I Will Do What The Lords Asks of Me

I'll start off by saying Happy Father’s Day! I totally forgot about it, and while we were sitting in Krasnoyarsk; Sister Trejo reminded me.. I also wanted to say молодецы Dad & Uncle Philip--your cannon ball was pretty legit.  My companion and I were laughing pretty hard.

This morning we got to go and pick up the first wave of new missionaries! We sent 8 of our most seasoned and experienced missionaries home and got 5 new ones! One of which I went to high school with  and one of which gets off the plane, reads my name tag and says, " do you know the Houghton’s?" Elder Stewart started to laugh way hard at that. Turns out Am sent his brother something to give to me ha we'll see what it is when he wakes up this afternoon ;). They're a good bunch of Elders who will do awesome I have no doubt.   We've been having to take care of the next transfer which starts in August and we will have 10 new missionaries and another 7 experienced missionaries going home and we are working to figure out who's going to be training, and leading the mission. Usually AP's are only AP's for 2 or 3 transfers. This will be my third transfer here not sure what is in store.   I know it's not important what I want, I'll do what the Lord asks of me; and I'll do the best that I can. We need to figure out what will be best for the mission, I've only got a few transfers left and I want to do all I can. 

I've told you a little about our investigator Nastya (Anastasia) who is golden! Monday when we got home from Krasnoyarsk we got to teach her a little bit about the commandments and help her understand what she needs to do in order to be baptized. We also set a baptismal date with her for the 16th of July, and will be working with her to get her ready. It's funny we don't even really have to teach. We gave her these pamphlets about the Law of Chastity and Word of Wisdom, she read them, called us up asked a few questions and said, "Alright, that makes sense and feels right." Elder Stewart and I basically just are here to answer her questions ha.  It's awesome being able to teach people who the Lord has prepared for the gospel, I've found a few of those elect souls on my mission and it's like they just thirst for more, they don't want our meetings to end and they do everything they are asked. You can see how the gospel really will change the lives of the people it touches. I love being a missionary! 

So I've got some news. We learned last week that President Petersen will not be coming to our mission next week. Due to some complications they have been reassigned to serve in Arkansas. There has been a new mission president assigned, President Gibbons, and do to the fact that he needs Visas and all sorts of fun loops that we have to jump through to get anyone to come to Russia, they will not be coming until end of July mid-August... President Trejo however, will still be leaving in a few weeks. The math adding up we will be mission president-less for a few weeks. President Rolfe from the mission presidency will be presiding for the time being but, that still means that there will be a lot of things that now fall on our shoulders as assistants... So for the next few weeks my life is going to be pretty interesting so be expecting some fun emails!

Well, I guess I'd need to go the new missionaries will be waking up soon and we'll have to get going on their orientation. Thanks for the emails :) You all rock! Have fun were ever you are! I love you all!

живСИЛЬНО

Старейшина Иборн!

PS - The pictures are of me in Krasnoyarsk, I found a Kaibo! Actually they're all over the place in here in Siberia!

Dad - Happy delayed Fathers day! Thanks for being a great Dad, and Friend, Love ya Badger!

Mom- Love ya mommy :)

Amber - Hey missy :) you're quite the cowgirl! you look like you've done that a time or two before lol. Thank you for the package you set last week :). The Reeses' were amazing, but i loved reading your letter :) Tell your family thank you for their letters as well They're awesome! Have a great week Missy!

Grateful to Participate in His Work

Hey everyone!

It's kind of weird how fast time is going. Yesterday we were at the mission home and President and Sister were packing up and getting ready to go home. I was like "wha?!" we actually just got some news about President and Sister Petersen that I'll have to tell you about next week, after everything is allowed to be shared. I can say, that my next transfer just got a whole lot more interesting. Stay tuned.

But yeah, we had a pretty good week last week. We had a good Training and Zone Conference in Tomck. We also got to announce that the cities of Tomck and Barnaul would be becoming part of the Novosibirsk District which is way exciting because it's a step closer to becoming a stake for us! You probably already know, but in Moscow they just created the first Stake in Russia! Pretty exciting if you ask me! One of the Elders serving in Tomck is from Moscow, and when he found out who the stake president was he got a good chuckle out of it saying, "He's one of my friends and not much older than me!" The church is small here in the Mother Land but it's growing! I have no doubt, that soon there will be chapels and temples all over the Siberian landscape! While we were in Tomck I got to see my first recent convert Alexey, I got to watch him bless the sacrament. it made me feel good inside to see that he's still active and is progressing toward the celestial kingdom.

We got home from Tomck late sunday afternoon and were able to meet with our investigator Nastia (short for Anastasia). She's a young girl about 20 years old, and she's golden. We had an amazing meeting with her and some of the other sisters from the branch. The spirit was so strong there as we taught about the Plan of salvation and what our purpose is here on the earth. At the end of the meeting she just sat there smiling and I asked her , "Nastia, how do you feel right now? Do you feel that what we've taught you is true?" She got quiet looked down then back up at me and said with a big smile, "Yes, I believe" The members that were with us, both told her how she was glowing (I am not sure that sounds right in English but it makes sense in Russian). She then began to tell us how her reading, and praying has been making her a different person and how her whole family has noticed the change in her since she started meeting with us. She wants to be baptized by the end of the month and we're going to try and help her be ready for that. It's such a blessing to be able to be a part of this work. To be an instrument in the hands of the Lord and to help to help people. I've had the opportunity to see a few of these moments when people have those "moments of clarity" like dad says, when they finally start to get it. I'm very grateful to my Heavenly Father that He's allowed me to participate in his work. Like in Alma 32, Nastia has planted the seed, watered, and cared for it and is now seeing how good it is.

This next weekend, well I guess tomorrow, we're going to be headed up to Krasnoyarsk for the last Zone Conference of this Quarter. It's been an interesting 3 months that's for sure, iIve learned a lot and grown so much, and I guess now it's time to see how far I can push myself with the new changes that are coming at the end of the month I guess Heavenly Father wants to see what I've learned. I guess, I should probably just keep running. Thank you all for your emails. I miss and love you all. I will see you next week!

жив СИЛЬНО
Старейшина Иборн!


Mom & Dad - Looks like you guy's are going to be good grandparents (someday) I will keep that in mind when I need a babysitter in the coming years. Oh, an mom my nose is fine, agreed we will fix it when I get home. (All the broken noses from Wrestling).

Amber - Missy! So I've gotten so use to the whole not getting any mail that I don't even look in the bin any more, but this morning I see a box with pink lettering on it from 1088 E. .... and I jumped almost to the ceiling! :) You're the best :) I don't know how I ever got so lucky as to meet you. Elder Stewart laughed at me as I kind of danced around the office! I miss you, you're the best missy! Have a great week!


Oh! Found a Carl Jr's in Russia!

I Am Not Ready to Tap Out

Hey everyone!

I know you're probably all sick of reading these stinking emails and asking yourselves, "man, doesn't this kid get it already?" But today is Wednesday! Which means you'll have to put up with yet another email from Siberia! muahaha but look at it this way you only have 20 more letters from me...

This week has been quite eventful! We had a zone conference in Barnaul after the major flop that was ZLC. It's funny how the Lord works though, I guess it's like we read in Ether 12.27, he'll show us our weaknesses for us to humble ourselves and then he'll make weak things become strong unto us. I'd been trying really hard to figure out what we needed to do in order to try and help our mission and I think that that ZLC was just what we needed. We (my companion, Pres, and I) were able to follow up with all the ZL's to see how they were handling the whole thing and what they were doing to “raise the bar” in their cities. After some arousing of the troops, I think we were able to help them all see what we need to do, all of us are making personal changes we need in order to do all that the Lord expects of us. But yeah, we got to go to Barnaul and see the missionaries there and spend some time with them and have a zone conference and training with them. I got to see my old comp Elder Hansen who served with me in Tomck (over a year ago) He's a ZL there now and doing great. He's also from Joplin Missouri and his stake center was destroyed in the tornadoes. Sad.

I had an interesting experience being on splits with the elders there. I was with two younger missionaries who have both been out under a year and got to go on a meeting with them. We met with a lady and her daughter who were very nice, but they seemed very aggressive towards one of the elders. They started to verbally attack him как бы. The elders were talking about trusting God and how when we keep the commandments we will always be better off, and these ladies went straight for the throat asking all of these really prying questions that made this young elder look down and feel kind of bad. So, I jumped in. Kind of refocused their questions on me and gave these young elders some time to regroup. I was very grateful that I've had the examples of my parents in my life that I could use (you would have been proud).

After I'd shared my testimony in that way, they stopped their attempts to make the elders look bad and listened to the message that they had to share. It was an interesting experience for me for sure. When we got back from Barnaul I had a letter was on my desk, from Belgium! :) Elder Mueller's not dead yet! It was way funny, he sent me what is called the "Shaffer Pass". In High School our group of friends would pass it back and forth when one of us would do something that was completely awesome. I looked at the pass and smiled then turned it around and read that almost all of us have signed it and sent it to one another. It's been from Minnesota to St Louis to Brussels and now to Novosibirsk! Kind of a cool little thing :) I'm thinking it'll be going back to South America before it gets back to home ha. Danny also wrote a letter with it and made me think about the next few months of my life.

Here is what I am thinking---I have like 6 months left. That's like one toothbrush. (I brought a 4 pack of toothbrushes on my mission and I've got one left..) And I've been thinking a lot about what I've done on my mission and what I've still got a head. I kind of liken it to a wrestling match (like grandpa did) and the first 3 rounds are over. We're going into what really takes all that you've got "we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of darkness of the world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." It'd be easy to give in now and just coast out the rest of my mission saying, "I've done my dues, I've help and baptized people and had a lot of good experiences I can just coast for 6 months and come home and see my family, friends, and Amber and all will be well." But I'm not ready to tap out. "Wherefore take unto you the whole Armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand." I'm going to do all I can.

Like Dean Karnazes says, "I'm going to come sliding in broadside, bruised, bleeding, and broken exclaiming what a ride" Sorry that's what's on my mind..

We also had a cool meeting with a street contact we had. Her name's Anastasia, she's golden! There really are people here who are ready for our message, you've just got open your mouth and be ready to talk to someone about the gospel. So we're even finding time to do some real missionary work and not just the administrating side of things.

I'd better get going, youre probably sick of reading and I've got go get some medicine, we've figured out that I have a sinus infection who'd of known that 8 months of having congestion problems could be cured! Gotta love modern medicine! I love you guys! Thanks for all you do for me :) I couldn't do it without you!


жив СИЛЬНО
Старейшина Иборн!

папа и мама - Thanks for helping me get where I am. I've learned a lot and been able to help other people thanks to your example and the way you teach/taught us.

Таннер - поздравяаю! молодец такой. я рад что ты мой брат. я горжусь тобой!
тебя люблю!

The Lords Errand

Hey ya'll,


Sorry I didn't write yesterday I had a bad day and didn't want to жаловать. but, everything is cool now . I've calmed down and I am super stoked for a new day! There's been a lot going on the last week so I'll try to give you a glimpse of what I've been up too.

Last week I got to go back to Omck! It was the bomb, it was such a good feeling to go back and to know everyone and see the people I have grown to love so much. I definitely miss that city and those members. We had a really good training and Zone Conference, we taught the missionaries about studies. How important they are as well as how to get the most you can out of your study time, as well as how to find the elect through our own efforts. то есть contacting! Every missionaries favorite pass time! I really enjoy talking to people on the street about the gospel, maybe it's just due to the fact that I've spent so much time in front of campfire audiences and student body’s that I'm really not afraid of stopping and asking someone, "Hey do you believe in Jesus Christ?" The second workshop is definitely a lot more fun at least for me. While we were at church over the weekend in Omck it felt kind of like coming home, it was weird everyone came up to me and were way excited to see me and had me get right back involved with the district presidency like it was when I was there the first time. Elder and Sister Maughan made me stand there and took a look at me Sister Maughan was all up set and asked Sister Trejo, "don't you feed this boy?!" it was fun to see everyone that's for sure, Sunday was the best though… Sergey, Violetta, & Valentina were all there at church :) all the individuals who I have taught and helped get baptized it was so awesome! :) ya know, the entire time I served in Omck, I felt like I didn't accomplish much, like I'd been pushing on a rock that wasn't moving anywhere. But looking back I really can see some of the fruits of my labor :). Sister Valentina invited us over for dinner with the ZL's and so we went and she fed us so much it was ridiculously delicious! I really hope I have the opportunity to go back to Omck again someday.


We got back to Novo and had a lot to do, we had to get ready for ZLC (which was yesterday). Honestly I'd been thinking a lot about what we should do for it how we could help our Zone Leaders in order to make this month “the month” that our mission Raises The Bar on how we do missionary work. After study, fasting, and prayer Elder Stewart and I both realized that what we needed to teach them about “How to receive revelation” for their individual zones and how to make changes to how they are doing missionary work themselves instead of always looking to others. It was kind of the whole personal revelation thing that Elder Dallin H. Oaks talked about once upon a time and honestly it was a very good workshop, I personally felt the spirit guiding me as I opened my mouth and really did feel that I was fulfilling my errand from the Lord. Interesting thing, We as AP's don't really collaborate with President when we prepare for ZLC, we teach for about 40 minutes about what we feel the mission needs and President usually takes the afternoon portion.


This time was interesting, when it was his turn to get up (this being his last ZLC I may add) and tells us to “Raise the Bar here in Novosibirsk, we want to be better, and I want you as a council of ZL's to decide what you'regoing to do. I was shocked because it was just exactly what we had taught this morning, about using council system and receiving our errand from the Lord for what we needed to do. And then he asked us as Assistants not to participate in the council...to let them go he and Sister Trejo leaving the room as well. I sat and hoped and prayed as I watched the council commence.


It didn't go as planned, or as well as President Trejo would have liked. It wasn't the best needless to say, and yesterday I was pretty upset about everything (I really just needed a run to clear my head and to think about what we needed/could to do but, by then the Elder's we're all on trains, planes, and buses to their own cities.

This morning however, while I was studying in the Book of Mormon, I read about Moroni and the Title of Liberty and realized, that's what we need! Something that will rally us all together and get us focused, and ready to work hard and raise us to the next level here in Siberia. We've been working hard and we'll be talking with President Trejo in a little bit to see what we can do. So yeah, I didn't want to write yesterday and just vent so I put it off for a little bit and was able to clear my head.


Today has started off great! We had a meeting with a street contact and will be having another one here in the next hour or so. We met with a young lady who we stopped on the street for English contacting and she told us how she'd been searching for God and wanted to know Christ better and so we invited her to learn more. This morning while meeting with her we were able to see that she really is one of those people the Lord has prepared for this message, all of her questions were totally answered by the message of the Restoration! We have taught her about Joseph Smith and she basically grabbed the Book of Mormon out of our hands! It was great, I haven't been able to really teach someone in a long time and it felt so good to be doing missionary work! I really do love being here and doing this work. I'm slightly freaked out about the fact that we're already in June and all but I guess time really does fly. Almost a year and half out here wow.

Anyways, I love you guys. Thanks for all your emails! I love reading from you and being able to know how things are going back home. I miss you guys like crazy and I hope you have fun, whether you're going to California, Staying Home and Working, Swimming, Running and doing P90x all day, or sitting home being with a brown dog, know that I love you and that I'm praying for you all!


жив СИЛЬНО
Cт. Иборн!



Mom & Dad - You'll have to check with Amber (if she's not married by then) about the whole camp thing ha, I wouldn't mind though, Waterfront or High Adventure Director would be fun. Make sure you take lots of pictures of Tanner's Graduation and California for me, I live vicariously through you guys! Be safe and have fun!


Tanner- dude, you're old.

Megan- Congrats on Volleyball Shea- bug! You rock!

B - Love You!

No Better Place Than Siberia

Hey Family & Friends,

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



I love you guys! Thanks for all you do.

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

New Boundaries

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

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


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

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


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

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


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


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

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


жив СИЬЛНО
Ст. Иборн!!




Mom & Dad - Thanks for the info mom.


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

Saying Goodbye to Elder Trunov

Hey Ya'll,

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

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

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

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


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

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


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

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


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

I Want to be like Captain Moroni

Hey Fam!

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

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

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

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

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

LiveStrong,
Elder Eborn

With Fire and Hammer, Steel is Forged

Hey Family!
So this week has been quite an adventure! I'm actually on my way home from a zone conference we held in Ulan-Uday. It's the farthest east city in our mission and takes 2 days to get there by train We flew out of Novo on Tuesday morning and then caught a train to Ulan-Uday in Irkutsk which is about 45 minutes away from the world’s largest fresh water lake... Baikal.

We actually drove around it while we were on the train but didn't see a thing out the windows bummer... I'll have to come back someday I guess to get a better look. It was a lot of fun! Ulan-Ude, is very close to Mongolia and China, and has many people who are from those places.

I actually had the opportunity to teach a lesson with the Elders there to a young woman who is Chinese native. I got to say “Nee-How” to her---she then started speaking Chinese to me thinking I understood and I quickly explained in Russian that it is truly my dad who can speaks Chinese, that I only know a few Chinese phrases and only speak English and Russian.

As soon as China opens up for the gospel, I have no doubt the gospel will take like wild fire. They are very ready for the gospel. I got to see some Buddhist Datsan's which were way cool. I'll send you some pictures when I get back to Novo. I also bought some buriatian ties that are way sick. I want/hope someday serve in the East.

We have to catch our flight back to Novo in a couple hours, so we figured while we had time we'd stop by and write home. I love getting your emails. Just so you know, they always make my day. I often forget about the fact that I have the opportunity/blessing to communicate with you all via internet, but then when I finally have an hour, it really gets me way excited, in fact I can't wait until May 9th to talk to you all!

So an update on our investigator Sergey, he is having some doubts. He has a testimony of the gospel, of the Book of Mormon but he isn't sure if he's ready and willing to live by the gospel. which is way sad, His baptism was scheduled for tomorrow and we were hoping that we would be able to come home from our trip and that he'd be ready. Unfortunately, that's not the case.

He's needs some time to think about if this is really what he wants.

It's a question I've asked myself throughout my life, as well as my mission. Every time I personally think about it, the answer is yes, being willing to live the gospel is worth it. Our Heavenly Father has blessings for us that we can't even imagine, one of which is being able to be with those you love for ever.

Sometimes it may seem like the gospel restricts us, holds us back, and binds and blinds us of our freedom. In reality, being obedient and living according to the gospel is the ultimate expression of our freedom. It takes a lot of self humbling, patience, and a lot of time. I'm not perfect, and I make a lot of mistakes, but I know as we put ourselves in the hands of the Master, He will guide us into the beings that we were meant to be…. With Fire, and Hammer is steel forged, and so are we.

I know that our Heavenly Father loves us, we are his children. He sent our older brother Jesus Christ to show us the way, and to help us return back to him. He didn't send us here to fail.

Well I need to go catch my flight... I love you guys. Thank you for all your support, You'll be in my prayers.

LiveSTRONG
Elder Eborn!!

Mom & Dad - Those bottle rockets were sick! I really hope when I get home I get called into the Scouts (wink,wink Bishop Larsen..) I love you guys :) thanks for everything you do, if you have any questions about calls let me know, we've got a week to make it work. This will be my last phone call home... yikes... tomorrow starts the final third of my mission. I guess I'd better sprint to the finish of this race.

The Cover of the Book

So I’m sorry this Wednesday was a rough day, we were running around trying to make sure everything was going alright, plus my comp left for a visa trip so I had to figure out what I was going to do with my week, who I was going to be with, what I needed to get done etc. So yeah! I finally have some time to write a legit letter, so I hope it won’t be super boring, I know I have a tendency to blab on about things that probably aren’t very entertaining to you all but eh, I’m a missionary! My life is centered on this work.


Last week, as I told you, we took a bus up to Tomck! Which was so cool, we got in to the city around 9. Took a bus to the elders apartment it was so weird driving though the city in which I started my mission lol. I saw all the old sites and was telling Elder Rupper about all the funny experiences I had had while serving there.


We spent the night with a set of Elders who are both native and lived in the same apartment that I lived once upon a time. We got to be with them on splits for the whole next day and try to help them to work a little bit better together they were having some “difficulties”. So, we got to work with them and to get a feel for the situation. They’re both awesome elders with strong testimonies. Hopefully they’ll be doing/feeling better. We haven’t gotten any phone calls yet so all seems to be going well… I got to go and visit some of the families/investigators that I taught while I served there and it was just amazing! I got to see, Alexey, he told me about how he gained a testimony and about how he received the priesthood and is now every Sunday blessing the sacrament. All that I’ve done for the last year and a half is so worth it, when he said, “спасибо тебе” I almost started crying. “If you bring one soul unto Christ how great will be your joy “.


We ended up missing our bus to Kemerovo by 2 minutes! I tried to run down the bus driver but he gave me a mad hand gesture and kept on going. So, we had to get another bus that was going to Kemer, and there was only one left for that day. They schedule was if we took that bus they told us there was a slim chance we would be there by 11 pm, or 3 am we were willing to take that chance. So we boarded the bus and set off on an adventure! The bus took a different route that stopped in some little town in the middle of Siberia. We ended up making the right turn and made it into Kemerovo by 11 pm and all worked out pretty well. The mid way bus stop was pretty interesting. Surrounded by communist flags, nuclear power plants and rockets, it was a very interesting bus stop to say the least. It was probably a good thing they weren’t requiring passports this night... or we might not have made it out LOL. We stayed the night at a nice hotel in Kemerovo and were able to meet the incoming elders at the bus station the next morning so it all worked out all right.


We got to watch General Conference in Russian (which rocked), and Elder Scott… said the exact same thing he told me to do when he was here last summer. “Elder, go home, find a girl, and get married. Make it your first priority.” Ha he told me that in person.

After our adventures of traveling it felt very good to back in Novo, to sleep in my own как бы bed. We got back to the grind of things, working on getting next transfer figured out with who’s going be serving with who and all that fun stuff, working on Workshops, Trainings, and trying to just do everything we can in order to help others come closer to Christ. Our investigator Sergey is getting closer to his baptismal date and he’s doing great. He’s a little nervous and needs your prayers to help him make the final step. So please keep him in your prayers. Other than that nothing exciting is happening. Oh, I should let you know now probably I probably won’t be emailing you until Friday or Saturday. Tuesday we fly to Irkutsk then take a train to Ulan-Ude where we’ll be having a Training/Zone Conference with the missionaries there so yeah, just a heads up.


So this weekend is Easter. And I think I’ve told you before, seeing as how this is my second Easter in Russia, but there is an awesome tradition that they have here. On the street you meet people and you say, “Иисус Воскрес” which is Jesus is Risen. And you answer back with, “во истину воскрес “or He really is. It an awesome way to start talking to people on the street; without seeming like a creeper. Especially about the Book of Mormon, this as we read on the title page was written to convince the Jew and the Gentile that Jesus is the Christ.


I’ve been thinking a lot about the whole meaning of what is written on the cover of the book that is “another Testament of Jesus Christ” and what that really means. So this morning I opened up my  (Russian Version) scriptures to the 11 Chapter of 3 Nephi when the Savior appears to the people of the Americas. And reading that chapter I couldn’t help but to think about how it would be, to hear the prophecies that and then to see the signs of his death, and then to be sitting there in complete darkness, hearing a voice, and seeing the light. Realizing that the Person you are seeing is the Savior of the world and that through him you can be healed from sin, and ailment.


Then listening to his voice and being able to come up and to look him in the eye knowing that he really is the savior of the world. It’s over whelming for me to contemplate. I love my Savior and I know he lives, and that through him we can do anything.


This Easter Sunday I invite you to read from the Gospel of Matthew 28: 1-6 and 3 Nephi 11, and to take some time to think about Jesus Christ, and what it really means that he was resurrected.

I love you all...thank you for everything you do for me and for all the support. I couldn’t do this without you! Have a great week and a wonderful Easter!


liveSTRONG
Elder Eborn!


Mom & Dad – Hey sorry, I don’t mean to be always turning to you about the money stuff, but so you know I had to take some money out to pay for a hotel room because of some complications on our trip. I love you guys!