IN THE UKRAINE - Week # 1

Received August 24, 2009 via email:

Ukraine is awesome! The culture is crazy! We got here and rode the metro! Way ghetto and awesome. Oh, ya, I was able to see the Kyiv Temple. I can't wait til it's finished. These pictures are of my District that I have spent the last two and a half months with learning Russian. We traveled together... a very long flight from Salt Lake City Airport to JFK in New York City and then a direct flight from JFK t Kyiv Ukraine... 9 hours and 50 minutes, I might add. We are standing with my Mission President and his wife in front of the Kyiv Temple that should be completed sometime next year. We stayed at the Mission House on the first night. It's on the Temple Grounds that the Church owns.

My trainer is awesome!! His name is Elder Bernal. He's from Washington. Our apartment is way cool too. *Babushkas everywhere!!! I'm in a city called Cherkasi... not sure how to spell it in English. This is my first area. We teach a lot of English here and leave the lessons with spiritual thoughts. It really helps people to feel the spirit and then we can tell them what we're really about. My first day in church was ... interesting ... most of it was in Ukrainian so I didn't understand much. Not a problem though.

I can't get over how awesome it is here!!! We live pretty close to Cherkasi Center (center of Cherkasi) so we're always in the middle of all the action. OMG the girls here are sooooooo immodest!!! It's definitely different than America. I would say that America doesn't have a problem at all with modesty. The outdoor markets are so cool here... Babushkas outside selling unpackaged fish and kavas (fermented bread water). We're not alloweed to drink it (ha ha).

The first lesson I was a part of when I got here was with a lady named Marina. She is an English teacher so obviously her English is perfect! We still tried to speak in Russian though. We ride in little busses everyday called Marsutkas. They're way sketchy but awesome at the same time. We went to the beach with the Priesthood a few days ago. We ate something called sala (pig fat) ... it was actually really good. I still can't believe I'm here. The rumor about the juice being amazing here ... totally 100% true!! The best juice ever!! And the bread!! We went to Independence Square my first day here!! Just Beautiful. Pictures don't do it any justice. We walked through a movie set as well, so I think I might be in a Ukrainian movie (ha ha). EVERYONE stares at us here! It's great. The people here are really nicer than they get credit for. Sure, they don't smile much, but they're the coolest and most genuine people I've ever met!!!

Oh ya, **President S is awesome!!! Crazy sense of humor (ha ha) and Sister S is way nice and a crazy good cook!!! I have soooooo much to say about this place!! Everything is wonderful. I absolutely couldn't be in a better place!! I can't wait to actully speak the language so I can talk to EVERYONE!!! It's honestly sad thinking about going back to America in two years. I'm sorry to say that, but this place is home now.

I miss you and all... but we're stuck together forever. I love you and I'll write in a week.

"Pol" ... that's what I'm called here by the way.

* Babushkas are elderly women, kind of like a Grandma

** President S and Sister S = Mission President Steinagle and his wife, Sister Steinagle

July 28, 2009 - Yet Another Week at the MTC

We had to teach the native Russians yesterday! SCAREY! I realized that I suck at Russian (ha ha). It'll get better though. I'm not too worried about it. 3 WEEKS!!! I'll try to send you a letter soon replying to your 4 page letter, mom. Thank you for it by the way. Julie and her entire family are all in my prayers. You, Dad, and Anthony as well. So turns out there are about 7 different ways to say I love you in Russian. YA LUBLU TEBYA is right though. I'll try to write out a testimony or something in Russian and send it to you soon. I had a dream the other night about being in Ukraine and EVERYTHING was in Russian and Ukrainian!!! I couldn't understand anything people were saying and I was completely lost. Then I woke up and remembered....... my nightmare is a reality. CAN'T WAIT.

I'm really not sure what to tell you to put in my blogspt. Hopefully more will happen in the mission field. Not much changes here. Honestly! That's awesome about going to the Temple with the Hawkens. We went to the Temple this morning. It was great. It's really weird to walk into the Temple and have everyone saying, "Welcome Elders" and "Hi Elders." It's just weird that now I'm the Elder. I'll send my favorite scriptures now... Ha ha.

Well, I have to go. I love you all and thank you for being awesome. Peace Fool. liubov dj.

Sunday, July 5, 2009

MTC WEEK #4

This week was pretty awesome! We had 11 of the 12 Apostles and President Monson here a few days ago. I, unfortunately, didn't get to see President Monson, though. Elder Hollnd spoke at a devotional on Friday. All I can says is...AMAZING!!!

In two weeks we have to start teaching in Russian. No English at all. I still don't really feel like I'm on my mission yet. Fake investigatores, fake food, 12 hours of sitting and I'm not in Ukraine... I can't wait to be in the mission field. The Elders in the other district are leaving for Russia and Ukraine this week, so we will be the "older" district finally. We might lose our teacher though (sad face). They want to have her teach a younger district. I think we can handle it... maybe. I've come to know and have a greater understanding of the gift of tongues. Jesus Christ is real and is always with us and helps us through anything if we have faith. How else would someone be able to speak Russian after 4 weeks? Anyway, my district is awesome. Soooo many different personalities and backgrounds. But we're all here for the exact same reason and have one purpose, and that is to bring people unto Christ. It's simple.

Oh ya, at the R.C. (Referral Center) we get to call people (real non-members) every Friday and teach them over the phone. Not all of them are too excited about it, but it pays off.

Keep sending letters and Dear Elders and I'll try to reply. I love you all.

Love, DJ

This is the Kyiv, Ukraine Temple. It will be completed sometime in 2010 while I am here on my mission. I hope I will be able to work in the Temple during the Open House. Might even meet the President of our church.

The other pictures are some of my "District" buddies that will be in Ukraine with me.

MTC - WEEK #2, June 18, 2009

Week #2 was great. Teaching is becoming a little less terrifying. The language is kind of destroying my brain and my companion and myself are getting along great. The food here is... let's just not talk about it. Chocolate milk is still awesome!

We were able to go to the Temple Tuesday morning. The Spirit was overwhelming and I felt like I was somehow being watched by the person I was doing the work for.

So, turns out my teacher, ----- GeorgiYeva, is the best Russian teacher at the MTC. I still feel like I know absolutely no Russian at all, but we're already catching up to the people that have been here for six weeks. At least once a week we have teaching appointments. Obviously not real investigators... but the Spirit is always so strong in those lessons and we forget they're already members.
Tell Chris to write me!!!

Love, DJ

MTC - WEEK #1

So my first week has been amazing. Very busy, very hectic, very spiritual, and very short. My companion, Elder Shaun Morrison, is way awesome. He's helping me out a lot with teaching. Teaching is definitely not my strong point. The food here is great and disgusting! The chocolate milk and wraps are the best. It doesn't feel like I sleep here. We work, study, work, study, eat, study, pray, study, eat, sleep, and then start all over again. The laundry room is insane. I'm pretty sure I won't be doing laundry for the next three months. And James was WRONG! Four Square is LAME! Beach Volleyball owns! Make sure Chris writes to me and someone please send me James' address so I can write to him. Hope all is well at home! Love you all. Elder Polivka.
PS - Thank you everyone for the support, prayers, money, cards, and love.

Saturday, May 30, 2009

Saturday, May 30, 2009

FOUR DAYS TIL REPORTING TO THE MTC

First post... seeing how it works. Here is my first, and favorite, Bishop Ted Hawken. He has been like a dad to me. The other picture is my dad, Larry Bowman, and Stake President Garcia the night before I left for my mission. Oh, by the way, that's me in the chair being set apart as a full time missionary for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

If you asked me a couple of years ago what I thought I'd be doing at 19, I probably would have said playing in a band or skateboarding. Well... I guess that's not the case. I was so excited to find out (five flippin months ago!!!) that I was going to Kyiv, Ukraine. And for the people filling out your papers, waiting for "the call" and worried about being called to Boise or somewhere "lame" like that, it really doesn't matter. That is where the Lord wants and needs you. There is that one person waiting to hear the gospel and you might be the only person they'll listen to. Trust me, you'll feel an instant love for the people you'll be serving and there will be absolutely no doubt that it's where you're supposed to go. Sure, easy for someone going to Ukraine to say... ha ha.

I know without a doubt the truthfullness of the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. I can't deny the blessings it has brought to my life a well as my entire family. I'm so greatful for the support from the Mesa Ward, for the missionaries showing me what I'm getting myself into, for my amazing parents and their testimonies and love for the Lord, and for having friends like James and Chris to keep me on track. I love you all and I'll see you in two years.

Love, DJ