Saturday, October 10, 2009

Running Around

10 October 2005
"I am going to go crazy. We are super busy! We have a ton to do and every day, we don't seem to have enough time. This morning I forgot completely about a group that was going to Riga for new migration cards. One of the elders called to find out when he needed to be to the office, and just at that moment I had an awe moment - I know that makes no sense. Well, we went to the office where I started to get everything together and prepared for the long day. Well, the day was super busy thanks to MEC. We started собрание округа which was sure fun. I love to be able to talk with the people in our district, and it is really cool. Well, we had that there for almost 2 hours and then we had to run like crazy cats all over the place. The APs ran to grab some stuff to make bread pizzas and I worked on my MEC stuff more. We ate pizza and then we went to our meeting. That sure went well, and we had a good time talking about all the different things that were going on in the mission. I guess that some people have really bad living conditions - no washing machine, refrigeration, and even no working toilet. Also, there is so many apartments that we need to find. Well, we finished the meeting and Elder Ehlert and I had to work on making general conference discs. We got that all made as we needed although it took a while for us to figure it out. Elder Jonsson and I just ran to a meeting we were suppose to have but didn't work out. We decided to knock, and we talked with a midget lady and she was way cool. We would sure have the weirdest group of investigators - blacks, American, midget, russian - weird! Well, she wants to come so we will see how it all works out. As for now I am going to write in the area book - what a great missionary I am!"

Friday, October 9, 2009

Leaving

9 October 2005
"What an awesome day. We met a ton of great people. This morning we went to the meeting and talked with everyone and had a really good time. None of our investigators came so that was too bad, but it was good to see everyone and chat. After the meeting, we waited for a guy named Godfrey that is from Kenya. Elder Ehlert knows him and he introduced him to us. Well, we waited for him about an hour longer then we had planned and so that meant that we sat and then he finally came. He also brought his friend Patrick and we did a first lesson with them. They are great people and they have very good questions. It is such a blessing to have people to teach. We then went to the office to grab a bite to eat and we talked with the APs for a few minutes there. I guess that I will be leaving from here in 3 weeks they said, and I was sad to hear that. There are people that I have grown to truly love here. It will be very hard to leave. I love this area now.

It was sure hard to work after that and I thought a lot about that. We went street contracting and that was good to do some work. We didn't have a lot of success but we only had 14 lessons at about 7:30. We had a goal of getting 15 lessons this week and we stopped by to a home and decided to go ahead and knock. Well, we found some really nice people and we are going to go back and teach them tomorrow. Well, it is sure awesome to have so much work and to be able to help so many people. I love to be able to teach and work. I love the people here and I am sure going to miss them. I will miss Блинков more than anyone I think! I guess I had better not think so much about it, and just keep on working!
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Thursday, October 8, 2009

Branch Picnic

8 October 2005
"Today was a super busy day. This morning we stopped by to get Надежда and her sons but they weren't home and so we went out to the branch picnic alone. We met up with the sisters, and they were lucky that I had taken an extra jacket and Sister Silva quickly took it. Well, we got out to the last stop where we were to meet and waited there forever. It was nice to take off to the place we were to have the picnic. It was cool to go up and play soccer and work up some energy. Well, it was sure nice and then we ate some шашлыки that were way awesome. Elder Umina and I loved it, and we ate a ton. There were about 20 people there, and all in all it was fun. We rode home quick like and I grabbed a quick shower before going to write home. The family is well, and so is my brother. Well, we then had a meeting with Brother Фролов and that went really well. He is one of the very very first members here in Samara. He is a bit weird, but in all, he is a good guy. He has a lot of awesome experiences, and met a lot of people. Well, we then went over and talked with Степан who gave us another excuse for not coming and why he won't be able to. Well, I am dead tired. It has been a long long time since I have done anything - like soccer today. I will sleep great and tomorrow we will be back to work! "

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

Getting Cold

7 October 2005
"Today we were super busy, and we had a ton to do. We got up and did some major studying and then we had our usual Friday planning time that went very well. We were able to set some good goals, and we should have an exciting week next week although there will be a little less time. We did our planning and then we headed to the office. There, I didn't have a ton to do, but I worked on some little things. Юрий Кутепов (one of the office workers) and I had a little weight lifting contest. It was a lot of fun and we were able to lift about 55lbs (24 kg). I set up some little books for DL's and I also worked on getting things ready for a migration card trim that will take place on Monday. I finished up a few other little things and then I got on and read talks from general conference We enjoyed them, and I am excited to watch it next Sunday. Well, we finished up some other little things and then we took off to English class. It was actually very successful today and there was a lot of students. I wasn't there for most of it as I was translating for Sister Lunt. I did give the spiritual thought at the end, and that went well. It was crazy to be in front of about 15 people as I am not use to it. It is good for me though. We ran quick after the lesson to see Вячеслав and we had a good lesson with him. He is a great guy and it is always awesome to meet with him. Tomorrow we will be super busy. Hopefully all will work out. Oh yeah, the weather is getting cold. Winter will be here very soon!"

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

Small Act of Service

6 October 2005
"It is interesting the miracles that the Lord performs when things are down. Today was a really down day for me. It was really my fault for complaining about the office. I complained about not seeing anyone and was just feeling bad for myself. It is hard, but I need to just work. Well today after the office we were headed to a meeting with some members (the Сталновы's) and there was no one on the streets and I was getting upset and felt like giving up. Well, I saw an old бабушка across the street who was bent over and very little. She was trying to carry a box and was having a lot of trouble. Well, I thought that there was no need to help as I wanted to talk with a family. We walked by (on the other side of the street) and after about 15 seconds I told Elder Jonsson that we needed to go back and help (he didn't see her). Well, we went back and took the box and walked and talked. She was a nice old lady and I can't express the feelings of joy that I felt. I realize that it isn't about the number of lessons but more on the quality of work we are doing. I love to server others, and although we didn't find a new family, we did what the Savior would have done.

In the office we worked for a long time and got a lot done. I got some visa paper work done and then I wrote some more of those darn letters for leaving missionaries I really dislike that job but I guess that is part of my calling. My big thing today was getting the calendar all setup for next year. That was pretty interesting and a very difficult task. To think about the entire year is sure insane, but I think I have things decently planned but I guess we shall see. Well, we got out of there, and went to our meeting. We talked about missionary work and we had them show us in which area to work. We will go out there next week and hopefully all will work out. It was an awesome lesson and the spirit was strong. Now we are home and we are getting ready for another big day tomorrow."

Monday, October 5, 2009

Computer

5 October 2005
"We are sure getting use to things in the office. We are learning to study the full amount of times in the morning and we are having a lot of success. This morning I read a ton about how the Book of Mormon was partly sealed and that we don't have many of the writing of prophets. It will be interesting to have those writings. 2 Nephi 28. Well, in the office I did several different things and the bad news was that Tom was unable to come today so that meant that the most effective was setting up a PDF document for Russian Papers. That meant that we are now able to just type in the translation and we don't have to write it all by hand now. Well, I also worked on getting things ready for setting up myldsmail.net in Russian. I did several other things and I ate some халва and spoiled my appetite. Well, we worked and did some little things in the office before we took off to work. We didn't have a great night but we were able to talk with a husband and wife. Well, we did talk with a drunk guy who fell in a hole while we were walking and almost smashed his head into the cement, but go lucky. We came home and we are getting ready for our big long day again tomorrow. I hate when I sit behind the computer too long as I am always very tired. Well, at least tomorrow we will have a couple of meetings. It is something that we are looking forward to!"

Sunday, October 4, 2009

Kazan Craziness

4 October 2005
"We made today a super quick one. We did so little, but so much. This morning we studied as always and that was cool. We then headed to the office a few minutes early so that I could finish getting ready for MEC. Well, there is some crazy stuff going on in the mission and the craziness is in Kazan. They had a tone of inactives at the meeting, about 20, and most of them got up and bore their testimonies about how the church isn't necessary and how the branch president is such a bad guy. Well, I guess the district leader - Elder Tarnuev - got up and closed the meeting. Well, it was a tough day for them Sunday and things were sure interesting.

I guess that is shocking, but it happens. Well, we finished the meeting after a long discussion and we ate a good lunch that Sister Ehlert made. It was awesome - stew and mashed potatoes. Well, I then worked on all the little things that I need to and get a lot done. We finished up and then we ran to the church for FHE that went well. We also had a good time chatting with people. I found out that Sister Фомичева didn't hear a single discussion before baptism and only one after baptism. They just baptized her in 1991 and she didn't understand. Well, it is sure insane and I couldn't believe it. There is a great story about coming on a mission and she will be recording that for me on a tape. Tomorrow we should have a good day, and I am excited to be back to work and meeting. It will be nice.
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