Hello Everyone,
Who knew you can do gymnastics with your tongue! As Alonia, a young member girl here in Surgut tries relentlessly to helps us conquer the Russian language, I can only imagine what is going through her mind as she watches us perform these humorous exercises with our tongues. I couldn’t help but feel so awkward and kept cracking up. She must think we are the goofiest Elders. The lesson was on improving our accents. She had us stick out our tongues as far as we could to see how far we could stretch them. It was the strangest thing. Then we curled our tongues in different ways. Alonia, said that I have no excuse for not having a great Russian accent because I have a real curly tongue…okay what ever you say…hahaha! I thought she was messin around with us, but apparently, I was mistaken… when she gave me a very serious look, letting me know… I best get with the program…haha.
Last Monday we went sight seeing. Later in the evening, we made brownies for some less actives. It snowed here and was so cold, but I love it. I love to walk around outside when it snows, it's sort of peaceful. I'm staying warm with my new Russian coat…YES…I finally bought one the other day.
English Club this week was surprisingly amazing. We had a new guy named Dima that came out who was very inquisitive about our church, and asked a lot of questions, which obviously led me to ask him that all important question…“Would you like to set up a date and time to meet with us to learn more?” AND…so there you have it…he said, “ sure!!!” He is an amazing guy and appears to be all of that of a” solid piece of Gold”…only time will tell. In class we discussed a love of mine…American Music, which for me… is always fun! It was a fun class for all who attended!
After English, we met with Angelina, a lady from our English Club. We showed the film of the restoration of the Gospel, I believe she really enjoyed it.
Wednesday we had institute and then met with some less actives.
Thursday we met with Sister Kiz who has a nine-year-old son. She is the nicest and coolest lady. We taught her a short lesson on hope. What surprised me about this meeting is that Sister Kiz taught me more about this subject than she learned from us. I left feeling more inspired and uplifted. She shared with us the reason why she is so active in the church. She said she stays solid and strong in the church because she wants the best for her family and the Church is centered and grounded around families. Sister Kiz went on to explain, the Gospel teaches great principles that strengthens the family unit and teaches that families are eternal. She said that the Gospel has given her and her family a better and happier life. When she was sharing her thoughts with us, I could feel the spirit so strong and felt the truthfulness of what she shared. It’s difficult at times to explain the feelings that occur when you feel the spirit that strong. The thought that I kept having was how true it is, that through the gospel our families can have true and eternal happiness, even through the trials and worldly struggles that life brings our way. I truly admire Sister Kiz for her strength and courage.
Friday we had mutual, but disappointed that few youth attended. We made the best of it and played a few Russian card games with the few who were there.
Saturday, we had English Club again. A Russian lawyer attended and wanted to show pictures from England and explain each one, and took up most of all our time, so it didn’t turn out exactly as we had hoped…oh well. In the end, it all turned out okay... Later that evening we had another awesome meeting with Angelina. We taught her a lesson on Jesus Christ and the Atonement. It was an amazing lesson and she really opened up with us.
Sunday, the Branch President’s wife had a birthday party dinner after church, which made for a wonderful evening.
I will be here in Surgut until the 27th. I heard some of the missionaries are experiencing a few difficulties renewing their visas and are currently stuck in Sweden. There have been a few rumors going on, but I don’t want to dwell on it until we know for certain what the facts are. We all need to have faith that things will work out the way the Lord see fits, what ever happens. Often times we don’t understand or know why things turn out the way they do, but we just need to continue in have faith and work hard.
We received transfers today, and I will stay in Kurgan and Elder Otis will be my new companion. I am anxious to get back to Kurgon because no one is there manning the fort. In fact, I was up most of the night worried that no one is there. I will travel back to Yekaterinburg (24-hour train ride from Surgut) on Monday to pick up Elder Otis and then head back to Kurgon and go straight to work.
I’m grateful and humbled with the experiences that I’ve had so far here in Russia. I know I will most likely never have this experience again, so I am trying to soak it all in. Time is going fast, and I wish it would slow down, because there is so much I want to accomplish! I love serving the Lord and pray that I will be blessed with the abilities to continue to serve these wonderful Russian people. I love them and their culture. It’s interesting to me when I hear negative comments about the people, because if you truly try to understand where they have come from and what most of them have had to go through and the little they have, you cannot help but feel compassion and love for them.
Well, I better get going. I love you all. Keep the Russian people in your prayers.
Love,
Elder Dewey
Who knew you can do gymnastics with your tongue! As Alonia, a young member girl here in Surgut tries relentlessly to helps us conquer the Russian language, I can only imagine what is going through her mind as she watches us perform these humorous exercises with our tongues. I couldn’t help but feel so awkward and kept cracking up. She must think we are the goofiest Elders. The lesson was on improving our accents. She had us stick out our tongues as far as we could to see how far we could stretch them. It was the strangest thing. Then we curled our tongues in different ways. Alonia, said that I have no excuse for not having a great Russian accent because I have a real curly tongue…okay what ever you say…hahaha! I thought she was messin around with us, but apparently, I was mistaken… when she gave me a very serious look, letting me know… I best get with the program…haha.
Last Monday we went sight seeing. Later in the evening, we made brownies for some less actives. It snowed here and was so cold, but I love it. I love to walk around outside when it snows, it's sort of peaceful. I'm staying warm with my new Russian coat…YES…I finally bought one the other day.
English Club this week was surprisingly amazing. We had a new guy named Dima that came out who was very inquisitive about our church, and asked a lot of questions, which obviously led me to ask him that all important question…“Would you like to set up a date and time to meet with us to learn more?” AND…so there you have it…he said, “ sure!!!” He is an amazing guy and appears to be all of that of a” solid piece of Gold”…only time will tell. In class we discussed a love of mine…American Music, which for me… is always fun! It was a fun class for all who attended!
After English, we met with Angelina, a lady from our English Club. We showed the film of the restoration of the Gospel, I believe she really enjoyed it.
Wednesday we had institute and then met with some less actives.
Thursday we met with Sister Kiz who has a nine-year-old son. She is the nicest and coolest lady. We taught her a short lesson on hope. What surprised me about this meeting is that Sister Kiz taught me more about this subject than she learned from us. I left feeling more inspired and uplifted. She shared with us the reason why she is so active in the church. She said she stays solid and strong in the church because she wants the best for her family and the Church is centered and grounded around families. Sister Kiz went on to explain, the Gospel teaches great principles that strengthens the family unit and teaches that families are eternal. She said that the Gospel has given her and her family a better and happier life. When she was sharing her thoughts with us, I could feel the spirit so strong and felt the truthfulness of what she shared. It’s difficult at times to explain the feelings that occur when you feel the spirit that strong. The thought that I kept having was how true it is, that through the gospel our families can have true and eternal happiness, even through the trials and worldly struggles that life brings our way. I truly admire Sister Kiz for her strength and courage.
Friday we had mutual, but disappointed that few youth attended. We made the best of it and played a few Russian card games with the few who were there.
Saturday, we had English Club again. A Russian lawyer attended and wanted to show pictures from England and explain each one, and took up most of all our time, so it didn’t turn out exactly as we had hoped…oh well. In the end, it all turned out okay... Later that evening we had another awesome meeting with Angelina. We taught her a lesson on Jesus Christ and the Atonement. It was an amazing lesson and she really opened up with us.
Sunday, the Branch President’s wife had a birthday party dinner after church, which made for a wonderful evening.
I will be here in Surgut until the 27th. I heard some of the missionaries are experiencing a few difficulties renewing their visas and are currently stuck in Sweden. There have been a few rumors going on, but I don’t want to dwell on it until we know for certain what the facts are. We all need to have faith that things will work out the way the Lord see fits, what ever happens. Often times we don’t understand or know why things turn out the way they do, but we just need to continue in have faith and work hard.
We received transfers today, and I will stay in Kurgan and Elder Otis will be my new companion. I am anxious to get back to Kurgon because no one is there manning the fort. In fact, I was up most of the night worried that no one is there. I will travel back to Yekaterinburg (24-hour train ride from Surgut) on Monday to pick up Elder Otis and then head back to Kurgon and go straight to work.
I’m grateful and humbled with the experiences that I’ve had so far here in Russia. I know I will most likely never have this experience again, so I am trying to soak it all in. Time is going fast, and I wish it would slow down, because there is so much I want to accomplish! I love serving the Lord and pray that I will be blessed with the abilities to continue to serve these wonderful Russian people. I love them and their culture. It’s interesting to me when I hear negative comments about the people, because if you truly try to understand where they have come from and what most of them have had to go through and the little they have, you cannot help but feel compassion and love for them.
Well, I better get going. I love you all. Keep the Russian people in your prayers.
Love,
Elder Dewey
1 comment:
Dena- I think he wins for best letters!!Wow, a day by day review. He sounds so mature and confident. Do you add the color and italics to the words. Very clever!! Love Leila
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