Missionary Life, How Sweet it Is

This note is from Sister Lutz!!! One of our very favorite missionaries. We love them all so much. Their powerful testimonies and determination to follow God's will inspires us every day. They are fun, dedicated young people trying to make the world a better place. 

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I LOVE ULAN UDE!

We have seen ssooooooo many miracles uzhe!
We have some of the best members ever that are so fun and nice and great missionaries. There was a day we just had lesson after lesson after lesson - no backup street contacting time.
District meeting was a bomb of spirit. We met a 90-year old babushka that was still walking and she gave us candy. Molodyozhni vecher (youth night) was a super success and we had a lot of fun. We reached almost all of our goals this week! Four new investigators, four lessons in the presence, and 18 total lessons! We had an old former investigator just walk in the church during dinner hour and asked for a lesson! An English eternal came to church on her own with her husband! I didn't get bit by any dogs!

As you can see, Ulan Ude is the best place. Sister Hill and I go running almost every morning and pass by the dedushka (grandpa) chess club by the buryatan hunter statue. They have cous cous here and that and veggies is almost all we eat, as well as mashed potatoes and boozi. Yum. Today we might go to a park or museum and buy babuska dresses. Or maybe go on a mini hike through the hills to see the selenga river.    ----Sister Lutz, June 9, 2014

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"Pacific Rim" Bridge on a Misty Morning

Walkway on the way to the bridge that was "destroyed" in the movie, "Pacific Rim."

THE bridge.

Entry to the bridge. We're about the biggest size of people who can fit through the little opening.

We made it past the guard gate.

An expansion section to let the bridge flex.

The mechanism that works the expansion joints to correctly flex the bridge when it wants to stretch.

Two battleships always float in the harbor. 

The roofs create a colorful mosaic across the city. Along with the new spring greenery,
the colors are delightful and cheery on a gray, misty morning.

The cable anchors are huge and strong and really impressive!
One of the two, massive, unfinished Hyatt hotels in Vlad is on the far right of the picture above. 

Close-up of a cable anchor.

Tugs seem like happy little boats. They're parked right now, but most of the time, they're chugging up and down the bay,  pushing other ships in and out of their anchorages.

Looking up to where all those massive cables come together. 

More happy colors. This looks like a tramp steamer berthed next to the sailing ship.

Rail tracks and cranes---all necessary for loading and unloading ships in this busy harbor.

Nakhodka Branch Picnic - 4

Like children the world over, the little ones wanted to play with the big people. They were only in danger once---when we started playing dodge ball. That's when the babushkas whisked them off the field. Many children here are raised by their grandmothers.

Everyone crossed this bridge on the way back to the bus stop. Novelty and mini-adventures are part of everyday life.

We had to wait awhile for the bus to show up, so we went exploring. A shop across from the bus stop sells interesting statuary, like this young man holding a wild stallion, and...

your basic trebuchet, complete with round throwing stones. Or is that lobbing stones. Elder Nelson wanted to try it out. What I want to know is, will someone buy this cool antique machine, and will they lob stones with it?

Nakhodka Branch Picnic - 3

Missionaries always bring a special light and energy to every gathering. Their smiles, enthusiasm, and happy spirits are magnetic. People respond to that energy. The picnic was a great success. We ate food, played games, and built friendships.

No picnic tables, but a nice ground cover works very well. A bit of cardboard or plastic sack worked perfectly to sit on. One experienced babushka brought two small but sturdy camp chairs along with her 1-year old granddaughter and the baby stroller.

 Over, under, over, under...

Naturally, the elders helped haul out the trash.

Nakhodka Branch Picnic - 2

Over the river and through the woods, to the picnic spot we go....

Now, how do we get across with dry feet? Leap of faith??

We had to avoid the wetlands and jump a creek.

Nakhodka Branch Picnic - 1

We had to bring our laptop computer and iPads for the Family History work in one backpack and our clothes and everything else went in the other backpack. We had to come dressed for the branch picnic, thus the Levis.

The wonderful branch president and his wife had already walked most of those coming to the picnic out to the forest, then they walked back (with their stroller and little boy) to guide us there. Everyone walked and carried food, strollers, cardboard to sit on, toys to play with, and a blanket to put the food on.

Coming to Nakhodka - 2

Sisters walking. Cement truck passing.

Sisters talking and still coming. Cement truck meets bus.

Sisters pointing out spots of interest? Cement truck still there....

The sisters are coming to meet us, so we know we're in the right spot.

Coming to Nakhodka - 1

The arrival of spring has been a joy. Green everywhere.

Our view of Nakhodka as the bus is getting closer...and closer...

Finally!!! After five hours on a bumpy bus, we arrived in Nakhodka. Elder Nelson likens these trips to a five-hour ride on a horse moving at a trot and jerking sideways from time to time.

Family History

Last week, we traveled to Khabarovsk, arguably the most beautiful city in our mission. The branch there is very small, but growing. Torrential rains made the city streets run with rivers. It was WET. Nothing like Peru, of course, but still very wet. We spent the evening soaked and dripping during Institute class. But we were dry for the second evening when we worked on family history with some of the youth and the branch president. Every time we read a passage in the Book of Mormon where it speaks of gathering the Lost Tribes of Israel, we know that promise is being fulfilled today. And we are blessed to be part of that work.

Green!!!!

Spring has come and the world has turned green here. It looks very much like a rain forest around our cities. 99% deciduous trees, all very much the same shade of green, all tall and skinny with canopy-shaped tops, with very little underbrush beneath them. Acres of ferns grow where the trees do not. High groundwater is prevalent. The fresh foliage is lush and beautiful. Lots of wetlands, streams, and standing ponds. We hear stories of the vast swarms of mosquitoes that will erupt soon. No ducks, geese, or swans. We see few birds besides a very few crows, magpies, and sparrows--and one flock of swallows--and those only in the cities. Such a big difference from Idaho. Tiny farms (large gardens) are everywhere. People are out hoeing their gardens now. From a distance, we can recognize tomatoes and potatoes. We imagine there are a lot of onions, beets, and cabbages planted, also. We even saw some peas staked in a long row.

Helping Hands Service Project

Our group of young adults in Vlad is small, and several had to work at their day-jobs.
But those who came had a great time helping us pick up trash on this hillside. 

Looking better!

All done!!

All the girls enjoyed wearing the dandelion crown.

Dandelions

We passed these young ladies as they sat weaving a crown out of golden dandelions. Sister Nelson naturally went a bit nuts over their intriguing and beautiful talent! Before we left, the young ladies presented our group with the dandelion crown. Dandelions are used by many of the youth here in creative artistic venues. Our appreciation for the golden dandelion has definitely increased.