If you have not read this weeks blog, keep going after this post, and Sister Pocock's blog that tells the news of the week. This is Elder Pocock again, trying something new.  This blog is purely optional.  Read through the explanations  and then click only on the ones you are interested in.

There have been some things that have come to light since coming to Perm that have fascinated me.  I am including videos that give further insight to these things.  When we were told the news of a terrible fire in Brazil that killed over 200 people, the news article referred to a fire in Perm Russia.  So I had to learn more.  Here is a short video of the onset of the blaze.  Like the other fires, it is not the flame or heat that kills these people, it is the smoke, lack of oxygen, and lack of escape routes.  Ultimately 156 people died, but not all of them immediately.  The original count was about 120, but more kept dying from the effects, up to six months later.  At least 90 children lost parents in the blaze.

After coming to Russia I found that Francis Gary Powers, the pilot of the U2 plane, was shot down over farm ground near Yekaterinburg, our mission headquarters.  I was told that he was captured by local farmers and held captive by pitchforks until the proper authorities could come and arrest him.

     

This is a video tour of many of the sights we are accustomed to seeing as we go about the city.  It is nice to see these things, because all of the missionaries will recognize the majority of the sites.  This is our view of Perm.  I just wish I could adjust the music.  We hear some music on the bus with English lyrics, but very little country, and no Johnny Cash.

One of the museums had a traveling display of Religious and Social oppression during the Soviet Era.  That got me interested in gulags.  This is very enlightening segment on the last remaining gulag, which is located outside of Perm Russia.  If you are interested, it is self explanatory.

Last is a video that will be of interest to any missionaries who have been here, because it shows a side that we don't see as missionaries.  It was filmed by Japanese visitors who did an amazing job of showing the beauties of our area.  It begins in the Urals.  (This is something that has always bothered me.  I always imagined the Urals as this massive geological phenomena that defined two continents.  They are beautiful, but unimpressive to those who are accustom to the Rockies.  They are more like the Appalachians.)  It goes on to show the best of culture and fashion in this wonderful area we have come to love.