Things are so different here. Back home, people come to our door all the time. Wanting us to buy something, delivering the mail, etc. Not here. One of the things we were told when we arrived here was not to open the door TO ANYONE. Even the police, unless it was someone we were waiting for. Even then, no one knocks at our door. Friends who come can come up to the 10th floor and use the bell and we can let them in through 2 locked doors to get to our door. I wonder how pizza is delivered.
The apartments are not set up to be friends with your neighbors. There are 4 apartments on our floor. In 4 months we have seen someone from one of the apartments 5 times.
We were also told that nothing is easy in Russia. We have found that to be true more than once. After months, we finally were able to purchase a crockpot which are not well known in Russia. With the help of Diana, a Russian who works in our mission office, found me the crockpot I wanted, ordered it, and had it delivered in a couple of days. WOW. Thanks Diana!
Haircuts are no longer a problem as Goar, a wonderful hairdresser I was introduced to by a church member who lives in Rosinka, a beautiful gated community in Mitina. The problem was getting there. /Even though it is only about 5 minutes from the apartment,there is no easy way to get there other than being driven and that's not going to happen. Plus there is a guard at the gate and you have to show your card. I don't have one. Anyway, Goar now does many of the senior sister missionaries and she agreed to come to our apartment and cut the hair of 3 of us. YEAH. Now she'll come to us every 5 weeks or when we need her.
Goar is a lovely 20-something Russian girl who speaks English and has been working at her haircutting profession for 10 years, starting when she was 16. (the average age for young people to start work). I showed her the haircut I wanted and she kindly said, "no Sister Barbara" and she explained why it wouldn't work for me. So I showed her a second haircut and she said the same thing. I gave up and said do what you want. While it was a very nice haircut, it is not what I want so when she comes back in September, I will insist on the haircut I want even if she doesn't think it is the right one for me. :)
We have been trying to get connected to English channels on our tv and it has been like pulling teeth. (except maybe more painful). I won't go into all the gory details, but supposedly, there is a Russian technician coming on the 11th to give us what we need so we can be connected with the English channels and enjoy a little tv on a cold winter night (of which there will be many we are made to understand) David has spent hours trying to get this worked out. It is hard when you are not speaking to someone who understands English. Finding English speaking is necessary but has been a challenge to find.
Sunday, August 5, 2012
Sunday, July 29, 2012
A sweet experience
We are thinking that amongst the differences, there are things that are the same. Underneath it all, people are the same. As we attend Church week to week, the members are becoming more familiar with us and are very friendly There are certain babushka's (older ladies) who I exchange hugs with and the young women in their twenties also are very friendly. Dave carried on a simple conversation with one of the members today. I felt warm and welcomed by our bishop who asked how I was feeling (since I had been sick last week). He speaks very good English.
I had the opportunity of visiting with Alexsey, who we met last week at English Club. He teaches English in Moscow and showed us his certificate today that he received with a college here that is associated with Cambridge University. He is a delightful man in his 30's or 40's who loves his family and is now investigating the Church. He came to the Investigator's Class today after Sacrament meeting.
There is one little guy named Nikita who is 6 years old who has really taken a shine to Dave. He likes to rub Dave's head and enjoys hug. This sweet boy is the age of one of our grandsons. The little ones are precious and don't seem to let the language barrier affect them too much.
A couple new to the mission shared a sweet experience that they had on the metro a couple of weeks ago. They noticed a young man looking curiously at their name tags and when a seat became available next to Elder and Sister J, he came and sat down next to them. He said in halting English, "I see that you wear Jesus Christ next to your heart." He was hoping to learn more and they just happened to have some Russian Church literature which he accepted happily.
We are learning that there are people who are looking for light. The days of communist rule and aethism are in the past and many want something more. We hope next time we can be prepared with something we can share with them to read despite the language barrier. Of course, our young missionaries speak Russian and can communicate better then we can. We need to try!
I had the opportunity of visiting with Alexsey, who we met last week at English Club. He teaches English in Moscow and showed us his certificate today that he received with a college here that is associated with Cambridge University. He is a delightful man in his 30's or 40's who loves his family and is now investigating the Church. He came to the Investigator's Class today after Sacrament meeting.
There is one little guy named Nikita who is 6 years old who has really taken a shine to Dave. He likes to rub Dave's head and enjoys hug. This sweet boy is the age of one of our grandsons. The little ones are precious and don't seem to let the language barrier affect them too much.
A couple new to the mission shared a sweet experience that they had on the metro a couple of weeks ago. They noticed a young man looking curiously at their name tags and when a seat became available next to Elder and Sister J, he came and sat down next to them. He said in halting English, "I see that you wear Jesus Christ next to your heart." He was hoping to learn more and they just happened to have some Russian Church literature which he accepted happily.
We are learning that there are people who are looking for light. The days of communist rule and aethism are in the past and many want something more. We hope next time we can be prepared with something we can share with them to read despite the language barrier. Of course, our young missionaries speak Russian and can communicate better then we can. We need to try!
A clean sweep
The mission office broom is worn out so I decided to order a new one from Legacy. I shouldn't have been surprised when I saw the broom when it arrived a couple of days later. (there was no picture of it.) It is the kind of broom we see the street sweepers use. Looks like a bunch of brush tightly wrapped together with twine at the top. Dave described it as looking like a witches broom. It stands about 3 feet high. Now I know there are brooms out there because we bought one at Neptune for our kitchen. I never dreamed we would get a witches' broom (except that a witches' broom would have a longer handle.). I wonder what Svetlana (our wonderful mission office cleaning lady) will think when she sees the new broom we bought for her to sweep the kitchen. Oh well.........
We have had more experiences as of late with Russian speakers coming up to us and starting to talk. Sometimes you can tell they are just "shooting the breeze". They talk a while and we nod and smile pleasantly. I wonder if they figured out we can't understand them. Today on our way to church, a man and his son noticed my name tag (which as Sister Sutton Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) in Russian of course. The dad wanted to carry on a conversation, but quickly figured out we couldn't speak Russian so he shook Dave's hand and they went on their way. Oh, how we would like to be able to talk to them! Language is coming slowly. Understanding Russian is VERY difficult.
We have had more experiences as of late with Russian speakers coming up to us and starting to talk. Sometimes you can tell they are just "shooting the breeze". They talk a while and we nod and smile pleasantly. I wonder if they figured out we can't understand them. Today on our way to church, a man and his son noticed my name tag (which as Sister Sutton Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) in Russian of course. The dad wanted to carry on a conversation, but quickly figured out we couldn't speak Russian so he shook Dave's hand and they went on their way. Oh, how we would like to be able to talk to them! Language is coming slowly. Understanding Russian is VERY difficult.
Tuesday, July 24, 2012
We are still in Russia
Monday Alexsei arrived at the office to look at the copier. We were thrilled to think that at last the copier would get fixed. Well, we were wrong. It appears that his responsiblity was to actually determine if there was something wrong with the copier. Yep, there is something wrong with the copier. Yep, I know what's wrong with it. Nope, I'm not here to fix it. Just to confirm that it is broken. Hmmmm. So the waiting begins again.
In the meantime, there had been a mixup with an order from the Distribution Center. Two of us ordered paper (for the copier), so we have double what we need and no copier to use it with. Oh well. Such is life in Russia.
Remember how I told you that we were told to go home and that it is not uncommon for missionaries to be told that? Keeping in mind that so many people have been raised in aethist homes, this is understandable. And yet we are learning that there are people who are searching for more than what they have been given, which in many instances is nothing. No hope, no joy. Elder and Sister J, a couple who have just arrived from the States within the past month, had a sweet experience. They were sitting on the metro and noticed a young man watching them and reading their name tags with curiosity. When a seat opened up next to them, the young man came over and sat next to them and said in halting English, "I see that you wear Jesus Christ next to your heart." He then asked if there was anything he could read. They had a copy of the Liahona in Russian, a monthly Church magazine. He was thrilled with his gift and went off with a smile.
Sister L went out of her way to return to a grocery store (not convenient to get to) to give a lady in the salad department the address of the nearest ward (congregation) to her as she was interested in learning more.
I know that many of the 108 missionaries currently in our mission have sweet experiences like this every day.
In the meantime, there had been a mixup with an order from the Distribution Center. Two of us ordered paper (for the copier), so we have double what we need and no copier to use it with. Oh well. Such is life in Russia.
Remember how I told you that we were told to go home and that it is not uncommon for missionaries to be told that? Keeping in mind that so many people have been raised in aethist homes, this is understandable. And yet we are learning that there are people who are searching for more than what they have been given, which in many instances is nothing. No hope, no joy. Elder and Sister J, a couple who have just arrived from the States within the past month, had a sweet experience. They were sitting on the metro and noticed a young man watching them and reading their name tags with curiosity. When a seat opened up next to them, the young man came over and sat next to them and said in halting English, "I see that you wear Jesus Christ next to your heart." He then asked if there was anything he could read. They had a copy of the Liahona in Russian, a monthly Church magazine. He was thrilled with his gift and went off with a smile.
Sister L went out of her way to return to a grocery store (not convenient to get to) to give a lady in the salad department the address of the nearest ward (congregation) to her as she was interested in learning more.
I know that many of the 108 missionaries currently in our mission have sweet experiences like this every day.
Sunday, July 22, 2012
Remember You Are In Russia
We have been in Russia for 4 months now. There certainly are things to get used to...like how quickly things DON'T get done. We were told about one month ago that our cable televison would kick in on July 1. Well, it hasn't happened. So, we call the cable company through our Russian office worker. We were told that we had a cable box - it is part of the contract. Hmmmm. I checked with the couple who lived here for 20 months before we moved in and they never had cable and no cable box. PLUS taking the apartment apart looking for the cable box was fruitless. Calling the landlady Zhenah was the next step and we are waiting to hear back. NOTHING HAPPENS QUICKLY IN RUSSIA. At least not when you want it to. Of course we are now paying for cable. It would have been nice to get Animal Planet and news in English this past week when I was home sick for several days. Instead, I watched the Russian Circus in Russian of course, but at least I "understood" what I was seeing. The repairman doesn't show up on time? REMEMBER YOU ARE IN RUSSIA. (now wait a minute. We have this kind of thing happen in the States too if I remember correctly) but truthfully not to this extreme. And the fact they can't understand us makes it so frustrating!
I was told that it isn't easy to go anywhere and get things done quickly. I think more than half of Moscow is on vacation. They call it "Dasha Season." I think that's where the tv cable repair man is. Many people own a little summer place outside of Moscow where they go for the weekend to get away from it all. Now these dashas can simply be an 8x10 shack or a very nice cottage or home by the Black Sea. Even the little ones like their own little yard where they can grow a garden. Remember most of the people live in apartments in the biggest city in the world so a little getaway is most welcome. But I diverse....................
Our copy machine at the office is broken. Not a good thing. WE use it all the time and need it badly. Getting someone from the Service Center to fix it has been a joke. Of course, everyone is on vacation. Or they just don't seem to understand how important it is that we have a working copy machine (which was overdue for a checkup anywahy)
How I miss being able to get a haircut. To be able to call and make an appointment and be understood and be able to get there in a timely way. I really like the girl who did my hair when I first got here. Gore is her name. An ugly name for a beautiful girl. She works in a high-end salon in Rosinka, a very nice family area of Mitina about 5 minutes from the office (or our apartment). Getting there is so difficult that we have invited her to come to us. There are 3 of us who would like a haircut so it will be financially a good thing for her and us. Because she is currently on vacation (remember it is Dasha Season) we can't set it up for another week or so. Getting to Elder and Sister L's apartment will take a bus ride and a good walk, or one long walk. Either way, because she understands some English and does a beautiful job, it is worth it.
REMEMBER YOU ARE IN RUSSIA. It's a good thing to remember. Keep a sense of humor, be grateful for what is available and roll with the punches. Now, MAYBE we will have cable tv before we are ready to leave and go back to the States in 14 months. MAYBE I will have gotten a haircut by then. MAYBE the copy machine will have been fixed and we will be able to carry on with the vast amount of work that needs to be done on this machine. Time will tell.
Many exciting cultural events are in our future and we will share them with you as they happen. Until then, dos vidonya.
I was told that it isn't easy to go anywhere and get things done quickly. I think more than half of Moscow is on vacation. They call it "Dasha Season." I think that's where the tv cable repair man is. Many people own a little summer place outside of Moscow where they go for the weekend to get away from it all. Now these dashas can simply be an 8x10 shack or a very nice cottage or home by the Black Sea. Even the little ones like their own little yard where they can grow a garden. Remember most of the people live in apartments in the biggest city in the world so a little getaway is most welcome. But I diverse....................
Our copy machine at the office is broken. Not a good thing. WE use it all the time and need it badly. Getting someone from the Service Center to fix it has been a joke. Of course, everyone is on vacation. Or they just don't seem to understand how important it is that we have a working copy machine (which was overdue for a checkup anywahy)
How I miss being able to get a haircut. To be able to call and make an appointment and be understood and be able to get there in a timely way. I really like the girl who did my hair when I first got here. Gore is her name. An ugly name for a beautiful girl. She works in a high-end salon in Rosinka, a very nice family area of Mitina about 5 minutes from the office (or our apartment). Getting there is so difficult that we have invited her to come to us. There are 3 of us who would like a haircut so it will be financially a good thing for her and us. Because she is currently on vacation (remember it is Dasha Season) we can't set it up for another week or so. Getting to Elder and Sister L's apartment will take a bus ride and a good walk, or one long walk. Either way, because she understands some English and does a beautiful job, it is worth it.
REMEMBER YOU ARE IN RUSSIA. It's a good thing to remember. Keep a sense of humor, be grateful for what is available and roll with the punches. Now, MAYBE we will have cable tv before we are ready to leave and go back to the States in 14 months. MAYBE I will have gotten a haircut by then. MAYBE the copy machine will have been fixed and we will be able to carry on with the vast amount of work that needs to be done on this machine. Time will tell.
Many exciting cultural events are in our future and we will share them with you as they happen. Until then, dos vidonya.
Sunday, July 15, 2012
Victory Park
A couple of weeks ago we went to Victory Park with some of the other senior couples. It is located at Polklonnaya Gora, the highest hill in Moscow. It is the hill where Napoleon, with his troops surrounded Moscow and waited in vain to be given the keys to the city of Moscow (Kremlin) in 1812.
Russia is steeped in Russian military history. This park memorializes World War II and Russia's involvement in this devestating war. This war took a huge toll on Russia and elderly Russians are revered for having survived this difficult time. Over twenty million people lost their lives in Russia alone. Staggering!
On May 9, Victory Day in Russia, the park becomes the center of Moscow's celebrations. World War II is also referred to as the Great Patriotic War.
One of the beautiful fountains. Children play in the fountains.
One of the many sculptures in the park. This is located at the base of a tall monument. In this sculpture the dragon is slain.
This haunting memorial to all the Jews who lost their lives during the war
This United Nations Memorial is dedicated to all the victorious nations of WW II
This monument is dedicated to all the suffering and sorrow experienced during the war
The one Russian Orthadox Cathedral in the park
Barb with Elder and Sister Pierson and Elder and Sister Naegle
Russia is steeped in Russian military history. This park memorializes World War II and Russia's involvement in this devestating war. This war took a huge toll on Russia and elderly Russians are revered for having survived this difficult time. Over twenty million people lost their lives in Russia alone. Staggering!
On May 9, Victory Day in Russia, the park becomes the center of Moscow's celebrations. World War II is also referred to as the Great Patriotic War.
Missionary work in the Moscow Mission
There are currently 50,000 young missionaries and 5000 adult missionaries serving throughout the world. Wow. Back in our ward in Ludlow MA. and our service in the Boston Temple, we have had the privilege of getting to know missionaries who have come from all over the world to serve. Yes, they knock on doors and share the gospel message whenever they have the chance to do so., perform acts of service and community service and other myriad responsibilities. I admire all of the missionaries for their hard work and dedication and for the different responsibilities they have.
In Russia, because the Church is so young and there isn't always a strong priesthod base yet, our missionaries are sometimes called to serve in leadership roles in the little branches. (30 - 120 members).That is a huge responsibility! One young elder was just called to serve as the Branch President in Smolensk to help strengthen the young branch there. These young missionaries called to serve in Russia are often called upon to carry additional responsibilities at times on their young shoulders.
In the Russia Moscow Mission, our mission president's goal is to have a senior couple in each branch or ward to help teach leadership and help these little branches get on their feet. The senior couples have years of experience to share, having served in various Church responsibilities throughout their life. They are a blessing to the members and missionaries alike.
Currently, there are not enough senior couples to cover all the wards and branches in our vast mission. One couple, Elder and Sister L. take a train to Tver each weekend to serve in the ward there and travel back to serve in the mission office during the week. We are talking about several hours on a hard seat to and from, so that they can fulfill their responsibility to the people of this area. They are incredible people.
Recently, a dear couple who were serving in Moscow Elder and Sister C., were transferred to Veronezh, 900 miles away, to serve. WOW. We will only get to see them a couple of times a year. They will help build up the church in that area along with a set or two of young missionaries.
I've mentioned this before, but I'll mention it again. Elder Sutton and I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to serve in Moscow at this time and rub shoulders with some of the most dedicated and wonderful missionaries ever! Both of us are working hard trying to learn the additional responsibilities that are now ours due to the expanded mission.
Not only do we cover Moscow, but the areas around it. Twe are almost the size of the United States. Wow. We're having trouble getting our heads around that! We ask for your prayers to be with us and the missionaries of this wonderful mission and the other Eastern European missions as we try to bring light to these wonderful people after so many years of dealing with aethism and communist rule.
In Russia, because the Church is so young and there isn't always a strong priesthod base yet, our missionaries are sometimes called to serve in leadership roles in the little branches. (30 - 120 members).That is a huge responsibility! One young elder was just called to serve as the Branch President in Smolensk to help strengthen the young branch there. These young missionaries called to serve in Russia are often called upon to carry additional responsibilities at times on their young shoulders.
In the Russia Moscow Mission, our mission president's goal is to have a senior couple in each branch or ward to help teach leadership and help these little branches get on their feet. The senior couples have years of experience to share, having served in various Church responsibilities throughout their life. They are a blessing to the members and missionaries alike.
Currently, there are not enough senior couples to cover all the wards and branches in our vast mission. One couple, Elder and Sister L. take a train to Tver each weekend to serve in the ward there and travel back to serve in the mission office during the week. We are talking about several hours on a hard seat to and from, so that they can fulfill their responsibility to the people of this area. They are incredible people.
Recently, a dear couple who were serving in Moscow Elder and Sister C., were transferred to Veronezh, 900 miles away, to serve. WOW. We will only get to see them a couple of times a year. They will help build up the church in that area along with a set or two of young missionaries.
I've mentioned this before, but I'll mention it again. Elder Sutton and I feel so blessed to have the opportunity to serve in Moscow at this time and rub shoulders with some of the most dedicated and wonderful missionaries ever! Both of us are working hard trying to learn the additional responsibilities that are now ours due to the expanded mission.
Not only do we cover Moscow, but the areas around it. Twe are almost the size of the United States. Wow. We're having trouble getting our heads around that! We ask for your prayers to be with us and the missionaries of this wonderful mission and the other Eastern European missions as we try to bring light to these wonderful people after so many years of dealing with aethism and communist rule.
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