Got a cold. No big deal.

Great week!

Teaching Elder Williams about
nutrition

I have a cold so that has been rough, but it just makes the mornings hard. Once I get up and going it isn't bad. Studies are great. I have been studying about grace and how it is an enabling power. Interesting enough, one of the words used for grace in Russian can be translated to charity. Everyone knows that we need to love the language, the people, and the culture in order to be a good missionary. ​It has just been cool to realize that the most important power God gives us to do missionary work is simply, love.

That's right - double smack daddies

Elder Williams has been doing a lot better. On splits with Elder Schoenfeld and Anderson, I decided that I needed to let Elder Williams figure things out on his own a little bit more. He had a rough night one day and while returning home he expressed how frustrated he was about the language. Of course, I wanted to give him some advice, but it didn't feel right so I just listened and supported him. At home I had a thought to put on some church music and to leave him alone for a while. An hour or so later I asked him how he was now. He said that he was able to calm down when he listened to the music and read his scriptures. It ended up being a big testimony builder about the power of the scriptures. Pretty cool experience for Elder Williams and I. It sometimes feels like I am all alone here in Novocherkassk training him, though, the Lord is with me helping me and leading me to make the right decisions.

Also taught Elder Williams how to
rig a lighter. All the things he is
learning.

I’m glad you and Elder Thayer’s mom are getting along so well, mom. You totally need more friends! I have loved chilling with Elder Thayer on the mission. He is such a good guy. And next homecoming you see Elder Barlocker, tell him I am disappointed he wasn’t wearing my watch.

Things are good with Margerita. She is bringing us an investigator in our next appointment with her. So everything is back to normal. I guess this is someone that she lead to a different church quite a while back, but now he has become interested in our church. I gave her some of that article you sent me, Dad, but waited to read it. I will have to ask her what she thought about it. Thanks for that, and make sure you tell Perry thanks from me.

Splits with Elder Schoenfeld

Still on splits. Went a little crazy and
got a combination of burgers that when
put together have a name I won't put
 on this blog.

​Update on Tanya (Tatianna) and Viktor​: Even though Tanya is in humbling circumstances, she paid a full tithe and fast offering this last week. Viktor went to the temple to do baptisms in Kiev! We have been blessed to be working with these two new converts!

​Love you guys!​

To end on a high note - they use to hang people off this pole