January 18, 2012 from Stacy

We have met with a couple of less-active members this last week who we enjoyed meeting. One sister, Anotina, is a seamstress and had repaired Elder Ross' suit pants so we went and picked them up. She loves to cook and talked to us about some wonderful Russian dishes she wants to prepare for us. We are hoping to go back next week and help with that. Her husband Uri was there, too. An interesting thing about him is that his voice sounds EXACTLY like Darth Vader, and he wasn't talking through a voice enhancer! I shared a spiritual thought and then Anotina offered the closing prayer. There was such a wonderful spirit in the room as she humbly bore a simple prayer. We would love to see her come back to church and hope that warmer days will help her weak knees be able to do so.

We also met with Ana and her family who live in Old City.  Ana is Armenian.  She is married to Karin; they have two children, a 12-year old boy and 8-year old girl.  Ana has been a member for a couple of years but hasn't been to church for a while.  She did come with her daughter this last Sunday so that was awesome.  We had an instant connection with her and know we will grow to become good friends.  Her first language is Armenian and that is what she speaks in her home.  We have found the Armenian people to be so friendly, and she is no exception.  Her husband has recently lost his job after 20 years so they are down on their luck right now.  They graciously offered us herbal tea and fruit, a common custom here, which was very nice.  This is the first family we have visited who live in a single dwelling.  Karin expresses interest in the church but has for some time.  Maybe his current situation will provide an opportunity to become more humble and want to make a change for himself and his family.  

We had our second Family Home Evening with the Young Single Adults (YSA) last night.  Our attendance doubled from the previous time (from 4 to 8) so that was great!  We played a couple of games, one of the YSA  prepared a spiritual thought, and we ate a disgusting cocoa fudge cake (all the recipes are trial and error here:)).  Our goal is to have 15 YSA attending regularly by the end of the year.  They enjoy being together and have said it would be better to meet every other week instead of once a month.  So I will search for better treat recipes along with ones you can eat with your fingers!  Every spoon and bowl in the house was used!

We had some additional guests for Family Home Evening last night, as well as for dinner.  The Area doctor and his wife were in our area touring medical facilities.  The zone leaders, who are assigned in our city, called and asked if this couple could come over and stay for FHE.  A couple of their appointments had fallen through, and they didn't want to just go to their hotel for the rest of the day.  Of course!  Come on over!  The elders didn't have time to wait for me to cook dinner (hmmm, what to fix at the last minute?) so we gave them a PB&J sandwich while throwing together pasta goulash for the rest of us.  Not soon after, the doorbell rang, and it was the elders from our neighboring city and their investigator arriving for FHE--an hour early and just in time for dinner:)!!  So two for dinner quickly turned into 7, and we experienced the miracle of the two loaves of bread and five fishes!  We ate what there was with enough to spare (knowing that everyone would have eaten more if they weren't so polite).  Sister Sartori, our Mission President's wife, mentioned to me when we arrived the principle of being flexible, and I'm learning to embrace that!

We have had quite a bit of snow in the last couple of days--6 to 7 inches, and it is still flurrying.  We have seen many fender benders and cars being towed out of places here and there because they get stuck.  This is the first substantial snowfall since we have been here which just adds to the piles.  It doesn't melt so the piles that are here have just remained here from whenever they had snow last.  I braved the storm to shop for an electric hand mixer, rubber spatula. whisk, fridge magnets, and wooden spoon.  My exciting find was powdered sugar!  It is not easily available in the stores!  I have a member and her mom who speak English and are always so willing to help us.  They take us on our shopping sprees because they know where to go to find things.  It's not a one-stop shop here like WalMart!!!  Actually, it's just business as usual here.  Moms are out with their kids on sleds and babies in strollers.  You don't wait for a nice day--they're all nice!!!  I have become quite fascinated with the snow babushka in front of our building.  From what I can tell, she chisels and shovels snow from about 5:30 a.m. until 1:30 p.m. every day.  She has a hoe-sized tool that she uses to pound the ice which is a good 6 or seven inches deep.  One day she cleared an area of about a 4-foot square.  Today you can't even see where it was.  She uses a common snow shovel just like the ones you have hanging in your garage to shovel snow from the street.  If there's just a dusting of snow, she sweeps it with a broom.  I don't know how she holds up day after day; my back aches just watching her!  None of the sidewalks are shoveled or plowed.  We wear our "Yak Traks" over our boots to help from slipping, but it can still be real slippery.  Elder Peterson says I walk like a turtle, but I'm paranoid of falling and breaking something.  So all of the snow has been nice because it has made it much easier to walk around.

Elder Peterson has been working diligently with the District President and his council here to put together their plan for the year which includes, in large part, strengthening the non-existent home and visiting teaching program in the three branches here.  We are working towards and praying for a miracle.  It is the hope that the members will "catch the vision" and that we will be able to rescue some less actives.

We are staying warm, fed, and happy!  We appreciate the love, prayers, and support we feel from all of our family and friends at home!  We really do feel it!  We love you!

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