Week 69: Рождество ----- Новый Год

С новым годом!!

Over here it's already been 2020 for about 10 hours so I guess I'll always have a little more experience in this year than all of the rest of you. Except for any of you that are east of me you've got me beat. Congrats ;)

We've been up to a lot since the last time I sent an email so I'll try to fit everything in! I think I'm going to just go from day to day that was I can get everything in there where it needs to be if that makes sense.

Christmas:

We had an awesome day!! We went to a rehab center for people recovering from addictions and it was a really special opportunity! We sang Christmas songs, and shared our testimonies of the Savior. We shared the church's special Christ Child video and it all went really well there! It was a big blessing to spend the holiday serving others!

Thursday:

We had an exchange with the Kremenchuk Elders, they rolled into town that morning. I was with Elder Hunsaker from Louisiana. It was a really great day for us we spent time while we were contacting stopping by places where members live that we don't really know trying to see if we can get into contact with them if they still live there if the phone number is right etc.etc. so we did that as we were going about speaking with people! Later we had a lesson with Vitali who we've been teaching for about 3 weeks now and that went really well! Anton was there with us too and he's become a really great friend with Vitali. He committed to continue to read and prepare for baptism by living the Gospel of Jesus Christ so he's making big strides there! 

Friday/Saturday 

We had an exchange with Kirova and I was with Elder Croxall! So it was just like old times back in good old Nikolaev. We had a really good day together and we got a lot done! We took a lot of contacts because we spent all of our time just out on the streets finding. We also tried some tracting which is always a hoot! It was fun to get into some of the podezdi and knock some doors and ring some door bells. Meanwhile while we were on our exchange Elder Bagley and Elder Walker were back in our area having a meeting with Dima! It went really well and they set him back on baptismal date for this Saturday the 4th! So were really excited about that!

Sunday:

Dima and Vitali both came to church. We hadn't heard from Taras for a while and we were hoping everything was still alright with him. Dima and Vitali met a bunch of members this time and they announced Dima's baptism so everyone was excited about that! That was Dima's 3rd time at church and Vitali's 2nd. We've been working hard with the branch to get the baptism planned and we really wanted the branch to take care of assignments and everything so we were pushing them and they've really done a great job! 

Monday: 

We traveled down to Zaporozhzhe for an exchange with the Zone Leaders and it was a miracle of a day for us! Me and Elder Hansen didn't have any lessons set up the worked out so we had about 9 hours to just be finding and it was really great!! We contacted in so many different spots! And by the end of the day many amazing things had happened! We found 3 different families who were interested in taking the lessons! Along with others and giving out Book of Mormons but it was super exciting we couldn't believe! It was such a blessing and we worked super hard and when we got home we just crashed Haha. 

Tuesday:

We returned from Zap and helped out a member of the church hang up some drapes before our meeting with President Wirthlin. After that we went contacting and we had a bunch of candy canes from the office that we were able to give out it was super fun! Then at 4 we had to be in so that nothing bad happened and so that we were safe. That night I had a prompting to call Taras and he finally picked up the phone!!! Miracle! He has finished the Book of Mormon now and wants to be baptized this coming week! We've seen so many great blessings the last little while it's amazing! 

Spiritual Thought 

In a new year I hope we always and forever will remember the Atonement of He who died for our sins. Our Father in Heaven loves us and desires the best for us. He wants to see us make those good, righteous choices that will bring us closer to him! We make mistakes and falter on our path to him. But, that is why Heavenly Father sent His Son the Only Begotten of the Father, Jesus Christ. So that by and through Him we might all be saved. I love these story from John chapter 8. Likewise in our lives some time we are crestfallen and sad, maybe we have made some mistakes. The loving invitation to change and do what is right is always there! I hope that this new year we make the decision to take that loving hand up in all things and remember what is the most important!

John 8

 "10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee?

11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more.

29 And he that sent me is with me: the Father hath not left me alone; for I do always those things that please him."