Two more baptisms this week!!

We made a cake and sugar cookies for the two baptisms in the Vladivostok Branch today. We have truly had an incredible first 10 days on our mission in Russia.

Always board on the tarmac

Planes don't pull up to the concourse. Instead, a bus takes passengers out to the plane.

Redheads in Russia

We found redheads in every class we attended! Every Russian we meet at church and in classes is warm and loving, happy and smiling, and very pleased to welcome us to their country. We can't help but love them all.

Woodsman in Sakhalinsk

This delightful gentleman lives in the woods around Sakhalinsk and comes to church and institute class. He told the story of how this past summer, a 9-m (28-ft) whale washed ashore on the beach where he was living at the time. He said it was delicious. Very rich. Very dense. Somehow, he reminded us of A dear (not deer) friend in Swan Valley.

Delightful S/I Instructor in Sakhalinsk

This dedicated young woman is a great teacher with an infectious smile, great enthusiasm, and sincere love for her students.

Food!!

This was the BEST Chinese sweet & sour chicken in the world, I'm certain!!

See ma, no hands

I had to take a picture!! The worker on the far right stood four stories up, on the outside, and swung a huge pick-ax tool to break up cement (?) on the inside of the roof. No safety harnesses in sight--on anyone.

S/I instructor in Ussuriysk

This warm, caring woman teaches the youth in Ussuriysk and cares greatly about their future happiness and well being. Our time with her was very inspiring.

Outside the church in Ussuriysk

Just enough room to turn around

Barbie bathroom?

We stayed in one very quaint hotel in Ussuriysk.

Trains, planes, and taxis

We flew to Sakhalinsk, then flew to Khabarovsk, took a night train to Ussuriysk, and finished up with a 2-hour taxi ride back to Vladivostok. The planes were great. They still feed the fliers:-) Hurray!! The night train was an adventure, for sure. Very fun. But we weren't sure we'd be able to walk after sitting in the back seat of that teensy little taxi bumping over gravel and potted roads for 2+ hours. A massive effort is currently underway to construct what will become a very modern and beautiful freeway. But until that is completed, we'll try hard to take a bus or train next time we make that trip. Kudos to Russian drivers. They are patient, aggressive, kind, and courteous.

Russian Orthodox Church in Khabarovsk

Elder and Sister Nelson

By the rivers walk in Khabarovsk. This river flooded over 9 m above flood stage earlier this summer.

River walk at Khabarovsk

Nelsons in front of the Russian Orthodox Church..

The streets are flanked by very wide brick walkways. More cars fill the roads these days, but most Russians still walk or take the bus. The Russian Orthodox churches are very lovely.

Khabarovsk with the area CES coordinator

This incredible man is the area Church Education System (CES) coordinator for our mission. His scriptural knowledge is powerful and his testimony solid and committed. Plus, he's kind, considerate, and tells awesome jokes. He escorted us on our trip this week and made travel in Russia easy. He also inspired everyone we met.

Two awesome elders

Elders on the left will be going home soon (sob!). Zone leader on the right. Awesome elders. They are always smiling. A rarity in Russia. We love them both!

Family Home Evening

Activity:Building a firm foundation

Spiritual Adventure:

On Friday, we finished a whirlwind tour to meet the seminary and institute (S&I) teachers in three of the eastern branches in the Vladivostok Russia Mission: Sakhalinsk, Khabarovsk, and Ussuriysk.
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> The members are few in number, but great in testimony. They live in a type of wilderness by themselves, like pioneers, struggling against family and acquaintance pressure to leave the church, to not live the Commandments. These S&I teachers all live hours away from each other by bus, train, and plane, so they can't get together for inservice lessons or to support one another. The teachers we've met so far are all incredible women; very inspiring, spiritual, knowledgable, and caring scriptorians.

> We didn't really understand how we could be of help before we got here. But the importance of what we're here to do is becoming clearer every day. There is soooo much work to do!! These wonderful saints are like the handcart pioneers in that they struggle every day against adversity, and only their strong testimonies of the gospel and Jesus Christ keep them going. They love the gospel and dedicate that love and their time and love to teaching a few very special high school-age and young single adult students gospel principles and a love for the scriptures.
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> At home in Idaho, we take church attendance, fellow members, teachers, beautiful church buildings, and even the blessings of the gospel for granted. Here, those things are precious and rare, like gold dust found after sifting lots of gravel in a stream. They shine brightly. Please pray for them.

> Our calling includes visiting, instructing, and bolstering the courage of all the S&I teachers for the nine mission branches. We present firesides for students and investigators. We also hold family home evening (FHE) in our apartment for the Vladivostok youth--our home base. Earlier this week, 19 young people attended our FHE and 29 came to our fireside--members and investigators both. We pray that those numbers continue. Other branches do not have as many young people.

> Cities/branches without senior couples want so much for a senior couple to help their youth. As is true everywhere, young people are the hope of families and the hope for the strength of the church in the next generation. But here, most of our young people come from families--IF they have families--who are not members and do not support them in their testimonies of the gospel.
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> It is exciting to be involved in such a great and worthy work. We feel humbled by the task ahead, but also strengthened by knowing how much the saints here appreciate the mere fact that we were willing to come work beside them.
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> Sent from my iPhone

CES Area Coordinator Arrives

The mission driver took us to the airport this morning to meet the district CES coordinator (our boss). He will present a fireside in our apartment tonight for the young single adults, then we will travel with him on a training tour of the eastern part of the mission for the rest of the week.

Beautiful architecture

Russian Orthodox Church near our apartment.

Exploring

The mission office senior couple took us for a small walking and bus tour around part of Vladivostok on our third day in Russia. They are angelic people who keep the mission office running smoothly. They go home in January, and we know already that we will miss them.

Truly blessed

We were honored to be invited to be included in a young man's first missionary discussion. These two wonderful elders taught with Spirit, conviction, and great knowledge of both the gospel and the Russian language. The young man accepted the challenge for baptism and was very excited to set up further interviews with these missionaries to learn more about the gospel of Jesus Christ. The evening of English practice became one of sincere and fervent teaching and testimony--and only our second evening in Russia.

Busy surroundings

Our building fronts onto a lovely intersection.

Living room

This beautiful spacious room is meant to host large numbers of young single adults for activities such as family home evenings and firesides. Our widows boast small enclosed balconies where we may attempt to grow tomato and herb plants next summer.

Computer stuff

Elder Nelson in a tie in the middle of the day?

Visitors very welcome

O

Look!! We have a lovely spare room for visitors. Just call for reservations. However, we suggest you wait until we've been here a few months and, hopefully, understand the language a bit more.

Master bedroom

Yes, we agree. This is beautiful, plus we have a Nelson-sized bed.

Bath, anyone?

We have a very large bathroom. That confused me for a bit until I realized that we have to hang up the clean clothes to let them dry. That does take some space. And glory of glories, our tub is huge! Of course, the city-supplied hot water is still off. No idea when it will be turned on. Remember. We're in Russia.

Inside entryway

Russians are very well-mannered. Everyone ALWAYS takes their shoes off when entering a residence. That sure cuts down on the amount of floor cleaning required. Whew!!

Inside the guard door

What a delightful surprise. Look at this beautiful entryway that lies just on the other side of that heavy iron, bolted security door.

Number 12

This is the front door--outside door--to our apartment. It's even tougher than the door from the street. But wait until we open the door.

No worries with these locks!

We feel very safe behind these heavy doors and monster deadbolts!

View down the stairs from our door.

Our new home

Our street door is very formidable. Nobody is getting past this without a key or a tank.

Our plane pulling in to our gate.

Waiting for our flight to Russia.

All of our other flights have been jam packed, we are feeling lonely here.

Rain on flats going to airport.

Waiting at airport.

Mini family reunion at idaho falls airport.

Our Passport and Russian Visa Stamp is in the  Envelope. 

On our way to the MTC, we took this pictures of the beautiful colors.

Checking in to the MTC.

This would be Lynda.

Where we are serving.

Elder and Sister Nelson arrive at the MTC.

We are thrilled to be here and are loving every moment.