A WEEK OF FIRSTS AND LASTS

This week we have experienced many firsts and many lasts. For example, last week the missionaries were able to get 75 new investigators. That was their goal for the week and the FIRST time that number as ever been attained. It far exceeds the average number of new investigators reported in a week's time and there were many miracles reported as the elders and sisters worked hard to meet that goal. Hooray for their efforts and the blessings of the Lord.

On Monday, we attended the LAST fireside that Sister Lawrence would give to the missionaries in Moscow. She and her husband, the area president, will be leaving next week for an assignment in Salt Lake City, after spending seven years here in Russia. They will be missed.  Elder Bruce Porter will be replacing him.

Wednesday we started another English group, the FIRST meeting of this new group of Russians who desire to improve their English.  It was our sign up night where we played some 'get to know you' games.  We were so impressed with the two young elders in charge of our group.  We will begin the series of eight English discussion groups next Wednesday.  


On Friday, we taught our LAST Seminary lesson to Isaac, the young man from the Spokane,Washington area who has been here studying with the Bolshoi Ballet Academy.  It has been such a rewarding experience to read the Book of Mormon along with him and then prepare lessons each week to highlight the doctrines and principles studied. We will miss him and the opportunity we have had to be with him every Friday. 






Sunday morning, we traveled to the South building to deliver Isaac's seminary course completion certificate and decided to attend the International Ward's meetings. Our friend, Justin, was being baptized right after the meeting block. It was great to be in a ward where we could understand everything that was being said as the meetings are in English. The baptism was wonderful and here is where the first comes in. For the FIRST time, since being here in Russia, Paul and I were asked to speak at a baptism. Paul gave the talk on baptism and I spoke on the gift of the Holy Ghost. We were touched to be included in the program as Justin has become a special young man to us. He has been to our home several times including this past Wednesday where we participated in his LAST discussion (as an investigator) before his baptism. A special side note:  Our friend Michael, who was baptized a few weeks ago, was present at the discussion and was able to baptize Justin on Sunday. It was his FIRST official duty since receiving the Priesthood a few weeks ago.

Elder Shepherd, Michael, Justin, and Elder Burton

Other happenings of the week, which were not firsts or lasts, included our weekly district meeting on Tuesday. Lunch was Teriyaki chicken, fried rice and a spinach strawberry salad.  We served a lemon cream pie for dessert. The district leader always gives a great training lesson and did again this week. The interesting thing about all our meetings is how much the elders and sisters love to sing.  Every week they sing with great enthusiasm an opening and closing hymn.  The song, 'In the Lovely Deseret,' has become our district song. They really get into singing it (complete with movements). They sing it in Russian and so fast that we can in no way keep up so we just get a kick out of watching them.

Elder Knight really getting into our district song

That night we went to the Russian institute class so Paul could make an announcement about a new Pathway semester starting soon.  I guess that was a FIRST....as we have never attended Misha's class before. (Misha is our coordinator.) We didn't understand a thing that was taught but it was great to be with the young singles.  After the class, we met with our YSA council to plan the upcoming month's activities.

Gissel and Sister King

We mentioned having a last discussion with Justin. It happened on Wednesday and, at the same time, we had Sister King and Sister Miller in our office with Gissel, having a new member lesson. They were using the computer to introduce Gissel to family history work. A few minutes after the Elders and Justin left, the sisters finished with Gissel. Their parting was so sweet. We were talking to Sister King about her school plans for when she leaves next transfer. Gissel picked up on the fact that Sister King would be leaving in about 8 weeks. Her happy countenance immediately changed and soon tears were streaming down her face.  The hugs and tears that followed were so touching. These investigators truly come to love their missionaries....as much as the missionaries love their investigators. Parting is always such sweet sorrow.

Such a sweet surprise.

Andrey baked and presented the banana bread birthday cake.

At Institute on Thursday, we taught about tithing, family history, temple work, and searching the scriptures.  We tied those all into the Lord's second coming and how doing these things will help us 'abide the day of His coming.'  The closing prayer was given by Sasha, in English, except for the last sentence which he said in Russian. We wondered what was going on as the prayers are always given totally in English in our class. Shortly after the prayer, the lights were turned out and one of the students brought in a loaf of banana bread with candles lit in it. Everyone began singing Happy Birthday to Paul. They then brought in 5 Papa John's pizzas for the whole class. The sentence said in Russian at the end of the closing prayer was a blessing on the food. They presented Paul with a couple of gifts, too....a mug and a spoon made in Russia.  So thoughtful. It made Paul feel loved and appreciated.  These students are so wonderful....we will miss them when we have to say good bye. (That was Paul's LAST birthday celebration in Russia)

Victoria and Sasha

getting the pizzas ready to eat.

Vlad waiting patiently to dig in.

Those candles spell Happy Birthday

in Russian

Saturday was a day of a FIRST and many little miracles. Despite the rain, we decided to go exploring. We met Elder and Sister Roper, in the early afternoon, and went with them to the Novodevichy Convent and Cemetery for the FIRST time. One of the cathedrals was built in the 1500's and all the others were completed in the 1800's. After Peter the Great deposed his sister, Sophia, and claimed the throne, he had her confined to this convent for the rest of her life. It also became the forced place of residence for Peter's first wife after he became dissatisfied with her. The convent is surrounded by a wall with several watch towers built into it. The whole complex is situated along the river and was considered a strategical place for a fortress to protect what was then the southern tip of Moscow. Inside the wall are 5 churches, a bell tower, and a cemetery, along with the living quarters of the two imprisoned women. Just outside the wall is one of the most amazing cemeteries we have ever seen.  It is considered the new cemetery and is reserved for the burial of high dignitaries of Russia.  This is where Nikita Khrushchev is buried. The tombstones are amazing, some complete with full statues of the deceased.  We thoroughly enjoyed this little adventure.

A Gate Church

The Church of the Transfiguration

The Bell Tower

Another Gate Church

Church of the Intercession

The original cathedral built in the 1500's

The Church of the Virgin of Smolensk

(Built to commemorate the capture of Smolensk

 from the Lithuanians)

The Church of the Assumption

The amazing new cemetery.......

This must have been a famous ballerina

One of several full body statues

Even a plane with the pilot

Full head carving

This wall stretched forever for those who prefer cremation

Now for the little miracles............  
1. When we got off the metro train at the correct stop for the convent we had no idea which way to go out of the station.  There just happened to be two men who spoke English right there and, knowing we were questioning which way to go, told us to go to the left. 
2. Once outside the metro, we met another young man, also an English speaker, who showed us exactly where to go to get to the convent.

The tomb we were looking for.

Done in black and white at the

request of Khrushchev.

 3. While we were in the new cemetery, we were wondering how we could find the tomb of Nikita Khrushchev. Just as we were about to give up, an English speaking tour group came by. Their guide told us where we could find his tomb. 
4. We stopped at the underground mall by the Red Square for a quick lunch but couldn't find a place to sit to eat in the food court. Paul happened to notice Elders Burton and Genys finishing their lunch at a table, which they gave up for us. 

Waiting for his watch to be fixed

5. While we were at the cemetery, Paul's watch stopped working. We figured it was a battery but had no idea where we could go to get it fixed. Later that afternoon, we went to our local grocery store to pick up a few things before Sunday. We just happened to notice, just outside the grocery store, a little place that sold watches. Looking around, we saw a sign in the watch case with the the word 'remont' on it. We recognized that word as meaning repair. Right there was a lady who repaired his watch for about $20. We had never noticed this little place before. Just little miracles but they happen all the time when we take time to notice.

Happy is the man with a watch that works again

Our week ended with Justin's baptism and a wonderful visit by our sisters, Hunter and Taylor. Sunday evening the sisters came by to create a form for the ward to get them involved working more with the missionaries. They needed to email it to a sister in our ward who could translate it for them into Russian. When they were finished they came into the living room to show us what they had created. It will eventually be a bookmark for each member of the ward to show 6 different ways they can get involved with the missionaries in activating members and finding new members. It was quite impressive for a couple a 21 year olds. They stayed for a few more minutes talking about their love of missionary work and their special friends here in Russia.   One of their recent converts, Ira, is being deported this weekend.  She got caught without updated papers and will have to leave Russia.  She will be going home to her two children but her husband will stay in Russia. They were here trying to earn enough money to bring their whole family to Russia as things are really difficult in Uzbekistan....no work and poor living conditions. They are converts from the Muslim faith and life will be very difficult for her if her family and friends find out she is no longer Muslim. The sisters are so worried for her and sad that they will probably never see her again.  All we can do now is pray for this darling family.

Last of the hot water

One more first and last......Sunday was the LAST time Paul will be washing the dishes in hot water for a long time....... as it is the FIRST time we will be without hot water for 10 straight days. Here in Moscow, they turn people's hot water off for a period of time in order to clean the pipes.  Strange but true. 
Luckily, we have a small heating unit in our bathroom that heats the water for the shower.....or should we say, it takes the chill off the water as it doesn't even make it lukewarm but....... that's better than ice cold showers, for sure.

LIVING IN RUSSIA SPOTLIGHT

Last week we had a ton of rain.  When it rains a huge puddle builds up in the street just outside our apartment's front door.  Several times, as we are leaving the building, a car will speed through the puddle, spraying water everywhere.  We have to be real careful as we open the door or we could get soaked.

On one of our little adventure trips we took a picture of this very modern and very interesting architecture. Note the very new and the very old right together. A strange but beautiful skyline.

FIRSTS, LASTS AND MIRACLES MAKE FOR A GREAT WEEK