Transfer Insanity

12 July 2005
"Another long one and I mean it. There is no way we could have been in the office longer today. We got there at 8 and met the first missionaries. They were only the first of about 50 that were there this morning. That is no lie either. We could barely move. Wow it was insane. Well my head just kept spinning as I didn't have anything to think about. I guess I had tons to think about. It was crazy. Well anyhow I tried to work, and it went all right. I am trying to focus more everyday, but it is hard - especially on these type of days. Well, I did get all the letters done correctly, and that was chaos. Talk about insanity, well, anyhow, we had disorientation and that went well as always. We then went of the best part of the day. That means we got to eat lunch with the Davidiks. It was way good. Well, we enjoyed it a ton, and had a way good time. I love being with the missionaries that are leaving although it is hard. Well, we went back to office and I worked on more random things that I needed to get done. I also was able to see Elder Jensen for the last time while here. Talk about weird - it's very weird. I can't believe that he is leaving. Well, I did some things and now we're home with Elder Becker and McCain - both leaving tomorrow. It's very weird to see them go. Well, I think I best be getting to bed for now. Tomorrow will be an interesting day - a new couple will be here from America."

Petersburg Trip

13 January 2005
"Morning - we made it back to Saratov here in fairly good shape. We had a good time in St. Petersburg and I'll explain a little about that. When we got to Samara, we immediately went to orientation and then went to the airport for our flight. When we got there, we got into a nice gazelle and took off for the border, after getting some food to eat. We had a cool guy that was like our guide with us. He served in Moscow not too long ago, and now he does tours of the city. Well, we got to the border, and we had to walk forever. We went through a couple of check stations and got all we needed. When we got back to Petersburg it was already 10:30 so we ate quick and then went to bed. The next day (Wednesday) I got up and we took a little tour of the city. It was a lot of fun, and I enjoyed it tons. We saw so many cool things. After that, we ate at KFC and then we went to the airport from there, we took off to Samara, and then we came to Saratov on the train. It was a long couple days, but it was fun. Petersburg is so pretty, and its just like a European city. It's very clean, and it was nice. It was a nice little vacation.

Evening - Well, I am ready to die. So McCain got transferred and right now I am with Barney and Smith. It's a lot of fun with them, and today we had conference and that was nice. The zone leader talked about setting realistic goals. It got us all ready to set good realistic goals. Well, after that I wrote home and I and all is going pretty well there. We came home and got ready for sports night. It was a lot of fun there, and we had a way good time there. Well, and I am excited to work with these elders and I think we will have a lot of fun and work hard."

Exchanges

10 January 2005
"We're on our way out of Saratov to Samara right now. We just are getting ready to sleep. Today, after собрание округа. I went with Paulsen for exchanges. It was way fun and we worked well together. We stopped by to several people, and then we went to get on the train. We stopped by to a family and the husband was drunk. It was sad and I wanted to help them, but I couldn't really."

Church

9 January 2005
"A good work day! We left early this morning for Володя and then to church. Church went well, and it was a fairly good meeting. After the meeting we went home, ate, and then took off to see an inactive lady. After stopping by to her we went to see Nina. I guess Слава has been way drunk lately. Well, we went to Айдаровы's and gave Саша a blessing as he didn't feel well. We are now home and waiting for Paulsen and Christensen to bring with money for the lift. I love teaching people! What a wonderful feeling it brings! I love it!"

Oops...

8 January 2005
"Talk about a great day - it couldn't have been any farther from that. People are pissed about the elevator. We had people yelling at us all day, and we are trying to get everything in order. That's why the day was so bad. We had our собрание миссионеров this morning at Сергей Семенов's house. He has such a nice apartment . We sat on real carpet like in America. Well, we came home, listened to yelling and I made cookies. Well, we went to Айдаровы's and then to президент's house. Well, a fairly quiet day for missionary work, but we had some meetings. Tomorrow is already Sunday again!"

Christmas

7 January 2005
"С рождеством меня! Well, it is the Russian Christmas today, and that meant for a lot of unsuccess. Well, we started with planning this morning before we left. We stopped by to several people but found nobody home. After looking around, we helped Володя to the Christmas night at the church which was fairly boring, and unfortunately we had to leave to English lesson, which was also boring. I just chatted with Paulsen and Christensen a bit and that was way cool. They are cool elders. We went to the restaurant У Андре - I had pizza again. So that's how the day went. Tomorrow we have a lot of time to meet with people. Hopefully, we'll make the most of it."

Broken Elevator

6 January 2005
"Well, it was sure a lot of fun today with little work. We headed out to get our pictures developed, and while waiting we came back here with the other elders and ate lunch - Mexican pizza. We enjoyed it a lot. Well, we got out after an adventure in the elevator. We were messing around and the lift broke. After a little work we got the doors opened nice and wide so we could all squeeze through. Well, but that time, it was time to get pictures and then we paid our phone bill. We went to Айдаровы's to help with stamps and then to sport night. It was so much fun there and I loved it. It's nice to get a good work out. That was really our day. We didn't get tons done, but it was fun, and enjoyable."

Quick one

4 January 2005
"Well, it was a good time again today. The snow decided that it wanted to come back, and so we had a good storm. We had our собрание округа in the center today and we ate at a little restaurant there. We then tried to stop by to people which didn't happen as no one was home. We were suppose to stop by to Олег today but both Elder McCain and I had a feeling to not stop by. Well, we came home and I made some cookies and they were good. We took them to FHE with us and had a good time there with all the deaf people. It was an all right day, and weird that tomorrow is all ready P-day. What a blast!"

Fun Time

3 January 2005
"Today was a blast! We had a way fun time up the hill in the forest. There was tons of people there. We headed up at about 12 today and we found a place and started a little fire there. We played soccer, buried each other in the snow, and had hot dogs. Well, after the fun we went to Айдаровы's and had a spiritual thought before playing UNO. We then came home and it was about 7:30. We ate and got all ready for bed, and now I am dead. I will sleep like a rock tonight. Today was perfect as it was snowing and it wasn't too cold. It was sweet."

Early Morning

2 January 2005
"We made it a good day today. We left this morning at 6:30 - it just about killed McCain - and went to get Володя. We rode in President Никитон's car and I felt like I was in America. It was sweet. We had our meeting and it went well. Less people were there but that's what you get when all starts at 9. Well we got our passports and ate a bit. We then studied for a couple of hours because we couldn't this morning. We went and saw a kid named Денис, and he is doing good. He is active, but usually goes to Централный. Well, we stopped by to Айдаровы's and then we came home. It's nice to work, and get to know people. It is awesome here in Russia, and I love it!"

Home Boredom

1 January 2005
"I am officially bored! We have been home all day - by instructions from the mission president, and so I have done quite little. This morning I got up and did some working out and studied the scriptures a bit. I layed back down for an hour or so and then studied the language a little. I wrote to BJ and Jamie, and also made tortillas. I had a tasty little lunch and then I set some goals for this coming year. I never set them at home, but I'm on a mission so I got motivated to make them. Well, I played cards a bit and studied some more. now I am writing, and then going to bed in a couple of hours. It has been fairly boring today, and I haven't done as much as I should have, but I figured it was a holday to relax a little bit."

Our apartment, my bed and study area.

Great Blessings

31 December 2004
"Well, I sure can't believe another year is almost over with. It is insane. I really can't believe how fast time flew. I am sure I will write something similar next year too, but it is crazy. Today was a quiet day as we didn't do a whole lot. We went to see Слава but he wasn't home so we just did a little spiritual thought with his Mom - a member of the church. We did have a small planning session today, and that was nice. We bought some stuff for the new year and then we started our wait in the apartment. I really can't believe how crazy it will be here in the city that we have to be home. It is sad to me that people get so drunk here. I am so greatful for the gospel in my life and for the guide it has been to me. I don't know what it would be like without it, but it is hard to imagine. I am lucky to have wonderful parents, and brothers and sisters, and although I won't be with them this next year, I love them very much and know that we will always be together! To the best year yet in my life!!!"

P-day

30 December 2004
" It turned out to be a good one today. Well, we took our П-день today because of conference yesterday and so that meant we couldn't. I guess my brother wanted to call, but couldn't get through. All is well, and I wrote him an e-mail to find out how he was doing. We went to McDonalds and we went bowling today before we came back here to chill. We went and helped Айдаровы's a little and then went to sports night and chilled there. We had a good time and played hard. Other then that not much is happening. We will have to be home early tomorrow and chill out for New Years."

Conference

29 December 2004
"We were at conference all day and then at a baptism in Сольнечный. It was pretty good – conference that is. We listened as usual and had a good time, and then we all shared our testimonies as usual and we at pizza for lunch and that was awesome. We were on the baptism and that was way awesome. The best part was the musical numbers. I love music and that was cool. We were at Айдаровы's for a bit but not much happened there. I received a huge package from my Mom and so now I have a lot of good food. It was awesome. I love it!"

Members

28 December 2004
"Another quick one went by today. We stopped by to Слава and there we gave Нина a blessing – I gave the blessing and was scared, but the Lord blessed me and I said what I should have. We stopped by to Баба Рая today and gave her a Лиахона and talked with her for a while. We came home and ate before our FHE with the deaf people. We greatly enjoyed it and we were late too because there was traffic and it took us an hour to go what usually takes 2 minutes, all in all we made it without much and a had a good time. Tomorrow is conference and so hopefully that will be good."

Crazy

27 December 2004
"We had 3 meetings, helped Володя to the hospital and had a way good time there – well, we'll pretend. We left super early to help him out, and all he did was complain. We don't even help him, we just walk with him. Well, we had district meeting and enjoyed that. Afterwards, we ate and chilled a bit with the other elders. We stopped by and met Алек, and he is crazy. I guess because he told the missionaries not to come back but was upset that we hadn't come by for a couple of weeks. He wanted us to give him ties also. Well, we went to Айдаровы's and relaxed there for a bit before going to FHE. It was with the president and his family. We read a talk from conference and played UNO. And spoons. It was cool. They are all wonderful people, and its tons of fun to be with them."

Church

26 December 2004
"It was super busy and a long one. We did lots today. We helped Володя and that was tons of fun. At the church, we helped people and I talked with a bunch of different people. We had sacrament meeting – I had to pass today – and then all our other meetings. I talked with Аня at the end and looked at her pictures from her mission – she's the one who just got back a week or so ago. We then sat around at the church – well Elder McCain had a meeting. We came home and ate – by that time it was already 7:30 so we just chilled here at home. I have just been enjoying myself a little bit more. It is awesome. I have been studying hard to and learning the language."

Christmas

25 December 2004
"С Роджеством!! Merry Christmas to me! And to all. Well, it was a nice Christmas and I talked with my family. I woke up and talked with my family first thing this morning and it was a lot of fun. They are doing good and had lots of questions about Russia and the culture. I talked a lot with my sister also, and that was nice. Well, I then talked with my Mom and that was nice. It was nice to hear her voice and talk with her. We went to Andre's to eat, and I had a couple of pizzas to eat there – it was way good. After the little celebration we went to a christmas party in the Сольнечный branch. It was fun to see all the talents and skits by all the people. We were there and there was a dance after, and it was cool to see all the Russian people dance. It reminded me of home, and I thought a lot about how much fun dance were. We came home, and Elder McCain is talking with is family. We are getting ready for bed too. What a wonderful time of year it is here. I love the spirit of Christmas and I love my family a lot! What one exciting time in life. I love my mission."

Christmas Eve

24 December 2004
"Well, it's Christmas Eve, and I'm listening to a little Kenny G christmas and relaxing. We had a slow day as usual so we didn't do a whole lot. We did extend our contract in our apartment here with our Хозяйка and she just stopped by and gave us a table so we could eat. We bought some needed items, and then we went to English. I talked with a teacher the whole time. We didn't got to Андре's, but we tried. Well, after it all, I'm ready to go to bed, and talk with my family tomorrow. It's crazy to think that I will be talking with them tomorrow morning! I love them a lot."

Working

23 December 2004
"Well, we had a meeting with a бабушка today and it was pretty cool. She is way nice. We contacted and it went better then last time, but we still didn't get anyone new. Later we went and did more stamps for the Айдаровыs before sports night. We played there – I am dead from that – and then we went to Елвис and ate before coming home. Well, I am getting more comfortable with everyone here, and I am learning to love the people more and more here. It's amazing how much I am focused on the work! I love it here!!"