А вы могли бы....

Dear Family and Loyal Blog Readers,

This week many things happened, and I can't figure out a good way to organize them in a logical sense. Thus I will just break them up into short vignettes, and I hope you will get the idea.

-Sasha's Goodness- I never cease to be amazed by the goodness of people. I mentioned Sasha earlier, he is this great Uzbek guy who we teach English. For this wheel chair projected we needed a bench for measuring the wheelchair candidates and we asked him to make it, since he works in a furniture store. The night before we needed it, he called me and said that he had a huge problem with the project. We meet and he told me that the other workers had all got way drunk and could not operate heavy machinery and also lost all of the dimensions. I gave him a new copy of the dimensions and told him not to worry if he couldn't finish it, we would make due without. The next morning he called me and brought me to his store where he showed me a beautiful bench. He had worked all night to get it done to make good on his promise and then refused to accept any money for his work. He said: "It's my small part to help those people, I can't accept money.." Sasha is one of the most Christlike people I know, and an inspiration for me.

- Andrei's Lesson/Spiritual strength- For a long time we've been teaching an investigator called Andrei. He has a really hard time accepting that there is one true church and even though we have good lessons, he never prays or comes to church. Basically he is what we term an eternal investigator. Well sometimes we have to drop people to get them serious so we usually have an intense do or die lesson with them. We planned to do one with Andrei, but that morning I got very sick, and felt weak and nauseous the whole day. During the lesson I started out kind of out of it, but then started to testify and to unload all that I wanted to tell him. I felt such a strength come over me as I testified with the Spirit, but as soon as we said the closing prayer, I walked into another room and all the sickness came back, and I nearly collapsed on a chair. It is crazy how much strength you can receive when testifying with the Holy Ghost.

- Vladimir's Faith- Vladimir is a great member in our branch, I think I have sent a few pictures of him. He loves a drink called Baikal, which I tried a few times and enjoyed. One day I was looking at the label and noticed that it had black tea extract in it, making it a violation of the Word of Wisdom. I quickly told Vladimir, and he looked crushed that his favorite drink was actually bad, we both did not even know it. I told him that we probably should not drink it now that we know, which isn't that hard for me, I'd only had it maybe three times, but this is Vladimir's favorite drink. He decided right there to stop drinking this drink and only drink milk! I was amazed by his determined resolve to follow the commandments when confronted by them. I wish I had faith like Vladimir.

- I Ride in a Russian Ambulance- The day for the wheelchair project came and we had to transport the bench that Sasha made to the hospital. The hospital decided to send us a driver, and the driver was driving an ambulance! It was really fun because essentially the ambulance was the same van as the normal buses that we take everyday, making it very shaky, unstable and prone to lurching stops and starts. It was certainly an adventure to weave in an out of traffic with our camouflage wearing driver alternatively driving, shifting gears and talking on his cell phone all at once. We made it in one piece, and I remembered why sometimes Russian driving is quite terrifying.

- The Project- The wheelchair project was great. We didn't need to translate as much as we originally thought but it was fun to get to work with the medical staff and learn who to fit wheelchairs. While not an expert, I am pretty sure that I am an amateur wheelchair fitter by now. Three people came from Utah to help and we where even able to meet some patients who would receive the wheelchairs. I was so happy to see these peoples lives change for the positive and that I was able to help just a little bit. I am amazed to see all of these humanitarian projects that the church does and how so many people donate their time and money so selflessly to help people that they don't even know.

- I eat good food- We had great lunches and dinners for two days. We even went to a restaurant where they told us to not worry about the bill and just get what we want! Tiger Prawns, Swiss Chocolate Ice cream and apple juice for me!

- "Huston We Have A Problem"- One of the small boys at the project did not have a wheelchair small enough for him, thus we needed to make some pads to fit him in. Unfortunately the Russian stores didn't have a material. Thus, Elder Ottley and I had to engineer a way to make makeshift pads for this boy's wheelchair. Elder Ottley came up with a great idea to wrap thin boards in insulation material to create something similar to closed cell foam, and that we did. It was fun to do a little bit of problem solving to help a small boy who really needed a wheelchair.

- Art Museum- Today we went to an art museum, which was really cool, but on the way we had an awesome experience. As we were walking a guy behind us started to talk to Elder Merrill and I. He told us that he was a member of our church who hadn't come for years now. He was one of the first members in Ryazan and even baptized some of our members. He recognized the missionaries, gave us his number and still wears and English CTR ring. I was amazed that we were so fortunate. If we had taken a different bus, gone to a different museum, taken a little longer to eat or anything else, we would have missed him. I guess that the Lord puts you in the right place at the right time, even on P-Day!

Well, that is all.

Elder Zachery Brasier

Cracks in the Pavement Underneath My Feet

Dear Family and Loyal Blog Readers,

 

This week has been the week of visitors to Ryazan. President Sorenson decided to come down and visit with some of the members of the Ryazan branch and the following day Elder Jewkes and Elder Palmer (the Zone Leaders) came down to Ryazan in order to do splits with us and give a little bit of training.

 

President Sorenson's visit was pretty fun, mostly because I have  become more or less the official translator of the Ryazan branch (besides Vitaliy from time to time). Almost every week I translate for Elder Ottly as we try to reorganize the branch and get it running smoothly and when President Sorenson came I became the official translator for all of his interviews. I really enjoyed that because I got to spend a lot of time with President Sorenson during his visit, and I am very grateful that we have such a great and friendly leader in our mission. President Sorenson also took the time to teach me a little Finnish, since he served his mission there. I am incredibly glad that I am learning Russian and not Finnish! I have massive amounts of respect for all the people who try to learn the Finnish language... It sure is a tough one (even though President Sorenson says that Russian is harder.. I somehow doubt that!)

 

The following day the Zone Leaders came. I was way excited to work with Elder Jewkes for a day, just like old times! He also brought good news. Vladimir, the doctor investigator from Smolensk who couldn't get baptized due to his girlfriend, finally got baptized! They had the baptism two weeks ago and it sounds like he was extremely happy to finally get baptized after such a long time. His girlfriend even came to the baptism and invited the missionaries over to their apartment. I really gained a testimony that eventually people will be able to fulfill the righteous desires of their heart and the Lord will always provide a way for people to choose righteousness. I don't know exactly why Vladimir had to wait so long to be baptized, but I know the there was a bigger purpose in the whole ordeal. Somehow, Vladimir got strengthened by the experience and is now prepared to be a leader in Smolensk. I am just so happy to know that I helped just a little with his teaching and conversion and that even though his situation seemed pretty hopeless before, he is now baptized and can begin working on his goal to attend the temple. I am really so happy for him!

 

Elder Jewkes and I had a good day, trying to help unload wheelchairs for the upcoming humanitarian project (trying because they actually didn't need our help at all, they just forgot to tell us that they already had everything under control), contacting on Victory Square, having (possibly) mafia men swear at us, avoiding Gypsies trying to steal our money, listening to Vitaliy's plans for world domination and almost missing buses. You know, just a standard day in the trenches! Once again, I am grateful for my good friends here on the mission who are always steadfast with their missionary work.

 

Otherwise, this has a been a pretty fun week. We've had some good lessons, especially with Alex who is way great and spiritually prepared and Felix who came to church once again and had a really great time at church. A lot of our investigators are moving towards baptism but at the same time a lot of our investigators are beginning to slough off. This is the way things are in the kingdom of God and in the fight to get people on the true path. As missionaries we are here to provide people with enough spiritual opportunities and ample knowledge that they can make an informed and spiritual choice about which path to follow. It all hinges on peoples freedom of agency and choice, unfortunately many people, even when presented with the light and knowledge of the gospel will choose not to accept it, to no fault of the missionaries or anybody else. Eventually all people are backed up against the wall of faith and have to decide for themselves whether or not to take a stand and choose to follow Jesus Christ, or to back down and retreat into darkness. Some people are just more comfortable with darkness, and the missionaries have to stop meeting with them in order to find the people prepared to hear our message. Anabolism and catabolism are always at work in the kingdom of God.

 

During the week, I have had a few harrowing experiences which have once again reminded me that as missionaries we are in a very literal fight against the forces of darkness. Sin is very real, and the world we live in can be a dark and evil place. It really excites me to know that on my mission I truly do have to responsibility to work my hardest in order to combat the evil in the world. I really am glad that I have to gospel in my life and I have the mission to share it with others.

 

On a less serious note, my name changed this week. I recently ordered new tags from the MTC because I lost my tag with a pin, which I need during the winter. It is probably obvious that all of our names as missionaries have to be transcribed using the Cyrillic alphabet, thus my name on my old pin tag and my current clip on tag was Брэйжер which transliterates as "Breyzhyer". That is about as close as you can get to my last name using the Cyrillic alphabet. Well, for some reason the MTC decided to send me a new pin tag with my name spelt as Брэйзер which transliterates as "Breyzyer". Брэйзер? A hard "z" instead of a tasteful "zh"? I am quite indignant, but I guess while I have my coat on I'll be Брэйзер now instead of Брэйжер, but at least I'll have my correct name when I take my coat off!

 

Ok, enough of that. Have a nice week.

 

As Always,

Elder (Sir) Zachery E. Brasier

 

Quotes of the Week:

-Me: "Hey Felix, your looking good today." Felix: "Yeah thanks, I'm always looking good." (Which is true)

-Vladimir: "ITS A TRUE!" (responding to a joke that somebody made).

Friendly Paramecia

Dear Family and Loyal Blog Readers,

 

Since the return of our friendly revenants, things have been well here in Ryazan. For the most part, missionary work has turned towards the business as usual sort of things, so I don't have a whole lot that I would like to report at this time, but I'll try to figure something out in order to entertain you with various mission adventures.

 

Considering all things, Friday was a pretty interesting day. We had a joint zone conference with my native South Zone and the East Zone, the zone of my good friend Elder Olsen, including the well treasured city of Nizhniy Novgorod. Also, Elder Eliason from Tula came so it was really fun to see all of my good friends once again. Conference was so so good. I actually am going to consider it as a big turning point of my mission, because I had a really great spiritual experience during the trainings and on my way home. I really was able to understand somethings that I need to be better in my mission and how to dedicate myself more to the mission. I really love conferences and I love the opportunity to re-assess what I am doing in the mission and how to work better to help people come closer to God and Jesus Christ. It is also very fun to see all of my good friends and have entertaining leadership trainings. In and unfortunate turn of events, I found out that I am officially on the mission "Kill Board" the white board that President Sorenson has to track when people are leaving! But lets not think about those sorts of things shall we?

 

Today, we had a very interesting experience. Recently, the Storm's ( a senior couple in our mission) have been working with some groups in Ryazan to do humanitarian work. One of their biggest projects was the purchasing of a Braille printer for a blind library here in Ryazan. This printer is a big step forward because it allows the library to print documents and pictures using Braille printing. In order to celebrate this event, the library has decided to throw a little party for us, which involved lots of food and lots of signing of Russian folk songs. It was a way fun, especially because some of the people had decided to drink a little champagne, which loosens up the Russian people. Thus, we spent at least 45 minutes singing folk songs and watching this Kazakh theatre actor acting out the story of the song and I got to tell all the people many interesting facts about Las Vegas. Wow, I really had a lot of fun, and we got to talk a lot about our church and our beliefs. They were blown away when we told them that we don't drink black or green tea, alcohol, smoke or take drugs. Everybody gasped and then started congratulating us on such a life. I want to tell them that they could have it too, but the moment wasn't really correct....

 

Otherwise, our investigators are doing quite well. We are meeting a lot with our investigators and are trying to move them closer and closer to baptism. I've realized that on my mission I'm really good at finding and starting to teach investigators, but I'm not nearly as talented at closing the deal. So we're trying to move a few of our investigators closer to membership in the church. This is actually quite the novel experience for me, but I've really enjoyed having so many investigators doing progress and finding their way to the church. This is a very different situation than Smolensk with Elder Jewkes, opening up a new area, no investigators, contacting everyday in -25 degree C weather... Yeah, it's a little better than that.

 

Elder Ottly and I have been teaming up in order to help the branch get back on logistical course. This week we had the highest number of people at sacrament meeting which we've had for awhile (24 people! That's a good improvement!). Now that that is moving up, we are trying to help the branch organize so that they can effective fulfill the three-fold mission of the church. It has really taxed my translating skills, especially in Branch Council which sometimes dissolves into a rigmarole.... one that is especially difficult to translate. But I've really enjoyed learning all about church organization and how to effectively run the branch.

 

Well like I said, I don't have a whole lot to write, so I apologize, because I know that some people like reading these sorts of things. But at any rate, have a good week!

 

As Always,

Elder Zachery E. Brasier

Oh, How the Revenants Came Down...

Dear Family and Loyal Blog Reader,

 

Well summer is officially over, so my long wait till fall has finally come to an end. What a relief it is to be heading into the bleak cold months of the year, something I have been waiting for ever since the end of May. Sweaters and jackets are the vogue now, and soon enough I'll break out my peacoat and give my best impersonation of a Danish fisherman while contacting the streets of Russia. But lets not get to far into the future shall we?

 

Things seem to be on an upward climb, the slope of missionary work would probably be positive (if we were to map it mathematically). In a fortunate turn of events, Felix returned after a long absence. I had been calling him for quite some time but unfortunately his phone was turned off. Instantly, the various reasons for this flashed through my head. Was he offended? Did he find anti-Mormon literature? Did the KGB get him? In fact, he was just in Moscow for a work program and returned just in time to come to church this Sunday. I was so glad to see him once again, since it had been quite a long time. We have also had some success recently finding new investigators. If you remember from a few months back, I mentioned that Elder Turner (one of the assistants to the president) and I had met some sort of famous chef while contacting. For the longest time he was completely unable to meet, but we finally were able to get an appointment with him and chat with him about the gospel. He is an awesome guy and asked all the right questions such as: "Do you have any literature specific to your church?" or "But how did you know that the Book of Mormon is true?" or "I don't think we should pray to icons, shouldn't we pray in our own words?" Yes, things went quite well. Also, we met with a guy who has known about the church for 16 years! I didn't even know that the church was here in Ryazan back in 1996, but evidently it was. We had a very good lesson with him and even challenged him to baptism, with a soft commitment (you know: If you come to know that these things are true, will you be baptized?") and he accepted! And, in one final note, the two rock band investigators finally became interested in the gospel, so that is really good news for us.

 

On a more humorous note, two interesting things happened to me this week.

 

Interesting thing #1 (or: How I have lost all ability to contact in English): While contacting on Victory Square a few days ago, I was able to contact some African students from Botswana, so they spoke English, and I realized very quickly that I have no clue how to contact somebody about the Book of Mormon in English. It was one of the worst contact approaches I have had for quite a while, and I even felt like I was a greenie once again, because I had no clue how to express myself to them in English. I actually found myself translating from Russian into English. In my mind I was thinking: "Это - летопись древних пророков" and I had no clue how to express that in English! I had to translate: "This is... a .... um... record (oh yes that's it).... old prophets, oh I mean OF old prophets.... (yeah, that's right)" I still got his contact, but it seems as though I am completely inept at contacting in the English language.

 

Interesting thing #2 (or: Why I should have taught my greenie how to get off a bus.): A few days ago we were returning home from an appointment at a members apartment. It was time for us to be home so we were kind of in a hurry, and didn't have time to do much else, so we got on a bus and started heading towards our bus stop on Lenin Square. As we approach the stop I yell to the driver to stop (this is what you have to do in Russia, or else the drivers keep going, so you have to know where you are and yell loud enough to make him stop) and started working my way to the door of the bus. Finally the bus stops and I begin to shove people out of the way in order to get through the door, seeing as the bus was exceptionally crowded, AND people were getting on at the same time. Finally I escape out into fresh air right as the bus starts driving forward and the doors close. Since the driver let us off in the middle of the street, I quickly ran to the sidewalk and turned around to make a joke to Elder Merrill about how many people were on the bus, only to find that Elder Merrill wasn't with me! I looked over to the bus and saw a white shirt and tie pressed up against a window as the bus sped away. I just stood there..... Oh no...... and started sprinting down the street to the next stop, hoping that he'll have to common sense to get off on the next stop...... Fortunately he did, and we reunited at the next stop. I was so glad that that situation worked out alright. Elder Merrill might have been a little shaken, seeing as that was the first time it had happened to him, but all worked out in the end.

 

End of interesting things.

 

In other news, things seem to be getting better in the branch. Elder Ottly (the senior couple missionary) and I have been working really hard in order to get the branch organized in the correct way and get the work moving. This means that I've really learned a lot about church organization and how to run things in a branch of the church. This has been a really valuable learning experience for me and has also sharpened up my translating skills. Speaking of translating, I just received an assignment from President Sorenson to translate for a two day wheel chair donation project that the mission is doing here in Ryazan. I am actually a little apprehensive of this, mostly because I have yet to study my "Technical Wheelchair and Accessories Vocabulary" from my Russian study manual (don't be fooled, that section obviously does not exist.) Hopefully though things will go well and I'll be able to effectively translate to help all these people in Ryazan learn how to use these wheelchairs that were so generously donated by affluent saints.

 

And so yes, that is all that is really going on right now. A few days ago I thought that Ryazan was under attack! As I was laying in my bed slowly falling to sleep, suddenly I heard explosions and blasts right above my head! I suddenly jumped out of my bed and remembering stories of early missionaries being shot at by anti-Mormon forces, ducked down as my room was filled with multi-color lights and flashes. Gaining courage, I tentatively lifted my eyes just above the window seal to look out the window. To my surprise, the explosions were just fireworks which were being launched so low that they were nearly level with my window. I guess that I survived the Battle of Ryazan.

 

Everybody have a great week!

 

As Always

Elder Z. E. Brasier

PS- Vitaliy quote of the week: "Physical elimination is my hobby!" Oh Vitaliy...

 

PPS- Here is a quote from one of our branch councilors, Gennadiy, who was a rather high ranking KGB commander, in the top ten of the the command. One day, while giving a talk, he said this: "We should spend our time developing Christ-like attributes. In my past work [KGB commander] I spent my time developing different..... attributes.... But now I develop Christ like ones!" I really liked that quote.