Quiet Promptings

So I opened up mom's letter today, and she had attached the picture of Amber when you had root beer floats and Sister Olga, the Visa clerk here in the office comes in to my office and looks at the picture of her and says, "Elder Eborn, I really hope you're planning on dating that girl when you get home, because I approve!"

Steering away from way trunky subjects, this week was pretty good.

We were in Omck last week and took President and Sister Gibbons to the рынок (market) and bought them some winter gear before the prices start to go up. I must say my haggling skills have gotten pretty good here in Siberia, I was able to get 5000 rubles taken off President's jacket.

We spent the rest of the week here in Novo working on transfers and having the first ever video training for missionaries! It was cool; we got all the trainers and new missionaries throughout the mission together on Skype and were able to have a hour training with them. It was way cool! Sometime's I'm amazed at how far technology has come since I left. Sometimes it feels like we're in our own little bubble here. Sister Gibbons brought her smart phone with her from home and it has this thing where you just drag your finger across the key pad and it types the word you want it too (predictive text). Here I felt special having the brick that made a mark in my pocket. I don't know what I’ll do when I get home and have to re-learn how to use technology.

This last week we had an interesting experience. We were called about 10:25 right before bed time, and it was a contact that we'd met a few weeks ago and invited to meet with us. He told us he'd been thinking a lot about our offer, and wanted to meet with us. So, we set up a meeting for later in the week and then went to meet him. I had this really weird feeling about the whole thing. I've never ever in my entire mission had some one call us and tell us they'd rethought about what we'd said, plus he invited us to come to his house. We never have that happen. Russians are very careful about whom they invite to their homes, and I think I’ve only had 2 or 3 first meetings that haven't been in the branch building or at a member's home. But, we went any way, maybe the Lord was going to bless us with some new awesome investigator who's super ready to accept our message.

We get to the apartment building and head up to their apartment. The young man lets us in, He's probably 23-24 years old, and he introduces us to his friend who's probably mid 40's. We sit down and start getting acquainted and they stop us from saying anything and start into a sale's pitch trying to get us to join their Amway team. I felt like an idiot for not listening to what the Spirit was trying to tell me first of all.

The meeting ended up being a good learning experience for me. These two men did a lot of what we as missionaries do. They explained their product and explained the benefits and even как бы bore testimony about it, they invited us find out for ourselves if what they were saying and trying to get us to do was true. The thought occurred to me while this whole thing was going on, "is this how people feel like when we try to teach them the gospel?" And then I realized what was missing from their little presentation. The Spirit. These two men knew their stuff; they knew how to approach it. But they didn't have the one thing that touches people’s hearts, the one thing that helps Every Person in the world to know that what we are saying is true. They didn't have the Holy Ghost with them to witness to their hearts that the things that they are hearing are true.

Being on the mission has been a very interesting experience. You hear about how spiritual the mission is, you go to the MTC and listen to Apostles come teach you and instruct you, and then they send you on a plane halfway around the world to the middle of Siberia, where you have to learn how to take the blows of Satan. Who's trying to drive every ounce of spirituality you've got out of you, and why? Because he knows that without the Spirit, you're no better than the salesmen. D&C 50: 14 gives kind of the "what and how" of missionary work. "To preach my gospel by the Spirit, even the Comforter which was sent forth to teach the truth." The Holy Ghost is an amazing thing. He can tell us truth that would seem illogical to just believe but you know in your heart that it is true.

One of the true tests of this life is learning to listen to what he has to tell you. Whether or not you're trying to learn whether or not God even exists, or What you're supposed to do with your life. Like the Prophet Moroni promises us, "by the power of the Holy Ghost, ye may know the truth of all things..." I only have like 3 months left as an official representative of Jesus Christ, So I exhort everyone who reads this to humble themselves and learn to listen to the quiet promptings of the Holy Ghost. It will bring you Peace, Happiness, and a Sense of Being that only those who have experience it can imagine.

We'll I guess you're probably all sick of reading my silly letter, and I should probably get off my soap box here (jumping down now).

We're going to the zoo today! ha, Elder Stewart and I have a goal to ride a dinosaur. Yeah, you thought they were all extinct, but little did you know they all just came to Siberia! ;)

This week we'll be traveling back to Omck to go on splits with the Elders. This will be my last time there as a missionary. I love you guys!! Thanks for all your support and everything you do for me. I couldn't be here without you!

liveSTRONG,
Elder Eborn

Mom & Dad – Hey…no worries on the $ I should be fine on money for a little bit. I'm going to need to buy some things but I will let you know when so you can figure things out. Thanks for your support-always.

Your Personal Sacred Grove

Dear Family!
Sounds like you guys had an awesome weekend! The pictures of Camp look way amazing ...I'm thinking that I may look working next summer there, if I can convince a few good people to come up and work with me.

It sounds like a you had a great time. Way cool that you got to meet Todd, he's a great kid. Way to make me tear up Megan! The whole comment about my life jacket made me realize how much I really miss you guys. I love you guys that's for sure.

I'm here in Omck right now, it's been quite the week running around Siberia with the Gibbons. We've had a lot of really funny experiences with them. Eating Shaurma, joking with Sister Gibbons, and as much missionary work in as possible.

Things have gone well.... We traveled from Krasnoyarsk - Barnual - Tomck - Omck all in this last week. I think I may have finally learned how to sleep on a train though...it's been fine. We've been working on restructuring the mission. There are a lot of things that we're going to be doing that may differ than what been done in the past. But as mom Mom said in her email, "the only thing that is constant in life, is Change" and as President Trejo use to say, "if you always do what you always did, you'll always get what, what you always got". So, I'm really looking forward to what's going to happen.  I'm going to definitely be having an adventure the last 3 months of my mission that's for certain.  Love it!

I haven't had a lot of time to do a lot this last week, we've been working the majority of the time trying to make sure the Gibbons don't get lost as we get around the mission (kidding). But, I have had time to sit and to think. As a missionary you're with your companion 24/7 not a lot of alone time. So you learn how to be alone with your thoughts, and to kind of shut out the world and find what President Gibbons calls "your personal sacred grove". So while traveling from Barnaul after stopping and taking pictures I had a lot of thoughts going through my mind. It's very interesting how the Lord can communicate with us when we put ourselves in those kind of situations. We've got a lot of things that compete for our attention in life and we kind of put the Lord on the back burner.  However, when we can put everything that kind of messes with us aside even if it's just while your driving in the car and spend a little one on one time with the Lord. You really learn who you are and a lot more about what the most important thing is for us to do. He really does know each of us individually and he knows exactly what we need and give us what we need. And some times it's not what we want, but it's always what we need.

The Gibbons are doing well and are getting use to the mission and to Russia. They're learning what's going on and they're having a lot of fun. Amazing people.  I've only had to translate for President Gibbons maybe twice and it was for sacrament meeting talks. His Russian is good, by the end of their mission he'll be better off than most of the regular missionaries. It's kind of interesting having been an assistant for three Mission Presidents. I've learned so much from each of them.

Our investigators are doing well, he is going to the youth conference this week, we're hoping and praying that he'll come back with great spiritual experience. He's been living for all the commandments and is reading the scriptures daily and praying. It's like he's a camp fire that has been kindled very well, and dosed with gasoline. We're just waiting for Heavenly Father to drop the match on him! We found another new investigator this week while were in Novo who hopefully start progressing very well.

So that's about it for me this week! I'm taking the Gibbons the the Market today to find them some winter clothes. This could be very interesting experience! We're here in Omck and it's been kind of bittersweet, I think this may be the last time that I come to Omck. however, whatever the Lord has in store, I'll do what he asks. Like Nephi says, " he always provides away"

Sometimes he just makes us take a few steps in the dark before he shows us what we need to do.

I hope you all have a great time with school starting and such --one adventure ends and another begins! I love you all, Have fun be safe, You're always in my prayers.

liveSTRONG
Elder Eborn

Mom & Dad - There's a note in the box I sent with some treats so enjoy!

A Note From Sister Gibbons

Elder Stewart, Sister Gibbons, President Gibbons, and Elder Eborn

Hello Brother and Sister Eborn,


President Gibbons and I have so enjoyed getting to know your son Elder Eborn. He has been wonderful to work with and has helped us so much during our first two weeks here in the mission. I don't know what we would have done without him! We were driving home from Barnaul the other day and stopped to take some pictures in front of a wheat field (since "the field is white, already to harvest!").

Thank you for raising such a fine young man. He is a great missionary!


Love,
Sister Julie Gibbons
Russia Novosibirsk Mission

Elder Stewart, President Gibbons, and Elder Eborn

P-Days Are Now On Mondays!

Howdy,

Raspberry jam hmmmm... Sounds pretty great to me! and it looks like you'll have enough to save some until December – lucky me ;). You're probably all up getting ready for Bike the Bear and stuff, which by the way sounds like a lot of fun too. I'm looking forward to going on some rides next spring.

Last week like you know I went to Finland! I've only got one more trip in November. This trip was pretty ridiculous, but we had a good time. It's been fun being able to meet up with the guys I started my mission with and being able to catch up on things and to see how far we've come. We've all changed quite a bit since the MTC that is for sure.

We had the opportunity to go to downtown Helsinki which is always way pretty; and also got to spend some time at the Finland Temple. We were planning on going out for dinner at pizza hut or somewhere down in the center. But, as we walked through the grocery store where I'd sent my package from, we cast our eyes upon the most beautiful sight these missionary eyes had ever seen! Kraft Macaroni and Cheese! Right under it Betty Crocker Devils Cake mix. We scraped up the rest of our our money and loaded up a grocery cart full of the stuff and took it all back to the Temple Hostel to enjoy! It sounds way nerdy and strange but, I do believe that was one of the best meal I've had on my mission.


The next morning we went to the temple, (which is always awesome!) I spent a good bit of time sitting in the Celestial Room pondering about some things that had been on my mind. Things to do with the mission, things to do with school, and for some dumb reason marriage and life. I don't get why on a mission for some reason your thoughts always seem to drift to getting married, I suspect it's due to the fact that you're with another dude for 24/7 and maybe the fact that you spend all your time trying to help other people to be together forever. Anyways, I was sitting there and I was blessed to be able to receive some answers to some things that had come up in the mission, and some decisions I needed to make, and got up to get leave the room, opened the door and walked right into a Finnish Bride walking to the sealing room. Ha I felt bad... She was walking down the hall in this beautiful white dress, flowers in hand, stars in her eyes, just gleaming. -When some silly Elder from Siberia in his off white shirt bumps into her. I felt super awkward but oh well, all the folks in the room waiting for her saw the whole thing through the door and started to laugh. I excused myself and quickly left the temple. We had to clean up our room and the kitchen in the Hostel before we could go so we started to clean up. Then all of the people from the marriage party start coming into the kitchen, and setting up for the reception or whatever it was. The four of us didn't want to interrupt anything, plus 4 missionaries at a marriage is a um…a little awkward... so in order to not draw attention to ourselves we all spoke in Russian amongst ourselves, hoping that they wouldn't try to talk to us if they knew we didn't speak Finnish. Until one of the grooms men comes up and starts speaking Russian to us! Those Finns and their mastery of all language known to man! We ended up introducing ourselves and then had to switch to English so he could introduce us to the bride and groom, who I'd early (literally)run into, I'm pretty sure Heavenly Father has a sense of humor.

This week has been pretty busy/crazy, we've already been gone to Krasnoyarsk andto Barnaul where President and Sister Gibbons were able to meet and the missionaries. We had a lot of time to talk and to get to know each other.

They're awesome! They've got a son serving in Mexico, He's basically already baptized more people in his first month than our mission has baptized in the last 8 months. I'm exaggerating of course. Things are good; we're making a lot of changes here in our mission. Restructuring things and trying to make things work a little more efficient and more productively.

It's going to be good, I can feel it. One of the changes is that we've changed P-day to Monday, like I put in the subject. So, if you want me to hear from you just do it before Mondays and we'll be good! Maybe that'll be easier for you all on Sundays when you're not all in the hustle and bustle of work and school. I really am grateful for any emails that I get, helps me feel like I'm not alone out here.
Well, I've got to get going. President Gushin is picking us up in a few moments and we'll be driving up to Tomck then later this weekend we'll be going to Omck and then things should get back to normal. At least for a little while. I love you guys! Thanks for all you do for me here. I really couldn't do this without your love and support. I love you, you're in my prayers!
liveSTRONG
Elder Eborn!!

Gramm- Happy birthday Gramm! I hope you have a great day and know that I Love your heart! :)
Mom & Dad - Have a great time up at bike the bear, if you see Amber's Brother Todd tell him I say hi. Send me pics! :) love you guys

He Has Sent Me Here

Sorry this email didn't come on Wednesday but I was busy trying to make sure everything was in order with a new mission president, transfers, ZLC, and a Visa trip I was pretty swamped. I did how ever have time to print off your emails before I took off to Finland and had ample time to read your letters and kind of sort of formulate some thoughts into what should hopefully be the email for this week.

So, to start, we picked up the Gibbons at 5:30 on Friday from the Airport and the first thing President Gibbons does when he see's us is throws up the rocker. He's pretty legit not gunna lie. He's got a lot of energy and is ready to hit the ground running. I'm excited to be serving with him for at least this transfer if not longer. After they got in and settled a little bit. We had to take care of business. He took us to the sports supply store and we helped him buy a treadmill for the winter. We got to talk about what the plans are for the upcoming months, what assignments he'd been given from the First Presidency and we'll be having a lot of changes in our mission and I'm really excited to be a part of it. For one, starting the 22nd of August, Preparation Days will be on Mondays. So if you want to write me from now on you'll probably want to do it on Sunday Night’s.  There are some changes coming which is exciting.  

We had a fireside on Sunday night and I was expecting to have to translate.  We have a blessing; President Gibbons broke out in reasonably understandable Russian. He and Sister Gibbons were able to do most of the fireside without translation. They speak Russian! They only turned back and asked, "how do you say...?” like once or twice! It was pretty sweet. We've been getting ready to travel around the mission and let President meet with the members and missionaries in the next few weeks. As a matter of fact, I got home from Finland this morning at 8, slept a few hours and we'll be getting on a train to Krasnoyarsk in about an hour ha. It'll be an interesting couple of weeks what else can I say!

Our ZLC last week went amazing. We were able to council with the leaders of the mission of some of the things that we're going to be doing in the mission; there was a really good spirit of unity there. We were able to help them understand what we're going to be doing in becoming a "Preach My Gospel" mission and everyone was very excited for the upcoming changes. Elder Stewart and I were able to spend a little time talking about the Doctrine of Christ with the Elders and to explain why we really are here in Siberia and what our purpose is.

A full time missionary's job is to be a witness that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world and that all need to come unto him and accept and live by His Gospel to inherit the blessings of eternal life. We did that object lesson where we had one of the missionaries do push-ups for everyone in the room to receive a chocolate brownie. Our goal was to help the missionaries to understand how personal the Atonement really is. It was an experience that I’ll never forget. The elder doing the push-ups, is one of the best people I know. He'd never hurt anyone and would do anything for his friends. At first the missionaries started to laugh and joke as this Elder silently did the pushups. I would ask each Elder, "would you like a brownie?'' About half way through the Elder doing the push-ups was in pain. He started to cry, and shake. They all tried to get us to stop, or to take his place. I've done this before with my brother on a young men's campout, and have been on different ends of it. I've done the push-ups, I have and been the one who receives the brownie, and watched my brother do the push-ups. But being the one who offers the brownies was a whole new experience. I thought about our Heavenly Father, and how he must feels to send his son to the earth to atone for each and every one of us who has ever been, or ever will be on the face of the earth. I thought about how he must feel when people, don't use the gift that he has given them. It brought tears to my eyes. I love My Heavenly Father, and all that he has done for me. Like the children's song goes, "I am a child of God, and he has sent me here. Has given me an earthly home with parent’s kind and dear..." I'm grateful for all the blessings that my Heavenly Father has given me; for my family, for my friends. Most importantly for My Savior Jesus Christ. I love him and I know he is the way. I'm very grateful that for the next four months I can wear his name on my chest and Invite others to come unto Him.

We'll I guess I should probably get going, the train leaves in an hour and I need to make it down to the Train station to meet President and Sister Gibbons. It's their first time on the Trans-siberian railroad! We'll be going to Kranoyarsk this weekend, Tomck and Barnaul during the week next week and then next weekend head off to Omck for the weekend. So next week's letter may be during some random time as well so be prepared! Also don't forget that P-day, starting the 22nd, will be on Mondays. I'll tell you about the adventure I had this visa trip. It had something to do with Mac & Cheese, Chocolate cake, and a Finnish Wedding! So until next time! I love you guys! Have a great week!

liveSTRONG

Elder Eborn!

Mom & Dad - Hey, so I sent you guys a package from Finland. It's just got some books and stuff or learning Russian that I want but don't need here. Also there are my journals for the first 18 months of my mission and some Finnish Chocolate for ya'll :) so let me know when you get it! I love you guys!

.

Visa Trip

JT emailed us it was late at night for him, he said, "hey, it's really late, I have an early flight to Finland in the morning----I have printed off your letters will read them on the flight and write later in the week."

Check  back later in the week.

Dependant On the Lord

This week's been a lot of fun for me. I don't know why but when I am so busy, the less I sleep, the more dependant I am on the Lord to help me do all the things that I need to. I really do feel his hand in all that I do. It's a great time to be a missionary! We've been traveling to Tomsk and back as well as trying to run the mission here in Novo and it's really been quite the adventure! President Gibbons will be here on Friday, and we're really excited to get to meet him finally. He's a runner! He's run 2 half marathons this year and 6 marathons in the last 2 years…unfortunately I’m super out of shape and he's going kick my butt. At least we'll have something in common.


Last week was transfer calls for me, I was not surprised, I am excited for another 6 weeks of traveling around the mission helping President Gibbons to get his feet on the ground enough to get running! It's going to be an adventure that's for sure. I'm not sure how regular my emails will be for the next few weeks. We've scheduled to travel to every city within the first 2 weeks of his arrival and we may be taking P-days different times throughout the week. So just be prepared if one week you don’t' get anything on Wednesday mornings.


We just got back from training in Tomsk this last weekend. It went well; there was a good spirit there. We had the opportunity to go to a professional soccer game. I was way bummed that I already sent my Tomsk soccer jersey home already but oh well, less weight for later. The game wasn't too exciting, I feel bad that's probably the one part of the culture that I haven't really gotten into... I'm just not a soccer player. The best part of the game was when the ambulance driving to assist an injured player drove into the steeple chase pit right in front of us. I got a pretty good laugh at that. The high light however was being able to partake of the sacrament which was passed by my recent member of the church. I've written about it before, but it really is such a wonderful thing to see those that you've worked with and prayed for are active in the church and serving the members.


Unfortunately, it seems like this month everything has happened ha. It's been such a crazy month for President Rolfe. He's been really great to work with and I’ve learned a lot from him this month. Maybe because he was only here for a month Heavenly Father decided to bless him with all the experiences of being a full-time mission President all in the month that he was here. Yesterday we had to make changes to the transfer we had made due to some unforeseen circumstances. It was pretty much hectic all over the mission office, but we got through it all and now everything is alright. Missionaries will have apartments, areas, and everyone's visas are all under control. It was a lot of fun to say the least ( a little crazy).


Serving in this assignment I’ve had the opportunity to take "dying" missionaries to the airport on several occasions, and honestly I think that when it's my turn I’m not even going to think it's really happening. It's always hard to see my friends go home, however, almost as quickly as they run up the gangplank, new missionaries walk out of the baggage collection hall. It's always such a blessing to get new missionaries! They bring in a fire and excitement to the mission that is wonderful. I love getting to hug everyone of the new elder's and tell them "добро пожаловать в Новосибирск" it's always a good feeling (even if we have to get up at 4 am to go get them).

Elder Eborn and Elder Walker (cousins)

Elder Eborn and Elder Bennett

Elder Walker was the first one we met this morning! Ha,  I can tell, he is excited to be here and will be a great missionary. He'll be serving here in Novosibirsk, in the furthest north area called Снигери (Snigerev). His trainer, Elder Bounous, is one of the best missionaries we've got. I had the opportunity to serve in Omsk with him while he was being trained, and I have no doubt they're going tear it up. I am realizing how long I’ve been here if I’m watching missionaries who were being trained a year ago are training... gulp...


Our investigators are doing very well. Last week we were walking home and felt we should talk to this lady walking toward us. So we did as we were prompted and low and behold she was ecstatic to meet us. She's about 45 and a famous interior designer here in Novosibirsk. She insisted that we come over to her house and talk to her about our message the next evening. We invited President and Sister Rolfe with us and had one of the most amazing lessons ever. She showed us some of her work and explained about what she does. Then she got all serious, "Elders, I've been looking for truth. And I feel that God has sent you and your message to me." We were just in shock. It's amazing how the Lord prepares people for the gospel. We're planning on meeting with her again this week and we'll see what happens, our is also doing well, and we also found another individual who speaks Russian and English who seems to be really receptive to the gospel. We had a meeting with him where he gave the closing prayer. The spirit was very strong. I have high hopes for some these people.


Well I think that’s about it from me... The Gibbons get in this Friday, and then next week we'll have ZLC and then Thursday I leave for yet another visa trip. It seems like I was just in Finland.


I love you guys. Thank you for your prayers and for all you do for me. I couldn't do it without you! I miss you all!






liveSTRONG
Старейшина Иборн!




Mom & Dad - Could make sure I have some money on my card, I’m going to send start sending some of my things home these last few times to Finland because it's cheaper and quicker to send stuff from there. So yeah! I hope your mouth gets feeling better mommy. Love you guys :)


Grandma & Grandpa E - Happy Anniversary!

Modern Pioneers

Sounds to me like you all have had quite the weekend, party after party! It's a good time to be celebrating our pioneer heritage. The Saints in Siberia celebrated it as well; however, they weren't celebrating their heritage but their own story. The church (only being here in Russia for like 20 odd years) most of the members are all recent converts. You could say, that they have their own pioneer story here in Siberia. It's a really exciting time with the first stake in Moscow and the new temple Kiev.


The Kingdom of God is growing upon the face of the earth. I'm grateful for all the pioneers whether they're the ones I have in my family tree or the ones we have right now.

This week has been, I am not sure how to describe it. We had a video conference from Moscow that we needed to be on with President Rolfe, but when we did the check for it to make sure all was working; nothing worked.


So I spent all day on the phone with some IT person in SLC trying to get it to work (sorry mom, you'd of been sleeping anyway) and we couldn't get it to work. So he said he'd make a call to the company that makes the video conference deal and try to get an engineer to help us out. Which never happen, we ended up having to find some back way into the video conference which was interesting to say the least. By the time that all happened and was finished we had to find a mini missionary, send her to Krasno, and scramble to get on a train to Novokuznetsk where we had training with the Elders. It's been fun. While there we went contacting with Sister Rolfe which was awesome! She would just walk up to people and start showing them
her pictures and we'd have to translate what she was saying. I really think it'd be fun to come back and serve as a senior couple some day. People look at you differently (not like you're some 20 year old kid).


Anyways, we had a good weekend but it feels good to be back in Novo for the time being. I'll be here at least for another transfer with Elder Stewart helping the Gibbons get adjusted. I. Man it's super scary to think that I've been here that long. We get a new bunch of missionaries coming in a week from today. That'll be the group with Elder Walker coming. It'll be interesting we've got 8 new elders and a new sister coming in this transfer and that leaves us as the oldest groups in the mission which is a scary thought ha. Hey, no worry, Elder Walker’s Trainer is one of the best missionaries we have. It's actually one of the first things we do when we start deciding a transfer is who are going to be our trainers and all of those we have training are the best of the best.


It'll be exciting we've got the Gibbons coming in that same weekend; we will then start our sprint across the mission. It looks like we'll get to visit all of the cities and missionaries within 2 weeks after their arrival. Sister McCauley here in the office just came in and told us that President Gibbons is actually a runner, and that he has asked Elder Stewart and I to help him find a good 5-6 mile run here in Novo. We're very excited for that! Elder Stewart actually is like a State Champion sprinter from Oregon and is way fast, (I figure I've run a marathon. So should be ok ;) We're very excited for their arrival!


Things are going well, wearing holes in all my shoes and loving every minute of it. I've been having a lot of I don't know just mixed emotions about the whole last few months of my mission deal and I don't know. I guess it's kind of like running a marathon. You really don't know what's going to happen but when you get to the last few miles of the race you just run as hard as you can.


That is summary of my week; things that are coming up and things that might be running through my mind at this moment. So, know I love you guys Thank you for all your prayers in my behalf, I couldn't do this without you. Until… next week...


liveSTRONG,
Elder Eborn


Mom & Dad - hmmm what do you think would be the best option mom? I understand that the U has major perks but then again I'm not sure whether or not I want to just jump in deep and get going again or whether or not I should start part time. Let me know your thoughts.


I'm sure you're all sick of getting these emails already but you'll only have to put up with them a little bit longer and then you'll have to deal with me in the flesh muahaha. Not going to get a head of ourselves there.

I Love Being a Missionary

SHALOM! I'm starting to get scared, my P-days are running out! Pretty soon I'll just be be able to talk to you face to face about how my week has gone. Gulp. Scary.  I guess that's what happens. Time really does fly! The past week has been eventful (to say the least). Traveling to Omck, Baptizing Nastya and just all sorts of interesting moments that come with serving a mission in Siberia! So I guess I'll just start with what happend last week!


Friday we had Nastya's baptism. It was a very spiritual baptism one of the best I've been at on my mission. (Despite the fact that I participated in the musical number. Thats one of those things that I don't think I'll ever be able to master! It was great :)

We had a lot of members from all over the city and even a few different investigators came and were able to feel the spirit. It was the first time on my mission that I've ever baptized someone. We usually try to get a member of the branch or I volunteer my companion to do the baptizing, but this time I got to do it :).


It was a wonderful experience. I never thought I'd get to wear the white pants I brought with me! The only thing was the night before the baptism while Elder Stewart and I were getting ready. I put on my pants, white shirt and tie, and realized that my shirt was not the same color as my pants and tie. So I grabbed a different shirt and put it on. It also was not really white but more of a greyish white. After exhausting my closet and throwing all of my white shirts on the floor I came to the decision that I'd have to make my shirt whiter some how. (Mom don't worry about sending any more shirts. I've only got 5 months left and I'll make due) But with a little bleach everything was alright! You couldn't hardly tell :)

It was a really humbling experience, standing there with my arm to the square and saying, "having been comissioned of Jesus Christ..." I felt the spirit so strong. I walked back into the changing room and was on the verge of tears. It was such an amazing experience. I love being a missionary and being able to represent the Lord, and helping him.  This is a wonderful place to be!

That night we got on a train and took a trip to Omck where we had a training with the missionaries. I still love that city! It felt like I was home when I got off the train. I don't know it was kind of interesting. The training went well, we took a different approach at it and were trying to be more motivating. It was good I liked it, I just hope that the missionaries got something out of it. We got back to Novo Monday, I still haven't learned how to sleep on a train and I was so tired, and we got back to work!


We've been working with an investigator who's doing well. After our meeting, we planned on going contacting and he asked if he could come with us. At first I was like, this maybe awkward... but after talking to a few people he figured it out and was even joining in on our conversations! We talked to this one guy and at the end he asked, "hey, I'd like to talk to you some more....could I get your phone number and we could meet?" I was like what the heck! That's our line.. I guess, when your investigators are getting their own contacts you know they're progressing! We're trying to get him more independent and help him to recieve his own testimony (like always).

So yeah! that's basically my week! Oh! by the way mom, I got the package! Thanks for all the cool stuff, the other office staff wasn't to excited when I came out of the kitchen with 8 squirt guns ready to go! But I sure had a good time!  We shared some candy with with our investigator yesterday and his eyes got all big and said, "this is the most delicious thing I've ever eaten!"  I guess it goes without saying that Reese's Peanut butter cups are always a safe bet with me :)


This week we'll be heading to Novokuzznekts for a training.  We're getting transfers all wrapped up finally and getting ready for the Gibbons to come. They should be here in August sometime around the 5th. but we'll see, you never know with Russian Visas.


Thanks for everything, I love you guys!


liveSTRONG,
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Mom & Dad - Badger's 44! Wha?! That means you were like 24 when you guys had me? Weird... anyways hope you had a good birthday :) I love ya pops! Wow, that's kind of scary about the whole kid drowning while diving, and lightning thing. I've been pretty lucky :)

So for mom,  I guess I'll let you know. I've decided that I'll be coming home on December 14th. I've been thinking and praying a lot about it and I feel that I need to come home and get back into school. I'm not sure yet which school but I'm thinking Weber would be easier for me to get into and kind of get back in the swing of things so let me know what I need to do, if there is anything I  can do from here. I'll be home for Christmas.


Tanner - Dude, Totally not fair talking about all the games... my computer in the office just got updated and one of the options for a desktop was a Halo:Reach theme--of course I deleted it before I got way to trunky! How's the sales thing going? I've been kind of doing the same thing with eternal salvation for the last year and a half and I know how hard it is to get some one interested in taking what you have. What I'm giving out is even free! It's something that will make you happy not only in this life but it the one to come! One thing I've learned is that you've gotta keep smiling or else no one will want what you have to offer. Sounds like you're going to  have quite the career ahead of you with EMT and stuff along that nature. I'm proud of you bro. keep being you.

Always Ready

Sorry mom, I didn't mean to give you a scare with the whole "death" thing LOL …thank you both for your feelings and for the information about school and things of that nature, I've done a lot of thinking and praying about it, and I feel I've got my answer and know what I need to do but we'll see. I've got some time to think about it and so we'll see how things play out, I've got until the 27th to make a decision, It's weird, a year and a half and all the decisions you make, everything you do, is focused on others and how you can help them come closer to their savior and then all of a sudden you're in a car driving to Kemerovo and you're told, "oh, by the way before the end of the month you have to make the decision of when you're going to go home and start the rest of your life, so good luck! " kind of catches you by surprise.

Last Thursday we got to go to the Soviet Union Museum with our investigator Pavel. It was way cool! We got to see all of these way neat gadgets that they used back in the ol' USSR. We even had the opportunity to put on some fun old soviet clothes. The USSR had their own form of Boy Scouts called "Pioneers" after explaining that we were boy scouts the guide let us put on the uniforms and play with the stuff ..."Pioneers". Their moto was " Всегда Готовы!" which means "Always Ready" kind of similar eh? It was way fun to see all that stuff. Plus the propaganda posters were just hilarious. I'll have to get some and bring them home for you guys.

The best part however was not the museum itself, but the meeting that we were able to have with Pavel afterwards. We taught him about the Plan of Salvation, and I don't know what it was but the Spirit was way strong. Pavel sat there listening to us and it was as if he was learning not from two 20 year old kids  with American accents but as if someone was teaching directly into his heart. The Lord really can do some miraculous things. The next meeting we had with him after that he had a question about the spirit world and about all of his ancestors who didn't have a chance to receive the Gospel so we taught him about Temples and about Family History. His eyes got all big and told us how just recently he had been having the desire to start doing his family history. We shared the verse with him in Malachi about the hearts of the fathers turning to their children and children to their fathers. He was just amazed at the fact that our Father in Heaven really had thought of everything! We're hoping to see some more progress with him this week. :)


It really is amazing what the Lord can do! Sometimes I feel like Alma in the 26th chapter of Alma, when he's glorying in all that the Lord has done for him. It really is an amazing time to be a missionary and to be here in Siberia! The field is white and like Alma says, "Blessed be the name of my God, who has been mindful of us, wanderers in a strange land...” He really is the one who is leading this work.....his hand is in everything we do.


This week Nastya will be getting baptized. We are going to be meeting with her tonight to answer any questions she has and to talk to her about life after baptism and about the temple. So next week will send you some pictures of that.


Other than that this weekend was pretty fun. Like I said we went up to Kemerovo for church and to meet the new branch President. When I first started this assignment we took a trip to Kemerovo and announced that we would be closing the city to full time missionaries until the time that the members started to take care of their own branch. A few weeks later a family moved to Kemerovo from St. Pete's. They were an good family with cute children. Within a few weeks, the mission Presidency called him to be the first non missionary branch president for that branch. Talk about an answer to prayers! We had the opportunity to go and to meet him and his family and to help the members out up there for a day or two. I don't know why but I've always felt kind of drawn to that city and who knows maybe someday I will serve there.


During sacrament meeting (which consisted of 15 people) the children of the branch President started to make a lot of noise and when you're in a room that is maybe 10' x 15' it gets really loud so I took them out and played with them in the hall while sacrament meeting continued. I tell you what, I am sure not ready to be a father any time soon! I had one kid that was biting my hand another wanting me to draw with her. Then they both decided it'd be a good idea to run outside. In short my hat is off to you… Mom & Dad for having four of us and having the patience not to kill us! молодцы!


Well, thats about it for me this week. I'm still alive, out of shape, but alive. I love you guys! Thanks for your support and all you do for me. I couldn't do this without you! See ya next time!


liveSTRONG
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Mom & Dad - Thanks for the info again, I'll take it to the Lord and let him have the final say but I'll probably let you know next week when I've decided to do. Gulp, it was a lot easier to leave on a mission! Real life's a scary thing. But I think that is one thing I'm excited for when I get home, is the fact that I'll be able to live the gospel in life. Love you guys. Tell Megan and Maddie that if they do have any boys coming around that I've made some friends here that would be more than happy to take care of them for me.