Emi's Twenty-Fourth Email! July 27, 2015

 A week of personal epiphanies and recommitments.

  

Thank you to the Cravens family, Lociceros and Spring for their lovely cards.

Happy one year Joe!

Happy birthday Tuse Goose!

Just to clarify, I don't eat at those chicken places and never have or will. I just thought those names were ridiculous. Did I mention Virginia Fried Chicken or MFC (My Fried Chicken)? Haha.

Sister Allen's quote of the week: 

-We were talking to a man about his massive American Bulldog "Oh wow, he is just a majestic beast" I had to turn away my face in laughter.

-We are kinda starting to teach a Romanian family, mainly teaching them English, needless to say, but neither of us speak Romanian...it'll work out. Apparently the double-kiss goodbye is tradition and the boy almost went for it at Sister Allen.

-I asked to pet some lady's kittens and she got very upset with me when she found out we couldn't keep the cats and that we only wanted to stroke them. Sister Allen had to remind me I'm a grown woman so it might seem kinda odd asking to pet cats. Since when did I grow up? I still have the mindset of a 16 year old and need to keep changing...

-Some 10-year-olds threw blueberries at us 

So this week I had the re-realisation that I need to fully recommit myself everyday to the Lord for this work. It hit me that I'll actually go home one day. I was kind of in the mindset that this is it, this is my life. But unfortunately it won't be forever and all our heart, might, mind and strength is what is required everyday. That is why we need that sincere cry for recommitment and help from Him to do our all.

I like this quote in regards to our testimonies:

"A bird sitting on a tree is never afraid of the branch breaking because it's trust is not in the branch, but in its own wings." -Unknown 

Top 10

1) Mission History Tour. This is the first overseas mission so, we saw where some of the early saints went and also where President Kimball served.

2) Stake Athletics. Sister A and I will be sore for days.

3) Oldham Ward

4) Literally obsessed with this mission and this work.

5) Tea at President Seal's 

6) Blessings and miracles. Prayer is real.

7) Museum of Art in Picadil with some sisters, celebrating Sister Warren's B-day

8) Service for Sister Awire

9) One of Bishop's sons, Fesoj, got his mission call to Poland! So exciting, everyone in Provo has to meet him.

10) Gonna get back in shape. I just need a jump rope and to keep going to yummy Holland & Barrett (like a mini Whole Foods)

Sister Emi Doncheva

Costco/ Price Club

Emi's Twenty-Third Email! July 20, 2015

All the random chicken places in our area:

Dallas Fried Chicken, Georgia Fried Chicken, Montana Fried Chicken, Arizona Fried Chicken, Southern Fried Chicken, Chicken Hut, Chick Inn (My fav), Yummy Fried Chicken, Crunchy Chicken. They even actually do have KFC is the 

Amazing Week!

The Gospel is amazing. It is true, the only thing I can claim with 100% true.

Top 10

10/9) Still stoked on the kind members feeding us and the wild cherries

8) Got pegged in the face for the second time since serving in this ward

7) Collected some more yummy recipes

6) We got dropped by some of my favourite investigators, but we were able to get permission for someone to do some of their temple work for their family members, so there will still blessings from our efforts.

5) Gardening service

4) Someone random we met on the way to investigator sports actually showed up to it this week. You just never know what can happen!

3) Got vertigo for a bit, it was really odd.

2) Got something sent from my mama

1) An investigator unexpectedly came to church and cried the whole sacrament meeting. She felt the spirit so strongly, but she just needs to accept that is what it was.

Sister Emi Doncheva

 First Day Together

 Service

 Sweet Reunion at IKEA

 She Hiding

 Thank you Bishop's family!!!

Emi's Twenty-Second Email! July 13th, 2015

The weeks continue to blur by. 

We are going to Costco today thanks to my lovely ma for sending over my card. Beyond excited. We had Zone Meeting which I had for the first time out of the Manchester Zone (currently in Ashton Zone and the top half of the mission even though it is only minutes away from Hyde haha), and it was good. We have a very ethnic zone with missionaries from all over the world. You might be surprised at how well we get along considering the diversity but the Gospel is all you really need in common. 

Our mission is introducing street displays so we tried that this week. It didn't go according to planned, but I'm sure it'll be a good thing for the work. 

Sister Allen and I did calorific deficit for 2 days. Basically you're not suppose to eat for two days so that your body just lives off your fat and burns it, but don't worry, we still had vegetables and stuff so it wasn't too bad. Sister Allen lost 6 pounds! But then ate 3 donuts for breakfast so we'll see how long it lasts. I don't think anything happened to me...hopefully I will be blessed and lose my double chin by the end of the mission. We even made a song to motivate us. (To the tune of "Fergalicious") "Calorific deficit makes my tummy grumble. Calorific def, calorific def eat that red tomato...etc". Good times.

Sister Allen also cut my hair this week. I think I'll wait next time for someone more experienced (or just wait to be reunited with Sister Black) to cut it. But you know, it's hair, it'll grow back haha!

Not gonna lie, this mission is the most odd (oddest?) thing ever! However, if it weren't for my lovely friends and family, I would not want to go back home, I love being here. Heavenly Father can shape us all and it is such a privilege to try and help others understand the role He plays, and can more so play, in our lives. I am grateful to try and serve Him more and more each day and that he can help me better serve His children as I improve to be more like Him. It leaves me dumbfounded. I am grateful to know He is real and that He lives today with His son Jesus Christ. They are there for all of us.

Top 10

10) Playing knockout, a seminary favourite pastime 

9) Sport night

8) Found an American food store that a member owns so we get discounts!

7) Going to Costco! Hello more American products!

6) Cooking (this week some peanut butter chunks, more peanut butter ice cream, grilled PB&Js-I love George Foremans, and veggie stir fry) 

5) Had some weekly miracles

4) Zone Meeting

3) Church

2) Calorific Def

1) Tea at the Sails, Hashless and Seals.

1) Finally finished all of "Preach My Gospel" for the first time!!! Time to start round two.

1) Cali Rich is going to be a big sister!!!!

Can someone please look up if there are any Bulgarian communities within my mission?

Sister Emi Doncheva

Transfer Meeting

Emi's Favorite Treats

Hello everyone!

I have had a lot of people ask me recently what kind of snacks Emi likes so they can send her a package. I figured I would just make a list here of her favorite treats! Thank you all so much for your love and support to Emi!

Snyders Pretzels
Goldfish
Trident White Gum
Icebreaker Gum
BBQ Fritos
Mike and Ike's
Air Heads
M&M Peanut Butter and Pretzel
Life Savers
Sour Patch Kids
Reeces
Chex Mix
Skittles
Starburst
Cheeetos spicy con limon
Snickers Peanut Butter
Nerds
Funions
Jelly Beans
Lays Chips
Oreos

Hope this helps!

Emi's Twenty-First Email! July 6th, 2015

Sorry, my emails have been so lame recently, this week probably won't be any better haha sorry. I hope everyone had a fantastic 4th in our beautiful country.

Oldham has been amazing. They say Oldham is "Goldam" or something like that, no it's totally true, but I know we can push the work forward. I'm just not 100% sure how yet, but I'll keep it updated haha. We'll pray for some inspiration.

There are many miracles everyday, but also just as many fall-throughs. Maybe it's my impatience, but seeing progress in people is very slow and I just want/expect the Gospel to change them immediately as it has for me and Peace, at least the main points, but we just have to trust the Lord. It's also mixed with the desire not to waste precious time with certain people, but we have to give them all a chance.

I'm grateful for this time to fully trust the Lord and strengthen my testimony of Him. I'm grateful for Oldham, I'm grateful for this mission, and for all my wonderful companions.

Sister Doncheva

Top 10

1) God bless America

🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇬🇧🇬🇧

2) Bishop Ashworth and his family

3) Ashworth family threw a 4th mini party for us Americans, so kind! I made chilli, corn bread, ice cream, cake, grilled cheese, and strawberry drink.

4) Members in Oldham! They are so solid and every member that has fed us so far has had real fruit and veggies.

5) Place called Indian Head

6) Sun and heat

7) Letters from Dennis, Amber, Jessica, and Kari!! Thank you so much!

8) Wild cherries

9) Sister Allen-she really deserves #1, but yeah. She's hilarious and makes work more fun meaning we can work even more

10) Plus she thinks I'm like a mermaid

Watches on watches

Museums

goodbye meal!

Sequence shots of the present the boys got me!

Bye to the Lees...

A goodbye gift from Peace and the elders