1-11-10 - More from Elder Clarkstone

We were so lucky to get a copy of another great letter from Dallin's companion:

This week has been a good. It started off a little slow since everyone was celebrating... and when they celebrate Holidays in Ukraine it just means you drink a lot. They a have a very famous saying here “Everyday is a holiday”. But the week actually turned out really well.

Weather – Last week it was hot and rained a lot. All the snow turned to ice and it was soaking wet everywhere. The one night I got soaked and we walked in water that was above our ankles. The one street was so flooded it was higher than half way up the tire of cars. Now it has gotten colder and snow is everywhere again.

Things I forgot last week --- We went to the land that is Bardabashov. It is a giant outside market. They have a mile long section just for fur coats. I'd say it's as big as the Eaton Center in Toronto. We were there for like 2 hours and we only saw about 1/100th of it. I bought a new click belt and 4 nice paisleys ties and it only cost like 20 dollars. Elder Hyer and Tillitson got Capka's (russian winter hats).

Monday – Went to the church and played card games like Uno and Дурок (which means fool), a fun russian card game. Then headed off for family night, this week at Sister Veta's.

Tuesday – Visited a less active named Alekcandra. She was really cool and doesn't seem like she would be inactive (none of the inactives do). Inactives are always the coolest people who know the Book of Mormon inside and out... we don't understand why they are inactive (most of them because to get to church its like 30 minutes). Then we received a call and we had to go to Center right away to get some paperwork from the office for our Хизайка (land lady) to sign. We then went and worked at a soup kitchen with the Cold Mountain Branch. Elder Moore was supposed to do it (he is in Cold Moutain), but we was picking up his greeny from the train station. All the new missionaries got stuck in Washington, DC for 5 days. They were supposed to arrive last Wednesday but didn't get here till Sunday night. Then headed off to the Branch President's house for our usual lesson and report.

Wednesday – Moved studies to night time because we had an early morning appointment, but she forgot. So we headed off to Zhenya's for a lesson with the other Elders in XTZ. At the end of the lesson we invited her to be baptised and she said yes, but she doesnt know when. It probably won't be this transfer, unless something happens. She has too many fears about what her dad will think... even though her dad likes us and is happy that Zhenya has good friends that care about her like we do. Zhenya even wants us to send her dad the missionaries in Kiev when he goes back (he is visiting for 2 weeks). Then headed off to Center again to get a package and Books of Mormon, because we ran out. Came back and did studies. We found out that for Elder Moore's greeny's first day he hicupped at a members house and they made him put his hands behind his back, stretch his body with his mouth trying to touch the sky, and then had to take 3 sips of some tea they made for him, and that they told him would cure him. Lots of crazy medical things here. They believe drinking cold water and cold beverages make you sick.

Thursday – Had a great sports day with the members and our investigators. We built 2 snowmen, one of which was Moses. Then played volleyball and soccer (both outside in the snow). XTZ sports day is famous for taking place, no matter the weather. Then headed back and had district meeting, but we had to go home early because it was new years eve and couldnt be out when it was dark. On the metro a drunk man wanted to fight us and had his fists ready, but then we sat down. So we just sat at home for New Year's eve and went to bed early, because we arent allowed to do sleepovers in our missions, so no one was able to stay over anywhere. But at like 7pm we heard a knock at our door and it was our land lady for rent. Her husband and her drove us to the bank to get the money. They had a really nice lexus.

Friday – Planned and then went on a split with Demyanov, the native. He heard me coughing (i'm a bit sick) and he told me that I needed to drink a cup of honey and that would cure me. And I told him I would just take some medicine (which I did and I got better the next day). He told me that that was stupid and that he is older than me and knows more about health and KNOWS that if I drink the honey I will get better. He has some crazy ideas sometimes...

Saturday – Split ended and then me and Hyer went to Lidia's for a lesson. She's an older inactive who feeds us food... but sometimes the food is gross. This week she gave us халадец, aka Jellied Meat.. aka the grossiest thing you can eat here. I didn't try it, but Hyer did and he was gagging. He just grabbed all of it, but it in a napkin and put it in our bags. Headed, back to our apartment, finish district meeting and visited people.

Sunday – Went to Church as usual, eat and contacted people.

Contacting – We have had some really good contacting this week, Our bus driver when we came on saw us and wanted to talk to us. Everyone got off the bus and he wanted us to stay and we talked and showed him pictures (everyone shows each other pictures to get aquainted). He is coming with us tonight to family night. We got like 4 other street contacts this week and we got 6 out of the area book. On Sunday we called like 15 people that I had pulled out of the area book. We got ahold of about 7 of them. The one had moved to saltuvka, but we got his new adress from his mom and the other 6 want to meet with us this week.. .3 of which are families. So this week is going to be packed

This week – On thursday the 2 branches (XTZ and New Homes) are having a joint christmas party (since Ukrainian Christmas in January 7th). I'm doing a musical presentation there. Then on Friday we (the missionaries) organized a christmas night for the youth in both branches. We are gong to have like a 10-15 minutes spiritual thought on christmas and then watch Joy to the World and then eat food and play games. Its going to be big event for youth and investigators. Then on saturday we have a Baptism! But its not ours. Its someone the Sister's are teaching, but she asked Elder Hyer to baptize her and I am doing a musical presentation (like I said, I play the piano a lot here). The Sister's also just found out that she lives in our area, so she is going to join our branch (she has been going to New Homes).

I think that is everything!

Cta. Clarkstone