Gentlemen lives in a Museum

 Our new District leader and his companion called us and asked if we wanted to go with them to a gentlemen's house that the other missionaries had told them about ... he lives at the top of an old building = built in 1938 - and has many interesting things there...so we went!  He had pictures of other missionaries from a few years ago - nice old gentlemen - really does live in a Museum!

 Just a few of the old items - he said - other people throw things away - I gather them!

 Beautiful old clock - keeping the correct time - also note the electrical wiring in the picture - - one room he had to connect two wires so the light would come on - - only a small spark when he did it!

 Old cuckoo clock - that was not keeping time!

 Old Gramophone!  Thomas Edison would be proud!

 Old phone.

 Old sewing machine - along side a newer calculator!

 Hanging kerosene lamp - sorry about the blurry picture.

Old gun - just a little dust covered!  It was an interesting evening - we learned some fun facts and were thinking if there was an Russian edition of 'hoarders' we would call them!  The elders said that some TV stations had come to his place and shown a documentary about it!

Area Office Training

 This was part of our excellent audit training in Moscow - Europe East Area Offices - we learned so much and enjoyed the fellowship of fellow Assistant Area Auditors! and Brother Anderson from Salt Lake.

 George and Laura Copeland, Bro. Brad Anderson, Gary and Vivian Foley, Lori and Richard Cook, Smiths! This is a special spot on Red Square for making a wish - and throwing a coin.  You stand on that circle in the front and make a wish and throw a coin over your shoulder ... and then man comes over and picks up your coin! 

 Same group - minus the Cooks - they had another appointment - it was a pretty day - clear and cold.

 The Kremlin is behind the wall - yellow building - this is the eternal flame for a memorial of those who have died in wars - and the guards on each side.

 This is the G.U.M.  huge government department store... they were decorating for spring.  We had lunch at a fun cafeteria - good food and good prices and wonderful company.

Red Square - always exciting

 This is our third visit to Moscow, and our third visit to Red Square - it is always so exciting to be there.  This is Brother Anderson who is visiting from Salt Lake, his first time to Russia... and Elder Smith, and Sister Foley - she and her husband serve in the Ukraine.  We bought tickets and actually went inside St. Basil's this time.

 This is a monument on top of Stalin's grave - those are real red carnations - many of them!  It is a little interesting to 'honor' such a person.

 Fake flowers on this pretty Red Star arrangement.

 Some of the interesting art work inside St. Basil's - so old and so good!

 There was a room where four monks were singing - chanting - very good.

 Painted all the way up and including the ceiling - quite marvelous.

This painting was protected - it is almost 3 centuries old - St. Basil's was began in 1522!! History is fascinating - so much to learn and try to understand in this world of ours.

Moscow Training Trip

 We flew from Finland to Moscow for our Audit Training.  Brother Brad Anderson came from Salt Lake and we had a great meeting - the Copelands are the Area Auditors and they did a wonderful job for all of us.  The Foley's came from Kiev, Ukraine, the Cooks work in Moscow and we came from Irkutsk ( actually Helsinki).  This is a picture of the sunrise over Moscow out of our 12th floor window... Hampton Inn.

 It had snowed a bunch the day before we got there - you know because the snow is clean!  Someone told us Russia has three seasons - summer, winter, and mud!

 Huge pile of snow from plowing the parking lot ... at night front loaders would come and load dump trucks and take it somewhere!

 Our Audit Training was in the Vladivostok Room in the offices of the Eastern Europe Area - we were just in Vladivostok last month and it was fun to see this wonderful panorama of the city.  We could point out our hotel and some sights we recognized. 

 Walking in a downtown mall we found these huge real orchids!  So pretty and in such harsh weather just outside!

 The "Spaghetti' bowl of the Moscow Subway system - we sure were happy to have the senior couples that live there show us how to manage!

 My turn for a picture of the WATER drink that looks a little suspicious! We ate dinner at a Steak House - that the owner is from Brazil!  and the steaks are amazing!!

Closer look at the bottle - I'm sure it says water somewhere on it!

Helsinki Temple

 The Russian visa's we are granted -require that we leave the country every three months ... we took a Visa trip to Helsinki, Finland last week.  It is always wonderful to spend time in the temple ... this this trip was very special!  Also in the temple were a couple we knew from the MTC in Provo - the Perry's.  They are the Humanitarian missionary couple for the whole country and it was such a sweet mercy to see them ... almost like seeing family again!  We made plans to meet in Moscow the days were would be there for training and learn how we could be helpful to their important work.

 Snow was covering all the places I could put my camera for using the self timer ... this is as good as it got ... and everyone laughed at me tramping through the deep snow - love my tall boots!

We took another picture in the temple housing - the Perry's had an exchange student years ago in their home in WA and she met them in Helsinki!