We're Coming Home

Today we had a great blessing! I went to the embassy and asked if we could have our interview today and we were told no. I explained that I didn't realize it was a holiday yesterday and that my plane tickets would have to be changed and it would cost money, and I was told no. I asked if I could pay an expediting fee, I again was told no. So I started to leave with a lot of sorrow in my heart. I then remembered that we didn't even have a time for the appointment for tomorrow so we turned around to ask. Something inside of me told me to ask one more time and maybe even ask if there was someone else I could talk to. We went back to the window and waited, and waited and waited. The lady was talking to someone else who Aida said was the consulate. I thought I am not going to leave until I talk to her again. Aida wanted to leave but I said no. The lady finally came to the window and told me to take a seat. So I did. About 15-20 minutes later she called me up and told me I could have my interview today!!!!! Then she told me how sweet and cute the girls were! I was so grateful I almost starting crying. I know it was God's answer to mine and many others prayers.

So we had our interview and we are leaving in about 2 1/2 hours. It went very smoothly.

The rest of the day we took a walk, went to the market, and went to lunch. There is a cafe underneath us that I like going to but today it took an especially long time (over 1/2 hour just to get our drinks!) In Kazakhstan don't expect to be in and out of a restaurant quickly, it is at least an hour and sometimes more. But it was good because it filled up time. I had a little problem with the girls, the communication is hard and they don't understand what I am doing and I don't understand what they are doing and we sometimes come to the wrong conclusion, but they still love me and they are so excited to go to America. They are especailly wired tonight.

The sister missionaires came over one more time and taught the girls about prophets and baptism. Since our friend Hannah is getting baptised this Saturday I thought it would be good that the girls understand what they are going to. Once again Maria was a very quick learner. She said she wanted to get baptised as well, but we will probably wait for awhile, at least until she understands English. It was great to have the sisters here. They stayed past their time but the girls LOVED having them here and it was good for them to help me explain the trip better to the girls. Things like don't run away from me in the airport and make sure you eat when they bring you your food because your not getting anymore until the plane lands! Just simple things but they need to be communicated. The sisters were a great blessing to me and I am so grateful for them!!! Although they feel they didn't do much, just the knowledge of them being here, coming over each day, and teaching the girls was a great blessing to me.

The girls are so excited to go they can hardly stand it. I hope they crash on the plane because it will be a long 24 hours! They are so cute, they just jump up and down and giggle. Maria is constantly hugging me and saying she is going to America to see her Papa and brats. (Brat is brother is Russian!)

Almaty is a wonderful city and I think my desire to hurry and get home is more from the fact that I want my family reunited rather than I want to leave this city. In fact it would have been a lot of fun to visit the zoo tomorrow with the sister missionaries. But just having us all together is what is driving me to get home. It will be wonderful!!!!