Monday, July 28, 2008

What can I say...transfers are coming up, and I don't know whats going to happen. Am I staying, am I going? I don't know. I am OK with it ether way. If I stay I want to stay with Elder Imangazi. If I go I hope I go to to a place out West, or go to one of my favorite places. Wow, I need to make notes of what happened. We went to a really cool celo/village.

OK pics - I got up at 6am, made breakfast, got in the shower, got dressed, ate breakfast, had plenty of time, and forgot to shave. I was out the door before I noticed, so that's me unshaven for once. Next, a mom, her 2 daughters and one's husband in a celo. And last, me spoiling a dog with some scratching. And there's a short video, and I say something in Ukrainian, but it's not important. The view is beautiful.

We had an investigator show up to a Sacrament Meeting for the first time. She wants to get baptized, but she will have to have a few lessons first. She is the wife of a church member and they have a cute little girl. So cool!

OK, this week I am cutting it short, so PAPA! I love you all!

Monday, July 21, 2008

What's new this week? Well, there is a first time for everything. Our investigator said she was not feeling well, so we got "sobakoovale" (that's Ukrainian - we turned dog in to a verb and put it in past tense) at her baptism! So yeah, she did not show up! But other new things; we found a cool old Russian building in our area, so I got a pic of me in front. We went to a member's house where the 2 year old thought it necessary to give me all of her toys. I took the picture even before she could give them all to me. Elder Eskelsen (my old companion) had a birthday, so that's his birthday shirt that a few elders made for him. And yes, that is a bottle of Fanta that is almost empty. Yes, it's that good. It says "Fanta World Taste from Africa - Apple." It's so good! And with it are two McDonald's toys... I had 2 happy meals this week!

Other then that, I am healthy. The weather is getting really hot, but I have managed to keep our apartment below 80 degrees. It hit 79.5. I find if it hits 80, I can't sleep.

That's about all that's new that I can think of right now. Papa!!!

Monday, July 14, 2008

I love you all for taking interest in my life week by week! Well, let me start...

This week has been good. We started off on preparation day by going to the Pechersky Lavra, a church where you pay money to go in. I took a few pictures. I am sending you two - one of me yes, drinking the water from a fountain with a young boy looking at me. Yeah, I am not sure if that was a good idea because now my stomach is feeling weird. It has been a few days now! And I have a pic of a wall in the old church of Jesus whipping people to get them out of a temple. It's my favorite picture that I took, I think.

We had an exchange and I was in Obolon where I saw some cool graffiti, so I took a pic. It says "life is beautiful," so I thought, "Why not take a pic?"

I went to English on a rainy day and a member was on the micro bus with us and it was a really old bus. It had leaks, so she pulled out her umbrella. I have never seen that before. It was cool, so I took a pic. It's funny, but I didn't use the flash. I did now want to freak out the driver or anything with the roads so wet. (note from Heather...he did not send this picture. I guess we'll see it next week :)

I had to go to the office to work on our English Class invitations because we are opening up our English conversation classes in our area now. It will be better for us; only 5 min travel time instead of 45 mins one way. I was in the office and as you can see one of the office elders, Elder Wahl, was doing some of his normal activities, so I took a pic so you can get a feel for the office here in Kiev. I don't know if that's all they do, but whatever.

News with our investigators - Sister Oksana is getting Baptized this Saturday. It will be cool. You will remember her as the older lady that was sitting with me and my companion and Vlad, a member that was with us that day.

We serve in an International Branch and a normal ward, but this week the Mission President was in Kiev for church, so he came to the Branch. It was so cool. I met his other 2 boys, so now I have met all 3 boys and his wife.

Until next week! Papa! (Bye!)

Monday, July 7, 2008

Hello! What's new this week...well, I got my package from Heather and I had an exchange. Other than that we had a normal week of lessons. Oh, and we got the opportunity to go to the dentist. My companion needed to have some work done. We have to go tomorrow as well to finish. Wow, I have seen the inside of a few of the Ukrainian dentist's office, but this one was just like an American dental office, and heck they even spoke English! So cool!

We have seen some progress with some investigators. I don't have time to give all the details of whats going on, but we are working hard and they are doing well. The members are so willing to help us right now, and that's so wonderful.

No photos today...ok, I will send 3! We had a companionship exchange. Elder Lewis, my old companion, and Elder Larson came over for a day. That was sweet to do work with him again. I got to see that Buki loves me... but his hand writing looks a lot like Heathers! =Ю And last, there was a holiday like Constitution Day or something, so center Kiev had no cars driving on it and I did not have to walk through the underpass like normal to get to and from the office/metro.

This week you're getting cut short - we have a busy day, so talk to you later! Папа!! (Bye!!)