Ah, Kool-Aid!

At a recent social at our Institute for the young adults Lou and I were in charge of the food. Geri had brought us a bunch of Kool-Aid when they came so we decided to use that for our drink instead of the warm juice they always serve. We didn't have any serving pitchers but we had a couple of big, 5 liter water bottles and we made it in those and put in the the fridge overnight. We filled the cups in the kitchen rather than put that big jug on the table so the drink was rather a surprise when they got it. What a hit it was! Some started asking what this was they were drinking and then told the others that it was a great new American beverage. Chalk one up for the Americans!


This was our second year of enjoying the beautiful 'white nights' of St. Petersburg. They just make such a big fuss here about how beautiful and romantic the city is during the white nights, and it does have a special feel. The sidewalks are busy with people just out strolling at all hours, as seen from our apartment windows in the middle of the night when I can't sleep.

The elders and sister missionaries complain about how many of their investigators and members are gone to their dachas (small summer homes) now or have just left for their month-long vacation and how it disrupts their work. What we see with the young single adults we work with is that many of them have left to spend the summer months at home (which is somewhere else) with their families or have gone to the US to work or are getting married. None of this is bad but our numbers are depleted and we miss those good friends who are gone.

We had some fun recently when Rich and Millie Andrus were in the city for a short time at the end of a trip. Their hotel was just a block from our apartment and we were able to have dinner with them and show them around for a few hours. It is always fun to see folks from home.

We just got a new pool table at our Institute. Our district president decided to spend much of the budget he had for young adults on this. It is a "Russian" table, meaning that the pockets are smaller than on an "American" table, but yet they bought the larger "American" balls. So it is a challenge for the players but it is getting a lot of use. Especially by Elder Clements and Sasha, our Institute coordinator.

But lest you think it is all fun and games here, I'm including this picture of us being honored at the Institute graduation. The gospel is true, the work goes on, and life is good.