Flat Broke

The whole group seems a little confused when we try to get together now that Meagan is gone. We never know where we're going or what the plan is. I think it's kind of funny. We've done some fun things as a group, though. We went to the beach last Saturday and everyone got a little sunburnt. Chelsea and Jordanae brought a stray puppy with them that we all played with a little. The branch had some treats after the meetings as a way to say goodbye, even though we've still got two Sundays left.
I was actually planning on staying an extra two weeks, but the last time that I went to withdraw money from my debit card, I noticed that it wasn't in my wallet anymore. After looking everywhere I wrote home and had my parents cancel it. Now I won't have enough money to survive for an extra two weeks, so I've been trying to get the office to reschedule my flight to the original time. So far I haven't heard back from them, though. I told my mom to go start nagging them for me. That should get them working on it.
The end is coming up really quick. Only seven more days and we're done teaching, then we'll head home the next monday. Or at least hopefully I'll be heading home with everyone else.

Bye Meagan

The first week after our vacation was a pretty rough one for me. For the first time we had 100% attendance. The kids were all excited to be back together and because of the good whether and all the other stuff that makes kids excited. It was pretty hectic in class, most of the time. Since then things have calmed down a lot.
Other than the crazy kids, the week was memorable because it was our head teacher's last. We had a lot of activities that made it fun, but I was a little sad the whole time because this is the beginning of the end. Everything has been so different from how I thought it would be, but I'll be sad to go home.
The weekend was great. We had a party Friday night with a fireworks show. You can buy huge rocket racks here that would be way illegal in the US for cheap. On Saturday we had a picnic at Pirehova, a place just out of town where old Ukrainian architecture has been brought and reassembled. It was a lot of fun. On Thursday Meagan gave us all awards and notes. She is one of the most thoughtful people I know. I got the "Father Duck" award. The title comes from a time in Prague when I was feeding the ducks and got ten of them to gather around me. I pointed out to Whitney that I had as many ducks as girls, and she said I should start calling the girls my ducks. It stuck for me.
Meagan left from the airport early Monday morning. I walked her home Sunday night because I'm always afraid terrible things will happen at the most ironic times. Nothing happened, though. The little hug goodbye reminded me how deprived I am, and then I walked home in the dark thinking how much I'll miss Meagan. She's always so excited and happy, even when she doesn't really want to be. She does it for other people. She's someone I can really look up to.
Now another week is almost over. It has definitely been different without Meagan around, but things have gone as normal. I'm starting to get excited for the semester to end myself, even though it looks like I'll be spending my extra two weeks touring Ukraine instead of Russia. I still don't have an invitation to visit, so I still have no visa, and I don't think there's time to get one. I'll be able to visit some other time, though, I'm sure.
Well, tomorrow is another day of teaching. There aren't many left.

A Good Rest

In the end I think it's a good thing I stayed in Kyiv for my vacation after all. Now that it's over and I've heard stories from the other two trips, I have to say that I'd have like to have been there to help them, but if I had been than I'd be more tired than if I would have taught double shifts all week. They had some crazy things happen that I wish I could have prevented, though.
Some of the highlights of my vacation were seeing my old mission president, Elder Pieper, and talking to him and his wife, taking the teachers from Moscow for a walk around town, having sleepovers and movie nights, riding a Ferris wheel in the WWII memorial park, throwing up some hamburgers, and starting a blood feud with Deidre. I would go into more detail on all of those things, but I think it's a lot more interesting for you if I just leave it up to your imaginations, and I don't have a lot of time. It was a great vacation though. The best part was probably just laying out in the sun on the one warm day we had, or getting caught in a sudden wind storm. I love wind storms. So , now I'm back to work.

An Apostle of the Lamb

I had a great opportunity over the past weekend to go and hear Elder Holland of the Quorum of the Twelve speak at a stake conference. The conference was two sessions. The first was held in the regular chapel on Saturday evening, and the second in a rented hall on Sunday morning. I thought that they were both being held in the rented hall, so I didn't actually make it to the first session. But the second session was more than I could have hoped for, anyway.
Elder Holland is a very powerful speaker. At the end of his talk he had every member in the audience promise themselves to never leave the church, and I'm sure they all complied. He talked about how President Hinckley has surely already earned his salvation, but instead of retiring to Florida and golfing he just keeps on working. President Hinckley doesn't need it. He doesn't need to do anything else for himself. He probably could have quit a while ago. But he goes on and will continue to work as long as he has strength. He does this for the next generation, because he loves us. Elder Holland told us the members here, most of whom are first-generation, to think of their children. He challenged them to go on and stay active in the church, even if they don't have the strength, so that their children will have the strength. If they can just hang in their until the end then their children will have everything. They'll have a temple, a stake, young men and young women programs. But only if the members now give it to them. So even if we aren't strong enough to do it for ourselves, we all need to keep at it for the next generation. We can give them the strength that we ourselves don't have.
Elder Holland emphasized the power that the Holy Ghost can have in our lives if we are worthy and strive to obey. He said that members of the church take this incredible gift for granted. It is the right to the companionship of a Member of the Godhead. Heavenly Father and Jesus Christ will probably never visit us personally in this life, but we still can have the company of a God. This is a wonderful and sacred privelage that is available only to members of this church and can only be gotten in one way. He urged us to do nothing to lose the Spirit, and that it will be our greatest protection. It is a personal gift from the Godhead that can be gotten in no other way.
At the end of his talk Elder Holland pronounced a blessing upon all the members of the congregation. I will always remember the part that applied to me as a priesthood holder. Before pronouncing the blessing he explained to the congregation that it was no different than as if he had laid his hands on all our heads individually and blessed us by name. I believe him.
I am more convinced than ever that the men we sustain as prophets, seers, and revelators really are who and what they claim to be. I have felt the effect of that blessing upon me and know that it was pronounced by one having authority. I know that if I do my part then it will be fulfilled entirely. I am grateful for the prophets and apostles of our time and all they do for the church and it's people. Let's listen to their words and not take them for granted.