Blake Wight's Russian Mission

Ups and Downs

2010-03-18T17:09:00.000-07:00

Sounds Like you are had a good time in Europe! So this last week was good in some ways, but in other ways not. Nothing really having to do with me, but just bummer stuff.

1st. ( I took this one out. I will be editing out other people's personal info, anyway it was a bummer for Blake)

2nd. Last week was super hard to find meetings with people. It seems like there are always Russian holidays going on, so its hard to meet with people. We ended the week with 15 meetings, which is the only time this transfer below 20 which is the weekly mission goal. We tried as hard as we could, but like i think I said in my last letter, all of our investigators got busy and absolutely have no time.
Thats about all the bad stuff that happened this week.

Good stuff; this week was I think a big step in my personal study, it was pretty good. I am way more effective than I think i have been with studying. Working hard to increase my faith, and right now, that includes better praying. I've done somethings, and they definitely are better, but its hard to remember all the things that I want to do while i'm praying, so hopefully they get even better.
Also, kind of exciting, I am getting transferred tomorrow, I don't know where, just that i am. My comp is going to be a zone leader also. there are only two zones in our mission by the way.

AND, VISA TRIP to Kiev. Its only me, elder B., and sister Br.. Which is ok i guess... She served two mini missions in Kiev, so she will give me and elder B. a nice tour. I leave the 20th super early in the morning.
Fun Russian Fact: Russians are terribly superstitious. No shaking hands under doorways, not even a joke, they will not do it. also that carries into that they always worry about how much cold weather stuff you wear, бабушкы sometimes yell at you if you don't have enough stuff on. I think they wear too much, they have to always be sweating. gross.

I'm doing good, next week I'll let you know where my new area is, and who my companion is.

I have not yet received the valentines day package. Honestly, it probably isn't going to ever come. which reminds me, on address' don't include the word that has okrug in it, that word/address, is out in novasabirsk. Maybe thats why I have been getting next to zero letters.
Please let people know about POUCH MAIL. I don't know the address or anything, but figure it out, because its safer and faster. one piece of paper folded in three, and no envelope.

Anyways ya'll, love you!

-Elder Blake Wight

-check out the Picture: mmmmmmmmm, russian toothpaste.

Food!

2010-03-18T16:19:00.001-07:00

Well, these are somethings we eat. just coincidentally I took these pictures this last week, first two today.

1 Chooda, translation is miracle. They are SO good. its like a yogurt drink.

2 choodas on sale for about 60 cents each. so we bought a few. big pot is borsch: beet soup with carrots, onion, garlic, bay leaves, and some other stuff I know i'm forgetting, really good with smetana=sour cream.

3. pelmeni, like a noodle filled with (fake?) meat. We buy a pretty good kind.

we also have this stuff called grechka in the mornings, its like boiled buckwheat (boullion cube) with like onion and egg, also very good with smetana. also bleeni, which is just crepes. its pretty good with this sweet and condensed milk called skooshonka. tasty.

Diligently obedient

2010-03-18T16:14:00.000-07:00

March 10th,

Hello Family and friends. This last week has been pretty good, but not anything out of the ordinary or super exciting.

We had zone conference yesterday, it was about measurements and measuring success and such. It was really good. Lately I have been feeling like I can be a lot better than I am, and while I was studying faith and the gifts of the spirit, there is a lot of things I need to be doing better. I just need to start working on a few things at a time. The bible dictionary says that where true faith is, there are visions, dreams, healings, and all the gifts of the spirit. Needless to say, I have a ways to go to obtain true faith. Also when trying to find how I can obtain gifts of the spirit, the scriptures say I need to be diligently obedient. I have been really obedient, absolutely 100 percent obedience is super hard, especially while living with four elders in one apartment. Like with getting all ready showered and everything by 8 o'clock. So, I'm bumping up my obedience game.

anyways, enough about that.

This is the last week of the transfer, next Thursday we have transfers, and by next Wednesday I should know if I'm moving or staying.

Also, This last week, a lot of our investigators got put into situations where they aren't able to meet, or can't meet that often. Its going to be a struggle this week to reach our goal of 20 meetings and get all of our study time in.

Fun Russian/Moscow fact:

There is a war memorial here that is a tower, and every 10 centimeters is a day they were in world war two. They don't call it world war two here, they call it the great war, or the patriotic war. It is common here to be asked by Russians, "Who won the great war?" They are so proud of this history. Its kinda funny because we don't really even think about it at all in America, unless we are taking a history class, but here, it is so big for them.

Miracle!

2010-03-18T16:08:00.000-07:00

Hello Family and friends! This week I'd like to tell you about a miracle I experienced this last week.

A couple of Sundays ago, we went over to investigator's house, he is not a member, but his wife is. She is American and he is Russian. She - L., gets sick a lot, has had three miscarriages, and is extremely unlucky. He is an investigator that has a ton of questions but has a sincere desire to know, but, also has had struggles with reading and praying daily. We went over there, I gave her a blessing of comfort, and had a good lesson. In this lesson, my companion promised them that if they read, prayed personally, and together everyday, that a miracle would occur before Saturday, that they would know it was from our Heavenly Father, and they would remember forever. After the lesson, we decided we needed to fast, and fasted on Thursday/Friday. L. called Friday morning and asked us what kind of dictionaries we had, because she needed to buy one. (she is learning Russian, D., her husband, knows English) We told her, and also asked if she had seen anything that week, she said not yet, and we told her that she still has that night and tomorrow. That night she called us and told us that she was pregnant, which really is a miracle, because she has had some surgery, and the probability of her being pregnant went WAY down. like 1 in 100000. She said it usually takes 5-8 years to conceive after this surgery, and its been 8 months.

Hopefully we will have a baptismal date for D. soon. He still has a lot of questions though.

Anyways, Today for p-day we re-organized our study room, and cleaned the apt. It is definitely going to be easier to receive revelation while studying from now on. I'm excited to study tomorrow, hahaha.

ah... what else this last week? This transfer with elder R. so far has been really cool so far. We try a lot more Russian food. We also drink a TON of juice, it is so good here.

We walked with a 25-year old that has down syndrome for service this week, it will probably be a weekly thing from now on, and it is really good. It gives the parents a break for a little bit.

There is this member named L. who we are working with (teaching piano lessons with a spiritual thought) who is a little mentally handicapped. We found out that he has been writing another deaf woman member that lives in Ukraine. He is kind of deaf, and knows British sign, American sign, and Russian sign. When my companion asked if he loves her, he replied "нимоножка" which means a little bit. Then when my companion asked if she loved him, he asked my companion if he doesn't believe him. He is a fun guy to work with.

Fun Moscow/Russian fact for the day:

EVERYONE here smokes. Cigarettes here are dirt cheap. Somewhere around a quarter, a dollar for the expensive kind. Also, everyone drinks, there are no laws against public drunkenness. I'll go more into that one maybe next week.

Anyways, love you all! This transfer is already half over! Whoa, time flies.

и каждая неделя мой русский лучше! (and every week my Russian is better!)

-Elder Blake Wight

Ups and Downs

2010-02-17T16:31:00.001-08:00

02/17/10
Sorry mom, but I just don't have enough time to read talks, like the one you posted here, we pay for internet, I'd like to read it, I just don't have the time.

Did you get the pictures I sent last week? I hope they got through. (No they didn't :( )

I have not seen a package, but the офисники (office elders) haven't dropped mail and packages off at the central building yet, so maybe?

This last week has had ups and downs, downs are just things we currently struggle with, not actually bad things.

ups

- L. and D aren't sick anymore, we gave L. a blessing, which I said. During the lesson Elder R. promised them something unforgettable as a testimony builder on the condition that they read, pray together, and individually every day. D. grows by leaps and bounds, every meeting he surprises us.

- New investigator V. we found at english club on Wednesday, and we met with him twice, and then he cam to church. 4 DAYS to get to church. Definitely one of the elect. He wants us to come to his place and meet his family, he is a really great guy.

Downs

- We're having a really hard time reaching the mission goal of 20 meetings a week. People constantly fig us. (don't show up, or cancel last minute, Russian word) With elder M. he knew everyone so well that he knew what to do if we got figged, which happened SO much less than now. I don't know why.

- M. is getting really hard to teach, when he asked if we think he understands what we talk about, we told him no. He wants physical proof of everything, and its hard. There is a great bible verse, but in Russian its mis-translated. The orthodox church version is the only legal version here.

Something funny that happened on Sunday...
We were on a маршутка (marshootka, its like a van that you pay a dollar for, and they follow bus routes, way faster and frequent than buses) and we were talking to the only other guy there. We told him we were from America, and when he hears this, he unzips his coat and starts digging around for something. Its like he had this thing that he has been waiting to give to an American. I had no idea what to guess it was. He finally finds the thing and reaches his hand out to give it to me. I take it, and it was a green pen. Just a regular old green pen, it wasn't nice, it wasn't anything but green. I have no idea why he was anxious to give this to us but whatever. I am pretty sure he wasn't drunk either.

I found out that next transfer that there is an Elder White coming next transfer. I hope I train him. hahaha.

I am now starting Fun Moscow/Russian fact, here goes:
бабушки (babooshkee, which means grandmas/old ladies) have little carts that they drag everywhere, they have bags of who knows what in them. Also, no one ever carries anything unless they are in bags. You don't mess with the бабушки here, because they are tough as nails. They either hate missionaries, or love us, its kind of a fun thing to find out.

So thats all for this week. I love you all tons!

- Старейшина блейк уайт

Transfers

2010-02-17T16:30:00.000-08:00

02/10/10
This might have to be short, because I lost my last one to you, hopefully now though...

This last week was transfers, I got Elder R., from Boise Idaho. He is a genius and was a REALLY good wrestler. I stayed in the same area, Sokolniki and my trainer, Elder M. is now an AP. Pretty cool eh?

We started teaching another old investigator, A.(3). (there are about 15 different male russian names and like 20 female ones, weird huh?) Anyways, he seems to be some kind of drug addict, its pretty sad. His mother is a member and is SO GLAD that we are teaching him again. She was there for the meeting we set up, and A's grandma lives with him, and LOVES to talk to us, it is so funny.

Publish Post

Other than that, not much else happening. I'm going to go over to g-mail and try sending a few pictures. next week it will be possible, because myldsmail is now powered by gmail after today. woohoo!

Love you all!

-Elder Wight

Companion

2010-02-03T22:33:00.001-08:00

Brother and Sister Wight, Samantha, Casey, Carissa,

I have has the chance to spend the last 6 weeks as your brother's and son's companion. You have a lot to be proud of! He is a lot of fun. He has a great sense of humor about everything and loves to tell me to fake it until I make it. I wanted to tell you that he is doing great. He is a great missionary, as I am sure you would have already known, but I have loved serving with him. We found out that I will be transferred so I will not be with him anymore but I wanted to let you know how great he is doing.

About me. I am 19 and from Greeley, Colorado. I love football. I played for a year before my mission at BYU but red-shirted so didn't actually play that much. Other than that I love fishing and being with my family. I have 5 brothers and sisters. 2 older sisters 1 older brother who played at BYU with me and is leaving on his mission to Bulgaria March 24!! and then 2 younger brothers, one of which just signed to go play football for Colorado State University. Today is my 8 month mark on my mission but i have loved it. the language is hard but comes with time. Like I said unfortunately I won't be with your son again but I have love it. Thanks for doing such a great job in raising him.

Love Elder M

Transfers

2010-02-03T22:32:00.000-08:00

So, last week, I did receive 3 packages, 1 from Grandma and two from you, with all the things you said were in them. One question, does the voltage or something matter for the digital picture frame? I don't have a converter, and I'm afraid to plug it in without one. Luckily a roommate, has one, so I saw some pictures. there are like a bajillion of Cason, and some of me, which is weird.

Transfers this week, and my companion is leaving! he has been here for 4 transfers, ever since the beginning. he was trained, and then trained three times in a row after that. There are only two Americans left that are "old" after this transfer, and President likes to let missionaries be regular missionaries before they go home, so one of the younger guys has to be the AP. Its really cool to try and guess where everybody is going, and its awesome that everyone in the mission is cool, obedient, and a good hard worker, so we never have to worry about getting a crappy companion.

It is crazy how fast time flies. I have something like
4 months already down. 1/6 is over. I need to take more pictures, hahaha.

Lessons this week were good, D is reading (listening) to the Book of Mormon! He is awesome. Its weird though, his wife is the thing that is stunting his growth, because she doesn't like church, and she doesn't pray daily or read daily. She was the whole reason he started meeting with the missionaries, and now she as a member, is not helping at all, she makes it harder.

Its weird that you gave a lesson on sacrifice and sanctifying ourselves, because that is what I studied this morning. I'm really looking for things that I can sacrifice in my missionary life, so that I can be the best possible, and willingness came up a lot.

I noticed this last week, that in my personal study I have no time to even study what I want to study, I have to prepare for my investigators that day. Unless its p-day, then I get to pick how and what I study. Its amazing to me that even scripture study can't be for me.

That's all for this week, I'll write next week with news about my new companion. love you all!

-Elder Blake Wight

p.s. hopefully my companion emails you.

Finding... answers, investigators, packages

2010-01-27T13:46:00.000-08:00

01-27-10
How about Elder M. writes you next week? Does that sound good?

That is so cool you decided to go to England! wow! Elder M. was a big traveler, and his family went on a lot of vacations. He recommends you take a couple days for Norway, he says its beautiful.

I should have brought pictures of thunder with me, I miss that dog so much.

Last night we went over to this couples house. The guy very soon after baptized had a stroke and can't come to church anymore. I brought my family pictures which she LOVED. that might even be an understatement, but it was so funny. She was using the diminutive form while talking about you guys, which means that it makes the words cutesy, small, happy... you get it. We shared a short message with them and booked it home.

Also this week we have taken on the 17 years investigator C. Whew. We set a baptismal date with him and gave him a teaching record so he knows what he has to know and do to receive an "answer." His deal is that he hasn't received an "answer." Hopefully we can help him.

While studying Preach My Gospel I ran across the scripture in first or second Cor. chapter 2 verses 9-14. probably 1st? It reminded me of D., and is exactly what he needs. It was so cool to have found that. He feels like he needs to be able to physically test it, but the spirit isn't of the world.

I did receive the letter from grandparents last week, I just don't have a whole lot of time to write people back. We only have an hour to read all the letters, write president, write home, and whoever else, which usually doesn't happen. I did receive 2 packages today though... possibly grandparents package? someone just called us and told us.

In packages, just by the way, please just send food, like snack things that we don't have here. Unless they are the few other things I specifically asked for or you've asked me about. The Nerf guns were thrown away, because we just don't have time to use them, and its just not useful.

This week we are really pushing to find a new investigator, we haven't added any since the beginning of the transfer, and we really need to find someone new.

We are switching over to G-mail soon through the church, which is going to be cool, I'll keep you posted on how that's going to turn out.

This one member family, the F. family, we have been visiting is so cool. The Father knows a little English and he plays the guitar really well we found out. He sang a couple songs last time we were over there, like "Let it Be", and "What a Wonderful World", it was awesome.

That's all for this week. its kind of weird this transfer is almost over.

Love you all!
-Elder Blake Wight

M. Family comes to church

2010-01-20T11:23:00.000-08:00

01-20-10
So this week has been really good. We challenged M. to baptism, which he declined, which is alright, no problem. Also, the B. family I asked to start coming to church came! They are inactive, and we have been working with them. It was so cool, I felt so happy for them. Yesterday I went on a split again and visited them, and asked them to write their testimonies on Book of Mormons so we can hand them out and we can tell them about the people that we gave their Book of Mormon to. That idea came from zone conference this last Tuesday, it gets members into missionary work without having to chastise or beg. It will be really cool, I hope the idea works out.

Also, our investigator D. agreed to start reading the Book of Mormon. He is definitely making progress, and his wife is in Kiev for only like a few more days. She is also from some state in the south I think. I don't know exactly.

OH! i got my first contact, I was on splits with the new elder living with us, so I let him have it, because he has no investigators or contacts.

As for discussions, I give a decent amount, probably like 20-40 percent. But the last two times we have gone to the B. family's house, it has been me on a split with someone. Those times I gave almost the whole thing, that is when I asked them to come to church and write in the Book of Mormons.

The two new elders in our dorm isn't bad, its just a little more messy, and we go through food like crazy. Other than that, no biggie. The native is really helping my Russian, just being able to ask him if phrases I say are ok and just hearing Russian so often. Its good.

The grief lady did not come to church, I don't know if we have called her yet, but its going in my planner as we speak.

I JUST bought a coat, I pulled another hundred off for emergency cases, and buying some kind of bag to carry things around in. The other coat is one I have been borrowing until we could go to a market, which was today. Vova the mini missionary went with me and helped me barter.

Please send my ballot, I will do what I can to vote. I agree, I really should vote. I heard Obama passed a socialized health care bill? is that true? I just would like to know BIG things that are happening, and if that is true, that is big.

What is the don't answer game? I have no idea what that is about.

The cold here isn't too bad, The coldest this last week was like -20 c. which is like -8ish F?

As for Casey's wrestling, really, the next big step in his game is figuring out that no one can stay on top of him. Really, skill is good, but the mindset is probably 100 times more useful. Casey, look at the guy and just think how small his little arms are, and that there is no chance that guy can stay on top of you, if he is buff, just think that there is no way that short little boy is gonna keep you down. The only reason they stay on top of you is because you let them.

Carissa, I'm glad to hear that you are doing so great in basketball! Keep making those hoops, and working on your shooting and ball handling skills! Don't let the house be boring, do something to make it fun! if you are bored, it is because you are boring.

Samantha, You will have to tell me what classes you are interested in, and what teachers teach them, then I will be able to help you out. I can't do a whole lot for you without knowing what you are interested in. and keep practicing ball handling, just do under the legs, then while walking, then more and more. It helped me get a lot better back in the day.

Anyways, life is good! I don't get any mail besides from the family, but its all good, I don't know if I'd have time to reply.

love ya'll

-Elder Blake Wight.

New Roomie and wrestling tips

2010-01-13T09:32:00.001-08:00

01-13-10

I'm finally on my regular weekly schedule. p-days on Wednesdays. This last week we taught another lesson to M. but it wasn't right to give him a baptismal date, we are really pushing for one soon though. He is a real good investigator. L. and D. are doing well, L. left for a visa trip to Kiev yesterday, or the day before. We have decided that the real problem with teaching D is L. We think that D. would keep commitments like coming to church and praying with his wife, but she just isn't into it. She asked us to give her a blessing before she left, which my companion gave, and he said that he almost should ask why. We need her to be a better example to D. of what a member should be, and once that happens we hope that he will be a much better investigator. He is good, and progressing, but with an active member as a spouse, he could grow so much faster.

We found out this week we are getting another set of missionaries in our district, and that they will be living with us because we have two bunk beds. One is elder H. He is with us right now. The other, that will be his companion, is a mini missionary named V., the one with all the tattoos. A mini missionary is a member that is a missionary for a short amount of time in the mission they live in. So he will be serving for only a few weeks with elder H. We have already gotten elder H this morning, he seems to be bummed to be moving around so much, and I don't blame him.

Yesterday we went inactive finding, so we can better fill-out our branch record, which is really outdated. People have died, moved, and some now hate the church. So last night we went and found out that one couple is never home. We left them a Liahona magazine. The next couple had moved, but the old lady living there was one of the couple's mom. The last lady was the best. We found her, and she did not look happy to see us. She invited us in anyways, and as we tried to share a message, she said thanks, but no. She also told us she "knew everything" hahaha, weird. We left her the Liahona magazine and asked her to read the Love of God talk, but she "already knew." She also made the fatal mistake of telling us that she was planning on coming to church this Sunday. We will definitely be giving her a ring when she doesn't show on Sunday.

We only had three investigators before. That email awhile ago is pretty much everyone I know/ taught. We only dropped one of them. My Russian is going a lot better. I'm understanding a lot better, and picking up words. I can't wait til I'm at the point where I can ask what a word means, and understand the response.

I hope that dad's knee gets better. Maybe get it looked at?

Casey, work on the other moves, it will really help you know how to defend them, and be able to use them and pin faster. Also, I used to be bad on bottom, but how I got better wasn't just practicing getting out, the best thing that helped me, was telling myself that no one could keep me down, and telling myself that enough, until I knew that no one could keep me down.

I'm doing great here, just please let me know if that other package is coming. Please send me Mitch's email's if you get them. And, please send the recipe for the brownies!

I love you all!

-Elder Blake Wight

Settling In

2010-01-07T09:27:00.001-08:00

So this week I'm emailing from a different place because one of the workers at the place where we usually email from left a window open overnight and the register and some other things were frozen. Sweet huh?

Sister C. (Mission President's wife) told me that she exchanged a few emails with you. She is a great lady, I love the them.

This week we dropped our investigator A., because he wasn't keeping commitments and straight up told us he wasn't going to join our church. Bad news is we are thinking about dropping another one, D., the one that is married to the American member, we just don't want to because we are L's only contact with the church. She comes to church once a month, and we are afraid that will drop to zero if we stop coming. Questions, Questions.

About everyday here is about 10 degrees below zero Celsius, except a few days where it was pushing -20. that was freezing. one of those days this happened... (I copied and pasted from my email to my mission president)

This week our miracle was pretty cool. We headed out to go tracting at this dome we picked out. We got there and rang probably 20 domaphones and no one answered, to let us in. We went to few different подезд (kind of like a column of a building) and tried them, and still no one answered. We got on the metro because it was cold enough that it wasn't fun being outside and tried snake contacting, which we also didn't have much success with. It was time to head home so we took our metro home. As we left the metro building I saw I guy wearing a Salt Lake City Olympics jacket and told my companion. We went over and talked with him for a minute, and he told us he had stayed with the Mormons there and wondered where he could find them. We exchanged numbers, and hopefully we will be able to start teaching him soon.

Pretty cool huh? I think our investigator M. we will challenge to baptism this week. (he wasn't able to meet this last week due to holidays)

the A's family we are working on re-activating, I hope they start coming, because they are a really nice family.

Anyways, that's all for this week investigator-wise.

Yesterday we helped set up a Christmas party, and then stayed for it. I had no idea what was going on the whole time, it was really awkward. People talk at me and I just look at them and tell them it is my second week and I don't understand. Which always makes metro contacting interesting.

Two days ago me and my old companion elder M. went on a split because our companions went to a District Leadership meeting. We taught a member and visited N. I had to get us around on the metro which was kinda of crazy, but not bad, we made it everywhere we needed to go.

We got moved from conversational class at English club to beginner. Bummer.

Yeah, so that is it for this week!

Dad-please keep sending pictures, if they are too big I can just zoom out no problem.

Whats the deal with the packages from the MTC? am I going to get those? Did you even receive them? I just would like to know.

Anyways, love you all!

Elder Blake Wight

My 1st Contacts

2010-01-01T22:31:00.001-08:00

01-01-10
Talking to you all was really nice, I loved it. So Christmas eve we had a Christmas party where we played games, ate, did some skit things and had a lot of fun. hahaha not much missionary work. Then on Christmas we talked, and then studied afterwords, so we got out late. So far I have met (I'm going to do the American version of the names, because I don't know how to change to Russian)

A., who has read the Book of Mormon 3 times in Russian and is now reading it in English, he has very good English, but he believes Jews are 100% correct except they don't accept Jesus as their savior, which is the one thing he KNOWS. I don't get it. I challenged him to not listen to anybody, but just pray about it.

M., 55 years old man, takes care of his mother, very good man, just needs help trying to see the purpose of the Book of Mormon, he accepts it as truth, but doesn't know why we need it. also knows some English.

D., all his friends are in the church, but he is just too lazy to do anything. he asks weird questions like where we "shoot" the holy ghost from, and where exactly in your body do you feel it? Weird guy, hahaha. He decided he was going to fast this last week for no reason, we tried to help him see that it is just going hungry... I'm curious to see how that goes.

Di. is a member of the church, has a funny accent, has no job, so we call him up all of the time to go on visits with us. We are re-teaching him the lessons as practice, and also we need to go over the lessons again after he was baptized.

V., was a punk kid, and one day while watching South Park, they mentioned the "Mormons." He called got a book of Mormon, read it, got baptized, and is now filling out papers to go on a mission. He was the one that gave me the "welcome to Russia shirt" with the bear. He has gauges that are healing up and like three tattoos, but he has really changed. (from what i hear)

N. An old lady that can't walk, we visit her every Sunday and Tuesday, to pass the sacrament, and to help her out with anything. on the Tuesdays she like us to take her out. She tutors English and is pretty funny lady, i really enjoy going over to her place and meeting with her.

M., member of the church, loves missionaries, we practice Russian with him a lot. not much there...

L. (American) and Di. 2 (different one, but still Russian), dated online she came over and married him, she is a member, he is not. Dimitri was born in Soviet Russia, so he has a hard time grasping religion, but he has a real desire, the only problem is that he has a million questions. We asked him to write only a few so that next time we can have a real lesson, because Q&A won't help him grow.

Well I think that's it! So far, almost all of our investigators know English, but sometimes we teach in Russian, and sometimes in English, it really just depends on them and the day. its weird.

Today, new years, there is NOBODY on t he metro, which is insane. we had to be in at 5 last night, and we were allowed to watch 3 movies. we watched HP 6, UP, and a Russian Disney film, the translation being "book of masters." which even if i understood it, I'm pretty sure was terrible.

So about my journal... days have not been very regular lately, and i just have forgotten about it. I remember later, but I don't have time. I'm planning on doing it today though.

I'll see if I can get a card reader deal so I can send pictures right away, and you don't have to wait for my cards to see some choice pictures. right now there is a guy pasted out in here, no doubt because of last night, and there is a beer can right next to him, pretty funny! don't worry, I got a picture.

I really miss all of you! But, I'm glad I am here.

из Россий с любовью
(from russia with love)

-Старейшина Блейк Уайт
-Elder Blake Wight

Brother and Sister Cranney Welcome Blake

2009-12-31T12:37:00.000-08:00

Dear Brother and Sister Wight,

It has been wonderful for us to meet your son and get to know him and feel of his great spirit. We are confident that he will make a significant contribution to the Lord's work in Russia.

Initially, your son will be serving with Elder Morgan. Your son will learn a great deal from him. They will be serving in the Sokolniki area inside of Moscow.

As I am sure you know, uplifting and encouraging letters from home are as important as food and shelter for a missionary. Sharing with him your faith, your spiritual experiences, and your love will bless and sustain him tremendously. For mailing letters, the Church pouch is the fastest and most reliable method. LDS bishops have instructions for using this system. To reach the USA, letters from Moscow generally take at least two weeks, but can require more time. Preparation day is now Wednesday. You can expect to receive an e-mail from him each week. Here is the address for any correspondence you would like to send in the pouch:

Russia Moscow Mission

PO Box 30150

Salt Lake City, UT 84130-0150

If you wish to send packages, address them to the following:

101000 Moskva

Glavpochtampt a/ai 257

RUSSIA

Packages generally require at least three weeks for delivery. USPS or DHL works best for mailing packages.

We send this letter to you with our pledge to do all that we can to help your son be safe, well and enthusiastic in this thrilling missionary adventure. Thank you for entrusting him to us for this important time of his life.

Cordially,

President and Sister Cranney

P.S. Every month our mission puts out a monthly newsletter called the Moscow Messenger. It usually includes our new missionaries, those we've had to say good-bye to, birthdays, excerpts from some of the missionaries' weekly e-mails, and other similar items.

Anyway, we thought that some of the parents might like to be receiving it as well. It might give you some more "insight" into what life is like for your son as you read it. If you'd like us to e-mail it to you each month, please just respond to this e-mail and we will see it gets to your home.

Christmas Day

2009-12-27T21:57:00.000-08:00

News:: 12-25-09
I'm pretty sure we don't usually get to email this often... hahaha, but its the Christmas season and such. so why not?

I just got off the phone with you probably not even an hour ago, but I have nothing else so do to...

I'm trying to remember all the information you wanted that I didn't have. But I'm drawing blanks, so remind me when you get this.

This pochta is super hot every time we come in here!

Tell me things you want pictures of, except for gov. buildings and the actual metro, these are neel-za (forbidden). But I think I can take pictures of the museum kind of parts in the metros.

I still don't know how mail works here, but I'll figure it out so I can find a way to get you my memory cards when they fill up I don't have many pictures now so it will probably be a long while. I need to figure out how to send actual letters too.

Well I don't have a whole much more to say than I have already said on the phone just a bit ago.

-Blake Wight

Call me on Christmas!!!

2009-12-27T21:55:00.001-08:00

12-23-09

OK, so this is just a short note. I got my new companion elder Morgan from Colorado. He is awesome so far, I've had him a few hours. On Christmas EVE call us at 8:45pm YOUR TIME, it will be The number is 7---------9. You could probably use skype, my companion says its the cheapest, but I don't know.

Moscow is warm right now, only -8 Fahrenheit.

And I think I will be using this email for all my emails, unless it starts giving me grief. Go ahead and put this email on the group so I can get email from everybody, its no longer only family.

Anyways, I love you all!

-Blake Wight

Blake makes it to Russia!!!

2009-12-22T10:09:00.000-08:00

Short little message:

I'm here! we went to red square, contacted, and ate. I get my companion tomorrow!

I talked to this guy on the metro, and when he replied I could barely even hear him, much less understand him. But he turned away from me after that, so i just took the hint.

Also later I contacted this other guy, and elder Varen (ap) kind of took over and talked and taught him. elder Varen told me later that he was really receptive, which is good. He explained that the bus was moving like a turtle and I recognized the word turtle, hahaha. pretty cool.

Well, I will talk to you on Christmas! I don't know the details, but it will work out.

I love you all!
-Blake Wight

Blake leaves Monday!!!

2009-12-17T22:17:00.000-08:00

News

: 12-1-09

Blake sent us his travel itinerary today.

He has to report at the Travel office at 5:00 AM. His flight is on Delta Air Lines Flight 94 Dec 21st at 8:35 AM. He arrives at JFK at 3:10 and leaves there at 4:35 straight for Moscow!!! Delta Flight 30. He arrives in Moscow at 10:10AM on the 22nd.

(Family and friends should not plan to see him off at the airport or at the MTC.)

He is very excited. It bigger than Christmas to him. From what I understand, he will be able to call home for a few minutes in between flights.

Six Days!!!!

2009-12-17T07:43:00.000-08:00

Dear Family
Sounds like the house is undergoing some major changes, which is pretty cool. So have you thrown away the old computer? I guess it doesn't really matter, just curious.

Yeah, the white handbook is very nice tool to have. We call it in our branch the book of blessings. by obedience to the white handbook we are blessed. Obedience is an opportunity to receive blessings, and show God our love and willingness to submit to his will.

So is the family going to do a Christmas time ski trip this year? What's the deal on that?

I sent my flight plans vie snail mail, which you should be receiving soon. The times on the flight plan are LOCAL. I would guess I would be calling you from JFK. And as for Christmas phone call, I don't know whether it would be on the 25th of Dec. or the 7th of January. Europeans celebrate Christmas on the 7th of January. I would guess it is up to the mission president. 3 calls in a week? I though just layover and Christmas, when else?

As for email in Russia, I don't know which one i will be using. BUT I'm pretty sure once in Russia, everyone will be able to email me, not just family like it is here.

About pictures, please only send a few that i either suggest or you want to send. you can expect to have that big thing of letters sent back soon, sorry. I have a weight limit, and a lot of them I took so you could see what goes on here, I don't really care to have them with me all the time. Which reminds me, I am going to send a package home of things that won't fit in the weight limit and I don't really need. there is some deal here where I can send any size package to somewhere in Provo and people pick it up for 5 bucks, or I pay, I forget. or I can just send it home? maybe grandma could pick it up? but I don't want to be a burden on her, I'm sure she is busy.

I did get my nose cauterised yesterday. just as terrible as the first time, hahaha. my nose dripped that nasty goo for awhile. It was weird to ride in a van and see people without name tags. I felt like i should be teaching everybody, but everyone was Mormon, hahaha.

It totally doesn't seem like the Christmas season here. its so weird, I hope that it turns out to be a pretty cool one. Elders have said that Christmas' on their missions are the most memorable. I hope they are right. Its like ten days away, but I've only been looking forward to my flight into Moscow I haven't really noticed how close it was.

Remember the brother in the branch presidency that I had the amazing interview with and that is going to be a mission president? Well he got moved to a different branch, and is the Branch President of branch 53 now. Pretty crazy.

I am so ready to out of the MTC. I weighed myself at gym the other day. 171. hahaha. tell that to Kearsley. I loved hearing about the team, please keep me posted. It sounds like a lot of the littler guys got bigger, I was surprised to see that the team's line-up was stronger in the mid-heavy range.

anyway, I have 6 days! woohoo!

помните кто ты!

remember who you are!

Love you all!

Swine flu, watches, and Reading

2009-12-14T08:40:00.001-08:00

12-08-09

Snail mail letter...

Dear family

This week was uneventful, so I apologize if it is short.
We had our SYL (speak your language) meeting, where they talked about how we should only speak Russian.

Our lesson last Wednesday went really well I thought. I feel like I can kind of express what I really want to say during a lesson. Outside of lessons though, I know nothing.

Guess what? My watchbroke...me and timepieces. I don't know why. My watch was falling apart, it just finally busted.

I finished the Book of Mormon, the talks at General Conference (except relief society), and Our Heritage this week. I feel pretty good about that. I have started D&C and Jesus the Christ.

I'm over that cold I had, everyone seemed to have picked it up, but we are all healthy now. My roommate had swine flu, but we all got vaccinated, so it shouldn't be a problem anymore. The memory card was labeled I think? I've heard stories of people having slits in their mail and their cards gone. I will definitely try doing what dad suggested.

That's all for this week.

Fun Russian fact...I don't have one...it's hard.
Christmas wish list (*Some I need)
*Alarm clock (maybe shock proof?)
*Watch (anything will work. I've seen good looking watches for $12)
Ties
Sweater vest?
face mask deal so my face doesn't freeze off.
Scarf or two
Any other goodies
I might add some stuff in P.S.
a few pictures of Thunder

я люблю вас!
Blake Wight

100%

2009-12-08T18:48:00.000-08:00

The whole carpet deal sounds pretty cool. I can't wait to see what my old room looks like. when mom asked for six, did she cry? I have been wondering, is it cheaper with me out of the house? how much milk do we go through now?

Casey is going to be a force to reckon with in high school. Too bad he had the diseased arm last year.

The card sent was in the little case thingy. I have heard stories about people with slits in their mail, and their memory cards gone.

I can't wait for the opportunity to give priesthood blessings, but in the white handbook it says that we can only give blessings when asked, so i don't know how many opportunities i will actually get.

I don't have a lot to say about this week, except it was a good week and that my russian lesson last wee went pretty well. I was surprised at how well we did.

I have been thinking about how hard my mission is going to be, but when i look back at all the hard things i have done in the past, they are the things i enjoy and remember the best. Looking at it this way makes me excited to get on my mission and keeps me from thinking about my doubts and short-fallings. I just know that when all is said and done, the hard things I have done, and will do, are the things that I will treasure most. "You miss 100% of the shots you don't take." I want to say at the end of my mission I had no regrets.

Anyways, that was on my mind a lot this week. Thought it was a good little thing to share with you.

I love you guys!

-Blake Wight

Pre Thanksgiving snail mail

2009-12-01T14:07:00.000-08:00

11/24/09
Blake's snail mail home....

Dear family,

I'm just going to write to you all. If you want a letter just to you, you're going to have to put in some overtime and not write when mom makes you ;)

Uh...No card? I hope I just forgot it. I'll look. Bummer. Just know they were good. (In his last letter he sent his memory card and I didn't get it. I've look everywhere. UGHHHH)

I don't think the gingerbread house is going to work out, its tooo messy. I appreciate it though. I'll just keep the candy.

Casey, sorry to ruin your parade, but my mission boundaries no longer include Kazakhstan anymore. I hope that's not why you chose it. (It was, but oh well. If any of you are interested in visiting Kazakhstan Casey has made a cool travel brochure you can take a look at.)

Samantha, MTC is good, except the food. Campanion is good. And I have learned SO much Russian, but only enough to teach discussions.

Carissa, I'm glad your teeth are doing well, hahahah:) (She has been loosing some teeth, like 4).

I don't think the room is mine, I don't even remember taking that picture.

Dad, I loved the e-mial/Dear Elder, hopefully I'll have replied via e-mail by the time you get this.

I hear Elder Holland is coming on Thanksgiving with probably some other apostle!

Russian fun fact:
Every verb has perfective/imperfective form. So for every verb I have to learn 2 words, and there are 6 verbs for "to go"!

Anyways, love you all

я люблю вас!
Blake Wight

P.S. Dallin H Oaks spoke tonight, it was amazing!

P.P.S. I didn't end my e-mail because I looked and I had 12 seconds left. My bad.

Thanksgiving in the MTC

2009-12-01T12:22:00.000-08:00

12-01-09

hahaha. Sounds like you had a Thanksgiving. I had a pretty good one myself, there was a morningside with Elder Jeffrey R. Holland! It was super good. That makes three apostles so far here at the MTC. I have found though, that just because they are apostles doesn't mean they will answer all the questions I have in mind. I have found that some of the best personal things for me, are not always from apostles, I do learn a lot, but sometimes more from others. I have learned that it doesn't really matter who it is, as long as you are listening to them, and the spirit, you have the opportunity to learn. I love receiving whisperings of the spirit. It is a huge testament to me of the power of the Holy Ghost. I might suggest the first general conference talk in the ensign, I am almost done reading the whole thing, and that has been so far, my favorite.

Its a bummer that Casey doesn't have eagle eye vision like myself (hahaha) but he is the one that has shot a deer... I might suggest to Casey that in addition to wrestling practice, he should run and do workouts like pull ups, push-ups, and workouts without weights. Some really good wrestlers here no of good wrestlers that weren't strong enough to finish moves, greater strength will really help his game i believe.

I don't know anything about my visa. I had it already before I came here. I don't know if it is good or not.

Exciting news! I got my Russian name tags yesterday! It is spelled (OO-AI-T) they don't have a W. so it was either a V sound, or an OO sound. It kinda of tricks them into saying the w sound, and it sounds pretty nifty. So I chose it that way.

I'm at 21 days. I leave the 22nd. Its pretty nuts, I have already started Spreak Your Language 100 % of the time. It is difficult. My roommate elder Waite is fine now, quarantine he said was not that bad. I am getting a cough but it is not that bad I don't think, I can't imagine it evolving into anything nasty.

I have looked high and low for the card. No bueno. I am almost positive I sent it.

I love you!

Blake Wight

p.s. please don't send anymore m&ms I have only eaten five pieces of the two bags you sent at Halloween. Pretty much anything else would be nice though.

p.p.s. I was gonna ask for you to send something but I forgot. It'll probably be in the snail mail I send.

Testimony

2009-11-24T18:35:00.001-08:00

11-24-09

I don't feel ready to leave in some ways, but in others i definitely do. Russian i don't know any conversation phrases besides a few that will get me so i can teach lessons. that is pretty much what my vocabulary consists of, is gospel words and phrases. I am so ready to move on and go to Russia, I love being here, but I also just really want to get out there and do the real thing.

I also hope that my mission flies by, kind of. I know that my time in the field will be amazing, but I also can't wait to get home and move on with school and such. I have mixed emotions and i know i shouldn't be thinking about anything other than my mission right now. so I won't:)

As for the Natives, we haven't had that many oppurtunities to really talk with them because they are sisters, and also it was their first week, and they don't go to a lot of the same activities as we do. But we did go through an endowment session with them today, which is always cool. the other natives, we went up to their room and talked a lot, which is why we knew them better than we will probably know these sisters.

It's great you were in the temple so much this week. I love having the oppurtunity to go to the temple every tuesday, its really a good experience and break from the MTC.

Which of M.'s friends saw me? I didn't see anybody i recognized.

I miss Chukar hunting, and thunder. I hope that puppy figures out the whole hunting deal, because i'm sure that when she does she will be amazing. I remember thunder shelling pistachios, Mom also said that she found a stash of candy and brought it to her. I love that Dog. Could you send a Picture of her? maybe a few?

About the memory card, I have no idea where the card is, i'm almost positive i sent it in the mail... bummer. you'll have to send a new one. I didn't back up the pictures because we don't have any way to here. There were some classics.

I'd just like to share my testimony real quick, but before I do, i'd like to say that I've learned so much here, more probably about the gospel and about missionary work than Russian, and I thought I knew A lot before i came out here. I can't wait to see the person I will be after my mission.

I know that Jesus Christ is our Savior, I know that he atoned so that we may return to our Father in Heaven. I know that God loves us, more than it is possible for us to imagine. I know that Holy Ghost is key towards conversion, and that through the Holy Ghost we can know all things. I have a personal testimony of personal revelation. I know that I can recieve personal revelation and priesthood power by being obedient, faithful, and listening to the spirit. I know that Joseph Smith was a prophet, I know that Thomas S. Monson is a prophet. i know that we have all the keys, and authority of the Dispensation of the Fulness of Times. I know that the Book Of Mormon is the true word of God, and that a man can grow closer to God by studying it, and applying its teachings. I know that I am called of God to serve his people in Russia. I know that key to my success as a missionary is patience, diligence, knowledge, charity, love, faithfulness, obedience, and work.

Russian Lessons

2009-11-14T14:07:00.000-08:00

Dear Family,
E-mail wigged out, so it didn't send, AND I ran out of time. SO it's just the letter this week. For my schedule on an average day, I wake up, get breakfast, sower, and head to class, with wither Brother Burgess or Sister Jenson, it's always the same classroom. Then lunch, and back to class for either more class or MDT (I'm not sure what that is, maybe exercise?) Then dinner, then either class or MDT, but we only have MDT once a day. I'll see if I can copy my schedule to send you. (I requested this info, because I have no ideas what he does in the MTC)

This week is kind of crazy, almost all of the older elders in our branch have left, which make us the older group. Also, next Wednesday we get about a dozen new elders plus 2 native sisters. It is going to be pretty fun.

This week is going to be my first time teaching a lesson in Russian. Can you believe that? It's pretty crazy. The socks and garments are MUCH appreciated. For future refernce, I like socks higher that the ankle for athletic socks and whose two kinds are very nice. The thick wool socks are a little too big. I'm a size 10. (He goes on to give his garment sizes and preferences, but I won't bore you with that.)

If you could , would you please send a FEW international stamps so I can send some letters to Mitch?

Dad, watch the talk "Forever a Missionary" by Elder Ballard. It might be hard to find because it is a MTC talk. It's really goo though.

Love you all!

Blake Wight

Getting "older"

2009-11-07T14:24:00.001-08:00

11-07-09
Dear Family,
This last week has been pretty normal until Sunday. Because the older group shipping off this next week, we nneeded new Zone Leaders. Our District Leader's and companion became the new Zone Leaders and my companion is our new Disrict leader. (One of the old Zone Leader's was I think that state champ wrestler from Georgia, he is a pretty cool guy). So now I get to follow around my compaion, while he does... whatever he does.

Today I have less P-day than usual, due to the fact that we went to a sealing session with the natives and the older group. Me and my companion were the wintesses for a while. It was very interesting.

Well the older group leaves in a week! I can't believe that in a few short weeks I will be one of the older Elders that will be giving talks in 100% Russian! Also blessing the sacrament in Russian and teaching lessons! Next Wendesday we will be teaching the first lesson in Russian which is just nuts!

I decided to include a Russian tid-bit this week, here goes.

ALPHABET
Then he goes on to write the alphabet in Russian and then a word that has the correct sound in it. It is with a bunch of Russian letter or I would type it all out for you to have your first Russian lesson. I still haven't gotten the alphbet thing figured out. I guess, I need to do that.)

Anyways, I love you all! (Pronounced in Russian Ya Lyoublyou vas)

Blake Wight

Candy Galore

2009-11-04T12:31:00.000-08:00

Dear mother,
Because I have already written you a real, letter, I won't repeat myself.

I have not yet received socks or underwear yet, (I told him I sent it, but I haven't yet. ooops) I think the MTC post room is a little slow, because I got grandma Carter's Halloween package late, by a few days, and she sent it from the BYU bookstore.

I found out some things about customs this last week you might want to know about. Don't send expensive things, customs people steal. if you really want to try though, put stickers of Jesus and the sort on the box, if they are superstitious they won't want to mess with it. Or send in smaller packages, its more expensive, but then they probably won't steal small packages.

OK, I'll repeat myself this once, my companion is the new District Leader, our DL became the Zone Leader because the older group is leaving soon. exciting huh?

I know you might have to type up some of the things that I put in my real letter, but please do it, I'd like everybody to know whats going on over here at the MTC.

One of the Elders in my room had a cousin that just left to the field, and he donated all of his candy, we are packed with candy. We have decided to start hiding it in all the wall sockets and in creative places for the new missionaries to find. But keep sending! =)

I have been writing in my journal every other day, and the days I miss, I make up for. My entries are getting smaller and smaller though because it is the same thing every day.

I love you!
-Blake Wight.

Wanted

2009-11-04T11:31:00.000-08:00

10-29-09
Dear Mother,
Like I had said before, not a lot to say about this week. I forgot to ask for a couple pairs of socks 2 reg/2 insulated and for a couple more sets of garments. I have been wearing my socks twice and am down to 0 garments come P-day. I am sending a check from some friends. If you could deposit it that would be delightful. AND Pictures please! I have no family/ any pictures, make sure to send my pic of me jumping over the creek and also Mitchell's afro one. The Elder who was sick didn't have swine flu, he was just sick. Oh it snowed a little today, but I already mentioned that...I hope this week is more eventful for ya, love you.

Blake Wight

P.S. L Tom Perry spoke at our Devotional today!!!

10/27/09 Flags and snow

2009-10-27T13:44:00.000-07:00

10/27/09
Dad,
I don't know whats up, but the picture (of Samantha) didn't go through.

I also already know about mom's moment, because she told me as well as Carissa.

And speaking of pictures, I have zero pictures of anybody, so next package, make sure to send some Wight Family Classics. As well as my mission pic of me jumping over the creek.

Pretty normal week this week, nothing much to say, except the older Russian elders started SYL which is they have to Speak Your Language 100% of the time to other people that know Russian. and its for the last two weeks. NOT THE WHOLE TIME. (Jeff bet Blake that he would have to speak Russian the entire time he was there after a couple of days), hahaha. I win. Life is good here.

I think I will be sending a memory card today, so you can download those pictures and sort through them. I can't think of anything more to say at the moment, so, until next week!

Love,
-Blake

Mom,
I think i will send the memory card today, I don't have, like perfect pictures of everybody, but you can at least see the people in my district.

I really appreciate that last package, I used the tape to finally put up the flag in our room. I hope it stays.The daily box deal is pretty exciting everyday. hahaha .

If you could get me the address of the Clint Carters, that would be nice, they got me a package, and I threw away the box. Same thing with a letter from Grandpa Sensenbach. If you could send those in the next letter so I could write them back, that would be nice.

Today it was snowing when we left the temple, so our district photo shoot was shortened to just jumping pictures outside. Next week we plan on having a stylish winter picture shoot, so we'll get some good shots. Pretty normal week otherwise. not much to say.

Oh, the older group started SYL yesterday, read dad's email to find out what that is, I only have so much time.

I'd like this part I'm about to write to go out TO ALL THE PEOPLE WHO SAID THEY'D WRITE. Letters are exciting, and its like Christmas morning getting letters, especially from your friends. SO GET OFF FACEBOOK RIGHT NOW AND WRITE ME A DANG LETTER. hahaha =D

I love you mom... everybody too... and even those who haven't written yet.

я люблю вас!

-Blake Wight

Broken Alarm Clock, What?! Already?

2009-10-25T21:28:00.001-07:00

Dear Mother (crossed out) ...Family,

I don't have much to write to you about, outside of what is in my e-mails, which also isn't much. I really am loving the package though.

It's starting to get winter-cold here as of today, yesterday and Sunday were pretty warm, but today it just keeps getting colder. Which reminds me, MY JACKET (which I have already sent to him, don't worry) please send it! And the other few things I asked for besides stamps, thanks.

Russian is coming along, but I'm no pro. My companion, is remembering words and keeping up, but his accent needs some work. I'm trying to remind him of pronunciation and stessing the correct vowels of words, overall- it's going well.

I broke my alarm clock already. I'm on the top bunk and I put my alarm clock on the closet. One night I put it too close to the edge and in the morning, it fell and broke. Crap. (My mom and dad were down in Provo and bought him a new one and dropped it off at some MTC drop box).

Anyways, love you MOM! and Dad! And children. hahahaha
Then he wrote I love you in Russian.

Roommates and Blaze's death

2009-10-20T14:11:00.000-07:00

10/20/09
This first letter is to Jeff the second to me (Rachael)
Hope you enjoy..

I thoroughly enjoyed the joke. After I received your message about Blaze, I had some trouble not crying. It made me really think of home, and I think brought my first bit of homesickness, hopefully the last.

Things are great here. I'll tell you about the other elders in my district. Elder Breedlove- super happy guy, that wants to be a freelance "navy seal trained" spy-like guy. I dunno, he is really funny though and is one of my roommates.

His companion is Elder Waite- played lacrosse for SVU, has a girlfriend he expects will not wait for him, no matter how much she says she will. I don't think he will be too disappointed when it happens, not because she isn't great, just because he knows it'll happen. hahaha. He is very realistic.

Elder Brown- this guy has some amazing experiences, super responsible, and my DL. His dad died three and a half years ago. He visited China for two weeks just before he got here. He has worked one of those "Deadliest Catch" boats, and has some pretty cool experiences about that. He made 15 grand in two months!

His companion is elder Weihing, said like "wine" he is a short guy that is pretty good at basketball, although he broke both wrists playing once. One wrist has metal plates, screws, the whole nine yards, pretty gnarly. He is a really nice guy.

There are two sisters in our district, but I don't know much about them though. Sister Dungan is from Hillsboro, is a teacher and has taught in Russia and Ethiopia. sister Hanson's dad is an archeologist, and she herself has led some digs, pretty fun stuff.

Dear elder is probably best, but both is better. if you have to pick one, definitely do dear elder, because I only get 30 minutes on the computer. Loved the picture.

Love
-Blake

Mom,

I remember that one time at DQ, , and I don't know if I'd trust it either. ( I wrote him about our FHE and how we had gone to Dairy Queen afterwards, but I was a little weary because the last time, when I took Blake and Mitch, the icecream was spoiled and tasted horrible)

Life is good here, I haven't gained any weight... I don't think. Today I got the chance to go to an endowment session with some "natives" from russia/ukraine that come here to help us learn. They don't have temples over there, so it was pretty cool because they received their endowments. There are I think nine of them, five sisters and four Elders.

That package with the date things is a really good idea, and it will be a good extra little boost to look forward to the next day. Here the days seem to fly by, it seems that just a few days ago, I was writing you my first letter, and BAM, I'm already on week two!

I hope Braden is having fun, you will have to keep me posted on how things are for him up there in the far north. hahaha.

I got my first taste of homesickness when I got the letter about Blaze dying. It made me realize how much I miss Thunder. There is nothing like the feeling you get from a dog here, and I definitely miss it. Anyways, I'm about out of time, I spent most of my time on dad's letter, so you'll have to read that one too, I forgot to CC that one.

Love- Blake

Sundays... and finally, "the code"

2009-10-17T23:09:00.000-07:00

10/13/09
This is Blake's first "letter, letter" home. It is so great to hear he is having a great experience. Enjoy...

The MTC is awesome! I'll answer some questions you asked. Sacrament meeting is cool, one elder and one sister each give a talk in Russian! They are 3-5 minutes long. Oh and we are a branch, all Russian/Ukraine Elders/Sisters. The sacrament prayers are in Russian also, but you receive the assignment earlier in the week. After the Russian talks, one of the branch Presidency's wives speaks, and then one of the Branch Presidency. Everything but announcements and the Presidency's wife's talk are in Russian. It's very cool. Sunday is by far the best day, it's more relaxing, but still we learn a lot. We have devotionals on Sunday and P-day (Tuesdays). The one on Sunday was very good. After devotional we can either study or watch some church films. We watched The Testaments, which in my opinion, is amazing.
Next, the phone code is my birthday, hahahaha, but you already figured that out... (A little explanation is in order. Blake ceremoniously handed the "kids phone" over to Samantha the night he was set apart. He had put a security code on it. He never had a code on it before, so the first week everyday I would ask Blake to make sure and tell me the code so Samantha could use the phone while in San Fransisco. She finally figured it out on the last day of her trip. The stinker....)
Also my companion's address is exactly the same as mine, you just address it to Elder Daniel Mount, instead of me. (I asked for it for surprise package I was sending)
Some things I could use here-stamps and envelopes and a jacket for p-day, that's it for now I believe. And pictures!
My district is very cool, they are all great Elders and Sisters. Sister Dungan in my district is from Hillsboro, which was cool.
Some things we aren't allowed to say here, "dude", "guy", or "awesome". I didn't realize how often I say them. The branch is very "delightful", (delightful is our district's substitute for awesome). Our theme is 100% obedience, which is very cool. Our Branch President came into our classroom during MDT (Missionary Directed Time) and talked with us. I'm glad we have him. Anyways, the language is coming along great, the spirit is strong here, my companion and I get along, its great!
Just a reminder, put up my address and box number on the group and make it clear I have no addresses. (That means he can't write you until you write him.) E-mail is also JUST (underlined 3 times) for family, which I didn't know. Tell people I would love to hear from them!
Well I love you Mom, & also everybody else.

Then he writes I love you (plural) in Russian and his name in Russian. (I have GOT to get a fancy language program so I can type in Russian because it looks way cool!)

P.S. Send a roll of clear or masking tape.

Mom writing again...
I know he would really like a picture of all of his friends and family, so would you please send me a 4x6 picture of you to our home. 7973 SW 189th Ave. Aloha OR 97007 I am putting together a small, friends and family photo album. I would like to send it soon. E-mailing me would work too. Rachael.Wight@gmail.com

THANK YOU!!!

Blake's first P-day!

2009-10-14T11:10:00.000-07:00

Hey mom!

1st p-day here in the MTC, which is tuesday... Anyways, the MTC is great, the first few days are pretty rough, but definitely good. Sunday is by far my favorite day here. On P-days, I only get an half hour to use email, and email is for writing to family only. So everybody will have to just write me regular old letters. BTW i hope you have put up my address on the Facebook group. And if you would, send the group a message letting them know you posted the first letter, and that I would really like letters, it really is great to hear from home. I recommend Dear Elder. I miss everybody from home, but I haven't really felt home sick... yet. I have already written a real letter before using this email, so i will probably write the same things twice.

So far my favorite letter is the one that dad wrote explaining casey's hunt. The part when he wrote out the monologue. that made me laugh. I read it out to my district and they thought it was pretty funny too. That is SO Casey.

Melinda was right about food here, it seems like we are CONSTANTLY eating, dinner and lunch are like 4 hours apart. The food here is alright, but the choices are not the most healthy, its hard to try and find the right things so eat so i dont swell up like a balloon. It also stinks that we don't get a whole tone of time at gym. its still fun, but it feels like i don't get a good enough workout sometimes...

I am grateful to you and dad for getting me out so i love doing other things besides living a lazy-mans dream. My companion is twenty one, and decided life stunk, and decided to serve a mission. I try and help him out a lot.

Anyways, I'm sending my letter letter today, so we'll see how long it takes.

I love you mom... and everybody else.
Blake

The Beginning....

2009-10-07T20:36:00.001-07:00

Well, Elder Blake was successfully snatched from Delta Airlines this morning at 9:05 a.m. He looked just like a missionary should! He had a grin from ear to ear and you could tell that he was excited. He was starving and tired however. We took him to breakfast and brought him up to our house for a quick snooze. Then, we zoomed out the door and booked it to Provo. We met Blake's Uncle Gary Wight and had a QUICK lunch. Elder Blake inhaled his hamburger and we were off to the MTC. It looked like a traffic jam as we pulled into the designated spot. There were missionaries everywhere directing traffic and welcoming the new Elders. They were wonderful! They had great smiles and just had a loving spirit about them. There was no Huge rush as we had been told. Elder Blake gave them the paperwork they needed and they helped Grandpa Carter and Gary lift the suitcases out of the trunk. (Grandma Carter was crying) (This was an integrual part of the goodbye) The MTC Elders were happy and told Elder Blake how happy he would be here. We all were able to hug him and take this last picture before they walked away toward his new adventure. He was truly in God's hands at that moment. It was wonderful and I am so grateful that Grandpa and I were able to be a part of it! Love, Mom (Grandma Carter)

Last week before the plunge

2009-09-28T12:11:00.000-07:00

Hello Everybody, this is Blake, I'm going on a mission to Moscow Russia. I report to the Provo MTC October seventh, and will be there for 12 or 11 weeks. My mission includes Moscow, surrounding areas, and also all of Kazakhstan. I feel like my life STARTS October seventh, this limbo stage in my life is getting old. Its pretty exciting, sad, scary, and about every other emotion you can think of, that I'm going for two years. Anyways, most posts from here on out are going to be by my mother, hopefully she will post some letters i send, and also new addresses so you can write! I have a facebook group the URL is http://www.facebook.com/photo_search.php?oid=288106450625&view=all#/group.php?gid=288106450625 if that doesn't work just search for "Blake Wight's (Official) Mission Group"