August 13, 2018
Hey fam-
This week was super solid and really really fast. I'm struggling to remember what was actually this week and what was last last week, because I'm mixing them up. We just had a crazy week this week I guess!
We had a ton of moving and a ton of cleaning to do this week getting both apartments crammed into the smaller of the two. We got all the moving done before Elder Corey and Cluff left on Tuesday morning at 6 and 7 AM, but Elder Gallafent and I got left with the vast majority of the cleaning and unpacking.
Elder Gallafent and I were comps for about a day and a half and that went pretty good. Since Elder Baxter got here on Wednesday, we've been in a trio. It will be just me and Elder Baxter after Elder Gallafent leaves this Wednesday to go home, and then Elder Baxter will go home 5 weeks later. I'm killing missionaries left and right this transfer.
Vadym's baptism happened this Saturday! I have no idea how it all pulled together, We had almost no time to prep for it until the day before and the morning of, and we were literally running from place to place on Saturday morning up until the baptismal service that started around 11. To give you an idea of how surprised I am that it didn't absolutely fall apart, I'll have you know that we got to the sauna place that we rent out to do baptisms, and Vadym and I started getting dressed into the baptismal clothes. He had some questions about what it would be that he would wear, and so he asked me, what am I gonna wear again? And then we realized that we literally forgot about his baptismal suit back at the church. Elder Gallafent and President Lohinov ran all the way back to the church while we waited for them. I think this is the first baptism maybe in the world where you get all the way up to being ready to perform the ordinance and then you realize you literally forgot the baptismal suit.. All's well that ends well! That water was SO cold. It was funny because after Vadym got in (the water was up to our chest) he was panicking a little bit and wanted to get right out, so he kept saying "okay come on..let's go..how do I do this..baptize me already" and was frantically grabbing my wrists in all kinds of ways trying to remember how we showed him it would happen. It was just a funny moment I guess.
He couldn't make the trip back out to church on Sunday, but he will receive the Holy Ghost next Sunday. He's truly a miracle for this branch! They need more priesthood leadership here, just like the do in Uzhgorod, so he will be an amazing help to the branch here.
This week was super solid and really really fast. I'm struggling to remember what was actually this week and what was last last week, because I'm mixing them up. We just had a crazy week this week I guess!
We had a ton of moving and a ton of cleaning to do this week getting both apartments crammed into the smaller of the two. We got all the moving done before Elder Corey and Cluff left on Tuesday morning at 6 and 7 AM, but Elder Gallafent and I got left with the vast majority of the cleaning and unpacking.
Elder Gallafent and I were comps for about a day and a half and that went pretty good. Since Elder Baxter got here on Wednesday, we've been in a trio. It will be just me and Elder Baxter after Elder Gallafent leaves this Wednesday to go home, and then Elder Baxter will go home 5 weeks later. I'm killing missionaries left and right this transfer.
Vadym's baptism happened this Saturday! I have no idea how it all pulled together, We had almost no time to prep for it until the day before and the morning of, and we were literally running from place to place on Saturday morning up until the baptismal service that started around 11. To give you an idea of how surprised I am that it didn't absolutely fall apart, I'll have you know that we got to the sauna place that we rent out to do baptisms, and Vadym and I started getting dressed into the baptismal clothes. He had some questions about what it would be that he would wear, and so he asked me, what am I gonna wear again? And then we realized that we literally forgot about his baptismal suit back at the church. Elder Gallafent and President Lohinov ran all the way back to the church while we waited for them. I think this is the first baptism maybe in the world where you get all the way up to being ready to perform the ordinance and then you realize you literally forgot the baptismal suit.. All's well that ends well! That water was SO cold. It was funny because after Vadym got in (the water was up to our chest) he was panicking a little bit and wanted to get right out, so he kept saying "okay come on..let's go..how do I do this..baptize me already" and was frantically grabbing my wrists in all kinds of ways trying to remember how we showed him it would happen. It was just a funny moment I guess.
He couldn't make the trip back out to church on Sunday, but he will receive the Holy Ghost next Sunday. He's truly a miracle for this branch! They need more priesthood leadership here, just like the do in Uzhgorod, so he will be an amazing help to the branch here.
Another amazing thing this week: Remember the taxi driver I talked to on my last day in Uzhgorod? He has a baptismal date! It was
interesting because for some reason on that ride home I just really testified
about the Book of Mormon to this 50 year old man, and then we gave him one and
he gave us his number. He had to go to Germany for 2 months, so we thought we
would lose him for sure. But, sure enough 2 months later on the dot, he showed up at church on Sunday, and hasn't missed a
Sunday since then! He's read a decent chunk of the Book of Mormon and is
already an amazing (non)member missionary. Super passionate about the gospel.
He's getting BAPTIZED on the 18th!!! He's going to be an amazing member there in
Uzh, and is in the future probably going to be that solid Melchizedek
Priesthood holder that they need to become a branch there. Honestly it's not a huge thing that I talked to our taxi driver about the
gospel, but, hearing of all these miracles that are happening with him right now
has given me some of the most fulfilling feelings I have felt on my mission
hands down. I really wish I could make it down there for his baptism, but we're
just swamped in work here in our city.
This week after meeting an investigator who lives on the outskirts in the city, she gave us a ton of grapes (like 2.5 kilos) straight from the vineyard in her back yard. We ate some but they're the kind that are basically 75% massive seeds, (concords??) and so we decided to make some Ukrainian Kompot. We made 12 Litres on Thursday and we're already out of it. We're going to buy more ingredients for a new batch and flavor today at the rynok.
Elder Baxter and I have a goal this transfer to not go to a single grocery store if we can avoid it. We want to be as Ukrainian as possible and only shop at the huuge markets. It might get a little sketchy when it comes to buying eggs, meat and cheese and those kinds of things, but if the Ukrainians can survive then so can we!!! We already made a big mistake when we bought over a pound and a half of Estonian cheese that cost wayyy too little. It was about a third of the price of all the other cheeses, so we just wanted to try it. I have never had a worse tasting cheese in my life. We now have around 600 grams of Estonian cheese still sitting in our fridge. We put it on sandwiches and cover it in sauce to drown out the awful flavor that I can't even describe.
I found out yesterday that Elder Baxter and I are both getting additional callings in the branch here this next week. I'll be the second councilor in the presidency, and Elder Baxter is going to be the clerk. Yay for more work and responsibility!
I was using the restroom this week and I heard something small and solid fall into the toilet. I looked in and couldn't tell what it was, so I assumed it was unimportant and just flushed it. I then left and went to do the button on my pants and realized it wasn't there. I ran back into the bathroom to an empty toilet bowl and left with a loose pair of pants. The other Elders thought it was funnier than I did.
To finish, I studied in 2 Nephi 4 this week on Tuesday, (the only day where we had time for all 3 studies). It might be one of my favorite chapters in the entire Book of Mormon if not my favorite chapter altogether. It's a great chapter with gold in every verse. It teaches us a lot about prayer, trust in God, repentance, humility, sin, and our relationship with Heavenly Father. I invite you to go and study that chapter this week and see what you can get out of it!
On a shorter spiritual note as well, the fruits of sharing the gospel are some of the most joyous and happy moments of my entire life. Taking part in the conversion of someone else, being able to see them grow and develop and even just hearing about the progress they make brings such a specific joy and influence of the Holy Ghost that is truly a huge testimony builder for me. We can KNOW without a doubt that all of this wonderful gospel is so perfectly true simply from the joy and the happiness that we can find in such a lost and confused and frankly depressing world. Jesus Christ and His gospel is what makes it all possible. He is our Savior and our brother and our best friend who loves us perfectly. The things we choose to do, which eventually and gradually form us into who we are, are the way that we can show our love back to Him. The only thing that He requires of us to receive the abundance of blessings in store for us is to keep His commandments, and to sacrifice our heart and our will to Him. Living the gospel is worth so much more than all of the things that we receive in return.
Have a good week! More pics below.
--
This week after meeting an investigator who lives on the outskirts in the city, she gave us a ton of grapes (like 2.5 kilos) straight from the vineyard in her back yard. We ate some but they're the kind that are basically 75% massive seeds, (concords??) and so we decided to make some Ukrainian Kompot. We made 12 Litres on Thursday and we're already out of it. We're going to buy more ingredients for a new batch and flavor today at the rynok.
Elder Baxter and I have a goal this transfer to not go to a single grocery store if we can avoid it. We want to be as Ukrainian as possible and only shop at the huuge markets. It might get a little sketchy when it comes to buying eggs, meat and cheese and those kinds of things, but if the Ukrainians can survive then so can we!!! We already made a big mistake when we bought over a pound and a half of Estonian cheese that cost wayyy too little. It was about a third of the price of all the other cheeses, so we just wanted to try it. I have never had a worse tasting cheese in my life. We now have around 600 grams of Estonian cheese still sitting in our fridge. We put it on sandwiches and cover it in sauce to drown out the awful flavor that I can't even describe.
I found out yesterday that Elder Baxter and I are both getting additional callings in the branch here this next week. I'll be the second councilor in the presidency, and Elder Baxter is going to be the clerk. Yay for more work and responsibility!
I was using the restroom this week and I heard something small and solid fall into the toilet. I looked in and couldn't tell what it was, so I assumed it was unimportant and just flushed it. I then left and went to do the button on my pants and realized it wasn't there. I ran back into the bathroom to an empty toilet bowl and left with a loose pair of pants. The other Elders thought it was funnier than I did.
To finish, I studied in 2 Nephi 4 this week on Tuesday, (the only day where we had time for all 3 studies). It might be one of my favorite chapters in the entire Book of Mormon if not my favorite chapter altogether. It's a great chapter with gold in every verse. It teaches us a lot about prayer, trust in God, repentance, humility, sin, and our relationship with Heavenly Father. I invite you to go and study that chapter this week and see what you can get out of it!
On a shorter spiritual note as well, the fruits of sharing the gospel are some of the most joyous and happy moments of my entire life. Taking part in the conversion of someone else, being able to see them grow and develop and even just hearing about the progress they make brings such a specific joy and influence of the Holy Ghost that is truly a huge testimony builder for me. We can KNOW without a doubt that all of this wonderful gospel is so perfectly true simply from the joy and the happiness that we can find in such a lost and confused and frankly depressing world. Jesus Christ and His gospel is what makes it all possible. He is our Savior and our brother and our best friend who loves us perfectly. The things we choose to do, which eventually and gradually form us into who we are, are the way that we can show our love back to Him. The only thing that He requires of us to receive the abundance of blessings in store for us is to keep His commandments, and to sacrifice our heart and our will to Him. Living the gospel is worth so much more than all of the things that we receive in return.
Have a good week! More pics below.
--
Elder Dillon
Stott
Vul. Yabluneva
1
S. Sofiivska
Borshahivka
Kyivska oblast
08131
Ukraine
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| Found some really old playground equipment |
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| Elder Baxter about to get wet |
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| Pumped for Vadym's baptism |
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