Week 15-Pskov

Well I know have seen a real live gypsy. That was cool.

This week has been busy, but great. Because I had a split with the Zone Leaders, Monday through Wednesday morning, then the new president, President Clark, and the AP's came up to have meetings. First off, I've got to say, I love president Clark. He is amazing. Secondly, we had 6 missionaries in the same apartment tuesday night. That was a blast. Especially if you're serving in Pskov, becasue they are only two missionaries here at a time. So it gets kinda lonely sometimes. We met with the Less Actives, well my companion did. I met with Investigator, wonderful man, knows this church is true, believes in God, believes in the BoM, believes in Joseph Smith. Just also believes in Saints, and the Russian-Orthodox church. I never ever thought that would be a situation. So it came as a shock to me, I really had to ponder what to talk about. Hard. Oh his name is Guhnadi. Really really nice guy. We also met with a member, Sister Masha, who has already served a mini-mission. (If you don't know what that is, it's in the name, it's a mission usually 3 or 6 weeks long.) That was a good meeting also. Some cool things that has happened. I found chocolate that 99% Cacao, so I've made some Cacao here, at least one every day. LOVE IT! Anyone who is reading this, and doesn't know that my parents are opening a shop, called, 'Bite Size'. It'll be open within this next month or so. PLEASE GO! and please try the Cocoa. It's wonderful. (Mom you still plan on serving that right?) I got my first Haircut in Russia two weeks ago. That's what that picture is of. In Russia they do not believe in having hair on the sides of your head. So that was strange. Especially, I felt like a little kid. Because I had no idea how to tell the lady, how to cut my hair. So I just told Elder Loskutov to tell her a "6 all around". That worked fine. I'll do that from now on. It's so HUMID! Ugh... I love it. Another interesting thing, on random days, around 8-9 at night, about 3,000 crows come to the center of town and have a convention or party. Roofs that are normally white are straight black. Then when they all start to fly, that's when Elder Loskutov and I start to walk pretty fast. I fear of being pooped on. Haha. I couldn't get my camera out in time. So sorry but you'll just have to take my word for it. One thing that was so awesome, we were contacting yesterday, and all of sudden we heard, "Ctareshanee!" we turn around a couple was walking up to us, come to find out. From Utah. The women served in Pskov like 5 years ago. I never ever thought I would have that opportunity of people getting excited to see elders in Russia. It was awesome.

Some strange things, sometimes, when we tell people we are missionaries. They say they believe and they do the cross on their chest to us. That feels awkward. I just sat there, like, "uh........." I bought a Russian Bible, pretty ok one. From a Less Active member who sells Bibles for a living. He became less active when his mother was sick, then she died. And I guess that just threw him out of whack. Has no money. So I thought I'd help him out. I just got to say, I am so lucky to live in America. The inferstructor here is completely unexcistant, or does nothing at all. All the roads are poop. Maybe in 25 years they will get everything back into normal. I sure hope so. Oh it's our city's birthday, Friday. That means no contacting after 6 P.M. for a couple of days, 4 to be exact. Why? Lots and Lots of drunk people, in one place. Yeah could be a lot of trouble for us. Well I'll write about that next week.

To explain some pictures: two of them are some of my sketches. One of Nephi's dream. (not to be confused of Lehi's, Nephi 11) And one of Jesus carrying the cross. I invisioned that one yesterday, and sketched it today. I hope one day, I can make it better. One is of my Haircut, in one of my last emails, i sent a picture of a sign that was purple, and had the words that looked like Babylon. It's pronounced Vavylon. I thought it was funny, because we serve in Babylon. That was funny.

One question, mother, Landon. Could you get me his email? *Please remember*

Some thoughts, I have had about testimony. If you truly know, it will show in your countenances, people will see it in what you do and don't do, how you act and react, and by who you are and who you aren't. Do you know who you are? You are a Latter Day Saint of the Church of Jesus Christ, you are a Child of God. Do you know how awesome that is?! Do you know that means?!

To me it means that I have the privilege to be be on this earth, and have the opportunity to come to know the truth, and share it! I know what the Lord has is store for me, I can read his plan. I can live with Him and Heavenly Father once more, and forever. That completely astounds me! It brings me so much happiness. One thing we as Saints have problems with, is sharing our uniqueness. Sharing our testimonies. We are so afraid of rejection, that we don't even open our mouths! You are embarrassed, How embarrassed do you think Heavenly Father is? Simply put, "Be thou and example of the believers" I have one challenge for everyone who reads this letter. Bear your testimony once a day. To someone you would normally wouldn't bear your testimony to. If you can't do that, or think that's too hard. Start of with once a week. But do it, you will receive so many blessings! I know it! I know this gospel is true! I am so excited to be a representative of Christ. I am so lucky! God has truly blessed me! I want to hear, experiences that happened in result of this commitment. If I don't I will be truly sad. Please do it!

Love Always,

Elder Ky Davis

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I have been here for 4 weeks, but I am writting about last week. This is weird. I think I messed up somewhere, someday I'll fix it.

To answer some questions first, the Kremlin doesn't really translate to english, it's the Kremlin, it means "stronghold" but, it's more like the the "main church" or temple of that city, every major city has one.

I am thinking about buying a screen, but, we were allowed today to buy a fan, so we might not need the windows open anymore. So I'll see about that next week.

I will buy my winter stuff, probably in two transfers, when it starts getting cold. I might have to buy another suitcase too. I don't have that much room for more stuff, including boots.

Dad you talked about Peter, Elder Holland gives a great "talk" about Peter in that book you gave me, "No matter how long the road" I advise you to read it. I can't remember what it is called.

To write about stuff I learned this week, and what happened, thus:

While my companion and I were contacting, in a park East of our apartment, we contacting a guy, who told us he was an atheist, so we handed him a pass-along-card and continued on. Ends up there was a guy sitting on a bench, Nickoli, who was watching us contact him. He asked the atheist what we were doing, and the atheist handed the pass-along-card and walked away. Then Nickoli roller-bladed after us (roller blades are big here, so are mullets) and stoped us, so we taught him the first lesson there. He was very very interested. Got his number and continued, had a meeting with him the next day, which fell through because his car was broken. It was awesome to see sometimes, that even though somebody denies you, there is always a reason you are in a place preaching the gospel. The Lords work is awesome. There's no way we can comprehend how He does it.

This is sad to say, but I would love a list of birthdays. I tried to remember everybodies, but I came to realize, that I have forgotten a lot. I only remember two (three including mine) of my families, and thats because important holidays/events are on that day, or near. If any friends of mine, send you theres too, that would be awesome.

Two words, Super-Kontek, it's a cookie that's has sqooshonka (the sugar and milk, boiled) in the middle, and dipped in chocolate. That's not the yummy part, what you do to eat them, is you boil water, bite two ends of the cookie, then suck the water through the cookie, as soon as you start drinking hot water, you eat the cookie, and it melts in your mouth. Oh I will totally bring a lot of those home when I come home, so you can try. They're really cheep too. :)

I had my first split on Monday and Tuesday, which was really cool, I split with Elder Melnek, he is from Ukraine, really a good missionary. He really does listen to the spirit, contacted 4 people in two hours. Each of those people, he got their number and almost taught a full 30 minutes. Amazingly funny. Because he looks up English words at night, and uses them in sentences like, "Elder Davis, is confounded by an entrantress" He learned his English by reading Jesus the Christ. Really smart fellow. Split was fun.

Ok there is one picture of my companion with a pig. I will explain that here. That pig is a squeeky toy, and really annoying, because he wakes me up with it. He does it every day, quite often. He also named it "Davis" because I hate it so much. Haha I hid it from him once.

There is also another picture of an omlette, yes I cooked that. Without burning it, and it tasted wonderful! I had to send that home because at home, I guess the oven doesn't like me. Because every time I cook eggs, it smokes up the house. I don't know why...

Today I am buying earplugs, Elder Laskutov, snores. Like a train, going 80 miles an hour. Very funny, until I can't sleep. I also figured out, Russians, are very very noisy eaters. Yeah. I'm learning patience. They're are also very unsanitary, espicially when cooking. Yeah two of my biggest pet peeves, oh well. I fixed one of them, by cooking for myself. Just got to hang in there. :) (thanks for the curse Mom!)

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Love Always,

Elder Ky Davis

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PICTURES COMING SOON:)

Week-13 Pskov

Hey Everybody!

Ok enough chit-chat and down to the point. Stuff I want to talk about this week: Churches, Masiquittos, 4th of July, Picnic, Singing, Uncle Tony, Mom.

Here we go:

Pskov is know as the Russian-Orthadox Salt Lake City because of the many (43) churches like the ones in the pictures I sent. It's kinda of difficult, because you are not supposed to go contacting in front of churches and since there are 43 three of them, there are many places we can not contact people. But, they are beautiful none the less.

Bugs, that's all I have to say. I am living off of those insect-repelant wipes you gave me mother, and the itch-relief you gave me gramma. They have been very helpful, yeah I looked like a leapor how many masquitto bites I had. Funny, but very annoying. It happens mostly at night we were are sleeping, it's either shut the window and bake to death or get eaten alive. Well Elder Loskutov, chose being eaten-alive. Haha. Can you say humbling momment?

4th of July was actually strange for me, especially that I forgot it was the fourth until the day was half way over. Yeah nothing special, now fireworks cass, I'm in Russia, their Independance Day is on a different day. There were about 10 weddings from the 1st to the 4th though. I don't know why... It was strange for me, because I wrote in my journal that day, and when I was writting, I did the math, and I was like hmmm...the family is watching a parade right now. But, I now learned that didn't happen! See what happens when I leave? Traditions go down the drain. ;)

We have an activity every week, and the activity this week, we had a picnic, interesting and nice. We went down by the river, laid a blanket on knee high grass, and ate and plaid UNO. Russians love UNO, especially Elder Loskutov. I got sunburnt, to answer your question, it's way way hot. about 80-85 degrees, but you add the humidity its about 90-95 degrees. So there are some days when I'm sweating quite a lot.

All I have to say is one sentence, "Russians cannot sing." It's hilarious. Singing hymns is like listening to 20 people pick their favorite key (or note) and sing however they want. Oh this will make Katheryn happy, I am playing for our branch every sunday. Most of it is sight-reading. But, they enjoy a piano player finally.

Haha, this moment made me laugh so much. I saw a man, one day while contacting, that looked exactly like Uncle Tony, but with hair. :) I was laughing so hard. My companion just looked at me weird. I wish I could get a picture of him. But couldn't.

Then finally, I showed the Branch President the picture of our family, and once again I heard, "Are you sure that's your mom?, isn't her (Cavin) your mom?" He had a good laugh about it.

K little spiritual thought, then I'll answer some of your questions. In Mosiah 15:15-17, it talks about, "how beautiful are the feet of those" who preach this gospel. Well I'm pretty sure my feet are not beautiful for how many blisters I have, my feet have been hurting for the past 2 weeks constantly. That'll soon stop, I hope. :)

Answer some of your questions:

Yes I have been able to understand my companion more, but only by little by little everyday. It's a trial, that will help me out a lot in the future. Hmmm...I think I've answered all the questions but, yes Christine you can send me pictures.

To explain some of the pictures, I don't know what order they are in. One is of a Kit Kat and Milkyway, the kitkats are amazing, and the milkyways are just three muskateers. One is of the Kremlin right outside of our apartment. Really cool picture. OH one is of a graffiti that says, "Iky" and thought that was great, since 'I (am) ky' One is of a Christian church, and it was HUGE, like almost half of the conference center, but taller too. This city is pretty old, and a lot of buildings are fallin down, and pretty crummy. But I think I was blessed from my father, (some would say it's a curse) that I have a gift of perspective, I don't see this city as a crummy little ol' dump. I see character everywhere, I see this city as one in story books, or when it was first began 1800 years ago, I think? Imagine how it would be then. I am amazed at the beauty I see, at nothing.

Well until next week! Keep writting!

Love Always,

Elder Ky Davis

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