Elder Kacher

Hello once again to everyone.  The ice that lines the sidewalks is starting to melt and the weather is quite pleasant.  I remember when I first got in the country sweating and being so hot.  And then it got so cold.  But as for right now the weather is perfect!

We got a new investigator named A.  He doesn't believe in God but says he doesn't have proof that there is no God so he is open to what we teach.  He loves fishing and loved the pictures of the salmon and halibut in my picture book.  We found him in the area book and called him and found out he lives in the building that our church is in.  The area book is magic.  It has so many good people just waiting for us to call.  I look forward to teaching him!

We meet with Vlad again this week.  He is the investigator whose parents are super against the church but mostly just Americans.  He told us he was going to come to the conference we had on Sunday with Elder Kacher of the 70.  But then he texted us that morning and said his mom wouldn't let him.  But we will keep working with him.

BVolodia continues to progress!  It is a miracle to see his heart change.  Lessons are so much different know.  They just feel different.  He is reading Book of Mormon and praying.  Before he maybe got a verse and a half of the Book of Mormon and then says that he is tired and can't read any more and usually completely rejects the invitation to pray.  But since we haven't given up on him he is changing.  As Elder Crabb says "If we keep bringing the spirit and let him experience it, that is what is going to make the difference", or something along those lines.  And it is true.

 So this conference was pretty interesting.  All the members in this zone, that is members from Artyrom, Ussuriysk, Nahodka, came on buses to Vlad. Nahodka is about 4 hours away.  Anyways the Vlad sacrament room was packed.  All the missionaries had to stand out in the hall because of all the members.  The purpose of the conference was to hear Elder Kacher of the area presidency and the 70 speak.  He doesn't speak Russian so there was a translator.  Saturday was our conference with him.  He has an amazing story.  He is a convert at the age of 19.  He was born somewhere in the eastern states and when he graduated from high school he hopped on a plane to Austria to ski.  When he was there he had a strong feeling that he should go home.  He did and then had a feeling that he should go live with his friend who lives in Utah.  When he got there he was baptized.  A year after that he served a mission in Tahiti.  

He is a really great man.  He discussed many topics with us on how we need to make sure our investigators actually repent and about how we should be using the Book of Mormon more and many other things but the thing that the spirit taught me was that the gospel is love.  Everything that is done in the gospel is out of love.  It really hit me hard.  I always knew that but it just hit me harder this time.

The reason Elder Kacher came to our mission is because they are going to organize a district in the west.  That is one of the necessary steps before a mission can be organized.  And they are having a big conference in Ulan Ude.  And I heard that Egor is going to get baptized down there during the conference!  That is a miracle!  Right around the time I left he was starting to progress and then Elder Lyman told me after a lesson he asked if he could get baptized.  I pray and hope that all will go well with him.  I love him so much!

This week was another learning experience.  Now it is just time to apply what I learned.

 Everyone have a great week!

Love

Elder Wilding

At the Zoo

Zone Conference

ZONE CONFERENCE

 Dear Brother and Sister Wilding

We have been blessed this week to be edified by President and Sister Kacher, General Authority of the church and Area Presidency of our mission. 

We have been encouraged to be urgent and use time wisely! We have been instructed to increase our ability to be led by the Spirit! We were reminded to teach Repentance and Baptize Converts, those truly converted to the Gospel of Jesus Christ!

We were asked to have faith in Jesus Christ to overcome any mindsets that we may have. We were asked to learn to seek answers to questions of the soul thru the Book of Mormon and then teach this in our missionary work. We were asked to teach repentance as a blessing in our lives and that the atonement is for all people, no matter their past. We were asked to really work with less actives and seek to be led by the spirit.

Vladivostok Russia Mission Statement

I am a disciple of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. I have been called of Him to declare His word among his people, that they might have everlasting life. (3 Nephi 5:13)

We are a Preach My Gospel Mission!

We live by consecration.

We sow exact obedience.

We grow mighty faith.

We harvest precious souls.

We expect and facilitate daily miracles.

We talk with everyone.

We find with faith.

We teach repentance and baptize converts. 

We are happy, dignified and hard working!

We Love God and show charity for all His children.

We are the Vladivostok Russia Missionaries!

We have a desire to live the Mission Statement that we recite daily in our studies and when we gather in District meetings and Zone Conferences.

We love sharing the gospel with your son and we are grateful for your prayers in behalf of our Vladivostok Missionaries!

Gratefully,

President and Sister Perkinson

Vladivostok Russia Mission