Well, it has been 8 months since I have set foot on American soil, and I will never take that for granted again. When you are away from it, you really start to miss it. For all of you still living in the best country on earth, drink a rootbeer for me, and take a good long look at that flag. "And The Star Spangled banner in triumph shall wave, over the land of the free, and the home of the brave!"
Well back to Ukraine, everything here is going pretty good, I love all of you and think your are amazing, We worked hard this week, tried new contacting ideas, talked to families tried(It is very seldom that we succeed) to help people.
Craziest thing that happened this week, one of the young single adults Vika, walks into church with a ring on her finger. Neither I nor elder biesinger understood what was going on. And then a man wed never seen before walks in and he has a ring on his finger, and she is showing us her hand and freaking out and we are standing there like "Error 301: YOu are missing something huge!! please reboot and try again" He is an American soldier, from Sumy, that went to high school at West Jordan, then Graduated at East Highschool, and i was really taken back when he spoke english like an American, and just last week we thought she was single and that we had to baptize a young guy for her to marry, but nope Facebook works wonders, and now she is getting married. Unfortunately he is going to take her back with him to america. THis is unfortunate becasue she is a strong member and this happens to like everyone who is a strong member. We need strong member more in Ukraine than in America, but that is whatever.
Ukraine had their "Constitution day" On Tuesday, may I just say, they dont celebrate it nearly as correctly as americans do.
Lena, our investigator didnt come to church, but she has quit smoking, so now she just needs to come to chruch one more time, she really wants the gift of the Holy Ghost. We will work with her. Everyone in our english class was way happy about the sullivans coming, they all commented about what was said and how it felt. I think they all felt the spirit. ONe of them, Nick, is actually reading the book of mormon on his own now, we plan to help him become converted.
I recorded a couple stories on the voice recorders, Ill type one of them up.
Walkin through center just my comp and me a few weeks ago, as usual approached by a homeless man "Hello" WE respond in turn with a "Hello How are you, can we help you?" He asks if we are americans (That is a big deal here (They still believe our streets are paved with Gold)). We respond affirmatively, then he asks, "why wont you help Ukraine?" We respond with something to the effect of "That is why we are here, to help Ukraine>" He says "No no no no, i mean military help. Do you know about Obama?" we respond "Yes we know about Obama". "call him and tell him to help ukraine!" We say okay and leave conversation over. WE see him every now and then and we try to share spiritual thoughts but everytime we see him he asks "Did you call Obama yet?" Well the other day I got sick of hearing "Did you call Obama yet? Why didnt you call Obama, dont your care about Ukraine? just call obama and all will be well". I cant believe this guy thinks we can just "Call Obama" so we see him, he asks "Did you call Obama, what did he say?" I respond "He did not answer" (No we didnt call Obama) that satisfied him, and I didnt lie, Obama really did "not answer" a phone call at some point in his life, Irritant neutralized. Pray for Lena and our investigators, and pray that missionaries around the world will have a good week. Happy 4th!
As you can see from all the pictures we have had an insane busy, amazing week. In fact I'm typing this on my phone at bear lake. So sorry this will be short because I'm a terrible phone typer. The highlight was obviously Cams baptism yesterday. It was really sweet. It was also his birthday. We headed to bear lake for dads family reunion right after. Cam is feeling so happy and important. They had a party at the reunion for him with a piñata. The kids had a lot of fun with their cousins. Josh and jord were enjoying the fact they weren't blood related to any of the girls. Jordy tried to get a number from one of the girls. It was funny.
We had fun at the Oakley rodeo this week too. Clint camped with the boys after.
I'm pretty exhausted from all the activities that we've been doing. I'm looking forward to a less busy week. We will go boating in the morning and then head home.
We all miss you very much but we are so proud too and really happy that you are serving a mission.
I'm excited to hear about your week.
I sent your birthday/jump day package this week. Only problem I forgot to add a letter from grandma and grandpa...sorry. I know they email you a lot though. I hope you get it before your birthday but I didn't really wrap anything. It's mostly what you asked for.
Kaestli has her birthday this week. Can you believe she will be 5!!!! Crazy. She is super sweet and spunky!
Questions-
1rumor has it that some people already got a call about transfers...do you know anything about your transfer? Do you think you'll stay in sumy?
2-did Lena quit smoking? I pray every night for her.
3-is she still set for baptism Saturday? Who will baptize her?
4-how is tennis going?
5-how is EB and you getting along?
6-do you like that I send photos of what we're doing, or does it make you homesick?
7-is there anything I can do to better support you?
8-what are you going to do for the 4th of July?
9-are you happy and positive?
10-why did you have such little time last week? Your emails seemed shorter.
11-when the Sullivan's came did they bring any letters with them? I'm still sending about once a week.
12-when do you head back down for zone conf/etc?
13-special message for me.
14-birthday message for kaestli.
I love you so much. Thanks for being an awesome missionary! You're the best! I love you!
Mom
We had fun at the Oakley rodeo this week too. Clint camped with the boys after.
I'm pretty exhausted from all the activities that we've been doing. I'm looking forward to a less busy week. We will go boating in the morning and then head home.
We all miss you very much but we are so proud too and really happy that you are serving a mission.
I'm excited to hear about your week.
I sent your birthday/jump day package this week. Only problem I forgot to add a letter from grandma and grandpa...sorry. I know they email you a lot though. I hope you get it before your birthday but I didn't really wrap anything. It's mostly what you asked for.
Kaestli has her birthday this week. Can you believe she will be 5!!!! Crazy. She is super sweet and spunky!
Questions-
1rumor has it that some people already got a call about transfers...do you know anything about your transfer? Do you think you'll stay in sumy?
2-did Lena quit smoking? I pray every night for her.
3-is she still set for baptism Saturday? Who will baptize her?
4-how is tennis going?
5-how is EB and you getting along?
6-do you like that I send photos of what we're doing, or does it make you homesick?
7-is there anything I can do to better support you?
8-what are you going to do for the 4th of July?
9-are you happy and positive?
10-why did you have such little time last week? Your emails seemed shorter.
11-when the Sullivan's came did they bring any letters with them? I'm still sending about once a week.
12-when do you head back down for zone conf/etc?
13-special message for me.
14-birthday message for kaestli.
I love you so much. Thanks for being an awesome missionary! You're the best! I love you!
Mom
Yeah a few people got transferred quick because a new area open, I dont know anything, but I am pretty sure I am staying here in Sumy. She has almost quit, but she didnt come to church yesterday so we have to change her date to a few weeks later, she is working at a cigarette stand but she is doing good She wanted me to baptize her. Tennis went good, we havent played in a couple days, but we got pretty good. WE are like two peas in a pod. I love getting pictures. WE bought two liters of sprite each and are drinking them and listening to the starspangled banner on LDS.org for the 4th, no fire works, or anything of that sort. I am happy and positive. COmputers were being dumb. NO there were no letters with them, they may have forgotten, we are going to bribe the schumways to send our birhtday packages and letters to us through teh NOVA POSHTA mail system here. We have a zone training this friday. I love you so much mom, thanks for all the love and support, I know my mission would be harder with out you.
KAESTLI! Happy birthday sis! I miss you so much, and I am so happy you are my little sister. YOu are the best little girl in the whole world, next year you will be 6 years old and then I will come home right after that. I love you!
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