cute couple
here we go
Sunday, April 22, 2012
sunday
it is Sunday afternoon (April 22, 2012). I think we are through for the day. We began the day with the weekly mission
coordination meeting -- all the missionaries and the branch mission leader. Then we spent some time visiting with a
number of investigators who were coming to church. Then we had the three-hour block of meetings
and a short planning meeting with the other missionaries. It is now about 4 pm. Marilyn made a pot of home-made chicken soup
and we had that with some bread and cheese.
This has been an interesting week. All the other missionaries left town for a
couple of days. Two had to go to Finland
for their "visa" trip (must leave Russia every three months to get
the visa renewed). One Elder got
transferred and his companion had to accompany him to the mission home and then
pick up his new companion. So, we spent
a couple of days with the branch mission leader and his wife. They took us all over the city. We went to parks, shopping malls, street
markets, etc. It really helped us get a
better feel for the city. As long as the
branch mission leader has his "google translate" on his phone....we
got along just fine. We went to a cafe
and bought them dinner one evening.
Our afternoons and evenings have been very busy. We have gone with the elders and the sisters
to visit with investigators and less active members. Some of the less actives are a little older
and seem to relate better to us than to the young missionaries. On man has been investigating the church for
a long time. He is 70. We have gone with the elders to his place
several times and he is going to be baptized this coming Saturday.
A member of the branch...very active...he is the branch
clerk and is a returned missionary ... brought his 84 year old grandmother to
church today. Se is going to be baptized
May 1st. She is very nervous about
it...does not like the water. She uses a
cane and has a hard time getting around.......but wants to be baptized.
Tomorrow (Monday)
we are having Family Home Evening at our place, again. There will be about 12 to 14 people plus
us. The zone leaders will be with us
and we are having the young adult age people.
Some single and some married. The
Elders will give a short lesson, we will play a couple of games....then we will
serve tacos and Marilyn's home-made cinnamon rolls. Some of the young adults and the Elders will
be over early to help make the taco stuff.
Tomorrow is "P" day....so we will go to the grocery store to
get all the stuff we need for tacos.
On Saturday (yesterday)
Marilyn had an appointment to get her nails done! It took 2 1/2 hours! The nail lady did it all by hand....layer
after layer....hand filing each one between layers. They look really nice....but it took a long
time. The cost was 1,000 rubles ... about
$30. The nail place is just a couple of
blocks from the church. While she was
gone, I stayed at the church and we did "English Conversation
Group".....a weekly English class which we do as a public service and as a
way to meet potential investigators. Then, after Marilyn got back, we had a
meeting with a young man at the church...then a meeting with the sisters at the
home of a sister (a member) who has a non-member lady living with her. (they
were at church today) It took 45 minutes
via bus and walking to get to their home from the church. Then we met up with the elders and walked
another 1/2 hour to visit a less active member. It was late when we finally got home and we
were a bit tired.
Last Monday ("P" day) we went to a large street market....lots of
booths selling all kinds of stuff. I
bought a leather "European Man Purse"
to keep my i-pad and stuff in...so it will not get
"Pick-Pocketed"....I also bought a cool European style leather hat
and a really cool tie. I think Marilyn
put a picture of me in my hat and bag on our blog. Se will be adding a bunch more photos today
or tomorrow. She also bought a nice
leather purse.
The weather here is beautiful! Flowers are coming up...trees are leafing
out.... it is unusually warm....not complaining. We did discover one thing when we were at a
beautiful city park-----Russian mosquito's are the size of small airplanes and
there are a lot of them.
Tuesday, April 17, 2012
Monday, April 16, 2012
The Lord helps us even at McDonald's
I Have to tell you of the tender mercy of our Father -in-Heaven today. Richard and I walked to meet the missionaries and then walked around Chely from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm I mean we walked and walked and walked finally on the way home we were so hungry after not eating this whole time I convinced Richard that we could stop at McDonald's and get a Big Mac in Russian I mean how hard could it be right. Richard was even tired and hungry enough he caved in. We got in line and when we got to the window, oh yes there Drive up is actually a walk up, I started to order got the 2 big macs out okay and then I tried to order fries. The person behind us then said in great English would you like me to translate for you. He just happened to be an English teacher at a university here. Yes, the Lord does care about us. Even when we are hungry and tired. I know he loves me
Tuesday, April 10, 2012
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Songs of Zion
Well we are continuing forward. We have met a lot with the missionaries this week because of General Conference. Usually they show a delayed conference in both English and /Russian in two different rooms so it ends up with the missionaries in one room and the members in another. We got permission to show the missionaries it in English at our apt then on Saturday and Sunday we will sit with the members and listen to it in Russian. We are finding very few speak English. We were given a 48 hr. emergency kit at the mission home to keep in the apt. We are finding we need a similar kit of food that can feed 10 hungry missionaries on the spur of the moment. That's okay though because we can not do what they do with their language skills so if my job is to feed them so they can stay busy then that's great. I thought I would go on a mission and actually be a teacher but that is not the case. I realized Sunday how much I miss singing the songs of Zion in English. In relief society the closing song was Lead kindly light. The words are: lead kindly light amid the encircling gloom lead thou me on The night is dark and I am far from home. Lead thou me on! Well I lost it I cried and cried as they sang the rest of the song. I have never felt more far from home as I did in that moment. You have to remember it was Relief Society, so after the closing prayer the sister that was conducting raced to me and just hugged me and gave me relief. The gospel is true and God does want us to care for each other. I don't know why I am here I thought I would do something good for these members but maybe it is for them to serve me. I am finding for the first time in my life I am very needy and dependent on others. That is not easy for me. Love you all enjoy singing, memories the words they will give you peace.
Monday, April 2, 2012
View from our Front window
our Fridge I can't reach the top shelf
Sunday, April 1, 2012
First week
Well Hi everyone! Our first week is coming to a close we have had an adventure. We walked out of the airport in Moscow not picking up our luggage because we thought it was Checked all the way through to Yekaterinburg. WRONG!!!!! When ever you go into a new country it is only checked to the first place in which you land in that country. So when we went to get our tickets for the flight to Yekat. they asked to see our luggage, we didn't know where is was. Our translator was also clue less and we panicked for a minute or two but found it at the lost and found and unclaimed part of the airport. It was a shorter flight than we thought to Yekaterinburg which was nice and when we arrive the mission President and his wife and the assistances were waiting for us they were a great sight to see. We had a wonderful Senior couple conference at the mission home then Thursday and Friday and we left for Chelyabinsk on Saturday arriving around noon. The missionaries found us a great apt. and took us shopping. I can't believe how much stuff you need to get to set up a kitchen. Well we have to go Monday and get the rest of the food. We had a great Sunday meeting with the Branch here in Chely. They were super nice on sister came and said she really liked my nails and knows where I can get them done!!!! See there are fashion conscious women around the world!! I found their concerns for their children and families are just the same. We are united as mothers and wives. Sisters are Sisters!! We will soon add pictures to the blog. Love ya all
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