finally a real letter

Ok, now that I got all those pictures sent (I hope you will enjoy them) I can get a real letter sent off in the little time that I have. First things first. Mom, did you ever open my package? I haven't heard anything about that. Second, can you send me a good recipe for peanut butter cookies? I would really enjoy that.

(Left - at lunch one p-day, waiting for our food. It often took 30-45 minutes to get our food once it had been ordered. We never went out to eat unless we had enough time to wait - me and Elder Бордун (Bordun)) Thanks, mom, dad, Lizzy, and Jordan, for writing me. I guess Sara couldn't write because of youth conference, or else she is planning on writing me from there. Dad, that's great about maybe finding some relatives. I hope that everything works out right. Lizzy, that's great about getting your book. Sounds like it must have been good though you shouldn't have been reading it during church. It also sounds like Enrichment is a lot different, maybe even a lot more interesting. Did you decide to be a leader for the literaty group? Let me know how that goes. Also, I got your letter. I'll be sending off a letter when transfers come around.
Mom, Lizzy does tend to remember things way too well. I have no idea what we did for my eighth birthday. I remember that we didn't celebrate it on my birthday because dad was going out of town, but that's about it.
(Right - also at lunch. Clockwise around the table - Elders Montandon, Olsen, Christianson, Мельничук (Melnychuk), and Wellman, Sister Блохина (Bloxina) and me) So, yeah, things are going alright. President came to Пенза (Penza) for our branch conference. We had interviews with him and he asked me if I think sisters are needed here in Пенза. I didn't know what to say. I told him that if we are, there is only one reason, but other than that reason, the Elders are able to work fine with the women and young girls. He told my companion a little later that he would get them from the Elders, but he hasn't done anything about that, so we are thinking that maybe Пенза is going to close after all. Three sisters are leaving so they will probably be closing two cities. Who knows how much longer I will be here.
Some interesting things have happened this last week. First of all, some drunk man in a gazelle tried to take my name tag off. (Left - this picture was taken after youth night in the branch apartment. Back - Маша (Masha), Elder Мельничук, Антон (Anton), Elder Christianson, Аня (Anya), Brother Burnam, Sister Блохина. Front - to the side Jene, Марина (Marina), me, Elder Olsen, Влад (Vlad), Elder Wellman, and Elder Бордун. In the very front is Elder Montandon and Виталий (Vitali)) I was sitting near him, but when a seat opened near my companion, I felt like I needed to move, even though I wouldn't have normally moved. After that, he noticed my name tag and read it. He didn't like that I was wearing the name of Christ (he thought we were baptists and for some reason he really hates them) but, I was protected by the Lord. There was a man near us who stopped him from even touching me. Then the drunk man started going off on him and wanted to fight him, but he left me alone. I wonder what would have happened if I hadn't listened to the spirit to switch seats?
Then, a man on a bus came up to me and was very angry that I am here. (Right - this picture was taken in our elevator. We named him Тормаз (Tormaz meaning brake) because he was so slow. This sticker says I'm not Tormaz! We put it in there because we thought it was funny. There was a girl on the tenth floor of our building who named him turtle) He called me a robber and my companion a traitor or apostate, but we had an interesting conversation with him. He didn't want to listen to us, but I think the spirit somehow made it in. If anything, it was a good example to the rest of the people on the bus when we refused to argue with him or even get angry with him for behaving that way.
So, now that I've said that, don't worry about me. I am still protected by the Lord and it is rather strange that this has all happened together. It is pretty much the first time I have had that reaction . . . even in my life, but especially on my mission.
That's all the time I have for.l I hope you enjoy the pictures. I probably won't be sending more for a while.

Love,
Сестра Атвуд

P.S. don't forget about opening my package (or at least telling me about it) and the recipe for peanut butter cookies.

last of the pictures

After our service in the forest, we had a picnic . . . in the rain! Me, Sister Блохина (Bloxina), Elder Ананд (Anand), Вадим (Vadim)
Our last district meeting before transfers - back: Elders Olsen, Boster, Ананд, Бордун (Bordun); middle: Мелничук (Melnichuk), Christensen, Sister Блохина, and me - we always eat lunch together after district meeting because we take turns having it in the apartments of the missionaries (we have no building of our own in which to meet).
Here we are making a poster for our film night. Sister Блохина, me, and Elder Бордун. We made a poster on FHE.

pictures

Here I am hanging clothes for our babushka who is too big to come to church (it is hard for her to do laundry so we went to help her) Russian style.
Service - we went to a little patch of forest to pick up trash. See how much we got? There was still a lot more but we ran out of trash bags. Elders Olsen and Boster, Лена (Lena) (the President's wife), me, Elder Мелничук (Melnichuk), Вадим (Vadim), Sister Блохина (Bloxina), Катя (Katya), Ирина (Irina), Илья (Ilya) - in the back is Elder Бордун (Bordun), and in the front is Elder Ананд (Anand) (he is from Mongolia).

pictures

Zone conference - all the missionaries in Саратов (Saratov), Пенза (Penza), Энгельс (Engels), Маркс (Marx), and Балаково (Balakova) plus President and Sister Давыдик (Davydik) and a girl from Саратов named Таня (Tanya). Sorry, I'm not going to name everyone. That will take too long.
This picture I want to be sent to Becky if you can print it out. That way I will be asking her the question, Do you remember me? (This was written on the side of an apartment building near our apartment complex).

pictures

The new shirt and new skirt I bought.

Elders Montandon, Christensen, Мелничук (Melnichuck), Sister Блохина (Bloxina), Elder Olsen, me, and Elder Бордун (Bordun) - almost all of our district. We were driving to Саратов (Saratov) for conference and our driver stopped here to get gas. We had to get out of the vehicle while he filled the tank and so we amused ourselves by taking some pictures.

pictures cont.

More service. Left to right, Sister Блохина (Bloxina), me, Elder Бордун (Bordun) (he's from Kazakhstan though his family lives in Russia). We painted the window frames of an investigator to help with his relationship with his wife. We also replaced some broken window panes and helped put in a new door.

My new suit.

pictures

Outside of a members apartment. This group of people were headed to our babushka to take her sacrament. She is too big to leave. In the back is our investigator, Оксана (Oksana), then Elder Christensen. In the front is Илья (Ilya), the leader of missionary work here, Баба Женя (Baba Zhenya), Sister Блохина (Bloxina), me, and Ирина (Irina).
Doing service at the house of the Elders' investigator. We painted windows, put in new glass, and put in a new door.

More follows. Sorry for the mess, but it won't let me send all the pictures and I don't want to have to try again next week.

pictures

I don't think you got these pictures, so I'm going to give it a try again.This is me on a rainy day. We are in the area of town called Арбеково (Arbekova). We went to see a member and afterwards, we walked to the store nearby to grab something to eat before heading to the branch apartment for Youth Night. We found this pretty place.
Me washing clothes by hand. This is what we did before we got our half-automatic washing machine. That was always a pain, and now is a lot easier. (Most of the apartments where I lived had automatic washing machines. Since there were no sisters in Пенза (Penza) when we got there, we got an apartment where missionaries had not lived before. At first we had no washing machine and when we did get one, it was a half-automatic, meaning we had to put the water in ourselves and it would do the rest).

I'll send another email.

Love,

Сестра Атвуд

picture

More pictures:Half of the sisters in our mission - Sister DeGroff, Sister Silva, Sister Wheeler, Elder Beck (I served with him in Togliatti), Sister Hill, me, and Sister Блохина (Bloxina).
I'll try one at a time to see if it will work better.

Another email

So, I'm still waiting for my other email with pictures to send, so I thought I would use the time to write to you. I don't know why it is taking so long, but I am hoping it will get sent. So, yeah, this week. (Left - President fixing lunch for our picnic) We had that picnic like I said. That was really good. After that we really had no time except to change clothes, rest a bit, and then go to the church to watch a movie. We watched The Testament. We ended up being really late because the traffic was bad, so then I didn't feel like disturbing the movie. I went into the adjoining room to see why a light was on in there, and I found a just started puzzle. I sat down and worked away. I could hear the movie, I just couldn't see it. When I noticed that they finished, I went in for the testimony meeting.

The next day was conference. It was a really good conference. (Right - Eating our lunch. It was really good, by the way) I enjoyed it a lot. We also had some time to rest, and during that time, I, along with a few other Elders, finished that puzzle. Unfortunately, two pieces were missing. Oh well, what can you do.

Right after conference, they told us that our ride was leaving, so we had to hurry out.

The ride back to Penza was awful. I really hate traveling that long in a gazelle. By the time we got back, I was sick to my stomach. We also didn't get back until 10:30. That sucked, but what can you do? Other than that, it was a good week. We had two investigators at church on Sunday. One is our new investigator, Оксана (Oksana), who also wants us to meet her mother.(Left - all the missionaries after our picnic. It actually started raining, so we finished just in time) The other is an old investigator who hasn't met with the missionaries for over a year, but now she wants to meet with us. We had a good meeting with her on Monday. For the most part, things are going well. Things are still hard (often I find myself frustrated with my companion) but I am still trying to make this time the best ever.

I don't know if my email with pictures is going to send. I'll be really mad if it doesn't. We'll see. I don't know how long I can wait.

So, thanks dad for getting my emails up. I hope Heather will look and see that they are up. (Right - All the missionaries after our Zone Conference. I stick out very nicely in my green suit) That's great news Sara. I hope it works out. Lizzy, that's nice about Sebastian. I'm sure you enjoyed that. Mom, it is so crazy to me that everyone is getting married while I'm away. Interesting, though. I'm glad your lesson went well. I'm sure this next one will be even better.

Love,

Сестра Атвуд

web posting

Hey! I am feeling really good right now, but I think that is because I received a few nice surprises in my inbox. First, was pictures of the new babies in the family from Aunt Patti. (Left - here I and Sister Блохина (Bloxina) are sanding the window frame before painting it) Thanks for that. It was nice to see them. Second was seeing so many different letters from people. Thanks to Heather, Lizzy, Sara, Mom, Dad, and grandpa. I appreciate all that. So, I will take a little time to respond here.

Heather, that's too bad that your work is boring. I understand, I did similar work at BYU. I was so glad to leave that job for my Любимый (lyubimwi - favorite) work in the computer labs. Sara, you may not think your letters sound like that, but I literally looked at the letter you had written and sent a response. So yeah, it's true. I'm glad the dress fits. I am just a little jealous that you get to go on a pioneer trek, but it is a really good experience. I wish I could go, but then again, I am kind of on a pioneer trek of my own. Elizabeth, that's good about finding those books. Alibris is one that I have found a lot of books on, too, so that's cool. That's also great about Sebastian. That will be nice to see when I get home. Grandpa, thanks for the information on the family. It is always nice to be kept in the loop.

Dad, I'm glad that they didn't find a lot of bugs. I remember when we did programs in school. Fixing bugs was always my least favorite part, especially when I thought everything was perfect. Too bad that they want a lot of different things, though. It sounds like you will be having a really exhausting trip, traveling to Utah and then to that meeting and then to Canada, yikes! I don't do a lot of traveling here which I kind of miss (except I have to admit I'm a little sick of flying - 10 hours over the ocean is a really long time. (Right - Sister Блохина, me, Elder Бордун (Bordun) are painting one of the window frames where we replaced the window pane. Ok, I'm painting the frame, Sister Блохина is painting her mouth and Elder Бордун is painting, well, me) Ten hours in a car isn't so bad because at least you can get out and look around or stretch, and even ten hours in a train isn't so bad because it is more comfortable to sleep in it). This week we are going to Саратов (Saratov) for conference. It is a half-mission conference, so we will be going for two days. On Thursday we leave Пенза (Penza) early in the morning around 7:00 and we will be having a picnic that day. Then we are going to be watching a movie, I don't know which one. The next day will be our conference. We leave immediately afterwards to come back to Пенза. I am hoping that we will make it in time for Enrichment meeting because they are going to be sharing recipes. I really want some good Russian recipes. Plus, I have to explain to them how to make some alter cloths for the new temple in Finland.

Mom, thanks for the long letter. I really like being able to read so much about what is going on at home. I can't tell you how relieved I am to know that my package arrived. I was getting a little worried about that. Did you get your present then? Don't let dad open his until his birthday. It should be pretty clear if you can find it. Also in that box should be some cds with pictures on them. (Left - the almost finished product. We were waiting for the paint to dry before replacing the middle windows) The ones labeled with the year (2006) and a number are my pictures. Those will be the ones interesting to look at. You can look at the others if you want, but they don't have a lot of pictures of me, except the one that says something about Day (maybe spelled in Russian, I don't remember) those are pictures that Elder Day took while in Тольятти (Togliatti) with me. Maybe it would even be nice to do as a FHE activity, you could look at my pictures and watch the videos that I sent home.

So, that was a mouth full. I hope that all makes sense. I really hope you enjoy seeing the pictures and movies that I sent home. There is one on a dvd that is one of my favorites. It is pretty much us laughing. I can't tell you how often we watched that movie when we were having bad or hard days. It helped to cheer us up and I'm sad that I can't watch it anymore, but I'm glad that you will be able to see it.

I wanted to send some pictures through the internet here, but it looks like I can't from this computer so that really sucks. Maybe I will be able to try another computer before we leave, we shall see.

Thanks for sending me a package. I'm already looking forward to getting it. Yeah! I love mail and packages. It is nice to know that Becky is graduating. Crazy! I haven't heard anything from her, she hadn't even started learning when I left and now she is already graduating! I feel so out of the loop. Oh well, that's life I guess.

Other than that, this week started off a little shaky. Last Wednesday, hardly anyone came to our activity. (Right - After our long day of service, we were fed. It was pretty good, too. Here is Elder Мельничук (Melnychuk), Бордун, me, Elder Christianson, and Sister Блохина) It was very sad because the Branch President's wife put a lot into it. We did meet with a new girl, but she doesn't want to take the discussions. The next several days were normal days. Then Monday came around. Boy was that a difficult day. I'm not even sure why except at the end of the day I found myself in a bad mood. There is one investigator here who's wife is very anti-mormon. Or rather, she just doesn't want him to get baptized. She wants a divorce but he refuses to give her one, so she asked him to kill her because she can't live like she has been anymore. So, we came up with a plan, we would help with doing ремонт (remont) (is that a word in English, I can't remember anymore) or fixing up the place. Our plan began yesterday. He sent his wife to a village for the day and we arrived at 7:00 in the morning (with the Elders of course) to paint the windows and put in new glass. We also put in a new door. It was a long day and very exhausting, but it felt good to be able to help. But, as a result, we weren't able to go contacting. I think that is what put me in a bad mood. Being in a bad mood didn't help yesterday to go any better. Pretty much nothing worked out. It was very frustrating. I hate days like that. Today is already a better day, though there is still a little tension. I feel so exhausted all the time, but the biggest thing I am tired of is the responsibility that has been shoved on my shoulders. You see, even though my companion has been on her mission for longer than I have, she doesn't lead at all. That means if I want us to study together, I have to lead it. If I want to pray together, I have to lead it. (Left - still eating. Elder Wellman, Бордун, me, Elder Christianson, and Sister Блохина) If I want something written in the Area Book, I have to write it myself. It is very frustrating because even though I can lead, I don't like leading when I don't have the right to lead, which is the position I am in now (we are co-companion, so we should be sharing the responsibility). So, that gets a little frustrating, but I am learning to live with it and praying that the Lord will give me the strength to help us do everything in our power to do His will.

Anyway, I am hoping that conference will be inspiring and give me a new burst of energy to get through the next six weeks. I'm hoping and praying.

I guess that's about it for now. Maybe next week I will be able to get some pictures sent off if I am not able to today.

Love

Сестра Атвуд

P.S. Another reminder, dad, PLEASE get my letters up on the website. I feel really bad because I get emails from Heather, but I have no way to respond to her except through these emails and if they don't get posted, she doesn't get to read my response. Please do that ASAP. Thanks.

Internet post

This last week has been pretty awful. We are trying so hard to achieve our goals, but it seems everywhere we turn is a brick wall. Honestly, I don't know what to think. Either the Lord is testing us to see if we will keep believing even when all the odds point against accomplishing our goals, or He, for some reason, doesn't want us to achieve them. It is hard to know which one. Right now, we have only one investigator in Пенза (Penza), but she didn't come to church like she promised. (Right - one day when we were going to visit someone, we saw this cat. I called out to it and it started walking toward me. As soon as its tail was up, I noticed something a little weird. I had to get a picture of this tail that looked like a squirrel's tail, I don't know if you can see it in the picture) She basically doesn't want to do anything, she just likes it when we come because she gets bored at home alone and then her parents don't yell at her for not going to church. I think it is hard for her because her family wants her to go to church, but they don't want to do anything themselves. We have only seen them once and after that, never. I don't think she will accept the gospel until it becomes important to her family. Then again, she is only 14 years old. Other than that, all we can really do is try meeting with the members that the Elders gave us to work with. Unfortunately, they gave us everyone that they either can't or don't want to work with. Can't because they can never find them home, or don't want to because they are unpleasant to work with. That leaves us with very little work to do and leaves me wondering why we came to Пенза. Then, Ирина (Irina) tells me that she prayed so long and harder than anyone else so sisters would come to Пенза and I understand. She has a strong testimony of prayer and she really needs a listening ear because her parents treat her awful. She is really great, but somehow they can't see that. Maybe all they see is the church that they don't consider to be anything more than a sect. Who really knows. I can't help wishing that she will be able to get a Visa to America soon, but at the same time I will be sad to see her go when she does so much to help this struggling branch. This branch is struggling because many strong members leave for other places, some for Moscow, others for America, and some for the spirit world. It seems like half of the members are dieing, some because they are just plain old, and many others from terminal illnesses. It is so hard to watch and makes me wonder what is the cause. Maybe this is just the trial the branch needs to come out stronger, I really don't know.
Other than that, last week was really hard because while we were at Youth Night, someone stepped on my purse and broke my camera. Yeah, I almost died. All that money went to waste because the screen doesn't work. It is possible that it still takes pictures, but there is no way for me to know. (Left - one of the posters that we made for our activity. This is about Family Home Evening) We went to see about getting it fixed, but they can only replace the screen in Moscow. So . . . you can imagine how I feel about that. Especially because I don't have my old camera anymore and that means that no matter what, I have to buy a new one. I got too used to being able to take pictures and films whenever I want and I don't want to not be able to capture these memories. In the end, that will be all that is left. Last week I bought two new skirts, a new shirt, and a new suit jacket.
So, I got your letter, Lizzy and Sara. I sent off a reply and also those insurance papers. I hope you get them soon. Thanks for your emails this week, Lizzy, Sara, Mom, and Dad. Dad, I'd like to remind you to get my emails put up as soon as possible. I realize that it takes a little bit of time, but since I can't write to anyone but you, if you don't get my emails posted, no one will write me. I haven't heard from Heather or Erin or anyone else in a really long time. Please get that taken care of ASAP. It should only take a few minutes to copy and paste. Don't worry about how it looks if you don't have time, just get the words put up. PLEASE!
Today we are having what we are hoping will be a good activity. A year or so ago, an Elder worked ten months in the office to make a film called "Время СемиЭ (Vremya Semi - Family Time) and now we will be showing it here in Пенза. I'm excited because people I know in Тольятти (Togliatti) are in the movie. We have been inviting people for the last few days and I hope there will be a big turn out. I would have rather had two weeks to invite people, but we are using the time that they gave us. All I can hope is that people who are ready to accept the gospel will be the ones to come. It will probably be too late, but pray anyway that it turned out well. This is pretty much our last hope to have a good jump in work here.
Other than that, I don't really know what to say. Keep writing me, I enjoy hearing from everyone, even if I don't answer your emails personally. Also, Mom, yeah, I'd like Dumbo. That would be great! All Disney movies except for most of the #2 and #3, etc. movies. That's great, Lizzy, about Numbers. Sorry about the cavity, but that's very lucky you have only one. Sara, that's too bad about Girls Camp. If the clothing is a problem, you could always wear the dress I made. It may be too big for you, but with the apron it should be all right, just don't ruin it. That means, be careful when you wear it. If it is too long, have mom hem it up so it won't drag on the ground, and be careful when you eat so you won't spill anything on it.
(Right - This is the other poster we made. It is about how we rest. If you look closely, there are some pictures with me in it on the poster) Let me know when Heidi's baby is born, when, what time, how much, the name, etc. I like to be kept informed about the family so things won't be too big of a surprise when I get home several months from now. Please also holler at Becky again. I honestly feel like she has died! I haven't heard a peep and I'm beginning to think that she has forgotten that she even has a sister in Russia. Or maybe she thinks I'm still in Provo . . . who really knows. Someone should let her know that I'm not there. Then maybe she will think to write me a letter, or even an email. She could even write me a letter on the internet through DearElder.com and it won't cost her a penny! I know that stamps have gone up a few cents and that may be difficult for her to handle, so she can always use that site to send me some kind of sign that she exists. Or maybe I'M the one that's crazy. You would tell me, right, if I just imagined having a sister named Rebecca?
Well, that's about it for now. I don't know what else to say. Let me know about the money. It would be great if you could have it in there before next week so I can get that camera. Also, let me know about the package I sent and the letter, when you get it. Don't forget!

Love,
your daughter, sister, friend, and missionary,
Сестра Атвуд