Tuesday, 9 Nov 2010

Greetings from Russia!

Last Friday was our multi-zone conference in Moscow. Most of the missionaries were in attendance other than those serving in Kazakhstan. It was wonderful to feel the spirit of the young missionaries and the other senior couples. We received good training and instruction from our Mission President and his wife. After the conference were taken on a nighttime driving tour of Red Square and around the Kremlin walls. It is very impressive. Our first few days were spent learning about the mission and what was to be expected of us in our assignment, then on Saturday we were driven up here to Yaroslavl. It was a beautiful ride across the Russian countryside. We saw many typical Russian homes, small communities and lots of forest on our drive. The trip took us about four hours. When we arrived in Yaroslavl some of the members had come to the church and later to our hotel to meet us. They had prepared a gift for us that they had written notes upon. We have been made to feel very welcome here.

On Sunday, though it was lightly snowing as we walked to church, the weather was not been that bad. At Sacrament meeting there were 23 in attendance with a warm spirit. We each had the opportunity to bear our testimony in Russian and afterward we got better acquainted with the church members. On Monday, Rather than take a preparation day, we went apartment hunting and saw many potential locations to choose from. There was one in particular that stood out and we hope to have it rented by Friday. For now we will stay here at the hotel. Out of our hotel window we have a view of a shiny gold covered onion dome church. We would love to send a picture but our camera was left in the van we rode up in. It is back at the office in Moscow for us to pick up at a future date.

Last night the young single adults had a Family Home Evening at the church. Two of them were celebrating birthdays. There were about a dozen in attendance and an investigator. We were given more gifts and practiced our Russian. You can feel a hunger for the Gospel. The Church is so new here that is not unlike the early days of the Church. A member of the branch presidency shared how the Patriarch had given him his patriarchal blessing. He had just recently been to the temple and he marveled at the blessings he has received.

We have been working with the Zone leaders here on a plan to visit all of the members and give them Gospel instruction in their homes and on how to expand the work they have been doing. We have yet to visit the small genealogical library but there have been several who are anxious to gather names for the temple in Kiev. Today we have four lessons to teach and tonight is English club were there have been a number of converts over the years. At home evening two of the members, one from Guyana who is studying to be a doctor and another who teaches English at the university, have expressed an interest in learning Spanish. It appears there are some Spanish speakers here at the university.

Once we get into our apartment we hope to set up an area book and get lists of the branch membership. The Elders here have been a great help. That is all from here for now. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers. Please know that we keep you in our prayers and send you all of our love and best wishes.



Love,

Elder Mark & Sister Jamie Forsyth