Hahaha, what is this?

Week 73

Yeah the subject is exactly what the police officer said when Elder VanBuskirk showed him his photo copy of his passport...

Twas a peaceful Friday morning on a Marshrutka home, Ukrainian music was playing and nothing seemed wrong. We had just had a lesson with Sister Valentina, which went well.  We make it home, get inside and I pour my self some Nesquick Coco puffs, and start munching down on some good old fashion cereal, the kind I didnt eat as a child.  Then the door bell rings. "Hmm, the neighbor probably wants to tell us something" thought elder Jorgensen.  I look through the peep hole and say "Who is it?"  the reply "Immigration police"  my following thoughts were "What in the world do they want?"  "Who in their right mind would illegally immigrate FROM America, TO Sumy, Ukraine?"  "Oh well, we are here legally we have nothing to fear"  Long story short, Elder VanBuskirk lost his Passport some time before they came, and he and Elder Jeffery had to take a trip to the police station.  

That was the biggest thing that happened, it is one of those things you will laugh at after your mission.  The officers were nice, probably because we were cooperative due to the fact that we knew we are legally documented, Elder VanBuskirk just had no passport to prove that he was. Spent the rest of the day tearing apart the apartment looking for it and no where to be found. So who knows what happens next. This week was also one of the only holidays where people come and knock on your door to sing to you, so after the police we had quite a few other visits from people, and we were terrified everytime the door bell rang.

We were unable to meet with Sasha this week due to the passport hunt, but he sounds like he is doing good over the phone.

Our English practice is getting really big, people call us almost everyday to find out more about it, the real trick is shifting their interest from talking to us about English, to talking to us about God.

Not much more to report this week, Love you all!

Hey buddy,

Man I miss you a lot lately.  It is getting harder and harder!  I am so worried about you and your companion situation!!!!!  I have been praying all week for a change soon (like today) I hope!

This week was pretty busy.  Dad had his work party up at the Joseph Smith Memorial Building.  It was really nice.  Peter Brienholt is a popular LDS singer and in Roger's (the CEO) ward, he was our entertainment.  He did a song that is about real love and dedicates it to reunions.  So they played video of military and missionary reunions through the entire song...so yeah, I was a mess and cried the entire time;).  At the party we met a girl who served in the Donesk mission.  She was there before the conflict and everything went crazy.  When I told her that missionaries had been sent in to Mariopul, she started to cry.  She gave me names of people in Kharkov and Marioupul for you to look up if you are ever in those areas.

Jordy and Josh had a choir concert together at the High School.  South Hills, Oquirrh and Riverton choirs all performed.  It was really good.  Jordy loves being in the choir and loves to perform.  He will be joining the concert choir next quarter and is very excited about that.  

Jacob and the scouts did their camp out this weekend.  It sounds like they had a great time.  Jacob came home and crashed for several hours, so I'm sure they stayed up late!

I am busy getting ready and packed for Fiji.  Me and dad leave on Friday night, so the next 2 emails may be short depending on whether or not I can get to a computer and wifi.

Tomorrow me and the kids will head down to Castle Dale to visit the cemetery for the anniversary.  It's next Sunday.  It will have been 13 years!  That is just crazy to me.  I miss him a lot.  Our lives are so different than they would have been!

The Sumy Branch added me to their Facebook page and I LOVE it!!!  Seriously love it.  Everytime they add photos of you it just makes my day!  I was able to go back and look through all the activities you had last summer and pull the pics off the page and add them to your blog.  

Well, I hope you had a better week!  I am really worried about you and really bugged that he is such a pain.  What is the plan with it?  Did he really not speak to you all week.  You are the best person, and so easy to get along with.  It blows my mind that he would say he can't stand you?!?  I'm sure when he gets another comp he is going to missing you like crazy, with the comparison!  Hopefully he will come and apologize in a few transfers or so;).  If you didn't get an emergency transfer this week, do you think one is coming?  I know you say you'll be fine to stay with him, but it has been nearly 5 months....you have done more than anyone else could have!  It's time for someone else to have a turn babysitting him.  A hard comp like that should be on a six week rotation and everyone takes a short turn.  I can't imagine dealing with it for so long.  I hope it ends soon for your sake!

I loved listening to your recordings last week!  I would love stories from all you comps.

Schooling-

It sounds like there are some requirements for the foreign language housing.  You will not need a meal plan for that.  But you are required to have 4 meals a week together.  Monday-Thursday from 6-7 PM.  It would be with all the Russian speaking rooms.  You also have to attend a Sunday school class in Russian.  There would be 1 native speaker in the room.  From what I understand the group would have 12 boys and 6 girls in the Russian Speaking housing.  I will forward on the email that Bailey Gibbons sent me.  It has some info you could print and take home to look over.  I will get you applied for it though and if you don't get in we will go with Heritage Halls so you have a kitchen and can save some money.  Does the President allow you guys to do any planning or College stuff during study time or anything like that?

So questions this week...

1-Details on the situation with EV.  ET or sticking it out for 3 more weeks?  Any better etc.

2-College stuff?

3-How are you doing?  Are you happy and positive?

4-Give me a fun/funny story with your district this week.

5-Do you hope to stay in Sumy or are you ready for a transfer from there too?

6-Does President Sullivan say much about the comp situation?  Does he know what a problem EV really is?  Has he said why he didn't transfer you guys?

7-Give me some suggestions for package stuff if you don't want candy.

8-How are your investigators doing?

9-So would you say EV has been the hardest comp by far?  I know you had a few struggles with Elder Bates, and Elder Knorpp...how do they compare?

10-If you got moved or a new comp I want full details of area and comp information.

11-recordings

12-pics

13-message for me:)

14-Is there anything you need from me, or anything I can do to help, besides praying constantly?

I miss you so much.  I am proud of you for everything you are doing.  I know missions are hard.  You can't and won't be perfect, but you are doing your best and that is all that is required.  I am grateful you are serving and look forward to your return!  You are the best.  Thanks for being my best friend and being such a huge support to me while you were growing up.  I did my best, but know that I wasn't perfect.  You always made me feel like I was the perfect mom though.  You always knew when I needed help or cheering up.  You knew when I was missing Daddy Jake, and you always found ways to serve me and serve your siblings.  That is a rare quality that you have!  I am forever grateful for you!

I love you so much!

Love 

Mom

So with that, we are for sure getting transferred in 3 weeks.  This week has been okay, it is great having Elder Rice and Jeffery with us, they are pretty good at letting off the burden from my shoulders.  Elder Rice told me about the rooming situation there, and it sounds like exactly what I would want, so yeah sign me up for that!  What is the deal with the Truck right now? IS it still needing repairs and stuff?  I am thinking about doing the ROTC to help pay for college.  Elder McCleary will for sure do it, but I dont know about it, it sounds good except for I would have to do Basic training and officer training things, and I would basically be US army property.  What do you think? I am happy and positive still. The funny story was definitly the passport situation, I cant believe he lost it, that is like the one thing you do not want to lose more than anything else out here. Dont spread this around, but he could be deported if immigration police find him again, they liked us so much that they said they wont come looking for him, but we need to fix the situation.  I do not know, I know I dont want to have everything exactly the same, but I wouldnt mind it if I stayed in SUmy and EV left.  Ideas for package: Protein powder, protein bars, Nature valley bars, Chewy Granola Bars, Carnation for sure(I used it wisely this time, and I used the last one today), a little tub of Vaseline, or bag balm, Maple syrup extract, a blender bottle(only if you send protein powder). Your packages are always great, and there isnt anything that I especially need right now,  I am getting another package to send home to you.  What kind of things will you want, this one is a bit of smaller box, do you want me to send home the stockings, they looked reallynice and I dont know if you want to keep them.

Elder Bates and Elder Knorpp are normal. This is weird.  I love elder Bates and Elder knorpp and even though there were a few rough times, they only existed because neither of us knew what we were doing (as missionaries, like how to do misionary work) and we were trying to figure it out.  Elder Bates is also a bit weird as agreed upon by all. Elder Knorpp and I would get along great anywhere but the MTC, but this is just a whole different ball game.  IT is like no matter what I do I did it wrong.  For example, EV plays his music very loud. A few weeks I asked him to turn it down and he got mad at me.  This week we talked and I told him he could play his music softer, and he said, well why dont you just ask me to turn it down when you think its too loud?  So last night I asked him to turn it off, because it was after 10:30 and I was trying to sleep, and he got mad at me again.  He just cannot handle when somone wants something different than what he wants.  President sullivan is aware of it all, and he will transfer us in 3 weeks.  

I love you so much you are the best and I cant wait to see you again! Thankyou for supporting me and helping me with college, and all of the packages and letters. You are the best!  I know it is getting harder for you, but for me the time just keeps going faster we only have one more transfer until spring, and then we will be on the home stretch!

Yes the truck needs a few repairs but shouldn't be too bad. 

Not sure how I feel about rotc...is McCleary going to byu?  I'll talk with dad about it. I'll be able to help a little with college and you can have a job. If you felt super strong about doing it I'd be ok. But if it's just money I'm not sure. 

Love you