22 August 2005
"I thought I would have some time tonight to write at home but we are here for my companion to work on a little film that the President wants to take with him to Moscow with him. Well we are going to give it to him tonight so that means that we have a lot to do. So we also have to help the sisters from the Bezimanski branch as they lost the keys from their apartment and they need some keys to be able to open their apartment. They think that they might be here – an extra pair – but I have so many keys that I would have no idea. This morning we went early to the airport with Tolkachov and that was cool. He is going to be a great missionary I think and although he was a little worried I don’t think he will have any problems. We got back home and then we came to the office where I pulled statistics together, and where I also pulled together some things for MEC. We ate some of the soup again that we ate and that was really good and I really enjoyed it a ton. We did a good job making that. Well after lunch we had MEC and that went well. We heard that it might be possible that the elders will be coming back that got deported. I guess they had a talk with an important person in the FBI and there is a chance that these missionaries might be coming back. Nothing will be for sure until tomorrow and so we are praying hard so that they can come back but we will see tomorrow. We talked forever about things that we need to do and things like that before we had to go to work again. We ran away right after MEC to the church as there was an FHE there. Larissa – on of the young women in the ward did the lesson and it was way awesome. She has only been a member for 10 months but you wouldn’t believe it. She is way cool and she taught a way awesome lesson. Well we ate and enjoyed everything there before we came back to the office and Elder Ehlert is working with Bennett to get everything set up of the film. Well I am kind of bored although I have plenty to work on tonight and all. I got a bunch of letters though so that is nice and I have been reading them. I love the support that I get, and I love it. Maybe we will end up sleeping here tonight but who knows. Maybe not. I think Sister Ehlert will have to hit her husband soon so they get out of here at a decent time. At least I’m young. What a life, what a life…."
Saturday, August 22, 2009
Friday, August 21, 2009
New Missionary
21 August 2005
"The weather just did it to us today. I just wanted to play some football as that is what the weather was like. Man I just sat and thought about like whens I played and it would be nice to play, but I guess that I have to give some things up. I didn't think too long about it though as we had plenty to do. Well, we went to the meeting today and had a good time there. We talked with people for a bit and they seem to be doing well. Вячеслав gave the lesson and it was a lot worse then I thought. He just read straight from the book. We are going to work with him on that a bit so hopefully he can do a bit better with teaching at the meeting. We rode home with Баба Нина and helped her before going to the office and eating. We ate chicken noodle soup - something like that at least. We decided to get out and to do some contacting. We walked and basically just talked with each other as no one was on the streets. Basically we met a couple people on the street, but no one really too interested. The darn weather keeps everyone out of the streets. We took a look on the river for a bit and then we picked up Саша Толкачов from the office. He will be serving in the Washington Mission and its his last night here. When he said goodbye to his Mom it was harder for me than him as I recalled when I left. Well, he is with us now, and he is excited to leave but a bit nervous. We are telling him that it will be way cool and he'll love it. It is awesome here and I love serving and I love to be serving these people."
"The weather just did it to us today. I just wanted to play some football as that is what the weather was like. Man I just sat and thought about like whens I played and it would be nice to play, but I guess that I have to give some things up. I didn't think too long about it though as we had plenty to do. Well, we went to the meeting today and had a good time there. We talked with people for a bit and they seem to be doing well. Вячеслав gave the lesson and it was a lot worse then I thought. He just read straight from the book. We are going to work with him on that a bit so hopefully he can do a bit better with teaching at the meeting. We rode home with Баба Нина and helped her before going to the office and eating. We ate chicken noodle soup - something like that at least. We decided to get out and to do some contacting. We walked and basically just talked with each other as no one was on the streets. Basically we met a couple people on the street, but no one really too interested. The darn weather keeps everyone out of the streets. We took a look on the river for a bit and then we picked up Саша Толкачов from the office. He will be serving in the Washington Mission and its his last night here. When he said goodbye to his Mom it was harder for me than him as I recalled when I left. Well, he is with us now, and he is excited to leave but a bit nervous. We are telling him that it will be way cool and he'll love it. It is awesome here and I love serving and I love to be serving these people."
Thursday, August 20, 2009
Women and Shopping don't mix
20 August 2005
"I spend way too much time in this office and I type way too much here on this computer. I am having a good time though today and it was good to be able to relax and to have our P-day. We actually didn’t do a whole lot but we relaxed a lot. We came here this morning and we typed home and I typed up a good story for the family about what happened yesterday. I sent my journal to myself and also Elder Wright’s story about what happened and so I am excited to have that. We didn’t spend too much time here before we got out of here and we got everything done before we went to the Lunts house and we went to the big old rinok out in the Bezimanski area. Well it was crazy and there was a ton of people that were out there and lets just say that it is not fun to shop with girls man. We walked around forever and we looked on a ton of coats and Sister Lunt just couldn’t find anything. After about 2 hours we decided to go back and to buy the coat that she looked at from the beginning. Well it was sure way too long to be there, and I didn’t buy anything. I did look on some coats and had a good time and all but I couldn’t buy anything. Well I saw a coat and now I think that I want to go back to get it. I am excited to go back there for it. Well after the rinok we went with the Lunts and we ate a McDonalds. That was good as always and they bought us lunch to make up for what happened at the rinok so I guess I can’t complain too much. We went home and we slept for a couple of hours and lets just say we were bad because we slept until about 7. Well that was our own fault and of course we saw that bad that came from it. About 10 minutes after we left Tom called and said that he won’t be able to come tomorrow and that we was sorry but it wasn’t going to be possible to make it. Well I guess that is what we get for not following the rules and being a little too lazy. Well we went to Степан’s and we talked with him for a bit and about the fact that he needs to come out to the meeting and needs to stop making excuses why he can’t come. He said that he needs to but that he is not going too. Well it was really hard and I don’t know that he completely understands or what but it is hard for him. Well we got him to say that he wants to but it doesn’t look like he will come tomorrow. Well, we went up to the store and we got some stuff and I think that we are going to make some chicken noodle soup. We came to the office to help out the Ehlerts and to get them off to the Vokzal to be able to go to Penza for an audit. Well we are going to go home here in a few and get too bed and all and hopefully have a good time there. Well I am excited for tomorrow, and I like Sundays here and they are always a nice rejuvenating day. The joys of missionary work – no worries about Elders today."
"I spend way too much time in this office and I type way too much here on this computer. I am having a good time though today and it was good to be able to relax and to have our P-day. We actually didn’t do a whole lot but we relaxed a lot. We came here this morning and we typed home and I typed up a good story for the family about what happened yesterday. I sent my journal to myself and also Elder Wright’s story about what happened and so I am excited to have that. We didn’t spend too much time here before we got out of here and we got everything done before we went to the Lunts house and we went to the big old rinok out in the Bezimanski area. Well it was crazy and there was a ton of people that were out there and lets just say that it is not fun to shop with girls man. We walked around forever and we looked on a ton of coats and Sister Lunt just couldn’t find anything. After about 2 hours we decided to go back and to buy the coat that she looked at from the beginning. Well it was sure way too long to be there, and I didn’t buy anything. I did look on some coats and had a good time and all but I couldn’t buy anything. Well I saw a coat and now I think that I want to go back to get it. I am excited to go back there for it. Well after the rinok we went with the Lunts and we ate a McDonalds. That was good as always and they bought us lunch to make up for what happened at the rinok so I guess I can’t complain too much. We went home and we slept for a couple of hours and lets just say we were bad because we slept until about 7. Well that was our own fault and of course we saw that bad that came from it. About 10 minutes after we left Tom called and said that he won’t be able to come tomorrow and that we was sorry but it wasn’t going to be possible to make it. Well I guess that is what we get for not following the rules and being a little too lazy. Well we went to Степан’s and we talked with him for a bit and about the fact that he needs to come out to the meeting and needs to stop making excuses why he can’t come. He said that he needs to but that he is not going too. Well it was really hard and I don’t know that he completely understands or what but it is hard for him. Well we got him to say that he wants to but it doesn’t look like he will come tomorrow. Well, we went up to the store and we got some stuff and I think that we are going to make some chicken noodle soup. We came to the office to help out the Ehlerts and to get them off to the Vokzal to be able to go to Penza for an audit. Well we are going to go home here in a few and get too bed and all and hopefully have a good time there. Well I am excited for tomorrow, and I like Sundays here and they are always a nice rejuvenating day. The joys of missionary work – no worries about Elders today."
Wednesday, August 19, 2009
Memorable
19 August 2005
"It is definitely a rememberable day here. I don't think I will forget this one ever. Well we had a lot of fun, and had some hard times, but basically all in all it ended well even though we had a couple of elders who had a sad ending to their serving in the Russia Samara mission. This morning we had a relaxing time as we were able to sit and to enjoy the time that we hd. Well, we came to the office and the fun just began. After about 10 minutes of sitting here in the office I got a call from Elder Nava that went like this - 'The two elders are sitting in passport control and they won't let them through. They are sitting there right now.' Well that led to series of phone calls all over the place - Moscow to other elders and everywhere. I made sure that the other elders got out of the place quick like so that they didn't come and pick them up and take them out. Well I got a call about 5 minutes later and Elder Smoot said 'We have been deported and we are on the plane back to Vilnius right now.' Well I had a conference on the phone with a Oleg Rumyantsev and we talked about what was happening and all and I talked with President Peiper. Well we sat and thought what could be the problem. The minute that they flew into Vilnius I had them on the phone trying to find out what they could do and all. Well we had made it official and they would be coming back into Russia and there is likely no chance that they ever could. They have tons to do, and there is no way that they could ever get by passport control. Well they met up with Elders there and started to work. I kept busy with talking to people and it became official that they would be serving in the Kiev Ukraine Mission. Well I got sent off to there so that they could get them visas and all. Well that was the craziness of the day. You just never know about what could happen and how fast it could happen. They had no idea and it just came out of nowhere, they were here one day and gone the next. I don't know ho I would react but it is interesting to think what I would do or wouldn't do in such a situation. I am way glad that I am here and that I am serving and I realize now that I better be serving like every day like it is my last on Russia, because I never know what could happen to me and it really might be that way. They will never see the loved ones that they shared the gospel with again, and they will not see the members that they had so many meetings with, at least not for a few years. The joys of service. I love it here! Well I couldn't think and I had tons to do. We got out of the office and met with Вячеслав. We had a good meeting and he is doing well. He will be teaching on Sunday so we hope that will be good and we will be helping him with that. Well we then came back to the office as we had to wait for Tarnuev and Whitaker who are going to serve in the places of the two elders that got deported. Well basically things were crazy and things just went out of control. They got here about 10 and right now I have been trying to get hold of the elders coming back for Vilnius but they don't have a cell phone. Well we have been trying to work things out. I am headed to the Vokzal here in 2 minutes to be with an elder there and then I will come back here quick like and yeah. Well things are crazy and so I am tried and still running on nothing. I have no money at all to pay of things and yet somehow I have to pay for all. Well I am going crazy and I think that tomorrow will be a good time to relax. I am excited for that. Oh yeah, inspite of it all the best news is that Tom called and wants to come on Sunday. Hoorah for such a wonderful day. I will never forget it!"
"It is definitely a rememberable day here. I don't think I will forget this one ever. Well we had a lot of fun, and had some hard times, but basically all in all it ended well even though we had a couple of elders who had a sad ending to their serving in the Russia Samara mission. This morning we had a relaxing time as we were able to sit and to enjoy the time that we hd. Well, we came to the office and the fun just began. After about 10 minutes of sitting here in the office I got a call from Elder Nava that went like this - 'The two elders are sitting in passport control and they won't let them through. They are sitting there right now.' Well that led to series of phone calls all over the place - Moscow to other elders and everywhere. I made sure that the other elders got out of the place quick like so that they didn't come and pick them up and take them out. Well I got a call about 5 minutes later and Elder Smoot said 'We have been deported and we are on the plane back to Vilnius right now.' Well I had a conference on the phone with a Oleg Rumyantsev and we talked about what was happening and all and I talked with President Peiper. Well we sat and thought what could be the problem. The minute that they flew into Vilnius I had them on the phone trying to find out what they could do and all. Well we had made it official and they would be coming back into Russia and there is likely no chance that they ever could. They have tons to do, and there is no way that they could ever get by passport control. Well they met up with Elders there and started to work. I kept busy with talking to people and it became official that they would be serving in the Kiev Ukraine Mission. Well I got sent off to there so that they could get them visas and all. Well that was the craziness of the day. You just never know about what could happen and how fast it could happen. They had no idea and it just came out of nowhere, they were here one day and gone the next. I don't know ho I would react but it is interesting to think what I would do or wouldn't do in such a situation. I am way glad that I am here and that I am serving and I realize now that I better be serving like every day like it is my last on Russia, because I never know what could happen to me and it really might be that way. They will never see the loved ones that they shared the gospel with again, and they will not see the members that they had so many meetings with, at least not for a few years. The joys of service. I love it here! Well I couldn't think and I had tons to do. We got out of the office and met with Вячеслав. We had a good meeting and he is doing well. He will be teaching on Sunday so we hope that will be good and we will be helping him with that. Well we then came back to the office as we had to wait for Tarnuev and Whitaker who are going to serve in the places of the two elders that got deported. Well basically things were crazy and things just went out of control. They got here about 10 and right now I have been trying to get hold of the elders coming back for Vilnius but they don't have a cell phone. Well we have been trying to work things out. I am headed to the Vokzal here in 2 minutes to be with an elder there and then I will come back here quick like and yeah. Well things are crazy and so I am tried and still running on nothing. I have no money at all to pay of things and yet somehow I have to pay for all. Well I am going crazy and I think that tomorrow will be a good time to relax. I am excited for that. Oh yeah, inspite of it all the best news is that Tom called and wants to come on Sunday. Hoorah for such a wonderful day. I will never forget it!"
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
2 missing elders
18 August 2005
"Things were sure interesting today. We were in the office and I was going about my work when I got a call - '2 elders didn't get visas.' Well, I called Блинков and some other people. I talked with the elders and they will be here tomorrow so we will send them back gain this time to Estonia. Elder Wright and Smoot are the two elders so we will see what happens.
That's the crazy news for the day. We also went to do service this morning and that went well. We went back to the old beat down hospital and we cleaned up a little bit there. It is insane how bad of condition the place is in. Well, I talked with Sister Петунц for a little bit and and that went pretty well. She is cool, and we talked about Engels a bit and about all that is happening there. She asked me why I came on my mission and I remembered about when I went to EFY and how after that I had a great desire to serve and I knew that it is what I needed to do. Interesting how one event can make a huge difference. Sister П. came because she always wanted to from when she got baptized by the sisters. It was cool to remember. After service, we went to eat at Жили-Били. It was alright but nothing too amazing. We ate there with the APs. We went to the office and worked and then tonight we went to see an inactive lady named Елена and read with her as it is hard for her. I got some junk food on the way home and no I am here. Rain came today. That was nice to cool things down. I am very humbled to be here today after the visa incident. They may not serve here in a month and maybe they will never have the chance to come back into Russia. I am very grateful to serve here and know that this is where the Lord would have me be at this time."
"Things were sure interesting today. We were in the office and I was going about my work when I got a call - '2 elders didn't get visas.' Well, I called Блинков and some other people. I talked with the elders and they will be here tomorrow so we will send them back gain this time to Estonia. Elder Wright and Smoot are the two elders so we will see what happens.
That's the crazy news for the day. We also went to do service this morning and that went well. We went back to the old beat down hospital and we cleaned up a little bit there. It is insane how bad of condition the place is in. Well, I talked with Sister Петунц for a little bit and and that went pretty well. She is cool, and we talked about Engels a bit and about all that is happening there. She asked me why I came on my mission and I remembered about when I went to EFY and how after that I had a great desire to serve and I knew that it is what I needed to do. Interesting how one event can make a huge difference. Sister П. came because she always wanted to from when she got baptized by the sisters. It was cool to remember. After service, we went to eat at Жили-Били. It was alright but nothing too amazing. We ate there with the APs. We went to the office and worked and then tonight we went to see an inactive lady named Елена and read with her as it is hard for her. I got some junk food on the way home and no I am here. Rain came today. That was nice to cool things down. I am very humbled to be here today after the visa incident. They may not serve here in a month and maybe they will never have the chance to come back into Russia. I am very grateful to serve here and know that this is where the Lord would have me be at this time."
Monday, August 17, 2009
Relaxing
17 August 2005
"I love meeting with Tom. He is such a great guy. We had a way sweet meeting with him. We talked about the sabbath day, and about the word of wisdom and law of chastity. He accepted it all without problem. He just kept surprising us and he knows so much and is very open to the gospel. He knows a ton and he is reading and praying. He said that he wants to come to church so hopefully that will be this week. He is awesome and always feels the spirit.
Well, we went early this morning to the office as we had a meeting with the elders. We had to get things ready as they were flying off to Moscow. It was insane but I think I got it all taken care of. Well, once they left, things got real quiet in the office and we just worked on things. The main thing I did was getting ready for leaving elders in 6 weeks. It went well, and I got that done. I also worked on getting all the phone numbers together for President to take to Moscow. We had lunch, and our meeting and then we went to the church to play with the priesthood. I played chess and got my butt kicked. I also played some phase 10 and that was cool. It is cool to be a missionary and to get out to see people and to work. I truly love to share the gospel with people."
"I love meeting with Tom. He is such a great guy. We had a way sweet meeting with him. We talked about the sabbath day, and about the word of wisdom and law of chastity. He accepted it all without problem. He just kept surprising us and he knows so much and is very open to the gospel. He knows a ton and he is reading and praying. He said that he wants to come to church so hopefully that will be this week. He is awesome and always feels the spirit.
Well, we went early this morning to the office as we had a meeting with the elders. We had to get things ready as they were flying off to Moscow. It was insane but I think I got it all taken care of. Well, once they left, things got real quiet in the office and we just worked on things. The main thing I did was getting ready for leaving elders in 6 weeks. It went well, and I got that done. I also worked on getting all the phone numbers together for President to take to Moscow. We had lunch, and our meeting and then we went to the church to play with the priesthood. I played chess and got my butt kicked. I also played some phase 10 and that was cool. It is cool to be a missionary and to get out to see people and to work. I truly love to share the gospel with people."
Sunday, August 16, 2009
Losing Patience
16 August 2005
"It was a pretty good day here, and I had a ton to do. We worked tonight so that was cool. This morning we went too the office early and met all the ZLs that came in from the different zones. It was cool to see everyone, and especially Elder Alton. Well we got going on совет and that went decent. We had a lot to do with them. We learned about faith from President and about how we can have more faith in the work. We also talked about how to be leaders. These young guys look up to us and we have to be good leaders. Well I had the chance to teach with President and that was cool. He had several good ideas and how we could teach the other Zls. We wanted them to change and I felt confident with President. Well, we ate well again today and it was really really good. Sister D always makes really good salads. Well after совет I got really upset with the APs and left. They want me to do exchanges unless it is inconvenient to them. Well they told me they didn't have time to talk and then I just left with Barney. We contacted a bit and met with some members. We also had a couple of street meeting and talked with some good people. Well, we went back to the office and I worked on some of the things that I needed to. I also watched some movies that the elders in Orenburg made. Well, it was nice to work, and I feel a lot better now after being upset. I just lost my patience. I got to do better!"
"It was a pretty good day here, and I had a ton to do. We worked tonight so that was cool. This morning we went too the office early and met all the ZLs that came in from the different zones. It was cool to see everyone, and especially Elder Alton. Well we got going on совет and that went decent. We had a lot to do with them. We learned about faith from President and about how we can have more faith in the work. We also talked about how to be leaders. These young guys look up to us and we have to be good leaders. Well I had the chance to teach with President and that was cool. He had several good ideas and how we could teach the other Zls. We wanted them to change and I felt confident with President. Well, we ate well again today and it was really really good. Sister D always makes really good salads. Well after совет I got really upset with the APs and left. They want me to do exchanges unless it is inconvenient to them. Well they told me they didn't have time to talk and then I just left with Barney. We contacted a bit and met with some members. We also had a couple of street meeting and talked with some good people. Well, we went back to the office and I worked on some of the things that I needed to. I also watched some movies that the elders in Orenburg made. Well, it was nice to work, and I feel a lot better now after being upset. I just lost my patience. I got to do better!"
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