Week 30 - April 16, 2018

Dear Family,

Today is Gpa Rigby's 95th birthday!  I feel so blessed to have him as my dad.  He seriously has taught me to much in my life.  I never doubted his love for our family.  He was one of the hardest workers I have ever seen, and has always been ready to help anyone in need.  His testimony of the gospel has never wavered, and he loves to share the gospel with everyone he meets.  That is such a great example!  I saw that my siblings had a birthday party for him.  I'm sure he loved that!

This next week, the Copeland family has so many birthdays to celebrate-- Bracken on the 18th, 

Kyle on the 20th, 

Mason on the 21st, 

 

and Connor on the 22nd. 

In addition, Jeff and Amy celebrate their 18th Wedding Anniversary on the 22nd as well.  

Gpa George and I hope you all have great birthdays and wedding anniversary, Jeff and Amy!  We surely LOVE you all.  We promise to do lots of celebrating when we get home!

Well, I think I can finally say that Spring is in the air here in Moscow!  It seems like it has taken forever!  Most of the snow has melted, but there can still be a very cool breeze that blows that requires a coat.  It starts out very early in the morning barely above freezing, then will get back up to about 50, and then back down again in the evening.  But, to be able to walk everywhere without slipping and sliding on snow and ice is a real pleasure!

As you have probably heard, the Syrian government gassed many of its own people a week or so ago.  In retaliation, the UK, France, and US said this can't happen again.  But, Russia backs Syria and said it wasn't really proven, which was not what so many others said.  Anyway, Thursday night, bombs were dropped by the US on chemical plants in Syria to try to wipe out a bunch of places where these types of materials are made and stored.  Russia wasn't happy about it even though the UN even said they backed what we did.  Anyway, it has made things a bit tense in the idea of not making a big deal that we are Americans.  The young Elders and Sisters aren't to talk anything but Russian and to wear business casual--no ties and they can wear colored shirts for the Elders and nothing too extravagant for the sisters.  We, as Seniors, obviously can't do anything but speak English, but we are not to strike up a conversation with strangers and we are to  have a low profile until this all calms down, we hope and pray.  Anyway, Gpa George and I went to Arbat Street on Saturday and really enjoyed ourselves out among the other people who were just enjoying the beautiful weather.  Arbat Street exists since the 15th Century and is now the home to lots of eating places, shops, souvenir places, street vendors, and musicians.  We ate down there and had a great day with nothing seeming out of the ordinary at all.

 New Arbat Street

 Old Arbat Street - About 2/3 of a mile long!

 We visited the Alexander Pushkin apartment where he spent about 12 years and wrote some of his famous Russian poetry facing this very street!

On Sunday, we went out to Ramenskoye Branch.  They were having Ward (Branch Conference) and that is the Branch Gpa and I are assigned to visit once or twice a month.  We really enjoy going out there--the people seem to love to have us come.  It really is exhausting, however, as it takes over two hours to get there by bus, bus, metro, metro, train, and then taxi.  

We were gone for 12 hours by the time we got home, and literally felt dead!   Again, we felt no animosity or attention drawn to us outside as we went to and from the whole day.  I am including a picture of a little Russian girl who is 9 years old that is in the Branch out there.  Seriously, she is one of the smartest little girls for her age I've ever met.  She talks so fast (think of Isaac, but talking double time!  Whew!) that even the Russians can't understand all she is saying.  Hah!  Anyway, we really enjoying talking to her and trying to teach her a few English words.

   

Missions are certainly interesting, for sure!  We are excited to have Elder Uchtdorf coming for our Stake Conference this next weekend, and he plans to meet with all the volunteers (missionaries) in this area.  I will definitely let you know about that.  Also, we have been getting ready for our next Europe East Area Auditing Committee Meeting this Thursday with Elder Golden, the first counselor in our Area Presidency, plus the others on the committee who work in the Area Office.  It is always so much work, but Gpa George and I feel ready, I believe. 

Finally, we are very excited that we got our tickets to go to Switzerland on June 5th--our 50th Wedding Anniversary.  That was the exact date that we were supposed to leave for our Visa Trip, so it worked out just perfectly.  We are going to fly to Zurich.  Remember Jonathan and Ingrid?  He is Chinese and was on his mission with my brother, Jerry, on his mission in Taiwan.  He attended BYU and was standing in line for General Conference when he met a member girl from Switzerland.  Long story short, they were married, he graduated from BYU in International Banking, and they have been living in Zurich practically ever since they were married.  Anyway, they are picking us up from the airport, taking us around Zurich, Lucerne, and Interlachen for the next couple of days (allowing us to stay at their home for two nights), then we will take the train to Bern, and then to Zollikofen where the Temple is.  We will stay in temple housing there to be able to visit the temple for two days, then have one more day of touring before returning on June 10th.  I think it will be a wonderful way to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary, if we can't be with all of you to celebrate!

We surely send our LOVE and appreciation to all of you for your continual keeping us up on the news.  That means so much when we are so far away.

Love you so much!

Gma