Yesterday was the start of the
week long celebration of Maslenitsa (Масленица). Also known as the pancake
festival. So time to make Blini!!
This week it seemed like we
were just running around with our heads chopped off. Not knowing what was going
on.
On Monday we visited Sister
Vera (Faith (you address the members here by Brother/Sister and their first
name) ). One thing that we didn't think to check on was how far away she lived
though. It ended up being closer to the Temple than we thought. It took quite a
long time. . . but it was a great evening in their home. If I learned anything
that night, it was that Sister vera knows how to bake! She gave us a loaf to
take home and ohhhh was it goood!! I don't know what she did but I can't live
without her bread!
Usually for English practice
on Wednesdays we have three companionships out of the four teach the three
english practice groups we have. When I was with Elder Carr, we taught while
Elder Roylance and Kovalyov did other things. Since being with Elder
Konstantynov, we haven't taught English Practice. This last Wednesday we had a
lesson with Anton, our investigator who I have only met with once before hand
with Elder Carr. He is very knowledgeable and seems to understand a lot about
how God works and our Purpose here on earth. He actually runs a Philosophy
Society thing and talking to him it was very prominent. He uses lots of big
words and make lots of big analogies. It was a little bit hard to not fall asleep
while in the lesson. Even in English it's difficult, not to mention in
Russian.
that evening we got a strange
call from a man whom I could understand at all because he was either mumbling
or the phone was muffled. Thank goodness for Native companions! Long story
short, later that evening we met with "Yuri" and he is now our new
investigator. He is so humble and ready to receive the goseple. On thing he kept
saying was that he recognizes that Satan is trying to tear his family apart and that he just wants to serve God.
We got to meet with on of the
Sisters in our ward who is deaf. She and her husband both are deaf and use
Russian Sign Language to communicate with each other and their daughter and
granddaughter. It was a humbling experiences to be in their home and to not be
able to communicate they way we would like to. This week We also came in contact
with, on multiple occasions, deaf people. both in groups and alone. I got prompting to start learning Russian Sign Language (РЖЯ). So far the only helpful
resource I have found was a Provoslovny Priest Handbook thing for the
Provoslovny Priests learning РЖЯ. In the beginning it was all mostly basic
things like "Hello." "Nice to meet you." "I serve here
as Priest, and you must call me 'Father.'" Then it started going into the
more sensitive doctrine parts. For the most part it was all pretty good. like
"Christ died so we can get back to heaven." and "We need to keep
the Commandments." But it eventually turn a little bit "sour". I
now know what the Provoslovny people do to receive forgiveness of sins and all
that. Right now, when I don't know a lot of РЖЯ, I've got to be careful or else
I might Sign someone out of the Church or something. The professional level translator in our ward who translates for our deaf Sister gave me an address of
where I might find some more useful materials. Hopefully I'll be able to find
them soon.
yesterday on Sunday, our
investigator Vladimir came to church! I was so happy. We haven't been able to
meet with him for a while and now he seems a little more open now.
Also. One day this week, I
don't remember which day. We met with a Potential Investigator named
"Sigismund" (Сигисмунд) (Pronounced "Sihismund" in
Ukrainian). We met with him on a bench on Khreshatuk Street. He spoke all of of
Ukrainian which I didn't understand at all. It was very hard. Right after that
when we said goodbye, we bought some honey from a lady on the street. While
Elder Konstantynov was paying, A man walked up and started commenting to me
about some of the items the lady was selling. After Elder Konstantynov
finished, we ended up talking with "Fyodor" for quite a while and
ened up helping him find his lost telephone. He is pretty cool and spoke 100%
Ukrainian. I had no clue what so ever about what he said. But I still have
grown to love him and hope the best for him.
All in all everything went
well this week. Nothing too crazy outside of our normal level of
craziness.
Till next week.
Старейшина Класон / Elder
Clawson
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