The Ninth of May

This week included the "Ninth of May" celebration, which celebrates Russia's great victory during World War II. As you can expect, Russian history does not include the lend lease program, which provided Russia with tremendous assets. During the war the United States provided 14,000 aircraft, 2,000 rail locomotives 11,000 rail cars, and several hundred thousand trucks and jeeps and who knows what else.  Two thirds of all the trucks used by the soviet army during the last year of the war were provided by the United States.  President Woolley reported that a member said that the US fought on the side of the Germans.  Along with the Elders and some members of the branch, we enjoyed the celebration here in Lipetzk. 

II

On the first of May the fountains are turned on in Lipetzk.  This was our first look at one of the fountains.  

 Not far away is this statue of a Babushka with her broom and dog.  The babushka's seem to have a uniform here.  Even in the heat you see them with scarf, sweater, leggings and skirt.

We love our Elders!!!  This is the Lipetzk district.  Left to right, Elder Janson (branch president), Elder Stegeby, Elder Bishop (new from MTC) and Elder Harris (district Leader).  These are hard working and dedicated missionaries.  We love to have them in our home and love to feed them.  They are so appreciative.

Last Saturday on sports night, we had a surprise birthday party for Sister Rushanyan.  The Elders and several of the members came in support.  Sister Hoagland attempted her first from-scratch cake.  While most of it was wonderful, the middle somehow did not get cooked all the way through.  We must blame it on our oven which does not cook evenly.

Here we are waiting for the blessing of our pizza, juice, cookies and cake.  With a menu like that, I guess you really need a blessing.

Elder Hoagland joined the Elders at the bowling alley on P Day.  They had a fun time trying different ways to put the ball down the alley.  You notice they are wearing white shirt and tie.  It is the mission policy to find ways to wear missionary clothes rather than reasons not to wear them.  Similar to our garment policy.

 That evening we invited Vika and her two boys Ararod and Artiome for dinner at our place.  Vika's husband Armon is working in Moscow until he can get working papers.  Elder Harris and Elder Bishop came in order to provide interpretation.  Anastasia also came and did the dishes for us after dinner while we enjoyed each other's company.

 We used skype so Vika could call her mother and also her Sister and Mother in law in Armenia.  Elder Harris is my interpreter.  That was a lot of fun.

 On Wednesday I went with the Elders to a distant village to teach a new member lesson.  It was an hour and a half ride on the bus then it dropped us here where it is at least another 5 miles into the village.  It reminded me of the Movie North by North West Where Cary Grant is dropped off in the middle of no where to meet someone.

 Our attempt to call a taxi was not successful but two nice men in this French luxury car stopped and took us  into the village.  We did take a taxi back to the bus stop.

 The village lawn mower.

 The home of Samville and Margarite Sargsyan.  Elders Janson & Stegeby at the door.

 The lesson was on family history and here they are getting the family set up on New Family Search.  Margarite was working, but we had a wonderful visit and the girls fixed us a wonderful lunch with the best home made bread.  While I couldn't use the computer because it was all in Russian, I was able to give some direction and answer questions.  We have been much more active in working with the Elders the last couple of weeks.  They are bringing investigators to our apartment and we have been in their homes.

 The crowd gathering for the Ninth of May celebration and parade.

 Students arriving at the celebration.  They dress nicer for school than some of our youth dress for church.

 People forming a red star from a large piece of cloth.  Notice the Oregon State colors on the pole.  Many people had orange and black balloons as well, but there are already too many pictures in this post to include a balloon picture.  I will send that picture directly to my friend Skip Barnwell, who is a life long Beaver fan.

 The troops marching in for the celebration.

 I don't think these are regular army as they were a pretty rag tag bunch.

 I was expecting tanks, rockets, and huge artillery, but this is all we got.  Not even a fly over.

 It was not exceptionally hot, but I told the Elders to watch for the troops callapsing during the ceremony.  Sure enough, right in front of us a young man fainted in the ranks.

 We only had to endure four speaches.  The guys in the white shirts were the military band.  Not what I expected.

 Laying the wreaths at the monument.  Those doing the high stepping are students at a military school close by.  They also provide an honor guard at the monument year around.  They are very impressive and do it even in the winter months.

 The troops pacing in review.

 Everyone heading for home or the park following the ceremony.

 We went to Nitzni park and on the way passed this statue of Lenin in front of the government building.  Elder Stegeby suggested I shouldn't take the picture as they are sensitive to pictures being taken of government buildings.  I said I was only taking a picture of Lenin.

 The main church in the same square as the government building.

 A staircase from the square leading to the park.  Elder Janson and some of the branch members are in this picture.  We have been waiting to see this water feature since we got here and this was our first chance.

 This water feature is on both sides of the stairway.  The city has many fountains and they plant lots of flowers, shrubs, and trees but lawns run wild.  I have yet to see a lawn mower, but there is some evidence in isolated areas.

 These are the fountains just outside the park

 Elders Bishop and Harris.

 Elders Stegeby and Janson

 They redid the Lipetzk sign in the park.

 Jenna, a member and her two nieces enjoyed the activity.

 People enjoying the day in Nitsni park

 On Friday the Elders brought an investigator to our place and gave a lesson and then were taught how to make pastry.  Elder Harris is twirling the dough.  Had a good time with Elder Harris Friday evening as we went together to visit a less active member.  On the bus ride going Elder found a contact and at the bus stop on the return he found another.  He hadn't found one all day and he had been praying for two.  Great missionary.

They tasted great, but as usual, our oven did not do them justice.  We took them to institute class that night where there were three investigators.  Anastasia taught the lesson and also was helpful in the missionary lesson earlier at our home.  She loves to come to our place and eat our peanut butter and drink my diet coke.  We love having her.

Zone Conference

If walking is good exercise then I have had plenty of "good exercise."  If someone had told me that at 70 years old I would be tramping around an obscure city in Russia with a young Elder, I would have told them they were crazy.  I went with Elder Janson in an effort to locate some less active people in the branch.  We took a bus downtown and then walked a few blocks to an apartment.  No one home so we walked to another bus and then walked a few blocks to another apartment.  The person had moved so we walked another few blocks to another location.  No one home.  Then we walked all the way back to the church, which included a long stretch of stairs to the top of a hill.  It was at least three miles.  This is all day everyday activity for these young elders.  We so much appreciate the hard work they do.  They are happy young men who work very hard for their Heavenly Father and his children.  We love them!

As you may know, we have had a leaking shower ever since we moved in.  After two attempts to fix it, the landlady has put in a tub.  Here, I am watching them deliver our new tub.  No leaks!!!  Parking is a problem at our complex.  Any where is fair game.  Most families don't have a car, but more and more are getting them and it will be interesting to see how they will make space for them all.  Even with fantastic public transportation, it will never compete with personal transportation for comfort and convenience.  

 This is what shoes look like after walking the city streets.

 While walking to the store on Saturday we pass a local park.  Most have amusement rides in them.  Anyway, we came across several bridal parties looking for places to have pictures taken.  They seemed to be everywhere.

 It looks like this couple had an early start to their family.

 Saturday is sport night at the branch.  Here Elder Janson is asking directions to the beach on the Veronezh River that runs through town.  In the distance is a statue of Lenin.  The trees have started to bring forth leaves.

 On the way we walked down a hill and at the base found this beautiful Russian Orthodox Monastery with a small chapel.

 The grounds are wonderfully maintained.

 We finally arrived at our destination, which was a really large beach on the river.  We brought our own net, and the poles are there to put it up.  My center of gravity has changed since I used to play, so it was harder to keep on my feet when going after a ball.  Played for an hour and then another long walk home.

 Sunday night we took a bus to Veronezh for our zone conference.  This is the front yard of the church there.  People were stopping to look at the blossoms on that small tree.  The branch had a clean up activity on Saturday, and everything looked wonderful.

 Everyone gathering for zone conference.

 Elders Harris, Bishop and myself talking with President Woolley during a break in the meeting.

 Elder's Janson, Wadsworth, and Brown provided a musical number for us.

 Lunch at zone conference.  There was a picture in the room we met in, that depicted the first Sunday School.  It showed Brother Ballantyne, the person who organized that first Sunday School, with his students.  It turns out that he is President Woolley's 2nd great grandfather.  He told a story of Bro. Ballantyne's call as a missionary to India.  He went to India with eleven other missionaries, five of which were Pres. Woolley's ancestors.  They had some amazing experiences.

 Here is the Veronezh zone, with Pres. & Sister Woolley, the Frost's who go home next week, and the Luekenga's, who are the office couple.

 Another walk to store, we stopped to look at this Russian Orthodox Church.  They were having a funeral so we didn't go in.  The grounds were mostly taken up with cemetery plots.  I think this is some kind of war memorial.

Just in case you wondered if they sold vodka in Russia, here is the aisle at one store we shop.  

Sister Hoagland was asked to bring cookies to the zone conference.  She would need at least 60.  She looked up the recipe for Toll House cookies and went to work!  We bought the biggest packages of M and M's, chocolate candy bars to crumble since there are no chocolate chips here, and walnuts.  We have a strange oven that doesn't bake evenly so after a few "test bakes" we got great cookies.  This is the before baking dough.  They turned out great.  We mentioned them in English club and now our friends from there want some so we will make some more.