Well another day here and gone. Today we had a picnic at Царицино [Tsaritsinо - 400 year old area where Katherine the Great started building a palace - now a park with some cool ruins.] Ира ["блестящая," Гроза - Ira "blestyashaya" Grozah, or Ira "Shiny" Storm] Надия [Ягадкина - Nadia Yagadkina - Nadia is short for Nadyezhda, Hope and her last name is Berry], Саша [Sasha - one of the nicknames for Aleksander], - (повые члены Церкви) [a new member of the Church - but I totally screwed it up, because I was only talking about Sasha, but I used the plural, and I also used an English n, which is a p in Russian, so what I actually said was "new members" or Povie members], Зинейдя [Zenaida is what it should sound like, but again I misspelled and wrote Zenadya - which is almost right ;)], plus Сты. Kearl and Keller.
Then an investigator of Wright's - Генады [Genadi], also two brothers Миша [Misha - nickname for Michael] & Серёз [Seryoz - nickname for Sergei] and then this kid named Саша [Sasha] was there. Maybe we can get him to take the Ds. That be really good to get a new family. Man my feet stink. I'm a freak. I beat Ст. Shwartz in chess. It made me feel better. But I'll probably lose tomorrow.
Well night, it's 11:00 [pm].
5/31/12
5/30/12
May 30, 1997 - Friday
I've just gotten my butt kicked rather soundly by Ст. Shwartz 3 times [in chess]. I just haven't found out how to get him yet. When we first played, I thought he sucked, but I guess I do.
oh yeah, I had interviews also.
oh yeah, I had interviews also.
5/29/12
May 29, 1997 - Thursday
Today we went to a little rehearsal for a skit we are going to do at зеленград [Zelenongrad] on the 28th of June. Then we went and ate at the Hungry Duck. It was pretty good and it was only about 22,000 rubles or 4 - 5 bucks. Now we are writing letters because...
5/24/12
May 24, 1997 - Saturday
Okay, I've been sleeping in this week. I need to work on getting up on time. Yesterday we went over to Парк Културы [Park Koolturi - Culture Park Metro]. We helped Сергей Савелёв [Sergei Savelyov], the priesthood pres. in our branch, who also works at the service center, move some heavy stuff out of Pres. Wright's new apartment. They need to do some heavy work on that place before pres. moves in. It would be bad to come home from President Jarvis's apartment and come see that average Russian apartment. Then we made supper and it was already 8 by the time we got back.
Well I gotta get ready to go to the picnic. Hopefully our mini activny member will come. [No clue on who or what I meant] Well bye.
Later 12:25 pm. We just had a D - sort of - with Алекзандр's [Alexander's] wife. She, Нина [Nina], talked our ear off. She really understands people. She's a good teacher, I can tell.
We came home on the metro. At Орехово [Aryekhova Metro] Ст. Shwartz's girlfriend got on with her mom. Her name is Соня [Sonya]. She lives directly underneath us, only down two floors. She always says hi to Ст. Shwartz and she says she's 14. It's hard to tell. Anyway she got on without seeing us and I told Ст. Shwartz his girlfriend was on the metro. He looked and then about-faced and looked away. I stayed facing her and she looked at me once, then looked at Ст. Shwartz, well the back of his head, and gasped - then said something to her mom and then turned bright red. She said Shwartz and he turned around and waved and she said hi. I was just laughing my but off. I was so dang funny. She's cute - as Ст. Woolverton said "It's a dang good thing she isn't like 18 or 19."
Today I made corn chowder. It was good. I got to talk to Emmanuela for 1/2 hr at Измайловскый Парк [Izmailovsky Park] for the picnic. night.
Well I gotta get ready to go to the picnic. Hopefully our mini activny member will come. [No clue on who or what I meant] Well bye.
Later 12:25 pm. We just had a D - sort of - with Алекзандр's [Alexander's] wife. She, Нина [Nina], talked our ear off. She really understands people. She's a good teacher, I can tell.
We came home on the metro. At Орехово [Aryekhova Metro] Ст. Shwartz's girlfriend got on with her mom. Her name is Соня [Sonya]. She lives directly underneath us, only down two floors. She always says hi to Ст. Shwartz and she says she's 14. It's hard to tell. Anyway she got on without seeing us and I told Ст. Shwartz his girlfriend was on the metro. He looked and then about-faced and looked away. I stayed facing her and she looked at me once, then looked at Ст. Shwartz, well the back of his head, and gasped - then said something to her mom and then turned bright red. She said Shwartz and he turned around and waved and she said hi. I was just laughing my but off. I was so dang funny. She's cute - as Ст. Woolverton said "It's a dang good thing she isn't like 18 or 19."
Today I made corn chowder. It was good. I got to talk to Emmanuela for 1/2 hr at Измайловскый Парк [Izmailovsky Park] for the picnic. night.
5/22/12
May 22, 1997 - Thursday
Well today we [Ст. Shwartz & I] did practically nothing today [from the Department of Redundancy Department]. It rained so much. Last night I had a visit from the Runs. It was about 11:30 pm before I could get to sleep. It lasted for such a long time. So this morning I stayed in bed until about 8:30 am. I was so freaking tired. I think it is from the runs & a little sickness.
I also had my problem in the shower today. It had been 4 days - a pretty good amount of time lately. I wanted to go a really long time. Like up until next interviews with President Jarvis. It will be our last with him, I think. He's a cool guy. I've always come away from interviews with a better feeling about myself. But I want to show him that I am getting better and that I can be trusted and am a hard worker. So I guess that means that I had better be a good, hard worker. So far this week we've been slackers. We had better do a lot of work in the next two days or it'll be a total waste and then I'd feel like crap.
Tonight we stopped by a less active member and dropped off some stuff for her. We also shopped earlier. As we were walking along we got stopped by a lady in a shack and she wanted to know if we taught English. But she didn't listen to us enough, or we just couldn't get our point across because she didn't understand us.
After English [class] today Сты. Ганху [Gangkhu] & Wright came over to our house and we had casserole and it took forever to make and eat. 1-4 pm they were over here. Right now I have freaking hurtful farts. The kind that really hurt because I'm constipated or something. Right now I'm listening to my Alternative Best #2 because I've never listened to it before. I have all these cds that I have to get used to.
I also had my problem in the shower today. It had been 4 days - a pretty good amount of time lately. I wanted to go a really long time. Like up until next interviews with President Jarvis. It will be our last with him, I think. He's a cool guy. I've always come away from interviews with a better feeling about myself. But I want to show him that I am getting better and that I can be trusted and am a hard worker. So I guess that means that I had better be a good, hard worker. So far this week we've been slackers. We had better do a lot of work in the next two days or it'll be a total waste and then I'd feel like crap.
Tonight we stopped by a less active member and dropped off some stuff for her. We also shopped earlier. As we were walking along we got stopped by a lady in a shack and she wanted to know if we taught English. But she didn't listen to us enough, or we just couldn't get our point across because she didn't understand us.
After English [class] today Сты. Ганху [Gangkhu] & Wright came over to our house and we had casserole and it took forever to make and eat. 1-4 pm they were over here. Right now I have freaking hurtful farts. The kind that really hurt because I'm constipated or something. Right now I'm listening to my Alternative Best #2 because I've never listened to it before. I have all these cds that I have to get used to.
8/24/11
May 20, 1997 - Tuesday
Today was interesting. We had district meeting which was a lot of bashing against Pres. Jarvis and his new rule about not going above the ring line at all, even on P-Days. It'll be hard to live that rule. Then we came home and ate peanut butter sandwiches. Well we went and picked up some milk and peanut butter at Stockman's [which incidentally right on the ring line].
Then I slept for an hour and we went to a беседа [discussion] with Евгенния [Yevgenniya]. We got a Russian lesson and then we went over D&C 89 before leaving at 9:00[pm]. It was a great responsibility to teach and testify and make - mistakes. At one point I went off on some thing and I stopped at the end of a sentence and asked Ст. Schwartz "where was I going with that." Then I just testified to her about something. Well it's time to get a snack and hit the sack. bye.
[Post-journal chat - Peanut butter is pretty expensive compared to in America - that's why we had to go to Stockman's to buy it. Stockman's is a pretty big grocery store. Well when I say pretty big, I mean big for Russia. Most of their stores are Circle K size places. Stockman's was two or three Circle Ks put together. It stocked several American, or European items that you can't get anywhere else. They have milk from Finland & it comes in 3.5%, 1.5% & .5% in stead of 2%, 1% & Fat Free like here in the US. The 3.5% makes corn chowder sooooooo goooood. Very creamy.]
Then I slept for an hour and we went to a беседа [discussion] with Евгенния [Yevgenniya]. We got a Russian lesson and then we went over D&C 89 before leaving at 9:00[pm]. It was a great responsibility to teach and testify and make - mistakes. At one point I went off on some thing and I stopped at the end of a sentence and asked Ст. Schwartz "where was I going with that." Then I just testified to her about something. Well it's time to get a snack and hit the sack. bye.
[Post-journal chat - Peanut butter is pretty expensive compared to in America - that's why we had to go to Stockman's to buy it. Stockman's is a pretty big grocery store. Well when I say pretty big, I mean big for Russia. Most of their stores are Circle K size places. Stockman's was two or three Circle Ks put together. It stocked several American, or European items that you can't get anywhere else. They have milk from Finland & it comes in 3.5%, 1.5% & .5% in stead of 2%, 1% & Fat Free like here in the US. The 3.5% makes corn chowder sooooooo goooood. Very creamy.]
May 19, 1997 - Monday
Well we went over to a slightly inactive family. Actually she is the lady who cleans our clothes [Сестра Ягадкина - Sister Yagadkina (which translates to berry)]. Well I'm back from English Class. We gave a 1st D in English after English Class. It was to these two people, Александр и [Alexander ?] Some lady. Well we gave them Book of Mormons and I told them that I would write down some words in English & Russian, like faith love etc. It was really cool.
In the D she said I didn't know the Book of Mormon was true. It was cool because I remember a story about two missionaries tracting and they talked with a guy on the door, well he said the same thing. You can't tell me or know that Joseph Smith was a prophet - he slammed the door and they left. Well the greenie thought about it and said they didn't answer the guy. They went back and the greenie bore his testimony to that man which ended in a baptism. Well that story flashed through my mind and I testified to her. That I did know that the Book of Mormon was true - through the Holy Ghost. It felt really good. Well it's time for bed. Nighty night.
In the D she said I didn't know the Book of Mormon was true. It was cool because I remember a story about two missionaries tracting and they talked with a guy on the door, well he said the same thing. You can't tell me or know that Joseph Smith was a prophet - he slammed the door and they left. Well the greenie thought about it and said they didn't answer the guy. They went back and the greenie bore his testimony to that man which ended in a baptism. Well that story flashed through my mind and I testified to her. That I did know that the Book of Mormon was true - through the Holy Ghost. It felt really good. Well it's time for bed. Nighty night.
May 18th, 1997 - Sunday
Hey how's it going Diary Reading fans. We had a busy day today. Church was from 8:30am to 2:10pm. Well that's how long we were out of the house. After church we ate and I took a nap. I had a killer headache and I was just plain tired. That was an hour and a half.
Then we went to a беседа [besyeda - discussion] with this cool inactive family. The father Юри [Yuri], was really friendly. The wife - Таля [Talya] was pretty pessimistic about things. It sounded like she was mad at Брат Woolsey [one of my MTC teachers] for taking away Катя [Katya - Брат Woolsey's now wife] or just the fact that some of the females go to church to meet men from America. Right now it's time to go to bed & I'm listening to the "Humpty Dance" really loud. bye
Then we went to a беседа [besyeda - discussion] with this cool inactive family. The father Юри [Yuri], was really friendly. The wife - Таля [Talya] was pretty pessimistic about things. It sounded like she was mad at Брат Woolsey [one of my MTC teachers] for taking away Катя [Katya - Брат Woolsey's now wife] or just the fact that some of the females go to church to meet men from America. Right now it's time to go to bed & I'm listening to the "Humpty Dance" really loud. bye
May 17, 1997 - Saturday
Well today we went to the cd reenik. Oh what a lovely place - the birds are always singing - there is always the sun in the sky. I'm now at 63 cds - up 18 from 45. I got a couple that I don't know if I'll like, but what will make great presents to my family.
My companion is keeping busy with the Area Book. [Each companionship is responsible for a geographic area and works with the members and investigators in that area to further missionary work. If missionaries were suddenly replaced then the new missionaries wouldn't know who was in the area, at what stage they were in etc. unless we kept records - ie. the Area Book.]
[Elder Schwartz]'s a good guy. We played chess twice. The first time he got me. But the second time he tried the old "4 move checkmate" thing. Well the thing is if you move your horse out and you can kill their queen after a couple of moves. He's not afraid to trade pieces though. I can see he'll be better than me someday. When he gets good at chess he'll wipe me up.
My companion is keeping busy with the Area Book. [Each companionship is responsible for a geographic area and works with the members and investigators in that area to further missionary work. If missionaries were suddenly replaced then the new missionaries wouldn't know who was in the area, at what stage they were in etc. unless we kept records - ie. the Area Book.]
[Elder Schwartz]'s a good guy. We played chess twice. The first time he got me. But the second time he tried the old "4 move checkmate" thing. Well the thing is if you move your horse out and you can kill their queen after a couple of moves. He's not afraid to trade pieces though. I can see he'll be better than me someday. When he gets good at chess he'll wipe me up.
5/22/11
May 16, 1997 - Friday
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.
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.
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
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