All is well. June 18,2013

Dear Family

 

  So sorry that I wasn't able to write yesterday.  We found out yesterday that our internet place got shut down.  So yesterday we wanted to check out if the library in center was opened.  For some odd reason it is closed on Monday so now we probably will be doing internet on Tuesday for now on.  The library is the nicest building that I have ever been in Russia.  I feel like I am at some kind of state capital house or something.  Today we got our cute little library cards with our picture on them and we are now sitting in a really nice room doing interent.  Lets just say that we scored big time here in Tyumen.

  Sounds like everyone had a very eventful week last week.  I am super jelaous about the Moon lake trip.  It looks so fun just to be out on the lake fishing.  I hope by the time I get home we can plan some kind of trip and go fishing out on the lake.  Also I can't believe that Anna got her licsense.  I congratulate you ha.

  So last week we found a new investigator.  Her name is Cerafima.  We met with her a lot last week.  We have become like best friends.  She is so funny.  We met her on a bus two weeks ago.  She actually came up to us and asked us why we were matching (white shirt, tie, slacks....we kind of stick out).  We then had a great conversation with her and now we are pretty good friends.  She is so great and I am so happy that I have the opportunity to be able to teach her.  After internet we have a meeting with her and we are going to ask her to be baptized.  Keep your fingers crossed:)

  This week we will be having Zone Conference in Yekaterinburg.  I am really excited for it.  This will be probably be my last one.  This is Presidents Rust last Zone Conf.  So this one is going to be really good.  It is so crazy that in two weeks I will have a new mission President.  I am kind of bummed that I won't have my exit interview with President Rust.  But I'm sure that President Christinsen will be great.  It is going to be a new change here in this mission.

  Our investigator Vitalie has gone MIA.  He told us last week that he was leaving for a couple of days.  Well it has been a week and we haven't heard anything from.  I am kind of worried for him and hope that all is ok with him.  He is probably just taking some extra time wherever he is.  Also our investigator Bulat has kind of taken a dive.  He hasn't been to church so we won't have a baptism service for him this saturday.  It is kind of a stink but every one has there freedom to choose.

  So I read the other day the talk by President Monson.  The talk that he gave during the Priesthood session.  I want to share with you a couple of things that I really enjoyed.  President Monson said "Young men, I hope you appreciate the sacrifices which your parents so willingly make in order for you to serve."  I just want to take the time and notice you, Mom and Dad.  I know that you have sacrificed so much for me.  You have put so much out on the table.  In which I will always be indebted to you for.  If it wasn't for you, I wouldn't be here.  I wouldn't have had the experiences that I have.  I wouldn't have found the people that I promised in the Pre mortal excistince that I would find.  Most of all I wouldn't have changed and become the Mel. Priesthood holder that I am today.  So thank you so much for this.  Also Grandma and Grandpa.  Thank you so much for your unending support and love.  Your prayers in my behalf are felt every day.  Every morning that I rise I feel a new refreshing and a drive to get work done.  Thank you so much.  Aunt Jen you are the greatest Aunt.  Your emails every week make me so happy.  Thank you so much for everything.  Once again you are helping me with something that I couldn't do by myself.  I love you.

Now the list of people could go on and on.  But I just wanted to make sure that those people knew the love and gratitude that I have for them.  thank you!

   President went on to say "Their labors will sustain you, their faith encourage you, their prayers uphold you.  A mission is a family affair.  Through the expanse of continents or oceans may separate, hearts are as one."  I am so thankful that eventhough oceans and lands divide us we are still united as one.  That is the only thing that I ask.  That as a family we remain unified.  NO matter how hard the storms hit, no matter how far away we are from each other, we will still remain unified in love.  The sealing that has been placed upon our family is real and it works.  ONLY if we are all unified as one with one specific goal, which is to live in the presence of God TOGETHER. 

  Family I love you so much.  thank you so much for everything that you do for me.  I miss you.  Please know that my prayers to you are constant and that your prayers for me are felt.  I need your support and faith especially right now as the end draws near.  Thank you.

Love

Elder Flitton

D+C 88:63 (from now on I am going to do a scripture of the week)

mom make sure that you email my emails to Matt's mom

June 10, 2013

Dear Family

  Hello family!  Sounds like last week was quite the week for everyone.  That is a good thing that school is out and summer is here.  The weather sounds so nice back home.  Lately it has been raining and just gloomy and cloudy.  Soon summer will be here ha.  I keep tellingmyself that.

  Katie that is so awesome that you have graduated.  Was it what you thought it would be like?  Where did you go out to dinner.  That is pretty cool that you went to bear lake.  I am really jelaous.  I miss swimming so much ha it isn't funny.

  That is pretty funny about Cam and Gar.  Did the family just notice?  Are you guys getting all ready for your mission.  Your time is counting down!!! I am sure that it is hard to sleep at night because all you canthink about is your mission.  Little bit of advice.  Enjoy sleep right now.  Becuase you are going to want to do it a lot on yourmission.  There is no such thing as nap time onthemision ha.

  So last week was a very busy week.  On Monday night Elder Allred and I were taking a bus to Kurgan.  As we were leaving the city we got hit by a car... Nothing serious but it delayed our traveling.  We waited for 2 hours for another bus to come and pick us up.  The next bus was already super full so I had to sit with a grandmother who had a baby with her.  I swear kids are attracted to me.  The 5 hour bus ride was me trying to entertain a baby.  If I didn't the baby had a temper tantrum.  So it was quite the ride.

  So when you travel especially in Russia it is required tohave your passport.  To get on a train you haveto show your passport.  Well I forgot my passport back in Tyumen.  I had to sweet talk my way onthe train.  Luckily I got on and we made our way to Yekat.  When we got to Yekat I said goodbye to Elder Allred and I headed to the mission office for Mission Leadership Council.  It was at the mission office because the mission home is being remodeled.  So had council at the office.  It was really good to see everyone.  There are a lot of new zone leaders.  For dinner President Rust rented out a restaurant and we all ate there.  It was pretty awesome.  President likes to spoil us.  

  After council I got on a train back to Kurgan and then the next day Elder Wimber and I took a bus back to Tyumen.  This last week was a lot of traveling.  We got back on Thursday.  I was so tired.

  Elder Wimber is doing great.  We have been pretty good friends throughout our missions.  He is a transfer younger than me so we were in the mtc together.  We also were in Perm together.  We are pretty good friends.  He is from Georgia but his family moved to Oregon while he has been on the mission.  His mom actually knows Uncle Greg.  Her name is Jennifer Bagnell.  Small world... Maybe Uncle Greg remembers her.  But Wimber and I are doing great.

  I have been so grateful for the opportunity that has been given me to be able to serve here in Tyumen.  I love this place so much.  Lately I have been thinking about the purpose of my life.  I can look back and see a lot of things that I have accomplished.  I canalso look back and see things that I wish I would have done different.  Life has such a more bigger meaning than just living and working and playing.  I feel so bad for people that think that life is the end.  That we come here and die and that is it.  Really we are given this opportunity to live and to become perfect each and every day.  To be a little better than the person we were yesterday.  I am so thankful that God has given us a path.  It is a bummer that most people have wondered off the path.  I am so grateful for all that have stayed on the path.  Remain because the path really does lead to happiness.  Life is to short to be mad and angry.  Live your life with a smile and be optimistic and you will truly understand the purpose of life.  

  Family I love you so much.  Thank you so much for everyhting that you do for me.  Grandma, Grandpa and Jen that would be great.  Just let me know when my dad has it.  Anything you want???  I love you all!

Elder Flitton

Emergency transfer? June 3, 2013

Dear Family

  Well you might be wondering what the title means "emergency transfer".  Got a call from President on saturday night.  It is always a nerve racking experience when you see that you are getting a call from the mission President.  So the reason that President was calling us was to say that we are going to have to do a quick transfer.  He told us that he needs to do this for a missionary and that it would be very appreciative if we could help him.  So ofcourse we said yes and he said that Elder Allred needs to come to Yeakaterinburg and that my new companion is going to be Elder Wimber.  We were in shock.  This was unexpected.  After the call Elder Allred and I looked at each other and then threw a temper tantrum haha.  Not really but we were sad that we were getting split up.  These past three weeks with him have been so fun.  I have really enjoyed serving with Elder Allred.  He has taught me so much and he really has mastered his Christlike attributes.  He is so patient with everything.  Elder Allred and I were able to become best friends.  We are like brothers.  It is really hard to be able to move and try to get used to living with someone you don't even know.  But with us it was so smooth.  Right from the very beginning we had unity. It is so awesome.  I am going to miss Elder Allred but I am excited to serve with Elder Wimber.

  This last week we have been really busy.  We met a girl on the bus last monday and we talked to her for an hour.  She was so nice.  Her name is Serafima.  On tuesday we met with her and talked to her about the gospel.  She is so excited to continue to meet with us.  Also we have a new investigator named Vitalie.  He came to church last week and that was his first time.  We met with him on Monday and found out that he doesn't really believe in God and that he doesnt believe in Jesus Christ.  We met with him  4 times last week and it has been so awesome to see him start to believe in Christ.  I am so thankful for faith and that anyone can truly know that Christ is our Saviour.  The gospel is so true.

  So this week is Mission Leadership Council.  This is the first council that we will have that will include sisters.  It is going to be different but it should be good.  Alot of my good buds on the mission are now zone leaders so it will be good to see everyone and talk with them.  The month of june is a very busy month for this mission.  We have council this week and then we have Zone Conf and then after is transfers and we get a new mission President... That will be a huge change.

  Tonight I get to take a bus to the city of Kurgan!!! I am so excited to go back to that great place.  That place is the beginning.  I am so thankful that I got to serve there.  In the morning we are taking a train to Yeakat for council.  A lot of traveling this week.

  One day I was in the bathroom and thinking to myself about my mission.  Have you ever noticed that when you have a roll of toilet paper and when it starts to run out it goes faster and faster.  I feel like that is my mission.  The time is going too fast.  It baffles me that President Rust goes home at the end of June.  The roll is running out.  I am so thankful for time.  I know that we really do take advantage of time.  Sometimes we say to ourselves, "gosh I wish this day was over", or "I can't wait for when this is over".  Time is given to us by God.  The time on earth that we have is very precious.  It is our time to change(repent) and become like God.  Each one of us is going to experience death and it really shouldn't be that scary.  We prepare for that day when it does come by trying each and every day to become like our Saviour.  But if we aren't prepared then it is going to be scary.  Like when you realize on the toilet seat that you have no toilet paper.  I am so thankful for the scriptures and that they really do let us know that time is precious.  I read the other day that if you are still talking about yesterday you haven't made the present worth it.  Today is the day when we can choose to change and become a little better than the person who we were yesterday.  God surely does love us.

  Well family I love you.  Good luck with everyone graduating.  Hope that is a smooth process for everyone.  Also stay off the streets...hehe (anna has her license).  I love all of you and am so thankful for your love. Have a great week.

Elder Flitton

The power of enduring. May 27,2013

Dear Family

  As always it sure is a treat to get so many emails.  Thank you so much for all of them.  They really make my day.  Sounds like school is ending and summer has come.  This is probably my favorite kind of weather.  Is the pool up in the back yard? Or did Dad throw it away? he he he.  By the time I get home could you please take the pool away so that I can play basketball in the back yard.  Thank you.  Also I hope that everyone has a great memorial day.  Thanks to my family calendar I know when there is a holiday back home.  Hope that the family BBQ is a good one.  

  So I am starting to get settled intoTyumen.  I am also starting to get acquainted with the streets and everything.  Tyumen is a really beautiful city.  The center of the city is so nice.  It baffles me that I am still in Russia ha.  It sure doesn't feel like it here in this city.  Yesterday at church we had about 30 people and we had about 5 at priesthood.  The branch here is very small.  I will probably have to give a couple of talks while I am here.  I really love the branch.  They are really great people.  One of the members is actually from Kurgan and when i was serving in Kurgan we got to be really good friends.  He is in Tyumenstudying at the college.  So it is really great having Andrei here.  He is such a strong member.  He was definitely the strongest member in Kurgan when i was there.  He is only 18.  He is a stud.  He will definitely be a branch president in the near future.  I love him.  Also I was able to attend the Branch Council.  It was crazy.  I think they need to read in the red handbook about ward council meetings ha.  As small as Tyumen is President Rust has asked us missionaries to help the Priesthood leaders with there callings.  So looks like my companion and I will have to sit down with the branch president.  BTW the branch President is so awesome.  He is the perfect man for the calling.  

  So I am going to write a random paragraph and answer some questions that have been asked.  First I didn't feel the earthquake.  That would be really scary if I did.  Good thing that Russia is the biggest country in the world ha.  Also summer is starting to knock at the door.  It has been getting warmer and warmer each day.  We had our first summer thunder/lightning storm yesterday.  It was awesome.  A little about my companion.  His name is Jacob Allred.  He grew up in Spanish Fork UT.  He was a lifeguard at seven peaks in Provo.  So that is something cool we have in common.  He played football and loves all other sports. We get a long very well ha.  He has a twin right now serving in Madagascar...Unfortunately that is something we don't have in common.  He looks a lot like Taylor Capson ha...Um what else... Oh he loves tacos, so I have gotten pretty good at making tortillas and all that other good stuff you need to make tacos.  That is my companion.  I love him so much.  We have really grown close and we really know how to have fun with the work when it gets tough.  I am so blessed to be with him.  Alright Katie I did get your graduation announcement.  You are so dang beautiful.  I put it in my photo album.  If someone needs ideas for stuff to put in a package.  I need pictures of me ha.  I noticed that I have no picture of me in my photo album.  Someone yesterday asked "where are you?" ha so that would be great if I got like 4-5 pictures ha.  Also I would love some Reese's candy.  And last but not least I would love a Dr.pepper.  I have been craving one so bad haha.  That is all that I can think of.  

  This last week was a very long week for Elder Allred and I.  We were out on the streets for the majority of the time.  We just don't have people to teach.  So we have been out finding.  Here in Tyumen it is very difficult to find out on the street.  This being a very wealth city not many people really want to change their lives.  I have been rejected so many times that when someone actually stops when we stop them I am amazed.  The first part of the week I was doing pretty well but as the week went on and we were getting zero success I started to get down on myself.  I started to get frustrated with people.  I thought to myself.  This is the true church and the restored gospel really is the best thing on this planet right now... then why aren't people getting baptized left and right.  Why isn't the church growing like it is in South America right now.  Or why is it so hard to get people baptized if it is so easy in Africa.  Elder Allred said that his brother averages about three baptisms each week.  Why is it so slow here?  The main question was why is missionary work so hard?  On Saturday night as I layed in my bed thinking about the week and just feeling like everything failed I got a feeling that I needed to turn to my Father in Heaven.  I got on my knees and just offered a simple prayer.  I asked for His help. I asked that he would bless me with the spirit so I could not get down on myself.  After my prayer I once again layedon my bed and eventually fell asleep.  Sunday when I woke up I was still not feeling any better.  When we got to church there was a guy sitting down in the chapel.  We went over and introduced ourselves and he said that his name is Vitalie.  He said that he met the missionaries on the street and that they invited him to come to church.  So he came.  He stayed all three hours and after we were able to set a meeting up with him for today.  Also later that day we had a meeting with one of our investigators.  He has been one for quite a while.  We taught him about the commandments and told him that baptism is a commandment.  We invited him to be baptized but he declined.  We then testified to him and read a scripture with him.  We asked again and he said yes!  There is going to be a baptism on the 29th of June for Bulat.  Yesterday was an answer to my prayers.  I knew that the Lord had given me a trial and wanted me to grow and become like Him just a little bit more.  I know that when we have hard times if we just do our best and try a little harder and give our best effort the balm in Gilead will come.  That ministering angel will be sent from above to give us that aid, that extra help.  Why is missionary work so hard here? Because if salvation was never easy, why should missionary work be easy?  When I think about other places in the world that are exploding with baptisms, I remember that the Lord wanted me here in Russia for a reason.  Success isn't measured by the number of baptisms that you get. Success is measured by how you choose to react to certain situations.  We can choose to be happy or sad.  We can choose the right or choose the wrong. We have the choice to become successful or unsuccessful.  Success comes when you become a little better than the person who you were yesterday.

  Thank you everyone for all of the support. I love you so much.  Hope that all have a great week.  BTW I would send pictures but I don't have the device to be able to send them.  So I will have to buy one.  Next week there will be pictures.

Love you all

Elder Flitton

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