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

24 February 2011

What? No email?...


What? No email?... Oh well. That just means next week I get 2, right?

Oh and Happy Birthday, Dad!!!
 
This last week has been a really crazy week! So Russia came out with a new law that changed how we have to register where we live with the landlords here. Some landlords haven't agreed to do this with us, and the Pushkin Elders lost there apartment because of it and so this past week Elder Gillette has been on a split with me and Elder Svirskiy as a triple companionship. Elder Punderson and him are companions, so it was crazy working with them so they could meet up and go to their area. Elder Gillette has to leave today from our apartment because they were only able to register him at a different apartment. He was just staying with us until they got him registered. So that was kind of busy/stressful this week, but it wasn't so bad.
 
We had a REALLY good meeting with a former investigator who is interested in the church again. He is an African from Nigeria named John, and he wants to get baptized. He wasn't able to because he isn't married legally yet, and had to wait to get some documents from Nigeria which took about a year to get to him. He just got them last week, so they are working on doing the documents to get married legally so he can get baptized. He said that his soon-to-be wife wants to hear the lessons too, but hasn't yet. She is Russian and doesn't know any English, so John speaks Russian, English, and 3 other tribal languages in Nigeria. He taught us how to say some stuff in a language called Eboo? It's a cool sounding language. He is an awesome guy! He said that sometime in June they should have everything worked out with the documents, so I hope I can be in the city then to see his baptism! :)

On Wednesday, President took all the missionaries to see a play- Prince and the Pauper. He said it was because of our hard work last year. It was very interesting and partly a musical, but mostly just acting. I even understood most of what was said. Some parts were kind of different but I got to experience some different culture though. Nice of the president to take us. 
 
The branch here in Avtovo is a lot bigger than in Petergof. Maybe 60-70 active members here. Brother Igor Balashov who Mom knows, lives in my area. His son is the only active young man here in Avtovo, and is a really cool kid! He said he is will to always go to a meeting with us in the afternoons and he likes to help the missionaries.
 
There was a visitor and recent convert here from another branch, and I was teaching Sunday School about the gifts of the Holy Ghost when the visitor said he had the gifts of tounges and started yelling giberish. Luckily one sister missionary stepped in and talked to him about how that wasn't the gift of tounges... Most eventful Sunday School lesson in a while...
 
Well, I hope all is going well with you all at home. I miss you all and Love you very much. I'm Happy to be on my mission. I know this church is true. I know that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. I know that God loves us. I know that we are blessed when we repent and follow the commandments.
 
Keep Smiling, Be of Good Cheer, Peace be with You!
 
Love,
Blake

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