3/22/15 Missionaries, Falling Ice, Classroom

From one of our companionships: "About three months ago, we found a teaching record for a 10 year old girl from eight years ago.  It said that her older sister was an investigator who always brought her little sister with her to church.  Of the little sister the record reported very little, only that she met with the Elders once, loved church, and liked reading the Book of Mormon picture book.  We went to the address listed to try to find her but it turned out that the lady who lived there didn't know her and slammed the door on us.Then, about five nights ago, we had the craziest evening.  To make it short, we got on the wrong bus by accident and so were in a place we normally don't contact.   So we were like "well, we wonder what they Lord wants us to do here tonight."

      We began walking and passed this young couple.  After they had walked past us for a while, we both had the impression we needed to talk to them. We turned and hurried, caught up with them, began talking to them and it turns out that the young girl is the girl we were looking for, now 18.  She  is interested and she is amazing.


The top picture of the over-hanging ice on the roof  - three stories up - was taken 5 days before the second picture.  The building sidewalk was blocked off with caution tape when we took the first picture - we had to walk out in the street.  You can see why they had it blocked off in the second picture when the ice finally fell off the roof.  Even though they try to block off these kinds of spots, the local people tell us there are several each year who are injured by the falling ice.  This is by where we take our dry cleaning; here and throughout the city, sidewalks on the least sunny side of the streets are still icy.

I went with the Elders to visit a Sister who was baptized in January.  Mike was at the District Meeting.  Her favorite pet is a hairless cat, which I had never seen before and was a bit of a start at first, because instead of seeing hair, you see wrinkles and lines and skin and very cat eyes.  But it has a pretty cute personality, climbed right on to one of the Elder's shoulders.  Grateful it was him instead of me.

She is very talented, works as a seamstress and also does pictures making leaves, flowers and whatever she needs to make her picture.  The picture itself is on the medium weight canvas type material and she adds the three dimension look with the accessories she makes from ribbon and whatever else she needs.   They are pretty amazing.  The one below she did for the Elder that baptized her.  What was so great and I wish I had taken a picture of, was her sewing corner.  There, the two sewing machines she uses stand side by side - her grandmother's old treadle machine, still going strong, and her new, modern serger.  There was a prom type dress she was working on, plus she had done her curtains and table coverings - they look very professional.

 Letters on her fridge for her grandchildren - just like we do except there are some different letters and/or they make different sounds.  The red "y" in the middle says "ooooh" , the orange ^ sign closed across the bottom in at the bottom is a D.  The red circle with a line through it at the very bottom of the picture is the F.  The funny looking yellow letter right above says "zha."   The P at the left of the F is the R and the B to the left of that "says Va".  The H above the P (that is really an R), is an N .... enough of that!!

We got to go into another area of Saratov for a humanitarian project   The homes are more stand alone and larger than we usually see - you'd think you were in Utah.. or close.

The TB children's hospital we visited there had all sorts of learning aids in the classrooms- kind of fun to see them in another language.  The head doctor met us at the top of the street, shook the men's hands and then bowed and kissed mine . was kind of fun.  They are very protective and respective of older people here.  

More than just math, we have found we are alike in a lot of ways.  

The kids will like this phonic chart.  The top right picture is a dolphin - the letter is D 

And this is one of their classrooms.  The church does amazing things for so many differnt organizations all over the world.

The doctor even had an old phone on his desk .. from back in the 50's .. that doesn't sound so long ago to me.

There was a huge bird nest in the trees just to the left of the building where the children stay .. you could see the bird and it was big and had a long tail .. it would come and go so don't know whether it is making the nest or taking care of new little ones.
  
This is the building where the children stay and they go down to another building for classes and another building for meals.  It looks like it will be beautiful in the spring.  The nurses wear the white coats and hats.

They have projects for the children-here is a picture they made out of teeny pieces of napkins rolled up.

 And this is the one he gave to Mike & I as we were leaving.  The doctor and all the staff are so nice and so very appreciative of what the church does.  The yellow bird is good luck for a happy day.

Everything is thawing so it is really muddy - you can see by this car

Lots of pictures this time - it has been a busy week and we're started into another.  There are little miracles every day.  We are grateful when we are able to find what we need at one of the local stores, grateful that we have hot water and good pressure, grateful that even when it is cold outside, our apartment is warm, grateful that when we do fall we don't come away with anything broken, grateful when the bus is right there those times we have heavy bags to carry, grateful the institute is so close to our apartment, grateful for those times when, although we thought we made more than plenty, it looks like the food won't go around but somehow it does, grateful for boots and hats to keep us dry and warm, grateful to be here together, and the list goes on and on each day.  We're grateful for prayer!!  We are grateful for health to be able to serve when we have good friends (like Jimmie and Angie Hughes and DeLos and Julie Perkins) who would like to be here but because of health, can't be.  They serve their missions from home, lifting and touching lives there.
     More miracles - We "just happen" to run into someone we needed to see.  Situations you think won't work out "just happen" to fall into place.  And it may seem a little thing, but I worry much about my cooking here and it is big to me that we have been blessed so much on that.  Doors are opened and hearts are softened with meals and treats. We have become friends with our little old oven and we are grateful for that.  Our hearts are touched and our testimonies strengthened by the people here as has been true in our lives wherever we have been - your examples strengthen our testimonies and your love and care has blessed our lives and the lives of our children and grandchildren..

   So closing for now ..

 “If ever there is tomorrow when we’re not together… there is something you must always remember. You are braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, and smarter than you think. But the most important thing is, even if we’re apart… we’ll always be with you.” 
—The House at Pooh Corner by A.A. Milne

3/15/15 Blue Suede Shoes, Ducks and Ice Chunk Graveyards

            Even if we gave you one hundred chances to guess what we did last Saturday, you still might not think of it.  Our district includes eight branches close and scattered, and for the district party celebrating women's day all together, our district president asked Mike if we would dance for one of the numbers. At the Institute's Valentine party we had country danced to one of their popular songs with a good beat - and apparently president was among those who stepped in to watch.  That kind of dancing is a novelty here.  I do like to dance, but was not even a smidge excited about that assignment and a little surprised Mike was so willing to do it, but he doesn't turn down assignments whatever they are. The fun part was practicing during the week in the evenings - but practice and prayer paid off.  We changed into levis for the dance, they turned on Blue Suede Shoes, and it went well even though we were on a carpeted "stage," which is the podium area of church - good sized, they just take down the front panels that divide it in meetings for those who sit on the stand. The older people were enthusiastic and the youth were most likely just surprised that people our age could move that fast. And it seemed to open some doors - members who were friendly but reserved, came up and were warm, smiling and holding a thumbs up, which seems to be a universal positive in every language.

We had one other part to do, so asked one of our members, who is enthusiastic and comfortable in front of a group, teach the line dance, Cotton Eye Joe, to a group of guys he called up from the audience - it was great.  He came equipped with cowboy boots, a dress coat that looked Western and a hat.  We kind of showed him the dance last week, but mainly went to the video on You Tube where he learned it and added to - they don't do it with nearly as much class or pazaz as he does.

Sunday's are difficult sometimes just because that is when I really notice the communication barrier.  Often a missionary will translate for us in Sacrament Meeting, but for Sunday School and Relief  Society the sister missionaries go to the class their investigators go to.  In Sunday School we can kind of follow the lesson because of the scriptures and in  Relief Society I do  have the manual in English.  There are usually Elders in Priesthood so Mike is good there.  As Mike has said, sometimes we ache to be able to hear their thoughts and stories, to know how they feel and what they think, to understand those things that make them laugh or be very serious during a lesson.  He is doing better on the language study than I am.  Once we got over here and I finally got into tenses and conjugations and making all the words in the sentence the right tense because if one word changes often the other words change -- enough said,  I think I will have to content myself with simple sentences and knowing the names of the spices and leave the conversation to Mike.  I'll never be accused of talking too much over here.  And, speaking of grocery shopping - you find all sorts of things you didn't plan on finding - and probably don't want.  And it was in the canned fish section, just passing by, not an area we shop in.  However, if we had to pick, we just might take the cat over the canned fish.

We have a duck pond of sorts over here - just a bit more inaccessible at this time of the year.

 Nature is amazing all the time, these ducks are just as content as if they were in a nice warm pool.  And it makes you understand the statement ..  "like water off a duck's back" .. because you never see beads of water on their feathers.

The small kind of storage sheds at the side of the apartment building playgrounds usually have pictures painted on them, very often the story book characters from home.  Children, always accompanied by an adult, play even when it is freezing cold.  They might be bundled so much they can hardly bend their arms, but they can still do lots of fun things.  The apartments where we are, are pretty small and the kids and probably the adults like being out .. but also here they feel it is imperative to good health to have time out of doors. 

Thought you'd enjoy this bus sign .. it goes on to give you the fines you could have if you are not traveling with a valid ticket.  We wondered if maybe David Stratton with his skill and good spirit of always wanting to help people get their finances in order, had contacted the bus company over here.   

Even though the temperatures are still in the low 30's and the "Ice Chunk Graveyards" where everyone puts the ice they chip off the sidewalks are still there, the sun is melting the ice from the sidewalks so walking is much easier.  (Our district leader and his fresh from the MTC companion)

 Thought you's like to see this one .. at least now they have a path to go up the stairs.

We're so very grateful for Skype where we can see and talk to our our amazing grandchildren, always in our hearts regardless of distance, as they grow up.  

Just some short thoughts from some recent meetings:

A translated comment from an 8 year old who was just baptized - "I want to become a friend of Jesus so he can help me stay on the path." 

Having faith in the Lord includes having faith in His timing.

When Nephi is bound by his brothers in  1 Nephi 7:17, his prayer is for strength to break the bands, not just that the Lord take them away.

And the last one for today from President Ezra Taft Benson:  When obedience ceases to be an irritant and becomes a quest, God will endow us with power.

 Grateful for you all !!  

3/8/2015 A Poem, A Fall, A Hospital and Holiday Flowers

Who Are You Boy?

(Poem to a missionary from a Russian Convert 2009)

Who are you boy?  

From your land of plenty

Teaching of God if there is any.

You have all, we have none

Do you know what that feels like son?

And yet, you ask me to believe

In something that I cannot see

Some force you say will bring me joy.

Do you know what that feels like boy?

Where you are from, faith is free

But it has a price for me.

When I have pain I have my bottle

Hurt dies quick when you drown it in vodka.

That's enough to warm my soul

I work, I sleep, the days go by -

I am waiting for the day I die.

you don't understand this place

You say believe, obey, have faith.

Live life well, serve and give

Here .. we just live.

Who are you boy? Why did you come?

To save a soul who once was numb?

To teach a wretched, hateful man

Who cursed your help, refused your hand.

I thought that we were worlds apart.

So, how is it you knew my heart?

A fraction my age, you calmed my rage.

Mercy paid my generous wage.

I should have been left behind

It is hard to love my kind.

Hope in your heart, power in your hands

Why did you come to this distant land?

I know now, it was for me

The curtain fell, but I was not free

Until a boy from nations away,

Brought me my Lord, I bless the day

He led me to weep at my Master's feet,

The American boy I met on the street.

New and naive, still in his teens

With a message to bring the world to its knees.

I thought that the truth would come from another,

I did not know this boy was my brother.

Had a fun fall this week.  We were just coming back from getting some groceries.  As we came down our sidewalk, just before the gate, there was ice on the sidewalk that continued and sloped down the gutter, then to the road .. just enough of a down slant that when I slipped and went down, I was kind of tipped to the right on my backside, my nice slick coat served as a sled, and I just kept sliding several more feet... actually it was kind of fun and I wasn't hurt - we always count that as one of our miracles.

Sorry we don't have a picture - but if you painted this bear black that is probably just how I looked. :)


We had another opportunity to go a closing on one of the church's humanitarian projects, this time a children's tuberculosis hospital.  From Mike's writing: "Two months ago we went to this children’s TB hospital to take pictures of the furniture they were requesting funds to replace.  One of the items was a bed stand, for each of the 20 cots that now had no place for each child’s personal storage.  We took pictures of the old desks, chipped counters, cupboards and tables long past due for a big outdoor bonfire, and then we were given permission to slip quietly into the rooms where children were sleeping, covered completely.  It was an emotional moment as we almost reverently moved among the small sleeping covered mounds to take our pictures.  

               Then yesterday we went back for the closing visit,  met again with the doctor and his head nurse - they have both been there 17 years.  They were very appreciative, and we were invited to have cups of chai (herbal tea), cookies and chocolates, but at first there was a formal meeting and the doctor gave us a colored certificate of gratitude for the Church’s generosity.  We took pictures and shook hands, then the nurse led us from room to room, showing us the clean desks, marble counters, large new dining tables and the bedside stands, one for each child.  We were pleased with what the church does and could sense the genuine gratitude of the staff.  But the scenes that gave life to our visit were the children, the bright, happy children, from 2-5 years I’m guessing.  At the dining tables they were smiling and waving to us, posing for our pictures.  They come to this hospital for six to twelve months to be cured, although the effects are always there.    For each of us there was, I believe, the temptation to sit up close to them, read a Russian version of “Cat in the Hat” and hug them – such innocent, bright eyed children.  

               It was our final stop before returning to the doctor’s office (like a business office, not a patient room) and the herbal tea and chocolates, when we happened on an open door framing a nurse dancing with tykes perhaps 2-3 years old.  They were circling the nurse to the rhythm of the music and we distracted a couple of them who seemed curious about these visitors, as fascinated with us as we were taken by them.  We filmed them to be able to refresh our memories of their beauty and happiness, but I’m sure we recorded the tender scene in a more permanent place in our hearts.  We are sure there are many times in their lives that everything is not so good.
(Before and after pictures are posted below.)

Before 

After

Before 

After


Before

After

These are the beds, now with new bedspreads and new nightstands,  the before picture had children in the beds and although they were completely covered, we can't post the picture.  We were impressed with the staff and the love and care they show the children.

I'll copy two different explanations for their March 8 holiday:  "March 8th (восьмо́е ма́рта) is also known as the International Women's Day (Междунаро́дный же́нский день). This holiday emerged as a political celebration to symbolize the fight of women from all over the world for their rights, full equality with men, democracy and peace. As the time passed, the political motives of the holiday moved to the background and March 8th simply became a women's holiday in Russia and other republics of the former USSR."

"8 March – International Women’s Day - In today’s Russia International Women’s Day has nothing to do with the feminist movement for protection of women’s political rights. On this day women enjoy being taken care of by their men and children. 8 March is kind of a combination of St. Valentine’s and Mother’s Day. It is a wonderful day of womanhood, love, flowers and indulgence. Being aNational Holiday in Russia International Women’s Day is free from work."

We saw men of all ages walking and on buses, carrying flowers.  They have to be fresh and given in odd numbers - even numbers of flowers are only given at funerals.

(side note - the book you see in the bottom left of the picture is Mike's word book; our bus trips give him time to study - some trips more than others)

Interesting, we saw lots and lots of the yellow flowers.  They are from the mimosa tree - the ones he has in the top picture above.  We found out that it is the traditional flower to give because years ago when, because it is still very cold this time of year, they didn't have and couldn't bring in fresh flowers the mimosa tree was the first blooming and had these flowers.

There are cars and stands everywhere selling them, some have the other flowers too - a few roses and some tulips.  This car was on our way from the bus to our branch building this morning.

It has been warmer - mid to high twenties - but enough the ice is starting to melt enough that some of it is gone when it refreezes during the night so there are more dry spots on the walks.  The next week is supposed to be in the low thirties, so more ice will clear from the walks.  There are higher piles now in the "ice chunk graveyards" that line the sides of the streets because the ice is easier now to chip out.
It has been a great experience already for us.  Even those times we feel the longing to have our grandchildren "on our laps instead of our laptops," we would not be anywhere else and are very grateful to our Heavenly Father that we are able to serve.  Our lives have been touched for good by the saints here, by the missionaries and by the people.
There is in Moroni 7 verses we always like for the conviction and comfort they bring: 35-37: "..has the day of miracles ceased, or have angels ceased to appear unto the children of men?  Or has he withheld the power of the Holy Ghost from them?  Or will he, so long as time shall last, or the earth shall stand, or there shall be one man upon the face thereof to be saved?  Behold I say unto you, Nay: for it is by faith that miracles are wrought and it is by faith that angels appear and minister unto men...."   (Hebrews 11 is also a good chapter on faith)
So, signing off for this week with what my youngest sister always ends her emails with ..."Onward and upward."    Grateful for each of you.

03/01/15 Warmer but Colder, Tree, Another Taxi and Lots & Lots of Ice

     The weather is now up and down through the twenties and even sometimes in the low thirties - but it actually seems to be colder when we are outside, quite a nip to the air; and no matter what direction we are walking, the breeze is always in our face.  We haven't found the scientific back-up, but maybe it will fall into a similar category as that of my theory that water here isn't as wet as water at home, evidenced among other things by how fast the clothes dry on our drying racks and how quickly you can dry off when you get out of the shower.  It even takes less time to dry my hair.
    We see a lot of people walking with their dogs in a variety of outfits - this is one of the less elaborate ones but since they were walking away, we could get a picture.  Some of the dogs, and they do have nice dogs (that I don't get close to anymore) will have on a complete outfit even with booties or foot/paw coverings of some kind.
 
     We've been taking our pictures to develop out to the only place we had been able to find - 20 minutes on the bus and a short walk, the same to pick them up.  But without any notice, the whole store closed about a month ago.   Then we learned that one of the missionaries knew of another small photo place that is only about a 5 minute walk.  Plus there is this great crooked tree we get to walk under.  The pictures are two rubles more, but they develop them while we are there so in fifteen minutes we're on our way.  The first time we went in, we were looking around trying to figure out what to do, and a tall man about our age turned and said slowly, enunciating every word, in accented, but very clear English .."Perhaps I could help you..."  and he did so the people there knew what we needed - he seemed to be a long time customer.  He didn't know a lot of English but enough to get us started so we can go back the next time and know what we are doing.  Mike showed him a brochure on the church, but he said politely he wasn't interested,  he was satisfied with the Orthodox church he was attending.  Still he gave us his phone number and name in case we need help again sometime.

      This week's taxi ride .. we were gone from our apartment about 15 minutes and were stopped at a light when another taxi driver rolled down his window and kept pointing at the front passenger door where Mike was sitting - friendly, not shaking a fist or anything.  So when he could, our driver pulled up on to an empty snow covered sidewalk, got out and walked around.  Mike was also getting out to look - the driver smiled and kind of shook his finger at Mike, who apparently hadn't fastened the belt on his coat so it didn't make it all the way into the car and was hanging out the door and dragging along the slushy, muddy road. (as a side note, the snow no longer looks a root beer float color - it is dark brown/black and dirty.)  Mike was going to take the belt out of the loop so it wouldn't make anything else muddy, but our driver put on his glove, took the belt and slid it between his fingers hard a couple of times so it slushed the mud and ice off into the snow, then he took time, using his glove and some clean snow, to clean it up more and wipe off Mike's coat.  Then he smiled - kind of waggled his finger at Mike again (he's maybe late  20's) - got back in the taxi and off we went.  How nice is that.  We were trying to envision that on a busy American street.  Over here they don't take tips, but Mike put extra in and just handed him the money folded up when we  got out.
     This is a picture of trees along the way - they aren't covered with snow or ice, just are a wispy white - really beautiful.

  We found a dry cleaner - a member of our branch works there.  Interesting trip to get there - about a 20 minute walk each way, more if it is icy.  The first time we tried the door at the address that should have opened off the sidewalk,  it was locked.  Then we found out you have to go past it, and down through an arch and then through the door in the wall on the right of the picture.   Those are apartments you can see at the back.  It is a good cleaners and between us and the missionaries, we are already earning discounts.  However, at first glance you might feel you're headed into an illegal card game [maybe with the Woods girls - feel free to ask them the story behind that :)].

As the  snow and ice melts and refreezes, little at a time they are starting to chip it off, not little chips, big and huge chunks.  This is to the right of the driveway as you come out of our building - we couldn't quite get the depth to show on the second picture, but it is 10-12 inches thick, you can see the colors of the different layers.  The circle in the middle looks like water, but it is all ice.

 .

Below, between the car that is parked and the car driving away, there is a small pile of chunks of ice that have been cleared to the side.  We tried to get a picture of one of the larger piles which can be about 3-4 feet high and a lot wider where they stack the ice after they break it up off the sidewalks and in between the parked cars.  There is one fenced area to the side of the road on our way to church that has huge piles of snow and now ice chunks.  We're quite impressed with some of the city services.  There are a few cars, by the way, that have been in the same place since all the snow and ice came.  The owners must reclaim them when everything melts, certainly nobody could steal them. 

 This is where the cars park at our church building, you can see the ice ledge there.  And you can see how dirty the ice is getting.  Guess March is still supposed to feel pretty cold, even if the temperatures are better.

 We serve soup or pancakes or something every Wednesday night before Institute because many of those that attend come directly from home or work and don't have time to go home and we don't want them to go home and not come back.  Serving Taco Soup here, with chips, cheese and sour cream - one of their favorites. They are appreciative each week, no matter what we serve.  Or they are complaining with a smile and we just don't understand the words.  We do enjoy them.  A couple of weeks ago when we came, the building wasn't open yet - it always has been before, so there were five or six outside waiting.  When they saw us coming across the street, they grabbed notebooks and papers, held them up like picket signs and started chanting (and laughing) ''Mormons go home...Mormons go home".  In light of the recent picketings and problems it was pretty funny.

We had the CES Fireside with Brother Ridd tonight - they sent us a link to download the translation, so we took the laptop over and got it to work - today's miracle, or at least one of them.  There weren't a lot there, maybe 11-12, and they laugh and chat and catch up on everything before it starts.  But once the program starts, it is quiet and they are listening.  They are very reverent and attentive during those meetings that are spiritual (same when they take the sacrament).. and they are a lot of fun at parties that are supposed to be fun.  These pictures before it started are pretty tender, such a small group, yet fiercely loyal to the church.  (They like to sing and grabbed hymn books as soon as the first song started in the fireside.)   

It was our oldest granddaughter's (Aaron's Allison) 18th birthday on the 27th, here with Michael (brother), Riley and Taylor (Stephens) - she is on the right -  Each day from my reading, I pick a scripture and write it in my notebook for that day.  I didn't notice until the next day, but the scripture on her 18th was two more 18's -  3 Nephi 18:18, a good scripture for her as she heads off to school and good for all of us:  "Verily, verily I say unto you, ye must watch and pray always lest ye enter into temptation; for Satan desireth to have you, that he may sift you as wheat.  Therefore ye must always pray unto the Father in my name;"  

And the last thought for this week - The people here have a great saying for everything. Here is one we heard this week:  The less you know, the better you sleep.