Today My Mother's Prophecy is Fulfilled

Sitting in Relief Society (women's organization) today,I am opening the hymn book.  Sister Nyoff, the chorister, tries valiantly to keep the sisters together but no one has a clue what the pitch or tempo might be for the opening song.  It is vocal chaos for awhile, then we get the hang of it.   Sis. Johnson, our one missionary who can play the keyboard is in Young Women's and no one else can help.
My mind jetted back to the tantrum I threw when my mother tried to nail me to the piano bench for yet another fruitless practice.  I love music and really wanted to play well but I refused to practice.  Then, this prophecy,"Someday, you will be on a mission in some country and  they will need someone to play and you won't be able to help!"  Did my 12 year old mind care?  Obviously not.  55 years later, again, Mom was right.  Not the first time.  I really can play a few hymns but not if there is  any pressure and they must be played VERY slowly.

Topic #2.-  Some have asked about how we really live here.  I think I will take it by topic.  I will start with the beginnings of our days.  After prayers, scripture study (alone & together), we tackle our workouts.We are having a great time walking this city.  All bundled, we head out into the morning air.  The length varies.  Saturdays are 2 hrs. or so.  Beautiful parks with great walking paths.  Last Saturday we found this beautiful little church in a new (to us) park.

Back in our cozy, warm apartment building.  Three times a week we then run the 17 flights of stairs 3 times, usually wearing headsets and listening to fun music.  Favorites-Trout Fishing in America, Beach Boys.  It totally wipes us out.

I follow with an hour or so of yoga  and Dick does some strengthening stuff.  Combined with the walking, walking, walking we do to get anywhere in Moscow, we are feeling great!
We  get in to the office about 9:30 or so.

Topic #3- How grateful I am for my knowledge of prayer and the ability all of us have to talk to our Heavenly Father at any time and about anything, knowing that prayers are heard and answered.  As the sister missionaries and I were teaching Irina (the sweet woman who wanted to give me her earrings.  By the way, in the many times I have been with Irina since, she always wears those earrings.  She was giving me her ONLY earrings) she told us how she prays. In the religion in which she was raised, prayers are at set times and are read in a language she does not understand.  As we talked, she was so excited to learn that she can actually communicate at any time with a loving God and just pour out her heart.  We explained how to feel and listen for answers.  She was touched and happy.  She told us how her life has been totally changed by what she is learning about this true gospel.  I know there are no coincidences.  Irina was supposed to become my good forever friend.  I love her.  How blessed we are!

Glories of an empire

One would have to be blind and deaf with a stone heart to not be touched by the beauty and history of Moscow.  This week we were privileged to tour the Grand Kremlin Palace, built in 1837, housing the former residence of the tsars. On the site are 9 churches from the 14th through 17th centuries, each built for a military campaign or an individual.

 The main building includes 5 full reception halls, and over 700 rooms.  The most interesting room to us was a large hall with dozens of painted murals depicting biblical stories.  No one can explain how this escaped the demolition that occurred with other Christian buildings and paintings.  The main reception halls were stripped of the ornamental gold and ornate designs when the Bolsheviks took over.  In the 1990s the halls were lavishly restored in accordance with original designs.
Our tour guide took great delight in our "OOHS" and "WOWS".  The pride of this great nation has taken several hits and they are always happy to hear how much we love this city and these people.

Moscow Stake Conference

For my non-Mormon friends, an explanation.  Our church organization is divided geographically.  As individual congregations (wards) are formed, they are organized into Stakes. Usually between 8-12 of these congregations. Picture in your mind the strength of stakes securely anhoring a tent into the ground for strength and stability.  Each stake is named for the geographic area.  Having a stake in an area is an indication of the growth and maturity of the church in that area.  It is a accomplishment and a huge help in moving the work of the Lord forward.  Twenty years ago there were no Latter Day Saints in East Europe, now there are over 42,000.  Amazing.

Two years ago the Moscow, Russia stake was formed.  Twice a year a conference is held, bringing all of the members together as a group to receive instruction from church leaders.  This past weekend was our conference.

Saturday night was an adult session with guidance from our stake presidency and area leaders. Even through our headsets, we could feel the familiar messages of faith, love and testimony.  The room was packed with strong, faithful saints of all generations.  It had the same spirit of stake conferences we have attended anywhere.

 Sunday consisted of a telecast from church headquarters in Salt Lake City.  Elder Bruce D. Porter, one of the speakers is a fluent Russian speaker (we can only dream of speaking that well).  He was a counselor in the East Europe Presidency in 1996 in a very dark time for Russia.  The atheistic communist government had fallen and everything was in upheaval.  Food was very scarce and basic survival was a challenge.

As Elder Porter  related in his talk, as he was being driven through the streets of Moscow, his gaze fell on thousands of small, lighted windows in the lines of never-ending high rises. Much like our building and the one across from us, pictured here.   He found himself in prayer for the dark, sorrowful city.

As he prayed, he began to to catch a new vision.  He saw the whole city alive with the love of God.  He sensed the workings of the spirit on each person, blessing them and preparing them for the coming of the Gospel into their city.  It was a powerful witness of the love and care that God has for each of His children.

We are blessed to have a tiny part in that great design and unfolding purpose.  We see that God is truly no respecter of persons.  He will never leave us comfortless.  As Paul reminds us, "he be not far from every one of us".

We pray daily that we might be of service in helping these people we love so much find the joy and peace that the Gospel brings.

Some people we have come to love

In Armenia we met Nia, a talented professional, and a returned missionary who regularly translates general conference to Armenian speakers world wide.  She has a long, sweeping bang over one eye.  She later explained that she lost her eye in the gigantic 1989 earthquake, when 50,000 died .  She was a toddler at  the time  but has met her challenges with courage and great joy in the gospel.

Hazan, an PhD in Engineering from Iran who was introduced to the gospel through American colleagues.  His rational mind has always struggled with the strict rules of the faith he in which he was raised and the "no rules, anything goes" mentality of western societies.  In the gospel of Jesus Christ  he has found truth upon which he can base his life.

This picture is the Armenia stake Young Women's board.  All returned missionaries.  Amazing  young women.

We met a terrific missionary who just returned home to Armenia with the unlikely name of La Grande.  He and his siblings were all raised in the gospel and each was given the name of a righteous scriptural person or a modern day one.  I'm sure first grade was interesting, trying to write Le Grande in Armenian.

Oleg, our mission driver, a former MIG pilot who whizzes around these Moscow streets like he was still flying fighter jets against the Americans.  He speaks no English but is jovial and LOVES loud opera music in his van.  He often sings along.  He always wears a white shirt and keeps a tie hanging behind his seat in case he is needed in performing a priesthood ordinance.

So many others.
The picture below is of my new best friend, Irina, who I met waiting for the metro  (the one who tried to give me her earrings.)  She came to dinner last  week, along with our sweet sister missionaries who did a marvelous job translating.  It was the very last night of her mission for one of our sisters and she was thrilled to be able to do more teaching.  Irina came bearing flowers and a beautiful cake for dessert.
I love Irina.  She lives in a small apartment like ours, very near us.  She has two sons, one graduated from college and  a government employee, the other  in his first year of college.  They live with her.  A niece studying to become a pediatrician lives there as well.
 Her husband is a thousand miles away, in their small village in the beautiful mountains to the south.  Irina studied culinary skills for 4 years but found she could make more money maintaining a small coat shop, 2 hours metro ride away.  She closed the shop  early Tuesday to have dinner in our home.  She is devoting her life to helping her sons and niece have a brighter future.  She is anticipating going home for a short visit next summer and is determined that we will go with her.

She is loving and kind and is eager to share and learn.

We are happy and well and grateful to have a small part in building the Lord's kingdom.