Дорогие Друзья и Семя

Дорогие Друзья и Семя,

We had a wonderful week this week. Kira was baptized! And her whole family came to the baptism. Mom, dad, grandma, other grandma, everyone. And like the whole branch showed up! We didn't have room for them all! 

The District President, who is really good friends with Kira's mom and family, spoke at Kira's baptism and also confirmed Kira the next day during church. He is one of the kindest people I have ever met in my life and one of the best people I have ever met in my life. His talk for Kira was beautifully simple as he told her about the important covenent and step in her life that she was making. 

Kira was kind of scared of getting dunked in the water and accidentally breathing water in, so from the moment she got in the water, she had a tight pinch on her nose and her eyes shut really tightly. It was funny, but she came out out with a huge smile on. And her mom was smiling the whole day. 

Some of the missionaries made brownies for after the baptism. Surprisingly, Russia has not discovered the wonder that is brownies, and everyone was asking for the recipe.

It was simply a really good day.

The elders in Volgograd currently only have investigators from Africa studying at a unversity here, and our investigator pool is more Indian than it is Russian. So, we joke that the Elders are baptizing Africa and we're baptizing India. It's kind of fun, though, because they all speak English! So Sister Greenwood and I actually know what's going on! 

Our investigator Stephin, from India, is doing really well. He has a hard time understanding us because his English isn't as good as he would like it to be and he doesn't speak much Russian, but he has this huge desire to come closer to Christ and nothing is stopping him, not even the language barrier.

We continue to gain investigators and find new people to talk to all the time. Volgograd is an awesome city, and I can't imagine ever leaving it.

Hope your weeks are all full of rainbows and sunshine!

Love,

Sister Jarvis

It says "We have a holiday!  Kira was baptized!" and "Kira, I really, really love you!"

The alligator by our apartment