Beautiful Russia!

Beautiful Russia!


Our great friend, Roma made dinner for us!

Our great friend, Roma made dinner for us!

Elder Rasmussen is very excited to see real food!

Elder Rasmussen is very excited to see real food!


Companion and friend, Elder Jake Rasmussen

Companion and friend, Elder Jake Rasmussen


Trifecta's Last Time In Estonia

Trifecta's Last Time In Estonia

With my wonderful friend, Faik.

With my wonderful friend, Faik.

Sunrise, at One P.M.

Sunrise, at One P.M.

Petrozadovsk District

Petrozadovsk District

Lake at Petrozavodsk

Lake at Petrozavodsk


North Zone Conference Nov. 2011

North Zone Conference Nov. 2011

Thanksgiving Dinner 2011

Thanksgiving Dinner 2011

First Zone Conference with President Clark

First Zone Conference with President Clark

Neva River Fall 2011

Neva River Fall 2011

Visa trip, Oct 1st 2011

Visa trip, Oct 1st 2011

Oh my aching jaw...

Oh my aching jaw...

Hermitage Museum on P-day!

Hermitage Museum on P-day!

Me, Svetlana and Elder Loskutov

Me, Svetlana and Elder Loskutov

Birthday lunch with Kostya

Birthday lunch with Kostya

My friend, Grisha

My friend, Grisha

Service for Babushka

Service for Babushka

MTC Missionaries in Estonia

MTC Missionaries in Estonia

Waiting in Estonia...

Waiting in Estonia...


Visit from Elder Russell M. Nelson

Visit from Elder Russell M. Nelson

Elders Larsen and Anthony

Elders Larsen and Anthony

Our MTC teacher surprise visit!

Our MTC teacher surprise visit!


Podvodov family gave powerful talks!

Podvodov family gave powerful talks!
Pskov, Russia Branch


Vyborg Castle

Vyborg Castle

St Olaf's Castle Where We Do Service Work

St Olaf's Castle Where We Do Service Work

Beautiful Vyborg on the Sea of Finland

Beautiful Vyborg on the Sea of Finland

Vyborg

Vyborg

Misty day in Kaliningrad

Misty day in Kaliningrad

Kaliningrad District May 2010

Kaliningrad District May 2010

Russian MTC Group

Russian MTC Group

Russian MTC Zone at Provo Temple

Russian MTC Zone at Provo Temple

08 July 2010

Split w/Zone Leaders- Elders Punderson and Zoobcove

Happy, Happy, Happy Birthday!!! Da da da da da da! Today's your birthday! *Dancing Hamster* Da da da da da da! It's my birthday too, yeah! Wishing you the best on your birthday, Mum! I was going to send you a card, but I never got the time and they are all in Russian here anyways, and by the time you would get it, it would be too late. What are you doing for your birthday? Anything fun? You better do something fun! You deserve it. World's best mom! You brought me up so I could be where I am today here in Russia serving a mission. Because you and Dad have taught me the Gospel of Jesus Christ, I know who I am, where I'm going, why I'm here and where I can turn for help. I feel the Joy that comes from the Spirit that so many on this Earth have forgotten since they left the wonderful presence of our Heavenly Father, to be tested and become like Him. Thanks, Mum. Again, Happy birthday!!!!! Well, things are slowing down here in Kaliningrad. Our investigators aren't really meeting with us because they are never home in the summer. It's hard, but we're trying and the Lord will make up the rest. The language is still tough, and just when I think I'm getting comfortable in the language, I'll have a really hard day when I just don't understand anything... Elder Anthony has been a good help for me with the language though, and he says it usually picks up after your 3 or 4 transfer. And the Lord is and will bless me as long as I trust in Him. I didn't know learning a language took so long to do. Last Saturday the branch had an activity at the beach where they had a spiritual thought and spent all day at the beach. We invited a bunch of potential investigators that actually came, and it seemed to go pretty well with them. Hopefully something might come out of that. I'm pretty tan right now... Well a farmer's tan of course. This Monday and Tuesday zone leaders were here and we went on splits with Elder Zoobcove (that's how you would say it in english) one day and Elder Punderson the next. They both are really good missionaries. This is Elder Zoobcove's last transfer, so he pretty experienced. ha ha. It was good to be with a Russian companion because they speak the language perfectly and I know enough Russian to have them explain things to me simply. I hope I have a Russian companion. I think it will really help me to learn the language. I was senior companion when I was with Elder Punderson, and we got lost...almost. ha ha. We went down the wrong road home and we didn't know where we were. Lucklily I saw a bus with a street name that I recognized so we got home. That was funny though! We walked for almost 45 minutes not knowing where we were! We contacted a few people though, so it wasn't a waste of time. ha ha I got your letter Dad from the zone leaders when they came here, and your card Mum. Thanks a bunch. i really, really, really love to get letters! They give you an extra boost. So far I still haven't really seen any letters here. Do you know if Cody sent one? I've sent him 2 or 3 since I've come to Russia but haven't heard from him yet... How come I didn't get an email this week?... everything okay? I hope so. I miss knowing what's going on. Tell me things that are going on. They may sound dumb to you, but it's what I want to hear, just like you want to here from me everything. How's Cole, Kallie, Meleea, the Dogs? What have they been up to? How's Karl? He only has Megan at home now, so I bet he's pretty lonely. Love you all. Miss you tons, and hope that when you receive this everything will be okay with you. Wish I could see you right now, but I'm doing the right thing. God be with you, and always keep Him in mind and in heart. Love Blake

2 comments:

  1. I always love a testimony, simple and true. This is how missionaries move those mountains! Happy Birthday to Elder Larsen's mother!

    ReplyDelete
  2. Thank you for the birthday wishes, Paige!
    Please stay as a follower on here so Elder Larsen can see who has been reading his blog when he returns home. It will mean alot to him.

    ReplyDelete