Dear Family,
We have now been on our mission 5 months. In some ways it has gone by very quickly, while in other ways it seems like we have been gone from our home and family FOREVER! Thank goodness Kyle is coming this weekend! Even though we have a wonderful group of Seniors, it surely helps to see family who are totally loyal to you and each other. Oh, and by the way, Happy Birthday this week to Cassie and Ellie--two very beautiful women inside and out! Hope you have wonderful birthdays!
Yesterday was kind of a downer day. In church, they now announced that all the Family History Centers will be shut down and those called to those volunteer positions will not be needed anymore. This is to fulfill the privacy law by the government. We don't know all the details, but the Family History Volunteer, who is a Russian, in our ward said the church will, also, not allow us getting on familysearch at all at the end of March. I was devastated! I asked her if that applied only to Russian citizens or us from out of the country. She wasn't sure about that. I'm sure that we will find out more later. She said we can go on another site not owned by the church, just not on familysearch because it is sponsored by the church. I think the church is being pro-active because they don't want us not complying with the law and losing our opportunity to be here at all. This all comes after the church sent home the Senior couple who was serving as Church History Volunteers two months ago because again the government doesn't want any recording or picture taking of Russian citizens in the church. (That's why you don't see many pictures of our church activities involving Russian members.) We just live from week to week--actually day to day and try to continue to help out wherever we can. I'll fill you in more as we get more news.
This past week was very busy with getting ready for the Training Meeting of the Financial Volunteers that Salt Lake set up for March 8th and 9th. Gpa George has been working so hard, then come to find out, that March 8th is a National Women's Day in Russia, so no one was going to be in the office at all either day because they got the 9th off, too--so no one wanted to come in to take part. Who knew about National Women's Day? So, George contacted Salt Lake and luckily the representative there is flying on the 5th, arriving on the 6th, and would be willing to change to the 7th and 8th, so George set up all the special Area people on the 7th, including the Area First Counselor, Elder Golden, and it will just be the Salt Lake Rep, the AAAs, and George as the Area Auditor on the 8th--and of course, the wives. Whew! Never a dull moment!
We did have some fun on Friday night when we went to the
Obraztsov Puppet Theater in downtown Moscow. It has been in existence for 80 years and world renowned! It was amazing what they could do with those puppets--they seemed like real people! (Only problem--when they spoke, they spoke in Russian, so we couldn't understand them!
Ten of us senior volunteers went together to dinner first at a great place that had been recommended. It was fantastic!
Then, on Saturday, we took a traditional Russian TROIKA Ride--a sled drawn by three horses harnessed side-by-side. It may have only been 20 degrees, but it was absolutely the funnest with such fun people to be with!
The roads and sidewalks are still piled high with snow on either side from the big 60-year record breaking snow storm that happened in three of the days while we were gone. It is a real challenge to walk anyplace because very few places even shovel their walks! Someone could make such big money by selling snow blowers here! Anyway, we try to walk very slowly, and definitely hang on to the iron rod as we cross the bridge! That thing saves us, for sure! Too bad there isn't one everywhere we go!
It is always so fun to talk to you and LOVE when you call! The time is such a problem because when we want to talk, you are in bed, and vice-versa, but we all try our best. We have free Skype calling to anywhere in the U.S., so if you can ever talk, just let us know, and we will call you, or set up a Skype account and we can see and hear you, too!
We send our love to all!
Gma Laura
We have now been on our mission 5 months. In some ways it has gone by very quickly, while in other ways it seems like we have been gone from our home and family FOREVER! Thank goodness Kyle is coming this weekend! Even though we have a wonderful group of Seniors, it surely helps to see family who are totally loyal to you and each other. Oh, and by the way, Happy Birthday this week to Cassie and Ellie--two very beautiful women inside and out! Hope you have wonderful birthdays!
Cassie - February 14th
Ellie - February 15th
This past week was very busy with getting ready for the Training Meeting of the Financial Volunteers that Salt Lake set up for March 8th and 9th. Gpa George has been working so hard, then come to find out, that March 8th is a National Women's Day in Russia, so no one was going to be in the office at all either day because they got the 9th off, too--so no one wanted to come in to take part. Who knew about National Women's Day? So, George contacted Salt Lake and luckily the representative there is flying on the 5th, arriving on the 6th, and would be willing to change to the 7th and 8th, so George set up all the special Area people on the 7th, including the Area First Counselor, Elder Golden, and it will just be the Salt Lake Rep, the AAAs, and George as the Area Auditor on the 8th--and of course, the wives. Whew! Never a dull moment!
We did have some fun on Friday night when we went to the
Obraztsov Puppet Theater in downtown Moscow. It has been in existence for 80 years and world renowned! It was amazing what they could do with those puppets--they seemed like real people! (Only problem--when they spoke, they spoke in Russian, so we couldn't understand them!
Afterward we visited the reconstructed Wooden Palace of Tsar Alexei Mikhailovich, which was originally built in the 17th Century. In the last room, you get to try their period robes and head dresses on--Gpa George was a great sport to let me take pics!
The Tsar's Throne
The Tsar's Bed Chamber--short bed because his doctor advised him to sit up at night--checkered because his favorite game was chess!
The angel stopping Abraham's sacrifice of Isaac.
The Tsar's bath chamber.
The Tsarina's throne
The Tsar's Bed Chamber--short bed because his doctor advised him to sit up at night--checkered because his favorite game was chess!
Tsar George and Tsarina Laura (Hah!)
So much fun!
We send our love to all!
Gma Laura
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