This last week has been spent saying good-bye to everyone, even to some in Engels (Энгельс). You see, we had our big, two-day conference in Энгельс. On Thursday, we went to Энгельс on a bus, that was awful, even though it was only for an hour, I got sick to my stomach.
I've been having problems with motion sickness lately. Usually trains are fine and so are taxis, but buses and gazelles kill me. But, that's a different story. When we arrived, we played soccer (but first we took pictures at the Saratov (Саратов) sign. While we were waiting, one of the Elders from our zone, Elder Page, 
was acting a little weird - see picture) and later that evening went to the church in Энгельс for our Christmas dinner. We had pancakes and real maple syrup and eggs. It was good, except I think they put too much soda into the pancakes. I couldn't finish mine, but then again, they were cold by the time I got to them. That is only because we were in Энгельс and since they didn't cancel English, many people who I know came in. It was great to see them and they were really happy to see me, too.
A couple of them are not members who came regularly to English while I served in Энгельс. They said it was good to see me one last time, and were hopeful that I was coming back, but they were a little sad to find out that I am really leaving all together. But, what can you do? It was still good to see them. Also, one less active girl came in who I was not able to see before I left Энгельс. You should have seen the look on her face! She was so surprised to see me! She took my email address and gave me hers and made me promise to write her. Then, the active girl that always helped us with missionary work showed up, too. She was happy to see me but was upset when she found out that she wouldn't be able to come to the train station to see me off because President was coming to get me in Маркс. (That's because Sister Дэлгэрцэцэг (Delgertsetseg) will be staying with a member here in Маркс called a mini-missionary, and I can't go to Samara (Самара) by myself). But, it was good to see her. After dinner we had a White Elephant gift exchange. I don't really like White Elephants because there are always a few people who don't understand and literally bring trash. That's no fun. I like it when you get something that you could use, but would never want to get as a gift, like a toilet brush or something like that. Its useful, but you would never ask someone to get you one for Christmas. But, there are many who don't understand that and that makes it not fun to play. Anyway, we had 42 missionaries there. I was number 17 to pick a gift. No one stole anything, they just opened new presents, and so I was wondering what I should do. I didn't want to add anything to my luggage, so I slowly walked up there thinking that I could take the smallest present. Then, in front of one of the Elders, I noticed a candy bar. I thought, that is something I can use up before I go, so I reached over, said, thank you, and took it. 
(If you look in the background, you will see Elder Wade who was so surprised when I took his candy bar). Everyone started laughing and cheering, but that Elder was really surprised and said, Sister Атвуд, you can't do that! But I walked away. It was pretty funny. After that, more people started stealing presents, but before me, no one did.
(If you look in the background, you will see Elder Wade who was so surprised when I took his candy bar). Everyone started laughing and cheering, but that Elder was really surprised and said, Sister Атвуд, you can't do that! But I walked away. It was pretty funny. After that, more people started stealing presents, but before me, no one did. After that, we took little gifts, split up into little groups, took hymnals, and headed out to go see less active members in Энгельс. Because I knew the area, I was a group leader. We went to see one less active lady that we worked a lot with. 
When we arrived, her boyfriend answered the door, but we started singing anyway. (This picture is a reenactment of our caroling. From left to right: Sisters Дэлгэрцэцэг, Wheeler, Wrathal, and me). I guess he went to where she was and said, Атвуд came. She came to the door and was really happy to see me. We finished the song and then I asked if we could come in. She let us in and I shared a spiritual thought. One of the Elders with us had wanted to share the spiritual thought, but I remembered how she only listens to me (literally, she never listened to my companion when we would teach her, only to me) and so I said that it would probably be better if I gave the thought. He agreed. During the lesson, his companion tried to add something, and just as I thought, she interrupted him and didn't listen. I don't know why she does that, but I felt bad for him. Then, we gave her the gift and left. She told me as we were leaving that she called me a couple times (I already knew that. She really called me 6 times in one day and the other day was 5 or something like that, but I didn't answer because I knew that if I did she would always call me and we're not allowed to talk to members in cities where we are no longer serving) but that I didn't answer. She said that she was feeling bad and didn't have anyone to talk to. But, I told her that she can write me now and I will be waiting for a letter from her.
When we arrived, her boyfriend answered the door, but we started singing anyway. (This picture is a reenactment of our caroling. From left to right: Sisters Дэлгэрцэцэг, Wheeler, Wrathal, and me). I guess he went to where she was and said, Атвуд came. She came to the door and was really happy to see me. We finished the song and then I asked if we could come in. She let us in and I shared a spiritual thought. One of the Elders with us had wanted to share the spiritual thought, but I remembered how she only listens to me (literally, she never listened to my companion when we would teach her, only to me) and so I said that it would probably be better if I gave the thought. He agreed. During the lesson, his companion tried to add something, and just as I thought, she interrupted him and didn't listen. I don't know why she does that, but I felt bad for him. Then, we gave her the gift and left. She told me as we were leaving that she called me a couple times (I already knew that. She really called me 6 times in one day and the other day was 5 or something like that, but I didn't answer because I knew that if I did she would always call me and we're not allowed to talk to members in cities where we are no longer serving) but that I didn't answer. She said that she was feeling bad and didn't have anyone to talk to. But, I told her that she can write me now and I will be waiting for a letter from her. Then we left. The next day was our conference. It was a good conference. We ended with a testimony meeting like usual. I thought, I should bear my testimony one last time. I got up and said, Elders and Sister, and I couldn't say anything else. I was just overwhelmed and the tears came. It was awful. I managed to get 
a few sentences out (I speak really bad Russian when I am crying) and then I sat down. The tears kept flowing for the next 20 minutes. I didn't like that at all. [Since my last conference was a half mission conference for Christmas, President dressed up in a Santa's hat to announce our presents].
Afterwards, I had my last conference interview with President. That was weird because we didn't talk about the work like we usually do. We talked a lot about my companion and whether or not I think she is ready for the responsibility of being senior companion. I told him that she can do it even though she is a little scared.
(Conferences are always a time for pictures. To the right is a picture of all the sisters from my last conference. Left to right: Sisters Дэлгэрцэцэг, me, Anaya, Kuligowski, Wheeler, Rathal).
a few sentences out (I speak really bad Russian when I am crying) and then I sat down. The tears kept flowing for the next 20 minutes. I didn't like that at all. [Since my last conference was a half mission conference for Christmas, President dressed up in a Santa's hat to announce our presents].Afterwards, I had my last conference interview with President. That was weird because we didn't talk about the work like we usually do. We talked a lot about my companion and whether or not I think she is ready for the responsibility of being senior companion. I told him that she can do it even though she is a little scared.
(Conferences are always a time for pictures. To the right is a picture of all the sisters from my last conference. Left to right: Sisters Дэлгэрцэцэг, me, Anaya, Kuligowski, Wheeler, Rathal).
After a while, we came back to Маркс on a taxi. Our taxi driver was an interesting man. We talked about religion the entire time. We also found out that he doesn't trust America and will never forgive us for what we did to the American Indians. I thought that was funny because my ancestors are American Indians and the American Indians themselves seem to have forgiven America, but he can't. Oh well, he was an interesting man.
Yesterday, my last Sunday was also really weird. I was supposed to teach the lesson in Relief Society, but the branch president wanted to show a new movie that we got during conference called By Small and Simple Means. It is supposed to help motivate members to do missionary work. But, when the movie was over, we still had 10 minutes and they asked me to say something. So, I got up and bore my testimony. I have literally been in Маркс for one month, and I am already leaving. That is so weird to me and the members all told me that it isn't fair that I was here for so little time. I had to agree with that, but I guess that Lord's will was that I should be here for that short of time. 
I hope that we have accomplished during this time what He wanted me to accomplish.
(For my last night in Маркс, one of the members, Лена [Lena], invited us to her apartment for dinner. The picture to the left is from that night. Seated clockwise: Света [Sveta], Elder Brinkerhof, Elder Стручков [Struchkov], Лена, Сестра Дэлгэрцэцэг, me, and Женя [Zhenya]).
I hope that we have accomplished during this time what He wanted me to accomplish.(For my last night in Маркс, one of the members, Лена [Lena], invited us to her apartment for dinner. The picture to the left is from that night. Seated clockwise: Света [Sveta], Elder Brinkerhof, Elder Стручков [Struchkov], Лена, Сестра Дэлгэрцэцэг, me, and Женя [Zhenya]).
Now, I am just waiting to head out to Самара. I think the next few days will be really weird and will go by too quickly. Before I know it, I will be back in Bismarck. I can't even imagine what that will be like to see you all and everything. I don't really want to. Its so hard to figure out how I feel about this, though people keep asking me about that. Its amazing how people can come to love you and you can come to love people in only one month. One lady told me, its too bad that you are leaving, you're such a good sister and my spirit is lighter after talking with you. Others have made me promise to write them. One girl who doesn't even really know me was on the verge of tears when I talked to her. It is all so weird. I think I've come to the right conclusion. They love me because I am a missionary and I love them because I am a missionary. That connection doesn't take time, it can take a 30 minute lesson in their home, or a 5 minute talk at church, but all the same, that connection is there. I think it will end up being a lot harder to leave than I can even imagine.
Well, my time is running out and we should probably head back to our apartment just in case President comes early. But in the end I just wanted to say, thanks to everyone who wrote me this week, mom, dad, grandpa, Lizzy, Sara. Thanks to all who have thought about me while I've been away, thanks for your prayers, thanks for your support, and most of all thanks for your love. I don't know if I would have made it with out you. I will see you in a few days.
Well, my time is running out and we should probably head back to our apartment just in case President comes early. But in the end I just wanted to say, thanks to everyone who wrote me this week, mom, dad, grandpa, Lizzy, Sara. Thanks to all who have thought about me while I've been away, thanks for your prayers, thanks for your support, and most of all thanks for your love. I don't know if I would have made it with out you. I will see you in a few days.
Love,
Сестра (I'm still Sister for awhile) Атвуд
The picture at the right was taken just before President Давыдик arrived at our apartment in Маркс. This was the last time I saw my dear Sister Дэлгэрцэцэг.
The picture at the right was taken just before President Давыдик arrived at our apartment in Маркс. This was the last time I saw my dear Sister Дэлгэрцэцэг.
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