Many Are Called But Few Are Frozen: Ussuriysk

Sunday, February 7, 2016

Ussuriysk

Hello everyone! Currently my Panthers are playing their Superbowl in the United States and I am sitting in a internet cafe in Ussuriysk. The place we went to email in Angarsk was really nice but this place is more like a dungeon. Meaning the lights are really low and it is just weird.

This week was awesome! I got back form Korea not too long ago and we were able to attend the temple when we were there! Wow was that awesome. We were in such a rush to make it to the temple and to get to the session on time and everything was hectic but once we were in the temple me and Elder Barr were able to sit down for a few minutes in front of the organ and just listen to the music and relax and get in the right mindset. It was so peaceful there in that holy house.

So as I kind of said last week I am in an new area. It isn't Angarsk but I think it is about the same size. But drastically different. First of all it actually reaches the positives some times and I heard it snowed like 5 feet just like a week before I got here. I am currently serving with Elder Butler and Elder Crabb. Elder Butler is 2 transfer younger than me. Elder De Sandres age and Elder Crabb is 6 months older than me. And when the transfer actually takes place I will be serving with Elder Crabb. And he knows Russian really good and I really like him!

The branch here in Ussuriysk is so strong and a little bigger than Angarsk. Yesterday we had the most spiritual testimony meeting I have ever had on my whole mission. We also have this kinda crazy but really funny investigator named V who calls us "who-li-gan-ee" or hooligans. He is really funny and I like teaching him.

Here we are actually teaching a lot and when we were in Angarsk we didn't as much so it is really cool to be able to do that.

I really love it here and it is snowing quite hard right now. It is fun to change cities but I am going to miss the other elders and Angarsk. I hope I will be able to serve there again maybe at the end of my mission. We have no sisters in my area but we do have another set of elders. Korea was fun and I met a really funny man who spoke some English and I got a pic with him.

In Korea people would ask questions in English and I would accidentally respond in Russia haha. The language is coming!

I hope my Panthers win!!

Love

Elder Wilding

TRAVELING TO KOREA

MY ASIAN FRIEND

NESTING DOLL

No comments:

Post a Comment

Who are you, boy? Poem to Missionaries from Russian Convert, circa 2000

Who are you boy? For a boy you are journeyed to this land of ours, this land where I've endured my days. And felt oppression kill my soul and force me into some tight mold. And teach me that I should not hope unless I care to smell the smoke of dreams that the Red Army tamed. Who are you boy, from this land of plenty, teaching God, if there is any. You have all; we have none. Do you know what that feels like, son? And yet, you ask me to believe in something that I cannot see; some force you say will bring me joy. Do you know what that feels like, boy? Where you're from, faith is free, but it has a price for me. When I have pain, I have my bottle. Hurt dies quick when you down it with Vodka. That's enough to warm my soul. I work, I sleep, the days go by--I'm waiting for the day I die. You don't understand this place. You say believe, obey, have faith, live life well, serve and give. Here in Russia, we just live. Who are you, boy? Why did you come? To save a soul who once was numb. To teach a wretched, hateful, man who cursed your help, refused your hand. I thought that we were worlds apart. So how is it that you knew my heart? A fraction my age, you calmed my rage; mercy paid my generous wage. I should have been left behind. It is hard to love my kind. Hope in your heart, power in your hands, why did you come to this distant land? I know now, it was for me. The Red Curtain fell, but I was not free. Until a boy from nations away brought me my Lord, I bless the day. He led me to weep at my Master's feet, the American boy I met on the street--new and naive, still in his teens, with a message to bring the world to its knees. I thought that the truth would come from another--I did not know this boy was my brother.