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

10 April 2011

Busy!

Ba-oo! (That's how you say hi in Eboo, that crazy cool African language I was talking about)

Well it's been a busy week and is just getting busier. Alexander and Olga have been really busy too, but they said they will be at Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. We still continue to pray for them and will help them anyway we can. They are really nice people! We did service for a little grandma here in the ward by fixing her cabinets in her apartment. She is the smallest Babushka that I have ever seen and she is always very happy. Her name is Sister Nadyezhda, which means Hope in Russian.

We watched the Saturday sessions on Sunday here in Russia, and next Sunday will be the rest of General Conference.  I really like the talk by Elder Oaks about desires and how our desires can lead to faith. It was really good. We also laughed a bit during President Monson's talk because President Podvodov told President Aleksay that he should think about getting married soon... and me and my companion have been teasing him about that. Ha ha.  I also liked General Conference because I was able to watch it in English. President Aleksay wanted to watch it in English, so I went on a split with him while Elder Loskutov was with Brother Oleg. Monday was another long day traveling to Novgorod and back for District meeting.

Today we are leaving to go to St. Petersburg, as I will be in Estonia tomorrow.  Means 5 hours to St. Petersburg, 3 hours to Estonia, and then 3 hours back. We will be traveling back to Pskov on Saturday. The Zone Leaders will be down in Pskov on Monday for splits, we will leave again with them on Tuesday, as Wednesday is Zone Conference, and then we will probably be coming back to Pskov on Thursday. (So don't be surprised if P-day next week is on Friday) It will be good to see Elder Andersen and Gerard and Sister Lane from the MTC group. I can see how Elder Andersen is feeling now. Better I hope! It's hard to find out as I'm far away from everyone.  With all this traveling I decided I never want to be a business man who travels all over the world like some do. It's too much traveling to do for a job...

I should have some letters, but they are in Novgorod as Elder Gillette grabbed them for me at transfers, but then forgot to bring them to District meeting... I guess I will just have to wait to read them... Seems like forever since I've gotten a letter. My package is in Peter though, so I can get that when I go there today. The snow is finally almost melted, and the every-other-day snow storm here has turned into a constant shower of rain. Everything is muddy here in Pskov, and I've heard it's the same in Peter... That means soon it will be summer. I never thought I'd say this but I'm sick of the snow! Yay for summer!

I hope that Meleea gets doing better soon! Thanks for the pics of K.B. She is getting big!

I'll send a quick note to Code-ski to see how he's doing.

I better jet. Love you all! Thanks for the support and love! I enjoy hearing from you and I know that I have been blessed at home with a loving family and great friends! I've realized this more since I've come on my mission. I've also realized that God loves EVERY SINGLE SOLITARY PERSON and wants us to love each other as He loves us. That is the essence of Godliness. I know that pains in life are hard but no matter what the pain, whether it's the pain of the cold Russian winters or the pain of rejection, or even sin, all our pains can melt away with the Son. We just have to look for His light and follow it.

Keep Smiling. Be of Good Cheer. Christ has overcome the world.
Love,
Blake



No comments:

Post a Comment