Just a few more pictures of things we want to always remember:

You think your grocery store receipts are annoying in your purse...how would you like to carry around this!  Seriously, we went to a Metro, somewhat like a Costco, and purchased about $250 worth of apartment supplies and food.  When they handed us this receipt, we were shocked.  We had to sign in two places before we could bag our items...and then we had to buy the bags!

 We call this the Zion Zone...these are the amazing missionaries that we get to spend our time with.  They are the cream of the crop.  They have taken us in and made our transition so smooth. From left to right:
Sister and Brother Pocock, Zone leader: Elder Larson, Elder Britton, Elder O'Neil, Elder Latimer, Elder Silva (a member only a year before his mission and only member in his family), Elder Holbrook, Sister Parkinson and Sister Hart.  These young people have a command of the language and they are dedicated teachers of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We try our best to assist them.  Our apartment is centrally located so many of the discussions and less-active meetings are held in our home. We love the spirit these fine young missionaries bring into our life.

 This is the inside of our building.  When the comfy chairs are stacked, the chapel becomes a cultural hall and the men love to play hockey on Saturday afternoon!

 The Zion Zone gathered around our dining room table at our zone luncheon.  Since it was to be Elder Larson's last zone meeting, he got to request his favorites...french toast and fresh fruit salad!  The only snag was that they don't have syrup in Russia...so we concocted our own syrup with apple juice and sugar.  You'll have to try it...it was yummy!

We've only been in Perm two weeks and the zone was hit hard with transfers.  In the center, Elder Larson goes home to Arizona...Elder Holbrook and Sister Hart are going to Tyumen.  This area is 10 hours east of Yekatrinburg...literally way into Siberia.  All the best and bundle up!

Elder and Sister Huefner, who are missionaries for the church's auditing department, visited us on Saturday and Sunday, March 3-4, 2012.  They trained Kent as he will be doing the auditing of our Branch.  Afterwards, the Branch President and his wife (in the foreground), the Huefners and Kent and I enjoyed a real Russian restaurant. We tasted cow's tongue with tons of cheese and mushrooms...really quite tasty.

The Russians love their salads and the presentation is quite an art.  Here is my "Olivia" salad...a Russian tradition. Everything on my plate is edible, even the stick-like item.  The Russians win the contest of who can make the tastiest juices...hands down.  You haven't lived until you taste their peach and orange juice.

Winter's not going anywhere...we got a big snow storm but with the snow came warmer temperatures...so we'll take it.