We really enjoyed a wonderful visit last week from Christopher, Jen, Ansel and Jonas. They arrived Saturday night - we had a fireside with a meal before they came and we were grateful that everyone pitched in to clean up so we could go to the airport. Zhenya drove us there and we watched them come into the baggage area...the secure baggage area that Sherry walked into anyway so we could hug them!
We collected their bags and the boys and I hopped in a taxi and went to Christopher and Jen's hotel. We got then checked in and Ansel and Jonas came to our apartment and spent the nights there. Sunday we attended church - here's a picture of the Sunday School class. Everyone at church was so friendly and happy to meet them.
Monday we walked around the walking street and the renok and then spent the afternoon at the dacha and everyone got to eat some delicious shashlik! The Markelovs and Semonovs were at the dacha with us - it was great to visit with them and have them get to know part of our family.
Tuesday we inspected the sister missionary apartment, walked through the park and shopped at a local supermarket. We came home and made borscht for institute Wednesday and then went to English Discussion Group.
Wednesday we went to Victory Park and had a late lunch at Carl's Jr. The only place with ice in the soda and free refills! Wednesday night was institute - here's a picture of the boys playing Skip-bo with some of the young women before dinner. The boys even tried the borscht and then they sat in on a missionary discussion.
Thursday we took a couple of buses to the Volga River and walked along it for a few hours. Then back home for some food and off to the airport.
Yesterday we had a wonderful baptism of a ballerina who has been investigating the church for over a year. It was a sweet experience.
Today we are going to Penza with Zhenya, our coordinator...just a three hour drive and only one night in a hotel. We plan to visit some less-active youth and the Seminary and Institute teachers. We'll attend church Sunday and we'll be back in Saratov Sunday evening. Monday we start packing our bags. Only one more Sunday in our home branch - Volzhski Branch. We should leave Saratov around the 18th and will leave Samara for home on the 21st. We leave the mission home at 00:30 for an hour ride to the airport, then a four hour flight to Frankfurt and a 10 1/2 hour flight to Seattle..and a final flight to Pasco. We will arrive in Pasco the 21st about 14:30.
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