Feb 20

Well the big news happened on Thursday so you will all just have to read down to there.

 

Monday:

After writing it was packing and watching movies.

 

Tuesday:

Well met my new companion at the bus station around 11 to catch a bus to sofia and then to Pleven.  When we got to Pleven we found out that the other elders where in sofia so we were stuck outside the church for four hours waiting for them.  Luckly we are in a winther thaw right now and I was wearing a lot of clothes so I didn't have to pack them.  So after we got into our apartment I was freezing cold and basicly went to bed because it was 9 and I couldn't really move (I couldn't even write in my journal my fingers wouldn't work.)

 

Wednesday:

Well luckly I dethawed during the night and just woke up with the sniffles so no major damage.  In the morning we had district meeting were we all got to know each other.  Then the rest of the day was getting Elder Chakerov and I situated and buying food.  We did do some contacting though, helped a member prepare a lesson, and went to institute. 

 

Thursday:

So after finishing companionship study and and making Elder Chakerov a temporary tag he asked me if we could go to Plovdiv on Monday for P-day.  I looked at him with a sigh (because he still didn't know much on how to be a missionary) and told him of course we couldn't we are missionaries.  He then went on to explain that he needed to find a job to help his family and that his father was furious that he was on a mini mission (he is the only member in his family.)  Well I tried talking to him, but nothing helped so I called President Roth and after Elder Chakerov talked with him it was understood that he needed to go back to Plovdiv and that I would be getting a new companion.  So that is what we did we packed him up and sent him on his way home and I was in a threesom with the other elders here for a day until my new companion Elder Law came in on friday from Varna.  To answer any questions about Elder Law he is from Sandy, Utah, younger in the mission, but a stalwart missionary.  So yea Thursday was a fun day.  In our mission when ever we train we call our trainie our son so now you could say that my son was still born.  Just a little humor to get rid of the shell shock.  I am fine now and I enjoy being with Elder Law.

 

Friday:

Elder Law arivved with the Ap's and a font because we were having a baptisim on Saturday.  So once they arivvied we set up the font which was huge and then went to work while companionships took watch filling up the font.  I was on splits with Elder Frandsen from my group who is Ap right now and we had a lot of succes contacting.

 

Saturday:

So we had a baptisim in the morning which was great and I got to see a lot of the members here and it was good getting to see them again.  The baptisim was great and afterwards we went out contacting for most of the day.  I don't have much to say about the baptisim because I kind of just walked into it, but the guy Rumen is really cool and actually he was in english class when I was here last.

 

Sunday:

Church was great because I got to see the rest of the members and Mima my old investagator.  Sadly though some of the people I knew are in active now including Angelina the member I taught and baptized while I was here.  So you could say one of my missions here is to reactivate her and the others.  After church we had weekly planning and then went and taught one of the new member families.  They are really nice but they still have a lot to learn.  Luckly they are willing to learn and are active.  They have a boy around the same age of Robbie who is named Vladi and it is really fun playing with him because it reminds me of playing with Robbie.

 

I am so looking forward to working here in Pleven again even though my son (Elder Chakerov) was still born (had to go home early.)  I wish you all the best and will hopefully read your letters next week (hint: WRITE ME)

 

Love,

Elder Austin James Ewell

Austin's New Companion

Good News

I got big news for you all and I am super excited, but you will have to read through the letter to find out.

 

Monday:

After writing you guys we went up to the mall so Elder Brown could buy some things then we came back to the church and watched some movies.  After the movies we went contacting

Tuesday:

In the morning we went to go get a copy of our key made so that the other elders could get into our apartment when they needed to with out us.  Well the key didn't work so we had to go back (he had made it upside down.)  After we finally got the spare key working we went to buy a new camera for elder Young because his got stolen from him.  Other than that we just contacted all day until the evening time.

Wednesday:

Wednesday was amazing.  We had mission tour.  So Mission Tour is like a zone conference but one of the area presidency comes.  President Lawrence came this time and his and his wife's talks were amazing.  His wife talked about the house of Israel and more fully explained it and President Lawrence focused on the week points of our mission and helped us build them up.  Mission tour was a tone of fun.  I also got to see Sister Killian and Loss who were in the MTC with me.  They are heading home this week so this was the last time that I got to see them.  So we said our goodbyes and parted ways.  They are amazing missionaries and the mission won't be the same without them.  After Mission Tour and all of the goodbyes we cleaned up and then went home for the night.

Thursday:

Basically we contacted all day.  We had a lot of success though and one of the coolest things was we got a received from a guy who had ordered a Book of Mormon from Salt Lake back in 2006 and he had read it all the way through.  He wasn't that interested in religion but he agreed to meet and talk about the Book of Mormon with us sometime.  It was pretty cool sadly though the number we got doesn't work so we won't be able to meet with him.  It was still a cool run in.  We also got another received to so we were happy with the days work.  In the evening we had English which was a blast.  I was teaching the parts of the body and let me just say there are a lot of parts.  It took the whole class and we still didn't finish.  After English we came back in had some delicious Musaka and went to bed.

Friday:

In the morning I did some tasks with Elder Young.  For the rest of the day I was with Elder Furtado though because he had to get a new filling (tore his old one out while flossing) and because of that he couldn't speak Bulgarian.  So we couldn't contact but we did try to find the other Elders a new apartment.  The day was fun though and we got some things done that we had been putting of.  Other than that friday was alright.

Saturday:

Well first off we had english which was a lot of fun.  After that we had lunch and contacted until Transfere calls. We got our calls and I am going back to Pleven! Plus I am going with a Mini Missionary from Plovdiv.  His name is Ivan Chakerov and he has turned in his mission papers.  He knows english well but we will be speaking bulgarian the majority of the time.  He is really cool and serving with him is going to be a blast.  I am also including a picture for you guys to look at.  I am supper excited and I can't wait to go back to Pleven.  Other than that the day was normal.  I am super happy and am looking forward to going to Pleven again. YEA!!!!

Sunday:

Other than saying goodbye to everyone at church the day was just filled with contacting.  I was told something very cool though.  I was on splits with Elder Brown about 2 weeks ago and I had told an investagator that we were teaching (okay it is all I focused on) to read the Book of Mormon slowly and with prayer.  After sacrament meeting she told me that she had done what I had said and that for the first time ever she was enjoying reading the Book of Mormon and was filling the spirit.  That comment made my whole day.

That was the week and I am looking forward a ton to the last six months of my mission.  See you all soon.

Love,

Elder Austin James Ewell

Feb. 6

Well this week was a good week though not much to talk about so sorry if the letter is shorter than normal.

Monday:
After writing we bought some food and then watched a movie.  At night we went out and contacted

Tuesday:
Basicly contacted all day.  We were trying to find a less active though and lets just say we got lost again but it was still a good day.  Oh it was about 1 degree outside though.  That was fun trying to stop people in that weather.

Wednesday:
Other than district meeting we were just contacting all day.  We did go on splits though which was a lot of fun.

Thursday:
Other than english we just contacted all day.

Friday:
We finally met with Mladen again.  It was a really cool meeting because he understands the importance of what we are teaching if it is true.  So he is actually reading and praying and doing what we ask of him.  It is great and he is really fun to teach.  Other than that just weekly planning and contacting.

Saturday:
Saturday was fun because we after english we had to help the other elders move to our place because due to some complications they can't stay at their place anymore and they don't have a new apartment yet.  At night though we were at the church and the Zone Leaders were there and we got into a huge snowball fight.  It was increadbly fun.

Sunday:
Church was good but aside from that we just contacted all day like normal.

Sorry for the short letter.  Next week should be a longer one.  I hope you guys all have a great week.  Write you next week.

Love,
Elder Austin James Ewell