We had a party at our apartment...Elder Pocock was such a good sport...all these women! We asked Sisters Patchett and Patterson to invite their two investigators, Natalia and Nina, and our dear friend Olga over for a lesson and dinner. We had a wonderful visit and continue to build bonds of love and understanding of gospel principles.
May 9th is Victory Day...probably next to New Year's, it is the biggest holiday in Russia. They celebrate the victory of WWII in a BIG way! Russia is very proud of their military and they still mourn the approximately 28 million men, women and children that died from military wounds, exposure, starvation, and disease during the course of the war! The set up several rows of chairs along the parade route as well as blocks of bleachers for people to stand on.
I thought the work crews were out cleaning up the town due to the improved weather, but I soon realized that a lot of it had to do with the city of Perm getting ready to CELEBRATE. This huge profile emblem of Lenin in the center of the town had been beautifully repainted!
Our friend Tanya, who teaches at the Police Lyceum, invited us to sit with she and Lena. Because of her position at the military school and the fact that they were marching in the parade, we were permitted to sit on the second row along the parade route. We felt like dignitaries!!! We certainly mingled with men and women of distinction. I felt a great deal of gratitude for these patriots. I stepped out and took some pictures of those honored on the front row.
Look at those medals!
I read where 800,000 women served in the Russian military. Here is a sweet woman that some young ushers helped seat. Note her medals of honor!
The orange and black striped ribbons were passed out for all to wear in honor of those brave warriors. After the parade, everyone received a red carnation!
Military personnel from various academies represented branches of the armed forces and lined the center square. Moscow time is two hours earlier than Perm...so we witnessed a rebroadcast of Putin's remarks from Red Square!
Following remarks by Putin, the Governor of Perm region, and the Mayor of Perm...they displayed videos of Russian soldiers and their participation in the war...very moving!
This video shows some of the military academies that were represented in the march. It was all so very proper and exact...very impressive. So glad we could be a part of these events. Thanks to Russia for their efforts on the Eastern front of the war!
Friday, Kristina had her baptismal interview at our apartment. Her mother, Irina, and the Sisters came along for moral support. She passed with flying colors...yea, another baptism for the Perm branch. We invited them to stay and have zone dinner with us. So twelve of us cozied around our dining room table. Later Irina told me that her favorite part of the dinner was the wonderful family atmosphere that she felt with all of us laughing and sharing with each other!
Yet another group of wonderful sisters have spoiled the missionaries with a lovely monthly dinner. Katya (L) serves in the Relief Society presidency, Ludmilla and Nina serve in the Primary. Such faithful sisters...none of their husbands are members and yet they are so committed to the gospel and the members. Nina is holding the flavoring for the soup she made for us. She brought it from the forest near her dacha...summer home.
When we asked about it...we found that it is literally translated "stinging nettle". We asked how she could hold it without it stinging...she said that her hands had adapted to it!!! The soup was delicious...didn't sting going down (thank goodness). Nina gave us some extra makings for more soup. Elder Pocock wanted to see if it really was what she said ... guess what? ... it was and his hands paid the price! Our stomaches are getting Russified! We read that if you pick the nettle in the early spring it doesn't sting as badly. Keep that in mind as you make your soup!!!
What an incredibly spiritual experience...Kristina's baptism. We have shown Vladimir and Irina on the blog at their baptism in early January. The missionaries met Vladimir on the street...he embraced the church, brought Irina, his fiance', to the church and now Irina's daughter has joined. They are such a strong and loving family. It is SO EXCITING to see a family altogether in the gospel. This is what this church is all about...forever families! What a way to end your mission, Sister Patterson.
Sister Patchett played a beautiful flute solo for the baptism.
...and the branch celebrated Kristina!
Kristina works three weeks in Perm and then three weeks away...the branch gave her plenty to read while she is working out of town.
Happy 21st Birthday, Elder Prestwich!
We joined Elder Prestwich to say goodbye to the Shlikavey family. These young boys really love you Elder!!!
The Sisters and Kristina Perina, a young member of our branch with an amazing voice, sang a beautiful trio, "Beautiful Savior" for Sacrament meeting. Elder Pocock caught us practicing...enjoy a short segment.
Guess who is back in Perm? If you have followed our blog from the beginning, you will remember our adorable Masha. She was the Primary president when we arrived in Perm, February 2012. She was engaged to be married in May and she and I teamed up to make her wedding dress. She and Slava had a delightful, traditional Russian wedding. Then they moved away to the Black Sea! How we have missed her, but she is here for a short visit...expecting in July.
Every branch needs a Masha! How we love this gal.
May was birthday month for our zone...these great missionaries surprised me with a cake and roses. We had a wonderful birthday/farewell party. Our four missionaries leave TOMORROW!
Elders Henderson and Prestwich...the long and short of it!
In March, we had the honor of meeting a renowned artist here in Perm...Stanislav Kovalev. We posted on our blog many pictures of his work and the enchanting penthouse apartment where he and his sweet wife, Ludmilla live. We wanted to repay them for their graciousness, so we invited them to our home for dinner and a spirited game of UNO ATTACK...a new version of Uno. We had a really fun visit...shared some feelings about the gospel and invited them to church. They accepted! It was so interesting to find out that our Sister Patchett's father visited Russia a few years ago and purchased one of the fairytale books that Mr. Kovalev had illustrated. When Sister Patchett saw this same book at our apartment, she was so excited to be able to meet the man that illustrated the book her father read to her as a child. Indeed, it is a small, small world!
Vladimir and Irina were the ones that introduced us to the Kovalevs. We invited them and of course, our dear Olga...our translator! Vladimir brought this cake as a gift. We took a picture of it to show how artistic Russian bakery cakes are...and besides that, they are delicious! They average about $8. Everything you see is edible...those are chocolate dipped prunes on top.
This is a great picture of our packed buses! No, this is not a joke...we have experienced this. One time Elder Pocock and I were the ones smashed against the doors and we had to get off in order to let people out at their stop and then we would hurry back on! Truly an unforgettable experience.
One morning we looked out our kitchen window and there was a huge sign...we thought it was an advertisement. We couldn't understand why someone would advertise only to several apartment building parking lots.
We looked closer and realized that a very creative young man went to a lot of work and expense to make a huge...probably 40 feet long...banner to ask his sweetheart to marry him. The sign says: "Beloved, be my wife." How romantic!
We pass this building every time we go to the church. The entrance to the far left is a small store. They have been patching the foundation and just this week they painted their entry. You can see the distinct separation of businesses. The improvement only extends to their boundary...and just to their flower box in front!
With the coming of summer...also comes the yearly departure of many to their dachas...summer homes. They are usually quite a distance away so we miss seeing them on a regular basis. Because many Russians rely on the fresh produce and canning from their dacha gardens, they spend weeks at a time tending their gardens. Natalia has just completed all of her after baptism discussions and will soon be leaving for her summer home. She doesn't know her summer schedule so we have already started saying our goodbyes! It's HARD! This is the sweetest, most faithful sister. If ever there was anyone without guile, it is Natalia. She is hoping to go to the temple in December, after she has been a member for a year. She sits by me in Relief Society and translates words of the lesson...she knows some English and is so willing to help me in any way she can. A big heartache is knowing I probably won't be able to communicate with her once I go home!!!
Another May celebration...Happy 20th Birthday, Elder Hope!
With three missionaries going home and Elder Ashjian going into Ekat...our zone had a bit of a shake up. Introducing the new Perm Zone: Back row (L) Elder Weber, our new zone leader, from North Carolina. You may remember that Elder Weber was in Perm this time last year...we are so excited to have him back in Perm!!! Elder King, from Malad, Idaho and Elder Porter, from Mapleton, Utah. Elder King is Elder Porter's trainer. We got to see Elder Porter on his third day in the country...a little culture shocked but he is already a great missionary! We got to keep Elder Henderson, Elder Krivov, and Elder Hope! Elder Porter looks shorter than our 6'5" Elder Henderson...but he really is the taller of the two. We have the two tallest elders in the mission. We are thrilled to have Sister Patchett still with us and our sweet Sister Galli is back. What a great group...thrilled to serve here!
A close-up for Elder King and Elder Porter's parents back home!!! They were in our apartment tonight with an investigator with a baptism date! Great lesson guys.
Nadya spent the morning with me creating two little sundresses...one each for Mela and her classmate. They are the narrators for their lst grade end of the year program and Nadya hadn't sewn since Feda was a baby, 14 years ago! We had a fun morning ... great job Nadya.
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