It is awesome being here in Yekat once again and being around such awesome members, investigators, and missionaries. Elder S and I have been stepping up the work here in Yekat and trying to keep this city finding investigators and having those lessons with a member present. This past week was full of things that we had to do around the whole city. All the way from taking one hour bus rides to the amazing metropolotin system they have here in Yekat. My area is being changed, along with everyone else's to accomidate the ward split that they did here this past Sunday. We met with the assistants at President's house to go over the plans on moving missionaries to their new areas and aquiring new apartments for some of the companionships.
I have been enjoying the new area and my companion and I are having a blast with the work and hanging out. My area has been the center of Yekat, and that is including the amazing monuments and parks which
provide a good place to go ride bikes on a P-day with members and investigators. That was such a fun P-day and it is hard to think that summer is half way over here in the Urals.
Monday, we were coming back from a meeting and talking when we saw a young mom and her little boy carrying groceries underneath the underpass. Elder S spotted them ahead and we decided to go and help them. They allowed us to give them a hand and we talked to both of them on the way to there house. It was cool. She thanked us for the small service of carrying their groceries which were for the vacation that they were planning to do the next day. She then invited us to come anytime and to call her and she would like to know more about the church and who we are. It was one of the best contacts of the week.
This area is awesome for contacting and I get excited to do contacting. Another instance we had was on the same street coming from president's house and we stopped a younger man our age and got on a
good discussion on the need for faith and abut the Book of Mormon. It was great to talk to him and it was going well, until one man came up to the side of us and butted into the conversation. (We had to hold
ourselves back from telling him that this was an AB conversation) I told Elder S to continue the converstion with the other man, while I would take on the man that wanted to talk about strategy and war tactics of Russia.
The rest of the week went by really fast after we ran around and picked up supplies for the missionaries for zone class and meeting with new investigators. We found some cool guys around our age. One is
from Uzbekistan and the other is from Kurgan. The man from Uzbekistan doesn't speak Russian too well, but enough to get an idea of what we are saying. He is Muslim, and therefore we are taking smaller steps
with him and trying to answer his question about why there are so many religions. The other man is interested in taking the lessons and learning more,but we will meet with him as much as he can and extend a baptismal commitment as he continues. We just want to try and get him to as many activities as possible. However, we have two new branch presidents in the city and new branches. It may be a while until they get organized and we can get coordinating with them on activities. Our area also changed and we are now only a fourth of center and the area around the church building. I am super excited to start up again in a brand new area and
get some awesome investigators.
Zone Class went well as we talked about accountability with all the missionaries and even did a little of a lunch for our zone, where everyone brought goods to add to the potluck there. We made interesting graphs which were shown to us by a member who actually served in this mission three years ago and is now the branch president. One represented the zone's new investigators, the next was other lessons, then member present lessons, then church attendance, and baptisms. It was interesting to see the graphs in similarity and
to see that the more member present lessons we have the more there are at church and the more people accept a baptismal date to be baptized.
It was a great week and wee ended off with splits with the Elders in the northern part of the city and enjoyed the day with the new Elder K. That was one busy day even though I didn't have to worry about phone calls and tasks that you sometimes get as a zone leader. One guy that I contacted came up to us and tried to argue and so forth. I looked at Elder K and told the man that we wish him luck and that our testimonies will remain strong. So many things in this world really try to attack who you are as a child of God in order to bring
you down to misery and among the mist of darkness which blinds us from seeing the truth in front of us. This church is true!!
Yesterday after a busy church meeting, which I got to bless the sacrament, we went over to dinner at D's place and played a quick game, shared a spiritual thought on patience and had amazing soup and rice. We had a good time and laughed our socks off enjoying every minute of it. It is good to be here in Yekat!
LOVE YOU ALL!!
Elder LeFevre
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
July 9, 2012
There was a baptism at a lake this past week in Chely!! Our investigator was baptized and everything went well, even though it almost all fell through. We had a lot to do before and during the baptism, especially since it was on a lake! Yeah, the first time I have ever seen it done at a lake in my life and let alone plan for one. We had Zone Leader Council last P-day and decided to go down to the trading center in town to get Elder B a sweet Giorgio Armani bag like mine, but bigger. We met the M's there a little late and got them bags in order to make a bus ride to Yekaterinburg to get trained up on the addiction recovery program that they want to start here in Russia. However, it is not promised that this program will be implemented while I am here on my mission. They are taking it nice and slow. We left the M's early afternoon to Yekat after haircuts and enjoyed the humid air. We enjoyed our time amongst the other leaders in the mission and had a good talk on unity amongst ourselves and the goal for the mission to receive 91 baptisms by the end of the year. I always enjoy being amongst the R's and being taught by the Spirit. Every day on my mission has had a lesson included within it to teach me something new about life or the gospel.
We got back from our council in Yekat late in the night, but on the way at the bus stop talked to a nice guy about the gospel and for once didn't get into an argument on the topic, if Jesus Christ was the Son of God or not. Wednesday we were back and continuing the work here in CHTZ by leading my last Zone Class in Chelyabinsk. We set goals to get six referrals as we go and offer assistance to the leaders in the branch and inviting them over to the M's to have dinner and contact the referrals. Lately, I have been focusing on getting to become close with the members in anywhere that I serve to show the care I have, in action and the trust they can put in missionaries. Being a zone leader has taught me so much in how to take the principles of communication, love, and service into action in my everyday responsibilities as a missionary and for after my mission. I am very grateful for having served in Chely amongst great missionaries, members, and a great senior couple. I am going to miss them all.
Our other investigator was to be baptized as well, but is still working on overcoming smoking. We are still trying to help him become clean from smoking, and I am confident that the elders here will have him baptized next transfer. The other investigator, who is like my good friend on church meetings had a meeting with us for the last time on Saturday before the baptism. He is picking up gospel principles before we even tell him in the lesson to lead to the next point. There is so much potential in this area in Chely and I have loved every minute of it.
After splits on Friday with the Assistants, we made our last few calls to invite people to come and whoever said they could be there to help carry people in their car to the lake after a certain point in the road. There was a good showing of 32 people on the baptism and it was cool to see our investigator be baptized in the lake there. It was of course crowded with people on the shore near us on both sides, but they mainly watched in amazement as we performed the ordinance. We had a victory dinner of brownies, juice, and later Subway in the week.
Tonight, we will be attending a big family home evening in our area and I will be saying goodbye to some of the members there as I go to Yekaterinburg to be a Zone Leader with Elder S. I am so excited to be serving with Elder S in the center of the big city. I love the Lord, the people and my mission! I love you all!
We got back from our council in Yekat late in the night, but on the way at the bus stop talked to a nice guy about the gospel and for once didn't get into an argument on the topic, if Jesus Christ was the Son of God or not. Wednesday we were back and continuing the work here in CHTZ by leading my last Zone Class in Chelyabinsk. We set goals to get six referrals as we go and offer assistance to the leaders in the branch and inviting them over to the M's to have dinner and contact the referrals. Lately, I have been focusing on getting to become close with the members in anywhere that I serve to show the care I have, in action and the trust they can put in missionaries. Being a zone leader has taught me so much in how to take the principles of communication, love, and service into action in my everyday responsibilities as a missionary and for after my mission. I am very grateful for having served in Chely amongst great missionaries, members, and a great senior couple. I am going to miss them all.
Our other investigator was to be baptized as well, but is still working on overcoming smoking. We are still trying to help him become clean from smoking, and I am confident that the elders here will have him baptized next transfer. The other investigator, who is like my good friend on church meetings had a meeting with us for the last time on Saturday before the baptism. He is picking up gospel principles before we even tell him in the lesson to lead to the next point. There is so much potential in this area in Chely and I have loved every minute of it.
After splits on Friday with the Assistants, we made our last few calls to invite people to come and whoever said they could be there to help carry people in their car to the lake after a certain point in the road. There was a good showing of 32 people on the baptism and it was cool to see our investigator be baptized in the lake there. It was of course crowded with people on the shore near us on both sides, but they mainly watched in amazement as we performed the ordinance. We had a victory dinner of brownies, juice, and later Subway in the week.
Tonight, we will be attending a big family home evening in our area and I will be saying goodbye to some of the members there as I go to Yekaterinburg to be a Zone Leader with Elder S. I am so excited to be serving with Elder S in the center of the big city. I love the Lord, the people and my mission! I love you all!
Elder LeFevre
Sunday, July 8, 2012
July 2, 2012
This Saturday, there will also be the baptism of our other investigator on the lake here in Chelyabinsk. We are super excited to see these men get baptized to help build the priesthood here and the church. It just puts a big smile on my face to see such miracles happen after months of hard continous work. Our other investigator who is eighteen left to go work on the railroad this past week for two months and it was sad seeing him for the last time in a while. He has become our close friend here in Chelyabinsk and it was fun hanging out and playing basketball and talking about the UFC with him. Now, I am on the search for a new investigator to talk UFC with me.
With two of our investigators getting baptized in this coming week, we have been trying to get more people on the escelator towards baptism here in Chelyabinsk. I don't know if I will be transferred or not. I hope not, because the people here have been the best especially since I can hold conversations with people.
This past week we have been trying to fill up our potential investigator sheets with names and contacting them to find new investigators. One man we have been calling called us up while we were looking at one of the many lakes that surround Chelyabinsk to hold the baptism. He told Elder B and I that he wanted to meet as soon as possible that day to talk more. We figured we could fit him into our schedule that day and immediately went to stop by him and teach him a lesson. We showed up to the door of the staircase and called him. he came down and met us outside and invited us up to his apartment. He spoke some english and held a little conversation with us in English at the beginning. We stepped into the apartment and he turns to us and asked if we wanted something to eat or if we wanted to drink with him. Not thinking too much about the last part of the offer we stepped in and sat on his couch in his bedroom. he sat at the computer desk across from us. At first when we met with him outside, he had a distinct smell on his breath which didn't remind me of beer or whisky. It was something totally different, but I had smelt it before especially with an older investigator in my old area in Perm. We sat down and then we started to talk about hobbies, family, and etc. Then he turns in his seat and pulls out a big bottle of vodka and a shot glass and turned to us and offered some. I thought, "Darn!!" Then he started to light a cigarette after we explained to him that we dont smoke or drink and obey the law of chasity completely. We immediately got up and explained that we got to go and that we can only teach him if he is sober. He was a bit sad that we had to leave and then turned to both of us and said , "It is a Russian tradition to wish good luck to their guests and to kiss them on the cheek three times." Elder B and I just looked at each other and I said to him that we dont do that kind of thing. We both stood up and then the man shook our hands and then my face. Well, I got those pecks on the cheek and so did my companion. We left that meeting whiping our faces with cleaning towelettes and decided that it is best to have meetings with that man at the church.
One of the many miracles that happened this week was when we stopped by a contact whom we received off the street from a seventeen year old kid for the third time, hoping to get another way to contact him. His stepdad has been drunk for the past few stop bys and has yelled at us that the bible is enough and they don't need to learn more about our church. The son on the other hand is super interested and wants to learn more. It can be sad to see people in such situations. We left him our invitation and our number to call back. we started heading down the elevator and down the stairs and then there was a familiar face of a man whom I had seen in the area quite often. He stopped us and asked why we are here in white shirts and ties. We told him about our purpose here as missionaries and gave him the first vision on the street and talked about how he was baptized when he was young but lately is starting to question if their is a God. It was a perfect contact and I knew the Lord had prepared this man to talk to him about the church and our testimonies. He was super interested and we walked down to the bus stop talking about our favorite rock groups like Metallica and so forth. He plays the electric guitar and is in a band. he stated that he had seen us wlking around for sometime and has always wanted to stop us and ask who we were, but never did. He told us he saw us in the grocery store at the big mall across the street from us and then it dawned on me that he was the kid that weighed our fruit every week! haha Hey, I know that it is important to be representatives and followers of Christ at all times and in all places because you make an effect on people and the way they look at the church. This man had such respect for us and may be down to here more about the church.
We got our fan to work the other day finally after having trouble getting off one piece of the fan to place the blades. We went without a fan for a week about and decided we needed to take back the fan that we just bought at the store near us and get a different fan. I thought that $14 for the fan was cheap and maybe this was the problem. So we walked up the guy behing the customer service desk and explained that we cannot get the peice off. He calls in help and a man comes up to the desk and begins to twist the peice and unscrews it in two seconds. We tried getting that peice to come off everynight with knives and even a hammer and this guy just walks on over to us and laughs and asks "What's the problem." Blonde MOMENT! Elder B and I just collected the box of fan parts and got out of their as soon as possible, laughing every step on the way back home. My shoes are getting worn out super fast and I am about to switch into the other pair I have. Especially, this past week we went to four lakes trying to find a place that will not be busy to hold a baptism somewhere that is not deep and easy access. Of course, we found one spot in the last place on ur list to look that wasn't crowded and was easily accessible by car. Doing the work of the Lord is a joy everyday and I am loving every moment on the mission. Best decision I have made by far. I love you all and you all have great week.
Love, Elder LeFevre
This past week we have been trying to fill up our potential investigator sheets with names and contacting them to find new investigators. One man we have been calling called us up while we were looking at one of the many lakes that surround Chelyabinsk to hold the baptism. He told Elder B and I that he wanted to meet as soon as possible that day to talk more. We figured we could fit him into our schedule that day and immediately went to stop by him and teach him a lesson. We showed up to the door of the staircase and called him. he came down and met us outside and invited us up to his apartment. He spoke some english and held a little conversation with us in English at the beginning. We stepped into the apartment and he turns to us and asked if we wanted something to eat or if we wanted to drink with him. Not thinking too much about the last part of the offer we stepped in and sat on his couch in his bedroom. he sat at the computer desk across from us. At first when we met with him outside, he had a distinct smell on his breath which didn't remind me of beer or whisky. It was something totally different, but I had smelt it before especially with an older investigator in my old area in Perm. We sat down and then we started to talk about hobbies, family, and etc. Then he turns in his seat and pulls out a big bottle of vodka and a shot glass and turned to us and offered some. I thought, "Darn!!" Then he started to light a cigarette after we explained to him that we dont smoke or drink and obey the law of chasity completely. We immediately got up and explained that we got to go and that we can only teach him if he is sober. He was a bit sad that we had to leave and then turned to both of us and said , "It is a Russian tradition to wish good luck to their guests and to kiss them on the cheek three times." Elder B and I just looked at each other and I said to him that we dont do that kind of thing. We both stood up and then the man shook our hands and then my face. Well, I got those pecks on the cheek and so did my companion. We left that meeting whiping our faces with cleaning towelettes and decided that it is best to have meetings with that man at the church.
One of the many miracles that happened this week was when we stopped by a contact whom we received off the street from a seventeen year old kid for the third time, hoping to get another way to contact him. His stepdad has been drunk for the past few stop bys and has yelled at us that the bible is enough and they don't need to learn more about our church. The son on the other hand is super interested and wants to learn more. It can be sad to see people in such situations. We left him our invitation and our number to call back. we started heading down the elevator and down the stairs and then there was a familiar face of a man whom I had seen in the area quite often. He stopped us and asked why we are here in white shirts and ties. We told him about our purpose here as missionaries and gave him the first vision on the street and talked about how he was baptized when he was young but lately is starting to question if their is a God. It was a perfect contact and I knew the Lord had prepared this man to talk to him about the church and our testimonies. He was super interested and we walked down to the bus stop talking about our favorite rock groups like Metallica and so forth. He plays the electric guitar and is in a band. he stated that he had seen us wlking around for sometime and has always wanted to stop us and ask who we were, but never did. He told us he saw us in the grocery store at the big mall across the street from us and then it dawned on me that he was the kid that weighed our fruit every week! haha Hey, I know that it is important to be representatives and followers of Christ at all times and in all places because you make an effect on people and the way they look at the church. This man had such respect for us and may be down to here more about the church.
We got our fan to work the other day finally after having trouble getting off one piece of the fan to place the blades. We went without a fan for a week about and decided we needed to take back the fan that we just bought at the store near us and get a different fan. I thought that $14 for the fan was cheap and maybe this was the problem. So we walked up the guy behing the customer service desk and explained that we cannot get the peice off. He calls in help and a man comes up to the desk and begins to twist the peice and unscrews it in two seconds. We tried getting that peice to come off everynight with knives and even a hammer and this guy just walks on over to us and laughs and asks "What's the problem." Blonde MOMENT! Elder B and I just collected the box of fan parts and got out of their as soon as possible, laughing every step on the way back home. My shoes are getting worn out super fast and I am about to switch into the other pair I have. Especially, this past week we went to four lakes trying to find a place that will not be busy to hold a baptism somewhere that is not deep and easy access. Of course, we found one spot in the last place on ur list to look that wasn't crowded and was easily accessible by car. Doing the work of the Lord is a joy everyday and I am loving every moment on the mission. Best decision I have made by far. I love you all and you all have great week.
Love, Elder LeFevre
Wednesday, June 27, 2012
June 25, 2012
This past Monday was different in not having a FHE at a member's house, due to the fact that about half of the members are in Kiev at the temple for these next couple of weeks. So we tried to get members on as many lessons as possible before there would be hardly anyone. Chelyabinsk is one of my favorite cities on the mission. We just got a new ward mission coordinator (Kostya). He is super cool and willing to help us in anyway possible. The only thing that I have began not to like is feeling like I am swimming outside every time we go contacting. We finally decided that we needed to go get a fan to replace the old one that we had that was held together by shoe glue. The motor broke and therefore one night without a fan was enough.
Our new investigator has been able to hangout with us at basketball on mondays and on saturdays football. It has been great to go outside and play to get to know investigators and some of the members better. But these activities have been tough to get participation from everyone, but you can always count on the missionaries.
The zone is doing well and we are trying to hit the standard of excellence of one new investigator a week. The tough part is trying to meet with people who are not in the village or on the garden during this time of year. It is weird to see that on the weekends the city almost turns into a ghost town. Yesterday, We were contacting and we started talking to this kid and basically give him a street lesson and all of a sudden in the corner of my eye I saw a face, which I recognized. I thought to myself, "OH NO!" I saw him stop and take a look at my nametag and wait until we had finished our converstaion with the other man. He then yells, "Well, well well...LeFevre! You never called me back!" I immediaatley knew who this man was and had remembered that we had taught him a couple lessons with Elder S. Last time I talked to the man he had questions about the Book of Mormon and why it didn't contain anything about the first seventeen years of the life of Jesus Christ and so on. And I remember asking him if he had prayed about the book of Mormon. he didn't commply with the request, so I told him that there is no other way and that he needs to have an open heart and act in faith to recieve answers and not just state that all religions are true and that God is a speck of life. He had read every religious piece of literature and Elder S and I tried to lay it out straight with him when we met about the priesthood. So he then followed us back to our general area of residence and then I faked a call and we told him "goodbye." This time, I didn't say anything about calling him back. ha-ha-ha
Our investigators are moving forward towards baptism. We announced the baptism of one of our investigators for this Saturday in the lake near the southern part of Chelyabinsk. However, it is just the branch president who is in town for two weeks and we have been making a ton of calls to get people to come and be aware of the service this Saturday. There is a ton of planning taking place due to the low hands of help. I pray that it works out and tonight we have a potential of teaching a family that Elder B and I found contacting. Miracles happen everyday here and in life in general!
Love you alll and have a good week.
Elder LeFevre
Our new investigator has been able to hangout with us at basketball on mondays and on saturdays football. It has been great to go outside and play to get to know investigators and some of the members better. But these activities have been tough to get participation from everyone, but you can always count on the missionaries.
The zone is doing well and we are trying to hit the standard of excellence of one new investigator a week. The tough part is trying to meet with people who are not in the village or on the garden during this time of year. It is weird to see that on the weekends the city almost turns into a ghost town. Yesterday, We were contacting and we started talking to this kid and basically give him a street lesson and all of a sudden in the corner of my eye I saw a face, which I recognized. I thought to myself, "OH NO!" I saw him stop and take a look at my nametag and wait until we had finished our converstaion with the other man. He then yells, "Well, well well...LeFevre! You never called me back!" I immediaatley knew who this man was and had remembered that we had taught him a couple lessons with Elder S. Last time I talked to the man he had questions about the Book of Mormon and why it didn't contain anything about the first seventeen years of the life of Jesus Christ and so on. And I remember asking him if he had prayed about the book of Mormon. he didn't commply with the request, so I told him that there is no other way and that he needs to have an open heart and act in faith to recieve answers and not just state that all religions are true and that God is a speck of life. He had read every religious piece of literature and Elder S and I tried to lay it out straight with him when we met about the priesthood. So he then followed us back to our general area of residence and then I faked a call and we told him "goodbye." This time, I didn't say anything about calling him back. ha-ha-ha
Our investigators are moving forward towards baptism. We announced the baptism of one of our investigators for this Saturday in the lake near the southern part of Chelyabinsk. However, it is just the branch president who is in town for two weeks and we have been making a ton of calls to get people to come and be aware of the service this Saturday. There is a ton of planning taking place due to the low hands of help. I pray that it works out and tonight we have a potential of teaching a family that Elder B and I found contacting. Miracles happen everyday here and in life in general!
Love you alll and have a good week.
Elder LeFevre
June 18th, 2012
HAPPY FATHERS DAY! This past week was a fun filled week here in Chely. The weather is warming up greatly here, to the point were it is just horrible due to the humidity. I totally agree with the Russian saying, "the summer is to remember the winter and the winter is to remember the summer." Last Monday we played basketball with our new mission ward coordinator, Kostya, and the other elders who live in the city. It was a perfect day to play because of the partly cloudy weather and the sporadic rain we had received. That night we had the spiritual thought at the FHE in our area, where our investigators didn't show up, but it is a good time to get to know the members better. I was just glad that we didn't play UNO again, or else we would have much contention among the people on the FHE. Elder B and I continue to enforce "Operation GO BIG!" It is basically a companionship goal to shut out the fear of talking to some people and just do it! This past week was fun in doing so. One guy that I contacted told us that he loved the "Beatles." We were on our way to a lesson and he just recognized from our appearance that we were Americans and started to sing "Yesterday"-Beatles. We sang with him for a while but then decided we need to go because he was totally drunk dude. I swear just crazy stuff always happens like this.
Thursday, we woke up early to take a taxi to the train station at about 4:15am to catch a 10hr train to Ufa. (Of course, we stopped across the street at the 24hr SUBWAY with the whole zone to have something to eat for the train.) We got into Ufa and it was blazing hot, that I got a stain from the backpack strap on my right shoulder. (Gross, I know!) There, we had interviews with President R and then went on splits with the Zone Leaders in Ufa. Ufa is such a nice city! However, most the people you come into contact with lead you to talking about how Jesus was more than just a prophet, but the Son of God. There were some pretty crazy looking mosques that were within the city. The next day we awoke to go to the church building in Ufa to attend Zone Conference. I loved every moment of Zone Conference as we talked about obedience and what separates those missionaries who are 95% obedient and those that are 100% obedient. I am confident and I will say that I know everything is centered around the law of obedience. It is super key to pick the best amount the good things and not fall into doing good things, but doing the best things. I learned so much from everyone's' testimonies and the Rusts. We were glad to be taught how we need to live the higher law in order to ensure blessings to come forth, because the Lord is bound when we do what he says.
We came back to Chely on Saturday morning and had a lesson with our other investigator who is trying to help his wife understand the goodness the gospel brings into our lives everyday as we live it. We planned to talk about half the plan of Salvation with him, until we started drawing up on the board that famous diagram. He said, "What the heck is that?" ha-ha-ha I laughed a little bit and realized we will be talking about the whole plan with him. He enjoyed the lesson and I think in the near future he will accept an actual baptismal date. I love the mission and the the people here in Russia. They teach me so much. Being a Zone Leader in Chely is awesome and I learn from the missionaries (including the wonderful M's!) every day. Love y'all at home and remember to do the things which you believe and know are right!
Love,
Elder LeFevre
Tuesday, We had a FHE at the Meng's and we played Yahtzee and minute to win it games. The was a good turn out of about eighteen young adults and three investigators showed up. One investigator was this eighteen year old guy on the street that we talked to and invited him to come to the activity after our meeting with him. We talked for hours about MMA and about Фёдор and his rise to fame in the UFC. Our new investigator is super cool and has good values and goals for a kid his age. Our other investigator is progressing towards the thirtieth of June and and is in the hospital for liver problems. I see it as a blessing that he is in there, because he cannot smoke while he is in there and this will help him cope with the absence of cigarettes in his life. He has a good foundation of support from the members and we are confident that he will quit by that date.
We came back to Chely on Saturday morning and had a lesson with our other investigator who is trying to help his wife understand the goodness the gospel brings into our lives everyday as we live it. We planned to talk about half the plan of Salvation with him, until we started drawing up on the board that famous diagram. He said, "What the heck is that?" ha-ha-ha I laughed a little bit and realized we will be talking about the whole plan with him. He enjoyed the lesson and I think in the near future he will accept an actual baptismal date. I love the mission and the the people here in Russia. They teach me so much. Being a Zone Leader in Chely is awesome and I learn from the missionaries (including the wonderful M's!) every day. Love y'all at home and remember to do the things which you believe and know are right!
Love,
Elder LeFevre
June 11, 2012
This past week was really awesome! We got another baptismal date set with one of our investigators, who was prepared by the Lord! Me and Elder S found him on the street back in February and have had a baptismal date before and he got scared. We had a great meeting with him and a member and solved that problem and this past week we set the date on the 4th of July! He picked it himself! КРУТО! Elder B and I were ecstatic about it and our other investigator that has a baptismal date is going strong in trying to completely give up smoking by the 20th of June. His baptism will be on the 30th of June. Two baptisms in this transfer!! We are trying to get as many members on meeting as possible and get everyone involved in teaching new convert lessons.
This past week, we had Zone Leader Council at President R's place.It is like stepping back into America every time that we go there. However, don't take my word for it because I have been in Russia for about a year now and everything seems normal to me. (Except when I see peanut butter and oreos, or even a WHOPPER!) President instructed us on many great topics and then we had a great discussion among ourselves over the missionary work and testified. It has to be my favorite time of each month. The church is true in all aspects. We came home all energized and ready to talk to everyone that we saw about the Gospel that night around ten o'clock at night.
Our zone is trying its best to do better in finding as well. This past week we set the goal to talk with two people on transport at least a day. I really needed to set that goal in order to get myself back in the habit of being more open with everyone, except for the drunk people. ha-ha
This past week we have been stopping by less actives and had a couple of meetings at member's homes with an investigator. That by the way was a super good idea. While stopping by one less active we came to the entrance and this man walked out staring at my badge. So, I said hello! He then looked at me astonished and immediately I knew that the man was drunk. He then proceeded to tell us that our mission here in Russia is a waste and that no one will change their lives and that it was no use talking to people about God. We laughed and told him to have a good day and went down the way and after returned to the spot to complete the stop. The member came out and talked with us and after about five minutes the drunk man came out again and then he started to yell at us to go away and not disturb the peace! ha-ha. We gave an invitation and said that we "came in peace!" (holding up the Vulcan sign) He then went his merry way! ha-ha. Always be offering cheer in any situation with a smile to make things better. This past week was great in gathering information on less actives and meeting with some
potentially new investigators. We are doing work here! Love you all and enjoy the summer! It is really humid here! Sitting in priesthood the other day in a suit was awful! ha-ha
Love,
Elder LeFevre
This past week, we had Zone Leader Council at President R's place.It is like stepping back into America every time that we go there. However, don't take my word for it because I have been in Russia for about a year now and everything seems normal to me. (Except when I see peanut butter and oreos, or even a WHOPPER!) President instructed us on many great topics and then we had a great discussion among ourselves over the missionary work and testified. It has to be my favorite time of each month. The church is true in all aspects. We came home all energized and ready to talk to everyone that we saw about the Gospel that night around ten o'clock at night.
Our zone is trying its best to do better in finding as well. This past week we set the goal to talk with two people on transport at least a day. I really needed to set that goal in order to get myself back in the habit of being more open with everyone, except for the drunk people. ha-ha
This past week we have been stopping by less actives and had a couple of meetings at member's homes with an investigator. That by the way was a super good idea. While stopping by one less active we came to the entrance and this man walked out staring at my badge. So, I said hello! He then looked at me astonished and immediately I knew that the man was drunk. He then proceeded to tell us that our mission here in Russia is a waste and that no one will change their lives and that it was no use talking to people about God. We laughed and told him to have a good day and went down the way and after returned to the spot to complete the stop. The member came out and talked with us and after about five minutes the drunk man came out again and then he started to yell at us to go away and not disturb the peace! ha-ha. We gave an invitation and said that we "came in peace!" (holding up the Vulcan sign) He then went his merry way! ha-ha. Always be offering cheer in any situation with a smile to make things better. This past week was great in gathering information on less actives and meeting with some
potentially new investigators. We are doing work here! Love you all and enjoy the summer! It is really humid here! Sitting in priesthood the other day in a suit was awful! ha-ha
Love,
Elder LeFevre
Monday, June 4, 2012
June 4, 2012
This past week was eventful with transfers and we had the most meetings in the are in a long time. Elder S and I at the beginning of the week got to hangout with the M's and some families in the ward at a family home evening, where we mad sure to not play another game of UNO. Before Elder S left we met with our golden
investigator, who was a referral from a member and had an interesting meal with them. The people here are super nice and are always feeding us, even if we tell them we don't have time or we ate. We had a full cooked chicken with all the insides still attached basically and some salad that was purple due to the beets and then some potatoes. It was super good until I looked at the inards and thought I was going to throw up. She must have seen my face turn blue and then stated that I didn't have to eat it and gave it to her boyfriend, with some chicken juice that was left in the pan. I gladly take carbonated horse milk over that any day! haha
Our investigator who is trying to quit smoking and convince his wife that we aren't weird. A lot of things are going well and it looks like our investigator is going to be baptized. He finally got in contact with us and we met with him on Friday and he is busy with his two jobs and running in and out of town to take care of his mom. He is such a cool guy.
Wednesday was transfers. I went to the train station to pick up Elder B and dropped off Elder S on the Electric train to Perm. We sat in the station for a while and then it was back to Chelyabinsk. However, I was in a hurry and got caught in doing other things and carrying bags that I forgot my own backpack! I sat down on the bus and said to myself well darn it felt weird not having my backpack on my
back. OOPS! Called the assistants and they picked it up. So no worries. I have been wondering this past week how I am going to be doing with a new companion who is new being zone leader and all the crazy junk that goes on sometimes. This past week, Elder B and I planned to do seven Dan Jones's in order to treat ourselves at McDonalds for an "Ochosinko." It has been a while, since I have stood up in front of people in a bus and announced or soap boxed the whole bus.
Definitely take out my comfort zone. There are many changes that are taking place here in the branch as we are getting the branch moving along with some activities to invite nonmember friends to them and help the area out with some meetings. Elder B is legit and happy to be serving with him. It will be a great transfer!!
Love,
Elder LeFevre
investigator, who was a referral from a member and had an interesting meal with them. The people here are super nice and are always feeding us, even if we tell them we don't have time or we ate. We had a full cooked chicken with all the insides still attached basically and some salad that was purple due to the beets and then some potatoes. It was super good until I looked at the inards and thought I was going to throw up. She must have seen my face turn blue and then stated that I didn't have to eat it and gave it to her boyfriend, with some chicken juice that was left in the pan. I gladly take carbonated horse milk over that any day! haha
Our investigator who is trying to quit smoking and convince his wife that we aren't weird. A lot of things are going well and it looks like our investigator is going to be baptized. He finally got in contact with us and we met with him on Friday and he is busy with his two jobs and running in and out of town to take care of his mom. He is such a cool guy.
Wednesday was transfers. I went to the train station to pick up Elder B and dropped off Elder S on the Electric train to Perm. We sat in the station for a while and then it was back to Chelyabinsk. However, I was in a hurry and got caught in doing other things and carrying bags that I forgot my own backpack! I sat down on the bus and said to myself well darn it felt weird not having my backpack on my
back. OOPS! Called the assistants and they picked it up. So no worries. I have been wondering this past week how I am going to be doing with a new companion who is new being zone leader and all the crazy junk that goes on sometimes. This past week, Elder B and I planned to do seven Dan Jones's in order to treat ourselves at McDonalds for an "Ochosinko." It has been a while, since I have stood up in front of people in a bus and announced or soap boxed the whole bus.
Definitely take out my comfort zone. There are many changes that are taking place here in the branch as we are getting the branch moving along with some activities to invite nonmember friends to them and help the area out with some meetings. Elder B is legit and happy to be serving with him. It will be a great transfer!!
Love,
Elder LeFevre
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