Thanksgiviing Week - Nov. 2018

 Thanksgiving at the Mission Home - Nov, 22nd - all the volunteers in Novosibirsk and new sisters and elders on transfers -were treated to a wonderful dinner at the beautiful Mission Home - thanks President and Sister Lamb.

 Decorations at the Mission Office - Says Give Thanks in Russian, I think!

 Elder Olson got his Christmas package - happy day! Warm PJ's!!

 Our new Elder from Australia is over 7 feet tall - it was funny to see his boots next to all the others.

 Beautiful two feet of snow just after Thanksgiving.

 The city builds these tree supports so the weight of the snow dosen't damage the trees.

Wonderful Sister Missionaries - all bundled up at the mission office...sure love em!

Thanksgiving Dinner and Christmas Pillow Cases

 We cooked turkey, made dressing and mashed posatoes and pumpkin cream cheese pie!  Here are the office elders, and 1st branch elders enjoying 'Thanksgiving' dinner at our apartment.

 After dinner they each received a small gift from us - a pillowcase to use for the weeks until Christmas.

 Wonderful sisters from both 1st and 2nd branches - same great 'Thanksgiving dinner!

 Sure love these young women, and loved making pillow cases for them!

 Assistants to the President and 2nd Branch elders - now a trio1 

Such great young men - and one pretty awesome old guy!

T'was the month before Christmas, when all through the mission - Some Volunteers were serving, with President's permission.  The stockings were hung on the drying rack with care, In hopes that they would soon match another pair.
The volunteers wre nestled all snug in their beds, While visions of miracles danced in their heads. When Sister Lamb in her scarf - and President in his cap, Were getting on an airplane - no time for a nap!
As the world approaches the month of December, Put this case on your pillow to help you remember The Greatest Gift ever given from Heaen above Our Savior, His Atonement and all of His love.
Serving our Savior in Russia this time of the year, Offers many opportunities to spread holiday cheer.  Sharing our knowledge of truth with all others, Including companions, Russian Sisters and Brothers.
May this Christmas be your 'merriest' ever, And in the New Year let us all endeavor To serve cheerfully, love much, be tolerant and kind.  The Gift we give Jesus is our love for all mankind.

RS Sewing Project

 On November 16th - the First Branch held a RS Sewing evening.  We made pillow cases and small pillow covers - mostly Christmas fabric. 

 It was good to have everyone sewing together - plus yummy food afterward!

 The older Sister with glasses brought me the green and white fabric and asked me to make her something ... I thought it was a scarf, not really scarf material so I asked Sister MacCabe and she had her write it down - it was an apron!

 The eleven year old sewed most of this with some help - she was proud of her accomplishment.

 Galina's apron - her friend also asked if I could make her an apron of the same fabric - they both said I could 'minister' to them!!  Okay - I would be happy to!

 This is Galina in Russian.

 Luba's apron, very similar but a little different - she absolutely loved it!

Luba in Russian.  The New Year - 2019 - will be the year of the pig - we are close to Asia and have quite a bit of Asian influence - so the fabric has pigs on it!

It's November!

 Transfers at the mission office have many volunteers coming on buses and trains and arriving hungry!  We have a small kitchen and love providing soup and rolls for them - and they love eating them!

 Our Right Bank Sisters - Sis MacCabe is the Sister Training Leader and Sister Staiger is from Germany - we made boston Cream pie! - from scratch, turned out pretty good.

 Socks for our family for Christmas!  Funny thing - talking to one of our daughters her seven year old told us that he needed new socks! 

 Packages of socks ready to be addressed and taken to the Post Office - - or given to US bound volunteers who are gracious to take them and mail them in the US!

 Our District - before transfers changed some of these wonderful young people.

 First really good snowfall - I love to watch the snow falling.

 Older wooden houses we passed every day on our walk from home to the mission office. .. they look so Russian!

Pretty pine trees outside of Elder Smith's financial secretary's office window.  When the snow got piled about four feet high around them we would feed the little birds - putting bread on top of the snow.

Zone Conference Oct. 31, 2018

 Zone Conferences are the best!  We get wonderful training from our leader and yummy food from Sister Lamb, and an uplifting testimony and get to be around these terrific volunteers.

 Other side of the table! 

 Aren't they awesome?

These talented elders sang "How Great Thou Art" - very moving...we always have good music at our Zone Conferences.

Left Bank District, Right Bank District

 One of the best parts of working as the Mission Office Couple is being around many more of the wonderful young volunteers!  Here is the Left Bank District, enjoying taco soup after District Meeting.

 So happy to be serving with Sister Wilcox in Novosibirsk - we first served in Itkutsk and have so many great memories of the work there. She is now a Sister Training Leader and a good one!

 Sister Blanchard and Sister Wilcox - great missionaries,  plus pretty and smart!

Office Elders, Assistants to the President and Right Bank elders, dinner at our apartment - sure love "feeding the sheep"!!

Fun in the Office

On October 13th, 2018, this blog was closed down ... could not post any more in Russia.  Now we are home in Utah and I can catch up all that was missed in the last 4 months or so of our mission.  Some wonderful events and interactions with wonderful people and I want to have this made into a blogbook so I'll take a couple of days to complete it - thanks to all who contributed to our wonderful mission in Novosibirsk Russia - many blessings to all!  

 Sister Lamb made a Birthday Cake for Elder Bennion - always fun in the mission office!

 Elder Witters and Elder Bennion - leaving their missions together!  We wish them all the best in their next adventures ... and look forward to new elders coming to replace them.

 On transfers and visa trips the hallway gets full of travelers luggage!

 What a handsome Finance Secretary the Mission has!

 Copies of the Book of Mormon in many languages - several are needed each transfer ... many people from other countries converse with the volunteers.

As volunteers go home, many leave good clothing in the office for others to use ... these white shirts needed washing and ironing before being placed in the 'store' - looked like a laundry!