31 Oct 2010

Happy Halloween
They do not celebrate halloween in Russia other than teenagers have parties and dress up and drink. But no trick or treating.  Would be impossible to go to apts that are all locked up by many doors.  Maybe we need to teach them trunck or treat.
The week started with a nice package from Michelle.  Lots of brown sugar,cream of tartar, poppy seeds,scentsy candles, hot pads made by Grracie and Sadie and pictures.  When we walked into the office Moday morning it was sitting on my desk and I was so excited.  The elders do not bother to put it on Gene's desk..they know who gets the most excited.  I just love to get letters and pictures and packages. It keeps me happy.
Then we had a surprise for Elder Hansen on Monday morning.  We had Brother Conlin who is working here for the church, bring a violin over with him when he went home for a visit.  The Sorenson's have a friend who is lending them the violin while they are here in Russia.  There son got it to Michelle and then Michelle got it to brother Conlin.  It is not easy to get things to Russia.  You have to look for ways to do it.  Anyway Elder Hansen plays the violin very well and he was so excited.  He will play at Christmas time and many other events. He is going to play for senior night at our apt on the 18th of Nov.  I told him that would make brother Conlin happy.  He had a very hard time getting through customs with it.  Brother Conlin does all the senior things with the senior missionaries.  His wife Geri was here for awhile and she will be back at thanksgiving time.  We love them..Such a cute couple.
We were walking out from the food court on Thursday night which our senior night and we were all walking and talking and having a great time.  I was kind of in the first group and I totally missed the 3-4 stairs in front of me.  All I could see was a revolving door as I was trying to get my balance and I missed it by a fraction of an inch.  The couple I was walking with just held their hands to their mouths and said Oh thank You Sister Gronning we did not see those stairs either and we would of fell right down and hurt ourseleves.  thank you for being the one to fall off them.. Both of them have some physical problems.  Sister Carpenter has had 2 knee replacemnts and now something is the matter with her hip.  It just looks like it is so painful to walk.  In fact when they put in their mission papers the doctor told them they could only serve in the states,which did not make Elder Carpenter happy because he knew he was suppose to go to Russia...and I guess the Lord knew that also.  Anyway, little miracles everyday and many guardian angels.
We had a pretty big snowfall this week but it did not stick to the ground for to long.  Here comes winter.  We better get ready.
Hope all of you are doing good and know we miss each of you every day....Gene and Marcia
Please keep us updated on things that are happening in your lives.  We need to know those things.




Elder Hanse was so happy to get the violin. We are excited
to hear him play



What is this?  Where did this come from?

Senior night

It is snowing

It was wet and cold

Halloween pictures, school pictures and hot pads made
by Gracie and Sadie

Stove top for thanksgiving and tummy pills for after dinner

Lots of brown sugar..No brown sugar in Russia..there is brown
sugar but it looks like white sugar and is not good

Gracie drew granny and pa...I luv my skinny legs!!!

Sunday 24 Oct 2010

Happy Birthday to Jule and Gracie this month.  Gracie turned 9 yesterday and we skyped with her.  She had a fun birthday.
It has been an eventful week.  Wonderful things, spiritual things, scarey things and fun and new things.  But I am going to try to sum it up as short as I can.  Monday was sister Sorenson's birthday.  I baked a cake and they ordered pizza and we had a little party.  That was the fun thing.  Tues we went to district training most of the day and learned so much.  The young missionaries are wonderful teachers.  And Pres sorenson taught us well also.  I guess you are never to old to learn. That was a spiritual and fun thing.  That night we went to our branch in Zelenograd to meet with the sister missionaries who were teaching a young investigator sister.  Her name is Anastashia and she was such a nice girl.  The church here in Russia is just in such an infant stage that the people have to be taught like you would teach a small child.  They know nothing.  All she knew is that she felt so good around us and wondered why we all looked and felt so happy and she felt that way to when she was with us. She kept asking us if we had dreams in our church. It was just a wonderful expierence to be in on the teaching part a little.  We miss that in the office. That was a spiritual thing.  It was about 9p.m. when we left the branch and we had 2 busses to catch to get home.  So we walked to the first stop and just as we got there the elders came running up and said we are going the office elders apt to spend the night so we are going to ride home with you. (Office elders live across the street from us.) So we all got on the bus and rode to the next bus stop.  Starting walking to our 2nd bus and the elders said we need to fall behind you.  Do not look back but a man has been following you before you got on the first bus. Of course I looked back and got in trouble but he did not look like a nice man.  When we  got to our bus stop the bus was there and waiting so we all ran across the street and jumped on the bus and he did not continue following at that point.
That was a scarey thing.  Then on Wed we did our first visa trip to Riga Lativia.  You leave on your passport that you came with and then you return on your 2nd new passport and that renews your visa for another 90 days.  Kind of amazing how that works.  But also kind of a pain.  But that went smooth other than no one ever started boarding a plane.  About 15 min before it was time to leave Riga everyone got up and started going upstairs.  Gene said,  "I think we better follow the crowd" Something we teach our children and grandchildren not to do...but we did and it was a gate change.  The language can really be challening at times. That was a new thing.  Thurs we were coming home from senior night late on the metro and a drunk man got on and decided to bother Gene.  A young girl had given me her seat and she was standing by Gene.  He wanted to bother her also and Gene kept moving in front of her so he couldn't.  He was all but skin to skin next to Gene.  Right in his face saying things, who knows what?  I was sure Gene was going to loose it but he didn't.  I was proud of him.  Sometimes it is good to not know what they are saying.  Anyway that finally came to an end when he got off and we got off and went different directions. That was a scarey thing.
Today after church we meant with the elders and an investigator.  Again a wonderful expierence.  This was a young man and he was not real eager to learn but yet he kept asking questions and didn't want to stop talking.  So we will see what happens with that.
What a week!!Full of all kinds of expierences....Maybe this next week will be a little more uneventful.
Know that we appreciate your prayers.  That is how we make it through the tough and scarey times.
Love to all of you...Gene and Marcia

Sunrise from the office window

Elder Kasalis and Elders Callister AP'S to the
President.  they brought Sister Sorenson roses

Happy Birthday

Alexander is the driver for our mission. He
brought Sister Sorenson a beautiful rose
and a plate from Russia

Sister Sorenson loves him and he takes good
care of her driving her many places.

Training.  the lder is lifting a heavy weight
by himself for 5 minutes and it was way hard.

With help we can acomplish big and hard things

Missionaries standing and singing to the branch
sisters who prepared lunch at the training.
they do this each time.

Plane to Riga on a very rainy day for
our visa

Gene is cutting a big chocolate bar into
pieces for chocolate chip cookies.  No
chocolate chips here but this candy bar tastes
really good.

Sunday 17 Oct 2010

Another week gone by.  On the 12th we hit our 3 month anniversary.  Other than so homesick for everyone especially the little grandchildren, the time has gone by very fast. This week was transfers and we said goodby to Elder Croese in the office and welcomed Elder Grover.  We will miss Elder Croese so much. We had a final office picture taken and we all had on renic items.  The Elders in their alike red ties and me and Sister Sorenson in our alike red scarfs. Ties were $3.00 each and scarfs were $12.00..but they will keep us warm in winter. Last Monday he and Elder Hansen had us over for dinner.  We had such a good time. We went over to do their apartment inspection and we were invited to have dinner with them.  Elder Larson and Elder Page came over later and we all visited.  Just a cute bunch of elders.  We even got to hear about girlfriends.
We always enjoy English club on Wed night.  It takes us about 1-1/2 hrs by bus to get to it and the same coming back.  That makes it a late bus ride..We usually get home around 9:30p.m.  But it is a great way to meet people and let them share of our love and happiness. A few have come into the thought after club and listened.  They would really make  good Mormons.  But they have a lot of family pressure here.  The church is so young and not many want much to do with it. One of the boys told us he just loves to come and be with us all and has so much fun but that he loves his religion and just does not want to change.  Sometimes he walks with us to the bus and he is just so nice and friendly and he speaks pretty good English. It is really one of our favorite nights of the week.
This Wed we will do our first visa trip.  Our visa's are only good for 90 days then we have to leave and return on our 2nd passport with a new visa.  We are going to Riga Lativa as courriers to pick up some passports there.  Since this is our first time we decided to make the trip as quick as possible.  Just a little nervous about leaving the country and getting back in with the documents...language of course..but they tell us we can find people that speak English.  So we will fly over at 3p.m. and meet the man with the documents and then turn around and come home on about an 8p.m. flight and get to Moscow at 9:45p.m.   Maybe the next time we will stay overnight and see a little country.  Seniors can stay one night on their own dollar.  Flights are payed for. But it might be to cold..we will see.
Well from Russia where we have already had snow flurries and the temperatures are in the 30's we say goodby until next week...Gene and Marcia

leaving for the office on a cold morning and this is
my new coat from the renic

Goodby Elder Croese the tall one..such nice Elders we love them

Office photo notice ties and scarfs

We love President and Sister Sorenson

There are bars on the fire escape at the office.  No one had a key to unlock
them.  So we will burn.  Not really the office next to us had it hidden.

Sister Gale got transferred from our district.  She has the most
beautiful voice we have ever heard.  We will miss her too.

Sometimes the Elders just have a good time.

All our fun missionaries in the Zelenograd district

This is Anya and Deema with Sister Gale.  They are both members and are

dating each other.

Sunday 10 Oct 2010

Time again to blog.
Thanks to those who left comments.  We love to read those and hear from friends and family.
We had conference this week by satelite.  So we got it one week after you.  We went to the branch to watch it on the little T.V. They had it in English in one room.  In that room there was us, the missionaries and the branch president.  There was 1 hr between sessions and all the missionaries had just brought bread and peanut butter and cheese and cucumbers and they all made sandwhiches.  In Russia they eat cucumbers on their sandwhiches.  Cucumbers, cheese, meat and mayo.  We actually kind of like it. But it was so nice to watch conference with the missionaries.  They are such young and good servants of our Heavenly Father.  they are such good examples to me and Gene. We just love them all.  Conference was very good also.  It seems like a lot was said about being thankful.  In our letter to our children we wrote the quote from the prophet that you never know how close it is to being to late.  And how we forget or keep thinking we will say or do something and then it is to late.  So we say thank you to all our family, friends and realatives for your prayers for us.  Some days are very hard and some days we are very lonesome and homesick and long to hold our grandchildren close to us.  But because of all your prayers we make it through those days.  And we are so thankful for our good health that lets us serve.  There are many who are not so blessed. We are thankful we have been blessed to be able to come to Russia and serve.  We are loving our mission.  Each day in Russia something new happens.  This week in English club we had a fun time with the kids we teach English to. They brought their instruments and we had a little concert.  Loved it!!! We were with a couple on the subway who gave a Book of Mormon to a girl they were sitting next to and that was exciting. Today riding the bus and walking to the branch it was a beautiful morning.  We were so thannkful for the pretty blue skies and the trees that are atarting to turn colors.
As you can tell I did not want this blog to be like a vacation blog.  After last week I decided this blog needed to be a little more on the spiritual side.  So I hope you can feel that and know how much we are enjoying  Russia and being in the service of our Heavenly Father.
We look forward to next week.  Transfers are on Thursday and we will get a new office elder and Elder Croese will go out.  We will miss him so much.  He has taught us a lot.  But he has been in the office long enough and we are happy he gets to out and teach and be among the people in Russia.
So we will begin a new and exciting week tomorrow.
We love you all and thank you all again for your support and prayers..
Gene and Marcia

A special little present from Michelle..Motrin, Ex Strength tylenol and candy what more could a person want...luv her

English club Dima playing for us

Both these boys names are Dima and they both played that all button accordian..it has another name but I can't remember it

For the grandkids..This is Shrek inRussian

A beautiful Sunday morning walking to the branch to watch conference

Walking down the path to the branch

Watching conference

The cute missionaries.One with mask is the one missing his teeth and the missing elder is the one with the tooth that got stuck in his head and he had to have it taken out.  It got infected so he had to stay near the hospital.

Elder Cordoza made his own recipe for poppyseed cake and it was really good.

Lunch time in between sesseion.  Russians love cucumbers on their sandwhiches

Elder Nielson just had peanut butter on bread..Sore mouth. Elder Paige ate a chunck of cheese.

Sunday 03 Oct 2010

What a week.
It has been a week of accidents for the missionaries.  Poor Pres. Sorenson has made many calls to parents.
And of course we are still without a doctor in the mission.  We are hoping for one in Dec.
We had a new elder arrive on the weekend and on Tues he ended up with a terrible rash all over the top of his body.  They think it is an allergic reaction but they gave him a shot and are hoping he feels better.  Then we had one elder hurt his shoulder playing sports and was taken for an MRI we haven't heard the results of that yet.  Then Elder Morgan broke his nose playing sports and on Fri night two of our elders ran full speed into each other playing soccer and one lost his two front teeth and one tooth was stuck in the other elders head.  We go to the SOS clinic for medical help.  So we gave them a lot of business this week.  And the week before a senior sister fell going up the stairs in the subway and she had to have 5 stitches in her knee. So we are justing waiting for the annoucement ,,,no more sports..we will see.
Gene and I have had a good week.  It has been rainy the first part of the week and it was very wet going on busses and to subways. The weather got a little better towards the end of the week but cold.  The high is probably in the low 40's. On Saturday the elders took us to the renic to shop.  That was so nice of them.  We shopped and really got the expierence of a renic..kind of a flea market,but huge.  Going there we went through one of the subway stops that was bombed.  Point of interest.  At the renic we bought ties for
$3.00 so Gene got ten and I think each of the elders bought about that many.  They called it tie heaven.  Then they helped me bargain for a coat.  So I got a nice dressy winter coat.  They wanted 250.00 for it and they got him down to 150.00.  Coats are so expensive here.  Elder Hansen also bought a coat. I bought sheers for the living room window..Fun time shopping.  Then we went to Starlight Diner for lunch.  It is all American.  So good!!We loved it...It felt like home.  Then on to Red Square where we walked around for about an hour.  Such a beautiful place and so much history.  We left at 10am and got home about 8pm and we still had to walk to the grocery store and do some shopping.  Very long day, but a very good and fun day. We do love those elders and all they do for us.  They are the best.  Sunday we went to Zelenograd to church.  The government has not turned on the heat there yet so it was freezing cold.  We all had to keep our coats on and then we were still cold. I think we need to invite the government to church!! Thank good ness it is turned on in the apt.
It was a good week and we look forward to next week..
From Russsia with love..The Gronning's...Gene and Marcia
E 

Special pictures sent to us from Gracie

Special card from Clay, Gracie, Callie, Sadie and Courtnee

Happy granny by my desk with all the cute pictures

$3.00 ties at the renic

The elders call this tie heaven

Bridge where just married couples seal their love

Many trees like this on bridge where couples love is locked

Elder Hansen, Elder Croese and Elder Gronning

Elder Hansen, Elder Croese and Sister Gronning

Entering Red Square

One big burger at the Starlight Diner

Lamb Burger

American food..so so good

Standing in the middle of Red Square throwing a coin over shoulder and making a wish

St Basil Cathederal

Red Square

More Red Square