Monday, February 16, 2015

2/15/15 Buses, Ice and Lunch

We are convinced that there are no people more steady on their feet than those here as we observe them on icy sidewalks and standing or walking in buses whose drivers, though skilled, still have a fair amount of jerking when the bus starts and stops, not to mention the swaying when they turn corners - but they stay on their feet, even without holding on to the poles or overhead hand-holds.  Some buses have conductors who walk up and down to get your money, and they move with amazing poise and ease.  However, yesterday we did make a mistake as Mike directed me to the only empty seat which was just a row up from the door, a single.  We were a bit surprised because there were people standing, but found out rather quickly why as the conductor descended upon us, unsmiling, talking and pointing to the sign we couldn't read so hadn't paid attention to - it is reserved for the conductor.  Whoops - won't do that again.
A popular church very beautifully built.  It is located across the parking lot from one of the large markets here. A lot of the churches have the tall domes.  
This is in the parking lot of that market.  This big loader scoops and moves the snow off the parking area to the back of the lot in big piles that look like the piles of sand you see in a sand and gravel lot at home - except these piles are cold and white and wouldn't be much fun to play in .. actually, maybe they would be.  
 The church does humanitarian projects throughout Europe, we were here taking pictures for the preliminary submission-- this picture is for our dear friend Betty Hartley who wondered what my haircut looked like -- this is far away and fuzzy enough to post -- and it is several weeks better now.  
 We go with either a companionship of Elders or Sisters every other Monday for a FHE with a family - either member or investigator, that the missionaries have set up.  Every time it has been good .. except maybe this time when they turned off the lights and didn't answer the door, our first experience like that.  We had taken a taxi which was gone, so we had to wait for another to come to take us back, it is quite a ways out so the road is just two long ruts in the snow, but the apartment building complex and the trees look a lot the same as in many other areas.

Hmmm - maybe we need to add something to our Ward Conferences at home -- these are the tables set up and bountifully spread for everyone after the block at the Branch Conference we attended on Sunday, although the fact that they have 35-40 compared to our 150 at home could make a difference. Nevertheless,  is nice - and everyone eats before any after-conference meetings are started.
Along with the good times, it seems that all during their life face difficult times, we have man here who has been a member about a year.  He likes this scripture and feels it a directive to him - we like it too:  Timothy 2:2 - Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ.    And a scripture that goes with that - Helaman 5:12 - And now, my sons, remember, remember, that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it all have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build,they cannot fail.     Our love and prayers are with you.  

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