Church in Angarsk

 Sunday, January 28th we traveled by bus with the Sisters to Angarsk - they were going to teach a sister after Church and we were asked to speak in Sacrament meeting (with interpreters).  It is a small branch north an hour and half - nicer bus then we have in town - kind of like a Greyhound - bigger, more leg room, nicer seats, etc.  The windows kept freezing up as I was taking pictures .. this is the best I managed!  It is nine in the morning ... see how low the sun is?  It was much warmer today - actually plus 4 when we began - around 7 when we came home.

 The Elders that work in Angarsk met us at the bus stop and showed us how to get to the church ..we took another bus and then walked a little bit. It was so nice to see the sun shine!  Both Elder Witters and Elder Mathson have Russian fur hats - warm!

 Elder Mathson is from Evanston, Wyoming - and has Rex relatives from Randolph, Utah.  My Dad's Uncle Sam and Aunt Bess (Glenn Groesbeck's sister) are from there and Elder Mathson and I think we are related - cool!

 This is the small chapel in the Angarsk Branch - it was peaceful and reverent ... maybe because there were only 17 adults, one baby there.  They have about 30 on the branch list, about 6-8 come most Sundays.  We had four of us missionaries come today, plus a District leader to conduct an audit after church.  The Elders had an investigator for the second Sunday in a row...made them very happy.  Elder Smith spoke about conversion after baptism - a lifelong event.  I spoke about Pres. Nelson's comments two weeks ago - resisting the attacks of the Adversary - I related it to the Russian Three Headed Dragon - Good will win over Evil - in the end!

 Front door of the Church rented rooms - and two darling sister volunteers - Sister Melton and Sister Wilcox.

 Walking back to the bus stop after church ... the investigator walked all the way with us, not certain if he lived that way or wanted to talk English with the sisters, or was worried we wouldn't catch the right bus .. we appreciated his concern.  He asked me where my hat was - I told him my hair was as warm as a fur hat and I had my hood if I needed it - nice of him to worry about me.

 This city plows the sidewalks and just leaves the big ice blocks along the way - Irkutsk has big trucks load them and take them out of town.

 Pretty forest on our way to the bus stop.

The River with frost on all the trees - not frozen over at this spot.  This country is full of beautiful scenery.