Wednesday, May 27, 2009

bbq in the country...suits chopping wood

Whatcha gonna do…

Hmmm…looks like I will be staying here in Botancia… And, let me try to say this without laughing… I will be killing yet another elder! Elder Sorenson will be my new companion and returns home at the end of this next transfer. I am at a loss for words... what more can I say?? I served with Elder Sorenson for a short time in Surgut while my companion was away on a visa trip. It was an interesting experience. When contacting, we would stand on street corners and Elder Sorenson played his violin while I talked with people (keep in mind, we are talking Siberia in November. I'm not sure you all know that kind of cold, and it was this az. kid's first winter in Russia! haha.) I have to admit, it worked out pretty well, so we will see how successful it is here in Botancia in the summer. I guess the thing that keeps me sane with killing off another elder and... always forever the youngest is that I love Botanica and I love the branch members here. The other stuff is just getting a little, you know_____! Oh well, whatcha gonna do!! Such is life!

The highlights for the week –
We enjoyed a wonderful BBQ at the Druzhkovy's garden home. We had a great time with their little kids. The Druzhkovy's have the cutest kids in the world! It was a blast.

I also had the opportunity to conduct the baptism of Oksana, Uralmashs investigator. It was the coolest baptism, Elder Shreeve baptized her in a nearby lake, and I lead the meeting in a little quaint garden house. It was an incredible experience.

A humorous moment from this past week...Elder Shreeve’s and I had to chop wood for the baptism in Revda and as people walked by, we received some pretty strange looks, confused as to why two guys dressed in white shirts and ties would be chopping wood. (I guess that would be an odd sight to see.)haha.

Upcoming highlights for this week –

President Uchdorf and Elder Anderson
will be visiting. Stoked!

Until next week,
Elder Dewey

P.S. Shreeve's is going AP...I'm hoping he will hook me up - it's due time. haha!

Monday, May 18, 2009

Ikea's 40 MEATBALLS...Russia in the springtime...

notice the purple addition to the ear...haha
view from our apartment balcony...no jumping allowed!


Elder shreeves and I (two mesa az. elders survive russia's winter.)

Russia in the spring... (nothing like the sacred groves, but it will do.)
Say cheese...me being a goof.


поздравления от ekat,

I hope all is well at home. The work here in Ekat seems to be moving at snail speed. We are working harder than ever without much progress. It sure can wear on ones nerves. I know the Lord is forcing my patience, which I’m sure is something I am need of. Contacting did pick up while we were out on the streets, we managed to get a few additional contacts and then another great one while on the bus, so we will see what happens.

We went to a baptism this past Saturday, which was way cool!

I know I have mentioned before, the interesting things you learn about yourself while serving a mission. This week I thought a lot about how fortunate I have been through out my life thus far. While I serve among these great people of Russia and see them struggle with all of lifes challenges it really gets to me. I truly feel for them. I feel they deserve all the blessings and comforts that I have been blessed with in my life. At times I am astonished at all their many struggles, but more amazed at the amount of faith they have. Honestly, I don’t think I could go through half of what these people do. Their faith is more than I can even comprehend.
My goal this week is to truly lose myself in the work and try not to over think the future. I'm not going to worry about the numbers game and just stay focused on the needs of the people. I truly love the people here and love my mission.

We were supposed to find out about transfers today, but they decided to hold back for a week. I’m sure it has something to do with President Uchtdorf and Elder Anderson’s visit. We are all looking forward to this great opportunity. I believe it has been ten years since the mission had a general authority visit. I guess the last was about ten years ago when the mission first opened…exciting stuff!

We have been invited to a BBQ this week (weather permitting) by a family in our branch, the Drushkovy’s. We are going to their garden out in the country. It sounds like a great time.

The weather has been crazy. It warmed up, then on Saturday we had a rain storm, and now it has turned off cold.

Earlier today we all went to IKEA and had their “40 MEATBALL” lunch. Whoever ate all 40 got to join our “MEATBALL’ club, it was one of those moments that you had to be there for…but way funny.

I am sending a few pictures today from when Shreeves and I went to a meeting to see a lady and we got there too early so we walked around in a nearby forest….kind of goofy pics.

Sorry for the boring email today, hopefully I will have more upbeat, positive, and interesting news next week.

I love you all and thank for your support!

P.S. BJ and Brit – Don’t worry about your little Chad jr taking after his/her uncle…he/she will GROW into his/her EARS! They will be a little noticeable while young, but once he/she reaches the height of 6.6” the EARS will become less noticeable. Just remember the CHARM and WIT he/she will inherit!! LUCKY KID!!!! AND... don't let his/her grandpa and grandma call him/her Yoda ( the creature from Star Wars)...even if the EARS are pointing and flop over! I will be thinking of names you can call the MINI ME.
I'm sure I can come up with a few good Russian names...I will have them for you next week.

до следующей недели,
Старший Dewey

Monday, May 11, 2009

President Uchtdorf Visit...


Exciting news…President Uchtdorf along with Elder Anderson will be visiting our mission towards the end of May. We are all stoked! I will let you all know what the experience is like.

счастливый День матери


Victory Day and Service Project...Elders Dewey and Anderson at Victory Day. ..




















Elders Thomas and Dewey...service project in Ekat.
Elders Shreeve(ZL)and Dewey on splits.



















Elders Bassett (AP) and Dewey
Hello Everyone,
I hope all the mom's had a great Mother's Day. Mom, since you like to receive pictures I will send a few today. It was great to talk with all of you today. It sounds like everyone is doing awesome. Since we had a good chat I will cut this email a little short.
Congratulations BJ and Britt! You two don't waste any time, I will give you that! How am I suppose to compete with you guys! I am sure he/she will take after their uncle with all my good looks, charm, wit, and all of my other great characteristics. Ha ha!

I forgot to mention that transfers are soon approaching. We should find out next Monday and I will let you know the outcome. I really have no idea if I will stay or end up transfering. I really love it here though and would hate to leave...I love the area, the branch, and the great members. It just gets a little frustrating, always...I'm not even going to finish that sentence. Complaining or whining will get you no where in life. It is just the circumstance our mission is in. The good news is ...there will be a few new missionaries arriving over the next couple months, so we will see what happens.

The weather is warming up and the days are longer. We can now shed the coat! We don't have to deal with the snow and ice for a while and we can let our feet unthaw! OH HAPPY DAY!!!

I love you all and thanks so much for all your love and support! Have a great week!

Love,
Elder Dewey

Friday, May 8, 2009

say uncle...


noooooo jk...

Monday, May 4, 2009

GOT FURRRRRR...

elders dewey and shreeve cleaning the neighborhood by the mission office... (Chad -please tell me you don't wear those shoes/boots/or whatever they are out contacting. They look like the same shoes you are wearing with your suit in the picture below...yikes!)


(service pictures taken from McEvoy's blog...thank you McEvoy's!)
elder dewey hiding behind branches of trees...(you can barely see
him.)


snow in may...

Hello Everyone,

Since I don’t have a lot of time to email, I am going to cut to the chase and give you a quick brief recap of last week. I hope the few pictures I send will make up for lack of sharing. I promise next week will be better.

This past week we were busy with meetings, district conference, a service project, (cleaning up the neighborhood by the mission office)and a whole lot of busy work, which was all great. I went on splits again with Elder Shreeve and it was amazing as usual. He is the coolest guy ever. We had a ton of fun. He speaks Russian extremely well, and inspires me to keep at it. I'm just grateful I no longer have the language barrier I had my first six-seven months out, and now can speak and understand it pretty well.


Again, I apologize for the shortness of this email, but I will write more details next week.

Make it a great one.
Love,
Elder Dewey