Zone Conf.

       This last week was such a blessing. We Kurgan Elders got on a train on Tuesday morning and headed to Yekaterinburg for Zone Conference. I really enjoy train rides to Yekaterinburg. The Russian country side is so beautiful. There are a lot of tiny forests and a lot of hills. They don't have mountains like we do in Utah. When I show people pictures of home they see the mountains in the back ground and they think they are so awesome. I miss the mountains back home. We got to Yekaterinburg at about noon and we headed over to the branch building. It was nice to see all of the other missionaries. I was able to see Elder Hronek and catch up with him. I was able to see some of my friends from my district in the MTC. It was good to see other missionaries. My interview with my mission president wasn't until 5 so I had a lot of time to talk to the other Elders.
        Finally my time came to meet with President. When I saw him, he gave me a huge hug. That was the best hug that I have ever had in a while. My mission President is the best. He does so much for this mission. This mission is going in the right direction because of his dilligence and wisdom. My interview went great with him. It was exactly what I needed. He gave me the wisest counsel. I know that my mission President is called of God. After my interview we made the trip to MC Donalds. We dont have a MC donalds in Kurgan so the taste of a Big Mak was heaven on the tongue. Maybe it is a good thing that we dont have a MC donalds in Kurgan. Oh ya the taste of fries gave me chills because they tasted so good ha. After MC D's we stayed the night at the Assistants house. There apartment is so big. I am way jelaous.
The next day came and we had Zone Conf. The main topic was on the Book of Mormon. The teaching was inspiring and the testimonies that were shared, strengthened my own testimony. I know that the Book of Mormon is the words of God. He loves us so much that he gave us this Book. I know that if you lay the Book of Mormon in front of you and kneel and pray to Heavenly Father and thank him for this book, and ask him for help with anything. You can open it anywhere and start reading from it and find your anwser. I have tried it and it works. I know with every cell in my body that this book is true. It is the only book on this planet that can bring us closer to our Heavenly Father. I say to all READ THE BOOK.
Zone Conference was exactly what I needed. To finish it off we got mail. I got my package from Tracie Nielsen finally. Thank you so much for the package. That will definately come in handyhere in Siberia. The Starbursts are gone also haha. If someone wants to send me a package I am not against Starbursts haha
We got back from Yeakterinbug and got back to work. I had my first lesson in English with a new investigator. Her name is Dasha. She speaks really good english and wants to help us with English club. We wanted to teach her but she wasnt very interested. We somehow got to talking about the Restoration. It was one of the most spiritual meetings that I have had. She agreed to everything that we were saying. I know that she felt the spirit. We invited her to read the Book of Mormon and she declined. My heart was broken. I thought without a doubt that she was going to want to know more. I came away from that meeting kind of in the slumps. When I got home I opened up the scriptures and started to read. My heart was calmed and I knew that my Heavenly Father was giving me comfort. Not everyone will accept Christ. They need to do it on there own time, when they are ready. The Lord prepares people to hear and accept the gospel in very different ways. I just hope that one day Dasha will call us back. The Lord knows and it is our responsibility to follow Him and His counsel.
        Last week was so great. This week is Easter. I am going to miss going to Chandler's Grandmas house and having a Easter Egg hunt. You are never to old to go on a Easter Egg hunt. I am making Elder Weber hide eggs for me to find... Im being serious. I Love Elder Weber.
        Well just want to thank all for the emails and letters. All of the Ward members from back home. Thank you so much for your letters. They really mean a lot to me. Thank you all for your love and support.

     Elder Flitton

"I know that our Heavenly Father is loving, understanding, and patient. His Son, likewise loves us. They render help to us through Their prophets. I have learned that there is great safety in following the prophets."

         - Jose L. Alonso

Whole lotta love from Russia.

Here is how Elder Flitton has been doing the last month in Russia!!

March 5
Howdy do


Wow what a week. Well I found out last week on Tuesday that I wouldn't be going to Finland that week to get my new visa. I found out that I would be going this week to Finland with the group that I came in with. So my companion went to Finland last week and I went on splits with my zone leaders in another city. I leave tonight for my Visa trip. We have to take a bus tonight to the zone leaders city, their city is a lot bigger and a lot nicer than ours. I will fly out in the moring tomorrow by myself to Moscow because my companion already went to Finland. So that should be a fun experience. I then meet up with my group in Moscow tomorrow and we fly to Finland. They said that we will have time to go to the temple so I am way excited about that. I am also way nervous because when my companion went last Wednseday the temple was closed. So hopefully when I get there it will be opened. I am way excited to go, I heard that Finland is way beautiful and clean haha.
Well we got transfer calls on Saturday night. I found out that I will be staying in Kurgan and my new companion is Elder Weber. Elder Weber is from North Carolina and I know him very well. He has been serving in the other area of Kurgan and he was also in the MTC when I got there. We are both very new missionaries but I am so excited to work with him. We have so much to do and I can't wait to get to work when I get back from Finland. Elder Hronek will be going to another city in the mission. I have really enjoyed my time with elder Hronek. He is a great missionary and has taught me a lot. I am so glad that I am staying here in Kurgan. I love this city. We have a lot of people that we are working with and we have a baptism date with one of our investigators at the end of March. The work is exploding in Kurgan.
We didn't have any meetings this week because we have been traveling so much. This mission is so large that missionaries are required to travel a lot. I am so excited to go to Finland tomorrow and then get back and start to get to work with Elder Weber. I will send some pictures for sure next week.
Elder Flitton


March 12


Hello all


Well this last week has been a very busy one. I was able to go to Finland for my visa trip. Elder Hronek and I left for Tumen last Monday and we stayed the night at the zone leaders apartment. I flew out at about 5:00am to Moscow from the city of Tumen. I was the only one so I got to fly to Moscow by myself. It was really different not having a companion. I got into moscow at about 7:00am and met up with my group. Our flight to Helsinki didnt leave till about 2pm so we had a lot of time to kill. We walked around the air port for awhile. The Moscow basketball team was there. That was way cool to see them. There were some Americans on the team and I went over and talked to them. It was so great to be able to speak English for once. And to make it even better they were black so we talked about the NBA. That was the highlight of Moscow. After talking to them our group went to TJI Fridays. The best meal that I have had in 5 months. I got the Jack Daniels burger and some fries and topped it off with a milkshake. I have never been more satisfied before in my life haha. After TJI's we waited at our terminal. I got bored of sitting so Elder Lattimer and I decided that we would go and talk to people and do some contacting. We talked to this lady from Austraila. She was traveling around the world and she stopped in Moscow to see some church. That got me thinking and I decided to tell her about our temples. I told her to check out LDS.org and look at the temples and if she had time in Finland to go see the temple. She was all for it. I didnt have an american book of mormon with me and all of my proselyting material was in Russian so I could only write down the address for her. She was way nice. We then went and talked so these two nice girls who had a souvenir shop. We talked them for awhile and we gave them a Book of Mormon and some brochures. It was great. Our flight finally left and we got to Helsinki. Finland is so beautiful. It is like a huge Park City. When I stepped of the plane I was able to take a huge deep breath and breath in fresh air. It was so nice... that is something they lack here in Russia. Also the water is like 10x better than Figi bottled water. Yah it is possible. It was nice to take a drink of clear, good tasting water and not brown, merky water ha. I love Finland.
The temple was so great. I was so blessed to be able to attend it and to be able to do baptisms and a session. There was a group of Russians there so I was able to help them and baptize them and confirm them. It was one of the most spiritual moments on my mission so far. To see the Russian people doing work for their family. I will never forget that feeling that I felt. The session was all in Russian. Luckily they had recorders with English. All in all the temple was so awesome. I was so blessed that I had the chance to go.
We flew back to Yekaterinburg at about 11pm. We got dropped off at the AP's apartment and we were given the chance to sleep. It was the best sleep that I have ever gotten. We then went to the train station where we met up with everyone. I met up with my new companion Elder Weber and our train left at about 7:00pm. We then headed back to Kurgan. I really enjoyed my visa trip. It was very tiring but it was a great experience.
Now my new companion. I love the guy. We were together in the MTC for a little. He served in the other part of Kurgan so we know each other pretty well. We are both very new missionaries. He is from North Carolina. He is awesome and I am so excited for this chance to be able to work with him. We have a lot of work to do here in Kurgan and I am ready to get back to work.
Well that is about all that has been going on these last two weeks. The traveling is over and it is back to missionary work. I am ready to get back into the swing of things.
Shout out to Kacey and Jordan Close. CONGRATULATIONS!!!! Love you guys.

Keat

American Players on the Russian basketball team!

Finland Temple

translation??

TGI Friday's Meal.

Finland Temple

A temple near where the Czar of Russia was killed. Any Anastasia fans???

March 19


Hello Everyone!


Well Elder Weber and I are getting back into the swing of things. It is so nice to be able to get back to a regular schedule. Those weeks when I was traveling all the time it just felt different. It feels good to be back in the city of Kurgan. The city is great. It is starting to get a little warmer and I feel people are opening up more when we talk to them on the streets. People aren't that much in a hurry anymore to get out of the cold. It is still cold here but it isnt -37c anymore. When I see pictures from back home of warm weather and pictures of St. George I start to cry a little ha.
We only have one progressing investigator right now. Her name is Galena. She is the grandma that told us that she doesn't want to be baptized in cold water. I asked my mission president if the branch building had a water heater. He told me that it doesnt that we have to boil water and put it in it. So that should be a fun experience. Unfortunately we moved her baptism date back. We feel like we still have a lot to teach her and she still needs to progress a lot more before we go ahead with the baptism. Our next lesson is going to be on tithing and the word of wisdom. We heard that she has been taught before by the missionaries but that was a long time ago adn she had a problem with paying tithing and keeping the word of wisdom. So we will see how that goes. If she has true desire and a sincere heart to be baptized then she will accept what we have to tell her. I love Galena, she is such a sweet lady. Her father and uncles were killed in the war and she tells us a lot about the war and what life was like during the war. I want to do all that I can for her.
Funny story of the week. Elder Weber and I were out on the street talking to people and we stopped this kid about 16 and I said to him "do you speak English" he gave me a weird stare so I took that as an anwser that he didnt. So I invited him to English club and he was way thrilled. I then asked him if he would be intrested to learn about the gospel. He said no but that he was intrested in learning English. He then asked me if I was American and I told him yes. He then pulled out his camera and asked Elder Weber to take a picutre of us. I really enjoy talking to people on the streets... you never no what u goona get. Thought I would throw in some Forest Gump.
We worked a lot last week with Less active families. We stopped by at one less active family and had a great lesson with them. She told us that she feels good when we are at her house. She told us that she feels peace when we come over. She then set up the next lesson which is on Wednesday. We need to work a lot with the less active families here in Kurgan. There are a lot. We need them to come back and build the branch. That is our main focus right now is working with Less actives. We are also looking for a new investigator. We are in dying need of one. We have talked to a lot of different people and we have knocked a lot of doors. I know that we will find someone.
News on Egor and Evan. Egor and Evan got the Aaronic priesthood last Sunday. One of the greatest experiences on my mission. They are both coming to church and are active. We still are teaching them the follow up lessons. They are staying strong wich is so great to see. Egor told us the other day that he wants to serve a mission. I was so pumped to hear that. He is a stud.
Well things are going great here in Kurgan. General Conference is coming up and that means that i have been serving for half a year already. The time is going so fast. I feel like it was just yesterday I got here. I have been very blessed to see the things I have seen so far being here. Being on a mission is the greatest experience that I have ever had. I have learned so much about the gospel and just about life. I enjoy so much being able to serve the Lord.


Elder Flitton

Jen, any translation??

Professional Pancake flipping skills.

"Old people love their pigeons."

A School behind their apartment. 

March 26

Greetings from the underground bomb shelter where we do internet... ha


Well this last week was a very long week. It was a good one though. We have focused our time on finding a new investigator. We did a lot of door knocking this last week and we talked to a lot of people on the streets. I was able to meet a lot of different people and made some new friends. Living in Russia and espcially a small town like Kurgan and having two 19 year old Americans knock on your door is very out of the ordinary. Most people don't know what to think and they slam the door and then there is the people who only want to talk to you because you are from America. Then there is that very small amount that want to talk about the gospel. Those are the people that we search for everyday. Those are the people that we looked for last week. We met a lot of different people and we gave away quite a bit of Books of Mormon away. We haven't seen anything come out of it yet but we know that we are planting seeds and inviting people to know.
But for some success we did meet someone at English club that wants to talk to us. She speaks really good English and she wants to help us with English club. She stayed after English club for the spiritual thought and she seemed interesting and told us that she had some questions. Hopefully they are about the Gospel and not about English club. Her name is Dasha. I am really excited how things will turn out. I haven't had the oppurtunity to teach a lesson in English so that will be nice if we are able to meet with her about the Gospel. She called us yesterday and set up a meeting for this Friday so we will see how that goes.
This week we have Zone conference in Yekaterinburg. We leave Tomorrow morning and have a six hour train ride. I have an interview with President Rust. I can't wait, I love my mission President. I have a lot of questions to ask him. I also get to see all of the other missionaries in the mission. It will be good to see some of my friends. Being in Kurgan you are kind of shut out from the mission because you are so far away and there are only 2 sets of missionaries in the city. This zone conf will be very nice.
About watching General Conference I have no idea. I think they burn a disc for us and then they send it to us. So I will watch it a week later. Kind of bummed about that but oh well. We will probably watch it in the church.
We had a couple of lessons with our investigator Galena. She accepted the law of tithing and said that she would pay tithing after she is baptized. The lesson went really well. But we had a lesson with her yesterday about the ten commandments and praying to idols/icons. She didn't take it to well. The Russian Orthodox church has a lot of symbols/icons. She was baptized 40 years ago in the Russian Orthodox church and she said that she wouldn't give up her Icons. This is very tough for us... The only thing that we can do is keep working with her and show her our love for her. She wants to be baptized but she just doesn't have that true desire to become a member. We have a lot of work to do with her.
I just want to thank everyone for there emails. It means a lot to me. It is nice to have people back home who care and support me in what I am doing. It would be very hard if I didnt. I love you all and hope that everything is going well back home.

Elder Flitton

March seemed to be a pretty snazzy and productive month for our Pasha, didn't it??

In about one hour and 7 minutes from this moment it will be March 28th which means it has officially been SIX MONTHS!! WOOHOO. 

I think I speak for all of us when I saw, THAT FEELS GOOD!!!

Happy Spring Everybody!

"Your needs are great and varied. Each of you is a unique child of God. God knows you individually. He sends messages of encouragement, correction, and direction fitted to you and your needs."

       -Henry B. Eyring 

The Work is Exploding.

Funniest thing...

On Sunday, Christy and I were talking about how Keaton always mentions how the work is "exploding" in Kurgan right now. Lo and behold, he puts it as the subject of his latest email. It made us both laugh.

Elder Flitton has quite the week ahead of him!! 

Here is the family email:

        This last week was a great week. We were able to have a lot of lessons with investigators, Less Actives, and recent converts. We were able to baptize Igor on Saturday. I got to talk on the gift of the Holy Ghost. His baptism went very smooth. Our branch president showed up for it so that was nice. Elder Hronek baptized him and it was just a great service. Yesterday we were going to give him the Holy Ghost and the Aarronic priesthood. But our branch president didnt come to church so Elder Hronek and I confirmed Igor and we are going to wait till next week to give him the priesthood becuase he has to be interviewed before he recieves it in priesthood. Sometimes it is really frustrating when President of the branch doesnt come to things. We missionaries always have to be prepared to preside and to give talks if he doesnt come. Being here in Kurgan has really taught me a lot. Kurgan is the smallest branch in the mission of Yekaterinburg. There are only about 5 melchizadek priesthood holders and that is the missionaries and Branch president. The branch is slowly growing but it is growing and that is all that matters.
         One of our investigators, her name is Galena and she is an older lady. She got eye surgery last month and we have been helping her and buying her groceries. We also have been teaching her lessons. Our first lesson she told us that she knew that the Book of Mormon was true. We were really suprised to hear that because that was our first meeting with her. But we have met with her like 5 times and she wants to be baptized. We still have a lot of work to do with her but she is definately progressing. She told us that she wants to be baptized but she wont be baptized in cold water... made me chuckle and she picked her own date because the month of March is when the symphony comes into Kurgan. We decided that we would set the date for the 24th of March. I love Galena, she is so kind. She reminds me a lot of my Grandma Chris. She loves Egypt. She has been to Egypt three times and she wears shirts that are from Egypt. It is awesome. She has also been to Jerusalem. It is really fun to talk to her about her experiences.
        This week I am going to Finland to get my new Visa. We will fly into Moscow, I am way pumped. I will definatley be taking a ton of pictures. We have training in Yekaterinburg tommorow so this week will be very busy. We fly to Moscow on Wednesday and then to Finland. Hopefully I will be able to attend the temple in Finland. I really miss the temple. I will find out this week also if I will be staying in Kurgan or leaving. I will be also finding out who my new companion is. This will be a fun filled week. Im excited.
        Being here in Kurgan has taught me so much. I have met so many great people. I hope that the Lord has more work for me to do in Kurgan. I love it here. I have made so many great friendships here. The joy that you have on your mission and the love that you devolp for people is so awesome. I have learned so much being on a mission.
      Oh yah one thing..... It is finally getting warmer!!!!!!
                     Elder Flitton

Igor's baptism!!

Gotta love that fur hat and bluesteel face! 

Happy 5 months, Elder! Crazy to think he is almost to the quarter mark of his mission! Is anyone else sort of surprised that it has already been 5 whole months?? No complaints here... 

"If we diligently keep the commandments and ask in faith, answers will come in the Lord's own way and in His name."

         -Barbara Thompson 

Feb. 20th Update!

Hello from Kurgan

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

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

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

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

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

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

I sure do love this missionary!

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

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

      -Bishop Richard C. Edgley 

Valentine's Day week update!

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


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

weekly update!

Hello from Russia

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


An email to Jeff:

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

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

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

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

First Baptism!

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

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

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

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

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


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


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

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

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

    -Dieter F Uchtdorf