Do you speak English?

Week 57

This week was really good in my opinion.  We didnt have a lot of opprotunities to teach people on the street.  BUt we had a lot of interaction with people.

Elder Vanbuskirk is a little bit of a Genius and had a great Idea.  To give out tons of Family Proclamations, so we printed off 50 and highlighted a few parts of it, and went to work.  We were able to give out nearly 50 over the course of 2 days. We hope Sumy will start to be filled with good thoughts about the family.

We also had a good opprotunity on Friday.  WE stood on a corner with a chalkboard and wrote "How well do you speak English?" and we talked to people as they walked by, there are a lot of college students here now, from all over the world. Even one man from New York going to medical school here because it is cheap... I am not sure how I feel about his decision personally.  We almost had a lesson with someone but, it wasnt quite the right time.  We were blessed to be able to give out all of our English invitations, and we had 10 new people at english because of it.  When we ran out of invitations, I thought to myself "We still have tons of Family Proclamations" So I changed the writing on the board to "What is a Family" And later to "Why are families important" We were then able to give out all of our Family Proclamations, IT is amazing the magic a sign does, if we were just walking around, no one talks to us, but as soon as we have a sign, people actually listen!  The sign is powerful.

ONe of our english investigators, Nick was walking by when we did that and so we talked to him, he said "so um last night I couldnt sleep, and I started reading your Book, from the beginning, instead of just opening up to a random page like I usually do, and I was surprised to find that 11 other people besides Joseph saw the plates and testified of it." I think we all know why he couldnt sleep (Holy Ghost) Just goes to show that God is really the one doing all the missionary work. 

Funny story: 

Walking down a road and I see a wire in the middle of the Road.  It was strung from a Telephone pole to a tree, but I could tell it had no electricity running through it.  I could tell some punk teenagers had set it up to trip people who would trip on it in the Dark. I thought "Jerks, that could hurt someone." I go to step over it and, well I didnt pick my feet up high enough and so I tripped on it. I may be the first man to trip on a trap he knew was right in front of him.  My thought when I fell was "Well arent I a genius" my second thought was "Jerks, that hurt someone."  I dismantled the trap, and limped away, my leg is better now, but I had to hit some Ibuprofen to numb the pain. 

Love all of you!

Hey buddy,

I get so excited every Sunday night writing these emails and knowing I will get to hear all about your week!  I really love you so much and seriously hang on every word you write!  I love it!  

So your package came yesterday!  Thanks so much!  I love the packages.  Were the glasses for the boys?  The kids liked trying all the candy.  We were curious about the BEER shirt:).    The camera is awesome, do you think it works?  I am meeting with Julie to get her the things from EB.  She was out of town this weekend and so sad she couldn't rush over to get them.  I LOVE the fairytale book.  It is awesome that you translated so many of the stories.  The stories are super funny and kind of weird.  Thanks for doing that, Kaestli loved it!  Thanks for my letter too.  I loved your letter.  I love seeing the changes and growth in you...but I already had a very high opinion of you;).  

So this week me and dad went to New York!  We had so much fun.  Dad had to go to a conference for most of it, but in the evenings he was able to take me to dinner and broadway shows.  

The first night we got there it was very late so we went straight to the hotel to bed.  The next day I took a taxi to the Manhattan Temple.  It was awesome!  When I got there it was pretty deserted.  A few workers and maybe one other person.  You had to take an elevator for each separate room.  The clothing was on the third floor and then the dressing rooms on the 4th and the sealing rooms on the 5th floor.  When I walked it to get ready an older man said, "you are right on time, we need you here, thanks for coming."  It was really sweet.  We did sealings.  When I was leaving I ran into some sister missionaries outside and took their picture to send it to their parents.  It was awesome to see them on the streets of New York, trying their best to spread the gospel.  

That night we went to a show called Waitress.  It was fantastic.  We both loved it.

The next day I walked over to the 9/11 memorial.  Then I walked across town to another location to buy tickets.  I was proud I found it by myself.  I then walked back to the hotel and did some shopping on the way.  That night we saw Kinky boots.  It was funny...but it was about Drag Queens (didn't know it was going to be about that).  It was actually really clean and funny though.  

On the last day we enjoyed lunch on the water and then headed home.

Last night I went to the Women's Conference.  It was so good.  The talks were all really inspiring and made me think of you.  It will be fun when I don't have to go alone once Kaestli is 8.  I'm super excited for conference this week.  I just realized there will only be one more conference that you will miss...and then you'll be back...so that is awesome!

The kids are doing pretty good.  A few more bumps with Jord.  Cam got sick again, infected salivary gland.  It happened a couple months ago too.  The doctor said it's pretty rare and strange that he got it 2 times in 2 months so we will do an appt. with the ENT.

We had the T-boys this weekend which was fun.  

Jacob was ordained a deacon today...so that leaves just Ollie and Cam that don't have the priesthood.  It is just crazy how time is flying by!  Mikey did it, and it was nice to have all the kids here for it.

I am super excited to hear about your week!...

Questions-

1-How are you and EV getting along?

2-I hear he is a great baker...is he teaching you??

3-Of all the videos in the world you could make and have sent home...why was it you sticking your hand in a toilet?!?... I mean if you can send videos!!!  Please send one of you saying you love us!!!

4-Any word on transfers next week?  Are they still going to be next week?

5-Any predictions?

6-The glasses for anyone specific?

7-I want some more of the nesting dolls sent again...I need a few of them for a good collection:)  When you find them I will reimburse you:)

8-Have you heard from EB?  How is he doing?

9-pictures/voice recordings

10-message for me...

11-Start thinking about your Christmas package, and things you want or need.

12-Have you got your package yet?

13-Are you still happy and positive?

I love you so much!  Thanks again for serving a mission.  You are the best!!!  

FYI-Dakkon has been struggling with depression and feeling inadequate.  The mission president's wife called dad this week.  They are sending him to a Dr. and getting him counseling.  He isn't saying he wants to come home, so that is good.  Shoot him some extra prayers though if you could.

Love you Lots!!!!

Mom

Good, he is like Josh. By the way, Josh Looked way good at Homecoming, and his date was way cute, tell him good job for me.  Yes he is teaching me.  I didnt know we could send videos, I am surprised he got that one to send, I think he used drop box, so he can do that, I dont have a drop box, and I think its technically against the rules.  Yeah they will still be next week, we will probably stay together.  Ethan and Kalten are who the glasses were intended for, I was going to send instructions. I just thought the beer shirt was funny.  I will try to find them, how many do you want?  He is doing well!  I will send a few good pictures if I can, I dont know if Ill have time today, I sent a really long email to Dakkon.  I think you are the best mom ever and I know everyone wishes that their mom would write them more.  You are my best friend!  I think about you alot.THe package is in the office they are sending it up today.  I am still happy and positive!  

For christmas I want you to surprise me, dont tell me anything about the package! 

Love you!

Repentance

Week 56

Dear Family and Friends, and Especially Traci, "Sorry everybody!"

Yeah I done messed up and forgot to send a group email last week, yeah I know, I am probably the worst missionary in the history of the world for spacing that. I am sorry if you worried or anything like that.  I actually finished early last week, and thought "Something is not right, I feel like I forgot to do something." I realized my folly last Wednesday night.

So I have ALOT of information to give you. First off, we are getting some missionaries from Russian missions Unexpectedly and so I have a new companion mid transfer. Elder Vanbuskirk's the name, building the kingdom of God is the game. Hes a great young man from Southern California, my families favorite place in the world.  Hes really funny and kind, and he likes to eat weird things. I try it with him. This week we ate squid. for him that is normal, but Squid has not once touched my tongue until last night.

This week I have a lot of pictures to send from the National Ukrainian Pottery Museum, we went there with Ksenia and her Husband, Sasha.  THey drove us there and on the drive we talked about a lot of religious things, at the end of the drive, they dropped us off at our church, and we invited them to come, and they said no, I think we need to go to our church. They had felt like tehre was a lot of stuff they should be doing that they werent doing during that car ride, and going to church was one of them. So, even thought they arent coming to the Church yet, at least they are making small steps towards Christ, and in the end, they will begin to make bigger steps.  Other than that this week was pretty normal. 

We stopped by to many inactive members, but each that we came in contact with said to never come back, and their hearts were way hard, That is a fulfillment of prophecy and scripture.  It is sad how often people reject the gospel and us for no good reason.  But its all worth it when just one person accepts it. 

This week I read the book of Daniel, and I loved it, it is definitely my favorite book in the Old Testemant.  It really strengthened my testimony of Joseph Smith.  Also, this week we prepared to teach institute. THe subject this year is the Book of Mormon, and somehow, people often forget how true the statement is "Another Testament of Jesus Christ" EVERY PROPHET in the Book of Mormon explains that he is writing what he writes to convince people of Christ.  Any Christian who is truly Christian would love the principles taught in the book, for they are the principles of Christ.

THat is all I love you!

Hey Buddy,

I love you very much...but I am going to have to say...PLEASE always send a group email out with your details of the week, and the email to me!  I was up all night last week.  Your first email to me came through and I figured you would send more details in your group email.  I was up worrying for 3 hours...waiting for that email!!!!  That never came:(...so please always send two.  Even if the group one is short if you are low on time.  All the family counts on those emails and worried when it didn't come.  Love you

Ok so now that I've said that...WOW...what a week you must have had!  I really want to hear a lot of details about what is going on.  I thought it was awesome to realize that I had that really strong feeling to go to the temple and then when I got there I had that strong feeling to write your name and Elder Beisinger's name on the prayer roll.  It was a testimony builder for me.  To see what a big week you had and also big changes including EB freaking out a bit about being a trainer in a few weeks.  What other details do you have about all these changes?  Are you supposed to be helping EV with language because he will be training too?  Does anyone else have details about the upcoming transfer?

You were right me and Sister Biesinger were sad to have you guys split up.  We talked for an hour last monday morning about all the changes.  It is so neat to have you guys adding those russian missionaries though!

So for our week...

Jacob had his birthday and turned 12.  He was presented for the priesthood today.  He will be ordained next Sunday in Deacon's quorum.  For his birthday we had all his basketball team over to play ball and swim.  He had a lot of fun.  The weather was nice this week so we squeezed out one more week of the pool.  On Friday, his actual birthday I took all the kids to airborne including Zach and Kate.  Then we went over to Allie's new house that they are renting now on our old street in South Jordan.  The kids played and we had cake and ice-cream.  

I was in charge of our annual Adult Fall Social in the ward.  We did a nice dinner on Wednesday night.  We had a great turn out.  Everyone asks how you and Dakkon are doing.  Brayden Gibbons left for his mission on Tuesday.  He was really excited to get in the field.  He is heading to peru.

Last night was the BYU football game.  It was super late game starting at 8:15.  We Jord, Jacob, Cam and Kaes.  It was fun, but our offense sucks bad.  Our defense is great though.  We ended up losing by 2 or 3 points.  We saw Ethan there, he was with some girls dad...but he was wearing a BYU sweatshirt so dad was thrilled.  

The Tboys came over tonight for Sunday dinner.  They seem to be doing really good.  Ethan and Kalten are both doing Frisbee and enjoying it.

I've been working on some family history and had a cool experience tonight.  At book club with Grandma and Grandpa Martineau I was asking if they ever used the Family Search site.  They hadn't really ever used it and didn't know anything about it.  I pulled the app up on my phone and was explaining how it works.  I clicked on Grandma's mom and there were pictures there that she had never seen.  Grandpa's mom died when he was just 3 years old.  He has only seen a couple pictures of her ever, and doesn't know anything about her really.  The family never talked about her.  I clicked on her name and it had a bunch of pictures and also a copy of her Patriarchal blessing.  Grandma and Grandpa were both in shock to see so much about her.  Then I clicked on her father and they said they had never seen any picture of him and didn't know what he looked like.  It was really a neat experience.  Grandma has a ton of documents and certificates that I am going to help her get uploaded into the system.  I'm going to start helping them figure out this site and add all the pictures and memories they have on there.  

Last thing really is that me and dad are headed to New York tomorrow.  He has a work conference so I am tagging along.  I'm excited!

I can't wait to hear about your week.  Marlyn Dawson was so excited to hear that you are comps with Nathan now.  Did you remember that he is her nephew?  Small world!  I am excited to hear how your week was and all that is going on.  I have been praying for you like crazy!  I fasted for Grandma and Grandpa last week, and Grandma's letter sounded much better this week.  I'm happy about that.  Your package should be on it's way:)

So questions

1-What other details do you have about all these changes?  

2-Are you supposed to be helping EV with language because he will be training too?    

3-Does anyone else have details about the upcoming transfer?

4-How are you getting along with EV?

5-Do you miss EB?  I mean you guys have seen each other/ been together for over a year your entire mission!!!

6-When did EV arrive?

7-Are you happy and positive?

8-Are you excited about the changes or nervous?

9-How is the branch responding to it?

10-Why didn't you send a group email???

11-Are you healthy?  Feet better? (I added some special things in the package just for your feet:)

12-Do you know what you will be doing for next transfer yet?

13-How are you doing spiritually?

14-message for me:)

I am working on getting details about classes at BYU.  I am looking in to the teaching at the MTC as well.  I will send you the stuff when I figure it out.  Are you able to print things or should I mail hard copies to you?

I miss you and love you so much.  I am grateful to be your mother.  I am proud of you and think the world of you.  Thanks for blessing our family with your service.  You're the best.  I love you.

Mom

I dont really have any other details, I dont know if we are going to be training anyone.  No, it was just our district that got switched around. we are getting along really good.  I do miss him. I picked him up on Tuesday, and we were back here in sumy on wednesday.Yes I am happy and positive.  I am nuetral to the changes.  The branch was sad to see EB leave but they still love EV.  I just forgot, it was a major fail.  I am healthy and my feet are good, the super feet have made everything better.  No I dont know.  I am doing well spiritually.  

I love you so much! I cant wait to be home with you all again, but at the same time I am so sad that my mission is already half way over.  

Ksenia asked how you stay so pretty with 10 children. SHe said most Ukrainian moms go crazy when they have just 2.  I can print things.  

Surprise transfer!

Week 55

Hey buddy,

How are you doing?  I had a great week with Facebook and you.  I added Ksenia on Facebook and she sent me pictures and messages several times!  It was awesome!  That speaking class you did looked awesome.  She said all her students loved it and want to talk with you again.  I really hope you are able to get some investigators from that, but even if you don't you two have had a great impact on the people of Sumy.  I am super proud of you.  

Julia sent me a great picture...but with a weird message.  She said she can tell you guys don't like her by the way you look at her.  Also that you think she is strange.  I literally had no idea what to say?!?  I said I am sure you guys like her, and you probably just really want to be able to share your message with her.  So I'm going to need details on what you guys do when you see her, do you teach her at all, and do you think she is strange haha?

But all the pics and emails totally made me and Julie's week, so that was awesome!!  I also got on your Facebook and added Ksenia.  She seems super nice and is really pretty.

Our week..

Biggest thing was Josh's first real date!  Homecoming with Sabrina.  He went with McKay Kimball's group.  They went to boondocks for the day date.  For dinner they went to Mckay's house.  Jenny did an amazing meal Japanese style steak.  She set up the room super cute too.  I went over and helped her prepare all the food before they got there so I was able to see Josh and his date there.  They came back to our house for swimming and a movie in the backyard.  It was fun!

I did Jessica Ralphs hair for Homecoming as well as Megan's.  

The Holy War was last night and ended in a heart break for us.  There was a ton of turn overs for both teams and they both did pretty terrible.  In the end Hill ran in a fantastic touch down with 20 seconds remaining. That put us 1 point down.  The coach made them go for the 2 point conversion and they didn't get it...we lost.  There is grief and mourning going on for one cougar fan that I know.

Jacob's birthday is this week so make sure to give a shout out to him in your email.  He is turning 12!!!!  A DEACON!  Passing the sacrament and everything!  This is extra weird, because I feel like you and Dakkon are still the one's turning 12.  In  my mind you two will forever be 12.  I just can't move on...even though you are both serving missions:).

Cam gave a talk on "spreading the gospel around the world" which was obviously perfect for our family right now.  We took a bunch of pictures of all our missionaries and he showed them while I helped him give his talk.

Here is his talk...

My talk is about the gospel being spread all over the world.  I want to tell about how my family is helping spread the gospel all over the world.

I have a brother on a mission in Ukraine.  It is across the world.  Jaxon is walking the streets of Ukraine trying to see if anyone wants to learn about Jesus. Some days he walks 20 miles or more.  In the rain, snow and even extreme heat.  He is also helping and serving the people in his areas.  Last week he was able to baptize a woman he has been teaching.  She had a hard time quitting smoking.  She quit and was able to become a member of our church.  He baptized her in a lake.

Dakkon is my brother that is serving a mission in Texas.  He is having a very different experience.  He gets to have an iPad and drive a car, but he is still doing the same thing as Jax.  He is spreading the gospel around the world.  He teaches people lessons about Jesus and is helping families go back to church after they stopped.

My Grandma and Grandpa are in Fiji serving a mission.  My grandma is the nurse for all the missionaries and helps them when they are sick or hurt.  My grandpa makes sure all the missionaries have money in their accounts to buy food and also pays their bills.  They are helping support the missionaries in Fiji.  Their job is also different from Jax and Dakkon, but they are also helping spread the gospel around the world.

My whole family is really excited to serve missions now.  We can help spread the gospel around the world by being good examples at school and at church.  We can pray for the missionaries and fast for them too.

I know this church is true and I am thankful my family is serving the Lord and spreading the gospel around the world.

Jord had some big issues with friends this week...so still needing extra prayers for him.

I started taking piano lessons from my friend Carly, she was Mikey and Lyndsee's piano teacher too.  I am really excited about it actually.

Well, that was our week.  I miss you like crazy!  So proud of you too.  I am really starting to panic that you will get transferred now because I finally have all these great contacts in Sumy sending me photos!!!!  How will I survive with out that.  You will have to make good friends again and have them friend request me again;)

Also I sent the package this week.  It had everything you requested I think.  Mainly socks.  I did send a bottle of ibuprofen for you and one for Sister Sullivan.  I also put a box of small envelopes in the package for Sister Sullivan.  So make sure you get those things to her when you get the package.  The only problem is I got the package all boxed up and down to the UPS store and realized I forgot to put the letters in it.  So sorry, I'll send them separately.  I did write one real quick there though.

Questions-

1-Tell me about Julia and what is up with that??

2-I'd love to hear details about your speaking thing, also did she set it up for you to come again?

3-When are transfers? Are you hoping to stay or move on?

4-Are you happy and positive still?

5-How is Lena doing?

6-Do you think that Ksenia has any interest in the gospel?

7-Anything I can do for you or specifically pray for?

8-message for me...

9-Birthday message for Jacob

10-pictures and recordings?

Well, I love you!  Have a great week.  I pray for you continuously everyday.  Keep working hard, you will be blessed for your efforts and you are blessing other people's lives.  One thing Ksenia said was, "they spoke of their families and we all can see they miss home, but they are helping so many here."  Super sweet!

Love you,

Mom

Yeah, so Elder Biesinger always looks kind of frustrated because he doesnt have as much patience for her as I do. But I wouldnt say we look at her strange, I just feel sad when I see her becaseu she wont let us teach her anything, the only reason she loves us is because we are Americans. We didnt set up for it to come again, but she wants to invite us fishing, or Mushroom hunting with her Husband, which is hard because we dont want to waste time, I will tell her we could do it on a P-day, but she wants to do it on a Saturday, we are not sure how interested she is in the church.  Well, um transfers arent for 3 weeks, but.... the Lord had different plans. 12 new missionaries on their way to Moscow had their Visas rejected, so now they are coming to our mission, they will be here in 1 month, and so Elder Biesinger and I recieved a surprise transfer. He is going to Kremenchuk with Elder Ustin(a native) to recieve an accelerated Russian course from him, and I am staying here in Sumy, and Elder VanBuskirk is my new comp. Dont tell anyone besides the family this, becasue it may offend him or his family, but President told me I am to specifically help him learn Russian better. So that happened.  We were way shocked. President was surprised when he found out too, but it makes sense, and the Lord was prepared for this stuff.Yes I am happy and Positive. SHe is doing well, it doesnt appear that she is smoking, I hope the one I saw is really the last one!  I think she will in the future, we will have to start her off with small things, like the Liahona or something not too big.  SHe didnt want to pray for us and she doesnt really want to talk about the possibility of changing. Action scares her, but she loves us.  WEll just pray for us to get Investigators, pray for the less actives in Sumy.  

MOm I really love you!  Thanks for all of the love and help. I am sure you and Sister Biesinger are going to be heart broken but dont worry too much, We will be okay.  I am sending the package today, as well as a letter for you, that is only for you and Dad.  I will send JJs message to his email so tell him to check it this week.

Sumy Days!

Week 54

Yeah so it is Sumy days, like Bluffdale town days, but Sumy.  THey have had a big celebration all weekend long.  Tons of Veterans are in town, and all they want to talk about is how much better America is than Russia, they literally like just thank us to death for "Gracing them with our presence" And for all of the support "We" Give them, then they ask if we have any American Dollars, Luckily I didnt.  

We have taught Lena twice this week, she is doing good, she said she hasnt been smoking, she is planning on Enduring to the End, and keeping all of the commandments to make it to the Celestial Kingdom.  Her Mom is so happy, she always tells us about how God promised her that she could be sealed to her children in the Temple, and Lena is her first one to be baptized.  I have so much hope for them. 

We met a new woman this week named Kcenia, She owns an English school, and invited us to come speak to her class.  WE set up an appointment with her to talk about it and ended up teaching her a lot.  It was funny, a lot of people are understandably confused about why we are here, and even more confused about what drives us to work so hard. They just dont get it.  She asked what motivates us, and we told her and she said she got Goose bumps, we kept talking and later she said she couldnt describe her emotions, she was feeling the spirit big time, as we taught about what we know.  We are going back on Friday, to speak to her class, and we hope we can go to dinner with her and her husband, Elder Biesingers No bake cookies will take them to Heaven for sure.

OTher than that everything is normal here.

Funniest thing:  WE went to Natashas dance class on Friday night and so did Lauren and Jada, who are peace core volunteers.  They invited us to dinner with them and other foreigners after and we accepted figuring there wouldnt be too much drinking, and that we might be able to build some new contacts.  Well, we were wrong. I think that is the first meal that I have been at where everybody but me and Elder Biesinger were drinking.  ME and Elder Biesinger just looked at eachother and our faces were like "What in the world have we gotten ourselves into??" But Elder Biesinger got to teach the Italian a bit about the word of Wisdom so it wasnt all in vain. We got us out like Joseph of old, after finishing our Vareniki.

Hey Buddy,

Well, Kaestli started kindergarten this week and I am officially lonely!  She leaves on the bus at 11:50 and doesn't get home until 4:00.  Every. Day.  I don't know how I will survive this.  I'm going to have to find a hobby or something!  This week with my time I made a new friend in the ward and went to lunch with her.  I made homemade chicken noodle soup and took some to Trudy Sorenson.  I did a craft project and also went to swiss days with Char.  I also signed up for adult piano lessons, haha.  It should be fun!

As far as the BofM challenge, I have been working on it all year.  I'm not finished yet but getting there.  I am glad you checked in on that, I'm sure it will remind people to start if they haven't.

Kaestli loves Kindergarten and is doing really good.  She has a busy schedule, but I think it will all be really good for her.  

Cam is doing well and has stayed pretty healthy.

Jordy is struggling with behavior at school and also learning at school.  It has been a rough start and we could use some extra prayers in this department right now.

Jacob's teacher loves him and sent a really sweet message about how great he is.  She called him a quiet leader among his peers, and said he is just darling.  I laughed at that because, he is just darling, but how often would a teacher refer to a 6th grade boy as darling!?  It's true though, he is darling.  His basketball will start up again in a few weeks.

Josh has a date for homecoming and he is very excited about that!  It is this Saturday.  He is going in McKay's group.  He seems to like his classes, but he still sits alone at lunch:( so he could use some prayers to find some good friends.

Oliver is doing football and is liking it.  He said his teacher is really nice and she is married to President Monson's nephew.  

Ethan and Kalten both started at Lone Peak.  I think it is going well for both of them.  Ethan isn't going to homecoming, because the girl he wants to take is going to a concert.  They are both planning on playing ultimate frisbee this year.  We are trying to talk Ethan in to trying out for basketball too.

Dad and I are doing good.  His job has been super stressful this week so he has been a bit tired.

Ok...so Lena.  First off, I'm so sorry you caught her smoking right after.  My heart just broke when I read that.  I talked with Dad about it, but didn't tell anyone else.  I wanted to tell you about how I found out though.  I knew the baptism should be happening at minute saturday morning.  I couldn't wait for your email.  I had been praying so hard all week for it.  We had family home evening about it and had all the kids praying too.  I had to know if it happened.  So I Facebook messaged Vika and asked her if she knew if Lena had been baptized.  She responded with 3 words and a picture...

I was there.  

This picture honestly took my breath away.  I was in the middle of Jacob's basketball game and just started bawling...like ugly crying!!!  But the picture.  I can see heaven all around you.  Every time I show this picture the reaction is the same.  They immediately feel the spirit so strong, tear up, put their hand to their chest and are completely in awe.  There is such a reverence to this photo.  Me and Grandpa both think that the bright ray of sun coming straight to you is Daddy Jake's presence.  But the entire photo to me shows heaven and angels all around you and Lena.  It was such a tender mercy for me to get this picture from Vika.

How is Lena doing?  I have continued to pray so hard for her and included you and her in my fast today (along with Jord).  

Questions-

1-How is Lena?

2-How are you?  I can't imagine how sad you were when you found her.  Are you doing ok with everything?

3-Who confirmed Lena?

4-Are you still happy and positive?

5-How is the weather in Sumy?  Are the leaves changing?  Is it pretty?

6-I'm sending the package in the next day so I need any final requests for it.  Food or otherwise.  Can you get batteries there for your recorder?  

7-Any new investigators?

8-What do you usually do on Sundays in the branch?

9-Message for me..

10-Birthday shout out for Kalten

11-Anything else I can do for you?

I love you so much.  I am really proud of the strength and faith you have shown throughout your mission.  It is  really amazing to see the growth in you.  I love your emails, pictures, recordings...everything.  I can't imagine how hard a mission must be.  You have made it look so easy.  I know that you aren't perfect and I'm sure you have struggled at times.  But I am so proud of the missionary and man that you are.  I love you so much and hope to be more like you.

Keep the faith, work hard, stay strong.  Do your best and know that that is good enough. Heavenly Father doesn't expect perfection, just progression.  Love you!

Mom

Lena is doing good, we taught her on Wednesday and made sure she understood that she really cannot smoke now, or ever. And she sounds like she wants to Endure to the End so that is good.  Yeah everything is going Ok, Elder Biesinger told his mom about it too.  The Branch President confirmed her.  I am still happy and positive.  The leaves are changing on some of the trees for the most part it is around 70 degrees, it is nice weather, mornings are cold now.  It is a pretty city.  If you could print out a list of BYUs courses, and possible majors and send it to me that would be great, I am using my personal time to plan my life, also figure out what it takes to be an MTC teacher and how well it pays.  I cant think of anything, if you could send more maple syrup flavoring thatd be great.  YEah Ksenia.  On sundays, we set up sacrament, and teach Gospel doctrine class, and then we sit in Priesthood.  I really love you and I am almost finished with my letters for you. I hope I get more time to write.  I will send him an individual email, he emails me almost every week.  No, just keep being an awesome mom!