Today, January 7, 2013, is actually Christmas Day in Russia. Believe it or not. The following blog is dedicated to New Year's when Grandfather Frost came to bring the children presents! If you're confused...join the club! We were invited to Nadya and her family's home for dinner on New Year's Eve afternoon. I snapped this picture of Grandfather Frost on the television. He's wishing everyone a "Happy New Year"!
Look what Nadya and Mela created for us. It's a candy tree...so tempting!
After dinner we rolled, cut, baked and decorated sugar cookies. I can't imagine how many sugar cookies I've made this holiday and each time it has been such a joy to introduce this fun experience to my dear friends. Mission rules were that we had to be in our apartments by 6:00 p.m. on New Year's eve and all day New Year's to prevent any confrontations with those on the street who were celebrating a little too much. So when we had to go...we left the remaining dough and cookie cutters for Mela. The next day we got a text from Nadya telling us that they had the neighbors and their children over baking and decorating cookies until 2:00 a.m.!!! Now that's my kind of celebration.
As we left, Mela demonstrated the great ice slide outside of their apartment building. The children come down the slide on a kind of snow saucer...and boy do they fly. The ice goes from the slide clear across the playground until you hit a pile of snow. I want to try it sooooo badly, but decided I better act my age! New Year's eve and day were so incredibly restful. We spent the day doing some deep cleaning and studying but we were also blessed with a great nap and the mission president loaned each companionship a copy of "It's A Wonderful Life" for our entertainment. A nice quiet New Year's!
The day after New Year's we went to visit our dear friend, Olga at her mother's in Ugocomsk! We have been there a couple times in the summer, but this was our first experience in the winter. Before our adventure, we had to take a fun peek at the newly installed flooring in Olga's apartment. Doesn't it look amazing? This flooring is linoleum but looks exactly like laminate. Her place is so clean and modern looking. If you have been watching the evolution of this studio apartment, you are probably as amazed as we are. Where there is a will, there is a way! She is now saving up for some cupboards and a desk. More pics to come...
An hour bus ride on icy roads brought us to this frozen lake at Ugocomsk covered with snow and the village nestled in the hills. Looks like a Christmas card doesn't it?
Many in the little village, take the shortcut across the frozen lake to get to and from town. It was sooooo cold here! My nose felt frozen when we got from the bus station to Olga's mom apartment.
During the holidays, many of the businesses, the city buildings, banks, schools, etc. close down...January 1 through the 9th. During his vacation, Dima, our young single adult friend called and asked if we wanted to go on a tour across the Kama river and see what is on the other side? It is amazing that we have lived here for eleven months now, and we have never been across this bridge. We have several young single adults that live in that area because it was built as primarily university housing that is now open for anyone to rent. There are also dorm type apartment complexes. This is a picture that we took during the summer, but it shows one of the two bridges that span the Kama River.
As we crossed the bridge, it felt like we were in a very different world. The area is so forested and the housing is nestled right in amongst the trees. It seriously looked like we are driving over the Cascades in Oregon.
This country really believes in central heating. This photo shows one of many huge plants that heats water and then circulates it around to all of the large apartment buildings in the community. The hot water is then flushed through radiators in the various apartments to heat them. Our apartment is very comfortable except when the outside temperatures are extreme. The biggest downside is that you have no thermostate to control the temperature of your apartment.
This is a great picture showing the large pipes that carry the hot water to the various apartment buildings. They have to go up and over the intersections of the community.
This shows the pipeline hooking into the dorms in this area.
Farther on down the northern side of the Kama river is a huge dam and power plant. We stopped to take pictures of the ice fishing that was going on.
You can see the augers they use to drill the holes in the ice. Some of the men had plastic around them to try and protect them from the wind. Can you imagine sitting there waiting for a fish to bite in minus 20 degree weather?!
The little town that is by the dam is called Giva. While we were driving through the community, we saw this small Muslim mosque. Dima said that there are quite a few Muslims between Perm and the city of Ufa. Our missionaries have to line up an interview for a Muslim investigator with the mission president before they can begin taking the missionary discussions.
Dima and I by a monument and eternal flame that mark pre-revolutionary history. There is a lovely museum that is located near here and we hope to be able to get back on a P-day when we have more time. We are finding Russian history most interesting. Thanks Dima, for helping us to see what lies just across the river and out of the city!
Lessons, visits and now a birthday party at the branch for Val...he's turning 60. Lim is his wonderful wife. In Russian, it is the tradition that the person having the birthday puts on the party and it was a wonderful party.
On the wall behind our two comedians, is a poster displaying Val through the years. It was so fun to get a glimpse into his life. His sister attended along with his first wife. Like Lim said, "One big happy family!" This mother and daughter team, Ludmilla and Mariana, did a fun comedy act to help Val celebrate!
Saturday, January 5, 2013 was an incredibly special day. Last week on the blog, we talked of our visit to Lubova...an enchaning eight year old, that was anticipating her baptism right away. Well it happened but not without the efforts of the whole branch. It all started out early Saturday morning, when four of our elders and two priesthood holders from the branch walking through the snow, up and down the hills and into Laressa and Alexei's home. They carried Laressa out to the road on a stretcher. Laressa is paralyzed from the waist down. Members of the branch that have cars met them at the road and took Laressa, her family and the elders to a members home that has their own banya...or bath house. The elders chopped wood and they heated the water and Relief Society sisters lovingly bathed Laressa and washed her hair. They don't have plumbing...so this was a luxury. While this was going on...the branch had an incredible activity for all the children of the branch and their invited guests. Here they have a traditional story that revolves around the Christmas tree, Grandfather Frost and the Snow Maiden (that is Grandfather Frost's granddaughter that assists him in delivering the children's presents.) It was so well planned, so well attended, the children dressed in their Sunday best or a costume (not sure about that tradition). They had a wicked witch, a rooster, and a fox all playing a large role in the story. The children loved it and Lubova and her brother Yarik were at the party while their mother was being attended to.
At the end of the party, each child shared a poem with Grandfather Frost and then he gave them a stocking filled with fruit and goodies. Some of the Relief Society sisters had made forty beautiful stockings for the children in attendance. I can't begin to tell you how memorable they made this activity for the children.
This is our second counselor Valdimer, (Grandfather Frost), his wife, Svetlana, and their two daughters, Maria (the Snow Maiden) and baby, Ana. She was in the hospital a year ago when we arrived because she was born prematurely and there were huge concerns for her survival...but as you can see she is a beautiful little gal. They are a very faithful family!
Well, after the children's party (yolka), we were to have Lubova's baptism. When we checked the font, to our dismay...the water pressure was down to a trickle and there was no way she was going to be able to be baptized! Hoses were brought in and water from the basement lines was turned into the font...and the members, missionaries and even children were filling buckets of hot water from the kitchen and restrooms to fill the baptismal font. Well, it was an hour late but it happened!!!
Three of the four members of this little family are now members of the church and Laressa was there to see it happen! After the baptismal talk, the baptism and the talk on the Holy Ghost, the Branch President announced the closing prayer. Elder Pocock asked to speak with him a moment and then the President announced that Lubova would be confirmed then and not on Sunday. Elder Pocock helped him understand that convert baptisms have to be confirmed on Sunday, but children can be confirmed right after baptism and with the situation with Laressa...it was something that should be done right then. In this branch...there are very few baptisms at age eight...most baptisms are taken care of by the missionaries because they are convert baptisms. This is what this work is all about, helping each other to move the work forward in the best possible way.
Sasha, one of the young single adults that is preparing for a mission, baptized Lubova. We were so proud of him. CONGRATULATIONS LUBOVA!
Laressa loved being out of bed and at the branch with the saints. The sisters greeted her warmly. While we were waiting for the font to fill, several of the branch sat together and sang from the hymn book. Laressa loved that! They served a light lunch after the baptism and you could just see the joy on her face as she enjoyed the food and the companionship. How I wish that she lived in a home that was more easily accessible so she could come to church more often. Every one of those missionaries expressed to us how much the experience of that day had meant to them. Truly, when you are in the service of your fellowmen, you are in the service of your God...and they felt that.
It truly was a day that the Perm Branch will never forget, and neither will we. A very special day in Perm, Russia!
Here we are by the family tree with Mela and Feda, Nadya's children. Needless to say, they were excited! Usually they spend the holidays with her parents, but this year they decided to stay in Perm and have their celebration at home. They were so thoughtful to allow us to join in the fun. Nadya made the felt ornament garland hanging in front of the window.
An amazing dinner was prepared for us. We had roast duck, baked with apples and plums...yummy!
A traditional Russian beet salad and shredded fried potatoes, both of which I really liked. She also had their traditional New Year's caviar and sardines. I am going to have to acquire a taste for caviar and the sardines...well let's say it was an adventure. Nadya went to so much work and we loved sharing the afternoon with them.
While dinner was being prepared, Elder Pocock and Feda engaged in a fierce game of "Battleship" that we gave the kids for New Year's.
Look what Nadya and Mela created for us. It's a candy tree...so tempting!
After dinner we rolled, cut, baked and decorated sugar cookies. I can't imagine how many sugar cookies I've made this holiday and each time it has been such a joy to introduce this fun experience to my dear friends. Mission rules were that we had to be in our apartments by 6:00 p.m. on New Year's eve and all day New Year's to prevent any confrontations with those on the street who were celebrating a little too much. So when we had to go...we left the remaining dough and cookie cutters for Mela. The next day we got a text from Nadya telling us that they had the neighbors and their children over baking and decorating cookies until 2:00 a.m.!!! Now that's my kind of celebration.
As we left, Mela demonstrated the great ice slide outside of their apartment building. The children come down the slide on a kind of snow saucer...and boy do they fly. The ice goes from the slide clear across the playground until you hit a pile of snow. I want to try it sooooo badly, but decided I better act my age! New Year's eve and day were so incredibly restful. We spent the day doing some deep cleaning and studying but we were also blessed with a great nap and the mission president loaned each companionship a copy of "It's A Wonderful Life" for our entertainment. A nice quiet New Year's!
New Year's Eve and New Year's are BIG holidays and this is why we were asked to stay inside!
The day after New Year's we went to visit our dear friend, Olga at her mother's in Ugocomsk! We have been there a couple times in the summer, but this was our first experience in the winter. Before our adventure, we had to take a fun peek at the newly installed flooring in Olga's apartment. Doesn't it look amazing? This flooring is linoleum but looks exactly like laminate. Her place is so clean and modern looking. If you have been watching the evolution of this studio apartment, you are probably as amazed as we are. Where there is a will, there is a way! She is now saving up for some cupboards and a desk. More pics to come...
An hour bus ride on icy roads brought us to this frozen lake at Ugocomsk covered with snow and the village nestled in the hills. Looks like a Christmas card doesn't it?
Many in the little village, take the shortcut across the frozen lake to get to and from town. It was sooooo cold here! My nose felt frozen when we got from the bus station to Olga's mom apartment.
Olga's mom lost her husband when her two daughters were ages one and two! She raised them as a single mom and taught school. She is a workaholic at age 81! We keep trying to help her understand
how important the gospel would be in her life. She is very supportive of Olga's newfound religion! We are developing a lasting relationship with her...and oh, how we love her daughter.
During the holidays, many of the businesses, the city buildings, banks, schools, etc. close down...January 1 through the 9th. During his vacation, Dima, our young single adult friend called and asked if we wanted to go on a tour across the Kama river and see what is on the other side? It is amazing that we have lived here for eleven months now, and we have never been across this bridge. We have several young single adults that live in that area because it was built as primarily university housing that is now open for anyone to rent. There are also dorm type apartment complexes. This is a picture that we took during the summer, but it shows one of the two bridges that span the Kama River.
As we crossed the bridge, it felt like we were in a very different world. The area is so forested and the housing is nestled right in amongst the trees. It seriously looked like we are driving over the Cascades in Oregon.
This is a picture from the car of Dima's apartment building, surrounded by pines.
This country really believes in central heating. This photo shows one of many huge plants that heats water and then circulates it around to all of the large apartment buildings in the community. The hot water is then flushed through radiators in the various apartments to heat them. Our apartment is very comfortable except when the outside temperatures are extreme. The biggest downside is that you have no thermostate to control the temperature of your apartment.
This is a great picture showing the large pipes that carry the hot water to the various apartment buildings. They have to go up and over the intersections of the community.
This shows the pipeline hooking into the dorms in this area.
Farther on down the northern side of the Kama river is a huge dam and power plant. We stopped to take pictures of the ice fishing that was going on.
You can see the augers they use to drill the holes in the ice. Some of the men had plastic around them to try and protect them from the wind. Can you imagine sitting there waiting for a fish to bite in minus 20 degree weather?!
The little town that is by the dam is called Giva. While we were driving through the community, we saw this small Muslim mosque. Dima said that there are quite a few Muslims between Perm and the city of Ufa. Our missionaries have to line up an interview for a Muslim investigator with the mission president before they can begin taking the missionary discussions.
Dima and I by a monument and eternal flame that mark pre-revolutionary history. There is a lovely museum that is located near here and we hope to be able to get back on a P-day when we have more time. We are finding Russian history most interesting. Thanks Dima, for helping us to see what lies just across the river and out of the city!
Lessons, visits and now a birthday party at the branch for Val...he's turning 60. Lim is his wonderful wife. In Russian, it is the tradition that the person having the birthday puts on the party and it was a wonderful party.
On the wall behind our two comedians, is a poster displaying Val through the years. It was so fun to get a glimpse into his life. His sister attended along with his first wife. Like Lim said, "One big happy family!" This mother and daughter team, Ludmilla and Mariana, did a fun comedy act to help Val celebrate!
Saturday, January 5, 2013 was an incredibly special day. Last week on the blog, we talked of our visit to Lubova...an enchaning eight year old, that was anticipating her baptism right away. Well it happened but not without the efforts of the whole branch. It all started out early Saturday morning, when four of our elders and two priesthood holders from the branch walking through the snow, up and down the hills and into Laressa and Alexei's home. They carried Laressa out to the road on a stretcher. Laressa is paralyzed from the waist down. Members of the branch that have cars met them at the road and took Laressa, her family and the elders to a members home that has their own banya...or bath house. The elders chopped wood and they heated the water and Relief Society sisters lovingly bathed Laressa and washed her hair. They don't have plumbing...so this was a luxury. While this was going on...the branch had an incredible activity for all the children of the branch and their invited guests. Here they have a traditional story that revolves around the Christmas tree, Grandfather Frost and the Snow Maiden (that is Grandfather Frost's granddaughter that assists him in delivering the children's presents.) It was so well planned, so well attended, the children dressed in their Sunday best or a costume (not sure about that tradition). They had a wicked witch, a rooster, and a fox all playing a large role in the story. The children loved it and Lubova and her brother Yarik were at the party while their mother was being attended to.
At the end of the party, each child shared a poem with Grandfather Frost and then he gave them a stocking filled with fruit and goodies. Some of the Relief Society sisters had made forty beautiful stockings for the children in attendance. I can't begin to tell you how memorable they made this activity for the children.
This is our second counselor Valdimer, (Grandfather Frost), his wife, Svetlana, and their two daughters, Maria (the Snow Maiden) and baby, Ana. She was in the hospital a year ago when we arrived because she was born prematurely and there were huge concerns for her survival...but as you can see she is a beautiful little gal. They are a very faithful family!
Well, after the children's party (yolka), we were to have Lubova's baptism. When we checked the font, to our dismay...the water pressure was down to a trickle and there was no way she was going to be able to be baptized! Hoses were brought in and water from the basement lines was turned into the font...and the members, missionaries and even children were filling buckets of hot water from the kitchen and restrooms to fill the baptismal font. Well, it was an hour late but it happened!!!
Three of the four members of this little family are now members of the church and Laressa was there to see it happen! After the baptismal talk, the baptism and the talk on the Holy Ghost, the Branch President announced the closing prayer. Elder Pocock asked to speak with him a moment and then the President announced that Lubova would be confirmed then and not on Sunday. Elder Pocock helped him understand that convert baptisms have to be confirmed on Sunday, but children can be confirmed right after baptism and with the situation with Laressa...it was something that should be done right then. In this branch...there are very few baptisms at age eight...most baptisms are taken care of by the missionaries because they are convert baptisms. This is what this work is all about, helping each other to move the work forward in the best possible way.
Sasha, one of the young single adults that is preparing for a mission, baptized Lubova. We were so proud of him. CONGRATULATIONS LUBOVA!
Laressa loved being out of bed and at the branch with the saints. The sisters greeted her warmly. While we were waiting for the font to fill, several of the branch sat together and sang from the hymn book. Laressa loved that! They served a light lunch after the baptism and you could just see the joy on her face as she enjoyed the food and the companionship. How I wish that she lived in a home that was more easily accessible so she could come to church more often. Every one of those missionaries expressed to us how much the experience of that day had meant to them. Truly, when you are in the service of your fellowmen, you are in the service of your God...and they felt that.
It truly was a day that the Perm Branch will never forget, and neither will we. A very special day in Perm, Russia!
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