So I finished my first full week and it was crazy busy, but fun and enjoyable as well. I am lucky to be in a tri-panionship thingy for another week so that I can learn as much as possible from my two great companions. We are continuing to stay super busy and somehow we are also doing a great job of being an example for the other missionaries by bringing about awesome results. Even though we can't tract or contact which is a Rivne oblast(state) law because of what some missionaries have done in the past (one of two or three such cities in the mission I think), we are still finding tons of investigators and lessons each week and we are helping our mission to improve. The city is absolutely beautiful and it isn't even green yet. Hopefully by the end of April, we get the grass and flowers back. The weather has been wonderful since I got here and we only have had rain once. Temperatures are ranging between 7 and 15 degrees celcius and so I haven't really had to use my jacket much.
As for some of the questions that you sent me Mom, here are answers. Our Apartment is near the city center (I can't remember the address) so we are close to the Renok, which is the open air market, the transportation, and the restaurants and parks etc. We usually do lunch at the apartment early in the afternoon and then don't do dinner until we get back at 9pm. It has turned out well. We do a whole lot of walking - our branch building is a 10 to 15 minute walk from the apartment and many of our lessons are there and the center is about 5 minutes from us where we catch a lot of marshrutkas. We take those to get to peoples apartments scattered throughout the city and to get to the big mall where we shop. It is literally brand new here and it is just like a Target or Smiths Marketplace in the US. We spent about 15 dollars each on groceries and the rest goes to transportation and to snacks/restaurants. I pull out money every Monday, but I still haven't used all my money from my first week so we are getting by just fine. We do laundry in our apartment - we have our own machine - and then we hang things to dry. The food here is definitely amazing and the juices are by far the best drinks I have ever had.
The language is starting to come along and I understand more and more each day. It is still really tough but I am doing well. The hardest things is that I hear a lot of Russian with Ukrainian but that is helping me to understand each a little better and I don't need to worry about speaking Russian because everyone speaks Ukrainian. My companions are helping a lot with that.
The branch is really neat and there are a couple of awesome priesthood holders who are always willing to help. I want to get more of them though. There are probably four young families in the ward and around 8ish kids. The Dideshoks are the biggest family and the strength of the branch. Pres. Dideshok is our Branch President and he is probably about 40 years old and his wife is the Relief Society pres. They have three or four little kids. The Polyshuk twins are from Lutsk which is about an hour and a half away by marshrutka so they come down on Saturday and stay the night in our extra apartment (we have two because we are hopefully getting a new companionship here next transfer) and then they fulfill their callings. Sasha, the MCL (Missionary Coordination Leader and MCM is the Missionary Coordination Meeting), is a really cool guy. He served his mission in Moscow and just recently got back. Vova, is the 2nd counselor and is also great. He served in St. Petersburg. They really help the branch, plus they have callings in their branch in Lutsk, so they are really sacrificing to help us. Neither of them has a job right now, but I really hope that as they look, they find something good. Our branch meetings are just like anything at home - We have sacrament first, and then sunday school and priesthood. The branch doesn't have any active young men which is tough, but hopefully as we find more families, the branch will grow. Families are our number one priority, followed closely by priesthood holders. We are not even allowed to work with women right now unless they are older or have a family.
So that is basically it from this end. On P-day, we have a little time to get around. I haven't had much of an opportunity to take pictures and I tried to send some last week, but the formatting is weird so I will try again probably next week. Hopefully I can get them to you. I am out of time, but I want you to know that I am doing well. I am exhausted from the work but that is how I want it to be. The people here are incredible and our investigators are all so great. I will write again next week. Remember that I love you all very much.
Love Elder Ryan Jones
Monday, March 29, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
March 22, 2010
Hey everbody!
So it is my first p-day in Rivne and I am grateful. We have been so busy and I am still not fully over the sleep deficiency - about 3 in 36ish hours and then a night train after my first night in Kyiv - but I am still excited to get out and to work hard. Right now, I have two companions in Rivne (it is just the three of us in this city and in our own little district. Rivne is a city of about 275,000, one of the smallest in the mission), Elder Monson - who may be related to the prophet distantly and Elder Tkachenko from Odessa who is heading out to the MTC in two weeks -he has been waiting for his visa. The two of them are so helpful and I am very grateful to be working with them. They are both really young trainers - Elder Monson has only been out in the field for 6 months and Elder Tkachenko has only been out for 2 while waiting, but they are both great teachers and I am learning so much from them. The language has been a little overwhelming (there is a lot of Sergic here which is the Russian and Ukrainian mix) and lessons are tough but I am starting to get more comfortable and the language is coming. I have little bits to say in each lesson and I asked Elder Monson to push me so hopefully it comes quickly.
My regular schedule each day is wake up at 6:30 and exercise for half an hour. Then we eat breakfast and get ready before studying from 8 to 10 or 11 depending on the day. After that we go out and try to teach lessons and meet with people or put up ads for english class. Because of problems with the government, we are not allowed to tract in Rivne and we can't really contact either but we have gotten a ton of referrals from the branch members and currently we are well above the mission average for lessons a week. Much of our traveling here is done on Marshrutka, which is like a city bus. They are really cheap and they are fairly quick and they go everywhere. It is pretty fun to get around and to go to the apartments where everyone lives and I am slowing picking up the city layout.
We live here on only $37 a week which is pretty interesting, but it is also neat to see the difference in the way people live. Our $37 gets us by comfortably and luckily as missionaries we aren't really spending it on anything unnecessary, but there are definitely some people here who have less. Our apartment is a pretty small one near the city center and about a ten minute walk from the branch.
The branch here is absolutely awesome. There were about 40 people yesterday at sacrament meeting including a couple of our investigators. It is a pretty solid branch and we are lucky to have the Polyshuk twins who live in Lutsk come over to help on the weekends. Sasha is the MCL and Vova his brother is a counseler to President Didashuk who is a solid member. The Polyshuks both served in Russia recently on mission and there is a member named Ira who just returned this past week and she is excited to help. Yesterday we had MCM in the morning at 10 and then sacrament at 11 where I introduced myself and bore testimony. Some of the members were apparentely surprised at how well I spoke so that is a good sign. We have been very busy with lessons and I am excited to keep working hard with the members and with my companions.
I love you all very much and want you to know that I am doing just fine in Ukraine. It is so beautiful and I have already had some experiences that I have never before had in America and it is great to be here to serve the people and the Lord.
Love,
Elder Jones
So it is my first p-day in Rivne and I am grateful. We have been so busy and I am still not fully over the sleep deficiency - about 3 in 36ish hours and then a night train after my first night in Kyiv - but I am still excited to get out and to work hard. Right now, I have two companions in Rivne (it is just the three of us in this city and in our own little district. Rivne is a city of about 275,000, one of the smallest in the mission), Elder Monson - who may be related to the prophet distantly and Elder Tkachenko from Odessa who is heading out to the MTC in two weeks -he has been waiting for his visa. The two of them are so helpful and I am very grateful to be working with them. They are both really young trainers - Elder Monson has only been out in the field for 6 months and Elder Tkachenko has only been out for 2 while waiting, but they are both great teachers and I am learning so much from them. The language has been a little overwhelming (there is a lot of Sergic here which is the Russian and Ukrainian mix) and lessons are tough but I am starting to get more comfortable and the language is coming. I have little bits to say in each lesson and I asked Elder Monson to push me so hopefully it comes quickly.
My regular schedule each day is wake up at 6:30 and exercise for half an hour. Then we eat breakfast and get ready before studying from 8 to 10 or 11 depending on the day. After that we go out and try to teach lessons and meet with people or put up ads for english class. Because of problems with the government, we are not allowed to tract in Rivne and we can't really contact either but we have gotten a ton of referrals from the branch members and currently we are well above the mission average for lessons a week. Much of our traveling here is done on Marshrutka, which is like a city bus. They are really cheap and they are fairly quick and they go everywhere. It is pretty fun to get around and to go to the apartments where everyone lives and I am slowing picking up the city layout.
We live here on only $37 a week which is pretty interesting, but it is also neat to see the difference in the way people live. Our $37 gets us by comfortably and luckily as missionaries we aren't really spending it on anything unnecessary, but there are definitely some people here who have less. Our apartment is a pretty small one near the city center and about a ten minute walk from the branch.
The branch here is absolutely awesome. There were about 40 people yesterday at sacrament meeting including a couple of our investigators. It is a pretty solid branch and we are lucky to have the Polyshuk twins who live in Lutsk come over to help on the weekends. Sasha is the MCL and Vova his brother is a counseler to President Didashuk who is a solid member. The Polyshuks both served in Russia recently on mission and there is a member named Ira who just returned this past week and she is excited to help. Yesterday we had MCM in the morning at 10 and then sacrament at 11 where I introduced myself and bore testimony. Some of the members were apparentely surprised at how well I spoke so that is a good sign. We have been very busy with lessons and I am excited to keep working hard with the members and with my companions.
I love you all very much and want you to know that I am doing just fine in Ukraine. It is so beautiful and I have already had some experiences that I have never before had in America and it is great to be here to serve the people and the Lord.
Love,
Elder Jones
Thursday, March 18, 2010
Arrival in Kyiv
This is a picture of Ryan with his new companion, Elder Monson, and the Mission President and his wife. His first area where he will be serving is Rivne. Notice the Kyiv Temple in the background?
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
March 17, 2010
Hi-
So I am safely in Ukraine and will soon be getting to bed. Tomorrow the office will send you an email of where I am going and on Monday I will write (p-day)
Love you all very much,
Elder Ryan Jones
So I am safely in Ukraine and will soon be getting to bed. Tomorrow the office will send you an email of where I am going and on Monday I will write (p-day)
Love you all very much,
Elder Ryan Jones
Sunday, March 14, 2010
Pictures from the MTC
So here is Ryan's travel itinerary. As you can see, he leaves this Tuesday for Ukraine. That means we won't have an email update for 2 weeks. He thinks his p-day will be Monday in Ukraine. We did get his package of items from the MTC that he's not taking with him. Included was his memory card with some pictures. Here are a few.
A map of the Ukraine Kyiv mission.
His name tag in the MTC.
This is Travis who is now in the MTC in Guatemala. A friend from high school.
Ryan with Sean, a friend from high school, who is also going to the Ukraine Kyiv mission. Sean is speaking Russian though.
The Ukrainian speaking district consisting of eight elders and one sister. Obviously a cold day helping to prepare them for their mission.
Hard study in the MTC? Use the force to overcome the language.
Ryan's companion in the MTC - Elder Hinkson.
The district at the temple again - looks like it is a little warmer this time.
Ryan's Ukrainian name tag. 
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
March 9, 2010 - Last Week
(This email was written to his mom.)
So I want to first off let you know that we upgraded our emails so that they are through gmail. We have a lot more memory now, but I don't have any of my contacts and the formating is strange as it doesn't let me use enters. My email is still the same address though, but if you could send the the email addresses of anyone who wants emails, that would be great.
So to answer your first question, email is going to be the easiest. Dear Elders can be printed off in Kyiv but I would only get them once a transfer, so weekly email is best. Second, we did receive our Flight Plans and we are flying Lufthansa. Here it is (and remember that all times are local times for that area) - Salt Lake 8:00 am to Chicago where I have a layover from 12:03 to 4:40. That would be the best time for me to call because we don't have much time in the morning before our flight. I can give you a call but you need to let me know what time between 11:00 and 2:30 (here) is best for you. Our next flight is from Chicago to Frankfurt where we get in at 7:00 (midnightish here I think) and where I have a 3 hour layover before our final flight into Kyiv. I will be arriving in Kyiv sometime around 1ish there and from there I meet the Mission President and my Trainer. From what I have heard, my p-day won't be until the following Monday so this may be the last email you get for two weeks. Again, let me know what time works best and I can try to give you a call. I have about 4 dollars of quarters to help me on the payphone.
I am sending home a package probably within the next few days. I am just letting you know so that you can expect it. I may or may not put letters in it (I might also just send them today through regular mail) for the girls and dad, so they don't feel bad that I didn't email them. Tell the Thorpes that I did receive their letter and I am grateful for their support. Just tell anyone who asks that I am doing great. Also, give anyone who wants to talk to me in the field my email such as grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, or friends who ask (you said Mary asked for my address, so if you would like you can give her my email). I may not have much time to write to them, but that will be the easiest way to hear from them. Let Curtis know that he is going to be awesome and let me know how his farewell goes please. I am going to try to write him today but it would be great if you told him good luck from me as well.
As for some of your other questions that you asked this week, I did get to say goodbye to Travis Sunday night which was nice. He is going to be an awesome missionary I am sure. Also, thank you for getting that letter to Graham. I hadn't really talked to him in a while and I felt like it would be good to write something. So tell Chelsea congrats for the Play, even though she was sick. I was glad to hear that you said she did awesome. Also tell Caitlin congrats for the swim awards and good luck with SUU. And as far as getting a tie from Costco, it doesn't really matter whether or not you get it. We will be fine without it. And I got your package yesterday - thanks for the shoes which are working out so far. I will break them in this week and they should be good.
--- So for a few updates from me. I started packing again on Sunday night, just folding up a few things and I don't think weight should be a problem. I actually almost filled up one of the suitcases last night and it only felt like it weighed about 40ish pounds so I think I will be fine. It is pretty crazy to be packing up again. Today was also the last time we get to go to the Temple, maybe for two years. That just depends on whether Pres. Steinagel will let us go to the Kyiv temple after it is dedicated in the late fall. That is going to be an exciting event, no matter whether or not we get to go inside.
So, last week, we had Bishop Edgley speak at our devotional. We still have only seen one Apostle, but one of the Elders in our zone, who had played the piano a little for prelude in devotionals asked Brother Ullman, the organist, if he could play tonight and Brother Ullman said No because an Apostle is coming. I am looking forward to it and hopefully it does turn out to be an Apostle. And if not, it will be ok because all the devotionals are great anyway.
Well, I am almost out of time, but I want to encourage you to keep reading and finish the Book of Mormon. I finished it on Sunday which was absolutely awesome and I know that you will be able to as well. Keep working hard and you will be blessed so much for your efforts. I want you to know that I love you very much and that I am praying for you all the time. I am so grateful for all that you have done for me. I know that this Church is true, that Joseph Smith is the Prophet of the Restoration and that Thomas S Monson leads us today. I know that Christ is our Savior.
Love, Elder Ryan Jones
So I want to first off let you know that we upgraded our emails so that they are through gmail. We have a lot more memory now, but I don't have any of my contacts and the formating is strange as it doesn't let me use enters. My email is still the same address though, but if you could send the the email addresses of anyone who wants emails, that would be great.
So to answer your first question, email is going to be the easiest. Dear Elders can be printed off in Kyiv but I would only get them once a transfer, so weekly email is best. Second, we did receive our Flight Plans and we are flying Lufthansa. Here it is (and remember that all times are local times for that area) - Salt Lake 8:00 am to Chicago where I have a layover from 12:03 to 4:40. That would be the best time for me to call because we don't have much time in the morning before our flight. I can give you a call but you need to let me know what time between 11:00 and 2:30 (here) is best for you. Our next flight is from Chicago to Frankfurt where we get in at 7:00 (midnightish here I think) and where I have a 3 hour layover before our final flight into Kyiv. I will be arriving in Kyiv sometime around 1ish there and from there I meet the Mission President and my Trainer. From what I have heard, my p-day won't be until the following Monday so this may be the last email you get for two weeks. Again, let me know what time works best and I can try to give you a call. I have about 4 dollars of quarters to help me on the payphone.
I am sending home a package probably within the next few days. I am just letting you know so that you can expect it. I may or may not put letters in it (I might also just send them today through regular mail) for the girls and dad, so they don't feel bad that I didn't email them. Tell the Thorpes that I did receive their letter and I am grateful for their support. Just tell anyone who asks that I am doing great. Also, give anyone who wants to talk to me in the field my email such as grandparents, aunts and uncles, cousins, or friends who ask (you said Mary asked for my address, so if you would like you can give her my email). I may not have much time to write to them, but that will be the easiest way to hear from them. Let Curtis know that he is going to be awesome and let me know how his farewell goes please. I am going to try to write him today but it would be great if you told him good luck from me as well.
As for some of your other questions that you asked this week, I did get to say goodbye to Travis Sunday night which was nice. He is going to be an awesome missionary I am sure. Also, thank you for getting that letter to Graham. I hadn't really talked to him in a while and I felt like it would be good to write something. So tell Chelsea congrats for the Play, even though she was sick. I was glad to hear that you said she did awesome. Also tell Caitlin congrats for the swim awards and good luck with SUU. And as far as getting a tie from Costco, it doesn't really matter whether or not you get it. We will be fine without it. And I got your package yesterday - thanks for the shoes which are working out so far. I will break them in this week and they should be good.
--- So for a few updates from me. I started packing again on Sunday night, just folding up a few things and I don't think weight should be a problem. I actually almost filled up one of the suitcases last night and it only felt like it weighed about 40ish pounds so I think I will be fine. It is pretty crazy to be packing up again. Today was also the last time we get to go to the Temple, maybe for two years. That just depends on whether Pres. Steinagel will let us go to the Kyiv temple after it is dedicated in the late fall. That is going to be an exciting event, no matter whether or not we get to go inside.
So, last week, we had Bishop Edgley speak at our devotional. We still have only seen one Apostle, but one of the Elders in our zone, who had played the piano a little for prelude in devotionals asked Brother Ullman, the organist, if he could play tonight and Brother Ullman said No because an Apostle is coming. I am looking forward to it and hopefully it does turn out to be an Apostle. And if not, it will be ok because all the devotionals are great anyway.
Well, I am almost out of time, but I want to encourage you to keep reading and finish the Book of Mormon. I finished it on Sunday which was absolutely awesome and I know that you will be able to as well. Keep working hard and you will be blessed so much for your efforts. I want you to know that I love you very much and that I am praying for you all the time. I am so grateful for all that you have done for me. I know that this Church is true, that Joseph Smith is the Prophet of the Restoration and that Thomas S Monson leads us today. I know that Christ is our Savior.
Love, Elder Ryan Jones
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
March 2, 2010
So I am down to two weeks here and it is pretty scary. We are learning so quickly and we are now at 100% Ukrainian, but there is still so much that we have to learn. It is crazy to think of how long we have been here. This morning, Travis (a friend of Ryan's who is going to the Guatemala City mission) left for the MTC in Guatemala and soon we will be taking off too.
I am glad to hear that home is still crazy busy. I am glad you enjoyed Banff (the film festival tour Rob hosts every year for 3 nights) and the Olympics and whatever else may be going on at home. Also, it is cool to hear that Mom and Dad are going to be working at the Family History Center. I have been doing family names every week at the temple because a missionary brought some, and today, I was able to do a Ukrainian name that Sister Georgiyeva gave to us. It is so exciting to be taking part in the work and I know you will be doing great work.
I hope you all continue to stay busy and work hard. I know you will all be blessed for it. Also, Chelsea, good luck with the play. You will be awesome. Remember that I love all of you and that I am so thankful for your love and support and your letters :) Know that I know this is the true Church. Thomas Monson is a true prophet of God and that he and the Apostles have the restored keys of the priesthood which allow us to take part in all the wonderful ordinances and blessings of the Church. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that through Him, we can live together as a family. I know that our Heavnely Father and Jesus Christ love us so very much and they have a plan for us to return to them. All we have to do is follow it.
Keep working hard and doing what you need to!
Love,
Ryan
I am glad to hear that home is still crazy busy. I am glad you enjoyed Banff (the film festival tour Rob hosts every year for 3 nights) and the Olympics and whatever else may be going on at home. Also, it is cool to hear that Mom and Dad are going to be working at the Family History Center. I have been doing family names every week at the temple because a missionary brought some, and today, I was able to do a Ukrainian name that Sister Georgiyeva gave to us. It is so exciting to be taking part in the work and I know you will be doing great work.
I hope you all continue to stay busy and work hard. I know you will all be blessed for it. Also, Chelsea, good luck with the play. You will be awesome. Remember that I love all of you and that I am so thankful for your love and support and your letters :) Know that I know this is the true Church. Thomas Monson is a true prophet of God and that he and the Apostles have the restored keys of the priesthood which allow us to take part in all the wonderful ordinances and blessings of the Church. I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior and that through Him, we can live together as a family. I know that our Heavnely Father and Jesus Christ love us so very much and they have a plan for us to return to them. All we have to do is follow it.
Keep working hard and doing what you need to!
Love,
Ryan
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)