That is what time we got up this morning so that we could Email you all. Because today we are going fishing!!!! One of our potential investiagors is taking us on a fishing trip to another part of the city called Krasnee Kamyen. It should be a blast, Ill bring my new camera and take tons of good pictures, I sent a ton to my mom just barely, I hope she forwards them to you so you can see what Ukrainian country side looks like. My new camera is amazing, I can see Elder Biesinger and Gerasimovs apartment from my apartment with it, unfortunately their window doesnt face ours so we cant do a funny apartment to apartment picture from 5 miles away. This week went really well, we met a lot of good potential investigators, and we saw one of them for a second time on the street, he asked if we were tired and invited us to his home for some "Refreshing Wine" we thanked him kindly and explained that we dont drink Alcohol, he apologized and we agreed on tea,(I keep a packet of Tea that we can drink(Without White, Green or Black Tea leaves) in my bag for exactly this kind of situation.). We come into his home, he apologizes for the mess, and starts preparing tea. Turns out he studied tea in college and knows how to do it chinese style, so that was really cool, they use smaller cups. He gave us his phone and told us to turn on some music, honestly that was one of the harder decisions to make "Do I turn on Motab, or jenny phillips, or country, or classical, or tell him we dont listen to music because we it is too distracting?" I decided on the Happy medium of piano guys, he was happy to hear it and asked if we liked any Ukrainian composers, we dont know any so he changed the music to soem of their songs, and it was really good instrumental music and I really enjoyed it. One example of Ukrainian is "Carol of the Bells" Yup that is Ukrainian music, you can kindly thank this country for your christmas music. We did service twice this week which was fun, every one here that doesnt live in an apartment has a huge garden. Elder Schwieghardt and I are going to try to start a window garden, we will grow some basil, and other small stuff. He is definitely coming to english practice, and we hope he will get really interested in the gospel after that, if he does, we will definitely be going back for tea and gospel discussions. That is it I love you all!!
Hey buddy,
Wow...what a week! It has been just crazy around here. We did Dakkon's mission pics last Sunday and they really turned out great. I sent you a couple. I spent the week getting the house and yard ready for his farewell. It was a lot of work, but ended up looking really nice. We have new house cleaners that I love!!!!
Ethan has been here since thursday and plans to stay until Tuesday. He is going to come to the MTC with us as well. We are hoping Margaret will allow Ollie and Kalten to come too. We had them all this weekend. We then will all go to Powell on Sat...the Tboys too.
Josh spent the weekend at the Cabin with G&G. Jordy had a pretty rough week with some bullies. They are taking advantage of him and telling him inappropriate pick up lines to tell girls. It's been a rough week with him. We are considering doing the autism cluster at the school. The other classes are just too hard. It's been really upsetting. We could use some prayers in that department.
I took the boys to Joe's yesterday to celebrate Daddy Jake's birthday last night. He would have been 42 years old. It is the 13th birthday we have celebrated without him. I love that you got your call on dad's birthday last year and this year Dakkon had his farewell. I don't think it is a coincidence at all. I sent a pic of us too.
The farewell was today and it was good. Dakkon did a great job. He was well prepared for it. At the end he talked about all the help that Dad has been to get him to this point. He talked about the ward family and how several people helped him on the way to get where he was. Then he started talking about the biggest influence and greatest person in his life that got him to where he was. He was someone who came into his life 10 years ago and has been a constant example. Someone that showed him unconditional love and forgiveness. Someone who has been example in how to live his life, his best friend. He said, "I walk by the missionary wall in our home and see his smiling face and as I look in to his picture as a missionary I could see myself as a missionary too. So even though he is 6000 miles away, Thank you Jax, I love you bro." He was crying...and pretty much so was everyone else in the room. It was so awesome! I wish you could have seen it. I was really proud of him. We had all the family over after and it went really good too.
This is our last week of school for everyone!!!! I am so ready for a break. It will be strange to have everyone out for the entire summer together. That has never happened before. Kaestli has her last day of school tomorrow. I sent a pic of her beginning of school and end of school handwriting. I love it. Josh is still doing better which is great. So thanks for the prayers for him.
I have been pretty worried about you to be honest. I am not sure why. I am worried you are struggling right now. I have been praying extra hard and put your name in the temple. Last week I asked if you are still happy and positive, and you didn't answer that question. I don't know if you just forgot too, or if it was because you aren't doing very well. I don't know if I am being a worrier or if it is because I am being prompted...or mother's intuition. I hope that if you ever are struggling that you know you can tell me. I want to be a support to you and you don't need to always be brave for me. I don't expect you to be perfect! So my hope is that I am being paranoid but if not, please let me know if I can help. And just know that I am always praying for you. I know missions are hard and I can't imagine dealing with the rejection and drunks all the time. You are doing great. I am so proud of you. I love you so much.
Thanks again for your example in serving. I know Dakkon wouldn't be going if not for you. Ethan can start working on his papers in like 8 months...it's just awesome! I updated the missionary wall with stuff for you and Dakkon. It looks so great. I also started a second wall downstairs with your photos and the flags. I love it. I sent pics of both. I ordered a plaque for Dad because his ward didn't do them. We surprised him this week with it. He was really touched and loved it...again I sent a photo. Also, I think your advice for him was perfect last week so thank you!
Well questions this week-
1-So are you still happy and positive? Have you been struggling or was I being paranoid?
2-I need more pictures!!!!! Did you get a camera?
3-I need more recordings! Maybe record a goodbye message for Dakkon?
4-How have your workouts been going?
5-Are you excited about transfers this week? Do you think you are going?
6-Have you liked being the DL?
7-What was your favorite thing in the package?
8-So do you go home on a transfer day or just any day that you pick? When will you know what day?
9-Will you miss your comp...and Elder Biesinger if you get transferred?
10-What is your favorite thing about Ukraine?
11-What do you think of the family pic I sent? Do any of the kids look different? Who looks the most different?
12-Special message for me, please:)
Well, I love you, I miss you, I worry about you, I try not to worry about you, I have faith you are being watched over! I Am so glad you are serving a mission. I love you so much. Be careful and safe! Pray always, follow the spirit, forgive yourself and those around you, keep trying, love your mission! Love you
Mom
Yes I am still happy and positive, no, I was short on time last week too. I tried to send some just now, and I love the new camera. They have been good, we run and do dips and pushups, and pull ups. I dont have my voice recorder with me now because we have a crazy pday schedule, and we ran to the email place for our work out so that we coudl kill 5 birds with one stone. I am, I do think I am going, wich means that I will stay here another transfer. Sister Pagosava is going home, she finished her mission, so now shell go home to armenia. I love being a District Leader. Definitely the protein bars, but I have a funny story about the rootbeer flavoring. NO its anyday I pick within 30 days, I dont know when I will go because I dont know how much time I need for getting ready for college, the earliest I would want to come home is the 10th of august, but that is still 15 months away so I dont want to think about it too hard. yes, I will miss them both, and sister bollingbrook and pagosava. Probably just the people, they are quirky for sure, you never know that your gonna get. The T boys all look equally different, and jordys hair is throwing me off, wheres the mister T haircut? ;) I love you a lot mom, and you should know that whatever dakkon said about me can be said about you because you are the biggest influence on my life, so anything good I do, was inderectly caused by you. We are definitely being watched over this is the "Most Dangerous" area in the mission, and no one has even gotten close to us, i can just imagine chariots of fire, and the hosts of heaven buffering all the crazys away. It helps that Elder Schwieghardt and I follow the spirit almost Exactly(its really hard to do it 100 percent right 100 percent of the time) But when we do make a mistake, we always make the correction, dont worry about us, but dont stop praying for us either! Love You!
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