Tere,
Well this week has just been awesome!! We have been knocking a lot. I am tired of contacting in center all the time, so we just knock in the evenings now. Its been a lot of fun. I had a cool miracle. We had been knocking and it was freezing and nobody was letting us in. We were just finishing up a building when I looked across the street to another building. The porch light turned on. So I thought to myself...sign from God? Well after I thought that I knew I had to go knock that building. So we knocked it but nobody answered. The second to the last door though a man answered. He seemed kind of interested. Then he shouted into his house if anybody wants to talk with the Mormons. We heard his daughter squealed with laughter. But once she came out and saw us, she wasn't laughing anymore. She was flirting. haha. But anyways, the mom and dad let us in. We taught them and it just went very well. They were very hesitant about us coming back though and wouldn't set up a direct time. But we left a Book of Mormon with them as that was really all we could do. But it was fun to see that if you follow the lights, you find a family. haha. Also we found out that the branch president in Pärnu is getting married!! He has been dating one of the recent converts for a month and they are getting married!! We are way excited for him. It will be so awesome. Pärnu needs it. Also I was cutting my hair and guess what I saw.....GRAY!! Flip. What is that all about. Granted there were like four pieces, but still. They are in existence now. So I cut them all off. But i couldn't believe it. On Sunday a few members came down from Tallinn so it was really fun to see them. I also spoke on Sunday. My topic was Mosiah 2:21-22. You should be there in the reading if you are doing my challenge correctly...or be there soon. But that was really fun for me. Tiina-our Estonian teacher and member-helped me with all my grammar. But people told me that I pronounced stuff very well. haha. So that was really fun. We haven't really found any new investigators this week. Our pool is getting shallower but we are trying to find like crazy. So we'll see what happens. I am really excited to be out of January. I just am not a fan of it. You have to get used to the new year, and writing 2011 not 2010. Its cold, and long. But its over now. haha. Happiness is coming in the form of February. When we get 0 degrees here, I am feeling warm. What's happened to me? haha. We got a lady that's been kind of less active back to church so that was exciting. She missed one Sunday, then another, then another. So she felt stupid coming back. But we taught with the branch president here and she was there on Sunday. That was exciting. Transfers...I have no idea what's going to happen. I really haven't thought about it. Its not for another few weeks..17th...we'll see. I hope I stay the same but who knows. Zone conference on Thursday...it may be my last one! Now that's scary. Anyways. I love you family. Keep being awesome!!
Armastusega,
Vanem Boyce
Monday, January 31, 2011
Monday, January 24, 2011
January 24th...
Hello everyone!!!
I have a Funny story (well funny to me!!!)-whenever I show pictures of my family to people I hear 'models, actors, beautiful, classy, or just very nice.' But the other day I heard 'your family looks like they are from a soap opera!' It made me laugh. Well this week has been good. First off, my thoughts have changed. So for a long time I thougth it would be awesome to get home, possible move away, go travel and study etc. I did not want to get married right away as well. But something has totally changed in me. Maybe I am growing up (ha) or maybe, I don't know, I am just realizing other important things, but I am really excited to get home and get married. haha. It just sounds really fun for me. Anyways, that was my big huge epiphony of the week. We had a cool miracle. We had a lesson set up and a member ready to come to it. We all got together, but the lesson didn't show up. So as we were standing there a guy walks up to me and stares at me for a second and starts to walk away. So I said Hello, we started talking, I invited him in to talk and he agreed. That was on Wednesday, and we have already taught him 3 times now. The member did awesome in teaching him-I was way surprised and proud. His name is Sergei and he is way cool. He is way religious and he is Russian Orthodox. Our second lesson he had read 69 pages of the book of mormon. How awesome is that!!! He doesn't really understand authority and I think its partly because he doesn't know Estonian the best, so we teach in english, but he doesn't understand 100 percent in english either. We have been trying to get people there that speak Russian to translate and its been helpful. So we are really excited about him. But sadly we have to pass him to the other Elders because he lives in there area. But its all good. We have a lot of people in the pool righ tnow, and everything is going good. So that was my big, cool news this week. We are going to paint a members place today for Pday. So that will be something different to do, and I finally get to learn how to paint. Anyways, I love you all. Have good week and pray for Estonia!!!
Armastusega,
Venem Boyce
I have a Funny story (well funny to me!!!)-whenever I show pictures of my family to people I hear 'models, actors, beautiful, classy, or just very nice.' But the other day I heard 'your family looks like they are from a soap opera!' It made me laugh. Well this week has been good. First off, my thoughts have changed. So for a long time I thougth it would be awesome to get home, possible move away, go travel and study etc. I did not want to get married right away as well. But something has totally changed in me. Maybe I am growing up (ha) or maybe, I don't know, I am just realizing other important things, but I am really excited to get home and get married. haha. It just sounds really fun for me. Anyways, that was my big huge epiphony of the week. We had a cool miracle. We had a lesson set up and a member ready to come to it. We all got together, but the lesson didn't show up. So as we were standing there a guy walks up to me and stares at me for a second and starts to walk away. So I said Hello, we started talking, I invited him in to talk and he agreed. That was on Wednesday, and we have already taught him 3 times now. The member did awesome in teaching him-I was way surprised and proud. His name is Sergei and he is way cool. He is way religious and he is Russian Orthodox. Our second lesson he had read 69 pages of the book of mormon. How awesome is that!!! He doesn't really understand authority and I think its partly because he doesn't know Estonian the best, so we teach in english, but he doesn't understand 100 percent in english either. We have been trying to get people there that speak Russian to translate and its been helpful. So we are really excited about him. But sadly we have to pass him to the other Elders because he lives in there area. But its all good. We have a lot of people in the pool righ tnow, and everything is going good. So that was my big, cool news this week. We are going to paint a members place today for Pday. So that will be something different to do, and I finally get to learn how to paint. Anyways, I love you all. Have good week and pray for Estonia!!!
Armastusega,
Venem Boyce
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
January 17th...
Tere Tere kallikesed,
I don't know if I told you guys but Estonia changed over to the Eruo the first of the year. It is annoying. I hate change. Change used to be worthless but now its worth so much money and I have so much!! haha. But I have been collecting some of the old Kroons to keep as a souvenier. They are awesome. haha. How is the Book of Mormon reading going? I hope well. I am loving it. Honestly 2 Nephi and all the Isaiah chapters are way hard to understand, but its fun to try. I have found it interesting when they talk about the Devil and the flesh together. Because we always hear that man is weak in the flesh. I have never really understood that until lately. We all have our weaknesses and they all come from Satan. Since we have bodies we can experience those and the Book of Mormon just says over and over again to be careful. I really like it. So I hope you guys are learning something too. haha. I printed off a couple of pictures of Avery and showed them off. Everyone thinks she is adorable-which she is. haha. This week was really busy. I don't remember if I mentioned this, but we recieved a temple square refferal. So we tried calling the number forever but nobody would answer. So we went and visited the address and a guy let us in. He had visited Utah but not Salt Lake City. His name was different from the referral we recieved and the number was different. Yet he lived at this address....MIRACLE!!! So he is a professor and he collects bugs and he is way spritual and humble and awesome. We taught him at his museum place and the lesson went so well. We are really excited about him. We also are teaching a lady named Tiiana. We have taught her twice and the last lesson went so well. It was one of those where they just had tons of questions. Some were way hard to answer in Estonian like how does this next prophet get chosen etc. But it was really fun. She is doing really well. We taught english. We have moved it to Satudays and its two hours now. So it is a bit of a pain to teach. We have to just entertain for two hours. But it went really well. We also taught a members 7 year old son. He's getting ready to turn 8 but his dad doesn't want to push him to baptism. So we did a vision example...I can't remember how to say it right in english...with a nail and you have to balance 9 other nails on top. Yes, Its possible, and they loved it. So that was really fun. This next Saturday I am going to teach the branch how to make my amazing book covers. haha. They want to do them for primary so I have to go teach about scriptures and show them how to sew. Yesterday at church was awesome. I taught Sunday school all about the Savior and why we need a Savior and how we are all on the right path because we all chose to live the correct plan. It was really fun for me. But ya. I wrote a lot. So that is all for me. That is all that is happening in my life so far. Oh flip. The weather has been cold, then warm, then cold again. So the snow keeps melting, freezing and melting. Well today the city is like a giant ice skating ring. I haven't fallen yet this winter, but I fear it will happen today. Wish me luck. I love you guys. I hope all is well.
Until next week...
Armastusega,
Vanem Boyce
I don't know if I told you guys but Estonia changed over to the Eruo the first of the year. It is annoying. I hate change. Change used to be worthless but now its worth so much money and I have so much!! haha. But I have been collecting some of the old Kroons to keep as a souvenier. They are awesome. haha. How is the Book of Mormon reading going? I hope well. I am loving it. Honestly 2 Nephi and all the Isaiah chapters are way hard to understand, but its fun to try. I have found it interesting when they talk about the Devil and the flesh together. Because we always hear that man is weak in the flesh. I have never really understood that until lately. We all have our weaknesses and they all come from Satan. Since we have bodies we can experience those and the Book of Mormon just says over and over again to be careful. I really like it. So I hope you guys are learning something too. haha. I printed off a couple of pictures of Avery and showed them off. Everyone thinks she is adorable-which she is. haha. This week was really busy. I don't remember if I mentioned this, but we recieved a temple square refferal. So we tried calling the number forever but nobody would answer. So we went and visited the address and a guy let us in. He had visited Utah but not Salt Lake City. His name was different from the referral we recieved and the number was different. Yet he lived at this address....MIRACLE!!! So he is a professor and he collects bugs and he is way spritual and humble and awesome. We taught him at his museum place and the lesson went so well. We are really excited about him. We also are teaching a lady named Tiiana. We have taught her twice and the last lesson went so well. It was one of those where they just had tons of questions. Some were way hard to answer in Estonian like how does this next prophet get chosen etc. But it was really fun. She is doing really well. We taught english. We have moved it to Satudays and its two hours now. So it is a bit of a pain to teach. We have to just entertain for two hours. But it went really well. We also taught a members 7 year old son. He's getting ready to turn 8 but his dad doesn't want to push him to baptism. So we did a vision example...I can't remember how to say it right in english...with a nail and you have to balance 9 other nails on top. Yes, Its possible, and they loved it. So that was really fun. This next Saturday I am going to teach the branch how to make my amazing book covers. haha. They want to do them for primary so I have to go teach about scriptures and show them how to sew. Yesterday at church was awesome. I taught Sunday school all about the Savior and why we need a Savior and how we are all on the right path because we all chose to live the correct plan. It was really fun for me. But ya. I wrote a lot. So that is all for me. That is all that is happening in my life so far. Oh flip. The weather has been cold, then warm, then cold again. So the snow keeps melting, freezing and melting. Well today the city is like a giant ice skating ring. I haven't fallen yet this winter, but I fear it will happen today. Wish me luck. I love you guys. I hope all is well.
Until next week...
Armastusega,
Vanem Boyce
Monday, January 10, 2011
January 10th...
Hello Everyone!!
Its been really really good to be back. The first week has been kind of interesting. I kind of had a freak out this last week with Elder Jenkins. He just laughed at me. But I had a couple of days where I was just thinking 'wow, this is really coming to a close' and 'i don't want to face reality' or 'i like money just coming out of the ATM every month.' But I was standing on the bus and just told myself to suck it up. Enjoy the time I have. So its been really good. We have just been talking about how we need some excitement though. So I was thinking I would share a secret with you. The thing that makes missionaries most happy; Do you want to know? If I tell you though, you are obligated to fulfill it. Okay. Tangible PICTURES and LETTERS. I am dying for some family/friend pictures and not just through email. Some printed so I can show you all off. And I am dying for some letters. I don't even care who they are from. I need someone to write. Its sad going to the mailbox and having nothing. Somebody do me a solid and have a random girl write me. It would just make my life and Elder Jenkins life more complete. Okay enough of that. I have stories to share. First off, its nice to be back and teach a lesson. I missed teaching people in Estonian. I just know how to do it. We taught a female member (i have to leave out names) and she is so awesome. Her husband is divorcing her because she has sicknesses which is way lame. But even though she is going through a ton she is still just so positive. We taught her and she was so happy. She is planning on trying out for Estonian Superstar (which is like American Idol) and she wants to go to America. She just has plans. We went to the market to help her shop and carry groceries. On the way she slipped and fell, but she got up, laughed it off, and said it happens and kept smiling. I was just really impressed by her. Then Elder Jenkins and I found a guy and pulled him to the teaching center. We taught a great first lesson with him and committed him to baptism. He immediately said yes. Then by the end of the lesson he just changed. He got all hard and wouldn't give us his phone number or anyway to contact him. We asked him how he was going to be baptized if we can't contact him. He said 'well God put us together once, if its his will, he will do it again.' You would be surprised at how often we hear that. They just don't seem to realize that maybe that was their chance. So it was to bad, but at least we tried to help him. Then funny story. After church yesterday we went to visit a less active member. We walked for about 30 minutes to get there-sliding everywhere on the snow and ice. We got to her apartment just in time to see her get into a cab, wave at us, and drive away. Flip. What are the odds. It was pretty funny though. Thats a good thing about being with Elder Jenkins. When something happens, we just laugh. We hit our 1.5 years in the field mark. So we celebrated by have frozen hot chocolate. It was delicious. So I have been doing the Book Of Mormon challenge. I have noticed everywhere in 1 Nephi that it says over and over 'keep my commandments and you will prosper.' Its that simple. We need to head that council. I love you all. I am grateful for your friendship and support.
Armastusega,
Vanem Boyce
Its been really really good to be back. The first week has been kind of interesting. I kind of had a freak out this last week with Elder Jenkins. He just laughed at me. But I had a couple of days where I was just thinking 'wow, this is really coming to a close' and 'i don't want to face reality' or 'i like money just coming out of the ATM every month.' But I was standing on the bus and just told myself to suck it up. Enjoy the time I have. So its been really good. We have just been talking about how we need some excitement though. So I was thinking I would share a secret with you. The thing that makes missionaries most happy; Do you want to know? If I tell you though, you are obligated to fulfill it. Okay. Tangible PICTURES and LETTERS. I am dying for some family/friend pictures and not just through email. Some printed so I can show you all off. And I am dying for some letters. I don't even care who they are from. I need someone to write. Its sad going to the mailbox and having nothing. Somebody do me a solid and have a random girl write me. It would just make my life and Elder Jenkins life more complete. Okay enough of that. I have stories to share. First off, its nice to be back and teach a lesson. I missed teaching people in Estonian. I just know how to do it. We taught a female member (i have to leave out names) and she is so awesome. Her husband is divorcing her because she has sicknesses which is way lame. But even though she is going through a ton she is still just so positive. We taught her and she was so happy. She is planning on trying out for Estonian Superstar (which is like American Idol) and she wants to go to America. She just has plans. We went to the market to help her shop and carry groceries. On the way she slipped and fell, but she got up, laughed it off, and said it happens and kept smiling. I was just really impressed by her. Then Elder Jenkins and I found a guy and pulled him to the teaching center. We taught a great first lesson with him and committed him to baptism. He immediately said yes. Then by the end of the lesson he just changed. He got all hard and wouldn't give us his phone number or anyway to contact him. We asked him how he was going to be baptized if we can't contact him. He said 'well God put us together once, if its his will, he will do it again.' You would be surprised at how often we hear that. They just don't seem to realize that maybe that was their chance. So it was to bad, but at least we tried to help him. Then funny story. After church yesterday we went to visit a less active member. We walked for about 30 minutes to get there-sliding everywhere on the snow and ice. We got to her apartment just in time to see her get into a cab, wave at us, and drive away. Flip. What are the odds. It was pretty funny though. Thats a good thing about being with Elder Jenkins. When something happens, we just laugh. We hit our 1.5 years in the field mark. So we celebrated by have frozen hot chocolate. It was delicious. So I have been doing the Book Of Mormon challenge. I have noticed everywhere in 1 Nephi that it says over and over 'keep my commandments and you will prosper.' Its that simple. We need to head that council. I love you all. I am grateful for your friendship and support.
Armastusega,
Vanem Boyce
Monday, January 3, 2011
January 3rd...
Hello my wonderful family!!
Well I assume by lack of email I may have a little niece!! I am way excited about that. Well I received a Christmas Miracle. I got a call that said I was going back to Estonia, to Tartu, to serve with Elder Jenkins. Now let me just say that this would be something that I would dream about, but it would never happen. But it did. I have never been happier. Elder Jenkins and I never thought we would be able to serve together and here we are. I can't tell you how awesome this is. Well I would like to just talk about my last week in Latvia. So we visited an active member to just say hi and try to get a referral and just strengthen her. She asked me if I had been to the temple the day before I got to Liepaja. I said no and asked why. She said that when I spoke in sacrament that the whole room was lit up by my light and that that light only come from people that have just been through the temple. She said that I really brightened her spirits. Now this was really a shocker to me. Because I wasn't the happiest person at that time and just because speaking that day wasn't anything big I thought about. It really hadn't affected me, but even 6 weeks later, it still affected this member. I was really grateful to hear that. Then another surprise. I was walking out of the church and a member stopped me and started going off in Latvian and I didn't understand. So my companion translated. She told me that when I speak Estonian I sound like a really pretty bird (she may have said mockingbird? Do those sound pretty?) and that she was grateful I was in Liepaja. So my one night we were going to teach a guy with the branch president but he was worried about having 4 of us in the lesson. So me and Elder Koltko split off and went knocking. So he knows a little more Latvian than me, but not much. So we thought it would be interesting. The first door we knocked on a Russian lady answered and all three of us realized we didn't understand each other, but she invited us in. Her husband spoke very slurred Latvian and we just laughed and tried to talk. So we ended up getting there number. We went back the next day with Elder Johnson because he knows some Russian. We asked if we could pray with them and she said 'Yes, Americans and Russians will unite together in Prayer!' She was so excited about it. Way funny. Then I told you about a less active family that let us in on Christmas eve; well we had another lesson with them. They let us in happily and didn't even cancel. So that was something. We found out that the wife has cancer and we offered a blessing. She said 'if I am going to ask for a blessing from God I better do my part by reading, praying, and going to church.' She knew exactly what she had to do, she just wasn't doing it. I really hope they came to church yesterday. Then getting back to Estonia was just awesome. I spent new years in Latvia with an Elder and we had a lot of fun together. Then the next day I was on a bus. We stopped in Pärnu and I saw a couple members there. They were way happy to see as was I. They both just told me how much they prayed about me that I was happy and could come back. Then I got to Tartu and talked to Nadezda and Maarja, and they both said the same thing. I really didn't/don't realized how much people pray for me or for missionaries in general. It was a good reminder. Sunday church was way fun seeing everybody. I loved it. I love being back. I understand stuff. Its awesome. I am very grateful to be here, and I am grateful that I can serve the Lord for this time. I hope everything is good at home. I haven't gotten emails for two weeks now. But I am sure everything is good. I love you all, and I cannot wait to see my little niece Avrey!!
Armastusega,
Vanem Boyce
The pictures are me saying goodbye to elder adams, the Liepaja church, and Tartu town square in winter!
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