Listen to the Holy Ghost

Let me just say first, that I LOVE TEA!!!

Now you can all sit down and be calm. I am keeping the commandments, and it would be foolish not to. In Russia, people don't drink tap water, just because it isn't safe. They drink a lot of tea, which is fine if it is a certain kind. Any black or green tea has the tea leaf in it and of course, we don't drink it. The tea members drink is herbs, such as ginger, and dried fruit. These things are perfectly safe, and are delicious. If you want to try herbal tea, make sure to put lots of sugar. All I have to say is that drinking herbal tea is so much better that drinking Mate! :)  It even says in the D&C that "mild drinks" are perfectly fine in the eyes of the Lord. Trust me, it's delicious!

In getting to Novokuznetsk, we took a train, which was my first train ride, and it was 8 hours long from Novosibirsk. We got to the city about 4 in the morning, we got a taxi, and we got to the apartment and slept until 6:30. Our apartment is small, but nice. The hot water never runs out, except when they clean the pipes. For a couple weeks in the Summer, they turn off the hot water, so they can clean the pipes that bring it. That happened this week, so we have freezing cold water in the mornings. It's awesome.

We have an amazing investigator, named Vacili, who is like "The Chosen One". He doesn't drink alcohol or coffee, smoke, or use drugs, which is one in a million in Russia. Elder Washburn knew him before I came, and he was reading the Book of Mormon, and he said that he had a good feeling when he read and prayed. He also has a slight stutter, which went away when he was reading. We testified that it was the Holy Ghost, and that he could feel that every day if he was baptized. He said yes! All he needs to do is come to church every Sunday this month, and we plan to teach him all the lessons. If everything goes right, He will be baptized at the end of this month. It's exciting!!

On Mondays, we have Family Home Evening at the branch, since many of the members don't have families of their own. Last Monday, we had "Nipponski Vecher", or Japanese Night. We made sushi, and drank herbal tea, which is when I found my love for herbal teas. It's funny, that the first time I have sushi, I am in Russia...go figure...

A funny moment happened. Elder Washburn had some American candy from his family for his Birthday, and he brought Pixie Stix to share with others. He gave some to two kids, and they ate them outside the branch. A babooshka (you call an old lady a babooshka, and they expect to be called one as well) saw them and thought that they were taking narcotics. We told her it was American candy, and she grumbled as she went away. It just was a funny moment.

Even funnier, during Nipponski Vecher, a person from English Club came and brought a present for Elder Washburn's birthday. She isn't a member, and when she gave it to him, she tried to kiss him on the cheek. Of course Elder Washburn got out of the way, and nicely said that those things aren't allowed. The present was a picture frame, and we put a picture of Joseph in Egypt trying to get away from Potipher's wife, just to remind us to stay away from temptation... It is okay to laugh!

My last experience I want to share is when we were talking with Andre. He is a pastor and is very firm in the bible. He read the pamphlet about the Restoration, and he wrote down scriptures to explain why this church is wrong. When he would talk, he got louder and louder, till he was almost shouting. He really seemed to just want to argue. At the end, I felt impressed to bear my testimony, and I simply stated in a still small voice that I followed what it says in James 1:5, and I received an answer that this church is true. There was power in my words, even without the loud volume. I don't know how he felt, but I felt it. I knew it was true. He called me a "Horoshi Chelovek" which means "Good Man". The lesson from this is that's how the Holy Ghost works. It's not loud, it's still, small, and powerful. There is power behind the words. And that is what converts the people, that power. My words didn't bring the power, but it was through them that the Holy Ghost was able to show His power.
I love you all, this Gospel is true

Listen to the Holy Ghost, for He is power.

Elder Hoggan (The Siberian Messenger)