Pre-Soviet Times

Shoes were made from pliable layers of birch bark for summer.

Humor

Although people here are loyal to the Motherland, they do like to laugh at themselves.  They like their reality TV show, "That's Russia," showcasing mishaps around the country.

This video, produced by Russians, shows what we mean. On the streets we see plenty of Ladas, manufactured here, but people say they prefer European cars--and some American makes.

At Dimitri and Elena's

Dema collects old coins. He's showing us a 1733 kopek.

He is not a member but his wife and two children have been for 13 years, and they constantly feed the missionaries, including us.

They purposely offered us great Russian foods to try. Besides the soup, they made cabbage filled turnovers ("pies") and they served "sala," thinly sliced pork fat, to eat with excellent rye bread.

What do you DO? - Part III

TRANSPORT
Tuesday and Thursday nights we head to English "club." The 20-40 minute bus ride (expect traffic) is part of our adventure. If we sit near someone who feels like "talking," we might make a new friend or two.

If someone smiles, we may hand them a card. We may ask, "Do you speak English?" Many do speak a little--certainly more than our Russian. Some approach us.

Besides pass-along cards, we give a card that invites them to English club, or we offer them a "Pregleshenia," an "Invitation." This little tri-fold tells what Mormons are doing in Russian, explains our views on families, and briefly mentions the Prophet Joseph Smith, and tells about the Book of Mormon--Another Testament of Jesus Christ.  The handout was designed by an Elder who served in Moscow. People have been wonderful. They practically never refuse us, and whether we talk together or not, we love their kindness and intelligent comments. 

ENGLISH CLUB
At English "Club," the missionaries respect the rules that forbid us from conducting "classes" since we're not a licensed school. We are permitted to sit for an hour and converse in English on a chosen topic--"fast food, vacation destinations, housing, etc." After the discussion, the missionaries offer a five-minute spiritual thought in Russian to anyone who cares to stay. Most do stay. Some want English alone. Others like the spiritual thoughts and want to hear more.



Photos: Grand old veteran we met on the bus; English club after several people left, w/ Elders Shreeve (AZ) and Elder Savage (CO); Russians tend not to smile for photos.

Fur

Signs of spring thaw are in the air here, but we've been wanting to mention coats. It appears that woman here have winter coats, not unlike Americans. However, when deep winter arrives the real coats emerge. If they're not full-length fur, they're sheered sheepskin with the wool on the inside. Of course, hats and gloves and boots. Men wear the equilvalent, usually a finished leather.

Beetroot Soup

We had borsch last night. Yummy.

What do you DO? Part II

Sister McEvoy, Mission Secretary, shares the main Office with our Travel and Membership Elders, the AP's, and Elvira, the visa clerk and mission mainstay--each with a computer.

Sister Mac's day begins with an email check--notes from SLC or Moscow, referrals to forward. After that she gets into her projects: taking weekly statistics and sending them to SLC, ordering supplies, updating lists after transfers, fine-tuning applications for local missionaries, or information gathering. Meanwhile, the phone rings: "I need. . ."

• a new name tag (lost mine on the tram)
  
• the email of the Vladivostok Mission
  
• a Book of Mormon in Arabic
  
• to talk to Elder McEvoy

Sometimes called "Secretary to the President," Sister Mac gives precedence to requests from President Allen--a letter to fax, a report to locate, a calendar to print. The Mission President acts as the Stake President, so she does District/Branch work, too.

For the Mission in General, she is supposed to know pretty much everything. For instance, she can most likely tell you an arriving Elder's flight plan, any missionary's release date, visa trip info, and when the cleaning crew will show up at the Mission Home. If you ask, she probably knows who is serving in what area, where to get phone numbers for the Mission, everyone's middle name, parents' contact information, and so on. Supplies come in and go out through her. Do we have hymn books, Missionary Daily Planners, mail from home, Priesthood forms (Russian and English), manuals, sacrament cups, YW jewelry? That's her territory.

Keeping in mind that this is being done by a person who claims she can't organize a recipe file, you can see what we've got here.

(Picture: the McEvoys on P-day.)

Games People Play

Soccer on a cold day in Yekaterinburg is a GIVEN. They play at all times of the day and night, except they do not play on Saturday in the large community filed. Who knows why?




At night, the basketball court in our compound has become an ice rink. The kids and adults use this each night for skating and hockey. The picture isn't very clear, but the air is and it is also COLD!

Here is the rink from our apartment window. It is warmer in here!

Just to make sure we aren't left out of the games; here are our Elders in a game of Amerikansky Futbol at the soccer field at the school by our office. Several stopped by to see the 'crazies' either for the game they were playing or for the 'crazy' ball they were throwing and catching.

The temperature at the field was only -17 C.
Don't worry Moms, they are protected!

'What do you DO?" - Part I

"So what do you DO all day over there?"  friends have asked.  If we haven't posted about it maybe it's because it's routine. Here's what we do.

After a morning of breakfast, and a short scripture time, we layer on the clothes, fasten the boots, and walk the 1/4 mile to the office, mostly managing to stay upright on the snow-packed ice.  Elder Mac carries our lunch and laundry.  He unlocks the door.  In the foyer we've learned to take our time removing gloves and hats and scarves, hanging up coats, and changing boots for "slippers." It's considered bad form to walk around inside in your outside shoes--especially in the muddy spring and fall.  

Financial Secretary, Elder McEvoy, goes into his office and sits at his computer to check Mission email.  Does Moscow or SLC want a missing report?  Did the books balance? Did the Elders on visa trips take enough to pay for their apartments and food?

Before he's finished, his phone starts to ring. "Hello, Elder!" he answers in a booming, cheerful voice.  The missionary asks for a taxi reimbursement or tells him their apartment had a flood or needs a heater--or a bed!  Then he allocates and processes. "Don't forget to go to Church on Sunday," he reminds as he hangs up. In between calls he tries to demystify accounting procedures and prepare monthly and quarterly reports, often calling Moscow or the USA. 

Sometimes missionaries come in the office to talk to him about the payment their landlord wants "today" or about trouble with their "cards."  After ironing out problems, he gives them an Aggie pep-talk.  "BYU?!  What happened, did you lose a bet?" 

Pictures: In his office in the fall; w/ Sister Zakharova (Moscow); w/ Elder Kurbatov (Ukraine).

Parts II & III later.

February in Yekat

We walked to the office in -26 degrees this morning! We've been feeding the Elders hot chocolate as they arrive. Their walk is longer than ours.