Many Are Called But Few Are Frozen: Apartment Swap

Tuesday, August 2, 2016

Apartment Swap

Welcome!

Might as well start off with transfers. Elder Nielson and Hess have left the city and me and Elder Staiger are moving to their old apartment, while our sisters take our nice, freshly clean and large apartment. Serving without sisters for 6 months definitely had some benefits.

I don't remember if I told you or not but last week we bought a spin trimmer from the Renik. I think I may have said how the grab broke off after only a few minutes. The machine shakes so violently in your hands that it made one of our members hands bleed from using it after only a short time. I tried for myself this week (with gloves) and it about shook me out of those gloves. It cannot be adequately described in words how forceful it shakes. Just thinking about it amazes me.

Elder Hess asked me to speak in sacrament again. Only strange thing about it was that he didn't give me any topic to speak on. And that he let me know about it 5 seconds before I should speak. It happened again, asked to speak in sacrament meeting over the pulpit. My mind went searching once again for a topic, anything that I could speak about and I didn't really get much back from my that search. I could only remember what I had studied that morning. Which was a talk in the Liahona by Elder Bednar which by the way is an amazing talk. I spoke a little bit about Tyson and I think I took around 10 minutes again. It went well with a lot of Russian mistakes.

We deep cleaned our apartment. We thought we were having sisters moving in on Thursday so we packed up all of our books and I shrink wrapped my clothes and was about ready to go to the other apartment when we found out that the sisters would only be there for one night less than 14 hours and that we could have just left all of our stuff there with out shrink wrapping anything. That's just life.

We have taught Mr. W everyday for about 10 days and he is progressing marvelously! The Chinese pamphlets came and it is much easier to teach him now! He always works on Sundays so it is hard to get him to church. And he goes back to a city 3 hours out of town in 1 day. We can't call him and teach him due to the new laws. It is just a minor setback. He will be baptized eventually of that I know.

Well that just about fills you in. It was good to read all the emails and hear everything is going good. I'm glad to be staying here with Elder Staiger! I love you all!

Elder Wilding

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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.