2/7/16 Comfort, Russian Blue, Snow/Ice, Brownies, Blocks and President Hinckley

First - and thanks to Ned Mikkelson, here is the video we've been trying to post!  It is fun to see the respect the friends and family have for those who brave the cold water.

        As Mike has said - it seems that everyone has a story, and all of those touch our hearts and remind us of the personal care our Father takes of each of us.  Wednesday afternoon the elder's brought an inactive sister probably mid to late 50's who they think was somehow offended, and so has not been to church for about 6 months; yet she is one who comes every week to help clean the church, feeling correctly that you show your love for your Father in Heaven by the things you do.  Her demeanor at first was accusatory as she talked of those who "take the sacrament every week but don't help other people, and don't allow 'down and out bums' in church."  Not sure what makes her think that because we have all kinds of investigators.
      We had prayer and began talking again, but now she was quieted a bit and a better spirit was there as we talked of people not being perfect and most often not meaning an offense.  The Elders then talked of the importance of coming to church and taking the sacrament and by the time she left there was a peaceful feeling.  She even said she would try to come to church.  (Sunday note - she did come today and was welcomed by many.) We're hoping that leads to coming back to church for good.
          But, to her story.  She married young and  had her first baby at 19, a little boy.  The doctors told her the baby did not live, but she was never allowed to see the him so she always felt they had taken him and sold him, which apparently was not completely uncommon then.  Over her lifetime she had wondered and often,  she said,  "asked God to let me know if he was OK."  They had two more children and she and her son and daughter joined the church in 2000.  When her children were at the temple in Helsinki, Finland some years later - she was at home - she was praying and had a quiet confirmation and the comforting knowledge that her baby had died at birth, that he was fine and that she would see him again.

We are so grateful for the comfort the Holy Ghost brings.   From lds.org:

 He is the Comforter (John 14:26). As the soothing voice of a loving parent can quiet a crying child, the whisperings of the Spirit can calm our fears, hush the nagging worries of our life, and comfort us when we grieve. The Holy Ghost can fill us “with hope and perfect love” and “teach [us] the peaceable things of the kingdom” (Moroni 8:26; D&C 36:2).

   I had the Fun Fact for one of the District Meetings so went to that knowledge-filled source,  the internet (which the young missionaries can't use) for Russian Fun Facts and found The Russian Blue Cat, which we have only seen a couple of, but they really are beautiful cats.  They are considered a "royal breed" and as legend goes were kept as pets by the Russian Tsars who liked their "plush fur coats and vividly colored eyes."  They were considered to be a good luck charm and stories are told of a Russian Blue healing a sickly Russian prince and tsars placing the cats in newborns' chambers to ward off evil spirits.

                                                               
Their famous coat of fur is in fact a double coat.  It is thick and plush and shimmers with reflective light.  The undercoat is soft and downy.   The topcoat can be a soft black, but usually is a shade of blue with silver at the tip which gives it the trademark fur color.  Their eyes, another stand-out feature, are normally a vivid green or yellow in color.  They are also called Archangel Cats because they are believed to have come from the Archangel Isles in northern Russia, and in the late 1800's were taken, probably by sailors to Europe - specifically Great Britian.

   They are a natural breed of cat, not coming from cross breeding and also don't have many health problems.  But the best is .. in the Tom and Jerry cartoons, Tom Cat is widely believed to be a Russian Blue because of his blue-gray fur.  How fun if a fact is that.

The ice is starting to melt so it will begin to slip off the roof with the new snow on it.  It is quite pretty, also can be quite dangerous if there are chunks of ice mixed in with the snow.  This almost looked like a lace ruffle.

 The view from the sister's 9th floor apartment 

It is really fun to see what people here do to have fun with the not so fun weather - here someone has cut these stairs into the huge pile of ice and snow.

The two young ladies in the picture below, Dasha a member for about a year and a half and Alyona,   a little over a year was baptized since we've been here.  They attend university here and are roommates now.  They have been in and out of our apartment for various activities and for lessons with the missionaries.  They asked last week if I would teach them how to make cookies.  It is kind of funny that anyone would ask someone with my level of cooking skills how to do anything.  However, it is also true that, over here, the blessings for me in that area have truly been poured out, answers to prayer being the main source, with the internet and recipes and food from home other sources, and I'm grateful.  The other lady, Ulia, and late thirties is the one whose husband was in Moscow on business about five years ago and had a heart attack while there, I think we've mentioned her before. We used to see her quite a bit, investigator of sorts, just a good woman, with an absolutely delightful personality, but she hasn't been around for several months.  Just recently she has been more in our prayers, wanting to be able to make contact again before we left.  Dasha "just happened" to run into her, they knew each other from activities at the office, and Dasha emailed us to see if it was OK for Ulia to come too.  Amazing how prayers are answered.  It was a fun afternoon, we made brownies and are going to try to get together when we can on Saturdays.  Ulia is a very good cook and has agreed to teach us some of her special dishes. Dasha and Alyona speak quite good English, Ulia continues to get better. She and her 16 year old daughter often watch English movies with English subtitles so they can learn more.

 This is a good example of not "judging a book by it's cover."  These pears have splotchy green and brown skin - the brown is kind of rough.  We probably would never have tried them, but Ramon, the mission driver, picked some up a few months into our mission, and brought them with the other food to a Zone Conference.  They are the absolute best, imported from Serbia and we just figured out, are called a conference pear, interesting since it was at a conference we first tasted them.  The seeds are tiny and not very many per pear, but we're saving them for Mike to try when he gets home .. if it works, we'll make sure as many as can will be able to taste them.

Referring back to the story at the first, here, as everywhere else, we find people who have been offended for one reason or another - although sometimes they can just be excuses not to come.  There is one mother the elders recently talked to (our missionaries have been concentrating some of their time each week on inactives) whose last time at church was about five years ago.  The reason she doesn't come is because her son, about 5 at that time and in Primary, was hit in the head by a block that another child threw, so she determined it wasn't a safe place for her child to be.  (just for interest - the red letter that looks like an "A" on the bottom row is a D, the yellow letter next to it is an F, the spidery red image on the side of the top block is a "zhe" like in pleasure.

After finishing the Book of Mormon in the missions 65-day challenge, we started Jesus the Christ, reading aloud together 15 minutes each night.  It has been a "don't-have-the-words-for" experience.  It moves amazingly quickly, almost reads like a novel and the testimony we have of Him has deepened as have our testimonies of the truthfulness of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.  It has been a happy time, even though sometimes it is hard to be so far away from home and family but that is no different than so many others who serve.  Everyone likes President Hinckley's story of his father's reply .. "Forget yourself and go to work."  And the song .. "Because you have been given much, you too must give."  And we have been given much -- grateful to all of you who have added so much to our lives and the lives of our children and for the people from here from whom we have learned so much.

So closing with another favorite thought from President Hinckley:

 

1/31/2016 Tender Mercies, New Patriarch, More Snow

  Our hearts are always touched at the tender mercies in seeming small things.   Saturday was one of those extra busy days where, although assignments and responsibilities didn't overlap, they were too close in some cases.  We came from one with barely enough time to get out to Solnechney to a baptism.  We knew it would be close, needing everything to fall into place exactly, which it never does when it involves taxis and traffic.  But, feeling it was important that we were there, and there in time for the program before the baptism, we asked our Father again for help, and the help came.  The Elder's called the taxi and it was here within minutes, the first time ever for us.  The traffic wasn't as bad as usual, still we seemed to move ahead slower than we needed.  But, although most drivers have a hard time finding the Solnechney chapel, this driver went right to it. And, finally because of a couple of complications at the building, the baptism was late starting, within a few minutes of when we got there.  We felt the comfort of his help and we are grateful.
     This is one of the few long time member families - their 8-year old daughter was the one baptized, and their oldest son, on the left, is preparing for a mission. The mom often is the translator when people are visiting from Salt Lake, also can do sign language.  They are all active - and lots of fun.

 The two in the middle are sister missionaries, the other two are members, the one on the left helps with the Institute teaching - an excellent teacher.  The Bishop's wife is in the pink.

 Andre is in one of our Singles programs - we have known him almost since we got here, is an active and involved member, but this is the first time we've met his mom.

     Always have liked this story on prayer about a little boy who, the week coming up to his Saturday birthday, always prayed that it wouldn't rain on his birthday and his older brother kept telling him his prayers wouldn't make any difference.  If it was going to rain, it would rain.  Saturday came - and so did the rain.  His older brother was quick to point that out "See, Heavenly Father didn't answer your prayer."  But the little boy trustingly answered..."Yes, he did, he just said No this time."

Apparently this video didn't play in the last blog, so will try again ..

Elder Plettig, our German elder, took this picture from his apartment window.  We have been told that it is a mirage - like a desert mirage, but this is in the sky when there are certain cloud conditions.  We never cease to be amazed at the beauties of our world.

We walked down to the park - lots and lots and lots of a type of crow.  For any who have seen Alfred Hitchcock's The Birds, it could be a little scary with so many and their cawing.

The trees, all wrapped for winter, look like a row of the KKK.

Some even shovel their roofs

 No matter the snow, no matter the cold, one of the delightful things about children is that they can find something to make it fun.  This is the side of our building where they have stacked up the snow from the parking lot - full of snow, dirt and ice chunks.

 This is his snow cave, it goes down and in and then back up to a hole to get out on the other side.  

        Another fun place.  The snow is scraped up into piles at certain places along the sides of the walking street which goes about four or five Salt Lake City blocks.   Stores line either side with a walking area in the middle about the size of a highway lane. These boys were laughing and pushing and playing what we used to call "King of Bunker Hill" in my growing up days,  with the one at the top trying to keep the others from getting up there.  ("I'm the king of Bunker Hill .. I can fight and I can kill" - how do you think those words would go over in today's world.)

In places the snow looks like soft brown sugar ...

 And some cars won't get out until spring.

 Someone asked - so this is the stairway up to our apartment.  It looks kind of rough, and is cement, but actually it is great -  one of our blessings - the stairs are smooth, each an even height and the stairwells are warm.  We are on the 4th floor and can take the 54 steps or the lift (elevator).   Mikkelsens, in Odessa Ukraine, are on the 4th floor, 57 steps we thought Ned said - and no lift.

Since we're looking at building things - In the sports complex walkways, they have a strong vinyl flooring with a wood look finish.  When there is a tear, they go down up and down the inside and outside of the tear with a tool that seals it - almost looks like it is nailed, but it is not.  Pretty clever - looks like a fancy design unless you get down close, although no two designs are the same.

           Elder Neuenschwander was here to train our new Stake Patriarch, Nikolai Vasilev who was also the first Russian sealer in both the Helsinki, Sweden and Kiev, Ukraine temples.  They were planning another temple mission and haven't been able to get everything lined up - suspect the need for him in this new calling is the reason.  (Below - Elder Neuenschwander and our very good friends, Tatiana and Nikolai Vasilev.)  Elder Neuenschwander, a Seventy then, was the one who came to reorganize the Mesquite Nevada Stake after President Whipple passed away.  He is now one of the church Patriarchs that comes to Europe and spends a month or so traveling around to give patriarchal blessings.  Everyone came here for dinner and that is always fun.  We didn't even need a translator this time since he speaks fluent German, Russian and of course, English.

 Elder Neuenschwander, President and Sister Schwab, Waites, Vasilevs & President Reshetnikov

No molasses, but we tried a cream/honey recipe for taffy.  It turned out OK - I didn't cook it long enough because the first time we tried it I cooked it too long .. maybe next time I can get it right.  And they don't have candy thermometers here, so that isn't an option.  But Maxim and Lina enjoyed it anyway, hadn't seen anything like it before.

An old heating system on top of a building by the church - still works.  They follow the saying we've heard President Packer use - use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without.

Mike has been able to do some teaching - with the help of the elders - for the mid-Single Adult class that meets on Sunday and for the older Single Adult class that meets on Tuesday nights and he enjoys that.   He is helping now to train the new clerk in the ward we belong to - remember Mike is clerk in the ward we don't belong to and thanks to John Gleave and the help center in Salt Lake continues to learn how to do what needs to be done.  It is kind of funny because sometimes in the training they have to go back and forth from the English to the Russian screen .. they use the Russian screen most.  He also continues to add things to the history time line and we are trying to get as many of the old pictures as we can.  This is of the first songbook they had in Russian - just a few hymns - but they were so very grateful to have it.  The ladies in primary are wishing they had more of the children's songs translated into Russian  because there is so much teaching in them.

A quote from Elder Christofferson on something I've been studying - not necessarily understanding, but still fun to learn.

Elder Christofferson - This personal persistence in the path of obedience is something different than achieving perfection in mortality. Perfection is not, as some suppose, a prerequisite for justification and sanctification. It is just the opposite: justification (being pardoned) and sanctification (being purified) are the prerequisites for perfection.
And a good scripture to go along with that:

2 Nephi 31:19 And now, my beloved brethren, after ye have gotten into this strait and narrow path, I would ask if all is done? Behold, I say unto you, Nay; for ye have not come thus far save it were by the word of Christ with unshaken faith in him, relying wholly upon the merits of him who is mighty to save..
 20 Wherefore, ye must press forward with a steadfastness in Christ, having a perfect brightness of hope and a love of God and of all men. Wherefore, if ye shall press forward, feasting upon the word of Christ, and endure to the end, behold, thus saith the Father: Ye shall have eternal life.
 21 And now, behold, my beloved brethren, this is the way; and there is none other way nor name given under heaven whereby man can be saved in the kingdom of God. And now, behold, this is the doctrine of Christ, and the only and true doctrine of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, which is one God, without end. Amen
   Grateful to you all -- 

1/24/16 Bulldogs, Snow and Icicles, Basketball, Epiphany

We were just a little too far and the bus started moving, but it was very plain to us and pretty exciting. If you look carefully, you can see the VVHS Bulldog sticker (white) at the bottom of the window.

I went with the sister missionaries for a lesson with a lady who was baptized later in the week.   They have short, very narrow side streets that go from the sidewalks and take you back to areas that have small homes.  Some doors open right off the street as you see on the left below.

 The little turn in to the new member's home comes right before the pole you can see at the right.

this is the other side as we were walking out.

They usually offer you tea - chai - and the missionaries always carry herbal and fruit tea just in case all they have is the other, but these were aware of the Word of Wisdom so had this good fruit tea.  It is funny sometimes when the missionaries say how much they like the tea - as they stir in spoonful after spoonful of sugar.  Also, when you visit, they often have a little snack fixed.  I confess I'm not too adventurous in that department.  Mike actually does better than I do.

When we see all the icicles I always think of my mother - one of her favorite things.  These weren't  really long as some are, but they were huge around, much more than they look here.

 These are always pretty - just nice rows of icicle teeth.

We went over to watch some of our singles and other members play ball .. and at a break when they were changing the court from basketball to football (soccer) one of the bishops who was there bounced the ball over to Mike - 

 nothing but net !!! 

 and again (missed a few too)

       We respect their traditions and are grateful for the times we can be observers.  Last week we walked down to the Volga for their celebration of the Epiphany.  To the Orthodox Church January 19 marks the baptism of Jesus.  The larger crowd was at midnight, but they were still coming and going when we were there.  Below is a brief explanation which is better (and shorter) than mine would have been. 

         The Epiphany, celebrated in Russia on January 19, marks the baptism of Jesus in the Orthodox Church. As elsewhere in the Orthodox world, the Russian Church conducts the rite of the Great Blessing of the Waters, also known as "the Great Sanctification of the Water" on that day (or the eve before).  The priest-led procession could simply proceed to the font,  but traditionally the worshipers would go to a nearby lake or river.

          Believing that on this day water becomes holy and is imbued with special powers, Russians cut holes in the ice of lakes and rivers, often in the shape of the cross, to bathe in the freezing water. This practice is said to be popularized comparatively recently; it was fairly uncommon in the czarist days, but has flourished since the 1990s.

          Participants in the ritual may dip themselves three times under the water, honoring the Holy Trinity, to symbolically wash away their sins from the past year, and to experience a sense of spiritual rebirth. Orthodox priests are on hand to bless the water, and rescuers are on hand to monitor the safety of the swimmers in the ice-cold water. Others limit their participation in the Epiphany rites to those conducted inside churches, where priests perform the Great Blessing of Waters, both on Epiphany Eve and Epiphany (Theophany) proper. The water is then distributed to attendees who may store it to use in times of illness, to bless themselves, family members, and their homes, or to drink. Some Russians think any water – even from the taps on the kitchen sink – poured or bottled on Epiphany becomes holy water, since all the water in the world is blessed this day. In the more mild climate of the southern city of Sochi meanwhile, where air and water temperatures both hover in the low to mid 10 degree Celsius range (50 degrees Fahrenheit) in January, thousands of people jump into the Black Sea at midnight each year on Epiphany and begin to swim in celebration of the feast.

 This was the only one we saw actually swim.  

The bridge looks white - with that, the sky and the river you can see how cold it is.

 This hole was cut out of the ice - and just has ice and snow at the edges.

They say the water isn't that cold, but it is cold when you get out, and we can certain attest to that, even when you are not dripping wet.  "not that cold" looks pretty cold to us.

It is a happy time. Most have family or friends there who are wrapped up in full winter gear, waiting with towels and robes, proud of the one who has demonstrated their faithfulness. It is fun and tender to watch families and friends as they take such good care of and make a fuss over the one who has made the spiritual recommitment.

Getting ready to go in .. 

the steps have to be freezing cold and icy - this was a second hole and seemed to be lined on the sides and ends  (you can see the little icicles along the side below the blue)

 Doesn't take long to get in 

 or out ..

This young lady was the only who seemed to have to talk herself into it .. and there was none of the three-time dipping business ..once the young man was out,  she quickly went down the stairs and slowly into the water, went under only once, then almost bounced out and  didn't even try to hide the shivering. 

we might be willing to try it at Bunker's pond in the summer.

Here's a link if you want to see the celebration in other cities in Russia.  We liked ours best, seemed more of a family and friends time but these are good too.

   http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-35356053

 Always grateful to be able to be here.  

And to finish out this week's blog - a couple of thoughts:

From a talk by Elder Gene R. Cook Of the First Quorum of the Seventy From a BYU Devotional Address May 29, 1984.  The Power of Faith

      I suppose no one knows, but the reality of the power of faith cannot be denied. In the face of all opposition, trust in the Lord. Even if the opposition continues almost beyond endurance, continue to trust in the Lord.

          Life is a struggle. But the promises of the Lord are sure. Major problems and decisions face all of you. But they are all solvable if you will rely on the Lord.   The Lord really is the answer to it all. He’s the one who can unleash your potential and teach you who you are and what you ought to do.  In conclusion, may I make these few suggestions that will help you stay close to and trust in the Lord:

1.    Pray to Him, continually seeking revelation throughout the day. (See 2 Ne. 9:52.)

2.    Read His scriptures daily, even if only for a few minutes. They will give you direction in this world and teach you of the world to come.

3.    Exercise faith and keep the things of the Spirit as the first priority in your life, then all else will be appropriately added.

4.    Seek to do His will, not your own, humbling yourself and repenting or changing your life as needed.

5.    Love others; serve them. Feed the Lord’s flock.

6.    Keep the commandments with exactness.

And from President David O. McKay:

“Let me assure you, Brethren (and Sisters) that some day you will have a personal Priesthood interview with the Savior, Himself. If you are interested, I will tell you the order in which He will ask you to account for your earthly responsibilities.

First, He will request an accountability report about your relationship with your wife (husband). Have you actively been engaged in making her (him) happy and ensuring that her (his) needs have been met as an individual?

Second, He will want an accountability report about each of your children individually. He will not attempt to have this for simply a family stewardship but will request information about your relationship to each and every child.

Third, He will want to know what you personally have done with the talents you were given in the pre-existence.

Fourth, He will want a summary of your activity in your church assignments. He will not be necessarily interested in what assignments you have had, for in his eyes the home teacher (visiting teacher) and a mission president (Relief Society President) are probably equals, but He will request a summary of how you have been of service to your fellowmen in your Church assignments.

Fifth, He will have no interest in how you earned your living, but if you were honest in all your dealings.

Sixth, He will ask for an accountability on what you have done to contribute in a positive manner to your community, state, country, and the world.”

― David O. McKay