Comfort through the Church and through laughter

Since I have been here a question has crossed my mind a time or two. Does Heavenly Father know where I am since I am half way across the world? Well, today my question was answered. He is fully aware of where I am, of what I am doing, and how I am feeling.

Today, I went to church at the Kyiv International branch for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. And I have never felt this much relief in my life. I felt the Spirit so strongly and I think it was because I was seeking it out that he made himself more noticeable to me. This week has been an adjustment and it has taken a lot out of me, that when I walked up to the church I almost lost it. I didn’t lose it until I got up to the podium and shared my testimony.

I am so grateful to have the church and to have something to look forward to every week where I will understand everyone and they understand me and I can share my thoughts. And they smile back! I can make eye contact and smile and they will do it back to me. I know that this is silly but I struggle with this because I am such a smiley person. And I know that this is something that I will laugh about down the road that I stressed about the whole non-smiling thing.

I feel so comfortable being at church and the stress I felt this week just lifted off my shoulders. And a reassurance that everything is going to be okay came over me. I just have to give the Lord a chance.

A funny story: On my way back from church I have to take a marshrutka (which is a mini yellow bus) to the Metro and then take a trolleybus. Well, on the bus I got on at the back and let me tell you that the force of the stops and goes are really felt back there when you have to stand. I was losing my balance left and right! I made an older gentleman’s day, though. I really enjoyed watching me try to regain my balance or re-figure my footing so I didn’t lose it. After a long period of laughing, he gave up his seat for me, how sweet. But he was laughing the whole time. I didn’t know exactly was he was saying but I knew what it was about. I couldn’t help but laugh at myself too. I must have looked ridiculous and I buried my red face into my arm. And this was also a huge relief to see a Ukrainian laugh. They are all so serious here!