Dear Family,
First of all, let me wish Kade and Cameron a "Happy Birthday!" Kade is working so hard on his mission in Ecuador, and we are so proud of his diligence and great attitude.
Also, we surely do love and appreciate Cameron for the great son that he is and hope he has a great day! We plan on calling him, for sure.
Thank goodness they allow Seniors to call whenever they are able to and we don't have to wait only until Mother's Day or Christmas! However, the time element proves to be quite a problem. We always feel like we are a day ahead and when I think of something, you all are asleep, and you probably feel the same. I think most of you think Gpa and I live in our PJs because every time you call, that's what we're dressed in! When we come home from being outside in the cold, we just end up getting in our pajamas rather than having to change again! So crazy!
This past week, Gpa George and I have been working hard to be ready for training in five different countries: Turkey (Istanbul), Armenia, Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia. In each of the countries, we have to have preparations for the language they use there, and after the difficulties we had in Rostov-on-don with all the connections to the different areas and with hardly anyone speaking English, we hopefully have learned a little more on how to handle the situation. Anyway, it has been very busy. In addition, Gpa George has to make a presentation at our monthly European Area Audit Committee where the Area Seventy, Elder Golden, comes and he has to make a presentation of how each of the countries and areas are doing as far as handling their money, audits, etc. So, we've been getting ready for that, too. So, this coming Thursday we have that meeting, then Saturday, we leave for Istanbul. Kyle has another Area Manager in Istanbul, who I hope is as nice as the one he has here in Moscow. He has helped us so much while we have lived here, and we hope this manager will help us around in Istanbul. That is the place I feel the least assured about getting around in because the State Department has just started letting Americans back in there.
Last Monday night, we went to the State Folk Dance Festival where we really enjoyed watching beautiful productions of Russian dances, as well as some from other countries as well. It was a fantastic evening, for sure. Then on Saturday night, we got to go to the State Kremlin Palace to see The Nutcracker performed. The Kremlin Palace was built in 1951 by Nikita Khrushchev for Communist Party Meetings. The main hall can seat 6,000 people and is now used for concerts and the Kremlin Ballet Group It was a fanstastic performance, and I think Gpa George even enjoyed it basically! It will never match up to a great ballgame for him, but he's a good sport.
On the way home, there were more fireworks (because it was the Old New Year's Eve with Old New Year's Day being on January 14th! The Christmas season keeps going on and on here--which I love!) and snow falling again as we crossed the bridge over the frozen Moscow River.
Gpa George went to the European Medical Center this past week for some spots that were on his legs and ankles. Wow! It was like a Mayo Clinic. They don't want to just check for that, they want to do this and that and before you know it, you have gone to every kind of doctor there is and it took three different days! But, it was good because after all those different kinds of doctors, we find out that he's doing just fine and by just putting some cream on the spots, they will go away. We'll see, but anyway, while he was in all those doctors' offices, I ventured out to see a huge Islam Mosque and a Catholic Cathedral that are nearby there. I really find it fascinating to explore wherever I am now, and especially churches of other faiths.
We received a letter from the Mission President asking if we would help out in a branch that we would have to take a train to get out there. All in all, it would be about two hours away. It is small, probably about ten people, but we are happy to do that. They love to have more people there, and I think we could probably do more good there than in the Russian Ward we are attending where there are very strong members. Anyway, when we get back from our two-week training trip, we will start doing that. We won't go out there very Sunday, but as often as we feel the need to each month. Also, tonight, we are having the Young Adults in our apartment for Family Home Evening. It all has to be in Russian, so the young Elders are taking care of the lesson and an activity. We just have to have the place and the refreshments. They say it can be anywhere from 15 to 30 people who attend. Hopefully, we will have a good amount come.
Well, that's about it for the week for us. It has been a beautiful time reflecting on the life of President Monson. He was such a wonderful, kind man who we can learn so much from in the way he treated and thought of others.
We are really interested in hearing about the new prophet and his counselors this Tuesday. It is such a beautiful way the Lord has prepared for such a seamless transition, isn't it. We feel sort of a connection to Elder Nelson after seeing him come to the girls drill team presentations when his granddaughter was on the drill team with Alison and Amy, plus George reminded me when he chose his son-in-law, Norm Maxfield, as his counselor when George was bishop, that Elder Nelson came in when Norm was going to get set apart. Elder Nelson asked Gpa George to do the setting apart of his son-in-law. That really amazed George that he would allow him to do that. He will never forget that day!
We send our LOVE to all! Take care and thanks again for your love and support!
Gma Laura
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