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 November 2011

Plugged In!

Hello! Things are good here in Petro! I'm loving it here. :)

Sounds great about the plane ride home! I can't believe that it will be so soon! AH! I haven't invited anyone to be at the airport, and I wasn't going to. It will also be really late at night. I will be happy to see our family!!  Most of all I will just be happy to be home! :) 

Be sure to go to Booth's homecoming and say a BIG PRIVYET from Elder Blake Larsen! So weird. I remember the morning I went to the temple was when he went to the MTC, and we ate breakfast together earlier that day. Tell him sorry that it was so hard to stay in touch with him on the mission, but we tried, and  Chile and Russia are far away, and he understands that it's hard to stay in contact with people on the mission... So weird to think that he is home, because that also means soon so will BP, and then Cody and me....

So many have gone home! Tell hi to all the former missionaries on FB. Tell Chris Anthony Privyet, too! ha ha. I haven't seen Grisha since Shoovalovo, but hopefully I will before I leave be able to. We have to go to Peter sometime so maybe I can go on a split and say hi to Grisha and Faik there.

To be honest, I don't remember Grandpa's sister as I have not seen her in years, but it still sad to hear that she died. How is he taking it? We know where she is though, so we'll see her again. :) Tell Grandpa I am thinking of him.


The weather is starting to get COLD here, but still no snow. The rivers in some parts of the city are starting to freeze over, and we have to walk with scarves and earmuffs/ hats. They keep saying it will start snowing anyday now, and when it does, it won't stop!  Usually gets about  -25 or colder. I'm excited. :) ha ha.

Feeling great. :) Sounds like a good idea, Mom about trying to sneak in when you aren't expecting me. Maybe Cody and I can work it out and surprise you! Ha ha. Cards and letters haven't come yet, as we are 8 hours from Peter and will only get them when we have to go down for a split or for Zone Conference... Won't really be getting mail often this transfer.


Well what can I tell you about the week?...Well, this week we plugged in and started really getting to know the area and diving into the area books during weekly planning and companionship study. Elder Rasmussen told me yesterday that he is really grateful to be working like this and was happy that the only time we would stop for a break everyday was lunch time. He said that he comes home tired and feels like he is serving the way the Lord wanted him to. Made me feel like we are doing something right, so we'll keep going and get some successes here in Petrozavodsk.

 We have one pretty potential investigator. In the area book, it says that he DOESN'T TALK AT ALL. We set up a meeting with him, and decided to focus the meeting just on him and show him that we have an interest in his life, as we do. He talked a lot at our meeting, and Elder Rasmussen said he probalby talked more this meeting that all the other times combinded. The Spirit was there, and we committed him to read the Book of Mormon after tying the first lesson in with his needs and his personal opinions and stories. Really cool guy!
Also had a lot of success with a less active family, as we talked with a man who is having problems with the Word of Wisdom, and this week, he has done great and told us that he is following it. Lots of stopping by less actives houses to try to make contact with them. 



We had a great meeting with the branch president and his recently baptized wife, starting to go over the lessons again and teaching them about temples and other ordinances in the church. They set a goal to go through the temple in a year, and his wife is excited to participate in baptisms for the dead. The Lord is helping us! I'm really glad to be serving with the Elders in my district. All of them are really humble and hard working, and we are going to see a lot of success here. Glad to still be able to work with Elder Ash, even if we aren't companions any more. Elder Rasmussen is a great missionary too. Full of love for others and very inviting. It's a great way to end my mission. :)

Tell everyone hi from me! Meleea! You're still in my prayers, just keep plugging along! Tell Kiddo hi for me and give her a big hug. Say hi to Cole and tell him that he would like Petro, lots of places around the city to go fishing and stuff. I miss you Mom and Dad, but I appreciate all that you do for me! 


Keep on Smiling. Be of Good Cheer. See you soon!
Love,
Blake

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