August 19, 2013

Dear family,

We have had a great week. Monday evening we were invited to have dinner with Ivan, our driver, and his wife Anya. They have a one year old daughter, Paulina. They are both returned missionaries. Anya served in Hawaii! a very unusual call for a russian missionary. They live outside the city in a country dacha. It was about a forty five minute drive. They are so proud of their house and consider it a miracle from The Lord that they are able to have their own house. It is what we would call a duplex, because they share a common wall with a neighbor,but the two sides dont really match at all. It is very old and we would call it decrepit but they have worked to make it homey with curtains at the windows. The floor is covered with vinyl flooring and was very clean, but underneath it must be rotting away because it is very uneven and smooshey. There is one front room that doubles as a living room and a bedroom for the three of them, a small area with a dining table and a piano and a very small kitchen, about 5 feet square. The walls are wooden boards which they have covered over in some places with wallpaper. We had a very simple meal and then a wonderful family home evening lesson that Anya had prepared on faith. Pauline played between the four of us as we talked and shared our testimonies.

On Wednesday we went with several senior couples to help administer the qualifying exam for entrance into the Pathways program. It is offered through BYU Idaho and allows people to get a university degree through an accredited American university. We have a group starting in September in Perm, and now we are hoping to start another group
In Yekaterinburg. We had 20 people show up to take the test and almost all of them passed. The test is an English test to see if they can handle the coursework which os all in English.

Thursday I cooked a nice dinner and we invited the three other senior couples in the mission to come over for the evening. One couple, the Mengs, have served as our office couple, and will be going home next week. We will struggle along until Eric's parents, the Bennett's arrive in November. We are surely looking forward to having them come!

Friday we traveled to Chelyabinsk. The road that seemed so outrageously bumpy the first time, did not seem to be quite as bothersome. I'm pretty sure they haven't done anything to flatten it, so I guess I'm just getting used to all the bouncing. We attended the zone meeting and then went out to work, me with sisters and Dad with elders. I went with the sisters to teach a thirteen year old girl who came with her cousin who is a member. She radiated such a sweet spirit and wants very much to be baptized, but is afraid to ask her father. Her uncle is a strong member, and teaches seminary. He is going to help her ask. Saturday we split with the other two companionships. It was the hottest day I've experienced since coming, close to ninety, and the windows on the buses are all nailed shut!

Sunday was a wonderful day and we really enjoyed seeing people that we had actually met before. This was our first return visit to a branch. I can certainly see how much we will grow to love these people. It was so great to see the woman who was baptized the first time we came and meet with her and feel how strong her testimony is becoming.

This week we are in town and preparing for our mission leadership council next Monday and two zone conferences Tuesday and Thursday. Elder Malm from the Europe east area presidency will be a visiting authority. There is a lot to do and be prepared for.

We miss all of you and thank The Lord daily for the incredible blessing of our family. The members who have seen our family picture often tell us that we are rich, and they are not referring to monetary wealth, but to the beautiful and loving family they see in the pictures. It is so true and is all that matters in this life

Hugs!!!
Mom