Time is flying by

Two weeks ago we went to the baptism of three African men who are here in Russia studying the language and going to school. It is so interesting to us to see these wonderful guys who have the same spirit that we saw when we were in Nigeria, take up the Gospel with such enthusiasm. Since we have been here we have witnessed close to a dozen of these guys enter into the Church. We feel we have been a small part of each of them coming in as we can talk to them about their homes in Africa and relate to what they are missing there. The elders always make sure we are introduced to them and it is so fun to meet and visit with them. We instantly become "papa" and "mama" to them. Several of them attend our home evening each week and the English language Book of Mormon class that I teach.

Spring is here now. It actually got into the fifties several times this past week and even though it is raining today, it is fifty-two right now. This is hailed by many with great excitement and changes. The grass is beginning to get green, the buds are out on the trees, and the dirt of winter is being swept up. Since tourist season is upon us now, buildings are being painted, wrought iron fences and gates are being painted, and the boats are now plying the canals. Yesterday in a half hour as I passed the windows of our institute I saw five different boats loaded with tourists going by and saw four more in a convoy, empty, but headed for their loading points. And a sure sign of spring and the upcoming season is the change in the fashions. It seems like the Russian women get their fashion ideas from watching MTV and the short skirts are flourishing.

We had one quite exciting by product of our trip to Turkey. On the last evening there we got to sit at the table with President Paul, our area president. In the converstation with him and his wife, we talked about our experiences and his. In the conversation we mentioned that we had written and produced the Nigerian cultural event for the temple dedication there. We also talked of how fun it was to be on the committee for the same event at the Rexburg temple dedication. He asked us if he could send us a copy of the Kiev cultural event script to read and make suggestions. What a fun honor for us. We read it and made some suggestions to that committee. Who would have ever thought that we might have a part in three temple cultural events, small as this one might have been. We are looking forward to seeing it performed, video, of course, or the written account to see what might have been altered from our suggestions. This may happen in August, at least that is the time being planned for now.

We went to the May Day Parade on Saturday, which wasn't up to much. Not even as good as Rexburg's parades. But here is one colorful group. Most were just civilians marching with banners of their organization, which we couldn't read.

We are looking to the future being quite hectic. In June, the plans are right now, to close the institute for major remodeling. They are going to put in new windows and paint the whole place. We will move our efforts to the mission office complex and have home evening and summer classes there. But instead of going there from 4-9 each day, we will only go at about 7 till the class is over. The rest of the time we will have to be creative in what we do. This, of course, depends on the Russian construction schedule. It seems like here the quality of work and the time schedules are sort of based on a whim. They work when they want to and in summer often take time off for holidays and visiting their dacha's out in the country. But we love the work and love being with the young people.

When the president told us to get all the young people married, we laughed and wondered how we could even be a part of this. But maybe getting the institute open has contributed. Last year we had 22 marriages and so far this year we have had students get married. In the plans, right now, for the next few months there are 7 more students in the planning stage. People getting married here have to have a civil or 'registered' marriage before going to the temple. They have this civil wedding at a registry building of which there are many all over the city. Then they travel all over town and have pictures taken of the couple and the wedding party at different historical sites and cathederals. Then they have a dinner and program at the branch building. Then three days or so later they travel to Finland and go to the temple to be sealed. Quite the process. We have gone to two of these weddings and they are grand affairs. Any weekend there are many limo's passing us with wedding parties on there way here and there.

We are looking forward to visiting a few of the historical places, museums, and cathedrals we have not been to yet and to revisiting some of the ones we have been too. This town is so full of history and our understanding of the past and particularly World War II has grown a lot. May is a celebration month with Victory Day (or sometimes it is called Patriot Day or my favorite, "The day we won the War") at the beginning and other celebrations during the month.

Here's our new friend, Sister Hazelwood, and her grandkids. (Just kidding. These monkeys were on the street with a guy and we snapped a picture.)