From Elder Fife

I don't know how it is possible to be outsmarted by mosquitoes...but I seem to have gotten very good at it.  Somehow they keep getting into my apartment, and since I am sleeping on the top bunk of our bunk beds, and because my blood is very tasty...they don't let me sleep.  Wednesday I bought an electric fly swatter...like the electrical tennis racquet type...it is awesome!  Well, it is ok.  So some people sleep with teddy bears or something like that...not Elder Fife...I sleep with an electric bug zapper.  the problem is that the mosquitoes are smarter than I am.  They buzz around my ears and do sneak attacks on the rest of me, then when I go for the racquet they are gone!  I haven't slept well in days.  I just wake up and feel like I should go to bed again...ha ha.  I am going to buy some RAID deal that you plug into the outlet to kill all bugs in the air.  It's really not that bad...but I get all kinds of frustrated that I'm dumber than a bug the size of a popcorn that lives off of others' blood.  Oh well, I'll beat them!  :D 

 

Well other than fighting little bugs, things are picking up slowly in our area.  We have a few investigators and are finding more here and there.  I really love my companion.  He is a really unique guy though.  Like this morning when he sat and ate cold, plain, boiled buckwheat from a pot.  Just unique.  Ha ha.  Never a dull moment in my life. 

 

Well actually the post office I am writing at is closing for lunch....funny how that works here...so sorry for the really short letter, but oh well.  Have a great week!  :D

 

Elder Fife

 

 

Changes

I feel like change happens a lot in my mission.  Transfers happened again this week and my life was, once again, turned upside down.  Just before leaving Vlad we went to the baptism of this awesome girl, Katya.  She is the girlfriend of a member in my area who was inactive until a few months ago and then became active again to the point where he baptized and confirmed Katya this weekend.  It was such a great turnaround for him.  They are excited that they only have to wait another year before they can go to the Temple and be sealed.  You see the great things a Temple vision can give us in life?  If it's not your goal...think again. 

 

Well it is a great, sunny morning here in Paradise.  I am serving now in a smaller town called Ussurisk, about 2 hours north of Vladivostok by bus.  They have blocks here!  Roads don't just go helter skelter wherever you want like in Vlad, it is really weird for me still.  I really feel like this is Rexburg, only in a weird, Russian kind of way...but there are kids playing on the streets, there's no traffic, people are out pushing strollers all the time, I don't know what it is, but it's beautiful.  The Branch here is great too.  There are some really strong members here with incredible testimonies.  I'm really blessed to be serving with them. 

 

As I was moving I realized that it's time for me to find new luggage...I'll attach a picture of what my biggest suitcase looks like now...it was really funny as I carried it from the town square to the Church yesterday...then to the Bus Station...then to my new apartment in Ussurisk.  I tried dragging as long as I could...but...well the picture will make it clear.  Haha.  I'm sure I looked like a goof, but oh well, I usually do.  I'm settled into the new place now and going out for some good pizza in a couple hours.  Pizza in Russia isn't real pizza.  They don't put tomato sauce on it...usually they replace pizza sauce with some kind of weird thing made out of cottage cheese (I think) but at Country Pizza they have real pizza, I am VERY excited! 

 

My new companion is Elder Gmeiner.  He's from Winston-Salem North Carolina and went to Wake Forest University before his mission.  He studied Russian for 3 years and knows the language like a book.  He actually is kind of like a book, because he knows SO MUCH.  I love serving with people who are much smarter than me, because they can pick up the slack when I do dumb things.  Having companions is a great thing.  Of course I miss my son, Elder Conley, but he is in good hands serving in a different area of Vladivostok with the new District Leader there, Elder Thellmann.  They are going to be a great companionship. 

 

One thing that is fun and unique about this city is the fact that throughout the city that are what we call "forbidden zones." 
They're parts of town that for some reason or another are forbidden to foreigners.  I guess that you can go there...you just have to be invited by someone who lives there, know the exact address of where you are going, and usually have something in writing proving that you really have been invited to that place.  It's a little intense, right?  I'm sure I'm going to have a lot of great stories to tell about my adventures in Ussurisk.  We currently have no investigators in the area that I just moved into, so I guess I get to go back to finding like I was doing for so long in Churkin.  One of these days I'm going to have to get a little better at it I guess.  That will be awesome. 

 

Well have fun going back to school and make sure to study hard.  Parents can use this time to relax and catch up on their letters to missionaries.  It's always great to hear from a friend.  Especially now that mail comes much less often, since I am not in the mission office every day like I have been my whole mission up until now.  Now I get to wait for someone to make the trip here from Vlad to bring mail.  Makes things more exciting.  Well anyway, have a great week.  Thanks for your prayers.

 

Elder three four Fife

 

The first is me with my poor suitcase...second is a close-up of the damage...

 

From Elder Fife

Recently the Missionary Department of the Church released a simplified curriculum for training missionaries.  Last week we had a 4 day training, 6 hours a day, taught by President Pratt on the fundamentals of missionary work.  You'd think that we might have picked up on a few of the fundamentals in a couple of months in the country doing missionary work everyday, but there was so much that seemed so new to me, really just really simple.  We practiced doing simple things that we should be great at doing while teaching others the Gospel of Jesus Christ, and you could instantly see results as we took the evenings and put to practice the things we learned during the day.  It's so great to be part of an inspired program that can make things so simple a 19-year-old-boy-speaking-a-foreign-language can do it!  As we've made efforts to become better teachers and really meet the spiritual needs of those with whom we meet, we've seen so many great miracles happen.  I feel like I've grown as a missionary more in the last week than I have in the last 8 months put together.  It's like they teach in Cub Scouts...KISS Keep It Simple...Stupid? I can't remember what the second S was for...but that sounds right.  Haha.  I glory in plainness.  I love simplicity.  I've realized recently just how little I understand when things get complicated or confusing.  It's been a great time. 

 

The Lord answers prayers.  I've had so many of the simple prayers that I've offered in faith answered.  Yesterday we went to try to make contact with a woman whose door we knocked on a few months ago, but then lost contact with and haven't been able to get in touch.  I have tried at least 10 times to find her home to see if she is still interested in knowing about our message and blessing her family.  Yesterday we found our self with a little bit of time, but less than I would have liked to to go to the other side of my area to find this woman, but Elder Conley and I both felt like we needed to go and try one last time.  Walking up the six flights of stairs to her apartment I prayed silently for the Lord to bless us with success in contacting her, then we stood in the stairwell and prayed together just before knocking on her door.  It might not seem like a big miracle, but it was real to me, when she answered the door and wanted to start meeting with missionaries once her kids go back to school and she feels free again.  (Spoken like a true mother of 6 right?)  Our prayers were answered, and now the work can continue in her life.  The Lord really does work in small and simple means.

 

Yesterday was a grand event in the history of the Church in Eastern Europe as President Thomas S. Monson dedicated the Kiev, Ukraine Temple.  This is the first temple dedicated to the Lord in the former territory of the Soviet Union.  President Monson was full of energy and cracking jokes as they laid the corner stone, and the Spirit was undeniable as he offered the Dedicatory Prayer.  The Temple in Kiev will serve members of the Church from 13 different countries in Easter Europe and is the 134th operating temple of the Church in the world currently. 

 

I really am glad to be serving the Lord in Russia and to see the blessings of the Gospel bloom in the lives of those who will accept it and live by the teachings of Jesus Christ, striving to follow his example.  The doctrines of Christ are really simple.  The results are clear.  The truth will set you free.  There really has been no better time to be here on the Earth and to be serving the Lord.  I know that He is with me and that I really do represent the Savior Jesus Christ to the people who live in this land.  He has called me, and He directs my paths so that I can bless the lives of others and help them change for good. 

 

I feel like there are even more changes coming in the near future for me, so I guess we'll see what other pages of adventure I get to turn as I continue my full-time service to the Lord.

 

--

Elder Fife

Message

So this week they pulled one of those "Can you give a talk next week? Just kidding" combos on me.  It was cool to get a special topic to study and think of how to support and build up the members of the Branch, even though I probably won't ever get to share it with them.  The Branch President and Mission President bumped me on the schedule...I guess that's ok.  Well I thought that I would share some of the thoughts that I had as I thought about member Missionary work this week, just in case it turns out to be helpful to anyone who reads this, even if it's just to help someone who is not a member of our Church understand a little better why there are 50,000 guys in white shirts and ties walking around the world with name tags on their chests.

After his Resurrection and ascension Jesus Christ instructed his Apostles and other disciples to teach the gospel to every creature, baptizing them unto repentance.  This is so that everyone can understand the things which Christ did, and the plan which was created by our Heavenly Father, before the world was even created.  It isn't really fair to go through life not knowing why we're here and how to reach the goals that we've set before we came to this Earth.  Everyone deserves a fair chance to accept the Gospel of Jesus Christ and learn to live by its teachings.  Christ set the example, and he gave the command; both 2000 years ago, and in our day. 

On another side, we are only doing what is natural by sharing the things which bring us joy, hope, comfort, understanding, and perspective in life.  The restored Church of Jesus Christ does all those things, in an unparalleled way.  When we begin to live by the teachings of Jesus Christ, and keep the commandments of God, then we can clearly see how they make our life better, and they make us better.  Being baptized isn't enough for eternal salvation, you have to keep the promises you make, and when you are baptized you promise to follow Christ, you even take His name upon you.  To understand a little better what that means take a look at Mosiah chapter 5 in the Book of Mormon.  When we keep the commandments we find true joy, and as we learn how to have joy, it's only natural to have a desire to share that joy with those who you care about.  That's why President McKay said that "Every member is a missionary." 

I have three really simple suggestions for members of the Church to begin doing their part as member-missionaries.  Try them out and let me know how they work.  Really it's absolutely nothing new, its just focusing the principles of the Gospel that we already understand.  Prayer, faith, and action. 

1.  Pray for opportunities to share the Gospel, and for the Lord to prepare someone for you to help find the joy that you have.  Be diligent in asking the Lord to help you do His work, and have faith that He will strengthen your testimony, give you courage, and bless you with opportunities.

2.  Live the Gospel.  Keep all the commandments, even the small things.  Your live will become an example to those around you and will open more doors than you know.  It's often through seeing the patient, diligent example that others become interested and begin to develop faith in Christ and in His restored Gospel.  Pray and study the scriptures each day.  Serve others unselfishly.  Do what the Savior would have you do.  As you live the teachings of Christ, they will become more dear to you, and your testimony of them will continue to grow. 

3.  Seek opportunities to share the Gospel, and take the opportunities that you find to share the truths which are dear to you.  The Lord will put people into your path, into your life, and you will be the one with the opportunity to share the Gospel with them and help them find the joy of living a life in accordance with the commandments and blessings of our loving Heavenly Father.  He gives you more chances than you know.  Those with eyes to see, will see. 

Well those are a few of my thoughts about why and how we can share the gospel with those who are seeking truth.  President McKay said a lot of really great things about it too, they can be found in "Teachings of David O. McKay" from the series the Church released for Sunday School use.  It's really good.  I know that the work of the Lord will go forth as we develop faith in Him and become more willing and prepared to play our role in doing this great work.  I am so thankful that I am able to represent Him every day here in Russia and help people change their lives and learn to be happy.  If it's true joy that you want, then this is the Church for you!


Well this week we continued to slowly do the work that has been prepared for us.  We have met some really cool people, and are trying to help them start on the path of change that will lead them to the fountain of happiness.  This week I'll spend a lot of time in a Mission Leadership Training with President Pratt.  It's going to be just like the MTC, only 8 months later!  Ok...not JUST like the MTC...but I'm really excited.  All of those in our mission who are serving in leadership positions in the mission are coming in for the training, and I got invited because I am training right now.  Lucked that one out.  This is the first time we've ever done a training like this before in our Mission.  We recently received some new direction from Salt Lake to start doing these, and I lucked out to be able to come to the first one.  I'm still trying really hard to learn the things I need to know, do what I should do, and be who I need to be, in order to serve the Lord the way that He wants me to.  If we are ever going to reach our potential, we have to keep striving forward all the time. 

I'm sure I'll have some good stories to tell sometime...but I really can't think of any for this week.  Time has just been flying by.  Hope everyone is having fun getting back to school soon, or already...should be sweet!  Have a spectacular week,

--
Elder Sam Fife