Traveling

Traveling is not fun in Russia!! However it is an adventure every time.  We found that we could maneuver the airports reasonably well. The time that we have to set in the airports waiting for flights is really long.  We have good news on that front.  The visa are going to be extended to a three yr. visa in Russia but we will still have to leave every 6 months for a migration stamp. That means we just have to go out and then come back in, one foot out two feet out one foot in two feet in. We do not even have to leave the airport.  Since we will be flying out of Yekaterinburg we can get a direct flight to Helsinki then turn around and fly back in.  It also cuts each missionaries travel in half, maybe we can get more missionaries sent here they are really needed. We were blessed to find a native Russian coming to visit her parents in Chelyabinsk from Miami who spoke great English.  In fact that was the longest English conversation I have had with anyone for 6 months.  It was great. We are constantly reminded that Our Father in Heaven is aware of us and watches out for us.  Richard fell over a small ledge holding our luggage and could not catch himself.  I thought sure he had relieved his shin bone of a lot of skin or twisted his ankle.  When we go home to clean it up it ended up that he had just bruised himself not a break in the skin at all. Which if you would have seen the fall you too would have been amazed.  
  We had Borise come to church today.  He is an investigator that we have known since we have been here but have not seen for a month.  He said he had been doing some traveling with his wife and having the time of his life.  He wanted to thank us for helping him with advice on how to make his marriage better. His wife is not interested in the church and did not want him to be.  He wanted to show her that the church was good for their marriage.  I hope she will turn around in her attitude.  He is a great investigator.  Well this week I do a cooking demonstration will write more next week.

Well. The Baptism was a success.  It was blocked in every way.  Right after her interview with the Missionaries Alene got in her car and got in an accident she hit someone walking in the street( she tells this in testimony mtg today) She was scared of what the police would do to her.  So she and the person she hits stand together waiting for the police and the man looked at her with compassion and said I forgive you and walked away.  She said that she could not believe her ears no one in this town does that! (Her words not mine) She said she knew God was pleased with her decision to be baptized and gave her a miracle to prove it.  Then they could not find a place to have the baptism it was off again then late Thursday night Her husband was looking for something else and came across this place he went in to see if he could rent it and he asked they gave him a price that was reasonable but said any more than ten people and after that it would be so much more per person.  He said that that was just too much because it was for a baptism and there would be much more that the base price.  She turned to him and said a Baptism that is a very good reason to be here so she waved the extra charges and said have as many people as you want.  The baptism was on again.  We were all going to meet at the church and take a city bus together, No no the street to get to the place was closed on Saturday because of a Parade. Wow, what else can be thrown up. The poor missionaries made again 20 calls each to say just go to the sauna and meet there. When the husband called his chef friend to help make some of the food he told it what it was for and the friend said it was for a noble cause and he would not charge him.  Alene said that was God's way to let her know he was proud that she committed to pay tithing.  Alene brought her mother who in the day taught English (so she has good English) she came to the baptism thinking her daughter was joining this American English church. she talked to us in English but then she went up to another lady and started to talk to her and ask her where he was from The lady went net net I'm a Russian Grandma, then she saw someone else and tried English on her and she went net net I'm a Russian No English. I think she was greatly relieved that other Russians were members. People made such a fuss over her that she asked her daughter Alene to be her some church magazines so she could read them. The Lord loves us all no matter where we live.  Israel, Israel God is calling you home!!!

We have a, no We have two baptisms

We have often talked about the Abduline Family.  It started out to be as a suggested part member family for Richard and I to contact.  Well us and our Russian.we had to have the missionaries do the calling and thanks to their persistent and calling over and over again they finally said yes to a meeting.  We had them over to eat and had another family that they knew in the branch.  They were ready to listen and ready for the spirit to be in their lives.  Their 14 year old daughter is just bursting with enthusiasm and goodness. The family came to church once and she went home and read all the lessons and told her Dad I want to get baptized tomorrow!!!  He of course said slow down we need to have the missionaries teach you the lessons. The Mom Alena has been more guarded with her feelings.  We told them to write down their questions and we would answer them or find the answers for them. The first question really came out of the blue as it dealt with young children when they die when are they raised?  We found a lesson on that very thing in the teaching of the prophets Joseph F. Smith.  Not wanting her daughter to be taught alone she wanted to be present when she was taught and learn too.  She also wanted to read the entire B of M before she would even think about being baptized. The missionaries made up a reading chart and challenged them to read as a family which they are doing. The question came up last time they met with the missionaries about tithing and Alenna said she just didn't think she could do that money is very tight.  Then we had District conference with 2 general authorities we all went on the bus 4 hrs. to listen to the talks.  Yes the family was with us.  They had a special mtg. with new members and investigators at 10:00 then with everyone at 11:00.  I did not go to the 10:00 mtg. but the 11:00 mtg was just amazing. The Last speaker got up and said I am sorry but I really feel prompted that there is someone here who needs to have me speak on the law of tithing and the truthfulness of that commandment.  I hope the rest of you may also benefit and renew your desire to live more fully this law. and then he spoke for 40 minutes on tithing. I new of the questions Alene had and I was blown away. After the mtg I looked back at her and she had tears running down her face.  Which by the way is a big no no in Russia, it is a sign of weakness. The daughter already had a baptismal date for the 8th of Sept. but is was going to be only her.  I tried last week at church to joke and tell Alenne she was next but it did not go over very well. Well Monday we got a call from the missionaries saying that Alenna came home from the conference and said it is time my questions have been answered I must act on faith I want to get baptized with my daughter!!!!  they are an awesome family they have another daughter who is 11 almost 12.  I think they want her to have her own desire and come out and say Me to and that will happen.  May I have and exercise as much faith as I see other have and do each day just to live.  Heavenly Father knows us and knows our needs and loves us.