Emi's Twenty-Sixth Email! August 10, 2015

"What we believe, what we say, and what we do should all be the same thing. This is the definition of integrity." 

-Richard G Maynes 

I still never know what to say and I'm a horrible story teller/writer with loads of sentence fragments so... sorry. 

Uh we just always stay busy and try to do our best.

It rained some and is currently doing so now.

An old lady we met this week, Eileen, Sister Allen complimented her jacket in passing and Eileen made a snide comment in return. Sister Allen just kept being nice to her and somehow set a return appointment that same day. We've seen her pretty much everyday since and she came to church and wants to be baptized! She now views us as some of her new daughters. Very tender and such a quick turn around with the power of the gospel.

Bishop had a nice talk with us this week about our purpose beyond our missionary purpose. It was kind of confusing, but he is very wise, very wise.

I also realized there are a lot of things I'm going to commit myself to do once I'm home, but I have to start putting them into play while still here.

Oh, the whole eating healthy thing, hasn't really happened, but there is hope for a new week! After I eat my Reeses Krispy Kreme Donuts.

Top 10

1) Just doing the work and being a missionary. That is why every week flies and I can't remember anything.

2) Teaching pretty much all old ladies haha.

3) Still obsessed with the members of this ward even if it's not always reciprocal haha but that's the beauty of being a missionary in a ward. You get to observe these saints in action and just do our best to strengthen and uplift in anyway we can and hopefully add some valuable assets along the way.

4) A lot of solid lessons with investigators. One of them didn't go super well on our part and the lovely man dropped us...but, we were able to learn from it and we now have a new investigator that is going to take all the loving patience we've got.

5) Seeing Sister Black before she goes to Whales!

6) Bishop's family supplied me with a jump rope.

7) I've been reading a talk a day outside of scripture study and that has been very nice. The talks are all so amazing and you can learn so personably from each one. Read them. I especially like and relate to "Beware of Pride" by Ezra Taft Benson. 

8) One sunny warm day this week, that brings it up to five days since February!

9) Making ice cream is fun.

10) Attempting family history нот гъд in Bulgarian, not easy.

Sister Emi Doncheva

 Scandinavian Elders

 Crib

 Photo taking at mission tour

 MC after mission tour with the Scans again

 Haunted house

 In action (that's me, thanks Sister Allen)

 Typical British man, not the view of typical Britain

 Holland's tree

 River Ribble? Where they raced to be baptised first

 Sister A

 Friends

 3 Sisters, can you spot them all?

 More sequence shots

The Elders names so I don't forget one day. In the McDonalds photo, Elder Bennet from UT, Launer from Switzerland, and Haltersltom from Sweden. The other two from my MTC group- Elder O'Gram from New Zealand and Elder Honorio from Brasil.

Emi's Twenty-Fifth Email! August 3, 2015

"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." -

"How merciful when our yesterdays no longer hold our tomorrow's hostage"

Neil A Maxwell 

"Humility is not thinking less of yourself, but thinking of yourself less"

CS Lewis

"Great faith has a short shelf life." 

Henry B Eyring

I love those quotes. Perfection in the gospel even when we don't understand everything all the time, repentance/forgiveness, charity, and constantly nourishing in the gospel through the simple scripture reading and prayer.

Happy birthday Joe!!

-One member we visit, she calls the Book of Mormon the Book of Norman. This week, she called me Sister DaVinci and guessed I was 30 years old haha.

-It was a good week, this transfer has been the fastest 6 weeks of my life.

-Rained some, saw a few of the amazing members, many opportunities with people up ahead.

Top 10

1) Staying in Oldham with Sister Allen!!!!! If things continue to go according to plan, I'll be here till January 20th.

2) Hiking Dovestone and Indian's Head. The world is so amazing.

3) We live too close to a cake factory that sells quality cakes with minor defects for way too cheap. 5 huge Swiss rolls for a pound! Delicious.

4) The Lees are going home, I love them so much. I have learned so much from them and will love them forever

5) Elder Williams is going home this transfer, I'm grateful for his service and example in returning with honour and serving as his best self.

6) A lady we met with came to church and believes this is for her, new hope. Sister Allen hasn't had a baptism her whole mission. She could be the one.

7) We can always trust the blessings the Lord promises us when we are obedient

8) Seeing Sister Black and Miller

9) Fireside! Always so different and special

Sister Emi Doncheva

 She is so thoughtful

Beyonce Eggplants

 Elder on year mark tradition?

 Body of water 

 Costco Round 2

 Picadil Art Museum. Sister Allen Baisden and Warren.

 Some building in Picadil

Service for Sister Bwah

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