Dear Family,
This past week has been another unique experience. Everything really shuts down the week between New Year's and the Russian Christmas on January 7th. Oh, but they're not done--we still have Old New Year which comes on January 14th! Here is a little better explanation than I can give for all these events:
The most extensive New Year celebrations in Russia occur on December 31st to January 1st, like most of the rest of the world, where fireworks and concerts mark off this special holiday, and it is also on this day that the Russian Santa, or Ded Moroz, and his granddaughter, Snow Maiden, visit children to pass out gifts. So, while most of the world calls it a Christmas Tree, they call it a New Year's Tree in Russia. Then, because the Russians use the old Orthodox calendar, their New Year falls on January 14th. This "Old New Year" is spent with family and is generally quieter than the New Year celebrated on January 1st. There you have it--if you are confused, believe me, it has done the same to us, but we all just go along. Hah! I actually like that the lights and celebrations have gone on for so long because I love this time of year when everyone is so happy and we celebrate the birth of our Savior.
The Area Office has been closed this whole week because there are so many Russian people who work there along with the many volunteers who are there. George went in a couple of times to work--one time working in the dark except for his computer screen because he didn't know how to turn on the electricity for the lights! Hah! He is trying to get everything set up for our extensive training that we will be doing later on in the month. Because we can only go out of Russia one time in 90 days, we have to do a lot of countries at once while we are out, then return. We will be going to Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Armenia, and St. Petersburg. We just heard that the State Department is allowing Americans living in Russia to now go into Turkey, so we might go there, too, if we can arrange it all. To get all the airline, train, hotel stays, and people in each area lined up to do all this is quite a feat, but George tackles it so well, and I just plan what to do in our off hours there when we're not training. That's not hard for me because I'm a Rigby--you don't leave a stone unturned on seeing everything--right?! Hah!
Last Monday, we headed to the Crocus Aquarium with another senior couple, the Carliles. This was such a beautiful aquarium--so clean with so many fascinating animals. Then on Wednesday, we found out about a small theater here in Moscow with only eight rows of seats--but very plush, where they show American movies in English with Russian dubbed in. We got to go see "The Greatest Showman" and absolutely loved it! I had heard so much about it from all of you, so I knew it was something we didn't want to miss. It certainly didn't disappoint! Such a fun movie with such a great message! Only downside--no popcorn (which is mostly why I go to a movie!), but they had warm Coke Zeros and cookies. What more could you want?! Hah!
So on the Russian Christmas Eve, Saturday, December 6th, we went with the Carliles and Burtons to Texas--well sort of! We heard about a Texan BBQ place. No one spoke Southern, but they did dress Western and spoke broken English. That is always such a pleasure to have someone understand us. Plus, the food was great! Almost like being back in the States! Usually, even when you think you are ordering something that sounds like something you've eaten in the states, it never quite tastes the same. We are getting used to the foods, however, and many of them we like a lot.
Sunday, was fast Sunday. I decided I needed to be brave and bear my testimony. Gpa George had done it a month ago, so I knew I needed to this time. You have to take an interpreter up with you, so I asked the Elder who was translating behind us to come up with me. He goes home in about six weeks and is really sharp. Anyway, you have to say just a few words, then they translate and you go back and forth. It is really distracting, but it's the only way you can do it in our Russian Ward. I brought up Tolstoy's "The Old Shoemaker," and was going to compare how he thought he was going to see the Savior the next day, but all he saw was an old soldier who was so cold, so he gave him a warm drink; a woman and her child who had no coat who he gave some money and a coat to; and a young boy who was so hungry and had tried to steal an apple, so he talked the storekeeper into not taking him to the police, and he bought the apple for the little boy. The next day the old shoemaker was so disappointed that he hadn't seen the Savior, but then he was reminded of the scripture, "Inasmuch as you have done it unto the least of these, you have done it unto me. I was hungry and you gave me meat, I was alone and you took me in, I was thirsty and you gave me drink." I told how much we could learn from this little story from Tolstoy (a great Russian author) about helping others and the very best thing we could share and help others with is by sharing the gospel with them (because we can't proselyte--the members have to bring their friends and neighbors to the church for this to take place). Well, this story had many words that even this seasoned Elder struggled a little with and people were smiling because some of them knew a few English words I was saying. When we sat down, the Elder kidded with me and said, "You didn't tell me you were going to quote Tolstoy, Sister!" We both laughed because he said he didn't know how he did, but he knew he would hear about it from the Russians! We both laughed.
Gpa George is over working now and I have to get ready soon. I am soooo excited because tonight we are going to a Russian dance concert. It should be fantastic! We have heard so much about it! I will put pictures on Insta about it.
Copelands, Harris's, and Carliles
We got to see a new metro stop. Amazing!
Inside each oval was a unique mosaic.
The State Folk Dance Ensemble Presentation was held at the Tchaikovsky Concert Hall
The fast paced, full of energy presentation was just fantastic! Here they are for their final bow!
And we were fortunate to be able to see the Christmas train. It is just luck of the draw if it's where you happen to be at that moment! It is going to be so hard to see all the decorations taken down throughout the city! I've LOVED the beautiful feeling we've been able to enjoy for these extra two weeks!
Again, thanks so much for all your love and encouragement. It just brings me to tears to think of all the support we have been given. We just couldn't ask for better family and friends who are just like family. It really lifts your spirits, for sure! And thanks for the wonderful "Care" package we received from Kent and Natalie. It arrived on our New Year's Eve Day, so it was so special to have something so exciting for that special occasion.
But, let me tell you, it cost them a fortune to send it. We certainly don't intend for this to happen! If anyone wants to send something, just send a card or letter in the church pouch. We will love that, or if you really want to send something--send it with our special courier--Kyle! Sorry, Kyle, for volunteering you! He is such a good sport about transporting things to us.
Love to you all!
Gma Laura
P.S. THANK YOU SO MUCH to Anne who has spent hours on getting the Copeland Family Calendar ready for this next year. It is currently being printed, and then she has kindly agreed to get it out to all of you. It is done so well, as always. I know you're going to love it!
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