Coke and Poker

This week we had 7 member present lessons which is the most I'd ever had in a week, but somehow it feels like we didn't do that much. Either way, thing are moving forward here. On Thursday we had one of the Zone Leaders, Elder Cluff, come up with another Elder, Matthes. We let Elder Drasso and Cluff take the lessons for the evening and Elder Matthes and I went on a quest to find a less active member who lives just outside the city. On our way one some people warned is it's better not to go in the evening because it's dark out there and the buses don't come very ofter, but we had faith and went for it. We were dropped off on the side of a highway and found a road that seem like the one we were directed to. We asked a woman walking for the road we were looking for and she said, "woah... um... go straight all the way to the end of this road and ask there." It looked really far, but we went for it. It ended up being a little less that a kilometre I'd say. Then I saw a woman going into her house, so I shouted over the fence and asked her where the street we were looking for is. She didn't know, but came out and asked us what we were out there for and who we are. After a minute she said, "I invite you in to visit." I checked the time, we shrugged, and in we went. We had a great meeting with this woman and shared the message of the restoration with her. She is a very faithful woman and even takes some kind of pastor training once a week. She reads a lot and gratefully accepted the Book of Mormon. She said she wished he granddaughter was there to hear too. Elder Matthes boldly testified that we are disciples of Christ. That we were sent to her house to share this message with here. There are no coincidences. Though she tried to help us after the meeting, we didn't have time to find the less active member. We ended up getting home just a little after 21:00. Not bad at all.

We were finally able to set up an appointment with the man I spoke French w/, Pierre, from Congo. First I taught him with Elder Matthes (on exchanges) which wasn't as fun for him because he doesn't speak French, but the first lesson went great and it was neat to watch the Restoration in French. I gave him a Book of Mormon in French and one in Russian. Then he came to Church on Sunday and told me he gave the Russian book to his friend and he'd like another. After Sacrament meeting he told me he'd never had a book like this before. He said when he reads the Bible sometimes it's hard to understand, but that the Book of Mormon is much simpler. He said he doesn't know how to thank us. I told him it's good enough that he'd come to Church because that's what we're here for. I taught him with Vova, who knows some French, for 2nd hour and that also went really well. I've only been to Church about 3 times in French and read the Book of Mormon once, so it's a little tough to think of all the words sometimes, but Pierre seemed to really understand the Plan of Salvation and was immediately talking about coming back next Sunday. I love helping people learn of truth and seeing them start to make sense of everything. I'm grateful for my heritage and everything that has led me to be here in Chernigov, Ukraine, teaching a man from Congo in French.

We had a neat Mexican Party on Friday. Elder Drasso is a quarter Mexican, so that's where the idea came from. We spent a few weeks talking about doing the party and trying to figure out how to cook some stuff and it turned out quite well. We all wore paper mustaches by the Branch Presidents request, male and female alike. Haha. It was kind funny to me because there was Coca-Cola there and after the eating they played poker. A couple things many Mormons might not agree with. I just think it's funny. Eastern Europe is a little different from the rest of the world.

Oh yeah, I never mentioned that last Tuesday was my 6 month mark! It's wild how fast the time goes. I try not to think about it because it messes with your mind, but I guess I have a bit less that 18 months left. I think I'll probably be getting transferred on March 31st, but one can never be sure. (Unless of course they're an assistant to the President). It'll be interesting to find out where I'm off to.

This evening we'll be down in Kiev for Zone Conference tomorrow. Elder Larry R. Lawrence, of the 2nd Quorum of the Seventy, will be there! I just got my hair cut for the special occasion. It's going to be awesome. The first visitor we've had since I got to Ukraine. I love this Church and I love this work. Thanks again for all the love, prayers and support.

One more thing. I just learned that Jean-Marie Belliveau, the former Branch President in Bathurst, New Brunswick, just passed away suddenly in a car accident. He was a great man. I was privileged to know him. It's a bummer I'll have to wait for so long to see him again now. I know he has a work to do on the other side though. My prayers go out to his family.

Godspeed,

Elder J. Mahoney

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