Sunday, September 25, 2016

Dear Family,

It’s amazing how quiet and calm things are since the new law started. Our volunteers are not out on the streets contacting so they don’t have run-ins with the police or with drunks, which is where most of the incidents came from.

Last Monday was zone training at Toliatti and Samara had it on Tuesday, then Saratov’s was on Friday. Zone trainings usually go just ½ a day while zone conferences go all day. A family history guy came down from Moscow to do some training so we ended up staying until 5:00pm. Dad said, and I agree, we’ve never looked forward to long meetings, but these really do seem to go fast and neither of us have a hard time paying attention or staying awake.

Our zone leaders did the training and did a good job. They talked and asked three other volunteers to talk about different ways to help the members and less actives. They talked some about home and visiting teaching. It’s hard to get members to do it out here. I did add a little to the discussion from the point of view of a Relief Society President.

Dad and I took the Avrora sisters out to lunch on Wednesday. They wanted to go to Benjamin’s. It’s a 50’s diner, which has great fries and hamburgers. It was fun to get together with them. Sister Shumway has 5 older brothers who all went on missions and one younger sister. She is always happy and smiling. Sister Nielson is a cute gal who talks very fast. She is the youngest of 5 kids. She has 2 sisters and 2 brothers. I’ll send you a picture of the sisters in the Samara Zone.

The AP’s have been gone all week. They traveled through Toliatti and Saratov doing splits with other volunteers. It’s always very quiet when they are gone.  One of them, Elder Buchanan, is an avid football fan and his team of choice is the New England Patriots. I showed him three things Janet posted on Facebook and told him that she bought our nephew, Ryan, a Patriots shirt for his birthday. Elder Buchanan said he thought that Janet was the best sister and aunt ever!! We all really get him going when we bring up “Deflate Gate”.

Saturday Dad and I went to NovoK to take our Elders, Vandermark and Alley to lunch. Today is Elder Vandermark’s birthday. They wanted to go to McDonalds. It was fun talking to them. Elder Vandermark is from California and Elder Alley is from Indiana. We were telling them about Dani’s ACT score of 34 and Elder V said he had the flu when he took his test and fell asleep during the English portion. He still got a 31. He wanted to go to BYU and was told that probably wouldn’t be a problem, but then he didn’t get in. He said his friend (a girl) got a 27 on her ACT and she got in. Maybe it was a girl vs boy thing.

After lunch, Dad and I took off and went to the City Park mall to look around. It’s like 5 stories but big around. We did find me a ring and earring set. It’s London Topaz. We still want to try to find me a ring made out of Alexandrite, which is named after a Russian Czar. I sent pictures of my new jewelry.

After the mall, Dad and I went to the Novokuybyshevsk Victory Park. It’s the picture of the Gold Statue. This is what the internet says about it. “On the eve of the 65th anniversary of the Great Victory in the Samara land in the still young, but already known for its industry, the city of Novokuibyshevsk opened monument "Kind Angel of Peace".

Guardian Angel of Kindness and Peace came in Novokuibyshevsk to protect the city from all adversity, inspire the younger generation to follow the precepts of their fathers and grandfathers, to build the future of Russia, while maintaining the great spiritual traditions of our country.

This monument Goodness and Mercy has already been installed in 23 cities of Russia and the world. In all cities, it has its own look, but Novokuibyshevsk was made the new version of the sculpture of the Angel at the area of ​​the globe, the height of 4.5 meters, cast in bronze and covered with gold leaf. It stands on a column of red granite at the base of which gold letters engraved message to descendants - "to maintain and develop the traditions of the great Russian patrons, benefactors and the virtues of the past and present."

We made our way home and then went immediately to the market. Both of knew if sat down for even a few minutes we wouldn’t want to leave again. I needed a few things for Sunday dinner. I made Shepherd’s Pie for our AP’s Buchanan and Johnston and the Zone Leaders, Hemrick and LeBaron. I don’t know if you know what Shepherd’s Pie is but its hamburger cooked with onions. Add tomato soup, kidney beans, corn, (some recipes call for Green beans but I ignored that). Then add some flour to thicken. I also included Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, and Italian seasons. Pour that into a pan and then frost it with mashed potatoes and top that with grated cheese. I t turned out really good, the Elders went back for seconds. I also made rolls and banana cupcakes.

It’s nice, the Elders stayed for a couple of hours. We talked about many things, even that Dani made the Academic All State girls soccer team. They were all impressed. Before we knew it, 2 hours had passed. Dad and I sure enjoy taking care of them. They, in turn, are always asking what they can do for us. Well that’s our week

Love you tons,

Mom