"Being a Dude" Day

Another week has gone by and it seems to me to be going faster and faster. Tomorrow, I leave on my 4th Visa trip which means that this transfer will make it an entire year since I left America. We missionaries all have our own silly things we do when we hit different points on our missions. Get rid a shirt, buy a new tie, go to Finland, ya know things like that but, for me I am looking forward to a couple days in Finland.

I'll give you a full report of that next week though. Today is a special day in Russia! It's Man Day! It is the day you celebrate “being a dude” its way funny our phone hasn't stopped ringing all morning all these babushka’s calling us to wish us happy man day lol.

As for this week, we've been very busy. We had a training and zone conference here this week, which was so much fun to plan. I have always just been the missionary who got to sit and enjoy zone conference not the one who had to plan it all our and well it was different experience that's for sure It was really good though, I got to interview with President Trejo (who's awesome) we had a good long talk about wrestling.

He talked to me a lot about why I was called to be a ZL and he told me that I had the "wrestler mentality" that is I go as hard as I can for as long as I can and I don't give up until the whistle blows. I enjoyed his compliment and analogy; I do try to work hard. Speaking of wrestling Elder Trunov has had me teach him how to wrestle ha, it has been some really interesting exercises in the mornings I'll tell you what. Sister Trejo told me that I need to sleep more and that throughout my mission the circles under my eyes have been getting darker and darker (it runs in the family).

We've had some rather excited things happen this week as well, finding the balance between ZL stuff, and missionary work is hard but so worth it and I am learning so much. This week we found 2 new investigators, one of which is like some world famous chess player from the Soviet Union, and the other is one of Agaba (Uganda)'s friend, Henry. We started teaching them together. Henry has a MBA and is so smart, he asked for a Book of Mormon to read with Agaba. We had been teaching Agaba the lessons and such, and we asked him to read 2 Nephi 31 which talks a lot about the Doctrine of Christ, which is faith, repentance, baptism, receiving the gift of the Holy Ghost, and enduring to the end. Monday night, he said, "Elders, when can I make the covenant with Heavenly Father that is baptism?" Elder Trunov and I were just in shock, we set a baptismal date with him for March 27th. Henry also agreed to get ready for that date. We're very excited! We'll see what happens, please …keep them in your prayers. We're also planning and hoping to set a baptismal date tonight with one of our investigators, she's 7 will be 8 soon. I will have to tell you about her story another time but she's a nice little girl, who lives with her grandma who's a member and they want us to teach her and help get her ready for baptism. She is a convert due to the fact that neither of her parents are members. So we get to teach her, which is fun and great experience, I can imagine, what it'll be to help my future children get ready to make that big step.

Those of us who were baptized when we were 8 may not remember all that went on and what it all meant. It is something special and I am very grateful that I am a member of Church. I often show the pictures of Maddie’s baptism at Bear Lake (some 2-3 odd years ago…sorry Maddie, you're like 10 right?) and it always makes for a good “intro to missionary work” I have my pictures in my album strategically placed to focus on the importance of families and the gospel. I am grateful that my family is such a great example and that I can show that to the people here and help them come closer to Christ, I know we are not perfect, but I do love you.

Well my times about up and I want to send you some pictures! So…I love you, have a great week, I will be in Finland tomorrow on my 4th visa trip which means I only have like 3 more yikes, time flies. Well be excellent to each other!

Mom & Dad - Dad's email made me laugh way to hard I just got it but man, I miss you guys, thanks for being awesome parents :) Love ya.!