Weeks 17 and 18 - December 25, 2019

Merry Christmas, ya filthy animals!! - Home Alone :)

С Рождеством, С Рождеством, С Рождеством!!!

Man it is weird not being home for Christmas this year!!

 Elder Wilde's phone call home on Christmas.

 Sorry for not sending out an email last week!! I know you all must have been soooooo worried about me ;) But don't worry!!  I am here!!  Alive and well!  Here's a little thicker of an email to make up for last week!!  We have had a both very interesting, andddd amazing week this week!!  Ah!  Where to begin!!  So much has happened!!!

Two little unfortunate events... 1. I ripped my jacket a little... And 2. Elder Molnar and I were playing ping pong and he smacked the ball and it hit my neck, so it lowkey looked like I was walking around with a hickey for a day!! 😂  OH HAHAH. 

 Okay, I gotta admit to this lol.  So, it was Elder Williams and I's turn to carry Annatolie from his apartment to church.  SO, we get Annatoli from the 8th floor of an apartment that doesn't have an elevator and carry him down eight flights of stairs.  That all works out and we finally get to the church. When were at the church, you have to go up a few more steps to the main door.  We had Annatolie's wheelchair ready to go, and it looked like Elder Williams was ready to pick him up and go as well.  So.... Without hesitation, I bent down and grab the wheel chair in the front (where he is facing me and his feet rest), and started lifting up.  In my mind, I'm thinking... "Wow, he's a lot lighter than usual right now.  I'm lifting this no problem."  ALL OF A SUDDEN--BOOM.  He's laid down in his chair on the ground and Elder Williams is staring down at what just happened from the top of the stairs, opening the door.  AND AS SOON AS THE DOOR OPENS, THE BRANCH PRESIDENT IS STANDING IN THE DOORWAY WATCHING.  All in all, everything was okay.  It was a scare, but also really funny lol.  I told him sorry again later, and he was just laughing and gave me a hug 😂😂.  I attached a picture of Anatolli and Elder Glass in my pictures so you can see what this kinda situation I'm describing is, and who we were carrying down 8 flights of stairs lol.  Also, I have attached for you all a picture of a Bob.  You're welcome!)) 

Oh, little fun fact, too.  People in Ukraine don't know what ":)) is... they do smiley faces in texts simply like this"))))"  It's so funny!!  

Also, shout out to my stake's Young Women for the awesome package!!  Love yall!!

Earlier this week, people from our branch came and set up a little Book of Mormon stand, and we all sang rhymes together!!  It was so amazing of them!!  A little funny though because at some points we, the missionaries, would be contacting out in front of the stand, and then all the kids would come running up with Ensigns, Books of Mormon, and Light the World cards, over and over, trying to get the people we were talking to to take them 😂.  It was interesting, but we loved it!!  At one point I was talking to someone, and she was telling me she thought our church was full of fanatics, and then all the sudden BOOM BOOM BOOM!!  Kids with Books of Mormon and Ensigns in hand 😂.

The other Elders in our district had one of the strangest run-ins with this guy we see outside of their apartment all the time.  He is ALWAYS drunk haha. But anyways, they met with him and his grandma to have a lesson, and the whole entire lesson he was just shaking and trying to pull Elder Molnar down on the couch.  When they read out of the Book of Mormon, his hand would tremble, and in the middle of the prayer he stood up saying... "HE'S SO STRONG", as he went and stood up to the picture of Christ that they had.  He, also, showed up outside the other Elders' room, and when they asked why he was there, he said because they were there!!  He proceeded to say he didn't think he was going to survive the night and kept seeing a black bore!! Sooooo needless to say... The Elders have crashed with us the last couple nights lol. 

Moving forward... We had Zone Conference this week!!  Zone Conference was amazing!!  We were challenged by our mission president, President Wirthlin, to finish the Book of Mormon cover to cover, by the time of this Zone Conference and have each and every name of Christ highlighted.  Examples came flowing in... The Son of God, The Lamb of God, the Rock, etc!  People got creative and found some really cool ones!  We all shared our names, why we liked that name, and the scriptures we found them in.

 The name I decided to choose was found in Mosiah 16:9, reading as follows...

"He is the light and the life of the world; yea, a light that is endless, that can never be darkened; yea, and also a life which is endless, that there can be no more death."

 Although a simple, or at least more common name of Christ, I believe it to be a powerful one.  I love how Jesus is described as a light, one which is endless.  Through Jesus's earthly ministry, he continued to be a light, one that never stopped shining, and after his death, still shined on, through all of us.  I love when someone says to another... "You have such a light about you!"  What an amazing compliment!!  This light is the light of Christ that lives in us!!  I'm so thankful for being surrounded by so many missionaries here who thrive with the light of Jesus Christ within them!!  We all contain this light of Christ, we just need to allow it to shine. 

At the end of Zone Conference, we had the opportunity to do a Zone service project!!  IT WAS AWESOME!!  Each missionary bought a little gift and brought it to Zone conference with them.  We welcomed children from a safe home, somewhere they stayed during the day whether they couldn't get food throughout the day, needed a place to stay, or for sanctuary from abusive parents.  We invited all the children into the church and started out with singing a few rhymes to them!!  From there, we split off into four rooms!!  In one room, they got to watch the Christ Child video.  The next room they got to frost sugar cookies!!  The next room, they got to make paper snowflakes.  And then there was our room... THE BEST ROOM!!  We got to play games with all the little kids!!  We played Four Corners.  One person will be sitting in the middle of the room with their eyes closed and count down from 10.  As he or she counts down, everyone will run to a corner.  By the time the person gets to 0 in the middle, they will choose a corner with their eyes closed.  Whoever was in that corner is out!!  They kids loved it!!  After one time, when it was time for the kids to rotate rooms, one came and grabbed my hand and started bringing me to the next room!!  He would not let go!! No matter how many times I told him I had to stay, he wouldn't take no for an answer, it was adorable haha.  He was the one I ended up giving my gift to, a cute little Lego set haha.  This Zone Conference and service project has definitely thus far, been one of my favorite memories on my mission. 

The next day, we had a big Christmas fireside!!  Many members and non-members were invited to enjoy a night of musical rhymes, accompanied by an amazing orchestra, as President Wirthlin conducted, and taught the congregation the meaning of Christmas.  We watched the Christ video all together, as well.  I think that was probably the 100th time I have seen that video!!  It's seriously such an amazing one.  After the fireside, all the missionaries went and hit up KFC. 

OnTuesday, we decided to mix up English practice a little just because it was Christmas Eve and we wanted to make it special!!  We made sugar cookies and frosting, and made a big word search and crossword puzzle to play together!!  

I was so tempted to go and buy sour cream and conduct an experiment to see if more people would put sour cream on their sugar cookies rather than frosting 😂.  You would be surprised of the turn-out lol.  However... We are already out of our two and a half weeks' MSF (money we get to buy food and other necessities as missionaries), and we still have six more days left till we get more, so.... I decided it may be best to hold off on the experiment 😂.  Maybe next Christmas!! 

 That day in English practice, we asked everyone for the opening practice to say why they think we believe in Jesus Christ, or why they, themselves, do.  Great answers came flowing in.  One of my favorites was... "He is always someone who is there for me when I feel alone, always pushing me along when nobody else does."  One of my favorite quotes President Wirthlin always says is... "Christ is always a hand up... Always a hand up."  I am so thankful for a Savior who is always there pushing me along, supporting me, rooting me on, and so much more. 

This morning came Christmas!!  We woke up, had cinnamon rolls, and opened presents we had gotten each other in our district!!  

The presents were way funny.  I got decked out with some ping pong gear, since we always play ping pong at the church!!  The other Elders got me my own paddle, a ping pong holder fanny pack, and a wrist guard!! 😂😂😂 Also,  a sick, "real," supreme Beanie 😂😂 and an expansion pack to the card game we always play.  I have sent a picture of it before.  It's called звездные империи - In English, "star empires."  It is SO FUN. Hahaha. I, also, bought us a little gingerbread house with some candy that we could all build together!!  It definitely wasn't the same sort of Christmas celebrated at home, but it was one to remember, with some of the best missionaries ever! 

I wish you all a Merry Christmas!!  Love you all so much!! 

старейшина вайлд

Week 16 - December 9, 2019

Здравствуйте!! (Hello!!)

Y'all, guess what?!?!  It was the first snow of Ukraine on Tuesday!! ❄☃️ It was crazy!!  We go to bed Monday night, and then wake up in the morning to loads of snow!!  I finally got to put my winter boots to work for the first time of the season.  I'd be lying if I said they didn't look fresh ⚡🔥 😋. 

Anyways... That morning we got up and began to English contact by the metro stop!!  The main path to the metro stop was covered in packed ice, so I kid you not, I think I saw about 100 people or more, almost fall and eat it on the way to the metro that morning 😂.  It's so funny because you can tell how cautious and how hard they are trying not to slip, and then BAM!  So... Later that day, us Elders decided to go and clear all the snow and ice leading up to the metro stop!!  It was such a fun and great opportunity to serve the people of Ukraine! 

I've been super sick the last couple days, so that hasn't been fun at all.  I think it was a cold.  My throat got so sore and it felt so bruised up.  But, all is well now!!  At least almost... hahah.  Because of that, not too much else happened. 

Love you all!!  Go and Light the World :) ❤

 старейшина вайлд !!)

Pics of the Week

Week 15 - December 2, 2019

Hello, everyone!! 

I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!!  One little game I woulda brought up at the table if I were home with my family is the game, "I love you because" 😂.  You know, like from the scene they play in "The Diary of a Wimpy Kid?"   It's absolutely hilarious 😂.  Pretty much we will make some funny compliment, and then the person you compliment gets to go, but we would quickly say... "OKAY, NOW DO ME," right after we had just given the compliment 😂😂.  You will just have to attend a Wilde family Thanksgiving or other occasion where it is played to completely understand 😂.  But in all seriousness... I hope you did tell each other what you are grateful for!!  And if you haven't... it's not too late!! haha. 

From the last time I sent an email, we had two exchanges!! My first exchange was with Elder Molar!!  We contacted, went and taught English to people, and had a game night!!  Very fun time!!  We, also, got to celebrate Elder Molar's Birthday!!  I hid a bunch of balloons in his closet so that when he opened it, they all come falling out haha.  We played a bunch of games and had some food.  It was fun!! 

The next day, I had my exchange with Elder Glass!!  Elder Glass and I are both still in training, so it was so cool to be on an exchange where we both have only been out a transfer!!  I don't think that's a very common thing haha.  BUT MAN, WE GOT TO WORK!!  We decided to hit out in an area in the complete boonies!!  It was an area that is rarely touched!!  We contacted for about four hours, and handed out five Books of Mormon!!  The area was full of just run down houses, it was so humbling and so cool.  We actually started getting followed by a dog in one of the neighborhoods, too, so that was fun haha.  

 Elder Wilde faces his first portable toilet in Ukraine.  What an experience!  

That same day, Elder Glass and I absolutely pounded food haha.  We had six kontik each, which I could not finish lol, some vareniki, and khachapuri, WHICH IS SO GOOD AHHH. We had walked so much that day because the area was pretty far, so we had just been so exhausted we wanted some warm food, and a lot of it lol.  (Although the kontik aren't warm, they are an essential tradition lol). 

 Oh, I also drank out of a water pump in one of the neighborhoods haha. It was so cold.  The thing is, it didn't come out in steady streams, just in big bursts, so I hardly could get any in my mouth and It got all over me 😂. 

OH, ALSO ELDER WILLIAMS AND I STREET CONTACTED A FAMILY!!  I say that is so exciting because it's so hard contacting families!!  Either the mom or dad doesn't want to listen, or both, so they end up walking away lol.  But we talked to this family for like 10 min!!  It was AWESOME!! They said they would come to church and English practice, so I'm really praying that they do!! 

EVERYONE!!  Light the World is here!!  I love so much what our church does during Christmas time.  We have such an amazing opportunity to do charity during the Christmas season, and our church reminds us of it each and everyday. 

Moroni 7:45 reads - "And charity suffereth long, and is kind, and envieth not, and is not puffed up, seeketh not her own, is not easily provoked, thinketh no evil, and rejoiceth not in iniquity but rejoiceth in the truth, believeth all things, hopeth all things, endureth all things". 

Let us have charity, for charity is the pure love of Christ. I invite you all to participate in Light the World this year!  I have provided many links down below, that can help you find out more, and see what kind of things you can do!!  I know that through charity we can not only help ourselves grow closer and feel the love of Christ, but more importantly, help the people around us.  I am so thankful for charity.  It is how I feel most connected to my Savior, hands down.  Serving others is a gift.  Strive to serve people this month, and then every single month.  Make it second nature.  Through charity, blessings will come.  Endless amounts of them. 

Here is the link to Light the World https://www.comeuntochrist.org/light-the-world

These are some of my favorite videos from it:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?time_continue=35&v=0rI5HHMI-uE&feature=emb_logo  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8NQKjUfwtvA  

https://www.comeuntochrist.org/light-the-world/all-year  

Everyone download this!!  They will send you updates/reminders/ideas everyday this month for a single, simple, act of service you can do each day!!

https://www.comeuntochrist.org/light-the-world/service-prompts-sms-signup 

I would also invite you all to watch this video.  It touched my heart.  It is called, "You never know."  Sometimes we go throughout the day worrying that we aren't being the best we can, we aren't doing enough, we aren't this, we aren't that, we shoulda done this instead of that!!  But the truth is... You never know how much good you do sometimes.  I promise you that each and everyone of you have the power to uplift souls, and sometimes you may not even recognize it, but you are doing to each and every day.

 

https://www.churchofjesuschrist.org/inspiration/latter-day-saints-channel/watch/series/mormon-messages/you-never-know?lang=eng  

Love you all, go and serve!!

Elder Wilde

PS the picture of the sign is because that is the road sign to Rostov!!  

Also, I dropped my kulinichi on the ground so that was sad but pretty funny lol.

I found my first Ukraine beetle.  Luckily, it was already dead!  

Week 14 - November 28, 2019

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!

Hello hello hello everyone!!  I hope you are all enjoying a wonderful Thanksgiving together!!  Today, for Thanksgiving, we all met up as a Zone!!  All the missionaries brought food, we had a testimony meeting, ate food, and played games!!  It was such a fun day!!  A couple really funny things happened throughout the week!! 

So, 1. I ordered a "grilled cheese" at a restaurant, hoping to get a... well a grilled cheese sandwich!!  To my astonishment... They literally brought me out a block of grilled cheese with two little pieces of bread!!  So that was a good laugh for the day 😂. 

A couple days later, we went to the same restaurant, and asked for a burger!!  When we had ordered, we had asked them to put the lettuce on the side.  For some odd reason, they brought us out the meat, tomatoes, and lettuce, all separate from the bun!  WE WERE SO CONFUSED 😂.  So, that was pretty funny.  

Later in the week, our whole district shaved our heads!!  So, right now, for the first time in my life, I have a buzzed head.  It was a full send, and it is something I will never be doing again 😂. 

This week, we decided to tract in a little different part of our area!!  It was up by the forest, and it was SO awesome!!  It was definitely a little more insight to culture.  There were tons of houses, mostly abandoned, torn down, or incomplete, and then some really nice ones out of nowhere lol.  

We, also, almost walked into this sketchy road there with a huge dog at the end of the street.  We decided to take a different path rather than face the bear looking dog head on lol.  (The dog pic  I attached is not the dog I am talking about.  That was just a super cool dog a soldier had that we met as we were walking 😂 IT WAS SO FLUFFY).  

I really want to share a spiritual thought in the light of Thanksgiving and upcoming Christmas!!  Although, sadly, I don't have time.  The next email I send (Monday), I will make a spiritual thought!!  So, prepare to get testified to!!  LOVE YOU ALL SO MUCH, AND AM SO GRATEFUL FOR YOU ALL!!  Make it a great Thanksgiving!!  Love one another, be thankful, especially for your many blessings from God!! 

Elder Wilde

Pics of the Week

Enjoying sushi with a recent convert.