Week 18 - Sanders...I Like the Sound of That

This week flew by for real.

Monday:

Normal P-Day. We had family home evening with the Fushtei family. They fired up their new barbecue and made some super good pork and chicken. It's the most that I've eaten on my mission I think. We went through some straight-up wilderness to get to their house from the bus stop. You can kinda see the bridge in the dark in the picture. Bridges here are just a bunch of wood stapled and nailed together and just set across any body of water. It feels like you're walking on a diving board and you never know if it's gonna snap on you. We ate at Decyatka and it was super tasty as always. I've spent more money there than anywhere else in Ukraine for sure. The ice cream is SO GOOD. 

Tuesday:

We had all our meetings and skype calls on as usual. English practice was especially awesome. We split up into our three groups, and Elder Lukach and I teach the beginners. This young family of 4 came in late to our class. After the lesson we were just talking with them. The dad was super funny and thought that our English jeopardy was awesome for some reason. They asked us why we have so many pictures of Jesus in our church building. Elder Lukach and I were so excited to teach them. We started talking about the Restoration of the Gospel of Jesus Christ and it was awesome. Then a couple of the other kids from our class gathered around too and started to listen. By the end of the lesson we had 7 people listening to us teach them. It was so cool to watch and listen and to teach them too. They even prayed with us, took a Book of Mormon, and said they would for sure come back next week and talk more about what they were going to read. We're super excited to be working with them. The Lord really does prepare you to cross paths with people who are ready and willing to learn about Him and his teachings.

Wednesday:

Exchanges! Today we finally got a scheduled LESSON with our Grandma Anna. She works handing out newspapers and loves us a lot. she always wants to hear a spiritual thought from us and calls us her sons. She's awesome. She is usually kind of passive with learning and accepting invitations though - always excited to see and talk with us but never really GOING anywhere with what we teach her. But today we set up a lesson for Sunday and we were super excited to finally teach her in a more normal and spiritual setting. (We usually talk with her in the middle of the streets downtown while she's working.) Elder Frehner came to Ivano with us. He's such a beast! We ate at Decyatka together. No surprise there. We are very similar so talking and catching up is always super fun. We did an English activity on the streets and handed out our cards like crazy. We probably went through 1000 cards at least. Then, we put in work and had a race to see who could hand them out the fastest. Honestly started sweating cause we were going around so fast and nonstop. Hoping for a big turnout next week.

Thursday:

We ate at Decyatkas again! They gave us free drinks as a thank you from the chef. Missionaries have been eating there for 10 years now. they really like us! It's really the DOPEST restaurant. 

Friday:

Our sports night got cancelled due to massive rains so we had a game night instead. It was a huge turnout. not. haha. It was all the missionaries and one very drunk girl. We played music, and some games too, like Ukrainian monopoly. Let's just say American monopoly is a lot better...especially when all of the players are sober. FUNNY STORY: so this girl was DIGGIN  Elder Sanders. Everyone was low key super uncomfortable. Everyone just kinda ignored everything and played it off really well. Then, as we were wrapping up and cleaning  she walks up and says "Elder Sanders, look!" and she was wearing his name tag that she took off of his suit coat that was hanging in the other room. He was like "uhhhh that's my name tag why are you wearing it?" and she said "I dunno.. I like it! It's fun. I want a nametag too." and she kinda just walked along playing with it. Then she was like "hmm. Sanders.. I really like the sound of that". I LOST IT.  The other elders and I made eye contact and just DIED. I said to Elder Sanders "Man.. 'Sanders'.. it really does sound good!" He was so embarrassed and it was just so funny. Now every time that we say his name or hear it, Elder Lukach and I say, "Sanders.. I like the sound of that!" - with a super big eyebrow raise. Also, it's his birthday!!! happy birthday to Elder Sanders. 

Saturday:

Filled with a lot of lessons which is so good!!

Sunday:

Church was really good. We had Sasha come to church with us. He's going back into the army really soon so we'll try and help him progress as much as possible! A ton of rain today. Anna, our Grandma, wasn't feeling good so she couldn't meet with us. We see her just about every day on the street so it's okay! President Rizley will be here with us next week on Sunday, which will also be General Conference too. So excited!

It was a really good week! Yesterday I finished reading the Doctrine and Covenants. It was a super awesome experience. Reading the scriptures is one of the best testimony builders about prophets and especially Joseph Smith. We see the power of revelation, and the relationship God has with not only the prophets and apostles, but all of His children around the world. He truly speaks to us and we have everything we need to lead us through this life. I hope everyone has the chance to hear from the Lord's prophets and apostles this next week during General Confrence. TAKE NOTES. Read. Study. And then reread and restudy. This is our Heavenly Father giving us guidance for our day. Pray for an answer to something. He will provide YOU specifically with something that you need to hear. And after you pray for it, that's just the beginning. LOOK for it. Watch and listen to Conference. Go back and read it online too! Take what you read and apply it in every way that you can. Your answer will be received. Then, give thanks through prayer. Keep applying what you learned. You'll realize that you can do this every day for the rest of your life! Having a knowledge and testimony of current prophets is such a huge blessing and comfort to me, and everyone.

Godspeed.

Elder Stott

Picture of our church chapel