September 28, 2015

I'm alive, I promise!

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Well,  I don't have too much time today, so I'll try to keep it short and relatively to the point.  We won't get to watch any of the talks from Women's Conference, but when the Liahona with all the talks comes out I'll be sure to read that talk from President Uchtdorf.  I'm honestly so excited for General Conference, I think that now more than at any other point in my life, I've been praying just to receive answers and increased understanding on how to approach a problem, and I know that the Lord answers questions by the means of his prophet and General Authorities.  It's just so exciting, and I wish that I had cared this much and had been this excited back home.  I love the Nursery story, the blood moon story, and just the fact that you're able to enjoy things more this time around then we were able to during our first stint in Utah.  That's so cool how the surgeon was in our stake in NYC, I love hearing stories like that.  I'm also glad that things are going well with Grandpa, he and Grandma sent me an email last week, and I just miss them (and you all) tons!  I hope things are going well with them and at the home.  Have you finally decided on what you're going to do in terms of changes to the house?  Anyway, since I don't have too much time I'll get started.  Oh, until I forget, Sheri Dew spoke at the MTC, and she's just so awesome!  I'm glad that Rebecca was able to have such a cool moment with such a wonderful person.  Anyway, this week:

First off, a little PSA.  Yes I've lost about 30 pounds already, but I also put on quite a bit of weight before coming out, so now I'm just a little bit ahead of the curve in terms of thinning out on my mission.  So things are all good.  Second, now that I'm finally getting back into the swing of things, my pants are already too small.  I've poked an extra hole in my belt, but это не достаточно (it's not enough).  It's kinda sad that my brand new suits probably have an expiration date of around 6 months into my mission, but missionaries already have a suit guy here where they can get there suits for $200 and less, so it'll all work out just fine.  This week I got to go on my first split because I was finally alive enough to do so.  His name is Elder Saxton and he's been out for about a year and 9 months, and he's awesome.  He seems to have found the balance of working hard, but enjoying it and having more fun than you've had at any other point in your life.  He's a great Elder and we had some really good conversations.  We didn't get an opportunity to contact, and that's because we had a lesson with Albert on the day of the split!  Albert is awesome, and is really knowledgeable about the Bible, but has also taken a lot of very biased internet sources about Jospeh Smith for doctrine.  It's ok though, because he has a really strong desire to come to know truth, and whether or not the Book of Mormon really is the word of God.  We're meeting with him again today at a member's house (plus our first lesson was with a member present at the Church building) so things are going really well and I'll keep you posted!  That's another thing that has been awesome, so the ward members here were a little upset because they feel like the Elders aren't working as hard as the Sisters, and so in Ward Council we asked what we can better do to involve members of the ward and better help the ward fulfill their missionary responsibilities.  They gave us a couple of things to do, and Elder Simonsen and I took care of them that night.  It's already made a difference with how we work with the ward members and I hope it will help change their opinions of the Elders.  We're just excited to help make that relationship better as well!  Also, since we're Zone Leaders, we got to lead a discussion at ZOne Conference last week just about expectations and how to find out that, what the Lord expects of us.  We had a really good and productive conversation, and I wish I had time to leave you all some thoughts from that, what we discussed there.  Oh also, at ward council I understood the смысль (sense) of almost everything that was said!  It was so awesome!  Anyway, I'm just having so much fun here, and I love you all so much.  Like I've said before, thanks for your prayers/well wishes/thoughts/whatever you send my way because it is felt and appreciated!  Love you all and I'll talk to you soon!

с любовью (with love),

Elder Belnap

1.  This is a picture of the Lada that I want.  I love them so much, they're just like an old little car that you see everywhere here, but that don't exist in the states.  I think it would be so fun to ride around in one of these.  I've already decided that since there's a dealership in Mexico (something funny we found out from contacting) that I need to get my hands on one.  

2.  Some sweet Star Wars poster that someone left buried deep in the apartment.  Liam Neeson is my hero in life.  

September 29, 2015

Hey mom, I know it's not P-day but I realized I forgot to let you know the information that you asked me about so I need to watch some videos for my training and my companion said it's ok if I just let you know.  I think my iTunes Username is belnap.christopher@gmail.com and the password is one of three:  bisley1996 , olympus1996 or, 12281932chralanb.  Hope that helps/works, and let me know next week!  Also I took a lot of money off the card because I needed to purchase a lot of things, an inbetween coat, a bible and a couple others.  Anyway anything else can wait until next week!  Love you have a great day!

Elder Belnap

September 21, 2015

Well mom, as disappointed as I am that you have no stories for me this week, I can't exactly say that I did any better.  Actually I can say with confidence that I'll share less stories with you than you did with me, because I literally have zero stories.  If I had to give a break down of my week I would break each day down as follows:

Sleep:  12-14 hours

Time on the toilet:  10-12 hours

That's about it!  If you haven't figured it out by now, I had the worst week long bout with a stomach bug that I have ever had.  I'm still trying to get over it, and I haven't had a desire to eat since two Sundays ago, which has lead to massive and probably unhealthy amounts of weight loss (I think I might have started my wedding diet just a little too early...oops).  Remember how I said that I was feeling a little ill last week and that I was hoping that I would be past it soon?  Well I was wrong, literally the most I've eaten in the last 8 days in a single day was a few crackers and a drinkable yogurt, and as previously stated, I've still been spending 10-12 hours on the toilet.  I actually managed to get up and go to church yesterday, but my stomach was in pain from that single easy action alone.  We're still trying to find out what is wrong, because I still really have no desire to eat, but I'm still perpetually tired because of it so we sorta have a chicken and an egg problem on our hands.  Hopefully at some point soon I will just be hit with a massive desire to eat, and then we can get up and get back to work, because honestly there has been nothing more unsatisfying, than wanting to work, and just having to sit on your behind until you're able to get back up on your feet.  It's actually given me a lot of time for reflection in between waves of toxic sludge trying to escape my feeble and crippled version of my former self, of just why would I get this sick at such an untimely moment?  The work was FINALLY starting to gain some steam in the area, we had found some great potential investigators and one awesome investigator with whom we'd been working with, and all I could think is why would the Lord want so that we have to just stop in our tracks?  I don't know why, I didn't receive an answer for that, but I did think a little bit about why did Joseph Smith have to endure so much pain in life?  Now I'm not comparing my week long bout with a stomach bug to the life of Joseph Smith, but I did think about how trials are what refine us and help the Lord make us into the types of instruments that he needs us to be.  I know that as we try and find out more completely that what the Lord wants from us, and as we try to more fully become that what the Lord needs us to be, our lives will be blessed and we will be able to be made better than we were.  Anyways family and friends, I'm taking off now.  Thanks for the prayers/good thoughts/vibes/well wishes you all send my way, they're felt and appreciated greatly :)!  Oh also, the tally so far is I've lost 28 pounds, 20 of which I have lost this week alone, so also pray that I'll also start eating food again sometime soon, I'm already a far too small 235 pounds haha, plus I'm not ready to buy a whole new wardrobe 3 months into my mission.  Anyway, I love you all have a great week!  Love you mom, dad, and siblings!  Talk to you soon!

Love,

Elder Christopher Belnap

CAB & Elder Hinkel in elevator being Nacho Libre.

I was very concerned about Christopher's health so I wrote to the mission office:

Dear Sister Colton:

I just received our son's, Elder Christopher Belnap, letter and it sounds like he has been very sick for more than a week with diarrhea and some sort of bug.  He said that he has lost 20 pounds in a week (he's a big boy).  Anyway, i just want to make the office aware of his and his companions situation in case Christopher should be seeking medical attention and hasn't. 

Thank you in advance for anything you are able to do.

Sincerely,

Lorinda Belnap

646.320.7702

Sister Belnap

We are aware.  Sunday when we saw him we suggested he contact Dr. Taylor, the Area Medical Advisor in Moscow.  Whether he has contacted him, I don’t know.  There’s a nasty flu bug going around and many of the missionaries, including my husband and I have had it.  My husband had it worse than I did.  I’ll follow-up and see if he contacted the doctor. 

Sister Colton

Dear Sister Colton;

Thank you so much for your quick response.  So sorry to hear that such a bad flu bug is going around the mission!  In a way, however, it is comforting to know that it may just be a flu bug and nothing worse.

Thanks again!

Sincerely,

Lorinda Belnap

September 14, 2015

Oh how I loved your letter mom!  Thanks for filling me in on a couple of those things, those are important to know.  Yeah, if you wouldn't mind sending me an update on my account every week that would be perfect, and far less expensive.  Also, I would absolutely love some music.  Basically the rules are that it invites the Spirit, so we can have an array of music.  Think Glorious by David Archuleta or something like that (it's the song that plays at the very end of Meet the Mormons).  Along with church songs and things like that.  Speaking of music by the way, so we shop at Lenta here, which is only a 10 minute walk from our apartment, and usually when we go in, they're playing American music.  Today they played Blank Space by Taylor Swift, and Roar by Katy Perry, and last week they played Maps by Maroon 5 and Only One by Sam Smith, and I was just shamelessly singing along to it all, just having a blast.  I think I look forward to our weekly trip to Lenta almost as much as I do to being able to write home haha.  Oh also, just a random little sidenote, Elder Gottfredson and I saw each other all the time at the MTC which was awesome, and Elder Callister was in my same zone at the MTC!  Pretty cool, and I have a lot of friends on their way to Rostov, I'll have to find out if any of them see him!  I'm glad you're loving nursery, you're very well suited for it with all experiences haha.  That's so awesome that you got another car, and you're absolutely right, the Hoekstras are awesome.  That's so cool that you're all trying to resurrect that association, and you're absolutely right, Dad is so good at following through, doesn't surprise me at all that you all seem to already be making headway.  Also hold up for a second, why would Rebecca be homeschooled?  I totally missed that one.  Those are also some wonderful thoughts from the fireside.  Yeah, all my friends from BYU emailed me about the game, and I was so sad, I would have loved to have been there, but oh well, hopefully in 2 years I'll still want to go watch football games. 

Anyway, I'll get started on all that's happened here thus far.  So I'll start with a couple of funny stories.  So of course, our area of the city is a little more ghetto, and we have our fair share of rats, strays and drunks here.  There was one guy here who was wearing a thong the other day, and he was definitely a little tipsy, so that was pretty interesting to see.  Reminded me of that guy who would go running in a thong in NYC and I'd always see him on my way to the 86th street subway to head on up to Bronx Science.  There are some interesting people in this world haha.  We were also waiting for our tramvi the other day and some guy came up to us wanting our picture because we looked very successful and his blog is all about success.  We told him that we couldn't and he was really disappointed, but he then went on a tangent about how he is successful because he's his own God at only the age of 28, it was so weird, but so funny.  We had to try really hard to keep it in.  Also, we did Hermitage service last Tuesday which was awesome!  We just got to direct people to the coatroom if they were looking for it and to empty their water bottles out before going through security.  It was so awesome though because we got to be there for it opening so there were just droves of people that came through and from all over the world.  They were all so surprised when we asked the obvious English speakers questions in Englsih, and they were all just curious as to what we were doing here, and it was just so much fun.  Plus we got to go inside the Hermitage after for 30 minutes and just look around a little bit.  Plus there was this one couple, the man was Swedish and the woman was Argentinian, and the woman was just telling me that I was a very handsome young man, which is always nice to hear haha :). 

Just a couple of other things that I can think of, so my companion had a visa trip this week, and that meant that I got to sleep over at some other Elder's apartment which was fun, I crashed way before anyone else, and they were all messing with me in my sleep, nothing out of the ordinary.  Elder Sonderegger's companion also had a visa trip so we got to talk a little bit and just catch up which was cool.  Oh, we also have this one really interesting guy who comes to our English group, and so we decided to just look up really big and complex words to teach him, so now there's a Russian walking around with a very limited English vocabulary, but just so happens to know the meanings of the words ubiquitous and munificent, among others.  It was a lot of fun to do that.  Also, seeing Brother Jeppson was just so much fun, and so normal.  He's awesome, and thanks again for all the goodies!

Before I send some pictures really quick, I just want to share an awesome story that we had the other day.  So we were street contacting and we had just had a really hard time.  It was our 6th hour of just walking around, rejection after rejection, and I was just starting to feel kindof down, when out of nowhere someone stops us and just yelled, "Mormons?"  Anyway, this guy is named Albert, he's investigated the church before, but stopped for some reason.  He's awesome and we had the most amazing conversation with him, and it was just such a tender mercy.  We're meeting with him tongiht and I know that it'll go well.  He just had such a great desire to know more.  Oh, and also, the bishop has just been going to another ward, because the people here expected him to do everything, that he just kindpf burnt out.  Just wanted to let you know before I forgot. 

Anyway, I love you so much family!  Thanks for writing, and I love hearing from all of you!  Until next week!

Love,

Elder Christopher Belnap

Septmeber 7, 2015

Dear Family, 

Wow what and absolute whirlwind of a week!  I just want to say that it was so much fun talking with so many on the phone the other day!  It was a little overwhelming after having such a small amount of contact for such a long time and then just a huge wave of calling people, but it was 100% worth it!  Plus it was so much fun to see Dad at the airport and just talk for a little bit.  There seriously couldn't have been anything more awesome than that moment, but just talking to everyone else just added to the joy of that moment.  So you already got my email about being stuck in Germany for a few extra hours, but as I said it actually worked out for the best.  When we got in, we went with either one of the AP's or one of the Office Elders and took the metro to the mission office which is right next to the mission home, and we got to have our first experience contacting on the way over there which was so much fun.  After that we had some food, and they let us go right to sleep.  The next morning we woke up and had breakfast at the mission home, and we got to meet our companions there!  My companion is Elder Simonsen, and he's been out for a year.  We're in Nevsky which is the South-Eastern part of the city.  Also, we're Zone Leaders, which has been a little crazy right out of the gate, but it also means I'm kind of spoiled, because I get to go to Novgorod for 2 days this upcoming week to help with a Zone Training.  It's kinda awesome.  The area we're in is as I said, kinda ghetto, but so awesome.  Our apartment is really nice and right next to the church building, the library from which I am writing this email right now, grocery store, the tram that takes us into the center, the metro, you name it! 

The people in the ward here are super awesome and just so much fun!  The ward is mostly бабушкы, but they're all adorable.  The ward does have a lot of issues though, about 20% of the members show up, the bishop hasn't even shown up in 6 weeks, there hasn't been anyone who's converted since 2013, and for a ward they are a little too reliant on the missionaries to do work that is supposed to be done by members of ward to begin with.  It's been a lot of fun, and Elder Simonsen are just off to a really good start right off the bat.  He's from Orem, has been out for a year, and we're both just ready to work and do our part to help the people in this area grow closer to Christ, as well as helping the organization of the church here.  We've had a couple instances of getting yelled at thus far, but nothing more than that.  All though a couple of Jehovah Witness ladies stopped us and tried to convert us right then and there.  It was pretty funny.  Anyway, one funny experience I had this week was after being asked to bear my testimony in sacrament meeting, I sat back down for the rest of the meeting.  A few of the members of the ward complimented me on how good my Russian is, but it's all thanks to the wonderful teachers I had in the MTC, not the actual year I had spent living in the country.  My companion says he has me pegged to be one of the best Russian speakers in the mission by the end, but I don't know, my guess would have to be Elder Mehr, the most random words just stick in his head.  Anyway, not important, no matter what we've all got our work cut out for us in terms of learning the language :).  Anyway this one babyshka Sister Diana was teasing me at the end and telling me to not fall asleep because I had fallen asleep when we first met here at the church building my second day here, and I told here I wasn't falling asleep I just had a slight headache so I was closing my eyes and rubbing my head.  As soon as I said this she sat me down and just started going through exactly what I needed to do to get rid of my headache, but in mostly rapid Russian that I couldn't understand, but I was able to understand all the hand signals she made to try and demonstrate to me exactly what I needed to do.  She wanted me to press on my eyebrow a little bit, then breathe in deep and exhale 3 times and then pinch between my forefinger and thumb.  It was just so funny and she probably spent 5 or so minutes just explaining this to me.  She's the sweetest old lady, I love her so much. 

The work here is pretty slow, but we've already started to pick it up a little bit.  We taught one lesson on a tramvi to a lady named Tatianya and gave her a Book of Mormon.  We're hoping to meet with her sometime tomorrow, but she was just so awesome and receptive to what we had to say.  It was so awesome.

Anyway I'm going to get started on sending pictures your way!  I love you so much family and friends, you're the absolute best.  I'll keep Grandma and Grandpa in my prayers, I too marvel at what they are still capable of doing.  It was so much fun talking to many of you, and I'm excited to be here finally!

Love you mom, dad, siblings, cousins, grandparents, aunts, uncles, friends, etc.
покой, любовь, и благословления,

Elder Belnap

P.S.  I have a lot of people that I need to add to my email list, so I'll send you an email with all those as well :).  Thanks!

At the airport -- SLC?

New missionaries In St. Petersburg with companions

Our Apartment

Our Apartment

August 31 - September 2

On August 31 Christopher departed the MTC.  We sent him a burner phone with 4 hours of time.  He put more time on it.  We spoke a lot. Was soooo good to hear his voice and to hear his excitement.  Brent went to the airport to say good-bye and posted these photos on Facebook.  Later in the day I saw the pics on Facebook and started crying. --Good choice not to go the the airport.  We said our goodbyes at the MTC.

Next day got the following email from Christopher:

Just sending a quick email from a computer here in Frankfurt!  We got delayed in Chicago and then missed our connecting flight here in Frankfurt, so we have had a few extra hours just to hang around, eat some food.  It's actually been kinda nice that we missed the flight, we've been able to relax just a little bit whereas we were running to try and get through security and make it.  ANyway, we'll end up making it to St. Petersburg at around 5 o'clock Russia time.  Just wanted to let you know we're all safe and although we got a little delayed, we're still on our way!  Love you mom and dad!  It was so much fun talking to you both! 

Love,

Christopher.

Then today, September 2nd woke up to this email from the mission:

Dear Missionary Parents

Just a quick note to let you know your missionary made it safely to Russia.  We are excited they are here.  I will send a photo in the next day or two.

Sincerely,

Sister Colton

Russia St. Petersburg Mission Office Secretary

T: 8 812 331 35 02

F: 8 812 331 35 03

email: 2010097@ldschurch.org

And received this note and pictures from the mission office:

Dear Brother and Sister Belnap,

We are so excited that this new group of missionaries has finally arrived in the mission.  This is a wonderful place to serve and I am sure your son is going to love it here!  I have attached a picture of Elder Belnap with President and Sister Childs after he arrived at the airport, and also, a photo of the missionaries he came with.   Thanks for sending your missionary.  If you ever have any questions or concerns, please feel free to email.

Thank you,

Sister Colton

Russia St. Petersburg Mission Office Secretary

T: 8 812 331 35 02

F: 8 812 331 35 03

email: 2010097@ldschurch.org

Elder Belnap with President and Sister Childs at St. Petersburg Airport

September 1, missionaries with Pres and Sis Childs at St. Petersburg Airport

August 29-30, 2015

CHRISTOPHER:
Hey so we get to today given that we leave Monday just to take care of somethings.  Anyway, I'm just letting you know, what time works best for you for me to call in the morning once we get to the airport?  I'll email some more later, and also, can you tell Spencer to take care of the things I asked him to do ASAP please?  There were just a couple numbers I needed from my/Rebecca's phone that I asked him to send me.  Anyway, I can't believe I leave for Russia in just a couple days!  I love you so much momma, thanks for everything :)!  Talk to you later today!

MOM:
Hi Christopher!!

Here are the numbers you requested:  

Grandpa Belnap 801.547.4930

Grandpa Goff  801.389.3455 or call home phone and it rings through to his cell 801.399.9580

Spencer Belnap  801.690,9894

Kacey Sorenson  925.262.3651-- was just listed as Kacey in your phone, assuming this is Kacey Sorenson.

You can call me at any time.  Both Spencer and Rebecca leave for school at 7:20 so any time before then for them.  

Your dad is possibly going to come to the airport but you could try him anytime.  Grandpa Goff you may want to wait until you are in Chicago to call same with Grandpa Belnap.

Anything else you need?  Oh, by the way, do you know the address and phone number of the mission home in St. Petersburg?  Chris Jeppson will be going up on Sept. 11 and bringing your winter gear.  If you are not able to get that information, I'm sure I will be able to get it somewhere.  Is there anything else you need?  I can pick something up today and have your Dad bring it to you at the airport.  Do you need a trench coat?  All you have is the big winter coat, right?

I love you so much and am so excited for you!

FYI, Christine Powers died this morning at 6:30 :(  I think Caroline is going to go back for the funeral.

I love you Christopher and am so grateful for you and your goodness.  Keep spreading the kindness and love!

LTIABABA

Mom

CHRISTOPHER:

Thank you mom, their were a couple more numbers I requested from Spencer, just so that I can get these peoples emails and add them to the list.  Claire Cameron and Chris Dzaran.  Can I call you during your morning walk too or no?  Um, I don't know if I'll have the weight for a trench coat in my luggage, would you mind seeing how much it weighs and then I can let you know tomorrow if I'll have the weight for it?  I can definitely get the address of the mission home, but I actually think it was mentioned in one of my last FaceBook posts if you would rather just check that.  That's so sad about Christine Powers, would you mind giving me Kelly's number too?  I have a lot of layover time, and if I can get to it I would love to just send my condolences.  There shouldn't be anything else that would be needed!  I love you mom, and I should be able to check a couple more times today just to take care of things.  Also, if you wouldn't mind sending the money to my checking instead of my saving, I just moved things around a little bit, because I had to pay for some bigger items today, but I noticed the money was in my savings and not in my checking so I just switched that around a little bit.  Other than that I think everything should be good!  Love you!  

MOM:

Claire 208.891.6766

Chris Dzaran 703.887.2474

Yes, you can call me while I am walking.  I didn't get a coat.  If you need one I will send it to the Jeppsons and Chris can bring it up, or Janae will be there in October and i will send it with her.  Would that work?  Sorry.  Or you can buy something in Russia.  I will put money in your account.  How much do you need?

I love love love you!!!

LTIABABA

mom

CHRISTOPHER:

I have $75 but I thought you said you were going to send over the $500 that was suggested (or something like that, I don't remember).  I just moved money from my savings, the $150 you transferred to my savings but to my checking, I don't know how much I should have.  Thanks for the numbers, and yeah I'm sure that we can figure something out!  Love you so very much mom, I'll be sure to call you around 5:15!  Love you! 

MOM:

I just transferred $500 to you wells fargo checking

CHRISTOPHER:

Thank you momma!  I love you so much, thanks for all that you do and continue to do for me :).  Also, I'll send dad a text from the phone tomorrow morning, with my terminal number and everything, and so that he has the number so he can call me.  I'll do it bright and early in the morning when we get all our travel information so that he can actually find me :)

Christopher sent a bunch of pics on Sunday as he didn't know how soon he would be able to send pics once in Russia.

Sister Handley

Brother Parson who is basically the greatest person on earth

Sister Maryn Smith from the Y, the bomb!

MTC and Mission name tags

Brother Sumsion from our branch presidency, truly one of the funniest guys I have ever met.

Elder Chuck Stone, my guyyyy!!!

Matthew Buckner and Christopher

Last Zone Pic

Pic with Fav Sisters all going to Ukraine

Elder Taylor from NYC

Sister Ivanovich

E. Hollingshead from the Y

Elder Mehr

Sonderegger

The mighty triumpherate

Studying and sleeping

Sonderegger and Narcoleptic

Sleeping again

St. Petersburg Missionary Group

S

Sonderegger and Christopher

The Map

The Map

Sonderegger, Mehr, Christopher

Swaggy J/Joseph Schindler/Fav Janitor at MTC

Swaggy J/Joseph Schindler/Janitor at MTC

August 26, 2015

I'm sorry mom, I really don't think I have a good missionary photo for you, maybe I can take one on Sunday and send it to you really quickly after temple walk...?  I'll see what I can do for you :).  I love that things went well with the wedding, and Grandma and Grandpa crack me up, they are both just too cute and love their grandchildren so much, I'm glad that they were able to make it through a good chunk of time :).  I also just checked the phone to see if it all works, there are 260 minutes on it, so everything should be fine, and as I just told you, I also have call cards just in case :).  I love that Rebecca and Nate liked Dear To the Heart of the Shepherd, tell them to sing hymn 307, I don't know if they'll find it as funny as me, but it's an interesting one.  Technically, families are encouraged not to say goodbye at the airport, but I wouldn't exactly be mad if some of you came on by...If not though you'll hear my voice.  

I'm glad Spencer is being a social butterfly, I really want him to make this year one of the best of his life, because honestly he has the opportunity to if he so chooses.  So I'm glad he seems to be making the most of it thus far.  The video clip of David is making me laugh, even if I can't see it.  I'm so glad things have worked out, and I'm sure he just wants to jump back in to missionary work being back, which must be rough not too, but I'm glad he got to have that really native experience that I'm sure that he wouldn't have been allowed to have on his mission haha.  Anyway, I'll get started on my side of things :).  

So this week has kinda been loaded.  Last P-day was pretty great, after emails, I played bball for a while with a couple of friends from BYU who also have P-day on Wednesday.  We had an Elder go home which was sad, but he left really optimistic and is excited to come back in 10 months, he's awesome and I'm really excited to hear from him.  We also had a really cool TRC lesson (basically RM's from BYU come in and you get to teach them a lesson in Russian).  His name was Brother Angerhoffer, and he served in Samara (?) and he's learning German so that he can travel the world in a few months, and fill in some gaps in his family history which is both German and Russian, which is awesome.  He was so much fun, and he plays guitar, so my companion and him talked for like 5-10 minutes after the lesson just all about it and it was so much fun to see my companion just have a lot of fun for that little while.  Also. Sister Manners was telling me how Matt has made it to Chile, and I couldn't help but be a little jealous that he got in two weeks after me but was leaving a week before haha, but it's all good because my time has finally come.  

We also had a really productive companionship inventory this week, because it felt like there was just a little bit of underlying tension that had existed for a while, but that we were all collectively trying to push down together, but we finally talked it all out.  Both of my companions get kind of frustrated that I have a better grasp on the language than either of them, and so I can tell that both of them get kind of frustrated with me when I get a concept faster than either of them.  Anyway, it's kind of annoying for me, because it's not something that is my fault, and anyway, we just had a good conversation about communicating, because I felt like neither of them were communicating with me for the longest time.  It was good and our companionship has been a lot better since.  

We also got released as Zone Leaders this week which was fun!  It was a good learning experience for all 3 of us, I think Elder Mehr became more confident, me more organized, and Elder Sonderegger it kind of sent a shock through him (I think) that he needs to focus up a bit, because he thinks he's been here forever, and I think it's just because he's still worried about a lot of things that he just doesn't need to be as worried about right now.  I also said bye to most of my friends from the Y who were here, but I also got to see a few more that came in which is nice.  It's been so fun just seeing people I know coming and going, and then people are always like, "wait, how do you know Bruddah Chris?"  And the response is, "I met him at the Y!"  I honestly did have such a fun year, and got to meet so many wonderful people.  

Just a couple more things before I take off, I'm going to miss our teacher here so much.  They're both so different and all so much fun.  Sister Handley served in Vladivostok and she's just super spiritual, and we always just have really good and uplifting conversations with her.  Brother Clark also served in Vladivostok and he always has really good points, and whenever he goes off on a tangent, we're trying to get down every word that he says because they're all so good.  And then Brother Parson is the one that is secretly known as, "The God among men" because he's like fit, 6'1, handsome, down to earth, and SO FUNNY.  Whenever we have class with him, we get a lot done, but we're also laughing and enjoying ourselves while we go about it.  Haha, it just made me laugh that like to me I'm used to calling everyone the Russian name for Elder and Brother, but now when I write it out in English, it makes me laugh that like I haven't called people by their first names in forever.   

Also, flight plans time, so that all of you that will inevitably want to hear my voice can plan on what times you can hear from me.  So, we live for SLC airport at 3:35am on Monday, for a flight that doesn't leave until 8:30, so for a very long time we'll just be sitting outside our gate.  Also, when I find out the number for the cell phone I'll send that to you so that you can call me back if need be.  Our flight gets into Chicago at 12:42pm (CST) and then I have a 3 hour layover until 3:35pm,  Then we get to Frankfurt at 7:15am, with a layover until 9:20am, then we get to Saint Petersburg at 1:00pm.  I'm really sad that I'm not flying through NYC and Moscow, but it's probably for the best, I think that would be harder than saying goodbye to all of you, because you're all still going to be around in 2 years, and so will those cities, but neither will be home :/.  I'm very excited though to go back in a couple years and be able to re-see some places that I went to before, but now be able to understand because you know, I'll actually speak the language.  Anyway, I love you all, thanks for all your love and support!  I'm excited to talk to you soon Mom :), (and everyone else too).  

Love, 

Elder Belnap

Hey mom!  I'm on, tell the kiddos too please!  Unless they're at school right now, has that already started?!?!?  What time should I call and stuff on Monday so that I can reach you all?  I have call cards too, $10 for 3, 1 hour phone calls, and I might just use some of those to call you in SLC, and the others in Chicago :).  Also I'll find out the phone number and let you know on Saturday when we email again :).  What time would work best for me to call you?  Loving the pictures by the way!  How is Nathan liking the school?  Also, I have some good photos to send you all today which will come later because I left the camera back in the room!!  Agh, anyway, I'll get going on responding to your email, go ahead and talk to me for a bit mom, I promise it's fine!!  

Me and Elder Huang, who was on my Ultimate Frisbee team freshman year.  He speaks Mandarin, and he's learning French here, and he'll be serving in the Montreal, Canada mission!  His brother was also Elder Huang that we knew in NYC!  Small world, especially for us Mormon folk

Elder Miller and Elder Kahng that I knew from BYU.  Elder Miller was on the same intramural team as me, and Elder Kahng I knew from many a night in B9.

Gabel is like the little sister of the zone, who has grown up, but everyone still treats like the little sister because of some mannerisms that have just never gone away.  That's the best I can describe her, but anyway, she's an adorable human being, and everyone is sending a picture of her home because she was a little embarrassed haha.  Makes me laugh, so of course I had to send it.