Soviet Era

It has been less than 20 years since the Cold War ended and the Berlin Wall began to be demolished. The Russian Federation began in 1991, replacing the USSR. The effort at continued goodwill is welcome.

On an exploratory trip to Ural University (founded in 1920) here in Yekaterinburg, we noticed vestiges of Soviet influence. The 9' tall wooden double-doors on classrooms had been painted and overlaid with steel walls and heavy, steel locking doors.

Our first apartment had the same heavy door, so that we had to turn the key four times--to open it, or to close it after we were in. Old habits die hard. Even though times have changed, our brand new apt. has the same heavy, steel door--with multiple bolts. It closes with an ominous, heavy-metal echo.

(Pics from University; lock from old apt.)

Happy Day!

Our missionaries in Sweden just learned that their visas have finally been approved. They went out for 6 days and have been gone 21. Tomorrow we'll learn when they are actually allowed to return.

DISTRICT CONFERENCE

Saturday and Sunday were the days set aside for our District Conference. The Sunday meeting was especially exciting. President Monson was one of the speakers over the satellite system to the saints and others in the East European Area. The messages were translated, and so he was speaking directly to the the people of Russia and the adjoining areas.

The people arrived early, and we had to keep bringing in chairs. As you can see, the conditions for satellite viewing are less than perfect, but we could see and hear. The problem for us was translation. We had to try to hear an Elder translate for us without too much distraction to the others in attendance.

The attendance was 149, counting the missionaries, the investigators along with the Russian saints. The feeling was powerful and will be remembered by these good folks for a long time.

Technology, isn't it amazing when we use it to our benefit?

English "Club"

Free English classes taught by the missionaries provide a way to introduce the Gospel. After the hour-long class, the Elders give a 5-10 minute spiritual thought.

Elder Mac supports the advanced group, Sister Mac attends intermediate. After class Vanya asked for a camera phone picture. Elder Murphy (Missouri) in the background.

We really like our groups and the discussions.

Pelmeni

Dinner last week with the darling Drushkov family. Ilya picked us up in their Toyota sedan and took us to their wonderfully remodeled apartment. Both husband and wife, former missionaries, speak excellent English.

We finally got to try famed Russian pelmeni, ravioli-like dumplings served with sour cream or spicy catsup. Alyona, 5, eyes the camera.

Transfers

Transfers tomorrow! The mission revolves around TRANFERS every six weeks. "I only have two transfers left," or "I served in that area my second transfer." Of course, the missionary's companion, apt., area, assignment all hinge on the transfer.

Elders Campbell (Overton NV) and Stewart (New Jersey) say goodbye to President and Sister Prohodka of the Botanichesky Branch. These Elders, both junior missionaries, ended up serving together most of this transfer because their companions have been stranded in Sweden.

Since we attend Botanica Branch, these Elders check up on us. Just before 10:00PM our phone rings and they make sure we got home OK, ask us about our day, etc. They're both headed to new areas and we'll miss them.

Mission assignments vary. Elder Magleby,(Provo) will serve as Branch President in his area this transfer. The three Elders currently with that assignment don't need to be set-apart because their calling as a missionary gives them the necessary authority.

Family Home Evening

We want to share so many things but we can't always take the time, so for FHE tonight, we're blogging.

Comments

We love your comments! Sometime maybe we'll get methodical about responding.

Love from us both.


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Visas

Currently, foreigners must leave the country every 90 days to renew visas. Because we have missionaries from all eight Russian LDS Missions (our mission has about 70 missionaries) this is expensive and inconvenient for us: airflight, housing costs, etc. Meanwhile, the companionships here are disrupted and need rearranging. The Office Elders here make all the flight arrangements, being careful not to over-burden any one city or embassy with too many missionaries.

Unfortunately, problems have increased. Now the missionaries sent out are not getting their visas back in time. Their return airflight is wasted, and they are left stranded until the powers-that-be give back their passports/visas. We have six missionaries who were supposed to be back from Stockholm six days ago, and they're all waiting. Other missions have more missionaries who have waitied much longer.

On the upside, this is good for Temple work in Sweden! The missionaries generally do two sessions a day.

Lake

Just a short walk from the Mission Office sits this man-made lake. No swimming allowed. There's a grassy area at its edge where babies are taken in strollers and where young men play soccer. The evening we were there, a few families were having cookouts with small hibachi grills.

For Al

We saw this last month, for use by the Brent Allens of Sverdlovsk.

(Brent is our Cache Valley mechanic and friend.)

Driver's License

Dasha, 23, came by the office to show us her newly acquired drivers license. She said it took "all day" to obtain. To prepare, she had to buy and study a thick manual. Then she had to hire a teacher at $40 an hour. She took just five hours of lessons.

For the test, first she took a 20 question written exam--two mistakes allowed. Then, after she stood in line for over two hours to wait to be called, she drove a State car in a controlled course. Then she had to drive on the street with the driving inspector in the back seat--and her driving teacher in the front. She took that test four times before she passed. If she made one mistake she had to take it again another time.

TRANSPORTATION

Walking is good and will be a problem soon, as the weather changes. When I say there are sidewalks, your mind probably envisions the walks that we are accustomed to. Not here! In some parts the sidewalks are very good.

In some parts they are not very good, and they end without a reason and with a mud puddle.


However, when riding public transportation, one must walk from the bus stop to the destination, and back again. Those walks have been fun and interesting, because of all the new sights to see. As the weather has turned a bit cold, the walks are losing some of their flavor.

Buses are the most popular for us, and they are from the 1940s and 50s vintage. However, they get around and do the job.

Each one of these forms of public transportation has a 'Konductor' who collects the fare from the riders. Everyone gets on and the bus leaves the stop before the fare is collected. So it is collected as you motor down the road to the next stop. 11 Rubles for the bus ride (about $.43). They are often crowded to the extent that the aisle is full with riders standing, and we always try to give our seats to the older ladies.

That has led to some very interesting conversations. Even when we are without an Elder to translate! We have handed out many pass-along cards to the people on the buses. Some conductors have even worked hard to make us comfortable. The ride to church on Sunday takes us about 30 – 40 minutes going, and about 60 minutes coming home. Traffic is normally quite busy!!



Tram Vys are the most striking of the three forms of transport. We have not yet been on one, but they look like the 1930s type of trolleys,
and they go all over the place. More after I get the experience of riding in the Tram Vy. The Tram Vy is powered by electricity from cables above the tracks. Often times they are held up a bit because some of the drivers of the cars will drive over the tracks to get around a left turn or a light. Remember, the race goes to the swiftest in some minds.

The Trolley Bus is a bus that is powered by cables up above, but has arms reaching up to clasp the cables, and is steered like a bus.
It does not roll on tracks like the Tram Vy. These are very similar to the buses, crowded at most times, with people standing in the aisle. They do get around, and the system seems to work. The fare for the Trolley Bus is 10 Rubles.

The Marshrutkas are a cross between a US van and a small bus. They have about 10 seats in the back, and often have 13 -15 passengers headed somewhere.
Some passengers are stooped over trying to stand and others are sitting on a lap. Most of the time, the lap sitter is a girl friend. The difference is, the Marshrutka will get there quicker. They seem to have the same stops to make at the bus stop (остановка), but the drivers are more aggressive and move through traffic quicker. The ride costs twice the bus, 20 Rubles, and is sometimes better than waiting at the bus stop.

Sunday Church - Botanichesky Branch

We meet in the upper room of this building. We already love these members and wish that we could really speak Russian with them. They totally understand the Church programs, doctrine, etc., and their lessons are always well thought out and prepared. Interesting comments, too. Elders or a sister sit near us to translate.
When members arrive, first they hang up their coats and scarves and change their shoes; the majority come on city buses. Then they start setting up chairs, preparing the sacrament, etc. When it's time for Relief Society, the sisters bring out a table cloth and flowers from the cupboard while the teacher writes the lesson subject on the chalkboard. Afterwards, the RS President takes care of business while her husband waits. It all feels so familiar.
(The RS lesson on the board says, "The Twelve" by Elder Boyd K. Packer; the stitchery says, "Charity Never Faileth." Members getting in cars after church.)

Vote! A Side Note

Our absentee ballots haven't come yet, but we can vote at the U.S. Embassy here for national issues. Since we're both native Californians, we wouldn't mind voting there in November. We support Proposition 8 and the values in The Family Proclamation. If we could, we would VOTE YES. Our best wishes go out to those of any faith who are working towards it. And our love and kind thoughts go out to ALL!

(Please leave comments on this subject, if any, in our email.)

Fall

Leaves have fallen suddenly--in a week's time!

Elvira

Elvira Bryandina is a full-time employee, one of four in the office. These wonderful Russian members keep things going in the office and in the Mission as missionaries come and go through the years.

Because she speaks English she's a wonderful help in countless ways. Besides working in the office she's the District YW President--"The Young Women Society," she says--as well as ward pianist, institute teacher, etc. She was a professional architect, but prefers the work here. She considers it her job to take care of us "foreigners." Today she put in another reminder that we'd better have our winter coats--pronto.

Elvira lost her husband 11 years ago. She has two grown children. Her first grandchild, Roman, arrived just two weeks ago.

Biggest Mission

In our earliest inquiries about the Church in Yekaterinburg, people said, "Oh, they have a chapel in Ufa, and another one in Kurgan." They didn't tell us that Ufa was a sixteen hour train ride away from Yekaterinburg. The distances here are immense--in fact, this is the most sprawling mission in the Church. It's as if the Mission Home were in Salt Lake City, UT, with some missionaries assigned to San Francisco!

The Mission President travels so much to see his missionaries once a month that it's considered a "hardship" mission and he's asked to serve two years instead of three. The most remote missionaries are in Surgut, some 600 miles from the mission office; Perm is 197. President and Sister Allen along with the AP's fly, take trains, sometimes drive. Thank goodness for email and cell phones!

Speaking of distances, this is Ksuesha Strelnikova, 21, the only member in her family. She's participating in a tele-conference planning session here at the Mission Office today. TV remote makes the meeting possible. The all-Russia/Baltics youth conference will be next year in St. Petersburg for as many as 1,000 youth. Amazing!!
Map from here.

The Urals

We remembered from high school geography that the Ural Mountains were an old range--so old they were worn down. In our area people said, "You'll hardly know when you're in the mountains"--which turned out to be true. Actually, the whole area here is considered "in the Urals."

There are other places in vast Russia where the mountains are more prominent or have more outstanding features. Being an old range, minerals and gemstones are nearer the surface and easily mined.

Touches of Old Russia

Our new apartment won't have these kitchen reminders of another era. We light our stove by opening the valve on the gas line on the wall; then we use a sparking devise as we turn the stove knob.

Other Side of the World

We're 12 hours away from home--which makes it easy for us to calculate. If you're reading this, we're probably asleep--or nearly.

Missionaries

I'm posting a few things of general interest, or items that might be good for missionary parents at home. The top picture shows some of the Young Single Adults (we see them at firesides or institute) at the President's house. The four in front are missionaries leaving our area to serve Russian missions elsewhere, which we all think is wonderful. Sister Allen wonders if people know what it is for these four to serve--how much more difficult a road they've come on than for young men at home.




(Yekat Sister Missionaries; Elder Taylor and Sergeev, AP's in Sister Allen's kitchen.)

Grass is greener

Lawn care is almost non-existant. Grass is left to do its thing in parks and landscaped areas. It looked unkept to us at first, but it makes sense. The lawns don't get much longer than you see here and they stay green without sprinklers.

Europe and Asia

The line that divides the continents comes right by Yekaterinburg, so today the Elders invited us to join their Zone on a bus out to the monument. "Now I'm in Asia. Oh, wait. Now I'm in Europe." We were surrounded by the forest.




(These tractor trailers kept going by loaded with cabbage; guard in tower near monument.)