Dylan: Jolly Banter and Chuffing Miracles

"Have a good week and keep the pictures coming, no matter how gross!" -Grandma Signs 

Sorry grandma you asked for it...

The only pics I took this week was Jerry, a dog that used to follow us around. I took a picture of it a few weeks ago and than we saw it dead on the road and here are the pics of it decaying throughout the week. 

Seriously crazy week; a bunch jolly banter and chuffing miracles. Elder Whitaker and I are going harder and want to go insane for these last 4 weeks, you can listen to my video recording of the stories this week (there were too many I wasn't going to be able to type down) and a vid of us going insane! 

click here

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1PXJbGg_YXaRDqhh938inql7DiCFvxl6O?usp=sharing

Elder VanBuskirk

Snails are good for your skin, apparently. It's something some people do here and you know I won't miss out on a cultural experience! ;) The dead dog was like the only pics I had this week, and grandma asked for it. I posted it for her!

I'm doing great. Did you see the link? It tells more about this week. It was insane! We are going to go so hard this transfer.

Hey does your dropbox have more storage? I won't have time to put it on this week. It's a struggle but we are committed to change this mission around. I can't wait to read your letter. Hey can you give me McKee's missionary email and Aubrey Franks too? I love you so much. Have an awesome week!

Derek: Captain's Log Week 29: Las Caobitas

"Behold, I send you forth as sheep in the midst of wolves: be ye therefore wise as serpents, and harmless as doves." (Matthew 10:16)

 So, this week happened. We spent one whole day in the capital this week, for a residence thing so we didn't have time to do everything that day because we are 3 hours from the capital. Also not much happened this week, except one of our baptisms backed out for this week. He is super cool and I know he will make the decision in time. But as of right now he doesn’t feel ready. So we will have 3 to 4 baptisms this Thursday, because one of them needs permission from her dad first. So 4 baptisms is still a really good number, but when you plan for ten and only get 4, well.... that’s kinda how it works. So they are 3 sisters and a cousin, and will be able to help each other though this journey. And we get to have it at the beach!!!

Also I have a funny rash and i have no clue what it is. 

Pics from the internet of the beach we will have the baptism at. (And it's from the internet so the real thing might be a little uglier)

No way.  You’re watching Solo!

I’m going to ignore you until you are out so you can enjoy it. For reals. Don’t text me until its done.

I should get the package this Saturday.

I’m good, but the comp thing is the same.

So he is 25 and I found out he has never told anyone he loves them. Not even his mom!!!

Has he felt love from me? All the time

Something like that – like he feels too vunerable

and he is the district leader so he always tries calling me to repentance in district meeting, but not by name, of course

but I think he will be gone next week

Hey, can I get the family beach photo please?

I gotta go. Love you. Thanks

Dylan: 6 More Weeks

Have no time to talk, crazy week! I'm staying in Severny for another transfer, so I will be in this area for over 6 months. And I'm serving with Elder Whitaker!! He is only a transfer ahead of me and we are the youngest companionship on the mission, but we are killing it!!! I'm so stoked to serve with him! We are going so hard. He is also from the great city of Leeds, United Kingdom! 

Caleb is huge!!!!!! And who is that Asian girl wearing my hat?

he gave no explaination

Derek: Captain´s log Week 28: Milagros

"And if there were miracles wrought then, why has God ceased to be a God of miracles and yet be an unchangeable Being? And behold, I say unto you he changeth not; if so he would cease to be God; and he ceaseth not to be God, and is a God of miracles." (Mormon 9:19)

So a lot of meetings, and exchanges. First off, this week we had 2 zone conferences, a future trainer meeting(I’ll get to that), and a stake conference.  I also went on 3 exchanges.

So the zone meetings where really good. This time they where done one zone at a time, so we were a lot more involved. We talked a lot about the Spirit, faith, the Book of Mormon. And the senior couple had a great talk on miracles. They said as missionaries we seem to not notice the miracles that happen because we see them every day. They gave stories of things that happened this past month, such as the marriage and baptisms of our investigators, and other stories. And now looking back at it I realize that and many other small things that I missed ARE miracles.

I also went to a future training meeting, with 4 other elders there from the zones next to mine. The president said that there is a good chance that we will be training. I believe it’s about a 50% chance. Now I am so ready to train a Latin comp, but it would be hard to train a gringo. But my zone leader, who I live with, say that they think I could. It would really force me to learn Spanish. I was also the youngest non-Spanish speaker who might train this transfer, so.... But we'll see. It might not even happen. 

Also I have been on 3 exchanges this week, with a Columbian, my zone leader, and one of the APs. I learned a lot from them. And I got permission to have the beach baptism! We will have it the next Thursday and I’m super excited.

Dylan: Pics;)

 Love you All. No time to talk. Here's some pics. Crazy week.

Rostov zone at the parade.

We had a barbecue at the mission home for the YSA to celebrate Victory Day. We had people from Russia, Vietnam, Ecuador, Kenya, Moldova and America. This is a picture of a few of the people. By the end of the event nine non-members had attended!

Thanks mom! Love you! It made me so happy to finally see the family. I hope you ha

Derek: Captain's Log Week 27: Dia de Madre

 ¨ Yea, and they did obey and observe to perform every word of command with exactness; yea, and even according to their faith it was done unto them; and I did remember the words which they said unto me that their mothers had taught them.¨(Alma 57:21)

So this week was super good. Except for our expected baptisms for the 26th dropped from 10 to 5. So yeah. But I got to talk to the family yesterday, so that was really good. I also got to go to the capital and got to share a root beer with Elder Vigil. Things are going good, super hot though. It turns out the 20 baptism thing for the beach was a joke. So we will either have it at the beach or the whole zone will have it together.

video of me burning a tie for 6 months

Mormon mafia

just us being dope

Love u too Mom, and do you have the pic of my baptism? Try to get that pic for me for next week please. Love you.

And Winder has a Spanish Book of Mormon book case he wants to send home soon for me.

Dylan: 6 Months on My Mission

Hello Friends and Family,

Tomorrow marks 6 months on my mission, which is insane because I feel like I just got here. It's been a crazy week, so I will be quick. We've been helping build a house and we also went in a banya (a russian sauna) and got wacked in the chest and back by this dried branch thing while we were an hour or so out of the city with some inactives. It was quite the experience and that's all I'm going to say on here.

We had District Conference on Saturday and Sunday and it was in the Imax theater (but not like the Imax theater you are thinking of). A general authority came and talked to the members (Elder Golden from South Africa) and he also talked to the volunteers Saturday night. It was a pretty crazy meeting. After one of our lessons there were Gypsies outside our church wanting to come in, but our inactive members we are meeting with are very superstitious and scared them away. Apparently there are a lot of gypsies here you just don't notice them until you look. I also saw another person carrying a monkey with clothes on as he came out of the bathroom stall, haha. That's 3 different times now!

We got 2 baptismal dates this week and we are seeing many miracles, and people’s hearts who have been so hardened, have softened up. Our investigators that we've been working on since I got here are almost ripe for the picking, but it makes me think that this is probably my last week here in Severny, and as soon as I leave there will be a lot of awesome miracles happening next transfer. But I will be excited for a new change to push me if I leave.

pics:

1.We got those bikes ;)

2.A Russian snake

3.Our zone (I'm pretty sure Districts are bigger than my zone)

4.a rouge volunteer

5.A Russian squirrel

6.First day of school (undercover volunteer)

7.Building Russian homes for the children

Elder VanBuskirk

What will work best for you? I can email 4,5,7,8pm Moscow time, one of those times, so let me know. And look at the videos and pics in your dropbox, okay? That will be great! Love you

I love your dress! Alex is so cute