Saturday, September 5, 2009

Chillin in the office

5 August 2005
"Here I am once again writing here on the computer. I am sure that it will happen again also. We are here and we have to do a ton. I have been working on this access thing all day, and it is actually way cool. I figured out how to set it up so that I can print off all of the pictures that have served here while you served here. Wow, it was crazy and that is actually what I am working on right now. I am trying to get all of the pictures set up for people that have left and that are here. It is a lot of work, but it will be worth it in the end. I have to edit every picture for every person so that means about 500 pictures of work that I am doing and it is crazy. Then I have to paste the names of the pictures into the database, but it is definitely worth it. I will have a cool thing when I am done. Well let’s just say that I have spent most of my day doing this. This morning we had some time to read and then we came here to the office where I put all of the stats together and things like that so that I could be ready for our meeting tomorrow. All of the ZLs sent in their stats on time so that is a good thing, and we are going to have a good meeting tomorrow. The stats are actually kind of sad, and there isn’t a lot that went on in our mission. Elder Bennett and I had more lessons then almost everyone here in our zone and that is really sad. All the same, I finished that up and I worked on getting things figured out for Dima and his time to Ukraine that went all right, and at least I got it planned. Then I just worked on this program all day basically. I figured it out and then I just worked on getting the pictures ready. It is going to be way sweet and the sisters will be really happy (they are the ones who asked me to put the thing together). I did take a quick break to eat, and that was good. We had some fries and some chicken nuggets and that was cool. Well I came back and I quick like finished up some things before we went to the church for the FHE. That was way awesome. The sisters gave a lesson about home teaching and that was way cool. They are way awesome and they work well in involving others and basically it was cool. We then played “Do you love your neighbor?,” and that was way fun. We played ton, and Elder Lunt and I went at it pretty good. Well I had a good time playing and I took a few blows and gave several to people. I know it sounds violent but it was really a lot of fun. We then came back here and I am with Elder Hunsaker. I will soon be leaving with him and Elder Bennett will be going to Penza for a couple of days. Well that should be good for him and I wish that I could go but I will have fun chilling here in the office. Well, I am going to quick like finish up this program and then we are headed home. It should be an exciting day tomorrow! Yea!"

Friday, September 4, 2009

Spiritual Evening

4 August 2005
"I know that it is weird that I am here and that I am writing here on the computer on a Sunday but I had to come here to the office to get a number for Dima from Saratov because tomorrow they are going to Kiev and they need to make sure that someone will be coming to meet up with them there and that they will get there in time. Well I had to give them the office number there in Kiev and so that meant that we had to come here because I am not a walking phone book. We decided that we would write in our journals here since it is a lot easier and I can write a lot faster. Well, anyhow, today turned out to be pretty good and we had a lot of success and we helped out a lot of people. We went to the church this morning and we had to open the doors again of course. Well, we got in and there was water all over the floor from the tub for baptisms and so I had to clean that up. After doing that, we started the meeting that went pretty good considering that President wasn’t there. Brock Anderson was here after just leaving a little more than a month ago. He served here in the office before me and he served as the Executive Secretary. He came back for a girl and let’s just say that it is sure interesting. Testimony meeting was interesting as there was a lady there who shared her testimony twice because no one else was getting up. It was good, but at the same time it was weird and I guess that is part of life here in Russia. So, after looking at some of the pictures that Вика Орлова brought for me to look at from her mission, we went and sang a bit from the new hymn books and it was a lot of fun. I will be singing on Thursday in a little choir and so that means that we needed to have a little practice afterwards and teach the Russians the new songs. What was supposed to be a quick practice turned into a long practice and it was sure crazy. We came here to the office with the APs and let’s just say that it was a big waste of times. I worked on getting an English lesson invitation typed up and then we finally decided to get out of here…

Well we were only leaving because we had to go to the Ehlerts to eat at a 6 o’clock dinner appointment. Well that was way cool. There is always a ton of food there and we always have a ton to eat. I love to be with them and they are such good people. Well after eating we had a cool spiritual little lesson with them. Daniel, the American investigator of the APs, was there and so we talked a lot about Joseph Smith and we had a way spiritual meeting with him. We basically shared our testimonies and it was way awesome. I shared an experience about when I had left on my mission and I got set apart as a missionary. I remember the spirit was so strong as I sat there and I felt the mantle of the Lord come upon me. I remember just crying and feeling the spirit so strongly at the time, and I will never forget that experience. I then shared the experience about how when I was in Izhevsk my first week and I completely felt the spirit and I just cried at the meeting there. What an awesome feeling that was and I know that the Lord was blessing me at those times. It was a very spiritual evening and so that was good. We all felt the spirit a ton, and it is one of those moments that I will certainly not forget. We came home and like I said I had to get that number for Dima and so we had to come here to the office. We were already late in getting home and since this is so much faster to write, we figured we would do it like that. Well now are going to go home and do who knows what – well actually I have a ton to do. All the same I love the spirit and to be here and to share the gospel. This is truly the gospel of Jesus Christ and I absolutely love it here. I love to feel the spirit! What a life!"

Thursday, September 3, 2009

Normal P-day

3 August 2005
"We are so boring. We don't do anything that is exciting. Life really sucks when you are the only 2 elders with p-day. I mean, it’s not like I am going to die, but it really is boring. This morning I didn't get up on time again because I slept very little last night. All I thought about was a missionary who will be here and how she needs to be here by Thursday to get set apart and then get to Moscow. It tortured me all night. Well, I wrote home, and that went well. The family is doing well, and there is no major news. My sister is going to move out for a while, so that is crazy. I looked at a bunch of pictures of the hurricane Katrina and things are crazy there. It is sad how much is happening. We were bored and didn't want to leave, and so I work more on the Access program. We finally left, and we went to the store and got some food for the next week. Well, it should be good, and I got a lot of good stuff. On the way home, rain came really hard and I was pretty wet. Well, it was all good and we went back to the office to make lunch. We had potatoes, chicken, and a salad type of thing. After eating we got all our things together and we came home where we layed down to sleep. I slept for about an hour and a half before President called and woke me up. He needed some help, so I did what I could. Well, I wrote a letter to Jeff and then I read a bit. We went to Площадь Революции. We sat and watched the people walk by and it was pretty funny. We were waiting for Юрий but he didn't show, so we went to see Степан w/o him. We heard all of the same excuses again about not coming and not being able to. We told him that he had to, and he agrees but then makes an excuse why he can't. It is frustrating but we just need to keep working with him. After the meeting we went on to the street and we were heard "Lady In Red" playing down by the Volga and we walked down that way. We stopped by the store and grabbed some stuff for tomorrow. We are of course fasting right now and I am having a good time with that - I actually enjoy conquering the body. I am fasting for Tom that he might realize that he has already found out that the church is true. I hope that all will work out for him. Well for being a boring day, I wrote a lot. I hope that tomorrow will be a good day and that all will go well. I love fast and testimony meeting and the spirit that comes from it. We will hopefully work well tomorrow and find some new people, but we'll see for sure."

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Access

2 September 2005
"Today absolutely flew by, and it was sure fast. I had tons to do, but I started on it way too late. This morning we got a full studying and we were able to plan our meeting and do all that we needed that way. Well, we got ready and headed to the office and there our sisters were, and we chatted with them for a bit and found out how life is going for them. They are doing well and have little time as they have so much work. Well, we have a ton of work too, but not like them. I started my stuff for the day, and I must say that today I had a victory with the computer. I worked on the Access program and I figured out how to get pictures to show up finally, so that is cool. Now I can do some cool things with it. Well, at about 2 we went to Баба Нина's and had a meeting with her. We also had a good lesson about the BofM and discussed that a bit. We ate a little there, bud didn't have much of an appetite because Sister Ehlert had made some cookies earlier and I pigged out. Also there was some watermelon so I had to eat that too. We went back to the office and loaded the things for Elder Smoot and Wright into Roman's van along with all the new hymn books for several of the branches. Well, we had some really tasty sandwiches for lunch with real mustard. That was really good. Well, after talking with Elder Lunt for a bit and hearing his story, we finished some work in the office. We then went to a meeting with Вячеслав this evening and that went really. We had a really good meeting with him about the priesthood. He said he wanted the Melchezidek Priesthood and is ready to work towards that. After the meeting we looked at some pictures for his family. lets just say that it was interesting as his daughters were in bikinis and there were other people also. Well, it was a bit uncomfortable, but we got through and it was all good. We walked all the way home in about 35 minutes and then we got everything ready for bed. Tomorrow is p-day already and that means another week is almost done - wow!"

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

No work and Katrina

1 September 2005
"I have felt kind of useless today, even though we had a decent day. This morning we slept in because our alarm didn't work. We got up and hurried and got ready and ran to the office. After sitting behind my computer for 10 minutes, I realized I had very little to do. I had gone without breakfast and so I made some pancakes for myself. After the pancakes I got a few things ready to go to Сестра Петунц. Well, I did some reading up on some beliefs I played around some more with Access and made some cool reports and things. I worked some more on the Kiev problem, but we don't know what to do still. They are being interesting about it, and maybe I'll go there myself - lol - I only wish. Well, I just sat and didn't know really what to do. They worked on getting more hymnbooks labeled and I helped a little bit. I did take a look at some pictures of hurricane Katrina that was in America. It was huge and there was tons of pictures of the floods and all. Well, it was pretty crazy and it was weird to think that right now this is going on. Well today was the first day of school, and it didn't even hit me - we were in the office most the day. One of the things that we noticed was that there was a ton of people on the streets this afternoon and this evening. It's weird what gets them out. Well, we were working, contacting, and knocking this evening when we had a lady invite us in out of nowhere. She doesn't believe a ton but is a great lady. We talked with some other people, and it was nice to work, but I couldn't talks as my head hurt from being in the office so long. Tomorrow I will have plenty to do, and we will have some time to work. It is nice to be able to get out of the office - you just have to do missionary work!"

Monday, August 31, 2009

Long...

31 August 2005
"Today we have been super busy and there is a reason that we are still here. I am doing well and having a good time here. I am enjoying life and actually I have had tons to do today so that is good. I also have been able to get a lot of the necessary things done that I needed to. The nicest thing though was that this morning my comp and I had a nice time talking and studying together. It was the first time this week and likely the last. Maybe we will have time again but it always seems that there never is time. Anyhow, so this morning we studied and all and that went well. We talked more about Alma 40 and about how that is possible. We also talked about Adam and Eve and about how it was forbidden to partake of the tree of good and evil and the consequences of that. Studying is always a ton of fun and there is always a ton to think about.

Well, we came to the office, and I had to start by typing up some papers for President and then I also had to type up a letter for Сестра Петунц. She is leaving tomorrow with President and she kind of left suddenly. It is her time already to leave, but we were expecting her to stay here for a bit longer. Anyhow, I had to write the letter which I complained about a bit, but in the end President just re-wrote the thing anyways so that was good for me as I have no thoughts in Russian like President. So after writing these I had to go to Bucks apartment and to get a TV and DVD player with Elder Ehlert and then we got back here and I kept busy with things that I don’t know what I had to do. Well anyways, I stayed super busy and then we had a meeting with Tom.

Tom is doing well and he is still reading and he still wants to know more. He wants to know the truth and so is searching diligently. He is trying to find out if it is true, and it is so nice to teach him because he always seems to understand. In fact today he talked a little bit about exaltation and about how the fact that maybe God was a person before this. He seemed to agree. We watched the Restoration with him and I absolutely love that movie. It is so touching and the story of Joseph Smith is so true. I know that what is there really did happen and that Joseph really did restore the church on the earth. Well, we communicated our feelings and then he also communicated his. He always agrees with the doctrine and has so much understanding of what we teach. He said that he just isn’t sure yet. He is ready, and he just needs to admit it. We will be teaching next week, so we will be preparing a good lesson and hopefully we can get a baptismal date.

After the meeting we got back to work and I finished up some stuff for the Elders that got deported to Kiev. I worked on figuring out what is going to happen with their things and how we are going to get them to Kiev, and all that good stuff. I don’t know still but they want us to send them with one of the conductors on the train although we don’t think it is really all that safe. We also don’t know if it will work although they are sure that it will work. Well we are still working on it now as we speak and it is pretty ridiculous. I don’t know what to do, but hopefully things will work out. It would be really nice if we could just things done quick and not worry about it so much, but it is really on their shoulders right now because they have to take care of these elders. Well, we hopefully get all figured out tomorrow.

Tonight the sisters were all here and we talked with them a bit. They got things ready to go out to some of the branches, and that helped us a ton. We are going to be getting those to them soon and that will help them a ton. I worked a lot with Access with tonight and I worked on setting up a list so that now our e-mail addresses will show up when we go home since no one wastes time to handwrite anymore. Well, I got that figured out and then I had to repack the elders bags. There is so much good stuff in there and I wish I could take it, but I guess I will just live with what I have. So tonight I am getting ready to go home and I am really tired. It will be nice to get a good night of sleep and tomorrow be back to work. We have a ton to do so that is good, and we will be super busy. What a life!"

Sunday, August 30, 2009

Great Hymns

30 August 2005
"Today has been pretty cool and we are here kind of by formality. We don’t necessarily need to be but we kind of wanted to basically. Well we had a good day and I am a little dirt bag – I am dirty I mean. This morning we came here a few minutes early and we got things done that we need to. We actually had a good time studying and I learned a little bit about Alma 34 and about how the body and soul can be reunited. We were asked this question once in Saratov, and I didn’t know what to answer and I just thought about it because Sister Silva did a thing with us the other day where we had to answer questions about scriptures. It was cool and I had a good time but then later I remembered this question and I wanted to find an answer. Well I found a lot of scriptures and thought a bunch about it and it finally made sense to me. I thought of several examples and the main one that I thought about was a bed. When there is a bed but there is no mattress, what is it called? Well you can call a few different things but you can certainly still call it a bed. The same goes for a soul. A soul without a body is still a soul and especially if it will become a soul again. It made a lot more sense to me after I thought about it like that. Well I am going to continue to study up on it, but that helped me a ton to understand a lot better what a soul is. Here in the office I got ready for MEC which we then had and we went to work at. We talked a bit about what happened in Moscow for President with Elder Uchtdorf and about how they talked a ton about Preach My Gospel and about the importance of it. We really need to use it a lot more and have to know how it can be used. Well we have been working on focusing on that, and President Davidik said that it was a way awesome conference. We got through everything and then I got out and went about my own business for a bit before the big load came. We had to move a ton of boxes. All of the new hymnals came in Russian. Well I moved probably about 40 boxes and I got super dirty. I was really sweaty by the end and it was pretty crazy. Well after all the moving we took the hymn books and we had a good time looking through them. It has been weird that I haven’t had these hymns and I thought about how I had forgotten them. Well we looked at them for awhile and then we ate some really good food. After we ate I finished a few things up and then we went to English Lesson. English was pretty fun and we had a good time but kind of pointless. I realized how dirty I was for all of the boxes that we had moved and all and I felt kind of dumb. Well we did a spiritual thought at the end, and it was pretty cool. Well after the spiritual thought we came back to the office and now we are here and we are singing some of the hymns and all so that is cool. It is way cool to be able to sing these hymns. I love it so much. I miss singing them so much and I am way happy to be able to have such wonderful songs. What a wonderful new spirit it will bring into the meetings here!"