Lugansk

Alright! I am here in Ukraine! I got here safe and sound. Like I said our flights were all good and everything was pretty smooth.President Lochhead met us at the Donetsk airport and was with Vladimir, a member in the ward and they took us to the Presidents house where we had dinner and went over a few things. Then we stayed at the AP.'s house, they were pretty cool and funny then we woke up the next morning and had a delcious breakfast at the Presidents house then we headed over the church where we had a transfer meeting and talked about some better ways to teach, then we found out where we were going and who our companions were. So, the moment we've all been waiting for..I am in the Lugansk area with Elder Riley.

Lugansk is a satellite city, really small and really far away from everyone else, so there are 6 of us in our zone. We have 4 Elders and 2 Sisters and they are all pretty legit. We are the furthest mission east, so the closest to Russia. It is a pretty cool city. my apartment is actually pretty nice it has a front room kitchen bedroom and bathroom, even though it is small it is nice. We are on the 6th floor and we have an elevator so that's nice.

Elder Riley is from California and has trained few people and people say he is really good, which he is. He is really smart and is very good at Russian. He is also studying Ukrainian haha he also knows some German too He is pretty cool. So I've got to teach, well listen I guess since I have no idea what they are saying haha, to a few lessons. We taught Lila with 2 sister members and it went well, she was supposed to come to church but then she was in another city so she didn't end up coming. Then we taught Roman. This was in English because we have an English club, which he was the only one who showed up this week. So we had English and talked about meeting new people and such then after my companion and I taught him. He was talking about how he is interested in Monks and Mormons and can't decide which one he wants so he does both ha. I guess they have been teaching him for like 5 years or something and supposedly has made progress, so hopefully we can make some more progress with him. 

And the other lesson we taught was Alexander. He wanted us to buy him butter so he could feed us but we didn't have time, but we went to his house and he rinsed out a few stained tea cups and pulled out some crackers and we had chai and crackers. I am not sure why he needed the butter haha but it was a small house with a kitchen bathroom and bedroom and it was very small, and run down, a lot but I guess that's how most of the houses are here. Talk about culture shock hahaha a lot of people drink tea, but herbal kind is the okay kind we just can't drink the black tea.

Yesterday we had church in this small building, it has a big room then about 5 or 6 other rooms for classes. There are about 50 people in the branch and they all seem pretty cool. They would say oh you're new! then some other stuff and I'd just smile haha Then they had me bare my testimony which was nice, I said good duck then just kidding I know the word it is good morning, cause duck and morning are similar, anyway I thought it was funny I don't think they got it though haha 

Oh yeah so my companion had to go to Bulgaria to renew his visa so I am with Elder Newey, he is a cool cat, so we have to cover his area and our area, then the sisters do their area. He is new to the area but has about six months left, so he knows Russian but doesn't really know how to get around so thankfully we haven't gotten lost yet haha  They said my companion could be gone from 5 days to a month so we will see haha 

Last night was my first experience tracting so that was a good time! haha I guess some lady said to us "What have you heard" after we knocked haha then we said we were missionaries and she flipped out and was swearing and said she would call the police haha Oh yeah there are 2 doors to houses there is an inside door and an outside door, they open the inside door then say, Who's there through the other door so we rarely even see their faces ha but it was a good time, I was told I would have some interesting experiences while tracting so I can't wait haha 

Anyway it has been a good first week I am still trying to settle in and not be so culture shocked hopefully it wears off soon haha but it has been a good time and I am glad that I am finally here. Oh yeah both packages were here when I got here so thank you so much for sending them! I can't wait to open the Christmas ones and finish opening up the 12 days of Christmas ones! Oh yeah one of the sisters in my zone thought my real name was  Veet, haha ah good times, so We just said it is the Russian way and Witt is my English last name haha
Love you! 

oh yeah one other thing I just remembered, we watched the Christmas devotional from the First Presidency of the Church at the MTC and it was way good, so look it up and watch it if you didn't watch it on tv!

http://www.lds.org/broadcasts/watch/christmas-devotional/2013/12?lang=eng&vid=2912344387001

Love,
Cтарейшина Витт

Elder David Witt