Week 18-Pskov

Well to be honest I am actually in St. Petersburg right now, we have a Zone Conference tomorrow, first one, we will see how that goes. I will tell you about it next week.

I think I am turning into a Russian. Russians, love their tea. Yeah you can guess it, I'm drinking tea a lot more now, maybe 5 times a day. (All Herbal, so don't worry) Some blessing I've seen recently, in my Setting Apart blessing, the Stake President said everyone will be surprised on how fast you are learning the language, I have now had 5 missionaries tell me, I was a lot better than them when they were at the state I am in right now. (2 transfers) Personnally I do not think I am all that great, so I think that's just the Lord blessing me with the gift of tongues. I really enjoy speaking it, but sometimes, it down right bugs me. But, I think that's natural.

Some things I want to say before I answer some questions you all had. We had an interesting experience last Friday, we did some service for Bro. Alexander (the one who speaks english like an english gentleman), it went all fine, finished the project, and started giving a little 'spiritual thought', then about half way through, his wife comes home (not a member) and starts yelling at us at the top of her lungs, "Get out! Leave, I hate Americans, I hate missionaries, you ruined my life, I called the police so you better leave." I had no idea what to do, so I just looked at my companion, and he was laughing. (I personnally don't think that was the right thing to do, but oh well) So we left, and my companion to be quearky, said as we were leaving, "Someday, everybody will want to know our message." Probably hindered the work there. We will see.

I realize how OCD I am, now that I have lived with two Russians, (being missionaries is a factor too) let just say, that my companion is really lucky to have a clean freak like me as a companion. I really do love cleaning though, and being organized. It is really strange.

Well I went back through all the emails, there weren't that many questions, to answer the few I found. How often I can to acctually talk to people? On the street, about once a week. With members and investigators, about 6-7 a week. Which is really low. In St. Petersburg they will have times when they have 20-25 lessons a week. Kind of crazy. Oh well this is a wonderful experience being out here. English class, isn't really a class, it's more like read the book of mormon in english and I correct how to properly say something, since well I know how to say it. (being american in all)

Well I don't have much more to say, but that I have about two weeks left of this transfer, my mission is going by fast. Whooo. Next transfer and I a fourth done. One fourth, oh I am also very very excited for Conference, being on a mission I realize how awesome it is, to have a word of God given directly too us. Our time and generation. Cool beans. "Kruta" in Russian.

Well I am going to end with a quote on honesty from James E. Talmage: "His honesty is an armor against temptation; but the coat of mail, the helmet, the breast plate, and the greaves, are but an outward coverings; the man within may bay vulnerable if he can be reached." (Jesus the Christ) I really love this quote, honesty is very important, it gives us that thick coat of armor, so we can not be reached by temptations, my commitment for you this week, be 100 % honest. That's including your thoughts, you think something about someone, say it outloud. It might make you watch your thoughts and deeds more.

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Love Always,

Elder Ky Davis

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week 17-Pskov

Well first off, sorry for last week, that letter was kind of pathetic. I was tired, and adjusting. I hope all is well there and the shop is coming fine! To answer your questions, some of my pictures do not have name tags, because we are in the Kremlin or in a City building. (i.e. Museum) we are not allowed to do that, because I guess if a City Authority saw us in a different church, they could complain to the government and hinder the work of missionaries in that area forever. We are also not allowed to prosalyte in front of those same places. Again legal issues. If you are going to write me a letter, physical not internet, do not write Elder, because of some reason, when people do that, letters hardly come and are stopped or either taken. Normal week in Pskov, is all street contacting, maybe 3 meetings in a week, and no door to door. Everything is on the street, everybody is there too. Pskov is the hard place in the mission. Elder Sokulov keeps asking me, where's the people? I point down the street where there's probably 10 people and I say, "Tom" which means there. It's small. It's just a hard city, it used to have like 30 members and 3 companionships working here, but not anymore. It's now one companionship, and 6 members. Well 8, two are on missions right now.

Some things I need help on, if you ever send me anything, put a couple 2 $ bills in there, my companion said, Russians love that. They will also remember you for a long time. If you have time, I would also love some reciepes especially your cookie receipe. Then some easy foods, I'm getting tired of having, soup, spaghetti, and instant mashed potatoes in a mug. (I actually am not getting tired of that.)

Russian, is coming on fine. It's taking over my English as you can tell, in my grammar and spelling of words. I actually had a dream last night that Nelson Davis and I had a conversation in Russian. It was strange, I was using words I didn't know I knew. That's another thing I'm noticing, I can understand Russian, better than I can speak it. I excited to have the point when both of those are equal.

Some intersting things, I can't remember if I told you in my last letter that, we recieved a baptismal date, from a man named Bagdan he is about 70 years old. Very humble. Has little to nothing. Haven't met him since then, he has been at his Dacha. Though, the story behind recieving it, is quite interesting. Last transfer, we thought Bagdan did not have a phone, so often probably twice a week we would go and knock on his door. Most of time he wasn't home, actually all time except for once, he wasn't home. But, one time, I had the impression to tell Elder Loskutov to leave a Pamplet, and write a little note to come to church, well he didn't come to church, but the Monday after, he called us. Elder Loskutov was, "Bagdan, Bagdan, who is Bagdan....OH! Bagdan!" Is was funny. We met that day, and read from 3 Nephi 11, which is christ coming to this earth, and then teaching quite a bit about baptism and why it is important. I had the strongrest impression to ask him to be baptized. So I asked, and he said YES! It was funny because after that I felt wonderful, and didn't know what else to say. So Elder Laskutov saved me.

On the other note, members here are differernt, we have one member named Ge-or-gee, not George. All those are pronounced seperate. But, we called him yesterday, to have a meeting today, he said he doesn't see the point. He has time, he just doesn't see why he needs to. We told him, we could answer some questions, or just come to get to know you. He said don't have any questions, and you saw me sunday. That was that. It shocked us.

I just got to say, what a blessing it is to live in america, especially Utah. I have seen so many things here, I have not seen ever in my life. Like yesterday, I saw a women, putting her shirt on while she was running down the sidewalk, as she passed by I saw blood on her face and her lip was bleeding, I'm like ok. Then a couple seconds passed and I saw a man, with sctratch marks on his neck, looking furious and running after her. I turned to Elder Sakulov, and he said that was normal. You see that quite often. I'm like ok...? I also so a man, who was so desperate to have a smoke, he would look on the street for unfinished ciggarites to smoke. He would do this until it was finished and then find another one. How one person can do that to themselves I do not have clue. The landlord of our branch house, left a pack of ciggerites on the stairs once, I held them in my hand, that was the closest I have ever been to ciggerites in my life. I felt so dirt holding them, I threw them away as soon as I could. I immediately felt the burden lift off from me. I just could feel the evil coming from it. Satan sure has a strong hold on people, it saddens me dearly.

Well I forgot to prepare a scripture this week, I really like, Alma 37:36-37 from the top of my head. It's about prayer, and it gives some council about what to pray for at night, and what to pray for in the morning. I know if you do that, it will bless you dearly. Alma 34: 18-27 is really good advice also what to pray for.
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Love Always,

Elder Ky Davis

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Week 16-Pskov

Well hey everybody!

This week has been quite fantastic! This is the last week of this transfer, if I leave Pskov, to a new area or not, I don't know. I will know on Monday. So my next email, well tell what's what.

Last P day after shopping and emailing, we went to this giant statue out in the 'outskirts' of Pskov. Pictures of course explain it. It's was huge. I don't know what it's a monument for. But, was really fun to get some pictures, also with my pictures is a picture of a small little hut, that's our apartment from the outside. Yeah talk about being humble, we bath in the river in all. haha, just kidding.

The city had it's birthday last friday, the 23rd. Pskov is 1108 years old! That's crazy! It started in 903, that's like 482 years after Moroni put the plates in the Hill Cummoriah! Talk about history! We had to go home early because of the increased number of drunkards. Yes, to boys in ties and white shirts, one of them american, and a lot of drunken Russians, do not mix well. At all. Like the first week I was here, haha, first sunday, out contacting after church. A drunk man comes up and accuses us of being zombies, and actually hits my companion to prove his point that he doesn't feel pain. It was quite funny, because the man was like, You're a zombie, and my companion, is no I'm not, and he said, How do you know?, my companion, because of my Heart. Everyone says you remember the first week of your mission, for the rest of your life. I sure will!

Well I am a little nervous, because I have to give a talk in church next week. In russian of course. But, not like the MTC, it has to be 10-15 minutes, instead of 3. Yeah, I hope I do well! I'll tell you about it in my next email!

Yesterday, we had service, with a Less-Active member, who knows english, actually learned english from the BBC brodcasts, so yes when he speaks english, it's with an english accent. Pretty funny. But, we went to his Dacha, at first I had no clue what the heck a Dacha is. He explained that its a summer house, where people grow veggies to gain an extra income, and to go an relax. I don't think we have them in america, If we do I think its, called the front yard. But, he also fed us! Really good! Had buckwheat porridge, curd with sourcream and sugar, and kvas (which is an alcohal-less beer, best explained its a drink made out of wheat. Disgusting). What was interesting, is that this man, Alexander, has heard of Kaysville. Which suprised me, I asked him how. He said previous missionaries, do you know anyone from kaysville who served in Pskov, who knows a Alexander who lives in Pskov, and speaks english?

Something awesome, is because there is no mountains, almost everyday, the clouds here are amazing! As you can see in some of my pictures.

This letter isn't too long, but talley-ho!

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Love Always,

Elder Ky Davis

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