“The Devil’s 19”

Hey all,

Today I’m writing after our p-day activities, so I can actually report on them instead of forgetting them by the time next Monday comes around. Remember when I said our area is in Europe and the rest of the zone is in Asia? Well today we finally went to an official monument which celebrates the continental borders. It’s a classy pillar with stairs leading up to it with a nice dividing line in the middle-separating Asia and Europe-that’s good for the classic photo: the transcontinental handshake. But our zone is more creative than that as we amused/annoyed the security guards with the “transcontinental football pass”, “the transcontinental cartwheel”, the “transcontinental thumb-wrestle” and my personal favorite the “transcontinental-continental breakfast”. As a side note, I ripped my 9th, that’s right NINTH pair of pants jumping into Asia for the zone group picture so we also took a picture of the “Transcontinental Crotch Rip”;
it may not make it though myldsmail.net filters so you’ll just have to picture it in your head. Maybe they’ll put it on a state quarter.
Saturday while contacting on the street focusing on men, we found a nice young man named Alexander. He’s our new investigator and loves Star Wars and Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers. He’s 20 years old, but looks more like he’s 16(it’s weird, Russian boys look younger and the girls look older). We’re way excited to get working with him, as he’s looked into a lot of religions and still feels there’s something more out there. A это мы! We’re still working with Galina our great referral from a member, but her husband is trouble and we’re praying for a way for her accepting the gospel that will save her family.
Zone conference was great as usual and usual from interviews with president I can get a hint of if I’m getting transferred or not, but this time as I said I’d love to stay and would hate it if this area got whitewashed, he sort of froze as if that’s exactly what’s going to happen. No! Whatever happens, will be right of course, but I seriously feel I could stay through January!
Also at Zone conference I was pleasantly surprised by mail. A package even, thanks Katy! I love the Joker. Also got a marvelous newsletter from Talisa, (whom we found a street named after today) Talisa, your letter had been slit opened on both sides, examined and resealed sloppily with tape bearing the Russian seal. Congratulations! Now the secret KGB knows all about your adventures in Europe. Which reminds me, Mom I sent you two letters this week through pouch, but they aren’t for you, they’re for Alex and Dave my buddies. I’d didn’t have their current addresses so if you could call Talisa and ask her for them and then send them off I would be much obliged. Thanks!
Russian fact for the day, as in English we have a special colloquial word for 13 i.e. “a bakers dozen”, so do Russians! They call 13 “the Devils 12”. I find that hilarious. Also, related bonus fact: Ferris wheels are called “Hell Wheels”. Now you know, and are accountable, and so I bid you farewell,

C luboovyou,

Elder Magleby, “The Devil’s 19”