Sept 2

Sunday at Lary and Marianne's branch.

Where to begin to tell about this wonderful day,

RoEen, Ilona and Wendee got to stay with Lary and Marianne, their trek to church began with a walk to catch a bus ride, then a few metro changes, then another walk to where the saints in the (Russian word too hard to spell) Branch meet. It too k 1 1/2 hours to get to church... This is the life! Look at the colorful little fences around the lawns and flower beds, notice the yellow and green painted curbs

A bird lady on the way to church

The other sisters rode with Klynn and Bob, when we all arrived the welcome was sweet. The bishop was prepared with individual head phone sets and two Russian, English-speaking, return lady missionary to translate for us. In the meeting testimonies flowed without a pause, many expressing their joy at having their "American sisters" here. Each testimony began with, "My dear brothers and sister." There were no travel-monies or love-a-monies... You could tell the Temple is a huge part of their lives as well as personal revelation and the Book of Mormon. Toward the end, our wonderful brother Lary went forward and gently took mom/grandma to the podium with him. He bore testimony of families, the power of good parenting and integrity, then he invited mom to express her testimony. She talked about family choices to follow the prophet and living a gospel centered life, all done with the help of an interpreter. She was amazing for a 94 year old woman, to keep her thoughts coherent and still pause for the interpreter. It was impressive how many returned missionaries have come from this little teeny branch of 30-40 people, including one who had returned 3days before from the Manchester, England mission.

Wendee followed mom and Lary to take advantage of the interpreter and express our love and respect for these faithful people. She shared that as descendants of pioneers, we have drunk from wells we did not dig, and compared our ancestors in Kirtland and Nauvoo to these valiant Russian pioneers. Expressing the power and influence they would have on their posterity. By the end of the meeting most of us had shed tears.

Lary had volunteered for us to sing the closing song. It was a beautiful, 4 part version of, "Ere You Left Your Room This Morning." After the meeting everyone wanted to hug and kiss all of us, but especially mom.

Gospel doctrine was a most fascinating dichotomy. Here sat 10 Americans in a class with Russians discussing the war chapters of Alma and when it is appropriate to go to war. There was no pause in class discussion, the Russian people know first hand what is like to defend their freedom, families and faith. (they have been invaded many times even in the last 200 years... Compare that to us.) and yet they showed their gospel maturity by comparing Moroni's battle ready protection with the safeguards we need for fighting spiritual battles.

The Relief Society lesson was given by a counselor, mid 20s, single, return missionary sister, who asked us before the lesson to take over the testimony bearing time and share our thoughts on raising righteous families. She gave a great lesson on the blessings of the priesthood, again with lots of class participation.

Tamra got an interesting response in her testimony when she confessed that when we were growing up we all thought that the Russians were going to bomb us, she suggested that maybe they all thought the same of us. She got very enthusiastic nods and chuckles to the affirmative.

After R.S. they had arranged for us to have photographs with the whole Relief Society, followed by at least an hour of hugs and kisses, email sharing...and more hugs. One young sister (another single return missionary) had heard it was our mom/grandma's birthday and brought a birthday cheese cake. " she couldn't not have a Birthday cake!" Several asked if we had "spouse options" for their faithful youth, thus the email sharing.

Then they helped us set up for a private lunch before we went out to visit Novodevichiy Conventan and an ancient church.

For some reason emotions were close to the surface for all of us. Feeling great love for the Russian people and missing our sister Karyn, and yet feeling her close, so close that Bob pulled up an empty chair to our dinner table.

We love you all

 

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