Week 16

Hello All,
It was a pretty good week here in Russia. Since you are all complaining about the cold I thought I would throw out it is -30 outside with a pretty solid wind chill haha so stop complaining :) I thought I was going to die just getting from our place to the library. So last monday we found a way sweet apartment in an amazing location. The kitchen was a little ghetto, but other than that it was crazy nice! So we put down a downpayment and planned on doing the final signing and paying rent on Wednesday. But she backed out! It was not cool. I was sad because the only way to describe their shower was it looked like a time machine haha it was crazy sweet. It was just big and way nice. So we had to hunt down our downpayment all week and finally got it back last night. We have looked at a lot of apartments with no luck. We looked at a really gross one that was not nice at all. Hardly anything worked. So we didn't do it. We have one on the line right now that is newly remodeled and supposedly nice for 20000 which is our limit. So  I am pumped to check it out! We were supposed to go on Thursday and canceled an appointment and then they bailed. So we are going to try and go see it today. So cross your fingers! Hopefully timemachine shower too! When we saw that ghetto one it was with the realtor lady's husband, the branch president. He is the funniest! He is the best haha he is way easy and fun to talk to.  He has the tightest kids too. Me and his son have a sweet, secret handshake. we met with A this last week too and he is the funniest haha he LOVES us. We had no money because we had to pay for that downpayment so he bought us a taxi home haha and he calls like everyday to see how we are doing and if he can help us look for apartments or move or anything. He was going to take us out to eat on Friday even but we had to cancel in order to get to Novo that day. He came to English on Wednesday and was showing me all his pictures on his tablet. He has been everywhere!  (I) is doing way good. He is our most solid investigator right now. He has a date for Jan. 7th, Christmas here. We taught him the plan of salvation this week and he seemed to understand it and didn't have too many questions. So all is well! He is a way nice guy. We always ride the same tram back home and just chat with him and shoot the breeze and learn new words. So it is fun.  I got the Christmas package and brought it home this weekend. So thank you! I am waiting to open the presents though. So don't worry. My comp said he saw another package at the office? So I will prob get that after zone conference. So thanks! Yesterday during Sunday school we got to watch the Christmas devotional in Russian. It was way sweet! I didn't understand a lot of it but it was still cool! I did understand the musical numbers haha they were still in English but it was cool. Especially for our investigators that came to see and listen to the prophet. It was a cool experience. 
Ya we just can't look like tourists here I guess. The president I guess was way chill before but a while ago someone came for ZC and chewed them all out and the president cracked down. So like no sports at all anymore, no music, can't cut each others hair, no pictures except in inside and all that.  The knee is still just getting worse by the day. I'm icing it and have a sock with rice in it to heat it up and all that. So just trying to keep on truckin and limp around everywhere. The man purse is sweet! It's way classy too. nice and leathery and all that. It's sweet! I think I might still rock it in America too. We will see, but it is way convenient. And happy birthday Lyssa! Hope it was a good day! and HB to you too Nicholas! Hope work is going well and that you have a good day with the fam! Hope all is well with everyone. Good to hear from you all and your stories. вы молодцы!
Elder Nielsen