A Fairytale

Wow. My last week in my last area of my mission is over. I honestly couldn't have imagined a better conclusion. This last week especially has been like a fairytale and I'm still having a bit of a hard time believing it. Most of it revolves around the investigator I mentioned a few times before, Sveta. So, at the beginning of the week we had already met with her many times and she had comes to several activities, including Home Evening at our senior couple's apartment, the Colvins. In our last meeting the week before we had planned to talking about a few different things including the Sabbath Day, since she'd missed the previous two Sundays due to work. She came with some concerns about a few verses in the Bible that her friend pointed out, so we ended up working on resolving her concerns the whole lesson and I think she was very comforted. Near the end of the lesson she had Elder Pace's Russian triple in her hands and she flipped it open. She then looked up and said, "That's it. I've decided. I'm coming to Church this Sunday." She opened right to D&C 59:9-10, "And that thou mayest more fully keep thyself unspotted from the world, thou shalt go to the house of prayer and offer up thy sacraments upon my holy day; For verily this is a day appointed unto you to rest from your labors, and to pay thy devotions unto the Most High." We had not mentioned Sabbath Day at all on the lesson up to that point. That was a miracle. She did come to Church and stayed for all 3 hours. So many miracles happened this last week that I can only touch on some of them.

On Monday, we had Family Home Evening at another member's home and afterward at the trolleybus stop I thought to call Sveta because we were standing at the stop where we had gotten on the bus we met her on. She asked what we'd been doing. I told her about the lesson. She asked what we talked about, "if it's not a secret." I told her we talked about the Restoration and watched a little video. She wanted to see it too, so I told her we'd let her borrow it. As we were walking home from the lesson, Sveta was walking home from work. We ran into her! I basically just said, "Hey, see you tomorrow." Then as she was walking away, I shouted out, "Wait." I gave her the video, The Restoration DVD, to watch. In less than an hour we received a text. She said, "I didn't think I would be so touched by it: Goosebumps and a feeling of excitement inside me. I haven't even finished watching it yet." In a few more minutes, another text from her, "Super, super, super!" We were excited too, of course. I thought about what to do and then texted her Acts 2:37-38

37 Now when they heard this, they were pricked in their heart, and said unto Peter and to the rest of the apostles, Men and brethren, what shall we do?

38 Then Peter said unto them, Repent, and be baptized every one of you in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins, and ye shall receive the gift of the Holy Ghost.

She replied, "Thanks! Good night."

On Tuesday we had Home Evening at the Colvins'. Sveta came and we had a good time, as usual. Afterward we were walking home together along with a couple other members. I was able to walk a little bit further ahead at one point. We had been praying a lot about what to do because I knew that we needed to move on this. The conversation went to Priesthood authority, as she had just seen us give two blessing after Home Evening. I told her that as missionaries we are called to represent Jesus Christ and His Church and, "We invite you to be baptized by one having authority." She said she's not opposed to in, but she wanted to understand better what would be expected after baptism. She said that she's a woman of her word and if she says it, she will do it, no matter what. The other members split off to go home in another direction and when we got to her dorms we stopped for a minute. I told her, "We have been praying a lot about you and how we can best help you. This Saturday there will be a baptism at 2:00 PM. I know it is very soon, but I know you can be ready for that day. That is what we want to talk about tomorrow." We set up an appointment for the next day.

On Wednesday morning we met at 8:00 AM at the Colvins' apartment with another young member, Yulia. We taught her the Gospel of Jesus Christ and the final time I asked her if she will be baptized, she said, "Yes." She later told me that the words just came out of her mouth and she felt like it wasn't even her saying them. She just knew that it was right.

On Thursday, same thing, we met at 8:00 AM and covered several commandments and one after one she committed to follow them. We watched a talk by President Monson and the Spirit was very strong. She said she got goosebumps again and felt full of joy. I asked her what thoughts she had when she felt those things. She said, "I am just happy to know that there are people like me." She's already more of a saint that I am. Light attracts light. (D&C 88:40)

On Friday, at 8:00 AM again, we finished all the commandments that need to be taught before baptism and everything was just fine. The Spirit was present on all the lessons and really guided us. We reviewed the baptismal interview questions and she was ready as far as I could tell. I saw the Lord's hand make everything move. We ran into her on the street multiple times during the week. Everything lined up perfectly and she had just the right experiences, opened to just the right verses, and ask all the questions she had. The Lord blessed her so generously with spiritual experiences and confirmations that what she is doing is right. We could NOT have done any of this without Him. Throughout all of this she was calling all of her friends who sing looking for singers to do a musical number for her baptism. She invited so many people.

On Saturday morning she already came to the chapel early to iron her baptismal suit and make sure everything was ready. She had her baptismal interview. It went great. Just after 1:00 PM the service started and it was one of the greatest baptisms I've ever attended. There were two amazing musical numbers. She sang soprano herself, a member, Liza, sang alto, and two professional singers sang tenor and bass. I was also recruited to tag along on the bass for the first number, Be Still, My Soul. Then they sang Come Thou Fount as well. They are so good. Wow. I was privileged to baptized Popovichenko Svetlana Viktorovna. It was amazing. She was so happy. I was so happy. Since it was also District Conference weekend, she was also confirmed the same day. The Spirit was strong and the blessing was very powerful. We had a member, who had been on a lesson, be voice. It was all a blur. Afterward, she stay for the Institute Open House, then watched a movie with the YSA, then stayed for the adult session of District Conference. When I called her after that she was in the store buying things, so she wouldn't have to should on Sunday. She became a very active member in a day. I talked to her later that night and taught her the importance of keeping a journal.

On Sunday morning she was a little late for the new members meeting and I later learned that it was because she was writing in her journal. She's amazing. She smiled all the way through the general session of District Conference. It was such a privilege to be a part of all of this. She will be a very strong member. One of her friends, who had "warned her" about us, called her yesterday and she told her about her baptism the day before. She said, "Though she was in shock, she congratulated me, and I told her The Church of Jesus Christ is true!" I look forward to seeing her married in the temple and her children going on mission. I think she's an angel. I could not have dreamed a better ending to my mission. I have loved the whole thing. The Lord has been so good to me.

I know that this is His Church and His work. It has been a humbling experience to feel the Lord use me as an instrument in His hand. I know that I am nothing without Him. I know that with Him I can do anything. I love my Savior and His gospel. I know he wants us to be happy and He teaches us how through living prophets. It's all true and Heavenly Father is ready to tell anybody if they just ask.

Thank for you everything. I love you.

- Elder Jonathan D. C. Mahoney

Apology

Well, I'm already coming into the final week down here in Odessa. The work rolls on. During the past week I have been able to feel the Spirit many times in different teaching situations. I can feel the power and authority of my calling. We're here to call people to repentance and it's pretty awesome to actually do that.

I'll share one lesson we've taught to several people recently. We ask people about their conversion and how they came into the Church. We ask more probing questions to learn more about all the details and their feelings. Then we read from 3 Nephi 23:7-13 when Christ was on the Americas:

7 And it came to pass that he said unto Nephi: Bring forth the record which ye have kept.

8 And when Nephi had brought forth the records, and laid them before him, he cast his eyes upon them and said:

9 Verily I say unto you, I commanded my servant Samuel, the Lamanite, that he should testify unto this people, that at the day that the Father should glorify his name in me that there were many saints who should arise from the dead, and should appear unto many, and should minister unto them. And he said unto them: Was it not so?

10 And his disciples answered him and said: Yea, Lord, Samuel did prophesy according to thy words, and they were all fulfilled.

11 And Jesus said unto them: How be it that ye have not written this thing, that many saints did arise and appear unto many and did minister unto them?

12 And it came to pass that Nephi remembered that this thing had not been written.

13 And it came to pass that Jesus commanded that it should be written; therefore it was written according as he commanded.

Then we ask them if they have written down what happened with them, their spiritual experiences. We've had some powerful experiences with it. We then sometimes read D&C 6:22-24 and talk about how it is easier to remember the answer God gives us if we have written them down. One of the first verses of scripture we have after the restoration of the Church is D&C 21:1, "Behold, there shall be a record kept among you." We need to keep a record of our own personal lives and experiences.

I wanted to apologize for not writing more in my weekly letters. We are usually in a noisy, smokey internet club with limited time and usually when I sit down at the computer my mind goes blank. Regardless of how much I've written or not written, I love my mission. I have learned a lot and met so many amazing people. It has been a huge blessing for me to serve here and invite people to come unto Christ. I know that this is His Church. He runs the show. Alone I am nothing, but with the Lord I know I can do anything.

Thank you all for the love and support. The Church is true.

Love,
Elder Mahoney

Russian, Arabic, and French

This has been a pretty busy week. It's hard to remember everything that happened. First off, Sveta continues to do very well. We taught her a great lesson and she came to a couple activities.

On one day this past week we gave out a Book of Mormon in each French, Arabic, and Russian. We met a very interesting woman on the street who is on a BBC documentary called Ukraine's Forgotten Children. She talked a lot about some bad things happening to orphans and handicapped people. I will be looking more into that after my mission. She accepted a Book of Mormon and we prayed with her on the street. We then met an African from DR Congo whom I'd met playing sports. I testified to him in French and gave him a Book of Mormon in French. We had a note in the apartment that a man wanted a Book of Mormon in Arabic. We called him up and he invited us over. The address was the Islamic Cultural Center here in Odessa, so we went in and he showed us around. He's a sheikh and the imam here. It was pretty neat. Very kind man. He wants us to talk to the students there about our beliefs. He's very into interfaith relations. We gave him the book too, of course.

We also did some service shoveling for a member in another area. On another day we went and helped do some work inside for a youth center for handicapped people. It's completely funded by the people and apparently the first of its kind here. It was fun to help a cool cause like that along with a few other student volunteers.

Time is going so fast. I'm very grateful to be here and serve the Lord. I feel the Spirit witness of our words when we teach and testify of truth. It's a privilege to help people come unto Jesus Christ. This is His work. I love it.

- Elder J. Mahoney

Past the Two-year Mark

Somehow it's Monday again. I had my first and last Zone Conference in Odessa this past week. It's always awesome to learn from our Mission President and his wife.

We taught Sveta again, whom I mentioned last week and I think the highlight of the week for me was probably on Saturday. On Friday we met with her and talked a bit about baptism along with the Plan of Salvation. I then invited her to a baptism the other elders here would be having on Friday. She went to check her planner then told us that she definitely couldn't come. They next day we went downstairs from the conference to the baptism and there she was! She didn't even let us know she was coming, so it was a pleasant surprise. She didn't make it to Church on Sunday, but I called and she said she was thinking about it all day and that in the future she thinks she will make it so she has Sundays off. Things are going pretty well.

I wish I could say more. I'm loving my mission. Elder Pace is a legit companion and I'm grateful to be serving with him for my last transfer. He'll be my second last companion in life. ;-)

I love the gospel of Jesus Christ. The Spirit witnesses to me that it is true. I know this is Christ's restored Church. It is a privilege to testify of it as an authorized representative of Jesus Christ. He lives and He's coming back soon.

- Elder Jonathan Mahoney

It's all true.

I can't believe how fast this past week has gone by. I know that I say that almost every week. I'm sorry for the repetition, but it's unbelievable. Some pretty exciting things are happening in the branch. I'm excited. The other 2 elders in our branch currently have 3 baptismal dates and we have some good things in the works. I have pretty good hopes about a couple of the people we're teaching.

The coolest story this week comes from Monday night. We had Family Home Evening with our branch president Glukhov and then on the trolleybus home I sat next to a young woman. I could see that she was kinda looking at me and the book in my hand so I moved the book a little so she could see it better. She kept looking, so I broke the ice by saying, "What street is this? Uspyenskaya right?" She answered and then started asking who we are and why we are here. We got off at the same stop and ended up walking in the same direction a little bit. I told her more about what we do and our message and gave her a business card and Family: A Proclamation to the World. I invited her to home evening at the senior couple's apartment on Wednesday, but I thought maybe she was more interested in us than the Church. Well, she came and she's legit. We watch a little video about the Church and she was active in the discussion afterward with many other YSA and youth. She said, "I don't know about other people in the room, but I really like that in the video the people don't smoke or drink." She told everybody she wasgrateful that she came that evening. She told me afterward that she looks at people in Ukraine differently know. She said she always though before that there aren't any good people here, that everybody smokes and drinks. She said, "I didn't know that there are good people in Ukraine." Well, there are and I'm excited for her. We met with her on Friday and she had lots of great questions. We taught her about the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I read part of Moroni 10:3, "I would exhort you that when ye shall read these things, if it be wisdom in God that ye should read them", and asked her what she thinks it means "if it be wisdom in God." She said, "God brought me here." We talked a little bit about baptism and she came to Church on Sunday. I'm very excited to see her progress. She's in her mid-twenties, in the 3rd year of her 2nd music degree. She's studying to be a conductor now. I look forward to sharing more good news about her. Her name's Svyeta.

I love my mission. It's a privilege to serve under our inspired mission president. He's constantly pushing us to be greater each day. The gospel is awesome and when I live it I'm happy. I'm a son of a King, a son of God, and I know that I can return to live with Him and my family through the mercy and Atonement of Jesus Christ. Life's pretty cool. Thanks for all the love and support. Please keep praying for us.

Sincerely,

Elder Mahoney

Short, but sweet update

Times goes too fast. We went down to Kiev last Wednesday, on the train all day, and picked up our new companions on Thursday. I'm happy the trainers meeting wasn't quite as long as before because it's a little boring the 3rd time. All other trainers had also trained 2 or 3 times before except one. My new companion is Elder Stuart Pace. His parents are mission president in Barcelona Spain, so he just turned 18! His sister is on a mission in Norway too. He way cool and is already doing very well at Russian. I'm impressed as are all the members. I'm excited to get into this last transfer and do work with him.

We got home on Friday night after another all day train, about 11 hours. I learned to make vareniki on Saturday. They're perogies in English. That was way fun.

I wish I knew more of what to say. I know the Church is true. My testimony keeps getting stronger. I feel the Spirit as we teach and testify. I love my mission.

- Elder Mahoney

7680 stairs.

I suppose there actually have been some pretty interesting things this past week. On Tuesday President Klebingat was down with his wife for a Relief Society meeting. On Wednesday morning he invited all the missionaries here to run. (He's a marathon runner, by the way.) I'll copy what he wrote us in his weekly letter:

"The real you - your spirit or mind – is designed to have dominion over your physical body which ideally means that what the real you says and desires is what your body should help you accomplish. "Your mind is in charge; your body is the instrument of your mind" (Boyd K. Packer, 2009 October General Conference). Just as a car can still go many kilometers even after the light has come on and the fuel gauge shows empty, so you can push your spirit and your body far beyond what you think was possible. An active – not theoretical - faith in Christ combined with a healthy dose of willpower can work miracles in your life whereas "in the absence of willpower the most complete collection of virtues and talents is wholly worthless" (Aleister Crowley). 

"An impressive display of this and the fact that "great souls have wills; feeble ones have only wishes" (Chinese proverb) was observed while I was in Odessa last week with Sister Klebingat. As per tradition, I met the missionaries for an early morning run at the top of the ominous Odessa Harbor stairs, the goal being to beat the new mission record of 15 rounds, set by Elder Shurtleff. Accompanied by Elders Schultz, Michels, Christensen, Perkins, Thatcher, Detro, Mikhailovsky, Dutton, Mahoney, and Stroud I took off believing that with time and pain natural selection would take its course and decimate the group (Sister O'Neil – WAY TO GO – joined us a little later for much of the experience!). To make a long, wonderful experience short, I was proven wrong as we all stayed together finishing 20 rounds (5.6 km/3.6 mi, covering 540 m/1,771 ft of altitude, and a total of 7,680 stairs – 3,840 up and 3,840 down)."

Pretty cool experience. President and his wife also came to our District Meeting which was fun. It's always cool to spend time with them. I got another surprise call from President on Friday. He asked me to train again for my last transfer. I was really expecting that, but at the same time I've kinda gotten used to unexpected things happening. It'll be great to serve with another new missionary. Hopefully I can help him learn something, but I'm sure that his fire will help me finish this last transfer strong. My companion, Elder Schultz is moving to another city and I'll be finishing here in Odessa.

Things are going well. I love serving here. The truly is Christ's Church. I'm learning everyday.

Thanks for all the love and support,

Elder Mahoney

Monday Miracle

Another week has blown by! I hardly know what to say. I think I'll just share one pretty cool story. Last Monday we got a call during p-day. The man, Igor, said he met us about a month and a half ago and he wants to meet. I suggested meeting the next day to which he replied, "can't you do it today?" I said, "I suppose so." In a few hours we met with him. He's 36 and used to be a seaman. Three years ago he found a Bible in Russian at port in Australia. He started reading and believed. He didn't really have any idea what's different between this Church and others, so we got to explaining it. He asked, "How does baptism work here?" I explained how it works and what must come first, namely faith and repentance, then asked, "It sounds like something you're interested in?" He said, "Yes." I then simply posed the question, "Do you want to be baptized?" He again replied, "Yes." So, we had a great spiritual first lesson with him and it was a pretty sweet miracle. We haven't been able to get a hold of him since then and he didn't come to Church yesterday, but we have faith we'll be seeing some more of him. Not too many people have called us on my mission. I know that the Lord's hand is in this work. I can't think of anything else to tell about from this week, though we've been pretty busy all the time.

This is Christ's restored Church. I love it. It's a privilege to serve here.

- Elder J. Mahoney

P.S. Awesome new Mormon Message that everybody should watch, especially people preparing for missions. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WoWRbNwClMs

August 6th, 2012

Happy August! I can't believe July is gone already. This past week was topped of with a baptism. I was privileged Vitaliy from Moldova on Saturday. He clearly put a lot of thought into everything. He was ready for it. He even came about an hour early for the baptism. I love to hear the sound of the font filling up in a chapel. This is what it's all about. That's our main role here as missionaries, to help people come unto Christ and take the step of baptism. He also asked that I confirm him on Sunday and that was another blessing for me. I could really feel the Spirit as I layed my hands upon his head. I felt a witness that all was right that it was all being done by the proper order which God has laid out. God truly is a God of order.

The branches here need more strong leaders. I have seen issues in every branch and ward I've served in here. It troubles me a lot to see things not working the way they can and should be. We're taking a lot of steps to see that the programs of the Church are being carried out properly and that people are not being forgotten. Many members seem to think they know it all, but they really need help. It's a bit of an awkward position to be in sometimes, as a missionary trying to "fix" things, but it's a privilege to be here and learn. My mission has been filled with great learning opportunities.

Our days consist of a lot of sweating and a lot of people who have "no time" to talk, but we learn everyday and we always have something to work on. The whole mission is trying to get at least one baptism per companionship in the month of August. We have one. It's getting a little late to have another date set for this month, but we're trying. I love our mission president and how he is constantly pushing us, or maybe I should say pulling us because he truly leads.

I love the Savior. I love this work. I feel God's protection and His power. We are not alone here. There are angels round about us.

Thanks for all the love and support,
Elder Jonathan Mahoney

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July 30th, 2012

Another sweaty week has come and gone very quickly. It was 29 degrees inside when I got up at 5:30 this morning. Very warm. I was in Kiev for a leadership training meeting. That meant that I spent 9 hours on a train on Thursday and 12 on Saturday. Makes the time go pretty fast.

In addition to that I was on exchanges with another Elder this past week for another day. It makes things pretty crazy. It seems like we don't have time to get what we want/need done, but the work goes on. We have an investigator with a baptismal date for this Saturday named Vitaliy. He's from Moldova and is looking forward to this weekend. He feels that he needs the support and protection that the Lord and His Church provide. Miracles are happening in our mission and it's a privilege to see the Gospel of Jesus Christ change people's lives.

I truly feel it a privilege to be serving here at this time. We have such a great group of missionaries here and we are lead by a great, inspired mission president. I'm learning everyday.

I feel and appreciate your prayers. Thank you.

Love,

Elder Mahoney

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Sweaty Days in Odessa

I'm sweating in a smoke-smelling unmarked internet club in Odessa, Ukraine. I love my mission. I'm learning everyday and inching forward in personal progress.

It was 36 degrees on our thermometer today and we don't even have a fan in our apartment. I'm working on that, but for now I'm sweating all day and all night usually.

We have an investigator from Moldova named Vitaliy who will be baptized on August 4th. He was being taught before I got here, but there was a little break and we really just started teaching him again since I got here. He's 37 and he actually walked here from his home looking for a better life. I'll say he found it. The branch is starting to fellowship him a bit more and I can see him starting to open up and grow. I know that this will be the best thing that has happened to him in his life.

We have a pretty great branch here with an attendance of 80 or 90 a week. I'm still trying to meet all the members. It's hard to keep track of everybody especially with so many visitors each week since we're in the center of a tourist city. There are lots of tourists here and quite a few immigrants. We even taught a Chinese investigator yesterday. My companion Elder Schultz is a great missionary and we're learning together. Life is fun.

My testimony is truly strengthened each day. I'm slowly increasing in my understanding of the gospel. I love it. I know that this is Christ's one and only Church on the earth. I was called by God through a living prophet to serve a mission here in the Kiev Ukraine Mission. I feel it a privilege to be here right now.

Thanks for all the prayers and support,

Elder Mahoney

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July 16th, 2012

The past week has been a bit of a whirlwind. At the beginning of the week I was still in Chernigov packing and visiting some people for the last time in quite a while. We went down to Kiev on Wednesday night and checked my bags at the train station. On Thursday morning we met up with our new companions. I finished 3 good transfers with Elder Derrick Copling and started a new one with Elder Erich Schultz. That even we got on a night train down to Odessa. I'm serving in the center branch here. President says I'll finish here. It's a pretty neat city. I like that there are a lot of immigrants. I look forward to meeting some. I heard a couple Africans speaking French already, the other day. I think there's like 1.5 million people here. The city seems to be really spread out and it seems to take quite a while to get places on the bus. It is very hot these days, up over 30 degrees. We don't even have a fan in our apartment so I sweat basically all day and all night. It was 26 degrees when I won't up this morning and it's about the same when I go to sleep, hotter during the day. I'm working on changing the fan situation.

I'm serving in the biggest branch in the city. There's a district with several branches here. Our branch is in a super cool location just about 100 metres or so from the Opera House. There are lots of people around all the time. It was neat to go to church here on Sunday and meet a lot of new people. About 80 people come every week. I haven't been in a new area for 7 transfers, so now I'm trying to meet everybody and remember who they are. We already have a couple decent investigators and one baptismal date, so things are off to a decent start. I can feel that miracles are soon to come. There are 4 Elders in our branch and 2 more are in our missionary district from another branch. We have a Canadian, a Ukrainian, and a Bulgarian in our district along with 3 Americans. It's the most international district in the mission right now I think. Except one other that's tied with us. It's fun.

Time is going so fast. I love serving here. I'm constantly moving toward some goal. I'm trying to get some things don't before this is over. I feel it a privilege to be here. I know that this is Christ's Church and we are doing his work. God lives. He answers prayers.

Thanks for everything,

Elder Mahoney

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Transfers!

Wow, I thought that I would just finish my mission here in Chernigov, but I got a surprise. In a interview with president last week I found out I will move one last time. I'm going to be serving in the center branch in Odessa with Elder Schultz. I didn't really want to be transfered again, but when President told me I accepted it right away and now I'm actually pretty excited. I will have a Bulgaria and a Ukrainian in my district and all the district members are just awesome. 2 weeks ago they had 4 baptisms in my branch there and apparently 100 people came! They say it's the biggest branch in Odessa too. I can feel that it will be an awesome 2 transfers down there. We will see miracles.

This past week we used some of our p-day to go to Kiev early and visit a historic village called Piragova. I heard there were some actors that would be playing old instruments or making crafts or something. Unfortunately we didn't see any of that, but we did see a lot of old houses. There's a "modern village" with homes from the 60s and 70s. There is an exact replica of an average home from a village in each of the provinces of Ukraine. It was kinda funny because a lot of the houses look the same as they still do. A lot of the interiors were similar to places I have lived. Haha! Same pots and couches and stuff. I think some of the things might have been nicer that places I've lived. The old village was a bit cooler. There were homes from the 1700, 1800, and 1900s there, as well as churches and windmills. A lot of the houses had wheat roofs (or straw?). It was interesting to think that when people lived in a lot of those homes there wasn't much opportunity to travel anywhere. This part of the world was practically unknown to the people where I'm from and vice versa. Some of the home were built before the restoration of the gospel. It was interesting to imagine a little bit of what their lives were like back then. A lot of the interiors were very nice. Well kept. They'd even painted some things on the walls.

We had a great zone meeting in Kiev on Wednesday. We really have some great missionaries here. I felt the Spirit throughout. I'm happy to be here. I love this work. It goes one. =D

- Elder J. Mahoney

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Atheism

The fact that I'm writing this letter means that another week has flown by. It's pretty wild.

We've continued to meet with our atheist investigator whom I believe I mentioned a couple months ago. He's a great guy. He's smart and he knows history really well. We love him. We had a meeting with him yesterday and we continue to plead with him to pray. He said, "I can't pray. I'm an atheist." At the end, my companion was testifying and then the man said, "Maybe..." I joked, "Woah, can you say that? I thought you're an atheist." He then changed his mind and agreed that he can't. I asked him if being an atheist is an important part of who he is. He said yes. He said, "I was an atheist, I am an atheist, and I will be an atheist." I asked if he believed he could change. He said, "If I weren't an atheist, I would be nothing." It's interesting how much he has thought everything out and come to this conclusion without any openness to other possibilities. He's already read up to 4th Nephi in the Book of Mormon, which is the main reason we keep meeting with him. I think we'll keep meeting with him until he finished is at least. We testify again and again as representative of Jesus Christ that God lives and loves him. If he would just pray he could receive and answer and feel it too. I pray that he might feel God's love and be open to change. It'll be interesting to see how he accepts everything after this life.

I love the gospel and this Church. I love being a missionary. Thanks for all the prayers, love, and support.

Love,

Elder J. Mahoney 

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June 25th, 2012

I don't have all that much to say this week. It was bit of a less eventful week. Not so many of our meetings worked out and not as many people came to Church. We actually just had the 4 missionaries and the branch president in our Elders Quorum meeting. The work goes on though.

The highlight of the week was a woman named Elena who walked into Church after the meetings last Sunday. A member had invited her the previous Sunday, having seen her on the street. I talked to her for a few minutes before Branch Council and we set up a meeting. We had the meeting on Wednesday with that member helping us. It went very well. I felt like we taught by the Spirit, clearly and with power and authority. She said that she will read the Book of Mormon with her husband and that she thinks she'd like to be baptized. Unfortunately I haven't been able to talk to her since then, but she passed a hello through the member and let us know she wouldn't be able to make it to Church and that she had started reading. She fell and hurt her arm about a month ago and it's really been bothering her, so at the end we talked about blessings and faith and offered to give her a blessing. It was a pretty neat experience. She offered the closing prayer and we gave her a blessing right after the first lesson. I feel that there was faith present to heal. I look forward to finding out how she's doing. Sweet woman, about 57. She and her husband were lawyers.

The Church is true. I love the gospel. Jesus Christ is our Lord and Savior. He runs His Church and this is it.

Thanks for everything.

Love,

Elder J. Mahoney

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A God of Miracles

It's been a good week. I love serving here. I love the gospel.

We actually had 9 non-members at Sacrament Meeting yesterday. That might be the most I have ever seen in this branch or on my whole mission for that matter. I witness that God is a God of miracles. I see His hand in this work. As far as I know, at least 6 people have walked into our building this week. We've been teaching a man name Alexandr for a little over a week. He's a 57 year old artist. He used to study the Bible a lot and he painted inside different churches, but he never found one that truly lived a clean lifestyle and where they were really focused on continual progression and making the best out of this life now instead of waiting for something better after death. He kinda gave up and he said he hadn't read the Bible for about 3 years. We were walking through a park and he was sitting on a bench. As we were walking past on our way to a meeting he said, "You guys handing out Bibles?" I said, "No, but we read it and we also have another book." We were in a hurry, so we exchanged info and prayed with him. He has called us almost everyday since then and been to Church on both Sundays. When I first told him about Christ appearing on the American continent he said, "That's just logical! I always thought that he must have appeared to other peoples." I then quoted him John 10:16, "And other sheep I have, which are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice; and there shall be one fold, and one shepherd." and the Spirit witnessed to that truth. He's doing great and yesterday without being asked he said, "I would like to get baptized." Those are amazing words to hear because they carry so much meaning when a person truly understands them. As has been my experience before, I feel like I haven't done anything myself, though I have been present for every step of the process so far. I consider it a privilege to have met this man and teach him. He has been searching for truth and he accepts it when he hears it. He says that he feels comfortable at the Church. Miracles happen. People are search. I feel so blessed. The Lord is working through us.

I think I'll leave it at that for now. I love my mission.

- Elder Mahoney

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Press Forward Saints

It's been a great week. Actually 8 days this time... Preparation day was bumped ahead due to a mission conference yesterday. President Rasband of the Presidency of the Seventy and President Lawrence of the Europe East Area Presidency were here with their wives. It was really neat to see the whole mission together. It seems like it happens more rarely than it used to. There are a lot of missionaries I don't really know since the ones I knew before have gone home and new ones have come in. It's a pretty big mission and we're up to almost 100 missionaries spread out all over it speaking 2 different languages. It was a nice meeting. I was able to interpret into Russian for a couple missionaries who don't know English as well. The Spirit was certainly felt.

The work goes on here. We're working everyday to try and build the Kingdom here. We're trying to establish Zion, first in our own lives, then in the branch here.

The weather's been quite hot recently, especially in a suit on a small bus to Kiev for 2 hours.

I don't have all too much to say right now. I was just reading this on LDS.org: "Elder Oaks taught that if members have the faith to pay their tithing they will be blessed to work themselves out of poverty. He explained that 90 percent of their income accompanied by the blessings of the Lord was better than 100 percent of their income without the blessings associated with being a full tithe payer." What a powerful though. I know that when we pay a full tithe we are blessed.

I know that this is Christ's restored Church. I feel the Spirit bear witness to me just about everyday if not everyday. I love my Savior I yearn to get to know him better. I appreciate all the love and support. Press forward Saints.

Love,

Elder J. Mahoney

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June 4th, 2012

We recently got a referral from a missionary in Kiev. They had contacted a guy on the street who actually lives in Chernigov. He told me honestly that he wasn't sure how much the guy was actually interested. We gave the guy a call and after a couple tries we met with him. He's about 25 and we had a great meeting with him. He says that he's not that interested in going to any church, but that "man without faith is nothing." He doesn't know much about religion at all yet, but he said he's been planning to read the Bible for his own personal development. The Spirit was truly present on the lesson and he seemed very interested. I told him we want to give him a copy of the Book of Mormon, if he will actually read it. He paused for, I'd say, over a minute. He was really thinking about it and he said, "Okay, I'll read it." At the end he said the closing prayer, for the first time I imagine, and he expressed gratitude that he was able to meet people who could help him understand these things. He seems to be a pretty ambitious business man too. He is involved in selling gel that is used to make fake nails, which is apparently a 3 billion dollar industry here in Ukraine. I suppose it's not too surprising by how many people you see with them on the street. It was a blessing to meet him and I look forward to the next time.

I think I'm finally registered in this city. The bureaucracy here is crazy.

I love being a missionary. Things are going well. It's been a bit of a chilly week, which I didn't expect. It's funny how when it's cool you want it to be warmer and when it hot you want it to be cooler. The problem is just that I don't really have in between clothes, haha, just hot or cold. It's all good though.

I know this is Christ's restored Church. On Sunday 3 members bore very powerful testimonies about the importance and power of the temple. I share the same strong testimony with them that each temple truly is a house of the Lord. I love the temple and I can't wait until I can go more often.

Thanks to everyone for all the love and support.

- Elder Mahoney

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The Members Need Us

The first great news is thatI will be staying in Chernigov for at least another transfer! At this rate I hope I just finish my mission here. I'll have have 2 more transfers after this next one. Actually everybody in Chernigov has stayed the same, so I'm still with Elder Copling. I really love serving here and Elder Copling's a great companion.

Our mission president sends a letter to all of us once a week and this week he talked about how much missionary from another mission was asking one of our missionaries if we can take naps in our "free time" and if we can watch Disney movies on p-days. We can't... Haha. We have a mission culture of work and obedience. I'm so grateful that we are serving in a mission with such high standards. I feel myself developing habits and qualities that I strongly desire. I feel like I'm really improving right now. I'm moving forward. I've been waking up a little earlier recently and I am loving it. Usually I just study more and I am learning so much. I am always hungry now to read and learn more. As soon as I learn one thing I just want to learn something else. It's an awesome feeling.

Last Monday we had an interesting experience. We set up with an older woman in the branch who was baptized just over a year ago. We prepared a lesson for her that was fairly generic. On the way there I was feeling like maybe we were just doing it to get off the street or something, that maybe we could have been using our time more effectively. We got started on the lesson and we soon learned that this woman didn't completely understand and has only been paying tithing on her pension, though she makes about 4 times that much. I immediately got out some scriptures and started to address the issue. At first she expressed that she didn't know if she would be able to get by if she paid tithing on "all income." As the lesson went on and we promised blessings she became excited to give President Solomein an envelop with "so much money in it" and committed that she would do it. I said, "I feel that this is what we were supposed to talk about this evening." and I gave her the talk we were going to read from as "homework". As we were traveling home afterward, I realized that we needed to be there that evening. These members need us in their homes. There are a lot of things they may never learn if we aren't there to teach them. It was such a blessing to see somebody change, or repent, right before our eyes. That's what it's all about really.

We had a missionary leadership training meeting in Kiev that was a good experience. President and this assistants introduced a new idea for counting some different numbers. I liked how it was truly like a council in that when people disagreed or brought up new perspectives they were valued and considered. It got to the point where President was short on time and there were some valid issues brought up, so he just assigned several elders to get together after and figure it out. I took part in the extra "council" meeting we had afterward. I think it may have been on of the most successful meetings of that sort that I've ever been on. It was a great process. We opened and closed with a prayer and, though at the beginning there were many different thoughts and opinions, everybody listened to each other respectfully and we came to a conclusion that all agreed with in the end.

We had the best branch council I've been on here yesterday. We actually discussed 5 people who need help (as the area presidency has asked us to) and what concrete actions we can take with them. Since it was the first time that's really happened the meeting went long and the new missionary program that the area presidency also asked us to do here wasn't introduced yet. I was left feeling though that they have so many problems of their own to figure out and they'd better figure out how to care for the members they already have before they start going out contacting. We'll certainly be trying to incorporate helping with a lot of home teaching into the program though.

I love my mission. Things are going well though the fruits aren't popping up too much. Thanks to all for the love and support. The Church is true.

Love,

Elder Mahoney

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It goes on.

I don't have a lot of time, but I gotta at least let you know I'm still alive.

I just spent most of p-day helping the couple I just went to the temple with get a lot of their family history put into the computer so they can perform saving ordinances for their ancestors. Yesterday I taught them the 7th and final temple prep lesson which a review after the first time they went. It went very well. They are so happy and you can tell that something is different. It's awesome to be a part of all this.

We had a priesthood leadership meeting in Kiev on Saturday to which the Branch President didn't come. He's working way too much these days. It's not good for his calling or his family. I'll be talking to him about that tomorrow.

I don't know much what to say. We're working away. We're trying to get deceased and lost people off our branch list and focus on the people that can be helped. There's a new member missionary program being introduced around the mission so I look forward to seeing how that goes.

I love being a missionary. I might not be able to see too many people change around me, but I can feel and see myself changing and that's amazing. I love this gospel.

Thanks for all the love an support,

Elder J. Mahoney

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