Saturday, March 13, 2010

Sane

13 March 2006
"Today was a pretty cool day. We had a good time contacting this morning and talked with a lot of people. We even talked with a guy who was going to get us the phone number of another American here in the city. We headed to the branch apartment for district meeting tonight and we had a decent time there. We have good missionaries and I am really glad to be working with them. Well, we had pizza on tortillas and it was pretty good. I chatted with Elder Schwab for awhile about the work and our missionaries here, and i love to talk with him We then went to see Баба Нина and she is doing well. I love her to death, and it is great to be working with her. We then went to see Шавкат and we had a good time with him. He talked a lot about his family and about the problems that he has . We came home, and now we are chilling . Today was a sweet day and I feel good about being a missionary. I love the work a ton. I talked a ton with Маша и Люда today and they are doing well. They are keeping me sane I think - all the youth that is. I love them to death and what a joy to serve here."

Friday, March 12, 2010

Good Sunday

12 March 2006
"Today we got out and worked a little, so that was good. We went through the normal routine this morning and had a good time at sacrament meeting. The good news is that Владик и Раиса were both there. The meeting went as usual - and hopefully things will get better that way, but who knows. We came home and ate some rice with some sauce that Elder Christensen made. We then chilled home for a bit before we went to see Алексей Гладков. We tried to help him with his fax machine, but we not figure it out. We ended the night with the Поваров's and that went well. We tried to explain to Наташа that because Christ was with the Nephites they could pray directly to him. She is just trying to disprove the Book of Mormon, and does not want to accept it. Well, now we are home, and having a good time with the missionaries here. Elder Christensen is a funny guy, and I like him a lot. He is still getting use to things, but he is a good guy, and things should go well for us."

Thursday, March 11, 2010

Reincarnation

11 March 2006
"We got all of the hud done today that we needed - there was a lot of it at that too. This morning at about 8 we headed out to do all the registration stuff that we needed, and that is a good thing. The bad thing was that we stood there for about 3 hours and so wasted a lot of time basically. We came home for like 2 seconds before we had to pay for some more registration stuff and head to вокзал to take care of some ticket problems for us to get to Samara this next week. Another hour there, and then we came home and ate lunch. We later went out and went to собрание миссионеров. That went well other than the fact that Илья said that we might believe in reincarnation and the prophet has made no statement on it. I opened up Preach My Gospel to where it says we don't believe it, but he didn't listen. We headed off to sports night and that went well other than the fact that we had few people there. We played a ton and now I am dead. We're living in a 4-some which is a lot of fun, but it is really hard to focus on things that we need to get done. I hope that can all stayed focused and have a good time. Tomorrow we will have a better day I hope."

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

10 March 2006
"Today was a fairly interesting day, and we had a good time together. Well, we started out contacting this morning and that went pretty well. We were in the center so we took a new route, and found some cool things. We then went and looked at a few things on the рынок before going to check out an apartment. Well, it was a nice place, and I would like to live there, but it is a bit expensive. We came home to Elder Anand's area and went to a grandma - Валентина - and had a meeting with her. She said that she would be here on Sunday so that will be good. We came home, grabbed a bite to eat and then took off to Филекс to chat with him. He has a lot of problems with the Book of Mormon and so we tried to help him understand, but it is hard because he knows so much about the Old Testament and I know little. He asked a lot of questions about the Jews and it is something that I need to study a little more. We took off and are at Anand's place just waiting right now. That means I have nothing to study or to look at as his things are in Mongolian. Well, I will soon be happy to be with Elder Christensen and get to work again here in our area. Hopefully they get here too late or it will be super fun tomorrow."

Tuesday, March 9, 2010

Skipping

9 March 2006
"Things went fairly interesting today. This morning we were sitting here studying and there was a ring at the door. It was no other than Андре. Basically he was skipping class and needed somewhere to chill. We chatted for a bit, and then we went and contacted with him for a bit. It didn't go to well in a 3-some and snow was coming down but we tried. Well, we came home and grabbed a bite to eat before we headed to see Раиса. Маша was with us for that, and things went fairly well there. She still is having a hard time with smoking and is not sure how to quit. She said that she is smoking less though, so that is a good thing. Well, we then went over to see Баба Нина and all is going well for her and she is happy. We had a meeting before taking off to buy tickets for us to get to Samara next week. We came home and chilled before we went to the branch apartment for service. We cleaned everything up really well, and then we were sitting there when they started to listen to all kinds of music and just chill. Well, I went to the kitchen and just sat and thought and then prayed so that the Lord would help me to do something. Well, I went in, turned the music off and asked what we were going to play. Well, it went way awesome and we all laughed and had a good time. It was truly an answer to my prayers and it was a great strength and reassurance from the Lord that he is always willing to support those whom he calls. Tomorrow with Anand and then Christensen will be here!"

Monday, March 8, 2010

Women's Day

8 March 2006
"What a crappy day. Well, it was alright. I am with Elder Anand and today was the big праздник - Women's Day. Well, that meant that everything was closed almost. We had to go to the other elder's apartment and get things for Elder Anand. We then found out that things were closed and so we didn't know where to write home. We went to a Chinese restaurant that had some alright food but nothing amazing and I basically left hungry. We then went in search of an Internet place, and found one. I guess one of the biggest things is that we have a new stake president whom I don't really know. We went to look at some cds and other stuff that wen alright before we went to the branch apartment where we should have had a meeting with Vladik whom didn't show. So we chatted for a bit and now we are home. I made the popcorn as I usually do, and now we are chillin. I thought today about how weird it is to be w/o someone after being with them so long. I can't imagine what it will be like when someone dies who is close to me as I am so use to them. Love is an interesting thing and we always want more, but sometimes it an hurt us. I have thought a ton about it, but now I need to get on to other things."

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Leaving

7 March 2006
"I guess it has finally happened - the comp has taken off. I must say that it is going to be weird without him the next couple of months. I just got use to him and so it will be weird w/o him. I am with Elder Anand right now and will be with him until Friday night. Today was actually not a terrible day. It could have been a lot worst. Or it even could have been really bad, but we got out contacting this morning before we went searching for a few things for my comp. I got my pictures back, and the new went to the branch apartment where we helped Маша a bit with her computer and got it running all right. We ate Шуарма right before that, and that was not such a great idea. We ran off to Люда's house where we had a pretty cool meeting with Марина - an investigator. She asked why we have to be baptized again if we were already baptized in another church. It was awesome to actually be at a meeting and to feel the spirit working through us as we answered her questions. We the came home quick before we ran to the concert which was actually pretty cool. We had a good time and the best part was probably when we sand "Don't worry, be happy." It was cool and then right after that, we quick like came home, grabbed Steiner's crap and then went to вокзал where we said our final goodbyes. Missionary work is one of the hardest ever, but the most rewarding."