August 26th 2013

    Hey!

So did I mention last week that we're white-washing in our new area? Apart from the meager information I squeezed out of the sisters before us during transfers, we had zero knowledge of the area, zero experience with the members, zero investigators, and, a couple potentials (thankfully). So cool, collected, and amazing Sister Keistler and I have started this place up from scratch. And honestly, it's been one of the best weeks. I can't explain it. It's so fulfilling. White-washing has given us the opportunity to put everything we've learned into practice, to do everything in our power to do things right and oh, how we have been blessed! There has been a fire in my heart from the moment I heard my transfer call and it hasn't died. I can't explain the burning desire that sits in my chest or where it came from or why it's there but I'm sure it's something from God and that there's something that I need to do here with Sister Keistler. She is a woman of great faith and great abilities. We are very unified with our vision of this area, what we want to accomplish and how. With the Lord's help, I can't see anything stopping us. I feel His approval and acceptance of our work and His Spirit guiding us. Judging by this past week, I am very excited to see what's in store for us these next couple of months!!

 

Our area is called Dachney, the adjective form of dacha, which is the russian word for their summer homes. The dachas are out in the country, and after Samara, this definitely feels like the country. We live on a giant hill--A HILLL!!! the first non-flat piece of land I've seen here! I wanted to weep with joy. I mean, hauling the groceries back home is going to be a work out but I don't get much of that anyway so... it's probably a good thing. Also, behind our apartment building on the hill and beyond is a giant forest! Annnddd where we play sport every saturday you can look out and see another hill with nothingness. This may seem strange to be so excited about but it's been 6 months since I've been in a place where I'm not surrounded by the city. Oh! and I went on a train for the first time! It was sooo old school. :) and I could see the country side as we went along. It's exactly like eastern washington. Where we play sport we might as well be in Tri-Cities, except more humid. So nothing too exciting there.

Anyway, to the actually exciting things, the members in our branch are fantastic. The were very welcoming yesterday at church (which is a REAL, ACTUAL church building built by the church!!!). We even received a member referral from one member and a request to visit a less active by another member. And for the first time, I actually had a meeting with the branch mission leader and he invited us to his home. We have support from the branch...it's weird but I love it! I know 100% that if the church is to grow in Russia, which it will, it will be because of the members. I know I've said that before but I just wanted to say it again because it's true and I'm excited to apply that principle here.

I hope that you are all thinking about how the missionaries in your ward can help you do missionary work.

 

I love you and so do the russian people!! I show them my pictures of you and they love it. And they can never believe that mom is my mom because she looks too young.

 

Hugs!

Sister Johnson

Russian Tidbit: Sometimes they pray with their eyes open, just looking around... sometimes up to God.

August 5th, 2013

Hey!! sounds like you all are having a great summer :) I was thinking about Brother Baron the other day and how I think I would understand more now than I did then. Education week was always a good time! Thanks for the pictures and I hope you said hi to the family for me!! So far I haven't received any emails/letters from the extended family, but that's okay, letters aren't the same anyway.

Ben's senior picture looks great! That's crazy he's a senior! Only 6 more months (or 7?) and he can start his papers!! (sorry mom for bringing that to your attention..). 

Well it's been a week full of trudging in the mud and getting caught in the rain. Thankfully, those are two things that I love, and actually, despite the weather, we've had some sweet successes. The first of which has to do with that guy we meet from Madagascar. His name is B..... The first time I saw B.... was right outside of our apartment a couple of P-days ago. He and I met eyes, I saw a light go off and I knew Sister Moffatt and I were in trouble. He was one of the construction workers working on the courtyard right outside our dome and for the next week as we walked out of the complex we were greeted by B..... yelling at us things like "do you know english?" and such things I cared not to remember or repeat. Not that it was terrible really but Sister Moffatt and I have learn to ignore the likes of those of men. So for a week we continued to ignore him until finally two weeks he came up to us and just said, "hey, I actually want to just talk to you. Like seriously." So we stopped and then realized that dang, he really is serious, really cool, and down to meet. So we exchange numbers, the whole bit, still a little bit wary of how it was going to play out (men we teach always seem to have some underlying agenda, which is really annoying). We met with him and had a good How To Begin Teaching lesson with him then the next time we met on the Volga and he brought his friends along with him. :) So then Sister Moffatt and I start to begin teaching them and he walks off and starts wandering along the Volga. Next thing you know, he comes back with a girl names K..... We were like hey, how do you know each other? and they were like we just met! He brought her to us so that we could teach her! Not only is B.... an awesome investigator, but he's a pretty good missionary too! The only thing is that he's the guitarist for the local Salvation Army church christian band. Which is stinking cool but at the same time it's not because he plays at the same time as church. But he's very sincerely searching for the truth and wants to know if there could really be a prophet today. He said that there are many corrupt men in his country that have claimed to be prophets in order to take power. I know he will see that Joseph Smith is different. We taught him the Restoration on Friday before district meeting at the mission office. It was one of the most natural lessons I've taught but we unfortunately never got to the First Vision. ...but I kept trying to get it there but it just never did. Maybe it just is meant to be taught at a different time when he's thought a little more about the prophet thing.  And since he was taught at the office and we ran a little late he got to meet all the missionaries and even President Schuab! 

There, I told you about one of our investigators that I'm really excited about and I hope I didn't jinx anything. ;) 

Other great news-- we met with my favorite member family ever-- the котляров (kotlarov) family twice this week. Sister Kotlarov, their son, Arkoti and daughter, Dasha, are all active but their dad, Sasha, is not because he works ALL the time. President Blinkov (branch president) asked us to meet with them with Sasha in order to talk about their goal of going to the temple. This is the dream of all Russian members, to go to the temple in Kiev, and many members do get there, the really active, well-off members even once a year. But sadly, the Kotlarovs just don't have the means to get there and they're struggling to pay tithing and it's just so hard to sit there, look in Sasha's blood-shot tired eyes and say, "you need to give all you have--the Lord requires all you have in order to gain the highest of blessings." How can I, a young woman never having known the fragility of financial insecurity have the guts to say such things to a man who has lived? A man who already gives everything for his children, and I know it's for them because I saw the way that he loves them and is proud of them. They play cheerfully in the hall where the guitars--Arkoti's most prized talent--are displayed. I desire so badly for them go to the temple to be sealed! I love them so much!! Sister Kotlarov is a funny, chatty woman who likes to help us out and has offered to help us with our Russian. Arkoti is a sarcastic, witty little guy who just turned 14. He always is dying to play the guitar for us, which he just started learning and is somehow excellent at. He actually played a little bit of Black Sabbath for President and Sister Sartori at their farewell fireside, but don't worry, it's was on acoustic and actually fairly reverent. Cute Dasha is around 10 and says the most beautiful prayers you ever did hear. (I do have a soft spot for children speaking Russian though.. :) ) She likes playing around with her brother and is also musically inclined, but we have yet to hear a performance from her. 

Sister Moffatt and I fasted with them yesterday for them to find a way for them to get to the temple, whether that means Sasha finds a new job or some other sort of miracle. I wish I could do more that just fast! I would do anything for them! 

Thing is, this trial is but a moment. Someday there will be a temple in Samara. Or maybe Saratov. Or even eventually both. 

President Schuab testified in Sacrament meeting yesterday. He said that while he was recovering from surgery (you know he had surgery right??) he had a lot of time to think. And from how he said it, "think" meant a lot more than just "think." Anyway, he said that he has come to know that there with be many temples in Russia, and that there will be a stake in Samara and Saratov. Man, when he said that I just wept. Many temples. MANY! I suppose I should develop a bit more faith. and some more patience too. 

That's it for this week. I love you, my gorgeous, wonderful family! I'm so blessed and so are you! 

Sister Johnson

Russian Tidbit: They're afraid of getting dirty. At sport day I tend to sit on the floor, but here is this custom to put something like a grocery bag down or a sweater before you sit on the ground or a bench that is dirty.

August 19th, 2013

I just rode for a half hour on a bus sitting next 3 alcoholic teenagers, and one of them looked as though he could not have been older than 13 years old. One of them was talking to me, the stench of beer reeking thick as steam in a sauna, and he asked if I drank. I said no. Then he looked at me with the most sorry eyes, pointed to the tall can in his hand and explained how he inherited it from his parents. I asked him if he wanted to stop, if he wanted to quit and he replied, We just live, this is our life.
Sadly, the world of men has more woes than we know of.
Satan has a host of crutches to give to man, we just all pick our own. But like you said, we can't worry to much about it, and we shouldn't because that would be mocking the Atonement. Though we may at times be trapped, each held up in our own prison cell, the Savior has given to us the key that will set us free. We are just not always willing to leave, go beyond the bars that we for so long have held us trapped. Maybe because we don't feel like we deserve freedom, and know that there is no way to repay the debtor. Or perhaps because we recognize that life beyond our imprisonment involves more exposure, risk, and effort. Or maybe our emaciated souls simply lack the strength to lift our heads, start anew and press forward. This is why not only has the Savior given us a key which he expects us to use, but He is ready and willing to lend a steady hand and shower us with healing words of love and encouragement once we but call on His name.  That's the beauty of it. And like in the passover, The sweet Bread of Life cancels out the stinging taste of the bitter herbs.

I'm being transferred again!! And this time I'm leaving Samara and heading to Saratov!! The place I've always heard about but haven't been yet. Saratov is everyone's favorite so it should be a great new adventure but it's still sad to leave the home I've made here! I feel like know Samara now just about as well as Walla Walla. And now I'm heading into the unknown with my new comp, Sister Kiestler! who also has not served in the area we are going to. Yep, we're white washing. But the sisters who were serving there are staying with us today so I'm jotting down all the details. :) I'm go so ready to go down there and work. Work, work, work. I hope Sister Keistler knows CPR because I may need some resussitation at some point ;) Dochney doesn't know what's comin. I hear it's a really hilly area, that the members are amazing and that Saratov is the 'real Russia.' So we'll see! :)

It's been a great three months here in Avrora and I'm going to miss it here and all the friends I've made, especially Sister Moffatt, who I've gotten really close to. This is where I really became a missionary. I have grown so much.

Saying good-bye's has been hard but we had some good times this week with my favortie family--the Kotlarovs! and Berto who came over to their house and had a jam session with little Arkoti after we gave him and his friend the Restoration. :) Good times!

Also, the Kotlarovs are planning a trip to go to the temple next summer!!!!!!!! I cried. I love them so so much and I can't wait for them. They are the best. Sasha (the dad) even came to church the other day and I just hope that the Lord will provide a way for him to get there every week. They are also turning into quite the missionaries! Galina gave out a Book of Mormon this week and invited a friend to church.

That's all I really have time to say this week. Love ya! have a great week!  

RT: They have ton of holidays! I can't keep track! I usually don't know until I hear fireworks going off.

 

August 12, 2013

RT: In Russian, the difference between the words 'man' and 'car' are an 'ooo' and an 'ahh.'
(Well, they're a bit different when correctly pronounced, but when you say man it sounds roughly like 'moosheena' and car is 'mahsheena')

Every week is a strange week. Monday, Sister Moffatt rolled her ankle (again, this time worse), so we stayed in for much of this week doing work out of the area book. Let's just say the next missionaries that come into this area are going to love us. Everything's gettin all organized and potentials getting called. I actually set up more meetings in a couple hours of area book work than I usually do tracting, which is surprising. I also even started on a project that I call "member profiles." I hung our map on the wall and found all the active member's addresses and pinned them, then wrote down all the information we know about them. Now when someone comes in, it won't take them an entire 3 months to get to know the members like it took me. I'm really bad with names here. I used to be soooo good at remembering names but sadly, that gift has disappeared. Working on that though.
We also had our first zone conference with the new president on Thursday. Their bodies are still adjusting to the whole being on the other side of the world thing but their spirits are all here and powerful as ever. There is no doubt in my mind that President Schwab is meant to be here right now and is our new, inspired leader. The zone conference was exactly what I needed to progress as a missionary (& as a person, cause I'm one of those too...). It is clear to me that our mission is living far below our privileges, unused potential as it were, that we can unlock if we follow the President's guidance.
One of the things that I've been following through with after zone conference is monitoring my thoughts. Fear and doubt are a poison that destroy our faith. They are thoughts generated by your own mind. They are not fact. They are not truth and they should be cast out just as if they were an immoral or disgusting thing and replaced with thoughts turned to our Savior and the good things that are in our lives because of Him. Exercising self control over my thoughts has allowed me to just be happy. :) and freer to reach out with boldness, do the things I need to do, and enjoy doing it.
A few weeks ago I mentioned that I had come to truly love Russia. Lately, I have come to the realization of how much I love missionary work. There's nothing like it and nothing that brings the purest joy.
Bertho has been away playing in his band at a church camp for kids so we haven't met with him this week. But we did get to meet with Sasha finally! She's one of our progressing investigators we've had for a long time but she's been sick and stuff so it's been like a month since we've seen her. Yesterday was kinda crazy with lessons because we had a lesson scheduled for after church but Sasha didn't make it to the church until after it was over, so Sasha went in on the lesson with us (which was like 30 min away). The lesson she came with us to was Oksana's. Oksana is a pass off from the zone leaders. She called them a couple weeks ago and said "hey, I was taught by the missionaries 5 years ago and I decided I want to get baptized." The thing is she doesn't really understand what it means to be a member of the church and keep the commandments. So here we are talking to Oksana who just wants to get baptized and not follow the commandments with Sasha, who follows all the commandments but doesn't want to get baptized. I don't get it. I wanted to say, all right, you two just go have a chat, learn from each other what you need to understand and then you can both get baptized. haha :) I love em anyway, and hopefully someday they will both get it.
Hopefully I'll still be around in a few weeks, transfers are coming up!! Sister Moffatt's been here a cycle longer than me though so chances are that if we split I'll be the one to stay. :)

Love you!
Sister Johnson