk to you later!

Старійшина McGrath

2 Nephi 2: 1-2 Read and ponder these words. The Lord will always be with us in our afflictions.