June 3, 2012

We have had a good week.  We were able to be in Samara for a combined Zone Conference.  Our mission driver was due to pick us up at 3 p.m. on Monday to ride with another couple to the mission home.  He called us at 1 to say he was here.  Yikes!  We didn’t get the memo!!  We hadn’t packed, eaten lunch, nor baked the cookies I wanted to bring.  It’s the story of our lives here…FLEXIBILITY!!  So we threw our things in a suitcase and left without lunch or cookies.  We walked to KFC as soon as we got there and then called another senior couple who live in Samara to come over and play a game.  Instead we just visited and shared ideas.  We get together so rarely that it is more fun to just get caught up and visit. 

Our Zone Conference was a one-day conference this time on Tuesday.  One of the things we enjoy most is seeing elders who have been transferred from our area.  Since we work with four companionships in our district, that adds up to quite a few missionaries over a period of time.  As we have mentioned before, we grow so attached to these great young people.  It is like seeing one of our own children again after being separated for awhile.  We always love seeing our “trainers,” Elders Bullough and Woolley.  They are the first companionship who found our apartment for us, showed us our neighborhood, and taught us to work hard.  It is also fun to see these elders teach each other.  We talked about effectively using the baptismal interview questions, better using the “Area Book,” and working with our members and branch presidents.  President Sartori focused on the importance of our own personal conversion.  We cannot be effective missionaries without first having our own conviction of the truth we are teaching.  Of course, the conference is concluded with a testimony session which is always a highlight.  We appreciate our interview with President Sartori; he is so genuine and makes us feel like we are contributing.  He has a good way of dispelling our inadequacies and disappointments and motivates us to recommit to do better.  This conference was good timing for us.  It was an opportunity to be away from the daily routine for a couple of days and to be energized by being together as a group.

We continued to have our Skype lessons even while we were in the mission home this week.  Monday night we were still with the other two couples when it was time for Elder Peterson to have his lesson so we all sang the opening song and had the opening prayer together.  His tutor, Ryan Smith, also taught one of the other couples who was at the mission home with us so it was fun for them to see him again, too.  While we were still visiting, Ryan told me to “look,” and I had a fun surprise to see our dear friend Beverly Ririe.  She is a service missionary at the MTC and had asked Ryan if he knew us.  He mentioned he would be teaching us that day so she dropped by and said hello for just a minute.  It was so fun to see her!  

The district president’s daughter was baptized on Saturday.  She is so adorable!  We sang “Silent Night” for the opening song.  Maybe that’s her favorite song, I don’t know.  After the baptism there is a short testimony meeting for the family to bear their testimonies.  Her non-member grandma even bore her testimony.  They are a terrific family!  We invited our investigator to come so she could see what a baptism is like.  She came—AFTER the baptismal ordinance!  Oh, well.  She was able to see the font.  She talked to the elders yesterday and voiced concerns about her family being against her joining the church, and she doesn’t want to disappoint them.  She is probably close to 40 years old – old enough to make her own decisions, but it is a typical response for people here to be loyal to the “traditions of their fathers.”  She knows the church is true and has had every evidence it is the right thing short of an angel appearing to her.  She has come to church regularly for months, and I’m sure that will continue regardless of her decision whether to be baptized.  Hopefully, she will eventually want the blessings of being baptized.

The Zolotov’s invited us to attend a concert with them one evening.  It was so fabulous!  There were music performers from 14 different countries who are part of a music academy.  Most of the performers were prodigy children anywhere from probably 7 to 16 years old who played piano, violin, flute, guitar, saxophone, cello.  This one little boy who couldn’t have been more than eight years old played a flute solo unlike anything I’ve heard or probably every will hear.  It was out-of-this-world incredible!  Of all the performers, he was the only one whom the audience applauded back onto the stage.  All of the performers were deserving of the same, but he was over-the-top great.  It was a treat to enjoy such a great event and to spend the evening with treasured friends.

The Young Single Adults hosted a talent night for the district on Saturday night.  There were several less-active members and a couple of investigators who attended so that was positive.  One of the investigators, who is 82 years old,  brought several of her needlepoint pictures of the Savior.  She does a lot of hand stitching and invited everyone to visit her at her dome any time.  I am going to go with the sister missionaries soon to see all of her work.  As we were nearing the end of the program, she asked to stand and share her recipe for a salad.  How cute is that!  Just about as cute as Milena Zolotova singing a traditional Russian song; she's destined for stardom!  We had a violinist, magician, poetists, singers, and infamous missionary rappers!!  We are taking it upon ourselves to plan the next District activity which will be a Minute-to-Win-It shindig.  The Russian translation just doesn't have quite the same ring to it but hopefully it will be fun all the same.

It feels like we are coming into summer.  The temperatures are in the mid 80's, but with the humidity that is plenty warm!  We've had a couple of impressive thunderstorms.  Of course, the buses are not air conditioned so my favorite seat is next to the window so I can feel air.  Most people choose to keep their windows closed--seems crazy to me.  I'm way past the "it will mess my hair up" stage I guess.

Every day continues to bring new adventures, challenges, new words, etc.  One thing that remains constant is our testimony of the Savior and of His plan.  We are striving every day to stand as witnesses to His great work.  We are grateful to all of you for your love and prayers!  We definitely are blessed because of them!

1-Ksusha, Vitali Talent Show MC's
2-Pres Bushuev Magician
3-Talent Display
4-Lena, Christina, Milena Komsomolski
5-Komsomolski branch
6-Komsomolski District Bldg