I love you all and hope you have a Fantastic week.
And to all the fathers out there, Thanks for all that you do.
I love you Daddy, Thank you for always being there for me. Happy Fathers Day!
З Любовю
Сестра Граф
Monday, June 16, 2014
Rivne-- Week 1!-- June 16, 2014
Well I'm now in a new area and it is the wonderful city of Rivne, And I
must say I am Excited to be here! Although it is sad to leave Lovely
city of Luts'k. I think the other day it dawned on me how small some
missionaries' missions are. For example some are half a city while others
are half a country! So amazing how both big and small the world is at
the same time. However I know that there are people that we as
individuals can touch no matter where we are.If we are serving on a
mission, or in the nursery. Our Heavenly Father is placing those people
on our paths that we can touch in a unique and individual way. All we
need to do is take advantage of those opportunities. To lift others up
and fully partake of what the Lord has to offer.
Thursday, June 5, 2014
Ukraine Missionary Update
Note of update from Carly's dad on the situation in the L'viv Mission.
As of the first week of June, Ukraine has elected a new president-- Petro Poroshenko. And, although there is some widespread violence in Donetsk region of the country, other oblasts remain largely peaceful, including the Kiev and Dnepropetrovsk Missions.
Missionaries in the L'viv Mission continue to work, largely unaffected by the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. Carly is roughly 70 miles/100km from the Polish-Ukrainian border, and approximately 700 miles/ 1000km from Donetsk.
The Church and local leaders maintain constant vigilance over the situation in Ukraine. The Lord is hastening His work, not just in Eastern Europe, but throughout the world.
Carly is secure and happy in her service. She loves the people of Ukraine and is anxious to help them understand the doctrines of eternity-- and particularly of our Savior, Jesus Christ-- which can bring lasting happiness and peace. The culture of that beautiful country is rich in history and and faith and she is immeasurably grateful for the opportunity to enjoy such an experience as a missionary.
Any words of support which you can send her are received with excitement-- she loves to receive mail!
If you have any specific questions, please feel free to contact us.
Benjamin Graff
As of the first week of June, Ukraine has elected a new president-- Petro Poroshenko. And, although there is some widespread violence in Donetsk region of the country, other oblasts remain largely peaceful, including the Kiev and Dnepropetrovsk Missions.
Missionaries in the L'viv Mission continue to work, largely unaffected by the conflict in Eastern Ukraine. Carly is roughly 70 miles/100km from the Polish-Ukrainian border, and approximately 700 miles/ 1000km from Donetsk.
The Church and local leaders maintain constant vigilance over the situation in Ukraine. The Lord is hastening His work, not just in Eastern Europe, but throughout the world.
Carly is secure and happy in her service. She loves the people of Ukraine and is anxious to help them understand the doctrines of eternity-- and particularly of our Savior, Jesus Christ-- which can bring lasting happiness and peace. The culture of that beautiful country is rich in history and and faith and she is immeasurably grateful for the opportunity to enjoy such an experience as a missionary.
Any words of support which you can send her are received with excitement-- she loves to receive mail!
If you have any specific questions, please feel free to contact us.
Benjamin Graff
Luts'k- Week 11!-- June 2, 2014
Hi all!
Super Great week!
I'm
sure that most of you are farmiliar with the story in the First book of
Nephi about the Liahona For those of you that aren't Here's the
scripture.
"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the pointers... that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them." (1 Nephi 16:28)
Well, this past week, we discovered just how the "Liahonas" of our lives do actually work according to faith.
"And it came to pass that I, Nephi, beheld the pointers... that they did work according to the faith and diligence and heed which we did give unto them." (1 Nephi 16:28)
Well, this past week, we discovered just how the "Liahonas" of our lives do actually work according to faith.
I
was on exchanges this week one of the other sisters and I were going to
contact a referral. I had looked at the map the night before so that
we wouldn't get lost or anything, and then the next morning we went
about 10 minutes after we had left I realized that I had forgotten our
map but it was no big because I knew how to get there and I remembered
how to get there from the night before so we went. Long story short,
half an hour later we were really lost. And then we found a lady. And
she was elect. She asked US if we wanted her number and to meet. Her
name is Faith. When we came home, we looked on the map to see where we
had been. We were nowhere near where we thought. Which was strange
because I had remembered distinctly that the address was by the Kievsky
Mydon but apparently it wasn't so we were really puzzled. Apparently our
map works according to Faith. We had a great Liahona experience trying
to find her. Heavenly Father will get you where you need to be if you
are willing to go there.
And then I saw these poems in Sister Wind's Letter and felt like I had to include them. The
first poem is by William Ernest Henley, and the second is by Orson F.
Whitney, and as cool as the first poem is, the second one is so much
cooler. It's a rebuttal to the first one.
Invictus:
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the terror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds and shall find me unafraid.
It matters not how straight the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
I am the captain of my soul.
The Soul's Captain:
Art thou in truth?
Then what of Him who bought thee with His blood?
Who plunged into devouring seas
And snatched thee from the flood,
Who bore for all our fallen race
What none but him could bear.
That God who died that man might live
And endless glory share.
Of what avail thy vaunted strength
Apart from His vast might?
Pray that His light may pierce the gloom
That thou mayest see aright.
Men are as bubbles on the wave,
As leaves upon the tree,
Thou, captain of thy soul; Forsooth,
Who gave that place to thee?
Free will is thine - Free agency,
To wield for right or wrong;
But thou must answer unto Him
To whom all souls belong.
Bend to the dust that 'head unbowed'
Small part of life's great whole,
And see in Him, and Him alone,
The captain of thy soul.
Love you all.
Сестра Граф
Luts'k- Week 9!-- May 19, 2014
Hi everyone!
Hope
that your weeks were fantastic. This one is going to be shorter because
i want to add pictures and then Sister Tsimbal is going to teach me how
to make Borshch! YAY! I love you all and want you to know that I know
that this church is true, and that it is led by a living modern day
prophet. It was restored to us through the Prophet Joseph Smith and I
know that he through the power of God was able to Translate the Book of
Mormon. I have read it and know that it is true. And I would challenge
you all to read it again and find out for yourselves if it is true.
Love you all!
Сестра Граф
Pictures
Ukraine!
Cookies!
Baptism!
Cotton candy!
Luts'k- Week 8!-- May 12, 2014
So much has happened!
First
off HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!! I loved being able to Skype with you and it
feels like it was just yesterday that I last talked with you...but then
that's because it was! ha ha. Just think next time I talk with you it
will be Christmas and then in about 13 days I will be home! less than
two weeks! (I better stop counting or else I might tell you how many
milliseconds that would be;)
Then on Saturday we went to the baptism for the Elders investigator Diter! It was amazing! Even more so because he is from Germany! The Elders have been having Skype lessons with the Elders in Germany. Then for the baptism one of the Elders learned how to preform the Baptism in German. We the Sisters sang the first two verses of "O My Father" in German! (I must say in order to know how to pronounce it properly while we were singing I did a phonetic spelling in Ukrainian because that was easier to understand) And then on Sunday he was given the gift of the Holy Ghost from a member who came down from L'viv (because he knows German). After church we had a break the fast, because last Sunday we were all in L'viv, and everyone brought something and we made Borshch. It was so good! Then I got to Skype home and that was wonderful.
All in all a super
week! I can hardly wait to see what is in store for next week. I hope
you all have a great day. And again...HAPPY MOTHERS DAY!!!!
З Любов'ю
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PS. This Computer won't let me attach any pictures so you will have to wait till next week. Sorry :(
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Luts'k- Week 7- May 7, 2014 - With Pictures!
Hi everyone!
Sorry
that this one is comming out later. The reason that we wern't able to
email on Monday was because we had Mission Conference with President
Laurance, the east Europe area President, and then on Tuesday we had
Transfers! I am in a trio again, so great! At mission Conference we all
had a interview with President Laurence, and an open Q&A with his
wife. (Boy, does she know the Gospel!) We had an amazing time and there
is no way i could sum it up so I am just going to say that and put up
all of the pictures that I have been promising you.
З Любов'ю
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Pictures:
Time in L'viv
Luts'k- Week 6!- April 28, 2014
Христос
Воскрес! (Kristos Voskres!) That's what we said on the streets this
past week. Everyone says it to each other. You say, "Christ is
Resurrected!" Or without the exclamation point. Then you say back to the
person who said that to you,- "Воістину Воскрес-" (Voistinu Voskres)
Indeed, He is resurrected. Level of enthusiasm variable. We said it to
pretty much everyone we saw with a good deal of it. Also Best suprise of
the day, looking down and seeing frosting and sprinkles on the
sacrament bread. Yes. A childhood dream fulfilled by a couple of
patriotic high priests and paska, the traditional Easter cake of
Ukraine. So fun! Also this week we had so many amazing incounters from a
nice woman giving us a Paska to another leaving her home to help us
find an address so many tender mercies throughout each day. I love you
all. Also I found out that i am going to be staying in Luts'k with
Sister Henrichsen, and Sister Wind will be joining us in a trio! YAY!
Сестра Граф
Luts'k- Week 5!-- April 22, 2014
Hey all!
Super
quick I had hoped to be able to write more, but things were crazy and
I'll just have to tell you all about it next week. Easter was great and
right now we are running over to a lesson so I just wanted to tell you
all that I love you and hope that you can all share this wonderful
message that we have to share.
Lots of Love
Сестра Граф
Luts'k- Week 4-- April 14, 2014
Hi all
This week
was great and filled with service. Last Monday we went to meet a woman
that the elders had met so that we could possibly start teaching her,
She had mentioned that the road near where she lived was very dirty and
had lots of trash, so we and the elders went and picked up some of that
we didn't get a chance to meet her but hopefully she will have had a
brighter day. and then on Friday we helped an investigator that Sister
Wallace was working with in Хмельніцьки move in She is now going to live
here in Луцьк and we are excited to help her progress towards baptism.
Conference was great and I hope that you all had a wonderful time
watching it last week. I hope that you have a great Easter soon and
remember why we truly celebrate this day of days when Christ our Lord
triumphed over Death so that all of us may stand again with all of our
loved ones forever.
Сестра Граф
Luts'k- Week 3!-- April 7, 2014- With Pictures!
Such a fun Week!
This is going to be a quick one because we are going to do some service later today.
We
had our Mormon Helping hands activity on Saturday and it was super fun.
We went over to the zoo-park and picked up trash, but that was not all
that we found. In addition to old bottles, moss covered hats, and lots
and lots of plastic forks, we found frogs. Super Fun. Also I found out
one reason why we have companions. (Matt 7:4) "wilt thou say to thy (sister), Let me pull out the mote out of thine eye;" Sister Henrichsen
had dropped a bottle and a glass chip got in her eye...luckily I was
able to get it out and everything is all good. and we haven't seen any
beams in my eyes yet, but let me know. if you see any =D
I love you all so much and hope that you have a great week.
Сестра Граф
Pictures:
1. Mormon Helping Hands
2. ...
3. Who wants the hat?2. ...
4. Frogs
5. ...
6. ...
7. More Frogs5. ...
6. ...
Luts'k- Week 2! Plus Pictures-- March 31, 2014
Hey all
I'm
here in Луцьк (Luts'k) and things are great! We had a baptism in our
district last week and it was amazing! So great to finally see a convert
baptism on the Mission! Unfortunately the water was super cold despite
our efforts to warm it up with chiynicks multiple times. But despite the
cold he was able to do it and is now the newest member here in the
L'viv Ukraine Mission Luts'k branch! Yay! The crazy thing is that he is
only 13! (Roberts age) His mom was coming back into activity in Kyiv and
referred him to the Elders here. He invited a friend to his baptism and
he was able to give her a copy of the Book of Mormon on Sunday! We hope
to start teaching her soon.
I love you all and hope that you have a great week! Don't forget to tune into Conference this weekend! I won't get a chance to see it for a while, but I would love to know what your favorites were. So let me know!
З Любов'ю
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Pictures:
1. Random Funny
2. Sister Henrichsen and me
3. Baptism!! (We were busy trying to heat up the water and I didn't get a picture with him in his whites but this is after)Ivano-Frankivs'k- Week 12! March 17, 2014
Such a fun week!
I
found out on Saturday that I will be moving this Wednesday to Луцьк
(Luts'k) and I will be companions with Sister Henrichsen! Super exciting
to have all of these changes. Luts'k is in the North Western part of
Ukraine. I have heard that it is the oldest city in Ukraine and they
even have a castle there. =D It will be sad to leave Ivano and the
people that I have come to know and love here, but also exciting to meet
new people and forge the bonds of friendship with them as well. I look
forward to a great next Transfer.
I know that this
is the Lord's true Church once again restored on the earth through his
Prophet Joseph Smith. I know that the Book of Mormon is the Word of God
given to us so that we can come to better know who he is and his plan
for us. I know that he knows what we are going through and that he knows
each of us as individuals and has a plan for us. I know that as we
follow his teachings we will be able to find true happiness.
I love you all and hope that you have a great week! Till next week in Luts'k
З Любов'ю
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