Tallin Estonia & Helsinki Finland

We attended a Mission Presidents Seminar last week in Tallin Estonia. Elder L. Tom Perry and Elder Rasband of the Presidency of the Seventy were there. Also our new Europe East Area Presidency, President Wolfgang Paul, Kevin Pearson, & Gregory Schwitzer.

Vlad, our Bathroom, Ussurisk & ZL Council

This is an easy way to upload pictures but probably hard for you to figure out what is what. The sightseeing ones are from Vladivostok. On July 27th which was P-day we had our driver, Andrei, take us around Vladivostok. It was one of the first clear days that we have had. (We have had several since). He took us to a look out spot called "Eagle's Nest" and we could see the bays and the surrounding areas of the city. We then drove to the water, not far---10 minutes--to the ships that were docked. There was a submarine memorial and a wall of names of soldiers who lost their lives in the war.

There are random pictures of our crazy bathroom here at the apartment. The spaceshuttle shower, and double jacuzzi tub.

Another group picture of the 2nd Zone leaders council held on August 6th.

The branch pictures are from Ussurisk. We went there on August 1 and 2nd. It was about and hour and a half taxi ride. They had a missionary night on Saturday, food, skit, and we introduced ourselves with our power point presentation of the family. This is the nicest church building in the mission. It is the red brick building with me standing outside by the church sign. The only one with a sign as well. Plus it is on the lst floor... no stairs.

Ussurisk has lots of faithful sisters and no priesthood. So Mike put in a Russian Missionary, Elder Pochekutov as the Branch President. The other Branch President quit coming to church back in June. So we are praying and searching for prospective priesthood leaders to carry on the work in this little Branch.

Vlad Talent Show, Nahodka, and buildings by our apartment

These are a bunch of pictures from the talent show held in the Vlad Branches. Also our trip to Nahodka. It was a 4 hour road trip. The pictures of the beach show all the weekenders with their blue tarps. It was wall to wall camping. Also the roadsides....notice the water pipes. They carry the hot water for heating in the winter. Andrei our driver is the one in the white t-shirt by Elder Spencer. We are enjoying mexican food made by Sister Henderson. Homemade tortillas, refried beans, spanish rice & salsa. I tried her recipes and served a great mexican meal to our new arriving missionaries on August 22nd!

The homemade tortillas were so good and easy. We have enjoyed eating cheese quesidillas this past week!

The other pictures of the construction are the buildings right out my kitchen window in the apartment.

YSA Conf & Magadan

The top row is more pictures from the YSA conference. On Saturday, Aug 15, 2009 we flew up north to Magadan. The farthest city in the mission. It was about a 4 hour flight in an old fighter plane. We climbed into the back of the plane, they stack up the luggage in the rear of the plane. The seats were about a foot apart, no over head compartments so we held our carry on luggage on our laps.

We have a small group of 12 members that meet each week in a rented room in a hotel. They used to be a branch of a 140 members but several years ago the branch was disolved and missionaries were removed from the city. A member of the mission presidency tries to visit every 3 months. They collect the tithing from these faithful saints. There is Anatoli, the group leader. He is 70 years old. There were 3 older sisters, all named Olga and they were 70 and older. They have been members for about 10 years.

Magadan was a prison labor camp during both World Wars. Men were exiled to this Siberian countryside. It was a closed city until 1944. I need to check my facts! If you want accurate info google Magadan. Anyways, these people told us of how their fathers were falsely convicted of crimes and sent here to work. The Sister in the picture with us was 17 when she and her mother were finally able to reunite with her father. When they arrived in Magadan, they held him for another 5 years. After working in this labor camp for 15 years he was finally released and told that he had been held their by mistake and that he hadn't done anything wrong. They each had a story to tell.

The monument is called the "Mask of Sorrows". It honors all those that died in the Labor Camps.

YSA Conference in Khabarovsk

August 12-15, 2009 we attended a YSA Conference in Khabarovsk. There were about 20 YSA from the mission in attendance. With leaders there were about 35. It was held a camp about 30 minutes out of town. It was raining like crazy the whole time. It caused most of the activities to be held in doors, however it ruin anything. Everyone had a great time. The mosquitos were out in abundance. Even with the repellant we got bit. We held a workshop on leadership skills. We used the example in Alma 55 where Captian Moroni sends Laman up to the enemy and gives them lots of wine. They all get drunk and then they are able to send weapons over the wall to the prisoners and in the morning when the guards awake they realize they are surrounded. Rather than killing them, Captain Moroni simply frees the prisoners. We likened it to the qualities of a good leader. Then we had them figure out how to get their group threw a "mine field" in order to capture the enemy. They had a great time trying to figure it all out. Thanks to the 30 plus years at girls camp.....we were able to put together a fun, hands on activity. They had a great talent show. President Pratt did his awesome magic tricks and played his harmonica. Everyone enjoyed. We also spoke at a fireside. My topic was on "choosing the right". I gave up trying to do it in Russian and used a translator. Who knows if we will ever get the language down!

Helsiniki Finland

At the conclusion of the Mission Presidents Seminar in Tallin, Estonia we took a ferry across the Gulf of Finland and we were priviledged to do a Temple Session in the Helsinki Temple. Above are pictures of the boat, the approach to Finland, those we ate breakfast with, also some of the ones we traveled with. Elder L. Tom Perry, his wife Barbara, and their grand-daughter Diana along with Elder & Sister Rasband of the Seventy. President and Sister Cranney have a son serving in our mission. They are from Orem/Provo are are serving over one of the Moscow missions. It was a wonderful end to a great conference. We were only in Finland for the day. We sure wished we could have stayed a day and seen some of the sights. Mike said that the airport and roads had really changed in 40 years. Maybe someday we will get back there.

Mike listened to the session in Finnish. He said he understood about 80%. I think we would be farther along in the language had we been assigned to Finland but oh well we will continue on in Russia. It was amazing to feel the difference when we entered Estonia & Finland. You could actually feel the freedoms they enjoy. We don't feel oppressed here in the mission but we definately did and do when we travel.

Quite interesting. The feeling and difference going and coming into Russia.