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.