New Young Volunteers and misc.around town

 We have a new District Leader - Elder Ellsworth - and he and Elder Smith are enjoying the new dress rules - regular shirts and no ties, except at Church meetings - results have been less harassment and more talking to people on the street.

 New Sister Brockbank - with her awesome trainer - Sister Wilkinson - we get the prettiest young volunteers!  Sister Brockbank has 12 siblings - 13 kids in the family - love it!  I always said about our large family:  "It's not always happy - but it is never dull!"

We had a fun make a Church photo book - sponsored by the RS.

 Sister Brockbank was looking in a 2013 Liahona and found this picture of her brother-in-law!  So much fun for her!

 Wonderful pictures painted by our Fairbanks grandchildren - including one year old Tait - who got into his sisters way!

 Tiny wild strawberries for sale in the farmers market...we have picked some at the farm we do service for - they are good.

Famous 'Blood Moon' last Friday night from our apartment balcony!

FHE - Walls of Jerico

 For an activity in FHE we built the 'walls of Jerico" out of sugar cubes.

 Creative people - always figuring out ways to do things!

 Same on the other end of the table.

 Different but wonderful "Jerico's" - then we jumped around and shouted - and they came down!

Anniversary and Farewell Dinner

 July 12, was our last District Council Meeting with all these wonderful young volunteers - Sister Johnson and Elder Witters are being transferred out of Irkutsk - we will miss them!

 Sunday, July 15, we had a Farewell Dinner at our apartment - also celebrated our 52nd wedding anniversary!

More Sakhalin

Heidi and family sent Dad this new tie for Father's Day - he wore it to the Audit Training - and it matches my Sunday outfit - it was cooler in Sakhalin so I could wear a turtleneck again!

 Near our hotel in Sakhalin, there was a kind of street fair - these wooden tables and benches looked so sturdy!

 This gazebo would take a strong wind to blow down!

 Wishing well and small cabin - it was interesting to see their workmanship.

Sakhalin will be the home of the First Children of Asia Winter Games -this is the count down clock.

Mosaics in the Church

 Inside the Church we found these wonderful artist mosaics - not sure who this is - maybe Peter and Paul?

 This is the last Tzar and his family who were murdered - and now are all saints.

 Another mosaic - again not sure what it is about - sure wish we could read and speak Russian!

 Close up of the colored tiles making all the pictures.

 Last one - we appreciate great art and this qualifies!

 Inside the Church - so much gold!

Visit to Sakhalin Island

 On July 6th we flew to Sakhalin Island for an Audit Training - this is the big memorial complex there...War Memorial Arch and Museum, Churches and lots of tourists - see the five tour buses?

 An Old Catholic Church - so much of history has been preserved here - it is very interesting.

 Elder Smith in front of a Russian Tank Monument - with the new relaxed dress standards, he is happy not to wear a tie all the time!  Our young volunteers report much more positive contact with people when they wear 'causal' clothes.

 Sister Smith in front of some gun monument - certain all my sons and son-in-laws know what gun but I don't - okay a howitzer? 

The big Church on the Memorial Complex - beautiful mosaics in it.

More Service

 It began raining too hard to work outside - so the Elders came into the wood shop and used tools to sand down these benches - we have hard working Elders!

 The seniors and sisters went to the weaving room and cut fabric that they make into rugs on the looms in the background.

 We had a great time and enjoyed being of service to the Farm - they fed us a yummy lunch of soup and bread.

 Elder Smith liked the old logs of part of the wood shop and fabric room building.

What a happy group - we love giving service.