Fun night tonite! Made paper airplanes, flew them, then added paper clips so they didn't fly as well and tried again - object lesson on the atonement and repentance - carrying the entire weight of sin, etc. Was a lot of fun. Then we played Reverse Charades. One person leaves the room and then the rest of the people act something out when that person returns and they have to guess. I have pictures of bobsledding, golf, dentist, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs and Russian dancing. Also a picture of Valentina (Valya) with a bunch/group/gaggle of Elders. All of the young adults at FHE tonite were not members of the church.
The youth decided they want to learn English. So, we had our first language night Friday. Here's a couple of pictures. The bestest part is they stayed after the lesson for a couple of hours and played games. This is what we have been hoping would happen - it is their activity, they planned it and it was fun.
I also have a picture of a recent snowfall - if you look closely you can see snowflakes. They were huge. Things are warming up - in a few weeks we will probably put away our boots, he said, hopefully. It will be so nice to walk without a coat and hat and scarf and boots.
We went to the ballet today - to see Snow White = along with 100 bazillion children. Here's a couple of pictures of the ballet and kids getting their coats at the coat room afterwards.
It was a beautiful production...no Russian because they don't talk in ballets they just dance AND I know the story!!! They lived happily ever after!
Even better - we got home at 14:30 and at 15:00 two Elders had a lesson with one of the dancers in Snow White who has set a baptismal date! We didn't know that before we went...sorta cool. She was one of the evil queens evil bats/servants/whatever. They even had a dancer who was the mirror - she had shiny mirrors all over her costume and sparkled a lot. Very neat show.
The 30th we are going to see The Nutcracker. Life is good.
We had a planning meeting for institute activities before our institute class tonight - then the usual soup afterwards. First planning meeting we've had while we've been here. A few of them want to come over Friday evenings and learn English. Maybe we can learn a little more Russian, too! Keep in mind when you look at these pictures that you're looking at the future of the Church in Russia. These are great young adults - incredibly hard-working.
I gave Miraslov my one and only Jerry Garcia tie That's love! He is such a great guy. What a blessing to baptise him and be his friend. His older friend...I told him he couldn't wear the tie on the street because the women would attack him. Funny, he says he doesn't understand English but he laughed when I said that....
We had a YSA activity - celebrating Butter Week or Pancake Week - we've heard it called both. It's a Russian end of winter celebration. The neat thing about this activity is that it was completely planned by President Markelov - who, we found out, can cook! - and students. We have been impressed and were taught at the conference that the only way to progress is for the local leaders and students to make it happen. That's frustrating because it's much easier just to do it. I think we are beginning to see the fruits of the foundational efforts of the past months.
Attached is a picture of President Markelov mixing some blini (pancake) batter. Sherry also made a German pancake which is like a sweet Yorkshire Pudding - all made in one pan and baked in the oven. Everything was tasty...seven students and one investigator. Fun night.
In a parody of a parody I have parodied "Another One Rides The Bus". My Elder friends like it...not sure if it's a positive contribution to their missions, though. It's just REALLY true! I rode the bus to our branch building today and we were "packed in like sardines".
Riding in the bus down Chapaeva
And the place was pretty packed (Yeah!)
Couldn't find a seat so I had to stand
With the drunk guys in the back
It was smelling like a locker room
There was junk all over the floor
We're already packed in like sardines
But we're stopping to pick up more (look out)
Another one rides the bus
Another one rides the bus
Another comes on and another comes on
Another one rides the bus
Hey, who's gonna sit by you?
Another one rides the bus
There's a purse poking me in the ribs
There's an elbow in my ear
There's a smelly old guy standing next to me
Hasn't showered in a year
I think I'm missing a contact lens
I think my passports gone
And I think this bus is stopping again
To let a couple babushkas get on (look out)
Another one rides the bus (ow)
Another one rides the bus (hey hey)
Another one rides the bus (hey-ey-ey-ey ey ey eyyyyyy)
The window doesn't open and the fan is broke
And my face is turning blue (Yeah)
People are squished up next to me
I just don't know what to do
Well I should've got off a couple stops ago
But I couldn't get to the door
There isn't any room for me to breathe
And now we're gonna pick up more (yeaaah)
And in case you're not sure about Weird Al....here is a little demo...
