Welcome 2010

С Новым Годом! Happy New Year to all!

We're celebrating New Years as we did last year, in by dark the 31st and all day the 1st. Missionaries will be studying and house cleaning. What with our -20 f. degree weather, no one should mind. Most missionaries are planning good food, too!

The celebration begins for Russians by watching President Medvedev's brief speech, televised at five minutes before midnight in each of Russia's twelve time zones.  When he's done, the festivities begin!  (Take a look at the good values in his speech.)
Picture from the ice sculpture display in central Yekat from ekaterinburg.com

Russian Winter

We are experiencing a Russian Winter, at least compared to last year. The weather has been quite cold around the mission, with some areas as low as -43 Celsius. The wind in our area of Yekaterinburg seems to always bow from the pond area, making it just a bit cooler. With the humidity in the air, sometimes the wind simply penetrates all clothing.

Scarves are essential elements of clothing, and they help immensely to protect ones cheeks and nose. However, they seem to collect the breath and fog glasses and also freeze to one's eye lashes and eye brows.


Elder Stewart (New Jersey) is pictured here after a few hours in the Ufa cold.

Suggestions: Don't try this at home!

Branch Christmas Night

Elder McEvoy as Father Frost brings gives packages to the children; he was the Spirit of Christmas Present with Zhenya as Scrooge in this simplified version of A Christmas Carol; the children, dressed in nativity costumes, sang.
(Thanks to Radeek for most of the pictures.)

Transport Window Frost

Elders

• Our great Ukrainian elders, just back in the Office from visa renewal in Kiev: Elders Kurbatov, Melnik and Bagmet
• Hardworking Elder Cutler during practice for the Branch Christmas play.
• Goodbye dinner with Elder Isenbarger and his companion, Elder Pearson, the photographer.
• Elders Smith, Heuer and Cooper stop mid-stride for the camera on their way to their first visa renewal trip to Helsinki.

NOTE: Elder Isenbarger, Krogue, O'Dair and Shreeve went to the airport to go home today, and their flight was canceled because of bad weather in Europe; they can't leave for two more days.

Winter Solstice

The sun, low in the sky at noon, casts long shadows as President and Sister Solomein walk Sister Galina to their car on Sunday, the 20th.

Yesterday was our shortest day, 6.75 hours of daylight, and now the Sun is on its way back towards summer!

Girls Night

The darling Young Single Adult sisters came to our house for a pre-holiday party. We actually had a few decorations--unlike last year. Elder Shreeve (AZ) let us use the little tree his mom sent. We had candles from Ikea, and that was it.

After doing a craft or two, we ate potato soup, and then had a Spiritual Thought on Christmas, the celebration of Christ's birth. These young sisters can teach their future families about the Nativity.

They took lots of pictures and put a bunch on FB. Their favorite part of the evening was when Elder McEvoy bore his testimony of the Savior.

Enroute to Bus Stop 4:30 PM

Walking in a winter wonderland, Yekaterinburg style.

Ural Folk Choir and Dance Troupe

We LOVED this performance of local traditional song and dance. The orchestra was made up of accordians and mandolins, with musicians in native dress. Fabulous music. The ladies all danced in red boots, red shoes.

Zone Culture Night

The Yekaterinburg Zone all braved -22 degree temperatures to attend this vibrant performance of Russian culture, organized by Zone Leaders, Elders Taylor and Kurbatov. Russians can be so proud! Thanks to Elder Wilson for the photography. (Click to enlarge on-stage photos in post above.)

What Child Is This?

Elders Smith (WA), Cutler (Draper), Isenbarger (IN), and Pearson(Park City), practice for Zone Conference, accompanied by Elder Holden (WA).

Holidays

The Soviet regime wiped out any hint of Christ in Christmas, so the New Year became the central holiday, complete with New Year's tree and all the presents.


The celebration includes costumes for children, a vist from Father Frost, abundant food, and big fireworks displays. Originally a two or three day holiday, it became a 10-day event in recent years.











Instead of the birth of the Savior, the theme follows the Asian calendar. The Year of the Tiger, 2010, means tiger toys, tiger candy, tiger figurines abound. Russian Christmas, January 7th, is kept by attending Orthodox mass.

How cold IS it?

In the last few days, Russians have been warning that a -35 day was coming--and here it is! Elders Taylor and Kurbatov arrive at the Office after their walk from the bus. (The bus stopped because the fuel froze?) They're at the entrance, showing the ice that has formed inside the door in the ante-room. Meanwhile, Elder Wilson makes them hot chocolate back in the kitchen.
This site shows averages; this one shows comfort level, which we presume takes into account windchill.

HO-HO-HO

In Finland, St. Nicholas and his Lady Elf offered
holiday cheer to travelers at the airport.
(Cute details on their costumes.)

Slippers

It's bad manners to wear your outside shoes indoors--except at stores. You're expected to take off your boots or shoes in the entry and go in stocking feet or top'ach-key--any sort of light-weight slip-on shoes.

Sometimes the hostess has an array for you to choose from. Some people carry slippers in their bag.

The Birkenstocks aren't common here. One of the Assistants had them in the Office and passed them to his successor. Now they go from Assistant to Assistant. Who was the original owner? Someone says Elder Johnson. Anyone know?

Elders - Random Pictures

From the top (click to enlarge), Elder Holden with his cake made by his companions, Elders Smith and Cutler; Zone at the Cathedral on the Blood yesterday; Elders Tate, Thompson and McEvoy after a meeting with Marina; Zone meeting;


Dinner at the Nuzmans (CES); In the fall, Elders Brown and Sare wait for a tram.

COLD

Quite a week of weather we have ahead of us!  Actually, it's not a whole lot different than Cache Valley. No doubt all our CV neighbors are being prepared to come and serve in Russia! : )

Finland

Our visa trip to Finland was brief, which is ideal for missionaries. We and the Palmers went to the Temple(and once again saw Elder Tim Groberg). Because our flight was delayed, we had an extra day in Helsinki and saw a few sights. Besides downtown, we went to a wooded island where historic Finnish homes and barns have been moved from throughout the country.

(Now we're back in the office and catching up on work, so we don't have time to post much.)