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

Emi's Twentieth Email! June 29th, 2015

Weird, weird, weird. That's all I can say to describe this week. Don't worry though, good weird. It is so odd to think I was in beautiful Hyde not even a mere week ago. So involved in a life there with people I love and care for and then you go on! What is especially peculiar is how comforted you can be with these changes. 

I already have so much love for Oldham, it's members, and my new companion- Sister Allen. She's pretty mellow, but also really random and funny. I'll keep her. Another aspect with this ever expanding heart of mine is the special place I have for bishops. Bishop Roberts, I could go on about forever, he is amazing. And then I meet Bishop Holt, also totally amazing, but in a different manner. Now I've got Bishop Ashworth who is amazing in a totally different regard. They are all so totally amazing! Haha. And admirable. I really look up to these priesthood holders.

It's going to be sad missing two 4th of July celebrations, in England of all places haha. But our bishop is having U.S. missionaries come to the chapel this Saturday. I'm gonna make chilli, corn bread, and ice cream. No bbq, but it'll do, no fireworks but it's ok.

Our flat isn't comparable to any of my old ones, but I have enjoyed cleaning it.

I seriously haven't been happier. There are going to be soooo many miracles! I'm grateful for this time to grow and the challenges with blessings that lay up ahead. I am beyond excited to work with the people in Oldham and for the support I can fully rely on Christ to accomplish great works with.

3 Nephi 18:21

Oh, accidentally ate some coffee cake.

Good week!

Love,

Sister Doncheva

Also, huge huge huge congrats to Christie and Daniel for having little baby Jack!!!

Emi's Nineteenth Email! June 22nd, 2015

So I am officially leaving Hyde. I keep thinking "come what may and love it," but I have really, really come to love this area. I'm only going to Oldham, which is Northish of Piccadilly (Manchester), but it's a different zone and actually is considered as being part of the top half of the mission. And, that is where my MTC companion has been serving up till now. I am going to miss this ward, but there will be people to love in Oldham.

I love Sisters Warren and Black and I will love Sister Allen. 

I have finally figured out why the double chin exists. British people don't eat much fruit or vegetables. I love the meals people provide us, but if they have veggies, they're boiled to no nutrients and if there is fruit, it's from a can. Totally cracked the code. Looks like my comps and I got some health shopping to do. Only took this long to put it together.

It's been getting dark at about 10:30 and light again at around 4 which has been fantastic, but since the summer solstice has now passed, the days are officially starting to shorten....which means winter is approaching. Not excited.

Hope Hannah Andrews had a good birthday and that Kerry Hammock enjoyed Flag Day!

Change is different but good. I am excited. 

Top 10

10) Piccadilly Museums with our recent convert playing tour guide. Apparently, we saw the first computer, I totally missed it.

9) Peace fulfilling his calling in Young Men as a counselor.

8) Making yummy ice cream. Vanilla, Daim, Biscoff spread, peanut butter, and cookie dough. I have to make this for everyone back home. Even Bishop approved.

7) Ward Family Fun Day (and the scones a member made for it, beyond delicious).

6) Visiting the Lees with Brother Jitterbug and Granny. 

5) Bishop Holt

4) Seeing Dolly/Dolly in general

3) Hyde ward

2) Hyde members

1) Hyde area

Sister Doncheva