Donetsk Zone Conference

WOW!! This has been the a very powerful zone conference!! Last time it was on the HEART and this time it was on the SPIRIT. Soften the HEART and let the SPIRIT into the HEART. E. Moore & E. Howard: Teach the things that the SPIRIT puts in your HEART. We are not the true teachers - the SPIRIT is. We prepare the way - we are the instruments in the Lord's hands. E. Richardson & E. Valverde: Change of HEART when we put the Lord's desires before our own - then we are ready for the SPIRIT. We are like a catalyst when we are teachers. We help make the reaction possible between the HEART & the SPIRIT. E. Hess & E. Jones: Be believing and pray - the SPIRIT is given by the prayer of faith. Create an atmosphere were the SPIRIT can preside. Then the SPIRIT edifies what is being taught is true. E. Beus & E. Duffy: Sometimes we don't see things the way they really are but the SPIRIT does. Help our investigators to feel the SPIRIT and then help them to act on it. Pres. Fry: The SPIRIT yields fruits. Know what to do. Have the capacity to carry out what the SPIRIT has instructed you to do. Put forth the effort to magnify your calling. (THIS NEXT PART IS THE MOST POWERFUL ADDRESS I'VE HEARD PRESIDENT FRY GIVE. THE SPIRIT WAS VERY STRONG AND HE WAS VERY BOLD IN DELIVERING WHAT THE SPIRIT DIRECTED!!!) He talked about Moses delivering the HIGHER LAW and the Israelites were not ready. He proposed a "HIGHER LAW" for those who are ready. He discussed the white handbook and the promise at the beginning from the Prophet and the Apostles that if we follow these standards they will help us magnify our calling and protect us physically and spiritually. Then he went over Mission Policy that has been put into place to: 1. help the missionaries bring others unto Christ and 2. help the members stand on their own to become a Stake(they rely heavily on the missionaries for everything). He quickly went over the policies and most of these are in the white hand book - some are mission policy to help missionaries use time more effectively and for members to help each other more. Now I'm sure you are wondering what is the HIGHER LAW - it is taking these policies and standards to a higher level if they choose. The Zone Leaders & Assistants discussed theses in Zone Leader's Council and were so positive and excited about them.(They totally opened up and it was the first time that everyone agreed and talked so positively - giving more suggestions etc. The SPIRIT was so strong there too!). - OK what is the "HIGHER LAW?" 1. Only listen to Tabernacle Choir Music to invite the SPIRIT more. 2. Emails to President Fry every week. Two of the zone leaders immediately(after zone leaders council a week and a half ago) started living the HIGHER LAW and in one day they handed out 35 Books of Mormon, taught 42 lessons on the street, received 19 contacts and 2 referrals! That is more than some do in a whole transfer!!! They were so excited and reported their success right away. Now when President presented this in zone conference he gave them a very powerful promise which is - if they live the HIGHER LAW - they will have the success they've wanted and their Baptisms would increase. They will be so busy they won't know what to do, their families lives will be blessed because of their service and they will have the SPIRIT brought into their HEARTS and will be taught by it daily. They will flow with the language and those being taught will feel of the SPIRIT also. They will be brought to a higher level of commitment to serve the Lord the rest of their lives. If they choose not to follow the HIGHER LAW they will have no promise. Now that seems simple and in reality it is but the whole purpose is to help the missionaries learn to serve the Master - to live the white hand book and be obedient and sacrifice, which brings humility and then the miracle within them happens! They feel and want to live the HIGHER LAW in every aspect of the gospel. They put the Lord first and serve Him and their fellowman instead of serving themselves. The HIGHER LAW is living by the SPIRIT of the law having experienced the letter of the law and knowing the difference. I'm so excited to work harder to live the HIGHER LAW in all my doings. I've got to re- think my goals so that I'm serving others and trying to make a difference in their lives instead of just trying to make a difference in my own life. It's hard to express the feelings I felt during the meeting and convey them to you because I was really overwhelmed with the spirit. I know what I felt and what I need to do to make a change in my heart. I bare my testimony that the work here is the Lord's and I recommit myself to doing His will. In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

New Missionary June 2010

Elder Thornburg is from Coto de Caza( Orange Co. ) Calif. He likes mountain biking, wake-boarding, snow boarding and backpacking. He also likes computers and he was a web designer. We are happy he is serving here with us in Ukraine.

Missionaries Leave June 2010

The very first group we met at the airport in 2008. We also met them at the MTC. This was a hard group to say goodbye to. Elder Beus(with the phone) will not go home until July but we miss you Elders Brinton, Williams, Steele and Whitehead!!!!!

Elder Whitehead's parents came to pick him up. They live in our Stake in St. George UT. although we did not meet them until Elder Whitehead got his call. We went to his farewell and his setting apart. We appreciate all the support Brother and Sister Whitehead and all of our parents have given to us. We love you all!!!

Elder Steele goes home to Preston Idaho. We miss you and wish you the best!!

Elder Whitehead goes home to St. George, Utah. Say Hi! to everyone for us.

Elder Williams goes home to Draper Utah. We are grateful for his service here in Ukraine. We love you!

Elder Brinton goes home to Fremont Calif. We love you and appreciate your service here in Ukraine.

Even hard working missionaries need a nap every now and then.

Ukrainian eggs. A lady in Sumy makes these and does an excellent job!! Many Elders take these home as souvenirs.

Yoo-Dachie-vam! Good Luck and thank you for all the great work you've done here in Ukraine! We love you!!!

Donetsk and Kharkov Zone Conferences

The Zone Conferences were SUPERB!!! The subject was HEART: all of the zone leaders did such a great job!! I was so inspired and uplifted. I'll try to keep it short but how can I when it is all so good?Elders Allred and Goodfellow talked about "A MIGHTY CHANGE OF HEART". We cannot progress without a change of heart. We have a divine identity and who we are is always greater than our circumstance. Faith, Repentance and a desire to not do evil. We need to make committments and having a real intent to do what we've committed to do. Elders Jones and Howard talked about "LOCK YOUR HEART". We agreed to sarifice and leave things behind when we wrote our acceptance letter to come on a mission. What do we lock our hearts from - the world, girls, disobedience, gossip and music. We need to stay focused and keep from becoming casual. It is a mission effort. It's like a castle - we all have walls that build a castle - satan looks for our weaknesses to weaken the castle. It affects everyone when our walls are weakened. We need to stay loyal to God and to each other by keeping our walls strong. Elders Williams and Steele talked about "HOW CAN HAVING A RIGHTEOUS HEART HELP MISSIONARY WORK?" Having a righteous heart is being one with God. One heart and one mind. We need to build a fortress of righteousness with faith , hope, patience, obedience, knowledge, humility and charity. Chariety is a driving force. It fuels the heart like fuel to our engine. Elders Smith and Hess talked about a broken heart and a contrite spirit. "NEW HEART"and "NEW SPIRIT." Faith in Christ and applying the Atonement will help us continue to have a change of heart and a desire to continue to change. Elder Duffy and Elder Shipp says ,"THE HEART IS THE CENTER OF EVERYTHING WE DO."The heart produces the desire. The center of our heart is "to love God with all our heart, soul and mind." We should do His work in His way by His power. Where your heart is - is shown by your actions. Elders Beus & Whitehead talked about the DANGERS. Hardening your hearts is a danger - the I don't care attitudes, lack of desire, disobedience, being comfortable and being casual can all be like a snake biting us. To avoid dangers - read the WHITE HANDBOOK. They compared the heart that beats and keeps us alive as God and the arteries being Pres. Fry and all of the missionaries as the capilaires. Not doing what Pres. Fry tells us to do is like telling the arteries that we don't want anymore blood - cutting ourselves off and dieing!! President Fry says,"HOW DO YOU KNOW YOU'VE HAD A CHANGE OF HEART?" 1. Have you been spiritually born of God? 2. Have you received His image in your countenances? 3. Do you exercise faith in the redemption of him who created you?How can we expect our investigatiors to have a change of heart if we are not willing to either?Knit your hearts together with your companion and God. Turn your life over to God thru a broken heart and contrite spirit, humility and meekness. If you lose your life to God - you will find ETERNAL LIFE!

Elder and Sister Salomonson

Elder and Sister Salomonson have served faithfully as our Office Couple. They have been the backbone of the mission. We love and appreciate their service and we all miss them!!

Some members from Makevka Branch saying good-bye to the Salomonson's.

Sister Lydia works in the office and is a wonderful cook. It always smells so good in there!

The Salomonson's are from Salt Lake City Valley in South Jordan. When they got married, their goal was to serve a mission. All the Missionaries and the members here in the Ukraine Donetsk Mission have appreciated their serve and have really enjoyed getting to know them. They will always be remembered here. We love you!!!!

The missionaries say hello and that they love and miss you!! Well done thy "Good and Faithful Servant!" Spa-cee-ba Vam!!!!