OUR NEXT TO THE LAST WEEK....IN THE BOOKS!

We are now in the midst of experiencing many 'lasts' here in Russia as our mission comes to an end.....our last shopping trip to Ashan's, our last English exam for Pathway, our last missionary discussion, our last transfer meeting, our last English group, our last lesson for Institute, our last Pathway gathering, our last district meeting, our last game night, our last baptism, and our last trip to Red Square. That about sums up our week as most everything we did was our last time to do it. 

Monday, we had pretty much to ourselves to prepare our lesson, organize a few more things in our apartment and shop. After shopping, we met Sasha for lunch at TGI Friday's, as we always do, to thank him for his service to us. We wanted to take him to TGI Friday's so he could taste their delicious ribs but he opted to have a hamburger. When Paul gave him one of his ribs to taste, Sasha was sad he hadn't taken our suggestion and ordered them.  We had a good visit and will miss Sasha a lot.

These elders dropped suitcases off at our apartment Tuesday

night.  This was them crowed in our little elevator playing

some sort of  'touch' game.  I was in the elevator with them

so it was very crowded and they still played the game.....

boys will be boys, even on their missions.

Tuesday, we were involved in administering the PELP test for Pathway. It is the English exam that potential students have to pass before they can start the Pathway program. Paul gave the test to 4 potential students but only 2 passed. It looks unlikely that we will be able to have a new cohort start in January. We are wondering if the situation with the ruble is discouraging potential students. It still only costs $40 a credit hour but to make up that amount in rubles, it costs them almost twice as much as it did a year ago. (Special note:  Just today we got word that the price of each credit in Russia has been reduced to $23. We had some excited students but it came out too late for a new cohort this winter.)

We came to the church early for the test so I could sit in on a missionary discussion with Elders Caulderwood and Eliason and,their investigator, Jacob. Katerina, a young single who just returned home from her mission, also came early for the test. We invited her be a part of the discussion.  Because of a back issue, Jacob stood for the whole 45 minute discussion but seemed very interested in what was being said. The whole discussion was done in Russian but, even though I couldn't understand all that was said, I could feel the spirit that was present.  Katerina added much to the success of that meeting. Jacob wanted to meet again which is always a good sign after a first discussion.

Elder Johnson, on the left, and Hermanson, on the right,

left for home on Friday.

Wednesday was transfer meeting. We said good bye to several very special missionaries with whom we have come to love.  Elders Johnson, Hermanson, Shepherd, Howard, and Sister Miller all left for home the next day. Along with the 8 young missionaries who were leaving, we were asked to bear our testimonies also. It was a hard thing to do but we both held it together without too many tears.  Paul was amazed that I didn't break down and bawl like a baby. We were grateful we had the opportunity to express, not only our testimonies of the gospel, but our great love for the missionaries and our young single adults. Good byes are so hard. A note about our mission: 8 missionaries left but only 3 came in. There will be no more coming for several months and many will be leaving in the next two transfers.  This mission will go from 120+ missionaries to 84 in the next few months.  A big challenge!

Elder Shepherd will be missed.  We will always remember him for eating

our cookies all in one bite.

Elder St. Clair had been our district leader for the past two transfers

and was wonderful.  He had only been a member of the Church for a year before

coming out on his mission.  He will be serving as the 1st counselor to the Branch

President in his new area.  We will miss him, too.

After transfer meeting, we went to lunch with the Ropers. They have become dear friends so it was good to be with them before we leave. We came home, prepared our presentation for English, and then returned to the church for our last English group. We presented the discussion part of the evening. It went well but the best part of the night was when our friend, Olig, came in and presented us with a refrigerator magnet.  He said he hoped that being home in America would be filled with blue skies and sunshine just like over Moscow in the picture on the magnet. So sweet...a sincere gift of friendship.  He has been one of our favorite, regular participants. After taking a picture with him, he said, "OK, I am going to leave now because I am going to cry."  We will always remember him.

A most meaningful gift from Olig

Saying good-bye to Olig and Karina

Thursday turned out to be a busy day.  Besides doing the last preparations for our last Institute lesson, we had 4 elders come by to skype a district leader's training meeting, during which the International sisters brought Caddice by for a discussion.  We had never met Caddice but we were glad we had the opportunity to get to know her. She is darling and has such a sweet spirit about her. She has a desire to do only what Jesus would want her to do.  This would be our last missionary discussion.

Sister Grover, Caddice, and Sister Biorn

Our Institute class.....so sad not to teach them again

We taught our last Institute on Thursday. In our lesson, we discussed the importance of being parents and of preparing themselves now so they would be the kind of parents that God would have them be. Between Institute and Pathway, we had a pizza party. We usually do this at the end of each semester but because it was our last time with our students, we decided to do it a week early.  After our last Gathering meetings, we took pictures, hugged everyone, and said our sad good byes. We were touched by the cards that were given to us. Sweet Irena gave us a darling Christmas decoration which we will cherish.  We will think of her each Christmas when we set it out.

Our Life Skills Cohort

Our graduating English Cohort

At Roper's for breakfast

Friday was a first....the first time we met with the Jensens, the couple taking our place. They flew in on Thursday night. Because we were teaching Institute, we couldn't pick them up at the airport so the Goodells did so.  They took them to the Roper's apartment where the Jensens will stay until we leave. Friday, we met the Jensens at the Ropers for breakfast. Elder Roper cooked us all omelets which were delicious. We then brought the Jensens to our apartment and visited for a few minutes before our elders and sisters started arriving for district meeting. After the meeting, there was only time to show them the local grocery store and to fix dinner before it was time to go to game night....our last and the Jensen's first.  We were glad that several young singles came to play some games, although we left early to get the Jensen's back home to the Ropers. 'Jet lag' began to set in with them soon after we arrived at game night.  

The Jensens and their new district

We attended the 100th baptism in our mission this year on Saturday.  This was quite historic as there have never been that many baptisms in one year before. We were there because we wanted to show the Jensens how to get to the South Building where baptisms are held. We timed our arrival so they could see an actual baptism. We were glad we could be there even though we did not know the man who was baptized. He will be a member of the Podolsk branch. That particular branch had not had a baptism for years and in three months they will have three.  The Lord is working miracles there.

Another first happened on our walk back to the metro from the baptism. We were walking on the sidewalk when a large bus came by, going really fast, hit a puddle, and sprayed muddy water all over Paul and Elder Jensen.  Paul was especially drenched from his shoulders to his feet. Paul and Elder Jensen were walking on the outside, closest to the street so they got the worst of it, although Sister Jensen and I got sprayed a bit. We brushed it off as much as we could but Paul's coat was a terrible mess. It had snowed for about three days but on Saturday it was melting so the streets were full of puddles. Instead of sanding the streets after it snows, they put down dirt which makes the melted snow turn to mud...hence the mud covered coat.  It took a bit of scrubbing but we were able to get it pretty clean when we finally got home that night.

Misha and his outgoing and

 incoming senior couples

After the baptism, we went immediately to a Seminary/Institute training session with Misha, our director. We were grateful everyone in attendance spoke English so Misha could do this training in English rather than having it translated for us. We could participate so much easier that way. After the three hour training meeting, Misha treated us all to dinner at Pronto Pizza. The Jensens and ourselves then jumped on the metro to go to Red Square and experience Christmas in Moscow for our last time. Of course, it was beautiful....all done in a circus theme, including the large Christmas tree and many ice sculptures. Even Gum's department store was decorated with the circus motif.

Saying good bye to this magical Red Square

Sunday was a special day. It was our last Sacrament meeting and happened to be a fast and testimony meeting. Of course, we bore our testimonies (with the help of interpreters) and experienced many sweet good byes. The most touching was from Andrey. He taught the gospel principles class and, at the end, talked about coming to our home for one of his missionary discussions.  He talked about feeling the spirit so strongly that he was sure he could give up his much beloved black tea immediately. We will never forget that experience either. We will miss him and his sweet daughter. 

Our wonderful and caring district.

We will miss not being with these young missionaries.

After church, we continued training the Jensens by taking them through each rooms of our apartment and showing them what was there. We had invited Misha and his wife, Sveta, for a mid afternoon dinner. Just as we were about to sit down for dinner, the doma (house) phone rang. It was the elders and sisters in our district. They came to sing us a special hymn and give us a good bye note from each of them. I cried, of course.  Goodbyes were delayed until Zone Conferences as we will see them again on Tuesday. Dinner was good and we all had a great time visiting until it was time to get the Jensens home. They are still in jet lag mode.

Misha and Paul were caught sitting exactly the same way.

LIVING IN RUSSIA SPOTLIGHT

Near to our apartment is a canal that runs close to the river. In doing some research we found out that it was built in order to make Moscow a sea port. Stalin wanted Moscow to become a vital shipping center so had a dream of connecting the Moscow river to all the major rivers which flow to the Baltic Sea. It required a deep canal to be dug 80 miles long. Of course, it was done with 'slave' labor and many gave their lives for his dream.  Cruise ships now use it to connect Moscow with St. Petersburg.





Missionary mothers are beginning to send Christmas packages to their missionaries. The packages are loved by the elders and sisters. Elder Jepson showed us what his mother had created to make his Christmas a special one. Evidently she sent several gifts, along with wrapping paper, to the home of a member in the International ward. The member wrapped the gifts and gave them to Elder Jepson. He was sent these darling stockings into which he is to put the gifts. That is one creative mother! 

ONLY ONE MORE POST...THE END IS COMING