Elder Holland, Easter, and Nerf Wars

Easter week in Russia is a big deal. There are three really big holidays ere, and Easter is one of them. Everyone eats frosted raisin bread called "coolich". There is also a tradition of greeting one another. Instead of saying "Здравствуйте" (Hello), on Easter day, you greet someone by saying "Он воскрес" (He is risen) and they answer "Воистину Он воскрес" (Indeed, He is risen). What a wonderful reminder of the Resurrection and the joy we can experience through Jesus Christ!

We spent the week saying goodbye to the members and investigators since Elder Mugerian is leaving. When we got to Moscow, we had the opportunity to meet with some of the General Authorities and be trained by them. Our entire Area Presidency, two additional members of the 70, Elder Hallstrom of the Presidency of the 70, and Elder Holland were there with their wives. It was an amazing meeting. Elder Holland is even more fiery in person. He pounded on the pulpit and pretended to choke one of the Elders!

We talked about the Book of Mormon and seeking the spirit. These seemed to be big themes in General Conference, as well as in this meeting. What they are saying is READ THE SCRIPTURES! When you read the scriptures, a power enters into your life that was not there before.

On the way home to Lipetsk, Elder Birchall (my new companion and I) got a coupe on the train and had some well-needed rest and reflection time. (After we got in a Nerf gun fight in the hall of the train.)

The gospel is true. Christ is the Savior of mankind. He rose from the dead "to become the firstfruits of them that slept" and "redeem mankind from that monster...death and hell." He lives!

-- 

Elder Wilkins

( Unfortunately we weren't allowed to take pictures with the General Authorities, but here is Elder Birchall and I on the train)

Transfer Calls and Moving Trucks

Well hey everyone!

We had a really great week, as we finally got to watch conference and catch up with what everyone is saying! We truly are blessed to have a living prophet on the Earth today and to be led by such inspired men. If you haven't watched conference yet (or you fell asleep the first time through-yeah, you!) I suggest going and reading/watching

"Overcoming the World" by Elder Andersen

"Walk with Me" by President Eyring

"The Power of the Book of Mormon" by President Monson, and

"Let the Holy Spirit Guide" by Elder Rasband

The Spirit has things to teach all of us trough the words of these inspired leaders.

Later in the week, we helped some members from Ryazan move their father out of Gryazi (a city next to Lipetsk) and into Ryazan. This guy had a jungle on the second floor of his house, filled with all kinds of plants and birds. Russia never ceases to surprise me.

We also received transfer calls. Elder Mugerian is going up to serve in Soklniki, and I am getting Elder Birchall, who will be the new branch president here. I'm excited to serve with Elder Birchall, because he is a super nice guy!

Sunday, we had the Lees ( a senior couple in our district) unexpectedly come to Lipetsk for church. We had some investigators and less active members there to watch conference, and then we held a lunch in honor of the member who passed away not too long ago.

-- 

Elder Wilkins

1)Moving

2)No bears here

 

Russian Funerals and a Grumpy Teen

Привет всем! Прошла еще одна неделя с несколькими сюрпризами.

Tuesday was our member Svyatoslav's funeral. His daughter was adamant that since he was born into a family of Russian Orthodox priests, that is how his funeral would be done. So we got special permission to go to the Russian Orthodox temple for the service. We stood out a little bit, needless to say. After the service, the priest cane up to us, and said "Hey guys, sorry we didn't really give your traditions any attention." Turns out everyone knew who we were and that Svyatoslav was a member of this church, but they were nice enough to invite us to a lunch in his honor. It was as awkward as any large family gathering that takes place in English.

Throughout the course of the week, we also reestablished contact with a few investigators that had dropped off the grid, and returned to the graveyard to bless and sanctify the grave. Throughout the whole funeral experience I realized how grateful I am for the Priesthood, the power and authority of God on the Earth today.

We had one meeting we were particularly excited for, with this 17 year old kid named Nikita. We thought he had a lot of potential. But he did not want to talk about religion at all. And then he changed his mind and just wanted to argue about all the logical holes in religion. We were a little disappointed, but we bore testimony and did what we could. At the end he got very upset he couldn't convince us we were wrong and left.

In contrast, we saw how the Lord is preparing people. This past month, the number of investigators attending sacrament meeting mission-wide almost tripled. What a miracle!

We also managed to watch one session of conference (shoutout Saratoga Springs for being ready for a temple). I love being able to learn from prophets, apostles, and the spirit. If we listen to what they have to say, they will guide us home to God. I encourage you all to review conference and see what changes the Lord would have you make in your lives.

Elder Wilkins

Pics from watching conference in the office

Winter...

Well...we thought that the winter was over, but it came back today with about 6 inches of snow. So that was disappointing.

We spent tree days in Voronezh this week on splits. I met an old Russian member obsessed with Native Americans. He loves Elder Atkinson because Elder Atkinson is 1/4 Cherokee. On the way out to the little village where they lived, I listened to a little 5 year old Russian girl quote "Frozen" word for word, and then we played tic-tac-toe. Kids.

When I was with Elder Maxfield, we visited a few less-active members, and had this great experience with one of the YSA named Misha. Misha doesn't like to read the Book of Mormon, but he loves war history and he loves reading about war history. So we helped him realize how much of that there is in the Book of Mormon, and how he today is one of God's soldiers. It was really cool.

I also found so much joy in the work this week. People are starting to respond to us a little more. We have our foot in the door with a handful of inactives, and got two surprise investigators on Sunday! They were referrals from one of the members I met with in Voronezh!

Unfortunately, we found out Sunday night that the member who had bee hit by a car two weeks ago passed away in the hospital Saturday night. He was loved by everyone in the ward, and we will really feel a hole where he used to be. I have a testimony, though, that his spirit still lives, and that those who love him will someday see him again, thanks to the mercy, love, and sacrifice of our Savior!

До свидания!

-- 

Elder Wilkins

A member leaving back to Armenia

Crazy Indian guy

Russian village

Me and Elder Atkinson

March Madness

We had great attendance at church this week- 15 people! Last week we had 4, so things are really looking up! Unfortunately, we were missing one of our most active members. On Wednesday, while we were on the train to Moscow, we got calls from a few members. Svyatoslav, a 76 year old man in our ward, had been hit by a car on the way to church Sunday and was not identified until Wednesday.

Right now he is in the hospital, in the ICU unit, and no one is able to visit him. He has been unconscious since the accident. Please pray for him!

Wednesday Elder Mugerian and I had some time in Moscow so we went to a market and got some souvenirs- lots of matroishka dolls and another shopka (fur hat). We went to zone conference and had a phenomenal experience. Something I've really been obsessed with lately is being able to be identified as a servant of Jesus Christ. As Latter-Day Saints, people should see something different about us. That difference comes from our faith in Christ and ability to use his Atonement. Anything clean always sticks out in a world as dirty as ours.

Friday we came back and had a senior couple with us, the Lees. Senior couples open so many doors. Less active members who want nothing to do with the elders will open their doors for senior couples. We got in with a few families we have been trying really hard to see, and had some really spiritual experiences.

We also had a really poor member give us some of her food and refuse to let us leave without it. The Saints here are amazing. One person called us out of the blue on Sunday, wanting to meet with missionaries, and two more showed up at church. Чудеса.

Not a bad week.

Ribs on Monday night

Goodies from the market. Who can find all 6 Santas?

-- 

Elder Wilkins