Russia

We drove to Samara Wednesday and back to Saratov Thursday...twelve hours in the car total.  That's like a million American hours because the roads are so bumpy!  We ache for days after a trip!

We enjoyed teaching an institute class.  The teacher called us on the road and said she had a cold and couldn't teach that night.  We planned our lesson as we traveled and team taught the class.  It's is a joy to have an occasional chance to teach.  Having our coordinator translate is a neat experience...we love him and trust him and having him speak for Dad seems seamless.  After class we were invited to a party with the mission president and his wife.  Just three couples and them.  It was really fun!  We got to meet the Ledfords who are the new office couple - and newlyweds!  They've only been married a year...both are a bit older than us.  Great people.

Saturday we had teacher training. Dad got to teach a little and told some experiences with journal keeping and with getting to know students outside of class.  He told of Jared's challenge to him to keep a mission journal and also talked about his first calling as twelve-year-old Sunday School teacher.  

I've attached a picture taken from our car window.  Typical landscape driving to Samara...Russia is HUGE.