Week One - MTC

Добрий День! 

Me and my comp, Elder Howard

This week has been THE craziest week of my life. I have never been given so much information and things to remember and memorize. It's very very hard but so far, it's been very very worth it.

My companions name is Elder Howard. He is from Bountiful and just graduated from Bountiful High. We are two totally different people but it'll just take some getting used too haha. We have the BEST zone ever. I'm sure everyone thinks we are so weird because we are all so close already but that's why it's the best we all feel included and the older missionaries are super super cool.

Our zone is the all missionaries going to the Eastern European region. More than half of the zone is going Russian-speaking so it kind of stinks that I can't talk with them but English will just have to do for now. There are like 10 districts in our zone! We have one of the biggest, if not the biggest zone in the MTC. On the second day of being here they had to call district leaders for all the new districts and they called Elder Matua as district leader... I don't know what they were thinking. Nah bahaha I love it and I love my district.

Chillin in our classroom

There are nine of us: Me, Elder Howard, Sister Baker, Sister Mckell (Ukrainians); Elder Chappell, Elder Black, Sister Nelson (Estonians); Elder Edwards (Latvian); Elder Dudley (Lithuanian). Yeah my district is pretty crazy. All the other districts are either Russian or going to Ukraine speaking Russian. I got lucky enough to have a variety. It takes a lot more work rounding them up and stuff but totally worth it I love them. In our residence there are four of us. Elder Howard and I, and Elder Peterson who's also from Bountiful and Elder Clark who is from Sweden. I love Elder Clark, he is hilarious.

The Ukrainian language is INSANE. I don't even know where to begin. It feels like I'm back in elementary learning a whole new alphabet and how to even sound letters out. It's a work in progress and thank goodness I am here for nine weeks because if any shorter, I would be in trouble. We had our first lesson, all in Ukrainian our third day being here...It was going well until I started talking about the Book of Mormon and looked at Elder Howard to start saying something, and he started bearing his testimony about how the Holy Ghost has a body of flesh and bones or something. bahahah I had to stop him right away but I'm just glad it was him and I don't blame him at all for it because if it wasn't for that I would've probably said something dumb. Elder Howard and I were asked to lead a discussion for the whole zone the next day.... I don't get why they have used me for everything the day I get here. But it's good I am learning a lot.

Oh just passin the time

We have the best Sunday's ever here! They don't let you skip a beat on Sundays. They keep you soooooooo busy going to devotionals and discussions or whatever you can think of but it was the best. Felt the spirit the entire day. We also got the opportunity to sing in the choir last night! It was awesome. We had a practice before and the conductor was telling the coolest pioneer stories. He is an amazing guy and we hope we can make it to here him every week.

The Estonians and the lone Latvian

At the devotional a member of the Seventy, Elder Cecil O. Samuelson, spoke and he spoke on obedience. He shared a lot from 1 Timothy 4. One quote he shared was that "Obedience is greater than sacrifice." Yes I sacrificed a lot when coming out here but we as missionaries shouldn't be looking at it as just a sacrifice but that we are out here being obedient to the Lord's commandment. We also watched 'Character of Christ' by Elder Bednar and I can say I've never felt the spirit so strong. Very much recommend watching that devotional.

It is safe to say that this is probably the hardest thing iv'e ever done but I know the Lord can help me push through it. Things are awesome here I've never felt the spirit so strong. Everyone here has a very strong testimony and it's strengthened mine a lot.

Still 'bout that selfie life LOL!

I am really struggling with the language. As most people are their first week but it is really really really hard. Learning a new alphabet and just so much that makes it difficult but I know the Lord is definitely on my side. I pray every single night for help and I know I just need to hold up my end of the bargain and it'll all work out.

Funny story - Elder Otterson is in my zone....As in Lisa's (Wilson) nephew! I thought I recognized him and then I had my Cannibals shirt on and he was like "Ayyyyee I knew I knew you from somewhere," and at the same time we were both like "Cuz bailey!" Bahahaha so funny!

I love all of you and miss you tons
бог є небесним батьком

Hello and Goodbye Elder Matua

On Tuesday, July 10, we welcomed home Elder Mica Matua from the Korea-Busan Mission. Tomorrow, July 18, we say goodbye to our latest missionary - Elder Kenyon Matua has been called to serve in the Ukraine-Kyiv/Moldova mission and reports to the Provo Missionary Training Center tomorrow.

We have enjoyed our short time together as a family. It is the first time in six years that our whole family is together along with two new additions, our daughters in-law Mariah (Kingston) and Kaylee (Chase). For one week we have laughed at Mica's stories as a missionary in Korea and reminisced of our times together over the years as we give Kenyon our best missionary advice and testify of Christ.

This past Sunday, Kenyon and Mica both spoke in Sacrament meeting. It has been bitter-sweet but we know that one day our family will be together forever because we believe it is possible through our Savior Jesus Christ and it is an essential truth in the Plan of Happiness.

We will miss Kenyon dearly these next two years but we're so happy that he has chosen to serve the Lord and are confident that he will love every moment of this new journey!

June Updates - Last as a Missionary

June 3

What up?! everything is goin great out here. Super weird I only have five weeks left, I think. I'm now serving in an area called 대신. It's pretty lit because we have Nampo in our area. But it is a struggling Branch. There is only about seven people that come to church even though this used to be a huge Ward back in the day. Just lots of drama. Super sad but all we can do is keep working on it.

My comp is named YongHo Lee. We served on Jeju island at the same time and I knew his older brother when he served in this mission. He's an awesome guy. It's super weird that I only had two Korean companions my whole mission. My first and my last.

We white-washed into this area so we are starting everything from scratch. We got a referral from some other Elders and met with a guy in the hospital that we are now teaching. We also teach him English but it's super hard because he knows none and he's old but oh well.

Not to much else to share. Hope ya'll have a great week.

June 17

Three weeks left. we had a super good week. on Wednesday we went down to Nampo and did a district proselyting activity. We set up two rows of chairs facing each other and invited people to come do English conversation to get more people to our English class. it was super funny.

Yesterday we had Busan Stake Sports Day. They rented out a gym and some soccer fields and we spent the day up there. there was also little league flag football games going on on the fields right next to us which was super weird to see here.

We played soccer against all the old men in the Stake and smoked 'em. then we went inside and did arm wrestling and races. i didnt do the arm wrestling because i didn't want to hurt anyone haha j/k. but I did do the race and found out im super out of shape. I think I pulled something. but it was great to see all the members from the other wards I have served in.

I'm pumped to see you guys in a few short weeks. have a good one.