Last Thursday we did not have any meetings after P-day, as the metro closed and so we called the member, saying we were going to be late, and he said that he couldn't wait and so we just ended up contacting.
Friday we met with some members. The first is Anatoliy who is blind and hasn't left his house for 8 years. Really nice guy who still has a strong testimony, but doesn't know how to get to church due to his vision and sicknesses. The other is Raisa, who just started to come back to church as we help her every week. She is in a wheelchair, so she can't come herself. We are trying to find a way to take both Raisa and Anatoliy... We will have to work with the members better. The last is McCartney, an African from Namibia. He is going home this week, so we just wanted to support him and tell him we are here to help any way we can.
Saturday we had our interviews with President Nuenschwander and then I conducted the baptism for Zhana, a girl the sisters found and baptized. We had an investigator come to her baptism and we had a meeting with him afterwards and did the first lesson. He is really nice and already thinks our church is true, but he doesn't have a testimony about prayer or Joseph Smith Yet. The McArthurs were there and even though they didn't understand everything, they said that they could feel that he has a good spirit about him.
Sunday was a day help Raisa to church, and doing weekly planning
Monday we had a good conference from President Nuenschwander, his wife and the branch presidents. (By the way, yes, he is from Centerville/Bountiful. He lives in the same condos that the Salmonds lived in! I had an interview with him, and as I was leaving he said, "It's good to serve with a neighbor I never knew." I learned a lot about the Atonement and Unity. He also just went over who he was and got to know us better. He took away all the rules that we had with President Podvodov, almost 60 of them, saying, " You guys have the scriptures, the White Handbook, and PMG. Also, you have brains! What more do you need? If you want to serve the Lord, you'll do it. If you don't, adding more rules isn't going to help." Let's just say we are really appreciative of that... and it was kind of ironic that he got rid of all those rules on the 4th of July. ha ha. I can email Cody now! That night we met with our branch president and discussed what we can do to work better together, and we will continue with branch council.
Tuesday I had a visa trip so I was in Estonia all day. It was cool though because we saw the Elders serving in Estonia and actually attended there District Meeting. (They invited us) We also took lots of cool pictures at a castle near the border of Russia and Estonia. I'll have to try to send you some. Maybe the Senior couple in our district, the McArthurs' can do that for me?
And yesterday we did service at the Hermitage and met with McCartney one last time before he leaves. We also met with Anatoliy Myakishev, a less active member who is a great potential Melchizedek Priesthood holder. He loves the missionaries, but feels like he already knows everything at church and doesn't want to come. He is afraid of commitment, I think.
Sorry to hear that your 4th was kind of not so good ... But next year WE will be there for the 4th!! Thanks for the pics of Cole! He does look like Al! ha ha. Made me miss fishing. Also the pic of Nate. He had a BAPTISM! That is fantastic!
Well I don't have much time left, and want to write Code-man. Yay!
Love you all! Be of Good Cheer. As Grandpa C. said-Keep smiling!!
Love, Blake.
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