March 10th Email

hello from Lugansk

this week went by fast, on Monday we found out that the oldest missionaries here would be going home, so it was shocking, but they said they arent sending anyone else home because it seems like things have lightened up( We will see though(oh yeah I said I didnt know too much we do but yeah it is the same stuff you know) but yeah) Then that night we went to a members house. Брат Олег he is way cool he gave us some tea and candy, his wife is not a member, but he has brougth a few people to church with him so he is just way cool, solid member he asomeitmes also teaches the gospel doctrine class. then on Tuesday we were told to go to internet and print off a letter from President Lochhead that was basically just saying to keep going forward and work hard even though it might be hard. We had english that night and Alexander came, he is kinda creepy (this is the dude who I went to his house with Riley and we had questionable tea..) he asked some new people that came for money and we didnt know he was asking them so this new dude who came gave him money...He likes to put his arms around the sisters and comes drunk to activities and stuff and just asks for money..so it is kinda a problem ha Then we had a lesson with John and Aziz, another brotha who is a member, came on the lesson and shared his baptism story and he is ready for baptism this Saturday he is excited and so are we!

Then President and Sister Lochhead came and told us all they know about the sistuation and how we just need to keep working and we will be safe and stuff, so we will see what decisions Russia makes.That night we took a taxi home, because klast week President wanted us to take taxis, and Elder Newey made me sit in the front ha and before Elder Newey got in the dude was yelling at me haha I had no idea what he was saying abd wouldnt say what the deal was when Newey got in, butoh well haha then he thought i slammed his door when we got out so he ragged about that too haha customer service here is so different and so funny haha 

We had a lesson with Simeon, he is a new member and about our age, he is really cool even though he cant speak he communicates through his phone. At english we talked about illnesses and a guy from africa came and was talking about home remedies, which was cool and we should use some but i am grateful for modern medicine that we have though haha 

Then Saturday was Womens day and every where was selling flowers ha they dont really do anything though except give ladies flowers ha I made some cookies for our lesson that night and I forgot the keys when we went to go buy some extra ingredients and i left the keys inside..so we got locked out haha thankfully our land lady had an extra set of keys and let us back in haha Then we went to Aziz's house and Abrahams house and they havent been members for too long so it is good to review things with them. Then yesterday We gave the sacrament to Nadia and Olea and the plate the the bread was on was slippery so when I handed it to them it slipped off onto the ground haha I didnt know what else to do but put it on the plate hand it to them haha hopefully it was still alright..haha Then Olea wanted a blessing and little did Elder Newey know I had never given a blessing, in English or Russian, and made me do it ha it was still a good experience though and I know Heavenly Father will always help us if we take a step of faith first. oh yes Alexander came to church and asked our investigator John for some money which is frustrating and when we interrupted their convo he wasnt too happy ha but hey he needs to learn that he cant do that. We also went to an investigators house yesterday who was introduced  to us by a member from America who has moved here, he is older and is kinda weird(we are pretty sure he has sold everything he had and came to Lugansk..haha)..they have a little connection so it was awkward seeing the two of them flirt hahaha and we didnt really get to teach too much becasue he would go off about some random things. Elder Newey asked this lady in Russian if she was teaching him any Russian she said she tried but he has no hope haha so who knows 

Anyway we are excited for the baptism this Saturday and there may be 3 brothas getting baptized! so it is way exciting. I think members think I know more Russian than I actually do because they will just start going off haha I pick up some of it say "хорошо" and such and yeah haha it is funny. I cant wait to have a legit conversation with people. 

We are still pretty safe here and I will let you know of the stuff we hear, even though I think you are still getting letters from President Lochhead about our wellbeing..,
anyway love you all and hope you have a great weeK! 

love 

Elder David Witt