A Golden Investigator

Hello there,

Hope all is well in the good US of A. Things are going great here in Russia. We had Zone Conference again this past Saturday, and I just love it every time. I never know what to tell my Mission President when he interviews me though, I feel like I should have more problems or something, but I usually just say I'm doing good and he gives me really great advice. I love my Mission President and his wife. They are really great leaders and they remind me a lot of Mom and Dad, and it makes me want Mom and Dad to go on a mission and be such a good example to all the young missionaries. You guys would be so adored and awesome : ) Of course.

Anywho, things are picking up in Chili. Sunday is kind of "game day", and we prep all week to find people to bring to Church. When you have people show up to Church, it is such a great feeling. Our litttle Branch wasn't so little this past Sunday, the whole building seemed full! I don't know why all the less-actives decided to show up on the same Sunday, but I am sure glad they did. There were a lot of little reunions between less-actives and actives who hadn't seen each other in years. We had a really special experience with a guy named Sergei. We found his name on the Ward List, and his page in the Area Book, which was completely blank except for his name and address. Sister Hansen and I dropped by last week or so, and we set-up an appointment for after the Russian holiday (two weeks ago was Men's Day to honor those who have served in the military, and today is actually Woman's Day, and it's just a day to honor all women. There's lots of guys buying flowers on the streets and it's all kind of cute : ) ). Anyways, we met with him Wednesday of last week, and we were actually super impressed with him. He wore a suit and was very professional, quality guy. He was the Sunday School President 10 years ago, but soon after joining the Church, he felt it wasn't good enough. The Church wasn't the best way to perfect oneself, but that the Church and the members were selling themselves short. He seemed kind of arrogant to me to be honest, but he made some good arguments, but of course, we didn't argue back but just tried to testify. Even though he seemed kind of hard, Sister Hansen and I could tell that he was listening, so we kept talking. We ended the lesson on a really good note and he agreed to meet with him again. We gave him Alma 32 to read for homework, and he called us that very night at 10 pm. We were so shocked becasue he only called to say thank you, and that Alma 32 was exactly what he needed to hear. We were SO surprised! I'm not sure if I wrote you about him already, but he is the guy that personally asked to have his recdords removed from the Church, and he even got up in testimony meeting his last Sunday and talked about how the Church wasn't true. He said the members believed in a fairytale, and that it was equivalent to magic. So, the Branch President was needless to say very shocked that we were able to meet him, and he challenged us to get him to Church. So, Saturday, we called him to remind him about Church on Sunday, and he actually came! It was so amazing. I could tell that the Branch President was just in shock, and all of the members were so happy to see him. It just so happened that there were a lot of other inactives that he knew who showed up on Sunday with him. So, I know he enjoyed the expereince. Our Mission President very wisely cautioned me and Sister Hansen though. He doesn't want us to meet with him again until the Branch President has met with him, becasue there is obviously some bigger issues. And, for someone to get up intestimony meeting and say those things is pretty serious. He may be very proud, but it was a big step for him to show back up at Church after all these years.

Also on Sunday, Lev, the guy we found on the transport came to Church and the night before, Saturday, we got a baptizmal date from him! He doesn't live in our Area, so the Elders were on the meeting with us and are going to take over from here. But, he is so impressive! He is so golden! I can't get over him. We taught him the second lesson a week ago, and to be honest it was the hardest lesson in terms of language for Sister Hansen and I. The words just weren't coming for some reason, and we were kind of disappointed because we really knew he was an important lesson/investigator. But, at our lesson Saturday night, we asked him how the reading went over the Plan of Salvation that we had given him. We gave him a lot. The crazy thing was that he started explaining what he understood, and it was perfect. He just understood the whole Plan of Salvation beginning to end, even though I know Sister Hansen and I didn't explain it that well. So, it was really a testament to us that it's the Spirit that teaches, not us. Anyways, the Elders and us were both shocked at his understanding, and we proceeded to teach the 3rd lesson and he was so easily to commit to baptizm. He was like "of course" I want to be baptized. His date is for March 20th, only two weeks, and he wishes it was sooner. He told us a really sad story about growing up here in Russia, and how the government totally suppressed any form of religion. He is about 30 and saw a little bit of Communism. When he was little, he found a bible at his grandma's house and just strated reading. He was so excited about what he read that he went to school the next day and started talking about how there is a God to his friends. The school director found out about it and gave him a really long lecture, and ripped some sort of Chirstian pin he had found at his Grandma's off of his shirt. So, he was never allowed to talk about religion, but he said he remembered feeling something inside himself when he read the Bible. So, once religion was allowed again, he started reading the Bible fervently, and he definitely knows his Bible well, which is what makes him so easy to teach. He is just one of those investigators that as you teach, he seems to be hearing things he already knows, even though he has never been taught them. His soul just already understands and is prepared. The Elders are very happy to be teaching him now, and I am glad they will be too. He deserves to really understand the Gospel, and I know Sister Hansen and I are a little limited with our speech, so it is better all around I suppose. One of the Elders said they can just invision him being a leader here in Russia, so we're a little excited here : )

I love you and hope all is well! I'm sorry I feel like I write a novel about myself, and then I don't have much time to write personally to everyone. I'm horrible! Just know that I love you and that I really do appreciate any news that I get from you. I promise to write more personal letters next week. Please forgive me! Say hi to Grandpa for me! And I am so jealous of all the rain you're having, it just started snowing outside again I hear. But it has been so warm I can't complain. HB!!! What the heck!!! Sounds like you are killing it back home! Make sure to give Mom a good bonus, if she hasn't already asked for one haha : ) Gosh, I miss those conversations! Dad, sounds like you are a full time missionary almost there in Cruces. You're whole time seems to be either work or Church. You are such a great leader. Chelyabinsk could use 100 more of you. Meesa! wHAT THE HECK! You're really gonna make the move home? I need to write you a letter to discuss, I'm happy for you though and whatever you choose. Mom, I got the thermals last week! Thanks a billion and the recipes are going to save my life! You really don't need to send me anything, but if you really WANT to : ), we don't have peanut butter, maple syrup, or brown sugar here in Russia, and most of the recipes I have require these things. No worries or hurries though : ) Just if you want to... You're the best and I love your emails so much. Thanks for helping me remember the reasons I'm here, sometimes I can't remember why haha, but I just keep working. It's good that you remind what all of this is for. Thanks everyone for everything : ) I have the best family on the planet, really, it's true.

Sister Hakes