Ladies of the Nakhodka Branch

We visited the saints in Nakhodka last weekend. We arrived, after a 5-hour train ride, in time for Institute and the Relief Society birthday celebration on Saturday, then thoroughly enjoyed being with them through church and branch council on Sunday. Meeting them and feeling of their sweet Spirits was truly a joyous opportunity for us. I think they hit a branch record of 28 in Sacrament Meeting on Sunday. The love the saints in the small branches seem to have for us immediately upon arrival is extremely humbling and endearing. We can't help but love them back just as quickly. Just a note: We also stayed in a Russian "theme" hotel and rode the "luxury" train home Monday morning.

MORONI

I just read this (again) and it spoke very powerfully to me tonight. So, I add it here for us when we read this later and for anyone reading it now. May we all be men (and women) of God.

Alma 48:17-18

17---Yea, verily, verily I say unto you, if all men had been, and were, and ever would be, like unto Moroni, behold, the very powers of hell would have been shaken forever; yea, the devil would never have power over the hearts of the children of men.

18---Behold, he was a man like unto Ammon, the son of Mosiah, yea, and even the other sons of Mosiah, yea, and also Alma and his sons, for they were all men of God.

Where the Sidewalk Ends

This picture comes from the day we took a bus to the end of one of the peninsulas that extend out into the bay. From where Elder Nelson is standing, the sidewalk ends, and it's about 5 miles to the lighthouse, walking on the side of the road. The We Monday we walked out there was beautiful, cool, breezy, and fun, and we watched a herd of about 8 seals diving and flipping for fish in the bay. This bay is called the Golden Horn. We think the name was earned because the dirt and rocks underlying the city and showing through all the excavated areas are reddish and gold, and the water that fills a bathtub ranges between gold and orange. We're grateful to have water at all, but we can't help but think of the pure, clean water in Idaho:-) There was no wide dirt path (sidewalk) past the point where Elder Nelson is standing. But drivers here are very aware and careful of pedestrians. That said, the stanchions on the corner across from our apartment have been bulldozed down three times in the 6 months we've been here, presumably by drunk drivers in the middle of the night. A crew of city workers shows up the next day, pulls out the paving stones, digs out the old cement, fills in the hole, pours more cement, puts the stanchions back in place, and voila—it's ready for the next incident.

Senior Missions

Spiritual moments pop up constantly. Surprisingly so! In the middle of normal life when we're least expecting them!! --For example, an "atheist" friend stopped before going out of our door one afternoon, raised one arm to heaven, and said a prayer. Not an LDS prayer, but a prayer nonetheless. Heartfelt. His very first. We were totally shocked and thrilled.-- We know God is guiding our lives here, and we're sure He must have assigned a host of guardian angels to watch over us.

The life of senior missionaries is not like that of the young missionaries. Actually, I think it's much more FUN. In addition to the Gospel lessons with investigators and new members, we get to "play" with the young members and investigators. Uno is BIG here. We have started hosting young people on "blind dates" at our apartment to help them get to know each other. (The sisters do the inviting, and we do the cooking and game-playing.) The Russian version of Scrabble remains particularly tough for us. Ha ha.

Sometimes, I worry that we're not doing enough. At those times, Elder Nelson very patiently insists that I think back on the past couple of days and recite to him all that we have done. When I do, I realize that we truly are "doing" a lot. And I try harder to relax and enjoy each moment.

We find it fascinating to watch events in the "outside" world and to not worry at all, but to feel totally protected and blessed. When on the Lord's errand, there is no need to fear. This is truly a wonderful work. It is directed by our Heavenly Father. We love being here. Even when family members and friends struggle through desperate times back home, and we wish we could help more, we know that we are where the Lord wants us to be right now. We have faith that He will watch over our loved ones while we are away. D&C 31 brings great comfort in moments of distress. God lives. He loves His children. This is His work.

Going Home...

One of our favorite sisters left for the States today. She is posing with one of our awesome new converts whose life she helped change as he accepted the gospel, was baptized, and now brings strength to the Vlad branch.

Letters from Grandchildren

Hurray!!! The office elders hand-delivered this wonderful package of letters from Amber, Alayna, Courtney, and Klarisa, along with a beautiful pair of earrings Amber made for me!! Yes, we cried as we read the letters!!

Train Back to Vlad

Woohoo! The train back was the luxury train, though obviously well-used. The cars were practically empty as it pulled out of the Nakhodka station, but they filled to capacity at the next stop.

We watched the countryside pass by for hours. We were glad to see some mountains in the distance and wondered if there were pines and raging rivers--or not. We passed one small river and many minuscule dwellings. We saw one small flock of sheep, no cows, only a few chickens, and two horses through the entire trip. And a lot of burned ground, similar--we suppose--to what some farmers do in the US. But all in all, very different from a similar trip at home.

Statues in Nakhodka

Nakhodka Rendezvous

Our hotel was called the "Rendezvous." We got the green and yellow room, up the spiral staircase.

We stopped for a few groceries before checking into our theme hotel. The room had a fridge!! And a spiral staircase.

Train 1

Elder Nelson has a long-standing appreciation for trains. It may stem from that incident when his brother broke his leg, when they were young, by jumping off the roof of a train car.

Nakhodka Saints

This photo is blurry, but I couldn't resist adding it because the hilarious sister (blurred) in the foreground was actually posing on purpose. This will always remind us of her delightful personality and great sense of humor.

We took a 5-hour train ride to Nakhodka last weekend to spend a couple of days with the branch in that city. The Institute class has two very faithful students and one managing teacher. The Relief Society birthday program and party immediately afterward were rich in Spirit, sisterly camaraderie, and fun. A record 28 people attended Sacrament Meeting on Sundays. The people in every branch we visit beg us to STAY. Before we came here, we were told that the Russian people love senior couples---and they do. Of course, we can't resist catching up with our wonderful missionaries!! They take such good care of us poor old folks---who don't speak the language and might get lost. They spoil us and we love it!

Our Picturesque Neighbors

These two lovely people have a cabin near ours and show-shoed in to take pictures for us. We think he could get a job with the Canadian Mounties!!

Pictures from Home

Our fantastic neighbors by the cabin snowshoed in and took pictures for us!! They said snow level is above normal, and the lake should be full this summer. We heard about the fast held by the Ririe Stake, praying for moisture. It looks like the Lord really blessed the area. Hurray!!

The Human Spirit and Back Alleys

We walked through a different back alley tonight. So many of these hidden passages are like walking right onto the movie set of Les Miz. I've about decided that a tour of the back alleys of this city would be a hit! People have placed old tires around, filled them with dirt, painted them bright colors, and I'm certain they will fill them with flowers when spring comes. We're excited to see the transformation. Residents have cleaned up what they can of the streets and passageways, so that they're clean, though still totally dilapidated. So many little signs speak of the resilience of the human spirit and their desire for goodness and beauty. A myriad flower shops...everywhere. Lots of people can be seen, every day, carrying very long bundles of flowers all wrapped neatly in newspaper. I haven't started buying flowers yet, but I think I will.

We walked about 5 miles yesterday, out to a point where a very old lighthouse sits on a spit of land. Seals were playing in the bay and flipping and roiling the water while chasing fish. Very large chunks of ice, broken by ships passing through the channel during the winter, have washed up along the shore, frozen in place, and now provide a playground for a few brave children and their adventurous parents.

Super Saturday: Vladivostok 7

We pray that every one of these wonderful youth stay faithful, follow the commandments, and reach the real Tree of Life. What a photo shoot that will be!!

Super Saturday: Vladivostok 6

Everyone held to the Iron Rod, though many were "led astray" by voices of temptation and had to start again. They all made it to the Tree of Life.

Super Saturday: Vladivostok 5

Super Saturday: Vladivostok 4

Super Saturday: Vladivostok 3

We split them into groups and sent them out with copies of the Book of Mormon for a photo shoot around the city.

Super Saturday: Vladivostok 2

Super Saturday: Vladivostok 1

March 1, 2014, 25 wonderful young Russian single adults came by bus, train, and airplane from Khabarovsk, Ussuryisk, Nakhodka, Artyom, and Vladivostok for our first-ever Super Saturday. The theme was Hold to the Iron Rod. They went home with stronger testimonies and stronger bonds of friendship with their fellow young Latter-day Saints.