Week 104 - A Week in Pictures

May 20, 2019

One of many birthday celebrations

Went to a very cool park

A birthday cake from Katya's daughter, Sophia

A little P-day service project - bus dropped us off here and we walked and walked...

...and walked

...to this place in the middle of nowhere

It looks creepy but it was cool

We chopped trees for the afternoon - at an investigator's property

It doesn't look like much, but that's a mountain of chopped trees

Got friendly with a goat

Walking back to civilization

Just a babushka and her cow...BEST pic ever

Week 103 - SO good

May 13, 2019

Hey Everyone.

Really quick. This week was SUPER good. Such a good week.

First and foremost Happy Mother's Day to the best mom in the world! I truly have a testimony that our Heavenly Father places us in the families that we really truly belong in so we can be taught the things that we need to know. So much of what I know and who I am I directly owe to my mom. She is an angel and I am so grateful for her in my life!! Happy Mother's Day to all the other women, moms and grandmoms out there. You couldn't possibly know the full impact that you have on the lives of those who surround you, especially those in your families. Thank you for all that you do. And plus, never forget who the stripling warriors in the Book of Mormon learned all that they knew and were from! 

Last Skype of the mission

We of course had Katya's baptism this week which was just SO good. God is so good. Covenants are so good. The Priesthood is so real and so true and just so good. God is so good to those that love Him and keep His commandments! We are so unbelievably happy for Katya and her decision to follow Christ. She is so elect and has so much in store for her and her family and their future. The Gospel does not only bless individuals, but is perfectly designed to influence and improve every single family to which it can be reached!

So much love for Katya

The best part of all this week and the baptism and confirmation was when I had a couple of small chances to talk to Katya about how she felt. She was GLOWING, just absolutely RADIATING with the love of Christ. You could see it, feel it, and hear it. She talked so much about just how good she felt. She truly felt so clean and pure and happy and full of the Holy Ghost! She said that she thought she understood how great it would be and that it would be a cool feeling and amazing and all that, but said that even after how much we would testify and teach her about how truly amazing it would be, she still didn't think it would be as good as it was. For every second that I saw her on Saturday and Sunday, there was not a moment when a smile wasn't on her face. I am so grateful to have been able to teach her and learn from her and see an example of real and active faith. I don't know if I have ever truly met and personally known someone who has taken as many steps of faith "in the dark" as Katya has. I'm just so proud and happy for her. Please be sure to share the Gospel as much as you can. I can promise that the SAME EXACT joy that comes from our own conversion and covenants is what we feel when we are able to take part and experience and see someone else's conversion. It truly is the best feeling in the world, above all else.

We did quite a bit of other things this week, but it will all be self explanatory from the pictures!

Have a great week everyone.

-Elder Stott

BOHDAN

Headed out on a journey with the Rivne crew

My comp, Elder T.

Tunnel of Love in Kleven - this is a functioning railroad track. Very cool. Very touristy.

No words...

Bottom center of the restaurant sign says, "tell him yes"

A little art for our cultural night

A cool auditorium - we came to support one of our members who won the "Golden Voice Award"

Week 102 - No Tip for the Barber

April 29-May 5

This week FLEW.

We had the Zone Leaders pop in for a surprise exchange for the other elders, cause they had to be here for some old document stuff in the city that they didn't finish the first transfer that they were here. haha. We had a joint lesson with all 6 of us and one of our investigators, and that sure was dope. We just had a testimony meeting with all of us and boy that was super spiritual and just so good!!! 

It's been pretty crummy weather all this week, but it's okay. Reminds me of home haha. 

We had a branch activity that had a whopping 4 people other than missionaries, so we moved it to Saturday, when we had WAY more people come.... Or not so much. It was still fun though. There were 8 people and 4 missionaries. It was kinda embarrassing and troshky frustrating, but no big deal. We had 4 non members, 3 of which were our investigators. Pretty sick. We made it fun though! I've definitely come to appreciate ward and branch activities way more on my mission.. Probably because I've had to lead and plan and clean and set up almost every single one on my mission hahahaha. Good experiences though. We had a picnic here in the building because the weather was terrible.

I gave a member's son a haircut and for the first time absolutely butched it.... it was soooo bad hahaha. The funniest part that wasn't so funny then but I can laugh about it now is when he went silent and his mom said "Mark, why are you crying??" I just said to myself... oh no.. here it comes.. I got chewed out by the mom a decent amount (I will say, that I did EXACTLY what BOTH of them told me to do, but hey, whatcha gonna do?? haha) and then the best part is when he ripped off the garbage-liner makeshift apron thingy that barbers use and hopped off the stacked chairs and ran off crying with his half buzz cut half bowl cut. The other missionaries heard about it and when they saw him had to hold in their laughs... it was just so cringy, but it's all good. 7 year olds are pretty keen for holding grudges, but hey. I've dealt with a lot of them and even act like one myself sometimes. So I chased him around the building and just played with him until he didn't hate me anymore. I may or may not have had to promise him a coke though. Hey, gotta do whatcha gotta do. 

Before the tears

We're SO looking forward to Katya's baptism THIS COMING SATURDAY!!! I'm so excited for her. There is nothing like starting life with a clean slate and the only thing written on the "fleshy tables of our hearts" is the name of Christ that we are able to take upon ourselves through sacred Priesthood Ordinances! And then the Ordinance of the Gift of the Holy Ghost right after on the next day. Gonna be a great weekend. Please still keep her in your prayers!! Katya is just a TROOPER!!

God is so real and God is so good!!

Have a good week y'all.

I love Rivne - cool park with metal statues and Ukrainian eggs

Old military equipment display

The ladies love Elder Cluff!

A very Russian park - don't get a sliver on the slide...