This week went really well and I am so happy! The work is really starting to move a long and we are doing a lot of work.
Family things First: Nasty, Viktor and Anna are doing well, they accepted the book of Mormon last night and promised to read it. The lesson was super good, and we read from the bible mostly. Anna is an adorable little 11 year old who is a lot smarter than she looks, and she LOVES it when we come over(I may or may not have given her american chocolate milk to acheive that effect). Nastya is pregnant and will give birth some time soon. Viktor is just a good family man, currently helping his son build at tree house at their country home. They want to come to church so we will see what happens.
Second things second: We went to an adventist/baptist combined sunday easter meeting and it was good, it wasnt reverent, but it was good. It kind of felt like listening to K-love on the radio if you all know what that is. Basically a christian rock concert, but In Russian. Our new friend Zhenya was playing in the band, he is a great guy, with a great heart and is an amazing example for all of the young men here, his mom was the singer in the band, and she did a good job. We had to leave early to go to our church services, so we didnt get to talk to her.
Third is what missionaries in our mission do a lot of: CONTACTING (Cheers)
We found a really great way to go contacting this last couple of weeks, it was definitely strait from the Lord. Here is how it works "Hello, could you help us? we are learning Russian and we need people to practice speaking with." Ukrainian man/woman "Yes, but what do you want to talk about?" (said while glancing uncertainly towards the Nametag as the thought "JDUBS!" flashes through their mind) Us: "I dunno anything really, what do you want to be when you grow up?" really your reply to their question can change to almost anything, but all you have to do is start the converstation, and talk and then they do the investigating all by themselves. We had 90 percent success rate with that simple tactic. I am SURE that people have though of it before, but not very many seem to have tried it. The last contact we had doing that was an amazing young woman who wants to learn more about the church.
Well, thats about it. I made american Lemonade today. Boy have I missed that, first glass in 20 months.
Love you!
Hey buddy,
Wow what a week we had! We seriously had so much fun. It was great to be with Grandma and Grandpa! We loved every minute of it. All the kids were really good. Our favorite part was the village. There is a small village in the Bush in Fiji that is all members. They even have a really nice church building next to the village because they are so strong. I sent you a group picture with all of them together. That is all the primary children in the ward. The Bishop lives next to the church and the missionaries have their flat right there too. Picture run down shacks with no doors and no windows. The living conditions are so humbling. We took the children some toys, books and clothes. The bishop had them sing primary songs to us. It was awesome! Then the kids just played together. The boys all started playing rugby with all the boys in the village. Kaestli started reading books to the little girls (yes she can read books!). They climbed trees, and ran around having a great time. The houses wouldn't be fit for our animals to live in. It was amazing to see the poverty, and yet complete joy of these members. The children sang so loud and with such a strong testimony. We were all over come by the experience. The church is such a blessing to the people of Fiji.
We went on a river trip where they put us on a bamboo raft for a little ways...that was the worst part of the trip. It was covered in spiders and when everyone got on the raft the bamboo was submerged in the water which caused the spiders to swim for higher ground and that happened to be on Cam. He had 3 different large spiders crawling all over him. It was traumatic for us all;)
We went to several different beaches, waterfalls, zip lines, snorkeling, sailing, and dolphin tours. It was so much fun. During one of the snorkeling trips the guide had the 3 boys with him. They snorkeled around an entire reef. The guy dove down and picked up a sea cucumber and squeezed it. It sprayed something similar to silly string all over the boys. Apparently it is a defense mechanism and kills what ever it attacks...except people. It sprays it out of it bottom...ewe...and then it stuck to them. Of course Jordy managed to be covered in it including his hair. It was funny...but super gross too!
I learned that Josh will make a great missionary. He seriously talked to every random stranger he met. On the plane to LA he sat and talked to the girl about the gospel, missionary work, our Prophet etc. I started snapping pics of him when he was talking to the random people. When we went to the villages he would jump right in talking to the kids and adults. It was awesome. He was surprised to see the living conditions of the missionaries. After seeing everything he said, "I hate to admit it, but I might NEED to be called to the states, cause I need more pampering than this" haha. He will have zero disappointment with a stateside call if that is what comes;)
We got home last night at midnight and had everyone to bed by 2 am. We all slept until 11:30 and woke up to the Easter bunny stuff. We went to church and then had dinner. I gave the kids sleeping pills so they could get back on a regular schedule tonight.
Josh has a new "thing" going with a girl named Pixie. He hasn't kissed her yet...but they are saying they are a thing. I don't know what to do, but I do know he needs to have friends and feel like girls will like him so right now I am cautiously allowing it.
We missed you on the trip, but I know you are right where you belong! I am so proud of you for that. And now I will need to take you on a trip to make it up to you:)
Discussions-
1-Did you hear about Elder Walker? That sucks...his mom isn't sure if she should be so happy to see him, or sad that he is having to come home too soon.
2-Any other info on Elder Olsen? His mom was asking Sister Walker a ton of questions about planning a wedding last week, and I know that Elder Olsen is her oldest...hmmm.
3-Your Comp is awesome, he sent me an email last week telling me thank you for raising a great son, and that you are the best companion ever! It totally made me cry and it made Grandma cry too. So sweet. Are you still getting along great?
4-Any progress with the family you found? That is so exciting to have a new family to work with!!
5-what do you thing of the Josh situation?
6-I put in 50 more $ in your account...so you have like 60-70-ish will you need more than that?
7-Did you get my package yet?
8-Can you get me some cool eggs again since it was easter?
9-What was the best part of your week?
10-Did you get better? How are you feeling?
11-Did you tell Sister Sullivan you were sick?
12-pics,
13-Recordings...I forwarded the last recording for all the men in your life to all the men:)
14-message for me...you could record a message for me too;)
I miss you and love you! We are counting down the days! I can't believe you are reading War and Peace in Russian! That is crazy!! I am so proud of you!!! I am coming around to the AFROTC idea. I can see that it could be very good for you. You are the best! Keep being a great missionary!
I love you!!!
Mom
No, what happened to Elder Walker, if you read this respond, whats up?
2No... he better not have done what I think he did, he may have made the promise. I made myself a promise that I would never make THAT promise to a girl in ukraine, because I am 99 percent sure I would not keep it.
3Awww that is so sweet, Yeah we still get a long really well.
4 yeah they accepted the book of Mormon last night, and want to read it, their daughter is an investigator to now.
5 Well pixie is an interesting name. I think you should just keep an eye on it and let him have a "girlfriend" make sure to tell him that she should know that the mission is first, so she isnt expecting anything.
6Sweet, that will be great, yeah there is a really good store for Ukrainian souveniers here, I can get quite a bit of stuff.
7No not yet
9 The lesson last night with Nasty and Viktor was really good.
10YEs I feel much better, definitely a mission miracle.
11 I always do
I love you so much and I cant wait to be with you all again, it made me really happy to see the kids in Fiji, tell josh to imagine Ukraine as a gray, middle ground between USA and FIJI. Your the best mom and I am so happy to be in your family forever!
Elder Walker broke his ankle playing ultimate frisbee and has to be sent home on Wednesday. He has a 6 month recovery so he won't be going back. Sad.
Love you
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