Dear Family,
This past week has been full of joy, as well as sorrow. We were so thrilled that Bracken and Taryn had such a beautiful wedding day, but we were so saddened to hear of the passing away of Larry, our dear brother-in-law. I will talk a little more about each of these below:
Tuesday - At our Seniors Meeting, we listened to a presentation by one of the Russian full-time employees here who works with self-reliance. It is so interesting that in America, we think more of a three month or year or two food storage when we hear the words. Here, where there is so little storage and quantities come in such small packages, they are told to just have a two-week supply--and that is even stretching it for some. In addition, the main thing is to help those who are younger get a good education and employment. The new Pathways Program, which is now a University of its own with its own president and everything--is really a blessing to the people here, and they are trying to get more people involved. The one thing they have counseled us as Seniors is not to volunteer to help anyone go to another country or back to the US to get educated. They want to keep the young people here to build up the church here. When they go and get educated, so many of them end up staying there and they lose those vital young people where they need them the most.
Thursday - Russians don't celebrate Thanksgiving, but all of us Senior Volunteers decided the Americans should still get a nice Thanksgiving, so we pretty much all had some at our places. I had the four young men in our ward, plus a new member who has been so kind to help us out whenever we needed a car, because he has a private cab business. Anyway, we had a wonderful time. even though we had mismatched plates, chairs, silverware, and many substitutions on the food! Some things that are traditional in American just couldn't be obtained here. I had to use pumpkin (which I had to peel, then bake, then smash, and mix) to make the sweet potato dish we always have, and I couldn't find cranberries, and the oven was so small, I had to just get turkey breasts and cook them in the crock pot. But, you know, the Elders just seemed to really enjoy it all. I surely hope so.
After dinner, we had a great little Thanksgiving conversation, plus they showed us a new video about thankfulness that we all really enjoyed. If you haven't watched it, go to lds.org and it is called, "In the Spirit of Thanksgiving." It is so wonderful all the media that the church provides, right?!
When we went to bed Thursday night, we had no idea that we would wake up to the news that Larry, Beverly's husband, had died on Thanksgiving Day in Boise! Beverly was so inspired to have everyone come home for Thanksgiving. She wanted everyone to see their dad and how the Parkinson's disease was progressing. I know how that actually helped me with my mother's passing away. I soon realized that my mother couldn't be my mother again the way she was before. And when she couldn't do all the things she loved to do but merely had to be an observer of the world, I was better prepared for her to leave that body behind. With all the family there, they all got to the hospital just a few minutes after he died. Beverly said they all stood around his bed, talking and crying, and even bringing up things that made them smile about their dad. In her mind, she said that was the funeral right there. When I talked to her that evening, she was still pretty much in shock at all that happened and was exhausted. I know taking care of him was exhausting to her--24-7, but she was so determined to have him be in his own home with those he loved. I so admire that about her. She had great help from some of her kids, which was so great, too. She is such a dear sister and my heart aches for her, but I know the Lord will comfort and guide her because she lives so close to the Spirit.
Friday, I started getting a terrible headache, my eyes were red, and I felt so congested, I couldn't breathe. I knew the next day was a big cultural event at one of the big hotels that I had really been looking forward to. Dad went ahead and went to work, although he wasn't feeling the best either. I went and got some cold medicines at the local pharmacy--there is one on every corner. I was so willing to get better--but it just didn't help. I woke up Saturday even more miserable. I don't know when I was so miserable! I get sore throats and laryngitis, but this had neither. So, I called the Volunteer doctor (Dr. David Hansen who, he and his wife are actually in my dad's ward in Plano, Idaho), and he said he thought I had a sinus infection and said for me to get penicillin. He just texted me the Russian name and Dad went and got it--no prescription necessary! Amazing. So, we didn't get to the cultural event. I was sooo disappointed. I don't like missing anything!
So, not only was I so miserable with my sinus infection, it was Bracken and Taryn's wedding day, which caused so many tears for having to miss it. Thank goodness for everyone taking so many pictures--that helped us feel so much more involved. We got them within a few minutes or an hour after the incident actually happened. We Seniors joke that the modern technology was invented for us, Seniors, to keep in contact with all our families, and everyone else can use these modern inventions if they'd like to! Amy even got Bracken and Taryn on Skype with us, so we were able to say hi and congratulations just a short while after they came out of the temple. That was sooo great! I know how much it meant to Alison and John having as many family there as were able. They said the day was just perfect! We are so happy for Bracken and Taryn and the entire Wilde family. They finally got another girl in the family!
By Sunday morning, I definitely was feeling some relief and Dad was feeling much better, too, so we headed off for the hour-long journey to Stake Conference. The Church rented a huge building for the large crowd that came for Stake Conference. All the Americans had to wear headphones, as the entire conference was in Russian.
Basically, the theme was that they want a temple here. They really have a desire and told the people that they must prepare mentally and spiritually for the day that it happens. Right now, it doesn't look close until there is a miracle with the government. They can actually take away private property and send people out of their country, so there is no way the church would put a beautiful temple here only to have it taken away. But, the people can certainly prepare for it. After conference, we stopped off the metro at one of the other Senior's apartments, and had dinner with them and another Senior couple. It was really nice! We all live so far apart from each other in the city or we would do this more often. Also, it's not so easy to take anything in a crockpot on a bus or metro train. Hah!
We are sooo excited to see Kyle in about a week and a half! I get tears just thinking about it!
Love to all of you! Keep up the great work at your worthy goals! Stay close to the Lord, be kind to others, and everything will work for your best good. I've always believed that.
Gma Mom Laura
