5 months down!

Well Hello my FABULOUS family

I have now officially met my new sweet trainee. Her name is Sister Henriksen. She is such a go getter! Things have been a little challenging for her with the language and adapting to Russia, but Heavenly Father has blessed me to know what she needs to hear. We have been working really hard this week, and wow, the Lord has been helping us to do his work. It has been incredible.

While I was with Sister Young, I had her to rely on and to fall back on if I didn't know what to say or if I didn't understand, but now.. I am the one that she falls back on. The Lord has blessed me an incredible amount to be able to understand and to be able to speak. I can't even describe how much my understanding and language skills have increased this past week. I know it is only because of my Father in Heaven that I am able to do all things that He requires of me. I have hard times many times a week, but I have received so much strength and peace from my Savior. It is only with Him that I can have the confidence I need each day to walk up to random people, get rejected hundreds of times a day, and then continue forward with a smile on my face. I am so grateful to be a missionary. I feel so much happiness and joy each day because of the work I am doing. I am thankful for the blessing to know that Heavenly Father is with me each step of the way. I am still experiencing hard trials, I am still pushed everyday, but I have realized more and more each trial how important it is to trust the Lord. He knows better than I. He doesn't and will not give us trials that we can not handle. I know that each trial I face is for my own good and that as I endure them well, I will find a reward. It may come immediately, maybe it won't come for a week, a month, a year, or in this life time, BUT that reward will come. We have a young, hot, and on fire district. The oldest, our district leader, Elder Campbell is only on his 7th cycle, but he has been such a great help to us. We have 4 Elders and Sister H an I in our district. I love it!

This week we had such an incredible experience. We were really trying to focus on where the Spirit needed us to go. I felt a strong feeling to just talk with everyone and to invite them to learn more (this is a hard challenge on some of the main busy roads). We took an interesting turn where we haven't gone before. As I was walking I saw a lady walking into her apartment and felt a strong need to talk with her. She ended up wanting a Book of Mormon, committing to coming to church, and asking to meet again. I know it is not by chance that we came across Ctaleana. She is incredible and I know that Lord has great plans for her!

UPDATE for the young man that was in the Hospital. It has been a miracle recovery. He is out of the Hospital after some major surgery on his face. He is recovering very swiftly. He is blind and can't walk because of his broken legs, but the Doctors are shocked that he lived. I know that this is a miracle from God. What a testimony to me that he truly does love us and listen to our prayers! Don't ever hesitate to pray. One of my good friends once said (not quoted exactly), "When you feel like you can't stand, kneel". I know that you will receive the strength you need to do all that the Lord asks of you. I do.

I love you all. You are in my prayers!

Love always and forever,
Dev



One of our sweet investigators.

We have a tradition to decorate our planners. These are pictures of my planners the past three cycles. My favorite is this cycle. It is a picture of a guy jumping over a ledge to the other side with the sun under him... this cycle I have had to take risks and I have had to be courageous--with my Heavenly Father (the sun) giving me that light and strength, i can endure anything I am asked to do! The back has a picture of a beach...it is to remind me to relax :)

1st cycle


1st and 2nd cycle


1st, 2nd, and 3rd cycle


Sister Young and I celebrating fourth of July.... then we remembered it was Russia's colors too hahaha




We call her Baba Katya. She is an incredible member. She teaches us how to read properly.... well she tries ;)

12 weeks in Russia!!

Hey everyone!
Well my mind is all over the place right now. I am currently in Samara getting ready to meet my new Trainee on Wednesday. SO yes, I will be training a new missionary! CRAZY! I am very overwhelmed, but excited to work hard and give myself more to the Lord. It is hard to leave Sister Young, but I know I will grow an incredible amount as I am forced to be the leader. The key to missionary work is to work hard, have faith, and BE happy. I know as I focus on others, I will be able to do more of what the Lord needs me to do. I am His servant. I am HIS representative. I am HIS daughter, and wow, he loves me. I have never felt so much love from my Father in Heaven. I know I am loved and I know he will help me through anything! He always does!

I will be staying in my same area, Penza. I love Penza so much. It is crazy how time is just flying by right before my eyes. I am starting my 3rd cycle today and am coming up on my 5th month out on my mission THIS week. That is just insane to me. Right now, we have one young man preparing for baptism. He is only 21 years old and he is the son of one of our strongest members. His father has been praying for years that his son would come to accept the gospel, and we are some of the first missionaries he would ever meet with. When we meet, he is excited and very eager to be baptized, but when he leaves us that desire is hidden because of the friends he hangs out with. It is so challenging to be a member in Russia. We have only about 50 to 60 active members. Their testimonies have to be grounded and they have to standfast for what they believe. I have learned so much from their dedication and their example.

I am thankful for the trials that I experience because they build me up and make me stronger. I am learning things that I never imagined I would learn. I am thankful for this experience!

I love you all so much!
Until next week,
much love,
Devynn

Sister Young wanted to do "makeovers" after a long hard day of work!


My cute cute little Grandma Zenya and I



We just thought this would be a cool shot.




My first Russian dress! A lady in our ward gave it to me, you like it? haha

Week 11 in Russia!

What a crazy crazy week! So much happened, I cannot even think about what to write about today. This week felt like it was a year long. Sister Young and I had a great companionship inventory. Comp inventories are awesome, I want to do them with my husband when I get married. Your companionship is able to see strengths in you that sometimes you don't see. She told me that I am one of the most diligent people she knows. She told me that when I came in as a missionary, I was already an incredible missionary with my eye single to God. She said I came in ready to fight. She told me that she has never seen a more ready missionary. I came in like I was already on my 7th cycle. She told me that she has pushed me harder than any of her trainees because I have exceeded her expectations again and again. She told me that I am a leader, and if i train next cycle, my trainee would be so blessed to have me as her trainer. I am so thankful for Sister Young's kind words of support and reassurance that I am here doing what the Lord wants me to be. I need to work on seeing my strength. I know my mission is preparing me for the future. I know I will learn things that will be of great benefit to me in my life. Every blessing I have received since I have been on my mission talks about how this mission will help give me strength to do things in the future. I am grateful for this experience to be here. It is hard, but so worth it! I am so happy to be a missionary. I have grown so much in the past 4 1/2 months, it is insane. I am still crazy Devynn, but I am better. I becoming who my Father wants and needs me to be.

It is incredible that as we work our hardest and give everything we have, we began to see the fruits of our labors. I really saw that this week. We were teaching a less active on Saturday.We helped him quit drinking and smoking. He just recently became active and was even passing the Sacrament on Sunday!! As we were teaching Igar, one of our investigators walked by! We ended up having a lesson with him and Igar on the Word of Wisdom (WOW). It was amazing to see Igar testify of the strength he receives when he follows the WOW.

Please continue to pray for the Starstena family! It has been such a miracle. The son who committed suicide, WOKE up. He is still very injured with a crushed skull and two broken legs, but oh the faith of the members here! They have been taking turns fasting each day for him. Keep him in your prayers! My faith has increased significantly as I have seen the members work together and support one another.

Well, I hope you have a fabulous week! Keep working hard and remember that the Lord loves you! Times will be hard and very challenging, but as we give the Lord our burdens, we WILL receive strength. I do every day.
I love you,
Devynn
Sister McCartt



The Russians ALWAYS question where I am from because they tell me I have too nice of a smile to be from Russia. hahaha






This is Masha. We were just goofing off at Family night. I love LOVE the people here :)












Our ward building :)





A member and I. Her name is Galya. She always helps us on lessons!





Sister young and I matched that day :)






These are the "taxi vans" we ride in!





Sister Young and I did a service project on for a lady at her country house! It was sweet!

10th week!

My goodness, what a week. It is incredible how so much can happen in one week. I experienced so much joy and so much sorrow this week. As a missionary, you open your heart and just love everyone. It is hard not to love the people you serve. This week as a mission, we fasted to see baptismal conversion. On the day we were fasting, we met with Tatiana. Our wonderful investigator. We prayed and felt strongly that we needed to talk to her about Temples. (Her son was murdered and she wants more than anything to go to the temple). We bore testimony of the temple. We explained to her that if she wants to go to the temple, she first needs to be baptized. We asked her to be baptized. She told us like before, "I am not ready. I can't change churches." The spirit pushed us again to ask her. When we asked her she used another excuse that her foot was hurt. We promised her that her foot would be healed and she would be able to get baptized. She said, "Okay, if my foot is healed then I will! I will get baptized." We were all in tears as we sat there. I am thankful for the Spirit that was there with us as we taught. I am grateful for temples, and that I get to be with my wonderful family and future family for all eternity. Satan has been working really hard on Tatiana, but we are doing all we can to have her ready for baptism on July 6.

Some hard things happened this week. A young man in our ward committed suicide. He has been having some troubles, and he just wasn't himself almost like something had taken over his body. It is Irena's son (She goes out with us every Sunday. She is so faithful and wonderful). My heart has been broken, but I know that all will work out. Please pray for the Starastena Family. That they will be able to truly apply the Atonement to their lives. I am so grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ. It is REAL. I know that Jesus Christ feels my sorrow and my pain. I know that I can give my sorrow and pain to Him during my lowest days. I receive so much strength from my Savior. I am thankful for His willingness to die and suffer for each on of us.

My health is getting better. I went to the doctors and got an x-ray, ultrasound, and blood work. They found that my gull bladder is inflamed and infected. He gave me some medicine to help. They believe that it may have been caused by the parasite, but we will find out more information on Friday. I am feeling much better! Have no fear :)

I love you all so much! I am grateful for your prayers!
ALSO, happy father's day, daddy! You are the best of the best!
much love,
Devynn
Sister McCartt


These pictures are from our culture night last week. We went to a Russian Folk dance thing! It was amazing :)

                                                    

                                                    

                                           

                                         

                                                

                                               

Week 9 in the land of Russia.

Hello my favorite family!

What a crazy week. We spent most of the week in Samara on exchanges with the NEW SISTER leaders. I am so excited to work with them. I learned so much from them this week. My desire to work harder and to be better increased significantly. They told me how impressed they were by my energy, my desire to serve, and my courage to talk to people everywhere--ESPECIALLY on top of being sick. I want so much to find the people who are praying for Heavenly Father to help them. The great message I carry, WILL help them. I know without a doubt because It has blessed my life so much. I am beyond grateful to have been raised and taught what I have been taught. I am very thankful for the chance I have to share my testimony of our Father in Heaven everyday to the people of Russia. I know as I work hard and as I carry the Spirit with me--lives will be changed for the better.
Since I was in Samara, President Sartori wanted to meet with me to see how everything has been going with my sickness and all. He told me that he really wants to figure everything out, and he feels I need to go to the Hospital and get an examination if things don't start getting better in the next few days after I taken the pills to kill the parasite. I have taken the pills and am feeling a little better. I am still feeling weak and very nauseated, but it is getting better. He gave me some incredible advice. I know that he is called of God. I know that he is my mission president for a reason. He has taught me so much these past few months. As we were talking he said, "Sister McCartt, I don't usually tell people before transfers, but I feel very prompted to tell you that I have been praying and feeling that you need to train next cycle." My heart stopped. ME--A TRAINER..my THIRD cycle?! As inadequate as I feel, I know that the Lord will bless me. He will help me do what he has called me to do. If he needs me to train a new missionary next cycle then I am willing and ready. I received so wonderful advice from Ryan. He said, "Don't worry though it will work out, don't fear. Remember in D&C 84:88. "88 And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up." I know he will be right there with me will be there with me ready to help me. Thanks for the advice, Ry! I know he will help me, every step. It is still not set in stone that I will be training next cycle. President said we have four weeks before next cycle to figure out my health and then he will take it to the Lord once more. I know whatever my next cycle turns out to be, it is what the Lord needs me to do.I was blessed with an awesome trainer who pushed me to work my hardest. She told me from day one that she was training me to train so that if I was asked to train my 3rd cycle, I would be ready. I know I won't be perfectly ready, but I know that the Lord will help me. I know he will help me speak and learn Russian and I know he will help me become all he needs me to be. I am thankful for this chance to serve him!

Please keep praying for my health! I hope I will be feeling better very soon so I won't have to go to the hospital!

Thanks for your prayers! I feel them everyday! I love this work, even if it pushes me everyday! I love you and think about you daily!


Love always,
Devy
Sister Devynn McCartt

                                       
So an investigator of the elders gave us these outfits yesterday and we tried them on! .... I''m not sure they're missionary appropriate... hahaha

                                      

                                   
                                                       Our district on sport's night

                                   

                                                              Us and Tatiana

Week 8 in Russia!

I am low on energy this week so this email won't be too long. I have been having a rough time with my health lately, and we haven't known why. This week we discovered that I may have a parasite! Sister Young named him Gary! We blame everything on him! Every-time I wake up, eat, or do anything too crazy..I get very sick. I have still been working hard. We believe I caught/received the parasite my first couple of weeks here when we were getting dried apricot. The parasites/worms grow in dirt, and we didn't notice that inside the dried apricots were A LOT of dirt. Today we got half of the medicine I need. I have lost about ten pounds over the past 6 or so weeks (5 of the pounds I lost, I had gained in the MTC). I eat SO much and I was very confused how I could be losing weight! I hope by next week, I will be feeling MUCH better!

This week I also discovered how Ryan must feel when he showers in rain water! They turned off our hot water for a few days and then all of our water. I showered out of pots of water! I am too much of a girl in the morning so I often boil my water before showering. Thankfully, the water is back on. For the first couple of days, it was very muddy and brown, but now it is clear for the most part!

Even though I haven't been feeling well, I have tried my hardest to push through! The Lord has blessed me with strength! We now have seven progressing investigators! We had such a wonderful experience with our investigator, Julia. Last lesson, we taught her with the Elders on our exchange. We committed her to read the Book of Mormon. When we met with her on Thursday, she hadn't. Before I even said anything she said, "I know I have to read it if I want to learn for myself. I will." We had a wonderful lesson and promised her that if she reads, she would receive answers to her questions. Yesterday when I called her to see how she was doing, we found out she had read all the way up to Alma 43 ALREADY! I was in pure shock. She told us she hadn't received an answer yet, but knew that she would. I know she will. I am excited to see her progress!

I am grateful to be here in Russia. It is very challenging and the days are long. To answer your questions, mom. We get up at 630 pray and work out until 7. 700 to 800: we shower and eat breakfast. 8 to 9: personal study 9 to 10: companionship study 10 to 11: language study 11 to 12: training (i stop training on my 12th week) then lunch at 12 and out the door by 1pm. We try to teach 3 to 4 lessons a day, we knock, and we track a lot. We rarely eat at members' houses. My Russian is coming along slowly but surely! We are teaching about 15 or so people! Please keep our investigators, Julia and Tatiana in your prayers. I want so badly for them to come to know that they need to be baptized!

I love you all a lot!
Enjoy the pictures and I will talk to you next week! Keep my health in your prayers, please :)
love always,
Devynn
Sister McCartt


                                   
                            Sister Young and I with a new convert, Lena! She is awesome!

                                  
                                                                 Sports night :)

                                 

                                                         Our gypsy friends

                                
                                                      My Hill :) i LOVE IT

                                      

                                                Another with the gypsies

                          
                                    Making Russia's famous pancakes :)

                         
                                   We thought this wall looked cool :)
                         

                         

                                     Our Dima! Some very cool members!

                        

                                                 Us just being us :)

                        
                               Its not snow, its COTTON from the trees :)
                       

7th Week!!

Hello Everyone!


Wow, what a week. Today starts my SECOND cycle in Russia. Everyone told me that the first cycle would go super slow, and the rest would pick up and fly by, but I felt like my first cycle flew by! I am scared to see how fast this next 6 weeks fly by. We received our transfer calls on Saturday night. I cannot tell you how fast my heart was pounding. I have fallen in love with Penza and the people here. I couldn't imagine leaving. I have also grown so close to Sister Young. She has been a wonderful trainer. She has helped me with the language; she has helped me push myself; and she has helped me to improve my cooking skills; and MUCH more. The language is so challenging. I often get frustrated with myself, but I am trying to more fully trust in the Lord and His timing. I know He is helping me because I often receive compliments on how well I speak and how well I use the grammar principles for how long I have been here. I promise you, I am not that good, but I study hard and work to use my language skills as much as possible. Sister Young has REALLY pushed me. We had Elder Exchanges with our zone leaders this week and they told me how impressed they were that I wasn't afraid to go off to a random person and try to share our message with them. They said most new missionaries don't do that for months into the field. She even makes me make PHONE CALLS in Russia. I sure feel bad for those trying to understand what I am saying. Sometimes it can be a little rough :). My point in sharing this is that even though it is hard and often frustrating; it has helped me to become better faster. I know this goes for most things in life! Even though are trials are hard and sometimes more challenging then we think we can handle; the Lord will help us and we will become better! Now as for my cooking skills. Man, my future husband is going to love me ;)! (I am really taking the blessing I received in the MTC serious. I was told that A LOT of what I learn here will help me to be a better wife and mother). So far I have learned to make some delicious spiced grilled chicken, homemade salsa, an amazing salad with only oil and vinegar, and spice, banana bread, and Russian pancakes that are to die for! I have learned an incredible amount while being on my own! I sure miss my daddy's cooking though! Nothing I make will EVER compare to his food!

Today, we had a funny incident! Sister Young and I got separated! We jumped on a bus, but found out it was the wrong bus. We quickly went to jump off. I jumped off first and then the doors slammed in her face! I just laughed and laughed! I spent 30 minutes trying to find her.We were in a more rural area at the time so the bus stops are far apart! Finally, I found her and we both just laughed! After being with someone for a month and a half with the ONLY time that we can be out of sight and sound is when one is in the bathroom or a meeting with the president...it is VERY weird to be apart! It was a fun experience to laugh about though!

We worked way hard this week, and we were so blessed! We taught 16 lessons this week. That is amazing for Russia. We doubled the amount of lessons we have taught in the past 5 weeks.

We also had such an amazing miracle. We were heading home on the bus with one of our members, Irena. We both felt very pulled to give this man named Oleg (22 years old) a brochure. After Irena handed him the brochure, we talked to him about our church. I asked him for his number, but he told us he didn't have his phone on him. I showed him where our number was if he wanted to talk more about our church. That night as we were finishing up planning, he called us. He told us that as he left the bus; he felt so strongly that he needed to call us. We met with him a few times this week. After the first time we prayed, he told us that he does not know why, but he is standing differently. He feels such a great feeling around us, but he is not sure what it is! I bet you can guess what it is..THE HOLY Ghost. I am excited to continue to teach him, and to see how he progresses. He is Muslim and a very faithful one. We really took the advice of my dad and built upon his faith. It has been wonderful. (DAD, i loved your lesson. It was exactly what I needed to hear this week!)

This week, Sister Young and I sang in church. Everyone loved it. Apparently, I agreed to sing in stake conference. WHOOPS. haha It will be a wonderful experience though! AND GUESS WHAT, I met Liza again~! (The girl that I met from the MTC that is from Saratov. She is awesome!)

I am doing well and loving the work. It is hard, but awesome! Thank you for all that you do for me! Keep working hard and trusting in the Lord!

LOVE always and forever,
Devynn
Sister McCartt

                                      
                                                       A couple of our investigators!


                                     
                  Our districts culture night and the investigators who came. We saw a really cute play!