So I guess you didn’t get last week’s email. I sent it from Novo but I guess it didn’t work so I’ll try again...
Hey ya'll!
I am writing you from the office in Novosibirsk right now! Elder Trunov and I took a train last night from Omsk to Novo and got here around 6 this morning and we will be leaving for home tonight around 10.
We came for zone leaders’ conference! We have got to spend 6 hours with President Trejo and with the rest of the ZL's from around the mission.
I got to see some of my favorite missionaries! (Old companions etc.) It was just so awesome. We had to give our report on how our zone did in the month of January. We have a goal for the year 2011 of 130 convert baptisms and have been working very hard to get that. Our zone goal for the month of January was 2 baptisms and we only got 1... I also got to give a spiritual thought on the quote "work work work" from Elder Ezra Taft Benson which was pretty legit I talked about wrestling and how we as missionaries want to have no regrets when we go home from our missions and that is why we need to have our whole heart might, mind and soul into what we are doing. (Sorry Dad, I know my last email may have seemed like I was getting trunky, but I am really not.) I miss you and all, but this is where I need to be and this is where I will be for the next 10-11 months, "there's a time and place for everything" and this is my time to Serve I am very focused on what I am doing here. At the end of all of our reports, President Trejo got up and told us that the Lord has sent us, the Elder's of the “Siberian battalion here, and he didn't send us to fail. Our mission is hard, but the Lord qualifies those he calls.
I'll be working hard to fulfill my potential as well as to help the members of my zone reach theirs.
It's getting really warm, well for Siberia. It’s like -15 or so outside on the street and I’m like sweating! This week was a good one though, our investigator family has been progressing, they came to church, family night, as well as to a fireside on eternal marriage. It was way good. I love teaching them and it's always such an warm and inviting atmosphere. They love the gospel and we are hoping to help them be baptized this month. So keep them in your prayers. We've been doing a lot of other good things as well and it's been a lot of fun. Elder Trunov is funny. …I've learned a lot from him already.
He's going home in a few months and that is why he was wondering about the BYU thing. I’ll explain it to him on the train ride home. I am not really sure what will happen when I get home but I am not really worried about it. Like I said I’m here right now and I am a missionary! I am here 100% I am giving myself to the Lord and we'll see what he will form me into. He is our maker and I know if I submit myself to his will he will me make me more than could ever be on my own. I just need to trust in Him.
That's way cool that Tanner got his Eagle….. and that he just had his court of honor! I'm proud of my brother that is for sure! He's got a lot of great things ahead of him. Love ya bro. It's amazing all the things scouting teaches us about being good people. I think I already told you about how Elder Trunov read tmy scout hand book and was all impressed by all the stuff that scouting has to offer, and that the aim of scouting is to help make young men into the men they need to be. I love scouting. I hope when I get home I get to serve in the scouting program.
Well... I think that is about it for me! I've got a long train home tonight and its way hard to sleep on the train. We stop at every little city in between Novo and Omsk and I wake up every time. But hey, I’m riding on the Transiberian railroad!!? How cool is that! Until next week...
liveSTRONG!
Elder Eborn
Mom & Dad - Hey mommy dearest :) it sounds like you've had a little adventure….. that is way cool though, it’s always fun trying to explain what my mom does to our investigators and such. ha and no one believes you can be a professional boy scout ha, I’m like…” I've got proof!” Ha he's my dad! It’s always fun :) so to answer your question about shirts and such. you can by almost anything here in Russia, but white shirts are a very hot item. You can get ALMOST white shirts but you can never find just plain ones. They always have something that won’t work with missionary attire. So if you could send me those shirts I'd be very appreciative :) I DON'T need garments lol. I have like 30 tops and like 15 bottoms for some reason but if I do need them I can by them in Finland so no worries :) I am also looking for a new suit. I’ve just given up on my American ones. They didn't last dang Mr Mac. I guess, he's never been to Siberia.. So I’ll be probably buying one sooner or later. They’re usually about 100 bucks or a little more they're really cheap here. I love you guy's thanks for everything :)
Tanner - Way to go brosky! You rock! Thanks for being my brother. I really do look up to you, thanks for always being a great example and just being awesome keep on doing what you're doing!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
No Letter Today
Last week, Elder Eborn mentioned he would be in Novo this week. I will put up his letter later in the week.
Tuesday, February 1, 2011
Thank you for the Kind Posts
Having this and my family blog up via public is something I go back and forth on.... I keep the blog as our family history, and record for others to see. It is interesting, here on Elder Eborn's blog (which I moderate) some of the mean things people in Russia say. Gives me a glimpse of what my son must deal with on a daily basis. However, he never mentions or complains.
I am proud of my American son, who has put his goals, education, and family on hold to go share a great message to others who may not be aware. I am sad, when people are mean to him.
I am proud of my American son, who has put his goals, education, and family on hold to go share a great message to others who may not be aware. I am sad, when people are mean to him.
Thursday, January 27, 2011
A Needy Email
Hey Mommy,
Just a quick note, Elder Trunov, is looking to study at BYU after his mission ends. He's got his Bachelors in Marketing and wants to work on his MBA. I was wondering if you could figure out what kind of stuff he'd have to do in order to go there and continue his education? I know you're busy and have a lot to do being a "big wig and all ;)" but he'd (and I) would appreciate the help if you could.
Also, on my side of the college front if you could look into getting me enrolled for the Spring 2012 Semester at Weber that'd be awesome :) The classes go pretty quick and I know we should probably start working on it sooner rather then later.
Plus if you could figure out anything I need to do so I can get Financial Aid, as well as any scholarships so we can be all good to go when I get home the end of this year. SO yeah ..This is a needy email ...so sorry. I just know that you're the one who will/can figure all this stuff out so yeah :) what'd I do with out my mommy! I love you!
JT
Just a quick note, Elder Trunov, is looking to study at BYU after his mission ends. He's got his Bachelors in Marketing and wants to work on his MBA. I was wondering if you could figure out what kind of stuff he'd have to do in order to go there and continue his education? I know you're busy and have a lot to do being a "big wig and all ;)" but he'd (and I) would appreciate the help if you could.
Also, on my side of the college front if you could look into getting me enrolled for the Spring 2012 Semester at Weber that'd be awesome :) The classes go pretty quick and I know we should probably start working on it sooner rather then later.
Plus if you could figure out anything I need to do so I can get Financial Aid, as well as any scholarships so we can be all good to go when I get home the end of this year. SO yeah ..This is a needy email ...so sorry. I just know that you're the one who will/can figure all this stuff out so yeah :) what'd I do with out my mommy! I love you!
JT
Wednesday, January 26, 2011
My Scout Handbook Comes in Handy
Hey family!
Another week has flown by and I’m just in shock at how fast this month has flown by. Sooner than I know I’ll be on an airplane headed home... that's a little scary to think about. I’m having a great time though and I’m learning so much! This transfer really does feel like I’m being trained all over again. But it's a good thing; I’m becoming better at what I need to do. We moved one of our missionary companionships into a new apartment this week, which is a huge endeavor; there were many hoops to jump through. The Church leaders want us to make sure everything is done and in the best way so it's all good. It's interesting, now I don't only worry about me and my companion but I’m worrying about a whole city of missionaries. I just want them to be able to do everything they can and be the best they can be. I find myself trying to do whatever I can do to help them succeed.
Yesterday, we received a call from the office about the bombing in Moscow. Don’t worry Mom, I don’t go through Moscow for another month and we don’t use that airport.Elder Trunov has a sister serving there in Moscow on a mission and so we were pretty worried about those things. But all is well, No missionaries were injured and so it's all good.
The whole morning yesterday though there was a weird feeling, like something was wrong but we didn't know what it was. Then we looked out the window and realized that the building across the road from us was on fire! But even after the fire department put out the fire the feeling was still there and we couldn't figure it out. We had no idea what we needed to do. But we felt like we needed to do something. So we stopped all of our stuff (paperwork for the apartment, registration for missionaries, passports beings taken care of to and from Novo etc.) and went outside and did some contacting. We just went and talked to people. It was interesting. We didn't find anyone who was interested in hearing from us, or anything but i felt like that was where I needed to be. So maybe something will come of it but it was just interesting.
Elder Trunov speaks English well, but wants to get better. So he asked me to help him. He wanted to read a book that was how real Americans speak and not scriptures. So I gave him my scout hand book! He was reading through and asked what scouting was all about so I got to explain to him. And share with him the scout oath, law, and motto. He was all impressed and was repeating it all day. It's interesting to me that in the scout oath, the first point is to do your duty to God. I’m so grateful for scouts and for the impact it's had on my life. I definitely wouldn't be here without it.
We also have a new investigator, his name is Sergey, and he’s about 49 and is really searching for truth. I tracted into him a few weeks ago and was able to meet with him this last week. He explained how he read the bible and believed it then; he said he hadn't found the Holy Ghost in any of the churches he had investigated. I couldn't help but smile. We haven’t told him yet but we have the power to help him receive it! That will be a fun meeting :)
I’ll probably be in Novo next week on Zone Leaders Council so hopefully I’ll get to write home sometime. I love you guy's thanks for everything you do! I couldn't do this without you!
liveSTRONG
Elder Eborn!
Mom & Dad - way to go on the race! I checked out the pictures and was way jealous! I can't wait to go run with you when I get home :)
Another week has flown by and I’m just in shock at how fast this month has flown by. Sooner than I know I’ll be on an airplane headed home... that's a little scary to think about. I’m having a great time though and I’m learning so much! This transfer really does feel like I’m being trained all over again. But it's a good thing; I’m becoming better at what I need to do. We moved one of our missionary companionships into a new apartment this week, which is a huge endeavor; there were many hoops to jump through. The Church leaders want us to make sure everything is done and in the best way so it's all good. It's interesting, now I don't only worry about me and my companion but I’m worrying about a whole city of missionaries. I just want them to be able to do everything they can and be the best they can be. I find myself trying to do whatever I can do to help them succeed.
Yesterday, we received a call from the office about the bombing in Moscow. Don’t worry Mom, I don’t go through Moscow for another month and we don’t use that airport.Elder Trunov has a sister serving there in Moscow on a mission and so we were pretty worried about those things. But all is well, No missionaries were injured and so it's all good.
The whole morning yesterday though there was a weird feeling, like something was wrong but we didn't know what it was. Then we looked out the window and realized that the building across the road from us was on fire! But even after the fire department put out the fire the feeling was still there and we couldn't figure it out. We had no idea what we needed to do. But we felt like we needed to do something. So we stopped all of our stuff (paperwork for the apartment, registration for missionaries, passports beings taken care of to and from Novo etc.) and went outside and did some contacting. We just went and talked to people. It was interesting. We didn't find anyone who was interested in hearing from us, or anything but i felt like that was where I needed to be. So maybe something will come of it but it was just interesting.
Elder Trunov speaks English well, but wants to get better. So he asked me to help him. He wanted to read a book that was how real Americans speak and not scriptures. So I gave him my scout hand book! He was reading through and asked what scouting was all about so I got to explain to him. And share with him the scout oath, law, and motto. He was all impressed and was repeating it all day. It's interesting to me that in the scout oath, the first point is to do your duty to God. I’m so grateful for scouts and for the impact it's had on my life. I definitely wouldn't be here without it.
We also have a new investigator, his name is Sergey, and he’s about 49 and is really searching for truth. I tracted into him a few weeks ago and was able to meet with him this last week. He explained how he read the bible and believed it then; he said he hadn't found the Holy Ghost in any of the churches he had investigated. I couldn't help but smile. We haven’t told him yet but we have the power to help him receive it! That will be a fun meeting :)
I’ll probably be in Novo next week on Zone Leaders Council so hopefully I’ll get to write home sometime. I love you guy's thanks for everything you do! I couldn't do this without you!
liveSTRONG
Elder Eborn!
Mom & Dad - way to go on the race! I checked out the pictures and was way jealous! I can't wait to go run with you when I get home :)
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Just Keep Going
Sorry this letter is a little later than I usually send, there's just a lot more I have to do with my email time. Being a ZL has been interesting and a good experience so far. We had a very interesting week. We had a group of missionaries come in to Omsk and we got to help them move all into their new apartments. When you're entire life has to fit in 3 suitcases, you get some pretty heavy bags and even at -20 you sweat!
But everyone got in and everything is fine now, we're getting back into the regular beat of things. Well, as regular as it gets around here. I was at district meeting on Friday with all the missionaries and I realized that of the 10 missionaries there. I’ve watched them all be "born" in Omsk! I love this city, I’m glad to still be here what my life would be like without the "kosmos"?
Elder Trunov is awesome we're having a lot of fun, he corrects my Russian and I correct his English and we get along very well. It's different not being with a companion who might not understand everything that goes on in a lesson, instead now everyone just talks faster and faster. Today for instance, we had a meeting before we came to do internet with our investigator family. They all were talking so fast, I was like "why did they all of a sudden start speeding up?" I still understood everything, but it just seemed like everyone was talking at lightning speed. I don't know if my Russian has gotten any better because of it all. But I sure am speaking more and more Russian. That’s pretty fun.
Oh I forgot to tell you, I have a bed now! I’m so excited even though it's harder to get up in the mornings because I have this bed and it's all comfortable and just awesome but all the same I get up and try to salvage whatever shape I was in before the mission.
I really do miss running. Reading dad's email about going to a qualifying run made me just go ah...” i wanna run”... Like dad said, the hard part is starting. But once you start you can't stop. I even dream about running some nights. That's kind of how it seems like here with the missionary work. It's really hard to getsomeone started on the path but once they start they don't stop. Or when youare contacting and you talk to someone, then it makes it all the easier to talk to someone else especially if they listen.
People just need to keep going and as soon as they get a taste---they'll want it all! It’s just how it is. If everyone could have a taste of the "fruit" we would all desire to share it. It is much like Lehi.
So this week have a lot coming up, I’m working and finding a new apartment for the sisters who live in Neftanik, we do a lot a translating for the Maughns. I translated a talk for Elder Maughn on Sunday which made me laugh way hard. Elder Trunov just looked up at me and was laughing way hard. After he said “you said everything right I was just surprised”
So maybe my Russian is not as bad as I think. We've also been trying toget our own missionary work in as well, leading by example. Basically been my week!
I know there's not a lot this week, I’ll try to write more next time. I love you guys!
LiveStrong,
Elder Eborn
Mom & Dad - Good luck with the race guys. I hope to see some pictures! Love you both thanks for all you do for me and our family.
Tanner - Nice dancing bro! LOL I think you've been playing that game a little to long if you're that good at it!
Megan - Way to go with the grades, personal progress, and volleyball! My sister's a stud that’s for sure! I bet you jump higher than me!
But everyone got in and everything is fine now, we're getting back into the regular beat of things. Well, as regular as it gets around here. I was at district meeting on Friday with all the missionaries and I realized that of the 10 missionaries there. I’ve watched them all be "born" in Omsk! I love this city, I’m glad to still be here what my life would be like without the "kosmos"?
Elder Trunov is awesome we're having a lot of fun, he corrects my Russian and I correct his English and we get along very well. It's different not being with a companion who might not understand everything that goes on in a lesson, instead now everyone just talks faster and faster. Today for instance, we had a meeting before we came to do internet with our investigator family. They all were talking so fast, I was like "why did they all of a sudden start speeding up?" I still understood everything, but it just seemed like everyone was talking at lightning speed. I don't know if my Russian has gotten any better because of it all. But I sure am speaking more and more Russian. That’s pretty fun.
Oh I forgot to tell you, I have a bed now! I’m so excited even though it's harder to get up in the mornings because I have this bed and it's all comfortable and just awesome but all the same I get up and try to salvage whatever shape I was in before the mission.
I really do miss running. Reading dad's email about going to a qualifying run made me just go ah...” i wanna run”... Like dad said, the hard part is starting. But once you start you can't stop. I even dream about running some nights. That's kind of how it seems like here with the missionary work. It's really hard to getsomeone started on the path but once they start they don't stop. Or when youare contacting and you talk to someone, then it makes it all the easier to talk to someone else especially if they listen.
People just need to keep going and as soon as they get a taste---they'll want it all! It’s just how it is. If everyone could have a taste of the "fruit" we would all desire to share it. It is much like Lehi.
So this week have a lot coming up, I’m working and finding a new apartment for the sisters who live in Neftanik, we do a lot a translating for the Maughns. I translated a talk for Elder Maughn on Sunday which made me laugh way hard. Elder Trunov just looked up at me and was laughing way hard. After he said “you said everything right I was just surprised”
So maybe my Russian is not as bad as I think. We've also been trying toget our own missionary work in as well, leading by example. Basically been my week!
I know there's not a lot this week, I’ll try to write more next time. I love you guys!
LiveStrong,
Elder Eborn
Mom & Dad - Good luck with the race guys. I hope to see some pictures! Love you both thanks for all you do for me and our family.
Tanner - Nice dancing bro! LOL I think you've been playing that game a little to long if you're that good at it!
Megan - Way to go with the grades, personal progress, and volleyball! My sister's a stud that’s for sure! I bet you jump higher than me!
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
A Little Heavenly Help
So President Trejo called Friday night and gave us all the news, Elder Drasso will be back on left bank, with Elder Banous, (who served in Neftanik before) (same city) Elder Stuart will be in Ulan-Ude (the other side of Bakal) And Elder Eborn will be staying in Omsk for another 5 weeks, this will make it 7.5 months here lol, but I have been called to be the New Zone Leader of the Omsk, Russia.
So mom, speaking of leadership, I am learning on my mission. I get to start the whole new leadership opportunity for the next half of my mission. I was kind of thinking maybe I'd become a Senior Comp somewhere in another city, but I am super excited and humbled to be in Omsk. I love this Gorod! (Russian-English for Ya!)
I am very nervous about being Zone Leader (ZL) in our mission you when you are a ZL you are responsible for the Zone so that normal missionary work can function, like passport registration, locating apartments, translating for Senior Couples, etc.. You then have to do the ministering side of it and be a Leader for the Zone which has 10 other missionaries in it, making sure everything is alright with them. On top of that you have to do your own missionary work. In short, I have a lot more on my plate than I have had in the past. I am very excited for this new opportunity to learn and grow.
It's the principle of overload, if you don't stretch yourself, you'll never know how far you can go. I'll be a Co-ZL with Elder Trunov. He is from Ukraine, it'll be my first official non-american companion, so I am hoping my Russian will just get better and better. The Maughns already tease me that I am forgetting English when I am at their house and talk. But yeah, we've already got all of the stuff taken care of and when you live out of 3 suitcases it's really not that hard to move I am in my new apartment which has a pull up bar. Score! It is more in the center of the city so I will get to learn a new area it'll be fun I am excited for this new adventure!
This last week, we did have another baptism. Sergey was baptized last Saturday and will be confirmed this Sunday. I am really excited! His wife is a member, and they are planning on going through the Temple next year. It was a beautiful service. I'd send pictures but my card reader is put away in my bag back at the apartment, so maybe another time. Well we have a problem here in Omsk that the water that fills up the font is always supper gross. ...but we figured out the solution! The more baptisms we have the cleaner the water gets! So the more people we have ready to get baptized the better it will be We, as a mission have all set new goals for the year and are ready to work hard in order to get them. We've set a goal to help 130 people get baptized, and we micro organized it into months and such to help us stay focused on what we need to do and to help us reach our potential.
It is interesting being a missionary it's a lot different than I thought it would be and I love what I am doing. As much as I do miss you all and such, but this really is going by way fast. I've already learned so much and it's just amazing the things you see. I've seen how peoples lives change as they start to do things, as they start to excercise their agency righteously and what an impact that makes on them. Just today, we were on a meeting with a family we're teaching. They're new since I am new to this area and all. They are just really engaged..... we taught them about strengthening their family. We taught them about 3 things, that would make their family become better than they've ever seen.
If you want to change something and make things better, no matter what they are. Whether you want to play volleyball better, get good grades, or pass big tests or what ever. Those three things really will make the difference. Nothing like a little Heavenly Help to make things better right?
Well this next week will be full of lots of interesting things, for instance I will getting up at 4 to be a the trainstation to make sure the Sisters that are coming in to Omsk (yeah, my entire zone consists of myself, Elder Trunov, Elder Drasso, Elder Banous, and then 6 sets of Sisters, and of course the Maughns. President Trejo told me that I was being blessed. Also, I will be helping in the planning a spiritual district meeting for the Zone and all sorts of running around/errands. We're trying to find a new apartment for the orth area, and so in short this will be interesting But I love you all :) and I miss you. Thanks for all you do and for the prayers. I couldn't do this with out you! Until next week...
жив сильно,
Ст. Иборн!!
Mom & Dad - That's way cool you guys are reading together every morning..keep it up, that way when I tell my investigators my family does this, I am not lying ;) The New Testimont is awesome too, I read it last year and wow, I learned so much. You learn so much about the Savior by reading what he actually did while he lived. I love my Savior. I've started the Old Testiment, and am working on finishing Jesus The Christ before I come home in Decemeber so yeah :) Anyways, love you guys!
So mom, speaking of leadership, I am learning on my mission. I get to start the whole new leadership opportunity for the next half of my mission. I was kind of thinking maybe I'd become a Senior Comp somewhere in another city, but I am super excited and humbled to be in Omsk. I love this Gorod! (Russian-English for Ya!)
I am very nervous about being Zone Leader (ZL) in our mission you when you are a ZL you are responsible for the Zone so that normal missionary work can function, like passport registration, locating apartments, translating for Senior Couples, etc.. You then have to do the ministering side of it and be a Leader for the Zone which has 10 other missionaries in it, making sure everything is alright with them. On top of that you have to do your own missionary work. In short, I have a lot more on my plate than I have had in the past. I am very excited for this new opportunity to learn and grow.
It's the principle of overload, if you don't stretch yourself, you'll never know how far you can go. I'll be a Co-ZL with Elder Trunov. He is from Ukraine, it'll be my first official non-american companion, so I am hoping my Russian will just get better and better. The Maughns already tease me that I am forgetting English when I am at their house and talk. But yeah, we've already got all of the stuff taken care of and when you live out of 3 suitcases it's really not that hard to move I am in my new apartment which has a pull up bar. Score! It is more in the center of the city so I will get to learn a new area it'll be fun I am excited for this new adventure!
This last week, we did have another baptism. Sergey was baptized last Saturday and will be confirmed this Sunday. I am really excited! His wife is a member, and they are planning on going through the Temple next year. It was a beautiful service. I'd send pictures but my card reader is put away in my bag back at the apartment, so maybe another time. Well we have a problem here in Omsk that the water that fills up the font is always supper gross. ...but we figured out the solution! The more baptisms we have the cleaner the water gets! So the more people we have ready to get baptized the better it will be We, as a mission have all set new goals for the year and are ready to work hard in order to get them. We've set a goal to help 130 people get baptized, and we micro organized it into months and such to help us stay focused on what we need to do and to help us reach our potential.
It is interesting being a missionary it's a lot different than I thought it would be and I love what I am doing. As much as I do miss you all and such, but this really is going by way fast. I've already learned so much and it's just amazing the things you see. I've seen how peoples lives change as they start to do things, as they start to excercise their agency righteously and what an impact that makes on them. Just today, we were on a meeting with a family we're teaching. They're new since I am new to this area and all. They are just really engaged..... we taught them about strengthening their family. We taught them about 3 things, that would make their family become better than they've ever seen.
- Prayer. Having family prayer together every night. The mother looked at her daughter and said, "well, looks like we're going to be praying together every night".
- Reading from the Scriptures
- Attending Church Meetings.
If you want to change something and make things better, no matter what they are. Whether you want to play volleyball better, get good grades, or pass big tests or what ever. Those three things really will make the difference. Nothing like a little Heavenly Help to make things better right?
Well this next week will be full of lots of interesting things, for instance I will getting up at 4 to be a the trainstation to make sure the Sisters that are coming in to Omsk (yeah, my entire zone consists of myself, Elder Trunov, Elder Drasso, Elder Banous, and then 6 sets of Sisters, and of course the Maughns. President Trejo told me that I was being blessed. Also, I will be helping in the planning a spiritual district meeting for the Zone and all sorts of running around/errands. We're trying to find a new apartment for the orth area, and so in short this will be interesting But I love you all :) and I miss you. Thanks for all you do and for the prayers. I couldn't do this with out you! Until next week...
жив сильно,
Ст. Иборн!!
Mom & Dad - That's way cool you guys are reading together every morning..keep it up, that way when I tell my investigators my family does this, I am not lying ;) The New Testimont is awesome too, I read it last year and wow, I learned so much. You learn so much about the Savior by reading what he actually did while he lived. I love my Savior. I've started the Old Testiment, and am working on finishing Jesus The Christ before I come home in Decemeber so yeah :) Anyways, love you guys!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
"Clean Elder, Clean"
Who throws a cupcake? Honestly! That picture made me bust up! My companions didn't get it, but eh lol (our family laughs). They got a good laugh out of the picture with Maddie getting attacked by the birds though ha.
So this week has been an interesting one. I got sick a bit before New Years and it progressively got worse until New Years day I ended up just laying on the balcony at the Maughns and sleeping until we went home. Pretty sick... better now.
All in all it was fun New Years Eve. My companions and I, stayed up until midnight.. playing phase ten and just laughing. Elder Stuart told us about what he did last year...and Elder Drasso and looked at each other and laughed b/c we were in the MTC together last year... just started.. ah good times!
We went to the Maughns and watched some movies, ate tacos and played games it was a lot of fun. There's a lot of movies I will be wanting to watch when I get home so I hope you guys have got a list of good ones going for me.
So I guess you probably want hear about the baptism last week? It was way awesome! It was close to -30 degrees outside, and there were about 20 people gathered around a small baptismal font in the bottom of a branch building,in Omsk, in the middle of Siberia. and we all watched as Elder Maughn, with Roman went down into the water with a stern face. Then Elder Maughn, slowly said the baptismal prayer in broken Russian and he was baptized. When he came up out of the water his face couldn't withhold what he was feeling and he smiled with tears in his eyes. I asked him how he felt, and he said, "clean Elder, clean". I feel very blessed to have been able to help another brother....son of our Heavenly Father's come unto Christ and to make covenants to follow him. There really is no better feeling!
This week we will be having another baptism, his name is Sergey, he was going to be baptized on Sunday but we had to re-arrange his date. So that will be this weekend :) It will be exciting to help a family get
closer to their goal of going to the temple. It' really has been such a privilege to work here in Omsk. It's been a long, hard six months, and I don't know what will happen next transfer, but if I leave Omsk.... Omsk has been nicknamed the "Cosmos" by other missionaries, due to the fact that if anything that is out of the ordinary happens, it usually happens here. And after being here for the last half of the year, I can say yeah, thats probably right! I do love this city, however, maybe will be one of those Elders that spends his entire mission in one area ya never know!
You may not want to put this on the blog-- but ...this transfer's been rough companionship wise, the three-some is not exactly fun and games. (Call or Check back at the end of the mission for this story!)
I have also made some New Years goals that will help be not only be a better missionary, but will help me get be better prepared to come back and be who I need to be. I love you all! Thanks, for everything I will see you all next week!
liveSTRONG
Elder Eborn
Mom & Dad - Hey no worries, I had to pull off some personal money to help pay rent but I get paid back for that here soon so no worries looks like you guys had a fun new years and stuff.
Tanner -Nice pink frosty bud! LOL
Megan - Whats this you wearing my ski jacket? When did you get big enough for that? I love ya sis.
Maddie - Love ya baby sister.
So this week has been an interesting one. I got sick a bit before New Years and it progressively got worse until New Years day I ended up just laying on the balcony at the Maughns and sleeping until we went home. Pretty sick... better now.
All in all it was fun New Years Eve. My companions and I, stayed up until midnight.. playing phase ten and just laughing. Elder Stuart told us about what he did last year...and Elder Drasso and looked at each other and laughed b/c we were in the MTC together last year... just started.. ah good times!
We went to the Maughns and watched some movies, ate tacos and played games it was a lot of fun. There's a lot of movies I will be wanting to watch when I get home so I hope you guys have got a list of good ones going for me.
Elder Drasso, Elder Stuart, and Elder Eborn New Years 2011
So I guess you probably want hear about the baptism last week? It was way awesome! It was close to -30 degrees outside, and there were about 20 people gathered around a small baptismal font in the bottom of a branch building,in Omsk, in the middle of Siberia. and we all watched as Elder Maughn, with Roman went down into the water with a stern face. Then Elder Maughn, slowly said the baptismal prayer in broken Russian and he was baptized. When he came up out of the water his face couldn't withhold what he was feeling and he smiled with tears in his eyes. I asked him how he felt, and he said, "clean Elder, clean". I feel very blessed to have been able to help another brother....son of our Heavenly Father's come unto Christ and to make covenants to follow him. There really is no better feeling!
Elder Eborn, Roman, Brother Maughn, Elder Drasso, and Elder Stuart
This week we will be having another baptism, his name is Sergey, he was going to be baptized on Sunday but we had to re-arrange his date. So that will be this weekend :) It will be exciting to help a family get
closer to their goal of going to the temple. It' really has been such a privilege to work here in Omsk. It's been a long, hard six months, and I don't know what will happen next transfer, but if I leave Omsk.... Omsk has been nicknamed the "Cosmos" by other missionaries, due to the fact that if anything that is out of the ordinary happens, it usually happens here. And after being here for the last half of the year, I can say yeah, thats probably right! I do love this city, however, maybe will be one of those Elders that spends his entire mission in one area ya never know!
You may not want to put this on the blog-- but ...this transfer's been rough companionship wise, the three-some is not exactly fun and games. (Call or Check back at the end of the mission for this story!)
I have also made some New Years goals that will help be not only be a better missionary, but will help me get be better prepared to come back and be who I need to be. I love you all! Thanks, for everything I will see you all next week!
liveSTRONG
Elder Eborn
Mom & Dad - Hey no worries, I had to pull off some personal money to help pay rent but I get paid back for that here soon so no worries looks like you guys had a fun new years and stuff.
Tanner -Nice pink frosty bud! LOL
Megan - Whats this you wearing my ski jacket? When did you get big enough for that? I love ya sis.
Maddie - Love ya baby sister.
Tuesday, December 28, 2010
I Have the Good News!
Needless to say, I miss you all a whole bunch. It was a good thing mom hung up the phone cause I wasn't gunna ;) That hour really did go by way too fast, but, it was so good to hear from all of you---even my Scout dog! I do miss you guys a lot that is for sure. The rest of my birthday was pretty good as well, we had zone conference and Sister Maugh made me a chocolate cake. Elder Drasso snuck my little party hats you sent me and brought them to zone conference lol. I walked into the kitchen for lunch and every one was there wearing those silly little hats singing happy birthday to me . Even President Trejo wore one! It was awesome!
The conference was awesome, I think it was just what I needed so that will be ready for the next year of my mission. We talked a lot about finding people, testifying, as well as planning more effectively. It was just plain awesome I can't get much better than that, I am ready to do better this year than I did last year, and leave it "all on the mat" as we would say in my wrestling days.
So I am old now, I can say that. I mean like 2 years ago I graduated from highschool! Now it's Tanner's turn ;) But yeah, it's been a really good couple days.
I had a great interview with President Trejo the day before, which scared me a little bit, he told me that my day's of being a "greenie missionary" were over and that the Lord will be expecting a lot more out of me. I know that I have been blessed with much; A wonderful family who loves me, Friends who support me, and a Father in Heaven who is behind me 100% to hold me up when I need it. Because of this...ALOT is expected. I hope I can measure up. I also got to share my testimony in front of the zone, and I got up there and my mind went blank, and I just started to smile ha, so I told them about my phone call and about what dad told me about smiling...I realize, I as a missionary, have no reason to not be smiling! I have the good news, and I get to bring it to people! I love being a missionary.
We are having a baptism today, which is the best news! Yesterday, after we finished our Zone Conference, we had a meeting with our investigator, about 30 years old and really was searching for truth. When we first got in this companionship Elder Stuart had said that he likes to know all of the informantion before he'll make a decision. He was thinking it probably wouldn't be good to set a baptismal date yet, but during first meeting we both felt that it was right, and so we asked him to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be Baptized.
He accepted, and for the last month we've been working with him getting him ready. Last night he had his baptismal interview, and came out after it just smiling :) He came up to me and said, "Elder Eborn, I don't know everything, But I am ready for tommorrow." I know that I played a very small part in his conversion, that he felt the spirit, and recognized it as from his Heavenly Father, but that was probably the best thing that could have happened on my birthday for me to see someone I've worked with, prayed for, loved, and taught come unto the fold of our Heavenly Father. The Baptism's not until tonight at 6:30 so I will send you pictures later on that and tell you all about it of course!
What else to tell ya that I didn't yesterday? Hmmm if you couldn't tell by my voice I am a little under the weather, I have a cold but, I will be alright, I am planning on working it out of my system. I hope you all have a very happy New Year :) We will be inside our apartment before dark due to the fact that New Years in Russia is the biggest holiday of the year, and it's not safe to be out on the streets. So New Years day we'll be at the Maughns all day watching movies and playing games, who knows maybe I will write some letters or something.
So I love you guys! Thanks for everything you do for me, I couldnt' be doing this with out you all :)
жив сильно
Ст Иборн!
Mom & Dad- Thanks for the call! I miss you guys like crazy. I'll be home in less then a year, and I promise there's a lot more that I will tell you ;)
Grandma & Grandpa - I just wanted to thank you guys for the emails :) They are really something I do look forward to every week! I love you guys and am extremely grateful for your example.
President Trejo and Elder Eborn
The conference was awesome, I think it was just what I needed so that will be ready for the next year of my mission. We talked a lot about finding people, testifying, as well as planning more effectively. It was just plain awesome I can't get much better than that, I am ready to do better this year than I did last year, and leave it "all on the mat" as we would say in my wrestling days.
So I am old now, I can say that. I mean like 2 years ago I graduated from highschool! Now it's Tanner's turn ;) But yeah, it's been a really good couple days.
I had a great interview with President Trejo the day before, which scared me a little bit, he told me that my day's of being a "greenie missionary" were over and that the Lord will be expecting a lot more out of me. I know that I have been blessed with much; A wonderful family who loves me, Friends who support me, and a Father in Heaven who is behind me 100% to hold me up when I need it. Because of this...ALOT is expected. I hope I can measure up. I also got to share my testimony in front of the zone, and I got up there and my mind went blank, and I just started to smile ha, so I told them about my phone call and about what dad told me about smiling...I realize, I as a missionary, have no reason to not be smiling! I have the good news, and I get to bring it to people! I love being a missionary.
We are having a baptism today, which is the best news! Yesterday, after we finished our Zone Conference, we had a meeting with our investigator, about 30 years old and really was searching for truth. When we first got in this companionship Elder Stuart had said that he likes to know all of the informantion before he'll make a decision. He was thinking it probably wouldn't be good to set a baptismal date yet, but during first meeting we both felt that it was right, and so we asked him to follow the example of Jesus Christ and be Baptized.
He accepted, and for the last month we've been working with him getting him ready. Last night he had his baptismal interview, and came out after it just smiling :) He came up to me and said, "Elder Eborn, I don't know everything, But I am ready for tommorrow." I know that I played a very small part in his conversion, that he felt the spirit, and recognized it as from his Heavenly Father, but that was probably the best thing that could have happened on my birthday for me to see someone I've worked with, prayed for, loved, and taught come unto the fold of our Heavenly Father. The Baptism's not until tonight at 6:30 so I will send you pictures later on that and tell you all about it of course!
What else to tell ya that I didn't yesterday? Hmmm if you couldn't tell by my voice I am a little under the weather, I have a cold but, I will be alright, I am planning on working it out of my system. I hope you all have a very happy New Year :) We will be inside our apartment before dark due to the fact that New Years in Russia is the biggest holiday of the year, and it's not safe to be out on the streets. So New Years day we'll be at the Maughns all day watching movies and playing games, who knows maybe I will write some letters or something.
So I love you guys! Thanks for everything you do for me, I couldnt' be doing this with out you all :)
жив сильно
Ст Иборн!
Mom & Dad- Thanks for the call! I miss you guys like crazy. I'll be home in less then a year, and I promise there's a lot more that I will tell you ;)
Grandma & Grandpa - I just wanted to thank you guys for the emails :) They are really something I do look forward to every week! I love you guys and am extremely grateful for your example.
Wednesday, December 22, 2010
Lift Up Your Head and Be of Good Cheer
I should probably give you info on when to call and stuff. I am trying to be more patient and loving so, I've decided that it would be best for you to call me on my birthday so Decemeber 28th at 7:00 am, which is actually December 27th around 7:00 pm for you I think? I'm not quite sure on the time difference but that is a guesstimation for ya lol.
That day we will be having our zone conference so I will get to talk to you then go meet with President Trejo for a couple hours, it'll be good :) I haven't seen President Trejo for almost 3 months I guess it happens when you serve in the biggest mission in the world!
So this week was pretty good, we've been working hard and trying to help people to come a little bit closer to the Savior, this really is such a wonderful time of the year. We get to celebrate the birth of our Savior here in Russia ...they don't really celebrate Christmas, ( it's a little more than sacreligious to drink on the birth of the Savior and all so they don't do anything until New Years lol) but it's been interesting.
With not a lot of people worrying about the hustle and bustle of Christmas, you can really think about what this holiday is really about. I was reading in the Book of Mormon where Samual, the Lamanite, is prophecing about the coming of Christ and about all of the miraculous things that would precide his coming, then I read in the first Chapter of 3 Nephi, the people were waiting for these signs and if they didn't happen they were going to put to death those who believed. The prophet Nephi went in prayer to the Lord, and the Lord answered his prayer, saying,"lift up your head, and be of good cheer, for tomorrow I come into the world. "
Megan, .you did an awesome job of playing that song by the way, it is my favorite Christmas song (ha you made me cry you little booger ;) I dont know if I told you that that song is one of the only songs that the Russian hymn book has that the English one doesn't, and the translation they have in Russian comes saying, "This is Christ our Lord, who came to earth to save, of who angels sing, our Savior, the Son of mary.."
We may be home for Christmas, with those we love or maybe on the other side of the world. But no matter what we are doing, what our situation is this Christmas, remember the good news that we are celebrating this time of year. That which was told to a prophet long ago, " Lift up your head, and be of Good Cheer, For Tomorrow I come into the World."
I know that our Savior Jesus Christ came to this earth, for each and everyone of us, That he lives, and that he loves us. That is the message we have to share with the world. That he was and is our older brother, our Savior, and Redeemer, and that he loves us and is here to help us. Even the cold, that is Siberia, can't keep that love away.
I want to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas :) I can't wait to hear from you all!
жив сильно,
Ст. Иборн
Mom and Dad - Hey Thanks for the updates! I love you guys, try not to miss me to much this saturday ;) I can't wait to hear from you!
Megan - Wowsers Sis! That was way good present! Maybe you can play it for me on and I will sing you the Russian version alright?
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