Today was a miracle.

The title pretty much says it all. Today was a miracle. I woke up at 4:00 to finish my photo essay and study for arguably the two hardest exams of the semester. The miracle was that the morning went quickly, I finished my essay with time to study, and those things that I paid the most attention to were the things that I never would have gotten otherwise, and they were on the test. ЧУДО!!!!! Also, both of the exams I took today have their second half scheduled for Wednesday, but one of the teachers has decided to give us a take home exam for the second half, so that's one less thing to worry about, and I can get that done, and focus my studying powers on the stats test. Awesome. I'm definitely being looked after.

Keep Moving Forward

This next week...let's just say it will be a miracle if I finish with my head still on straight. I have so much to do.

Why, you may ask, if I have so much to do, am I blogging? It's a form of procrastination, and therefore a reward for getting something done. I have planned to subject of my photo essay and decided what pictures I need, now I just have to get out and take them. YAY!

Thanksgiving was fun, and I definitely needed the break, and now I'm hoping all of that brain power that I stored up over those few days will kick in and get me through the toughest week of the year. Then I'll be able to rest again and coast through finals week. I only have a couple written finals to take, so that will be nice. I think that it has always been the case for me that the last week of school is lots more stressful than finals week. Then, I get to go home for Christmas and enjoy time with family and friends for a few weeks. That'll be nice. Meagan and Stephen are even coming and we'll have the whole family together. What does that mean? Well, when you get us together, there has to be singing, and there will be! We're singing "Were You There?" in church. I get to play, and as I was practicing yesterday, I was pleased to discover that I pretty much still remember the song, and it won't be hard to polish it up.

So, that's my life at the moment. I'm just chugging through. What else can we do but keep moving?

Mission photos!

Click here to view this photo book larger

Photo books are the perfect gift for any occasion.

The End of a Great Chapter

Well, I suppose the theory of having updates from my mission kind of fell through. I'm home now! I can't believe the time went so fast. I served from 18 November, 2009 until 23 June, 2011. A little over 19 months. It just worked out that way because of visa laws, and I was happy to give a little more time.

The most common question I was asked upon returning home was, "So, how was your mission?" I really don't think that I could ever do that question justice. It was incredible. The best thing I have done in my life to this point. It was certainly the hardest thing I have ever done, and that's why I learned so much from it. It was, to steal this phrase from one of my branch mission leaders, "The best 2 years [or 19 months] for my life." I think about my mission every day. I miss it, but I know that there are other things for me to do now, better things, and that's exciting.

Here's an excerpt from my last letter home:

"Dear Family and Friends,

Hello from Moscow, for the final time! I absolutely cannot believe that I've been gone for 19 months! What a blessing this has been for me! I still can't believe that the Lord would and did use someone like me to do his work, and sometimes I feel bad that I probably got more out of my mission than a lot of the people I worked with. A week ago, I couldn't think about returning home. I avoided it at all costs, but true to form, the Lord has helped me to prepare for what's coming, but he saved it until the final moments. I guess you could say I'm ready to go, but I'll always miss this. I am really excited, though, that technology will allow me to keep track of people here.

This week has been a good one. We did some chalk drawing, and I got to talk to several people. None of them were interested in hearing more, but I felt like I was doing my work, and doing it to the best of my ability. We found out on Saturday that Sister Frolova will be training next transfer. I think she's excited, but she's also very nervous. I know she can do it. I hope I've been able to help her in some way. One weird/awesome thing that happened this week was that I ran into an old investigator from Zelenograd. 3 TIMES!!! The first time, she was outside the metro and we were going in. I had to follow my companion, so I couldn't talk to her. The second time, she was going up the escalator in the metro and we were going down. That time she saw me and waved. Yesterday, I saw her again at a different metro! We stopped and talked. She said, "I've seen you twice this week!! It HAS to be a sign." She was sad that I'm going home in a couple of days, but since she's apparently in Moscow a lot, I gave her an invitation to come to English Club and told her that I would be there. I hope she comes. It sounded like she wanted to. So, that was a miracle. Remember Nastya, who plays the piano, yeah...it was here. Either way, I'll have the Z-grad sisters look up her number and either have them call her, or have Sister Frolova and Sister Thrall (let's see the Russians say that one) work with her since we see her often in our area here.

We have a meeting tonight before English club with 2 potential investigators, and I hope it goes well! There's also a woman from last week's english club who was so excited to learn about the church and even asked how she could be baptized! We called her on Thursday and she said that she's very busy, but until she has time to meet, she'll keep coming to English Club. I'm hoping we'll be able to talk to her there. Things are picking up and going well. The Lord is preparing us to meet all the new goals He has inspired us to make! Also at English Club last week, Dilya's daughter Zardis told me that they're planning on going all together to the temple in July, and Dilya is going to receive her endownment! I'm very excited for them!

We still haven't had a new bishop called in our ward, but I'm sure it'll happen soon. They've had to call a few bishops since the conference. I have such hope for the future of the church in Moscow, and in Russia, and in Eastern Europe! Great things are happening now, and will continue to happen everywhere. St. Petersburg is preparing for a stake (soon), and they've also called some district councilors (kind of like high councilors) in Novosibirsk, and they are preparing one other area. There will be many stakes in Russia, and it won't take that long, either! We're seeing the literal gathering of Zion, and creating stakes for them to gather to! WOW!

We had a meeting with President for all of the departing missionaries yesterday, after which we went to Red Square and took a group picture. I have copies, so you'll get to see them. The meeting was short, and President said it's basically part of the exit interview, but he was giving it now so that he didn't have to give it 6 times and possibly leave something out. Basically, I was filled with a deep sense of determination. Determination to serve for the rest of my life! Determination to keep improving and fixing those weaknesses that have become more apparent in the last 19 months, and strengthening the talents and gifts that have also come out. Determination to study and love and know the scriptures as well as I can. And determination to dedicate my life to the Lord, whatever I might be doing. I think that's why a mission is so special. All the time we're thinking about the Lord's work and how we can better do it. There's no reason why I can't do that same thing with everything I do in life. I know it'll be hard, but I'm willing to face whatever will come. And I'm better prepared now.

The Church is true! Everything I've been teaching and learning for the past months is absolutely true. I feel the Spirit when I teach people these things, and I know they can feel it as well. The gospel of Jesus Christ is for everyone. It is the only way to return to the Father. The Atonement of Christ is central to that gospel, and really to everything! I've felt the influence of the Atonement in my life, and seen the way it's lives of others, as soon as they begin to understand and appply it. It's a miracle, and it's available to every single child of God. That's why I've been in Russia for the last year and a half, and that's why I'll strive to keep going with a brightness of hope forever!

с любовью,
сестра Ребекка Кнудсон"

I saw such great things in Moscow! My time was the best time! I saw the dedication of the temple in Kiev, Ukraine, the first temple in the Europe East Area, and actually got to go to the temple a few times. In the final month of my mission, I witnessed the organization of the first stake of Zion in Russia. I rubbed shoulders with the Presidency of the Europe East Area, and many more great and faithful saints of Russia. I love them, and I have great hope and look forward to hearing more about what will happen with them. So, that's a small idea of "how my mission was". Words simply don't do it justice.

Now, I've moved on to the next transfer. I'm back at school, trying to apply everything I learned in the last 2 years to my everyday life. Some days are better than others, but I have many experiences now to draw on. I'll try to get some pictures up soon.

Arrival pics from the Mission President

We received the following message from Rebecca's Mission President upon her arrival:

Dear Brother and Sister Knudsen,

It has been wonderful for us to meet your daughter and get to know her and feel of her great spirit. We are confident that she will make a significant contribution to the Lord's work in Russia.

Initially, Sister Knudsen will be serving with Sister Coles. Your daughter will learn a great deal from her. They will be serving in the Kahovski/Podolsk area inside of Moscow.

As I am sure you know, uplifting and encouraging letters from home are as important as food and shelter for a missionary. Sharing with her your faith, your spiritual experiences, and your love will bless her tremendously. For mailing letters, the Church pouch is the fastest and most reliable method. LDS bishops have instructions for using this system. To reach the USA, letters from Moscow generally take at least two weeks, but can require more time. Preparation day is Wednesday. You can expect to receive an e-mail from her each week. Here is the address for any correspondence you would like to send in the pouch:

Russia Moscow Mission

PO Box 30150

Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0150

If you wish to send packages, address them to the following:

101000 Moskva

Glavpochtampt a/ai 257

RUSSIA

Packages generally require at least three weeks for delivery. USPS or DHL works best for mailing packages.

Wheels Down in Moscow

Sister Knudson has left the MTC and Made it to Russia!
They say the best way to send letters is through the church pouch mail system, though it takes about two weeks to get there. The address is:
Sister Rebecca Knudson
Russia Moscow Mission
POB 30150
Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0150
USA

Letters for the church pouch should be single sheet folded in thirds and taped shut (no envelopes). Rebecca was told by her companion, it once took six weeks to get a letter; so please be patient in waiting for a response.

MTC Address

The address for Cectra Knudson at the MTC is:
Sister Rebecca Knudson
MTC Mailbox #308
RUS-MOS 0203
2005 N. 900 E.
Provo, Utah 84604-1793

She will be there until 3 Feb 2010.
Cards and letters welcome!