Life in Russia

The outer cities met together at the Central Building for Zone Conference on March 8. President Bennett of the Area Presidency addressed us. It was wonderful seeing our missionaries and missionary couples who are serving outside of Moscow. Voronezh is a long plane ride, Nizhny, Kaluga, Ryazan, Smolensk, Lipetsk, Tver and Tula are our also a good distance away. The missionaries in these cities come by train or plane to attend these special meetings. Usually, because Voronezh is the furthest away they have zone conference in Voronezh.
Meeting together with the couples is especially fun. Since we orient them when they first arrive, we develop a relationship with them and we are as close as the phone, of course, when they call for needed supplies or help with funding., so even though we don't see them as often as we would like, we are in contact.
One senior sister said that the first 3 months she was here, she would look out the window and say in amazement, I am in Russia! It truly is a whole different way of life here. We take so much for granted in the United States.
Our dear couple in Nizhny said that when they first arrived at their apartment several months ago, their water filter system was hooked up to the bidet in the bathroom!!! Holy Cow! Well, they bought bottled water for months until it was hooked up in the kitchen where it belongs! However, they did get a good chuckle out of it.
Our sweet Voronezh couple tried to get a new part for their refridgerator and it was a major challenge with the language barrier and all. It was quite an ordeal, but finally was resolved. They mentioned they laugh every day. It is important to keep a sense of humor and go with the flow.
Learning your way around the metro or on the buses has also been an experience for many who get on the wrong bus, or off at the wrong stop and don't know where they are. Our young missionaries to the rescue! Their Russian is ever so much better than ours and they know their way around.