Derek: Captain's log ? : Kicked Out of the Zoo

So this week was super good. First off I got to go on exchanges with one of my really good friends in the mission named Elder Slaughter. He was in the MTC with me. Anyways, that was super fun and we worked hard.

Also we had a zone conference this week too. It was good, but nothing super exciting happened. Then on Saturday we had a service project at the zoo here. Well it got cancelled last minute so the missionaries and I just raked the leaves up until the kicked us out. We also had he zoo's chimpanze, Maria, throw rocks and wood at us. Super cool.

Then that night we had a baptism. Her name is Sara but everyone calls her Shakira. Don't ask way. She is 13 years old and lives with here member cousins. Her mom lives out of town and is always at work so she sent her here so she wont be at home alone. But her mom comes down every weekend and we have really gotten to know her. She even went to the baptism and to church yesterday too. Anyway, we first thought that maybe her baptism wasn't really going to work out because before she moved she was taking this class on Sundays to become a nurse and her mom wanted her to finish taking it. But we found out last minute that they could actually change the class to Saturdays so she can go to church and take the sacrament. This was great because we were asking for a while if they could do it a different day and they looked around but apparently until now they were all on Sundays. Just an example of the Lord’s hand in the work. 

Also I found out a while ago that this husband and wife who were my investigators that I found got baptized in my first area about 4 months after I left. So that’s super cool.

Elder VanBuskirk

Im so jealous of Johan and Elder Bassett looks good.

Dylan: More Rules & Visa Trip to Kazahkstsan!

HEY! 

Well crazy week, not as in missionary work though...

-So our mission president has informed us that we now longer can just give people who come to the branch a BOM and show them a church video, and invite them to learn more even if they are inside the branch building, because now that counts as proselytizing. So we can't teach or give them anything unless they ask about it themselves. I had a feeling that something like this would be coming up soon, because I feel like it's been a while since they tried cracking down on us some more. Right when we started to figure it out. But I know that the Lord has His hand in this work and I believe He knows what is best. It will really count on us to listen to the guidance of the Holy Ghost and it will really really teach us to call for Him in prayer. It reminds me of this story in the Old Testament. In Judges 7 it tells about Gideon and his men, how they had 32,000 men but the Lord wanted them to know that it was God who would deliver Israel not the men, so they kept cutting down the men and went with only 300 of their bravest men, there were at least 135,000 enemy troops against Gideon’s 300 soldiers. But of course in the end God was victorious and won in a miraculous way and showed the great power of God to those who have faith in Him. Sometimes I feel like we are a lot like that here in Russia, I look around and see that Satan has such a grasp on this country and how they seem to be cutting down the volunteers and putting more rules and laws on the members and volunteers but the Lord’s small army will come off conqueror at the end. I am confident in it, no matter what else may come in the future. The members had a conference this week and talked about how the temple is already here, that the prophet had announced it, so the Lord sees the temple here, but the members just have to prepare themselves so that the temple can be built physically. It still amazes me how the prophet got that revelation the night before and announced it, not even the Eastern Europe General Authority President knew about it until GC. I don't know how it will be done it seems impossible living here, but I know that nothing is impossible when you are in the 300 army of God. 

-Went on a night train to Astrahan a city by Kazahkstan that took over 10 hours to get there. So I they bought me out 4 beds so I had this whole compartment to myself, because I was by myself, and the church started buying out the whole room so some wack strangers don't have a chance of sleeping in the same train room with you. SO the conductors thought I looked very suspicious, because I'm from America, my Russian sucks, and I just bought out a whole room to go to a random city in Russia. When they finally let me in, this military officer for transport safety or something like that came into my room and started interrogating me, but I knew this guy was only a few years older than me and I thought I would interrogate him to see if he would be ready for eternal salvation (well not really because that is totally illegal to talk about the church  or religion at all) but I started shooting some jolly banter at the military officer, and in minutes he put away his serious face and we started having a good time, I even got his number! He came in later to talk to me and I took some pictures with the guy and made a video for my twin Elder VanBuskirk of the land of Dominican Republic. So that was a way funny experience. 

-The visa trip was sweet once we got to the city. We got in a van with some of the other elders from our zone and some guy drove us to the border and back, the countryside was wild. We had to go through 3 checkpoints on each side, and the military officers would come into the vans with their big guns which looked so old I doubt they even work, and started going though all of our bags, and they found the Book of Mormon, and would look so confused. They would be going through all the pages, and be like “who is Mormon?” hahaha. And of course out of all the volunteers they decided to stop me and be yelling and asking me like why are we here? I mean I have to give it to them, it's a van full of Americans who go to some little side border in the middle of no where. The whole time I was just thinking “what even is life?” Well Kazakshtan was fun as it lasted, the officers had us take 3 steps into their country and said we could come back haha. Well as we were crossing the bridge and as the last guards I thought I could pull a quick one and take a quick pic of them because they looked so cool and intimidating over the river, so I took a quick pic as we were driving away, and apparently they saw because they started yelling and chasing after our van, telling us to stop, and I was like ohhhh nooo, not today! So I deleted the photo so fast and when they got on the van and commanded us to delete the photo, so you better believe that I told him I already did. 

-Well we had an extra 9 hours in Astrahan so we saw a sweet cremlin, like a Russian fort, and walked around the city. It sucks that there were no missionaries there because we felt like we were useless and just wasted a missionary day, because it's not like we can just go finding on the streets and try to pass out BOM are anything. Well we got back to the train way late at night and I was really glad I had 3 sisters with me so they could protect me because there was a lot of sketchy people and they would bang on our door and try to get us to open it.

-Well my companion hasn't come yet, but he should come any day now, so I've been with Elder Williams and we will send him off home tomorrow! And besides that we have been trying to figure out all the apartments and stuff for the new senior couple coming and new set of Elders, so we really haven't got a ton of work, but we got some good finding time and lessons where we could.

-Played cricket with some random Indians.

-Some some more guys fighting and wrestling with some bad technique on the street, while a girl screaming out on the top of a limo drove by...where even am I?

Sorry I haven't been able to send any pics. Got some crazy ones but someone sent me this so here you go mom;) 

Awe man, I’m way jealous of Johan surfing in Indonesia!

Thanks mom!  I love you so much!  I feel to be doing fine, it’s always har, but it helps me grow closer to my Savior.  I don’t really know what I could ask advice for, but I’ll keep it in mind!  I had a harder time earlier and I still have hard times, but now I just want to work hard, so I’m fine.  Don’t worry about me.  But Derek’s email was awesome, I’m so jealous; that is such a cool experience.  Love you!  And I can’t believe Schryver got engaged!

Gosh, I love elder Bassett, He’s my favorite!

Derek: Captain's Log week something: El Profeta Vino

Sorry everyone.  It’s been forever. I have been having technical difficulties for about the past month and haven't been able to log on to my email. But ‘nuff said. In that time a lot has happened but I can’t really think of much at the time, so bear with me.  

First things first, my mission and the beautiful country of the Dominican Republic has received a visit from our beloved prophet Russell M. Nelson and Elder Renlund. Obiviously that was super cool, because not that many people get the chance to listen and shake hands with a living prophet of God. He talked to us about the importance of our work in the gathering of Israel and a bit about our future spouses, which just seemed to make a lot of the elders trunky. The spirit was strong and everybody was super quiet and reverent. There is no way to describe the way it felt to be there. The mere presence of the prophet was powerful and a bit overwhelming. I learned a lot from that and it helped build my animo. He told us that this trip wasn't planned and that a week before he was sleeping and a voice came to him at 2 o'clock in the morning saying,'' Go to the DR. You will have time on the 1st and 2nd, Go to the DR." So like any prophet would do when he literally heard the voice of the Lord, he planned his trip here right then and there. Honestly the best part was when he actually spoke to the people of the country. It was very modest, no parade, no one screaming or holding signs, just people crowding into a church building and thousands of Dominicans in their own church buildings watching via transmissions in reverence. But to me the best part was when he got up to address the people of this country he did it in Spanish. A language which he does not know. He came and prepared a talk so that the Dominicans can hear a prophet talk to them in there own country and in there own language. It was very moving to see such humility from such a powerful man.

We also had a baptism last week of a woman named Guilene. She is a Haitian who doesn't have the best Spanish, but thankfully to her member daughters we were able to teach her as they translated. It was really nice to see so much faith shown in a person. She was able to change her life in a lot of ways to follow the teaching of the gospel. Really it is a blessing to see how the gospel can affect the lives of all those who follow it.

baptism

my area

birthday party at the mall

Dylan: I Didn’t Know I Could Throw Up That Much :)

Hello my beloved amigos y familiares, 

Shout out to Rhys who’s going to Texas. You are going to kill it, brother! And Caleb for being a eating a lot of food I guess...

-Had some big plans to set this part of the Kord's kingdom on fire this week.

- Called every inactive and investigator we had to meet with.

- No one wanted to meet or they didn't pick up.

- Dreams crushed.

- Read Matthew: faith as a mustard seed can do all things.

-Faith still burning

- President asked us to run around the city to look for new apartments, because next transfer a new set of elders will be here and a senior couple!

- The realtor wanted us to wait to see another apartment. We said we could wait at the church, we did and we thought it would be this guy’s one chance to heart about the gospel, tried sharing the BoM with him, wasn't interested at all, awkward the rest of the night.

- We started throwing up all day all over the place

- Still met with a potential (this guy who would carry a sign),  gave him a BOM 

- Asked a recent convert in front of our now new investigator his thoughts on the BOM and says he has nothing to say about that book.

- Hearts broken.

- Saw a sweet museum called Panorama! Told about the battles against the 2 baddest boys in history: the Nazis vs. the USSR! 

- Also checked out a sweet abandoned garage by the river.

- Had family home evening with a recent convert and the district president’s family - gave me hope in Russia! 

When we were in the grocery store buying ingredients for tacos for some potentials that evening, we tried to make the best time of it and saw a group of Indians so talked to them and got their numbers. We saw another 2 Indians in the store and talked to them and received their numbers too. We noticed these 2 younger Russians in line behind us, so we talked to them and they were very friendly and we got their numbers too. So we got 6 numbers in one grocery store in about 30 min. Just another testimony that Elder Rodgers from the Best 2 Years knew what he was doing, and that we always need to be finding.

So our one and only real investigator, Nakita, who has been an investigator for 3 years and has no desire for anything it seems like, seems to be having a change of heart. We sat with him and had a intense lesson with a member about the BOM and what it would mean to receive a testimony of it's truth. We made him a plan to read a certain amount everyday, and we would read it to and would call him every night and ask him about it and how it was. Well he called us later and wanted to read it with him together at the church, because where he lives is not the best environment. So we meet and read with him, and for the first time he started to become sincerely interested. He wanted to meet the next day and read together. So we were able to meet with him 4 times this week and had a great experience reading each time. For the first time I've seen him with such a great desire to know for himself if these things are true! He even came to church! It's exciting to have an investigator again who actually has a desire to learn, and to se how his heart has changed through the BOM! We are going to keep reading and we will fast with him this week to receive an answer!

From reading the BoM with him very slowly and going over all his questions, it's been crazy to see that most of the time the BoM answers it's own questions as you continue to read. Also I was just totally in awe of the faith and character of Nephi; he uses the scriptures as examples of faith to learn from. He doesn't know what will happen, but knows that the Lord will deliver him and the plates, he thinks of the bigger perspective, he forgives others easily, he never murmurs, he ask for the Lord to give him strength so that he can do it himself and to be able to figure it out instead of expecting the Lord to do all the work. He goes to his priesthood leaders/father/prayer for council. He never complains but instead tires to figure out how to solve the problem. He does what the Lord would have him do. And at the end he always gives all glory and thanks to God. Nephi puts all his trust in the Lord and in return the Lord can always trust in Him to accomplish his great works. It really makes me realize how I can improve my trust in the Lord to have it be unshaken, even if I fail like Nephi again and again, and even if it may seem that the Lord had abandoned us, but is really giving us a test of our trust in his greater plan. 

Elder VanBuskirk

No I'm good now, probably some bad food.  Thanks. I love you mom, and loved your letter!

Dylan: The Saratov Approach

привет семя и друзья!

This was a sweet week! We went off to Saratov, which is 6 hours up north for zone conference and splits. The city is very Russian. It's the city where the Saratov approach happened and is the only place in our mission where they have a stake. But the area presidency, President Martino, said that it is the weakest stake in the world, and is more like a district. But it's cool that there is a stake. We went on splits with the zone leaders, and it was sweet - probably the best splits I've been on. We went on this busy street and split up (but still in sight and sound), and got over 60 numbers in 3 hours between us, the ZLs, and APs. The hard part though is to actually get people to come to the branch. 

It's crazy how this mission has changed in just 2 years. They have really cut down the missionaries coming here. In our area there used to be 8 sets of missionaries, but now there are only 2 sets, us and the sisters, to take care of all this area. I think we are starting to figure out how the Lord expects us to do missionary work with all these laws and set backs, and my new goal is learn all that I can help all the other missionaries and learn what they know and to work my hardest until we start having more work to do than my brother down in the DR, and they will be forced to start sending tons of missionaries back over here so that we will be able to take the work load.

It's crazy how so many of the members over here think that we do nothing here, since after the law the volunteers didn't know what they were allowed to do. So they just worked with inactives and did service for a long time, but now the Lord is helping us know how to push his work forward in this country, but many of the members here still think we do nothing. A women told us how we can't do anything and how now they have to find and teach for us, but if that was true they haven't done that yet. The members rely on us to do everything for them and seem to forget that they have plenty of Melchizedek priesthood holders who should have some responsibilities. It just gets me so confused because they think we are hopeless, and have no work, and can’t be trusted to teach or find or do anything but expect us to plan all of there activities and call all and meet with all of the people they should be ministering with and so forth. And when they see us on the streets, because now we wear our business informal shirts everyday besides Sunday, whenever they see us outside finding, they thinking we are just wandering around the city; like this guy that got all mad at us in Saratov because we were finding and he just assumed that we were walking around, and was mad that we weren't at his house doing service. So many people think we have nothing else to do but to be their slaves and do service for them all day. I'm not even kidding they call us slaves, and they get mad when we tell them after 3 hours of serving them that we have to leave and do missionary work. I love service, but I want to help the members realize that we have a work to do, and drives me to work so hard. 

We ordained Stefen to be the English group leader, so we can now switch off with the sisters each week and go to the other branches on Sundays, so that will be awesome! Stefen our Indian friend, is taking his calling very seriously and it's even more fun to see a recent convert grow into a spiritual leader than to do the leadership ourselves! 

This last Tuesday before we went on our train up to Saratov we were able to set up a meeting with a potential we found in the grocery store from Kenya! He just got here a few months ago and he was very open to the Book of Mormon, and thought that it would be awesome if God could speak to him though that book. We also had a meeting with a nice older lady who found our number online and met with us and we found out that she wanted to be our pianist, as she told us she used to play in the Armenian temples. We explained to her how we don't pay people in our church, and she said that she was still interested in coming to church. She played a bit for us and was very talented. We brought up the BOM and she said that she would read it before we got a chance to ask her. So we hope that the sisters will be able to work with her! 

We had a district finding session on Saturday night. We all met up, got each other excited, shared ideas, set a goal, and went out for the rest of the night. We received 16 numbers in about 2 hours overall, and the sisters killed it. I was so proud of them. We are really going to try to push on always finding; we made a goal as a district of at the very least to recieve 2 numbers every day, especially on bad or busy days. This District is awesome. I'm excited to see all the lessons we will learn and the work we can do! 

This week in the Book of Mormon, I was pondering Mosiah18 and the great promises of our baptismal covenant, when it talks about mourning with those that mourn and to comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to bear one another's burdens. The covenants we make are all about looking out for others, it's about being a tool for the Lord here on earth to comfort those on his behalf. It is all about charity, and you can't have charity without humility, because charity is all about looking outside of yourself and seeing others though the eyes of God, how he sees them. It tells us that we need to love others no matter what to condemn the sin, but not the sinner. There is never an excuse or reason valid enough for someone not to forgive and forget. It helps me realize that life is hard, and God expects his people to be there on his behalf, to seek out for that loss sheep and to bring them to the fold. 

I love you all have a