Monday, August 22, 2016

Dear Family,

The Visa trip ran smoothly. We presented our passports to leave Russia and then got back in our bus. Then we were pulled over and they interviewed each one of us. Neither Dad nor I had an interpreter with us. When I went in the guy said something to me and I said “ochen mala parooskie” which is very little Russian. Then the other person in the room said Hello.  Any way between a little English and my little Russian, I understood what he was asking me. He asked my familia name or sur name. He asked what state I lived in. I understood Stata so I said Ootah. Then he said something about Samara and Toliatti. I wasn’t sure what he asked so I said Dome Samara. Which is home Samara. Then he wanted my telephone number. I don’t know it and I couldn’t find it in my phone so I just spread my hands and shrugged my shoulders. He let me go after that.

Dad’s interview was similar to mine. Once we were all done, we went to the Kazakhstan boarder. The last visa trip we went on all the border guards were stone faced. This time they were all flirting with the Sisters. One Sister was told to bring a Book of Mormon with her the next time she came through. She told him she couldn’t because it was against the new law. She actually did see one on his desk.

The only pictures I have are from the dinner. It’s been so hot we haven’t wanted to be out and about on Saturday to go and see anything.

A story that President O told us was that he had been invited to Arnold Schwarzenegger’s birthday party and he was asked to say the blessing on the food. He also told us that he gave Arnold a Book of Mormon for a birthday present.

A funny thing from the office was that Sister Thomas was in President Blinkov’s office writing home to her parents when something in her letter made her shout “Holy Poop.” Well, that tickled President Blinkov and so he started saying it a lot. He always gets a big laugh so I bet we will be hearing it more often. He’ll just walk in our office and say, “Holy Poop.”

Love you guys,

Mom