29 July 2011

Such wonderful news.  President and Sister Sorenson are returning to the mission.  After going to the U.S. for a couple of weeks for medical testing, he is on the mend.  Such a blessing to the mission.  Elder Neuenschwander has been taking over while President was gone and we have learned to love him and know what a great person he is. Today we had a Mission Conference and he taught us all how to achieve our goals in life.  It was a good lesson for all of us.
Our grand dog Penney is lost.  She ran away on the 24th because of the fireworks. So I miss her clear over here in Russia. 
We are doing great.  On the 27th we celebrated being in Russia one year.  What a difference a year can make.  I got out my journal and read it and the memories of arriving and the first few weeks came flooding back quickly. But it proved to me that I can do what is right even when it is so hard you think you can't.

Elder Bruev's birthday so we are singing Happy Birthday to him.
Elder Neuenschwander, and AP'S Elder breedlove and Elder Nielson.  And of course
photos on my desk.

Elder Bruev's birthday

West Mission invited us to go to lunch with them
to welcome their new office couple the Lukengeys.
They are the couple on the end on Gene's right.

On a clear day there are some beautiful sunsets

Elder Lex, Elder Jenkins, Yevgenny and us.  He was baptized
and we are so happy.  He has becoame a very good
friend here.

Elder Page, Yevgenny and Elder Jenkins.

Nachos that we make for dinner sometimes on the weekend

Elder and Sister Hawkins who we love.
They were the West Missions office couple
and they just left for home Tuesday.  We will
miss them.

After Mission Conference our district came to the house
for District meeting.  They wanted to cook.  So the
Elders made Pelmeni and the Sisters made an Olivia Salad and
I baked a cake and Elder Spoerri made brownies and we
had vanilla ice cream.

This is Peleme (I do not have a clue how to spell it) but you
pronouce it Pail  em  eee.  Little like a pot sticker.  These
had ground beef in the middle. First of all they made the dough
and what a process.  They had to knead it until was hard, then roll
it up like a thin snake and then cut it in spieces and then we
made circles with the little pieces, filled one circle with the
ground beef, folded it over and pinched it together well and then
did a fancy fold on it after that.  Then then put them in a pot
of salted boiling water.  Lots of salt and as soon as they floated to
the top they were done.  Eat them plain, or with mustard or with sour
cream.  Guess which I chose?  You are right..plain..and they were the best.

Sister Marty taking pictures.

Olivia salad.  Potatoes, pickles, eggs, a meat similar to bologna.
peas, cucumbers and mayo.  Little like our Potatoe Salad. It
was so good.

Finally time to eat. Elder Palmer, Elder Jenkins, Elder Gronning,
Elder Spoerri (loves Elder Gronning) Elder Hansen (loves coke)
Sister Trunova and Sister Martychanova..that is why I call
her sister Marty,

Seniors at Pizza Hut

Do you love those two heads? After we finished eating at Pizza hut
we walked to the Central Building where we have our senior
council.  We discuss things that need to be addressed and talked about and we
have a spiritual lesson.  It was Gene's turn to teach it and he
taught it on gratitude.

Visa trip again to Riga.  This is the view from our
hotel window,  Such a fun, old city.

Another view from our window

We found an ice machine.  We have not seen one
of those since we left home.  We were so happy. And
it was like crushed ice.  Did you ever think you would
appreciate something so small?

Sunset in Riga

I love a pretty sunset.

Another pretty view from our window.  We have walked
down that street every time we go to Riga.  It takes
you into old town.

Specialized trainning the day after President and
Sister Sorenson went to the US.  He had blood clots in
his lungs and they thought some other problems..  But after
many test they have the blood clots taken care of and no
other serious medical conditions that would prevent him and
Sister Sorenson to return.

Two of our favorite people.  Elder Budd and Elder Lex.  Elder
Lex was teaching us at this meeting and he had a tee
shirt on under his white shirt that said 15.  The goal was
to get 15 baptisms this transfer,  That is why his tie is un-done.

Elder Neuenschwander asked us to come to the departing
missionaries dinner.  This was a mid transfer and with President
in the US the Neuenschwanders had to take over.  They did
a great job.

05 July 2011 Summer in Moscow

Summer is here and it is quite warm.  I think that the humidity makes it feel warmer.  I know it makes my hair look like its been in the water fountain mists.  All frizzy and fuzzy and wet and curly and crazy.  But we did not get to enjoy much summer last year because of the awful heat and smoke.  So it has been fun this summer to notice more of the pretty things around.
All of the senior couples have been sick with some bad cold, cough and fever.  We have it also but are finally feeling better.  We slept the entire weekend.   
President Sorenson has been quite sick.  He has had blood clots in his lungs and has been in the hospital for about 5 days.  He just came home today.  But we are sure he will still be down for awhile.  So we will all pitch in and get things done.  But we miss him and we were very worried about him for awhile.
Big news is our first grandson Cody received his mission call on Thursday.  He waited until Friday to open it so we could all have a group skype call and be part of the excitement.  For us that was 6am Sat. morning.  But we were ready to get up and be part of all the excitement and fun..  Big surprise....Washington D.C. South Mission.  For some reason he felt he would go forgein so he was a bit shocked..as we are all when we get our calls.  But it only took us all a few minutes to realize that was the perfect place for Cody to go.  He will be there during the next Presidental campaign and he will probably have some great opportunies to talk to people about the (Mormon) religion.  We love the NE.  Gene and I love the history and beauty of it.  Cody will too.  There is a blog armiesofhelaman that tells a lot about his mission.  If it is possible we hope to stop by and see him on our way home while we are still missionaries.  A photo of us all.  That would be so great..  Needless to say, we are excited and proud grandparens.  And we can hardly wait for him to expierence the joys and blessings of a mission.  He will be the best missionary ever.  And more good news is that our little Shellie survied the pioneer trek.  It was pretty hard on her.  She has leg and feet aches a lot and she is very small.  So we were so proud of her and her father said she shared her testimony about it in Sacrament meeting and it was wonderful.  She said it was a good expierence and I think she would go again.  Once the blisters on her feet are better and her sore and chapped lips are healed.  We love her.  And the next news is that we will be grandparents of another grandchild, thanks to Mitch and Sonya about the first of March.  Sonya says she cannot keep it a secret for very long.  (Like a week or two) We love her too..But we are very happy about that news. That will make no 12.  Right now we are at 8 girls and 3 boys.
Our mission is moving forward as a stake.  As of last Sunday we had 3 bishops.  Each Sunday a new bishop is made until they have them all.  It is exciting.  But it is also a big teaching and learning expierence for these Russian saints.  They have no idea how to do many things.  Enter the Temple recommentds, process missionry applications, organize the youth and single adults activities and so on..but they are ready and willing to learn. 
The mission is wonderful and it is a wonderful time to be in Russia and watch the saints learn to serve and do all things they need to so they can function as a stake. Love it so much.  I will post pictures.

Happy Fathers day from all the kids.  If they had not told us it was Fathers Day we
would of not known.  We celebrated man day in March,

West Mission packing up to move missionaries on
transfers.  Sometime they go by plane or train.  Their mission
is huge.  The size of it probably compares in Utah to NY.

One of the funny little busses we ride to church in Z-Grad.  This
was a very rainy day.  Appreciate your cars and conviences. We had a long walk after
we got off the bus so use your imagination how we looked.

This is 11pm at night.  It just is not dark around here.  I think that is why
Gene and I have both been sick again.  It is hard to get enough sleep.

Another 11pm view out the window.

Pretty little flowers amonst the weeds on the way to
the office.

I love the little blue ones.

More pretty little white flowers.  We did not see these last
summer but they probably could not grow in the heat and smoke.

Two cute new office elders.  Elder Bruev and Elder Page.
They are both doing a great job.




This was the sunset riding the bus home about 10:15pm
the other night.  It was really pretty.

 

Another picture of the sunset.

Pretty purple flowers by our apartment.




The big white envelope for Cody.Who would
of ever guesses Washington D.C. South?

 



Cody and Melissa submitting his papers. We are proud of her and the
suppot that she is to Cody.





Shellie made it home from trek.  A little dirty and beat up.



Ouch!!!

Oh grandchildren are fun.  We love them all..Can't wait to see them again.