And Now, Week 5

So, let me start week five by saying something I forgot to include in Chapter 4: We ate 73 bowls of Frosted Flakes. In one sitting. It. Was. Awesome. We got another district (so there were 20 of us in total) and we just kept filling bowls until the cereal reservoir was empty. Then, we ate all of the bowls. But I was still hungry, so I also grabbed a hamburger. And before anyone asks, no, I still haven't gained a pound!

OK, on to this week! Everyone in my district is dying! Like, everyone. They're all sick with pink eye, stomach flu, colds, ear infections. It's really sad, they're always having to go to the medical desk. Our classroom is so empty sometimes.

Russian rant time!

Поэтому мой округ думают это очен странный, что я знаю как сказат много слово па-Рувкий. Однако, я думаю, что это нормалный!

OK, that's done! Good!

Last night, when we got back дом, we discovered that the sisters in our district had taken have of our beds! Needless to say, we were surprised! Better yet, they did it by swapping my key with one of theirs at gym! My key! So now I don't have a key anymore because the other elders won't give them back their key. So that's a thing.

On Sunday's temple walk, we met this little boy with autism who really loved languages and geography, and he saw that our name-tags were Russian, and he ran up to us and started yelling "привет!" (Informal Russian hello). It was pretty much the cutest thing in the world. He told us his name in Russian, and he asked for our names in Russian. It was adorable. His dad was pretty cool, he takes him to the temple every Sunday so that he can speak to missionaries in their mission languages. He said that it helps with his conversation skill. It's super cool!

On Monday we watched Richard G. Scott's funeral. It was a really nice service. I'm super excited for General Conference this weekend; THREE NEW APOSTLES! Maybe. Most likely. Three spots open at least, we'll see how many are called.

Other than that, nothing has really happened that was noteworthy. The devotionals this week were nice.

Покой!

(That's 'Peaceful' in Russian. We sort of use it to mean peace. It's not correct, but... It's fun to say)

 Elder Robison with Sister Robison! Stirling and his cousin Brylee together at the MTC.

The Fourth Week

The First Book of Stirling

Chapter 4

Many strange things come to pass as District 22 continues their learnings. Many goodnesses are witnessed by the people. Great progress is made in the language. District 10 is stir-crazy.

1. It has been save but one Moon since I began my journey. I, Stirling, do venture to tell you somewhat of content of these, my days, for it is pleasing unto me that I should share the things which are given to me with all those that will hearken unto my writing.

2. Yea, and I, Stirling, being few of days, nevertheless being very blessed in all things by the Lord, do endeavor to make known these tales, though I am not mighty in writing like I am in word.

3. And it came to pass that we have seen great contention with our brothers, Branch 10, for they are stirred up in their hearts against us for boredom.

4. Yea, and it came to pass that they did toss down forks, and spoons, and all manner of silverware and other strange items.

5. Yea, and they did toss these items with great force from the fourth floor of our home.

6. And it came to pass that in the very same hour these things were thrown, a messenger went forth from amongst our people who did pick up the red emergency phone and call upon the administrative desk.

7. Yea, and the administrative desk did succor us, and send us aid in the form of campus security.

8. And it happened that the campus security could find not our brethren, for we knew not their names.

9. Nevertheless, we were protected from having to bring down wrath upon our brethren, for which we were thankful.

10. And it came to pass that many lessons were taught in those days, and much Russian was learned, that the Elders and Sisters of 22J did grow in the Lord to a greater understanding of the Russian language.

11. But, behold! There were some who were discouraged in their hearts, for they were fearful that they might not progress in the language.

12. Nevertheless, all were lifted up, and edified by our teachers unto the fulfillment of their learnings.

13. And many things were learned.

14. And it came to pass that I, Stirling, did learn many words, that my brethren were exceedingly astonished at my knowledges.

15. And I did come to know these things by trusting in the Lord.

16. Yea, and so it is in all things that when we trust upon the Lord, we will do many things which shall be strange and wondrous.

17. And it came to pass that I did kneel in prayer before the Lord, my God, and offer my thanks unto Him in all things.

18. And all this did come to pass that the 3rd week was ended.

19. Behold! Upon the Sunday of the 4th week we did lift up our voices in praise to the Lord Almighty! And our hearts were greatly uplifted by the words which were spoken to us by Lloyd Newell!

20. And it did come to pass that I, Stirling, was released from my calling as District Leader.

21. Behold! Our brother, Elder Arave, was called in my stead, that he might lead the district in righteousness.

22. And there was much rejoicing in the goodness of the Lord.

23. Yea, and It came to pass that I, Stirling, did find my cousin, Sister Robison, and there was much rejoicing in the reunion of family that day.

24. And it did come to pass that on the Monday of the 4th week, our people were stirred up in great alarm.

25. For behold! By the work of a prank, an English-speaking Elder did partake of 24 laxatives.

26. And we were sore afraid.

27. Yea, and we feared for the health of that brother, who we knew not. And we did search for him continually until we did find him.

28. And it came to pass that he was taken away to be cared for, and I know not of his fate.

29. And it came to pass on Tuesday of the 4th week we did again lift up our voices in praise.

30. Yea, and I did speak unto my brethren many words, and did quote to them from the Book of Alma.

31. Yea, and I spake unto them these words:

32. "And now, as the preaching of the word had a great tendency to lead the people to do that which was just - yea, it had had more powerful effect upon the minds of the people than the sword, or anything else, which had happened unto them- Therefore Alma thought it was expedient that they should try the virtue of the word of God."

33. Yea, and my brethren and sisters did also speak much of the goodness of God, and of the things of the Spirit, which they had gained strong testimony.

34. And I make an end of my record for now, being short of time in which to write upon these electronic plates.

It's Week Three! Or Something... I Think?

So, Russian is great. Have I said that already? Because it's really great. Russian grammar time! (It's funnier than it sounds, trust me)

In Russian, to possess something requires the genitive case of a noun. This changes the word to mean "of the word". For example, Batman in the genitive case is Batmana "of Batman". This gets better when you see that the Russian word for poster is Vatman. So, a poster belonging to Batman is a 'Vatman Batmana', a "Poster of Batman". As you can see, that's a wee bit ambiguous. Is it Batman's poster, is it a poster with Batman on it? Never fear! Russian has found a way around this!

In order to remove the confusion, we can turn Batman into an adjective, "Batmanski".

This means that Batman's Batman poster is "Batmanski vatman Batmana"!

And this is why I love Russian!

I decided I'd write another poem as well:

Where, o where is thy salvation?

Across the many waters, a rising nation

A land of promise for thy sons

But the strife and wars, already begun

Fly for your life from a brother's sword

For thee and thy house, thou wilt serve the Lord

Raise up a people in truth and power

and look for salvation in every hour

Now their armies are gathered, innumerable host

Clash on your borders like waves on a coast

But scatter them quickly like night before day

and remember you fathers who showed you the way

Rise up false prophet and call for a sign

Mix lie with truth in cunning design

Now fall to your knees, your falsehood is done

and witness The Christ, God's own Son

Stop in your hunting, kneel now in prayer

Wrestle for freedom from evil's snare

And ask not for yourself, but for love of your brother

For salvation that comes with great care from another

******************************************************************

Whoever guesses what story is being told here gets 15 Missionary points, redeemable in 2 years for like... a piece of chocolate or something... I dunno.

Anyway, things are going pretty great here! Our district is awesome!

Slava Ukraine!

It's Week 2!

Hey everybody! It's been pretty crazy this week! But it's also been really good!

I was sick yesterday. Like really sick. It was the worst, I hated it. But I'm feeling a lot better today, so that's good!

I realized I didn't say anything about my companion last week. His name is Elder Fuller, and he's from Austin, TX. We don't really get along well. We hardly ever get along at all. But we teach well, so at least there's that. Plus, it's not like I have to spend the rest of my mission with the same companion. I can do anything for 9 weeks.

I'm here for 9 weeks, by the way. Just thought I'd make that clear. 9 weeks.

It's pretty rigid scheduling here, I wake up at 6:30, eat breakfast, and then I go to 3 different 3 hour class blocks. We learn Russian pretty much all day, and I try to speak what I can of it. It's not much, but it's a start.

I bought a small journal on Saturday that I could write notes and poems and spiritual thoughts in. It's been nice because we have an hour before bed that we can write in our journals and I don't always have a lot to say about what happens during the day. Plus, there's a 15 minute quiet time before bed that we're supposed to use to... I'm not really sure what we're supposed to do with it, actually. So there's that.

Wrote a cool poem though:

I saw the tyrant fall

Heard the triumph call

I watched as they led him away

I saw a prophet born

Heard the sinners mourn

I watched him teach them how to pray

I saw the city rise

Heard the world made wise

I watched them all be led astray

I heard the bells toll forth

and this, they said was just another day

I saw them build a tower

Heard them boast of power

Then watched them scatter like the sands

I saw them choose their kings

Heard them worship things

I watched them eating up the lands

I saw a kingdom grow

Heard all they sought to know

I watched them strengthening their hands

I heard the bells toll forth

and this, they said was just another day

****************************************************

It's not finished yet, but it's a good start.

I've been learning to sing in Russian too! It's super difficult!

Anyway, sorry for the lack of pictures, it's hard to get them on these computers. I'll try to send some soon! Hopefully...

Slava Ukraine!

My First Week at the MTC

I've been here in Provo for a week. So far my training is going really well! Russian is quite... difficult. But I feel like I'm doing a pretty good job at learning it.

Last night we had a devotional from Elder Dallin H. Oaks! I was in the room with Dallin H. Oaks!

For my non-church friends, that probably doesn't mean anything so I'll explain a little bit. Back when Jesus was performing his mortal ministry he called twelve apostles. Peter, James, John... those guys. They served to help in officiating and guiding the church in those first days, especially after Christ's death. In our church, we believe in the same organization, a prophet with twelve apostles to guide and administrate the church and prevent the corruption of the plain and simple truths of our church.

TL;DR: An apostle is a really cool guy with a lot of authority from God who helps lead the church in the modern day.

And I got  to hear him speak. In person. With a message that was directed at missionaries, something I just so happen to be. (editor's note: Stirling also was a part of the choir that got to sing at the meeting with Elder Oaks!)

Anyway, This week has gone by in kind of a blur, and I don't remember many specifics. My district (the people who are in my training group) are super cool.

By the way, I was called to be the district leader of my district! Don't know why that was a 'by the way'... That should have been first on the list...

I miss all of you! And Slava Ukraine!

Destiny dropping Stirling off at the Missionary Training Center!

 By the way (this is an actual by the way, not a fake one like earlier)! My mailing address for the next 2 months is:

Elder Stirling Douglas Robison

OCT27 UKR-DNE

2009 N E Unit 151

Provo UT 84602

So if anybody wanted to send, like, I don't know... Snack foods... American/Ukrainian flags... bottle of Sprite... Stuff like that...

Yeah, that'd be nice...

Nothing perishable though! That'd bad... Yeah...

stirling.robison@myldsmail.net