Merry Christmas everybody and Happy New Year since I won't be writing again until 2012. I guess I'll just flip through my planner from this week and try to see if what would be interesting to share.
On Monday with had FHE with the Ryabov family. They are so awesome. They have 6 children and they been members for about 14 years. They have a cool house outside the city and I feel love so much in their home. They truly follow our Savior Jesus Christ and inspire me to be better. They even brought us some cake yesterday to Church, just for us 2 missionaries. They're 10 year old son shared the lesson about the First Vision and did a great job. I can see how much he looks up to us as missionaries when I shake his hand and look in his eyes. I can feel how much it means to him that I remember his name. He'll be a great missionary.
We were able to meet with multiple awesome members this week which was amazing. We met with the one family who has a son who's a return missionary living in the states now. I didn't know anything about their kids before. We also met with the Lysenko family who I love too. They have 4 children They also have a really cool house with a pool in the basement outside the city. Bro. Lysenko has a business and flies commercial airplanes in his "spare time" as he would put it. They have an awesome family and are yet another example to me. It's funny to have the problem sometimes that our members are too busy to help us since they're doing things like Family Home Evening, home teaching, bishopric meetings, and going to the temple... Haha. I haven't had those problems much before.
We also met with another really cool family with 5 children and had a little Christmas evening. The father is not a member but comes to Church all the time and does FHE etc. He just can't stop drinking I guess. I don't entirely understand why he won't just get baptized. It's so sad to me to see how awesome his wife is and know how much she's going through. It'll be an amazing day when they can all be sealed in the temple. I pray it won't be too long from now. One of the saddest things I see on my mission is part-member families. He says he'll get baptized in March, but I think he's said that before. I love in their home how the communicate with such love and softness to one another.
We had a great lesson with a man who actually contacted us the other day. I was walking with a box to ship a package and he asked, "What's in the box?" I replied, "Nothing yet." Then the next question, "What's with the book?" We like that question. We taught him about the restored gospel on Saturday. I think he may know the Bible better that anybody I've ever met before. In the end he really had some questions to ponder and a sincere desire to know more. As with sat there in the below-zero temperatures in front of the packed local McDonald's across from him I could see a future leader in the Church. He has great potential.
Sunday was Christmas, though it didn't really feel much like it outside. It was an awesome day. Elder Peterson talked with his family in the morning before Church at our bishop's place. I love our bishop and his family so much. I played with the 2 year old a little and talked to them while he was on Skype. Then Church was just really cool. I don't know exactly why, but I could just feel so much love and joy from the members. It's a real pleasure for me to go an shake each member's hand. Our ward is so cool. For a special musical number 4 or 5 families when up and sang a Christmas song. It was so powerful. I was a little overwhelmed with the Spirit as I looked at all the women up there, then the men, then the children and felt their love and dedication. The future of the Church here is in good hands.
We watch the First Presidency Christmas Devotional after Sacrament Meeting, then I was able to Skype with my family. It was really cool to see them all. I love them and I am grateful for their good examples to me. It was neat to come home from Church and see them all ready to go to Church back home. The Church is the same everywhere and it's true. We visited another member family and watched Finding Faith in Christ, then we went back to bishops and had a really cool dinner there with duck and stuffing and other yummy things. I love them and I can feel that we'll be friends forever.
The work here is not just paint-by-numbers, it's a challenge, but I know it's worth it. Sergei, who was recently baptized, blessed the Sacrament for the first time yesterday. What a powerful experience to see the gospel of Jesus Christ change a man and then begin to mold him into a leader. I know that Jesus Christ is the Son of God. He is perfect and He loves us. He want to help us get to where He's at. I know this is His Church. 2011 has been awesome. Let's make 2012 even better. Thanks for the love and prayers.
Be strong,
Elder Jonathan Mahoney
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