This week was pretty was really good! I got to Skype my family yesterday! I cant believe how different everyone is! There is nothing like meeting your goals for the week, it is like a confirmation that you did what you were suppossed to do. So no one here celebrates mothers day, but it was nice that we were able to skype our families anyway. People were different this week, which tells me that my theory about as we are more and more effective Satan is going to work harder and harder to bring us down, what he doesnt know is that I learn from those experiences, and create battle plans to take him down next time he tries. So we had a lot of run ins with people who really thought they knew what they were talking about this week. ONe while on exchanges with Elder Gerasimov. He was prava slavne(orthodox) and I think when they teach them the Ten commandments they skip the second one because it kind of invalidates their church. He asked us for ten commandments to "see if we really knew what we were talking about" When I gave the second one he rejected it and said not thats not it. Gave him all ten about three times. Next time I see him I might have to just hit him over the head with the stone tablets on which those commandments were written. Second, was the reason for this title. Elder Gerasimov and I were on our way home, and we were almost there when a man said "You will never convert me to your church, but Let us pray together!" So he grabbed our hands and I was like ok, "We use our own words when we pray, do you mind if I offer the prayer?" He said no, and then as a quarterback shouting a play yelled "Hyet! Oche Nash!" I said, sorry but I dont know Oche Nash, he was quite upset. He yelled at us for a bit, and recited it. Then I promised him I would learn it if he would pray about the first vision. That appeased him, so now I know the orthodox churchs favorite vain repetition. THen yesterday we saw him again after skype this time intoxciated, it was really funny. HE remembered we were friends, and so it was hard to get out of there, but he was happy to see that I had started memorizing oche nash (Matthew 6:9-13) He ranted at us about putin for a while I didnt understand so I figured he didnt like him and my response was "Such stupidity" he liked that and then we were able to get out. Next was a lesson yesterday which was quite frustrating. We were really tight for time, and when we got there he explained that he wouldnt pray, so we started talking. He has read the qaran and the bible and has the Book of mormon, but hasnt stated reading it yet. He knows the bible well. But he doesnt under stand it. He is not interested in coming to church because he feels it is a cruch, he is just an over all prideful guy, and so elder Schwieghardt and I are going to pray for some humbling experiences for him. He just didnt get it, My little sister understands the Role of Jesus Christ better than this "Learned" Man, and she cant even comprehend what she is reading yet, That really just shows me how important the holy spirit is, because my sister has grown up in an environment where the spirit can teach her. He may have read and known all of this material, but he didnt understand it. So that is why I may have been not as joyful as usual during the skype call, but at least the skype call put some wind back in my sails. I love you all!
But we saw so many miracle despite these people. The commandments guy distracted us for long enough that we were able to have a lesson with a less active that we would not have had if he hadnt stopped us. i hope each of these people will be humbled, and be ready to be taught, because then real progress can be made. I love you all!
Hey Jax,
It was so great to talk to you!!! You look great and sound great. Gosh, I just really miss you! The time we get to talk just goes by too fast! I wish we could have had longer. It is so good to talk to you and see you...I just really can't wait to get that hug in 15 months!!!
I sent a ton of photos of cakes. I opened two of the emails to make sure the pictures were coming through correctly. I also sent on the recipes. Where does this sister missionary live? If she lives in Utah it would be fun to make a cake with her sometime!
We are all doing pretty good around here. Not too much to report because we just talked. Kaestli is finished with school in 1 week and the other kids only have 3 weeks left. We are getting excited for summer and being off. The kids go to traditional next year so everyone will be on the same schedule.
Grandma and Grandpa are getting ready to go to fiji and we are just trying to figure out if we can go visit them...with or without the kids. I feel like it would be a great opportunity, but it will be expensive so not sure if we can swing it. I think it will be really good for them.
Sorry about the Tboys. I hope that they can come in the future. Margaret has been real bitter about Dakkon living with us and doing all the mission stuff with us. She is so passive aggressive with him and it just makes him shut down even more. So she is trying to "win" ethan to her side. I think he is getting upset too though because ever since she didn't let them come to Dakkon's call opening he has been up here every weekend,,,even the off weekends. This weekend is Mother's Day so it is in the divorce papers that she gets them. We hoped she would let them go for the hour but no luck. Just know that they love and miss you and are really proud of you. They talk a lot about you being on a mission.
I got the sense that you were a little down today. I am sorry if you are struggling. I know it must be really hard to be out there, but really great at the same time. That can be emotionally exhausting at times. I am so proud of you and I know you can do it. I believe in you. I love you very much.
I added money to your account so you have plenty to get the camera. Buying the more expensive one would be the same as me buying a cheap one and shipping it...plus you would have to wait 6-7 weeks to get it, so I really want you to get one. Plus, I am way jealous of the good photos Elder Besinger sends...have him teach you to use it if you have too;).
I took some video of our conversation and I sent the clip of the prayer on to the families. Kirk said your Russian sounds really good. Everyone sends their love.
I hope you get your package today!!! Tell me if you did.
Questions for this week
1-Do you need any other things like more garments, ties, shoes, shirts, etc.?
2-Where does that sister missionary live? What is her name?
3-How do you feel after skyping yesterday? Did it make you homesick? Were you crying at one point or just have something in your eye?
4-Did skyping make you sad or happy? or maybe both? I really just want your feelings on it I guess.
5-How is the weather?
6-Tell me about your surroundings now that it is spring. Are there flowers, trees? Is it pretty or ugly?
7-Will you bear your testimony in the group email...or this one.
8-How has being in Ukraine changed your perspective on family? and also on living in America?
9-How do you feel about being a missionary?
10-Any funny stories?
11-Special message to me...pretty please?
I love you so much. You continue to amaze me and you have so many great qualities. I love how you put a positive spin on everything including things that aren't so positive. It is a talent and gift you got from Daddy Jake for sure! I see so much of Dad in you now. You even sound like him. I pray for you constantly and love and miss you! Keep up the good work, doing your best and staying positive. Don't judge yourself too harshly and know that you are just amazing! I am proud of you.
I love you,
Mom
NO I can get garments and ties and shoes here! but i love the packages and letters. She is sister bantsova so she lives here in ukraine. I felt really good, yeah looking at the screen hurt my eyes. It made me happy. It is awesome, rainy sometimes, windy sometimes, and amazingly sunny sometimes. There are flowers everywhere and trees are all so pretty, I lost my camera at the worst time. IT is pretty if you dont look at the ugly stuff. I will in this one. It has made me see how good we have it in america, but also that it is not so bad here as everyone thinks, yeah sure, nothing in Utah will ever scare me again, but it is not so bad here. Also Ukrainian families and couples are awesome, they are always buying flowers for their girlfriends or wives. Like just last night I asked a guy who was caring a couple hundred greevens worth of flowers if it was his anniversary or something and he exlplained that he just had a girlfriend and that he loved her. I will definitely bring a little bit of culture home. I love being a missionary it is the best. Plenty of funny stories, I like recording the funny stories, so i will send some next week. I love you so much and thank you for all the stuff you do for me. it is awesome.
Testimony
I know the church is true because the book of mormon is true. It doesnt matter what anyone says about it, or how impossible any of it might seem. The book of mormon cant not be of God. Too many spiritual things have happened with me. There are many times, where we have recieved a prompting and followed it and something happened, or didnt happen(to us). I just know it is true, it was hard to earn that knowledge, and sometimes it gets questioned, but then it grows stronger.
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