Tartu and a Mission Call

Sunday, Dec. 2, 2012, we visited the city of Tartu, Estonia, where the church has a small branch.  We found the building number, saw the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints sign on the outside and walked up two flights of stairs...then we stopped.  No other sign was visible, just a door. Do we go  up another flight of stairs or what?  After opening the door, we poked our heads in and heard people talking. Down a short hallway, there were smiling Elders welcoming people  to church.

Elder Davis introduced himself to several members and we entered the small, brightly lit chapel.  There is a row of windows that let light in and the decor was simple, clean and cheery.

It was fast Sunday and a new baby was given a blessing that day. The members were friendly and you could feel they had a strong feeling of unity for one another. The Branch President shared a beautiful testimony and Elder Davis did, too. After sacrament meeting we met a few more members like this little girl...her baby brother is the one who got his blessing that day.

Unfortunately, we couldn't stay for the rest of church...it was fast Sunday. Do you remember what that means for Elder and Sister Davis?  It means FOOD at 5:00PM!  But since we weren't going to be in Riga on Saturday to do the cooking we gave the YSA's two options, cancel Break-the-fast OR cook it yourself.  And cook it they did.  No one wants to do away with Break-the-fast once a month!

We bought the ingredients for Taco Soup before we left for Estonia and left a key to our apartment at the Mission office.  When we arrived back in Riga at 5:15....everyone was sitting at tables slurping Taco Soup. We dished up some soup ourselves and it was mighty tasty.  Good job YSA's!

We will have to do that again sometime!

The reason we were in a hurry to return to Riga... one of our young men had received his mission call and wanted to open it at Break-the-fast. 

Two new people: Ingus (an investigator) and Alex (works at the American Embassy)

Aleksej was excited for the mission call to be opened...

Eva, Julia and missionary-to-be, Jevgenijs.

This picture of Dainis on the right isn't very good but when Sister Davis showed it to his fiance, Eva.  She looked at it and said, "That's normal. Dainis always looks like that in pictures". 

New members: Diana, Agnese, Elina

Elder & Sister Millet and Zane waiting for the envelope to be opened.

Juris and Simona (Riga 1st Relief Society President)

 Sister Davis (looking tired) and Maksims (Counselor in the District Pres.)

Elder Davis telling Jevgenis how special he is for deciding to go on a mission. You see, Jevgenis has had a hard time with that decision because he hated to leave his girlfriend, Julia, for two years. After counseling with his Branch President and talking to missionaries, he decided he would like to go on a mission. 

Before the envelope can be opened, the YSA's always play a guessing game...where will Jevgenis serve?

Since Jevgenis speaks fluent Russian some guessed Moscow, Siberia, Ukraine, and also Japan,  USA, South Africa....but no one guessed correctly! 

You are hereby called to serve as a missionary in the Athens, Greece Mission

for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

"Wow....I'm going to Greece!"

We could tell that Jevgenis was very pleased with this calling.

So he asked Elder Davis to take his picture for our wall...he wanted to be dressed like a missionary!

Elder Russell M. Nelson, an apostle in our church,

said the following  in October 2012 General Conference:

  "A mission is a voluntary act of service to God and humankind. Missionaries support that privilege with their personal savings. Parents, families, friends, and donors to the General Missionary Fund may also assist. All missionaries, younger and older, serve with the sole hope of making life better for other people.  The decision to serve a mission will shape the spiritual destiny of the missionary, his or her spouse, and their posterity for generations to come. A desire to serve is a natural outcome of one’s conversion, worthiness, and preparation."

Congratulations Jevgenis!!