and Seven Years

Seven years ago today I walked off an airplane to greet my family, many of whom I had not seen for over eighteen months.  I had lived nearly a year and a half in Ukraine, studying the gospel and the language in the mornings, and teaching and testifying during the days and in the evenings.  Being so immersed in such a labor of love seemed perfection, a happiness that fulfilled my life.

I always wondered what the next few years of my life would hold.  Even in the few months before I returned home, I would wake up in the wee hours of the night and ponder and pray regarding the chunk of life to follow a full-time mission.  I never would have predicted what I have experienced in these last seven years, but I am grateful for knowing and feeling the Lord's hand and His love every step of the way.

I miss the Ukrainian people so dearly.  Why, oh why did I not keep in contact with member and investigator friends in Ukraine?  They taught me of life, and of friendship, and I am so grateful for the experiences I had with them.

My companions!  Friends, teachers = companions.  I had seven companions.  Here is what I learned from each:

Sister Kitley:

• Enjoy life and appreciate the gospel. 
• Have fun BEING who you are.

Sister Shuler:

• Love the people you serve. 
• Be patient,
• be willing to sing,
• don't say Sorry too often,
• laugh at yourself,
• serve 110 percent.

Sister Miller:

• Be who you are and become yourself with patience and love. 
• Be prompt, straightforward and diligent. 
• Run, drink lots of water and don't eat sugar. 
• Speak the language 24/7. 
• Try new things. 
• Laugh. 
• I am beautiful.

Sister Parker:

• The Spirit is the most important language to attain fluency in. 
• Remember and retain your mission language. 
• Take time to play accordions. 
• Love is eternal.

Sister Potts:

• Serve till the end. 
• Members are your most valuable assets. 
• Happiness is found in service. 
• Eat Ukrainian ice cream every chance you get. 
• Appreciate who you are.

Sister Chapman:

• YOU are the best souvenir you can take home. 
• Talk to ANYBODY and EVERYBODY. 
• We do have similarities with other Christians and should view them as our friends. 
• Accept bags of vegetables.

Sister Rawlings:

• Leading is about following, but still teaching. 
• If you prepare, it will be given you in the moment. 
• Find your similarities and enjoy them (Pirates of Penzance). 
• Blessings on Christmas day--surprises often make service more fun and more meaningful.

These lists are naturally not all-conclusive.  I love and appreciate each of these women very much for all of their patience and loving teachings and listenings.

In the ward I attended following my mission service, I had the opportunity of being interviewed for a book that has since been published.  That has been only one of endless reflections on my mission experiences.

This week I told someone about mormon.org and gave her a pass along card.  I felt slightly nostalgic of the days when I would approach someone, point to my tag, tell them about the message, and testify of my Savior and His gospel.  I LOVED doing that.

Truly, I am who I am today because of serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Kyiv, Ukraine.  I am so very grateful for the opportunity to share the gospel all day every day for those years.  I am so very grateful for the gospel.  How blessed I feel to live in these latter days, when the fullness of the gospel has been restored.  As Alma, I would still love to shake my Книга Мормона over the rooftops of all of the old Soviet apartment buildings and tell everyone that it's TRUE!