October 8, 2012

We have spent time with our "missionary family" this week. We were in their home Monday evening when President Sartori set the two brothers apart for their missionary service. It was a humble and sacred opportunity. They both speak some English, and so it was their responsibility to translate for each other's blessings in order for their parents to understand. I know they were each blessed with the gift of tongues that night. Needless to say, I was a weeping willow; it was seriously like sending off our own sons. I was crying more than their own mom! But in talking with her throughout the week, she is making up for it now :-) She says she and her husband sleep, then cry, sleep, then cry every day. Other than the older son serving in the army for a year, they have never been separated and 27 months will be a long time to be apart! We know exactly how they feel, and that is why it will be such a blessing for them to get on their mission in a couple weeks and have their thoughts and actions consumed in missionary work themselves.

The mom prepared a wonderful dinner for all of us after the setting apart including all of her sons' favorite dishes. She also had Elder Peterson's favorite coconut cookies for dessert. As we said our tearful goodbyes and left the building, we looked back up to their window from the street, and they were all lined up waving to us. Twenty-seven months is a long time for them, but it is likely we will never see them again. We are getting a taste of what it will be like to have to say goodbye to all of our Russian friends eventually. We'll get to do it all over again in two weeks when the parents are set apart and leave! We have thought about what a blessing it has been to be here now when we have been able to know and learn from this family's wonderful example.

Our family home evening this week was interesting. Elder Peterson was adamant that we teach the young single adults the "Boot Scootin' Boogie." Just a side note, we don't know the boot scootin' boogie. Thank heavens for the Internet:) I took a crash course on YouTube and taught the few kids (and even a couple of adults) the basic steps. Most of them picked it up really fast. One of them made the comment that Elder Peterson was dancing free style. Our district is having a big Fall Ball in a couple of weeks, and the young single adults will teach the dance to everyone there. Russians listen to the contemporary American Top 40-type music, but country music is completely foreign to them. I don't know how much they like it, but many of them just like learning something American. They want to know what other dances we know:) So we'll also be teaching the Macarena at the Fall Ball. HA!!

Our walks in the forest this week have been on a carpet of leaves. It is definitely taking on a new look as we move into Fall. Today we bundled up for our walk because it has been cold the last couple of days, but we were pleasantly surprised that it was rather warm and were shedding layers as soon as we got outside.

We were able to watch each General Conference morning session live on Saturday and Sunday nights. We will be watching all sessions together at the district building next weekend. It was exciting to hear the prophet announce new options for missionary service. Young men can now choose to serve missions as early as age 18 and graduated from high school, and young women will have the option of serving as early as 19 years old. As the brethren mentioned in a subsequent press conference, the Lord is "hastening the work." How exciting to imagine the increase of full-time missionaries, eventual new missions being created, and the good news of the gospel being spread to more people than ever before! The gospel is true, and we love being part of this great missionary effort!

1- Boot Scootin' Boogie!
2-4 Fall Forest