Off to Moscow, Russia

We had the opportunity to attend 3 more training days at the MTC.  This time the training was for our responsibilities in the Church Education System.  It was a delightful 3 days with many wonderful ideas for teaching the gospel principles to our Institute students.  We were all excited to get to our different missions and put this valuable learning into practice. There were so many wonderful senior couples going off to many different areas of the world to serve with the young single adults.  We felt privileged to be among them.

Elder and Sister Bradford serving in Norway.

Elder and Sister Mays serving in Seattle, WA

Monday of that week, Sunny and Dick Reinhold invited us over to their home for an authentic Russian dinner, complete with a display of Russian dolls  and other items from Russia on the table.  We ate our first borsh (beet soup, hence the red color) and golubtsi (cabbage rolls). Everything was delicious.  

Surprisingly good despite the color

Cabbage rolls

After our MTC experience, we were so grateful to have a full day to pack and do the last minute things we needed to do before leaving for Russia.  Thursday was a day filled with washing and ironing those last few items, cleaning the house and, of course, packing.  It was a challenge to get everything we wanted to take with us in the 50 pound weight limits for each of our bags.  We even took a 5th bag and still had to leave home a few things that would have been nice over here.  

Last minute weighing of all the suitcases before they were loaded into the car

Enough for 18 months?

With next to no sleep Thursday night we arrived at the airport at 6:00 a.m. for an 8:30 a.m. flight.  We were told to go to the International terminal but when we got there we found out it would not open in time for our flight so we had to move all of our bags back to the main terminal.  A little challenging.....two people and total of 9 bags including our 4 carry ons.....but we did it in plenty of time to catch our flight

While we were waiting to board our flight to New York, Jon showed up at our gate. He had just arrived home from a work related trip and the timing was perfect for him to pop over to say a final good bye.  It was to good to see him and hug him one more time.  


The flight to Moscow was a long one. We left Salt Lake City at 8:30 Friday morning and arrived in New York about 5 hours later. We only had an hour layover so when we got to the gate our flight to Moscow was already boarding.  We arrived in Moscow 9 hours later with little or no sleep.  We were pleasantly surprised that going through customs was so easy.  We had heard horror stories about the customs department in Russia which all proved to be false.  We stopped at one window, showed our passport, and were issued an immigration card.  We then went through the door on the green line, indicating we had nothing to declare and there were the Piersons (the couple we are replacing) waiting to take us to our apartment. We asked them when we would have to pass through customs so they could check our bags and they assured us we already had. No baggage check at all as long as we didn't declare anything. Such a relief.

Our first day in Moscow was exhausting.  We were working on maybe 3 hours of sleep in two days and yet we were told it would be best, for jet lag, if we were kept busy until at least 9 o'clock at night.  That would be Saturday night in Moscow or Saturday morning in Utah.  We were taken to the apartment we would be staying in for the first few days to drop off our luggage.  It was quite a distance from the Pierson's apartment so we got our first experience riding the Moscow subway system called The Metro. Their (soon to be our) apartment is located close to downtown Moscow so, after a 15 minute walk to the metro station, we had to go 7 stops on the Metro's green line, then take another walk (but only about 3 minutes) before we could see the place we would call home for the next 18 months.  

Paul getting his first lesson in

how to get around on the massive

subway system in Moscow

Buying the first of many metro passes

KACCA means cash register in Russian

The day was filled with showing us around the apartment, letting us know a bit about our responsibilities, and showing us the central building. This is where the stake offices are, where 3 wards meet for church, and where our institute room and office is located.  After a delightful lunch, Paul and Elder Pierson took a walk to see the bank with the ATM, the place to pay bills, and where we can buy phone minutes.  All of us, then, took a walk to get acquainted with our neighborhood.  We were going to walk to Red Square but the streets were all blocked off for some kind of car race trials.  After watching them for a while we walked on down to a bridge over the river that runs through the city.  On the bridge were what are called 'lock trees.'  Couples put different kinds of locks on the trees (trees made out of metal) to signify their love for each other.  Because of these trees, we saw many wedding parties, complete with limousines, stopping there to take pictures of them putting their locks on the trees.  Of course, we had to take our picture by the lock trees as well.

A wedding limousine waiting for the

bride and groom to return from the bridge.

The beautiful river that runs through

Moscow not far from our apartment.

   

One of several 'Lock Trees' on the bridge

Sunday was a very interesting day.  We decided we could make the trip back to the Pierson's apartment from where we were staying by ourselves.  Early that morning we headed out into the rain, one umbrella between us, and started the walk to the metro station.  We walked and walked and walked until we realize we had missed the station somewhere along the way.  Using our limited Russian, we asked a man on the street where the metro was.  He looked bewildered and pointed back the way we had come.  We turned around and made a left turn on the next street thinking maybe we had been so tired the night before that we missed noticing a turn.  Nothing look familiar, so we approached a lady coming out of a building.  This time we asked, in Russian, do you speak English?  She made the gesture with her hand signifying a little. So in Russian we asked where the metro station was.  She pointed down the street we had just come and said straight then to the left.  We understood what she had said so we thanked her and proceeded to retrace our steps.  In Moscow, the sidewalks are anything but level so you need to keep your eyes on where you are stepping.  I was looking ahead, trying to see the metro sign and felt my foot step into a hole.  My ankle twisted and I fell completely down onto the ground.  Of course, I was dressed in my Sunday best, nylons and all.  Paul helped my up and luckily I could walk. My nice black suit didn't have any signs of mud on it and my nylons didn't even run.  A tiny miracle, I would say.  We finally found the metro station which we had walked right past the first time.

The ride on the metro was exciting, too.  As we got down to the train, we noticed the door to the train was opened so we proceeded to enter.  I got in and Paul got half way in and the doors closed, sandwiching him between them.  His whole right arm, carrying a satchel with his laptop in it, was hanging out the door and we couldn't budge the doors open to let him in.  Luckily, a nice man on the train jumped up and helped pry the doors open and Paul stumbled inside.  Everyone on the train surely noticed these new missionaries in town.

We arrived at the Piersons after only getting lost a little bit on our walk from the metro station to their apartment.  We were greeted with omelets and fruit for a brunch then it was time to go to church.  The church is about a 4 minute walk from the apartment.  

The way to the church building

through a gate.

Paul is standing outside the front

door to the building.  There is a

security guard on duty 24/7

     While at the church, we attended our ward's 3 hour block of meetings, a young single adult council meeting, a young single adult activation meeting, and a fireside. At the fireside, we were asked to introduce ourselves and then Elder Pierson showed a slideshow of all the pictures they had taken at the young single adult activities held during the 18 month of their mission.  It was a long day, but we met many wonderful and loving people.  

With the Piersons in the Institute room, waiting for

the fireside to start

After the fireside, this group picture was taken

Here Paul is relaxing before another busy day begins.  We would be going to the mission office to meet with the mission president and be trained as to mission policy by the office staff.  Another 45 minute metro ride and a 15 minute walk.  

Tuesday was a fun day.  It is district meeting day in our mission and we will be in charge of a district...8 elders and 2 sisters.  Sister Pierson had fixed a wonderful lunch for them and after eating everything in sight, the district leader conducted a training session on prayer.  It was a powerful lesson and we all felt the spirit very strongly.  We look forward to this weekly responsibility.  In our district we have the assistants to the president, the training sisters and the office elders plus two other companionship so they are very sharp and very dedicated to the work.  They are a lot of fun, too.

Our district enjoying a dinner of chili and cornbread

Everyone wanted a picture with the Piersons before they left for home.

We have very big shoes to fill.

(Elder Pierson wears a size 13)

Tuesday night, the Piersons had an appointment with one of the young singles for dinner so we were on our own.  Of course, we stopped at the local Subway to try it out.  A little disappointing - bread not real fresh and cabbage instead of lettuce.  After being here for several months, though we're sure it will taste just fine. 

We tried MacDonald's out on Monday and it seemed to taste pretty much the same as in the states. It's only a few blocks from where we will be living, too.

Wednesday was more training and a trip to ASHWAN'S......Moscow's answer to Wal Mart.  It has most everything there one would need.   We even found peanut butter, M&M's and Snicker bars. They are very expensive (equivalent to $6 for a little jar of peanut butter) but very worth it.  When you need peanut butter in a cookie recipe you just have to have it.  Finding these items made me decide, right then, to make a cookie pizza for the missionaries at our next district meeting.

Ashwan's is in a great big mall.  We walked in and thought we were in the U.S. as we saw Dunkin' Donuts on the left and TGI Friday's on the right.  The mall was three stories with a food court on the upper level.  Surprise - there was Burger King, KFC, Texas Chicken, Baskin and Robbins, and, of course, Subway.  A real taste of home.

Looks just like home

A very fun activity for children in this mall. 

The children get into these big balls and they are blown up around

them.  They are then pushed out onto the water and the children

try to stand up and walk.  

Wednesday night we again boarded the metro and took the dark blue line up to another senior couple's apartment.  This couple works in the area office with the CES area director.  They are also named Pierson and have only been in Moscow for about a month.  They had invited us to their home for dinner along with our mission president and his wife, President and Sister Borders.  It was nice to sit around and visit.  I was encouraged that after only a month, she could cook a wonderful meal like the one she served.  There is hope for me.  Shopping is difficult as we can't read the labels of the products and the two small stores close to us don't carry everything we need.  There aren't major supermarkets here, like we have at home.  Ashwan's is the closest thing to one, but it is not convenient for a quick trip to the store as it is a 30 minute ride on the metro to get there.

President and Sister Borders.  They are from Spokane, Washington.

While we lived in Spokane, Paul had met President Borders

a couple of time through Dean Conrad.  A small world.

Thursday night was the last institute meeting and pathway gathering for the young singles, as the spring/summer semester ended that night.  Of course, pizza was in order to celebrate a semester completed.  Institute and pathway gatherings begin again in September.

 Again, the students wanted a last picture with the Piersons who have been with them for the past 18 months.

Our feet were so sore.  So much walking in the last few days.  This was our last day with the Piersons as they leave for the airport in the morning.  Tomorrow we move into their apartment and try to remember all we've been taught to do.

Note the bandaids.  Even the straps of my shoes wore blisters on my feet.