Misc about Town

 We flew back to Irkutsk after a week in Novosibirsk - Elder Smith was released from being a Counselor in the District Presidency, we did some audit work and got to say goodbye again to some wonderful friends.

 Our favorite part was the Zone Conference - we have a tradition of taking a picture with the sisters - aren't they beautiful?

Flowers in the Chapel for District Conference - Russians love flowers, grow them, plant them and you see many flower shops - some advertise - Open 24 hours!  I asked a young Russian sister why and she said for errant husbands!!  September First - school begins - and students take a flower to their teacher!  it's called Knowledge Day in Russia - love it!

We are transferred! Back to Novosibirsk!

 Turns out none of our young volunteers were transferred this time - WE were!  President Lamb called and informed us that the Office Couple had to return to the US for a medical situation - and asked us to finish our mission in the office ... just like our last 5 months in Jamaica!  We are happy to serve where ever needed.  This is after our "Farewell Dinner" - the sisters planed a branch party after Church and several of our friends from the area came, including a manager of the Farm were we do service - brought gifts!  It was a lovely last Sunday in Irkutsk! So many wonderful people we will always remember with fondness - leaving a piece of our hearts whee we have served for 9 months.

 Bear skin rugs and wolves for sale at the airport - not for my house, thank you!

 We received Presidents phone call on Wednesday, and we needed to be in Novosibirsk so the Heiselbetz could train us - and they had to leave on Wednesday - whirlwind days. We had lunch for Elder Smith's birthday - did the same thing a year ago!  This is Ishmael, he is a student here from Mali, and will go back and do great things for his people and the church.

 The Humanitarian couple - the Perry's had a project in Novosibirsk and came to the office ... we were in the MTC together, and also met them in Helsinki at the Temple!

 Sister Heiselbetz purchasing some fresh vegetables from this Babushka - 'grandma'.

Mission Office was well served with the talents of the Heiselbetz's - we will try our best to keep things moving!

 We met at Zone Conference for the testimony part - these are some of the wonderful volunteers that have served in Irkutsk!  love them all!

Oh my - we will see how this 'secretary' thing works out - thankfully we will have the help of the young volunteers, and the Lord to take care of financial matters and office until February 20th, 2019.

Cleaning the Church and Sports Night

 On Saturday evenings we have members and friends come to the church - first we clean the building so it is ready for Sunday - then we take a volleyball or soccer ball and head out for Sports Night.

 So nice to have many hands making light work - love that the elders know how to mop the floor!

 One of the soccer fields we play on. There were some teenage boys on the field next to ours ...we invited them to play with us but they didn't want to.  We played for a while and then had treats.

 We took the extra treats to the teenagers - they came over to thank us - and then asked if they could play with us!

We had a great time with more people - two college aged men also asked and joined us!  We try to get phone numbers and names so we can continue to contact them ... they said they would come back to play at the fields.

Changes to our District

 Every six weeks when transfer time comes around ... we wonder if any of our young volunteers will be transferred to another area ... not knowing we took this picture of our District, just in case some one goes elsewhere!

 Elder Ellsworth was on a visa trip and Elder Mildenstein stayed with us for three days - here is a famous 'traveler' statue in downtown Irkutsk.

 Also famous is "Barbar" the tiger that is the symbol of the city of Irkutsk.

 Ploy invited us to her university's party - 100 years old.  September 1st is KNOWLEDGE day in the country of Russia.  All the school's have openhouses and the students bring flowers to their teachers.
Since it was a Saturday and Ploy's school had a day long celebration -we went down to the plaza and had a good time.

 Ploy - from Thailand - here studying Education - spent a year in Lativa, speaks, Thai, Lativan, Russian and English!

100 year sign - Dasha took the picture,  she was with us all day but doesn't like her picture taken.

Trip to Seoul, Korea

 August 24 - 28 we went to Seoul, Korea for another visa trip.  These are the flowers that were for some other event - but they were at our hotel - the Marigold - so we enjoyed them for a day!

 Walking to the Temple we saw these tables with red peppers drying on them ... kind of interesting right on the side of the street!

 Closer look at the peppers.

At the Temple...we loved our two session, two days in a row!  The temple workers kept bowing to us, made me feel like the Queen of England!  They are so gracious and thankful we were there ... and so were we!