Saturday, March 19, 2016

Okay, so I bet you are all on pins and needles to see how dinner went with our Branch President. Dad and I took a taxi out there. I’m facebook friends with President Alexey Krivov and it was through there that he gave us his address. Anyway we left work at 4:30 and took a taxi out there. Our AP’s called one for us. Then we got to their apartment. It was very nice and the dog liked us right away. It took a while for the kids to warm up. We gave them a box of CoCo pies, similar to our moon pies, as a small gift. President and Sister Krivov wanted to know all about our life and what we do when we go on dates etc. We talked for a while then they served dinner in their tiny kitchen. I ate everything. They made a dish that was sliced potatoes, chicken, cheese and mayonnaise. It was really good. They also had coleslaw made of cabbage and chunks of tomato and cucumber and lots of mayonnaise. I ate a helping of that also and it was pretty good, and yes I ate the tomatoes and cucumbers. Then they had chocolate cake like brownies and chocolate ice cream and the brownies had nuts in it. I ate it all!!!! She made a juice that was really good. She peeled and halved apricots and put them in a jar. She added sugar (I’m not sure how much) and hot water. Mixed it up and let it sit for a while, probably until it cools. Then they refrigerate it and pour drink from the jar with the apricots still in it. Then they add more water and sugar and make some more. It really was tasty.

Along with their three children they have a dog, a cat, a guinea pig and a bird. Their home is filled with lots of love and laughter and wild children. The older girl Deann used Dad as a jungle gym. (shades of Sadie) The dog just wanted to play all the time (it’s just a year old), and wouldn’t take no for an answer.

 Well I’m going to tell you about Dad’s day. Friday started out good.  We went by taxi to President  Klevov’s home. Trying to get out Dad discovered that if you don’t unbuckle your seat belt you don’t get very far. Then we got out and went inside. Dad looked down and he noticed that his suit was covered in mud splotches. He later discovered that his man bag got dirty on the taxi we drove in. Cars here are so covered with mud that you can hardly tell what color they are. So he wiped up. Then we were led into a room and Dad notices more mud. And used more wipes to clean up. Then at dinner the older girl was helping herself to salad and flipped all over Dad’s sleeve. More wipes. After we finished eating we went back in the other room and Dad looked down and noticed a glob of chocolate on his white shirt. All of that along with dog slobber. More wipes. Wow what a day. 

Well today was a great day. March 19 2016 we had a baptism. Andrey, the guy who was baptized, said he spoke to the missionaries years ago but it didn’t go anywhere. He said one morning he was walking by the church and decided to go in and today he was baptized. It was so cool being there for that. Elder Kendall translated for us. It was so awesome to see him come up out of the water after being baptized. He looked so happy. Branch Pres, 1^st counselor in the Branch Presidency, Anatolie, Elder Peterson and Andrey all bore their testimonies. Andrey was so humble and said he was happier than he’d ever been in his life. There were 4 sets of missionaries, besides us, that were there with investigators. It felt so good to be part of it all.

Andrey joining the Nova K Branch

This was the first time we caught the Marchutka (mini bus) by ourselves. On the way back we stopped at the little market that is a block from our apartment and bought a few things. It was still a blizzard outside when we went out the doors. We started to cross the street when I decided I needed a little more attention. Half way across I just went down. No warning or anything, my foot just slipped. Down I went in the middle of the road with my skirt up to my thighs. Dad helped me up and we put the grocery items that come out of the bag back in. No one honked at us for blocking traffic. We finished crossing the street as if nothing happened. I have to commend your father he didn’t even break out in a laugh or even a chuckle.  I’m fine just a little hurt pride and a few stiff muscles.

We bought a chest of drawers from Ikea and some new bath mats and kitchen mats. The mats in the bathroom and kitchen were stuck to the marble floor. I think someone must have mopped the floors and then put the mats down while it was still wet. It’s either that or thinking that no one has mopped the floors in years. The kitchen and bathroom have marble floors and the rest of the house has wood floors.  Anyway this afternoon I used a putty knife to scrape the rubber underside of matts off the floors. Dad put together the chest of drawers and swears this is the last thing he ever puts together. The instructions involve pictures not words.