Well, this week was a mixed bag mostly good, and lots of learning, and one somewhat sour experience.
WE started off strong with an exchange with Elder Owen, which was good for both of us, it is really cool to be able to work with other Elders and try to help them progress in their mission, and at the same time learn from them.
Elder Bates and elder Jarman were going to teach Nastya and Viktor and Annya the plan of salvation, but apparently they did not quite have time, so we will have to teach them that another time.
We had one new investigator this week, his name is Zhenya I think I have written about him before, but he finally accepted a return appointment to talk about gospel stuff. Basically he is way faithful in Jesus Christ and wants everyone to know about our savior, I think I understand his feelings there. he is a baptist and as we were walking and talking we wound up close to his church he asked if wed like to see it and we said sure, and asked if it would be possible to meet his pastor. Unfortunately his pastor was gone and so we couldnt meet him but he introduced us to one of the other preachers who was not happy what-so-ever to see us and he basically yelled at us and at Zhenya for talking to us for like 5-10 minutes. We tried to be friendly, but he made it clear that "we are not Brothers" and that we are some sort of evil 19-18 year old business men who want nothing more than to gain recoginition in our church, could care less what happens to Zhenya tomorrow as long as he comes to our church and is a part of our program, dont actually believe in Christ, "Jehovas witnesses are boys, children compared to these guys, these are MEN, they are PROFESSIONALS they know how to get you"(I felt some what flattered and insulted at the same time with that one) he said looking at us like we are Rattle Snakes or some other unpleasently venemous serpent. After enduring this I looked at him in the Eyes and asked "You probably read this all on the Internet right" he responded"yeah, but not just that there is books too!", I replied "If you want to know who we actually are and what we actually believe, you need to go to the source, you are mistaken." After that he began again and I said "This conversation is over" and me and Elder Jarman walked away with zhenya behind us. Zhenya was so embarassed about how his "friend" acted. HE asked if we judge his church after that we responded "no, that is just one guy, you cant judge a church because of one person"(what if people judged all of Christianity because of Judas Iscariot?)
We had a good talk after that, which resulted in us establishing that we ARE brothers in Christ, and that yes, we hope one day he will join our church, but not because we told him to, but because he wants to, and God told him to. We ended as good friends and I hope that his eyes will be opened a bit after that.
Elder Jarman and I reflected after that on how our experience compares to those of the Prophet Joseph I suggest you read Joseph Smith History 23-24 and think about how similar thousands of missionaries all over the world are to Joseph. We arent Professionals, heck, I cant even grow a beard yet! we are nothing more than Young men, who know what we have seen, heard, and learned and nothing can convince us otherwise. We have been called to rise and stand as representatives of Christ our Lord and savior in all things and all places. I dare say there is no one in Kremenchuk that cares more about the people that live here than we do, for we are to strive to love them as the savior loves them.
Well that was the biggest stuff this week funniest thing was how much milk I bought this morning, my favorite brand was on sale:)
Love you!
Hey Elder,
How are things going? I can't believe how fast time is flying by! It's just crazy, but I love it.
We have had a good week, nothing too exciting happened.
Jordy had 1 last appt. before he gets his braces off next week. He is so excited and so am I! I can't wait to not see food in his teeth constantly! He is also talking about how he will be able to laugh at you when you have to get braces on again. He plans to brag about only having to have them once. Jacob will be in the same boat as you, so he has 2 people to taunt about it:).
Josh got a job at Subway this week, so that should be great! We also had to do dumb arena scheduling for him on Friday. He is taking Calc. BC, woodworking, computer programing, AP Language arts, his 2 choir classes, seminary, US govt., and weights. Should be a good schedule. He went to a dance on Saturday night with Brinlee (pixie), MORP. They did a Harry Potter theme. He DID get his first kiss from Brinlee...so there is that;).
We spent Saturday doing some yard work and getting that kind of stuff done.
Jacob had a basketball game that was a heartbreaker. They lost by 1 point:(, but he practices outside so much. It is really showing in his shooting. He can nail his 3 point shot now. He has always been a good ball handler and great defensively but his shooting game is getting really great too.
Jordy went on a long bike ride with his friends. He is doing well in school too. He has officially dropped all his local girls for his Aussie girlfriend that he met in Fiji. I'm great with that seeing that he will never see her again!
Brayden had his birthday party at Classic Skating. The kids had a blast. They did laser tag and played on all the blow up slides. We took scooters for them to ride around as well. Cam had a pretty good crash that has left some big scabs on his face, above and below his eye.
I had book club Sunday night at my house. I picked the book Mindset. You'll have to read it when you get home. It's about having a fixed or growth mindset. It is super helpful and has actually changed the way Dad and I are parenting and talking to the kids.
We are getting to the point where you need to make some decisions on classes and AFROTC. I think we have to register for your classes in June. So start checking out BYU website to see what you want to do. The Regency Scholarship this year is 1250.00 per semester. The new info came. You just have to prove you are taking a full schedule and then they send the money. I'll stay on top of all that stuff. But I do want you to figure out what classes you want to take that first semester.
Questions-
1-When are transfers? Next week?
2-Are you hoping to stay put with your comp, or looking for a change?
3-How is your family doing? I am so excited you are working with a family! I hope that all of it works out!!!
4-How is the weather, is Ukraine pretty in the spring?
5-Are you by any farms, fields, green spaces or mostly just city?
6-Did you get your package yet?
7-How is your skin looking? The pictures seem like it is looking clear? Has anyone commented on it, like Sister Sullivan;)?
8-I noticed you spent money last week, what did you get?
9-How can I help you best from here?
10-Are you still happy and positive?
11-I loved all the pics last week!!! Thanks for those, and I love the recordings! Any more pics this week?
12-Recordings?
13-What is your weight and height now?
14-Are you still working out? Are you getting ripped?
15-Tell me what your thinking to my above comments about college.
I love you and miss you so much! Thanks for serving a mission. I am so glad you did. I totally think it will alter the course of your life. You are one of my best friends and I hope we are always this close. Thanks for setting such a great example of having a good relationship with me. I can see the other boys trying to create that same bond and I am so glad. My hope it that we will always stay close as a family no matter how far the distance is between us. You're the best. Thanks!
I love you!!!
Mom
Yeah we get calls this Saturday.
2 Yeah we get along really well, and he had even more of a passion for cleanliness than I do, its amazing.
3They are doing good, they are going to get married in May.
4Well, it snowed randomly this week, but yeah it is really beautiful here in the spring, if the snow didnt kill everything then we will have a ton of fresh strawberries soon.
5 mostly just city, but we live by a big field.
6 nope not yet.
7 well when I had the proactiv it was improving now I break out every once and a while but it is definitely better over all, everyone here says I just need to get married and it will go away.
8 I did a favor for a bunch of Elders in Dnepr a member here works for a printing company and she made a template for mini books of mormon in Russian, the Elders in Dnepr wanted a lot, so I payed the first half of the sum so they could start printing them, and they will pay me back when I am in Dnepr tomorrow.
9 Just keep praying for our investigators and us:)
10yes
I am 6 foot flat, and I dont know how much I weigh now because our scale broke, last I checked 165. My suit jackets are getting real tight around the chest from working out. You should see Elder Fuller, he accidentaly ripped one of his shirts a few weeks ago.
I made lots of pics and Recordings and yes we are getting ripped, I will be able to beat mike up a bit when i get home;) tell him Im comin for him.
A little news. So I gave Sierra the wrong email adress apparently. I havent recieved an email from her my entire mission until last week. She is companions with the Britney that Kade was in LOVE with, so it is really funny. They show people our prom pics all the time to show that they knew eachother before the mission. I dont know if she still likes me, but I know that she went to a lot of effort to get my email. I tried to not think about it too much during the week. But it is way cool, I am glad that she didnt secretly hate me this whole time.
You forgot I love you.
i love you!
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