Hi everyone,
Another week in toasty-warm Siberia under our metaphorical belts.
Flip had lots of ups and downs this week. She would tell us that she believes the Book of Mormon is true, then she would tell us that she got an answer to follow the devil. She would ask to meet and have lots of good questions for us, then she would tell us that she only believes in herself and not in God. Unfortunately, our last meeting with her finished with her giving back her Book of Mormon. However, she still wants to be friends, and we don't think this is the end of our meetings. Sister Cavaness and I feel like she will be accept the Gospel at some point.
Auburn has been a great member-missionary. She helped us again for half of the day on Wednesday. We didn't have a very successful morning on the street, but while she was reading the Book of Mormon on the tram, the tram conductor came up and asked her what book she was reading. Auburn explained what the Book of Mormon was, shared a little bit of the Restoration, and then gave the conductor a Book of Mormon. The best part was watching the tram conductor stand up to hand out tickets and then sit back down to listen to more of what Auburn was saying. It was really a special experience.
While we were visiting a member, she offered us some homemade Kvas. It was my first time trying Kvas, and I had no idea what it is. There are Kvas stands all over the city kind of like snowcone stands in America. Kvas is a brown drink and, according to the member, is made from bread, sugar, and water. It wasn't terrible, but I don't think I'll be buying some for myself soon. On a different note that's still related to food, Sister Cavaness and I make some mean pizza and breadsticks!
We've been able to do lots of different kinds of finding this week. We found a woman on the street who met the missionaried ten years ago. She said we can visit her in three weeks, and that morning she sat with us on a bench and talked with us for about fifteen minutes. We found a former investigator whose teaching record is in our area book, and then we had a meeting with another investigator who hasn't been able to meet for about a month. We also found some less-actives and a recent convert who hasn't been to church since I've been here. Lots of finding this week! Can't teach people until you've found them.
This is an experience that happened a couple weeks ago, I just forgot to write about it. During one of our mornings on the street, Sister Cavaness and I walked up to a woman who was just standing around, apparently waiting for something. We said, "Good morning, how are you living?" ("How are you living?" is just a direct translation of one of the ways we ask "how are you?") She looked at us and without hesitation said, "No!" We weren't quite sure how to respond to that kind of answer (you're not living today? would you like us to call an ambulance?), so we stood there for a few seconds a little confused, and then the lady said, "Oh, you asked how am I living?" "Yes." "Oh, fine." Then she asked us if we were going somewhere, and we said yes, and then she turned and walked away without further comment. One of the funnier conversations we've had.
We also had a meeting with the Name Tag Family. We had a great lesson about Jesus Christ and the Atonement, and we committed them to pray to know if this path is for them (that is, baptism). The whole family seems to be waiting for the dad, and we're planning on meeting with them again tonight and asking if they got an answer. If so, they could potentially be getting baptized this Saturday. We'll see!
Hope everybody has a wonderful fourth of July!
Сестра Спрингер
Another week in toasty-warm Siberia under our metaphorical belts.
Flip had lots of ups and downs this week. She would tell us that she believes the Book of Mormon is true, then she would tell us that she got an answer to follow the devil. She would ask to meet and have lots of good questions for us, then she would tell us that she only believes in herself and not in God. Unfortunately, our last meeting with her finished with her giving back her Book of Mormon. However, she still wants to be friends, and we don't think this is the end of our meetings. Sister Cavaness and I feel like she will be accept the Gospel at some point.
Auburn has been a great member-missionary. She helped us again for half of the day on Wednesday. We didn't have a very successful morning on the street, but while she was reading the Book of Mormon on the tram, the tram conductor came up and asked her what book she was reading. Auburn explained what the Book of Mormon was, shared a little bit of the Restoration, and then gave the conductor a Book of Mormon. The best part was watching the tram conductor stand up to hand out tickets and then sit back down to listen to more of what Auburn was saying. It was really a special experience.
While we were visiting a member, she offered us some homemade Kvas. It was my first time trying Kvas, and I had no idea what it is. There are Kvas stands all over the city kind of like snowcone stands in America. Kvas is a brown drink and, according to the member, is made from bread, sugar, and water. It wasn't terrible, but I don't think I'll be buying some for myself soon. On a different note that's still related to food, Sister Cavaness and I make some mean pizza and breadsticks!
We've been able to do lots of different kinds of finding this week. We found a woman on the street who met the missionaried ten years ago. She said we can visit her in three weeks, and that morning she sat with us on a bench and talked with us for about fifteen minutes. We found a former investigator whose teaching record is in our area book, and then we had a meeting with another investigator who hasn't been able to meet for about a month. We also found some less-actives and a recent convert who hasn't been to church since I've been here. Lots of finding this week! Can't teach people until you've found them.
This is an experience that happened a couple weeks ago, I just forgot to write about it. During one of our mornings on the street, Sister Cavaness and I walked up to a woman who was just standing around, apparently waiting for something. We said, "Good morning, how are you living?" ("How are you living?" is just a direct translation of one of the ways we ask "how are you?") She looked at us and without hesitation said, "No!" We weren't quite sure how to respond to that kind of answer (you're not living today? would you like us to call an ambulance?), so we stood there for a few seconds a little confused, and then the lady said, "Oh, you asked how am I living?" "Yes." "Oh, fine." Then she asked us if we were going somewhere, and we said yes, and then she turned and walked away without further comment. One of the funnier conversations we've had.
We also had a meeting with the Name Tag Family. We had a great lesson about Jesus Christ and the Atonement, and we committed them to pray to know if this path is for them (that is, baptism). The whole family seems to be waiting for the dad, and we're planning on meeting with them again tonight and asking if they got an answer. If so, they could potentially be getting baptized this Saturday. We'll see!
Hope everybody has a wonderful fourth of July!
Сестра Спрингер