April 28, 2013 "Life is good"

Dear Family

Hello Family! Another week has come and gone. It is already Monday and the time is going by so fast. Oh ya btw HAPPY BIRTHDAY CALLIE!!!!!! I looked at my calendar this morning and noticed that it was her birthday so if you could get this shout out to her it would be great. The big 13. My little cute cousin is growing up so fast. Well Steph now you have a teenage daughter....
Sounds like Summer is coming around the corner really quick. Grandpa must really enjoy the warm weather because it helps him play golf better. That was a great score Grandpa that you got the other day. I am scared to get back and go golfing again. I am going to be really rusty. We are going to have to go to the driving range first ha. Thanks for sharing the story with me about the big group of missionaries at the temple. I sure am excited to get back and start doing some work in the temple. I am going to have to find work when I get home but the first work that I will be doing is Temple work. I am so excited. Could you give a GOOD LUCK to uncle Greg. I am inspired by his motivitation to run these marathons and even Iron mans. You go uncle Greg, DO WORK! Jen enjoy your 6 weeks of school. Usually when things are difficult and time seems to move so slow is usually when we learn and grow the most. Just think how much you will learn from this...maybe patience ha. Good luck. Now for Cameron and Garett, I know exactly how you feel. I remember just laying in my bed at night and day dreaming all night what would my mission be like. I remember trying to imagine what it would be like to speak Russian. To endure weather that was below freezing. I also remember thinking about the people that I would meet and baptize. It is ok to think about the future but make sure that you are living the most in the present. Find time to be with your family, for they will support you the most. They will be the ones that are most on their knees praying for you. Make sure to especially show more love to your momma. :) It will do you some good. Mom and dad tell Melody that I hope she gets feeling better. What a scary incident. Now Chandler I am happy that you are enjoying your life and living it up. You are getting old...Senior in college haha. Thanks for the pictures, it looks like you are having a blast and that you are happy. Thanks again. Now Kaite and Anna where are your emails????? Jk but I just wanted to thank you all and wanted to write you a little something. HOpe you all have a great week.

So as you know last week I was able to go on my last visa trip. A couple of months ago the Area Presidency banned missionaries from leaving the airport so this visa trip we were stuck in the airport the whole time. I was able to go with ELder King(mtc companion)and another elder. It was really fun to just talk withthem and enjoy our time. We talked a lot about our missions and that we really are running out of time. Our MTC group is doing well and everyone is enjoying their missions. I am so thankful for this close group of friendship that we all have. We actually have planned a boat trip to Lake Powell after the mission. I am excited. But the visa trip was really fun. Unfortunately I got a cold when I get back so I have been sick for the last couple of days. But I am doing better.

This weekend President Rust came to Ufa. He was there for our zone meeting that we have every week. Honestly I was a little nervous because at zone meeting us zone leaders lead it. President was there so I felt a little inadequate. But we had a great zone meeting. We were able to set some really good goals for May. I really enjoy having President present. He was here yesterday for church as well. This man is inspired. I love him so much and I have learned so much from him. He is a man from God. I am sad that he leaves at the end of June. I have really cherished my time serving with him. He is so great.

This transfer is a 8 week transfer. A normal transfer is only 6. So this transfer only has two more weeks left. I feel like I am going to be transfered. This next city could be my last city. I have really enjoyed my time here in Ufa. Each city that I have served in has had its own taste. I feel like in Ufa I have really grown close to the members. I am truly grateful for the saints here in Ufa. They are strong and the church is growing here. They are young but they are strong. The Lord loves them so much and His hand is supporting them. I love the saints of Russia.

I am so grateful for the word love. On my mission the word love has really taken a new meaning. When I think of love I usually think of something romantic, roses, kisses, candle light dinner and a box of chocolates. But love has such a deeper meaning. I am so thankful that we have a loving Heveanly Father. God is our father and He truly loves us because we are His children. He even loves those who disgrace His name. He loves those that simply just don't love Him. God has such a perfect love for each and every one of us. Love is something we develop when we serve someone. Love is something we develop in our families. Love is when we put others before us. Love is charity, love is an attribute attained by Deity. I am so thankful for the love of the Saviour. Our Lord, Jesus Christ showed us how to love. Through his perfect sermon he gave us the Beatitudes. If we study this sermon we will understand the love that the Saviour has, and the love that he wants for us to have. 'For God so loved the world that He gave His only Begotten Son". God loves us and so does His son. Love is lasting and doesn't have an end. That my friends is Eternal life. Life with God is love beyond mesaures. To be like God is a sign of perfect love. I am so thankful for a loving, merciful, understanding God. I know that He knows me personally and that He wants the best for me. I know that one day I will meet Him face to face and that He will with open arms say to me, "Well done my faithful servant". God is our Father and He invites all to come and know of Him.

Family I love you and thank you all for your support. I miss you dearly but in two weeks we will be able to talk... ha Until next monday. I love you
Elder Flitton

Btw Chandler I got your letter. Thanks for the stickers... now everyone in the office knows.

April 22, 2013

Dear Family

Yes it is true, Spring time is here in Ufa. Today Elder Young and I went without suits. Let's just say that we got a lot of strange looks. It is about 23c right now. This is the first time that I have sweated in months ha. I love the feeling. I would pick summer over winter anytime. The snow is gone here in Ufa and the mud is also gone. Now it is just really dusty and dirty on the streets. But it is better than having -20c weather.
So this last Saturday us missionaries put on an activity for the branch. It was called how to strengthen families. We had a good amount of members come and a couple of investigators come so that was really good. The activity really helped some members understand the importance of families and how through families we find the greatest joy. I am so thankful that I got to bear my testimony there on how important my family is to me and how great families are. I really do miss you guys and throughout the whole activity I was thinking of you. I know that families really can be together for ever and that joy that we feel right now with each other can continue after this life. Thanks fam.
Well our investigators are doing good. B. Bryan is still trying really hard to change and Alexan is still way busy with school. We have been doing a lot of planning for them and figuring out what we need to do to help them better. We decided that we need to have more contact with them. So we have set the goal of texting them or calling them everyday to see how they are doing. This is going to be hard but I know that through this they will see the love that we have for them. I pray for them every day and I know that someday in the Lord's time they will come around.
So yesterday was a really great day for Elder Young and I. As we were walking down the street somebody drove by and honked and waved at us. This happens all the time back home to missionaries. This was the first time that anyone has ever done this to me on my mission. I was so happy for just that little kind act. If you see the missionaries on the street honk and wave to them. You never know if they might just be having a really hard day or something. This will make there day. Also I have never gone to a members house and been fed so much that I can't eat anymore. Well that happened last night. I have never been so full in my life ha. Goodness yesterday was a very unnormal day.
This Wedensday I have my last visa trip of my mission. I am kind of bummed about that but I have really been blessed to be able to travel and see other parts around the world. I am so grateful for the many times that I got to go to the Finland temple. I have made really good friends with some of the workers there. I am so grateful for all of the times that I got to go to TJI Friday's. I sure am going to miss getting together with all of my buds from the MTC and hanging out in the Airport for hours ha. I am so thankful for all of the great experiences that I had going on a visa trip. It sure has been a huge blessing.
Lately I have been studying about the love of God towards His children. The most thing that gets brought up is the Plan of Salvation. I am so thankful for this "Plan of Love". I am so grateful that God has given us the opportunity to become like Him. How this is possible, I have no idea but it is. Through the loving sacrifice of His Only Begotten Son we all have the opportunity to return to Him. I think the greatest thing about the Plan of Salvation is that we are promised to live with our families after this mortal life. I don't think that anyone can grasp what Eternity is. But God does and He wants us to be with Him and our families together for Eternity. Only through the Prophet Joseph Smith do we have the full knowledge of the Plan of Salvation. Thanks to him God revealed everything that we need to know so that we might receive this eternal happiness with our families. God loves us so much. We aren't simply here on earth to just live and die. With everything worth wile there is a purpose. Our lives are worth wile so therefore there should be a purpose. God has given us purpose and that is the Plan of Salvation. Glory be to God for his unending love towards us.
Family I love you so much. Thank you so much for your support. I need it as my time is running out here on the mission. I am so thankful for this experience that has been given to me. It has changed not just my testimony but my life. There is a clear purpose which I have come to understand and I thank you for helping me understand that. I love you all.
Elder Flitton



Keaton sent me this photo of him and a member named Max. He is also a rock star and have our Elder Flitton one of his CDs. Who is excited to hear that in a few short months?!

April 15, 2013

Dear Family

I sure enjoyed General Conference this last weekend. It was my last Conference on the mission. I can't believe that I will be watching it next October at home. Definitaley going to one of the sessions. I feel like Conference on my mission has changed my whole out look. I remember watching it at home and always sleeping during it and then when the prophet would speak I would wake up. I sure missed out. I totally regret it. I am so thankful that this Church is a world wide church and that I got to watch the broadcast of it all the way here in Russia. I can't wait to get home and actually go to conference. Well in October that can be done.
So we finally got an apartment for the Smith's. It is a very nice apartment. They have heated floors in their apartment and also have a dish washer...I sure hope they like it because they are going to be there for 18 months. Also we were able to move out of the other Elder's apartment. Finally ha. Their apartment was so little and everything was just so messy. It was so nice this morning not to have a line for the shower. It was great.
Today we are going to have FHE at a members house. We are going to play soccer at 5 and then go over and have a little Spiritual thought at their house. A lot of people from the branch go so it is going to be really fun. I have gotten a lot better at playing soccer. yah you never would have thought ha. I think I like it so much because it is really good exercise. Every morning we wake up at 6:30 and do exercise. Let's just say that Elder Flitton has no motivation in the morning to have a good work out. I have gotten really good at stretching and also doing yoga haha.
It was really great to get on email today and see the news that the twins got their mission calls. Well I am grateful that they get to go to a place that is warm and they don't have to layer there clothes. So congratulations on your calls!!! It is too bad that you leave in July. Maybe you could call President Monson and ask him to move your date back to September 20th. Nonetheless I am so excited for you two.
So Conference was so awesome. I loved all of the talks that were given from the pulpit. It was so great to hear from President Monson, his conselors, and the qourm of the 12. I think my favorite talk was from President Monson when he talked about Obedience. He has such a great sense of humor. I am so thankful that he felt inspired to talk about obedience. I feel like on my mission i have truly come to understand the importance of Obedience. It is so great that obedience is the first law of everything. It is the first law in Heaven and if you aren't willing to abide by the laws that God has given you cant live with Him. Obedience truly sets someone free. The world thinks that with all of these rules we can't have fun and we can't live the way that we want to. When you really think about it the laws of the land and the spiritual laws of God are truly what makes us happy and sets us free. If you want a great example of obedience read the first three chapters of Daniel. I was so happy when I started to read Daniel after just hearing the talk from President Monson. It made me look more for obedience as I read in the scriptures.
So our investigators are doing alright. They could be doing better but we are working with what we have. Brother Bryan is still reading from the Book of Mormon and is still trying to quit some habits that he has. He told us that he would come to a session of GC but he never came. we are having a really hard time getting him to come to church. I hope that in the near future he will be able to understand the importance of the sabbath day. I worry that my time in ufa is running low. I just wish so bad to help him grasp the gospel and be baptized. I guess the Lord see's otherwise. One of those things where we just have to accept the Lord's timing. Our other investigator Alexan is really busy with school. We are planning on meeting with him this week. His family is really helping us.
Thank you all for sending me emails. I sure do appreciate your love and support. I hope that everyone has a great week and that everyone stays safe.
Love
Elder Flitton

April 8, 2013

Dear Family

I am so jelaous that all of you got to watch General Conf last week. We don't get to watch it until this Saturday and Sunday. I cannot wait! I am definitely going to be working on my Patience attribute. I love how here in Russia it is all set up the same way as it is in America. We watch all the sessions at the same time but a week later ha. I am so grateful that we have a living Prophet who really does love us. I am so thankful for the Apostles who truly do testify of Christ. I am so thankful that each and everyone of us have the opportunity to be disciples of Christ. We have some really great examples that we can mirror. I am so excited for this weekend.
This last week Elder Young and I have been quite busy. We took a train to Yekat on Tuesday at about 8pm and got into Yekat the next day at about 12pm. We then had zone leader council all day and it continued to the next day until about 3pm. We then took a train back to Ufa and got into Ufa at about 6am the next day. I really have done a lot of traveling on my mission. It has been a really great experience to see the country and what Russia truly is like.
Zone leader council was really great. We had a goal this year as a mission to have 12 men recieve the Mel. Priesthood, go to the temple, and also get sealed to their family. Each one of these gets a point. Here in Ufa about a month ago we had 5 men get the Mel. Priesthood. We as a mission have surpassed our goal of 12 and now have 15. We zone leaders in this council have now set the goal of a total of 36. We are really excited and so are the rest of our missionaries. This is the best mission in the world and the most obedient.
So we are still on the hunt for an apartment for the Smith's. We haven't had too much luck. They right now are living in our apartment and we are living with the other Elders. Apartments here in Russia aren't that great. Especially the ones by the church. I am grateful that my first apartment on the mission was terrible because I really have seen the worse ha. Now I can cope with the other bad apartments in the mission. We really do need to find the Smith's a new apartment because I really want to go back to my old apartment ha.
So yesterday after church some Muslim guy came in and wanted to know more about the church. So Elder Young and I sat down with him and told him what we believed. He had many great questions and was a very good listener. He was very impressed about what we believe. But there was one thing that he disagreed about, and that was that Jesus Christ was the Son of God. He said that he believes that Jesus was a messenger of God and that he was a teacher and prophet. My heart sank when he told me that. We respect all people and what they believe but it truly was hard to hear those words. I then felt the prompting to bear him my testimony that Jesus is the Christ and that He truly is the Son of God. I am so thankful that I have the testimony and knowledge that Jesus Christ is the Son of God and that he is our Savior and Redeemer. He has done theee most work on this earth than any other man that has walked this earth. He set the way so that all could recieve eternal glory. Through his Atonement we are all indebted to him eternally. He died so that we could live. Jesus of Nazareth just wasn't a great teacher or a prophet. He was the one that was selected before the worlds. He is the one that stood before all of us in the council of heaven and said "send me". He is the one that took upon himself every feeling known to man,every pain and sickness we experience and every trial given to men. He lived a perfect life because He was of the Father and the Father was in Him. He truly is the Son of God and we can all know that through the scriptures, prophets, apostles, family, friends. Jesus truly is our Redeemer.
Family I love you so much. Thank you for letting me come out on a mission. I have learned so much and have grown so much. I feel like my mission has been a baseball game. It is know the 7th inning and it is time to throw in the closer. I am so grateful for every lesson that I have learned. Thank you again for this opportunity. Love you all
Elder Flitton
Ps haven't gotten my package yet.

April 2, 2013

Dear Family

     So sorry that I am writing a day later. We have been with the Smith's and helping them get settled in here. But I am emailing today so no worries. Sounds like everyone had a great Easter. I am really sad that I wasn't able to be a participant in the annual egg hunt. Really sad about that one. But Easter here was just like another day. We had a great church meeting and we were able to meet with some members. We spent most of the day with the Smith's. I had a great Easter.
     Ufa now has a new senior couple and they are AWESOME! To be completely honest I have fallen in love with them. Elder Smith used to be a big time dentist and he has now got me re-interested in pursuing a carreer in the fielf of dentistry. Sister Smith is just a bundle of joy. She is so sweet and is just smiling all the time. She has no evil in her. They remind me a lot of Grandma and Grandpa. I love being with them.
     This last week has just been a very busy week for Elder Young and I. We flew into Yekat last wednesday and then on Thursday we picked up the Smith's. We took them to Ufa on a train. They loved the train ride back to Ufa. They have served 2 other missions one in Cambodia and the other one in Malyasia. So they are pretty experienced. We got back to Ufa on Friday and then had a zone lunch at the bakery accross the street and then had a great zone meeting. They treated the whole zone!!! Elder Young and I have literally been with them this whole time. It has been the funnest couple of days. Elder and Sister Smith are some really great people.
     We had a really fun day yesterday with the Smith's. It actually was my companions birthday. So they took us to mcdonalds for his birthday. It was so tasty. I am glad that my companion had a birthday. We also took them grocery shopping. After shopping we went to a family home evening at a members. It was really fun. We had all the missionaries and then we had cake and then went and played soccer in the snow. It was really dangerous. I slipped on the ice and went to soften the fall but the palm of my hand slid on some rigged ice and sliced my hand open. Luckily someone had a handkerchief and they tied my hand up and continued to play some soccer. It was really fun. My hand is pretty beat up though ha.
     Today we are gettin on a train to Yekat for ZL council. We are going to be doing a lot of traveling this week. I have a lot of train time this week. But i am super excited for Zl council.
     I was very glad that on Sunday we were able to remember the Atonement and Ressurection of the Lord. I am so thankful that Christ rose on the third day and has given us the opportunity to rise. It is going to be a spectacular moment to be able to have a perfect body. I am so thankful that we can all rise and recieve a perfect body. Family thank you for all that you do for me. I am so thankful for all of the support you give me.    I love you.

Elder Flitton

My guess for Cameron
In country: New Jersey
Out of country:Russia Yekaterinburg

Garrett
In country: Alabama
Out of country: Russia Yekaterinburg

March 2013

March 4, 2013
Dear Family

  Thank you for all of your emails.  Sounds like the weather back home is starting to get better.  The weekend here was non stop snow.  Buttttt today is nice and sunny which means that it is really cold.  It is about -15c right now.  But is is better than -25c.  Last week was the first week of Spring here.  That day it snowed all day ha.  But the sun is out and verrryyy slowly the snow is starting to melt.  Sometimes I feel that the winter is never going to end and that it is never going to be warm.  I have forgotten the feel of sweating and wearing a short sleeve shirt ha.  But I remember last year that it gets really hot in July and August here.  So I am just hoping that the sun decides to shine a little more here in the Mother Land.

  This last week has been a very busy week for us.  We were able to get a total of 14 meetings.  That is a lot of meetings for us here in Russia.  We have a film called PMG of a bunch of missionaries in America.  It showed that they get about 5-8 meetings a day ha.  They had dinner appointments every day and a car.  I am not feeling bad for myself but I feel like the work that the missionaries do around the world is very different in each country that they serve in.  But the cool thing is is that we all teach the same thing. I love how the Gospel is so simple and that a person can understand and know that it is true if they just have a sincere heart and faith in God.  I am so grateful for the kind of missionary work that we do here in Russia.  It is really hard.  We don't get dinner appointments every night and have people giving us referrals every day.  We work hard and spend a lot of our time out on the streets finding people.  This is the work that is perfect for me.  I feel like i have grown so much and that the hard work has really shaped me into a better missionary/person.  The work here in the Yekaterinburg mission is the greatest work ever and I am so grateful that I am apart of it.

  So I have some really sad news.  The four sisters in our zone went to Yekaterinburg last week for training.  On there way back to Ufa on the train they had brought with them some mail.  Well they got off the train and then realized when they got home that they left the mail on the train... Sooo no mail for Elder Flitton.  I don't know what mail it was all I know is that there was something from Chandler.  I am really sorry about this.  It is a huge bummer becuase there is nothing we can do about it.  Let's just say that some of the Elders weren't to happy with the sisters ha.  But they made us cookies to make us feel better.  Sorry for the inconvenience.

  This week we have a pretty busy week.  We have Zone Leader Council tomorrow and then on Thursday President Rust and his wife are flying into to Ufa for Zone Conference.  We have a lot to do so that all is in order when President comes.  It is really difficult because we have to order him a taxi everywhere and make sure that everything is running smooth.  Please pray for Elder Young and I this week that everythign will run smoothly for Zone Conf.

  Brian is doing alright.  He didn't come to church but we have a meeting with him tonight.  We are still trying to help him understand the importance of Church and the word of wisdom.  He still has a lot of work to do. But his niece is getting baptized on the 16th so hopefully that will help him in his decicsion to be baptized.  I am so grateful for the progress that I have seen in him.  I don't know how many prayers I have said to my Father in Heaven about him.  But I know that my Father in Heaven is anwsering my prayers.  I am so grateful for the power of prayer.

  Things are going great here in Ufa and I am loving it here.  There is a family that we are teaching.  They are members and one of the sons isn't a member and the father.  So we are teaching the son.  We have had a lot of great lessons with him.  He has two younger brothers that are so funny.  One of them loves Michael Jackson and he loves to dance like Michael Jackson. It is awesome and we have become really great friends.  He is teaching me some dance moves beacues every one knows that I have no dancing talents ha.  But I am just so grateful for all of the friendships that  I have made here and are making.  I love my mission!

  I love you family and I am so thankful for everything that you do for me. Love you

Elder Flitton

SHOUT OUT TO CHANDLER DANIELS

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!! 21 you are kind of getting old.. jk Hope you have a great birthday, you have something coming your way, it might take awhile but it is coming. HAPPY BIRTHDAY

This is Reshat. Elder Flitton helped him receive the Mel. Priesthood 

March 11, 2013

Dear Family

 

  This last week has been quite the week for Elder Young and I.  On Tuesday morning we flew to Yekaterinburg for zone leader council.  We were at President Rust's for about two days.  As always it was really great to see all of the other zone leaders.  It was especially nice to see Elder Latimer there.  He just got called to be a new zone leader so now I get to see him every month.  I have really grown close to a lot of Elders here in this mission.  I am so grateful for the friendships that I have made here on my mission.

  This last week was also Zone Conference.  President Rust and Sister Rust flew to Ufa Thursday morning.  Sister Rust has been having some eye problems so we got her into to see a eye doctor herein Ufa.  This eye clinic here in Ufa is pretty Prestiege.  You have to be invited to get in and be treated.  But there is a member here in Ufa that is a really good business person so he pulled some strings and was able to get Sister Rust in to see a doctor.  So Elder Young and I were at this eye clinic for about 4 hours translating for sister Rust. It was reallly fun becuase I got to be around President Rust.  I am so grateful for an awesome mission president.  We recently found out who is going to be the new mission president in July when President Rust goes home.  His name is President Christensen.  I guess he used to be the owner of Energy Solutions... Maybe free jazz tickets haha.  But it is weird to think that President Rust is going home in July.  I love my mission president.

  So I finally got the calendar and the music.  Luckily they didn't give the siters packages.  Thank you so much for the calendar.  I think it is one of the greatest things that I have been ever been sent.  A calendar comes in to big help as a missionary as we are always planning stuff.  Thank you for it once again.  Also I love the music.  Don't be shy sending me some more music.  I have really come love music on my mission.  It is one way that I feel the spirit.  I love it.

  So transfers is next week.  Can you believe how fast time is going.  It feels like just last week I got with Elder Young.  I hope that I stay here in Ufa.  I love this city so much.  The members are so close to me and I am so close to them.  I have really gained a love for the people/members in Ufa.  I am so grateful for the Gospel and that it really can bring people close together.  That is what the family is for.  If you teach the gospel in your home the closer you will be to your family. I love it.

  So I have been studying lately the importance of going to church.  I am so grateful for the services that we are able to attend on Sunday.  We are so blessed to be able to partake of the Sacrament every Sunday.  Some people have the mind set that church is for them when really it is the other way around.  Church is for our Heavenly Father.  We go to church to show our love to Him.  I look back to when I went to church when I was younger.  The main reason was because my friends went and that my parents made me ha.  I really wish that I would have known the true reason for going to church.  There is a reason why God rested the 7th day from His labors.  He sanctified that day and made it his day.  We work throughout the week and then we have Sunday.  We either go to church or we dont go.  I know that the Lord has given us our Free Agency and that we have the choice to go to church or do other things on Sunday.  I know that when we go to church we become more spiritually/phsyically prepared for the next week.  Now some people might say that church is boring.  Well that is there own fault.  They go to church not trying to get something out of it and just go because it is habit.  Church can be so spiritually uplifting if we make it.  It is like practicing for a big event.  How ever much you put into something is how much you are going to get out.  If we go to church with a firm determination to learn and be uplifted then that will happen.  If we go to church to make it a social gathering and sleep block than that is what it is going to be.  Next time you are driving or walking to church say a little prayer in you heart to Heavenly Father that He will guide you and uplift you at church. I know that it works because I have done so.  I am so thankful for Revelation because we all can recieve it.

  Family I love you so much.  Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support.  I couldn't do this alone.  I love you and pray for you everyday.  Thank you for letting me serve. I love you.

Elder Flitton

ps we got a new emailing rule.  We can email family, friends, priesthood leaders, and other missionaries.  So if you write me you can expect an email once  in awhile. 

March 17, 2013

Dear Family

 

  I just want to start of by saying thank you so much for the emails this week.  I think loading up email and then seeing that you have so many emails to read is the best feeling.  Thank you so much for all of the support and love.  I know that I say that every week but I am really so grateful for it.  It would be impossible to be 100% in the work if I didn't have support.  Thank you so much everyone.  I love you!

  Well Spring is coming...(knock on wood).  The snow is starting to melt and the roads are filling up with slush.  The streets are so bad.  I think I might have to put plastic bags over my socks so me feet aren't sopping wet ha.  Jk I wont do that but seriously it is crazy how dirty the streets are.  I will take a picture of it next week.  I don't know how the cars here handle it.  Think of all the snow that melts and there are no water drains so it just fills up.  It absolutely destroys the streets. I don't know how the Russians can save there cars.  But spring is on its way and it is starting to get a little warmer.  Today it is supposed to be 8c.  That is a miracle for us.  We are going to the big monument in Ufa today with the other Elders. Yay we can actually do stuff on Pday now.

  So this last week was a very great week for Elder Young and I.  Bryan our investigator told us that he quit drinking black tea.  He told us that he went to the store and saw that they were selling a new tea and he picked it up and was about to put it in the cart but then remembered that black tea is not allowed.  He then put it back on the shelf!!!!! He has made so much progress.  Yes it is very slow but he is definitely doing great. I am so thankful for him. Please keep him in  your prayers.

  This Saturday we had a baptism!  Mariana... her uncle is Bryan.  She got baptized and so many people came.  It was so great to see all of the support.  After the baptism we had a big activity for the women in the branch.  On the 8th of march it was Women's day.  But we had Branch Conf so they had to push it back.  It was a great time to mingle with the members and build trust with them.  If I haven't said it before I will say it now... I love the Ufa members.  I have grown so close to them.  There are two families especially that I have grown to love so much.  They are both from Armenia and are the strongest members.  I really do just having the chance to teach them and just be great friends.  We are actually teaching members of there family that aren't members.  It is so great.  Ufa members are the greatest.

  So I was reading the other day in the bible about the Prophet Jeremiah.  The first chapter is just so awesome.  The Lord calls Jeremiah and pretty much tells him that he is going to prophesy against the Jews and all of the other tribes.  They at this time are really wicked.  Poor Jeremiah didn't want to do it and he definitely didn't feel like he was adequate to do it.  I want to focus on this word, Adequate.  Everyone has felt the sickening realization that they are inadequate for the calling or a job or a captain or whatever it may be.  I know that I felt very inadequate when I was told that I was going to be a zone leader.  I remember saying "Why me".  Just like Jeremiah said I can't do this, I can't speak.  I questioned the Lord and questioned his judgement.  Well that was a huge mistake.  Whenever we receive a calling, new job, or anything we should always remember that the Lord has qualified us.  We are sons and daughters of a King that knows everything, that has created the heavens and the earth, he has created every living creature and he is able to comprehend EVERYTHING.  But He knows us personally.  He has qualified each and every one of us.  We qualified ourselves when we decided to come to this earth.  We can do anything, and we can achieve everything because we have a loving Heavenly Father.  We can do hard things.  If we didn't try to do hard things we couldn't progress, we couldn't learn, we couldn't become like God.  Like Michael Jordan said "I can accept failure but I can't accept not trying."  yah I just quoted MJ.  But it is so true.  So when there comes that moment of feling inadequacy remember what the Lord said to Jeremiah (read Jeremiah 1). We can do hard things.

  Well family I love you so much.  And yes mom I am eating.  Ofcourse I am pale because the sun doesn't shine here in the winter and it is too cold to be out when it is shining in the winter.  Spring is coming so don't worry I won't look like a ghost.  But thank you for worrying about me ha.  Thanks to all that send me emails.  Hope everyone has a great week.

Love Elder Flitton

March 24, 2013

Dear Family

  So sorry for no informing you about transfers.  I am right now still in the city of Ufa and I am so thankful for that.  I am also still with Elder Young and we are doing great.  We are having so much fun together.  I love the city of Ufa so much.  This next transfer is going to be a long one so that is great.  It is going to be 8 weeks.  I think after this transfer i will be getting moved to another city.  And that next city will probably be my last one.  After this transfer I only have three more left.... Time is going way to fast.  But I hope that I can work my hardest this transfer.
  Well next Sunday is Easter! Can you believe it? I can't.  It was pretty funny yesterday as we attended branch council they asked Elder Young and I if we have church activities back home for Easter.  Honestly I couldn't remember.  We told them no.. so there will be no Easter activity in Ufa ha.  If there was one we missionaries would have had to plan it.  Good thing we said no.  But here in Russia they celebrate Easter on a different day then the rest of the Christian world.  They celebrate two weeks later than we do.  The Russian orthodox church just wanted to be different than everyone else.  For Easter here they make this weird looking cake that is way dry, I bought onу last year in Kurgan and didn't really like it.  The orthodox church makes them.  They also die eggs like we do but they have these little wars, where they smack them together and the persons egg that doesn't crack wins.  I like our tradition better, going and finding eggs that have candy in them.  

 General Conf is also coming up in the next couple of weeks.  We will be watching it on the 13th and 14th of April.  I have never been excited for GC as I am right now for it.  Lately in our apartment we have just been listneing to GC becasue we got bored of listnening tothe same music.  I love conference talks.  I can't wait to watch it.  It feels like I just watched the one in October.
  So Brother Bryan is doing great.  So we call him Bryan because it is the english equivalent.  He is from Armenia so it isn't a usual last name.  His name is Edward Bryan.  Lately he has been having a "problem" so haven't been able to meet with him.  But he has been reading and we arу planning to meet with him on Tuesday hopefully.  Also another investigator that we have is Aleexan.  He is 18 and his family are all members but him and his dad.  His mom really wants us to work with him because she wants him to be baptized.  They area  really great family and we enjoy every time going over there.  He is 18 so it is kind of hard getting him to stay focused and interested.  I probably would have done the same if I was in his shoes.  But he is great and we are pulling out the big guns next lesson with him.
  Some news that I haven't informed you about is that we are getting a new Senior Couple in Ufa this weekend!!! We are so excited for them.  There name's arу the Smith's.  Lately Elder Young and Ih ave been trying to find them a really nice apartment for them to live in.  We haven't really had any luck so looks like we might be moving in with the other elders until we find them a new apartment.  This thursday we are getting on a train to go and pick them up at Yekat.  We then will be taking a train back with them to Ufa. We will be with them for the next couple of weeks showing them how to live in Russia.  How to buy groceries, how to use transport, how to do everything pretty much.  I am way excited.  When there is a senior couple in your city the work is just increased and the branch gets 100% better.  I am very excited.
  Today during my studies I was reading the story of the samaritan woman at the well.  I love this chapter in John, I believe it is chapter 4.  But I love it when the Saviour comes to her and asks of her to fetch him some water.  Now back in those days the Jews despised the samaritans.   This lady was so suprised that a Jewish man would ask a woman like her to give him water.  I love how Jesus takes the opportunity to teach this woman.  I'm sure that he was really thirsty but He took this moment to teach her a lesson.  I love how He responded to her.  That if she only knew that he was the Messiah, that he was the creator oа all things she would have asked him for the "living water".  This woman was puzzled and out of pure curiousty asked Jesus if he was better than their father, Jacob.  Christ then anwsered her with the words that only he could have gave. He/she who drinks the water that I give him/her will never thirst but the water shall be in them as a fountain springing up into everlasting rightousness (goes something like that ha).  I really have thought about those words and how the gospel and everything relating to the Gospel is that water.  Christ truly can give us this "living water".  I love at the end of this chapter when the samaritans meet him and then they tell the woman that they have believied in her testimony but that they have their own testimony that this truly is the Messiah.  Our testimonies truly do lead others to action.  When someone acts they recieve experience/truth.  Christ stayed with the samaritans for a couple of days and ministered unto them.  Christ is the perfect teacher and I am so thankful that he realized a perfect teaching moment.  May we find those moments and share our testimonies to others.  So that people can surly say, "this truly is the Messiah".
  Family I hope that you enjoy your Easter celebrations.  Remember the true reason of Easter.  I am so thankful for the Ressurection of our Saviour.  I love you all and hope that this is a great week for all of you.
  Elder Flitton
Ps mom I bought a new suit.  President talked a couple of weeks ago that we need to be well dressed.  My gray suit has fallen apart.  I have a huge hole in my pants and also the lining in my suit is shredded.  I will take a picture of it ha.  Thanks and love you

February 2013

February 4, 2013

Dear Family

  This week is transfer week.  I think this is a very special time for missionaries.  It is like the Super Bowl or a bowl game or even looking on the sheet to see if you made cuts ha.  The Saturday night is probably the funniest times for missionaries as they wait the "call" from the Mission President.  Are they going to get transfered?  Are they going to get a new companion and who is it going to be?  You could say that transfer call is like Christmas morning before you open gifts.  Luckily for zone leader they get to know a little earlier.  We found out last week at Zone Leader council that Elder O'neill will be serving in Yekaterinburg and that I will be staying here in Ufa.  My new companion is Elder Young.  I am so excited to be able to serve with him.  He will get to Ufa on Thursday.  My old companion has already left and I am with on of the elders in my zone.  I am so excited for this next transfer!

  Last week as I said was Zone Leader Council.  Us leaders of the mission were able to meet together and talk about how we can improve the work in this mission.  So many great things were said by all of the different zone leaders.  I love the concept of Counseling.  It is crazy to think that we did this with our Father in Heaven.  We all counseled together on whether or not to accept the beautiful plan that was laid out in front of us.  Can I just say congratulations to every one!! Even if you aren't a member.  You decided to agree with the Father that you would come to earth and recieve a physical body and be obedient to the laws that he set so that after our death here on earth we could return again to our Father.  You are here because you chose the right.  Good job to everyone!  I love getting advice and just listnening to my mission president.  He really is inspired and consecrated to serve in this position.  I love him so much.

  This last week has been a great week.  Our investigator Brother Brian ha ha that is Armenian.  He finally prayed for the first time!!!  For the last two long transfers I have been here he finally prayed.  That is a huge success in my book.  I am so thankful for everything that the Lord has done for this man.  His wife is the Relief Society President in our Branch and she has so much patience with him.  She really is waiting for him so that they can go to the temple together.  It makes me want to work with him even harder.  I know that the Lord is blessing this man with understanding of the Gospel.  I know that in the near future he will be ready to come closer to Jesus Christ.

  I know last week I said that I would share my spiritual thought but I feel inspired to talk about something else.  I have thought a lot about making big decisions and what is the best way to do it.  As a missionary we are faced with making decisions every minute it feels like.  Actually it is for everyone.  But I feel like as a missionary the Lord is testing us on how we are going to use his time.  I am so thankful for the concept of Obedience.  We know that in Heaven the first law is Obedience.  As a missionary we can do anything that we want.  We all have Free agency but when you look at it a different way like... "If I do this is the Lord going to be pleased or displeased with me?"  or we can think to ourselves "how does Christ think of Me?".  Now sometimes in life we are faced with making some really big decisions.  Sometimes it is really scary and we just want to hide behind something and hope that it will go away forever.  But no... We can't do that.  We have to be bold with ourselves and ask ourselves if this is going to be a benefit for me?  We have to ask is this what the Lord wants me to do?  I like to think about the Brother of Jared.  He had no idea how he was going to get light in the boats.  He had quite the decision to make.  He pondered about it a lot, I am sure of and probobaly asked others.  But it wasn't until he acted with faith and brought those stones before the Lord.  Sometimes the Lord is going to require us to come up with the best solution and then bring that solution to him, to get his approval.  As the brother of Jared did we must too bring our stones before the Lord and show our Faith.  I promise if we do that the Lord will reveal His will to us on what we should do. 

  Making decisions is really hard but the Lord loves you so much.  He is wanting all of us to make big steps because he knows that we can do anything.  Remember the Saviour, he had a decision to make.  To die for each and everyone of us so that we could make it back to him and the Father.  If the Saviour can make the hardest decision that has ever been placed before man, we can too.  Do what the Lord wants you to do and he will always support you.  I am thankful for a loving Heavenly Father that made the decision to send His only Begotten Son to this world.  He is our Example and we should mirror him in everything that we do.  Go to the Lord and  He will guide you.

I love you all, thank you for everything.

Elder Flitton 

February 13, 2013

Dear Family

  This week has been quite the Hectic week.  I was supposed to go on a visa trip last week on Friday but they delayed my flight to Moscow so President Rust said that I would just go on Monday.  I was really bummed because I really wanted to see all of my MTC buds.  So on Monday my companion and I and the sisters flew to Moscow.  When we got to Moscow we were about to get on our Flight to Finland but as one of the Sisters was going through Pass port control they noticed that her Visa had expired on Sunday... So we got a huge fine and had to wait.  Therefore we missed our flight to Finland and spent 2 hours trying to get her a new Visa for the day.  We got lucky and she was able to get a 1 day visa from the Russian Consulate.  So that night we flew to Finland and then took a Taxi to the Temple.  That night we were able to stay the night at the temple "hotel".  It was a really cool experience.  I got the chance to talk to a couple of temple workers there.  They fed us and we were really happy.  That next morning we got on a plane at about 9am and flew back to Moscow and then back to Ufa.  These last two days have been really tiring.  

  I have only been with my companion for a week.  We are doing great. He is a lot different than my old companion.  Elder Young is so awesome.  We have a lot of things in common so that is way nice.  We changed areas with the sister so now I am in a new area.  I live 10 steps from the church.  It is very convenient.  Also the area is a lot better.  Oh yah we had to move last week as well ha.

  So sorry that I am emailing on Wednesday.  Know that everything is ok and that your son is now back in Ufa.

  The weather is starting to warm up.  It is always a good sign to see the snow/ice melting on the streets and side walks.  I really enjoy spring so I am hoping that it will come a little quicker.  Nothing really has happened these last couple of days just that I have lived in an airport.  The work still continues!

  Thank you Uncle Sonny for the gift.  I really do appreciate it.

Family I love you and hope that all is well with you.  Grandma happy birthday!!!!!!  WIsh that I could celebrate it with you.  Next year!

Love you all

Elder Flitton

February 18, 2013

Dear Family,

  So on Friday I got thee most random call that I have ever gotten on my mission.  President Rust was in Turkey for a Mission president Conference so the Senior couple that works in the office was in charge.  Friday morning we got a call from Elder Meng saying that a Meteor hit Chely.  Us missionaries in Ufa had no idea that any of this happened.  We didn't feel or hear anything.  All of the missionaries in Chely are ok.  My two best buds are in Chely as zone leaders.  Elder King and Elder Lattimer.  But everything is ok and all of the missionaries are ok.  That Friday we met with a lady from the branch and she was watching the news.  So were able to watch a little of it.  It is way crazy that it was so close.  She told us that some of the Government people from Russia think that it was a weapon from America.  Thinking about it that would be a very smart weapon...To be able to control a meteor...Sounds ridiculous to me.  But we gave President Rust a call and just informed him that there could be some Anti American feelings out on the streets.  But everything is ok and they are pretty confident that it was a meteor.

  Elder Young and I are doing great.  He is from Bountiful Utah and loves sports...:)  We get along great.  We have already clicked and having a great time.  I am so excited for this transfer.  We are still teaching Brian and trying to get him to set a date.  He is so great and we are way excited.  I feel like everytime we meet with him, he has grown a little more and a little closer to baptism.  I am so excited for the next meeting with him.  We will be going over to his house Tomorrow.  

  So I have moved areas in Ufa.  I am trying to get familiar with the streets.  I feel like that is a talent that I have.  I get aqquainted pretty fast with new areas and I can navigate myself.  I have had companions that would have no idea where we were.  It would be like they had just gotten into a new area.  I am grateful that I can be able to now where I am and be able to get home ha.  The new area is so nice.  We are kind of in the center of the city.  Ufa really doesn't have a center.  It is all spread out.  But we are literally 15 steps away from the church.  It is so convenient.

  I am still a zone leader here in Ufa.  My old companion went to Yekaterinburg to be a zone leader there.  But I am really enjoying being a zone leader.  Sometimes it is stressful.  Sometimes I fell way inadequate for this.  But I am so thankful for the opportunity that the Lord has given me.  I think the most stressful thing is is making sure the sisters in our zone are alive and safe haha.  Sometimes I worry about the Sisters.  But they are great and we have an awesome zone.

  So winter is finally starting to wind up here in Ufa.  It is still way cold but I am so thankful that the sun is starting to shine and that you can actually feel the warmth from the sun.  There is still a ton of snow here but very slowly it is starting to melt.  The only problem with spirng is that the snow melts and there is no place for the water to go.  There are no emergency drains like we have in America so the water just sits and it gets way muddy and dirty.  They call it mud season.  This is probably the toughest season for missionaries because there clothes just get destroyed.

 I haven't gotten mail in a while so sorry I haven't gotten the calendar yet. Hopefully I can get it when I go to ZL council in two weeks.  But thanks for all of the emails and all of the support.  I am so grateful for it.  Hope everyone has a great week this week. Love you

Elder Flitton

February 25, 2013

Dear Family and friends

 

  I talked a little to early when I said that it is starting to get a little bit warmer.  For the last three days it has been snowing non stop... Well I'm in Russia what can I expect.  How is everyone doing this week?  I want to first off say thank you for all of your emails.  Unfortunately I haven't had the opportunity to be able to get mail for awhile.  I am sure there is a bunch of mail waiting for me in Yekaterinburg.  I will be able to get for sure next week when we go for Zone Leader council.  And I hope that the calendar is going to be there ha.

  Things are going great here in Ufa.  Last week was kind of a hard week for our missionaries here in Ufa.  The sisters lost one of there investigators who was going to get baptized.  Her husband threatened her and now she is scared so she has stopped communication with the sisters.  It brought the sisters down a lot this week.  Also the other elders in Ufa had a tragedy happen to them.  There long time investigator Pavel passed away.  He was about 50 and just didn't have a lot of hope in life.  It is really sad because I had the opportunity to teach him a couple of times when we would go on splits.  It is really sad to see what discouragement can do to a person.  Alcohol(vodka) and cigarettes are the worse things you can do to try and feel better.  This is what killed him and it has really been hard for us and the other elders.  It is really sad to think that he was so unprepared to leave this world.  But us missionaries did the best we could to help him improve his life.  The other Elders would check on him everyday and help him with food and other random things.  It is always sad to see someone go but it just adds on more grief to know that that person was so unprepared to leave this life.

  Sorry about the bad news but I thought that I would get that out of the way first and leave the good news for last.  We have been blessed to be able to work with Brother Brian and he has made a lot of progress.  He has had a hard time coming to church but we were able to get him to come to the activity that we had on Saturday.  Saturday was kind of like Veterans day for Russia, also like fathers day.  It is called The day of Men.  Doesn't that sound like a great holiday.  But we had a great activity here in Ufa.  The Relief Society put it on and it was a blast.  He had so much fun and his wife(who is the Relief society president) was so happy that came.  Now we just have to get him to come to church.  He has been reading everything that we tell him to read.  He reads in sequence so now he is in the book of Jacob.  It is so awesome to see him coming closer to his Father in Heaven.

  This last week Elder Young and I have had the opportunity to do a lot of service.  We have had the chance to exercise our Priesthood power.  It has been awesome.  We gave about 7 blessings last week.  We had the chance to go to a family in our branch who has been really struggling.  The mom and her two daughters are members and the husband isn't.  But the husband let's them go to church and everything.  Last week while the husband was working he got burned really bad and had to go to the hospital.  He is still in the hospital with intense burns.  The family is already struggling with finances and to add onto it there father who is the provider is in a hospital.  So we went over with the sisters and were able to give the family blessings, each and every one of them.  It was really spiritual. After we had the opportunity to sit and talk with them.  I thought that it would be a good idea to rather cheer them up then to mourn with them.  So my companion and I were able to make the two girls laugh and smile.  It was much needed for them.  The two girls are 15 and 8.  It made me so happy that we were able to make them laugh and just feel good.  There smiles were miracles for us.  I have never been so much happier on my mission then last week laughing and smiling with those two girls and there mother.  Tomorrow we are going back to there house to give the Father a blessing.  I am so thankful for the power of the Priesthood.  On my mission I have seen that it really does work and that it really is from our Father in Heaven.  I remember when I went to the emergency room when my Great Grandmother was struggling and my father and I were about to give her a blessing.  I had just gotten the Mel. Priesthood and I was a little scared so I had my dad do it.  As I watched my dad lay his hands on her head and give her a blessing I saw that she started to settle down and started to breathe more softly.  I know that my Father is a holder of the Mel. Priesthood and that he is worthy to hold it.  I am so grateful that I get to share that with him.  I want to say thanks dad for helping me be worthy and teaching me about the power of the Priesthood so that I myself get to hold it.  The power of the Priesthood is real and it is another sign that our Father in Heaven loves us so much.

  I want to say thank you for all that you do for me. Thank you everyone for all of the support that you give me.  I am so grateful for the opportunity that I get to fight in the army of God.  There is no other army that I would want to serve in than this one.  God lives and His church has once again been established through Joseph Smith.  No one and nothing can stop this work.  This work will fill the world, the entire world.  I love it and I love you!

Keep your eyes and head up.

Elder Flitton