I am sure that conference seems like a long time ago...but it all happened for us on April 13th & 14th, 2013.  It was so wonderful to enjoy the speakers in the midst of these special young people.  Here we are between sessions getting ready for the potluck lunch with the branch.

Conference in session...a non member came to church and he asked if he could watch it with us rather than in the chapel in Russian.  He understands and speaks very nearly perfect English!

Mud season is in full swing...the snow is melting and there are mud puddles everywhere!

Buses and cars alike are anxiously awaiting a washing...but not until all that mud dries up!

We spotted this Honda CRV (just like the one at home in our garage).  This one "was" white also!

There are some benefits of tons of snow...it hides all the garbage deposits that become exposed once it melts!!!  

Even the Russians are getting anxious for warmer weather...this makes me feel like it truly is coming!

I think it was last November, Elder Pocock and I went to a Police Lyceum and taught some English classes.  Their teacher, Tanya, invited us back for a repeat session.  It truly was fun to see many of the same students.  Here they are marching from their early morning outdoor assembly.  The reveille is the first military formation of the day.

One of the classes of young people that we taught.  They were very well-behaved and seemed interested in our presentation.

This time we wanted to do something different so we introduced America's Jeopardy game, with a bit of a twist.  Elder Pocock worked hard at collecting various pictures of famous locations from around the world.  We divided the classes into teams and explained how to give the answer in the form of a question.  This was a difficult concept for them to grasp but they caught on.  They had to give the answer in English.  We gave points according to difficulty and awarded prizes to the winning team.  Many of the students knew the answers but were insecure at expressing them in English.  We asked additional questions about many of the pictures to encourage English conversation.  All in all, I think the students not only learned more English but learned a lot about the wonders of the world.

After the classes, we were treated to a lovely lunch and then we were driven home.  The lyceum is located about an hour outside of Perm.  In one class, we asked how many students were from Perm...only one!  The students are from many surrounding locations.  They stay at the lyceum all school year except for holidays and summer vacation.  Tanya told us that there is no cost for the tuition and the room and board is an equivalent to $120 per month!  Students are given an entrance exam and interview to determine acceptance.

Elder Pocock and I are getting very brave.  It had been way too long since we had seen our dear Alexandria...so I made some cookies and we went off on our own to meet with her.  She was shocked. First of all, we had to push her apartment intercom number and she had to recognize us in order for her to unlock the front door to the building.  She was so surprised to see us there without any missionaries! We didn't stay long but we had fun with our limited Russian and our Google Translate on the IPhone.    She loves the church...just isn't able to really understand and comprehend the message and commitment well enough.  We just wanted her to know that she wasn't forgotten and we could tell that she felt of our love.

This time, it was a repair on a skirt for me that sent us searching for the right color of thread.  This is how you select the spool of thread that you need.  I took a piece of the fabric and was able to match it perfectly.  There were pages and pages of thread samples.  The large spool of thread only cost me 15 rubles equal to about $.50!!!

Rather than bolts of fabric, they hang their fabric to display it.  They have minimal amounts of each selection.

This stack of large cards has rows and rows of buttons pasted to them.  This is how you make your selection.  I am sure that because space is limited...it is easier to have the customer select the thread or buttons and then the worker can sort through boxes to get your desired purchase.

At our busy downtown intersection...the unthinkable happened.  The cable to the trolley bus snapped and disabled the bus right in the middle of heavy traffic.  You can see in this photo the cables that the trolley attaches to.  The lower cable is unattached and the long connecting cable is lying right in the middle of the road.  This made it so trolley buses could not go and it also affected the traffic lights.  What a mess.  No police officers came to direct traffic...it was every man for himself.  YIKES!  It was scary trying to cross at the intersection.

In time, the cable was reattached and life resumed to its normal, hectic pace!

The Parkovy elders went above and beyond the call of duty this week.  Elders Henderson and Hope were in charge of the zone meeting dinner.  They decided they wanted to make chicken enchiladas.  You can't just go to the store and find tortillas here... they have to be made from scratch...see how great these look!

The elders came over to our apartment early and I helped them make a chicken bouillon-flavored white sauce.  The enchiladas were sooooo good!  Great job guys!

We have told you how we dry everything on a large rack.  Our washing machine has a final spin cycle that is so fierce...it sounds like a jet plane taking off.  I am sure that is why our clothes dry so quickly on the rack!  Well, despite the fact that our clothes dry quickly...we truly do miss having a dryer.  Just have to show you how our towels can stand upright "on their own" because they are so stiff...no soft towels over here!  We try to look on the bright side and when we dry after our shower...we say, "How nice that we have towels to help exfoliate our skin!"

Every week we so enjoy having several young single adults...members, non-members, and less actives... join us for dinner and family home evening.  We have become so attached to these great young people. Their lives are so different, many with great challenges.  As I walked into the kitchen this night and listened to their laughter and friendly chatter...it made me so grateful for the friendship we have developed and the opportunity that Elder Pocock and I have to offer them a good environment for wholesome activities.  We can't change their home life, we can't lighten their load or take away their discouragement but we can help them feel loved!

Each week we have a zone meeting where we meet altogether for instruction from our zone leaders, Elders Prestwich and Krivov.  We also set our monthly goals, plan missionary firesides, give one another suggestions for tracting and finding.  These meetings are invaluable to give encouragement and focus with this great work.

In many missions, the missionaries enjoy a DA...dinner appointment.  Here we don't have such a thing.
But when the elders visit the members with a spiritual thought, the members often prepare something light for them to eat.  We try to discourage the members from doing too much beyond tea and a little cookie, just don't want them to extend their budgets.  The Relief Society presidency got the feeling from the women of the branch that they wanted to feed the missionaries on a monthly basis.  So they now have sisters working in groups that prepare a delicious meal for us once a month.

This week one of the sisters was going to be out of town, so I volunteered to help with the preparation.  This is Tamara, our branch president's mother.  She made a mixture with tiny, cubed chicken, spices and a sauce...

then this mixture was shaped into paddies and fried.  It is delicious.  Must get this recipe!!!

Here Galena is preparing a traditional cabbage salad.  We chopped and chopped a huge head of cabbage, added carrots, onions, seasonings, and the delicious Russian mayonnaise.  Seriously, I don't know what I am going to do without the mayonnaise flavors they offer over here.

Irina is busy making a soup...the first of three courses!!!

She added potatoes, onions, carrots and the tiniest little meatballs.

So tasty!

We love our Perm branch sisters...they spoil us!

This week we had to say goodbye to sweet Sister Galli.  One of our sisters is in the states recuperating from a fall on the ice...hence a short term sister missionary from one of the branches went to be with her companion.  Well, it is turning out to be a longer recovery than expected and the short term sister had to return to work...so the President had to do some rearranging.  It means that Sister Galli is leaving us to go to Tyumen, how we are going to miss her sweetness!

We continue to strengthen our new member Natalia.  She comes to our apartment almost weekly for lessons on basic gospel principles.  This week the elders reminded her of the promises that we make at baptism and how we renew those each week with the Sacrament.  We talk of how important it is that she makes friends in the branch...she is very shy.  Every member needs a friend in the gospel!

Our Branch President is in the Ukraine on a work assignment.  Branch Presidency meeting went on as usual but with the President conversing over skype...a must for Elder Pocock since the President is the only one with any English skills.  Elder Pocock has tried really hard to make sure that come rain or shine, presidency meetings are held, so this becomes a huge priority!  Everything goes so much smoother when this is their motto: Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance!

Just thought that you might be interested in seeing how four cars are parked along a nearby sidewalk.  The second one from the front is the only one that is aligned with the curb.  Whatever works!

We spent some time this week working on another layer of mud around Olga's new doorway.  It's coming, slow but sure.  All winter Olga would purchase just the bare necessities and keep them on her window ledge to stay cold.  Just last week, she was able to purchase a new refrigerator.  She was so excited to show us how she has it stocked with needed supplies.  Now she doesn't have to go to the store as often and no worries about food spoiling.  We are thrilled for her.

Just wanted to update you on the little girls in the branch.  They are about a month apart in age.  Proud papas are Brothers Bosov and Fadeev.  Excited to announce that Stepan and Olga are expecting in August...Olga told me that the doctors are 60% sure it is a girl!  Hooray for the girls!  I have to say that we have seen many young fathers here in Russia take an active part in their children's lives.  We have shown you the beautiful buggies that they sell here and everywhere we walk, we see fathers pushing their babies both with and without the mothers.  Hooray for the fathers!  Until next time...

Have to brag AGAIN...grandchild #23, Annie Fern Post, was born to Lori and Zach on April 7, 2013. She is welcomed by sister, Ella, and two older brothers, Elliott and Abram.  So exciting! 

Aching to hold those new babies...so Victoria, Vecka, helps fill my empty arms.  Every Sunday when I get to the church she comes running down the hall and into my lap.  I'd love to take her home with me as grandchild #24 but I don't think Lena would go for that.  

This Russian winter is all about "bait and switch".  First it snows...then it's 12 degrees C, which is 52 degrees F...then it snows again. Make up my mind!!!  The crazy temperatures and harsh conditions are so hard on everything.  While we were walking to do an Elders' apartment check, we came across part of this brick pillar that had fallen off.  Several buildings, fences and stores are in need of constant upkeep due to the severe weather.

This is the entryway to our building during the thaw!

This playground went from a winter wonderland to a swimming pool in just a couple days.

The evidence of a long day on the streets!!!

Russian winters aren't just hard on buildings, fences and sidewalks...they cause havoc with elders pants!  I put a piece of white paper in the hole to show you what I am trying to repair.  This elder goes home in a month and just wants to wear the old suit during the "mud season".  I put a piece of dark fabric to reinforce the hole and zig-zagged the pants together...not pretty but I think it is going to hold!

Another pair of pants for repair...this elder was hopping over a big puddle and ripped a hole in his suit pants.  Whatever would we have done here in Perm without the mission home sewing machine!  This pair makes the 16th pair of pants I have either shortened, lengthened, taken in, let out or repaired while on my mission.  It's my second full time job.  Good thing I love these Elders!!!

We begged Reisa for a picture...she is such an amazing member.  Her daughter is Tanya, who speaks proficient English and has helped us translate when we teach institute.  Elders Prestwich and Hope were on splits and we joined them for a long-awaited visit.  Reisa is an amazing cook, just finished an apartment remodel job, and is so faithful to attend her meetings and the temple.  Love this sweet woman!

On the bulletin board of the branch, we proudly show some of our wonderful youth.  The top two pictures are young men serving their required year in the army.  The other four are missionaries from our branch.

This is Sasha Vironkin...he just served a short-term mission to Chelyabinsk.  We are so excited to have him back.  He is now serving in the Young Men's presidency!  He loved his mission.

We just got this picture over the email this week.  It is of Elder Weber (L) and Elder Sumenkov (Igor).  Elder Weber served here in Perm some time ago...and if you have followed the blog, Igor is one of our YSA that has been preparing for a full time mission.  He is now serving a short-term mission with Elder Weber in Chelyabinsk. We really love these two young men.  It is so rewarding to see how their testimonies are strengthened and their love for the Savior shows in all that they do.

At zone meeting, we celebrated Elder Christiansen's 21st birthday!  He goes home in May along with two others of our great zone.

I wanted to show you how creative our elders have to be as they contact on the streets.  Elder Christiansen and Elder Ashjian show this poster and ask the people...does 3AMOK mean "lock" or does it mean "castle"?   The people guess and then the missionaries point out that depending on where the accent is placed...it means either one or the other.  Without knowing where to place the emphasis...you don't know the meaning.  Then they liken this to questions of life...and how if we don't put the emphasis on getting these answers from a prophet, we aren't going to get the right answer for us.  Then they discuss how important it is to find real truth.  Great work, guys.

Recently we had an "Invitation Sunday" where the members were encouraged to bring their non member friends to get acquainted with what we believe.  We had eight investigators attend.  The block was filled with very special speakers, lessons and music.  The elders set up the table and chairs for the light luncheon that was served afterwards.  Elder Pocock caught a great picture of all of them waiting for Priesthood and Relief Society to end...Elders Hope, Krivov, Ashjian, Henderson, Christiansen and Prestwich.

Elders Prestwich and Krivov invited us to visit a family.  Challenges abound with some family conditions in Russia and we try to strengthen them and teach them values.  We are cautioned that our communities and our countries are no stronger than our homes!

We just ended our eight week session of English conversation group.  We had a great group...such nice people wanting to better their English skills.  Here we see Elders Henderson and Hope teaching the beginning group.

After the 45 minute lesson, the beginning...intermediate...and advanced groups meet together for a story in English, a song in English, a spiritual thought and prayer.  Here Elder Henderson is giving a story in English and Tanya, an English teacher at a Police Lyceum, is translating it into Russian.

We had a delightful experience on transport the other day.  We were riding a bus to an appointment when a nice lady sitting across from us noticed that we were speaking English.  She suddenly began talking to us in very good English...asking us all kinds of questions and helping us in determining our stop. This lady pictured below came on the bus and sat beside her.  They talked to each other about us...that we were missionaries, that we were from America, that we had a large family and immediately this sweet lady adopted us.  It so happened that we got off the same bus stop and she walked and talked with us.  Because we were missionaries, she immediately assumed we were of the Russian Orthodox Church and she was trying to get us to follow her.  We knew where we had to go to our appointment and she thought we were lost and needed her to show us the way to the church.  She was delightful...but this is where not knowing the language very well can cause miscommunication.  Finally we were able to help her understand, but before we parted we became fast friends.  It was so nice to have someone so caring and concerned...most of the time on buses we get stared down by some pretty solemn people.

The Relief Society had an activity where the sisters learned some handwork that creates a beautiful flower design.  It is called ribbon embroidery.  They had a great turnout and everyone enjoy learning a new craft.

The finished product...beautiful!

Right after the Relief Society activity...we had a surprise party for our dear friend, Yulia!  She turned 21 and has just completed her papers for a full time mission!  This branch is so lucky!

Lots of friends...food...and fun!

The cutest candles ever...they spelled "Happy Birthday" in Russian, of course.  This is how you pronounce Happy Birthday in Russian...."S Dnem Rozhdeniya".

Yulia felt such love and joy...she is a great young woman.

Olga has been saving up for a new front door and it is finally installed.   When she told us we were so excited for her and now we could go over and finish applying the wallpaper up to the new door.  We were in for a bit of a shock...this door fit very differently than the last one and there is a lot of work to be done before the last of the wallpaper goes up.

You can see here what I mean.  So we spent the next 2 hours filling in the holes and covering the brick with "mud".  The metal bars that they used to stabilize the door are not flush with the wall.  It required a lot of filler...we will have to let it dry and then see where we go from here.  It never is as easy as you imagine it might be!

We got an Easter package from home and look at these cute decorations that our grandchildren have made and decorated for us.  Thank you so much...Easter in Russia is May 5...so we are all ready for it!
Inside the package were ingredients for our favorite cheese ball and a family favorite... caramel popcorn.  Can't wait to make these.

Family Home Evening this week was well attended.  In fact, we had six members and seven non members present.  The elders taught the lesson on Forgiveness.  Great lesson...great group!

This is Erena.  She was in our advanced English group and we invited her to attend family home evening.  She came and brought with her this beautiful doily that she had made to thank us for the
invitation.  So thoughtful...she wants to continue coming.

A fun activity that we have played after the lessons, is Charades.  Elder Pocock caught some of it on his IPhone and we thought you might like to hear the Russian language spoken by natives.  This is what we listen to all day long.  

Sisters Galli and Patterson are so excited about their new investigator, Nina (in the orange top).  She speaks some English...has a daughter that married an Italian and lives in Italy.  Nina has so much energy and is an eager learner.  Irina (red blouse), baptized in January, is a newly called branch missionary and she is great in helping Nina to understand different principles of the gospel.  There is nothing like another Russian member sharing their testimony and what it was like for them to accept the gospel and live it.

Every time I witness this, tears come to my eyes!  This is Leo...he is from China.  He is living in Russia and going to school.  Our missionaries found him on the streets of Perm.  Elder Prestwich and Krivov were teaching him in English...he has limited skills in both English and Russian.  The President made contact with the mission president in England to see if they could work out some teaching sessions.  Today while we were waiting for Leo to get here, I heard one of the Elders from England say that when he read that his call was to England and that he would be speaking Mandarin Chinese...his parents didn't believe him at first!  I can see why, but there must be a large gathering of Chinese in England.  This is Leo's third skype session with missionaries in Birmingham, England that speak Mandarin Chinese.   We have received so many witnesses through this experience:  Modern technology is truly helping to spread the gospel and this is truly a world wide church.  At present, we don't have missionaries in China but Elder Pocock searched lds.org and checked out the "meetinghouse locator"...typed in Leo's city which is in the middle of China...and there was an English speaking branch right there in his home town!!!  This church is true and will spread across the world with God's help and the help of his missionaries!  This has been such a spiritual experience and all we are doing is witnessing it in our apartment.  The miracle of the whole thing:  here is a Chinese man, learning about the gospel in Russia, via skype with American missionaries in England...that speak Mandarin Chinese!!!  This is not a coincidence...this is God's work.

We walked out of our apartment and our neighbor had a bright, cheerful "welcome" mat.  Isn't it ironic it is in English...we're hoping she is saying it to us.

The next three pictures show some fun extremes in Russia:  an outhouse on the edge of a cliff...

Russians so wanting to soak in some sun...in April 2011 they were much more successful than in
April, 2013!  One thing I can say for the Russians, they don't let the weather get in their way.  They
still enjoy life.

Taken today, April 11, 2013...hope you can see that we are getting a lot of new snowfall. The bait and switch goes on.  Until next time...