The good life May 20, 2013

Dear Family

  Well I have made it here to the city of Tyumen.  It was a very sketchy traveling situation but hey I made it.  The city of Tyumen is so nice.  It is definately thee nicest city that I have served in yet.  All of the buildings are just so beautiful.  The streets are so clean and there are so many nice parks.  Also not to forget to mention that we have a mexican restaurant outside of our apartment called Don Julio ha.  We haven't tryed it yet but I promised Elder Allred that we would go there his last week.  I am just so baffled how nice this city is.  It is civilized ha.  This city really does feel like true Europe and not a Russian Europe.  This is going to be a great city to end in...

  So about the traveling situation.  Our investigator Brother Bryan is a taxi driver and he insisted that we have him drive us to Yekat for transfers.  He said that it would be a lot cheaper than taking a plane and it would be a lot more easier with transportation/moving missionaries.  So Elder Young and I asked President and he said that we could try it.  So when we got transfer calls I found out that I was leaving and so was another sister.  Therefore we had his wife, brother bryan tag along with us.  So when Wednesday came I woke up at 2:45 

and took a shower.  Also they shut our hot water off.  Not only was it cold water but it was freezing water for some reason.  It was so cold that I got a headache.  So after my awful shower experience I got ready and waited for him to show up.  He was about 30 minutes late.  He finally showed up and we headed off to Yekat.  As we were pulling out of town he stopped to get some drinks for the drive.  As he was coming back a huge fight started next to our car.  I'm pretty sure that Sister Robins and I witnessed a murder.  It was an awful scence...but luckily brother bryan was in the car and we were able to drive off and not get involved in it.  As the drive continued we made a couple of stops.  We had a nice little lunch off the side of the highway ha.  I have come to hate Russian roads.  They have awful pot holes and every 5 seconds you have to slow down so you don't destroy your car.  When were about 2 hours out of Yekat, brother bryan started to get a little drowsy.  We found out that he had only gotten 2 hours of sleep the night before.....  So the windows were rolled down and the music was blasting.  The good news is that we made it to Yekat.  I had sister Robins call President when she got to her apartment and tell him about the situation.  Then as we were driving to the train station to drop me off and pick up the new missionaries to head back to Ufa he got a call from the assistants.  He was told that he had to get some sleep before he took the other missionaries back to ufa.  Luckily he agreed and got some sleep.  But the rest of my journeys were very smooth.  After a 6 hour crazy car ride I then got on a train for another 6 hours.  We got into Tyumen at about midnight.  I will never miss all the traveling that I have done here on my mission ha.

  My new companion Elder Allred is great.  We have gotten so close already.  It usually takes a couple of weeks to get used to a new companion but Allred and I have grown so close in just a small amount of time.  It is so great!  We really don't have a lot going on (investigators) so we have been out on the streets for the majority of the time.  We have talked to a ton of people.  I pray that we will be able to find some people to teach the gospel to.  It really helps to have a companion that you get a long with.  I have never served with him but it feels like we have served before.  

  My area is so nice.  We are in the center of the city.  We also have the area that is across the river.  We live right next to the circus.  It is a really nice building.  And also there is a huge park with a McDonalds.  I am so happy that there is a mcdonalds in walking distance.  Also the church is about a two minute walk away from our apartment.  Church yesterday was a different experience.  The building in ufa was so nice.  The one in tyumen isn't that great.  Also there was only about 30 people at sacrament.  It was a big adjustment but I feel like I will get used to it pretty fast.  The members are really awesome.  There are a lot of little kids.  The funny thing is, is that they are all little girls.  There isn't one little boy ha.  They are really cute.  The members are so humble and they are so young.  I amso thankful that I have the opportunity to serve among them.  Our branch President is a great guy.  He is about 30.  He has a little girl that is so cute.  My companion is actually the branch secretary so we had to do some financial stuff after church.  It is pretty awesome to be able to help out with all of that stuff.  The MLS system is so great.  When my companion leaves next transfer I might have to take his spot...That is werid to think, my first calling in the church ha.

  Yesterday during priesthood we talked about going to the temple.  It was pretty cool to hear the Russians experience when they went through for the first time.  Most of them have gone to Ukraine, Switzerland and Finnland.  Some of there stories were so spiritual.  I remember when I went through for the first time I honestly had no idea what was going on.  One part that really means a lot to me is when Grandpa told me when we were leaving that Jesus Christ visited the Prophet Lorenzo Snow in the very same hallway that we were standing in.  I just remember this overwhelming feeling come over me as I wondered how it would be if that happened to me.  I am truly so thankful for the temple.  The temple is like our little taste of what Heaven is like.  I am so thankful that around the world there are houses of God.  The temple is a beacon for us Saints.  When we have a problem, trial, or even a question that is where we go to get a clear connection to God.  It is also the house where families are made to not only be happy in this life but in the life after this one.  How awesome is that.  Young couples kneeling at the altar and being sealed together for time AND ALL ETERNITY.  Parents coming and being sealed to their children.  Saints going and doing the neccessary work to be able to be with those who have passed on.  Goodness the temple sounds to me like the happiest place on the planet.  And they are in multiple parts of the world.  Truly this is the Lord's true and only church.  How could it not be...It just doesn't make sense.  What other church in the world can compare to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints?  Families truly can be together, and that is the special gift given to man ONLY in the temple.

  Family I love you so much.  I am so thankful that I get to serve my Lord and Redeemer.  There is no greater work than this going on in the world right now.  I am grateful to be apart of this massive army of missionaries.  The rock cut out of the mountain truly is going forth to all the world.  I love this work.

Elder Flitton

May 13, 2013 "Great Mother's Day"

Dear Family

 

  Well it sure was a great day yesterday to be able to talk to you guys.  You all looked so great.  I am so amazed how much Anna and Katie have grown up.  They look like women ha.  I am so excited to get back home and see how much you two have changed.  I love you.  So Mom and Dad thank you so much for the support.  I am so grateful for you unending love that I feel everytime I see and talk to you.  Thank you so much for being the greatest parents.  Chan thank you for being there.  I am so excited that you passed your Proxi thing and also your chemistry.  Never would have thought you could do that looking back 3 years ago haha jk.  Good job.  Also it was so good to talk to Gram and Gramps and Jen.  Sorry that it was really hard to understand one another.  It was good to hear your voices.

  So this week is transfers.  On Wednesday morning Brother Bryan will be driving me to Yekaterinburg with Sister Robins.  A little akward but is should be fun.  I then meet my companion at the train station and then head to Tyumen on the train.  It is going to be a crazy week.  The first week in a new city is always strange but luckily this will be my last time ha.  I am so thankful for my time here in Ufa.  It truly feels like time has gone so fast.  I feel like it was just yesterday that I got here.  Ufa is really a great place.  I was so blessed to be able to serve here.  Not every missionary in this mission gets the lucky call from president to serve here in Ufa.  I will always remember this place.

  Yesterday was really hard saying good bye to all of the members.  Luckily I have today and tomorrow.  I made sure to schedule meetings with the people that I have grown closeset to ha.  Today us elders are going to play basketball.  We played last week and lets just say that my body felt like I just got done with 3 a days.  Hopefully this time it wont happen.  Alsotonight we have a FHE with the Rashie family.  They are a very special family that I have grown very close to.  It should be really fun.

  So everyone told me that summer in Tyumen is the greatest.  I am so thankful that I don't have to be in ufa during the summer.  It is one of the warmest cities during the summer.  I will be in Siberia so the summer will be perfect.  Also Tyumen is the richest city in the mission.  There are a bunch of oil companies there.  So the city is very clean.  I am really excited to be able to end my mission there.  I also will be a lone zone leader becuase the zone is so small.  There will only be 4 elders in the entire city.  Also there are only about 25 members that are active in Tyumen, so it will be a very big difference.  Means that I will have to prepare multiple talks ha.

  One thing that I will really miss in Ufa is the big soccer games that we play here.  I really have gotten pretty good at soccer.  On saturday we had a final game with all of the members, most of the youth but it was so fun having all of the missionaires.  It was just really fun to get together with everyone and have a good game of soccer.  Also it is nice because I get some cardio in ha. 

  At church yesterday I had the opportunity to bear my testimony at sacrament.  As I was bearing my testimony I felt such a overwhelming spirit come over me.  I felt the inspiriation to talk about how God our Father in Heaven is with His people.  I am so thankful for all of the many scriptures that reveal to us that God is with His saints.  I love in DC the example from the early saints and how they showed faith when trials came upon them.  Joseph Smith constantly reminded them that if they have faith in God, He will be with them.  I know that today God is with us.  His church has been returned to mankind.  The gospel of our Saviour and Redeemer was restored through the Prophet Joseph Smith.  Miracles surley have not ended.  There are miracles in our lives every day.  I am so thankful that we Saints have the knowledge that we all can become like God.  I know that God loves us and he wants us to become like him and to share the glory with him.  God lives and His son Jesus Christ made it possible for us to return to them.

  Family I love you so much.  Thank you for the support and love that you give me.  These next four months are going to fly.  But as they always say, time flys when you are having fun.  My whole mission has been like that.  I am so thankful for all of the memories that I have made.  All of the friends that I have come to know.  I can't wait to tell you everything when I get home.  I love you and hope that you have a great week.  Anna HAPPY 16 BIRTHDAY!!!!!!!!! Have fun at katie's seminary graduation.  :) Will be fun ha.   Love you family.

Elder Flitton

"Just some boys getting dirty and playing in the mud trying to take out a tree."

May 6, 2013 "Might be gettin the boot"

Dear Family

Another week has come and gone. Oh my goodness the time is flying. This last week has gone by so fast. We had Zone Leader Council on Tuesday and Thursday and then had splits with the assistants. It was just a jam packed week. I enjoy weeks like those. But it sounds like everyone had a great week. School is getting out and everyone is getting ready for summer. That's weird. Also Congratulations Greg with finishing the race. I am inspired. I really liked the poster that Anna was holding... Dont Poop Yourself... ha wouldn't that be awful on a bike or running, at least the spandex would help. hehe Good job Greg now you just have to start training for the Iron man in Hawaii.
So last tuesday we flew to Yekat. We fly on this little no name airline. The plane is really small. When we flew into Yekat there was really bad turbulince and the plane was getting pretty shaky. Well let's just say that this was the first time that I have been so thankful that there are little puke bags in the seats. Luckily we were landing so I was able to hold my breakfast down. Thank heavens that I didn't have to use the puke bag. It would have been terrible because the plane was quite small and also the woman sitting next to me was pretty cute. Would have been awful. Butttt we made it to Yekat and had a great Zone Leader Council.
So now around the world it is not called Zone leader council. It is now called Mission leadership council. With so many sisters entereing the mission field the Bretheren felt like sisters should be more involved. So now we will have sisters at the council. But here in Yekat mission we are loosing more sisters than we are recieving. We only have about 44 missionaries here. That is like a district in some missions ha. I honestly love how small this mission is. I have come to now pretty much every elder. We are all pretty close to one another. I love it.
We had our first English group class on thursday. We had about 15 people there. We were hoping for more but it was a good turn out. There was a kid that showed up, his name was Andrei and he was interested in the church. So we gave him a Book of Mormon and I talked to him for awhile about the Book of Mormon. I set up a meeting with him on Saturday and he said that he would be there. So saturday rolled along and we were waiting for him at the church. He came in the door and then asked us if he could return the book. I was devestated. He told us that he has his own faith and that he doesn't want to read it. I then begged him to just talk with us for 10 minutes and we would tell him how the book of mormon has changed our lives. He wouldn't agree to. He handed the book over and then walked out the door. Lately I have been thinking a lot what happened. I feel so sorry for that Andrei. I don't know why this has bugged me so much becuase it isn't the first time that someone has rejected to know more. This one hurt real bad. But I am so thankful that I was able to give this Andrei a shot to know more about his Heveanly Father. Who knows, maybe he will come back and be ready.
This next week is transfers... I am going to get the boot. I have been here in Ufa since Nov. and I just have that feeling. I hate that feeling ha. I am going to say it. I have grown closest to the members here in Ufa than any other city that I have served in. I want to stay here for the rest of my life haha. I wish I could end my mission here. I really have developed that "pure love of Christ" for these people. They hold such a special place in my heart. I think that this is one of the greatest feelings, blessings that I have recieved on my mission. To be able to get a small feel of that perfect love that God has for each and everyone ofus. I don't want to leave Ufa. Here is my friends that I would say have come so close to me that I would count them as family. I hope that President calls and says "Elder Flitton..... you got some more work to do in Ufa." I would be so happy but if the Lord wants me somewhere else than let it be.
I finally got your package!!! Let's just say that most of it has been consumed haha. Thank you so much for the contacts. I was worried that I was going to have to go blind for awhile. You are the best mom. Thank you so much for everything that you do.
Also Jen thanks for the package and letter. The music works ha:) thank you so much.
I love you all and am so thankful for everything you do for me. Good luck with everything this week and I will talk to you on Sunday!!! So I will call 9:00 am here. So that will be the evening for you. Make sure that skype is ready to go. I will be calling on the same account as last time. Be ready!!!!!! also have questions ready:) Love you
Elder Flitton

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.