Derek:Captain’s Log week 54: Sak ap fet.

"Paske m te resevwa otorite nan men Jezikri, m Batize ou nan non papa a, ak Pitit Gason an, ak Sentespri a. Amen." (D and C 20:73)

 So this week was super great. We spent the whole week trying to finish lessons and do interviews for our baptisms. Then on Saturday we had 3 baptisms. They were of Jimmy, Esaia, and Eclesiastes. So all three are Haitian speakers who know a broad spectrum of Creol, English and Spanish. So it was really cool because on Saturday I got to do the baptism of all 3 of them. With some practice I learned and recited the baptisimal prayer in Creol, which was a really cool experience. These 3 guys are super cool because all day yesterday at church they were constantly just saying how happy they were to be a part of the church and are always talking about the spirit they feel when they are there. 

So as I write this we currently don't know our transfers, which is tomorrow. So in other words, I don't know if I’m leaving yet and if I am, I will have about half a day to say goodbye to all my members and investigators and pack as well.  So other than that, not much has happened this week.  So yeah.

 A pile of trash

A river of trash

Me looking like trask (JK I look great in this suit but you can’t tell because the mirror is dirty)

I'm doing great! But we have transfers tomorrow and they still haven’t told us if I’m leaving yet.

Yeah, I already gave a half goodbye to most the members.

We might celebrate Thanksgiving. It depends on my next area. I may do something with the missionaries.

Gotta go. Love you!

Dylan: Walls Can’t Hold Back the Work

 Good day my fellow comrades, 

Well I'll just get right into it. Every week I feel like they come up with some new restriction; this time it's a big one. 

-They are taking down MLS in Russia in 2 weeks, so we will have no way to keep all any documents saved or do tithing, etc. We also have to get these papers out to every member within those two weeks and they have to fill it all out, and if they don't do it and turn it in, then we have to take out their records... So you can imagine there are a lot of inactives and they do not want to sign all these documents, and even the more active ones it's a struggle. So we've been with the branch presidents trying to help them put everything on MLS before then. We just found out yesterday.

-Also apparently they are going to make it where you can't keep any records of Russians, so this means that even if the members go to Ukraine and then go on Family Search to fill in their temple work they won't be able to do it there or anywhere. So we will see more about that later, and how that will all go down. As in the words of one of a member in the district presidency here, "Satan really doesn't want the church to be here in Russia."

-On Monday we had to go through the branch again and take out all Liahonas older than 2 months and a ton of other materials and shred them, and make all the BOMs and put stickers on all other materials we have. It took all day, and it broke my heart when some members walked in and they were shocked  because they made it the volunteers’ responsibilities and not the members so they didn't understand why we were doing it and got all mad and so forth.

- I had my first full week with my trainee and I think he got the real experience of a Russian mission, because we went finding all day and it was FREEZING and we stacked up our schedule with potentials to meet with and all of them did a no-show! Besides this one guy last night whom I found as a random number on the phone, because our phone has tons of contacts from all the people we've found since we've been here and before, but no one ever picks up or meets with us. So I decided to clear out the phone this week and called and went through way over 200 people, and just got wrecked over the phone! It was so funny. However out of all those contacts I told my companion toward the end that this I had faith in this contact having no idea who she was and she actually picked up and then said that she would go to our service project at the church that night, and she actually came! And our only meeting this week was another guy who I just found on the phone who wanted to meet with us! 

-We went to church in one of the far branches, and for Sunday school the teacher was trying to teach about some crazy false doctrine about the creation. It was just his idea but he was teaching everyone as if it was doctrine. And then everyone started to argue and bible bash and it was getting real ugly; it is something else to see Russians going off in an argument. Well, we had them cut the lesson short. 

I know some of you think that that probably doesn't seem like a good week, but I feel that it was. I believe that even though all these problems and obstacles are coming for the Russian people that it only means that God has something big planned for them. I don't know how much longer they and we are going to have to wander in the wilderness and how much worse it will and could get, but I know that there are miracles coming, big ones, lots of them, and God is only testing these people and us and our faith. And that some day, hopefully sooner than later, His work and blessings will slam open! The worse it gets, the closer I feel it is. So we must do all that we can until then.

Elder VanBuskirk

Wow, how many missionaries do we have from our stake right now? I think from Volgograd to where we live it’s like 12 hours difference, so I think I’m the furthest!

What in the world? That new volleyball court is crazy!

Derek: Captain’s Log Week 53: Elder Christofferson

 So this week was pretty good.  First things first; on Saturday we had the opportunity to hear and meet Elder D. Todd Christofferson.  So that was super cool.  We got to ask him questions and we learned more about the Plan of Salvation and our part in that, as well as the role of our Savior in helping us in every part of our path towards salvation.

So on Friday we had a really cool experience with two of our investigators. They were two brothers who decided, a few weeks ago, to come to church one day with out being invited or anything. So we meet them there and planned a lesson with them. They are really good investigators but they are nearly impossible to get in contact with. Anyways, in our lesson with them we found out that one day they had a random impression that they should go into the church and just happed to sit down right next the missionaries. Coincidence? I think not. Anyways he said that as he was sitting there that some girl was talking and he doesn't remember what she said, but he turned to his brother and told him that he felt a burning in his chest. He came to the conclusion that that is what the Bible meant when it says that the Holy Ghost feels like a burning in his bosom. He told me that right then was when he and his brother knew that the Church was true. So he didn't know much about baptism, but when we brought it up he told us that he wanted to be baptized as soon as possible. So we wrote down a few dates such as this Saturday and the next to Saturdays and he and his brother said that the would like to be baptized this Saturday. And that was only there second lesson so we have to teach all four of the commandments and have an interview before this Saturday. Which is possible, but as I said they are very hard to contact.

Man I hope I explained that correctly.

We also have an investigator with a baptism date for this Saturday. His name is Jimmy.  He is Haitian and we have been teaching him in English because he doesn't know much Spanish. But what he does know is that the Book of Mormon is true and that this is the true church. So with that in mind he is willing to go to church every Sunday and not understand much if, it means that he can receive the blessings that his Father has in store for him. And because of racism in this country it will be impossible in the near future to have any kind of Creole speaking ward. But it's ok, because I too learned Spanish by sitting in the back of the Church really confused on Sundays.

We also had the opportunity to do exchanges with the MTC kids as well.

With Elder Ball after the MTC splits

I bought a flamingo shirt

Here it is normal to sale sinks on the side of the freeway

Dylan: Confidence in the Work

Ladies and Gentlemen

This week has been insane!!! I'll give you some highlights! 

-Went on some bus finding to random parts of he city and I was standing right in front of a guy that was sitting on a bench and I just felt the need to stand there. Then this guy looked at me and was like “I know you”, and apparently it was the same guy I met in a store like a week ago in totally another part of the city! 

-Went on a midnight train to Saratov 8 hrs. (you know, where that kidnap movie was) and went there for splits with the ZL's and picked my trainee from the smallest most ghetto airport and had the craziest ZC!

-On splits, we went finding and no one wanted to talk to us. I saw a guy across the street walking my direction and I felt I needed to talk to him, and it all happened so fast. I stopped him right when he was passing me, but I didn't have enough time to think of a question or why I was stopping him, and I seemed to forget any Russian I knew. But as I panickingly spoke gibberish his whole gang of 8 came around him all quick, and they didn't look like they were with him. Anyways, ZL Weenig saved the day and asked a question . They looked like a bunch of punks but they actually were really respectful and they wanted to walk with us, so we walked and talked for about 2 hours, and got all of their numbers. 

-Splits again. We are sitting at a food court waiting for a potential to come and this guy looks at us and ask why we are speaking Russian with each other if we weren't from Russia. We told him how we were church volunteers and had a 3 min convo. He then gets up, asks if we will be staying there a bit, and leaves. He comes back 20 min later and drops 3 Provaslavnic Charm necklaces with Mary and baby Jesus on it on our table and says “best of luck to you” and leaves. We were shocked. All he knew was that we were church volunteers and he bought us all together over $30 from the jewelry store!

-Zone conference was something else. Our zone right now is incredible; everyone here in diligent and obedient, and I feel blessed to be part of such a powerful group of volunteers.

-I had my interview with President on my year mark and he let me know the pressure of training Elder Grover. He said that he was the only elder who came in this transfer and we won't have any others coming in for a while. He said that we have a whole mission full of elders who could train, and that I wasn't the most convenient option to have me train, and he doesn't know why he wants me, but that  my named popped up in his head. I really felt the pressure then. But I'm excited. Elder Grover is going to do great things.

-We went on Elder Grover’s first finding grind and he stepped in the flooded street and a drunk guy followed us so you can say it was a success! 

-We rushed back to Volgograd and had a talent show! We did a skit where the volunteers got ready for the day, so we had our comps sit in a chair and we would sit behind them with our arms as their arms and we were blind folded. So you better guess that I shoved that whole banana down my comp’s throat and slapped that shaving cream on him. 

-Church was insanely good! In the Russian meeting, the branch President just had us have a special meeting on hymns and different people came up and talked about the favorite hymn and why, and then we would all sing the 1st verse. There was also a temple fireside and WOW! So they all went on a temple trip to Ukraine for the past 2 weeks. These people's faith is amazing they are the pioneers of Russia, I wish you could all hear their testimonies and the things they go through. They want this temple so bad, and if the rest Russia would want it as much as the leaders in Volgograd do, I have no doubt that the Lord would just drop a temple from the heavens this instant on Russia.

9 For in that day, for my sake shall the Father work a work, which shall be a great and a marvelous work among them; and there shall be among them those who will not believe it, although a man shall declare it unto them.

10 But behold, the life of my servant shall be in my hand; therefore they shall not hurt him, although he shall be marred because of them. Yet I will heal him, for I will show unto them that my wisdom is greater than the cunning of the devil.

I love this scripture! This really is a great and marvelous work we are doing! I feel the excitement of the work in my soul and it makes me want to work harder and just proclaim it to everyone! I find myself in a strange state: we have absolutely no investigators because we gave any we had to the sisters, and it is getting cold and dark, and I feel like any  person with the right state of mind would be discouraged at the current status, but I feel far from that. I feel so good and confident about the work, and feel that it is all in the Lord's hands and he has some great miracles coming our way! I feel like as it gets colder and the work gets harder it makes me want to rise up against it even more. It's crazy to me because I don't feel any confidence in myself, because I learned that I can't do any of this work by myself, that I am to weak. But I feel so good about it and confident and I know that it is confidence in the Lord because His wisdom is greater than all! I just love my mission, even though it's seems as though we are just wandering through the woods (the Russian woods), but I feel so strongly that the Lord has his hand in it, and we will see some marvelous works and wonders, and that makes me want to work so hard and gives me strength not of my own!

Elder VanBuskirk

This is your favorite son.  No way!  So he made varsity in wrestling!!  That’s awesome! He can learn a lot form Troy. Does Troy remember me? He’s going to do so good!  That’s a hard weight class!  I only weigh 165 right now.  I’m going to try to pack on that muscle through so I can wrestle Caleb when I get back!

It was supposed to be, but they are changing a transfer from 6 to 3 weeks so we can be on the same time with the other missions. so I don't know if I'll be later are earlier. I hope later!

That’s cool. Thanks mom. You are a sweetheart.  I love you so much. Less than a year and I’ll be home and you will have the whole family together!

Derek: Captain's log week 51: A Good Surprise

So this week was pretty goof. We started off by getting a surprise trip to the temple. For those of you who don’t know, the temple is a wonderful beautiful place where we can make sacred covenants with God and feel closer to Him. So obviously it was super great and was a really good surprise.  We got to do a session, then we had pizza and got to hang out with the other missionaries.

Other than that not much happened. We has a good week of preaching the gospel, thinking that our investigators where going to progress and then almost none of them went to church. But apparently they were all sick, soooo. I found Martin was just a little scared for the commitment of baptism, but we planned another baptism date for the next Saturday. We also had some lessons with some Haitians that we are teaching. The one that I have been teaching in English has a baptism date for next week too. And the other ones who just showed up to church out of the blue and took a pic with us are now also progressing as well. I also will be spending this week trying to get permission to baptize some kids that I have been teaching in my time here. Also our new convert of last week also baore his testimony yesterday, so that’s great.

The mission has also been preparing for the visit of the Apostle Elder D. Todd Christofferson this Saturday, so I’m excited for that.

Dylan: Trio Life

 YELLLOWWW! It's been a week, I've been in a trio with the other Elder but my trainee should come this week, and I'll pick him up at Zone Conference in Saratov! I'll just hit the points because I know you only look at the pics and I can't download pics here.

-Sisters came in this week (from Germany and New Zealand) so they are young on the mission and whitewashing and ready to kill it! 

- We moved all their stuff that we stored in our apartment from the old sisters’ apartment to their new one, and we would carry loads over to their place all day. But the first load I was carrying a bag of church videos and books and these cops and military officers were sitting on a bench and right as I passed them, the bag broke and all these DVDs and books with Christ and temples and so fourth spilled all over the road! The cops didn't seem to notice much, which was a miracle because it was right in front of them. It was sooo funny. 

-We met the coolest 2 guys from Syria and they were just the nicest people I've met, and when they asked if we knew anything about Syria the only thing that could pop in my head was that America just bombed them up and because of that we had to stay in our apartments all day, but I managed to go with out telling them that. I feel like I've met someone from almost every country from the middle east so far, and they have all been the nicest people. 

- We cleaned the branch because we got there late and realized no one cleaned it yet. Then as we are finishing this guy and his wife come, and are first mad that we cleaned for them. But I have never seen them in my life! They must be way inactive members who don't want us to know about them because I kept asking for the guy’s name, but he would change the conversation and wouldn't give it to me, probably so we won't track them down. 

-We went over an hour to a branch and they had 4 members there, it was a great meeting though, I really love these people; their faith is so humbling. It's crazy how much they are pumping up the temple in Russia! They want it so badly, and the leaders are doing all they can, but there are so many less actives who aren't pulling the weight.

-I meet this guy on the street and he sang for me in English "I'm a dwarf and I'm digging a hole" song. Also we met the nicest guy on the bus that I swear I've seen him before. Crazy how the Lord puts you in the right place right time.

-We went on a find grind with an Elder who was here for the day (he's German and just finished training). It was way fun, and got him on that finding high! 

Well I can't believe my year mark is on Thursday. This will be a crazy week!

Much Love,

 Elder VanBuskirk

Hi mom.  I love your roast. My comp thought that last one was funny.