Interesting Week

So this is concluding my first week in Russia! It hasn't been easy at all for us. We supposedly had two investigators at first, but now we don’t have any. So Tuesday we spent most of our time calling potentials, formers, and trying to set up appointments with the rest of the members in the area. It was a pretty tiring week and I got to see some crazy, nasty, and neat stuff this week.

The first investigator we met with this week works as a chemist! He is extremely nice guy. We met with him and I told him that I loved chemistry, and this got us off into a tangent. He tried to explain to me in Russian chemistry and dissolvents. If you thought chemistry was hard, think about it in Russian. My head was about to burst. We gave him the lesson and invited him to be baptized and he accepted!! But he said he couldn't because of his work. 

So it has been fun talking with people on the street. I am not that outgoing but my companion has been helping me out talking to people and get phrases down. Contacting has been really tough and we have been trying to stay away from men who hit the bottle early and later. We can't go tracking here really because it is rude to even get inside a подъез and just knock and plus they are super sketch. We went in one during the week and it had a mix of stray dogs! We decided not to linger there. People love pigeons and cats here.

On Tuesday I had my first Russian Subway and you may think I am a traitor but it is better here! The chicken was really tender and not just sitting in a tray. It costs about 180 p. Super good!!

Wednesday we had zone conference. We don’t have districts because then it would just be companionship study. A native made borsch and it was Super AMAZING!! I heard it can be prepared better and that there are many different ways. So I guess I will need to taste test it.

The air is super humid and it has been really hot, especially on the buses! So many people get on these buses here and people are really not talkative on them. This whole week has been interesting as we have been making calls and people have been calling us. Drunk people have been calling us like crazy the past couple of days and telling us " I...LOVE...BAC BRUDA!" (Half in broken English and Russian).

Next, later in the week we met with the coolest people in Russia that are members. Their son lives in Utah after serving a mission he got married and lives there. They are super nice and love the missionaries and were happy to have us visit. Their home was nice! She likes to talk with everyone on facebook and the husband is deaf and blind, but he speaks Russian enough to understand. He was super happy and liked to make jokes about Russia and how his son is a traitor!! ha-ha  He also asked if I was black because I was from Vegas. It was super cool. We decided to visit everyone and drop by cookies and a script reference as a thank you note for everyone we met.

Weird thing that hit me was the fact that I have been forced to make meals with my companion by scratch. Speaking of which I made a cake today!! Ha-ha It is for our 4th of July Celebration. Which is going to rock!! We also are making tacos tonight and Friday for families. Tacos are the bomb!! супер Snickers Rock too! All is exciting and it is fun to be with the Russian people.

Love Ya all,
Elder LeFevre

First Week in Russia ( with pictures)

Hello Everyone: So I left on the plane and let me tell you the trip was great. While on the plane Elder P and I talked with a few people and had a good couple of lessons with Katherine on the flight from Chicago to Frankfurt. It was good, and we handed some BOM's. Lufthansa flight was amazing and very high tech! We got awesome meals that were gourmet! ha-ha LEGIT.  We landed in Frankfurt and let me tell you, that was a nice airport and surprisingly not crowded. We had Mc Donald’s and it was hilarious! So I knew how Europeans love their drinks and I played it safe getting Coke (which was the best) and my companion got Fanta. I thought it tasted great but my companion thought differently. It tasted like carbonated orange juice and that is exactly what it was. Then he wanted water and I thought I told him about the water, but maybe I didn’t. He paid for water and it was carbonated as well. ha-ha I got a good laugh looking at his face. But he drank it all.

So I arrived in Russia at 0400 am and it was really interesting! Got off the Lufthansa flight and I thought I was sitting next to Napoleon Dynamites sister. We entered through the gate and we had to fill out our migration card and go through Russian security. We handed our documents and stood through a metal detector as this really angry looking officer pointed at me and said, "Hallo America!" hahaha… He stamped it and I was on my way to collect my bags. While waiting for my bags the track started to move and a dog walks onto the track as the first piece of luggage comes off! ha-ha official eh?! I lost one piece of luggage on the way here and I had to fill out four pieces of paper for it. I don’t know what to tell ya, I was here in a foreign land and no one was speaking anything that I could understand! Once I stepped out of the airport, I was running into a world of chaos. Everything was like 5x as ghetto as anywhere I have been even more ghetto than east LA. Everyone was walking around with beer in their hands and cigarettes. It was weird to see advertisements for Marlboro everywhere and how it is healthy. Oh and I guess it is normal for stray dogs everywhere, ran into one on the way to the library. Our stay at the mission home was the bomb and I got to taste for the first time the сок и yogurt. The best I have tasted! Bread was ten times better than at home too and I got to taste 4% milk.

So I met my trainer, Elder H from Bountiful, Utah. He is pretty tight and we get along well. We had our first lesson with each other yesterday after church and it was good. We arrived in Perm on a six-hour train ride. He is going home in August so I am trying to pick up on as much Russian as I can while he is here. I took some pictures of the area, but my uploading devices got lost on the way here. So pictures next week, I PROMISE! 

Walking around and contacting is really interesting. All the women wear see through shirts, since it is hot outside and are way immodest. The men are like the movies portray they wear workout clothes and adidas, adidas, adidas. Everywhere is techno music and they love the black eye peas! (Russians love their techno except for President A he likes System of a Down because they are Armenian.) 

The members here are a one of a kind! I love em! They are super funny! Everyone asked where I lived and when I responded Las Vegas they were booming with questions. They want to play poker with me sometime. I said maybe if they want to play for referrals. After church, our branch went out and I went on splits with a member who is a recent convert full of energy. We went out and contacted together. This is when I first got my taste of Russia. It is like walking out in the forest camping but being in a city at the same time. There are ton of stands that sell beer and vodka and porn. RIDICULOUS!! We contacted eight people and it was funny because I hardly talked. He wanted to show me how it is done! His approach was subtle and to the point and I am sure people were cussing at us and all he said was 'understandable'! ha-ha Sunday was crazy and different. 

 The only way to get around I guess is buses here. So the buses have German instructions and Russian advertisements. There is a guy driving the crowded bus and his "girl" who collects the money from you, and it is 12 rubles per ride. It is really interesting and I am sure getting fond of the smell of smoke and alcohol. When I walk outside I feel like I am walking in a World War 2 Movie. The train station has the marks of soviet russia all over and so does Perm. There is even a play ground were kids are playing on missiles. Oh and to answer some questions all the bottoms of the trees are painted white, and people don’t sit down on the sidewalks because it supposedly makes you sterile. Oh my favorite thing here is the taxi rides. ha-ha I feel like I’m in a car chase in a movie! Sudden stops, driving on sidewalks, swerving, and hitting the gas! Better than Disneyland ha-ha It is cool here. Oh and the doors are like dungeon doors and so are the keys. Showers are freezing! So no problems waking up! ha-ha

Love ya'll,

Elder LeFevre

25 hours flying = Arriving in Russia

Kyle made it to Russia yesterday at 4:18 pm, after traveling over 25 hours via three airlines. We stayed up most of the night and watched him fly via a flight tracker. I think I feel asleep from about 3-4:30 am and awoke with my iPad next to me in bed to see that he was over England and heading to Germany.  If you have never looked at a flight tracker on the internet then you should because it is amazing to see how many planes are actually in the air. The skies over Europe were crazy. We then tracked his flight to Yekat, but all the sudden just east of Moscow it fell off the radar. As we watched we realized that all the planes were dropping off at the same area. Simply a lack of radar stations. (I would recommend flightradar24.com if anyone is curious)

Today I got a call on my cell phone from United Airlines wondering how they could get one of Kyle's bags to him. Apparently the tags had all been ripped off and they never put it on the Lufthansa flight from Chicago to Germany. They had to go through his luggage, read his letters, and figured out his first name was Kyle (They could not find a last name) and then found my cell number in the suitcase. So they are sending his bag to Russia from Chicago. Kyle never realized it until he was in Russia. Then this morning he sent me 2 sentences via email stating he was there and what city he was going to serve in and he failed to mention the lost luggage. I called SLC and they told me to call the  mission office in Russia. That was an fun 4 minute call.  I found out from the Elder who answered the phone that they knew he was missing a bag and had filled out a missing baggage report. I let him know that United called me and Lufthansa would be bringing the bag to the mission office probably next week.

It has been a fun last few days. Kyle will be sending his first official email from Russia on Sunday night, which is Monday there.

I appreciate everyone's support.
Love, Kathy

Leaving for Russia

Since Kyle's MTC P-day is on Wednesday and he is flying out Tuesday June 21, then we will not be getting an email until he arrives in Russia later this week. He is busy packing and preparing for the flight, and hoping that he can take everything he has plus the many books he got in the MTC with him without leaving stuff behind due to luggage weight limitations.

Kyle wrote in one of his recent letters to me, that it seems like they have been in the MTC forever and permanent residents. He has watched the trees go from barren to green with blossoms and seen those blossoms fall. 

He will be traveling on Tuesday from SLC to Chicago, then to Frankfurt and Yekaterinburg. By the time he gets to Yekat it will be Thursday in Russia. The time difference from Vegas is 13 hours or 12 in the winter.

His new P-day will be Monday. Since our Sunday night is his Monday morning then I will be getting his email on Sundays and posting to the blog.

I have included information on how to write him in Russia on the right hand side of this blog. Basically it takes 2 weeks for letters and about 4 weeks for packages. The Yekat Mission said they have noticed lately that the USA Priority Mail arrives in 2 weeks if you are sending a package.

When Kyle writes handwritten letters home, he always writes that he appreciates all the support, letters, and packages that he has received from family and friends.  He was only able to write for a short time on his P-day, therefore he is still behind on sending letters and thank-you's but hopes to catch up soon.
He loves ya'll and so do we.
 

Band of Brothers

It is really cool how in a few months I can see how the gospel can bring anyone together. My district is compiled of totally different people and yet we have all managed to become best friends. We are already planning for a reunion when we get back! ha-ha
This week deserves a title due to the fact that in some ways I feel like I am in that series. The battle has been raging since the beginning of time in the pre-existence. I have been enlisted in God's army and I have the squadron leading the attack as the morning breaks in the darkest areas of the world. Spreading light, truth, and strength to those in need of fighting their own battles in their lives. We all have those battles within us and we need to recognize who or what is confronting us. "Nothing good comes from the Devil" This ranges from a ton of things but it is very true.
The other day my companion got picked to be an example to the new missionaries on Wednesday in teaching. We had to attend a training meeting to see how we can improve to be the best example we can be. We watched these interviews on this website and people were interviewed randomly on the streets about their lives. Immediately after hearing about five minutes of their life, I felt like I already started to love that person. Weird, but the people in these interviews were real people with some big concerns in their lives. Concerns such as, many divorces, deaths, separation from kids, no place to live because they can't get a decent job to go along with their injuries, family is broken, and they have allowed substances take over their lives. I guess I am developing a sense of charity. Immediately when I thought about people out there like that, people in the church, my family, my friends, everyone matters to me. I have always been willing to lend out a hand to anyone in need. I am reminded of a time in seminary (yes you can learn something in seminary if you are awake), the song "Heaven Wouldn't Be" and the words after state, 'without you." This is how I feel when I look at all of you back home. When I go into Russia, I am going and carrying this behind everything I do.
This was one of the only times where I have felt strongly about what I know and I want everyone to know that message too. I am ready to go and stand in the midst of oppression, and darkness and with my band of brothers I have made at the MTC stand for truth and light! It will be fun and i can't wait to let you guys know how its going!
Love you all!
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Week 9

What an exciting week!! We get our travel plans either today or tomorrow. I don't know I just received a slip, along with elder painter to the travel office just now!

I am taking pictures no worries mom! ha-ha The computer doesn’t want to recognize the device and I will get some pictures too all of you soon! This past week we have been playing softball during gym time and it is interesting to talk with the natives to teach them American sports. One of them was excited to learn about baseball and the rules. He said, "You Americans have fun sport here!"

My companion and I have been doing well with keeping each other on task and studying the language, which I struggle with but if you are struggling in anything then you are doing it right. We have been reviewing old principles and it makes me feel really good when I can explain a concept to the new missionaries. We have officially began 100% Russian until we leave! AGHHH very hard! But my companion and me participate and I am starting to remember words and how to conjugate and put them into cases. Everyone hears us around MTC and they stare at us constantly and always ask, "How long have you been here?" I always chuckle because I don’t know if they are asking this because we have become so adjusted to the MTC or that our language is out of this world.

I can’t wait to get over there and constantly be surrounded by the language and the culture. I hope I get a good trainer though, because I need as much help in my Russian as I can get! It is true I think I have developed an accent through speaking the language as much as I can! ha-ha. My "P" 's can be nicely rolled now! And my soft vowels are correct when the natives hear it. I will also try to find a way to upload my testimony in Russian as soon as possible.

It has been crazy to think how fast the time has flown since I got in here. Every day I remember looking out the class window the tree went from barren to fully blooming and is now green. If you look at it that way it is forever it seems but not really. I am glad to be going to Russia!! I am so ready to stop sweating! hahaha

Love you all! I got to go! Thank you for the packages, just now the food is being donated to the newer elders if isn’t gone! ha-ha

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MTC Week 8

So the weeks are coming so fast towards the end of my stay here in the MTC. It is crazy how fast the time flew. And there is no other place that I would want to be than here on a mission. As I stated in letter of last week, I was chosen to be the new district leader and I couldn’t be happier. I love being district leader and my experience at the MTC is only getting better every day. As district leader I get to attend many meetings with Bro. M and Pres. H. They are really awesome people and I learn from them on Sunday and Tuesday nights.I am in charge of district mtgs, planning mtgs, and getting the mail. Getting the mail is my least favorite because everyone likes to know if I have checked already! ha-ha   I always state that I will not but I do. I am not that mean! haha

To answer everyone's question about Collinsworth, yes I have seen him and he is in my zone. He is a pretty cool elder. I try to school him at bball but I am humbled every day! hahaha

The Russian is taking its sweet time but I can teach in it and my companion and I try to help quiz each other often. Tonight is one of the last three TRC's I have to teach and today we are talking about sicknesses and referrals on top of everything else we know. Crazy stuff!!

 So we got our second set of name tags with the Russian translations of our names this week but they messed mine up, so I will have to wait until I receive my travel plans next week.  I was bummed but I want the capital 'F' so it is worth the wait.  As time approaches for me to leave the MTC, I will send my MTC badges home so you guys can try and translate! у дачы!

 I only got three weeks and every week I get my heart pumping every Sunday as I prepare for a talk in 100% Russian, I haven't been picked yet. Oh and I am also glad to report that the names for the temple are coming along. I appreciate the names you send! Everyone loves the hot sauce mom!  Well only a few hahaha but I love it!  This week rocked as we are getting better as a district and we will be going 100% in Russian the last two weeks I am here so it’ll be interesting but I am sure it will be a learning experience.

Reminds me of a quick funny story about talking about illnesses.  I accidently said that the branch President was using narcotics to feel better and that means like illegal drugs in Russia! hahahaha cracking up! Same old same old tho!

Love ya and if I haven't wrote you back remind my mom and it’ll be in the next mail.
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