A cozy group

These are the Karyan sisters.  They are from Armenia and are one year apart in age.  They recreived their calls the same day.  One is going to London and one to London South Mission.  It will be the first time they have ever been apart.  They have even slept together their entire lives.  They arrived at the MTC carrying their teddy bears (their new nighttime companions).  We call them by their first names,  Sister Araks and Sister Ani.  Sister Ani speaks English very well and Sister Araks is still learning.  She is so funny.  When she is at the pulpit, she is always stopping and asking her sister for a word.....don't know what she will do when they are apart.  It is a good thing they are in a threesome and have a 3rd companion.   They are slowly get used to being with others. 
One of them told me she has a dream -- she can see a big table with grandma and grandpa sitting at the head, then she and her sister and their families all down the sides of the table.  "We be a BIG family and we all be in church!"  Right now only her mother is a member. I so hope her dream comes true.

But they are such beautiful girls -- and so full of faith.  They are the only children of their parents.  Their father works construction in Russia because there is no work in Armenia.  He comes home every 8 months.  They rarely see him but they idolize him.  Their mother is now alone but is so happy these girls are serving.  She will probably go to Russia to be with her husband while the girls are away.  They are little jewels.  We would love to bring them home with us.  They tell us they will be coming to Salt Lake to be married in the Salt Lake Temple, but it will be in a few years.   (We hope there are young men in this world who are good enough for them).

 

We only have 8 missionaries in this group......three sisters and 5 elders. As you can see, we practically have one on one with them.   It is so cozy and so fun!  We love them to bits!

 

Elder Tikoicina is from Figi.  He flew here via Suva, Nandi, Auckland, Singapore, London, Manchester and here.  It took him a mere 29 hours of air time.  He arrived exhausted and freezing cold.  But he has done so well and is so happy.  Once his feet got used to shoes and he got a coat, gloves and scarf, he settled right in.
The others are from England and the USA other than Elder Popa who is from Romania. (just R of tree)