Hello again! This week was definitely interesting. We had some really cool lessons with our members, trying to get them all ready to start doing some missionary work of their own. We've been doing a little program with them were we read a few scriptures about the atonement, have them make a list of friends and family who aren't members, then pray to see who on that list is ready to hear about the gospel. After that we have a few simple steps like do service, mention you're a member of this church, invite them to meetings, and invite them to talk to missionaries.
So, we decided to make banana bread for someone this week, and we decided to do it with the other elders because...well...they know how to make banana bread. So, we've just finished everything and have had it in the oven for about 10 minutes when someone suddenly realizes that no one added baking soda. Thinking quickly, but not clearly, he pulled it out of the oven and tried sprinkling baking soda on top and kind of mixing into the batter. Despite the well thought-out premise, it actually didn't work, and turned out to be really gross (bubbles of baking soda don't taste very good). The only parts of it that tasted normal were the outside edges that didn't get the soda treatment; they just weren't as fluffy as usual.
Hopefully unrelated, we had a case of stomach flu in our district. Thankfully it's all over, and thankfully I didn't get it as bad as some of the others did, but it wasn't fun. I think that throwing up at 2 am would probably be one of my least favorite mission memories.
Well, other than that, things are great! Thank you all for your emails, I love you, and I'll write again in a week!
Love,
--Elder Hurst
Cool things ahead
Hello everyone! Well, we just had zone conference again this past week, and it was really amazing. We've talked a lot about doubling baptisms, and our president, President Steinagel, is just the man to do it. He has a great vision for the missionary work here, and he really knows his stuff. This next transfer will be a really good one.
We have a lot planned for it that'll be really cool. Here's our schedule:
WEEK 1 (this week): 2-day exchange with the other elders in our district to help them boost their numbers and get some work going for them
WEEK 2: Exchange in Lutsk, a city I've never been to before
WEEK 3: Exchange in L'viv with the other zone leaders
WEEK 4: Mini zone conference (something I've been organizing for my part of the zone, Ivano and Chernivtsi; it'll be a scaled-down version of zone conference specifically for us and our situations. If it goes like I'm planning, it'll be a great way to train and, most especially, keep everyone excited for the last half of the transfer--most of the time, people are great after zone conference but it kind of wavers off after that)
WEEK 5: Exchange in Ivano to help them with a big Open House they're having
WEEK 6: Exchange in Kyiv, Ivano, Chernivtsi, Odessa, and Kyiv again before a transfer to Boise, Idaho....
It should be a good transfer.
Congratulations again to Mom for her big win! That's amazing. I hope everyone else is doing great, and I'll write again next week!
--Elder Hurst
We have a lot planned for it that'll be really cool. Here's our schedule:
WEEK 1 (this week): 2-day exchange with the other elders in our district to help them boost their numbers and get some work going for them
WEEK 2: Exchange in Lutsk, a city I've never been to before
WEEK 3: Exchange in L'viv with the other zone leaders
WEEK 4: Mini zone conference (something I've been organizing for my part of the zone, Ivano and Chernivtsi; it'll be a scaled-down version of zone conference specifically for us and our situations. If it goes like I'm planning, it'll be a great way to train and, most especially, keep everyone excited for the last half of the transfer--most of the time, people are great after zone conference but it kind of wavers off after that)
WEEK 5: Exchange in Ivano to help them with a big Open House they're having
WEEK 6: Exchange in Kyiv, Ivano, Chernivtsi, Odessa, and Kyiv again before a transfer to Boise, Idaho....
It should be a good transfer.
Congratulations again to Mom for her big win! That's amazing. I hope everyone else is doing great, and I'll write again next week!
--Elder Hurst
It's officially fall now...
Hello again! Well, the weather's begun it's usual downward spiral here. We had some great weather for a long time--really hot and sunny. Now, though, almost overnight, the weather's become cold and rainy. That's one thing that's always been interesting about Ukraine--there's no gray area between seasons. On Thursday it was summer; on Friday it was fall. There's no mistaking it.
Well, our week was a little uneventful this time around. President Steinagel decided to help me have a little more time for doing missionary work (imagine that!) so I've been released from being the second counselor in the branch here. I'm very, very grateful for that. It was nice to be able to sit with investigators for once.
Well, I'm running a little short on time again...I love you all, and I hope you all have a great week! Good luck with everything!
--Elder Hurst
Well, our week was a little uneventful this time around. President Steinagel decided to help me have a little more time for doing missionary work (imagine that!) so I've been released from being the second counselor in the branch here. I'm very, very grateful for that. It was nice to be able to sit with investigators for once.
Well, I'm running a little short on time again...I love you all, and I hope you all have a great week! Good luck with everything!
--Elder Hurst
Miracles from the ashes
Hello everyone! This past week has been absolutely amazing. It has stood in stark and utter contrast to last week, and it reminds me constantly of all the many scriptures and quotes that speak of how trials and suffering purify us and sanctify us in order to receive the blessings of the Lord. Our last week was probably one of the hardest of my mission emotionally, but it was all in preparation for this.
Our week seemed fairly normal until Thursday evening at about 7. One of the girls in our branch, a recent convert named Tonya, had brought her friend, Marina, who had come to English and church a few times but never really seemed too interested. After English we had a spiritual thought about baptism, where one of the sister missionaries here, Sister Muradyan from Armenia, talked about everything that baptism represents and means, especially talking about 2 Nephi 30 and how Christ was baptised although he was perfect and sinless. After, I shared about how baptism was like a contract that had to be stamped with the proper authority; just like how an important contract isn't real until the government places the proper stamp on it (at least here in Ukraine), so baptisms must be not only done properly, but by the proper and actual authority of God in order to be real.
After the spiritual thought, Tonya came up to me and said that Maria had a question for us. This question turned out to be, "How and where did your church get the proper authority?"
This is one of those "golden questions" that missionaries always wish their investigators would ask.
We went aside to the next room and taught her about the priesthood in the church of Christ's time, then about the loss of authority that came with the great apostasy following the deaths of the apostles. We finished by telling her about the restoration of the priesthood to Joseph Smith, and the fact that that allowed for all the necessary ordinances--like baptism--to be done once again. Maria sat there quietly for a little bit, then said, "I know your church is true. Tonya's told me all about it these past few months. I'm going to be moving to Italy in about four days. Is it possible for me to get baptised this Saturday before I go?"
After a little bit of stunned silence, we jumped into action. Friday was spent almost entirely teaching her all the lessons from 1 to 3 and all the commandments; her friend, Tonya, had done such an amazing job being a member missionary that I think we taught her 2 principles she didn't yet know and believe. When we asked her what she already knew about the Book of Mormon, she gave us an answer so complete that we had absolutely nothing to add. We just kind of said, "Uh...yeah...yeah, that's exactly right. Um...moving on."
On Saturday, Maria Dmytrivna Sorochan received the ordinance of baptism and bore her testimony of how this church is truly a living church--about how that's not just a story, not just a legend, but a true actuality. On Sunday she received the gift of the holy ghost and is now a member of the church, almost exactly 40 hours after agreeing to be baptised.
This kind of thing absolutely never happens in our mission. This is definitely the greatest miracle I have seen on my mission, and it's one of the biggest miracles I've seen in my life.
I hope you all are having a great week as well! This has been a week of miracles all over the mission, and I hope that it extends to all of you as well.
--Elder Hurst
Our week seemed fairly normal until Thursday evening at about 7. One of the girls in our branch, a recent convert named Tonya, had brought her friend, Marina, who had come to English and church a few times but never really seemed too interested. After English we had a spiritual thought about baptism, where one of the sister missionaries here, Sister Muradyan from Armenia, talked about everything that baptism represents and means, especially talking about 2 Nephi 30 and how Christ was baptised although he was perfect and sinless. After, I shared about how baptism was like a contract that had to be stamped with the proper authority; just like how an important contract isn't real until the government places the proper stamp on it (at least here in Ukraine), so baptisms must be not only done properly, but by the proper and actual authority of God in order to be real.
After the spiritual thought, Tonya came up to me and said that Maria had a question for us. This question turned out to be, "How and where did your church get the proper authority?"
This is one of those "golden questions" that missionaries always wish their investigators would ask.
We went aside to the next room and taught her about the priesthood in the church of Christ's time, then about the loss of authority that came with the great apostasy following the deaths of the apostles. We finished by telling her about the restoration of the priesthood to Joseph Smith, and the fact that that allowed for all the necessary ordinances--like baptism--to be done once again. Maria sat there quietly for a little bit, then said, "I know your church is true. Tonya's told me all about it these past few months. I'm going to be moving to Italy in about four days. Is it possible for me to get baptised this Saturday before I go?"
After a little bit of stunned silence, we jumped into action. Friday was spent almost entirely teaching her all the lessons from 1 to 3 and all the commandments; her friend, Tonya, had done such an amazing job being a member missionary that I think we taught her 2 principles she didn't yet know and believe. When we asked her what she already knew about the Book of Mormon, she gave us an answer so complete that we had absolutely nothing to add. We just kind of said, "Uh...yeah...yeah, that's exactly right. Um...moving on."
On Saturday, Maria Dmytrivna Sorochan received the ordinance of baptism and bore her testimony of how this church is truly a living church--about how that's not just a story, not just a legend, but a true actuality. On Sunday she received the gift of the holy ghost and is now a member of the church, almost exactly 40 hours after agreeing to be baptised.
This kind of thing absolutely never happens in our mission. This is definitely the greatest miracle I have seen on my mission, and it's one of the biggest miracles I've seen in my life.
I hope you all are having a great week as well! This has been a week of miracles all over the mission, and I hope that it extends to all of you as well.
--Elder Hurst
Email to all missionary parents
Dear Parents and Family of our wonderful Missionaries,
Since our recent arrival in the field, we have wanted to contact each of you and let you know how happy we are to be here in the Ukraine Kyiv Mission and how grateful we are that your son or daughter is here with us. We love our missionaries so much and will do all that we can to help them be safe, happy and successful.
The Lord has much in store for the people of Ukraine. The saints here are so faithful, although many are still new in the gospel and learning how things should be done. The construction of so many chapels and the temple rising outside the city are a testimony to the wondrous growth here. We feel strongly the importance of sharing the gospel with everyone and inviting them to prepare for the coming of the House of the Lord. We commit ourselves to helping each missionary to do that as well as possible.
Sister Steinagel and I want to thank you again for sending us such a wonderful missionary. We have attached an information sheet which might help you to know us better.
Thank you for all your support. We know it is because of your sacrifice that the work goes forward here.
With warm regards,
President and Sister Steinagel
Ukraine Kyiv Mission
Since our recent arrival in the field, we have wanted to contact each of you and let you know how happy we are to be here in the Ukraine Kyiv Mission and how grateful we are that your son or daughter is here with us. We love our missionaries so much and will do all that we can to help them be safe, happy and successful.
The Lord has much in store for the people of Ukraine. The saints here are so faithful, although many are still new in the gospel and learning how things should be done. The construction of so many chapels and the temple rising outside the city are a testimony to the wondrous growth here. We feel strongly the importance of sharing the gospel with everyone and inviting them to prepare for the coming of the House of the Lord. We commit ourselves to helping each missionary to do that as well as possible.
Sister Steinagel and I want to thank you again for sending us such a wonderful missionary. We have attached an information sheet which might help you to know us better.
Thank you for all your support. We know it is because of your sacrifice that the work goes forward here.
With warm regards,
President and Sister Steinagel
Ukraine Kyiv Mission
Not my favorite week
Hello everyone! I hope everyone had a good week this time around. Ours could have better.
So, our investigator Andriy was doing great. He passed his baptismal interview, accepted everything we taught him, understood everything perfectly (he would repeat back whatever we taught in his own words, and then expound on it all perfectly), and was really excited for baptism. We realized that the branch president had been out of town for several weeks and that Andriy didn't really know him, so we decided to let them get to know each other a little better. On Friday--the day before his baptism--we went and picked him up and walked over to our branch president's work. On the way, Andriy told us about how earlier that day a rich man that he used to go drinking with offered to buy him free drinks that day if he'd just start drinking with him again (there's a tradition here that you can't drink alone, you have to have friends--the best number is at least 3--otherwise, you're considered an alcoholic). He then handed Andriy a large beer bottle and left to go buy something for himself. Andriy told us that he set down the bottle in front of the store and literally ran home.
We showed up to the branch president's work in high spirits. Then, the president came and, without so much as a cursory introduction, began to very rudely interrogate him, accusing him of having no actual testimony of the Book of Mormon and of not being prepared for baptism. We left in shock, and Andriy told us that he had some praying to do. The next time we talked, he told us that he didn't feel ready for baptism any time soon.
We've talked to a lot of members and missionaries since then, and almost without exception it's been agreed that he not only had no authority to do the "interview," he had no right to such an aggressive and rude approach, and that our investigator was prepared. We've been in complete shock since then. How will he react to any other investigators who may be ready for baptism?
Well, in other news, we're heading to Ivano on exchanges again this Tuesday, so that'll be a good chance to get my mind off things for a little bit.
Well, I hope everyone has a good week. I love you all!
--Elder Hurst
So, our investigator Andriy was doing great. He passed his baptismal interview, accepted everything we taught him, understood everything perfectly (he would repeat back whatever we taught in his own words, and then expound on it all perfectly), and was really excited for baptism. We realized that the branch president had been out of town for several weeks and that Andriy didn't really know him, so we decided to let them get to know each other a little better. On Friday--the day before his baptism--we went and picked him up and walked over to our branch president's work. On the way, Andriy told us about how earlier that day a rich man that he used to go drinking with offered to buy him free drinks that day if he'd just start drinking with him again (there's a tradition here that you can't drink alone, you have to have friends--the best number is at least 3--otherwise, you're considered an alcoholic). He then handed Andriy a large beer bottle and left to go buy something for himself. Andriy told us that he set down the bottle in front of the store and literally ran home.
We showed up to the branch president's work in high spirits. Then, the president came and, without so much as a cursory introduction, began to very rudely interrogate him, accusing him of having no actual testimony of the Book of Mormon and of not being prepared for baptism. We left in shock, and Andriy told us that he had some praying to do. The next time we talked, he told us that he didn't feel ready for baptism any time soon.
We've talked to a lot of members and missionaries since then, and almost without exception it's been agreed that he not only had no authority to do the "interview," he had no right to such an aggressive and rude approach, and that our investigator was prepared. We've been in complete shock since then. How will he react to any other investigators who may be ready for baptism?
Well, in other news, we're heading to Ivano on exchanges again this Tuesday, so that'll be a good chance to get my mind off things for a little bit.
Well, I hope everyone has a good week. I love you all!
--Elder Hurst
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