Dear Family,
The weeks are certainly flying by as I remember that it is Monday and time to write again. Yesterday was Craig's birthday. We surely LOVE and appreciate the wonderful son he is and hope he had a great birthday! I've always said how he is sort of the quietest one, but just dives in and takes care of his many responsibilities. We always appreciate his kindness extended to George and me.
Tuesday - We have Senior Meeting every Tuesday where we learn about Russian traditions or historical events in Russian History. We, also, get to know the new couples coming in and hear a sort of farewell speech and presentation from those going home. We have just had three couples leave and one will be leaving this next week. We just had three new couples come. As we hear about all their backgrounds and stories, it is fascinating to hear of their devotion to their families and to the gospel. We realize that all of us are missing our families, but are proud to be here and try to help out all we can in what is a very difficult mission for proselyting. We all feel that we are "placeholders," trying to help the active, less-active, and part member families to stay strong, praying that the government will lessen the requirements for churches here so that we can tell more people about the gospel. It is quite a unique situation, but one we all are trying our best to accomplish.
Thursday - We had our Mission Conference this week and heard from Elder Golden, who is not only in our Area Presidency, but he is in the First Quorum of the Seventy. After the first hour of hearing from the Mission President, his wife, and Elder Golden's wife, Elder Golden took the rest of the day--from 10:00 to 4:00 (with only a short lunch break in between) with absolutely no notes--quoting scriptures and just continuing to teach us. It was fantastic. I'm including some of his thoughts which were so good:
- Spiritual power comes from keeping our covenants.
- Ordinances are required to unlock that spiritual power, but this only happens when we enter into covenants and then keep those covenants.
- Daily religious behavior (meaningful prayer, scripture study and service) link ordinances and covenants together.
- This daily religious behavior invites the Holy Ghost into our lives and brings power.
- That power that comes from the Holy Ghost also helps us to change and to be have a greater ability to keep our covenants.
Saturday - We went to the Moscow Circus. It was a very rainy, cold, day, but we enjoyed it so much! The "big top" was actually a beautiful building, so we didn't feel the weather at all inside. The acts were unbelievable! It was sort of like a Cirque du Soleil combined with a traditional circus with lots of amazing animals, which I must say, seemed to be treated with great care. We were like little kids again with our popcorn--ya'll know how Gpa George eats popcorn!
At the end, they introduced Steven Segal sitting in the guest box.
Afterwards, our group of Seniors ate dinner at a Japanese restaurant where they only spoke Russian--we got some interesting dishes that we didn't know we were getting that I'm sure were lost in translation. Hah! Great day!
Sunday - We attended the Rechnoy Ward because the Elders weren't going to be in the Ramenskyoe Ward that is way out there, and we have to go when they can help translate for us there. At church, we saw Fyodr again, who came up to us and told us he wants Gpa George and me to come out again because he has a museum he wants to take us to, plus he wants us to come to dinner again. We told him we wanted to take him to dinner, but he insisted that we come back to his house. So, we will be doing that this Thursday. Actually, I'm very impressed that he comes over two hours to get to church, all by himself. It would be so wonderful if we could start getting his wife to come with him. She is such a wonderful woman, and even better, if we could actually help them get baptized.
After church, since it was still rainy and cold, we got a taxi and invited a young man who just finished his first year of law school at BYU and is here doing an internship until about the middle of June. His wife and little two-year-old boy are still back in Orem. So, we had him for dinner and then played Five Crowns, which amazingly enough, is one of his family's favorites, too. We had such a great time. He is such a nice young man, and I'm sure will be a great attorney.
Well, that's our week. Definitely the time is speeding by quicker than it was when we first got here. We hope you are all doing well. We pray for those of you who have parents or loved ones who are sick. We love to hear from you--and calls are even better!
With much love,
Gma Laura
P.S. The Russian lessons are coming along. We still sound like two-year-olds speaking in one word or short phrases, but we are really trying! The main thing is that if you say it wrong, the Russians will correct you! For sure! So, we just try out different words on them here and there. Sometimes, I know they are scratching their heads saying, "Huh?" but that's the best way to learn it by using it!
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