wow, what a day

Hey, I am so glad to be able to write home today. So much has happened that I don't even know where to start. Some things have been good, and others haven't been so good, but it is all for a reason I'm sure, even when I don't know what that reason is. First, if I can answer everyone's emails. Thanks to all who wrote me. I was so surprised when I had so many more than usual. Let's see, mom, I think you were first, so you get to be answered first and hopefully I will have time to answer the rest. Thanksgiving was great. I didn't get turkey, but we had the best we could find. We had these whole grilled chickens that you can find on the street. We also had funeral potatoes, real mashed potatoes, a pie (homemade by one of the Elders and it was actually really good), deviled eggs, cake, and fruit salad. We had a lot of fun together. First we had our zone meeting and then we ate. (Left - Thanksgiving dinner) The only bad thing was that Sister Саргсян (Sargsyan) and Elder Ананд (Anand) both don't speak English and Elder and Sister Gunnell don't speak Russian so I didn't know what to do. All the Elders just spoke in English, so the two who didn't know English just left right after we finished eating. That made me feel bad, but what can be done? Then after eating and talking, we took pictures.
One of the Elders did something in one of the pictures, but I won't know what it is until afterwards. That Elder is crazy, and most of the time it is fun. The only bad thing is, I think I remind him of a little sister he has or something because he treats me like that, throwing things at me, etc. Sometimes it is fun, but other times it is just annoying. Then we talked some more before leaving to go see Swan Lake. We didn't get to see all of it because it was too long, but we saw most of it. Luckily we had a program and I was actually able to understand a lot of it. I didn't realize that it is basically the same story as The Swan Princess, with differences of course. One of the Elders asked what it was about, so I told him it was like Swan Princess and he said, yeah except that is more interesting and I can watch it in the comfort of my air-conditioned home. One of the other Elders asked, your apartment has air-conditioning? No, of course not, he was talking about in America. It was still funny. I enjoyed it, though, just because it was something different.
As for e-mails. It probably would be better if everyone just sent to gmail and you can send them here, but just because I would rather have the original there. If people can send them to both email addresses, that is fine, but if you only give them one, the gmail would probably be the better bet. I have to say, I'm excited to find out what is the package. I probably will get them during zone conference next cycle, which could be before Christmas, but will most likely be afterwards.
Dad, what is the image editing for? I don't remember anything about that, but then again, I don't really remember life before my mission. Things are weird like that. I feel like I've always been here and that I will always be here. But, maybe that's for the best so I can just focus on the here and now, though at times I still feel like this is all a dream.
Oh mom, I don't know how you are forwarding them to me, but if you notice they were already sent here, don't worry about sending them again, but if not, it's no big deal.
I have a lot to say because a lot was missed last week with this stupid email program, but I don't know if I have enough time. So, I will try to get it all written and it isn't in order of what happened. On Friday we were finally able to watch the General Relief Society broadcast. It was so great and exactly what I needed to hear. (Right - all the missionaries in Togliatti, with the exception of the Gunnells who took the pictures) It's funny how those things work, I think, but the main thing I have been praying for the last few weeks was the main subject of the conference. I really enjoyed it, but only 4 members came. That was a little sad. Not even the Relief Society president was there, and she planned it! Oh well, it was also good because I already had the Nov Ensign and I was able to read the talks the next day to make sure I didn't miss anything when I heard it in Russian.
I don't remember if I mentioned this, but I got the first package, and огромное спасибо (ogromnoye spasibo - big thanks) to Elizabeth for the paper. No one here can believe that I write so much, but I don't want to forget a thing. I've already written nearly 500 pages since I entered the MTC. I'm going to have a lot to remember my mission with.
I got a really nice compliment from the sister of one of the members last week. Since she isn't a member and she is Russian, I gotta believe she meant it. Anyway, she said that I am very beautiful, especially when you look at me (I'm not sure what that means exactly) and that when she saw me she just couldn't stop looking at me. It was a nice compliment to receive. I've also had a lot of people telling me I look like a Russian and then others tell me that I look very American. It's weird. Oh, I also forgot to say Happy Thanksgiving! in my redo letter last week, so here it is a little late.
During our zone meeting last week one of the Elders told us about something he had heard. You know how in the Bible it talks about fishers and than hunters to gather Israel? Well, he said that in some places in the world, like Mexico and many S. American countries, they don't really have to do anything to find investigators and converts. One missionary there said in one week he got 60 referrals from members. We would be lucky to get that for the whole mission in a year! (well, that's how it seems to me). He said, the fishers they send to places like that and to the rest of the world. The hunters, they send to Russia. I think that must be true because we have to hunt for people who are ready and mostly it seems like we are here to help prepare people to accept the gospel later on. (Left - Swan Lake. Do you see the female? She was disgustingly thin, like she was just skin a bones. Is that ever natural?) We just don't see the fruits of our labors and may never know. But, I guess that must mean they send the hardest workers to Russia. Hmm... what does that say about me?
Well, already I am out of time, but I wanted to tell you about my day yesterday. It was great. We had zone conference (that's why I didn't write yesterday) with the Mission President. It was great. These things are always exactly what I need to hear. I was able to see Sister Wilson, my MTC companion, and we talked about a lot of good things. She is still having a really hard time with the language and towards the end of our conversation she told me, you're amazing, just think of how amazing you are. I also got a letter from Jordan and it was a really good letter.
Anyway, that's probably about it for now except for one of the APs was getting on me for speaking English yesterday. I can't help it, after the MTC, it is impossible for me to speak Russian with Sister Wilson, and then I was talking with the senior missionaries who don't speak Russian. He told me he just wants me to use the gift I have been given. The ZLs were there and both said that I speak better than them, than he said, I can see that. It was funny, but I speak Russian all the time, I have no choice. Oh well, he is a good Elder.
I also quick have to say, I love the people here so much. They are amazing, and I think it will be just a matter of time before the entire country excepts the gospel. There are too many good people here for me to believe otherwise.

Love,
Сестра Атвуд

that really sucks

I just wrote a really long email, but it didn't send. I really hate this email company. I think next week we have a zone conference with President Давыдик (Davydik) and maybe I will mention how much I hate myldsmail because there is no way for me to retrieve that email now and I don't think I have time to rewrite everything I wrote. (Above - learning to knit at Zoya's) That reminds me, I probably will not be able to write on Wednesday because that is when out conference is going to be. I don't know which day will be our P-Day.
So, just quickly, I have a new companion now, Sister Саргсян (Sargsyan). Her family lives in Ростов (Rostov), Russia, and have been there for the past 5 years. Before that she learned Russian in school for 10 years, so she speaks and understands really well. I think that will be a big benefit here in Тольятти (Togliatti). I also thought maybe we would be eating a lot of Russian food from street stands, but we tried something yesterday and it made me sick. Sister Саргсян felt so bad and said she didn't know it would make me sick. (Right - me and Sister Vernon on our last day together) She then said it will never happen again while she is here. So there goes that. Oh well, maybe it is better that way.
I don't really remember all I wrote, so thanks for getting my stuff, and for the package. I got everything you sent, though one of the packages of smarties was open. Who knows what happened there.
That's probably about it. I don't feel like writing more after that long email that didn't work. Let me know if there is anything you are interested in knowing, and tell Becky to write me. Thanks to all those who did write me, though. And thanks for all you do.

Love,
Сестра Атвуд

Surprise!

Hey! I bet you were thinking I wasn't going to write you this week. Well, now you know how I feel when you don't write me, except you can check your email everyday and I can only do it once a week. So write me! And tell Becky to write me, I heard from her once right before I left the MTC and that's it. She really should write me and let me know what is going on in her life. I feel like she is in deep-freeze right now or something.
(Left - in the Prixod, the missionaries and the branch missionaries: Paulsen, Day, Ross, Boster, Agnessa, Lena, Vernon, me, Lena, Svetlana, Veleriya) Anyway, the reason I am writing today is because our P-Day was changed to Thursday this week instead of Wednesday. Of course I didn't find out until Monday so I couldn't warn you about it. Our DL was in St. Petersburg for his emigration card (we have to do that every 6 months and leave the country for a few hours) and the ZLs were on exchanges with the APs. So, since they are all in our district and that is it, they thought we should have our day together and so it was changed to Thursday. So, we did service yesterday instead of today. It's weird though because today feels like Wednesday. Oh well, I'm ok with that, but it was weird because yesterday felt like Thursday and then we didn't have English. Oh well. It was really great to have the APs here. They are amazing Elders.
We served at the hospital again yesterday. We closed the windows with cast wrappings again (you know the plaster casts that they have, we use the wrappings to "plaster" the windows shut) and the first room we were in, there were two men. Elder Nance (he's the older AP and will be going home in a month or so) started talking to them. By the time we were done he had gotten both of their addresses and phone numbers. He is amazing. It was a good example to me of the kind of missionary I want to be. But, I need to be able to understand them in order to do that. Unfortunately, that hasn't happened yet. (Right - FHE with our investigators. I like this picture because it looks like Boster has his hand on my shoulder, he doesn't though. In the back: Tatyana, Galina, Svetlana, Boster. Front: Vernon, Kolya, Irina, me) Sometimes I understand, but it is hard for me to understand Russian when it is being spoken by Russians, especially when they speak fast and use words I don't know yet. The next room we went into, there were two women. I thought maybe Elder Nance would get their addresses, too, but he didn't talk to them as much. I tried, but I couldn't understand. Afterwards, as we were waiting at the bus stop, he told me that he wanted to invite us to talk to them. I told him I tried and he said, yeah I heard that. Then he gave Sister Vernon a funny look to try and tell her that SHE should have said something. Then I said, I want to talk to them, but I still don't understand what they say to me. He then told me that everyone says I understand and can be understood perfectly. I said, I can understand Russian when it's not spoken by Russians and the other AP, Elder Котов (Kotov) (he's from St. Petersburg and obviously a Russian) said, can you understand me? Well, he spoke in Russian and I could understand him. He told me that he was speaking fast and I said, that's not fast! Sister Vernon tried to help me out by saying how different it is when the words are unknown. Well, then our bus came, so that ended that conversation.
I really am trying to understand, and it's getting better. But there are still times when I feel like I will never understand what they are trying to say to me. But I guess that will change because Sister Vernon is leaving. (Left - A very beautiful part of Togliatti)There is going to be an emergency transfer because of that crazy man who asked her to marry him. We can't understand what the big deal is because he is harmless, but they don't want to take any chances. She is going to Самара (Samara) and Sister Саргсян (Sargsyan) from Armenia is coming here. She doesn't speak English so I will not be able to do that anymore. That will be tough because she will also speak Russian with an Armenian accent rather than an American one. American accents are so much easier for me to understand. Oh well, hopefully it will be good for my language.
I'm not exactly sure how English is going to work now. They stopped having the Elders teach English here several months ago, like I wrote earlier, when one of the Elders received a letter from a member girl saying she would kill herself if he didn't pay her attention. Well, that means that it was always only Sister Vernon and I. It was rather inconvenient because we each taught a separate class and had to be in the same room, but I can't teach two classes at once now. That will be interesting to find out what happens.
I have to say, I am a little nervous about not having an American companion. Everyone that I have heard about who has served with a non-American has practically been killed by them (as in when they are done they don't really want to work). Sister Vernon told me that dieing as a missionary is a choice, but it will be harder to work hard if my companion doesn't want to work hard. So, I will just pray for help. (Right - This is my apartment building, it says Ryabinovy Blvd 8)From what I've been told, the Russians just don't work as hard as the Americans. Plus, they eat different food, so I don't know what is going to happen to me. On the plus side, maybe I will lose some weight. At least I will have one good meal. For Thanksgiving, we are eating with the Gunnells. They are the senior couple here from Salt Lake City. They are working with Family History. It's really exciting.
Hey, mom, you remember that book of stories from the Stake Relief Society? I meant to tell you last week, but we read a bunch of them together as a companionship and Sister Vernon and I really liked it. It made us feel good and inspired us. We both have to agree that there are amazing sisters in North Dakota. I just wanted to tell you about that so maybe you can tell the Relief Society President how much it has meant to us. And if anyone has more uplifting stories, I really enjoy hearing them. They always make me feel better when I'm feeling down, especially when they are from people I know.
There was one more thing I wanted to ask about. Did you get my stuff from Salt Lake? I'd really like to know because I hate to think that my stuff has been sitting at Elder Theurer's family's house for a long time, so just let me know. Other than that, I still want to hear any game ideas you might have. We are really hurting for ideas because our youth night is kind of on a down hill curve right now. People aren't coming because it is cold, and we need to make it really fun to keep them coming. So, try and think of some if you can and keep them coming.
Well, let's see. I don't really know what else to write about. Sister Vernon is leaving on Monday so she can at least say good-bye to everyone. (Left - This is also my apartment building. In the corner on the opposite side of where people enter the apartments, there is a grocery store. Needless to say, this is where we did all of our shopping) She could have left sooner, but she doesn't feel threatened at all, so she didn't see the point. Oh well, things always happen for a reason, right? I decided to try and read the Book of Mormon in Russian before the end of the year, too. I'm almost done with it in English, and I just felt like I should in Russian, too. I am reading at least 10 pages everyday so I can do it. Right now I am in 2 Nephi. It takes me a long time to read because I don't know all the words, but I am understanding better and when I do, I feel the Spirit so strong. It's great. I also read (in English) today in Mormon 9. It was talking about the people who are called to preach the gospel and said that you could recognize them and the people who believe in several ways. One way was that they speak in a new tongue. Well, that made me think, that's what I'm doing. Russian is not my native tongue, yet here I am, speaking in a new tongue and preaching the gospel. It was interesting to think about.
Well, I gotta go. I wanted to send a quick note to Jordan since he is going into the field next week, so I gotta do that real quick before we leave. Ok, well, love you all, keep writing and once again I am glad I don't have to eat any of those deer.

Love,
Сестра Атвуд

It's Nov 9 already?

Well, this week has been an alright week, but kind of tiring. We are still doing a lot of contacting to try and find new investigators. Sometimes it doesn't seem like it will ever work, but, like I tell Sister Vernon, we are planting seeds and maybe in a few years they will start to bud, maybe sooner, maybe later, we just don't know. But, we were able to get a new investigator from our service in the hospital. This woman works at the desk and we've talked to her a couple of times. She said we could come teach her later this month. That will be great.
Until then, we keep doing what we're always doing. Unfortunately, it is not exactly the greatest idea to contact on the street, in fact, we don't even wear our name tags on the street when it is dark. People are too scared to talk to us when it is dark, so it isn't a good idea to stop them. It's kind of like knocking. We don't do it. People live in apartments that are kind of like secured apartments. You have to call them on their дома-фон (doma-phone) to get in to where you can even go to their door. So, people get really suspicious when you are knocking on their doors behind locked doors. In some places it is forbidden, and although it isn't expressly forbidden in New City where we work, President has said that he doesn't encourage us to do it, unless the spirit directs us to go there.

So when we don't have teaching appointments, we contact on the street. When we can contact and we don't have appointments (which luckily has only happened a few times) we stay out on the street as long as we can and take a late dinner so we can actually work, and then we try calling people, or making cards, or sometimes we stop by the homes of investigators and members after dark. (Above - This is inside of the hospital where we often do service. I feel like I am in a hospital from the thirties when I am there, it is pretty run down)

Well, a little more about apartment life. Most of the apartments are rather small, but here in New City, there are a lot of really nice apartments because people can afford to remodel. Most places have two doors at the very least. One metal one that leads to a little area where if you are the only ones on that side of the apartment, you can leave your shoes (it's so dirty here you don't wear your shoes inside), or if there is more than one, you can stand with the other door locked while you unlock your apartment. Somepeople have two doors to their apartment, an outer security door and the inner apartment door. It's really interesting. Other than that, they are pretty much the same except most do not have carpet, and you are probably better off that way.
Oh, the package came, but Elder Ross didn't bring it back with him when he came back to Толбятти (Togliatti) with his new companion, so I won't get it until the Zone Leaders go to Самара (Samara) tomorrow. But, if you kept a list of what you sent, it would be nice if you could email that to me so I can check it all next week. Thanks for the taboo stuff, that's great. I'm really excited to be able to use it. And thanks, Lizzy, for the game idea, keep them coming if you have them. Sister Vernon and I always get stuck with the game for our Youth Night and it is really hard to come up with new ideas.
I really like the members here, most of them, anyway. The active ones are either really strong . . . or crazy. And I mean literally crazy. There is one man in our branch who was in some kind of nuclear chemical accident. Those who were not killed, became crazy and so were listed as disabled with the government. He is the only one that is still living, but it makes life interesting for the members of the church. The accident happened twenty years ago and he was baptized 8 years ago, so I don't know how all that works, but what can you say. He has this voice in his head that talks to him and tells him what to do. He also believes a man called the general told him that he could have a high position in an organization like the FBI if he finds a good wife, so he asks every girl that he meets and talks to a little. . . including my companion, Sister Vernon. It was rather funny because he knows she is a missionary and can't get married. He gave her a "text" about the general and all this stuff on Sunday and he told her that he thought the "text" would have made her see the importance of it. At least he isn't dangerous to anyone, not even himself.
One of the members is teaching us how to knit tomorrow. That will be really fun and the Elders want us to teach them next week on P-Day. That will be really interesting, and fun. The members want us to be able to make hats and scarves so we don't freeze to death, but it's not even cold! We don't have snow, but it keeps raining, not even freezing rain, just regular rain. It's rather disappointing, but unfortunately the members think I will die if I don't have a warm hat, scarf, coat, and boots. I haven't given in on the boots yet. I don't want to boil!
So, a little more about hospitals. I don't remember what I told you, but one of the members is in the hospital. We went to go visit her one night and Sister Vernon said that she hoped it wasn't past visiting hours. I was a little surprised and asked, "do they even have those?" She said, of course, so I replied, "Well, it kind of seems like you can come and go as you please, even the patients!" It's true, they don't hospitalize people here like they do in America, so patients leave and come back at will, as long as they can walk. It's kind of interesting. I have a question, just in case someone knows. Does blood ever turn in to powder? Well, I know that sounds a little weird, but we were doing service in the hospital yesterday and there was something on the floor that we couldn't figure out what it was. At first I thought it was blood, but then I noticed that it was powder, so I thought maybe it was rust, but there was nothing in there that was rusty, and I don't know where that much could have come from anyway. It was really weird, and there was a stain on one of the mattresses of the same color. It smelled bad too. So, that's the mess we cleaned up in the hospital yesterday, it was quite an interesting experience, especially for the greenie who isn't used to the hospitals here, or even to here yet.
Well, I'm not really sure what else you would like to know about Russia, so if there is anything especially that would be interesting to you to know, let me know and I will write about it.
Thanks also to those who wrote we this week. I really appreciate hearing from everyone. So, Lizzy, keep up the reading, it sounds like things are going great. (Left - Service at a children's park)I am getting close to finishing the Book of Mormon and I think I will finish it more than a month a head of schedule. That's exciting to me. Sara, the Thanksgiving project sounds like a good idea. Here are some things I am thankful for, if you want to add them in: family, friends, guidance from the Lord, the gospel, experiences in life, and especially for the Atonement and the love of God. Also, of course I want to see the Halloween pictures! I love pictures! It's not so easy for me to send pictures, but I was thinking of making some copies to send home, so we will see. Mom, that's so great to me about the temple, especially what you said last week about the extra session, are they still doing that? I think it's a great sign that the members are using the temple. That's what we are working towards here, to actually have a temple for the members to go to, but first we need to build a stake. It is tough work, but so worth it. That's great about the deer, but I have to say, I'm glad I'm not there to eat it, yuck! The nice thing about being in Russia is that the only thing I really have to eat that I don't like is tea and Russian candy. They have all sorts of weird teas, but they aren't very good and the candy is disgusting! Oh well. That's great about Aunt Linda. I was wondering about that, I didn't know they had to get a letter from the first Presidency about that. Too bad I won't be able to be there. Well, too bad that Jordan won't be able to be there. That would have been great for him. But, a mission is a good thing, too, of course.
Anyway, keep writing. I really enjoy hearing from everyone, even if I don't write back. Technically speaking, I could write back to everyone individually, but that means less time I can spend writing this email which everyone can read, and also the less I can write, so keep writing, even if you never get a response back. Also, you can give my website address to anyone that wants it.
Anyway, I guess that is all for this week. Time is going by so quickly. I only have 14 months left. That may sound like a lot, but that means I've already been on my mission for 4 and it doesn't seem like that long at all! I don't want the time to go by so quickly. I don't have enough of it. The Elders are lucky, they have a lot more time than Sisters. Oh well, it's all the will of the Lord.

Love,
Сестра Атвуд

well, what's new?

Hello all,
Things seem to be getting a little better here, as far as the work goes. We have had a steam of bad luck concerning our appointments and things. But, luckily, I think things are turning around. We have an appointment with one of our investigators today. (Above - Zone Conference with President Piper) We haven't met with her in 3 weeks, or even been able to get a hold of her for that matter. So, we are sacrificing a little of our P-Day time, but it is worth it.
Let's see. We had a Halloween Party on Saturday. It was a lot of fun. They don't celebrate Halloween here, unless you are a student of English, or a member of the church (because the missionaries like to). We had some skits and stuff and then the missionaries put on a haunted house. It was a lot of fun, and really good for what we had. We had a beast, witches, an ax-murderer, and even the ghost of the newsies (that was to lighten the mood a little, it was great). I really enjoyed putting it on, though some of the Russians did things to ruin it. I still had fun. I think they just didn't understand.
One of our recent converts is in the hospital. She had an operation on Monday morning. I was thinking, I would rather die than have them operate on me here. (Left - The Elders dressed as Newsies for Halloween - Ross, Day, and Paulsen) So, I wanted to tell you a little about life in a hospital. First, it is rather dirty and kind of cold, except when they use cast wrappings to plaster the windows shut. And, you have to provide your own bedding, including pillows. You also bring your own clothing, dishes and food. I guess they feed the patients, but it is just soup and I don't know how often they bring that around. It's probably a lot worse than hospital food in America. People smoke and have cell phones. Well, they don't have telephones, so there would be no other way to get a hold of the patients. I guess after surgery there is always a lot of puss and stuff that needs to be drained out. Sister Vernon worked in a hospital in America and she said we have something to drain all that out too, we just don't use coke bottles and gravity to do it. That's the kind of stuff that happens in a hospital here. They just aren't up to date on medical technology, so they make-do with what they have. You know the hospital on the Frighteners? Well, when I am in the hospital here, I feel like I am in THAT hospital, but this one if more run-down. It's crazy.
Oh, I was wondering what ever happened with that insurance claim form I sent home and if I am going to get money back for that shot or not. I'd also like to know about the plaque, if you asked the Bishop yet, mom. As for my mission president, he is from Belarus. His name is President Давыдик (Davydik). He is an amazing man. He hasn't been a member for very long, but he has a great story. (Below - Other costumes: Vernon as a gypsy, me as Cleopatra, Boster as Superman - this is because he actually looked like Clark Kent! I'm serious . . ., and Richins as a ninja) I think he was baptized 5 years ago, or maybe it was in 1995. I know that's a big difference, but I just don't remember. Anyway, some Elders were contacting on the street and they met a man who was interested and gave them his name and phone number. When they called that number, they asked for the man, and President Давыдик said, that's me. They then went on to say how they had met him on the street and would like to come to his house to talk about Jesus Christ and his church. Well, even though he had the same name as the man they met on the street, he was not the same man, and he told them that. He asked what number they were trying to get, and it was his number, He said, you have my number and my name, why don't you come on over, I'm interested in what you have to say. His whole family was excited. His family was baptized soon after. Great, huh? He also speaks English very well, so that is nice, too.
Let's see, I don't know if there was anything else I wanted to tell about this week. As for Christmas, it doesn't really matter to me. I wouldn't mind getting a box. I really want some peanut-butter m&ms. I can find peanut butter here, so that's not a problem, but they don't have M&M's with peanut butter. Other than that, I can't really think of anything else, but if you find some things you can send, than go ahead. Otherwise both options sound good to me. (Left - The cast of the Haunted House - Wilson as the head, Richins, Ross, Boster as the axemurder, Day, Anand as a guy in a gas mask, Paulsen, me, Vernon, and Madsen as the pirate guide) I don't know what I would buy with money here, so probably just saving it and buying me something when I get home would be great. Or you could save it and if I find something I want, than I could get it than.
Ok, well, thanks to everyone that wrote me this week. I really appreciate the mail. And especially thanks to all who care enough to read my website. I kind of thought no one would.

Love,
Сестра Атвуд