Feb. 20th Update!

Hello from Kurgan

       Wow what a week. So many great experiences and so many lasting memories. A lot better week than the one where I was sick. It is so awesome how Heavenly Father works. I was really stressed about stuff two weeks ago and I felt that nothing was going the way I wanted it to. I decided that I would read the Book of Mormon and pray about it. It says in PMG to do it so I thought that I would give it a try. Nothing happened right away but a couple of days later I had an experience that re confirmed to me that the Book of Mormon is true. We had a meeting with Galena who is a older lady and got surgery on her eyes, so we have helped her get groceries. We decided to have the firstlesson with her and we brought a member with us. His name is Andrei. As we were teaching her we asked him to bear his testimony of the Book of Mormon. He bore the most sincere testimony that I have ever heard. He is only 17 and he bore his simple testimony. I felt the spirit so strong. It doesnt take impressive words, you dont have to be eloquent or anything, all you need is a firm faith in Jesus Christ and the spirit will prick the hearts of others that hear you. I know that the Book of Mormon is true. I promise you that if you read the Book of Mormon and you ask your Heavenly Father if it is true he will give you an anwser. Hey I even recieved an anwser so that means anyone can get one.
        This week we were able to visit Evan our newest member in Kurgan. He lives in very humbling circumstances. He lives in a hospital for people that cant live on there own and cant pay to live. We were able to go in and see how he was doing and teach him some follow up lessons. We decided that we would buy some waffley for him and some juice that we could chow down on. We walked into the hospital and all of the people that lived in there came out to greet us. A man walked out with a huge accordian and started to play it for us. He was really good and he even sang along with it. Yah that is on camera. We also had a poetry contest where Evan shared his poetry that he writes. It was awesome. We shared all of our treats and shared all the juice with everyone. People were so happy to see us there. It really touched my heart. Shaking all of there hands and just being a friend to all of them. I know that those people in the Hospital know nothing about the Book of Mormon or the LDS church but what they do know now that missionaries from the LDS church are genuinely nice people and that is what our church is all about. Being nice to others and loving all people. I felt that Jesus Christ showed his love for those people through us. I am so grateful for having this oppurtunity to represent Christ here in Russia.
        News on Igor. He came to church yesterday and he will be baptized on saturday. We had a great meeting with him a couple of days ago and we feel that he is ready. He is keeping all of the commitments and he told us that he wants to serve a mission. We will be preparing him for the Aarronic Priesthood. Igor is my hero. Being young here is tough becuase so many people drink, smoke, and have sex. To change your life, to give up your friends for something better is what Igor is doing. He really is prepared for baptism and to take upon him sacred covenants of baptism. I have seen him progress a lot. It is so great to see. Victor our other investigator has fallen off the face of the planet. We have no idea where he went. We pray for him that he will give us a call someday.

        The work in Kurgan is exploding. Transfers is coming up in two weeks. I will be done being trained and then I will be flying to Finland to renew my Visa. I cant wait. These past 11 weeks have flown. I have come to love the people of Russia. They are the greatest and most friendly people ever. I was able to have dinner at a members house the other day. That was very intresting. I was fed these weird meatballs that I have no idea what were in them. This very weird mushroom/fish salad.... Chan you would have passed out. I ate it and held it down haha but it was very difficult. I also was able to try some different kind of fruit drink. Let's just say that it was an experience.
        Oh yah I got my package from my grandparents, felt like Christmas opening it. I got a letter from Jullian also and then a letter from Melody my neighbor. Thank you so much for the letter Melody, it meant a lot. That was all. Im sorry if I dont get your mail, it is difficult to get mail here in Russia. Thanks again Grandma and Jen for the package and everything was in it.
        Chan ofcourse I want the video clip ha. Love the pictures also... I do have a lot of compition.
Well the work here is booming. In five years there will probably be a stake here in Yekat. Can't wait. Thanks for all of the mailand emails everyone.
Elder Flitton

-What a turn around from the last two weeks, right?? Just goes to show how blessed we are when we put our full faith in our Savior.

-Isn't that so exciting to hear about how well Evan is doing, and the progress Igor is making??!! Can't wait to hear about his baptism next week. Just keep them in your prayers that they will all stay faithful and get to experience such a special moment next week!

-What about that trip to Finland?? Lucky guy :)

-Man oh man is he right when he said I would have passed out with that mushroom/fish salad...what a trooper.

I sure do love this missionary!

Can't believe it has been almost 5 months down!!

"Yes, faith is a choice, and it must be sought after and developed. Thus, we are responsible for our own faith. We are also responsible for our lack of faith. The choice is yours."

      -Bishop Richard C. Edgley 

Valentine's Day week update!

Happy Valentines!
Wow I can't believe that it is already Valentines. I only have three more weeks left in this transfer and then I will be done being trained. That is so crazy to think, the time is flying so fast. It felt like it was yesterday that I was sitting in the Mission home meeting my mission president. I have really enjoyed my time serving with Elder Hronek, we have definately found a way to enjoy the work and have fun with it. We have come up with a lot of ideas on how to contact and how to get our investigators to progress. For example when we knock doors we have a scripture in the Book of Mormon ready and we ask the person if we can share a small verse from the scriptures. We then bear testimony and no one can question a sincere testimonoy. Elder Hronek and I have seen a lot of success and we have also seen a lot of down times, but as I said before we know how to cheer each other up. I really enjoy the work. There is no greater joy than preaching the Gospel and inviting people to come closer to their Heavenly Father.
This last week was kind of difficult. I got sick Tuesday night and was sick all day Wednesday. It was a bummer because we had to stay inside all day. The good news is that i'm better and whatever that bug I had is gone. On thursday the zone leaders came down to our city. I was supposed to get my mail and packages but they forgot them in their apartment. That was a huge let down, I was looking so forward to getting mail. But it is all ok because the senior couple is coming down to Kurgan and they are stopping in Tumen where the zone leaders are, so I will get my mail at the end of this week. I can't wait ha. On saturday we had a "ward party", we played ping pong and watched the "Testament". For refreshments we had a cake, some cookies and some juice. I guess that is what you get when you have missionaries plan a event. It went very well, we had a good turn out and we got some new investigators out of it. It was nice to talk to ward members and just have fun.
Well we did have a baptism date set for Igor if he came to church yesterday. We called him saturday night to remind him. He said that he would be there. Well Sunday came and he wasn't there. It was a big bummer because we have to move his baptism back another couple of weeks. If only he just came to church he could be baptized. He has only been once and we feel that if he would have come this week he would have been ready for baptism. We dont want to baptize him if he is not ready. We want him to be a solid member and not to go in-active. That is what happens to a lot of people here in Russia. The Provoslovnik church loves to persecute the members here. We have a lot of less active members here in Kurgan. We work very hard with less actives and try to visit them as much as possible and try to get them to come back to church.
Our investigator Victor has fallen of the face of the planet. He wont anwser our calls or texts. We have taught him all of the lessons and we had a baptism date ready for him, but we haven't seen him for two weeks now. We had to move him back to the former investigators. It was really discouraging because he was a really good friend. We started teaching him when I got to Kurgan so we have been working with him for awhile. Sometimes I just don't understand because he was progressing and was coming to church. Hopefully he will call us back soon.
We got two new investigators, im way excited for them. We have a meeting with one of them tonight so im pumped. We have been working really hard these last couple of weeks to find some new investigators. The Kurgan branch needs more members.
Well I have good feelings about this week. I cant wait to start working with our new investigators. I have really enjoyed my time here in Kurgan. I love the people here, they are the greatest. I know that if you work your hardest and show your faith the Lord will bless you. No matter how hard things get you can always put your trust in Jesus Christ and he will pull you out. I have a new favorite scripture in the Book of Mormon. It helped me in the MTC and it helps me even more here in the field. Alma 36:3.
Thank you everyone for your emails and all of the support back home.
Love,
Elder Flitton


"As Christ followed the Father under any circumstance, we should follow His Son. If we do so, it matters not what kind of persecution, suffering, grief, or "thorn in the flesh" we face. We are not alone. Christ will assist us. His tender mercies will make us might under any circumstance."
     -Walter F. Gonzalez

weekly update!

Hello from Russia

Well this last week was kind of a rough one. All of our meetings with our investigators fell through. We were only able to have one meeting with one of our investigators. Yesterday were met with Egor and he has been progressing. It was the first time that he has attended church. I was so happy to see him there. He even stayed all three hours. We set his baptism date for the 18th of February. Elder Hronek and I are thrilled about him and all of the progress that he is making.
We did a lot of door knocking this week. We talked to a lot of people and we also had a lot of doors shut in our face. I knocked this one guys door and told him that we were representatives from the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints and that we had a message about Jesus Christ. He started to yell at me and then slammed his door. The good thing about being a missionary and learning a new language, when people yell at you and talk really fast you have no idea what they are saying. When people slam there doors it doesnt get me down, but I just feel bad for those people. If only they knew why we were really there and how great the message we have to share with them is. It can be discouraging sometimes but Elder Hronek and I find away to keep positive. Elder Hronek and I know how to make each other laugh so that is nice.
Funny story of the week. We had a follow up lesson with Evan and one of the members house. There was a random man there that was scary. When I think of a Russian I think of a giant, with a bad eye and a very deep voice. Well this man was exactly that. To add to it he was drunk. He was a very different person. He had faught in the war and was very grumpy. I was scared and I got to sit next to him. All I did was just smile and that cheered him right up. He would get this huge smile on his face and would cheer up every time that i smiled. So grandma thanks for always telling me to smile. It worked this time and I became this mans best friend.
Thank you everyone for your emails. I will try to write you. Sorry if I dont anwser back to your emails, give me some time and I promis that I will. Thank you for all of the support back home.
Love
Elder Flitton


An email to Jeff:

We really didn't have much success last week, all of our investigators figged on their meetings that we had set up. We only had one meeting with egor and it was yesterday. We have the 18th for his baptism. He is awesome. So last week we just did a lot of contacting. We knocked a lot of doors and were able to talk to people. WE only got one return appointment and that is today so hopefully that turns out good. It is really hard to work with the members here. Russians are a very pecuiliar people. We try our best to get the members involved. It is hard becuase we only have one person that has the melchizadek priesthood that comes to meetings and he is our branch president. So pretty much the missionaires run the show. We try our best with the members.
This last week was probably the coldest week so far. It got to -30c this week. I have to double my clothing and wear my scarf on my face, I look like a terrorist sometimes. You got to do what you got to do to stay warm.
I love my companion, we get along great. We havent had any disputiations or fights so that is good. He is a great elder and I learn a ton from him.
The language is definately a struggle. This week has been really difficult for some reason. I have gotten down on myself sometimes but I just think to my self that it will only take time and faith. So i just show my faith and do my best.
People love to talk to us because we are American. That is how i usually start my conversations with people.
I have settled into kurgan. I love this city. It is a very poor city but the people here are great and I love them. Could you send me your recipe for hootnane panckakes? I want to make them really bad.

Sounds like our Elder is hanging in there! Hopefully, Egor's baptism yesterday went smoothly and was full of excitement, happiness, and the Spirit! I will make sure to post tomorrow's email faster than these last two!

I love you all and am grateful for your love in return. This experience is so special for not only Elder Flitton, but for each one of us to be able to learn more of and grow closer to our Savior. Keep the faith.

"If you have determined to live righteously, don't become discouraged. Life may seem difficult now, but hold on tightly to that iron rod of truth. You are making better progress than you realize."
    -Elder Richard G. Scott 

First Baptism!

I don't think there was a full big family email this particular week, only personal emails to a few family members.
I don't want to copy each email in its entirety, so here are just a few snippets from each:

Elder Flitton, Evan, and Elder Hronek at Evan's baptism!!

         "I was able to baptize someone last week. I have never felt so much joy before in my life. As I baptized him I realized that through baptism we can make it back to our Heavenly Father if we are faithful. That is now possible for Evan. THe joy I cant describe in words.
I was studying chapter 8 in pmg and it made me realize how important goals are. Thank you for that last email. I was reading this morning in pmg about hope. If we have hope and do good works all will come out good in the end. That is an awesome promise from our Heavenly Father."

"I cant believe that it has already been 4 months, it is so crazy to think. The time is definately going fast. Everything went great at the baptism. Our branch president didn't come so that was really the only thing that didn't go according to plan. But we were prepared and the service went great. "

"I read in PMG this morning about Hope. I learned that if you hope for good things and you do good works everything will turn out for the best. I have been reading in the scriptures about Moroni. I love how he goes to each Nephite city and strengthens it. I think that is what we have to do with ourselves. If we strenghten ourselves we can hold off the Lamanites(temptation) and come out victorious. I love reading the scriptures. I learn something new from them every day. "


"I was thinking today when I get back from the mission we are going to hangout like the whole week. Yes I am a mommas boy. I hope all is well at home with Katie and Anna. I cant believe that Katie is going to be a senior next year and Anna will be in high school. Guess what? You are getting old but your looks dont show it. Every time i show pictures to people they always ask me who is this lady, I tell them that that is my mom and they say "WOW she sure is beautiful" I say yah I know. I love you mom."
    (I HAD to add this because it is the sweetest thing I have ever read. Christy, you are a lucky woman to have such an incredible and loving son!!)


"There has been something on my mind that I want to talk to you about. I have been thinking about my mission and the kind of missionary I want to be at the end of my mission. I read a scripture in 2Timothy the other day. It is the one that says I have fought the fight, I have kept the faith. That has been on my mind a lot. I think the way I work on my mission will decide how Heavenly Father will recieve me. He will have open arms and a smile on his faith and he will say "my faithful servant, you have kept the faith. There is a place prepared for you in my kingdom." That is how I picture it. I don't know why that has been on my mind so much, but it just makes me work harder and harder. I want to be the best missionary possible."

Wow. It has been almost 5 months. This boy is a man now. I can't get over the wisdom and faith that he is showing and sharing. I think it is safe to say that we are all feeling the blessings at home from Keaton's efforts all the way in Russia. 

"Brethren, our religion is a joyful one! We are most blessed to bear the priesthood of God! In the book of Psalms we read, "Blessed is the people that know the joyful sound: they shall walk, O Lord, int he light of thy countenance." We can experience this greater joy if we but look for it."

    -Dieter F Uchtdorf

Elder Keaton "Pasha" Flitton's weekly update.

       Well it has been a very eventful week. We have had a lot of success this week and have had some down times this week. The good news is that we have a baptism this week for Evan and he chose me to baptize him. I was so honored when he asked me to do it. Evan is a very humble person. He is very poor and he lives of the government because he has a bum leg. He loves to read and I have given him a lot of books to read from our library. Elder Hronek and I gave him a white shirt and two ties. He wore them to church yesterday and he looked like a stud. He is an awesome person and has a very strong spirit. 

        I have gotten some emails saying that you want to hear about the grandma that we saved from the ice. I thought I included that story but I would be happy to tell it again because it makes me happy.
We had a lesson with one of our members and we took a taxi to their house. When we got out of the taxi we started walking to the house. I heard this grandma yelling and I told Elder Hronek that we should probably go see if she needs help. We ran over to her and helped her our of the freezing water and she looked into my eyes directly and said, "you English boy" i said "yes" she started crying because she was so happy. She said that we were her angels and gave us Russian names. She still calls us by those names today. My name is Pasha haha. She gave us a gift and pulled out two sea shells that she had gotten from the Black Sea. It was so funny because she just kept randomly crying and thanking us. We now have a new investigator and she wants to be baptized. We just need to teach her and give her some commitments and see if she follows them. The acts of service can go so far.

        I have a funny Russian story that I would like to tell you about. As Elder Hronek and I were on the bus, I saw a man stumble onto the bus. I could smell the vodka on him from the other end of the bus. He was wasted. As the bus drove on this liquid started running down his pants. It was a very constant flow. Everyone around him started freaking out and people were moving trying to get out of the way. He wasn't phased, he just stood there. I saw a grown man pee his pants on the bus that day. It was definitely one of the weirdest experiences in my life. It is sad to see how addiction can ruin someones life. Vodka is a huge deal here and it is sad to see.

        Well on the other hand everything is going great here in Kurgan. The work is starting to explode and it is awesome to see. We have a baptism this saturday for Evan and I'm pumped. Heavenly Father has his eye sight focused on Russia. I feel once Kurgan explodes the rest of Russia will explode and we will get a temple here. The people here in Russia need a temple. I cant wait for that day. I miss all of you back home and just want to tell you that the work that Im doing, the message that I share with people is true. With every cell in my body, I know that this gospel is true and I know that Jesus Christ is the head of all. If we simply have faith and ask he will give. I know that to be true and I promise you that you can go to your Heavenly Father at any time and he will comfort you. Thank you for all the support back home. Love you all.

 - Elder Flitton

I don't know about you, but when I was reading this in class, I couldn't contain my laughter. It isn't everyday that you see the things he sees... I will now and probably forever call Keaton by his russian name. Pasha. Has a nice ring to it. That lady seems so incredibly sweet, doesn't she? 

It really is so exciting that Keat gets to perform Evan's baptism!! I couldn't think of a better way to celebrate his 4 month mark! He is already changing so many people's lives because of this gospel. 

In and email to his grandpa, Mike:

The other day we did some service for one of the branch members. She needed us to help her neighbor. We had to transport a dead body to be buried. The caskets here are so cheap, they are way thin wood and are decorated with crosses on them for the church. Luckily we just had to move the casket out of the building and onto the bus. Me and my companion thought we were going to have to dedicate the grave or something. We were really nervous but we just had to put the casket on the bus. Whoo! ha 

um...hello! I was getting a bit nervous as I was reading this little section...I could not even imagine! What a great missionary :)

and to your delight, we received pictures!! 

This is the lady that they helped in the ice and who calls him Pasha.

That is Evan, the one being baptized this weekend, next to Keaton

Russia. Looks SO cold.

Cool ice sculptures! Look at that warm Eskimo coat!

Who knows what he is doing...but that sculpture is way cool!

I say this over and over again, but I just can't help but be so proud of what Keat is doing. He is working so hard and changing lives. I am so grateful to say that my very best friend is a missionary!! He is such an example to all of us!

Have a great week, everyone!

"Attitude is everything. If you have a bad attitude you wont be successful. I try every morning to just enjoy my opportunity and always work my hardest. I have seen by doing that, that Heavenly Father blesses you abundantly."

- Elder Keaton Jeffrey Flitton

Update!

Greetings from Russia
How is everyone doing? Hope all is going well back in Salt Lake. Things here in Kurgan are going great. Got some news from the Kurgan branch... We have a baptism date for our investigator Evan on the 28th and then we have a investigator that wants to be baptized in a couple of weeks, we just have to teach him some more. The work in Kurgan is starting to explode. Egor is the one that wants to be baptized. We are way pumped about our two investigators who want to be baptized. Our other two investigators Victor and Alicia we are still working witht them and doing our best to help them progress. Victor is doing a great job, it will just take more time than the others. Also do you remember that stroy about the grandma that we saved from the ice a couple of weeks ago. She wants to be baptized. So we need to contact her and start teaching her. Heavenly Father is definately working in Kurgan and I love it. Well that is about all the info for our investigators.
We had some funny incidents this last week. I got my first up close experience with a drunk man the other day ago. We were walking to one of our appointments and this guy was covering his friend who was peeing on the wall... there is Kurgan for you ha. But the man yelled "hey you americans" he ran over to us and started talking non sense to us. He started hugging me and telling me that he was an angel and a prophet. Strange I know but I just listened to him and went along with it. I played the drunk game with him where they look at you and you slowly start to lean and they follow you and they eventually fall over. I started to do it and he started to lean but then I thought to myself if he did fall he probably wouldn't be able to get back up haha, so I didn't. This guy was speaking non sense and he kept grabbing my coat and wanting me to follow him somewhere. I told him that I had a meeting but he didn't care ha so I eventually pushed him off of me and walked away, he started yelling at us but I had no idea what he was saying. It was definately an experience that I will never forget.
We had a potential investigator this last week who wanted to meet with us. He wanted everything that we taught him to be backed up by the new testament. We did that and we stumped him, he would ask the strangest questions that had no revelance to what we were talking about. We simply told him that in order to know if what we were saying was true he had to read the book of mormon and pray. He said that he wouldn't read it so we simple and very nicely told him that we couldn't meet anymore.
That is about all that went on last week, I was able to go to Yekaterinburg on tuesday and have training with my mission president. I love my miision presdient. He is awesome.
I am so thankful for this oppurtunity to serve a mission here in Russia. I love it and am so thankful for my Heavenly Father and all the guidance that I get from him every day. I know that this message we share with everyone is true. I know it with all of my heart. I love Russia and the people here they are great. Thank you for all the support that I get from back home.

From Russia With Love

Elder Flitton

In an email to Jeff:

"Yah im eating alright. Sometimes i am so hungry and there is no food in the fridge and i get so depressed. We go to the store like every day it feels like to buy food. What can i do, i love food. I love the Russian food. Blene is my favorite, it is Russian panckakes, it is the best. I love palminee also, that is what we had at perrys. It is good. I have had some meals at members, those have been very intresting, sometimes i have no idea what it is, i just swallow it. I haven't gotten sick so that is good. No you can't get a hamburger, it is a bummer.
I haven't heard from my neighbor since that incident so that is good." (The drunk one asking for vodka on New Years)

"The branch is great. I love the members, they are so strong and do all that they can. Life here in Russia tough for people, it is sad to see. We don't live next to our building, it is about a 45 min bus ride so we are kind of out in the bonnies. I enjoy teaching english class. It is funny to see people try and speak english."

Packages have been sent to Russia and letters have been sent to Salt Lake/Logan.

These emails are the best.

Noticing the change and growth in Keaton is the best part of this whole experience.

We are so blessed to have an incredible missionary like Keaton in our lives!

"This work of the lord is indeed great and marvelous, but it moves forward essentially unnoticed by many of mankind's political, cultural, and academic leaders. it progresses one heart and one family at a time, silently and unobtrusively, its sacred message blessing people everywhere."

      - L. Whitney Clayton. "The time shall come", Gen. Con. Oct 2011

update.

Hello Family and friends

Well I survived a Russian New Years. I didnt think that i was going to make it but we did. We had to be in at 4:00 pm on Saturday, we were able to watch it is a wonderful life, if you haven't seen it i would reccomend it ha. We went to bed at ten as usual and were woken up by fireworks. They love their fireworks here. They lit them off all night. And to add to it our neighbour knocked on our door at 2:00am wanting us to go by vodka with him. We didn't open the door and that made him mad so he started banging on our door and trying to get in. It was funny becuase he was so drunk. We told him to go home but that made him furious and he started to shake the door knob haha, then we told him that if he didnt stop we were going to call the police. His wife came out when she heard that and pulled him in their door. We lost about 4 hours of sleep beacuase he kept coming out and banging on our door. People here love their vodka and their New Years celebrating. It is sad to see what addiction can do to people. I feel remorse for these people and feel bad to see how Satan has such a hold on them. But yah that was New Years for me ha.

I have settled into my city. I really enjoy it here, except that it is freezing here. I love the people here, they are the nicest people and are so good to the missionaries. The members are great, we have personality in our branch. We have a member named uri who says he is a super spy and that he works for Obama. He is about 60. Love him. We had 30 people in sacrament meeting the other day. It was so great to see that many people. And two of our investigators came to the meeting. I was stoked. The work is coming along in Kurgan.

Missionary work is very difficult in Russia but it is very rewarding. The people here are very blind and they want truth but they just don't know where to find it. That puts a big responisibility on my shoulders by talking to everyone. That has been one of my goals is to talk to as much people as possible. It is very difficult because my language isnt that great. I can talk to someone and get my point accross but for most of the time i cant understand them when they talk back haha it is quite interesting sometimes. But I know that the Lord will bless me if I do my best.

We have four investigators there names are Victor, Egor, Evan, Alicia. They are great people and are very intrested in learning more. Evan is are closest prospect to being baptized. He is such a humble person and he wants so bad to be baptized. He doesnt have a white shirt or a tie but we are going to buy him a white shirt and then I am going to give him one of my ties. He is a great person and I know that Heavenly Father loves him very much. He loves to recite poetry and he loves to read the Book of Mormon. It is awesome.

Well I cant believe that I have already been in Russia for a month. It is crazy. The time is flying. I am so thankful to be here in Russia serving a mission. I want to thank everyone that has helped me out in one way or the other. Thank you. Well from Russia with love poka poka (bye bye)

Elder Flitton

love love love these emails more and more each week. 

A quick note about Jeff. He has been called to serve as the 2nd Counselor in the Stake Presidency! There isn't a better man for the job. Love you so much Jeff!!

I hope you all have a great week and are still enjoying the new year!

"The lessons we learn from patience will cultivate our character, lift our lives, and heighten our happiness."

       - Dieter F Uchtdorf  "Continue in Patience" April 2010 Gen. Conf.

             (I HIGHLY RECOMMEND READING THIS TALK!!!)