2 January 2006
"The second day of the New Year, and it was a good one. We had a ton to do, and we were running all over the place. Well, we started out the day well. We did exercises and ate well, and just felt good so that are studying well better. It was interesting how much better I actually felt. We went contacting this morning, and that was good. There weren't too many people on the street, but most of the people were really nice, and were willing to talk. We talked with a grandma on the rinok and even got a contact out of her. Собрание округа was good, but we didn't have a ton of time. We talked about how we had little work, and how we can find more.
Elder Steiner and I ran off to Нина's where we had a nice little lesson about Jesus Christ, and she enjoyed it. She is such a great lady, but has a lot of worries and health problems. We then went to Афина's house where we had a really good meeting with her. She was very calm and in control compared to usual. She is getting ready for baptism, and we hope that she will be completely ready. Following her, we went to the branch apartment where we had a cool little New Year's party. We made pizza, and had a good time chilling with the youth. It was fun, and one of the most useful activities I have been to yet here in Penza. It was a good chance for everyone to get to know each other better. It was a good day, and tomorrow will be too."
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Friday, January 1, 2010
Happy New Year
1 January 2006
"Another year gone! You have to be kidding. It doesn't even feel like 1 year ago already I was writing in this things saying that the year flew by. Time just flew. I have less than 4 months on my mission, and that can't be right. This past year was easiest the biggest growing year of my life, and coming to know myself more. I don't know how the Lord does it, but he sure does help us to grow. He knows where we need to be, when, and with whom. My mission hasn't been the easiest or most successful, but it has been what I have made it. I loved each area in which I have served and have grown enormously. I am blessed to be here in Penza among these wonderful people, and this is one of my favorite areas. What a blessing to serve. I looked at my journal and goals for last year, and I did a fairly good job. I have relaxed a lot and stayed obedient. I need to study the language better, but that is about all. My goals for this year were weird as will be finishing my mission, and have life to think about after that. It doesn't feel like a new year one bit, and things have just gone way too fast.
Today we got to leave the apartment to go to the meeting this morning. There was a lot less people than usual of course, but it was all good. We chatted for a bit before coming back home. We made a huge casserole, and just relaxed. I took a nice little nap. I need to study a bit more, and prepare certain lesson for this coming week. We will see how it all turns out tonight. I absolutely love this work, and love to be here. I can't believe how fast time flies and how many wonderful experiences I have had. The strength I have gained will help me throughout my life to be strong and always turn to the Lord."
"Another year gone! You have to be kidding. It doesn't even feel like 1 year ago already I was writing in this things saying that the year flew by. Time just flew. I have less than 4 months on my mission, and that can't be right. This past year was easiest the biggest growing year of my life, and coming to know myself more. I don't know how the Lord does it, but he sure does help us to grow. He knows where we need to be, when, and with whom. My mission hasn't been the easiest or most successful, but it has been what I have made it. I loved each area in which I have served and have grown enormously. I am blessed to be here in Penza among these wonderful people, and this is one of my favorite areas. What a blessing to serve. I looked at my journal and goals for last year, and I did a fairly good job. I have relaxed a lot and stayed obedient. I need to study the language better, but that is about all. My goals for this year were weird as will be finishing my mission, and have life to think about after that. It doesn't feel like a new year one bit, and things have just gone way too fast.
Today we got to leave the apartment to go to the meeting this morning. There was a lot less people than usual of course, but it was all good. We chatted for a bit before coming back home. We made a huge casserole, and just relaxed. I took a nice little nap. I need to study a bit more, and prepare certain lesson for this coming week. We will see how it all turns out tonight. I absolutely love this work, and love to be here. I can't believe how fast time flies and how many wonderful experiences I have had. The strength I have gained will help me throughout my life to be strong and always turn to the Lord."
Thursday, December 31, 2009
Boredom
31 December 2005
"What a lazy day we got going here. I am already bored out of my mind. Well, at least I made some tortillas for about 2 hours today. I made about 40 or so and they are way good! We also watched The Incredibles for a little bit so that was sweet. We have the television and DVD player here, so we will likely end up watching some more cartoons - President said that was fine. This whole day has been lazy. This morning we kind moped around before we went to the store to buy a bunch of food. I bought a couple of DVDs but they are in Russian only unfortunately. We brought all of our stuff home and then we headed to the приходская квартира where we all got together to play some baseball. That was way cool and I had some really sweet hits. We played for a little more than an hour, and then we came back this way. We walked around for about 20 minutes and then came home - we were in denial and didn't want to. Right now I don't feel much like a missionary as we are just sitting here. I should be studying something probably. I can't believe that tomorrow is the New Year! Time flies, I don't know how to explain. Back to being bored I go!"
"What a lazy day we got going here. I am already bored out of my mind. Well, at least I made some tortillas for about 2 hours today. I made about 40 or so and they are way good! We also watched The Incredibles for a little bit so that was sweet. We have the television and DVD player here, so we will likely end up watching some more cartoons - President said that was fine. This whole day has been lazy. This morning we kind moped around before we went to the store to buy a bunch of food. I bought a couple of DVDs but they are in Russian only unfortunately. We brought all of our stuff home and then we headed to the приходская квартира where we all got together to play some baseball. That was way cool and I had some really sweet hits. We played for a little more than an hour, and then we came back this way. We walked around for about 20 minutes and then came home - we were in denial and didn't want to. Right now I don't feel much like a missionary as we are just sitting here. I should be studying something probably. I can't believe that tomorrow is the New Year! Time flies, I don't know how to explain. Back to being bored I go!"
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Preparing
30 December 2005
"The holiday spirit is kicking in and it is making it hard to work. I had a hard time keeping us focused on work, but it was alright. The hardest part was that there was basically nothing to do. No one could meet with us as they are all getting ready for the New Year, and people didn't want to talk with us a ton, but we managed to work. We had planning this morning, and that went fairly well. We then contacted and stopped by to a few stores. We went to see Afina but she wasn't home. We need to talk with her to tell here we need to postpone the baptism. Well, we then went to the branch where we had a cool concert/play. It was the branch new year party, and they did a good job organizing it. They had the Russian Santa Clause (Дед Мороз) and a big program. We sang a couple of songs there and kind of relaxed. It was fun and really funny.
After the concert, I found out how crazy things are, and that girls have insane emotions. I have noticed how a couple of girls - Маша и Аня always are going for the missionaries attention. Other members notice this, and it is really bothering them. They wish that we would not focus all of our attention on them and we would talk with everyone, and have a good time. I don't know how to talk with our missionaries about it, and get them excited for it. I hope that they will understand where I am coming form, and that they will want to change. Tomorrow we are going to have a lazy day and get ready for New Year's!"
"The holiday spirit is kicking in and it is making it hard to work. I had a hard time keeping us focused on work, but it was alright. The hardest part was that there was basically nothing to do. No one could meet with us as they are all getting ready for the New Year, and people didn't want to talk with us a ton, but we managed to work. We had planning this morning, and that went fairly well. We then contacted and stopped by to a few stores. We went to see Afina but she wasn't home. We need to talk with her to tell here we need to postpone the baptism. Well, we then went to the branch where we had a cool concert/play. It was the branch new year party, and they did a good job organizing it. They had the Russian Santa Clause (Дед Мороз) and a big program. We sang a couple of songs there and kind of relaxed. It was fun and really funny.
After the concert, I found out how crazy things are, and that girls have insane emotions. I have noticed how a couple of girls - Маша и Аня always are going for the missionaries attention. Other members notice this, and it is really bothering them. They wish that we would not focus all of our attention on them and we would talk with everyone, and have a good time. I don't know how to talk with our missionaries about it, and get them excited for it. I hope that they will understand where I am coming form, and that they will want to change. Tomorrow we are going to have a lazy day and get ready for New Year's!"
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Exchanges
29 December 2005
"Today was pretty sweet day with Boster, and we had a good time chattin. He is such a good guy, and he wants to do the best he can as a missionary. He is not quite sure what to do, but he is a great guy. Well, we talked about how to do better that way, and how he can work more effectively. He is really to do it, and is going to try.
We went and contacted a bit. That went pretty well, and we had a good time. We stopped by to a huge magazine and looked around for a bit while we tried to decide what to eat, and what else to do. We went home and grabbed a bite to eat. That was good, and it gave us some good time to talk. We then started our day of trying to meet with people by stopping by to some members. Of course no one was home, and we just chatted a little bit with some people there close by. We did meet with Герасимовы's and that was cool. Люда и Настя are sisters, and they are way cool. We read 4 Нефий with them, and it was cool. That is a really awesome chapter about the power of pride. We then ran over to the branch apartment where we had молодежный вечер. It was way cool as we went out on the square and played tag on the ice rink. It was insanely fun, and we all had a good time. Everyone was watching us and thinking we were crazy. We just laughed and enjoyed ourselves. I am ready to die now I am so tired. Tomorrow should be a fun day again."
"Today was pretty sweet day with Boster, and we had a good time chattin. He is such a good guy, and he wants to do the best he can as a missionary. He is not quite sure what to do, but he is a great guy. Well, we talked about how to do better that way, and how he can work more effectively. He is really to do it, and is going to try.
We went and contacted a bit. That went pretty well, and we had a good time. We stopped by to a huge magazine and looked around for a bit while we tried to decide what to eat, and what else to do. We went home and grabbed a bite to eat. That was good, and it gave us some good time to talk. We then started our day of trying to meet with people by stopping by to some members. Of course no one was home, and we just chatted a little bit with some people there close by. We did meet with Герасимовы's and that was cool. Люда и Настя are sisters, and they are way cool. We read 4 Нефий with them, and it was cool. That is a really awesome chapter about the power of pride. We then ran over to the branch apartment where we had молодежный вечер. It was way cool as we went out on the square and played tag on the ice rink. It was insanely fun, and we all had a good time. Everyone was watching us and thinking we were crazy. We just laughed and enjoyed ourselves. I am ready to die now I am so tired. Tomorrow should be a fun day again."
Monday, December 28, 2009
Relaxing
28 December 2005
"We completely chilled out today, and had a way good time. This morning we didn't do a whole lot, and then we just headed over to Gene's house where they practiced a bit for the concert on Friday. I went with Anand and Condie to play a little pool. It was fun, and the best part was that it was way cheap. We played for a couple of hours before went to Трио Пицца to grab a bite to eat. There was a cool film. The Incredibles - playing there, and so we decided to watch. It was way funny, and cool. Well, about that time we headed out to write home and that was cool. I didn't have a whole ton to write though as I had just talked to them, but I did what I could. it was a lot of fun, and I had a good time there. We finished the night off at English lesson although I didn't have anyone to teach, and so I basically just listened to Theurer's lesson there. We did some practicing for the concert on Friday and now I am with Boster on exchanges. We are going to be working together tomorrow, and hopefully it will go well. I thought about when I became senior companion and how it was tough. I want to help Boster to relax and just work. It is something I wish I had known earlier on my mission. What a wonderful place to be!!"
"We completely chilled out today, and had a way good time. This morning we didn't do a whole lot, and then we just headed over to Gene's house where they practiced a bit for the concert on Friday. I went with Anand and Condie to play a little pool. It was fun, and the best part was that it was way cheap. We played for a couple of hours before went to Трио Пицца to grab a bite to eat. There was a cool film. The Incredibles - playing there, and so we decided to watch. It was way funny, and cool. Well, about that time we headed out to write home and that was cool. I didn't have a whole ton to write though as I had just talked to them, but I did what I could. it was a lot of fun, and I had a good time there. We finished the night off at English lesson although I didn't have anyone to teach, and so I basically just listened to Theurer's lesson there. We did some practicing for the concert on Friday and now I am with Boster on exchanges. We are going to be working together tomorrow, and hopefully it will go well. I thought about when I became senior companion and how it was tough. I want to help Boster to relax and just work. It is something I wish I had known earlier on my mission. What a wonderful place to be!!"
Sunday, December 27, 2009
Huge Answer
27 December 2005
"I received the biggest answer to my prayer ever today. Last night Elder Steiner and I talked about Afina and whether or not she should get baptized. We both decided to pray very sincerely about this last night so we were sure. Today we went to the Баня to pay for it for Afina's baptism and when we got there, I found out that someone had stole my money. We thought forever, and after about 30 minutes we agreed on Afina as it is the only logical answer. We were at Afina's Friday and Saturday I was without 1000. We were there yesterday and today I was without 500. We are almost sure and we could barely concentrate at our meetings once we figured it out. We are both sad and disappointed and don't know how to approach her about it. Somehow we need to though because we need to verify that it was her.
Well, besides that we contacted a little, we then went to several meeting. Our first 2 meetings were with less active members, and we talked about the importance of reading the BofM every day. They are all great people, just lost a little. Our meeting this evening was with Владик and that was sure interesting. We wanted to conduct a 2nd lesson, but he just had so many questions and concerns. He is really good guy and is very open, but his questions are very deep. The members help a lot, but it is hard. The best part is that he truly wants to know truth. He is truly an awesome and chosen guy."
"I received the biggest answer to my prayer ever today. Last night Elder Steiner and I talked about Afina and whether or not she should get baptized. We both decided to pray very sincerely about this last night so we were sure. Today we went to the Баня to pay for it for Afina's baptism and when we got there, I found out that someone had stole my money. We thought forever, and after about 30 minutes we agreed on Afina as it is the only logical answer. We were at Afina's Friday and Saturday I was without 1000. We were there yesterday and today I was without 500. We are almost sure and we could barely concentrate at our meetings once we figured it out. We are both sad and disappointed and don't know how to approach her about it. Somehow we need to though because we need to verify that it was her.
Well, besides that we contacted a little, we then went to several meeting. Our first 2 meetings were with less active members, and we talked about the importance of reading the BofM every day. They are all great people, just lost a little. Our meeting this evening was with Владик and that was sure interesting. We wanted to conduct a 2nd lesson, but he just had so many questions and concerns. He is really good guy and is very open, but his questions are very deep. The members help a lot, but it is hard. The best part is that he truly wants to know truth. He is truly an awesome and chosen guy."
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