Cabin Fever!

Week 24

This was a decent week!  Elder Bates and I were finally getting good at contacting.  And then I got sick.  I woke up wednesday morning and new it was going to be a rough few days.  At first I thought it was strep, but it has turned out to be nothing more than a cold.  we were stuck in until saturday, but now I am okay.  I remember one night I couldnt sleep so I literally just sat in my bed while elder bates peacefully snoozed.  Sister sullivan told me what medicines to take, and motrin PM has put me out cold the last few days.

So we had a lot of miracles this week.  THere is a row of flower shops near our house and  we talked to one of the ladys.  She took a book of mormon and we gave us her number a few weeks ago, and we passed her onto the sisters.  The sisters lost her number or somehting though, but just on tuesday we saw her again and she said "Hey I read the book, but what do I do now? Do you have like a meeting or something?"  And we were like yeah! and gave her an invitation to church, she didnt come, but it was cool.

Funny:  So the other night I was pretty drugged up becasue of the Mucinex, but it was wearing off, and we were contacting, and it was not good.  Elder Bates made us go in early becasue i was so tired and nothing I was saying really made sense, yeah my brain was halfway between here and Pandora. 

NOt much else really happened this week, we had a really good english lesson and a gal name ksenia came, we were talking about the living christ and after we were asking what had been learned and she said "I found out that prophets adn apostles are still on the earth today, I didnt know that before"  And we were like, heck yeah they are.(A little more reverent than that).  Apparently the Broncos won the super bowl, no one in Ukraine cared.  Funny thing about ukrainians for the week:  If they make you food, and you finish, they give you more.  We met with two families this week.  FIrst was the Tarneko family, they are a husband and wife and the wife is the relief society president.  She made us Bleencheeekee(Swedish pancakes with cream cheese inside, and strawberry syrup on top), "Green Borsht"also known as pickle and spinach soup.  IT was all good, i have learned to like pickles here.  Also I never ask what is in what I am eating, the trick is to not mentally prepare yourself. Thats it for us here.  Elder Bates and I are both healthy now and are doing good.

  

Hey buddy,

How are you doing?!?  We are doing good.  First off....Your package came!!!!!!  It arrived yesterday, so just 12 days after you sent it!  I feel like that is amazing!  I was so surprised and so happy about it!  All the kids were so happy too!!!  You should send more mail occasionally!  It was a huge boost to us all.  Thank you so much:)

Sister Sullivan put a video of you on the blog this week singing Happy Birthday in Russian!  It made me so happy!  I have rewatched it a million times!

This week was full of Parent teacher Conf.  Kaestli is doing great, and is doing work for a kindergartener.  I am going to have to put her in Kindergarten even though I don't really want too!  

Jacob is doing really well also.  His teacher likes him and he is learning a lot.  He has become a peer mentor for a kid with autism in his class and really likes that.  It is sweet to have him pay it forward, for the friends we have had for Jordy.

Cam is doing ok.  He is learning and progressing but will remain in full resource for the future and next year.  He is in the regular classroom off and on though for activities.

I am starting Josh at Fullmers boxing...he is still struggling off and on.  He is disrespectful to curtis and me and I'm pretty tired of it.  I am hoping the boxing can help him get out his aggression and then he might be nicer to Jord...and well everyone.  Dakkon has started doing what you used to do and talk him through his behavior and actions.  

Dakkon is doing well at his job, but may be dragging his feet a little with the mission papers.  He just needs to finish a couple things.  We are hoping he does it soon.

I'm having Relief Society here this week and we are decorating cupcakes.  I am going to send Sarah her mission cupcakes this week too.  

It has been really cold, but I think it is going to warm up to upper 30s and 40s this week so that will be nice.  

All of the moms on the Facebook group held a group fast today for your mission, the missionaries, and all the missionaries in your mission with health issues going on.  It was good to do it together.  It is fun for us to have a connection and share stories and experiences.  In Sacrament meeting today sis bore her testimony, it was super cute.  

Questions this week-

1-Have you stayed healthy?  Do you have enough medicine if not?  Have you had to use the antibiotic?  I hope your healthy, but am worried you have been around so many sick people in close quarters.

2-Are the hats real fur?  How much were the hats? and shipping?  All the other moms have been asking.

3-How often do you see the Shumway's?  Sherri Russel said they talk very highly of you!!  

4-What is your favorite thing about serving a mission?  

5-Is the ice melting in the streets as the weather has warmed up?

6-Some of the other missionaries are telling there moms about some crazy stuff.  Some one was punched, an ax murderer in one area and death threats on the street.  Are you having this kind of stuff and just not telling me?

7-Have you found tooth paste and other necessities there?  Anything you need?

8-How is your skin/acne?  Do you need me to send some proactive or something?

9-How are your feet this week?  The insoles are on their way!!

10-Are you still happy and positive? (not expecting you to be sad...just want you to feel like you can tell me;)

11- So are you getting letters from me?  I have been sending them.

12-Any requests for letters/pictures/etc.?

13-**  Can you write a little email specifically to thank the Young Women and young men from our ward that sent the christmas package.  I'll read it to them next week, maybe include your testimony of the church and missionary work.

Well,  I love you and miss you.  I am so proud of you for serving so faithfully and staying positive through tough things...I know it must be tough;)  I am very glad you are serving.  Before you left I was so worried and didn't want you to leave because I knew it would start a revolving door of missionaries at our house for the next 10 years, and now I am so excited about that.  I really hope everyone serves!  It has been so fun to see you doing so well and learning so much!

Remember I don't expect you to be perfect and neither does Heavenly Father.  It's ok if you do feel down sometimes, or get discouraged.  Keep the faith and stay strong.  I know you can continue in this amazing journey with a positive attitude and helpful.  Sister Sullivan sent me an email and said you are a great missionary and companion and that she wished she could bottle and distribute your positive attitude:).  

You're the best!  I love you so much!!!

Mom

I am healthy now! ;) I have enough medicine, I havent used the zpacs yet, THe Lord protects us from the majority of it.  Shipping was 28 dollars, and the hats were 8 each, except for yours which was 50. We see the shumways 2-3 times a week, we love to see them!  They are the best.  My favorite thing about serving the mission is teaching, I really like teaching people the gospel.  THe ice is melting mostly. NO, Elder Bates and I havent really had stuff like that happen.  We just stick with the spirit, and are kind to everyone, we help people when we can, we make it pretty hard to hate us.  THey have pretty much everything health wise here, Ukrainians are nuts about stuff like that.  My acne is mild, so its whatever, I would not be disappointed to get Proactiv, but i dont need it.  My feet were good this week.  I am still happy and positive.  Elder Bates and I are getting along good.  I am getting your letters, and I keep them all! I am gonna need to get a new binder here soon!  I will send that to you.

You forgot to say I love you!!

I LOVE YOU

Love you too!!!  Any pictures this week?