"I don't understand Russian."

So, a few switch ups recently. There was an early transfer and Elder Alex Larsen went and switched places in Vinnitsya with Elder Jeremy Carnes who came here. It's kinda neat to have a new member in our district. I also found out last week that I'm going to Bulgaria tomorrow to renew my visa, so that'll be a neat trip. Times flying. It's pretty weird really.

This week was interesting. We talked to a lot of people. President Klebingat encouraged us, at the beginning of the week, to pray with people on the street. Then when we'd make a return appointment they'd already become new investigators. We were able to do that with 2 men on Tuesday which was great. The unfortunate thing is that neither of them came to the appointments and we can't get ahold of them. We've been able to teach quite a few people on the street though, amid dozens of rejections. We get some pretty funny rejections sometimes. I'll share a couple.

Yesterday morning I said "good morning" to a man in Russian and asked how he was doing. He responded in Russian, saying, "I don't understand Russian." I asked, "What do you mean?" He said something else back in Russian and I said, "You're speaking Russian right now," as he walked away. Haha. The other one that I got a kick out of a few days ago was a guy I approached, started to talk to and he just started shaking his head. I asked him, "What does that mean?" He started pretending to sign language. I laughed in his face and he smirked a little. What a goof. He could clearly hear me. Haha.

Yesterday evening we talked to a man for about 3 hours who said he was interested, but would not take anything. He said in the end that he was sure that his Church is the true church. I testified so boldly to him repeatedly about multiples points of doctrine and I could feel the Spirit bear witness of it. It's incredible sometimes how even when people understand our message they refuse to read and ask God. It didn't matter what I said at all, when it comes down to it we just invite others to find out for themselves. I hope that something I said to him will ring in his head and he'll come around sometime. He was a pleasant, big man, who used a lot of words I wasn't familiar with. Haha.

Things are going alright though there are still few people that will even listen to us. As I read the scriptures and wicked peoples are described I'm often amazed at how, unfortunately, it is describing exactly what I see around me. I know that there are people here who are ready for the message, I just pray that I can find some. I love the Gospel of Jesus Christ. I know it's the Truth. I was able to testify yesterday that I would die for it. I really would because it is true. It's a lot harder to live for it though, so that's what I'm working on. God lives. He knows and loves each one of us. I know these things to be true because the Holy Ghost has born witness to me.

Thanks for the prayers and the love,

Elder Jonathan Mahoney

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