Things Are Not Always As They Seem

Sounds like you all have had a pretty busy weekend. It's always fun to do a little manual labor that is for sure. Every time we get a chance to do some actual service, not just English Club, we jump at the opportunity! So I hope you're all enjoying and working hard.

This last week for me was an interesting one. We traveled to Omck and went on splits with every companionship of Elders there. They've been having a hard time... I felt that when I left 6 months ago we had just got the ball started to move with the work there but with new missionaries getting their bearings it takes some time to get in the groove of things and tear it up. Plus,every companionship of Elders in the city has had some type of medical emergency in the last transfer. So we got to go back and spend a few days working with the companionships there and also did some training at their district meeting. The district meeting with the whole zone was cool and all but what I really enjoyed was being able to have some one on one time with the elders there. Talking about how the work is going, how they're feeling, and to just spend some time with them. They are amazing missionaries. The last 6 months I've been able to do a lot of administrative things, so it was nice to do the ministry side of things. Maybe next transfer will hold something different for me. I'll let you know next week whats up but, I'll say that this unfortunately was my last trip to Omck as a "Elder Eborn"..

While I was on splits I got to work with a young elder. He's in his third transfer, and doing awesome. It was interesting their one investigator in the area is an excommunicated member who's on her way back to the church and, is working with the elders. I had the opportunity to be on a meeting with this Elder and teach this young lady.

She was not very excited that I was there, and gave me a hard time that I wasn't Elder Sargsyan, who she's use to working with. We started to talk, and I just kept quiet letting my companion start off with the lesson  that he'd prepared. We were talking about the Gospel of Jesus Christ and, how through the Atonement of Christ we can be cleansed from all of our sins. When we started to talk about  repentance, she sat back looked at us and said, "what do you two know about repentance... you're 20 years old, were born and raised in the church, and are here just to mark off that you served a mission, so you can go home and get married... You don't know anything."

My young comp didn't know what to say and looked at me. I sat there in silence trying to think of what i could say to this woman. Then, I found myself reaching into my bag and pulling out the picture of my family that I always have with me. I showed it to her, And she said, "wow, yet another perfect Mormon family.. I bet your mom waited for your dad on his mission right?'' 

Things are not always as they seem....I then began to tell her about us, and about some of the things we've gone through. I told her about my Mom, and about what happened to our family,what we have experienced.. I looked her in the eye as she began to cry and I said, " The Atonement is real, I've never killed anyone, I've never committed adultery, but I know the Atonement is real if we allow it to work".

I've had some pretty spiritual experiences out here serving but this one made me really cry pretty hard. I'm not a crier (at least I try not to be). I'm really grateful that our we have a Savior, and that His Atonement is real. It was as if He were standing in the room with us from that point on.

I don't know what will happen with that sister, I'll probably never see her again, but for some reason I feel that that 30 minute meeting was one of the reasons I was sent here.

The rest of the week went well, we  finished up in Omck and came back to Novo for the last time. We've got a lot of changes coming our way here in Siberia, and I'm glad I can be a part of them. We met with President Gibbons and got the final preparations figured out for the big administration shift that will start next transfer.

It'll be effecting me pretty major.  We had a great meeting with another investigator, who had just returned from young single adults conference. He had no idea that the goal of the conference was to get as many young single adults married as possible ha. He came back and complained about these girls following him around the whole time and giggling ha. But, he, it seems, has gotten his answer :). He came to our meeting in a white shirt and tie, with just a glow in his face, a light with in him. He said, " I think I've learned how the Holy Ghost communicates with me.." with a big grin on his face. We're looking forward to meeting with him and helping him get ready for baptism here in the near future we're hoping!

Elder Eborn and Elder Stewart

trying to give the dinosaur a Book of Mormom

Well that's about it for this week... We've got ZLC this week and also Elder Stewart and I are searching for a new apartment. so yeah! Thats what we're up too! You're probably sick of reading my junk any way ha. We've only got 3 months left so enjoy the peace and quiet while I'm not around!! ;) I love you guys. Have a great week!!

liveSTRONG

Старейшина Иборн! 

Mom - Alright 1/2 time sounds like a plan. Don't worry I'll get  you some матрёшки. I'm planning on getting some items as well as some шапки. and some cheaper little things for everyone else. The suit thing, I'll probably be alright Russian suits are just way legit and super cheap. So I'll keep an eye out.