Happy 4th of July from Siberia!

Howdy Ya'll! 

I'm slightly starting to get worried about how fast time is flying and how close the end of the year is getting... gulp... but we won't focus on that. Like Steve Prefontaine said, "the best pace is suicide pace, and today looks like a good day to die." We've been really busy this last week getting all ready for ZLC, President Trejo leaving, President Rolfe coming as well as trying to squeeze some regular missionary work in there.It's been interesting to say the least. But we some how managed to get everything done and today we were able to have a wonderful ZLC. So I don't really know where to start so I guess the begining would be a good place! 

Thursday President & Sister Rolfe flew in from Moscow to begin presiding over the mission for the next few weeks untill the Gibbons get here. We got to drive out to the airport and meet them, it's a different feeling when you go and pick up a new mission president then it is when you go an pick up new missionaries let me tell ya. Saturday morning President & Sister Trejo left for home, they're probably there now. We had kind of a orientation meeting with the Rolfes so we could all be on the same page for the next month. We've got a lot of things coming up. Trips to other cities, Firesides as well as having to get transfers all finalized so we can start buying tickets and such. I think we're probably the only mission in the world that has to start thinking about transfers the first week into a new transfer, but i guess when you have to move people around siberia in trains, planes and automobiles you've gotta think in advance. 

Our investigators are doing awesome! The Lord has really been working miracles for us thats for sure. Nastya came to church this last sunday and she sat up front with one of the members we've introduced her to and because it was fast & testimony meeting. i knew it was going to be a spiritual power house. I don't know why, but i just felt it from the moment that my head lifted off the pillow (thanks again for the pillow case Am ;)) I was sitting off by myself speaking in to the radio transmitter we use to translate for the senior couples and President & Sister Rolfe, and i was kind of sitting and watch her to see how she would react to her first sacrament meeting. After a few testimonies, a little boy got up and bore his testimony. It was very simple, not a lot of words, but it was very sincere. He said, "I know that my Father in Heaven loves me, and thats why we have the church, and the Book of Mormon." after he jumped off the podium and ran back to his mother i looked at Nastya who was just in tears. After the meeting we had the chance to meet and to talk about how she felt and if she had any questions and she just said, "this is what i need". The Gospel is an amazing thing. It's the answer to any question, the cure to any illness, and it makes you happy beyond belief :). We had a few other investigators at church as well. One Pavel is way cool, we've been meeting with him for about a week now and he has a lot of good questions. he's catholic, which is rare for russia in the last meeting we taught him about the plan of salvation and he got talking about how понятно it is. He even prayed at the end of our last meeting and it was a very good prayer.

The fourth of July in Siberia wasn't met with fireworks, but we did get to have Burgers and a BBQ! We were working in the office and President Rolfe stuck his head in and said, "have you eaten yet? well why don't you come with us for Carl's Jr!" We gladly accepted the inventation and went and got burgers. it was way good,  and a fun experience to walk in on the fourth of July and all the workers tell you с праздником! :) we all had some pretty big smiles as we slurrped our real Milkshakes :). Then later that night we got to go with The Rolfes again to a FHE with the district presidency to translate, and we had Russian BBQ  or шашлык :) it's kind of like shishkabobs but not even close ha it was so good! now all my clothes smell like BBQ ha it was fun. I'll send some pictures.

So yeah, today was ZLC. It's a little bit different when you're in charge of ZLC and not just a participant who gets to come and enjoy the spirit and learn but when you're the one who actually has to do the teaching it takes a little bit more out of you. Our message was mostly about faith. We talked about Roger Bannister, the first man to run a mile in under 4 minutes, and then compared it to Alma 26. it went pretty well. I really hope that I can be like that at the end of my mission. I have to make the descion of when to set my "Death Date"  before the end of this month, and so yeah. Time goes by way to fast. 

I love you guys! I hope you had a great 4th, enjoy America for me ;) Have a great week! 

liveSTRONG

Старейшина Иборн!

Mom & Dad - hey, I was actually gunna ask if you ever got that package. The T-shirts are mostly mine, but the little things inside are for you all, i just forgot to put a note who gets what ha. Shot Glasses - Tanner, Dad - long wooden face dude, Mom - Irkustkya doll, Megan & Maddie - Brushes that say байкал, Gramm - Stacking doll, Amber - Brush that says Сибирь. Thanks for sending me a package :) I'll let you know when I get it! send my congrats to Haley. Love you guys!