🐍🚗🎆 Snakes, Senators & 4th of July — The Never-Boring Adventures of Week 5 with UtahOla 🏜️

It’s hard to believe we’re already wrapping up Week 5 on the BookField. Every week brings its own surprises, but this one felt like it had a little bit of everything — unexpected animals, multi-language conversations, warm families, awkward door moments that turned sweet, and memories that make us pause and think “this is exactly why we’re here.”

Alina started the week thinking it would just be about the usual cute dogs and cats 🐶🐱 — but it quickly turned into her unofficial “animal week.” One day, she had a sit-down with a family who proudly showed off their pet snake 🐍 (not exactly what you expect when you open a living room door). But her real highlight was meeting Joe, a dad who had served a mission in Ukraine 🇺🇦, living in Sevastopol, Dnipro, and Mykolaiv. Their conversation effortlessly danced between English, Spanish, and Russian, sharing stories and laughs that felt like home on the other side of the world.

Martyna had her own slice of cultural magic when she met a family who was genuinely fascinated by Poland 🇵🇱. They kept asking questions, so curious and excited, that by the end of it they invited her to come back for a family barbecue 🥩. That’s the beauty of this job — you arrive as a stranger, and leave with an invitation to someone’s backyard.

On Saturday, July 5th, Veiko decided to spice things up by sending us a BookField bingo challenge, with a bunch of funny, slightly awkward tasks — the first to complete them all would win a lunch. One of them was singing the American national anthem 🇺🇸, and Kuba, ever the character, decided to do it using a map for dramatic effect. But then the mom he was with flipped the challenge on him:

“Only if you teach me the Polish anthem!”

So there he was, in the middle of Utah, teaching an American mom to sing “Jeszcze Polska nie zginęła.” If that’s not a wild internship story, what is?

Karolina had a moment of perfect BookField philosophy when she knocked on a door and found a guy proudly wearing a big “Hakuna Matata 🦁” T-shirt — which, by total coincidence (or maybe BookField magic), was our theme for the week.

We picked Hakuna Matata as our motto because it’s all about a stress-free philosophy, exactly what you need to build character out here. After all, one of our favorite self-talks is:

“We don’t take ourselves seriously. We take our job seriously.”

And nothing says that better than two Swahili words that remind you to keep smiling.

Bohdan had one of those classic rollercoaster experiences. He knocked on a door where the husband bluntly told him they weren’t interested and shooed him away. But then — plot twist — the wife came out. Turns out she was an ex-Senator from Washington 🇺🇸, and not only did she share a warm conversation, but sent Bohdan off with a Cinnabon and a glass of milk 🥯🥛. Who needs coffee when you’ve got BookField plot twists like this?

For Margo, the biggest highlight was hands down the 4th of July 🇺🇸🎇. There are no words that can really capture it — the parades, fireworks, flags everywhere, families laughing together, kids running around with glow sticks. Just scroll through our pictures and you’ll see it was pure small-town movie magic.

Artjom had a big practical win this week — he finally found a new HQ 🏠, this time not through a church or knocking, but through Facebook. Now he and Janek are happily settled in Cedar City, with a comfortable new place to sleep, cook, and share all those end-of-day laughs that keep us going.

And speaking of Janek — the family just got prouder, because our newest teammate Yannick also earned his Success Coin 🥇 this week. We’re so happy for you, buddy. Keep stacking those achievements.

But the absolute top highlight of the week was our Sunday meeting ❤️. We got to spend time with Michael, who sold books way back in 1976 📚, hustling for four summers straight. Now he’s the proud father of four successful businessmen and grandfather of nine.

He shared countless lessons, but the biggest takeaway was what Southwestern truly taught him:

“The people factor. Treat everyone with love, an open heart, stay kind, keep smiling — that’s what makes all the difference.”

Thank you, Michael, for pouring so much heart and wisdom into us. We left that meeting inspired, grateful, and reminded exactly why we keep knocking on that next door.

So here’s to another week of surprises — snakes, senators, anthems sung in Polish, fireworks under Utah skies, new homes, old wisdom, and always leading with love. 💛

Stay tuned — we’re only halfway through the summer, and the best is still ahead. 🌞

🌄 Chicken, Candy & Lightning McQueen — Adventures from Week Four with UtahOla 🏜️🚪✨

This was already Week 4 of our BookField journey, and it came with an extra spark because we finally welcomed Janek into our wild little crew. 🎉 After conquering sales school, Janek hit the field with all the eagerness of someone who’s been waiting their whole life to start an adventure. 💪 He jumped right in — approaching countless Mexican families 🇲🇽, getting to experience their warm, lively homes full of chatter, delicious smells, and kids darting everywhere. His first week has already been packed with laughs, learning curves, and stories we’ll be telling long after the summer is over.

Meanwhile, Karolina was on her own mini Mexican tour 🌶️. She met several Spanish-speaking families who welcomed her with open arms — and even shared some of their favorite Mexican candies. Only twist? They were spicy. 😅 Karolina’s face said it all. Sweet on the outside, fire on the inside… just like this crazy job. Later, she knocked on a door and was met by a guy standing there holding a live chicken 🐔. Completely deadpan, he told her,

“For roasting.”

Weird? Totally. But also the kind of moment you remember forever and text your mom about immediately.

Aleksandra had her own BookField jackpot. 🍀 She sat down with a dad who works for Celsius ⚡ (yep, the energy drink), and walked away with a huge box of cans — enough to power through the blazing afternoons or maybe sponsor a small team. Proof that sometimes knocking doors doesn’t just open conversations… it fills your trunk with enough caffeine to light up Utah.

Martynka kept stacking up her collection of American moments 🇺🇸. She picked up a cool T-shirt 👕 from a mom she visited, a little token of welcome that felt so genuine. Later, she met a mom who drives a classic yellow school bus 🚌, and naturally they had to snap some pictures inside. It was like stepping right into a movie set — pure small-town USA magic.

Margo and Alina had one of those tag-team sit-downs you talk about for weeks. They met Mike and Linda, a couple in their 80s with an absolutely mind-blowing family tree: 9 kids, 44 grandkids, and over 100 great-grandkids 🤯. The stories poured out — from raising kids to spending two years on a mission in Syria, Jordan, and Turkey 🌍. When it came time to pay, Mike quipped that he’s been poor his whole life. Margo laughed, thinking it was another of his jokes, but he went serious and said,

“Do you even know anything about the Great Depression?”

Then shuffled around the house muttering,

“Somebody stole my Depression picture!”

Iconic, hilarious, slightly bizarre — basically perfect BookField material.

Bohdan was followed by our fearless leader Oleksiy 👔, and together they had a sit-down nearly stolen by the cutest little poodle 🐩 ever. At the end, Oleksiy joked,

“We’ll give you one more set if you give us the dog.”

The mom burst out laughing and said,

“No way… but my husband might actually accept that deal!”

Because sometimes the best close is the one that ends in belly laughs (and playful pet negotiations).

Then there’s Kuba, who crammed more plot twists into his week than most people see in a year. First, he landed a $500 tip 💵 — the kind of jaw-dropping surprise that keeps you floating for days. Then he spotted his dream car 🏎️— a real Lightning McQueen lookalike, shining in a driveway and reminding him exactly why he’s working so hard: so one day he can roll up in that back home. Of course, to keep it humble, he also spent part of the day fixing a flat tire in the middle of nowhere 🚗🔧, because the BookField always finds a way to balance you out.

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This week was extra special because we each dedicated it to someone we love ❤️ — family, friends, people who inspire us and keep us pushing through even the tough days.

And huge congratulations to our top champions of the week, who absolutely crushed it:

✨ Karolina

✨ Artyom

✨ Margo

✨ Kuba

✨ Aleksandra

Thanks for proving once again what hustle, heart, and a whole lot of humor can achieve. Here’s to more spicy candy, weird chickens, school bus selfies, Depression jokes, poodle trades, dream cars — and memories that make every sweaty mile worth it. 🚀💛

Alpacas, Harvard Owner, and a Wedding – Week Two on the BookField 🦙📚💍

If Week 1 was about stepping out of our comfort zones, Week 2 was all about unexpected connections—from church speeches to surprise alpaca visits. Every day out here keeps reminding us that people are kind, life is weird (in the best way), and we’re exactly where we’re supposed to be. 🌎💫

Karolina had one of those perfectly timed encounters. A grandma thought she was the delivery person for a massive TV 📺 sitting in front of the house. Instead of explaining, Karolina just said, “Sure, I’ll help you.” Later, she found out the woman’s husband had just had surgery and couldn’t lift anything. Sometimes you don’t plan the moment—you just step into it. 💛💪

Bohdan somehow stumbled into a dream scenario—a backyard full of alpacas. Yep, actual alpacas. 🦙 He met a lovely family who keeps them and spent the afternoon learning all about these fluffy, funny animals. It was random, wholesome, and unforgettable. 🌾🥰

Kuba had two highlights this week.

First, the goat. 🐐 He was about to knock on a door when he noticed something strange under the car in the driveway. A goat—chewing on something suspicious. The owner came out laughing and explained: “Oh yeah, that’s our goat. His name’s Valentino.” Just Utah things. 😂

Then, the golden moment: one dad not only fixed his bike 🚲 but casually offered to adopt him and buy him a car 🚗. We’re still waiting for the adoption papers, but one thing’s clear—Kuba leaves an impression. 😎

Margo had a really special sit-down with a family from the U.S. who had Polish roots🇵🇱. The conversation flowed in both English and Polish, and everyone left with smiles. 😊 Little moments like that remind us how meaningful this job can be. 💬❤️

Artjom had a big moment this Sunday—he stood in front of the entire church community ⛪ and gave a speech during their weekly gathering. He introduced us, explained what we’re doing here, and shared that the boys were looking for a new host family. And guess what? It worked. That same day, someone from the community offered to host them. 🏡 Today, they’re moving into their new home—proof that courage and showing up really do open doors. 🎤🙏

Martynka had a lovely sit-down with a Russian-speaking woman—one of the few who pronounced her name correctly on the first try. 🥹💬 Small thing, big impact. The kind of interaction that makes you feel seen.

Aleksandra had one of those hilarious “Did I hear that right?” moments. She met a single dad who confidently told her, “I own Harvard.” 🎓😂 She still doesn’t know if he was serious—but either way, he gave her a great conversation and some solid dad jokes. She’s working in a pretty rural area 🌄, but her motivation and patience are clearly paying off. 🔥

Diana didn’t plan to be at a wedding—but when she knocked on a door and found out there was one going on, she still got invited in for a sit-down. 💒 Surrounded by members of the LDS community, she found herself in a deep conversation about customs. When they asked about Ukrainian traditions, she paused… “Do I say stealing the bride? Or no fight, no wedding?” 🥲 It was one of those perfectly awkward and hilarious culture-sharing moments. 🌍🤝

Alina had two big highlights this week. First, she was gifted a T-shirt with the logo of a local elementary school 👕 by one of the women she met. “Now I can feel like a local in Spanish Fork.” 🧡 And second—she’s officially locked in next week’s theme: Minions. Inspired by the fearless Gru, our team’s motto for this week:

“We gonna steal the moon.” 🌕😈

Watch out, world. 🚀

🎂 Today, June 15th, is Margo’s birthday! 🎉 And it’s double the celebration, because we’re also sending love and congratulations to her twin sister, Anastasia Kozakova. 👯‍♀️ You girls are amazing — smart, kind, hard-working, and full of light. ✨ We’re so lucky to have Margo on this journey with us. Huge thank you to your parents for raising two such incredible ladies. Wishing you both laughter, growth, and all the good things this summer and beyond. 🎈💐

Also this week, we were all chasing the Success Coin 🥇 — and to earn it, you had to average 30 demos per day across the last two weeks.

Huge congratulations to everyone who got it! 🎉 You’re the real achievers, the ones building strong habits that lead to long-term success. 💪📈

But we’re not stopping there.

Next week is gonna be about sit-downs. The prize? Legendary pony socks 🧦🦄 — but only if you beat your own number from last week.

No progress, no prize. ❌🎁

And here’s the twist: each of us chose a personal punishment (downside) if we don’t improve. 😅

So parents, friends, and everyone cheering us on — next week is going to be even more fun (and maybe slightly chaotic). 🌀

Don’t forget to turn on your notifications — and as always, we’re sending you a lot of love and warmth from Utah! ☀️❤️📬