Thanksgiving in Russia | 2010

It seems like you guy's are all having a little taste of what I am living in. It seems like the weather changed overnight here, no kidding. One day I was in my palto and shlapa and the next I had to wear my thermal underwear and big Siberia coat! Well either way I love the fact that it's getting cold. I hope you guy's are all being safe and driving very careful. There are no snow plows here in Russia, (bad idea huh?) and the roads turn in to giant sheets of ice after the first snow fall. It makes things interesting ha. and a little scary, a good thing these people know how to drive in this kind of weather. The bus drivers just gun it then slam on the brakes just in time to slide to stop at the bus stop. But yeah, it's been fun I am going need to buy me some winter boots here soon, one pair of shoes I've worn holes in the soles, and the other aren't big enough for me to wear my warm socks. So I will be proably buying boots before I go to Finland in a few weeks.

SO President Trejo gave me a call last Friday regarding my transfer... and I will be serving in Omck again.

BUT, due to the fact that we have an odd number of missionaries and no one can serve a mini mission, Elder Drasso and I will be with Elder Stuart. He's been here in Omsk with us the last transfer or so and now we are all companions, we moved into his apartment and we'll be working in both areas. So we're going to be very busy this next transfer. Monday we got all packed up and moved to his apartment and have been slowly been settling in. It's a small apartment for 2 missionaries and now that there is three of us.. well its pretty cramped but well get by...I sleep on the couch in the living room.  But it's all right, it's a good thing we only are in our apartment for a couple hours each day.

Yesterday was our first day together as a companionship, and we had to go and meet with some people lol. It was way funny, we got on a bus that we thought would take us to where we needed to go, then we realised that the bus wasn't going that way lol, but it didn't stop to let us off. so we had to ride it untill we stopped, and when we did, we were in the middle of no where ha. We had to walk almost an hour to get back to where we needed to be. It was fun, even if it was way cold ha adventures in Siberia right?

Artiom is doing awesome, we had a great meeting with him the other night before sports night. He had a question about a verse he read in the Book of Mormon, he's been reading when Christ appeared to the Nephites, and he read in 3 Nephi 11:39, where it talks says "Verily, verily, I say unto you, that this is my doctrine, and whoso buildeth upon this buildeth upon my rock, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against them." he asked me, "what does it mean?" I turned to Helman 5:12 and read with him about where we need to build our foundations, Looking up at me with almost tearful eyes, he asked, " what do i need to do to strengthen my foundation? ".  Afte reading mom's email (her talk) today, she is so right! I've been thinking about it, all of us need to Strengthen our Foundations, and it's like mom said it's building our relationships with our Father in Heaven, through scripture study, daily prayer, and doing what we know is right, It's through our relationships with our family, our fellow men, and our relationship with ourselves. As much as I am here as a missionary serving the people of Russia, the mission is doing so much more for me.

I can see more clearly how important the concept of building our foundation upon the rock of our Savior Jesus Christ really does make the difference. Artiom, told me he knows the Book of Mormon is true and that the gospel is true, he just needs to take some time to decide for himself if this is the path he wants to walk. Keep in him you're prayers.

So it's Thanksgiving, tommorrow! Goodness I can't believe how fast time has been flying buy! Tomorrow we're going to have a big lunch deal at the Senior couples, they've been on the search for a Turkey since they got here but it ...doesn't look like that's going to happen ha we might have chicken.

It'll be fun like I said earlier President Trejo asked us to sacrifice for the holidays and he asked us to have a half lock down for Thanksgiving and Christmas so.... tommorrow we're going to be trying to find some people that need the gospel! I want to take a little time here at the end of this and express my gratitude to all of you who are supporting me here.

I couldn't do it with out you all. This is hard, but with you're love and support, and like Alma said when he returned from his mission with the strength of a loving Heavenly Father, I can do all things. Thank you all...I hope you have a wonderful turkey day! And...have an extra slice of pumpkin pie for me and have a great week!

liveSTRONG,
Ст Иборн

Mom & Dad - Sounds like the house is going  to look different when I get back.  Also, if you could make sure I have enough money for a pair of boots soon that would be a wonderful Christmas present. I'll need like 4000 rubles or so. Yeah. I love you guys, thanks for everything!

Another Week of Adventure, Language Barriers, and Awesome Spiritual Experiences!

Does it seem to anyone else like these weeks are just flying by? I am pretty much freaking out about how fast time has been flying by! I feel like I was just here writing you about my week, but here I am yet again, writing you about another week full of adventure, language barriers, and awesome spiritual experiences. Sometimes I really don't know what I should write you guys, I mean my weeks are pretty repetative, I wake up, work out, eat, study, go out and meet with people and try to find those people who the Lord has prepared to recieve this message that I am here to deliver. I just do what I do and try to have a great time while I am at it! So far things are working out!


This week Elder Drasso and I had to do a lot of stuff, its weird when I got to Omsk it seemed like no one wanted to meet with us, but now we hardly have anytime to take a break. We're working hard that's for sure and things are working out. I am trying to do like I learned in the MTC.." Pray like everything depends on God, then get up and work like it all depends on you."  I feel that the Lord is blessing us with a lot of work because we are willing to do it. We've spend a lot of time with individuals who are less "active" as well as our investigators.

Artiom is doing awesome, yesterday Elder Drasso was on a meeting with him and Elder Bounus, (we were on splits because we had two meetings at once and Artiom told him that he believes the Book of Mormon is true. Which was way sick! I am so glad that Artiom is progressing like he is!

One thing is that he has school on Sundays, and it goes from 11 -3 which is when Church is. It's hard to tell him not to go to school, when he's already paid tuition and is working hard to become what he wants. I am kind of at a wall about how to work with that part of it but, I know like it says in Nephi the Lord will provide a way! Also, while Drasso was with those two I was on a meeting with Elder Nelson working with some new investigators, they've been coming to English for as long as I've been in they asked me last friday if they could meet with the Elders because they had some questions about the Church. So we arranged to meet with them.

They started by asking why our Church is "of The Latter Day Saints" we then explained to them about Prophets, dispensations, and the Apostasy. When we got to the part about the Joseph Smith, they both looked like they were going to cry. So we asked them, "how are you feeling right now?" Through tear filled eyes one answered, "I can't describe how I feel, but it's good" .

We then explained to them about the Holy Ghost, also that that was what they were feeling. Many times we can feel the impressions of the Holy Ghost, but we need to learn how to recognized it and act on it better. We invited them to read the Book of Mormon and to find out if Joseph Smith was a Prophet. Then to act upon the answer they recieved and to come unto Christ, and be baptized.

There was an amazing feeling in the room, the Spirit was there, and right as they went to answer, a phone went off. Isn't it funny how those things always seem to happy right at the time you don't want them too! It always happens. The Spirit is strong and then wham, and Satan tries to screw things up---the punk. It always happens when I talk about the Joseph's First Vision. The Spirit is the thing that converts' people, it's not us missionaries. We just do our part to deliver the message and the Spirit does the rest.

SO other than that our week's been pretty good, It's been really cold, and wet. The snow has been turning to slush and then to mud and water and it's really just gross every where. Transfers are next week... President will be calling Friday with our transfers. I am kind of wondering, I've been here for 3 transfers already and I think I might be leaving, but I feel like I just got my area up to where it should be and I want to see what is going to happen with the rest of the year! So yeah, next week you either will get an email or you won't if not it means I am traveling to and from places but no worries you'll hear from me sooner or later! I will be in Siberia somewhere so... keep me in you prayers, you will be in mine. I love you guy's thanks for the support :) I couldn't do this with out you!


liveSTRONG~

Elder Eborn


Mom & Dad - Mom, ha don't worry about what to write me just write! It always makes my week a little better when I hear from my mommy :) Sounds like you guys will be very busy the next couple weeks. Holidays are starting up, the Maughns got in last week and are way sick, I guess Elder Maughn grew up in Montpelier? Small world....but yeah. I am expecting some cool pix from your fishing trip! Yesterday, at English that was our topic we talked about camping and fly fishing it was way fun. Super trunky topic but oh well. That's way cool that Jord is Tyler's  trainer! Send them my email. I wanna hear from them. Well Love you guys! :)

Tanner - Swim hard retard.


Emilie! - You found me eh! About time lol. It's not like I've been gone for almost a year.  I am just kidding, thanks for the email! It always is good to hear from my friends. It sounds like you're doing way great, what are you doing and the hospital for work? tell your mom hi and give her a big hug for me :)

A Moment of Clarity in the Snow

Another week and I am still here, it's getting pretty cold here everyone'sstarting to dawn there big winter  coats and shapki! It's definetly not Utah cold. We had the first snow of the winter this week which was pretty cool. We woke up and could see all this white stuff in the air ha Elder Drasso let out a loud, "ah crap.." being from southern California was not to thrilled about the snow and the cold.

Elder Drasso & Elder Eborn Halloween 2010

Welcome to Siberia! It snows here a lot. This week has been good. We've been working hard.  It looks like you've all been having a sick time ha literally. So the pictures did make me pretty trunky, actually
I wasn't trunky until I saw my puppy... lol silly I know but I miss my brown friend. that's not good that you've all been sick, I am sorry I guess thats one plus to not being home I dont have to catch what you all got!

This week has been good, we met some new people and got some new investigators, that hopefully will start progressing. Artiom (Jon Bon Jovi) is doing awesome, keep him in you're prayers.

Elder Eborn and Artiom

We were asked by President Trejo this week to make some sacrifices for the end of the year, not meaning anything crazy or sectanty like, but he asked us to read through some stuff by the end of the year as well as to sacrifice some of the holidays. Meaning in place of having a "lock down" on Thanksgiving and Christmas for the whole day, well be having a lunch at the senior couples, and then we will return to do doing missionary work the rest of the day. I am actually very excited to see what this will bring.

It's going to be a wonderful holiday season. I can't wait! ha plus I will be getting a Christmas box soon! Seeing as how both of my old companions are serving in the office right now I got a phone call saying my Christmas package was there ha, it's not what ya know, but who! It was so nice of them to let me know.

I will attach some pictures to this email of some of the stuff I've been up to lately so sorry if this email is shorter it just takes a while to upload pics...

Dad always talks about those "moments of clarity" and honestly this city has been tough, it's been a transfer that has made me stretch and sometimes I think that everything I am doing is just "seed planting" but Sunday I had one of those "clarity moments".

Our branch time changed, we now start sacrament time at 3 in the afternoon and I was not excited about it. but as I sat there in the back of sacrament meeting and looked around me I felt the Spirit. I looked up at the sacrament table and I saw a young man there who had been very inactive, and honestly not very happy, and now he was standing in front of the congregation with a smile on his face, blessing the water. Then I noticed another young man who was getting ready to pass the sacrament, who we'd also been working with, and both of them had just these big grins on their faces as they looked back at me.

It being Fast and Testimony meeting, member's all got up and shared their testimonies of the truthfulness of the Church and the impact it's had on their lives. From the back, a man walked in. he also was very inactive, and had kind of gone off the deep end. he had some problems with drugs, alcohol, and other things. We'd met with him earlier in the week, and I really didn't think much of what we'd talked about. He didn't really say much during the meeting with us but I could tell he felt something. Sunday, he got up and walked to the front of the sacrament hall...stood with tears in his eyes, he told us. That he knew his Father in Heaven loved him, Because when he needed him the most he sent two missionaries to come and help him find his way back.

The Gospel is changing lives of the people in Russia, I know it. It may not be visible but Zion is being built, even here where it's really cold. I know it, and  I am gratetful that I can be here and do this work. The
Church is perfect. Even if we as member's aren't. Our Father in Heaven loves His Children, and I get to help people realize it.

We'll I love you all! I hope things are going good and that you all have a wonderful week!

liveSTRONG,
Elder Eborn

Mom & Dad - Hey folks! Dont worry mom :) I am doing fine, I am actually going to buy a dumbbell set today, seeing those pictures of Tanner made me realize that I need to get back in to shape ha. The pictures looked way sick! Halloween seemed like you had a blast! Let everyone know I love them and miss them. As for the sky miles deal you just have to register on the internet we fly via Aeroflot most of the time and Delta so their all partners and work together.  I am good... on the warm side,  the cold feels so good!

Tanner - Dude, WHAT? Who said you could go and get all big and buff? Oh well, I speak Russian! I love ya bro, keep being the stud you are!

Megan - What up lil sis?! I heard you made comp volleyball!? Way to go you're such a little studmuffin that's for sure. I am proud to be able to say you're my sister. Remember what it says in Jacob 2: 17-18. :) I love ya sis.

Maddie - Hey baby sister! love your guts! Keep being you and hug the brown one for me!

News From Russia

We recieved an email from the main office.  Elder Eborn's holiday package arrived safe and sound----and will be delivered to him at the end of November.  Phew!  Silly things we mom's worry about. 

Halloween 2010 in Russia

Can you believe it's already November?! I am slightly freaking out about the fact that time's flown by so quick and that I've been gone this long. I sounds like you all had a fun Halloween (even without me) way to go on being a Running Ute dad! I can't wait to see some pictures next week!

We had a fun little Halloween party for English Club, we had a lot of people show up expecting a good time, I made the biggest cookie I have ever made and rootbeer for everyone it was way fun to watch everyone  trying Rootbeer, everyone wanted the recipe, it was fun we had a lot of games and stuff, I'd send pictures but I forgot my card reader... I wore my suspenders and my shlapa with some sunglasses and rolled up my sleeves---it was a lot of fun. We had a lot of games and treats and stuff and then we had a bobbing for apple contest... At first Idid not won't to compete to say the least, because I knew if I was going to do it I'd go all out...and yeah, so after I tried to tell everyone that I wasn't going to play, I ended up being the first one to go... dang peer pressure. 

Elder Nelson and I ended up being up to our shoulder's head down in the bucket of water bobbing for apples we laughed way hard. One of the Sister's here, is a very strick, straight forward,  only one way to do anything, kind of person, came up to us and told me how I was the craziest person she'd ever met, commented on  how I did everything to the extreme, how I work, how I play, just everything was to the extreme.  I thought about that a little bit.

I remember what Dean Karnazis wrote in his book "The Ultra Marathon man" (Not that I am quoting him as scripture or anything, this is just something I liked) "life is not meant to be finished by walking across the finishline. It's meant to come sliding in broadside, bruised, broken, and bleeding proclaiming, what a ride! " I will only serve on one full time mission, and it's getting shorter and shorter as the days go by, and I am going to enjoy it. I am here to work, to help people come unto Christ, and I've only got 14 months left to do it full time, so yeah, I maybe a little crazy, I may dive into buckets of water after apples, I may work hard and have a lot of fun while  I am at it, but I am here for a reason, and I am going to be me. I may be becoming a better me but I'll always be me!

Well other than that we had a some success with our investigators and also finding some new ones. we had a contact come to Church on "I wiill give you a thosaund rubles for it!" I smiled and said "it's worth a lot more than that but, I will give you one for free. Hopefully things will start to pick up with him well meet again with him Saturday so I hope everything works. Artiom is doing awesome, tonight we're going to teach him about the law of chastity... LOL I had to learn a lot of new word's this morning to say the least ha. i think we've become good enough friends that it won't be to awkward... but then again that kind of stuff is alway's pretty awkward lol.

We're also working with the youth to get some stuff going like Young Mens. They don't have things like that here or scouting so these 12 and 13 year old kids just come to Church and don't really have anyother outlet for things. It makes me grateful for all my leaders that I've had that really did make the extra effort to make Scouts fun and to get me wanting to come to Church, it's not just through the gospel but it's through other activities that the Lord can help people to understand the importance of the Gospel, and these kids need it!

Well, thats about it from me this week, sorry sometimes I just don't know what to write you guys ha it's a lot of the same stuff, I am just working and having fun. I love you all, and I miss you like crazy!  I get to talk to you on Christmas!! ;)

liveSTRONG,
Elder Eborn!

Mom & Dad - Wow mom , look at Mrs  Big-Wig down in Texas being a speaker it's sounds like you're having a lot of fun and getting to be away from the kids for a couple days sounds probably would be nice. If you do get me another mellow johnny's tshirt make sure it's not too small this time ha I am still not a very big  guy, but I am not a kid any more. I love you guy's :) thank you for all the support, I feel like one of the Son's of Helaman out here, I doubt not, my mother (parents) knew it!

Tanner- Hey Broski, just wanted to let ya know I love ya and miss ya. Keep being the brother you are, and know I am proud to say your my brother.

Girls, Love you sisters!

Beyond Our Capabilities

Another e-mail from Sibieria for ya'll, sound's like you are all getting ready for a sweet Halloween.  I think this year I am going to go as a missionary (Ha! Maybe we'll switch nametags and go as each other) it's not like being home that's for sure, I've been way homesick this week. Probably due to the fact, that Elder Drasso loves his family tons too and  we have been talking about home, but it's been good. We've been having fun and things have been working out. We're getting a long,  I guess it's kind of a good thing to be trunky because if you weren't it means you didn't have much to look forward to back home. So in short, I'm looking forward to coming home and seeing you all :) BUT I've still got a long way to go, so we'll not get to far ahead of ourselves, there's still 14 months ahead of me here in Siberia and I love doing what I am.

I am expecting some sweet pictures from Halloween next week ha, we're having a Halloween party in English club Friday so that should be way fun. Gunna make some rootbeer!! Oh, I bought a new hat... Elder Nelson and I were walking around on the reenok (basically a swap meet type place) he's training a greeny and he needed to by some winter clothes so we went together, and I found a hat that is called a shlappa in
Russian but I think it's called a Fedora in English idk for sure. but any ways, we talked the guy down on the price and we bought them ha. if you go outside without a hat on in October, you'll get a swift swat upside the head from a babushka ha. So if I have to wear a hat I am gunnna get a fun one so we got them ha and well when I wear it with my suit and tie and my leather gloves and palto, I look like mafia ha. it's way fun,( it's actually been pretty effective for contacting too, people come up and talk to me ha). I will send some pictures next week.;)

So this week was very productive as far as the missionary work goes, we found 3 new investigators and had some awesome meetings with Artiom, he's doing awesome. He's getting closer and closer to baptism and I  think he can feel it as well.

Yesterday, we had a meeting and talked about the Atonement, and how it is a free gift to all that accept it. I love the verse in 2 Nephi 25:23, "it's is by mercy that we are saved, after all we can do" the all we can do involves our willingness to accept Christ and his Gospel. To do the things that he asks of us and then we can recieve that mercy. As we explained it to Artiom we talked alot about faith, and how it was the first step because if we don't have faith in Christ nothing is going to work, and it's interesting the word faith in Russian and the word trust are very similar in fact only a prefix seperates their meanings. We all should Trust
in our Savior more, people here are different than back home, they tell us often that we have a confidence about us, that they haven't seen before, and Elder Nicholaisen, our senior couple explained it perfectly. He said, it's not that we are confident in ourselves it's that we trust in our Savior, and that gives us strength to do things that our beyond our own capablities. Like learning Russian, preaching the gospel, or having the faith to take a step into an unknown future, with that trust in our Savior we know that no matter what he will be with us and that gives us strength that can't be measured.

Oh! forgot to tell you this, our senior couple here the Nicholiasens got a transfer, they were transfered to Turkey for the remainder of their mission they are going to be the humanitarian missionaries for the whole
country of Turkey.  The church isn't recognized in Turkey yet but they're going to lay some ground work, cool huh? So we are senior coupleless for the time being but it's all good, The Maughns will be coming here-- is what the plan is.  Mom mentioned that it's our dear Brother Maughn's brother,right? Isn't that cool, be sure to tell Brother Maughn for me, love that man. They'll be here the 9th of 10th of November so I will help get them accustomed to life in Siberia!

Well family, I love you, I miss you like crazy and I hope that everything is going well. Until next week, with love from Russia.

liveSTRONG,
Elder Eborn

Mom & Dad - Thank's for the emails Yeah the Russian., who emailed you is named Olga she's a member here in Omsk and speaks English well. She asked me if I wanted to say anything to you and I didnt think she
would remember what I said ha that's way funny though. Anyways have a fun Halloween, I am looking forward to pictures :) and mom, to answer your question, I've been thinking about it and yeah, i think i want to go school in the spring, but idk for sure yet that's the plan for now. I wanna get my CNA and get a job working in a hospital or something but idk if or how i could get it all worked out and with college so we'll see. What are your thoughts on it?  I know you have good advice.

Tanner - Dude, your cosutme is looking sweet! Gotta send me a pic of the completed thing! You will be amazing I am sure.

Grandpa - Thank's for the picture :) That sure is a beautiful temple!

Aunt Meegan - Thank's for the email! So good to hear from other Eborns (Especially the ones in Layton :) tell Garrett Gav, and Libby Lou , I love them.

Remember Who You Are and Where You Came From

Another week another email! It's crazy how fast time is going by, a year ago I was getting ready to go the Temple and now I am in Siberia and winter is closing in! it has been about 0 degree's all week, I've had to start wearing my palto and hat when we go out it hasn't snowed yet here but I hear it's not far from it  every morning we wake up to a nice layer of ice that is blanketing out windows and the ground. Welcome to Siberia - There's no where I'd rather be!

Elder Drasso came in last Friday early in the morning, (Transfer weeks are hard here do to the fact that you have to be up early in the morning or out late at night and man it just make's you super tired, it's been good to get back to the regular routine of missionary life) and we just got straight to work.---he's great, we've both come a long way from the MTC I will tell ya that!

It'll be a good transfer, we figured out though that we are the youngest companionship in our mission! Which is a little scary to think. But we can handle it, like Good Ol' Joseph Smith said, "Deep water is what I want
to swim in" and hard things are what make us realize what we really can do.

We got to watch general conference this weekend, which was just AWESOME! A lot of really good stuff about which they talked about will help me in my work here. When President Monson talked about missionaries at first I just thought "ha, I am already there :) but, I think Iwill probably want to serve a mission as a senior couple sometime when I am a "older person" but for now I am glad to be a missionary in the far reaches of Siberia!

We've been still working trying to find some new investigators as well as getting the young men really active in the Church here and it's been well, the work is progressing, we've been having fun with it as well. Artiom, (aka Jon Bon Jovi) is doing awesome, we had an amazing couple meetings with him since last time I wrote you, we started in on the Plan of Salvation and what it is, and what it means that we really have the plan. It really is an amazing thing and it's perfect, I'm so greatful that we have it and that we are a part of it.

We've been taking it very slow trying to make sure everything is understood and that he can feel the Spirit as we teach. ( That is the key after all, I can talk all day, but if I don't have the Spirit with me he isn't going to learn anything) and Monday after FHE we had a meeting with him where we started in on our Pre-Mortal existence. and how in reality, we are all sons and daughters of God, and that he loves us, and because he loves us he has given us the ability to choose for ourselves what we want to do do, and in our wisdom we chose his plan which enabled us to come here and to recieve a body and to learn. It was an awesome meeting, I remember just looking into Arty's eyes, and opeing my mouth and the words came out, "Artiom, you are a son of the most incredible being in the universe, the Creator of all, and you chose to come here, and you wanted to follow your Elder Brother Jesus Christ. and you are here meeting with us because you are ready and your Father in Heaven knows it. He loves you and he want's you to return to him and to learn what you need to do here." I stopped, and realized what I had told him and was just like wow, that was really bold, I hope I didn't over do it and scare him. He kind of looked down then back up at me and started to cry. He knew his Father in Heaven loved him, and we all could feel it.

Family, we all need to remember who we are, and where we have come from. Whether we are older and working in the temple (not that grandma and grandpa are old...my grandpa can out hike anyone) a parent with four children, or a senior in highschool, we are all children of the most magnificant being in the universe, and He loves us. No matter how hard we fight it, or how much we deny it. The truth is that he is, and that he loves us, we chose to come here and to learn and to grow. He is looking forward to the day when he can sit down with us and talk with us about how our adventure here was. Take some time to talk with him, he's there to listen and he want's to hear from you.

Well, idk what else to tell ya? Sound's like you've had a great week those pictures dad sent me where way funny ha, I am still busting up about Gavin with the Shotgun, ha you should have got a video of that. I can't wait until I get home and we can all go fishing together, but it's not about the fishing, it's about the trip, and about the "Damn Trains" and Cupcakes. Family, I love you guy's, thank's for everything, I couldn't do this without you that is for dang sure.

liveSTRONG,
Elder Eborn

Mom & Dad - All is well with me, just wanted to say thanks for being the examples you are to me. I love you. :) oh and also I had a brilliant idea.. seeing as how I fly like thousands of miles a year we should set meup a skymiles account so I can earn some points for when we get home ha. If you have some time to set up an account before the December trip it would be cool to start using while I go on visa trips and earn some extra points for what ever trips we want to take when I get home ;) (b/c we are gunna!)

Tanner - Dude, I know! The Scout Office is haunted huh? It's way freakin at night, I always had to have my headphones on and turn on all the light's or I'd get scared ha. Let me know how swimming's going big guy. Love you Tanner.

Girls & Gramm - Love you and miss you all!

Will You? When You Know?

Hey...
How's it all going back home? Sounds like you've been having a pretty good week  I saw Tanner's homecoming pics, ha (way to go Bro!) even if you were in my shirt ;) ha still looked good and I like that you had fun.

This week has been super hectic for us. Transfers here in Siberia aren't like they are anywhere else I mean what other mission do you have to take a plane to get to your next city? I've been bouncing around between other companionships here in Omsk helping out where I can, due to the fact that I don't have a comp. but it's been good last Thursday, we got tickets to a professional Hockey Game! It was so sick the team was called Avangard.

They're here in Omsk and they're way good, they actually like won the National Championship last year so it was way fun.  They actually lost but the energy and stuff at the game was just way fun! They played all sort's of good music after 10 months of MoTab, listening to other music make's one feel good. 

We went to the game and got some cool pics I will send some today or next week hopefully. Then on Friday, President called and told us about our transfers... I will be here in Omsk on left bank again, and I will be with Elder Drasso again. This will be the first time I've had a companion that hasn't been out longer than me on the Mission since the MTC and ha again it'll be with Elder Drasso.  It will be a good transfer, I'm glad to be staying here in my area where I  can continue on with what I've started. I hope we can do all that we need to and what the Lord would have us do.

We've been working with this young man named Artiom, I think I've told you about him, he looks like John Bon Jovi . He's 19 years old and he's been coming to English pretty steadily and so Elder Birtcher and I started meeting with him, and he's such a cool guy!

 Last Friday, I met with him and we talked about how important all of this really is and how much happier his life will be here now and in the life to come if he starts doing what he needs to. It was way cool because, I asked him, when he knows that the Book of Mormon is true, will you get baptized?  He sat there for a few moment's in silence. Olga, the member we had with us started to say something, and he stopped her and said he needed to think so we sat there for a few minutesin silence. I felt like Ammon before the King when he asked the King what he wanted from him then waited an hour as the King sat in silence.

Reality it was just a few moments he said, "Elder when I know, yes". It was so cool, the Spirit was very strong and we've been in contact everyday he's guy.  I know that when he does the thing's that he's suppose to---reading, praying, and going to Church, that he will recieve the answer, just as I know that it will happen to anyone of you who tries. Read and ask and you'll get an answer,  I promise our Heavenly Father will answer you!

We'll it looks like you've all been having a great time, if you haven't sent my Christmas box off yet I would ask if you would add a few more things, like a new Scout Handbook/ Cubscout handbook. We're going to see if we can get some stuff going here with some of the youth to help them do other things than "coming to church". So we'll see, plus I just want a Scout Handbook, it was always such a big part of my life and I miss it!

Tanner Way to go on your Eagle Board! Let me know when your Court of Honor is! We'll I'd better get going, there's alot to do today and time's not slowing down! I love you all! Thank's for the support, I couldn't do this without you that's for sure! Keep me and especially the people in Russia in your prayers, they need lots of love. I love you all!

liveSTRONG
Elder Eborn!

Grandpa - Wow, that must have been very sudden and unexpected for Uncle Stephen and Aunt Candice. But you're right, The Plan of Happiness is a wonderful thing. This is not the end, that's for sure. Let them know that I love them, and that they'll be in my prayers.

Mom & Dad - So I found a Solomon Store here and I had to buy some pants that were on sale... they're just  way to cool ha so yeah I took some money off for that, im also planing on buying my winter boots probably next week.  Columbia has some really good sales right now and the boots are like way sick it'll be like 5-7000 rubles so just so ya know. I will  look for your letter next week before I go shopping. But yea, also I am getting ready to send you guy's you're box of "I have been gone a year / do need this stuff" box so yeah ha it probably won't get there for a few months but just be aware :)
I love you guys! Thank you for being the best Parents and Friends I could ask for!

Amber - Hey missy :) Thanks for the letters, goodness I miss you. I hope you're having a great day and that your week is just wonderful!! ha tell Rachel thank's for her letter also :) I got it late last week lol. You're
family is awesome tell them all hi from me. Anyways, have a great week!
see ya Am

By What Authority?

Well hello there family!
How are things back in the good ol' USA?! Man those pictures of you guy's in St.George were so sick! I want to go out and run a marathon right now!

Elder Britchers dad actually was down there and ran the marathon too. It sounds like you had a blast. We'll have to do it when I get back in a couple years deal? Well this week has been way interesting. We had the whole leadership training with President Trejo and it's been way cool to start implementing those things into my teaching and missionary work.

Saturday night we finally got a meeting with one of our contacts who told us he had a "youth group" he wanted to introduce us too ha. so we went and we took another companionship with us and we found out that they were actually a Baptist Church ha that was a little weird, we had 4 Mormon missionaries in a Baptist Church with a youth pastor and about 20 youth.

We walked in and the other companionship says to me in English, "these were the guy's we almost got in a fight with a couple nights ago"... I was on edge. But it turned out alright, we talked with them and told them why we were here, and we even gave out a few copies of the Book of Mormon. I was showing them all my pictures and I showed a picture of Maddie and Dad after Maddies baptism, where they were in all white and wet and their main pastor came up and asked "by what authority can your father baptize people?"  I told him very calmly that My Father was commissioned of Jesus Christ, and had the proper Priesthood authority to do administer the ordinance of baptism. He then asked "is he a pastor?" and I said "no, he holds the Melchizedek Priesthood which was restored by Peter James and John to the Prophet Joseph Smith, who restored the Church of Christ to the earth." I asked him by what means he baptized people and he got quiet and changed the subject.

We sang some songs with them and prayed with them (they prayed a lot) and then left. I was ok, and it ended being cool. Later that night President Trejo called us... I thought he was going to say something to us for going and talking with them.. But he called to let us know that Elder Birtcher will be leaving Wednesday to go to the office and serve with Elder Espinoza thats the second great comp I've lost to the office!

So I will be with the zone leaders for a week until I get a new comp. We don't know who I will be with yet but President will call Friday and let me know. I will miss Elder Birtcher but what can ya do, gotta serve were you're called to serve! Anyway,. ...

I had a way cool experience in the scriptures the other day, we have an investigator who has a lot of questions about EVERYTHING, and we do our best to answer them but its hard to answer question after question. I was reading and I was thinking about why are there so many questions, why are the things of God such a mystery to us, and I just opened my scriptures to 1 Nephi Chapter 11 where Nephi is conversing with the Angel about Lehi's dream and the angel asks him a question. he says, " Knowest know thou the condescension of God?" I thought about that and I personally interpet that as "do you know why God does what he does?" and then I read Nephi's answer, he says, " I know that he loves his children, but I don't know meaning of all things." We all need to remember that God infact loves us, and that he wants what is best for us, that's why he's given us all that we have. We have the scriptures to know what to do, and we have the opportunity to pray to him, and communicate with him, I love our Heavenly Father, and I know he loves us.

I love you all! I hope all is going well I will see ya next week a probably the same time!

liveSTRONG,
Elder Eborn

Dad - Way to go big guy! another 26 miles in the bag! hope ya know I think
you're a stud and love ya dad :)

Mom - Sweet pics mom :) sounds like everything's going good at home, and
like you're all having a great time! i love you all :) see ya in 14 ish
months.

Tanner - ha sounds like a sweet date broski! i want to see some pics!

A Super Hero w/ a Name Tag

JT sent this at the end of last week.  Just got it up today.  Sorry for the delay.  We were in St. George.

Hey again!
So this last week has been hectic!  We started our little picnic deal and after a day of stressing about what to do for it. I decided to do some COPE acctivities with the group that came. It turned out way good! We all had a lot of fun and ended up eatting hotdog sandwhiches (don't ask lol) and yeah, we had a couple investigators and quite a few member's show up and it was way cool one girl came, and she has just been doing way good, she's come to English and a whole bunch of stuff.

She always tells me how much happier she is when she's around us. She told us she can't figure out what is was so we asked her to meet with the Sister's and she has been. We had a spiritual thought from Koctya who is a member here, he's like 17, and a stud, he's been on a mini mission and he is a way good kid. He talked about what the meaning of life is and shared a verse from Alma 34:32 which talks about how we are here to prepare to meet God. This girl just started to cry, she asked us why she was crying and what she was feeling. It was cool to help her understand that it was the Spirit.

Many times we don't feel the spirit quite that strong, but we need to be able to let it work through us, to feel the love of the Lord through his guidance. We need to put ourselves in the position to be ready to feel that when we need it.

This is my real email for the week! We are in between sessions at this leadership training deal. It's way cool, it's all about making us more effiective teachers President and Sister Trejo came down to Omsk for the week and are putting on the training. It's not just something that our mission is doing but it's a training that The First Presidency has asked us all to go through to make us better missionaries so that we can better relay our message. (Mom would be all over it) A big part of it is really focusing on the point of why we are here, which is to bring people unto Christ. We've been focusing on the doctrine of Christ and what that means.

We've had a few little breaks during sessions (like this one) where we are suppose to go out and try and apply what we've learned. Due to the fact that we leave a good hour away from the Nicholaisens we didn't have any opportunities to meet with people. So Elder Birtcher and I have gone contacting! We've actually met quite a few people who are interested and want to meet so it's been really neat.

We've been more focusing on the fact that The Gospel of Christ is what is contained in The Book of Mormon, and that people need to know about it. President Trejo put it perfectly, there will be no "fence-sitters" when it comes time, We will not be able to have one foot in the Kingdom of God, and one in the realm of the devil.  It's our job to be the most effective teachers we can be in order to help people make the right descision. I'm far from perfect, and I've got a long way to go, but people need to know this:

Eternity hangs in the balance, not only mine but my fellow brothers and sister's here in Russia. I've always been a super hero fan, I mean goodness I even have a spandex superman costume that hangsin my closet at home. Though I may not be able to fly, or have the ability to regrow limbs, I do have the Gospel. I know that it is the only thing that will bring us true happiness in this life, as well as eternal life in the world to come. I don't have a cape, or boots, but I've got a Book of Mormon, and a testimony and thats all I need. I love being here and I love doing what I am doing. I may not have any success, I may not be able to save the world, but I am sure going to try.

 I love you guys and im thankful that you're all supporting me back home. I couldn't do this without you, and I know I wouldn't be where I was without you.
I love you all!
Keep doing what's right, and I will see you in year or so! :)

liveSTRONG,

Elder Eborn!

Mom - Hey mommy, love ya... thanks for everything! President was all worried about my card and made it a point to make sure I got it before we got started with this training. It was way cool. Yeah its kind of a bummer they do that (tear apart postal boxes etc). but what can ya do. hopefully my Christmas package will make it alright. Like I said, I wouldnt' mind some new socks lol. maybe some dry fit long black ones or something. idk I am just sick of church socks like crazy and more fun fettie cake :) mmm I love you guys! All is well!

Dad - Hey big guy, good luck this weekend. I wish I could be there running with you (ahead of you ;) you'll do awesome, just keep putting one foot in front of the other and you'll get where you want too. I wanna see some sweet pics. Oh! an Run Dang It!

Tanner - A yellow tie? What? Dude you gotta send me some pics and who is this girl? I mean you haven't told your brother?! I want details man!

Remember this?  http://ebornsontherun.blogspot.com/2008/12/superman-saves-sharing-time-happy-b-day.html