Quit your bellyaching. Suck it up. Just do it. Stop whining. Put your shoulder to the wheel (if you're looking for a holy version). All these various phrases have been bouncing around in my head for the past several weeks.
Since the start of quarantine, it has been difficult to adjust to the new lifestyle and working schedule that is required of a normal volunteer (or missionary). The approach to working and teaching is completely different than it was before. Just when I was finally getting used to how to do the work and how to do it effectively, the normal lifestyle of a missionary I enjoyed flip-flopped and morphed into something I didn't know how to deal with. For the first week or so I just sat around the apartment all day unsure on what I shoukd and even could do. I was consistently getting emails from people who had to cut their mission short and had gone home, and I just kept wondering why I was still out here. It seemed there was nothing to do and no purpose for me being here if we couldn't do something as simple as ride on the bus or talk to our neighbors. I kind of just accepted the fate that we would probably get sent home as well and so might as well just not do anything.
But time went on and there was no moves to take us out of Russia. I was a little confused as to why we were allowed to stay here if we couldn't do any work. As I thought, studied, and prayed more about what my role and purpose was here, I still came to a dead end. I had no idea why I was still here. I felt like I didn't give up 18 months of my life to serve God's children just to spend 2(maybe more) months of it inside all day. Вообще, не понятно.
Then as time inside gradually grew on, and I realized this was going to be more of a long-term thing and I wasn't going to be getting sent home, I needed to find a solution. I still couldn't find a reason for being here. I figured it would be better to spend my quarantine at home than here with all the mission rules. I wanted to see all my friends who had returned home. Eat something besides our month supply of pasta and гречка. But one phrase just kind of started bouncing around in my head. "Suck it up." My parents said this, and various other phrases, to me a lot growing up (I needed to hear them a lot lol ;).
Once I realized I couldn't change anything about my situation and that I was still a full-time volunteer (missionary) who just needed to "quit my whining", I started seeing little miracles. New investigators, all making great progress despite the circumstances. Friends responded to more texts and did not ghost us (truly a miracle). Members called US and asked how WE were doing. Lessons became more spiritual. My Russian improved. My motivation and dedication to the work increased. I realized that this quarantine is not a 2-month stall on my mission, rather a 2-month accelerator to help further the work.
While of course there are still frustrations and mishaps in the work, it is no different than the regular frustrations and mishaps. But, I've been able to see better why I am still here and the miracles associated with accepting the will of the Lord and trusting that He has a plan. If we want to see miracles, be productive, and find a purpose, we need to work for it. It won't be handed to us. Just quit your bellyaching, and get to work.
Some of the "getting to work" we have done this week (since we aren't allowed to use social media in our mission, we have tried to find other ways to work)
•Lessons with Daria and Anya. We gave Daria the baptismal invitation. While she said she has to think about it, I know that she feels it is the right move to make. She just has to gain that witness for herself.
•Easter!!! We decorated easter eggs with the district. Send out inspirational thoughts and videos every day to our branch, friends, investigators, less actives, etc about Jesus and what he did for us.
•Calling the branch list. There are sooooooo many numbers on that thing. And soooooo many non-working numbers. Love it. We've had some pretty good conversations from our calls from there.
•So many lessons and just friendly conversations with the members.
•baking and cooking. Yummmmm
•reading, reading reading. Finished d and c, almost finished saints, jesus the christ, and the new testament.
•Yoga. every morning. All the sisters in my mission. Followed an hour later with a mission wide devotional. So good!!! Great start to the day. Also bedtime stories 2x week (look up Jack weyland's stories from the new era if you get the chance)
•institute. we attend 2-3 various institutes a week.
•come follow me lessons with the youth. While usually its only 1-2 youth who join in, we have a few lessons of the come follow me during the week.
•playing the violin, sending songs to members. My companion plays the guitars so sometimes we play duets together. Pretty fun
Next week, hopefully we can start teaching Russian sign language to some of the members and our friends (I started learning it a few months ago and has kind of been stalled since quarantine came)
It's hard to stay motivated and keep finding things to do and coming up with new ideas. But it is possible. Good weekly and daily planning, goals, and lots and lots of prayer for guidance is what has really helped me see a change in how I am now doing the work. I am so grateful for the opportunity to still be on my mission here in Russia.
This year, Easter is a week later in Russia. So we get to celebrate Easter twice. :))) I am so grateful for my Savior and his life he gave for me. He truly showed the way on how to follow the plan the Lord has set for us. While he struggled with much more than I can ever imagine, I do find comfort that he too asked for things to be different. Asking the Father to "let this cup pass." But his example of remembering that it is "not my will, but Thine be done." I know that because of that greatest, most holy sacrifice, I have the opportunity to be forgiven of my sins, make my weaknesses strong, and feel comfort in times of sorrow. I am so grateful for the call I have right now to bring that message of hope to other people as well. He is risen! He lives!
Сестра каммингз
Photos:
-our month (+) of food supply
-missionary easter egg
-lasagna
-making wok
-some huge bread/cupcake thing for easter here in russia
-our groceries we had ordered to our door (bless technology)
-king Benjamin made an appearance in one of our youth come follow me lesson this week
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