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.