August 27, 2012

Hello family!!

How are things at home? I hope well. Mom and Dad your trip sounded like it was a blast. It is funny that it rained there every day because it rained everyday here as well. Although we weren't always so lucky to stay dry...ha-ha it has been fun though.  It has finally cooled down enough to pull out some of my long sleeve shirts and cardigans. That has been nice, and it is cooler at night so I have been sleeping better.

What a crazy week. We were in Samara on Tuesday and then went to the office to get our new companions on Wednesday. There were 4 new sisters and 8 new elders. Crazy! So, my new Companion's name is Sister Scoville. She is from American Fork, studied family and consumer sciences and BYU and she is so great. She is so positive and happy all of the time even though I am sure things is crazy right now. And the poor girl started getting a cold yesterday but she is still just excited to work. Her first night in Tolyatti we stopped by a less active at work and I have never been able to meet with him but he had time for a meeting and it was so great. The next day we were contacting and we ran into this woman named Lyudmila. Sister Upshaw and I had contacted her about 3 weeks ago and she seemed really receptive but she had to leave suddenly before we got information to contact her again. Probably about 2 weeks ago we saw her on the street but I couldn't remember from where until afterwards. BUT, this time I remembered and I asked her what she thought about the restoration pamphlet that I had given her. She said she really liked it and gave it to her son who is also interested. And then she gave us her information so we could meet with her again. I hope things go well with her.  Nikolai has stopped answering his phone so I don't really know what the deal is there. I hope the work starts to pick up here. I am excited to work with he elders in our branch they are really great. hopefully they leave some work for us...everyone says sister missionaries have the capability to work that elders can't and so far I haven't figured out what that is. Maybe I will figure it out eventually.

Well, it is weird being a trainer because I am supposed to know what I am doing...I don't. But, I guess I will just do the best I know how. Wish me luck!!

Love,
Cectpa Pearce

August 20, 2012

Hello!!!

So this week was the last week of the transfer so we were anxiously awaiting the news of where we were going to be. Aaaaaaaaaannnnnnnnnnnnd............... I will be staying in Tolyatti and training and Cectpa Upshaw will be going to Penza. I love transfers. They are always a surprise and never what you expect. I guess that is the definition of a surprise....anyway, I am excited. We will be in samara Wednesday to pick them up and then back to work. The senior couple here is awesome so I am excited to continue to work with them. Their blog address is:

kenandstacymission@blogspot.com

Yesterday we found this awesome lady named Tatiana. She was walking slowly on the sidewalk so we approached her and offered her and invitation (invitation to church ie pass-along card) but she wasn't interested. As she walked by I just said "vcevo vam dobrova" and just wished her well, like I always do, usually they just keep walking but she turned around and looked at me and she seemed surprised. we kept walking and were talking to another lady probably half way down the block when Tatiana came back and said "after you left I had the thought that I needed to talk to these believing people and read what they had to offer" it was so cool! I had a Book of Mormon in my hands, and when she saw it, she asked if she could read it and if we could write her phone number down so we could talk with her about it. So I guess she technically found us. But I feel like the Lord has prepared her. Nikolai is still progressing. He recognizes the Holy Ghost but he doesn't find it "satisfying" he wants more, so we will be helping him understand his answer. Other than that, this week was pretty slow.
This transfer has flown by! It's crazy.

Mom, tell the Bowles’ hello for me! I miss not being able to boat with them as well...and this time I don't even have a broken arm. Whoa. That was a year ago...crazy. It sounds like you and dad are having a great time being grandparents. You’ve got some lucky grandchildren. Dad, the trains look awesome! You made one of those for me right? I hope so. Also, mom, yes, Breanne and Maycie can play with my doll. I think I have outgrown it...That was one of the best gifts ever. That and my first bike. I hope you and dad have a good time in Bryce!! It is beautiful!
Mom, did you take a picture of Greg’s quilt? I would like to see how it turned out.

Well, I love you all!!!

Love,
Cectpa Pearce

August 13, 2012

Hello family!!

Oy, what a week...last week was awesome. We were finding people to teach we were working hard and then this week everyone decided not to answer their phones...regardless it turned out to be a good week and I have to say I did learn a lot from it. Before I forget if you are going to be in tropic see if you can stop by Anne Marie’s parents. I think she already left... maybe in July I am not sure. But they know which hikes are the best so you might be able to talk to them.

Sounds like the neighborhood barbecue was fun! Tell everyone hi for me!!  Kobo was the game I played while I was in cedar. I am glad you like it, I thought you would.

Ha-ha! Dad you thought you would leave me in suspense about the women's gold medal game but the senior couple here looked it up and were telling me about it. But if you recorded it I wouldn't mind watching it a year from now...also, you know what's crazy? Half way through next cycle I only have a year left in Russia. When did that happen? Geez, time flies. I am not sure how I feel about that. There is so much I want to learn while I am here and I don't know if I am learning fast enough.

This week we met with a lady named Elizabeta. She is an older lady who can't see much so we went and read the Book of Mormon to her. She said she needs to teach us how to embroider and the like so we can be good moms. I should count how many times in a week I am told that I am wasting my time and I should go home and find a husband. I would say on average probably around 5 times a week. Maybe more, I don't know. Especially when we talk with Russian babushka (I cannot spell from Russian to English). Any who it's a good time.

One of the only victories this week was while doing calls on our list of potential investigators I called someone named Nikolai and invited him to church. I know, not that exciting I do that every week, BUT he actually came!! It was sweet and we set up an appointment with him tonight.

Everyone asks, "What is hardest thing about being a missionary?" And I honestly don't know why it is hard. For me I guess it is the constant desire to be better. Now, that is a good thing. But, at times I have been incredibly critical of myself and then I feel incredibly inadequate. And then on the other hand any natural talent I have for doing the work I end up feeling prideful about. It is this constant roller coaster of feeling extreme inadequacy and pride.  There is no place better than a mission to learn to acquire Christ like attributes, and I am grateful for this opportunity but sometimes it is just hard. I love it though and I have no idea why :)

Well, I love you all!!

Love,
Cectpa Pearce

August 6, 2012

Hello Family!!

This week has flown by! I guess I will start by telling you about our trip to Vilnius Lithuania. I know I said Latvia last week but I couldn't remember I just knew it started with an "L". So we had a taxi pick us up at 4:00 in the morning to get us to Samara by 5:00 and then our flight for Moscow left at 7:00. After that I don't remember the times of anything but we got to Moscow and then got on a flight to Vilnius. Vilnius airport was beautiful! It was such a nice airport and what I saw out of the window was way pretty, but we were only there for 2 hours and then back on the plane to Moscow. And then from Moscow to Samara where Roman our driver picked us up and took us back to Tolyatti. We got home and 1:30 in the morning. After months of going to bed at 10:30 on the dot staying up late was rough. I was so tired. So, not that exciting. 

Other than being a little tired this week was normal except the Lord really blessed us with people to teach. All of our progressing investigators kind of fell off for one reason or another so we needed to find people. Wednesday we had set up and appt. with a potential from the area book and we were able to get a member on the lesson. They turned out to be golden. It was a mom and her 8 year old daughter. The mom has been battling depression for while after her husband left her. But she responded really well to the gospel. Her daughter thought was genius. We prayed and she said, "I felt that! It felt good!' so we talked to her about the Holy Ghost. And then this Muslim family found us and already knew a little bit about the Book of Mormon and was really interested in reading it. They are really humble, open hearted people. We met the wife on the street and she wanted to buy the book from us and we just gave it to her she was so grateful.  When we asked her if we could talk about it later she was so willing to give us her number and address and then invited us immediately to her house. That is just a few but we were really led to be in the right place at the right time this week. I don't feel like it was any of our effort, but I was grateful to be a tool in His hands.

As far as the food...currently we eat a lot of fruits and vegetables because their ton of stands that have delicious fruit and veggies. if you want to have a Russian salad get some cabbage, cucumbers (they are better here),  fresh dill, tomatoes and any other veggies, and then just throw some mayo and there. We have that at least once a week and it is delicious. Ya, fresh dill, who knew? I already know that will be something I need when I get back. It so good and they put it in just about everything here.

I love you all!
Love Sister Pearce

ps. John I got your letter this week. You are holding up your reputation well. I wouldn't want to expect to hear from you too often you know...

July 30, 2012

Hello!! How is everyone! Dad, thanks for the updates on the Olympics I can't believe they are already here. I also can't believe that Spain is already eliminated. Talk about an upset. I also can't believe that July is almost over. That is crazy.  Also, the ward activity sounded like it was a lot of fun. And super effective.

Tomorrow is our first visa trip. It sounds cool but I am not super excited. All it consists of is waking up at 5 in the morning and getting in a taxi to the Samara airport. Then we will fly to Moscow and from Moscow to Latvia. From there we spend 3 hours in the airport and then fly home. We will get back to Samara at 11:00 at night and then we have a 2 hour drive to Tolyatti. I really hope the Moscow airport is nice to us. Wish us luck!!!

Today I figured I would tell you about our district a little. So Sister Upshaw and I are in new city with Elders Wiseman and Mulloy. And then in old city are the zone leaders Elders Morris and Taylor. And then our district leaders live in Oolianask. Sorry I don't know how to spell that in English. Anyway it is about 4 hours away from where we are so district meeting every week is over the phone. It’s fun. The elders here are so great I have already learned a lot from them about how to do the work here. In Tolyatti there is really great young single adult group. They are all really great friends and are all willing to help missionaries. It is really great.

This week has been kind of slow. Almost all of our meetings fell through and people just didn't want to talk to us this week. I don't know. I am sure next week will be better. 

Last week I meant to write about this but I forgot. In Tolyatti they have these pipes that are green. Think Mario and Luigi. Yep. Exactly like that only they are in real life. They are everywhere. I didn't really know what they were for but last week they must have been working on the pipes because there were people crawling in and out of them like crazy. And they were all wearing overalls. It was the best.  I had the Mario theme song running through my head all day.

Good luck with everything!!! I love you all!

Love,
Cectpa Pearce