Looking backward and forward...Hump Day...

 Missionaries marks the midpoint of a mission with a "Hump" Day.  That is where we are now.   Tomorrow we will have fewer days ahead of us in Russia than we have behind us.  It is sobering.  Are we doing all we can do to help in building the Lord's kingdom?  We know we were called by a Prophet and we are grateful for this experience.

We have done some analyzing, reminiscing and setting goals for our effectiveness in the remaining months.  We are trying not to panic but already we are sensing that we may not achieve all we had hoped to achieve.  Remembering that this is the Lord's work and it is in His hands gives peace.
Some highlights from the last several months stand out.

We didn't really know what to expect but our Russian home was a bit of a shock.  Tiny apartment in high rise.  So strange at first but now we sense the rhythm of this closely packed community.  We recognize many people, wave a lot, call out a "Dobra deen" and hug more than a few.  We can't converse easily but we have found our place and we love these people.

Soon after arriving we were in Dresden at a CES Conference.  We were blessed to attend a 

Freiburg, Germany Temple session, conducted in Russian, with East Europe CES Coordinators and their wives. They are all natives of their countries and are some of the best gospel teachers anywhere.  Knowledgeable, mature testimonies.  Almost all returned missionaries.  The church in East Europe is in good hands.

How blessed we are to join our efforts with this team of Senior Missionaries with various assignments, helping to further the Lord's kingdom.  50 or so couples here in Moscow alone.  Wonderful friends.

Love these faithful young people.  We have lots of fun in Yoga.

We are grateful to know this great family.  Our boss, Sergei, his wife Elena and their children Vadya and Vicka.  Sergei served his mission in London, Elena in Washington, DC.

How we have missed having children on our laps!

We love working with these and over a hundred other inspiring missionaries.  So full of faith and testimony.  

The history and culture of this ancient city continues to fill us with awe.  We still can't believe that the Kremlin is our regular hang out area.

We asked ourselves what we have learned and will carry with us into these months that we have left.  This is what stands out to us:

1.  This really is the Lord's work.  No one can be as close as we have been to the events taking place in East Europe and not be humbled by the daily miracles.

2.  We have been blessed to receive frequent inspiration from the Spirit as we try to move this work forward.  Thoughts, impressions, feelings that are beyond our own abilities.

3. Living the Gospel changes people.  As these good people accept the covenants of baptism and are given the gift of the Holy Ghost, the light grows brighter and brighter.  Happiness bubbles and they want only to stay in that light and love others.  Seeing that happen over and over has been one of our greatest joys.

4.  People of covenant are the same everywhere.  As we travel from one country to another or one city or ward to another, the saints are united in faith and testimony.  We truly are one.

5.  People are so good.  We are in love with these open-hearted Russian people.  We feel their kindness and gentle love for each other.  

6.  For us, the big winner in our mission is our marriage.  We have loved being unified in purpose and building and sharing the challenges and joys of this assignment.  If we hadn't come, we would still have had a good marriage.  I'm not sure it would have been as great as it has become.  Twenty four/Seven has been wonderful!

We are excited to see what the next 9 months will bring!