So, yeah, another week has come and gone and now I have only a day and a half left in good old Тольятти (Togliatti). (Right - after sports day. We played soccer every Saturday for the entire 7 months I was in Тольятти, even when it was really cold outside. It was always a lot fo fun) I have to admit that starting to say good-bye to everyone is really hard. I do love the people here, even though I still am glad to leave. It looks like I am going to Пенза (Penza) now, so that will be exciting. Sister Саргсян (Sargsyan) told me that she thinks my new companion needs me and that is why I got transfered away from her. Maybe that is true, I don't know. All I know is that one of the Elders told me that he doesn't think he came on a mission to
baptize someone, but for a different work, part of that was to help a few of his companions. One of his companions was not exactly the most obedient missionary and always had problems with his companions. (Left - baptism in New City! This was really exciting because his wife and sons were already members, but he put it off for a year) But, at the end of their short time together, that Elder thanked him and
said that he was his favorite companion. Later he wrote a letter to the president to apologize for his behavior. I also know that another Elder says that this Elder saved his mission. That's comforting to me because that is how I feel about why I'm here. Of course, baptisms are good and I am happy when people choose to be baptized, especially when I really care about them, but I don't think that is my main mission.
(Right - One of the last meetings with our Лида (Lida) and her roommate Яна (Yana). Лида, Sister Саргсян, Яна, and me) So, I kind of came to this conclusion after the Elders told us about a new girl that we can start working with and they said they think she is golden. have the chance to accept the gospel. That is true, I started thinking, why does a golden investigator have to come just when I am leaving? I started feeling a little jealous and then I realized how dumb that was because it doesn't really matter who teaches them as long as theythis is not my work, it is the Lord's.
This last week didn't bring a whole lot because Sister Саргсян ended up being sick several days. We spent a lot of time in our apartment and I went crazy trying to find things to occupy myself with. (Left - this is an active family that we regularly visited. Галина (Galina) the best friend, Валерия (Valeriya) the daughter, me, and Татьяна (Tatyana) the hostess. She fed us Ши (Shi), which is a very good cabbage soup) I found a lot of stuff that I want to send home because I don't need it, so the package that started off not so big has become really huge. I was afraid that it was going to be really expensive, but I don't even care because it will be nicer than having to lug all that stuff around with me to Пенза and to other cities where I may serve.
Let's see. I've started saying good-bye to everyone. When I spoke during Relief Society on Sunday, several women started crying. It is interesting to me because they love me and I'm not even sure why. (Right - me and one of my Armenian бабушки (babushki). She sold seeds on this corner and we went to tell her that I was leaving) We have been working with one girl who got baptized a month or so after I
got here who then moved to a dorm to start school and immediately became inactive. She is becoming really strong now, and I am sure that everything will be ok. She even bought a skirt to wear to church! I was so excited. Unfortunately, the first time she will wear it will be this coming Sunday when I will already be gone, so she promised to send me a picture so I can see how it looks on her. I have a notebook where I ask people to write and she wrote in there that I have become the sister she has never had. Others have hugged me and told me how much they are going to miss me and how grateful they are that I served here. I want to see these people for the rest of my life (even though I don't want to live in Russia my whole life) and I hope that someday I will be able to come back to see everyone.
(Left - Татьяна and I after our last meeting with her. She is new member that we worked with) Лида (Lida) also wrote that wherever I am, I should know that there are people in Тольятти who love me, are waiting for me, and believe that we will meet again. When I look at the whole picture, I have really spent only a little time here, and yet these people have a big place in my heart. Another lady who was baptized a year ago and with whom we meet once a week, is waiting to see me tonight. The funny thing is, last week we met with her on Monday and Wednesday, she saw me on Saturday, Sunday, and on Monday she showed up at another appointment we had (it was with her best friend and I'm sure she was invited) and I am pretty sure that she would have loved to see us yesterday if she could have. She made sure several times that we were still going to come today and when we mentioned that someone else had invited us to come see them Wednesday, she got a startled look on her face. (Above - we stopped by the Adult Institute class to say goodbye. Агнесса (Agnessa), me, Вера (Vyera), Татьяна, and Валентина (Valentina) on the edge of the couch) She was relieved to hear that we had turned them down. I honestly don't know what I have done to deserve their love, but I am grateful for it. I am also grateful to leave now before I get too tired of being here.
Another lady, inactive member, wanted to call President to tell him that he can't take me away. Then when it was time to leave, she asked if we were coming again this week. (Left - me and Галина (Galina) after our final weekly meeting) When I told her I didn't know, she wouldn't let me go. She hugged me, held on to me and said that she wouldn't let me leave, that I would stay with her and become her fourth daughter.
One of our Armenian guys who works in our store offered to call President, too. When we told him that wouldn't make a difference, he was really sad. I can't even understand what the people here are feeling, I don't know what kind of impact I have had that makes them want to keep me here, but I am glad to know that I have done something.
Well, I guess I should wrap up. Next week I will be writing from a different city, far away from the one where I am now. And, hopefully my package to you will be on its way.

Love,
Сестра Атвуд