Video with some scenes of the city her mission is named after, Dnepopetrovsk, or Днепропетровск in Russian. If you listen in the song, they'll say it for you a few times. Beautiful!!
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Monday, November 9, 2009
22nd email: November 9th, 2009
The weather is definitely bipolar. Now its hot again and we're walking without jackets...november...во обшей! But I did by a coat and these awesome nylon/pants that everyone wears, and a hat and gloves and a sweater and these shoes insert things and socks...cectpa k knows what i need, so i was glad to have her. But everything was aroung $200. Sorry, i tried to get cheap stuff, but I also had to get good stuff. I look like a red marshmellow. haha...
I talked to a guy on the Marshrutka earlier this week that was really interested in religion and the Book of Mormon. His names Stepan. When he came and sat by me, he straight up stared at me, like I was painted blue or something. I was like "Страствуйте" and thought to myself, forget my nerves, i've got no choice but to talk to him! He was patient with my russian and we agreed to talk more about the book of mormon and the restored gospel another time...the miracle is that he came to our meeting with the elders, he took the book of mormon and said he'd read it. To be honest, we weren't too siked about him. He's kind-of a strange guy. Well, even though we passed him to the elders, he called us a couple nights ago and said, "I read your book, thankyou! I have some questions, lets meet." A-buh. Ha, we were blown away...he read the book of mormon in 5 days. We can't even get Era to read 5 pages in 3 months! We're meeting with him tomorrow, so we'll see...man...cool story.
We have a new investigator, Olga, and she's fabulous! She has to little boys, Женя and Дима (djenya and deema) 6 and 4, and they remind me so much of james and jakey...little stinkers, but you love them :) She's surprising us. She's got a chill and submissive personality, but she read the book of mormon and is really thinking about it. She's out of town this week, but we'll meet with her on Saturday. ooo..it'd be so great to help her family...our little branch would really really benefit!
Rosa is still on fire. She said this week, "Ya know, I know I've got to pray and ask God if this church is true. I've got to ask him if Joseph Smith was a prophet. I've never done it before!" She interupts the lesson all the time with comments like "Wait, so it's like this, yeah..." or "So if I ask God, he'll answer me, yeah?" She is incredible. She loves us and already acts like a member. She scolds all our young obnoxious english friends when we're giving our spiritual thought...it's awesome...who'da thought we need a 12 year old body guard...speaking of...did i mention that the elders are teaching the body-building champion of ukraine the gospel? hahaha...man...i'd love to have him in the branch :) how cool is that.
Cectpa and I are working really hard...we've picked up any slack that we've felt like we've had and are determined to do everything we can for our little branch...for the innactives...for investigators. This is her last transfer, and I'm so grateful that she wan'ts to go out with a bang...I've been praying for a boost in our work together. So we practically run from meeting to meeting, eat lunch and dinner on the go, plan on the marshtrukas and buses...it's hilarious and really fun. We find time to laugh and have fun while we're going too...I know that as we work harder, we see more success, but even better, we become sharper more pliable tools for the Lord. I know I can be better...it's a constant effort really.
Ct. Flewellen (our district leader) is leaving this week probably for Sinferopol to be zone leader. We'll really miss him...he's fabulous. We have 6 missionaries in the district, and all of us are in the same branch (theres only one) We see them a lot (at service, english, fhe, district meeting, joint lessons, church, sports day). We live 10 hours away from the mission home...boons...and we only see president and sister nielson and aps once a transfer at zone conference.
I took a bunch of pictures of my apartment and random stuff for you mamichka...cectpa is transfering everything to a disk for me right now and I'll send it home today. Sorry i'm so spacey about it. The people, to be honest, are typically unhappy, but we're working on that :) We're thinking my next companion will be Cectpa Zadyikan. She's an absolute saint (i was in the mtc with her) and I already love her. We'll see...you never ever never ever ever know :)
I got those packages before halloween...Спасиба :) And the food? Well there's not a lot of American type food at all...and especially because I live with a Russian and I can't cook, I eat russian food. When I'm cooking, I just make veggies or eggs. The milk here is really good and the smetana (sour cream) is heavenly...but you've got to buy them домашный or home made...I still eat like 3 apples every day
Things have changed a lot at home, I can tell...but its good. I'm glad people are moving forward to bigger and better and exciting things! As much as I'd love to freeze frame everything...haha...no, I'm glad everyone is happy :)
Have a wonderful week...work hard and stay strong. Try to follow what the Savior did and he will give us happiness (John 13:17) I know it.
Love Cectpa Jones
p.s. love you!! I'd love you to send me some of that utah snow...but blien...enjoy it
I talked to a guy on the Marshrutka earlier this week that was really interested in religion and the Book of Mormon. His names Stepan. When he came and sat by me, he straight up stared at me, like I was painted blue or something. I was like "Страствуйте" and thought to myself, forget my nerves, i've got no choice but to talk to him! He was patient with my russian and we agreed to talk more about the book of mormon and the restored gospel another time...the miracle is that he came to our meeting with the elders, he took the book of mormon and said he'd read it. To be honest, we weren't too siked about him. He's kind-of a strange guy. Well, even though we passed him to the elders, he called us a couple nights ago and said, "I read your book, thankyou! I have some questions, lets meet." A-buh. Ha, we were blown away...he read the book of mormon in 5 days. We can't even get Era to read 5 pages in 3 months! We're meeting with him tomorrow, so we'll see...man...cool story.
We have a new investigator, Olga, and she's fabulous! She has to little boys, Женя and Дима (djenya and deema) 6 and 4, and they remind me so much of james and jakey...little stinkers, but you love them :) She's surprising us. She's got a chill and submissive personality, but she read the book of mormon and is really thinking about it. She's out of town this week, but we'll meet with her on Saturday. ooo..it'd be so great to help her family...our little branch would really really benefit!
Rosa is still on fire. She said this week, "Ya know, I know I've got to pray and ask God if this church is true. I've got to ask him if Joseph Smith was a prophet. I've never done it before!" She interupts the lesson all the time with comments like "Wait, so it's like this, yeah..." or "So if I ask God, he'll answer me, yeah?" She is incredible. She loves us and already acts like a member. She scolds all our young obnoxious english friends when we're giving our spiritual thought...it's awesome...who'da thought we need a 12 year old body guard...speaking of...did i mention that the elders are teaching the body-building champion of ukraine the gospel? hahaha...man...i'd love to have him in the branch :) how cool is that.
Cectpa and I are working really hard...we've picked up any slack that we've felt like we've had and are determined to do everything we can for our little branch...for the innactives...for investigators. This is her last transfer, and I'm so grateful that she wan'ts to go out with a bang...I've been praying for a boost in our work together. So we practically run from meeting to meeting, eat lunch and dinner on the go, plan on the marshtrukas and buses...it's hilarious and really fun. We find time to laugh and have fun while we're going too...I know that as we work harder, we see more success, but even better, we become sharper more pliable tools for the Lord. I know I can be better...it's a constant effort really.
Ct. Flewellen (our district leader) is leaving this week probably for Sinferopol to be zone leader. We'll really miss him...he's fabulous. We have 6 missionaries in the district, and all of us are in the same branch (theres only one) We see them a lot (at service, english, fhe, district meeting, joint lessons, church, sports day). We live 10 hours away from the mission home...boons...and we only see president and sister nielson and aps once a transfer at zone conference.
I took a bunch of pictures of my apartment and random stuff for you mamichka...cectpa is transfering everything to a disk for me right now and I'll send it home today. Sorry i'm so spacey about it. The people, to be honest, are typically unhappy, but we're working on that :) We're thinking my next companion will be Cectpa Zadyikan. She's an absolute saint (i was in the mtc with her) and I already love her. We'll see...you never ever never ever ever know :)
I got those packages before halloween...Спасиба :) And the food? Well there's not a lot of American type food at all...and especially because I live with a Russian and I can't cook, I eat russian food. When I'm cooking, I just make veggies or eggs. The milk here is really good and the smetana (sour cream) is heavenly...but you've got to buy them домашный or home made...I still eat like 3 apples every day
Things have changed a lot at home, I can tell...but its good. I'm glad people are moving forward to bigger and better and exciting things! As much as I'd love to freeze frame everything...haha...no, I'm glad everyone is happy :)
Have a wonderful week...work hard and stay strong. Try to follow what the Savior did and he will give us happiness (John 13:17) I know it.
Love Cectpa Jones
p.s. love you!! I'd love you to send me some of that utah snow...but blien...enjoy it
Friday, November 6, 2009
21st Email: November 1st
So the shopkas are out :) Ha - the weather freaked out this week at it got SO COLD...remember last monday when I was in shorts and a tshirt? Well today I can barely type my hands are so cold! Ha...i love it...everyone in their furs and shopkas and boots. It was interesting for me cause all I have is summer stuff...but you'd b surprised how warm one can be with layer after layer of summer clothes :) We're going to buy winter stuff today at the Reinok (like the huge market) It's extra cold in Sevastopol because we're right on the sea...no snow, but windy windy! So today will be a big purchase day...fyi...don't worry, i'm frugal.
Halloween was a hit. They don't really celebrate it here, but of course we do...we had a fun party at the branch. Cectpa Kondratyeva and I were a ложка и вилка...a spoon and a fork! haha...the journey of making the cotume was SO funny...we hunted down some refridgerator boxes (like 8 or 9 feet tall and SO fat) and then had to take them home on the marshrutka...you can image how hilarious it was seeing two missionaries waltzing around town with two boxes twice as big as them and then shoving them onto the marshrutka (much to the dismay of the driver...luckily he was a nice one) and even better, once we made them, getting on the marshrutka as a massive silver spoon and fork. I'm getting used to standing out here :)
OK...my apartment...its great! it's probably as big as our first floor...minus mom and dad's room and j's room and the back bathroom. Kitchen, bedroom, front hall, bathroom, toilet, study room...not bad! Every apartment has a balcony were you hang your clothes to dry (i'm still trying to figure out how they won't freeze in the winter) we take showers with a hose, only use filtered water (when it works) and everyone in Ukraine sleeps on couches... well those bed couches...i forgot what they're called... loufans? boufans? whatever. Our apartment is bigger than most others...Инна 's apartment is just two rooms and the whole floor shares a bathroom and kitchen. We live on the 2nd to the top floor, so you can imagine how huge my calves are getting :) haha... We cleaned today. after 5 weeks mom...it was nasty. but now it's like heaven! It really really cold in the apartment. We turn on the fire on the stove and hudle around it...it's like our little fireplace :)
We see President and Sister Nielson every 6 weeks is all at Zone Conference. Thats when we get packages...THANKYOU!!!! Everything I needed, and the Vinogradyeva's will die over those uno cards! I got them right before halloween, so the little rings and paints were perfect. We devoured the chex mix within a day and I'll find someone to give modern russian too...it's a big hit with missionaries...thankyou so so much...it's so fun to get a little taste of home :) Do you send letters ever? I know you mentioned j wrote me one...don't worry about pouch...you can send it right to the mission office and I'll get them at zone conference or transfers. I might spend Christmas in Dnepr I found out. Cectpa leaves the 20th of December and I don't know if we'll have transfers right before Christmas or not.
OUr area is huge. Our apartment building is one of like 100 in the middle of no where...we do a lot of tracting (it's nice to get out of the cold ) Most grocery places are just little and have a couple things...there are a few big places in the center. The closest reinok is like 15 minutes on a marshrutka...it smells like cigarette smoke, bonfires, beer, and...marshrutkas. It's lovely. I'll do my best to let it all seep in to my skin so it stays with me at home :)
We had a great week of contacting and first lessons and new investigators...We have three new promising investigators which is an absolute miracle out here. Вита Ольга и Алёна (Vita, Olga, and Alona) We'll see how things go with them...i've learned not to freak out too fast when we have a good lesson...I kindof still do, but then I get sad when we loose them...all part of the work! Rosa is still amazing...I have two little 13 year old friends, rosa and veeka. Veeka is a sass-a-frass and is molding into the life of the world...she got a nose ring this week. But she loves us and her mom likes her to be around us. Rosa is the sweetest, strongest, most confident little 13 year old you've ever seen. She loves us and her mom likes her to be around us too. It's so interesting to see how quickly lives can change out here. Irina (rosa's mom) is HILARIOUS...oh my goodness...she was half clown, half witch for halloween..she thought she was so funny. I just die of laughter whenever she's around! Era finally accepted help from us this week to quit smoking...we prepared this whole lesson for her based on this program that the church set up to beat addictions. It works. It hits on the the roots of addiction and cuts them out of your life...so we did this whole lesson and we were so excited - and then she didn't come to church or our lesson. I'm so confused with her. It's like a rollercoaster ride of emotions. We haven't stopped praying and fasting for her this whole time and her progress is SO small if any...but she still wants to be baptised. She knows she can't with how she's living her life, but she still wants it. ugh...we really need the Lords help with her. But desire is first...and she's still got it.
Zone conference was SO great... theres a scripture, i can't remember where in the Book of Mormon...oh wait just kidding, it's moroni 6:4... but that we are numbered once we become members of the church...we focused on bringing back innactives. There's a scripture in Luke (4:33?) that says that what the Savior did was to bring back those that have been "bruised spiritually"...i can't think of a better way to describe it. Innactive members have a story and probably a testimony of our Savior, but something has happened that has hurt them, bruised them, and it's our responsibility really to do as the Lord did and put bandaids on them and bring them back. To apologize in behalf of the church and help them back to happiness. Just under 75% of the members in Eastern Europe are innactive. I can't even believe it. We need help from our members! I feel such a responsibility as a member to keep the Lords children in the fold. We covenanted to do this at baptism! I know I'm going to try harder. We're focusing this week on innactive member of our branch. I expect to find some people needing some bandaids...and I'm stocked...scooby-doo ones thanks to mama...
Thats all...um...happy as a lark...and cold...but i'm buying a shopka today! I"M in Ukraine!!! love you alll...stay strong, be good, seek out those innactives if you can!
love cectpa kass-a-rella-stoopid-chile jones
ps...i dont have time to write a friend letter this week...i realized we've got to head a little early today...next week i promise...and I'll send a picture cd home this week... :)
Halloween was a hit. They don't really celebrate it here, but of course we do...we had a fun party at the branch. Cectpa Kondratyeva and I were a ложка и вилка...a spoon and a fork! haha...the journey of making the cotume was SO funny...we hunted down some refridgerator boxes (like 8 or 9 feet tall and SO fat) and then had to take them home on the marshrutka...you can image how hilarious it was seeing two missionaries waltzing around town with two boxes twice as big as them and then shoving them onto the marshrutka (much to the dismay of the driver...luckily he was a nice one) and even better, once we made them, getting on the marshrutka as a massive silver spoon and fork. I'm getting used to standing out here :)
OK...my apartment...its great! it's probably as big as our first floor...minus mom and dad's room and j's room and the back bathroom. Kitchen, bedroom, front hall, bathroom, toilet, study room...not bad! Every apartment has a balcony were you hang your clothes to dry (i'm still trying to figure out how they won't freeze in the winter) we take showers with a hose, only use filtered water (when it works) and everyone in Ukraine sleeps on couches... well those bed couches...i forgot what they're called... loufans? boufans? whatever. Our apartment is bigger than most others...Инна 's apartment is just two rooms and the whole floor shares a bathroom and kitchen. We live on the 2nd to the top floor, so you can imagine how huge my calves are getting :) haha... We cleaned today. after 5 weeks mom...it was nasty. but now it's like heaven! It really really cold in the apartment. We turn on the fire on the stove and hudle around it...it's like our little fireplace :)
We see President and Sister Nielson every 6 weeks is all at Zone Conference. Thats when we get packages...THANKYOU!!!! Everything I needed, and the Vinogradyeva's will die over those uno cards! I got them right before halloween, so the little rings and paints were perfect. We devoured the chex mix within a day and I'll find someone to give modern russian too...it's a big hit with missionaries...thankyou so so much...it's so fun to get a little taste of home :) Do you send letters ever? I know you mentioned j wrote me one...don't worry about pouch...you can send it right to the mission office and I'll get them at zone conference or transfers. I might spend Christmas in Dnepr I found out. Cectpa leaves the 20th of December and I don't know if we'll have transfers right before Christmas or not.
OUr area is huge. Our apartment building is one of like 100 in the middle of no where...we do a lot of tracting (it's nice to get out of the cold ) Most grocery places are just little and have a couple things...there are a few big places in the center. The closest reinok is like 15 minutes on a marshrutka...it smells like cigarette smoke, bonfires, beer, and...marshrutkas. It's lovely. I'll do my best to let it all seep in to my skin so it stays with me at home :)
We had a great week of contacting and first lessons and new investigators...We have three new promising investigators which is an absolute miracle out here. Вита Ольга и Алёна (Vita, Olga, and Alona) We'll see how things go with them...i've learned not to freak out too fast when we have a good lesson...I kindof still do, but then I get sad when we loose them...all part of the work! Rosa is still amazing...I have two little 13 year old friends, rosa and veeka. Veeka is a sass-a-frass and is molding into the life of the world...she got a nose ring this week. But she loves us and her mom likes her to be around us. Rosa is the sweetest, strongest, most confident little 13 year old you've ever seen. She loves us and her mom likes her to be around us too. It's so interesting to see how quickly lives can change out here. Irina (rosa's mom) is HILARIOUS...oh my goodness...she was half clown, half witch for halloween..she thought she was so funny. I just die of laughter whenever she's around! Era finally accepted help from us this week to quit smoking...we prepared this whole lesson for her based on this program that the church set up to beat addictions. It works. It hits on the the roots of addiction and cuts them out of your life...so we did this whole lesson and we were so excited - and then she didn't come to church or our lesson. I'm so confused with her. It's like a rollercoaster ride of emotions. We haven't stopped praying and fasting for her this whole time and her progress is SO small if any...but she still wants to be baptised. She knows she can't with how she's living her life, but she still wants it. ugh...we really need the Lords help with her. But desire is first...and she's still got it.
Zone conference was SO great... theres a scripture, i can't remember where in the Book of Mormon...oh wait just kidding, it's moroni 6:4... but that we are numbered once we become members of the church...we focused on bringing back innactives. There's a scripture in Luke (4:33?) that says that what the Savior did was to bring back those that have been "bruised spiritually"...i can't think of a better way to describe it. Innactive members have a story and probably a testimony of our Savior, but something has happened that has hurt them, bruised them, and it's our responsibility really to do as the Lord did and put bandaids on them and bring them back. To apologize in behalf of the church and help them back to happiness. Just under 75% of the members in Eastern Europe are innactive. I can't even believe it. We need help from our members! I feel such a responsibility as a member to keep the Lords children in the fold. We covenanted to do this at baptism! I know I'm going to try harder. We're focusing this week on innactive member of our branch. I expect to find some people needing some bandaids...and I'm stocked...scooby-doo ones thanks to mama...
Thats all...um...happy as a lark...and cold...but i'm buying a shopka today! I"M in Ukraine!!! love you alll...stay strong, be good, seek out those innactives if you can!
love cectpa kass-a-rella-stoopid-chile jones
ps...i dont have time to write a friend letter this week...i realized we've got to head a little early today...next week i promise...and I'll send a picture cd home this week... :)
Sunday, November 1, 2009
FINALLY!
A picture of Kathy! Her hair is shorter and looks darker but other than that, she looks the same. We'll try to get more.
Monday, October 26, 2009
20th email: Octobert 26th, 2009
famfamfamfamfamfamfamfamfamfamfamfamfafm!
What a fabulous week in Sevastopol! We started off with a family home evening with some members, natalia and youlia, and they invited some of their friends! oh i was so happy...we're really trying to help our members feel the joy of missionary work. I understand it's tough...i wasn't very good at being a member missionary before i left, so I'm in no place to judge...but i think once they experience it a little bit, they'll get addicted :)
We got this contact from church headquarters of this family that was in salt lake city...that they were really interested and wanted a book of mormon...ya hoo! well we finally got a hold of them and met the dad at his work...he ended up being the owner of this huge wine company...like big man rich guy..SO weird and different from what we're used to! He's read the Koran and a few other religious books and is anxious to read the book of mormon...i can't believe it! at the same time though, reading it without prayer is like showering without soap...We told him this, but we'll see. He said, "Ya know, you people have a real light about you...i can see it shining through your eyes." I'm glad I flipped my switch on that morning :)
Life is exciting with opposite extremes! We go from probably the wealthiest man in sevastopol to this run down dacha (a little house, not apartment, in the hills or out of the city) that hasn't been cleaned or taken care of for a billion years...but this is where our investigators mama lives. Irina, Oksana and Rosa...i think i mentioned them... but they really needed some help at the dacha on Saturday. I can't even describe this place...they kept on saying to us "Are you sure you want to come? You'll be scared!" Food everywhere, bugs and spideys everywhere, cats and dogs everywhere, and the cherry on top is a crazy drunk guy you lives there with the babyshka. So we tackled it! It was hilarious..Irina is SO ADHD and just talks and talks and starts doing 15 projects at once, Oksanas answer to everything we find is to throw it in the fire (that's how they get rid of garbage here...huge bonfires), and Cectpa K is fabulous, but such a girl. Babyshka was at the renok (market) and drunk man was drunk. So here i am, looking at this masterpiece of a dacha...and i remember back to costa rica construction, new zealand building, hugo...and have at it. We tore everything out of one of the rooms - carpet, furniture, the weirdest odds and ends, MASSIVE spideys! I was mixing some plaster and I felt what I thought was a hair on my neck...nope I pull out a spider as big as the palm of my hand from my shirt...ughhhhhhhh! But we scraped down the parts that were falling off the wall, repaired the holes, painted, (in the meantime oksana was burning everything we found...oh it was sooo funny :) Huge job but I loved it...even better, we were able to show irina and oksana they kind of people that we really are. They agreed to let little rosa spend time with us (she's 12) SHE IS INCRDIBLE! She came to our appt having read Alma 32 plus another 3 or 4 chapters...she marked the parts she liked and underlined what she didn't understand. We taught the plan of salvation...she asked questions like "So what if my dad, my mom, and me are all in different kingdoms? How can we be happy together?" She's a mature and smart girl...she really thinks about her life and her future and i know she will be a angel for her family. She already prays before every meal, tests in school..morning and night...she sets up her own appts with us...she loves the book of mormon and said when we asked her if she reads the bible, "Why? I have this!" She is just a breath of fresh air...she hasn't been affected by the filth of the world yet, shes open minded and strong...she's confident and smart...i am just beaming just thinking about her :)
We had family night with Ena (eena) last night with her two daughters and she invited her friend...so fun and lighthearted...we're here to bring together families! I hope she can she beyond our kind faces and god messages though and realize that this is her and her family's eternity!
Era. I'm learning a lot about her every day. She still smokes and I understand it's so hard to quit, but she won't try or accept help from us. She gets caught up in the complexity of the gospel, which does in fact exist if you see through the simplicity. She want's to understand everything, when we don't understand everything...faith would be pushed by the wayside if we understood and had proof for everything. We try and try to help her, but we can't break down her iron wall. I think we have to tell her she can't be baptized...we could continue to push back her date, but what would that be saying about these commandments and commitments that she isn't keeping? That we have all the time in the world to figure them out? It breaks my heart...Satan has such a hold on some of the people here that they can't even step back and examine their lives. My prayers for her will only be stronger and our effort will only be more...maybe telling her this will help her make some changes in her life.
Slavik (our baptism here) moved back to Hercon to the orphanage...he said that everyone there is giving him such a hard time and saying that he "joined some cult"...I hate satan. I hope he trips and falls and has a bad day. Aleksandra, the women who helped him, wants to take him to russia with her...we'll see.
Natalia, Sasha and Vladimir (that little miracle family we found) are moving to Russia. Slap in the face for us! It's better for Sasha there I guess...probably for his surgery or something...to tell you the truth, they are far from joining the church...but step by step...Natalia hasn't drunk for 2 weeks already...that's our miracle :)
Our Bransh President here is incredible...such a strong, hard-working christlike man...he's only been a member for 1 year. The Lord prepares people to be leaders! His son is the spitting image of Johnny...he's darker, but the same face, hair, body build, character...its crazy....
The weather is STILL warm! I wore a t-shirt and capris today... we went to фиолен (fiolen) so pretty... there are about 450 stairs down to a beautiful rocky beach...I love the black sea...i fell in it today...oops. haha...I was trying to block the elders from seeing the naked lady...haha....
MIssionary work...hmmm...you know I've made some goals for when I get home. I understand that I'm in the thick of the work right now and I love it, but keeping it alive and running is the key. It's acually our covenant with God. In Mosiah 18 it talks about our baptismal covenant...it's basically to represent God and help people that need it always...we made that covenant. So my goals are to be a ridiculously good visiting teacher...one on one service to gods children..thats how Christ did it, thats where miracles lie! Another one is to actually invite those people that I THINK about inviting to church or FHE or activities or whatever...thoughts are useless...actions are where the miracles lie! Another one is to seek out the broken hearted at church...I was reading to sermon on the mount yesterday and Christ himself lays it out...what benefit does it do to love your friends that already love you...to support your group that already support you? Seek out the little guys...thats where the miracles lie! So visiting teaching, inviting, and seeking out the broken hearted. Couple that with sharing what Christ shared and doing my best to be like Him... I think I might be able to keep the flame burning :) I'm trying my bestest to live by this now...I think our branch would really benfit from home/visting teaching...they don't want to do it...yet... :)
The gospel is true...the work is hard...it should be. because the reward is great! Have a happy happy happty holloweenie... send me pics! love you all so much... i hope you're all working hard...staying strong...sharing what you know. I'm bad at using words, but just pretent like I gave you all a massive bear hug...all better :)
love cectpa jonesy
What a fabulous week in Sevastopol! We started off with a family home evening with some members, natalia and youlia, and they invited some of their friends! oh i was so happy...we're really trying to help our members feel the joy of missionary work. I understand it's tough...i wasn't very good at being a member missionary before i left, so I'm in no place to judge...but i think once they experience it a little bit, they'll get addicted :)
We got this contact from church headquarters of this family that was in salt lake city...that they were really interested and wanted a book of mormon...ya hoo! well we finally got a hold of them and met the dad at his work...he ended up being the owner of this huge wine company...like big man rich guy..SO weird and different from what we're used to! He's read the Koran and a few other religious books and is anxious to read the book of mormon...i can't believe it! at the same time though, reading it without prayer is like showering without soap...We told him this, but we'll see. He said, "Ya know, you people have a real light about you...i can see it shining through your eyes." I'm glad I flipped my switch on that morning :)
Life is exciting with opposite extremes! We go from probably the wealthiest man in sevastopol to this run down dacha (a little house, not apartment, in the hills or out of the city) that hasn't been cleaned or taken care of for a billion years...but this is where our investigators mama lives. Irina, Oksana and Rosa...i think i mentioned them... but they really needed some help at the dacha on Saturday. I can't even describe this place...they kept on saying to us "Are you sure you want to come? You'll be scared!" Food everywhere, bugs and spideys everywhere, cats and dogs everywhere, and the cherry on top is a crazy drunk guy you lives there with the babyshka. So we tackled it! It was hilarious..Irina is SO ADHD and just talks and talks and starts doing 15 projects at once, Oksanas answer to everything we find is to throw it in the fire (that's how they get rid of garbage here...huge bonfires), and Cectpa K is fabulous, but such a girl. Babyshka was at the renok (market) and drunk man was drunk. So here i am, looking at this masterpiece of a dacha...and i remember back to costa rica construction, new zealand building, hugo...and have at it. We tore everything out of one of the rooms - carpet, furniture, the weirdest odds and ends, MASSIVE spideys! I was mixing some plaster and I felt what I thought was a hair on my neck...nope I pull out a spider as big as the palm of my hand from my shirt...ughhhhhhhh! But we scraped down the parts that were falling off the wall, repaired the holes, painted, (in the meantime oksana was burning everything we found...oh it was sooo funny :) Huge job but I loved it...even better, we were able to show irina and oksana they kind of people that we really are. They agreed to let little rosa spend time with us (she's 12) SHE IS INCRDIBLE! She came to our appt having read Alma 32 plus another 3 or 4 chapters...she marked the parts she liked and underlined what she didn't understand. We taught the plan of salvation...she asked questions like "So what if my dad, my mom, and me are all in different kingdoms? How can we be happy together?" She's a mature and smart girl...she really thinks about her life and her future and i know she will be a angel for her family. She already prays before every meal, tests in school..morning and night...she sets up her own appts with us...she loves the book of mormon and said when we asked her if she reads the bible, "Why? I have this!" She is just a breath of fresh air...she hasn't been affected by the filth of the world yet, shes open minded and strong...she's confident and smart...i am just beaming just thinking about her :)
We had family night with Ena (eena) last night with her two daughters and she invited her friend...so fun and lighthearted...we're here to bring together families! I hope she can she beyond our kind faces and god messages though and realize that this is her and her family's eternity!
Era. I'm learning a lot about her every day. She still smokes and I understand it's so hard to quit, but she won't try or accept help from us. She gets caught up in the complexity of the gospel, which does in fact exist if you see through the simplicity. She want's to understand everything, when we don't understand everything...faith would be pushed by the wayside if we understood and had proof for everything. We try and try to help her, but we can't break down her iron wall. I think we have to tell her she can't be baptized...we could continue to push back her date, but what would that be saying about these commandments and commitments that she isn't keeping? That we have all the time in the world to figure them out? It breaks my heart...Satan has such a hold on some of the people here that they can't even step back and examine their lives. My prayers for her will only be stronger and our effort will only be more...maybe telling her this will help her make some changes in her life.
Slavik (our baptism here) moved back to Hercon to the orphanage...he said that everyone there is giving him such a hard time and saying that he "joined some cult"...I hate satan. I hope he trips and falls and has a bad day. Aleksandra, the women who helped him, wants to take him to russia with her...we'll see.
Natalia, Sasha and Vladimir (that little miracle family we found) are moving to Russia. Slap in the face for us! It's better for Sasha there I guess...probably for his surgery or something...to tell you the truth, they are far from joining the church...but step by step...Natalia hasn't drunk for 2 weeks already...that's our miracle :)
Our Bransh President here is incredible...such a strong, hard-working christlike man...he's only been a member for 1 year. The Lord prepares people to be leaders! His son is the spitting image of Johnny...he's darker, but the same face, hair, body build, character...its crazy....
The weather is STILL warm! I wore a t-shirt and capris today... we went to фиолен (fiolen) so pretty... there are about 450 stairs down to a beautiful rocky beach...I love the black sea...i fell in it today...oops. haha...I was trying to block the elders from seeing the naked lady...haha....
MIssionary work...hmmm...you know I've made some goals for when I get home. I understand that I'm in the thick of the work right now and I love it, but keeping it alive and running is the key. It's acually our covenant with God. In Mosiah 18 it talks about our baptismal covenant...it's basically to represent God and help people that need it always...we made that covenant. So my goals are to be a ridiculously good visiting teacher...one on one service to gods children..thats how Christ did it, thats where miracles lie! Another one is to actually invite those people that I THINK about inviting to church or FHE or activities or whatever...thoughts are useless...actions are where the miracles lie! Another one is to seek out the broken hearted at church...I was reading to sermon on the mount yesterday and Christ himself lays it out...what benefit does it do to love your friends that already love you...to support your group that already support you? Seek out the little guys...thats where the miracles lie! So visiting teaching, inviting, and seeking out the broken hearted. Couple that with sharing what Christ shared and doing my best to be like Him... I think I might be able to keep the flame burning :) I'm trying my bestest to live by this now...I think our branch would really benfit from home/visting teaching...they don't want to do it...yet... :)
The gospel is true...the work is hard...it should be. because the reward is great! Have a happy happy happty holloweenie... send me pics! love you all so much... i hope you're all working hard...staying strong...sharing what you know. I'm bad at using words, but just pretent like I gave you all a massive bear hug...all better :)
love cectpa jonesy
Monday, October 19, 2009
19th email: October 19, 2009
Привет возлюбленый семья!
Hey der lil famfamfamfam...it's me...cectpa kjonez...broadcasting from UKRAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIINE!! ha...i've lost all my skills of acting like I'm black. Every black person we see (MAYBE 4 in this whole time) we stop...cause you know they speak english...i told you about our brothas up in cinferopol. Don't worry, i'll get it back...a quick trip back to Chicago and it'll seep in like a sponge. :)
What a busy crazy week you had! I love business with a little dash of chaos...it makes life exciting! Grandpa's thing sounded like a blast! I haven't seen Dad's side of the fam for a while now! Ha - cectpa's talking to some guy about the book of mormon...just a sec. haHA! seems promising! I love it when people ask about US...we're calling him back later after he finishes reading about the restored gosepel pamphlet...
oh another greaaat week. Era came to church!!!!!!!! Like real church, sacrament, sunday school, the goods. She sang with me and participated in discussions and knew the answers to some questions which really helped her confidence. You know this is her first time at real church in 4 MONTHS of invesitgating??? It really is a miracle. Before church on Sunday I read that little book you gave me mom abou missionary miracles...I prayed for a miracle that day...That era would live up to her words and come...oh man! AND we started teaching Славик (Slavik) a guy we found on the street. He's paralyzed from the waist down but he OWNS on crutches... handicapped people here just beg on the streets...people dropping in a couple kopecks every know and then (like less than a penny) We walked right up to him, looked him in the eyes, and started talking about the gospel. I could tell that no one does that to him very often. He was a bit uncomfortable and taken back at first. But he came to general conference, he came to our appt. with the elders, he came to church on sunday, he played ping pong with us (he held the paddle while I played fetch) I think he's surprised that we actually care about him...that we want to meet with him...that we want to be his friends. I've never looked at people the way I do now...as children of God. Ive always understood this...had a testimony about it...but it's like...it doesn't matter if someone doesn't love exactly what you love. It doesn't matter it they're funny looking or smell bad (we still like dad)...It doesn't matter if they're ridiculously mean or if you think you have absolutely nothing in common with them. ya know? We're all children of God...brothers...sisters...and every person is actually really cool if you give them the time of day. Right now we're just Clavik's friends...but I know He can see a light in us...I know he feels something.
I think I told you about Ирина и Оксана? Well they're two sisters we've been meeting with for a couple weeks now...they are HILARIOUS...Oksana has a hilarious sense of humor, which to be honest, is hard to come by here! Irina is SO ADD, I love it. They are definitely a comic relief to our week...but also, they have a lot of questions about the gospel. Oksana right now said she's only living so that she can buy a car and an apartment, other than that, she doesn't really have a purpose. Ira lives for her little girl, Россия (Rocia - haha...her name is Russia!) They believe that like 6 generations ago, this weird lady put a curse on their family so that the men in their lives would either be awful or non-existent...and i guess so far its true :S Anyways, they brought Roca to our appt the other day and she was SO amazing....SO AMAZING...like she really accepts the restoration and that God loves her and really likes us and wants to continue to meet...I know she'll be a strength to her aunt and mom. Oh it's a miracle.
Era is still smoking. We don't really know how to help her. She's a stubborn lady and wants to do it all by herself, but after 25 years, I think this is proving a lot harder than she thought. We're trying everything we can, but I know we need the Lord's help more than anything. She needs motivation, self-control, a real deep desire to quit based on her love and trust in the Lord. She trys SO HARD to understand, but understanding isn't enough. I've learned it's actually not very important. Understanding comes after desire, faith, and action. I KNOW that. Help us pray for her to quit...
инна...eena eena eena...she loves the idea about family home evening. We're going to hold one with her this week. We've started meeting with her at her school (she teaches Ukrainian to kids) before class because it's too distracting at home. Kids here learn Russian, Ukrainian, French and English in school...and actually learn it!
Людмила (lyoudmila) an amazing lady in our branch, just got back from the temple this week. This was the lady we helped that one day to do all her temple names on the computer...oh shes still glowing. She gave a fabulous talk in Sacrament about how special she felt there. she expressed her want for everyone in the room, who hasn't yet, to get to the temple. She gave eveyone little rocks from the temple grounds to remember our goal...she's so solid.
Cectpa K is so funny...she's a little...oh i forgot the name, but she always thinks she's got some kind of disease. She lost her voice a little this week and i swear to you, we went to the Аптека (pharmacy) everyday to get some new herb or gargle or tea or syrup or pills or spray or rub...there were so many different things in her body, i'm surprised she slept at night! Actually she didn't...i woke up one night to find her bent over a boiling pot of water, baking soda, and herbs...just breathing in the steam...haha...i was rolling with laughter... ya know what worked? What i always drink when i'm sick? Sprite. Her voice cleared up an hour later. She's hilarious. She leaves a few days before Christmas, but I told her its forbidden to talk about anymore...haha...i'm scared to death to be honest...
We teach English twice a week now... we have a fairly good turnout, and a lot of people wanted to come on saturday...more crazy lesson plans for me! Cectpa doesn't feel completely comfortable teaching, so she translates (our class is on the ABC's) and I teach with LOTS of hand motions...we have a good time...
Ukraine is so beautiful right now...the weather is incredible and the leaves are all changing... the trees look like they're on fire! We strolled through the forest yesterday with some members before our lesson...it's so beautiful here. You gotta look for it, but when you do, you find it :)
Love you alllllll....stay strong, be happy...i'm doing my best :)
love cectpa jones
ps...mama - i haven't gotten the packages yet but they've probabaly gotten to the mission office...next week is zone conference, so most likely then! MOM. what are you being for halloween?? i forgot to ask!
pspspss - give roy a kiss for me :) oh wait...you already do...
Hey der lil famfamfamfam...it's me...cectpa kjonez...broadcasting from UKRAAIIIIIIIIIIIIIINE!! ha...i've lost all my skills of acting like I'm black. Every black person we see (MAYBE 4 in this whole time) we stop...cause you know they speak english...i told you about our brothas up in cinferopol. Don't worry, i'll get it back...a quick trip back to Chicago and it'll seep in like a sponge. :)
What a busy crazy week you had! I love business with a little dash of chaos...it makes life exciting! Grandpa's thing sounded like a blast! I haven't seen Dad's side of the fam for a while now! Ha - cectpa's talking to some guy about the book of mormon...just a sec. haHA! seems promising! I love it when people ask about US...we're calling him back later after he finishes reading about the restored gosepel pamphlet...
oh another greaaat week. Era came to church!!!!!!!! Like real church, sacrament, sunday school, the goods. She sang with me and participated in discussions and knew the answers to some questions which really helped her confidence. You know this is her first time at real church in 4 MONTHS of invesitgating??? It really is a miracle. Before church on Sunday I read that little book you gave me mom abou missionary miracles...I prayed for a miracle that day...That era would live up to her words and come...oh man! AND we started teaching Славик (Slavik) a guy we found on the street. He's paralyzed from the waist down but he OWNS on crutches... handicapped people here just beg on the streets...people dropping in a couple kopecks every know and then (like less than a penny) We walked right up to him, looked him in the eyes, and started talking about the gospel. I could tell that no one does that to him very often. He was a bit uncomfortable and taken back at first. But he came to general conference, he came to our appt. with the elders, he came to church on sunday, he played ping pong with us (he held the paddle while I played fetch) I think he's surprised that we actually care about him...that we want to meet with him...that we want to be his friends. I've never looked at people the way I do now...as children of God. Ive always understood this...had a testimony about it...but it's like...it doesn't matter if someone doesn't love exactly what you love. It doesn't matter it they're funny looking or smell bad (we still like dad)...It doesn't matter if they're ridiculously mean or if you think you have absolutely nothing in common with them. ya know? We're all children of God...brothers...sisters...and every person is actually really cool if you give them the time of day. Right now we're just Clavik's friends...but I know He can see a light in us...I know he feels something.
I think I told you about Ирина и Оксана? Well they're two sisters we've been meeting with for a couple weeks now...they are HILARIOUS...Oksana has a hilarious sense of humor, which to be honest, is hard to come by here! Irina is SO ADD, I love it. They are definitely a comic relief to our week...but also, they have a lot of questions about the gospel. Oksana right now said she's only living so that she can buy a car and an apartment, other than that, she doesn't really have a purpose. Ira lives for her little girl, Россия (Rocia - haha...her name is Russia!) They believe that like 6 generations ago, this weird lady put a curse on their family so that the men in their lives would either be awful or non-existent...and i guess so far its true :S Anyways, they brought Roca to our appt the other day and she was SO amazing....SO AMAZING...like she really accepts the restoration and that God loves her and really likes us and wants to continue to meet...I know she'll be a strength to her aunt and mom. Oh it's a miracle.
Era is still smoking. We don't really know how to help her. She's a stubborn lady and wants to do it all by herself, but after 25 years, I think this is proving a lot harder than she thought. We're trying everything we can, but I know we need the Lord's help more than anything. She needs motivation, self-control, a real deep desire to quit based on her love and trust in the Lord. She trys SO HARD to understand, but understanding isn't enough. I've learned it's actually not very important. Understanding comes after desire, faith, and action. I KNOW that. Help us pray for her to quit...
инна...eena eena eena...she loves the idea about family home evening. We're going to hold one with her this week. We've started meeting with her at her school (she teaches Ukrainian to kids) before class because it's too distracting at home. Kids here learn Russian, Ukrainian, French and English in school...and actually learn it!
Людмила (lyoudmila) an amazing lady in our branch, just got back from the temple this week. This was the lady we helped that one day to do all her temple names on the computer...oh shes still glowing. She gave a fabulous talk in Sacrament about how special she felt there. she expressed her want for everyone in the room, who hasn't yet, to get to the temple. She gave eveyone little rocks from the temple grounds to remember our goal...she's so solid.
Cectpa K is so funny...she's a little...oh i forgot the name, but she always thinks she's got some kind of disease. She lost her voice a little this week and i swear to you, we went to the Аптека (pharmacy) everyday to get some new herb or gargle or tea or syrup or pills or spray or rub...there were so many different things in her body, i'm surprised she slept at night! Actually she didn't...i woke up one night to find her bent over a boiling pot of water, baking soda, and herbs...just breathing in the steam...haha...i was rolling with laughter... ya know what worked? What i always drink when i'm sick? Sprite. Her voice cleared up an hour later. She's hilarious. She leaves a few days before Christmas, but I told her its forbidden to talk about anymore...haha...i'm scared to death to be honest...
We teach English twice a week now... we have a fairly good turnout, and a lot of people wanted to come on saturday...more crazy lesson plans for me! Cectpa doesn't feel completely comfortable teaching, so she translates (our class is on the ABC's) and I teach with LOTS of hand motions...we have a good time...
Ukraine is so beautiful right now...the weather is incredible and the leaves are all changing... the trees look like they're on fire! We strolled through the forest yesterday with some members before our lesson...it's so beautiful here. You gotta look for it, but when you do, you find it :)
Love you alllllll....stay strong, be happy...i'm doing my best :)
love cectpa jones
ps...mama - i haven't gotten the packages yet but they've probabaly gotten to the mission office...next week is zone conference, so most likely then! MOM. what are you being for halloween?? i forgot to ask!
pspspss - give roy a kiss for me :) oh wait...you already do...
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Мормони популяризують свою віру в Україні
Again, not a clue what they are saying unless the Elders are speaking English. But SO COOL! This is what Kaffers is doing. Sweet is the work.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)