Raw Eggs and Pig Fat

Well, this week seemed to silently sneak past me. I don't feel like that much happened, but I know it did. Haha. The highlight would have to be Tuesday. Elder Lawrence of the 2nd Quorum of the Seventy toured our mission and he was with us for Zone Conference in Kiev with his wife. That was so great! His wife taught us a lot about the House of Israel and the tribes. It blew my mind. The more I heard the more I realized I don't know. She is such a good teacher. I just sat there and thought about how blessed Elder Lawrence and their children are to have a wife and mother like her. This Church is led by some exceptional people. Later that day we were able to attend the temple, which was also awesome, as usual. I love the temple. Once every 6 weeks seems like not enough, but it's certainly better than not at all.

This week I ate sala (pure pig fat) fried on a skewer over a fire I made and drank an egg from the shell as per instruction from a nice babushka. We were able to give 3 blessings this week. One was in an old soviet hospital with 6 beds in each room. We gave a blessing to a member there and I could really feel the Spirit as I exercised the Priesthood which I hold in the Russian language. It's pretty cool that the Gospel has no borders and that it doesn't matter what language you're speaking, the Spirit can speak to anybody. That was an especially unique experience since there were 6 other patients looking on.

On Sunday an older couple who are parents of a member came to Church and informed us they want to be baptized, so we got 2 new investigators and 2 new baptismal dates yesterday. This will be very good for the Branch and of course very good for them. I love this mission. I love the opportunity to be here serving. I love the scriptures and I learn more and more everyday. Thanks to everybody who has helped me get to when I am right now. Thanks for all the love, prayers and support. I know that God lives. He loves us. I am a disciple of the Lord Jesus Christ. I have been called of God through a living prophet to bring the message of the restored Gospel to the Ukrainian people. It's a privilege and an honor to do so. Love.

- Elder J. Mahoney

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