Dad and I were in the "refrigerator" section on the airplane from New York to Moscow--we were on the exit row with lots of leg space in front of us, but it was also very cold. I was glad to be wearing my Russian boots, smart wool socks, and layers of clothing! Needless to say, we didn't get much sleep, but the 10-hour plane ride went by faster than I was expecting. We were greeted in Moscow by two sisters (not missionaries, but wives of men who are employed by the church and live in Moscow) who helped us exchange some money and load our luggage into a van to take us to the US Embassy where we had to apply for a second passport.
We only had to stop once to let dad up into the front seat because he was getting car sick. The driving in Moscow was crazy!! The traffic is the worse I've ever seen, even compared to NY or LA. Lots of stop and go and jerking around and nauseating gas fumes. I guess after 15 hours on a plane it just got to him. We have to get a second passport in order to leave the country every three months to renew our visas and not have to stay out of the country for an extended period of time. We go out on one passport and come back in on another. On the way back to the airport, the driver stopped at McDonald's so we could get something to eat. First meal in Russia--McDonald's!! Then we had a six-hour wait in the airport before our flight to Samara. We worried about getting our luggage on w/o high costs for weight; but fortunately, dad had his Delta card which enabled us to check three of our bags for free so we only had to pay for one bag which the church will reimburse us for. So it all worked out!
The mission president and his wife and the two AP's met us at the airport just after midnight. We were so happy to see them, and they gave us such a loving welcome! We have such great love and admiration for these leaders who are so busy and function on very little sleep! They had to go again last night to greet another elder coming from the Ukraine at 1 in the morning. We needed to be at breakfast at 8:30 in the morning the day we arrived, after going to bed at 3. Sister Sartori made a wonderful breakfast for all of us. So we are staying here at the mission home until tomorrow, Friday, before we head to our assignment in Toliatti. Yesterday, President Sartori interviewed each of us (me, dad, the three new elders, and a new sister); we were trained in the programs of the mission; received instruction on our finances, rental lease, etc., etc.; Sister Sartori showed me some of the foods that are good and safe to buy and spent some time talking about her family; we had Subway sandwiches for lunch with all the missionaries and the new trainers who had arrived from outlying towns; I squeaked in a 30-minute nap; and then we had dinner with the President and his wife and the office couple. I could barely keep my eyes open during dinner! I was asleep by 9 and wide awake by 3:30 in the morning--it's going to take a while to adjust!
The mission home is very nice. The president and his wife are in one apartment, there is a second apartment which we are staying in and where the general authorities and others stay when they visit, and the office in the basement. The furnishings and accommodations are very comfortable and nice. President Sartori calls it "The Ivory Tower." They brought their prelit Christmas tree from home which adds a wonderful spirit. We haven't seen much of the surrounding area yet but will see a little more as we attend zone conference today and tomorrow at a church building here in the area. It is mind boggling seeing the work that is required to have missionaries serving here, an evidence of the importance of this work!
Christmas is not a big celebration here. There are very few decorations around. The sisters who met us in Moscow told us that Christmas will seem just like any other day here. That will be weird! The big Russian holiday is on New Year's Eve when they exchange gifts, stay up all night. I'm sure the Americans and missionaries celebrate Christmas traditionally.
There is a lot of snow here. The temp was 34 or close to when we came in the other night so that wasn't bad. It was 10 the next morning! The apartment building is kept very warm; we even have to open the window to sleep. I'm sure we will be experiencing the Russian cold weather soon!
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