Happy Thanksgiving week Sunday 21 Nov. 2010

Well the week started off great with another package from home.  Michelle keeps us happy with all the love she sends in her boxes.  So much good stuff.  Then we got three letters from home.  Callie, Sadie and Courtnee.  So that was a great way to start the week.
We will miss Thanksgiving in Russia.  We are having the missionaries in our branch to our apt for
Thanksgiving dinner.  Sister Sorenson was able to get each senior couple a turkey through the American Embassy.  They are not huge but at least we will all have the smell and taste of turkey. Should be fun.  We are suppose to have them back to their apts by 5p.m.so it will not be real long which is probably good.
This week we had our zone conference.  We do enjoy them.  The Zone leaders, and the AP's do most of the teaching.  We just learn so much from them. We love to listen and watch them teach.  You have to be a strong missionary to serve in Russia because the majority of the people do not like you to much.  So we think we have the cream of the crop here.  We always hear from President Sorenson and that is always wonderful.
One of the branches prepared lunch for us.  Wed was our English club night and it was fun as always.
Thursday night was our turn to host senior night.  We had it at the office.  We ordered pizza from downstairs and then Elder Hansen play his violin for us and Elder Grover gave a short message on being prepared. It was a fun night also.  Saturday we went to the mega mall to find some things for Thanksgiving.  I needed a pan for the turkey and a pie plate.  The bus was so crowded and the traffic so bad that it took forever to get there.  And the same coming home.  The only fun thing about that event was we found Burger King and we really enjoyed a whopper. But we got the pans and went home.  I think the malls are already getting busy for Christmas.  This morning we woke up to lots of snow.  They tell us once it snows hard and gets cold the snow will not melt until spring.  So I think we are going to get our first taste of winter in Russia.
We wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving.  You have so much to be thankful for.  We are thankful for all you and your support and prayers and the love we feel from you...Gene and Marcia

Beautiful sunset from the office window Monday night

I gets dark about 4:30 so we walk home in the dark. What
a georgeous sunset this was

This is our zone.  We are the north zone

Elder Nielson was taking some heat for his pink
tie so he decided that we matched and should have
our picture taken together

They patched all the holes and footprints
in the sidewalk. Now it looks like the street..
not cement

Another package from Michelle..

Look at all the fun things.  Eye drops, gravy mixes,
cake mixes cards and pictures..The red licorice was gone
that day.  The elders love it.

Elder Hansen playing for us at senior night.
Elder Grover made a cute music stand.

Another fun thing, pictures from Callie, Sadie and Courtnee

Burger King at the mall

Ice skating at the mall

Beautiful Christmas Decorations

Welcome to Winter

Missionaries singing at zone conference.
Not a very good picture..