Letter - April 12, 2010

This week, I've had double doses of Conference: two sessions in English and two sessions in Lithuanian. We just finished the second Saturday session. It was marvelous. During L. Tom Perry's talk, I thought about my teaching preparations here. Yesterday morning, I spent a lot of time preparing to teach a family that evening. It was a great experience. I felt so happy just testifying of those truths in thoughts of my own making. We didn't give all the material we prepared, but those new ideas definitely affected the WAY we taught that lesson.

Of course I loved Elder Christofferson's talk about William Tynedale. (sp?) I love the quote, which I will paraphrase, " If God will spare my life, I will make it so the boy who drives the plow will know more of the scriptures than the pope." This statement certainly was personified in the boy Joseph Smith. Just as Tynedale's copies of the bible were smuggled in barrels, so were the ancient records translated into the Book of Mormon. All great things begin in obscurity.

It was no coincidence, that I read Korihor's words in Lithuanian yesterday, and his falsehoods were the very ones addressed in his talk today. I have talked to SO many people already who "prosper according to their own strength, who need no savior, who find there is no wrong and is no right." The only thing I can do, of course, is live righteously, exhort, invite, and expound (this will come in about six months, when I can understand Lithuanian.) I must be careful not to imagine unto myself "a Christ that stands for social justice but makes no claims on my personal life." Is there a more prevalent mockery than this in our day?

D. Todd Christofferson is quickly becoming one of my favorite apostles. I especially have loved his past conference address on Zion.

Many of the talks this session seemed to have a theme on the importance of teaching in the home. A wonderful example of this I already have in my own parents. I can't count the times in my younger years I remember my parents teaching me. Of course Mom and Dad continue to inspire me by the way they are such an active part in my and my siblings' lives.

I really loved Elder Hollands quote, "True love must include the idea of permanence." I just don't know it's source. So, if anyone knows, drop me a line.

Thanks so much for letting me vent. I don't write in my journal like I should, so emailing makes for a nice place to vent. The work moves steadily forward. I'm developing a lot of patience, and trying to be good out here.

Myliu Jusu,

Sesuo Paul

Letter - April 5, 2010

Dear Family,

This week, we had zone conference and Easter, and taught several new lessons. (It feels like lots of our seeds are blown about by the wind, because we haven't had any progressing investigators from our finding efforts.) But, Zone Conference was a wonderful energizer, as will be General Conference, I hope. A member, while visiting, had us try the Lithuanian method of decorating eggs, which is to intermittently drip wax and dye the egg different colors, and then scratching it all off. Of course, ours paled in comparison to hers. It was a wonderful week to reflect on the Savior and His atonement. Several Lithuanians told me this week, "The egg is a symbol of new life, of fresh beginnings, of potential." I thought about the Savior's gift to each of us, at a new life each week as we partake of the sacrament. I know that your member efforts as well as my efforts in the field, will be blessed to the degree that we are utilizing the atonement in our lives (maybe that's why these weeks have been so humbling.) One cannot share what they do not have.

Attached is a picture of all the Lithuanian Sisters at Zone Conference. Sister Hall is the tall one with brown long hair. She also happens to be my companion. I think I have really confused people at doors when I stutter on our names, and call us the same thing. Her first name happens to be Lee, which makes our full names rhyme nicely. This picture is a picture of my District in the MTC. I couldn't remember if I've sent one of those yet. Also, we had a picture of the Armenians next door with their flag. It was cool because I ate every meal, slept next door, and attended meetings with Sister Hallewell, my coordinating Sister. I will always look back at my MTC experience with fondness.All the same, being here and engaged in the real work has been far more rewarding than the MTC. I must run, but thanks to all for the love and support. I can't remember if I shared my mailing address, so I'll post it one more time, and then I promise I'll stop:
S. Paul
Cesu iela 31-2k2
Lv-1012 Riga
Latvia.

Su Valykomis (with Easter)!

S. Paul

Ta Dah - Pictures!!

Me and my Mission President and his wife

There's me, binging on an oatmeal cookie
There's me and the only other natural redhead
I've seen in all of Lithuania

Funny Story for the Week!

I was trying to talk to someone on the bus, and so I read my Book of Mormon until I found a word I didn't know. I asked him what it meant. He said, "to be burned. Someone will be burned." I decided that was not a good word to start a religious discussion about, so I said thanks, and left him alone.

Mucho Mylei!

SesePaul

Letter - March 29, 2010

So, another week has gone by. Things have warmed up a bit. It's been a frustrating week as far as the language goes. I am also a little under the weather. But besides that, we had a really nice Sunday yesterday. We really stretched ourselves yesterday, when we set a goal for one lesson with only have the day to knock doors. As of yesterday morning, we had not crossed the threshold of a door to share with anyone.

While we were picking up trash around the community last Saturday, I greeted a woman and noticed that she was crying a little. She told me that she was even a little familiar with our church, they had attended church once. I got her phone number, and we went by yesterday to visit her and their husband and bring them a cake. It was so nice to hear an "užeikite" (come in!) when we were standing on her doorstep. We shared with them, and talked about their palm Sunday. The husband and wife were just elderly good catholic people. Romas (the husband) only had one leg, but this seems to just have softened him rather than hardened him. We left them a Book of Mormon, and had a wonderful time together.

Also, I was pulled out of the last few minutes of primary because there were two young girls sitting on our couch in the lobby asking questions about our church. They were on a road trip and just happened to be walking by. We were able to have an entire first lesson, give them a Book of Mormon reading assignment, they committed to pray and come visit church next week, hopefully. They were really cute free-spirits who like Buddha too.

We have one progressing investigator. We were hoping that his entire family of six siblings and parents would also be interested in our message, but as of now, mom told us she is not interested in changing faiths. It was a little bit of a downer, but we still have high hopes for them. So, if any of you want to, I need prayers for Inga and her seven kids, Edvinas, Evaldas, Neringa, Skaiste, and the four youngest. Kind of different names. Huh?

I am sorry my English is so lousy. I am just lazy lately. My language brain has had it. Life is great! We see little miracles every day.

Love,
Sister Paul

Letter - March 22, 2010

Labbas,

Here I am in Lithuania. The snow was melting today, so I decided to dress for spring. As I was standing at the bus stop near my house, a snowflake landed on this lady's hat, and didn't begin to melt for at least five seconds. I was fooled.

I just had my first chocolate filled croissant (sp?) and later, I ate an entire large pizza: the exotic had sweet hot chili sauce, pineapple, and chicken. (Lithuanian crusts are much thinner.) So, I'm sure you'd all rather know about the work here. It's been great so far. On our first day of meeting President and Sister Dance, we went contacting for an hour and a half. Since we were in Latvia, I just used English, but we ended up with three phone numbers in 45 minutes.

I taught my first lesson in Lithuanian on the 5 hour bus ride, since I had nothing better to do. I think she was teaching me more Lithuanian than I was teaching her about the Book of Mormon. We've been contacting on the streets, harvesting (apartment knocking), and contacting on the streets when we're not teaching. I seem to do alright on buses. I've been able to carry on a few conversations and get a few phone numbers, but there's something about talking to people on the street that is not quite as easy for me. Some people are fairly easy to understand.

Last week, we tried to go by a less-active's home, but we couldn't break-into the lock on the front of the apartment building, so we found an older guy on the bench in the park. We asked him where he's from, and he said, Siberia in broken Lithuanian (or so my companion said). He knew German better than any other language, but mine was pretty shabby after Lithuanian being poured through it for two months. His name was Vladimar. We talked a bunch about great authors and composers, and then later last week we taught him a first lesson. He's kind of crazy, so I'll have to let you know how it goes.

I've talked with people from all sorts of walks of life. We ran into some English-speaking anarchist Yogi-like guys with several several piercings, and we had at least a half-hour conversation on their way to an art museum. We gave them each a BofM with assignments. We'll see how far the Elders get with them.

One of the most fun experiences last week was while knocking in a pretty rough Dome (apt building.) We ran into an older Russian lady, and her son. I couldn't even remember how to say my name, but somehow, we told her we were missionaries. Then she started talking, and telling us something. She became a little emotional. I wanted to talk so badly. I think I experienced one of the gifts of being a missionary, as the spirit just washed over me. I felt so much love for her, even though I didn't know her. I couldn't understand what she was saying, but I found the words for, "I love you. God loves you. I know." (probably incorrect.) We set a time, when we will return with Russian Sisters, gave her a hug, and went on our way. I don't know what will happen from here, but if anything good happens, I will let you know.

I know the Lord is taking care of me. I feel like I've been able to concentrate on the work and not be too frustrated with the language or my weaknesses. I'm still the imperfect person I was when I came on my mission. I've even slipped up on some things, like my spelling. Still, I feel the Lord is helping me to celebrate in the little successes, to enjoy the conversations, to just keep going despite my forgetfulness.

By the way, I ran into an Elder Daniel Sestrand. You may remember his family from Vegas. He's a Russian speaking Elder in Latvia.

I love and miss you all!

Sesuo Paul


Hello Family! I had a few extra minutes, so I thought I'd continue. My email might not work for awhile since I'm changing servers.

Time is so funny while I'm adjusting. I'm always busy, but somehow these last five days have been an eternity.

I really enjoyed Jordan's wedding pictures. I was sad not to be there, but oh well.

I think the biggest advantage of being new here, is I can't tell when people tell me 'no.' It's not socially couth to talk to people on buses, but I got a phone number from this guy because I just kept talking to him anyway.

Yesterday, it was really nice to meet the branch members. Later, we were trying to find the apartment of the lady I taught on the way to Lithuania. She said she lived in building 32. When we got to her complex, the even numbered buildings were 28, 30, 34, and 36. We walked all over the place, but no 32. It was so bizarre. You all would've been impressed to see me working my way across a snow-mud field in my Sunday clothes trying to find this lady. I got four phone numbers yesterday. It was much more natural and easier than some of the other days I've been contacting. Apparently it's a plus to look extra cute. People start talking to me, and inviting me to sit by them. They ask me about the book I'm holding. Someone asked me about my idea of God. :) That was nice. I asked him what he does. He said, "my work has no name." Got to go.

S. Paul

Letter - March 11, 2010

Hello All,

My mtc stay is coming to a close, and I'm very excited and sad about that. I will miss the temple. We were able to go for our last time today. The endowment has become a very special thing to me, and I'm so grateful for temples.

I thought a lot today about the kind of missionary, and the kind of person I want to be. The mission has had a profound impact on my life already. I was able to do a lot of thinking and writing today. Elder Bruce C. Hafen came and spoke last Tues. I really enjoyed the counsel from a father to a son who didn't feel he had a testimony: "Whatever you do, son. Please, just keep the commandments. Only through keeping the commandments will you be able to continue your search for truth unbiasedly. Once satan burdens us down with guilt, it will be very easy to justify sin and convince ourselves out of the gospel." I am trying every day to be as obedient as I possibly can. I find that I am always blessed when I do so.

I am enjoying hearing about home. That spring break energy is in the air. I thought of another hilarious story. So, I heard the elders down the hall arguing about whether I was Irish. I don't know who started that story, but, as I walked past, one of them decided to ask me. My reply, quickly came out in a thick Irish accent, "Where to-ya think'im frum?" This intensified the discussion; "See, I told you she was..." I eventually came clean. I also enjoyed learning what the word Habberdashery means. It's a word for hats.

I've only got a couple minutes. Know that I love you all very much, and am proud of you all.

Sese Paul