Everyone in the family will agree: the best Christmas gift we received yesterday was talking to Mark on the phone from Russia! Here are a few things I took away from the conversation:
1. Mark is happy. Like really, really happy. He tends to "unload" in his emails home which is fine--we're happy to be his sounding board. However, he tends to sound stressed/worried in those emails. Listening to him on the phone though, he's still his happy, optimistic self, thank goodness.
2. Mark is a worker. Like a really, really hard worker. He spoke of how frustrated he feels with the majority of missionaries who are not working. That says to us that he's working his tail off!
3. Mark is speaking Russian! He doesn't think he is, and he frequently writes about his lack of ability, but he is definitely speaking. In fact, he speaks everywhere and has absolutely no fear. He doesn't understand why other missionaries don't do the same as him :-)
4. Mark loves people. More than that, he loves talking to Russian people more than anything else. He says it's his favorite part of the mission. Not talking about the gospel, or anything church-related. Just talking to them about their lives and hearing their thoughts.
There were some other things, but nothing as spectacular as those four things. The only hint of sadness we heard was that he misses playing his horn. The mission president keeps his horn at the mission office, so Mark doesn't ever have a chance to play it--not even on P-Days.
Too, he was overwhelmed with emotion when he told us how much he appreciated all the support we give him. He's so thankful for the letters, and the packages, and the prayers, because they help him through the good and the bad days.
As Ethan pointed out, only three more phone conversations, and he'll be home! :-)
1. Mark is happy. Like really, really happy. He tends to "unload" in his emails home which is fine--we're happy to be his sounding board. However, he tends to sound stressed/worried in those emails. Listening to him on the phone though, he's still his happy, optimistic self, thank goodness.
2. Mark is a worker. Like a really, really hard worker. He spoke of how frustrated he feels with the majority of missionaries who are not working. That says to us that he's working his tail off!
3. Mark is speaking Russian! He doesn't think he is, and he frequently writes about his lack of ability, but he is definitely speaking. In fact, he speaks everywhere and has absolutely no fear. He doesn't understand why other missionaries don't do the same as him :-)
4. Mark loves people. More than that, he loves talking to Russian people more than anything else. He says it's his favorite part of the mission. Not talking about the gospel, or anything church-related. Just talking to them about their lives and hearing their thoughts.
There were some other things, but nothing as spectacular as those four things. The only hint of sadness we heard was that he misses playing his horn. The mission president keeps his horn at the mission office, so Mark doesn't ever have a chance to play it--not even on P-Days.
Too, he was overwhelmed with emotion when he told us how much he appreciated all the support we give him. He's so thankful for the letters, and the packages, and the prayers, because they help him through the good and the bad days.
As Ethan pointed out, only three more phone conversations, and he'll be home! :-)
Those four things are amazing. What a strong, noble young man!
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