Monday, March 28, 2011
Were did my week go?
Hello everybody and were in the world did my week go. Anyway it was so nice today to open up my email and find my mailbox full this morning so thank you for all the letters. Spring is kind of back it was warm all week but then got cold again this morning. Anyway I am delaying the inevitable and should probally jump into my weekly report.
Monday: First of all after writting you guys we went tie shopping, grabed a pizza and then watched movies because Elder Brinkerhoff and Rowden were orderd by sister Roth to not do anything for a couple days. After the movies we got ready for work and then called everyone in our area book to see if anyone could meet. No one could so we went out to track and everysingle entrance we tried was closed and locked so after about an hour of trying to contact people we went back home for bed.
Tuesday: After our morning studies we had language study and then had a meeting with a recived that we had. She never showed so we than had lunch and went out to survey. After surveying for a while we met with the lady we had found last week that used to be the churches landlord. We met her in her office (her name is Lilyana, Kenzie you would love it her because half the girls that I meet our named lily something) The meeting went alright and we got her to promise to find her old book of mormon and read from it. After the meeting with her we went and met with Mima. The meeting turned into damage control because she didn't think that Angelina should be baptized. It was actually kind of scary because she used the book of mormon to prove her point. Okay not scary just, I don't know it is the best word, but anyway she used the christ attributes part in third nephi. We helped her understand that to be baptized you don't have to be perfect and that Angelina was prepared. She addmited that she was probally being judgemental and she said she would most likely come to the baptisim and if she felt good about it then she would belive that it was alright. Just goes to show that your example can mean everything. What astounds me is that this all came from Angelina acting like a normal teenager. Anyway Mima did come and she did feel good so we haven't lost her which makes me happy and a lot less worried. Though she won't be able to meet for two weeks because she will be in sofia and that will be after transferes. Which are this week AHHHHHHHHHH!!! After the meeting with Mima we met with Angelina and Gena was there with her. They are starting to get along great which is wounderful and Gena helped Angelina put together her program. Actually Gena is giving the closing prayer and I had the talk on the holy ghost (tell you about that later.) After putting together her program we talked with her about behavior and she took it seriously and has been acting a lot more respectable and appreciatable now which is good. During our meeting with her Violeta came in to give us dinner so Angelina and Gena stayed for it. Also Yordan came as well. After dinner Valintina came for cleaning and we found out that she has turned missionary on us. She had befriended a english student that was coming to church, taught her a little about the gospel, and gave her the notes that she had taken when she was taking the lessons (yes she did take notes. She is amazing!) Well her friend came during cleaning because they were going somewhere together. We got her information and we have an invite to go to her place for a visit with the other elders.
Wendsday: We left early in the morning to go to Sofia for a Large Group Tranning meeting. Once there the meeting started and it was really good. Sorry but I won't go into detials right now because I can't remeber every thing and you can just wait to read it from my talk journal latter. We learned about how rules are there to protect us and that buy obeying them we gain freedom. Also on what makes a good missionary. After wards we picked up stuff that we needed and than talked with everyone and took some pictures. We got a bus home and went to bed.
Thursday: In the morning we went and typed up the programs and then went and met with Valitine. Actually it was really cool we had tracted in on him in the begining of this transfere (about two months ago) and it had been just a approach were we gave him a broucher and nothing else. He did give us an email so we could play chess with him but other than that we didn't expect to see him again. Well he had come to church last sunday and said he wanted to learn more about the church. So we met with him and went over he intire first lesson with a lot of distractions because he went off subject a ton. After our meeting with him and commiting him to read the book of mormon we went and got ready for english. English was fun and Elder Rowden and I taught them about Verbal nouns. After english we went and bought some baptisim supplies and then up to bed.
Friday: Basiclly woke up set up the font down stairs in the church. Came upstairs got ready and made cookie dough to be cooked on saturday. Went back down found Angelina with a friend that was coming to the baptisim and bought some treats for the baptisim with them. Then we made copies of the program after a minor fix and started to fill the font. The other elders came because they weren't supposed to do anything and decided that being at the church helping us was better than doing nothing. Well we needed them because the font sprung a leak again and I along with Elder Brinkerhoff ended up under the font holding back all the water so that Elders Rowden and Corless could patch the leak. THe patch half way worked so we ended up having to mop and towle off the floor every hour or two and keep drying off towels. Gena and Yordan came by and we played ping pong for a bit, ate chineas food, and then plugged in the heaters to warm up the water which of course blows the main circut for that part of the building. So we have to call our landlord and he comes and fixes it after we franticly clean up because last time there was a baptisim. The water had leaked into the basment and he was super made and basicly told us that we couldn't do any more baptisims. Luckly he didn't notice and he even showed us how to get to the main breaker so we could flip the circuit back on. Well after some experimenting we found we could only have one light on with the heaters in so we cleaned up one more time and went upstairs. We then woke up at 11:30pm, 2:00am, and went down when we woke up at 6:30 to clean and mop again.
Saturday: After cleaning and moping we came upstairs got ready, made my cookies, greated the other elders, and went down to the baptism. The baptism was great Angelina was supper excited, Mima came and so did some of our other investagators, and Angelina's friend came and we found out that she wants to be taught too. The baptism of Angelina was really sweet and you could feel the spirit if you got over worrying that the font was leaking. My talk went alright it would of been better if I didn't have to read it off (my bulgarian is still not good enough to do a talk on improve.) And after words every loved my cookies and there was pleanty of food. After all the festivitys Elder Corless and I changed into shorts and T-shirts and started to emptie out the font. All the kids had stayed and they helped as well. It took the whole rest of the day to clean up everything and we went to bed exhausted. Oh Gena's mom also came to the baptism and said that she would come to church as well. It's amazing because it would be the first time in five years that she would be at church.
Sunday: Got up exhausted and got ready for church. We then went down to church and it was great. Mima came again and even Gena's mom came as well. We conferemed Angelina and the branch president was there. He actually gave her a calling as well. She is now called to conduct the music in sacrament meeting. After church we played hacky sack with Angelina and Vera and then went out street boarding all day. We then came back home and hit the sack.
Monday (Today): Woke up not as exhausted as before and cleaned, shopped, came to write, and we are going to go clothes shopping and then Elder Rowden and Brinkerhoff are still a little sick so we are going to watch movies again.
Love,
Elder Austin James Ewell
Monday: First of all after writting you guys we went tie shopping, grabed a pizza and then watched movies because Elder Brinkerhoff and Rowden were orderd by sister Roth to not do anything for a couple days. After the movies we got ready for work and then called everyone in our area book to see if anyone could meet. No one could so we went out to track and everysingle entrance we tried was closed and locked so after about an hour of trying to contact people we went back home for bed.
Tuesday: After our morning studies we had language study and then had a meeting with a recived that we had. She never showed so we than had lunch and went out to survey. After surveying for a while we met with the lady we had found last week that used to be the churches landlord. We met her in her office (her name is Lilyana, Kenzie you would love it her because half the girls that I meet our named lily something) The meeting went alright and we got her to promise to find her old book of mormon and read from it. After the meeting with her we went and met with Mima. The meeting turned into damage control because she didn't think that Angelina should be baptized. It was actually kind of scary because she used the book of mormon to prove her point. Okay not scary just, I don't know it is the best word, but anyway she used the christ attributes part in third nephi. We helped her understand that to be baptized you don't have to be perfect and that Angelina was prepared. She addmited that she was probally being judgemental and she said she would most likely come to the baptisim and if she felt good about it then she would belive that it was alright. Just goes to show that your example can mean everything. What astounds me is that this all came from Angelina acting like a normal teenager. Anyway Mima did come and she did feel good so we haven't lost her which makes me happy and a lot less worried. Though she won't be able to meet for two weeks because she will be in sofia and that will be after transferes. Which are this week AHHHHHHHHHH!!! After the meeting with Mima we met with Angelina and Gena was there with her. They are starting to get along great which is wounderful and Gena helped Angelina put together her program. Actually Gena is giving the closing prayer and I had the talk on the holy ghost (tell you about that later.) After putting together her program we talked with her about behavior and she took it seriously and has been acting a lot more respectable and appreciatable now which is good. During our meeting with her Violeta came in to give us dinner so Angelina and Gena stayed for it. Also Yordan came as well. After dinner Valintina came for cleaning and we found out that she has turned missionary on us. She had befriended a english student that was coming to church, taught her a little about the gospel, and gave her the notes that she had taken when she was taking the lessons (yes she did take notes. She is amazing!) Well her friend came during cleaning because they were going somewhere together. We got her information and we have an invite to go to her place for a visit with the other elders.
Wendsday: We left early in the morning to go to Sofia for a Large Group Tranning meeting. Once there the meeting started and it was really good. Sorry but I won't go into detials right now because I can't remeber every thing and you can just wait to read it from my talk journal latter. We learned about how rules are there to protect us and that buy obeying them we gain freedom. Also on what makes a good missionary. After wards we picked up stuff that we needed and than talked with everyone and took some pictures. We got a bus home and went to bed.
Thursday: In the morning we went and typed up the programs and then went and met with Valitine. Actually it was really cool we had tracted in on him in the begining of this transfere (about two months ago) and it had been just a approach were we gave him a broucher and nothing else. He did give us an email so we could play chess with him but other than that we didn't expect to see him again. Well he had come to church last sunday and said he wanted to learn more about the church. So we met with him and went over he intire first lesson with a lot of distractions because he went off subject a ton. After our meeting with him and commiting him to read the book of mormon we went and got ready for english. English was fun and Elder Rowden and I taught them about Verbal nouns. After english we went and bought some baptisim supplies and then up to bed.
Friday: Basiclly woke up set up the font down stairs in the church. Came upstairs got ready and made cookie dough to be cooked on saturday. Went back down found Angelina with a friend that was coming to the baptisim and bought some treats for the baptisim with them. Then we made copies of the program after a minor fix and started to fill the font. The other elders came because they weren't supposed to do anything and decided that being at the church helping us was better than doing nothing. Well we needed them because the font sprung a leak again and I along with Elder Brinkerhoff ended up under the font holding back all the water so that Elders Rowden and Corless could patch the leak. THe patch half way worked so we ended up having to mop and towle off the floor every hour or two and keep drying off towels. Gena and Yordan came by and we played ping pong for a bit, ate chineas food, and then plugged in the heaters to warm up the water which of course blows the main circut for that part of the building. So we have to call our landlord and he comes and fixes it after we franticly clean up because last time there was a baptisim. The water had leaked into the basment and he was super made and basicly told us that we couldn't do any more baptisims. Luckly he didn't notice and he even showed us how to get to the main breaker so we could flip the circuit back on. Well after some experimenting we found we could only have one light on with the heaters in so we cleaned up one more time and went upstairs. We then woke up at 11:30pm, 2:00am, and went down when we woke up at 6:30 to clean and mop again.
Saturday: After cleaning and moping we came upstairs got ready, made my cookies, greated the other elders, and went down to the baptism. The baptism was great Angelina was supper excited, Mima came and so did some of our other investagators, and Angelina's friend came and we found out that she wants to be taught too. The baptism of Angelina was really sweet and you could feel the spirit if you got over worrying that the font was leaking. My talk went alright it would of been better if I didn't have to read it off (my bulgarian is still not good enough to do a talk on improve.) And after words every loved my cookies and there was pleanty of food. After all the festivitys Elder Corless and I changed into shorts and T-shirts and started to emptie out the font. All the kids had stayed and they helped as well. It took the whole rest of the day to clean up everything and we went to bed exhausted. Oh Gena's mom also came to the baptism and said that she would come to church as well. It's amazing because it would be the first time in five years that she would be at church.
Sunday: Got up exhausted and got ready for church. We then went down to church and it was great. Mima came again and even Gena's mom came as well. We conferemed Angelina and the branch president was there. He actually gave her a calling as well. She is now called to conduct the music in sacrament meeting. After church we played hacky sack with Angelina and Vera and then went out street boarding all day. We then came back home and hit the sack.
Monday (Today): Woke up not as exhausted as before and cleaned, shopped, came to write, and we are going to go clothes shopping and then Elder Rowden and Brinkerhoff are still a little sick so we are going to watch movies again.
Love,
Elder Austin James Ewell
Monday, March 21, 2011
Hello everybody and WHY CAN'T SPRING STAY WARM!!!!!
Well as you can tell from the subject heading it has just recinetly turned could again. Other than that it was a good week this week and I will begin to tell it to you now.
Monday:
After writting you guys we turned in our english posters to the people who would put them up for us since it is illigal here in Pleven to do it your self. We then got hair cuts and watched a movie with the other elders. We had to leave earlier than normal because we had to bus into Sofia that night. Elder Corless had passport work on tuesday in the morning so we had to be there early. So we got changed and took the two hour bus ride to Sofia. Once there we went to the mission home were I picked up your package dad. Thanks for everything you are the best. Anyway after getting the packege and the newest liahona we went to the office elders apartment and went to bed.
Tuesday:
We got up got ready and went to the mission home. Once there Elder Corless met up with Elder Randle and they went off to do passport work. Right before they left Elder Randle realized that he had forgotten his phone in Mladost so me and his companion had to go get it. Mladost is a section of Sofia that is an hour away from the mission home (Sofia is huge.) So for basiclly the entire day we traveled all the way to Mladost, searched for the phone, and came back to the mission home the same time Elder Corless was returning from passport work. We had to wait about an hour before there was a bus back to Pleven so we ate the left over meal that Sister Roth had cooked for the Corelation meeting that they had had. After eating we caught our bus back home and then tried to contact Mary again. She was actually home but she was also having dinner so we asked for her phone number and we actually got it so now we can just call and have no more suprised visits. After Mary we went to clean the church with Valintina. When we got there there was a drunk outside the church singing some song about God and Jesus. He was actually very funny. After cleanning though he still wouldn't leave and we didn't know what to do so Valintina who works as a bartender part-time said she would handle it. So she went out and said to him "Come on, lets go drink for Jesus." and "Come on, we are going to drink and sing all night." We could barely control our laughter because Valintina is a big introvert and is very awkwerd in social situations but has a huge testimony and is a amazing member. So to just hear her say that was funny and totally against the character that we were used to. Anyway the drunk followed her and when we last saw her it looked like she had lost him, but we don't know and we forgot to ask her on sunday. We wanted to because she is such a humble and nice person that we can very easily see her taking the drunk back home and taking care of him. Anyway she is perfectly fine and can handle herself so we aren't worried.
Wednsday:
First thing after our morning studies was district meeting. District meeting was fun and after wards we went up stairs and made pizza together. After lunch Elder Corless and I had a meeting with Yordan and a friend of his who wanted help with english. Yordan is a less-active 17 year old that we have been working with. He had promised to come to church if we helped him so we agreed too. It was fun his friend basiclly new only the ABC's and that is it but we are used to that. After helping them we had a meeting with Mima were we answered some of her questions that she had in the restored gospel pamphlet and got her to commit to reading from 3 nephi to the end of the book of mormon. After our meeting with Mima we were discussing a time we could meet with her next when Angelina came in with an apple (this is important don't for get) for her meeting. We finished up and then met with Angelina. We taught her follow the prophet, tithing, keep the sabbath day holy, and went over the Baptismal questions. After meeting with her and everything seems to be on tract with her baptizim we went and met with the Lazarovie family which is a old couple that seems a little intrested and the grandma has been reading from the Book of Mormon. We only got to talk a little and then a friend of theirs came over who had seen the other elders before (weird but intresting) to watch a turkish soap oprea in bulgarian that everybody here watch's. In fact Elder Corless thinks that he is a regular watcher of that show because he has seen so many people watch it that he is very familiar with it. Anyway we left shortly after because we had to come home to bed and we couldn't teach them with the soap on anyways.
Thursday:
Thursday was english tastic. Basicly we spent the first half of the day fixing a test for the first level english class and the seconded half teaching english class. Elder Rowden and I tried to teach about some superstions to get them talking but it failed. O cool thing I found "Finding Neverland" with bulgarian subs this day as well.
Friday:
We planned for the week then did Zone fund and then had the baptism interview with Angelina. She did great in the interview apparntly and then Yordan came in afterwards and we talked with them for a while. We then went tracting and got a really cool recive before going to bed. It was from this lady who used the be the curches realistate agent when it first came to Pleven.
Saturday:
We had a chance to befriend Yordan and get Gena, Yordan, and Angelina together and hope that they became friends. So we took it. It was basicly playing soccer with them for a while. It was nice and it showed us the Angelina will be able to survive in the branch and make friends. After soccer we came back home changed and then got ready for english and taught it. Also Elder Brinkerhoff made this amazing carrot cake that tasted so good.
Sunday:
Church was good. President Korladov came up too to do a inspection of the building and any minor/major repairs that might need to be done. Every thing went well though and is fine. Mima, Angelina, Teodor, and a guy that we had tracted into at the begining of the transfere came to church. This guys name is Valintine and we actually got an e-mail from him saying that he wants to learn more so hopefully this works out. After church we had lunch with Mima and her husband and found out that we might be losing Mima. What had happened is that she was offended and hurt that one Gena who is a member was being rude (just being a typical teenager) and that Angelina had brought food to eat infront of somebody with out shareing (this is extreamly rude in bulgaria, but she didn't eat till midway through when we told her it was fine to, though Mima didn't know this,) and she is going to be baptized (and she acted like a typical teenager with Gena.) We were able to calm her down a little but it is still up in smoke about what will happen our not. It just goes to show you never know when your example is going to influnce someone for the bad or good, so always be good. After meeting with them and actually teaching her husband the first lesson we went to the Lazarovie's again and actually got to teach them. We taught them the basic story of the book of mormon. Funny thing actually when we started out the wife got the story confused with Moses and the exoudos of the Israelites from Egypt and got Moses' name mixed up with Jacobs. Other than that the meeting went well.
Monday (Today):
Back to cold weather and before writing you guys we cleaned, shopped, and studied. We plan on watching movies because Elder Rowden is sick and needs to rest.
That is my week and sorry it is short this week.
Love,
Austin James Ewell
Monday:
After writting you guys we turned in our english posters to the people who would put them up for us since it is illigal here in Pleven to do it your self. We then got hair cuts and watched a movie with the other elders. We had to leave earlier than normal because we had to bus into Sofia that night. Elder Corless had passport work on tuesday in the morning so we had to be there early. So we got changed and took the two hour bus ride to Sofia. Once there we went to the mission home were I picked up your package dad. Thanks for everything you are the best. Anyway after getting the packege and the newest liahona we went to the office elders apartment and went to bed.
Tuesday:
We got up got ready and went to the mission home. Once there Elder Corless met up with Elder Randle and they went off to do passport work. Right before they left Elder Randle realized that he had forgotten his phone in Mladost so me and his companion had to go get it. Mladost is a section of Sofia that is an hour away from the mission home (Sofia is huge.) So for basiclly the entire day we traveled all the way to Mladost, searched for the phone, and came back to the mission home the same time Elder Corless was returning from passport work. We had to wait about an hour before there was a bus back to Pleven so we ate the left over meal that Sister Roth had cooked for the Corelation meeting that they had had. After eating we caught our bus back home and then tried to contact Mary again. She was actually home but she was also having dinner so we asked for her phone number and we actually got it so now we can just call and have no more suprised visits. After Mary we went to clean the church with Valintina. When we got there there was a drunk outside the church singing some song about God and Jesus. He was actually very funny. After cleanning though he still wouldn't leave and we didn't know what to do so Valintina who works as a bartender part-time said she would handle it. So she went out and said to him "Come on, lets go drink for Jesus." and "Come on, we are going to drink and sing all night." We could barely control our laughter because Valintina is a big introvert and is very awkwerd in social situations but has a huge testimony and is a amazing member. So to just hear her say that was funny and totally against the character that we were used to. Anyway the drunk followed her and when we last saw her it looked like she had lost him, but we don't know and we forgot to ask her on sunday. We wanted to because she is such a humble and nice person that we can very easily see her taking the drunk back home and taking care of him. Anyway she is perfectly fine and can handle herself so we aren't worried.
Wednsday:
First thing after our morning studies was district meeting. District meeting was fun and after wards we went up stairs and made pizza together. After lunch Elder Corless and I had a meeting with Yordan and a friend of his who wanted help with english. Yordan is a less-active 17 year old that we have been working with. He had promised to come to church if we helped him so we agreed too. It was fun his friend basiclly new only the ABC's and that is it but we are used to that. After helping them we had a meeting with Mima were we answered some of her questions that she had in the restored gospel pamphlet and got her to commit to reading from 3 nephi to the end of the book of mormon. After our meeting with Mima we were discussing a time we could meet with her next when Angelina came in with an apple (this is important don't for get) for her meeting. We finished up and then met with Angelina. We taught her follow the prophet, tithing, keep the sabbath day holy, and went over the Baptismal questions. After meeting with her and everything seems to be on tract with her baptizim we went and met with the Lazarovie family which is a old couple that seems a little intrested and the grandma has been reading from the Book of Mormon. We only got to talk a little and then a friend of theirs came over who had seen the other elders before (weird but intresting) to watch a turkish soap oprea in bulgarian that everybody here watch's. In fact Elder Corless thinks that he is a regular watcher of that show because he has seen so many people watch it that he is very familiar with it. Anyway we left shortly after because we had to come home to bed and we couldn't teach them with the soap on anyways.
Thursday:
Thursday was english tastic. Basicly we spent the first half of the day fixing a test for the first level english class and the seconded half teaching english class. Elder Rowden and I tried to teach about some superstions to get them talking but it failed. O cool thing I found "Finding Neverland" with bulgarian subs this day as well.
Friday:
We planned for the week then did Zone fund and then had the baptism interview with Angelina. She did great in the interview apparntly and then Yordan came in afterwards and we talked with them for a while. We then went tracting and got a really cool recive before going to bed. It was from this lady who used the be the curches realistate agent when it first came to Pleven.
Saturday:
We had a chance to befriend Yordan and get Gena, Yordan, and Angelina together and hope that they became friends. So we took it. It was basicly playing soccer with them for a while. It was nice and it showed us the Angelina will be able to survive in the branch and make friends. After soccer we came back home changed and then got ready for english and taught it. Also Elder Brinkerhoff made this amazing carrot cake that tasted so good.
Sunday:
Church was good. President Korladov came up too to do a inspection of the building and any minor/major repairs that might need to be done. Every thing went well though and is fine. Mima, Angelina, Teodor, and a guy that we had tracted into at the begining of the transfere came to church. This guys name is Valintine and we actually got an e-mail from him saying that he wants to learn more so hopefully this works out. After church we had lunch with Mima and her husband and found out that we might be losing Mima. What had happened is that she was offended and hurt that one Gena who is a member was being rude (just being a typical teenager) and that Angelina had brought food to eat infront of somebody with out shareing (this is extreamly rude in bulgaria, but she didn't eat till midway through when we told her it was fine to, though Mima didn't know this,) and she is going to be baptized (and she acted like a typical teenager with Gena.) We were able to calm her down a little but it is still up in smoke about what will happen our not. It just goes to show you never know when your example is going to influnce someone for the bad or good, so always be good. After meeting with them and actually teaching her husband the first lesson we went to the Lazarovie's again and actually got to teach them. We taught them the basic story of the book of mormon. Funny thing actually when we started out the wife got the story confused with Moses and the exoudos of the Israelites from Egypt and got Moses' name mixed up with Jacobs. Other than that the meeting went well.
Monday (Today):
Back to cold weather and before writing you guys we cleaned, shopped, and studied. We plan on watching movies because Elder Rowden is sick and needs to rest.
That is my week and sorry it is short this week.
Love,
Austin James Ewell
Monday, March 14, 2011
Hello everybody and I know my spelling sucks and I will from now on use spell check.
Hello and were did my week go. This week has flown by and I can't believe it is Monday. It feels like it was just yesterday that I was writing to you guys. First no dad there is no dry ice here but they do have club soda which you just add to the mixture of root beer that you make for the box. Second probably the biggest thing I miss from America is all the different types of food and meat there. I love the food here but it is all they have and the variety that back home offers just sounds so nice. Oh beef jerky is something else they don't have here. Anyway all the variety and accessibility in America is what I miss the most. Anyway I may as well get started with the week.
Monday:
After writing you guys we went bowling with Gena a 21 year old member whose only friends her age in the church in Pleven is us missionaries. Bowling was great and I still suck at it. We played three games and I didn't bowl above 45 all three of them. I guess I just don't have any bowling blood in me. Anyway after bowling we watched a little of "The Incredibles" and then went upstairs to get ready for the nights work. We tried to contact a girl from Chicago. When we got there we found a note on her door saying she was called in to observe a surgery (she is a medical student.) Elder Corless was shocked to find a note and for a second didn't know what to do. You see no one in Bulgaria will do that and very few of them will notify you if they can't make it to an appointment. After I told Elder Corless that this was normal in America he realized that it was and we wrote a note back. We then went tracting and found and really cool guy but he doesn't want us to come back.
Tuesday:
Well Tuesday morning Elder Corless had to go with Elder Brinkerhoff to the doctor because Elder Brinkerhoff has some stomach problems. Everything is fine with him and please don't worry his mom is already worried enough and to tell the truth it is a little embarrassing to get an email about people being worried when everything is completely okay. Anyway Elder Rowden and I then made cookies because March 8th is Woman's day in Bulgaria (Like our mothers day though for all persons of the female variety.) We were finishing up the cookies when Elder Corless and Brinkerhoff returned with everything the news that everything is fine. So Elder Corless and I went to deliver some cookies and found out that one of the inactive 16 year old gypsy members was in Spain living with her fiance before getting married as part of gypsy tradition. We wanted to scream "Hello you're members Law of Chasity much!" Anyway it was fun to deliver the cookies and at least we know were she went so that she doesn't disappear like some members do. After delivering the cookies it was time for lunch and language study. Something that I found that helps me a lot is actually translating I don't know why but it helps a ton. After Language study we had a meeting with Angelina the 16 year old investigator that is getting baptized on the 26th. There was actually something really cool that happened during this meeting. In our last meeting we had told her about the word of wisdom and like most Bulgarians she drinks coffee, smokes a little, and drinks a little alcohol. She was fine with it though and said that she would follow it. In this meeting she told us that she had followed it for a day and had felt great but that she wanted to know for sure that this was correct. So she prayed to Heavenly Father and said "Okay I am going to smoke a cigarette today if this is bad punish me." So did what she said she would and smoked a cigarette that morning. The she went out to her mail box to get her money for school that day because that is were her dad puts it for her. She put her key into the lock and while unlocking it her key breaks off in the lock. So now she not only has to go to school without money but her family has to replace the mail box. She said that that was a big punishment and that she now knows. I find it amazing because one it teaches us that Heavenly Father answers prayers and two don't pray for punishment because you will get it. Anyway that was really cool and I thought you guys would like to hear that. After meeting with her we went upstairs to grab some CD's so we could make some copies of Elder Corless' classical music for a member. When we got up there though we found out we were locked out because I had loaned my key's to the other elders because they needed to use our apartment and they had locked the top lock and Elder Corless' keys don't have the key needed to unlock it only my set do. So we called them and they came up about a half an hour later because every one that they had dropped off cookies too had given them and meal and basically trapped them there for an hour. Well by now it was cleaning so we had to be in the church and then afterwards we were able to make the CD copies. That was Tuesday. Oh yea we got all the cookies delivered except for two people we were meeting on Wednesday. Yea we accomplished a whole Relief Society activity in a single day, we are amazing!
Wednesday:
First off we had district meeting. After district meeting we met with a member to help her with some English. She had served a mission in California so she can speak perfectly but she doesn't know any of the grammar. So we helped her for a while and then had a meeting with Mima. The meeting went well but she doesn't think she will be ready to be baptized until July. We know she is ready and we just need to finish teaching her so I will update you later. After Mima we had language study and then went to try and meet Mary again but she wasn't home so we just went tracting. That's a wrap.
Thursday:
Again I was with Elder Rowden because Elder Brinkerhoff had go to the doctor again and Elder Corless goes with him because he knows the most Bulgarian. So Elder Rowden and I just studied and then met the other elders at the bus station. Well Elder Corless and I missed our bus to Slavianovo and had to wait for the next one so the other elders just went to work. Once we caught the next bus out to Slavianovo we met with Nickolie and Iveta to members that live out there. Nickolie is finally active as long as he has the money for the bus ride down and Iveta is still inactive. They made us a delicious bean soup and then we talked and I beat Iveta at a game of speed chess. We then left because we had to prepare and teach English. English was fun, Elder Rowden went over when to us indefinite and definite articles (A, An, and The.)
After mine and Elder Rowden's class we did some tasks for the other elders and then it was time for bed.
Friday:
After our morning studies we planned for the week. We then met with this kid I had met the night before that wanted to meet and basically he just played piano and we found out he has some problems. After meeting with him we had lunch and language study then we met with Angelina and had a huge meeting with her. We went over the entire "Strength For Youth," the third lesson, and keeping the sabbath day holy. It was kind of funny because in the strength for youth they have all these pictures from the 80's and no one is wearing shorts. So she thought that shorts were not aloud. We cleared that up and then she came to the movie section and asked (after reading the part of what movies can't have) what movies can we watch that aren't kids movies. Luckily my Bulgarian movie collection was down stairs and we were able to show her 10 right there that were alright and not kid films. Anyway the meeting was great and before she left she that we learned a ton today and yes we had. After the meeting with her we got some English posters ready to be put up and then went contacting.
Saturday:
First thing we had was English and in it we basically got talking about food (reason why I miss it so much now.) After English we did some tasks and then went street boarding. It was super successful because for once it is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit outside and the glav was packed. After street boarding we went tracting and then went in for the night.
Sunday:
Sunday was fun and I actually understood somethings said in church today. Angelina, Mima, Vera (other elders English student, can't teach only 14 unless we have parent permission. She is really sick though comes to church and is in Second Nephi and has only started reading this month,) and Teodor and English student that I thought would only come for special reasons (okay he left his note book on Saturday.) He actually enjoyed church a lot and really participated in Sunday school. After church we tried to meet with him but he doesn't want to meet, but does want to come back to church. After church we had lunch, called some people, and then went street boarding. While street boarding I actually got a received off a couple all on my own. I was so happy and it made my day all the better. When it got to dark to street board we tried to contact Mary again but she wasn't home so we just had dinner and went to bed
Monday pak (again, in Bulgarian) (Today):
Today we have cleaned, shopped, I read Uchtdorfs talk on pride in the priesthood, and now I am writing to you guys. We plan on getting haircuts finishing up getting the English posters up and then watching movies until Elder Corless and I need to go into Sofia for his passport work tomorrow. Thank you all so much for your letters and I will write you again next week. And yes I did hear about Japan all the Bulgarians have been talking about it for the last couple of days.
Love,
Austin James Ewell
Monday:
After writing you guys we went bowling with Gena a 21 year old member whose only friends her age in the church in Pleven is us missionaries. Bowling was great and I still suck at it. We played three games and I didn't bowl above 45 all three of them. I guess I just don't have any bowling blood in me. Anyway after bowling we watched a little of "The Incredibles" and then went upstairs to get ready for the nights work. We tried to contact a girl from Chicago. When we got there we found a note on her door saying she was called in to observe a surgery (she is a medical student.) Elder Corless was shocked to find a note and for a second didn't know what to do. You see no one in Bulgaria will do that and very few of them will notify you if they can't make it to an appointment. After I told Elder Corless that this was normal in America he realized that it was and we wrote a note back. We then went tracting and found and really cool guy but he doesn't want us to come back.
Tuesday:
Well Tuesday morning Elder Corless had to go with Elder Brinkerhoff to the doctor because Elder Brinkerhoff has some stomach problems. Everything is fine with him and please don't worry his mom is already worried enough and to tell the truth it is a little embarrassing to get an email about people being worried when everything is completely okay. Anyway Elder Rowden and I then made cookies because March 8th is Woman's day in Bulgaria (Like our mothers day though for all persons of the female variety.) We were finishing up the cookies when Elder Corless and Brinkerhoff returned with everything the news that everything is fine. So Elder Corless and I went to deliver some cookies and found out that one of the inactive 16 year old gypsy members was in Spain living with her fiance before getting married as part of gypsy tradition. We wanted to scream "Hello you're members Law of Chasity much!" Anyway it was fun to deliver the cookies and at least we know were she went so that she doesn't disappear like some members do. After delivering the cookies it was time for lunch and language study. Something that I found that helps me a lot is actually translating I don't know why but it helps a ton. After Language study we had a meeting with Angelina the 16 year old investigator that is getting baptized on the 26th. There was actually something really cool that happened during this meeting. In our last meeting we had told her about the word of wisdom and like most Bulgarians she drinks coffee, smokes a little, and drinks a little alcohol. She was fine with it though and said that she would follow it. In this meeting she told us that she had followed it for a day and had felt great but that she wanted to know for sure that this was correct. So she prayed to Heavenly Father and said "Okay I am going to smoke a cigarette today if this is bad punish me." So did what she said she would and smoked a cigarette that morning. The she went out to her mail box to get her money for school that day because that is were her dad puts it for her. She put her key into the lock and while unlocking it her key breaks off in the lock. So now she not only has to go to school without money but her family has to replace the mail box. She said that that was a big punishment and that she now knows. I find it amazing because one it teaches us that Heavenly Father answers prayers and two don't pray for punishment because you will get it. Anyway that was really cool and I thought you guys would like to hear that. After meeting with her we went upstairs to grab some CD's so we could make some copies of Elder Corless' classical music for a member. When we got up there though we found out we were locked out because I had loaned my key's to the other elders because they needed to use our apartment and they had locked the top lock and Elder Corless' keys don't have the key needed to unlock it only my set do. So we called them and they came up about a half an hour later because every one that they had dropped off cookies too had given them and meal and basically trapped them there for an hour. Well by now it was cleaning so we had to be in the church and then afterwards we were able to make the CD copies. That was Tuesday. Oh yea we got all the cookies delivered except for two people we were meeting on Wednesday. Yea we accomplished a whole Relief Society activity in a single day, we are amazing!
Wednesday:
First off we had district meeting. After district meeting we met with a member to help her with some English. She had served a mission in California so she can speak perfectly but she doesn't know any of the grammar. So we helped her for a while and then had a meeting with Mima. The meeting went well but she doesn't think she will be ready to be baptized until July. We know she is ready and we just need to finish teaching her so I will update you later. After Mima we had language study and then went to try and meet Mary again but she wasn't home so we just went tracting. That's a wrap.
Thursday:
Again I was with Elder Rowden because Elder Brinkerhoff had go to the doctor again and Elder Corless goes with him because he knows the most Bulgarian. So Elder Rowden and I just studied and then met the other elders at the bus station. Well Elder Corless and I missed our bus to Slavianovo and had to wait for the next one so the other elders just went to work. Once we caught the next bus out to Slavianovo we met with Nickolie and Iveta to members that live out there. Nickolie is finally active as long as he has the money for the bus ride down and Iveta is still inactive. They made us a delicious bean soup and then we talked and I beat Iveta at a game of speed chess. We then left because we had to prepare and teach English. English was fun, Elder Rowden went over when to us indefinite and definite articles (A, An, and The.)
After mine and Elder Rowden's class we did some tasks for the other elders and then it was time for bed.
Friday:
After our morning studies we planned for the week. We then met with this kid I had met the night before that wanted to meet and basically he just played piano and we found out he has some problems. After meeting with him we had lunch and language study then we met with Angelina and had a huge meeting with her. We went over the entire "Strength For Youth," the third lesson, and keeping the sabbath day holy. It was kind of funny because in the strength for youth they have all these pictures from the 80's and no one is wearing shorts. So she thought that shorts were not aloud. We cleared that up and then she came to the movie section and asked (after reading the part of what movies can't have) what movies can we watch that aren't kids movies. Luckily my Bulgarian movie collection was down stairs and we were able to show her 10 right there that were alright and not kid films. Anyway the meeting was great and before she left she that we learned a ton today and yes we had. After the meeting with her we got some English posters ready to be put up and then went contacting.
Saturday:
First thing we had was English and in it we basically got talking about food (reason why I miss it so much now.) After English we did some tasks and then went street boarding. It was super successful because for once it is around 70 degrees Fahrenheit outside and the glav was packed. After street boarding we went tracting and then went in for the night.
Sunday:
Sunday was fun and I actually understood somethings said in church today. Angelina, Mima, Vera (other elders English student, can't teach only 14 unless we have parent permission. She is really sick though comes to church and is in Second Nephi and has only started reading this month,) and Teodor and English student that I thought would only come for special reasons (okay he left his note book on Saturday.) He actually enjoyed church a lot and really participated in Sunday school. After church we tried to meet with him but he doesn't want to meet, but does want to come back to church. After church we had lunch, called some people, and then went street boarding. While street boarding I actually got a received off a couple all on my own. I was so happy and it made my day all the better. When it got to dark to street board we tried to contact Mary again but she wasn't home so we just had dinner and went to bed
Monday pak (again, in Bulgarian) (Today):
Today we have cleaned, shopped, I read Uchtdorfs talk on pride in the priesthood, and now I am writing to you guys. We plan on getting haircuts finishing up getting the English posters up and then watching movies until Elder Corless and I need to go into Sofia for his passport work tomorrow. Thank you all so much for your letters and I will write you again next week. And yes I did hear about Japan all the Bulgarians have been talking about it for the last couple of days.
Love,
Austin James Ewell
Tuesday, March 8, 2011
Monday, March 7, 2011
Hello and boy am I tired
Hello this last week has been super tirieing. I don't know what it was but I couldn't stay up and wanted to nap all the time. Maybe it is because of all the contacting that we were doing. That is probally it, anyway the tired spell is over and I feel a lot more awake today. I love P-Days they are such a nice apportunity to relax. Before I begin my week lets give some updates. First your package and postcard dad have probally come through but I won't be able to be in Sofia to find out until the 22nd. Also we just got about 3 inches of snow this morning.
Monday:
First of all lets start with the begining. After writting you guys we went out martinitza shopping. Martinitza are the little braclets that everyone weres on from the first of march until they see their first stork or blossom on a fruit bearing tree. They then put the martinitza on the nearest fruit bearing tree. So we went around all the stands trying to find ones we liked and once we were done we headed to the church to watch a movie. It was really cold so we diecided to bring down all the heaters from the apartment and plug them in. So we had 3 heaters going, the climitik (a giant wall monted one for the room), the vcr, and the tv going at the same time all in a bulgarian quality (not good) building. Well you can guess were this is going within about ten minutes we blew the main breaker for the church which we couldn't get to without the landowner. So we got to sit in the dark and play ping pong for the next 3 hours before we had to go out and work. It was really frustrating because I was looking forward to vegging out in front of a movie. Anyway by the time we got the power on it was to late to watch anything so Elder Corless and I went and took care of some branch tasks that required some (multiple) banks. Mainly because none of the banks could do what we needed them to do and the ones that could were all closed. All well that is bulgaria. We eventually found one open and took care of it all and then got to ge to work which consested of waiting for a no show then going to contact some one in Storgozia (North-western part of town) to find out that he was back home in another city because he was sick. So not the most succesful of nights but it wasn't bad either.
Tuesday:
Tuesday was fun first thing we did was go contacting. We survied for about two hours on the glav. A cool thing that happened is that I found a bulgarian lady that lives in boston and actually has Lds member friends. It was really cool and pretty amazing that no matter where you run the lord (or us missionaries) will find you. Okay maybe not as sinical sounding as that but still it was pretty cool. We went home for lunch after about two hours of contacting because it was around 0 degrees farinhieght. We had lunch and language study and then waited for the same guy on monday that didn't show for another meetting in which he didn't show either and reschedualed for later that night. After waiting for him we had a meeting with Angelina. She actually came I was so happy and excited. I don't know what it is but when she disappered I was worried sick but now that she is back I am just so happy. Anyway apparently she really was sick (she does look skinnier) but she didn't want to talk about it. Her parents are aparently fine with her meetting with us and even getting baptized. She is still really intrested and was really sorry that she was sick. We finished up that meetting and reshcedualed one for friday were we could teach her another lesson because this one was more of a "What happened to you?" lesson. After meeting with her we had a meetting with a investagator who wanted to drop something off with us. While we were talking with here a recent convert named Valintina came in for a lesson she had with Elder Randle and Corless. Elder Randle is our zone leader and he was coming down for splits and also he is the one that found Valintina and taught her up to baptizim. Shortly after she arrived Elder Randle and Rothisburger (I can't spell his name so from now one I will write Rothy) arrived and Elder Corless and Randle began their lesson with here and Elder Rothy and I went out to contact some people who weren't home. So we came back made Mycaka (Moosaka) and when everyone was up we went to bed.
Wensday:
After our morning studies we went down to district meetting in which President and Sister Roth were coming to. The district meeting was really good and my faviort part was when President and Sister Roth tolds us about obediance and the three different types of obediance (Behaviorism, Congnitism, and Contructivnism.) I will explain more about these in a couple weeks because that is what they are going to talk about at the large traning meeting that we are having on the 22nd. After district meeting we had language hour while president and sister Roth went and made a cleaning video for the large traning metting at the other elders apartment. After Language study we went out to eat at this really good suprisingly cheap restraunt. Oh the food was so good there. Anyway after lunch we went out to work and Elder Rothy and I had about an unplanned five minutes so we went and bought me a bulgarian bible. It is amazing and it has in the back maps like our bible and even a jewish calander and time counting compared to our calander and time counting. It is really cool and something interesting that is has is that whenever jesus is speaking in the new testmant the words are colored red. Anyway we had to go back afte about an hour of contacting so that Elder Randle and Rothy could catch a bus back to Sofia. After they left we had a meeting with Mima and progressing investagator of ours and she is so amazing. She is really sweet and kind and also she has a very sweet and growing testimony. During this meeting she actually commited to being baptized but she doesn't want to pick a date quite yet because she doesn't know when she will be ready and wants to pray about it. I am so excited it is so nice to have somebody that is actually progressing and sincer. After the meeting with here we went to a concert with a guest Korean conducter and flutest. The concert was playing some of the songs that Elder Corless and performed while in highschool in his orchestra. We have permission from president Roth because he wants us seen in upper society type of functions to improve the image of the church. We took Valintina and another member Violeta to it and it was a good concert. After the concert we went back home to bed.
Thursday:
After our morning studies we went down stairs to clean the church building then went through the area book calling people and then had lunch and language study. After language study we met with an investagator named Miroslav. We met him at his villa which after a taxi ride and climbing up a really steep snow covered hill we basiclly came to a shake on top of a storage shed. The meeting went fine and we got him to commit to reading ten pages a day from the Book of Mormon. After the meeting we called a taxi to get back in time for english and had to run down the super steep snow covered hill to make it in time. I didn't fall once but Elder Corless slipped twice and got snow stuck in his ear muffs. We made it in time for english in which Elder Rowden and I taught some idioms and then we got into a conversation about our geneologies. I am so greatfull to grandpa Ewell for always teaching us about our family history. I may not of remebered it all but it was really cool that I could tell them about my history about 4-5 genrations back. I also realized something I am a 4-5 generation member of the Lds church according to my remberance (correct me if I am wrong) on all my main lines (Ewell, Otteson, Harmer, and Grandma Harmers line.) I never relized this before and to tell you the truth is was kind of cool. Anyway after english Gena and 21 year old member and her 17 year old inactive brother came in and we played ping pong with them the rest of the night. It was good for Jordan (pronouced in bulgarian Yordan, brother of Gena) to be able to actually be in the church and having fun. Hopefully we can get him active by more activities like this.
Friday:
After our morning studies we planned for the week had lunch and then language study. After language study we met with Angelina. The meeting was awsoem and she actually picked out another baptizim date for the 26th so please pray that this time it will happen and that she will be ready. After the meeting with her we went to a families house that used to have a daughter that was a member but she had died 6 months ago. The other Elders have been working with them mainly just by loving them and trying to bring them comfert. We went over there with the other Elders because she wanted to teach us how to make Banizta and also she wanted to visit with us. We bought the supplies for the banizta and she then taught us how. She did something really intresting with the cheese one she was making. She took the Cipane (Closest America has is Feta) and crushed it up in yogurt and basicly blended it fine and then she put the yogurt cheese and egg mixture between the sheets of dough. It was really good. Anyway we were there for about 5 hours because banizta took a while to make and she was making a couple diffrent kinds for us (one was meat banizta.) It was alright though because they really needed the companay. After the visit we went to a near by Billa (Supermarket) were the other elders had found some strawberries for 4 lev a kilo (about 3 US dollars.) It was so good to be able to taste strawberries again. We then had to head back home to bed.
Saturday:
After our morning studies we had english in which we basiclly just talked with the english students because they really just need the practice. After english Elder Rowden and I had lunch and then invetoried and organized half of the library closet. After we were done we all went out street boarding with some pretty good succes. The reason why is that it was a nice day out so every one was out of their houses walking around trying to soak in as much sunlight as possible. After street boarding we had a language study and then went tracting for the night. Cool thing we tried to contact this american girl that had been gone for awhile and she was actually home and shedualed and meeting with us for monday (today.) After tracting we went home and went to bed.
Sunday:
Sunday was pretty good. At church we had 14 people. 4 missionaries and 10 woman 4 of which were non members and two of them young woman. Near the end of church Jordan (Yordan) came in because before church Elder Corless and seen him and told him if he stopped by after church we would play ping pong with him. Also Angelina was there and that is good and so was Mima. They are both coming reguarly now which is great. Other than that church was a little slow because the only ones that bore their testimonies were us missionaries. After church was good though. Yordan and Gena stayed and we played ping pong with them which was good because at least Yordan is in the building. After Ping pong Elder Corless and I wrote a letter to the missionarie from Pleven because his birthday is on the 19th and we are trying to get the branch to send him something. After writing the letter we went out contacting and that was basicly the night. Except the Kid that was sick earlier this week was home and he was excited to talk with us but he didn't have any time at the moment. He told us that he would trie to read throught the Book of Mormon and that he would be more free at the end of the month. So we or a new set of elders get to go back in about a month.
Monday (Today):
Basicly we have cleaned, studied, shopped, and are now writing. We plan on going bowling with Gena and the other Elders later and then watching a movie.
That you for all the letters and dad I liked the bishop message though check the spelling on somethings you once said can when I am 99% certain that you ment can't.
Love,
Austin James Ewell
Monday:
First of all lets start with the begining. After writting you guys we went out martinitza shopping. Martinitza are the little braclets that everyone weres on from the first of march until they see their first stork or blossom on a fruit bearing tree. They then put the martinitza on the nearest fruit bearing tree. So we went around all the stands trying to find ones we liked and once we were done we headed to the church to watch a movie. It was really cold so we diecided to bring down all the heaters from the apartment and plug them in. So we had 3 heaters going, the climitik (a giant wall monted one for the room), the vcr, and the tv going at the same time all in a bulgarian quality (not good) building. Well you can guess were this is going within about ten minutes we blew the main breaker for the church which we couldn't get to without the landowner. So we got to sit in the dark and play ping pong for the next 3 hours before we had to go out and work. It was really frustrating because I was looking forward to vegging out in front of a movie. Anyway by the time we got the power on it was to late to watch anything so Elder Corless and I went and took care of some branch tasks that required some (multiple) banks. Mainly because none of the banks could do what we needed them to do and the ones that could were all closed. All well that is bulgaria. We eventually found one open and took care of it all and then got to ge to work which consested of waiting for a no show then going to contact some one in Storgozia (North-western part of town) to find out that he was back home in another city because he was sick. So not the most succesful of nights but it wasn't bad either.
Tuesday:
Tuesday was fun first thing we did was go contacting. We survied for about two hours on the glav. A cool thing that happened is that I found a bulgarian lady that lives in boston and actually has Lds member friends. It was really cool and pretty amazing that no matter where you run the lord (or us missionaries) will find you. Okay maybe not as sinical sounding as that but still it was pretty cool. We went home for lunch after about two hours of contacting because it was around 0 degrees farinhieght. We had lunch and language study and then waited for the same guy on monday that didn't show for another meetting in which he didn't show either and reschedualed for later that night. After waiting for him we had a meeting with Angelina. She actually came I was so happy and excited. I don't know what it is but when she disappered I was worried sick but now that she is back I am just so happy. Anyway apparently she really was sick (she does look skinnier) but she didn't want to talk about it. Her parents are aparently fine with her meetting with us and even getting baptized. She is still really intrested and was really sorry that she was sick. We finished up that meetting and reshcedualed one for friday were we could teach her another lesson because this one was more of a "What happened to you?" lesson. After meeting with her we had a meetting with a investagator who wanted to drop something off with us. While we were talking with here a recent convert named Valintina came in for a lesson she had with Elder Randle and Corless. Elder Randle is our zone leader and he was coming down for splits and also he is the one that found Valintina and taught her up to baptizim. Shortly after she arrived Elder Randle and Rothisburger (I can't spell his name so from now one I will write Rothy) arrived and Elder Corless and Randle began their lesson with here and Elder Rothy and I went out to contact some people who weren't home. So we came back made Mycaka (Moosaka) and when everyone was up we went to bed.
Wensday:
After our morning studies we went down to district meetting in which President and Sister Roth were coming to. The district meeting was really good and my faviort part was when President and Sister Roth tolds us about obediance and the three different types of obediance (Behaviorism, Congnitism, and Contructivnism.) I will explain more about these in a couple weeks because that is what they are going to talk about at the large traning meeting that we are having on the 22nd. After district meeting we had language hour while president and sister Roth went and made a cleaning video for the large traning metting at the other elders apartment. After Language study we went out to eat at this really good suprisingly cheap restraunt. Oh the food was so good there. Anyway after lunch we went out to work and Elder Rothy and I had about an unplanned five minutes so we went and bought me a bulgarian bible. It is amazing and it has in the back maps like our bible and even a jewish calander and time counting compared to our calander and time counting. It is really cool and something interesting that is has is that whenever jesus is speaking in the new testmant the words are colored red. Anyway we had to go back afte about an hour of contacting so that Elder Randle and Rothy could catch a bus back to Sofia. After they left we had a meeting with Mima and progressing investagator of ours and she is so amazing. She is really sweet and kind and also she has a very sweet and growing testimony. During this meeting she actually commited to being baptized but she doesn't want to pick a date quite yet because she doesn't know when she will be ready and wants to pray about it. I am so excited it is so nice to have somebody that is actually progressing and sincer. After the meeting with here we went to a concert with a guest Korean conducter and flutest. The concert was playing some of the songs that Elder Corless and performed while in highschool in his orchestra. We have permission from president Roth because he wants us seen in upper society type of functions to improve the image of the church. We took Valintina and another member Violeta to it and it was a good concert. After the concert we went back home to bed.
Thursday:
After our morning studies we went down stairs to clean the church building then went through the area book calling people and then had lunch and language study. After language study we met with an investagator named Miroslav. We met him at his villa which after a taxi ride and climbing up a really steep snow covered hill we basiclly came to a shake on top of a storage shed. The meeting went fine and we got him to commit to reading ten pages a day from the Book of Mormon. After the meeting we called a taxi to get back in time for english and had to run down the super steep snow covered hill to make it in time. I didn't fall once but Elder Corless slipped twice and got snow stuck in his ear muffs. We made it in time for english in which Elder Rowden and I taught some idioms and then we got into a conversation about our geneologies. I am so greatfull to grandpa Ewell for always teaching us about our family history. I may not of remebered it all but it was really cool that I could tell them about my history about 4-5 genrations back. I also realized something I am a 4-5 generation member of the Lds church according to my remberance (correct me if I am wrong) on all my main lines (Ewell, Otteson, Harmer, and Grandma Harmers line.) I never relized this before and to tell you the truth is was kind of cool. Anyway after english Gena and 21 year old member and her 17 year old inactive brother came in and we played ping pong with them the rest of the night. It was good for Jordan (pronouced in bulgarian Yordan, brother of Gena) to be able to actually be in the church and having fun. Hopefully we can get him active by more activities like this.
Friday:
After our morning studies we planned for the week had lunch and then language study. After language study we met with Angelina. The meeting was awsoem and she actually picked out another baptizim date for the 26th so please pray that this time it will happen and that she will be ready. After the meeting with her we went to a families house that used to have a daughter that was a member but she had died 6 months ago. The other Elders have been working with them mainly just by loving them and trying to bring them comfert. We went over there with the other Elders because she wanted to teach us how to make Banizta and also she wanted to visit with us. We bought the supplies for the banizta and she then taught us how. She did something really intresting with the cheese one she was making. She took the Cipane (Closest America has is Feta) and crushed it up in yogurt and basicly blended it fine and then she put the yogurt cheese and egg mixture between the sheets of dough. It was really good. Anyway we were there for about 5 hours because banizta took a while to make and she was making a couple diffrent kinds for us (one was meat banizta.) It was alright though because they really needed the companay. After the visit we went to a near by Billa (Supermarket) were the other elders had found some strawberries for 4 lev a kilo (about 3 US dollars.) It was so good to be able to taste strawberries again. We then had to head back home to bed.
Saturday:
After our morning studies we had english in which we basiclly just talked with the english students because they really just need the practice. After english Elder Rowden and I had lunch and then invetoried and organized half of the library closet. After we were done we all went out street boarding with some pretty good succes. The reason why is that it was a nice day out so every one was out of their houses walking around trying to soak in as much sunlight as possible. After street boarding we had a language study and then went tracting for the night. Cool thing we tried to contact this american girl that had been gone for awhile and she was actually home and shedualed and meeting with us for monday (today.) After tracting we went home and went to bed.
Sunday:
Sunday was pretty good. At church we had 14 people. 4 missionaries and 10 woman 4 of which were non members and two of them young woman. Near the end of church Jordan (Yordan) came in because before church Elder Corless and seen him and told him if he stopped by after church we would play ping pong with him. Also Angelina was there and that is good and so was Mima. They are both coming reguarly now which is great. Other than that church was a little slow because the only ones that bore their testimonies were us missionaries. After church was good though. Yordan and Gena stayed and we played ping pong with them which was good because at least Yordan is in the building. After Ping pong Elder Corless and I wrote a letter to the missionarie from Pleven because his birthday is on the 19th and we are trying to get the branch to send him something. After writing the letter we went out contacting and that was basicly the night. Except the Kid that was sick earlier this week was home and he was excited to talk with us but he didn't have any time at the moment. He told us that he would trie to read throught the Book of Mormon and that he would be more free at the end of the month. So we or a new set of elders get to go back in about a month.
Monday (Today):
Basicly we have cleaned, studied, shopped, and are now writing. We plan on going bowling with Gena and the other Elders later and then watching a movie.
That you for all the letters and dad I liked the bishop message though check the spelling on somethings you once said can when I am 99% certain that you ment can't.
Love,
Austin James Ewell
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