December 9, 2013 ~ Mixed Feelings.

Well despite the fact that this was probably one of the best weeks of my entire mission, I do have some mixed feelings about this next one.  We got transfer calls on Saturday and I am being moved to

Petrozavodsk...  and I will get another native companion!  He's from Moscow and actually its funny cause I was on a split with him my first transfer and it was so fun!  He's hilarious and I'm really excited that I get to serve with him (this is his last transfer).  Also since we are really far away from the city (9 hour train ride north ish) there is a senior couple there too and I am so excited!!! I've never been in an area with a senior couple, but everyone says its the best so I'm really looking forward to it!  So those are the good things about this next transfer.  However I know that I've only been here 1 transfer, but I am absolutely heartbroken to be leaving this branch.  I love them so much!!  I can't even express it enough.  I think that was probably one of the hardest things I've done on my mission so far was saying good bye too all those amazing members.  But President and Sister Clark were there and President asked me over the pulpit while he was speaking if I wanted to come back.  Of course I said yes and he said he would try to get me back here.  So It's not the end, but still not fun.

Anyways, we had the most ridiculous night of miracles ever on friday.  We had a lesson set up with an investigator and a member was there to help us then right after that lesson another lesson with another investigator set up.  The first investigator couldn't make it, he was going to be really late so we had about 45 min with our member before the next lesson.  So we decide to go contacting with him!  That was interesting haha, he is so passionate and agressive about it.  We saw this lady carrying some heavy bags and we asked if we could help and miracle # 1 she said yes! (that never happens even if she's like the frailest babyshka ever and she's carrying a ton of bricks - they like to do it themselves).  Anyways we talk to her all the way back to her appartment (how convenient that she lives right behind the branch) and ended up giving her a BOM and then she wanted to come see the branch that night.  So as we walk in with her, our other investigator shows up (our miracle guy from the thanksgiving party last week). We give them both a tour then drop off the lady we contacted in the relief society room with the RS president who happened to be there and went to another room and had a lesson with this other guy (I know it sounds like we ditched that woman which we kinda did, but I promise it didn't offend her nor was it weird cause its Russia and nothing here is normal).  Then our member and guy investigator leave to catch the train back to their city (they live in the same city and thus rode the train together (perfect!) and then the other lady promised to come to church on Sunday.  Fast forward 2 days and we are siiting in church and none of our investigators came and President and his wife are there (awkward) and then as president is making his little closing testimony we hear the door open so we run back there and its this woman!!  However she came because she felt bad that she promised to come and then didn't and also to return the BOM claiming that she was going to stay orthodox.  Boo.  But she came in and sang the closing hymn with us and stuff the the sisters pounced on her right after the close (we told them about her and to be ready) and she said she'd stay for the 2nd 2 hours cause she was already there.  So long story short apparently she really enjoyed it cause the sisters have a meeting set up with her Thursday and she took back the BOM she tried returning to me!!  This is such a miracle area!!

Another huge miracle!  We met with one of our investigators this week who was found right at the end of last transfer, but has not really been progressing.  She brought her own BOM to the lesson and had finally started reading AND underlined some of the parts she really liked!  One of the verses she underlined was 1 Nephi 3:7 for all you scripture mastery people out there.  I was so happy and what was even better was that you could see the change and growing testimony that was starting to take place with her.  The spirit was so strong.  Petergof is full of miracles waiting to happen.  Something huge is going to happen here soon, I know it.  And hopefully I'll be back for it!!!

So funny story.  We were trying to take a district picture with a self timer and stuff so I started it and ran to try

Oops...

and get in the picture and slipped and slid all the way across the room and smashed into the wall which put a huge hole in the drywall of the branch... awkward.  one of the sisters cameras caught it so perfectly it is an amazing picture, but yeah.  I put a hole in the wall of the church...  I called the branch president that night and told him and told him that I'd pay for it and everything and he was like "eh whatever we'll get it fixed" and I show up to church yesterday and there were tables and chairs moved in front of it.  Still totally visible, but I guess its not that important haha.

Also last thing.  This morning we had some time before the library opened so we stopped into a pravoslavny temple cause I've always wanted to see what it's like and they were doing a service some sort of something.  They were all holding candles while the priest was jingling bells and some smoke or something was coming out of it while he was chanting.  It was really interesting, actually just like in the movies or like I pictured it.  The only thing is that it was just so dark in there.  They had like no lights on, only candles burning. As we were walking I was thinking about that in comparison to our temples where everything is bright and white and there is so much  light all around. Really interesting experience.  I am so grateful for the gospel in my life and all the light that it brings.  Not physical light of course, but light and happiness!  Such a blessing!  I love it!  

Have a great week!

Elder Robison