Sunday 20 March 2011

Life is so busy here is Russia.  It is a good busy.  But not much time for blogging or other things that do not pertain to missionary work.  We are doing great and enjoying most every minute that we are serving.  We are having so many expierences that we will never forget and would not have if we were not on this mission.  And the blessings are the best.  We recognize many in our lives and in the lives of our children.  Because it has been so long since I have updated this blog and will post pictures and then tell about them..But make sure you have a lot of time.  Very long...But there is alot to say and to show.









This is what the snow looks like after collecting all winter.
We have made it up to 32 degrees Farenheit.  But not
much melts until it gets warmer.





This is our district from Zeleongrad.  They came to the office for District meeting so that we
could be with them and also President Sorenson was there.  Elder Gronning bought
Pizza for them.  Of course they loved it.

Beauatiful flowers for women's day from President Sorenson

Womens day is March 8. It is a very big holiday.  Schools and work close.  They buy present
for all women and girls and have parties and celebrations.  This was a party at the branch for womens day.
We had so much fun.  We loved it

 Tiesha is talking a mile a minute to Elder Gronning and
Sister Knudsen is doing the translating.  Oh how we wish that
we could talk to them.

 Tiesha is 86 yrs old and she taught herself how to play a 7 string
guitar.  She also writes her music.  If you look close at her
music you can see she has written it.

Children singing song MaMa,  Two little girls on the end are twins.

Elder Morgan played You are My Sunshine.

Sisters singing the song MaMa.  They take their singing
quite seriously.

 Brother playing the button accordian.

Cute little family sang.  Anna standing sang a solo and her sister Masha
played the pan with drumsticks and it sounded so good.  They
are very talented.

 Anna playing a piano solo.  She is very good.

 Elder Hansen and Elder Bogdonov singing karioke.  (How do
you spell that word?) The little boy in front of them was
baptized last Saturday.

 Elder Gronning enjoying the Karioke.  They would really sing with it. Not shy!!

 And then they danced and danced.

And how cute is this?  On Womens day the office elders were not
in the office.  So the next day which was their P Day they
came to the office and on bended knee gave me this beautiful rose.
I love them so much.  They make my mission happy.

 Here comes a package from Michelle.  This is what the box
looked like when we opened it.

 And then things just kept coming out and out.  We could not believe
so much was packed in one box.  Notice how she packs.  She puts pills in
ziplocks then unfolds the boxes and lays them in the bottom.

 Happy St. Patrick Days to us from Clay, Gracie and Dane and Michelle.
It was one yr on St. Patricks since we received our call to Russia.
We for sure thought it would be Ireland where it came on
St. Patricks Day.  Not quite Ireland!!!

 Specialized training.  This is the Sister Misssionaries, Sister Jones
and Sister Barash giving a lesson on using all the tools
you have to get goals accomplished.  Sister Carlson was trying
to arm wrestle Elder Bogdonov and of course she could not win.

So she brought out all her tools and she got it done quite easily.
Cute lesson.

Elder Croese and Elder Hansen came over for one last dinner before
they go home.  They were both suppose to go home next week,
but Elder Croese had a death in the family so he went home Sunday.

 We will miss these two so much.  They literally saved us the first weeks
of our misssion.  They taught us everything we know and we
love them and always will.

Elder Hansen and Elder Morgan baptized Daniel last Saturday.  He is from
our branch and it was a wonderful occasion.  We were so happy
to be a part of it.  We will always remember our 46th anniversary was spent
in Russia at a baptism.  How great is that?

 His famiily

Elders singing song with children for the baptism program. 

 Our beautiful anniversary flowers.

 And jsut as we were ready to sit down and eat Elder Gronnings's
phone rings and the elders say we are at your front door.  Can you let
us in?  We were in our pajamas we had just got back from the
baptism in Zeleongrad..it was about 8pm.  So he said wait a minute till
we change our pajamas.  So he goes to get them and their they are again
on bended knee with a rose for me and chocolates for Elder Gronning.
They just make being on a mission so much fun!!

So the rose was added to the anniversary flowers and it just matched perfect.
Then they stayed and we all had Taco soup together.  It was also Elder
Lex's birthday..so we celebrated together.