Please excuse my british, but we met a man who was on vacation from england this week. He is a new investigator, and is Ukrainian, but you wouldnt be able to tell, because hes lived across the pond so long that he just sounds like a brit, even when he speaks Russian. We cant tell how interested he actually is but he is going to play tennis with us.
Lena is a sad story again. We taught her about eternal families yesterday, Vika was on the lesson, and she is still smoking :( only one a day, but we need 0. I asked what is written on every cigarette pack and she responded "Smoking Kills" I then asked "Do you believe in that statement" She burst out "No!!" and began explaining how smoking is healthy for you because it is like cleansing your body with fire, which is why you get relaxed.... I hope you sense my frustration through the monitor.... After explaining what smoking actually does to you, I asked what is more important to you. A pack of cigarettes, or an eternal family. Her Mom chimed in "Yeah, is that cigarette more important than me?" She replied "no of course not." She agrees she needs to quit smoking, but she still isnt quite there yet. Vika suggested she replace the bad habit of smoking with a good habit like running. She rejected the idea at first, but I think she will warm up to it. we arent giving up on her yet, but we wont be meeting her nearly as often.
Vika is going on a mini mission, which is something we dont have in America, basically she will be a missionary for 3 weeks and then come home. It is really helpful, she will be serving in Kharkiv with Sister Bollingbroke, and Sister Morris. She will be a good missionary.
I love you all!
Hi buddy,
So this Tuesday is me and Dad's 20 year anniversary!!! Can you believe that?...I mean I know you are almost 10 so that probably makes sense to you, but it is blowing my mind! I can't believe I only got 7 1/2 years with him in marriage:(. This Tuesday also marks 11 months for you! That is just as crazy!
I am sorry I missed you by just 10 minutes last week on your question. You told me I can't have conversations with you so I don't usually wake up in the middle of the night anymore, cause it keeps me up after. Randomly I woke up last week and got it, but was just late I think. I hope you got your watch...I am assuming you did because I noticed you withdrew money from your account. You can count it as a birthday present, so I put more money in your account from my bank account.
I was really worried you got heat stoke last week and ran out of water. Are you feeling better, and can you get more water delivered so you don't run out again?
Well, we have had a super busy week...again.
We had a playgroup for Jacob on Thursday with the neighborhood kids. This week is Jordy's playgroup. We helped a lot with the funeral for Tacie.
We went to the cabin on Friday to say goodbye to G&G for the last time. Grandpa was pretty down about still having to do the finances for the mission. I am hoping that when he gets to Fiji (which was today) he will feel the spirit of missionary work and be up for the job. I am really excited for them and super proud of them and you! It is fun to have so many missionaries serving. I think Cam and Kaes are going to start thinking that everyone will be leaving for a mission.
Cam got a strange sickness but I think he is getting better. I thought he had heat stroke...it's been over 100 for a while now. But then Thursday night I noticed a large lump under his ear. We took him in and they think it is some crazy infection so he is on some medicine. It has gone down in size quite a bit, so I'm hoping he gets better soon.
Yesterday Dad and I went to his 25 year high school reunion! It was up in pocatello ID. It was a small group, but was nice to go on a little road trip again. We had a good time.
Josh is really getting strong with this workout that Mikey has him on and has some definition in his arms now. He is feeling pretty good about it. Mike works him pretty hard. He is noticeably happier as well and has better endurance for things. He is way more active now and the boys play soccer everyday together. It's a great change.
Jacob is a little sad about G&G. It will be the hardest for him to adjust. The Tboys couldn't come this weekend. Dad did take Ethan out to lunch on Friday. They are all doing good.
Our lesson in Sunday school today had a lot to do with Missionary work, planting seeds of faith for ourselves and also in the mission field. It was a neat lesson to hear all the different experiences of others. I am so proud to be part of that through you. It is awesome to think about how many seeds you are planting on a daily basis. Even if you never see the full extent of how you helped. I am really proud to have 2 sons on missions and feel very grateful. I love you very much.
I got an awesome email from Sister Sullivan this week telling about the tender mercy of the a/c unit and packages. What a blessing for both of you and E.B. I am so glad you got your package early...but also worry that now you won't have a new package on your birthday. At least save the cake mix for that day! Did you save any of it to open on your birthday, like the envelope? If not I want details of what you thought of the package and the envelope.
The Voice Recording last week were awesome!!!!! First off it was a mini miracle that they came on EB birthday and they were both him speaking the whole time. I was able to send them on to his mom that day and she LOVED them. It really cheered her up. They went and ate burgers and drank Root Beer for his birthday and listened to the recordings. The later that night Vika sent me a photo of the birthday party you gave him and I sent that to Julie as well. She was so happy. Good job for giving him a party, I won't ground you when you get home haha;). I loved that when EB read that to you your response was, "She's not kidding". You know me well:). We drank root beer too and got free refills. We often listen to dad's patriotic mix so we did that for you as well. What I really loved about the recordings though was all the personality we heard from both of you. It picked up your voice to so we could hear you laughing, joking, teasing and interacting with each other. It was a blessing to hear how fun your relationship is and that you are still the same you, happy and having a good time. So I want more messages like that. The two of you talking and telling stories together. We all laughed so hard...Jacob did his uncontrollable laugh. It was so fun.
Your letters arrived in the mail this week!!!! Thank you so much!!!!!! Seriously it was such a great surprise. I loved reading it. I am not concerned that you are "obsessed" with Sarah, I just want you to keep an open mind. I loved the part that you said, "keeping her in my heart helps with the fact that Ukrainian women and very attractive". We laughed about that! I love Sarah too. Keep sending more letters if you can. It is really so helpful to get any extra communication or stories from you.
Questions...
1-Package details
-were you surprised and excited to get it?
-how was it delivered?
-did you open it?
-did you save any to open on your birthday?
-Did you love it?
-What was your favorite thing in it?
2-Lena??? Did she quit or did you have to give up on her?
3-How did EB birthday go?
4-Vika did a post on Facebook and Sister Sullivan said, "you will make such a great missionary"...is she going on a mission now?
5-Any new investigators?
6-Funny story?
7-special message for me?
8-Any trips to the mission home/zone training coming up?
9-Still happy, positive and loving Sumy?
10-Is the a/c unit helping?
11-Can you get more water so you don't run out again?
12-Are you feeling better?
I gave Janika your love and got her email janikas33@gmail.com Send her an email:) The funeral was really sweet. Her and kyndra both spoke and did a great job.
I miss you and love you. Thank you for serving a mission so faithfully. Thank you for being obedient out there. It brings me comfort knowing you will be blessed for it. You're the best!
I love you,
Mom
I loved the package, especially the protein bars, they taste so good. I was surprised and excited. The Ukrainian post system. Yes. No....... I meant to, but then I had nothing to do for a few minutes and lost control... I loved it. Probably the carnation and the Protein bars, I gave vika some poptarts because shes never tried them before. She didnt quit yet, but we think she is on the way. It went good. Yeah I explained That in the big email. Yes, one English dude, and one indian woman. There are a lot on the recordings, so I will just send those. I love you and you are so special to me! I miss you so much, your the best mom in the whole wide world. No, zone conference is in Kharkiv, in august. Yes except it cooled down as soon as the ac unit got here, we still like it though. Yes we actually had too much this week. I am feeling way better.
Everything is really going well I love you.
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