My companion made it! Three weeks and about six sisters later, Sister Hawley made it to Artyom, and with Sister Wilson (the one who was here in November, not the one from Ulan-Ude). Sister Wilson will be here until her visa trip in February. Sister Hawley is so great. She reminds me a lot of one of my high school friends. She has beautiful Russian and is great at doing missionary work. She's already a huge example to me, and we're going to have so much fun together. She's from Tooele, and she's the 2nd oldest of 4. She went to LDS business college before her mission. She also quotes movies. :) Sister Wilson has a good memory for those whom she already met when she was here in November. It's nice to have her help and to have her already have some knowledge of the city. Sister Wilson and Sister Hawley are both amazing at talking with people on the street. They are huge examples to me.
There was a less-active who came to church. We dropped by with a New Year's gift during the week and were able to see her. She's working like crazy, so when she showed up, it was a really pleasant surprise. We also invited a woman to come to church who's been an investigator in the past and loves the church, but we're not currently teaching her. I've never had the opportunity to have a lesson with her.
We had lots of good planning yesterday at branch council and at a meeting after church where we talked about an upcoming February party. The members that we've been able to work with are doing really, really well. It's easy to see, however, that they're exhausted. They work so hard! We really need some new blood, some new fire. We're still finding like crazy, but it's difficult to turn contacts into investigators.
I'm really happy with the work here. Even though it's hard, we're still pushing forward. I really can't express how wonderful Sister Hawley is. I love her so much and hope I can learn a lot from her. Even though I myself feel incapable of doing this work at times, miracles rain down from heaven.
Сестра Спрингер
The three of us in front of the branch building. I promise that we don't always look as awkward we do in these pictures.