Russia (Perm) Week 3

All is well,
The culture shock is starting to wear off. Things are starting to make sense again. It no longer feels like I'm just following somebody through a sea of randomly organized buildings that never look the same.

I realized this week that it really was just about as much culture shock as you could possibly get. To go from the MTC to Russia is ridiculous. At the MTC, every single person is modestly dressed, well groomed, smiling and happy. Everywhere you go is clean. There is not a cigarette or beer bottle in sight. In fact there isn't a can of caffine to be found. There is no sleeze. There is no cussing. No nothing. It is literally a eutopia of righteousness.
Russia on the other hand, is so locked in the clutches of the devil. There is sleeze everywhere. They sell pornography at every corner. Their billboards have girls dressed in bikini's. Even for random products, like concrete. And the real girls? I thought that alot of girls back home dressed poorly. I've seen girls wearing fishnet shirts. And when I say girls, that is all age ranges. Even older women.
Beer is so cheap. It's cheaper than a bottle of water. I saw beer being sold for 50 cents a bottle the other day. It was absolutely ridiculous.
And everyone smokes. Literally everyone. Probably because it's so cheap. Another Elder was telling me the other day that he saw cigarettes being sold for about a quarter a pack once. The people here smoke so much that manufacturers had to start adding flavors to their cigarettes to keep customers from getting bored with the same old smoke. Yes, cigarettes now come in many fun flavors such as strawberry, cherry, and grape!
And they when they are done with their beer and their cigarettes, they just through the stubs and the bottles on the ground. Bottles of beer and cigarette butts are all over the place. You can't walk more than a section of sidewalk without seeing a dozen. Its crazy really.

The people here are really interesting also. Most of the members of the Church are really kind, and normal. And not drunk. But most the rest of Russia is usually a bit tipsy. We were walking the other day and a lady walked up to me and started saying "tui-ahngel, tui-ahngel" and other gibberish. Which translates to "you look like an angel". And she went on to talk about how blue my eyes were. And she said a prayer over me. It was just all very odd. Alot of the people we stop on the streets are a bit drunk too. You can always tell by the smell.

Culture here is a bit different also. There have been a number of times when we've been teaching a lesson in public, just to have some random person walk up and interupt us. It happened the other day at a dinner. We were talking with an older gentleman, and a youngman who was sitting in the next booth over turned around and stuck his head into our conversation. And after a while started asking intruding questions. Our investigator got up to find a better seat, and with his seat being empty, the youngman decided to take his place. He sat down right in front of us and started asking questions about Adam and Eve and the creation. The shocking part was that this young man actually turned into a contact. We got his phone number and everything.

Also talked with a lady the other day who was just totally blunt. For example I tried to explain something during our lesson that I'd never explained in Russian. I stumbled over my words a bit. And she said "if God is on your side, you should pray for the gift of tongues." I was a bit shocked. The lesson went well though. We talked with her for over an hour and a half. Sadly we won't be meeting with her anymore. She only wants to meet with the native Russian Sisters that are in our area.

Another intersting experience this week while walking between areas. We thought that it would only take about 15 minutes to get from one city to another, but it ended up being a 50 minute walk. Along the side of a high way, with just about nobody to talk to. But, then randomly, we came around a corner and there was a lady selling drinks. We almost walked past her, but stopped. She was so interested in the gospel. Took a Book or Mormon, and promised to come to church. It was shocking. When we walked away, I looked over my shoulder. She was already reading.

Love Elder Wilson

Russia (Perm) Week 2

Well first off, this week has been so ridiculously fast. I swear I just stood up after finishing the last email. Time here is bizare. It really is. I feel like I never have enough time for anything.

We've done alot of teaching this week. And alot of contacting. One day we went out tracting. In Russia everyone lives in appartment buildings that are like twelve stories high, so to tract, you hike all the way to the top floor then start your way down, door by door. When Elder Kimball and I were at about floor 9 on our way up, a lady coming down the stairs stopped us and friendly asked who we were. We said we were missionaries. She was no longer friendly.
She started babling in the fastest Russian i've ever heard. Actually, bad word choice. I said babling. Let me say ranting. She was practically yelling at us. Demanding that we leave, get out of the building, and stop bothering people. She was apparently a very zealous Russian Orthodox. And she didn't like the idea of her neighbors changing their beliefs.
At first we resisted. But when she pulled out the cell phone and started threatening to call the police, we gave in not wanting to make a scene. She then walked us to the door. Then she just stood there. And would not budge until she was sure that we were actually going to leave.

Oh, and speaking of cops. We had a minor run in while contacting people on the street. We were just walking around talking to people, when a younger looking cop decided that he wanted to have some fun. Its not very difficult to see that we are foreigners, so he demanded to see our passports and documents. We obliged. Pulled them out, unfolded everything, and held them up for him to see. We are supposed to not give our documents to anyone. Ands it's our right to not comply if a cop demands to actually touch our passports (which are apparently worth about $8,000 dollars on the blackmarket). But he demanded. And said "I can do whatever I want. This is Russia. Not America." We didn't have the number on hand for our lawyers, so we just let him hold them. Nothing happened of course. And we walked away fine, but it was still funny.

The little Russian children are so cute in their suits. I loved seeing them on Sunday. Our members here are so strong. It would be so hard to be in a branch of only thirty active members, all so spaced out. But these pioneers just keep moving forward.

Oh, by the way dad. All the Russians think that the photo i have of mom is my sister. I just think she's a kind lady. They think she's gorgeous.

As far as the photos go, I'm still figuring all that out. I'll let you know. But I do have a dad duty for you. My visa (personal) card is not working. And I need some personal money. So if you could go to my bank and talk with them that would be great. Maybe mom will have to go. I"m not sure if you are cosigned on yet or not

Russia Week 1

What a strange thing it is to be sitting here thousands and thousands of miles away from you all. I look down at the keyboard I'm using, and the characters are all in Russia. I look outside the window near where I sit, and all the signs outside are in Russian. Everyone is speaking Russian. Everything is Russian. I'm not in Kansas anymore.
I hardly know where to begin. This last week has been a blur of color, faces, tears, and time. It was so strange to say goodbye to friends at the MTC. So strange to submit names for new Zone Leaders, then walk them around showing them how to take care of everybody. Strange to have one last interview with President Childs who I came to love so much. Or to have one last Fast Sunday at the MTC. Everything all comes and goes so much faster than I would have ever expected. Time goes by at such an incredible speed. So often I want to just reach out, somehow slow things down. But it can't be done. Time marches unstopably onward. It was strange to run around Monday morning last week, gathering together the last of our things, running out the door to catch the bus leaving for the airport. Strange to be in a twelve passenger van headed for Salt Lake, looking over my shoulder at the valley which I had known all my life. Stange to walk into an airport, and for the first time, be a missionary in a place where not everyone is a member. People constantly squinted for a better look at our name tags.
And it was incredible to sit next to a person on a plane, and talk about God, and Christ, and the purpose of life, for two and a half hours. Incredible to hear him offer his ideas and opinions, and be able to reply to him with not just opinions, but facts. Incredible to give out a pass along card to someone who was actually interested. Who actually wanted to find out more.
That was on my flight from Frankfurt to Yekaterinburg. The man's name was Steve Peterson. Quite a devout Christian. Knew the scriptures quite well. Had alot of questions. Personal studies paid off, and I feel like I was able to answer just about everything he asked. It was great to be able to clear up some false notions he had. And then bear a powerful testimony. Strong enough to make him sit back in his seat for a number of minutes, unsure of what to say.
We pulled into Yekaterinburg at 4:30 in the morning. Which is 4:30 in the afternoon your time. Isn't that funny? An exact twelve hour time change. And that also means that I just got hit with some of the worst jet lag possible. I'm still tired, and its been four days!
President Allcot met us with his Assistants, then brought us back to the mission home to sleep until a decent hour. Which after a warm shower and what not, meant about an hour of sleep. Then quickly began explination (I can already tell my spelling is just going to go down hill by the way. I can't figure out if I spelled that word right. Russian really plays with your head) of everything the Mission expected of us. And the rules and what not. I don't know President Allcot to well yet. But I bet he'll be incredible. I liked what I saw in the few hours I was with him. No introduction interview yet. But its zone conference this week, so I'll let you know. After the welcome meeting, we were introduced to our new companions, and were sent on our way.
Elder Kimball will be my trainer. He is a great Elder -- Seems to understand Missionary work quite well, really cares for the Russian people, is easy to get along with, etc. He is from Mesa Arizona, middle child in his family. And is tall. About six foot five. The Lord must be trying to humble me. This is my second companion in a row who is at least six inches taller than me. Maybe I'll grow. Someday.
Russia is absolutely crazy. I was expected everything to be really dingy, gray, dirty. And it is dingy. And it is dirty. But there is color everywhere. Its like they tried to make this place happier by just pouring buckets of bright primary colors over anything metal. Or whatever else will hold a coat of paint. I saw a soccer field the other day that was surrounded with tires, all painted in rainbow colors. It was really strange.
That and everything is totally overgrown. There is weeds and grass growing everywhere. Trees are all over the place. Its so green. And contrasted with the cold hard apartment buildings that are everywhere, it really is odd. Its like the government tried to make everything conform. The people. The land. Everything. And it all backfired.
Remnants of the Soviet Era are everywhere. Statues of men standing strong, proud, and tall, ready for a glorious future -- now the statues are cracked, there are weeds growing up around the base. And graffitti on the sides.
Everywhere is appartment buildings. Towering hundreds of feet into the air. And they seem to have no order to them. The nice and neat block system that we have at home is almost non existant in many places here. Trying to find our way in and out of our appartment is a nightmare. So many little turns and off paths here and there to take.
Our appartment is actually quite nice. Its got a washing machine, a stove, microwave, beds (well one matress, i'm on a sort of couch thing), and a great study room. The building is sort of dingy, and the stairwell is a bit grimy, but when you get through our doorway everything is nice and clean.
That's how it is with most people's appartments here. I wish I could understand more of what people are saying. Everyone told me that the language I learned in the MTC would sound like gibberish here. They were right. Totally right. It's complete gibberish. I can only catch a word or two here and there. But I'm learning. Quickly. I have to. Or I will walk around this country like a blind man for two years.
The water here smells like dirt. We are not aloud to drink it. And I don't think I would if I could. We have to buy all our water. No problem with that. And we drink tons of juice. No problem with that. Grocery shopping is wierd here. No huge stores. Just little markets and what not. Shopping in general is like that. Little kiosks and shops set up all over in markets called "reenuks". Apparently some of the biggest cities have Russian equivilants of Wal-Mart.
Sacrament meeting yesterday was quite an experience. There are two branches here in Perm. One is very strong, very active. About 60 something people always in attendance. And the other is a bit smaller, only about 30 people. And Elder Kimball and I are in the smaller branch. But we are going to work on that. We've got a lot of meetings already set up to get this area back up and running.
The members that we have are so strong. Its particularly incredible to meet a person who was just recently baptized. They are so full of fire and life. We had a meeting with one such person named Vira, which in Russian means faith. I really like her alot. She is such a great addition to the members here.
There are so many people here who need to hear the Gospel. I have had the chance to look at life with the lense of worthlessness. I've looked out at the world with the thoughts "all is vanity, vanity, vanity." I know the difference between the light of the gospel truth, and the despair of its absense. These people don't know what they are missing. Life is so much more rich, good, and full, when you know the truth.
We have gone contacting a number of times. Not tracting yet, but we walk around the streets, stop people, and talk to them. I've already placed some Books of Mormon. Incredible expierences honestly. There is always so much to do and so little time. I hate how much time we have to spend on busses. If I could actually understand people that would be fine. But right now I'm limited. I can speak fine for the most part. But when someone replies, I really have a hard time.
There is so much to talk about. I hardly know what to speak about. I apologize if this letter has jumped around a bit. I'm trying to somehow explain an entire country in only a short email. Can't be done. That's probably enough about Russia for now. I'll write more next week.
I am so happy to hear about the Spindler family. Tears filled my own eyes reading of their wonderful experience. And what a blessing for Eric. To see his dad walk into the room in addition to the rest of his family. Just thinking about it makes me well up again. Thank you so much for sharing all that with me.
The light of the gosepl is real. And truly it changes lives. What an incredible experience for you all to be able to see that. And what a blessing it will be for me to see it over these next two years.
As far as email goes. I have quite a bit more email time every week now. And i'm still only aloud to email family only. Sorry friends :( The mail here is pretty slow. It takes about a week or two for my letters home to arrive, but it can take two months for them to arrive here. And boxes can take anywhere from 1-6 months. Most of the time its only a month or two, but things do get stuck every once in a while. Sorry again. Not alot we can do about that.
I love you all so much. I love hearing from you. And I love your support. Next week maybe I'll be able to put together a more concise letter. Love you so much.
Elder Wilson