Emi's Thirty-Seventh Email! October 26, 2015

Sister Barbaro is leaving after being here one transfer, I'm going to really really miss her. We got to be good friends and work hard together. She is sooo Italian, I love her little mannerisms (Moving her eye brows up and down really quickly when something was up, saying "bop" when she didn't know something, "Buena not", putting her hands together and shaking them when she was adamant about getting her point a cross, her blatantly, the cooking, kissing me and everyone all the time-appropriately, plus they do it here anyway, and speaking really fast in Italian).

Chances are I'm going to leave here right before Christmas and my birthday to the next town over, in between here and Hyde-typical. I still struggle to understand why I'm in England in the first place but all you can do is have a positive attitude. Often sisters only move when the hanchos think they are causing trouble so they must think I'm doing ok if I've only moved a total of 5 miles in 9 months.

Anyway, We had zone meeting which we brought the 30 pounds of flap jacks to.

We worked. I was sick. We visited the Italian lady again and I accidentally fell asleep, don't think my presence was missed much amidst all the Italian speaking anyway. Plus I was essentially on my deathbed so it was probably for the better.

Bishop's son Fesoj leaves tomorrow, his family is trying very hard to be strong for him but they just have too much love, at least I'll be here to support them? Haha. He'll be in Provo til Christmas, so say hi to him please!

Here's a poem I just made up:

Clocks changed, winter coming. 

Winter. 

Worst season ever. 

Rain and sleet and cold.

Worst combination ever. 

Winter.

Not even the holidays can compensate for your damp, dark and dreary days.

Why must I lose all feeling in my metacarpals and 'tarsals?

5 hours of sunlight because it's

Winter

I don't actually do poetry, but you get the gist.

Come what may and love it!!! Haha. I know it probably sounds like I'm being my typical brat self, but I know I'm doing EVERYTHING I am suppose to be doing. Heavenly Father is blessing me, I know he will yet bless me even more and that some blessings won't come in this life and I have to be ok with that because I love and trust Him. The logic of man must be pushed aside and simply choose to have faith. So I'm going to do that.

Hm, I feel much better now. Here you go, I love this one:

"The disciple will be puzzled at times too, but he persists. Later he rejoices over how wonderfully things fit together. Realising only then that with God, things never were apart." -Neil A Maxwell

I'm getting Sister Beard, new learning experiences to come in the future with her. She is from Missouri and went to BYU! Good news! Sister Baisden is coming really close by! So excited, hopefully we will go on exchanges! We have to.

Sister Emi Doncheva

Emi's Thirty-Sixth Email! October 19, 2015

We had a sisters thing last week, it wasn't as I anticipated it would be, but it was nice to see the friends. 

Uh we had street displays, I made more cookies (this time a peanut butter and jelly biscuit type thing) and some soup for the district. 

I finally learned "Sweet Hour of Prayer" on the piano but it's a lot harder to play when people are singing haha, and I can't learn anymore songs because I don't know what the other fancy symbols mean. 

We met with an Italian lady who made us pizza, yum. Sister Barbaro was just going off. 

We did a lot of service this week which is always a pleasure, a joy beyond measure. Gardening, decorations, painting and cleaning. The works. 

A member got married this week. She is a month older than me...very happy for the new couple. 

We have someone new dated for baptism, so we will see how that goes. He is very enthused about the gospel.

Main highlight really was that I met some people that mama met in La Jolla two weeks ago, it was crazy. They are the nicest people too. They own a bread company and hooked it up with some of the nicest bread-yum. But they also made me realize they don't have sourdough bread in England..They want us over sometime for tea which I'm super excited about. Not by chance this is exactly where they're from and they went to exactly where I'm from to have met my mama.

Well, I'm grateful for the testimony I've got and the opportunity I have to strengthen it each day as I share it with everyone even if they claim to have no time or are not interested. I know this church is true. I especially am grateful for The Book of Mormon. If I ever start to second guess anything that is beyond my own comprehension, I take a step back and think I know the Book of Mormon is true, that means everything else has to be as well. The beauty is when finally everything else just fits together eventually and makes you a happier and better person. I know it.

Please pray for my friends Sister Cristobal and Sister Miller. 

Top 10

1) The bread couple

2) Rob dated for baptism

3) Sister's thang

4) President set a challenge to re-read the BOM by the end of the year. I like challenges. You should do it too. Oh and it's good timing because I just finished reading it for the first time on my mission this week. The scriptures from President Braizer have been perfect.

5) Sister Barbaro helping me learn patience (counting to 10 before I do my normal flip out)

6) Service

7) Soup there it is

8) Learnt a song

9) Oldham Ward for life. I love Bishop's family

10) Italians

Happy birthday on Friday to Cole Castellanooooo

Sister Emi Doncheva

Emi's Thirty-Fifth Email! October 12, 2015

Goodness gracious me, where does the time go. 

This week was fantastic. Monday we went to the Trafford Centre (massive shopping mall we went to with Dolly in the past) with Shorna and a girl who was in my MTC group but served in Leeds and is also from this mission-the former Sister Riley (haha sorry, could've worded that to make more sense). We went to a TGI Fridays. Wow, Sister Barbaro can eat a lot haha. It's weird, they have a TGI Fridays and even a 5 Guys. They're both super expensive, but they're here! We got some last minute stuff before Shorna heads for her mission! 

Tuesday we had district meeting and got lost driving around Rochdale with the zone leaders. Our district consists of people from Brazil, South Africa, Italy, Russia, Zimbabwe and Uganda. Then we waitressed the youth for an activity.

Wednesday a tonne of (actually all) of our appointment fall through but we tried. We did meet up with sister Awire who was going to fellowship and made her a Mormon.org profile instead. And we went to a baptism of someone who needed to overcome an issue and finally did after a year and was baptised on her birthday!

Thursday we went to Bishop's and he helped us find a new flat to move to DTFW-out. It won't happen in my time, but still worth it.

Friday we helped someone paint haha. Then to our appointment that someone did come to, he asked us to be baptized halfway through our lesson! He's dated for next month. Pray for him.

Saturday we had another street display, not with the most success but we tried. Another old man kissed my hand and tried to warm it up under his jacket, kinda gross.

Sunday Shorna had a goodbye thing and then we went to the fireside. Sister Black made me the sweetest little scrapbook, it was hilarious.

So yup, we worked and another week went by. Sometimes I feel like the work doesn't progress and neither do I as a person, like at all. But I know Heavenly Father works on us bit by bit and he is also pushing the work forward. As long as I am doing everything I am suppose to, everything else is in His trusting hands.

Top 10

1) Sister Barbaro has spoken to like 10 Italians just since we've served together, it's pretty crazy. Buena note. For some reason I always understand her when she speaks Italian though, it's neat (see the 7th article of faith). Haha she also pointed out that I say "though" a lot whoops though.

2) Oh, I've made like 1000 cookies because people keep giving us eggs and butter haha

3) I've memorized probably 30 scriptures, so ten to go by Christmas

4) Shorna is going to be SUCH an amazing missionary, she's been a really good friend.

5) OH, MY TEETH ARE WHITE AGAIN!!!, I bought some probably sketch stuff from Tescos and I think it worked only because it was a stain, but who cares! They are white again, I can smile and not be ashamed, like seriously so happy

6) I've almost learned two songs on the piano now!

7) I love Oldham. I asked all my friends to write President suggesting that I train so that ideally I'll be here for two more transfers! Good thing Oldham is such a large area

8) Oh, Sister Barbaro and I agreed that in the winter we are occasionally going to use tanning beds. Not for our skin colour, but our sanity. I also want to buy a heat lamp.

So when it's finally sunny here, it's like there had never been a cloudy day in England. Now that my teeth are white again, it's almost like they were never yellow. I liken this to our trials. In the long picture they are for a small moment, our joy ends up exceeding our pain. I am striving to learn the lessons from these moments though so that when the winter comes or I lose a tooth or something, I have the reassurance that Heavenly Father and Christ can strengthen me through anything and that we will be able to endure all things (see the 13th article of faith). I am grateful that no matter how stubborn my will may be, I can always accept His.

Sister Emi Doncheva

Emi's Thirty-Fourth Email! October 5, 2015

Yeah sorry, here's just another culture update:

~ There seems to be a lack of bathrooms in buildings. A three or four bedroom home may only have one bathroom. Even public ones, very scarce.

~ Also a lack of water fountains anywhere, not that we drink tap anyway.

~ Lots and lots of different ethnicities. Especially Muslim, Romanian and Czech communities.

~ Dog fouling-dog dropping 

~ Armani and Michael Kors are a-must here. They even supply it at Costco haha.

~ People are constantly getting their cars washed, which I don't understand if it rains so often anyway.

~ Same thing with window cleaners

~ Pot noodle = cup noodle

~ Drew one-a-piece = tied one-to-one

~ Yankee....

~ Stripes on ties go to the left, not right (in point of view from the viewer)

~ Sorted = all good

A quote from Sister Allen: "Is returning with honour even a thing for sisters?" Haha yes (in my opinion at least).

Quote from Sister Barbaro after some men in front of a pub scared me: "Heavenly Father knows, they will be punished" her kettle was definitely whistling, she was not pleased at all haha.

I am so so grateful for this Gospel. It just makes you love everything and everyone. I may miss my friends and family sometimes but even though I haven't/ won't see them all in a while, my ability to love them all has increased tenfold. Everyone back home, you are so amazing and I am so grateful for you and love you.

Top 10

1) General Conference

2) Moses Creek with the Porridges

3) Lynn. Finally a solid new investigator-friend

4) Indian summer, it's been beautiful!! (Testing if you remember it from last week)

5) Exchanges with Sister Warren

6) Seals having us for conference

7) Zone meeting!

8) Ward mission leader and his family

9) New district. I'm the only American, that never happens.

10) Change of desires put in action/Learning. Especially patience- the hard way seems to be the only way on this one. I'll be what He wants me to be.

Sister Emi Doncheva

Emi's Thirty-Third Email! September 28, 2015

We worked a lot this week but to no true avail. It's ok we'll keep trying and keep improving. Not much to update on, so I figured it was high time for another culture update.

But first a little something : "Steadfast-resolutely or dutifully firm and unwavering" I need to be more consistent especially regardless of the weather.

Also, huge huge huge thank you to Heidi Hachtman for the really nice package. I hadn't realized so much had changed back home for her, but I'm DEFINITELY grateful for her and her family and the 7th ward family. SWOD. 

And thanks to everyone I got letters from this week, it's the best.

Mate- bro/homie

Pilar box- mailbox

Indian Summer- late summer

I'nt it- isn't it

Cars flash their lights a lot more often as a thank you (due to the denser roads)

Cars park on either side of the road facing either direction and halfway on curbs

Trainers- sneakers/tennis shoes

Full stop- period mark (Bishop and I had an intense conversation about this one)

Tablets- pills

Set tea- coach/sofa (don't get this one either) 

Bits- pulp

Trumped- tooted/letting one rip

For some reason laundry machines are always in the kitchen and you can typically have a washer dryer combo. 

Just to clarify, I have by no means picked up any accent nor will I haha.

Conference was already amazing, for the first time ever I was fully able to concentrate on the speakers and not zone out! Huge blessing, I really hope that is something that sticks forever, like I'm actually super grateful for that and can look forward to conference even more. I hope we can all be prepared for it and have some questions prayerfully in mind that conference will for sure answer.

We are just keeping on. I'm learning loads and Heavenly Father is really blessing me and I'm very grateful for that, even just in the small things. The power of everyone praying at 6 is kicking in and I know we will find someone who is prepared for the gospel soon. My heart is full in regards to serving in England. I love it.

Sister Emi Doncheva

P.S.- I love sister Barbaro, she's amazing, and this mission is the best, I'm going to really miss it the day it comes to an end.

Emi sent these pictures this week. Some are from the MTC and the others are a little older too. Enjoy!

 The baptism

 Throwback to the MTC, he spoke English but refused to actually speak it. I was trying to convince him.

One of my friends from the MTC in the field, by far the funniest picture I've ever seen. Notice his thug companion in the background.

 Yay!

 So happy!

 The beautiful Prearon temple

MTC gets to you.

Emi's Thirty-Second Email! September 21, 2015

So the new companion is from southern Italy ooo exotic. Her name is Sister Barbaro and she just got done being trained by the other Bulgarian sister in the mission haha. She seems super solid, but I'm a bit more precautions and apprehensive in my normal conduct because not only are we from different ends of the world, but she's 24 and literally is learning English (she told me the 8 years she studied English at school she copied people haha). I think that will force me to be more patient haha. But she is also the only member in her family and was baptized around the same time as me so there are some commonalities. Plus she's hilarious, easy going, super cleanly and nice, so it'll be all good. Also, she wants to switch around two entire rooms in the flat haha goodness. I love her already.

Sorry, this blog is more of a health and mental health blog than a missionary one but I think it's because I already write our days events in my journal in regards to missionary work so it feels a bit redundant in reporting. (By the way, my teeth got stained from ginger tea and last week I ran for 1:45 minutes around Dovestone).

We are in a bit of a lull right now in regards to the work which means a miracle must be coming.

2 Cor 5:7 For we walk by faith not by sight

Thanks to Bishop's family for having us for tea and sorry for getting flour everywhere

Top 10

1) Thanks Alicia for the package! Also thanks Kari for the fab package! I'm way too spoiled, thanks for all the love and support

2) Transfers

3) Visiting some members

4) Sister Barbaro is amazing, I have been so lucky with my companions

5) Hasn't rained aap tonne

6) We did a street display

7) New district

8) Working and learning 

9) Letter from Lillie Haggard !

10) Jess got a rad scoot! We will be riding in the future!

I'm very grateful for how this gospel shapes us to be more and be stronger and be happier. Serving is the best thing we can be doing and I can't wait to serve those I already know and love back home better. Until then I Will keep working my tail off and loving the people here the best way I can and that is first done by loving the Saviour as much as possible. I am grateful for Him.

Sister Emi Doncheva

Emi's Thirty-First Email! September 14, 2015

This week was such a blur. A lot of it had to deal with Sister Allen and a circular hard lump that was on her stomach. It had been there for over a year and only recently did it start hurting, so only until recently (this week) did she do something about it. I expressed how much earlier I would have made something like that known to a Dr. But it's all in the past now anyway I suppose. So we hustled and bustled about trying to sort everything with our health insurance, our appointments and her pain. Basically, if we didn't have appointment we stayed in. I was going bonkos and decided I wouldn't want to stay in England as a missionary without our clear cut purpose. We were still able to utilise the time, but it was weird. At least we got to go to our fancy private hospital and get free hot chocolate. Also I forced her to go to Bishop's one night so we spent time with his family and we made a massive batch of ice cream.

We also got to go to a baptism in Chorley (where the temple and MTC are) after our street display in Rochdale, so that was nice. It rained during the street display, but the Ashton Stake President saw us and bought us all Subway! We also got to say bye to an Elder returning home to Brasil this week. Oh and over dinner one elder bought a whole chicken and a huge slab of pork, it was hilarious. The baptism was another adventure because normally we take the train, but apparently it's not running on weekends so we took a coach, and therefore were late. It also meant we headed back a bit late too and were in DT Picadil on a Saturday night. But we caught all of our transport right on time and it wasn't even that scary. Heavenly Father was definitely watching over us sisters. 

Discrepancy between my fat and my yellow teeth situation. I'm not fat, just not where I was before the mission. My teeth also for some reason are going way down hill (yellow at the gums and transparent towards the tips-and it's not plaque). The reason why I said I didn't care was because I'm not letting it be a distraction. I finally learned a bit of patience (yay) and am in the process of sorting it all out but realize it will take more time than I'd like it to. Minor issues (hopefully). And my ear is still weird since the MTC.

Oh and the soon-to-be missionary Shorna took us to Pizza Hut and it was well nice. She is so solid.

Sad news, Sister Allen is leaving!! I love her so much. She's only going to Stockport, so not too far. If all goes well, I'll still be here til January

Can't remember what else but I'm very grateful to here and to be called to serve! I'm trying!

Happy birthday to Jessica !!!

Sister Emi Doncheva