Family game time

Family!!

   Wow, that was too fun getting to see you all. I can't wait to see and BE with you!  I am happy to hear that Mammoth was so much fun, judging by the pictures it looks like you all enjoyed yourselves. I'm over flowed with joy when I see my family working hard to better one another and spending precious time with each other that will benefit you for the rest of your lives. It was so fun to see my 2 new brothers hanging out and fitting perfectly into  our crazy family. All my companions always comment on how awesome you all are.  I just wanted to express my gratitude to all of you for being such fun loving, light hearted, and hard working examples of how we need to support the other members of our family.  As a part of this wonderful family, we all hold a sacred calling to lift and support one another and I have been so blessed to see that calling fulfilled in my own family.  This week was crazy, we has so much happen.  But I wanted to tell you about a way fun experience we had just last night.  We were invited to go to our investigators house and eat dinner with them. His name is Ruslan. He just turned 30 and had wonderful 5 year old daughter and a super awesome wife. he has been meeting with us off and on but only at the church b/c his wife (Yulia) is not religious at all. last week we went over to his place and had tea and small little munchies with them and gave them a spiritual thought.  Well, they invited us over again and fed us a wonderful meal this time and we played way fun games with them.  It was SO MUCH FUN!  They are such good people and I hope things start to progress with them.  His wife is just like aunt Joni...she ALWAYS win every game!!  It was so much fun and so great to see this family apply Gospel principles with out them even knowing it!  I hope that things start to roll with this family b/c that is exactly what this church needs.  Yesterday I was privileged to confirm another brotha from Cameroon a member of the church, it is always such a special experience for me and always so great to see how the Gift of the Holy Ghost truly does have an impact on peoples' lives.  Anyway, I have to BOUNCE b/c Time is up and I was writing other siblings today :)

I love you all! have a great week!

- Старейшина Руни

ps thanks for the package!!! that popcorn was SOOO good. And I gave all my candy canes away to people at our Christmas party along with the majority of the Andes mints, b/c they have never tried that before. 

pss nothing urgent but if you have time, peanut butter and taco seasoning would be awesome!   I've made tacos for members and investigators and I would like to do that again.   thanks!!

Baptism week

What the heck! Not one letter from any of you!?....I forgive you. hopefully everything will work out, I plan on calling home at 7:30 am wed morning for me, so hopefully that will be Tuesday night for you!

 This week was crazy...we had such an awesome week. The weather is getting so cold again!!!! We haven't had electricity  for 2 days now so we opened up our wanna be balcony thing and opened to windows....so we just froze everything haha.  The guy came to day to fix FINALLY and said that the problem was a super easy fix...of course it was.  We lived to days by flashlight....it was terrible, but an adventure. I'll keep this one short b/c i'll "see" you all soon. But I had such an awesome week.  I was privileged to have the opportunity to baptize a brother from Cameroon.  I didn't teach him the lessons but he always came to our branch b/c we translated for all of the brothas. I did the baptismal interview with him and we got pretty close. there were 2 baptisms at the same time and I knew both of the guys getting baptized really well, so i was really fun to watch them go through the process of faith unto repentance and baptism, and to watch their lives turn around. Then the next day at church, I was pulled into a room by the other brotha  who was baptized on Saturday  and he just spilled out all of his fears and nerves and it was a huge privilege to be able to use the scriptures to comfort him...them only minutes later, I confirmed him a member of the church being that our branch president doesn't speak any English. I was so blessed to be worthy to give counsel when needed  and to be able to perform the ordinances.  honestly, it was one of the happiest days on my mission.   Ok cool, so I'll see you soon and we'll all catch up a bit ok :)?    Love you guys!

Merry Christmas

- Старейшина Руни

Tireless Sunday!

FAMILY!!!!

  Sounds like a super fun week at home. Diana wrote me a letter and told me all about Yolanda and her family. That's so cool to be able to see that after 31 years (you guys are old ;) the person you both helped bring to the truth is just thriving and now her own family is. What a blessing to be able to see the fruit of your labors. OK. so update on our area, I came in into this area with 3 investigators (one of them eternal), and a not so obedient comp....now after these few weeks we have been blessed with 22 new investigators and 6 of them were at church on Sunday.  This is NOT usual by the way. This is HUGE.  Its been so much fun to see that obedience and hard work brings forth such wonderful blessings.  However it takes a companion to make is work. I've learned so much about how unity with your companion makes all the difference. Its been so nice to FINALLY have a comp that wants to work and now that we are unified, I can see a difference in our work here. Our district had 10 investigators at church with 2 other investigators from different missionaries. That makes 12...such a blessing. I will say that I have never been more stressed at church in my life!! Let me tell you why...so I am the translator b/c we have a ton of Brothas from Africa that all come to our branch. So, when ever anyone has an investigator that is English only...they come to us.  So it starts of with no investigators showing up at the beginning of the meeting (b/c all of the brothas work in "African Time" as they call it, which means that you come at least 30 minutes late).  It was Branch conference so there were already a lot of people.  Then Sacrament mtg starts and I get a phone call from one who is trying to make his way over to the church, so I stepped out side to take the call and as I do, I see 5 brothas walk in to the hall, 3 of them being our investigators. So I took the call and Ruslan said that he'll be 20 min late but he's coming.  Then sacrament ends and I go back in to see that there are no more headphones ( I use a micro phone that is connected to a transmitter that sends my voice to a ton of headphones) for every one b/c they are all being used...so Our friend had to translate for some and I translated for the rest.  Then, as I'm translating, the phone goes off again and another investigator is trying to find his way to church, but forgot how so as I'm trying to do my best translating (which is SOOOOOO hard by the way) I'm also texting an investigator the address of our church (which is actually an institute and a lot of people get confused when we tell them that our church is at an institute....) and I'm worrying that the words I'm trying text aren't come out of my mouth....and that words I'm supposed to be saying  are making sense to all the people listening to me ...5 of them investigators and out of those 5, 3 of them were first timers, so of course you don't want them to get a bad 1st impression.  I don't think my brain has ever been that used before.  THEN, the missionaries performed a musical number. I wrote an arrangement to "Oh, come all ye faithful" and our district sang it. The performance went well but then I had to go back to translating and there weren't enough headphones for everyone so those with out head phones had to sit around me to hear my voice while the others were in the congregation somewhere.  So at the end I had an investigator (not English speaking) sitting next to me on a ledge of the wall b/c we ran out of seats, and I was trying to speak loud enough for the English speakers that weren't with headphones but not loud enough that everyone else would get annoyed with me making too much noise and trying to just understand what was being said by the speakers. IT WAS CRAZY!!!  I think the problem was that I had the phone on me and not my comp and he was sitting with other investigators in the front and I was in the back translating.  He DEFINITELY gets the phone next time haha.  So that was one crazy first hour and I'm just so excited that I was worthy for the spirit b/c with the spirit...I wouldn't have been able to do anything.  I love this gospel and I love being so stacked with things to do that I feel like there is not enough time in the day to get it all done. I know that God is the perfect "planner" b/c His house is one of order and with out order there is chaos.  I'm grateful some much to do b/c it is teaching me how to manage my time well and how to become more like my Savior. I will say that the a big motivating factor when dealing with all of the things of missionary work is that Jesus Christ worked "tirelessly" and that is something that I'm trying to apply in my life; to always have energy to keep a smile on my face.   I'm not sure if anything in my letter made any sense but, I'll just say that I'm having a blast and love being here. Definitely the hardest thing I've ever done in my life, but now I have more of a capacity to handle it all, and I know that source of my success is b/c of the Savior and the enabling power of the His atonement.

I love you!!  I'll let you know next week what times I'll be able to Skype....wait actually, you guys need to tell me and I'll make it happen :)

have a great week!

- Sean

Great week

So, I could write to much today but I'm so great! I love my life. I have no more time to type unfortunately but I just wanted to say that i love you and mom so much! Mom's letter was BOSS and super profound.  Ok, I have to go.  I love you!  thanks for being the best parents ever!!

--
- Старейшина Руни

ps MOM!!!!  Happy BIRTHDAYYYYYYYY!!!! soooooooon :)

"Eating Monday"

Hey Fam,

Sounds like you had a party all week, that's so awesome to hear. Of course while being on my mission I have realized more and more how great you all are. I'm so blessed to have you all as shinning examples of how to love others and serve. Elder Southam told me he wrote you, go ahead an write him back when you get the chance, he has change my life and I am forever grateful for the love he has given me. Let him know how wonderful I think he is, truly he is a great friend of mine. The pictures you sent from the wedding are beautiful and the pictures of the after events were awesome. I appreciated the picture of my beautiful mom and my gangster dad wearing his hood haha, I thought that was way funny. I don't know the words that can describe how I feel about my family. Thank you for you wonderful smiles and strong testimonies. I have had a few comps that have not been raised in a similar situation as me, in the sense that their families were as solid in the gospel, and I have seen the blessings that come from having temple worthy parents and siblings, it makes such a big difference. This week was my first week with my new companion and He has been an amazing blessing to me. He works...that's all I could have asked for. We have seen such amazing miracles while serving together and there will be a lot more to come. I'm stoked that I have a young companion that still has the fire b/c he just wants to go go go go....and I love it. We are working so hard and seeing miracles. We are working with a young man named Sasha and he speaks great English. We found him on the streets during Morning Contacting and he has become such a great investigator and friend. Its been so fun to look back on my mission and see the friends that I have made that are not even members but they are still such great people. Today we will have a couple young investigators come with us to FHE at a senior couples' place to eat food and play games and introduce our investigators to members of the church. There are a lot of Brothas that come and they actually changed the name of FHE to "Eating Monday" haha, apparently there is always a ton of food and that is a major selling point to get people to go...and if you have ever worked with poor college students, you know first hand that if the word "food" is mentioned, then your pretty well guaranteed double the attendance haha. So I'm excited for that. Anyway, I hope you all have a great. Thanks for everything! I love you all

-Sean

New Companion in front of a Statue of Stallin

 

New Companion, YEAH!!

HI family!!

Wow...those pictures of the wedding were so RAD!! Cami of course looked beautiful. Dad has lost some weight it looks like...I'm impressed :) You all looked amazing and I'm sure that everything worked out great. Its great to hear that with 10 hours and counting the church was transformed and everything turned out. I don't have too much time to write today unfortunately, I was writing other family member...but I will update you on how I'm doing. I got a new companion! He is really young on his mission, he is in his 3rd transfer and had been such a huge blessing. He actually wants to work!! we have been working so dang much! We will see some great miracles by the end of this transfer. On Sunday, I translated for all the Brothers at church and m brain wanted to explode...its so hard! but I will have to get used to it being that we have a very young district...minus me haha so I'm the designated translator. our district is a "dating" district, which means we have 2 sisters and 2 elders. This was the same as last transfer, I appreciate sisters SOOOO MUCH!! they bring a special spirit with them. They bring with them Virtue and It is always a blessing to have them with us. Thanks so much for being such a great family. I can't wait to talk to you in a little over a month. Its starting to get cold again which is so weird to see again for the 2nd. We haven't experienced negative temperatures yet but that will be here come January...anyways, Thanks for all that you do! I love you all!!!

Have a great week! :)

- Sean

Learning about Truth

Hi family!!

 Its so great to hear about everything that is happening with the wedding. Its kinda weird to know that I will come home to a different family but change is good and necessary. I'm so happy for Cami that she has been able to endure through so much and now is seeing the fruit of her labor.  I'm proud of her. I hope as is well in the Rooney household as the wedding draws nearer. I look forward to Mondays when I can read uplifting words from a loving family, I appreciate you guys more than you can imagine.  Thanks for always being there for me, especially when I was struggling the most. My companions all know a ton about my family...for good reason too. Well, this transfer will end for me on Thursday and I'm excited.  My comp just now was great but I'm down for a change haha.  It was great b/c in the beginning of my transfer, my comp would get mad at me b/c I made him do comp inventory and other things that missionaries like to skip out on ( he didn't like to do a lot of things haha), but its ok.  B/c now he is actually a missionary, and not just someone on vacation in Ukraine.  It was nice to review out transfer together and watch the transformation that has taken place in his life. He is super obedient and can attest for the wondrous success that we have seen lately. We have been getting investigators everywhere and he was finally able to see some fruit of his labor.  This transfer I have learned a lot about truth. And about how when we are honest with ourselves, God will show us the truth, which a lot of the time are our weaknesses. And when we come to God with humility and pray for a changed heart that we will willingly change and adapt that which is of truth, we will see our lives transform as comp has seen his life change.  I know that we make some of the most ridiculous excuses sometimes in our lives, but when we face up to the truth and act accordingly, that is when we become men and women of God.  I know that God shows us the truth to help us become better. I love slash absolutely hate when I hear something that makes my insides turn upside down b/c I know that I have to change b/c of something I'm not doing (if that makes sense....its makes sense to me haha) and it gives me the opportunity to use the gift of repentance and align my will with God's.   Anyways, I love being here and being a missionary, I thank God everyday for the time He has given me to be here.  I love you all!!  have a great week

- Старейшина Руни

Preaching on a bus!

FAMILY!!!

 This week was a life changing week.  I don't know where to begin.  I only have time for one story, here we go. I had a zone conference here this week and it was great and it was also one that kicked our butts.  We got stacked on us a ton of standards that the natural man would willing and does willing reject.  But after I prayed for a softened heart I really love keeping all the rules, even new ones.  So here in my mission we do A LOT of contacting, every single day. The members are great at certain things but they struggle with others, as do all of us.  But the majority of the people we find to teach here come through missionary efforts even though we all know its more effective to find people to teach through members, anyways...after zone conference (which is were I got my package...Thanks MOM and DAD!!!) I was so pumped. In this mission we talk to everyone everywhere...except for some places like on the metro or on buses. Here it is against the culture to talk to people especially on transport.  People here have a mind set of "I do my thing, and you do yours" so even just saying hi to people on the streets is against the culture here and people think its weird.  I didn't come here to timidly preach the gospel to people that talk to us, I came to be bold and tell people truth.  So we were on a bus the other day, and I felt very strongly that I should get up and preach to a whole bus...which is SOOOOOO NOOOOTTTT NORMAL. But I didn't come here to be normal.  It was the perfect opportunity b/c there was no one standing up and we came to a stop light so the bus was quieter than usual.  My comp and I were in the very back, and I turned to him and told him kinda of jokingly slash seriously "Elder, I think I'm going to preach to this bus."  His reaction was NOT expected.  He just started coming up with excuse upon excuse about why I shouldn't.  We were on our way to a lesson and it was with a potential investigator. After the excuses, I told him I was doing it.  He told me " I will not support you" and he turned his back to me...I couldn't believe what I was hearing.  I said a prayer in my heart (which was pounding by this time) for strength b/c now I was on my own.  And the grace of God picked me up and walked me to the front of the bus.  I turned around and Held the Book of Mormon in the air and started sharing our message.  I was able to see the people who were interested in the message and those that weren't, so afterwards I walked to those who had made eye contact with me as I was speaking and gave the brochures about the church.  Done.  Was it hard? absolutely, but it wasn't until I realized that the worst thing that could happen is that I could get killed somehow that I was able to follow promptings of the Spirit.  I am supposed to be a witness of Christ "Even until Death", so I will be. My testimony of the support of the Savior gives in time of need grew so much that day after that experience. I learned a more profound meaning of what it is to be an example of the Believers.  You cant live off of borrowed light in the last day.  And I just working my hardest to gain as much of it as possible.  This story may not seem very crazy to you ,but i want you to know that it was one of the scariest and hardest experiences of my mission, but I can proudly say that I followed promptings and that God helped me out in my time of need.  I want the Lord to say," I can count on Elder Rooney, no matter what".  I don't know the result of those people that received those brochures but I am honored to have been the instrument of God in giving them to them.  After I sat down, NOTHING could get me down and I felt so strongly the strength of the Lord working through me.  It helped open my eyes even more that the message we have, that gives people that precious opportunity receiving all that the Father has.   I hope that all is well with the wedding and that you all have a wonderful week!

- Sean

The Middle Eastern connection

Hey!!

How was your week?  As for me here, I'm doing great.  My comp and I are finally on the same page and its such a blessing.  We have become master "planners" so that we came improve our efficiency. There are a ton of middle easterners that study out here and they are ALL Muslim! so its kinda hard to teach them but God's plan is truly amazing in that every time I say that my mother is from Iran...I have an instant connection with them. Its super cool.  I want you to know that my heart is burning with love for you and that I look up to you in so many ways. This week has been full of miracles.  I'm doing well, and I have received your package but I haven't opened it yet...b/c I'm in an area way far away from Donetsk and the package is in the same city as me...just not in my hands quite yet.   how are you? How is school?  Are you studying your scriptures everyday?  going to the temple WITH DAD?   Gosh I love you.  I'm pretty sure every one up here know ALL about you, they say I talk about you a lot... :)  Also, a missionary Tyler Stoker from Henderson, says Hi.  I went on a split with him and he did a great job.  He's still super new in the mission but he has a testimony and that’s all that you need to share this message.  Call Kyle some time, tell him how much you love him and that he is an all-star. he needs to hear that from you and Dad at least daily. If it doesn't have much of an effect on him now, It will in a few years when he is in the middle of his mission and his love and respect for you and Dad will grow more than you can imagine. I can't wait to see you again for Christmas!!   keep it up mom!!  Find someone to serve this week, and go serve them.  EVERY less-active member deserves brownies on their door step...just saying :)  
 Let ME know if I can do anything for you.
Anyways, I have to go but I love you!

Have a great week!

- Старейшина Руни

Transfer to Harkov

HI FAMILY!!

Thanks for you great emails. Of course I heard about the new missionary entry date, and I could be more stoked. The Lord is truly Hastening His work here and its SO EXCITING!! So, I got a transfer and now I'm serving in a place called Harkov! Its almost like actual Europe in some places its so beautiful! Its so crazy being here there are a ton students everywhere. And guess where they come from...yup Pakistan, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, and every where else in the middle east. Its INSANE. We taught a guy named Rod who is from Iraq and he looks JUST like me. I'm not kidding, the longer and longer I'm here the more and more I realize that Mom and Dad getting married was NOT on accident. I have immense love for those people and every time i say my mom is from Iran, we have an instant connection. Mom, were you Muslim in Iran? if so, which one? Also, I'm going to master Farsi when I get home, I have learned some out here but I'm going to master Farsi. In our branch, we have a lot of Brothers. If you remember, they call black people here "N" words as apart of the culture, so missionaries call them "Brothas". So they are all from Somewhere in Africa, mainly Nigeria and Cameroon. They are SO awesome. they all speak English and almost no Russian so we translate for them every Sunday, they are so humble and I've met another person who has changed my life. His name is Harold and he is Tanzanian, he found the church and married a Ukrainian woman. He them Moved to Holiday Utah and lives there with his wife and kids. He is finishing up med school here and then will head back to Utah. But this guy has been and incredible example of charity and love. He has NO idea how much of an impact he has made on my life but I'll be sure to tell him before I leave. He bore his testimony about how he used to be young men's president for the branch here for about 5 or so years, and he had just been working and working with the youth, about 5 or 6 boys, to try get them stoked about the Gospel. He said that he would just pray and pray for them. Then when he moved to Utah he lost contact with them, but he still prayed for those boys all the time and thought about them all the time. So now he just got back to finish one last semester and he's been gone for a few years but he got a phone call from a missionary in our mission and the missionary said that he had some who wanted to talk to Herald...it was one of those kids he had been praying for all theses years. The kids name is Bodgon and he had been inactive for a super long time but he was now on a "mini-mission". Now that may not sound like a crazy story but when Herold was bearing testimony about prayer and about this experience, he got way emotional and I could FEEL his love for those kids that he taught. Herold changed Bogdon's life forever and he was able to see the fruit of his labor, what a blessing. I want to be like Herold. I want to give my ALL into every calling I ever get. I want to love people like he does. He has motivated me to be a person. so that’s kinda how things are, we haven't seen conference quite yet b/c the Russian translations take a week to get here, but I'll watch it in English! Also, my comp is a native but is most recently from Toronto...so its cool. I'm having a great time here, I love this place. The gospel is so awesome and I couldn't be more honored to be here at this time. Have a great week! I love you

-Sean

 

 

18 month mark!

HI FAMILY!!!

I love my family!! Guys, wanna here something crazy?? I hit my 6 month mark on Saturday...yes, that is is a sister mission. I am so stoked for the next 6 months of my life. I am going to kill it! I have been blessed with hope which leads to happiness, and I know that I am going to see great things happen in the next 6 months. I am now a pretty seasoned missionary and no where near fluent with this language, but I know that I know what I need to know in order to continue gathering Israel and yea that is what we are doing here. In one branch in the Europe East area there are members from ALL 12 tribes of the house of Israel...its so awesome to literally be apart of what has been talk about in almost every dispensation. This is the work of God and there is no stopping it. It sounds like you had some fun with Kyle coming home this weekend, that Jazz festival sounds great. I can't wait to dance again! Well, this week I received a transfer call and I am going to be leaving the prettiest most developed area in the mission...Center Donetsk. This place was (is) rad and there is so much always going on. My last 2 transfers have by far been the hardest transfers of my mission, but I have never learned so much. My comp has taught me so very applicable life lessons that I hope i never stop applying. I have never been happier until just now (a few days ago). The work here is picking up slowly but its picking up. I have a testimony of hard work and also of the concept of being Light -hearted. To me, light-heart is different than being light-minded. I feel that I can work and work and work and never stop but with my case...I run out of energy and crash eventually. There has to be a balance (this is just a lesson that I had to go through that is helping me live a happier life) with all things. I feel like sometimes I can get burned out, but with the concept of being light-hearted I can work hard and feel goo doing it. I work smarter with a better attitude, always engaged but not losing myself in obedience. What I mean is that obedience should be made a given, NOT a focus. once I allowed this concept to sink deep into my soul, my mission picked up a ton and I was so much happier. I also learned more about how if you love something, its easy to do. So love everything! And if you don't love it, ask God to change your heart so that you can love it. Sorry this letter is a bit short, I was talking to another sibling of mine. I have SO many pictures I want to send home, but none of these computers work with what I have, so ill send it ASAP. I love you all and pray for you always. Thanks for inspiring me to be a better person and family member. have a great week!!

-Sean

Faith, Hope and Happiness!

Family!
  It was great to hear from everyone today, I love you all so much.  The wedding is on the way and I'm sure that is a cause for much excitement. Its so great to see everyone moving and progressing, the same is happening here with me in Ukraine.  Its crazy that I'm even here...in Ukraine of all places.  So the update on my mission life....things are great.   In one year, I have had the opportunity to shake the hands of many General Authorities who have personally come and counseled us (with some chastizzzzzment) They have been: Elder Randall Bennett, Elder Larry Lawrence, Elder Gibson and Richardson (Young Men presidency), Elder Ronald Rasband, and Just yesterday Elder Don Clark.  Its been the coolest experience to see the church so young here and the Brethren send some "assistance" here to get things moving.  Well, the Clarks were here for a few days and conducted a District conference and also a Zone Conference for the missionaries.  Elder Clark said that he was on a special assignment to come to Donetsk from the Prophet, why?  I have no idea but I'm so blessed and happy that he came to us.  I was able to go to the priesthood session of District Conference and here are somethings that might be interesting (slash absolutely AWESOME) to you all. Why do we even have the priesthood? for a number of reasons but our purpose for the priesthood is to bless the FAMILIES of the earth.  How? with the priesthood we now can 1. preside in meetings that help bring to pass God's work and glory, 2. To perform ordinances, 3. to Serve, 4. to preach the gospel.  The most important organization is the FAMILY.  The next holiest place after the temple is not the Chapel but the HOME (he made sure we understood this). The most important meeting that we can attend after the Sacrament is FHE.  It makes so much sense to me that the priesthood is used for blessing FAMILIES.  Family, I know its not the easiest thing to do living apart from one another but you have GOT to try and do some sort of FHE with the people and resources you have.  Work hard to have strong family relations, it is one of the reasons you exist!  The priesthood is such an amazing opportunity to help someone else,  Start with the family them move to others!  I love the Gospel.  Also, our convert (Artur) showed up to the priesthood session, he was baptized a week ago, and Elder Clark made everyone stand in the room who did not yet have the priesthood and when he asked Artur why and found out he was baptized 8 days ago, he thanked him and said some way nice things to him in front of everyone (and this meeting was being broadcast everywhere), THEN asked him to bear his testimony in the general session...Artur showed up in a suit and a tie and sat on the stand with the mission president and Elder and Sister Clark and bore his testimony in front of EVERYONE...it was so awesome!  He was nervous so he asked me for some advice and its was awesome!  When he bore his testimony, the spirit was so strong and when he sat down he was just beaming...he also committed twice to serving a full-time mission.  He will change lives.
  Then yesterday was Zone Conference (as to why I'm writing a day late) we had an AMAZING time. I received the HOPE that I was needing to continue on.  My mission has been very difficult for me and I had lost hope in the future that I was going to be able to accomplish my goals and be able to do the things that God wants me to do rather than the things I want to do. And I have been struggling with this for a while now so I started studying up a ton on hope and how to get it and then USE it.  So on Sunday I decided to fast b/c this is something that I really really want.  After studying I found that when you have real hope (especially in the resurrection that you will in actuality be lifted up) you receive happiness.  And I realized that I haven't been very happy lately, so I fasted b/c I want to live after the "manner of happiness"!  Well,  after an awesome meeting, one of the assistants told me that Elder Clark wanted to have an interview...with ME!  Out of all the missionaries there, he interviewed 3, and for some reason I was one of them.  The Interview was great and nothing TOO crazy haha, but the fact that he was on a special assignment then interviewed only 3 of us...that hit me hard.  I had fasted the day before for hope b/c I was not happy, and then God answered back by giving me a very special opportunity.  God loves me.  I know he does.  I know that He sees our struggles and what we are going through.  He gave me the hope that I had been earnestly searching for b/c He loves me and wants me to be happy.  And He wants me to be successful (temporally and spiritually) so He has helped me out.   I'm am happy again, and I am determined to stay like this.  This was a weakness and now I am going to, through the Grace of God, make it a strength b/c I will not stop working on it until it does.   I love the Gospel b/c It pushes me to be better and to work harder and be more efficient.  I will be a DOER.  I am someone who Acts and is not acted upon, and I will determine my future.  This lesson that I am now applying in my life will greatly help me and my future family.  It will allow me to fulfill all of my goals  and I am so grateful to God for the opportunity learn and grow.   I love the Atonement and I love my Savior who gave  His life for me that I could come to this realization, that He descended below everything, and If I will submit my will to God's I can believe on the Words of Christ and maintain the hope (with action)  that it takes (for me) to receive all that the Father has.  The gospel is so awesome.  have a great week!

Sean

Baptism of Artur

Hi!

Yes, I'm blown away that Cami is getting married but at the same time I hoped and prayed for it to happen so...I'm just happier than ever to see this happen.  I know that Kimi and Cami are now entering into a covenant that will enable them to be able to have all that the Father has.  I've been studying a ton about the Plan of Salvation and to be able to be so close to people who are applying the Gospel in their lives, its an honor and also motivating.  We gain spiritual (spirituality = the ability to recognize and act on truth) power when we keep true to the covenants that we have made with our Father in Heaven as mentioned in the Doctrine and Covenants.  The New and Everlasting Covenant of Marriage is one of the most, if not the most, important covenants we make with the Father in order to receive eternal glory with our chosen spouses. Thank you all for your wonderful examples for what it means to be worthy to be able to take part in such wonderful steps closer to Christ and our Father. Well this week for me was also one of miracles and tender mercies. I was able to take part in helping a chosen son of God take part in the first ordinance of eternal life.  He was found on the streets about a month ago and he was just super elect and it was a pleasure to have been given the opportunity to  take part in teaching him the Restored Gospel.  He showed up for his baptism on time and everything.  The man, who baptized him, was a kid Sergei.  He is 22 and we really wanted him to baptize Artur, and Artur let us know a few days before that he wanted Sergei to baptize him.  This was probably the coolest part of the whole event.  I got see a friendship INSTANTLY start after the baptism between Sergei and Artur, it was awesome to see the bond that came from the baptizer and the baptizee haha.  Sergei was so nervous and thanked us for the opportunity to take part in such an important ordinance.  Artur came to church the next day in a nice black suit and a tie.  Booom.  it was SO AWESOME!  I got to help give him the Gift of the Holy Ghost. And after everything happened, there was an apparent physical change in Artur's countenance.  It was one of true joy and light.  I got to sit in a front row seat to see this kid change his life and truly accept the things we taught, so awesome!  Things here in this mission are moving along. And time seems to be flying, thanks for the great news about Cami and I hope that everything at home is going along nicely.  Keep working hard fam!!

-Sean

September

Hi Family!!

 Its great to here from you.  Dad, keep working hard and fixing that house, I know that you will see way awesome blessings b/c of your service.  Mom, lucky duck...that's all I have to say. haha  This week for me was AWESOME!!  So about a month ago we met an 18 yr old named Artur and well, long story short, he is WAY prepared for the Gospel.  His baptism is on Saturday!!  My comp on a split contacted into him on the street and well, now he will be a member of the Church on Sunday...BOO YAA!!  Its been such a cool experience to see the change that has come into his life ever since learning about this way awesome Plan of Happiness that God has prepared for all of us!  Artur came to another activity and was just such an awesome help with putting things away and is just always ready to help someone.  He's a great example to me to always look for things to do to help.  Also, thanks to Mom, somehow I attract ALL middle easterners here.  Were at McDonald's the other day and this guy came and sat RIGHT next to me. and started speaking English to us.  His name is Yasir, and he's from Iraq and his family lives currently in Iran.  Yea...we hit it off. He is only 19 and looks like he's 27 b/c he always has a beard...even after he shaves. but he is SO AWESOME!  He came to an activity at the branch for "Harvest".  Its pretty much Thanksgiving for Ukraine..but I think they started celebrating it this year b/c I've never heard about it and it definitely did not happen last year haha.  But we ate a TON of borscht and Ukrainian dishes (most of which I will not miss after my mission haha).  Yasip later that night called to thank us and then asked if he could come to church and bring a friend...yea......we told him no....haha  Honestly I don't think I've ever heard those words on my mission and it as too beautiful to describe.   He makes me really appreciate people who go out of there way to say thanks and makes me want to be a better person.  The sad news is that we have to pass him to our other missionaries b/c he doesn't live in our area :(  But as long as he gets taught the gospel, that's all that matters!  We've seen a ton of miracles lately and Its been so great to have our eyes opened to the power of God.  I love being a missionary.  It has been way hard lately but I learning from my experiences and I know that they will bless my life.  I have such a love for the scriptures and have big plans for studying them after my mission.  I've learned how important scripture study is and I hope that I never lose this drive to continually read and think about eternal principles that will bless my life. I had a way awesome experience again with prayer on Saturday.  We had free time at night so we decided to go find this Less-Active guy named Yuri who is 31 I'm pretty sure.  Last time we went, he was drunk and just not doing well.  I've only met him one time and so we were hoping to get actual lesson with him.  So we said a very specific prayer that mentioned getting there, being let into the apt bldg (b/c if you don't have a key to these bldgs...you don't go in.  so you have to wait for someone to come out and not get mad at you as you try to swiftly move inside the bldg or call to someone to let you in, and people don't like Americans a lot of the time.), him being home, him letting us in and us giving a lesson to him.  So we set off in faith and hope that we were doing the will of the Lord and that everything would work out. And it did.  And to top off the night, Yuri's mom was there from Russia and is also less active.  It was so cool and we just felt so blessed to see everything work out and to see the mom who actually was excited that we showed up.  God loves all of His children.  It was a very insightful experience and I'm grateful that God allowed me to experience that.    Anyways, I'm doing great.  Bug bites here and there and scabies shows up every once in a while but for the most part, my heath is great.  The seasons are changing and Its way weird to be in the place I was a year ago, everything is so familiar.  Same place just different branch.  Thanks for all the love and support that you all give me.  keep working hard and doing the little things that bring joy to you life. 

 

- Старейшина Руни

Learn, Teach, Serve....

Thanks Dad for you letter!  

 You get a personal one today, b/c Mom wanted a personal one so I thought it would be good if you got one too.  You, my friend, are one of the hardest workers that I know.  And b/c of you, I have become self dependant but not only that, I have become (and am ever striving to become) more are more efficient.   We had a member of the 70 come in May and his wife is one of the most knowledgeable people that I have ever spoken to when it comes to doctrine and gospel things. In the first chapter of 2nd peter (vs 3-8 I'm pretty sure) Its talks about the things that we need to learn and apply in order to have our calling an election made sure.  If you notice carefully they are the same principles talked about in D/C 4.  I had a question that concerned the definition of "Godliness", b/c if I remember correctly Godliness adds to brotherly kindness (in 2nd Peter).  So I asked her what that meant.  The answer she gave hit me really hard, She told me that cleanliness is close to Godliness.  Why? b/c when things are clean, they are in order.  And God works with order. He is perfectly organized and perfectly efficient. I am trying to become like my Father in Heaven one day , so I have to start somewhere.  Dad, you are an organized person and work very efficiently.  That is a sign of Godliness, now I am in no way comparing you to God, however what I am saying is that you are very organized which allows you to do many things in a small amount of time, which then (b/c you actually do them) leads to you being a hard worker.  And b/c of your example, I have completely changed my life when it comes to that aspect.   Thank you for you awesome example and all of patience with a "selective" worker haha  me!   I have learned and have applied this concept in my life and am trying to become efficient and its made such a huge difference in my life.  As I have told your wife, I am the exact same kid from when I left when it comes to personality, but know that I have a real testimony and a passionate love for learning and achieving, I will accomplish a ton of things with the God on my side, through out my life.  Thanks for everything that you do!  I look up to you more than you can imagine.  Keep working hard.  Read your scriptures everyday with a study journal!  develop a greater love for the doctrine of the kingdom, and then once you've learned something, TEACH.  In D/C 88 78-83 I think, its talks about teaching and learning, and it blows my mind how important teaching is.  Pretty much learn as much as you can so that you can be a better and more useful tool in the hands of God to teach others and help build their faith.  I have also seen my life change b/c of a love for the scriptures but you have to write your thoughts and impressions down to show God how you treasure the things He gives you.   I could go forever but, I know that you and mom are being blessed b/c of the love rendered  to the Zaidi boys.  They will never forget you help, and I will never for get your example.   I love you will all I have (which currently is about 7 dollars and a badly worn pair of shoes haha but nonetheless, its everything)!  have a great week!

- Sean

Small and Simple Things....

Typical Hallway in an Apartment Building

An overnight boarder

Results of an unwanted boarder.....

Hey Fam!

 I guess last weeks letter didn't go through, but this week is so much better!  Its sounds like home is a party! as it should be....thanks for the updates!  This week I learned so much.  Especially about being grateful and using grace (the Enabling Power of the Atonement).  I know that If I am trying my best, God will handle everything else.   One way I use grace in my life has to do with waking up...every stinkin morning when I am SO BEAT!  And this is how its goes, I honestly try to everything in my power to be obedient...why? B/c when you are obedient, you are showing God that you are doing everything in your power to do the things He asks. Why is this important?  B/c when you do what God says, he is BOUND.  So when I give an accounting of my day at night before I fall asleep, I make sure to mention that I have done my best to do the things that I know I am supposed to do, then I freely tell Him that I hate getting up early in the morning :) b/c its soooooo hard for me (especially when I have a comp who has a sleeping disorder and can't get up unless I try and try and try to get him up)!  So what do I ask next?  I ask for strength and energy in the morning when I wake up so that I can be efficient and happy.  Then when the glorious alarm goes off, I make sure to remind my Father in Heaven of the need for grace in my life...then I act.  I move and get up, wake my comp up and reset the alarm for when he doesn't get up, clean the kitchen, then I get in my shirt and tie (b/c we have to be out on the streets at 7am everyday), wake my comp up again, reset the alarm, get my comp in the shower, make his bed, get his clothes ready for him..etc.  I do this to show God that I am worthy for the energy and strength that I pleaded for the night before.  And what happens?  God fulfills his side of the bargain.  I end up in the Best mood, ready to take on yet another day.  The Enabling power of the Atonement can be used in everything, even small things like getting up on time.  I know this b/c I have applied this lesson in my life and God has NEVER once let me down.  He loves me.  The thrill of God is mercy.  God is just waiting for any excuse to throw miracles at us and to bless us with tender mercies ( and I think he jumps the gun sometimes experiences that I'm sure I didn't deserve...but then again God has perfect temperance, or self control, that that probably is super unlikely to happen...God doesn't make mistakes).  I know that God knows me perfectly b/c I've seen time and time again tender mercies that have been so perfectly tailored to me that only I can recognize them as such.  I challenge to take this concept and use it in your lives.  When you do what God says he is "Bound", that's not a joke but the thing is, He is so willing to give that 

you will see the Heavens open up blessings that you have never imagined.  I know that God loves all of us and I know that we can bound him as we follow the counsel of His prophets today.  One of the things we have been counseled to do is to READ from the scriptures.  "By small and simple things are great things brought to pass", that doesn't mean just good things.  I want you all to realize that Satan is very real.  He If compared to a color would be the lightest shade of gray ( I think I've said this before, but its important to know!), Christ is pure white, and no unclean thing can enter into the kingdom of God.  Don't let Satan "pacify you and lull you down to hell" b/c it is "by very small means that God brings about the salvation of many souls" and there is opposition in all things, therefore you could say that by very small means Satan destroys families..."its not that bad"..."one SMALL time won't hurt".  I know that if we do the small and simple things everyday, great things will happen. We all need spiritual nourishment everyday.  "Spirituality is our true aim" (David O McKay) and spirituality is the ability to recognize and ACT on truth.  Soooo lets help each other stop living below our privileges and do the small and simple things so that we can use the enabling power of the Atonement to bless and guide our lives.  I love you all!!

 Keep working hard!

Sean

PS I met an Elder Stoker who said he's used my surf board and Hugged my mother more recently than I have...small world





Teaching in English!!

HI FAMILY!!

  Sorry I'm a day late today...we were way busy yesterday and couldn't get everything in.  But it sounds like there was a PARTY in Utah! That's what I like to hear.  My family is the best ever. Its crazy to see how much everything has changed.  And what the BEARDS Nate and Kurt?!!  Its game on when I get home...Rob's teeth look so great and everyone just looks happy which is all that matters to me!  Well we actually just got back from a lesson that technically doesn't "count" b/c we didn't start and end with a prayer but it was AWESOME!  We met this man named Richard and he's from Miami and has lived here for 5 years now and he works for this lady who has a private English school.  Well he invited us to go and so we went and met some awesome people.  But today he wasn't there so we were the highlight of the class.  There is a man who is a 7th day Adventist pastor and is way interested in what we believe in and he is just sooooo humble.  He started asking a ton of questions that lead into the plan of Salvation and other Gospel topics and it was so cool b/c the teacher slash owner of the school was there and since its a private organization, we were aloud to expound a bit on what we believe.  The teacher, Maria, started asking a ton of questions as well and the spirit was there and its was rad to see light enter into the hearts of these people.  Tomorrow we will have a lesson with The pastor, Vitally, and his wife in our mission office where we will give the message of the restoration and watch these people change their lives.  The elect will hear the word and these people and the ones asking questions.  They were so stoked after our lesson/visit that they invited us back anytime  we wanted.  Maria was asking us some awesome questions and we didn't have time to answer some of them so we wrote them down and we will answer them on Thursday when we will go back share with them what American brownies are [ :) ] and how we can live with our families forever.  I'm so stoked!!  It was so nice to be able to teach in my native tongue where I knew EXACTLY how to say anything I wanted.  So we're looking forward to tomorrow when we can share with these people the plan of happiness!! I'm PUMPED.  This gospel is SO true.  I love studying the scriptures and the getting the insights that God tenderly blesses me with.  My comp and I have gotten so close and we have been so blessed to be able to help each other through thick and thin.  I have gained a testimony about service in relationships this past week.  I have truly seen how, as Mike Rooney said" the key to having a successful relationship is when each person puts in 115% ".  Communication is so crucial with any relationship.  Anyways, missionary work here is awesome and service truly is the best and easiest way to live a more than happy life.  I love this opportunity to work on my own character and finding out what kind of person I am and who I want to become.  To end, I have learned that just as in the parable of the talents, we must look for the things that we are good at (talents) and USE them!  and focus on them to build them more and more so that when our Savior takes an inventory of our works, he can then add to our talents, but we must focus first with what we have...THEN we will have more added unto us.  This principle has helped me overcome my weaknesses in so many ways which is so cool to see b/c when I focused on what I AM good at (spiritual gifts), I will do so much to get better and better and eventually realize that when I was working on my strengths my weaknesses became stronger as well, soon to become "weak things" made "strong".  SO COOL!

anyways, i love you all so much!

-Sean

PS  when you write about NATE, please signify which one,  being that there are now two of them! thanks :)

Be Specific!

FAMILY!!!

  Thanks Dad for the encouragement.  I have read that talk but It always good to review, b/c just as the people in the Book of Mormon, we FORGET.  That's why the sacrament is so important b/c it helps us to always Remember our Savior.  I learned a lot about the Atonement this past week and I'm so grateful that I have the opportunity to use it.  This week was crazy.  We have been seeing non-stop miracles and its awesome.  One thing that I started to finally apply in my life is that fact that prayer is more powerful than I think.  We read in the scriptures constantly about how miracles are wrought by a prayer of faith and its totally true!  I can't believe i never prayed (or very rarely pray for) specific things that need to happen.  We look at the example that Elder Bednar gave about how Nephi when tied up with bands by his brothers didn't just pray to "be saved" or to be "delivered out of his situation", but instead prayed for the strength to break the bands.  That is such a key lesson that I needed to not only learn, but to actually apply.  B/c it makes sense that God gives that which is good to "whoever asketh in faith" for it. So I have started to develop a faith in praying more than I ever have in my life.  I know that if we want to see a miracle, we must pray in faith and then ACT in hope that God really will bless us with what was asked for, but it needs to be in accordance to God's will.  How can we know if its God's will or not?  Have the Holy Ghost lead your prayer and pray in faith.  We had a few experiences this past week that really strengthened my testimony  about  how God answers prayers (which in my opinion is a miracle).  On Saturday night, we had 40 min until we had to be home and we had tossed the idea around of going to try and visit a less active member who we have never met or talked to.  We knew where he lived...ish and it would take around 20 min to get there and the only way that we could go would be if we got there, got into the apt bldg (which is hard to do b/c you have to have a key, and if you don't have a key you have to wait for someone to come out and then generously let you in..which also doesn't happen all that much), then he would have to be home, AND he would have to let us in and talk with him so that we could be on a lesson so that we could have until 9:30 to come home and still be keeping the rules....So we went off on our journey to a place where we have tried to go once before and we didn't get all the way there...and it was night time.  But, before we left, we said a prayer.  And My companion specifically prayed that we could get there, find him, and speak with him.  Which would truly be a miracle judging on my past experiences with less active finding here.  So we took off and a bus came right away.  I didn't know which bus stop to get off at but i had a small map with me and I tried to get off at a place that would be remotely close (b/c my map i have is pretty inconsistent with distances between places)...and so we got off at a stop that looked good and started walking...we literally walked straight and the bldg was directly in front of the bus stop that we "randomly" chose.  When we got to the bldg we were let in with in minutes...now that moment of truth. Is this man even home? and if so, will he reject us or let us in?   Well, he was home and let us in...and its was so cool.  He was drinking and we got to know each other a little bit so that we could try and build some sort of relationship of trust so that we could come back sometime.  The lights in his eyes were gone. Only a sad lonely soul who doesn't know it right now, but is searching for an escape.  The very escape that only the gospel has to offer.  So we set up a return appt with him and took off.  God answers our prayers when we pray in faith and ACT with hope that our prayers will be answered.  Hope (according to PMG) is believing and expecting something to occur.  Its a gift of the spirit that all should strive to develop.  We had a very similar experience happen, this time I said the prayer but since we both were acting in faith and were believing and expecting our prayer to be answered, it was and we saw a miracle.  God answered EVERY part of our prayer.  Specific prayers truly do receive specific answers.  I am so grateful to have applied this lesson in my life b/c it will forever bless me so long as I act in faith to receive.  Something funny that had happened is that my comp has a sleeping disorder ...he can't fall asleep well, but when he does, he can't get up...especially if he (by the way i totally just won these Ukrainian cookies from a woman who works here and I just told her that i told her that i don't drink...and SHE TOOK THE COOKIES AWAY!!! anyways...I'm over her) forgets to take his meds...so Waking up in the morning is super hard for him and he says a ton of stuff but doesn't actually get up until he's in the shower.  He was REALLY fiesty yesterday and it was super funny b/c he doesn't remember any of it.  He hasn't sworn at me yet but he flipped me off twice now and says the funniest things that make absolutely no sense.  He's really mean in the morning and he doesn't even remember any of it.  So I have full permission to throw water at him in the morning if he's not getting up.  He's one of my favorite comps and so funny but in the morning...its worse than Dad when your friends are over too late and your making way too much noise....So every morning is an adventure just to get him out of bed...On Saturday, he got out of bed but sat back down in our kitchen with his eyes open but he was still unconscious, so i dressed him.  Literally haha I put his shirt on, one arm after the other, and I tied his tie  and put it around his neck.  All of this while he was falling over b/c he was still sleeping...sitting up.  Its been fun.   Anyways, I love you all. Pray for miracles and then act with hope, and they will come.  You just have to open your eyes to see them.  Have a great Week!!!!

-Sean

9 Floors Down, 3 Floors Up!!

Hi family!!!

It was so great to hear from you all today!  I heard from all of my family members!  Its sounds like you are all doing great, keep working hard!

 This week was a great week.  First of all, my comp and I are best friends, so that's way awesome.  Well, we were way stoked on music theory ( b/c one of the elders in our district is a music major and started teaching us some things) and so we decided that we needed a piano...ASAP.  sooooo, we stopped by a less active member who was super nice and they actually let us in which was super awesome and as we were leaving, I saw that they had a piano!  We then started telling them that we had just talked about getting a piano and asked them where we could get one...he told us to take their piano...for free!! so on Saturday my district spent the morning carrying a piano, down 9 FLOORS!  then up 3 to our apt.  I never would have thought that I would ever move a piano 9 stories in my life and now this was the 2nd time on my mission that it has happened, but we got a piano NO BIG DEAL!  so that was fun and tiring.  It was way cool, as we were waiting for this way make shift "moving van"( if you can even call it a moving van) to show up, we started jamming and it was so cool to see people opening their windows and stop on the streets to hear us.  People on their balcony started clapping  and everything!  it was so much fun and so cool to see joy finally in their faces!! FINALLY!!!!   Its so interesting, you read in the scriptures that those who follow God, "prosper in the land", and those who reject God...don't prosper in the land.  Its simple.  Its interesting to me b/c I'm living in a place where the majority of the people don't follow God and this place (as in Ukraine) where I live, is a dump.  Its terrible the living conditions and people are just not happy and people just complain and compare with other places about how much better other places are.  Then I look to America, why is it so much cleaner and nicer? b/c more people follow God.  Its simple and its all over the book of Mormon.  Its a chain reaction when you follow God.  When you do what God says, then you live happier, then you want more of that happiness, then you begin to realize that you are being cleaner and things are actually working out for your benefit and all of these blessings are coming (D&C 130:20-21).  You just live better.  Its what the Gospel does, it literally improves everything, so why not live it? Right?!  Anyways,  Saturday was super cool too b/c there is a senior couple that are Professional singer and floutis and they with a professional piano player member  did a mission wide tour.  We invited everyone to it and it was a great success.  Last night we went to find less actives and we met someone that we are convinced was sent by the adversary.  We started talking to him and he would NOT let us go, we were on our way to find a less active and he talked with and ended up following us for almost an 1.5 hr.  When my comp tried to contact someone, this man would literally pull him and say that he needed more help then they did. 4 people came up to us to try and talk that he pushed away!!  it was crazy how persistent this man was.  we ended having to shut the door in an apt bldg on him to get away from him.  But We ended finding this inactive family who seems to be really nice, so that was a huge miracle.   They said that we could come back in a few days.   Today I studied in Isaiah and a little about what it means to "reason together" with God, so our sins can become white as snow.  I learned a lot about how Godliness really means "order" and that God works in order and when we reason with God he will show us wisdom. And when He will show us wisdom, we will come to know that His ways "are higher than our ways"  and we will want to follow Him and in doing so, our sins will be white as snow.   I love this Gospel and I so pumped to be here.  Please continue to pray for missionaries.  Go out and find someone who needs help! 

Thanks for all you do for me!   have a great week!

-Sean

Whitewashed?? (new area)

HIIII!!!! I love you alll!!! 

  It is so nice to get letters from home.  I'm not kidding, my family is the best family in the world. Writing letters every week to your family is inspired, it has to be. Every time no matter what happened earlier in the week, I know that I can can get the spiritual nourishment from all of my family members.  Thank you so much for writing me, its means so much.  And once again, I'm a terrible typer and writer so if this letter is short and looks like a 3rd grader closed his eyes and started banging on a keyboard...I ask for forgiveness in advance.   Well, I got a transfer...and moved all of 25 min from my last area.  Although things are completely different.  I whitewashed into an area with kid named Zach Moss.  He has been the biggest blessing to me.  He is from Bountiful, Utah and is so much fun.  We are having the best time ever!!!    The last missionaries in this apt were either going home and super lazy b/c we had nothing going for our area and our whitewash notes were a voice recording...thats it.  Our apartment was broken...literally ( lights, sink, doors and handles etc.) so we had nothing with no idea how to get anywhere...it was awesome. (By the way my comp is a sponsored free-runner...look him up on YouTube or something b/c he says it pretty cool)  Anyways, we have had so much fun and a ton of miracles since we've been here. We had a man named Geeorgee that we met with our second night, come to church and he loved it! I had to translate for Sis. Campero at church  yesterday which is always super tough but kinda fun b/c I just stuff up if I did get every word...its FINE she doesn't speak English very well so its cool :).  I have learned this week a lot about the atonement.  Its been very humbling to understand more and more how weak I am in every aspect! But its ok b/c " Christ's strength is perfected in weakness" (that's in the bible somewhere i totally forgot but I read that not too long ago).  The mission is such a crazy time and I'm so grateful for this opportunity to be here. By the way I'm now serving in Center Donetsk which is so cool b/c its a big city and there are things that are constantly going on. I've been really moved recently to want to get less active work going here in my area.  My purpose is to invite others unto Christ...that's the first part and Less actives are everywhere and they need the gospel so bad.  I look back on a time when I went out with the missionaries at home and we went to a man who was inactive ( Dad, He's the one with the big stache) and he said something that really hit me.  He said he stopped coming to Church when his home teachers stopped coming by.  EVERYONE needs and friend, home teachers and a calling.  EVERY SINGLE MEMBER, its so important and I've seen the effects of not having any of these things here and we are struggling so much with activity.  I truly feel for these people that aren't at church b/c they aren't experiencing the things that God wants them to experience, for example taking the sacrament.  They  are missing out on such an amazing blessing that keeps me here on a mission.  I'm here b/c I have personally seen the Atonement shape and change my life and it breaks my heart to see others who have had that opportunity and not understand it completely.  I don't even understand it completely.  Brigham Young said that we are constantly living below our privileges and its true.  If we truly understood the Atonement and how it works in our entire existence here on earth, then I'm convinced that we would not rest a minute in a day until we have done all that we can to help our brothers and sisters who are in need.  We need to lift where we stand and be an example among the believers.  That is counsel given to us so that we can help our family members who are struggling.  Please go a out and find someone this week that needs help.  Find some one on your ward list that you have never met and go make a friend. People get so stuck in their comfortable ways that they tend to follow the "ethics of ease" as Jeffery R Holland put it.  Learn more about the Atonement and how it helps you in you life then go share it with someone!  As my favorite companion said, "everyone deserves brownies on their door step".  I love this work for how it makes me feel.  I feel like I don't understand anything about how God works but I know that if follow the counsel given in Alma 26:22  I too can know the mysteries of God.  Family, I love you so much and can wait to see you all again but until then study the scriptures and learn about the word of God, apply it in your lives, and share it with others.  Keep up the good work. thanks again for your inspiring letters and comments.  I know that this church is true, SO TRUE! and I know that it will help anyone.  I love my Savior for everything that He has done for me.  

Have a great week!

--
- Старейшина Руни

A Year in Ukraine!!

HI!!

 I loved getting your letters this week. It sounds like your trip was a blast and those pictures were great!  Today's letter might be a little short b/c we just got a call from the other elders in my district that last night, someone left a window open at the branch bldg and when the doors were locked the alarm went off and now there are some Ukrainian police men at the bldg waiting for me to finish writing my family b/c I have the keys to the branch...but they can wait a little :) It blows my mind that I have just spent my 2nd 4th of July in Ukraine!! I remember to clearly when I got a letter from Sandy Bertha (my boy Alex's mom) saying that she was so excited to see Alex at the next 4th of July...and now he's home!!  crazy!  Time absolutely flies out here and Its scary how it all ends.  So this week was really great, we finished the yard work out in front of the Church on Saturday just in time for a Baptism!  the sisters in my district had a baptism and we had 3 investigators show up! it was a miracle.  This week I had yet another testimony building experience about how the Spirit will lead your life if you will let Him.  We had 2 lessons this week where the Spirit was able to come in and lead the whole thing.  We had a lesson with Toleek and Ivan (best friends since birth, both 27, and both very successful) together and b/c the Spirit was there,  we made a ton of progress!  Lessons with them are in English which is a blessing so we were able to show some Mormon Messages and talked about them and related them to how we can receive answers to our prayers.  We watched 2 videos and I was just praying the whole time that these 2 friends of mine would be able to understand them!  It turns out that they didn't completely but it didn't matter.  Toleek had tears in his eyes  while watching them and the Holy Ghost told Toleek exactly what he needed to hear.  The rest of the lesson ran smoothly and Toleek ended the lesson with prayer.  He left the lesson with a huge desire to learn for himself whether or not our message is true.  There is honestly nothing better than doing missionary work. The joy that it brings me never ceases to blow me away.  I came to this area in January and have just received a transfer.  I'm really sad but at the same time way excited to move to a new area.  These people have become my Ukrainian family. I love them so much and It will be tough to leave.  AHH!! I LOVE this AREA!!!  Anyways, the Russian language kicks my butt everyday. I feel like i try so hard sometimes and just get owned!  Its very humbling and I learning to be patient with myself.  Ok I have to go talk to crazy Ukrainians about how no one broke into the church (hopefully) but that someone just left a window open.  I love you all very much!!

- Старейшина Руни

PS: Benji Patino wrote me a letter I'm blown away with how mature he sounded,  pass my love to him please. I will try and write him soon.

Also, I finally got around to making my B-day cake.... SOOOO GOOOOD!!!

Lessons in English

HI!!

 I heard from Kyle and Mom today and it sounds like all is well.  Kyle's in college....WHAT?!  that blows my mind.  Anyways, that's cool to hear that Mom and Dad, are in Nashville!  I hope you are all having fun.  This week was a crazy week.  It all started on Sunday when my comp and I decided to fast for a miracle.  And of course God hears our prayers and accepts our sacrifices b/c no effort is wasted. We have a new investigator whose name is Sasha and is 18 years old. He plays American Football and really wants to go to America and is an AWESOME investigator.  So he has accepted all of the lessons so far with no arguments but We were really afraid to teach the Law of chastity b/c we knew he has a few girlfriends...hes a HUGE player and knows it and loves it...anyways we go and teach him the law of chastity and he was against it saying that it makes him happy and that girls are fun etc.  Then we taught him the Plan of Salvation right after...and the change in his heart was incredible. the Spirit worked on him and was very strong.  He ended up praying to close our lesson and it was way awesome.  We had scheduled to have an English lesson with him afterwards and before we started he asked us if God helps people learn languages...I love that question!!!  We turned to D/C 46 and talked about gifts of the Spirit and he was pumped on that and then prayed to have some help during our English lesson, it was So COOL!  Another miracle is that a few weeks ago we were told to find an inactive member of the church and re activate her...so we went searching for her, and found her, and she didn't really want anything to do with us.  After a few lessons her heart changed.  She kept a commitment to read everyday, and she even shared with us what she read, well i told her that she always has a spot next to me at church whenever she wants. So yesterday Sacrament meeting is about to start and an investigator walks in, her name is Sveta but she's the other elders' investigator and she walks up to me and asks me if she could sit next to me and immediately through my head went "what if Ireena (the inactive member) shows up?!" so At first I said sure, b/c i could care less if she's MY investigator and the OTHER elders as along as she's at church that's all I care about, but then I saw a spot next to another elder so i told her to sit there after I already told her she could sit next to me...kinda awkward but I didn't know what to do!! Well the meeting starts and Ireena hasn't shown up and I felt way dumb for not letting Sveta sit next to me b/c the chance that an inactive member who has been to church in YEARS showing up is way low.  The opening prayer is being offered and low and behold, Ireena walks in and Looks straight at me to see if I had her spot for her like i promised, she's in her 60's by the way, and doesn't wait for the prayer to finish just walks right in and sat right next to me!!  I was so PUMPED!! and relieved haha. she told me she was glad to see me and to be at church! I was so happy. K now the sad part, after the meeting she sits there for a bit and decides to leave and NO ONE says a word to her.  its was as if she didn't even come for the first in a way long time. In and out with no one noticing her, or making an effort to say Hi.  It made me really want to be a better member when  I get home.  So next time any of you see anyone at church that you don't recognize...talk to them! b/c you never know if will be "Ireena".  Also, on Saturday from 8:30 am - 1:30pm there was a service project at the church for the young men to mow all the lawns and trim bushes the whole nine yards...the missionaries where invited.  And guess who showed up...the missionaries and one leader who gave us the keys to the shed and took off.  There were 6 of us and one of our sisters is sick (btw there are sisters in my district now)  so they took off early and 2 of the elders kinda just stopped working, so me and one other elder pretty much handled this situation...by ourselves haha.  All I can say is that I'm glad  I was taught how to work and the only thing that went through my head was " Sean, if you're going to do something, do it till its done" - Dad....so I worked and and worked and worked...And I tried to do it with a smile on my face b/c "only by pride cometh contention" and I was really trying to work on my patience really with the whole situation, anyways it was long day but it was great to be out in a yard working.  My mission never ceases to feed my humble pie, but I need it.  Getting up in the morning gets harder and harder but I know that I signed up for this so I ask God ever day to give me strength, I think that when I get home I'm going to sleep for a week straight haha.  I love being a missionary and I know that this Gospel is true.  I love my Savior

have a great week!

_elder Rooney

Armenia with the President

FAMILY!!! 

Wow, sounds like a huge week for you all with all the change and the moving and everything.  Its crazy how everything is unfolding as we all grow up step by step.  So as you must have heard a little already, I was in Armenia for a few days this past week with my President and His wife.  

 

But the story starts before we got there.  For some reason we had to fly through Austria before getting to Armenia.  We had a 5 hour layover in the Vienna airport...you can only guess what happened.  Yup, we definitely talked our president into going in to down town Vienna...he did want to go so he waited our stuff as I, Fish and Hardy found our way through a huge airport some how exchanged money into Euros and found a bus that works on the half hour to and from down town Vienna to the airport...NO BIG DEAL!!!! I was just in VIENNA AUSTRIA!!!!!  It was BEAUTIFUL!!!  I saw some amazing things and we even found our way to a crazy awesome palace.  It was fun to literally have no idea how to speak German and to try to get around was way fun!  We, on our way back to where we needed to get on a bus back to the airport, saw a small pizza place that was around 2-4 euro a pizza. The man working was way awesome and made our pizzas in less that five minutes.  We didn't speak German and he didn't speak Russian or English, but some how it all worked out, its was too fun. I'll send some pictures.  In Armenia we were absolutely pampered!  The reason being that we were President Campero and his wife.  We went to an ancient monastery that was built in the side of a mountain, where we listened to a monk priest guy sing to us in a place that a resonance of 40 secs per tone.  He could make chords with his voice that would resonate for up to 40 seconds...everyone there looked like ME!!! its was so awesome!!  I totally fit in, it was hilarious.  we also ate at some of the amazing places EVER and the best part was...it was free for me!  I was honestly on an all expense paid vacation. 

 

We stayed at the mission home and met amazing people including the Stones that the Bybees know.  



With Grigor renewing our Visas

A man who is a "visa clerk" for our mission in Armenia, his name is Grigor, had become an idol to me.  He is 26 and is a Branch president and very successful.  He told us that he had three dollars, three ties, and no home when he asked his wife to marry him.  He said he knew that God would provide and he does everything in His power to make the right decisions and He credits everything to God. He served a mission in Kiev and was a killer missionary.  He taught me so much about who I want to become and what kind of character I want to have. We ( the missionaries) got our own little taxi and told tour driver to take us to center Yerevan ( the capital of Armenia) and luckily he spoke Russian (b/c Armenia was in the former Soviet Union)  so He took us and I swear I saw half of Mom's family and all of our Persian friends running around everywhere...it was super trippy. The women were dressed modestly and it was such a huge blessing!  Everyone was really nice.  I saw the Mount Ararat which according to the Bible Dictionary is where Noah's ark landed and the mountain is 13 miles into Turkey...as in,  I saw TURKEY!  I was maybe an hour from the boarder.  It was honestly the nicest break b/c we were not allowed to proselyte so we were just pampered b/c President Campero was with us. Yea....it was so fun.  I learned a lot about how much I am worth to my Savior this week. He purchased me with His life.  If you ever feel like things are hard or that you are not loved or anything at all, reflect on your relationship with our Savior and truly try to understand how much He loves you.  He understands, anything is possible when we put our trust in God.  Anyways, I love you all!!  have a great week!!

-Sean

Bannana Splits after a Fireside at the Armenian Mission Home

At the Armenian Mission Home with the Senior couple missionaries and the Mission Presidents