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

Wild Wild....Weather!!

KYLE IS DONE!!!  YEAA!!!  I know he's been dying to get out haha.  He'll do great up at school.  It sounds like everyone has been having a great time.  My birthday was pretty awesome.  President Rasband spoke to us and it was our mission conference!  I walked in and everyone sang happy birthday to me...it was way cool. I got a phone call from one of the girls from my area who was in the PMG class and who is now on a mission, at 6:31 am and she (with the other sisters) sang happy birthday to me and its was super funny.  Ukrainians are all tone deaf so it was pretty terrible to listen to especially at 6:30 in the morning, but the thought was nice.  I haven't had a chance to make my cake yet b/c we've been busy but I will make it and it will taste SO GOOD!  I've been living in a 4some right now due to some interesting problems that have happened in my apt...I won't get into detail but everyone is safe and the Lord loves his servants :)  Its been fun but I feel like I haven't just had a "normal" companionship where everything is fine...in DAYS!  I think you will all be interested to know that I leave to Armenia tomorrow!! for 4 days!  Its pretty crazy too, b/c my visa expires on Friday...if I would have left any later...I would have been deported, BUT I'm sure things will all work out.  Right now in Donetsk is the Euro Cup 2012 and its been so awesome to see all the people here! today we are going to the stadium where Ukraine will play England tonight and we hope to find some people from England b/c we're so ENGLISH TRUNKY! I go through spurts of being OVER Russian haha.  I got to hear from my best friend from BYU today, Aaron, that was so cool.  He just finished his time serving and is now getting on with his life.  He's been a huge example for me during my mission.  I'm so glad our family is close. It makes me sad to see people here that aren't close with their family.  Its the coolest thing to see married couples holding hands on the streets! I never see that anymore so when I do, it makes me happy.  I've been going through a ton of refiners fire this past week. Its been super hard but very rewarding. its interesting to me that when you give yourself to the Lord, you truly gain everything (especially "humble pie").  I'm so grateful for all of your examples, and testimonies. It honestly helps me so much.  I was having a really hard day today to the point of getting teary eyed just before coming to Internet (which hasn't happened on my mission until today).  I just feel so inadequate.  I feel like nothing ever just works out with me.  But after reading emails from everyone and hearing how everyone is doing and hearing your testimonies, I felt your love and felt a ton much better, so thank you for writing me.  I look up to you all so much, and I am so proud to call you my family. Anyways, last thing....we had a CRAZY storm roll through. It was by far the most insane storm I have ever seen!  We were caught in the rain waiting for a train trolley bus thing on tracks (I don't know what its called in English) and we were soaked. Then one came up, and we started going then the bus thing stopped and the Storm got CRAAAAAAZZZZYYYY!!!!  No one knew why everything stopped but we could see anything it was raining so hard and the wind was insane!!  we decided to get out and walk home after the rain chilled out.  Well, turns out the reason why everything stopped was b/c the storm ripped trees down to the ground.  Like electrical wires were owned b/c trees fell on them (big trees) and the roads flooded and everything was covered in branches from trees and things that had been blown off of the roofs, including cement roof tiles...I have never seen anything like it but had we been walking in the middle of it, we honestly would have gotten super hurt.  The sky was dark green and it look like something from harry potter with all the lighting and thunder.  It was SO COOL!  Anyways, thanks again for everything, I love you all so much.  I'll try and send some pictures

have a great week! 

- Sean

Trials and opportunities

I cant believe kyle is graduating high school?!  Where did time go?  Tomorrow is going to be awesome, Elder Rasband is coming to Donetsk for a question and answer session for 2 hours...if i get the chance, i will ask him this question (b/c I've been studying this lately in my studies and I haven't come up with a sound answer ) How do our temple covenants help us utilize the Atonement of Jesus Christ? Do they?  Its been a great opportunity to study this and I'm interested to see what he says about it.  This past week has been a killer hard week.  Satan works so hard and I have learned valuable lessons from this experience. (By the way... I HATE SEEING SO MUCH FILTH ON THE BILLBOARDS AND ON ALL ADVERTISMENT!!!)  But, what I learned came from a great study that i had this morning.  Mosiah 24:14-15, I'm sure you are all familiar with these verses, But I really saw what I was lacking in myself after trying to apply this concept in my life.  Alma and his people are enslaved and the Lord provides a way, but its really important to see what the people did (well there are a ton of great lessons to learn from these few verses).  What impacted me this morning is that they "did submit cheerfully and with patience to all the will of the Lord."  I really had to step back and look at how I handle myself ...I realized that my patience in God and in myself is lacking...big time.   I also opened my eyes more to the fact that I go through trials in my life so that i can become better.  In reality, my afflictions and infirmities in my life are blessings in the sense that God sees it fit that I go through another trial b/c I past the last one.  He is only trying to help me in my quest to become more like my Savior. I need to be more like Paul in 2 Corinth. 12:7-10...read those verses and learn from the confidence and trust that Paul has in God.  ( I think that those are the right verses...)  Anyways, its been intense in my tiny little mind this past week.  The more i learn the more i realize that I don't know anything!!  Ok, enough about that...I found out my release date...April 6th, 2013!!  My two year mark on the dot.  So we'll see what happens with my life when i get home.  I love being a missionary and I've learned so much and I just want to always be doing better.  Thanks for all of you love!

have a great week!!

ELDER ROONEY!!

The rain falls mainly on the plains..... and all the missionaries!!!

No longer a threesome, YAY!

HI!!!

It was soo good to hear from you all today! I'm happy to hear that all is well!  that's crazy that Kyle is going to college!! WHAT?! Time flies. This week was so great!  To start things off, I'm no longer in a THREESOME!! YAY! Its so nice and a ton less stressful.  My really young companion left us and well, I'm still in the same area which is completely fine b/c I LOVE this area.  The Elliots from the ward wrote me and sent me a picture and I was so pumped to hear from them, they are super cool.  Tell them thank you for me!  So we now have sisters in our area and they absolutely rock.  One is from Russia and the other is a greenie from Armenia.  Its been going great and we will see some major transformations here in this area.  THANK YOU FOR THE PACKAGE! Of Course I already opened it and read the letter :) but don't worry b/c I'll read it again when its actually my Birthday!  We made fajitas yesterday and they were so good!  You would all be so proud of the cook I've become.  I'm having the best time with my comp, we are actually friends...in the sense where I feel like I'm not trying to work on our relationship, its just there.  Its been so much fun and I'm pretty sure this is the happiest I've been on my mission.  So now for the good news.  I don't know if you remember me telling you about the PMG I tried starting for the youth not too long ago, but it worked out and a some youth came almost every week, well, this is the First time I've seen the fruits of my labors on my mission, from something that I have personally started...2 of the youth from our class are now on "short term missions" in there own mission, The Donetsk Ukraine.  They have name tags and everything and are companions with missionaries.  One is a girl named Alyona, and the other is a boy named Kostya. They are both 17 years old and have such solid testimonies.  I can't imagine myself at 17 years old taking 3 months of my summer vacation to go be a full time missionary...these kids blow me away.  Its been so nice seeing this place transform.  Ok, so here is why this place frustrates me a little.  The people have a mentality of "as long as I'M comfortable".  We started this youth night things every week that is basically mutual that was HUGE. We had the first one my first week in this area back in Jan.  It had a great turn out and everyone loved it. Now it is no longer our responsibility, we had to turn it over to the branch which is good so that they can give callings and get things going.  Well, as soon as we did that, nothing happened. Its very different here than at home b/c here, if the missionaries don't put it together...no one puts it together.  They rely so much on the missionaries that they are not letting themselves as a branch grow.  So at district meeting with  the new sisters, we brainstormed.  We created a plan of all these things that we could do to help this place out and it was so nice to have a sister the spoke their language literally and figuratively. A lot of it was rejected b/c change would make it so these people would have to get out of their routine and leave their comfort zone.  Well, we cant do our presidents job for him but everyone needs a calling and everyone needs at least home teachers!!  In branch council they brought less actives and asked about a woman that i met with not to long ago.  They started telling me all about how she's worse than an investigator and that she needs to be taught all the lessons over again. They gave me the task...I of course accepted but completely grudgingly b/c when i asked if she has home teachers they said no...and they didn't seem to want to do anything about it.  AHH!!!  We cant be doing everything for everyone and I think that the most frustrating part is that I'm a MISSIONARY not the Branch president, and Its not with in my stewardship to tell him how to do his job.  I cant do that so we are in a dilemma in that we have a district full of Zealous missionaries and the leaders of the branch kind of reject our ideas...but, its part of the process and I understand that.  God has a plan and one way or another this land will be scattered with temples.  I'm honored to be a part of it. I love my Savior and I'm grateful for this opportunity to be humbled over and over and over and over.......again :)  B/c my edges are being smoothed (I don't even know how to say that?..) and I'm grateful for everything I've learned and I will continue to learn till the day I die b/c its SO AWESOME!  I love you all

- Sean

oh and I played a ukulele the other day (a real one)  I almost died I miss it so much haha