I am sorry that it has been forever but things have been crazy here!
Well I have a lot to tell you about but I will start with the more interesting things which I know you want to hear aka the Russia culture stuff. Well I am in Kazakhstan right now in a town called Almaty. I forgot you haven't heard what happened since I have been in russia so I will just start from the beginning. We flew from Salt Lake to New York, then from New York to Moscow. When we got to Moscow I could already tell how different things were, in American airports everything is loud and people are loud but in Russia everywhere is completely quiet. No one talks. It is crazy! So we got to the Airport and then my mission president picked us up and drove us to his house. In the car on the way he told Elder Brown and I that we were going to be asigned to serve in Kazakhstan, we were really excited because he said this was one of the most successful places in our Mission as far a baptisms go. But, to get to Kazakhstan we would have to sign up for another passport to Kazakhstan, wait about anotheк week to recieve that, and then fly on another four hour fight there. So to not waste any time my Mission President, President Wooley, sent us to Kalooga to help the Elder's out over there while we waited.
So Elder Brown and I went on a Bus alone to Kalooga without knowing how to communicate or find out how to get there.We got there.....eventually. Kalooga is a fairly large town but it has only a small Branch of about ten members.
In Kalooga we just worked hard and contacted. Contacting is when you just walk around on the streets and try and pass out Books of Mormon and get people's numbers so that you can teach them. It was really wierd at first but eh.. I am a master now! Russian's are kind of jerks and just walk by and rarely stop when we try to stop them. And the grandma's are the worst, but are the funniest too because they speak a different dialect of Russin that is impossible to understand. But we worked hard in Kalooga for about a week and had Christmas, the members in Kalooga were so nice and gave elder Brown and I some presents. We also go to drink tea for the first time. In Russia tea is very popular so members drink non cafinated kinds of tea.. it's nasty. It was a really humbling experiences because almost all Russian's are poor.
In Kalooga one day I was contacting and ran into a man who wanted to know more because we were English. So we got his number and set up a lesson with him that night. Elder Harrison and I went to the lesson becuase we are the ones who found him. This would be my first lesson in Russia. Golden! We taught this man the first lesson which talks about the restoration of the Church and the First Vision! He was so excited and felt the spirit so strong that he wanted to know more. We gave him a book of Mormon and challenged him to read it. Elder Harrison told me that he was Golden and he's pretty sure that experience right there will lead him to baptism. It was an amazing experience. In Kalooga we didn't really have any other lessons. But that was all I needed.
So after a few days Elder Brown and I recieved our passports to Kazakhstan so we took busses and the metro to Moscow to fly out to Kazakhstan. At this point Elder Brown and I were tired of living out of a suitcase, tired of each other, tired of not being settled where we were supposed to serve, and just plain tired because we had jet lag because in russia it is ten hours ahead and we didn't get any sleep on the plane. So it was a rough time...
But we headed on our way to kazakhstan but our flight got delayed a few hours because there was a snow storm and so that sucked. But we finally flew to kazakhstan which is eleven hours ahead of American time. When we landed we had a little bit of jet lag again but not as much as before. In Kazakhstan we are not aloud to bring up the gospel and talk about or even wear our badges for two weeks. In about two weeks we can start talking and teaching. So, we just chill with our companions and listen to them. It is tough because we have already been waiting three months to get to this point to teach and we still can't teach for two weeks. Right when I got to Kazakhstan I was really tired but me and my comp had a lesson so we went to the lesson and I just listened. I could not start out my stay in Kazakhstan any better, Elder Nutt ( my comp) had only taught this lady one lesson. We started the lesson by asking if she had prayed to find out if the Book of Mormon was true and if our Church was true and wether Joseph Smith really did see God and Jesus Christ. She is what we call a Golden Contact, she read the BOM and prayed and recieved an answer. She testified to us that when she prayed she felt like her whole body was on fire and there was no way she could deny what God was making her feel. She knew it was true! Aka now all we have to do is teach her the lessons and commandment and she will be baptized! golden! My very first lesson in Kazakhstan! Here name is Kahteeya.
So in Kazakhstan we celebrated New Years. In Russia and Kazakhstan New Years is the largest holiday. So missionaries are not really aloud to be outside because everyone is drunk and partying. so we went to members house. they are English and are living here for a few years. We got to stay up and watch movies all nigh like Up and Incredibles and a few others. It was pretty fun becuase those are the only movies that we get to watch for one year! Then we stayed up and got to watch the fireworks outside. Here nothing is illegal, people were going crazy and the streets light off every kind of firework that you can think of! That went on until about 3 in the Morning it was insane and soo pretty!! Close to my favorite new years experience!
So in Kazakhstan the missionaries get Ipod touches. That is pretty much one of the coolest things. But people are not supposed to know because it is kind of an experiment so maybe you shouldn't pass it along. They say that they are really helpful because they have movies, music, and photos on them that help with all the lessons. And we can't download new things or else it just get's erased immediately. Also each companionship gets a cell phone.
Well I finally made myself go out and by a Russian coat and scarf. So now I have all that gear. I am beginning to really like scarves and jackets-they are really stylish here. My jacket was only 30 bucks in American money! In Kazak money that is 5000 Tengie. The markets where you get things here are all outside and are crazy! they are like the swap meet in Arizona but bigger and crazier! they have everything there! they even sell a ton of food there.. but I don't think we buy it from there cause it is nasty! I know that I will be eating a lot of crazy food soon because we have some lessons planned and in russia it is a culture thing that they always feed you.. so we will see how that goes!
Also, I have been called as the piano teacher here in Kazakhtan. We are trying to find new ways to get investigators and that is one of them. so now I teach piano. It's a blast!
In Kazakhstan the lights go off all the time. that is why it has taken me so long to write back because we have not had power when we want to write. so Sorry!!
Well I don't know what else there is to tell you but I love you all! Thank you for the love and supporrt! Ask me any questions that you can think of. I love you and remember who you are!
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