At the airport
At home
And pictures in our room of some of our favorite people
As wonderful as our experiences in Russia were, it's good to be home.
Monday, September 17, 2012
HOME SWEET HOME
We're back in Utah! Our release date kept moving around and we weren't exactly sure when we'd actually leave Russia, but we finally returned home last Tuesday. After over 25 hours of travel, we arrived home to this:
As wonderful as our experiences in Russia were, it's good to be home.
As wonderful as our experiences in Russia were, it's good to be home.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
CONFERENCES
Wednesday evening we took a night train to Novosibirsk for a zone conference on Friday. The senior couples get to go in a day early rather than get off the train and head straight to the zone conference all bleary eyed--they know these high priest elders won't make it through all the sessions without a good night's sleep. :~) We enjoyed seeing a lot of the missionaries we've served with in the past. It was a lot of fun to meet up with so many of those we haven't seen since they were transferred away from our cities--or at least since the last zone conference. We were impressed with how much some of them have matured in a few short months.
Elder/President Bennett is a member of the new area presidency and has been touring the mission. He and his wife were here for the zone conference. They shared good stories but also, along with President Gibbons, challenged the missionaries to cast off some bad habits and align themselves more closely with the guidelines and rules in the missionary handbook. There were even a few changes, like holding the weekly district meetings at the branch building instead of at the senior couples' apartment and not having a meal after. We were so pleased to see the missionaries step up and agree to follow the new standards.
The young missionaries headed home Friday night, but the senior couples were invited to stay for the District Conference on Sunday. This is the first District Conference since the Novosibirsk District was organized 6 months ago.
People from two of the branches attended the meetings while those in the outlying areas joined in by video broadcast. We've enjoyed seeing the Church grow from 3 smaller districts to one large "Preparatory District" (preparing to become a stake).
A choir of Russians sang during the Conference. Up until now we've only seen the missionaries sing a special musical number.
It was announced that a stake in Saint Petersburg was formed today. The first stake in Russia was formed a year ago in June. We're hoping Novosibirsk will soon be the third stake.
We've spent a lot of time this weekend with the other senior couples. It's been so delightful! The office couple, Randall and Susan Webb, have had us to their home for meals and visiting a couple of times. It's been so refreshing to be with English-speaking peers, however brief.
Sister Noel took the picture and said she would Photoshop herself in. Since we don't know how to do that, we'll just have to wait for her to send us a copy.
This week's Russianism:
There's a lot of English influence here, both British and American. For example, we often see signs that are a combination of English and Russian, like this:
We know it's in English because we can make sense out of the top line and because they don't have R, S, or L in the Cyrillic alphabet. In Russian it says this is a jewelry boutique.
Elder/President Bennett is a member of the new area presidency and has been touring the mission. He and his wife were here for the zone conference. They shared good stories but also, along with President Gibbons, challenged the missionaries to cast off some bad habits and align themselves more closely with the guidelines and rules in the missionary handbook. There were even a few changes, like holding the weekly district meetings at the branch building instead of at the senior couples' apartment and not having a meal after. We were so pleased to see the missionaries step up and agree to follow the new standards.
The young missionaries headed home Friday night, but the senior couples were invited to stay for the District Conference on Sunday. This is the first District Conference since the Novosibirsk District was organized 6 months ago.
District President Ozhereliev
People from two of the branches attended the meetings while those in the outlying areas joined in by video broadcast. We've enjoyed seeing the Church grow from 3 smaller districts to one large "Preparatory District" (preparing to become a stake).
A choir of Russians sang during the Conference. Up until now we've only seen the missionaries sing a special musical number.
We've spent a lot of time this weekend with the other senior couples. It's been so delightful! The office couple, Randall and Susan Webb, have had us to their home for meals and visiting a couple of times. It's been so refreshing to be with English-speaking peers, however brief.
Elder and Sister Webb (Cashmere--by Wenatchee--Washington), Sister Sharon and Elder Bart Holmes (Payson, Utah), Elder Frank Noel (Ogden, Utah), Us (Salt Lake City, Utah)
We were able to snap this picture from the Holmes' hotel window--a beautiful sunset over the river.
This week's Russianism:
There's a lot of English influence here, both British and American. For example, we often see signs that are a combination of English and Russian, like this:
Monday, September 3, 2012
BARNAUL AGAIN
Many cities in Russia have the name of the city in big cement block letters on the outskirts. You can see how big they are--one of the missionaries is crouched inside the Б. Going to see the letters was one of the first things new missionaries to Barnaul wanted to do on a P-day.
Last year when President Gibbons asked us to move to Novokuznetsk, he told us we could go back if we needed to. He was probably thinking of unfinished business or so we could speak in church. We chose to wait and went back last weekend to deliver some items to the senior couple there and as a chance to see our old friends. It was a delightful visit.
As soon as we walked out of the train station, memories came rushing back to us and everything was all so familiar. We felt as if we had just been gone a short time like to a zone conference, not a whole year, and continued to feel that way the whole weekend.
Elder and Sister (Bart and Sharon) Holmes are the senior couple in Barnaul now. To say they replaced us is a bit of a misstatement. This is their third time serving in Barnaul. We went to dinner with them before we left on our mission and they answered so many of our questions about what it was like to serve in Russia. They were planning to return for their third time after we went home, so when we got transferred to Novokuznetsk we told President Gibbons about them. He called and invited them to return sooner. They took him up on it and came back at the end of February. They are so wonderful! They have also served missions in Scotland and Cambodia, but absolutely fell in love with Barnaul. The mission held on to the apartment we had and that's where the Holmes are living now. Going back to the apartment was like returning to a familiar friend. It brought back a lot of the feelings we had when we first arrived, only without all the apprehension.
Before we arrived in Russia we had been told the branch was going to be moving to a new, bigger, nicer building soon. We kept waiting, but the remodeling progress was slow. Now they have a definite date--they have to be out of the old building by September 11, whether or not the new building is ready (we're assuming the lease is up). Saturday the branch members met to start packing things up. We didn't get to see inside the new building, but the outside looks much nicer than it did a year ago. It used to be orange with a big purple stripe running across it.
In Russia schools are open 6 days a week, including Saturdays. September 1 was the first day of school for children in Barnaul. They call it something like the "Day of Knowledge" or "Day of Learning" and the kids all dress up in very fancy clothes. They take flowers and other gifts to the teachers. One thing we like is the big white bows the girls wear. If the girls are wearing pigtails, they have two big bows and there's often more bow than hair! It looks very festive. This picture is the best we could get since we didn't see any children we know personally and didn't know how to explain to total strangers why we wanted their picture.
Saturday night was the opening social for the Seminary and Institute. We've already told you how much they love balloons here. They are used in all sorts of celebrations.
We had only told a few members of the branch that we'd be returning, so most of the members were surprised to see us. There were many tears of joy and hugs all around--as much as possible.
Seated: Tamara, Sister Holbrook, Zina, Tatiana, Masha, Anya
Standing: Lilliya, Tatiana, Sister Holmes, Lena, Sasha, Marina, Riasa, Elena, Galena, Masha, Nadiezhda, Oksana (with Elder Holmes walking down the hall in the background)
Some of our friends even showed up at the train station to see us off one last time. Some of them brought food for us from their garden. There are many wonderful people in Barnaul.
We feel so blessed to have been able to return to say our final goodbyes. We do feel like we got some closure by returning to Barnaul. We’d forgotten how much we enjoyed it and how comfortable we got in such a short time. Last weekend was a wonderful gift. This is one of those times when, try as we might, words can't do justice to the feelings of love and other emotions we experienced there.
This week's Russianism:
While most of the buildings here are right next to the street, almost all of the gas stations are set well back from the road and have a large area, usually grassy, in front of them.
As soon as we walked out of the train station, memories came rushing back to us and everything was all so familiar. We felt as if we had just been gone a short time like to a zone conference, not a whole year, and continued to feel that way the whole weekend.
Elder and Sister (Bart and Sharon) Holmes are the senior couple in Barnaul now. To say they replaced us is a bit of a misstatement. This is their third time serving in Barnaul. We went to dinner with them before we left on our mission and they answered so many of our questions about what it was like to serve in Russia. They were planning to return for their third time after we went home, so when we got transferred to Novokuznetsk we told President Gibbons about them. He called and invited them to return sooner. They took him up on it and came back at the end of February. They are so wonderful! They have also served missions in Scotland and Cambodia, but absolutely fell in love with Barnaul. The mission held on to the apartment we had and that's where the Holmes are living now. Going back to the apartment was like returning to a familiar friend. It brought back a lot of the feelings we had when we first arrived, only without all the apprehension.
Elder and Sister Holmes, Sister Holbrook, and Lilliya, with the branch building behind them to the left
Before we arrived in Russia we had been told the branch was going to be moving to a new, bigger, nicer building soon. We kept waiting, but the remodeling progress was slow. Now they have a definite date--they have to be out of the old building by September 11, whether or not the new building is ready (we're assuming the lease is up). Saturday the branch members met to start packing things up. We didn't get to see inside the new building, but the outside looks much nicer than it did a year ago. It used to be orange with a big purple stripe running across it.
What the new building looks like now
What it's supposed to look like--they've got a lot to finish up in a week!
In Russia schools are open 6 days a week, including Saturdays. September 1 was the first day of school for children in Barnaul. They call it something like the "Day of Knowledge" or "Day of Learning" and the kids all dress up in very fancy clothes. They take flowers and other gifts to the teachers. One thing we like is the big white bows the girls wear. If the girls are wearing pigtails, they have two big bows and there's often more bow than hair! It looks very festive. This picture is the best we could get since we didn't see any children we know personally and didn't know how to explain to total strangers why we wanted their picture.
Saturday night was the opening social for the Seminary and Institute. We've already told you how much they love balloons here. They are used in all sorts of celebrations.
A game during the opening social
We had only told a few members of the branch that we'd be returning, so most of the members were surprised to see us. There were many tears of joy and hugs all around--as much as possible.
Zina, Riasa, Anya
The women after church
Standing: Lilliya, Tatiana, Sister Holmes, Lena, Sasha, Marina, Riasa, Elena, Galena, Masha, Nadiezhda, Oksana (with Elder Holmes walking down the hall in the background)
Some of our friends even showed up at the train station to see us off one last time. Some of them brought food for us from their garden. There are many wonderful people in Barnaul.
Anya, Lilliya, Sister Holbrook, Galena, Artyome, and Marina (Artyome is standing between his grandmother and mother--three generations of members of the Church!)
We feel so blessed to have been able to return to say our final goodbyes. We do feel like we got some closure by returning to Barnaul. We’d forgotten how much we enjoyed it and how comfortable we got in such a short time. Last weekend was a wonderful gift. This is one of those times when, try as we might, words can't do justice to the feelings of love and other emotions we experienced there.
This week's Russianism:
While most of the buildings here are right next to the street, almost all of the gas stations are set well back from the road and have a large area, usually grassy, in front of them.
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