Week 6

Sisters Sutterfield and Lindstrom

So the week wasn't too entertaining, so I will try to get some more "cultural" stuff by trying to do the alphabet.

A- The apartment. Right now we are having problems with the electricity. Good thing I have a great sense of humor otherwise only being able to run the washing machine and nothing else wouldn't be so funny. We just rearranged the living room and got rid of the old lady lacy stuff (we rented it decked out with awful figurines and yeah...just not 20 year old people stuff). I have a queen size bed to myself and we have a small kitchen with no table. All our neighbors are remodeling. You could almost set your clock to when you hear them start in the morning.

B- The buildings here could be gorgeous (in Riga center). They are mostly from the Art Nouveau- early 1900s. Sadly they are getting run down now. I wish I could have seen them in their glory days.
Borsch is very popular here and I love it Gramma!
The bread is definitely not as good as in France. They have great rye bread though.

C- The cars are actually normal/large here. They don't have any of the small compact cars. There are a lot of BMWs and Audis. All midsized sort of stuff.

D- Dogs. Everyone has them! Big and small.
Doors. All the houses have double doors. If someone wants to talk, they just open one door and yell at you through the other. I'm not sure what started the double door thing.

E- The Eighties. People are stuck in the 80's here...clothing, music, everything. Even rollerblading and crimped hair is in.

F- The food all comes in bags. Mayonnaise, ice cream, ketchup, yogurt, milk, you name it, it comes in a bag. I suppose it is really environmentally friendly though!

G- Grass! There were signs of grass and spring, but it just started snowing again today. EVERYONE talks about how green it gets in the summer and how amazing it is though.

H- Hair. The Russian red (I'm sure Erik knows what I am talking about) is VERY in.
Honey- They do not have OODLES of honey here as I was told. I did find some creamy honey today on sale, so we will see how it is though.
Hats- hats hats hats. They always wear them and they often remind one of newsies. People will tell you that you are going to get sick if it is cold outside and you don't have a hat.

I- ice cream! It is REALLY sweet here and is hard to eat a large amount of.

Well, Time is up! I love you all, the church is true,
Until next week!
Mas

Week 5

Last Preparation Day we got some not so good kebabs, made up for it with some awesome hot chocolate and shopping. We went to the DI of Latvia, Humana, a second-hand shop chain here. I got two really cute skirts and at another store I bought some scarves. We headed over to the mission home for a Sisters Conference. They fed us burritos and then we had a "sleep over" (if going to bed at 10:30pm counts as a sleep over).

On Tuesday we went over some training about how to better use the baptismal questions in teaching. We had some Minnesota wild rice soup, talked about some of our concerns, and had a testimony meeting. My favorite part was the game time. The assistants were there and we were playing "I have never" where you run around and try to get a seat not in the middle. President Dance grabbed one of the assistants and moved him out of the way so that we could have a seat. On Tuesday we also went and visited Erika. We have her sort of committed to a one-month spiritual/get baptized plan. She just has a hard time believing and having faith in pretty much anything.

On Wednesday after our District Meeting we went to Ineta's to help clean. Her girls had gotten paint everywhere. It was pretty funny and they made us some cute pictures. We were just glad that we got there because the bus driver never let us off the bus so we walked 2-3km to her house. We also had a lesson with Martins. Inga (the one who is also our Latvian teacher who loves all the elders) helped out and it actually went really well.

On Thursday we found out that our branch mission leader is getting married! We are excited for him. He has a lot of great ideas to help us out. We had an interesting lesson with Anda and Vicente. Anda doesn't think the Word of Wisdom is a commandment so she doesn't understand why she doesn't always feel the spirit.

On Friday we had Latvian class. I had to practice conjugating verbs on the board. It was not fun. We also had a good lesson with lily lady Ieveta and found out that she wants to come back to church and wants to have that desire, but doesn't like that people ask her about her family because they are a little...different.

Saturday we had our second district meeting. We are a riot singing songs. Usually at least one person isn't singing because they are laughing. It was really spiritual and about the role of prayer in conversion. We examined Moroni 10:4-5 in detail. It was awesome. Our English class went well. We have a new class member, Edgars. He is in his twenties and hopefully will be interested. He is a smart kid.

The highlight of Sunday was meeting with Raitis and Sanita for their English lesson. They had to cancel at least two times this week, so it was good to finally see them. We introduced them to The Book of Mormon. We read the intro with them and talked about it. I think there is definitely potential. Raitis left today for his business trip and last night Sanita said that she feels like she is missing something in her life/looking for something else. Hopefully the gospel is it!!

Week 4

Oh my goodness it has been a busy week.

On Monday we went to Lidos. Lidos is a Latvian food restaurant buffet style. I got a crepe with cottage cheese in it, some type of swedish-esque meatball and a potato pancake. It was quite good. So I had the best contact ever on Monday! I was talking to this lady on the bus coming home from Preparation day in center (we always go to center). She was very patient and kind considering my Latvian. She told me that she had to get off in two stops but that she wanted ME to write down HER number. I had already given her our card, but she asked me if I would take HER number and then she wrote down mine (even though there was a number on the card). It was so tender and neat to see that someone was wanting the gospel so much. I tried calling her this week but her phone was off. Sister Jake gave all the sisters a rose today. March 7th is Women's Day and the tradition is to get all the women in your life a flower. There were so many people in the streets walking around with flowers. In the evening we went and taught our cute little family Raitis and Sanita. Their daughter Katrina found a bag of cinnamon (all the spices come in bags here) and she poured it all over herself. It was pretty hilarious (her parents didn't think so).

On Tuesday we had an entertaining district meeting (as always). Elder Mills is very proper and perfect (he sings opera and wants to be a doctor) but Elder Adams happy go lucky hilarious personality is working on our posh handkerchief using Elder Mills. We took flowers to some of our investigators and we also went and visited Anda and Vicente, some recent members. They are both so fun and so smart. We do their lessons in English because Vicente is from Mexico (and was a doctor there) and Anda can speak English (as well as 6 other languages). I took notes; they definitely don't feel like they just joined the church! There were some pretty funny boys on the bus today, they were apparently telling me to stay on the bus a couple more stops with them...ha ha ha... no.

Wednesday morning we got lost going to Janina, a member. It was pretty entertaining though because I got sang to. I contacted this old man on the street. We started talking. He wanted to go to English class. He began to count for us in English. "four-teen five-teen six-teen seven-teen eight-teen nine-teen twelve!" "twenty." "twenty. twenty one (and so on)..." Sister Sutterfield left to take a call so I was able to enjoy his company. He told me about how he is an artist and works with marble. He told me about a statue he likes in NYC and about the KGB. He then started to sing. Very loudly. I said I had to go and left. We did eventually make it to Janina's apartment. She is a nicer lady in her 50s who is really lonely. She was so cute with her tea cosies all ready and some little pancakes for us. She really appreciated our visit. We went and visited our ward mission leader, Gatis Senkante at the firm he works at, Vindex. He had some good ideas for help with investigators. Today was a day of crazies. We were walking by some apartment buildings and this lady approached us and started talking to us. We of course talked about the Book of Mormon and she asked how much it was. We said it was free and then she tore the copy that Sister Sutterfield was holding from her arms and began to kiss it. She also repeated this with the calling card and pamphlet that we gave her. And with us. We tried to get her name and number. She wrote down her name for us but told us that we didn't need her phone number...okay. We had a really good meeting with our baptismal date investigator Martins. His answers are so good. He was telling us that he didn't need to pray to know that the Book of Mormon was true because he already knew that it was! He is struggling with smoking, so currently his baptismal date is April 9th, his 22nd birthday!

Thursday was quite the traveling day for us. We went out to visit a less active member Ineta Lidace. She has three cute little girls. We helped her clean up around the house and then she fed us potato pancakes and some really really good vanilla-orange tea. Her little girls were cute helping to clean up but were throwing balls everywhere when we were trying to give our spiritual thought. She still really appreciated it though. We went to pick up some food to drop off to poor people from one of the center members (Velta) who owns a NPO. We carried these 30-40 pound bags all over the place. We had Latvian class with Inga today. She was apparently really mean to us masas, especially Sister Sutterfield. Luckily (maybe?) I didn't understand when this bashing was taking place. The elders said they wanted to slap her (oye-vay!). We went over to Anda's house and helped her dye her hair. She really appreciated it (Anda got in a car crash when she was 18 or so, she is in a wheelchair now and doesn't have full use of her hands. She is brilliant though and I think she'd love Aunt Becky.) She gave us some fish and Sister Sutterfield did a puzzle while I dyed hair.

On Friday we had another meeting with Martins and also helped to set up for this big temple conference that they are having. President Blums invited the temple president of the Stockholm temple and his wife to come.

Saturday morning we made some delicious scones and visited Ilze and Ainars. They are a couple (with two children) who come to our English class (English was canceled due to the temple conference). They have a GORGEOUS house and it went well. They fed us apple crisp and ice cream and gave us a ride home (it took us 60-90 minutes to get there). It was a shame, if we would have known, we could have done a longer spiritual thought. So we went to the church to get some things from the library and this little boy followed us and said "prison" and then shut the library door. Which locks. Automatically. Long story short we got locked in the library and we had to telephone the Russian elders to unlock it. They thought it was pretty hilarious. So did I. We took Maja, a member, to Cili Pizza today since she helps us a lot and is always busy. It is hard on the members here because they have to be so involved because there aren't a lot of them. It was really good food. On the way traveling back we ran into a dozen hooligans who didn't think we spoke Latvian. Once we told them we did all eyes were on us and all their English came out. My personal favorite was, "Where did you get your Hollywood smile?" We had another District Meeting (new program) and it was a hoot. And really spiritual as well, once we got over all of the laughing. It was about the Holy Ghost in conversion. We read some really good scriptures. We went and taught English to Raitis and Sanita. They gave us walnut ice cream and we taught them a little English and talked a lot of gospel. There is definitely some potential with them although they have a lot of questions and think we are too young to know.

On Sunday church was really good. In the morning we went and picked up Leanna and went with her to church. In Sacrament meeting the Temple president and his wife spoke (with translators). It was really nice because they spoke English and then they had it translated into Latvian, so I got spiritually fed and a little Latvian lesson. None of our investigators came like they said they would, but all of the less actives that we visited this week did come! We went and visited Ingrita, Sandra, and Maris today. They all had headaches and had obviously talked to their pastor. They wouldn't let us speak and if we asked them to read something, they'd read it to themselves first. She also read us ALL of the last book of revelations. And Ingrita was being rude and interrupting and bashing my testimony. We left. They felt bad and called us at like 11pm and texted us around 4am last night. They aren't open to the gospel though. Sad, but good to know so we don't waste the Lord's time.

We are His servants and his work will go forth. The snow is melting and the puddles are growing and it is a lot warmer!

Love,
Sister L

Week 3

Mari and her trainer, Sister Sutterfield

Wow,
Blogs to check out
Sister Dance- balticmission.blogspot.com
Sister Jake (whose house we go to every Monday)- balticmissionaries.blogspot.com
So funny random stuff- I am the skinniest masa here- scary, I know. Sister Sutterfield has 21 skirts (after getting rid of three) and she hates all her clothes (sound familiar). We somehow blew six outlets this week....totally thinking it is crap that we did that, but that is what the fix-it man said. I'm sorry I missed the explosion that would have occurred. He came and rewired yesterday and this morning the power went out twice...ha ha. So in the Baltic Mission life is weird. The sisters are known for being "botch" (aka lazy) and it is a well established fact that they have some of the crappier apartments and that the elders have better ones...odd, I know. The snow is melting! There is still ice up to five inches think on some parts of the road and snow piles 10 feet high, but it is progress. I've been fed two teas that I really enjoyed-- yay for me! Funny story- Sister Sutterfield likes to interrupt my prayers...not on purpose, but last time she cheered because she is grateful for the BOM too....wow.
So two minute rundown of the week (literally)
Monday we had awful pizza at the CanCan with the elders and Inga. It was funny and cruel torture- French songs on the whole time. The Jake's house was bomb and we met the cutest family that wants to learn english. We are seeing them again tonight.
Tuesday we had a good lesson with Anda and Vicente- it is like Sunday School with Brad Caldwell and they are new members!
Wednesday we went and did service, Inga who we work with a lot told us about how her heart is changing.
Friday we saw Erika and talked about life with her, she's doing good. Andris came to church but isn't quite progressing and I will tell you about our baptism date- Martins next week because I'm out of time!
Loves!



Mari and Sister Jacques, who is serving with her husband in Riga.

Week 2 in Latvia

Mari and Sister Stout in Germany, on the way to the Baltic Mission


Hello World,
I am doing well. I bought some epic Ecco boots that were 40% off (thank heavens). We also went to the Jake's (a senior couple) and ate some super yummy food. They are so good to us!
Sister Sutterfield and I have been doing a lot of cooking and baking lately. There was a Relief Society activity on Saturday that we ended up helping with...A LOT. By a lot I mean we cooked the chicken divan and then the Relief Society president pulled me from the English class I was teaching at one (every Saturday from 1-3!) and had me show the sisters how to make the chicken divan (another double batch for all 15 of them) and THEN told them I was showing them how to make no bake cookies as well. Now mind you I don't even know how to say this in French, let alone Latvian. Luckily cooking involves visual aids so I got along just fine.
Most people in Latvia seem to be eternal investigators as one might say. A lot of the members investigated the church for 5-7 years before joining. We didn't get to see Andris this week because he went to the country for the weekend.
We have been working with Erika, a younger woman with a girl. She can be very mad at God and doesn't understand why her life sucks (understandably, she has been through a lot). We have gotten her to read the Book of Mormon and are going to answer some of her questions and she seems to be doing a lot better. It was her daughter Evalyna's name day this week. It is basically like a second birthday party, except everyone just comes to your house and brings you goods! I also have a name day, March 25, so I except to see you all then!
I am in Imanta, which is a lot more mellow than the city. It is mostly old apartment buildings that the Russians built.
The architecture is Riga can be pretty neat. Some of it is blah...it really depends on where you are. Some of it does look western European though. The people can be friendly and less friendly, it depends. The apartment is really large compared to my last apartment. We both have desks but no kitchen table. The kitchen has a stove and oven and sink and no shower, so that is good. I think it is a big apartment but I guess the Riga Center apartment is a lot larger.
The language is going well. I don't understand much but yesterday I had a whole entire conversation with a woman all by myself and taught her things. It sounds like there will be a new program for newbies being implemented so we get more companionship study time. So hopefully we can plan lessons so that I can participate in more. I would, but I don't know what anyone is saying!
My time is up..sorry! I'll write more next time!!

Love,
Masa L





Mari with the five bolts and crazy key to her apartment.

Made it to Latvia. Week 1.

So I made it to Latvia! Luckily I brought the sunshine with me. I heard it is normally grey all winter. My companion is great. Her name is Sister Hailey Sutterfield and she is very obedient and organized. Our personalities get along well together so it is good. We are serving in an area called Imanta which is outside of Riga Center. The people here are a lot less friendly then in France and many just shoo you away. There are also lots of Russians, whom I definitely don't understand.
Our last weekend at the MTC was good. Everyone went a little hay wire, so it was hard to study. We did get the epic epistle done though, so that was a good thing.
We had to wake up wicked early (wicked as in out by 4am) to go to the airport. All of our flights went well and we met Mormons at every stop except for in Germany. I talked to a few people, but no truly promising prospects. I love Sister Stout, a sister who flew with us. She is going Russian speaking and has an amazing conversion story.
President and Sister Dance picked us all up from the airport and then dropped us off to go contacting with some of the missionaries serving in Riga. It was VERY VERY VERY cold without boots. I couldn't feel my toes. Sister Dance fed us lots and we had lots of training to learn how things are done in this mission. We stayed at the mission home until Thursday getting training and living permits, having lessons from the Dances as well as the Assistants to the President.
Thursday morning we went to the church in Riga center to meet with our new companions. They are as follows: E. Burr is in Jelgava with Worsleys
E. Lynch is in Liepaja with Johnson. President Dance thought he was so tricky and had them all switch nametags. We took a taxi to our area and then we did our morning studies and headed out contacting. We came back for lunch and some unpacking and then we planned and went to teach my first lesson to a Latvian. His name is Andris and he has been investigating the church for about 7 months. He was taught about the Book of Mormon and will hopefully learn to love the book and want to be baptized.
On Friday we spent a lot of time contacting outside while walking as well as breaking into domes (aka apartment complexes, and yes, we break in) and knocking on doors. We were able to talk to a few cute old babushkas but everyone else won't even open the door. They have two doors here (one right after the other) so they will open one door and yell through the other door Who is it, what do you want, or a variety of other phrases that I don't understand. We also went and visited Inga who was baptized several months ago. She is a really sweet 27/29ish year old girl. We just shared some scriptures with her.
On Saturday all the missionaries teach English. It is a two hour long class broken up into 3 levels. Sister S. and I take the intermediate class and we had two people there today. It went well. We did a lot of calling from the area book (and our planning on doing so) because it hasn't been touched in months. Latvians don't like planning... we set up some appointments (sort of) with people that we called. They said they wanted to talk and to call next week for an appointment. So apparently having a blank page for the next day is pretty normal here in Latvia.
Church went well on Sunday. I met a lot of nice people but I don't remember any of their names and apparently they were all asking me if I'm from Sweden. They have stuff with the brand Lindstrom from Sweden everywhere here. The Branch president is about 29 and is named President Blooms. He kidnapped us as well as the elders after church for a rather long meeting at his house about investigators and such. He is apparently the ward council meeting. His wife made us dinner and we got to laugh at his goofy furball cat that looks like a dog. It chases pens if you throw them and everything!!
I'm doing well and I got a sister that I will get along with really well for my companion, so that is good.
Sorry that I can't write more, but my time is up!!
Love you lots,
Masa

Mari Arrives in Latvia

We received this note from Mari's mission president today.

Your son or daughter has arrived safely. Here is a picture at the Riga Latvia airport with Sister Dance and I. From the airport we went for several hours of training, ate dinner, and then shared our feelings and testimonies about Christ. They went to bed early to catch up on lost sleep. Thank you for entrusting them to our care. They are a wonderful group of young men and women. They will receive their assignment on Thursday and you should receive an email from them on Monday. If you need anything or have any questions please email or call me.


Warmest Regards,

President Douglas Dance
Baltic Mission