Week 46 - April 25, 2016

So the place that we usually email was closed for some weird reason. 

We have been all over the place so we didn't have enough time to email really well, 

so sorry folks. Next week we will hopefully be better! It has been a good week I promise. 

Learned a lot. I love you all and am grateful for the love and support!! 

Have a great week. HAPPY LATE BIRTHDAY DAD!!!! Sorry I forgot last week. 

I did talk to Sister Hansen over the phone for her birthday. Such a treat!!! Seriously, 

its forbidden to talk to other missionaries within the mission, unless it's in person, 

or by authorized permission, if they are your leaders. 

It was the first time in three months we've talked. Miss her so much! 

We'll be rooming together next year yay!

 Overall its been good. It is a slow process but up and coming to learn to really love the area 

and to submit my will to the Lord's. I am grateful for scriptures and also talks form our church leaders. I read beware of pride. It helped me realize a lot where my unhappiness was coming from.

I had been really prideful. Trying to force my will to the Lord's. Also gratitude has helped me a lot cast out doubts and fears. We have been praying hard and specifically for miracles. We have seen a difference. Recently we've just been able to talk to some really nice people. We contacted this woman with a stroller outside of a store. She immediately said she is prov and will always be. Then we asked her how she would be celebrating easter. Her husband then came out and said. Oh its the English speaking girls. We ended up talking to both of them for about 40 minutes on the street in English. Super sweet couple who are interested in English club. They even bought us pears! So sweet.

-- 

Much love, 

Cectpa Graham

Week 45 - April 18, 2016 Don't Worry, Be Happy!!! Fear not and be of Good Cheer!

         Hello Hello!

Man so many awesome things happened this week! 

Can't fill you in on all but I'll be better next week. 

I made up for last week by sending a ton of photos. . .

Our district photo ft, freshly made gingersnaps by yours truly..... . .^^^^

All the sisters watching General Women's conference. Hurrah!

Look at our yummy General Conference food! 

Featuring our super yummy Salsa

Our last district meeting all together. . . 

JK practically our whole district will stay the same except 

for Elder Allred who is going over to kill Elder Shea. Man so much fun. 

​We made sushi!!! YAY!!!!! 

It included rice, carrots, cucumbers, and imitation crab sticks. 

********

The Lord has truly blessed us with so many miracles this week! 

Tuesday we met the most prepared woman ever! 

We had spent a couple contacting sessions 

that day without giving out any KM or having good conversations. 

It's the last 30 minutes or so before we return for our studies and dinner. 

We are walking and see this seemingly young girl walking past us 

and weren't sure how okay it was to contact her, but we did it anyway. 

She ended up being a woman who was just really short. 

Katia has two young kids and lives with the father. We ended up asking her 

where we go after this life, and she said she's never wanted to think about it 

because it's too scary. Then we said it's probably only scary if you don't know the answer. 

We then testified of a loving Father in Heaven who created a plan for us. 

Katia then said how she doesn't feel worthy of salvation. 

Then we read Alma 7:10-13 with her. She said she loved all of it. 

We asked if she'd be interested in learning more. She then replied 

"If I wasn't interested then I wouldn't be standing here, 

I would have walked away a long time ago." 

She took a KM right away and we exchanged numbers. 

We are going to meet with her this week. 

It was definitely a miracle we've been waiting for. 

Also we had an incredible meeting with Regina from last week. 

We sat her down with one the most wonderful members in all of the world, Anya. 

In words of Elder Fletcher, " She the closest thing to an apostle." 

We were able to pray with Regina at the closing and end of the meeting 

and she finally took a KM. We felt the spirit so strongly with her! It was just incredible! 

So grateful for the testimonies of humble, every-day members of our church. 

So much power!

Visa Trip! Visa Trip!

-- 

Much love, 

Cectpa Graham

Week 44 - April 11, 2016 The Worth of a Soul is Great in the Sight of God. . .

       My dearest readers,

Hello! I apologize for the low quality of mass emails I've been sending out. 

Just not enough time in the day haha. Thank you all so much for the personal emails, 

they really brighten up my week! I hope spring has been finding you well! 

It's been so beautiful here! The sun is out and shining all over Samara! 

I am so grateful to see the sun again. I have been in need of some sunshine. 

It's been a good, but rough week.

Nadia is the first person I have been able to find on the street, 

who then became a real investigator. She has a special place in my heart. 

Just Thursday, she told us that this was our last meeting. She is finished learning 

about our church (she hasn't prayed to know it's true) and won't even come to English club. 

She said it's because it is too hard for her to be meeting and getting to know missionaries 

just to have us leave a month or so later. It broke my heart. I just hope and pray 

that one day she'll try and figure out the truth for herself. 

Regina is another person I've found and come close to. 

We had a pretty rough meeting with her on Saturday. She then stated how she thinks 

I'm wasting my life here, and that these 18 months will have been for nothing. 

It definitely hurt. I don't believe a word of it, but still. 

I know that this is the most important thing I can be doing right now with my life. 

I know that it will bless my life for as long as I live. I don't regret serving a mission at all. 

I know why I am here. It's hard. It's exhausting. It's completely and utterly worth it. 

General Conference what just what I needed to lift up my spirits. 

WOW! I love hearing from a living prophet and living apostles today. 

They are truly inspired of God. I don't doubt that Thomas S Monson 

is a prophet of God called today to lead Christ's church. 

We are all children of God. 

He Loves us. He wants to pour all the greatest blessings upon us! 

We just have to give Him the chance. 

We do so by believing in Christ and keeping God's commandments. 

I love my Savior and am so grateful for an infinite, individual atonement. 

I love you all!

-- 

Much love, 

Cectpa Graham

Week 43 - April 4, 2016 Fear not, my little flock

           My dearest readers,

I've got 8 minutes. . . here goes nothing!

Wow so I'm not really sure what I feel like writing this week. 

It's been a really weird week for me. A lot happens in just a week. 

Although, it's safe to say this week has been full of the usual missionary cares. 

For some reason, I just feel like I need to talk about fear. страх. 

Life is pretty scary and full of things to be afraid of: going to a new school, 

starting a family, getting up for work every day, 

deciding what to do with the rest of your life, 

or even just going out for the day. 

I definitely have three minutes now. 

Okay korochi, we will be having fears for the rest of our lives if we let it happen. 

Fear is not from God. Don't be afraid to do what is right. Be brave. 

The Lord will help us though the hard times. No one is too far gone from His love. 

God loves us. We are His children. Everything is for our good!!!!! LOVE 

Making the yummy curry from America. So good!!!

Taco Tuesday!! Missionary life is just an adventure!

Here's our lovely district! 

We found nacho flavored tortilla chips to go along 

with the salsa sister Hofmann and I made. SUCCESS!! 

-- 

Much love, 

Cectpa Graham