No Better Place Than Siberia

Hey Family & Friends,

So, I'm back from a long week of going all over the place it was a lot of fun though. I guess I will start off by letting you know how the Visa trip went! We got into Moscow and headed straight for TGI Fridays where I ate a (jd) cheese burger and enjoyed every bite of it! It's kind of sad and really scary to think about the fact, that I only have 2 more trips to Finland and then I take the long plane ride home... gulp. But, we wont think about that quite yet.

While we were in Finland, we had a lot of fun like always. We went into the city center and found a little store that sold everything from Peanut Butter to Fun Fetti cake mix! It was amazing to say the least. We had a also walked around and found a comic book store by chance... I went in and bought a Superman comic book which later that night I read to all the missionaries (who were in shock that I really new that much information about Superman). I then explained to them that I have the Superman handbook next to my Scout Handbook back home.

The next morning we went to the Helsinki Temple and we have friends that work in the Temple like Brat Mihail from St. Petersburg. He hooked us up and we actually were able to do a session as well as some baptisms and confirmations which was awesome. I did the whole thing in Russian and it was just awesome.

I had the opportunity to sit in the Celestial Room for some time and just think, and converse with my Father in Heaven. It really is a wonderful place to be able to go every three months and get some guidance, my errand from the Lord. After a few moments with my eyes closed and opened them to see the guy who was working at the little "American" store sitting across from me with his new wife. (I was just like dang it, I miss Amber. but anyway I'll try not to be to trunky now).. Also, I think I've made my decision on my release date ( you'll be able to find out later after I've really made up my mind we'll see if lightning strikes and changes my mind).

We flew back to Moscow and everyone got on their flight to Novosibirsk and I got on a plane (“all by myself”) for Krasnoyarsk. I was to meet up with President and my companion for a District Conference. I got to translate for most of it because Elder Stewart was sick. It was a lot of fun I went off a grand total of 1 hour of sleep and translated for a district conference, and about 30 Temple recommend interviews. At the end of it President Trejo, turned and looked at me and asked, "well, is your brain fried yet? " Seriously, I don't think I've ever been so tired in my life. After that I actually got sick probably because of just all that we've been doing and all, the traveling but in short I was pretty tired. It was great. Anyways Krasnoyarsk was fun I was way glad to be on the train back to Novo when we were all said and done. I was so tired that I actually crashed on the train. I think it's the first time I've ever been able to sleep on the train.

This week has already been pretty interesting we've been preparing for all of our upcoming events, I've been trying to help Elder Stewart, help get ready for President and Sister Petersen, we've started working on transfers, and we're going to Omck this weekend about which I’m way excited about!

We've are holding Zone Conference/training and it'll be good. I got a call from Elder Maughn the other day and he said they missed me there--- I'm excited to be going back for the weekend. Then next week we'll have all of the ZL's here to be trained. So we've got a lot coming up and not a lot of time to get ready. I sometimes feel bad that I don't have a lot of time to be teaching investigators but we're doing a lot and trying to help our missionaries to become the best they can be so I guess you could say, we're teaching the teachers.

I really do love being a missionary and doing this work, sometimes it may seem like I'm a little stressed and missing home but in reality there is nothing on earth I would rather be doing right now than this. There is no better place to be than in Siberia preaching the gospel!



I love you guys! Thanks for all you do.

Mom & Dad - I love the whole combined letter deal. Speaking of Uncle Ryan and Sam, while I was in Krasno I met a man named Kostia Talmeev who served his mission in London, I walked into the branch and he read my name tag and asked if I was related to a Ryan Eborn. I guess they'd served together in the same Zone when they served. It's a small world.

New Boundaries

Dearest Family/Friends/ and Whoever else reads my letters….

We'll I’m back in Novosibirsk for a few days, actually until tomorrow morning when I fly out of here and go to Helsinki again to pick up my new Visa. Kind of freaked out that this means I will only have 2 more after this... weird. Last week was rather interesting I should probably share.


To begin with I'll let you know that my mission, starting July 1st, will be a little different. They've changed the boundaries and actually decided to add the cities of Irkutsk and Ulan-Ude to the
Russia Vladivostok Mission, along with all the missionaries who are serving in those cities. President Lawrence from the Area Presidency, who is a member of the Quorum Of the 70, came to announce it to the branches, as well as Mission Presidents from both missions.

Elder Stewart and I, had the opportunity to translate for them, I announced to Irkutsk that we would be making the change and Elder Stewart did it in Ulan-Ude. President Lawrence speaks a little Russian, ( a little), and while I was translating for him he thought he'd tease the translator and made everyone laugh a little bit by poking fun at me in Russian ha. Then in the middle of his talk at the end He started using some really big words that for me were hard to understand in English. So finally when he said, "this is what we call Unanimous Consent" I started and then stopped turned to him and asked, “Do you know how to say that?” his eyes got all big, and exclaimed, "No...” I turned back to the congregation and explained what the term Unanimous Consent means in Russian so that it was understandable and then continued on (some things do not directly translate and they way he said it would have not been positive in Russian). After that, he didn't tease his translators ha. I need to repent for teasing a General Authority.  It was a very good opportunity and it helped me to grow. I'm comfortable in my language skills but there is a lot of room for improvement and I want to be better so now I've got some things to work for...


It was very sad though, while I was standing up there with President Lawrence, I looked out into the Congregation and saw people who were just crying because of what was happening, it touched my heart. However, it was a great testimony builder to me that the gospel is true.

The Church is worldwide and is always evolving into what the Lord needs it to be, just like us, as people making changes to ourselves to become better people and to become worthy of living in the presence of our Heavenly Father. There is a word in Russian that I love совершенствоваться. It means "To Perfect Oneself". Christ taught us "What manner of men we should be” by saying” Verily I say unto even as I am"- 3 Nephi 27:27 We're here on this earth to learn to become like our Elder brother Jesus Christ. It's not easy, and it's not a quick process, it takes a lot of hard work, humility, repentance, and changing. But eventually we'll get there. Just like the changes to the boundaries of missions in order to help the work progress forward we all need to make the necessary changes to our self in order to become The Sons & Daughters of God that we really are.


Well, I'm actually planning on sending a package of things home to you from Finland this trip, SInce it was my last time probably ever being around Baikal and I purchased a few souvenirs for ya'll so I'll send them home for you this trip :) so yeah! There'll also be some stuff that I've accumulated throughout the last 17 months of my life that you might think are interesting and fun so I will send those home.


Tonight we've got the Kiev Temple President and his wife here in Novo for a Fireside and I think I'm translating so that will be fun. I'll let you know how it goes (ha no worries mom, I'll be reverent ;)

 I love you guys! Thanks for everything you do for me! I couldn't do this without your support! Have a great week :)


жив СИЬЛНО
Ст. Иборн!!




Mom & Dad - Thanks for the info mom.


Grandma & Grandpa Eborn - Hey! I haven't seen the Allen’s since they left for Turkey a few weeks ago but I did talk to them on the phone the other day….they seem to be doing well. Whenever we talk they always talk about you both. Thanks for being awesome! I love you.

Saying Goodbye to Elder Trunov

Hey Ya'll,

I know I just got to talk to you all on Monday and all, but P-Day is P-Day and so you'll be getting emails from me this week whether you like it or not. It was so good to hear from you, I could tell that you've all gotten a little use to life without me and all, but I really loved getting to hear from you all :). So thank you for giving me a ring.

It was a good thing that we were all on lock down all day because, after, our call, I was so trunky all day. We got to go to Park of Victory and watched the celebration. Then we went to the mission home with the missionaries from Novosibirsk watched movies, played board games, and ate food. It was a lot of fun :) I got out voted and we watched Bridge to Terabithia instead of Follow me Boys. Which was a horrible idea, that show was way too sad. I mean you go into it all excited about some fantasy world, and are shot down by a cute little girl that ends up dying at the end and a little boy who thinks she went to hell. All of us missionaries were thinking to ourselves, "hmmm, we should teach these people about the Plan of Salvation..." I also found out that my scrabble skills have completely diminished (they were never really there to begin with, but I'm just saying) we ended up spelling Russian words with English letters, English words with Russian letters and just making things up as we went. All and all it was a pretty good time though :)

Yesterday, was Elder Trunov's last day as a missionary. He came from Omck and spent the day in the office with us as we all prepared for new missionary orientation today. It WAS way funny to see him in that t-shirt. It was a gift from Ira from Omck who just wanted him to remember the good times in Omck. I do miss that city, but will have the opportunity to go back this month.

Silly story, Last night Elder Trunov wanted to wrestle me one last time before he left for home, so we had a little bit of a match. He thought he'd learned a thing or two and I let him think he was doing well then I stuck him with a near-side craddle and put his head between his legs. I've got it all on video and will show you when I get home. I'll miss him he's definitely one of the best companions and a great friend. This morning we were up at 5 o'clock to go to the Airport to drop him off and to pick up the 3 new missionaries that have come to our mission. It was interesting saying goodbye to Elder Trunov, but exciting to meet these new Elders who will be spending the next 2 years in our mission and continue on what so many missionaries have started before us. We'll be doing a training thing with them tonight and tomorrow and then we'll send them off to their trainers and cities.


I have a new companion, Elder Stewart (not the Elder Stuart from Vegas) and I are getting along great, He's from Kaizer, Oregon, and also a runner. So I'm thinking this summer will be a good one. I've missed running like crazy and after Dad's little excerpt on running I've been craving a good run! So hopefully when we are in the city we'll be able to run. He (Elder Stewart) and I are actually "brothers" in the mission sense. Elder Lambson (our father/trainer) trained Elder Stewart, and then when I was born (started my mission) he trained me. So the "Son's of Lambson" have now become the AP's. We thought that was pretty funny. Elder Lambson was amazing!

This weekend we'll be flying to Irkutsk and Ulan Ude with President Trejo as well as, President Lawrence for a fireside as well as sacrament in Ulan Ude. Then next week I'll be going on my 5th Visa trip to Helsinki, then later in the month we'll be going to Omck for a training/zone conference. Yeah! so my life is pretty much like that for the next couple weeks :) So yeah!


Thank you guys for calling again, it was great to hear from all of you. I miss you like crazy, and am grateful that I've got such an amazing family to support me :) I love you!
жив СИЛЬНО
Cт. Иборн!

Mom & Dad - Mom, don't worry about getting me anything like clothes or stuff. I've got plenty of shirts to last me now and if I need anything like shoes or “whatever not” (I guess I miss Chase subconsciously...) if I need anything, just send me some money and if I need anything I can buy it here.  If you want to send packages though I'd love some pictures of what you've been up too, Reese's, and different kinds of marinade. Since I am in Novo now I get them as soon as they get in ;)


Tanner - Happy Birthday Broski! I love ya and am proud of ya! I can't believe you're 18 now goodness. Soon you'll be in my shoes ;) Love you, Bro have a great birthday. Just remember, Be excellent, and PARTY ON!

I Want to be like Captain Moroni

Hey Fam!

So I'll start off by getting the "most important stuff" out of the way to begin with. I don't think I explained the whole Mothers day thing out as well as I'd have liked. We will be having lock downs on Monday due to the fact that it's Victory Day and it's not very safe to be out on the streets for Americans that stick out like sore thumbs in their white shirts and ties. So, you can call me on Monday morning Novosibirsk time at 8 am. I think that works out to be like 9 pm Layton Utah time if my math serves me right.

Call me on my cell because I'm afraid that my home phone might cause radiation poisoning... Any ways I'm really looking forward to being able to talk to you all :) I've missed you like crazy and I'm so excited to actually be able to hear your voices.  It gives a whole other dimension to the fact that I have a family! Elder Rupper and I have been talking about it and it feels like our entire lives have been on a mission. it's weird, ha I think back to things that happened before the mission and it's weird.. Anyway sorry, sometimes I feel I'm slipping slowly into insanity but that's what happens when you've got two languages fighting for control of your brain. it's been getting better though, I have to often talk with President Trejo in English so it makes things better or at least more understandable.

So last week when I wrote you we were in Irkutsk and it was snowing like, well like we're in Siberia как раз! It ended up snowing something like 40 cm and короче, We were unable to fly out of Irkutsk that day. So we Spent another night with the elders there, President and Sister Trejo stayed at a hotel. We had a grand time! Irkutsk is actually the only place in Siberia where a Papa John's Pizza is located. It was delicous! I still can't get over how good it was! Because of the delay, I was also able to learn more about Irkutsk and the culture that is around Baikal. It was very interesting to say the least, I bought some neat souvenirs that I'll probably send home next time I'm in Finland. It would be really neat to serve in the east, and with another 8 months left there it could happen...

Today we had our Zone Leaders Council. All the ZL's from all over the mission traveled here to be trained by us and by President Trejo. It was a really good council. Elder Rupper and I talked about helping our people make and keep commitments. It went over pretty well I think. President Trejo talked about leaders, and how we are the leaders of the mission. It really hit home with me because in the next two months, we'll be losing all of the "older missionaries", for most of my mission I've been one of the younger generation, as well as our mission President. It's going to be a make it or break it time for our mission, and a lot of the missionaries are going to be looking to us, for guidance and leadership. He talked about 2 people from the Book of Mormon. about King Benjamin, as well as Captain Moroni. It really struck me pretty hard, and has definitely given me a lot to think about ha. I hope I can be one of those Captain Moroni's not just here on the mission, but through out my life. I'm great full for the leaders that I've had in my life that have helped me become the man I'm becoming. Those people like Dr. Hill (thanks for letting me know about him), Troy Brown, Matt Larsen, Bishop Nielsen, and of course my Father. Those kinds of people are the one's who really have helped me become who I am. And I'm Very grateful for their examples in my life and for everything they've taught me.

Well, I guess I'd better get going. There's a lot to do and it never seems like there is ever enough time to do it. I love you all :) thank you for the support you give me. The Church is true, Joseph Smith is the Prophet of the Restoration, God loves us, and Jesus Christ is our Savior and you can know it too! The Book of Mormon is a wonderful way to find out ;) just check out the last two paragraphs in the introduction.

LiveStrong,
Elder Eborn