Some Cultural Differences

Last week I received a letter from Loretta, my sister-in-law, reporting on Gary's health and other news.  She commented on our previous mission to New Zealand and in my response to her I wrote the following.

"Our first mission is a never ending joy to us.  We keep in touch with our Greymouth branch members and the missionaries who served with us via facebook and skype.  We have witnessed the courtship and marriage of three of our missionaries that way.  Just yesterday we chatted with a member who has since moved to the north island.  Her expression of gratitude towards us was heart warming.  We also talk from time to time with a family who have moved to Australia .  I taught the lessons to their daughter when she was baptized at 10 years old.  She is now 14 and excelling in school and sports.  She is a wonderful swimmer.  We have witnessed two of our seminary students go on their missions and see pictures from the families of them on their missions teaching and baptizing."  

We have three young women in our branch here who are also planning on missions.  Sunday was my first day presiding as branch president.  I held a branch council, but my first counselor, relief society president, clerk, and primary were not represented.  Health and work were the primary problems.  It was fast meeting for us and I bore my testimony in Russian, which was not real pretty trying to read it.  I think everyone appreciated my effort.  It was a stormy morning so we did not have as good attendance as usual, but Igor, one of the first converts in this city came for the first time since we have been here.  He was asked to come and play the piano since Anastasia is out of town for a while.  They didn't tell him Sister Hoagland played.  His girlfriend is taking the lessons from the missionaries.  We have really good missionaries here, if I haven't told you before.

 A little look at culture here.  They do have good street lights here.  Even the ones controling cars have a countdown to when the light turns green as shown in this cross walk picture.

These are the walk ways in a local park.  Since they do not sue here, the following pictures are proof that in Russia YOU are responsible for where you put your feet.

Here are a couple of "watch your step" places in the Veronezh branch building.  When you climb or go down stairs, be careful, because the steps may have different heights.

This is the side yard of our building.  Some residence have planted these trees, but no one cuts the weeds.  Often you see beautiful flowers, planted with care, but drowned with weeds.  

Our Anastasia has finished her course work and graduates from college this week.  Her mother has needed her in the village a couple of hours away so we are not seeing her at the branch.  We hope she will be able to find work in Lipetsk.

Family home evening found only the Elders, us and Ani Rashayan this week.  Later Vika and her two boys came.

After a few games of ping pong we decided to play a different game.

When it was the other team's turn to start play, they would have a little strategy session.  Our team would just pretend and Ani could not keep a straight face.

Looks like my side lost that time.

Our newest Elder in the mission, Elder Davis,  demonstrating his skill.

Valentina, a member who travels 2 1/2 hours each way to church, came for dinner on Sunday.  We used the computer to show her pictures of our family.  Elder Harris is showing some pictures of his family in this picture.  One picture showed one of his 7 sisters on the grass in a park.  She asked what that green stuff was.  Lipetzk is more traditional Russian than other big cities we are told.  They do not have manicured lawns here.  If grass, not lawn, is mowed, it is mostly done by weed whacker.   I have only seen one working lawn mower since I have been here.