Thanksgiving Day in the Vladivostok Mission Home - Page 1 - Pictures of the awesome, adorable missionaries who gathered to eat.

Thanksgiving Day in the Vladivostok Mission Home - Page 2 - Pictures of the awesome, adorable missionaries who gathered to eat.

Thanksgiving Day in the Vladivostok Mission Home - Page 3 - Pictures of the awesome, adorable missionaries who gathered to eat.

 

North, South, Left, Right

A very charming sister helped Russians give directions in English. The artwork was darling & the task was fun.

Thought on Turkey Day

We are so very blessed...in good health, in strength of body and spirit, and in blessings to our families at home.

Currently, we are so busy we can hardly see straight. And I'm serious:-)). We have every night of every week booked except Wednesday, and we are trying to hold that sacred, though that is not working very well either. We have discussions in our home at least once every day, and many times two or three times a day. We're like a revolving missionary station. We love it. We are feeding missionaries right left. We're feeding young people right and left. We are really enjoying ourselves, and the trips to the store and carrying heavy bags of groceries back home is excellent exercise. Lug, lug , lug. We wonder what the grocery store people think of us, shopping every day for tons of food that would probably last most Russian families for weeks. (Elder Nelson says they probably think, "Big fat Americans." Ha ha ha.)

Some of our missionaries are getting ready to go home---at the ends of their missions---and I find that very sad. I will miss them very, very much. And we have only known them for four or five weeks.

We invited one of the new members and his wife and son over for dinner last Sunday (we always invite somebody over for dinner after church) and we were deeply moved by their testimonies. He speaks a little bit of English, and she has 10 words of English like I have 10 words of Russian. He's been called as the new Elders Quorum president after only being in the church 6 months. So, Elder Nelson is going to help him with how to make an Elders Quorum function. This young man was absolutely thrilled that he would get the help. The relief in his whole bearing was palpable.

His wife and I are working on teaching each other our languages. She is hard of hearing, not as bad as me, probably, but I'm not really sure. When we're working together, Mark says it sounds like two special ed students, who are deaf and speech impaired. Sadly, I must admit that his description is fairly accurate.

In telling his conversion story, the husband said he was going home with two huge bags of groceries when two missionaries got in his way last January. He tried to get around them with his big bags, but there wasn't room between the other people around him. He said the missionaries spoke only four or five words to him at that time. He doesn't remember what they were, but he felt the Spirit wash over him in a tremendous wave. He ran into them on his street the next week. Short story is that they taught him in this home, he accepted the gospel, and he said he has never been happier. His wife joined the church just a few months later. They're one of the families who come to church every Sunday. Their little boy loves my iPad!! He is almost 4.

We have several young people who are struggling with the Word of Wisdom. One wonderful young man has already been baptized, but returned to his drinking and smoking. He has brought other friends to the gospel, and they want to be baptized, but they have to get rid of their smoking and drinking habits. We pray for them and love them. They are awesome, adorable young college students. They come to FHE in our home most Monday nights & also to institute, but only sometimes. Challenges are everywhere, but Heavenly Father wants the gospel here. So, it will be here!! Strong spirits are out there, just waiting to be found.

We have lots of plans for our young people that we are slowly putting into place. We could do it for them, but as you know, the people need to learn how to do it themselves and especially how to lead effectively because they are the future leaders of the church in this country. So, we have our work cut out for us. And it will just take time, and more time, and more time, and more effort. But it's worth all of that. The young people are wonderful. We love so many of them already. (Turkey statues by Alayna)

Where in the World...?

A Russian Bible in front of a world globe showing our part of Russia.

Salt Lake Temple at Thanksgiving

Amber and her family sent these picture from Temple Square. I can barely see our granddaughters standing in front of the brilliant temple. What a wonderful time to visit Temple Square.

Cone Head Profile

Hat from Walkers

Sister Walker left this hat in the closet, so I wore it to English practice tonight. I put it on as we were getting ready to leave, and the reaction from onlookers was...stunned. When I looked in the mirror and saw the cone head design, I understood why. Once I had flattened the cone, the missionaries allowed me to go out in public. Humor is a great tool. Use it often.

Welcome & Thanksgiving

We added a few decorator leaves to brighten our entryway for the holidays.

Russian Orthodox Buildings

Easy tests

These elders donated their precious stash of ranch dressing mixes for our Thanksgiving dinner. We made the dressing, and they came to taste-test the product before we feed it to the other missionaries. Of course, they did not come alone. They brought along a young gentleman for a lesson on tithing and gratitude at the same time.

Feeling the Spirit

Sisters Teach with Love

Every day, sometimes several times per day, missionaries will bring investigators to our apartment and include us in their discussions about the gospel of Jesus Christ. They are amazing, devoted, and loving young people, and we are truly honored to help in any way we can. And, of course, the whiteboard is great fun when presenting visual aids.

Adventures in Cooking

Making icing for cinnamon rolls for Thanksgiving dinner brought a wave of déjà vous. My mother taught me to use a flour sifter when I was young, but I have never had to SIFT powdered sugar. You just have to laugh at the odd yet intriguing differences here. So, using the most sifter-like tool at hand, chunks of coarse Russian powdered sugar are at least being "refined" into chunk-less coarse powdered sugar.

Missionaries with Elder Evans

Take a look at this incredible group of fabulous missionaries. We already know and truly love many of them, though some came from far across our mission and are yet unfamiliar to us. This group of young (and older) people are just one drop in the ocean of missionaries preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ and serving people across the world. We are truly honored and humbled to be in their midst and part of this great work.

Empty Bus

End of the Line

We took the bus out to Russia Island to try to find some of our people. Funny us. The bus stopped out in the middle of nowhere and told us that was the end of the road for that bus. We got off and stared at the water on one side of the road and barren trees on the other side until another bus came along and just stopped. Thankfully, he let us sit in his bus until it was time for him to start his next run. Yes, we rode back to town in his bus.

Frozen Fish

It's hard to get a good picture of the frozen fish.

Photo of Attendees at the YSA Student Council Training in St. Petersburg

The conference organizers just sent this picture. It sparked memories

of new friends in the gospel and visions of exciting adventures yet to come.

Truly the hope and faces of the future Russian church leadership.

Treats after Family Home Evening

Our daughter, Amber, sent this picture of her girls eating a very gooey treat after their Family Home Evening lesson. We feed our "kids" treats here in Vladivostok, but we try to keep them from being this sticky.

Quote from Elder Hales

After 51 years of marriage, I was asked, 'What part of life would you want to live over again?' I did not hesitate to reply, "When my wife and I served together in the great missionary work of the Lord." The sentiments of another missionary couple echo those of my wife and myself: 'Our decision to go on a mission brought new vigor, new emotions, new friends, new places, new challenges. It brought us closer together as husband and wife; we had a common goal and a real partnership. And best of all, it brought new spiritual growth, instead of spiritual retirement.'

"Brothers and sisters, let us not go into spiritual retirement. As members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, it is our greatest privilege to return His love through sacrifice and service and claim His holy promise: 'And whoso layeth down his life in my cause, for my name's sake, shall find it again, even life eternal.'" 

 Elder Robert B. Hales, April 2005

Sister Lynda M. Nelson

Vladivostok Russia Mission

Chili and Fish Heads

We bought beans at the farmer's market today. We looked at, but did not buy, fish heads--the teeth were too sharp & protruded too far. Yes, only the heads. Are they for soup? I don't know. Scary! Lots of frozen fish of many varieties. One man wielded an ax in the bed of his pickup truck to separate the frozen fish into smaller chunks. No, we didn't buy any fish. But we came home with onions, squash, tomatoes, dried white raisins, and a medley of other dried fruit of some sort. Now, we plan to make chili with our beans. Alas, ground beef here is...different. So, wish us luck.

The people selling the produce are kind and helpful--every one of them. The babushka who sold us the beans poured handfuls over the top of the measuring jar to make sure we had a few extra beans. The diadushkas always treat me like a queen.

This morning, we went to the post office for stamps for our postcards. The lady behind the desk was very kind, but couldn't speak English. I was just about to start my mixed Russian and arm-waving when a young woman who was just going out the door, stopped, came back, and said, "I speak English. May I help you?"

We can't help but love the people here.

One of my Favorite Scriptures

You may recognize this as 1 Nephi 3:7: "And it came to pass that I Nephi, said unto my father: I will go and do the things which the Lord hath commanded, for I know that the Lord giveth no commandments unto the children of man, save he shall prepare a way for them that they may accomplish the thing which he commandeth them."

And the artwork at the bottom is from Аня, a very sweet little 3-year old who comes here with her mother for missionary lessons and Family Home Evening.

Memorium for Ken Osterkamp

We learned yesterday that Ken Osterkamp, the husband of Elder Nelson's oldest sister, Kristine, passed away quietly and unexpectedly in his home on Saturday morning. We send our sympathy along with our love and prayers to Kris and all of their children and grandchildren as well as the other members of the extended family. We are sorry to miss this time of family togetherness and solidarity, but we take comfort in God's promise of eternal life and eternal families. We know that we will all be with Ken again one day.

Vesilovs -True Russian Pioneers

Two of the very strongest and longest members of the Church in Russia are Elder & Sister Vesilov. We were honored to host them in our apartment following the fireside with Brother Evans on Sunday night. These two incredible gospel giants are the first senior missionaries to serve from the 1-year old St. Petersburg Stake. They are serving in the Ussueryisk Branch of the Vladivostok Russia Mission; so, we are truly part of the same brotherhood. When we left the fireside, very heavy rain was falling and the streets were like rushing streams. We had brought no umbrellas. Sister Vesilov and I had scarves to protect our heads, and Brother Vesilov had a hat, but Elder Nelson had nothing. So, sweet Elder Vesilov fashioned a hat for Elder Nelson from a plastic shopping bag and draped a length of some material around his shoulders to protect Elder Nelson from the torrential downpour. As President and Sister Brinton waited with Brother and Sister Evans inside the building for their ride to show up, we four older couples ran out into the rain, happy as children on an adventure--and grateful for the opportunity to be so lighthearted and joyous. At our apartment, we fed them tomato soup, nuts, fruits, and cheese. Then we talked for hours!! Elder Nelson's back was stiff, so Elder Vesilov, who had been a practicing chiropractor and university professor, gave personalized instruction on stretching a sore back. Amazing people. We are deeply blessed to call them friends.

Eating Out? Russian Pizza

Eating out is an adventure in itself. We found this very posh (they all are!) pizza restaurant tucked into a corner and decided to give it a try. We asked for a bread basket and look what we got. Very fun.

Naturally, we tried the pizza. After all, we were at a pizza place. Alas, we just couldn't quite choke down the second pieces. But we thoroughly enjoyed our delightful waiter, who tried to communicate with his three words of English while we reciprocated with our three words of Russian. By the way, Russian restaurants have a cloak room to hold and protect one's stuff rather than trying to keep all those hats, scarves, gloves, and stuff at the table. We were the only patrons in the restaurant the entire time we were there.

 

Surprise, Surprise!!

Now, what do we do with that gigantic box? Ha ha ha! We're thrilled and excited to have a piano and to be able to make music. Our young adults found it as soon as they walked into the apartment and began making lovely music. What a blessing is our friend and his eagerness to help.

The story is too long for a full account here, but the short version is that a wonderful atheist, with whom we are working and becoming friends, learned that we wanted a piano of some sort in our apartment. He looked up pianos for sale in Vladivostok--online (yes, in Russian)--asked me which we preferred, and made phone calls to get information. When Sister Nelson had indicated the electronic instrument in which she thought she would be interested in checking out, he volunteered to take us to see the piano. But, to our not-so-great surprise, the next day, the lady selling the piano delivered it, saying they would take it away if we did not choose to buy it. But it's a lovely, brand new electronic piano, and we kept it! Luckily, it was for sale for a reasonable price.