Well it's my first day with Ст. Shwartz. My first morning [in a new apartment] and the water is off. It was so cold. You would not believe how cold it was. I did my head first and then face and shaved. Then I got back in and decided to wash the rest of me. It was cold, baby.
We had big biscuits and thick gravy for breakfast. I could only eat 1 1/2 because they were so big. I'm getting a radio and my cd player back from [Ст.] Woolverton. I bought his radio. It's cool. So huge. I love it. Well I guess I'd better study.
5/22/11
May 12, 1997 - Monday
Новый День у меня [New Day at me - I'm sure I was meaning "It's a new day for me"]
Well I talked to my mom and dad, Nick and Grandma yesterday night. Mother's Day had finally rolled around. It was weird again. I basically just talked with them. Not about anything in particular. Grandma Richardson was up because my cousin Kyle was up in Nampa and she hasn't seen him for a very long while. She told me to write him. I told her I just did. Everything is weird. I want to go home. Last night after talking to them Ст. Gammon and I did comp. planning and inventory. Oh it's still the 12th. It's Ст. King's birthday - Woohoo.
Well I talked to my mom and dad, Nick and Grandma yesterday night. Mother's Day had finally rolled around. It was weird again. I basically just talked with them. Not about anything in particular. Grandma Richardson was up because my cousin Kyle was up in Nampa and she hasn't seen him for a very long while. She told me to write him. I told her I just did. Everything is weird. I want to go home. Last night after talking to them Ст. Gammon and I did comp. planning and inventory. Oh it's still the 12th. It's Ст. King's birthday - Woohoo.
Well I found out that I will be in a different Приход [preehod - Branch] next Sunday. Даже Четверг [even Thursday]. I'll be companions with a Ст. Shwartz. I went on splits with him a couple of Fridays ago. He's a pretty cool guy and he's only been out a month more than me. It's great. I finally feel like I'll have a chance to grow. I really want to be a good missionary who works hard, is a great guy and has an awesome CD collection. Right now I don't know if you can do that, but I'll try for goodness sakes.
Well it's time to go to bed. I got a picture from Gilbert. He said "That's what nine months will do to you." He was dressed up like a pregnant girl. He's been out 9 months. Cool huh?
5/17/11
May 11, 1997 - Sunday
Малу и Пьер и Юри [Malout and Pierre and Yuri] got baptized.
 |
| Left to Right - Elder Gammon, Arman, Pierre, Malout, Marina (Pierre's wife), Me, Yuri, (?) |
5/8/11
May 6, 1997 - Tuesday
Well tonight was pretty weird. I'm on splits with Ст. King. We went to a D in his area and then we went to Planet Hollywood. [I wonder if dinner at Planet Hollywood was for my B-Day - May 8th - because the next post after this is May 11th?? So this birthday isn't even mentioned.] It was cool. There was so many good looking chicks. Well we came home and watched tv - nothing interesting.
well night
well night
May 5, 1997 - Monday
Well I f*ing suck. Always have, always will. Anyways we had a D with Евгенний and Марина today. It was alright, but not that good. I hate myself - not really, but I feel so empty right now. I will be comps with Ст. Gammon for another month. Someone up there hates me. I just feel so freaking empty. Nothing really bothers me except the fact I feel so f*ing empty.
At least I took out my $140 from home. Cool huh? I told Ст. Gammon that I would be going to the CD рынок and he said that was fine, but he would be going with and we would use up hours for our P-Day. I told him I didn't really like the idea. We will see what happens. I'm in a really rebellious mood and I don't f*ing care anymore. Ya see - so bite me ya X#&%S?!!
At least I took out my $140 from home. Cool huh? I told Ст. Gammon that I would be going to the CD рынок and he said that was fine, but he would be going with and we would use up hours for our P-Day. I told him I didn't really like the idea. We will see what happens. I'm in a really rebellious mood and I don't f*ing care anymore. Ya see - so bite me ya X#&%S?!!
5/4/11
May 4th, Sunday
Man neither Алла or Евгенний [Alla or Yevgenni] came to church today but the meeting was really good. It was fast and testimony meeting and Сестра Вера [Sister Vera] - "the glue in the bob corner" as Ст. Sefcik likes to say. Ст. Russel and Pres. Карнеев [Karneyev] bore their testimonies. It was really good. So did the "слава тебе" [glory to you] lady. Then I went off with the young men. They kept beating each other. I felt like whacking them also. Ст. King picked on Влад [Vlad] for a little bit. That wasn't very cool.
I have a really good idea for an activity from Ст. Gammon. If everything goes as planned, I will have the young men clean Васили Гарбунов's and Геннади Тен's [Vasili Garbunov's and Gennadi Ten's] cars for a service project. In secret, then we will go eat Dunkin' Donuts and hot chocolate. It should be fun.
[Post journal chat - You know, I don't remember if we actually did anything like this for a service project. I hope we did - it sounds like fun. Maybe later in my journal we'll hear about it. Check out the Location that I saved it on. When you go close enough, you can see the building we lived in and which end of the building. Pretty sweet.]
I have a really good idea for an activity from Ст. Gammon. If everything goes as planned, I will have the young men clean Васили Гарбунов's and Геннади Тен's [Vasili Garbunov's and Gennadi Ten's] cars for a service project. In secret, then we will go eat Dunkin' Donuts and hot chocolate. It should be fun.
[Post journal chat - You know, I don't remember if we actually did anything like this for a service project. I hope we did - it sounds like fun. Maybe later in my journal we'll hear about it. Check out the Location that I saved it on. When you go close enough, you can see the building we lived in and which end of the building. Pretty sweet.]
5/2/11
May 2, 1997 - Friday
Had a cool D with the Басовы (Basovwi). Today is so awesome day [what?]. First yesterday Пьер (Pierre) had his interview with President Jarvis and everything will go forward for the 11th of May. That is so awesome. It was [a] pretty busy day for us yesterday. We went signboarding in the park and I didn't like it as much. Then we dropped off a degree of specifications by Брат Локшин [Brother Lokshin]. When we got home I called Ири Магалевский [Yuri Magalevski - I'm not too sure about the last name] because we had a book he wanted called Наше Наследия, Our Heritage. Well he invited us over right then to give it to him. Well we went over and talked to him until 10:30pm - then went to bed.
Well today I was on splits with Ст. Shwartz. He's a pretty funny guy. We went signboarding and then we had a huge lunch. Tacos. It was 2 hours though. Then we went signboarding again down on the metro by Юго-запедная [Yugo-Zapednaya or South-West] and I talked to two really cool people. One walked around after we talked and read the BOM [Book of Mormon]. Okay, then we left there and went to Алла's [Alla's]. It was so rad. The Spirit was really strong and I thought I spoke really good. It was because the Spirit was there so strong. She opened with prayer and I could just immediately feel the Spirit. We read the D's but she was really patient and she kept trying to feed us soup or to warm up our чай - which might have been real. We committed her to baptism. So we scheduled her to be baptized on the 9th of June. Then we came home and I called Евгений [Yevgenii] for tomorrow. Well it's late so we'll go to bed.
Well today I was on splits with Ст. Shwartz. He's a pretty funny guy. We went signboarding and then we had a huge lunch. Tacos. It was 2 hours though. Then we went signboarding again down on the metro by Юго-запедная [Yugo-Zapednaya or South-West] and I talked to two really cool people. One walked around after we talked and read the BOM [Book of Mormon]. Okay, then we left there and went to Алла's [Alla's]. It was so rad. The Spirit was really strong and I thought I spoke really good. It was because the Spirit was there so strong. She opened with prayer and I could just immediately feel the Spirit. We read the D's but she was really patient and she kept trying to feed us soup or to warm up our чай - which might have been real. We committed her to baptism. So we scheduled her to be baptized on the 9th of June. Then we came home and I called Евгений [Yevgenii] for tomorrow. Well it's late so we'll go to bed.
5/1/11
April 28, 1997 - Monday
[Pre-Post Chat - Okay folks let's remember that feelings about people aren't static...they change, and are fluid. So a pre-apology to Dennis if you're reading this...sorry and I don't feel the same way now. Plus sometimes if I am talking bad about someone I may or may not hide/alter their names to protect the innocent...yadda, yadda, yadda!]
Oh do I...I don't. I definitely won't mind next changes. Unless I go with someone like like H****s or something, then I'm fine. In comp-inventory Ст. Gammon said something like "If we go in and teach Евгенний & Марина [Yevgenni & Marina] by just reading, we are going to bore them to death." Well I'm glad he's so f*ing perfect!! So instead of saying that I just told him maybe we should go over the Ds in the morning and see how you'd teach them.
He's been putting me on splits with Ст. King a lot. Who's a good friend from home, but he's not that hard a worker. When I'm with him I don't work hard either. We were on splits Saturday night and we flipped on the tube. It was my idea, I have to admit. Earlier that Saturday we were on [splits] earlier for the zone blitzing [where all the missionaries in a zone would all to the same area/or a couple of areas and do contacting to help that district]. We went to someones apartment and wasted time until about 11am (from 10am) and then went and walked around for 1 1/2 hrs contacting two people. So you can see why I would never want him for a comp. I thought I would, but I don't.
We have Zone Conference coming up. It should be dang good. We are eating afterward and then having a night of laughter [Вечер Смеха]. Each district is suppose to have a skit. I[t] should be dang good. I've been going over next weeks lesson in the priesthood manual last night. It takes a while for me to translate it. It's alright though. Bye.
Oh do I...I don't. I definitely won't mind next changes. Unless I go with someone like like H****s or something, then I'm fine. In comp-inventory Ст. Gammon said something like "If we go in and teach Евгенний & Марина [Yevgenni & Marina] by just reading, we are going to bore them to death." Well I'm glad he's so f*ing perfect!! So instead of saying that I just told him maybe we should go over the Ds in the morning and see how you'd teach them.
He's been putting me on splits with Ст. King a lot. Who's a good friend from home, but he's not that hard a worker. When I'm with him I don't work hard either. We were on splits Saturday night and we flipped on the tube. It was my idea, I have to admit. Earlier that Saturday we were on [splits] earlier for the zone blitzing [where all the missionaries in a zone would all to the same area/or a couple of areas and do contacting to help that district]. We went to someones apartment and wasted time until about 11am (from 10am) and then went and walked around for 1 1/2 hrs contacting two people. So you can see why I would never want him for a comp. I thought I would, but I don't.
We have Zone Conference coming up. It should be dang good. We are eating afterward and then having a night of laughter [Вечер Смеха]. Each district is suppose to have a skit. I[t] should be dang good. I've been going over next weeks lesson in the priesthood manual last night. It takes a while for me to translate it. It's alright though. Bye.
4/21/11
April 21, 1997 - Monday
Well Sunday has come and gone and I'm still here. I had a dream last night that I was getting off my mission and Ст. Woolverton was still stuck here for 10 days or something. Then I woke and felt "Crap I'm still here". Also Gilbert wasn't to be found when I got home. It was weird.
Yesterday we left at 8:30am, walked up to Евгений's [Yevgeniy's] house and together - the whole family, stroller & kids to Калужская [Kaluzhskaya], where we caught a trolley bus to Конково [Konkovo] and walked to the помашения [Pomasheniya - meeting house]. Well we walked in the door and the lady at the front desk started yelling at him not to bring in the stroller. Said something about not needing kids here in the building. So he left and went back home.
We talked with her for a while and just asked her why she didn't want the kids here - explained to her that our church believe[s] that families are the most important part of the plan. So we ran back to Евгений, but he went home anyway. He said he couldn't sit there in church and enjoy the meeting because he'd be thinking of that dumb (my word) lady. Ст. Gammon said he felt like crying. I felt like hitting her or something. Nothing real violent but I felt pretty mad.
We also had a meeting last night with Слава Балтовский [Slava Baltovski ]. He's a stud. He's the branch mission coordinator. We went over our investigators and then we had a letter, that Ст. Gammon wrote, for Слава to proofread. Then we took the letter and a cake to Евгений & Марина [Marina]. They seemed really delighted to see us and they - Евгений gave us this little book about...a против Книга Мормона [Anti Book of Mormon] actually. It has a lot of American books as it's bibliography, like "Have you witnessed to a Mormon lately?"
8:30pm - just went signboarding - it was so cool. I got three phone numbers and I didn't have any fear to talk to anybody. Then I just called Алла [Alla] and she talked my ear off. I also called Людмила [Ludmila] and she did the same. [Alla & Ludmilla must have been members in the ward].
Yesterday we left at 8:30am, walked up to Евгений's [Yevgeniy's] house and together - the whole family, stroller & kids to Калужская [Kaluzhskaya], where we caught a trolley bus to Конково [Konkovo] and walked to the помашения [Pomasheniya - meeting house]. Well we walked in the door and the lady at the front desk started yelling at him not to bring in the stroller. Said something about not needing kids here in the building. So he left and went back home.
We talked with her for a while and just asked her why she didn't want the kids here - explained to her that our church believe[s] that families are the most important part of the plan. So we ran back to Евгений, but he went home anyway. He said he couldn't sit there in church and enjoy the meeting because he'd be thinking of that dumb (my word) lady. Ст. Gammon said he felt like crying. I felt like hitting her or something. Nothing real violent but I felt pretty mad.
We also had a meeting last night with Слава Балтовский [Slava Baltovski ]. He's a stud. He's the branch mission coordinator. We went over our investigators and then we had a letter, that Ст. Gammon wrote, for Слава to proofread. Then we took the letter and a cake to Евгений & Марина [Marina]. They seemed really delighted to see us and they - Евгений gave us this little book about...a против Книга Мормона [Anti Book of Mormon] actually. It has a lot of American books as it's bibliography, like "Have you witnessed to a Mormon lately?"
8:30pm - just went signboarding - it was so cool. I got three phone numbers and I didn't have any fear to talk to anybody. Then I just called Алла [Alla] and she talked my ear off. I also called Людмила [Ludmila] and she did the same. [Alla & Ludmilla must have been members in the ward].
4/20/11
April 16, 1997 - Wednesday
Well I am tired today. It was P-Day and I felt like crap when I wrote home. But oh well. I probably dumped a little on my family, but I feel better. We ate this olive-green pepper pasta mix and I feel sick now.
April 10, 1997 - Thursday
I'm on splits today with Ст. Маслов [Maslov]. He's a cool guy. He's about 26, he's from Новособирск, Россия [Novosabirsk, Russia - ie Siberia] Josh Jones served there. I think he just went home. When Ст. Маслов left for his mission [Josh] was an AP there.
We went over to an investigator of theirs and read 2 Nephi 31 with him. Then we wentback to go over to Пьер. Well we got over to Тульская [Tulskaya] and we saw Сты. Woolverton & Waterston [?? I don't remember who his companion was & I couldn't read my handwriting so...?]. So we waited & talked to them. We ended going back to my apartment for my stuff & going to a D at 6pm until 9:30 we got home. [The whole experience] was good though because I didn't have a переводчик [translator]. I had to to understand & you know what. I did - mostly - Well night.
We went over to an investigator of theirs and read 2 Nephi 31 with him. Then we went
4/12/11
April 8, 1997 - Tuesday
One month from my birthday. Wow huh? A lot has happened this last month week. We went street contacting a lot. I had some more splits, with Elder Reagan and the APs. This week I'll have some also. I got KISSED at exactly 12pm, Noon on Thursday by some slightly drunk guy name Михаил [Meekhail - Michael]. We also met Евгений [Yevgenii], he's pretty cool. We were supposed to have a D with them, but it didn't turn out right yet. (does that make sense?) Anyways today we went over to a park near where Евгений lives and talked to his wife Марина [Marina] for a little bit. We gave them a Лиахона [Liahona] for them to read. It had the Proclamation to the world. What an awesome word...proclamation.
I just called Ст. Woolverton and he said there wasa lot of a[n] e-mail in the office for me, but we went to the office yesterday and not today so I'll have to get it somehow. Tonight I'm trying to get to bed by 10:30pm - so night dude!
Oh by the way - I got some pretty good mail. One from Vernae with a butt shot even. night
I just called Ст. Woolverton and he said there was
Oh by the way - I got some pretty good mail. One from Vernae with a butt shot even. night
3/29/11
March 29, 1997 - Saturday
Well ladies & gentlemen of the journal...Hi there. I'm back and ready to tell all for a measly few hundred bucks or your undivided attention from here...to the end of the page. Please, please, pretty please.
Today I was pretty hectic and I didn't even do anything again. I feel like I ran around with my head cut off. I went on splits with Ст. Blackwelder to service and then to a meeting with Ст. Gammon. It was with Pres. Карнеев. [Karneyev - He was the District President - which in a mission with no stakes is equal to a Stake President]
[Mini Russia Moscow Mission Lesson - Remember that district means two different things.
I was just thinking. Like a football team. We are all on the team & the Lord is up [in a] box on top of the stadium where he can see the whole picture. He talks to the couch who is the prophet, he also talks directly to the quarterback who is Pres. Jarvis and if we do what he says we will score many touchdowns. Amen!
Today I was pretty hectic and I didn't even do anything again. I feel like I ran around with my head cut off. I went on splits with Ст. Blackwelder to service and then to a meeting with Ст. Gammon. It was with Pres. Карнеев. [Karneyev - He was the District President - which in a mission with no stakes is equal to a Stake President]
[Mini Russia Moscow Mission Lesson - Remember that district means two different things.
- A group of missionaries & the area that those missionaries work in. In the Russia Moscow mission that was usually 6 - 10 missionaries. Each missionary district (at least in Moscow itself) corosponded to a branch. So right now Ст. Gammon & I were in the Yuzhnosokolnichesky district & serving in the Yuzhnosokolnichesky branch.
- All of Moscow (and maybe the whole mission) was one District. In Idaho there are so many Stakes that I cross 3 of them just on my 10 minute drive to work. But I could travel for an hour on the metro and still be in our Mission/District. Think of the Moscow Mission & Moscow District as different jurisdictions like FBI & State Police. They might cover the same areas, but report and are organized under different parts of the same institution.]
I was just thinking. Like a football team. We are all on the team & the Lord is up [in a] box on top of the stadium where he can see the whole picture. He talks to the couch who is the prophet, he also talks directly to the quarterback who is Pres. Jarvis and if we do what he says we will score many touchdowns. Amen!
3/28/11
March 28, 1997 - Friday
I had a full day yesterday. I went on two splits. First I went on a split with Ст. Sefcik, we went out to the обж. and were going to give Малу [Malout] the 3rd, but no one was going to let us in. Then one of the bosses let us in and we went up to Арман & Вержиния's [Arman & Virginia's] apartment but they weren't there. No one. I knew Вержиния wouldn't be there because she was at the office having an interview with Pres. Jarvis.
So I heard noise next door and I knocked (at Алисия's) [Alicia & Jarom's] and Steven answered and got Арман. He forgot we had a D with Малу and maybe even forgot to tell him. But he went and got Малу and we read Alma 32 with him because Арман had to babysit the kids in the other apartment and he couldn't be there to translate so it was basically worthless. Oh well.
Then we met at Park Culturiy and dropped Sefcik off and picked up Ст. Josh King. We went to English Class because no one else was going to be able to make it. After that we waited forever at Парк Културый [Park Culturiy] for Сты. Gammon & Morris. It was 9:30pm almost when they finally came. We got home, ate some cheese & ham sandwiches and went to bed. Ст. Gammon slept in today because he feels like crap. He caught my cold. Yesterday I just felt like crap. I felt like all day I didn't do anything at all of worth. I felt like I didn't be myself at English and I didn't help anybody etc. Oh well.
OK its now 9:30pm at night. We just had a D with a member who moved from Южнозамоскворецкий Приход [Yuzhnozamoskvaretzky Branch]. She is now, I would dare say a JW [Jehovah's Witness]. I think she planned to have a JW there with us but I guess the JW couldn't make it, which is alright with me. At one point I thought my companion was going to get mad at her. She was nice enough at first, but then she started spouting the same stuff the JWs spout - according to Ст. Gammon. I don't know because I haven't listened to them here [in Russia]. It just makes me glad I have a testimony and I know what is true. well night.
So I heard noise next door and I knocked (at Алисия's) [Alicia & Jarom's] and Steven answered and got Арман. He forgot we had a D with Малу and maybe even forgot to tell him. But he went and got Малу and we read Alma 32 with him because Арман had to babysit the kids in the other apartment and he couldn't be there to translate so it was basically worthless. Oh well.
Then we met at Park Culturiy and dropped Sefcik off and picked up Ст. Josh King. We went to English Class because no one else was going to be able to make it. After that we waited forever at Парк Културый [Park Culturiy] for Сты. Gammon & Morris. It was 9:30pm almost when they finally came. We got home, ate some cheese & ham sandwiches and went to bed. Ст. Gammon slept in today because he feels like crap. He caught my cold. Yesterday I just felt like crap. I felt like all day I didn't do anything at all of worth. I felt like I didn't be myself at English and I didn't help anybody etc. Oh well.
OK its now 9:30pm at night. We just had a D with a member who moved from Южнозамоскворецкий Приход [Yuzhnozamoskvaretzky Branch]. She is now, I would dare say a JW [Jehovah's Witness]. I think she planned to have a JW there with us but I guess the JW couldn't make it, which is alright with me. At one point I thought my companion was going to get mad at her. She was nice enough at first, but then she started spouting the same stuff the JWs spout - according to Ст. Gammon. I don't know because I haven't listened to them here [in Russia]. It just makes me glad I have a testimony and I know what is true. well night.
3/27/11
March 24, 1997 - Monday
I just said something funny. I was reading my Russian plaque from my sister & it says "They that trust in the Lord shall mount up on wings of eagles and run & not faint." Well I said [out loud to Ст. Gammon] "they that mount up on ings of weagles." Then Ст. Gammon said "I wanna wide the weagle!!" We [were] both busting out laughing and I almost peed my pants! Yesterday we spent most of the whole day working. That is the first Sunday I've done that. Right now I am writing a lesson for a discussion with Eric. I made my first phone calls today. I called my home teachee and my home teaching companion. They both told me to call them back. It was cool. Well cool when I finally got it done.
We had service today and we always have this old lady that is almost deaf. She is so funny, and cute. It's cool! I can't help but love all old people. We are going to have a butt load of work this next week. The exciting things are that Eric and Arealy are getting ready to get baptized, they have moved into an apartment with two separate beds so they can live the law of chastity. That is so awesome. Well night. My cold is almost over. It feels better today but isn't quite over.
We had service today and we always have this old lady that is almost deaf. She is so funny, and cute. It's cool! I can't help but love all old people. We are going to have a butt load of work this next week. The exciting things are that Eric and Arealy are getting ready to get baptized, they have moved into an apartment with two separate beds so they can live the law of chastity. That is so awesome. Well night. My cold is almost over. It feels better today but isn't quite over.
March 22, 1997 - Saturday
Today we went to Конкого and played Frisbee. It was pretty cool but очень холодно [very cold]. Then we came back and warmed up, ate some stuff and then we had a D at 6pm with Марина Азуппе [Marina Azupe]. We got home from that at 8:30pm and we had a little snack. We are going to go to bed early because we have to get up early for church and I don't want to be tired. Well, night.
Oh Yeah. Ст. Gammon is a dang funny guy. night
Oh Yeah. Ст. Gammon is a dang funny guy. night
3/26/11
March 21, 1997 - Friday
[Pre Journal Post - Transfers were the the 18th and Ст. Gammon is my new companion.]
Tonight was pretty good, we went tracking [tracting]. It wasn't so bad. First we met this pretty nice lady who said we were cute/nice to look at. Actually two different babushki said that. We also talked to 2 guys (Casha & Andrei). We gave them all a preglisheniya and a Joseph Smith pamphlet.
But the real excitement was the first door that opened for me. A dog scares me first of all, and then this guy yelled at us in English and stuff. He told us to go away and something about he knows us Mormons. Then we went on to a further door he came out again. He told us he would call the police. It was pretty exciting because his eyes were so wide. He said "your behavior is very strange." He was the one that was strange, let me tell you. Well time to get to bed.
Tonight was pretty good, we went tracking [tracting]. It wasn't so bad. First we met this pretty nice lady who said we were cute/nice to look at. Actually two different babushki said that. We also talked to 2 guys (Casha & Andrei). We gave them all a preglisheniya and a Joseph Smith pamphlet.
But the real excitement was the first door that opened for me. A dog scares me first of all, and then this guy yelled at us in English and stuff. He told us to go away and something about he knows us Mormons. Then we went on to a further door he came out again. He told us he would call the police. It was pretty exciting because his eyes were so wide. He said "your behavior is very strange." He was the one that was strange, let me tell you. Well time to get to bed.
3/25/11
March 17, 1997 - Monday
Ст. Larson just gave me the bird. (That is so my grandchildren will know about me...whatever).
Today we helped Larsen more to his new apartment on Prospekt Mira [Let's start with Mir - it's the name of the space station and it means both peace and the world. The a means of peace or of the world. Prospekt is street. So it's the street of peace, or the street of the world.] and then took some of Ст. Larson's parent's bags to the same apartment for storage until Friday. Then we had lunch on Ст. Larson and came home, Ст. Larsen is & was with us.
Then we went over to Алисия & Жаром's [Alicia & Jarom's]. All of the investigators were there except Virginia & Eric. It was pretty good, but we weren't expecting food so at first we were kind of disappointed, but it went pretty well.
Okay right here I'm going to rag on Ст. Larsen. Today is not my favorite day. Never mind. He's just not the kind of guy that has any tact. Okay that's as much as I'm going to rag on him.
I also received a letter from Sister Brown who lives in Greece. She is serving a mission there. She's pretty good looking and I wasn't sure if I would get a letter back from her or not. That is pretty dang cool, so I was pretty excited. We have Ст. Larsen & Howes, an elder who is going home in 3 days. We played poker and Ст. Howes won all. That sucks for me. But oh well. night
[Missionary Weekly Planner - up above I mentioned all the investigators from Alicia & Jarom's apartment building were over there except for a couple. So I looked up the weekly blue planner to see who all we had written down, on the backside. So for March 16 - Mar 22 we have...
These were all Africans from Zaire/Congo that lived in the dorm-like building. Except Pierre - he was married to Tatyana
Алисия и Жаром - Alicia & Jarom
Эрик - Eric
Арели - Areily
Пьер - Pierre
Малу - Malout
Virginia is one of the Africans but she had just been baptized, so we would have the new member discussions.
Вержения - Virginia
These were contacts that we would try to set up discussions with.
Алла - Alla
Валери - Valeri
These were less active members that we went and worked with.
Владим Басова - Vladim Basov
Давид Волов - David Volov
Юлия и Татьяна Волкова - Yulia & Tatyana Bolkova
I don't remember who this was, just on the list but not with anything written
Юри - Yuri
Today we helped Larsen more to his new apartment on Prospekt Mira [Let's start with Mir - it's the name of the space station and it means both peace and the world. The a means of peace or of the world. Prospekt is street. So it's the street of peace, or the street of the world.] and then took some of Ст. Larson's parent's bags to the same apartment for storage until Friday. Then we had lunch on Ст. Larson and came home, Ст. Larsen is & was with us.
Then we went over to Алисия & Жаром's [Alicia & Jarom's]. All of the investigators were there except Virginia & Eric. It was pretty good, but we weren't expecting food so at first we were kind of disappointed, but it went pretty well.
Okay right here I'm going to rag on Ст. Larsen. Today is not my favorite day. Never mind. He's just not the kind of guy that has any tact. Okay that's as much as I'm going to rag on him.
I also received a letter from Sister Brown who lives in Greece. She is serving a mission there. She's pretty good looking and I wasn't sure if I would get a letter back from her or not. That is pretty dang cool, so I was pretty excited. We have Ст. Larsen & Howes, an elder who is going home in 3 days. We played poker and Ст. Howes won all. That sucks for me. But oh well. night
[Missionary Weekly Planner - up above I mentioned all the investigators from Alicia & Jarom's apartment building were over there except for a couple. So I looked up the weekly blue planner to see who all we had written down, on the backside. So for March 16 - Mar 22 we have...
These were all Africans from Zaire/Congo that lived in the dorm-like building. Except Pierre - he was married to Tatyana
Алисия и Жаром - Alicia & Jarom
Эрик - Eric
Арели - Areily
Пьер - Pierre
Малу - Malout
Virginia is one of the Africans but she had just been baptized, so we would have the new member discussions.
Вержения - Virginia
These were contacts that we would try to set up discussions with.
Алла - Alla
Валери - Valeri
These were less active members that we went and worked with.
Владим Басова - Vladim Basov
Давид Волов - David Volov
Юлия и Татьяна Волкова - Yulia & Tatyana Bolkova
I don't remember who this was, just on the list but not with anything written
Юри - Yuri
3/23/11
March 16, 1997 - Sunday
Today was church and we had institute after church. night
[Post journal chat - Not much for today's post is there? Evidently nothing really important happened. So let's recap where I'm at on my mission. I've been in Russia 4 months and a couple of days (6 months on the mission). Ст. Woolverton is my 2nd companion in the field (4th overall). I'm serving in my 2nd apartment, and I'm still serving in my 1st branch.
Up until now I haven't been too active in the mission field - partly because of that my Russian hasn't progressed very far either. Well that will soon change - within a week or so are the next transfers and I'm going to get a new companion, Ст. Dennis Gammon from Vineyard, UT. It's pretty close to the Provo area (I think).
I don't like change either now or then, so I'm not really excited to start working hard. Well - we'll see how it goes.]
[Post journal chat - Not much for today's post is there? Evidently nothing really important happened. So let's recap where I'm at on my mission. I've been in Russia 4 months and a couple of days (6 months on the mission). Ст. Woolverton is my 2nd companion in the field (4th overall). I'm serving in my 2nd apartment, and I'm still serving in my 1st branch.
Up until now I haven't been too active in the mission field - partly because of that my Russian hasn't progressed very far either. Well that will soon change - within a week or so are the next transfers and I'm going to get a new companion, Ст. Dennis Gammon from Vineyard, UT. It's pretty close to the Provo area (I think).
I don't like change either now or then, so I'm not really excited to start working hard. Well - we'll see how it goes.]
3/22/11
March 15, 1997 - Saturday IDES of March
Well I made it through Friday night before I had my problem. I just couldn't sleep last night. It's weird - today I feel okay. It's like Satan leaves me alone because I gave in last night.
Today we went to Измайловский Парк [Izmailovsky Park] and I bought this studly looking egg for either Gib, Mike or Dad. It is a scene of the hunt. It's really cool looking. Then we came home and I made some fried rice which turned out to be pretty good. I'm pretty tired though. I'll try to get to sleep early, night.
Today we went to Измайловский Парк [Izmailovsky Park] and I bought this studly looking egg for either Gib, Mike or Dad. It is a scene of the hunt. It's really cool looking. Then we came home and I made some fried rice which turned out to be pretty good. I'm pretty tired though. I'll try to get to sleep early, night.
 |
| Hand Painted Egg from Izmailovsky Park - Moscow |
March 13, 1997 - Thursday
Tonight sucks for some reason. Today I almost had my problem, but I held off at the last minute. We went over and had a D with Малу [Malout], that was good. Eric cancelled on us and so we came home and ate, then left to mail some stuff at the почта [pochta - post office].
[mid journal chat - Eric is another of the Africans that we are teaching the discussions to. He spoke English, french and an african dialect...swahili maybe? Virginia, Eric or another friend would help us with Malout, because he didn't speak English, or Russian very well - only the african dialect and french.]
Then we headed an hour early to English Class so we could practice a song that we are going to sing in church Sunday. I hate singing. I F(^^&%ing suck. That's probably why I'm in a bad mood. That and it was in Russian - I'm self concious about Russian and singing and Ст. Woolverton was teasing me a little.
Then I went into English Class and talked to Sharieef for an hour. It's hard to talk to him because he is learning a lot and his life is pretty bleak right now. No job etc. Then Dennis said some comment that Elder Burghardt made about me being pathalogical. And my converter [between 110 volt/America - and 220 volt/Russia] is not working. I lent it to Ст. Larsen and now it doesn't work. Freak am I in need of some serious prayer. Okay, I just read an article in the Ensign - a balm to my troubled soul. night
[mid journal chat - Eric is another of the Africans that we are teaching the discussions to. He spoke English, french and an african dialect...swahili maybe? Virginia, Eric or another friend would help us with Malout, because he didn't speak English, or Russian very well - only the african dialect and french.]
Then we headed an hour early to English Class so we could practice a song that we are going to sing in church Sunday. I hate singing. I F(^^&%ing suck. That's probably why I'm in a bad mood. That and it was in Russian - I'm self concious about Russian and singing and Ст. Woolverton was teasing me a little.
Then I went into English Class and talked to Sharieef for an hour. It's hard to talk to him because he is learning a lot and his life is pretty bleak right now. No job etc. Then Dennis said some comment that Elder Burghardt made about me being pathalogical. And my converter [between 110 volt/America - and 220 volt/Russia] is not working. I lent it to Ст. Larsen and now it doesn't work. Freak am I in need of some serious prayer. Okay, I just read an article in the Ensign - a balm to my troubled soul. night
March 10, 1997 - Monday
Today we didn't do anything until about 3pm. Then we went and dropped off some mail, bout Zuko for Семеный Вечер [Family Home Evening], and then went to FHE. It was excellent. We had a lesson by Ст. Blackwelder and then we went and ate some stuff. We had a lot of белины and Zuko. We had about 42 there and compared to last time that is about 4 or 5 times as much. Last time it was the missionaries and 3 members. This time it was очен [much] better. Night
[post journal entry chat - I just love it that I'm a little confused about both English and Russian at this time in my mission. Not close to being fluent in either. I hi-lighted and bolded in blue the words that I misspelled in my journal. I assume that I meant "bought" some Zuko. I don't think I was talking "'bout" some Zuko. The other two words in Russian are a little bit more understandable. Блины are the Russian equivalent of crepes. Usually they are a little bit more greasy, but they are so goooooooooooo! Очень has the little ь - called a (soft sign). The miyaki znahk, believe it or not, softens the ending of the word. Both mistakes are probably pretty common. The one that bugs me the most is the "bout." The rewiring of my brain for Russian is causing some short circuits in my English.]
[post journal entry chat - I just love it that I'm a little confused about both English and Russian at this time in my mission. Not close to being fluent in either. I hi-lighted and bolded in blue the words that I misspelled in my journal. I assume that I meant "bought" some Zuko. I don't think I was talking "'bout" some Zuko. The other two words in Russian are a little bit more understandable. Блины are the Russian equivalent of crepes. Usually they are a little bit more greasy, but they are so goooooooooooo! Очень has the little ь - called a (soft sign). The miyaki znahk, believe it or not, softens the ending of the word. Both mistakes are probably pretty common. The one that bugs me the most is the "bout." The rewiring of my brain for Russian is causing some short circuits in my English.]
3/21/11
March 9, 1997 - Sunday
Today went pretty good. We had regular church service and then we came home for a nap and [to] eat some pizza. Then we left for a[n] all Moscow conference that was at a movie theatre we had rented. Well we got there and it turned out that someone else was using it. Another church group uses it every Sunday in the morning. Well a kindergarten class had some прaзник [holiday] and the church group's first time was taken. So they either decided to just steal our time, or the director goofed or decided to screw us or something. Anyways we couldn't meet there.
So everybody went up to Водный Стадион [Water Stadium - it's where we met for large group meetings - like the Mission Conference I had the first day in Russia]. Ст. Woolverton and I stayed for a little with Сты. Whiting, Sefcik & Russel. Ст. Woolverton and I went back home to get some tickets which were our proof that we had rented the "театр." We got back and Whiting, Russel & Sefcik were still there. So Сты. Russel & Sefcik went to a D and we all went and listened to it [meaning the other church's meeting].
[The other church's meeting] was a lot like the rest of the non-denominational [churches] that I had been to. Except for some weird stuff. They stood together and put their arms around each other and started swaying back and forth as they sang. That's not even half of it though. They blessed and passed the sacrament. A woman said the prayer [for] the bread (dried blini [like crepes]) and a guy blessed the win (real). Then about 12 girls & 2 guys passed it to the audience at the same time. A member lady came in and though it was our sacrament and so she took it. She saw us sitting there and thought it was ours. I feel bad for her, nothing is going to happen to her or anything, but I'm sure she feels bad.
Then we went over to Ст. Whiting's to wait for his companion. Ст. Whiting is a funny guy. I like him. He's a cool guy and really funny. He doesn't judge either. He knows what's right and wrong and is a pretty righteous missionary without being hypocritical. It's really cool. well night.
Oh yeah - I peed out the window tonight. It's pretty cool from the 9th floor. night
So everybody went up to Водный Стадион [Water Stadium - it's where we met for large group meetings - like the Mission Conference I had the first day in Russia]. Ст. Woolverton and I stayed for a little with Сты. Whiting, Sefcik & Russel. Ст. Woolverton and I went back home to get some tickets which were our proof that we had rented the "театр." We got back and Whiting, Russel & Sefcik were still there. So Сты. Russel & Sefcik went to a D and we all went and listened to it [meaning the other church's meeting].
[The other church's meeting] was a lot like the rest of the non-denominational [churches] that I had been to. Except for some weird stuff. They stood together and put their arms around each other and started swaying back and forth as they sang. That's not even half of it though. They blessed and passed the sacrament. A woman said the prayer [for] the bread (dried blini [like crepes]) and a guy blessed the win (real). Then about 12 girls & 2 guys passed it to the audience at the same time. A member lady came in and though it was our sacrament and so she took it. She saw us sitting there and thought it was ours. I feel bad for her, nothing is going to happen to her or anything, but I'm sure she feels bad.
Then we went over to Ст. Whiting's to wait for his companion. Ст. Whiting is a funny guy. I like him. He's a cool guy and really funny. He doesn't judge either. He knows what's right and wrong and is a pretty righteous missionary without being hypocritical. It's really cool. well night.
Oh yeah - I peed out the window tonight. It's pretty cool from the 9th floor. night
3/20/11
March 8, 1997 - Saturday
Well yesterday and today (Fri. and Saturday) we kind of took a vacation. We got back from service yesterday and I made granola and then we took a nap. I made corn chowder which I am eating right now and then it took me a while to get to sleep. Ст. Woolverton is pretty sick so it was also because of that. Today we got up at about 10am and ate and went to the CD reenik. I now have 45 [CDs]. 3 more and my case is filled up. I'll list them...[actually I won't because that's kind of boring]. About half of them were the "Very Best of" cool huh.
 |
| CD Reenik - photo taken at the end of my mission. |
I've had terrible gas for the last couple of days. I'm wondering if it is because of the granola. Man it is so good. It tastes so good in milk. I don't think that I get enough fruit in my diet. Well I'm going to close now. night.
March 7, 1997 - Friday
Yesterday we went over to the обж. [dorm/apt building] and had a D with Малу [Malout - french so the t is silent]. He understood a lot but he was there alone, so we talked using easy words and looked up a lot in an English-French dictionary that they had there. Right as it was time to leave is when Armahn & then Virginia showed up.
We left at 5:45 about and made it over to Konkova by 6:50pm [probably English class]. We stayed until about 8 and then went home. There was a new girl there, well a couple. Людмила [Ludmilla] has come a couple of times. She brought a friend named Ира [Ira - short for Irina]. Ира is who I talked to. She is pretty cute. 18 and dangerous. If you know what I mean. She wanted to hear about America and my town. She's from Georgia [the country to the south of Russia] and now lives in Rezyan because there is a war in Georgia. She doesn't like the air here in town.
Людмила always walks us to the bustop because she lives right next to it. Ира went with us on the bus and on the metro. We got off at ours, but she went up to Уневерситет [University Metro stop] to meet her mom.
We left at 5:45 about and made it over to Konkova by 6:50pm [probably English class]. We stayed until about 8 and then went home. There was a new girl there, well a couple. Людмила [Ludmilla] has come a couple of times. She brought a friend named Ира [Ira - short for Irina]. Ира is who I talked to. She is pretty cute. 18 and dangerous. If you know what I mean. She wanted to hear about America and my town. She's from Georgia [the country to the south of Russia] and now lives in Rezyan because there is a war in Georgia. She doesn't like the air here in town.
Людмила always walks us to the bustop because she lives right next to it. Ира went with us on the bus and on the metro. We got off at ours, but she went up to Уневерситет [University Metro stop] to meet her mom.
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