May 9, '97

NOTE: In today's entry, I attempted to write in Russian a little bit. As I type in English, I am just using whatever English letters seem to correspond with the Russian, but then I put the Russian in {brackets} and italics and translate it immediately thereafter! If you happen to speak Russian, you might notice that I went ahead and left the mistakes as they were. No need to pretend that I knew more than I did!

1) My call to serve in this great work
2) Familiar faces around the MTC
3) the Spirit in Brother Jensen's class
4) the breathing exercises Sister Halford does
5) Praying in Russian
20 min running, 110 sit-ups, 20 push-ups

Wow, today seemed long! My comp and I were going to try to get to bed on time tonight... it's already 10:32, so, oh well!

But I did feel lots of progression with the language today! We learned some very basic prayer phrases. I feel like I was guided to study Russian the little that I did. It just made me familiar enough with how to read it, and doing the independent studies project of taping scriptures in my bible made me feel comfortable with certain religious phrases.

I worry about the Elders in my district -- they seem a little discouraged. However, they also have a real Spirit of the truth and reality of the work. May God bless them with strength of mind!

No mail today :{ but I'll survive it. It only comes every 9 or 10 days in the mission field, so I suppose I'd best get used to it.

{Ya xochy picat pa-ruski kogda ya mogy. Takzhe goborit. Sis. Smyth tozhe xochit - spasibo. Ya blagodary Bozhe za klasni i krasibi komp!} I want to write in Russian when I can and also speak. Sister Smyth also wants to, thankfully. I thank God for a cool and beautiful companion! As you can see, I often don't quite know exactly what to say, but I know, {ya znayu, shto ya bydy mozhet vsyo goborit.} I know, that I will be able to say everything.

What an amazing Spirit abides in this work. It certainly is like a stone cut without hands! We took a little "missionary evaluation" survey this morning that asked some pretty searching questions about my testimony and faith level. I pray I answered them honestly!

I do love the Lord and His gospel and His Russian Saints. {Bo imya Iicyca Xpicta, Amin.} In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.