Oct 9-15 2017

Pam’s Volunteer Journal Oct. 9-15, 2017

     I am sitting at the laptop to write this Sunday afternoon, Oct. 15, 2017 from the desk of our apartment. It is a simple, wooden table in the corner of our living room overlooking the bustling city life below: The Molodyozhnaya Metro Station, several large city buses coming and going since there is a bus stop below as well as a staging area where they park until the time is right, huge high rise residential buildings, large commercial building, large electronic billboards and neon lights, plus lots of people coming and going. One of the advertisements that are always featured on those ginormous billboards is for Kentucky Fried Chicken. I often see the Colonel flash across the screen and it reminds me of home sweet home. It is a very popular restaurant here as is Burger King, Subway, and Papa John’s Pizza. These American chains, especially KFC, always have much longer lines in the mall food courts than the other restaurants. I must admit we have eaten about once at each of these places, and it just tastes good to get a bite of the USA after experimenting with the local cuisine of Russian and Georgian foods, and many other varieties.

     For the past two weeks we have taken just the bus to our church services in Sokol. It takes about 30 minutes to get to the general area of our building, then a 15 minute walk to the church. After taking the metro to church almost everywhere for the first several weeks of being here in Moscow, we are exploring the buses. It is unusual to be above ground and be able to see the sights of the city. When taking the bus, you realize how sincerely far you are from the various destinations. It is quieter, less crowded and more relaxing (at least on the weekends!). You use the same pass used on the Metro to travel via bus. The transportation passes are very reasonably priced and they have various amounts of time for which you can purchase them. We started out with a 60-ride pass and used that up pretty fast, since we use them at least twice a day to get to the office and home, and more when we go out exploring. Jason found out that they sell a year-long pass so he purchased one for each of us, knowing this would be a good investment, as long as we don’t lose them!

     Losing things and falling are interesting topics with the Senior Volunteers. Our area Medical Doctor, Dave Hansen, got his wallet stolen from his wife’s purse while on the Metro. It is challenging to figure out how to carry your many documents, passport, cash, credit cards, ID Cards, and where to keep them safely stored. We feel safe, but just need to watch ourselves and be cautious, especially with the winter weather ahead. Some of these concerns arise since we are all a bit older than we used to be! Sister Krimme fell about a week ago for the third time since being here, and not even during the snowy, icy time. I think Andy Winn (who served in Russia) told me that the young Volunteers have contests to see who has the best stories of how they fell during their travels. Sister Krimme broke her upper right arm.  She is very energetic and serves with her husband in a very busy calling as YSA/MLS volunteers. In her “spare” time, she works with a native Russian sister to arrange our cultural activities. She is right handed so has had to type with her left hand and have her husband help her a lot, like getting dressed, etc. He has some shaking problem and is not all that well-off himself. They are avoiding the Metro since they live more in the central part of Moscow and she says it is “packed like sardines” during rush hour and she can’t afford to have her arm bumped. This is just one example of the sacrifice and willingness of these couples to serve in the Kingdom, despite physical limitations they may have. We have seniors walking with canes, seniors who have had heart valve and knee replacements, tremors, and various other ailments which may not be visible to the naked eye.

     I have been feeling very grateful for my vision, which has improved somewhat due to the eye injections I have received since Feb. of 2016. Now that I’m on a computer every day and doing a lot of reading and playing the piano for every church meeting on Sunday, I really need to see. As I mentioned previously, Dr. Boschat, my doctor here in Moscow, has given me one injection and doesn’t need to see me until early December due to improvement in my right eye. I think I am already being blessed for serving! Also, the dry, hacking cough I developed about a year ago, has not been a problem here. I brought two inhalers with me and have not had to use them at all. I think this humid climate without grass seed growing everywhere has helped me overcome the cough.

      Jason has been having heel pain and stiffness in his feet and heels. He has tried limiting his walking and icing them a bit, since I diagnosed him early on as having Plantar Fasciitis. I experienced this same heel pain maybe five years ago, and it lasted for 1-2 years. I know it takes a long time to recover. My husband is not one to ask for help and/or advice but I think I have convinced him to talk to Dr. Hansen and get some medical advice, instead of being in pain every day. We did buy him some gel shoe inserts at Ashon, our favorite store similar to Walmart, near our office.

     Last Tuesday we had a farewell lunch party for Barb and Mark Taylor, our two favorite attorneys, who ended their service and returned to St. George, Utah. The Office of Legal Counsel provided Georgian Pizza, salad, juices and pop. Russia is very well known for their juices. They come in small waxy cardboard containers that are about 1 quart in size and no larger. There are not many things that come in large sizes. Their berry juices are wonderful! The Taylors are happy to be home, although expressing some separation anxiety about leaving Moscow. They had served with the OGC in Ghana too, so they are happy to be returning to their children and grandchildren, and Costco and their clothes dryer!

     On Tuesday night we had Senior Council where Elder and Sister Perry introduced themselves. They are from the great Pacific Northwest USA, Kennewick, Washington, and serving as Humanitarian Volunteers. He had a construction business--she did the interior design work, and they were very successful. They are pretty young compared to the rest of us—in their late 40’s.  Elder Perry mentioned during his talk that he grew up in Pocatello. I chatted with him afterward, and he thinks his sister was in my class of 1970 at HHS, whom I don’t remember. They were in a different Stake, off Chubbuck Road, and did know the Satterfields. Any of my siblings know have any Perry friends from Poky?

     On Thursday I had the opportunity to leave work for half of the day and go on a tour of The Museum of Decorative and Applied Arts with the International Women’s Club. A few of our members are involved with this group, and invited me. There was a native Russian historian telling us about all the amazing artifacts of Russian Culture from the 1800’s-1900’s, and another beautiful Russian female translating her words into English. I checked out this club online and they are a large, worldwide group that provides cultural activities and interest groups for women who are in various cities where their husbands might be employed or serving. I met ladies from Paris, UK, Prague, Italy, Asia, who all spoke English. It was a fun trip and I especially enjoyed the cultural exchange. I am dedicated to my missionary service, but occasionally may be able to join a tour group as time allows.

     We had a staff meeting Thursday since Arlen (our boss) finally got back from his trip to the States for Conference. He was gone about 2-1/2 weeks. I got some new assignments and my work load is growing. They (the attorneys) are finally figuring out some things I can do, and where my strengths lie. Jason gave the spiritual thought for our staff meeting and he discussed 3 Nephi 13:25-33. We took turns reading each verse and discussed how it applied to us and our service. You know Elder Carlile has a superb way of getting us all involved and participating in the discussion. The lawyers are often interrupted with pressing phone calls, as was Arlen during Jason’s presentation, so we had a great discussion. According to verse 33,  Jesus taught that if we focus on building up his kingdom, the worldly things we often worry about will be resolved. Most of us live our lives backwards since we make our plans and sometimes leave a little room for building up the Kingdom of God when we should do just the opposite! We need to put the Savior first in our lives.

     Yesterday we had a lazy morning and had bacon and pancakes for breakfast. At 11 am, the Cooks and Griffins invited us to go on a hike with them to Sparrow Hill, one of the few hilly areas of Moscow. The hill overlooks the city from a bluff and there were beautiful trees covered with leaves of gold, orange, and green. From here one can get a great view of the City of Moscow. It is near one of the large soccer stadiums where some of the World Cup Soccer Games will be played next year.

     Today we attended our church meetings as usual, took a nap, and are preparing to have the missionaries and a friend, Elder Limb, the Area Exec. Sec. , whose wife is Utah helping with a new grandbaby, for dinner tomorrow night.

     We were fortunate to view Elder Robert D. Hales memorial funeral service from our apartment via  WIFI and the internet. It was broadcast at 8 pm our time on October 6 from the Tabernacle in Salt Lake City. We are so fortunate to have the internet to view such events.  President Uchtdorf was conducting, with the Tabernacle Choir providing the music and with Clay Christiansen at the organ.  Elder Ballard, the first speaker, mentioned how he and Elder Hales served together for over 40 years as general authorities. “Bob” had a quick wit and wise counsel and will be missed. They knew each other at the University of Utah and their lives were intertwined. One of Elder Hales sons said his Dad possessed the ability to delegate a task and follow up until it was complete. President Nelson said, “We will miss his New York bred candor.” He had unrelenting challenges to his health for two decades. He had constant love and support from his wife, just as Jesus did from his mother, Mary. President Eyring, the concluding speaker, said that he and Elder Hales had associations over 70 years. One spiritual gift he has was to be a perfectly loyal friend and disciple of Jesus Christ. He was a legend in the business world as a 42-year old, and then called to leave his career and serve in the Church to do what God wanted.  The hymns the choir sang were “Each Life That Touches Ours For Good” (one of my personal favorites), “I Need Thee Every Hour”, “God Be With You ‘Til We Meet Again”. Elder Hales’ interment was at the Bountiful, Utah City Cemetery.

     From the LDS Church General Conference the first weekend in October, I enjoyed the emphasis from several talks on the Book of Mormon, so for our Family Home Evening last Monday, Jason and I further studied President Nelson’s talk entitled “The Book of Mormon: What Would Your Life Be Like without It?” This week I want to ponder these questions: What would your life be like without the Book of Mormon? Second, what would you not know? And third, what you not have.

 At our FHE, we talked about these questions he posed:

1.       What is the Book of Mormon? The Word of God, it contains answers to life’s most compelling questions, teaches the Doctrine of Christ, Expands and clarifies many of the “plain and precious” truths that were lost through centuries of time and numerous translations of the Bible, Atonement, Be Born Again, Another Testament of Christ. Gathering of Israel. We know why we are here on earth. Its major writers were all eyewitnesses of the Lord. It is a record of His ministry. It is true.

2.       What does the Book of Mormon affirm? The Identity of Heavenly Father and Jesus, and the necessity of the Fall.

3.       What does the Book of Mormon refute? The Fall and Original Sin, Individual goodness is in adequate for exaltation, and ordinances and covenants are needed. Revelation ended with the Bible. Infant Baptism, Happiness can be found in wickedness.

4.       What the Book of Mormon fulfills: Biblical prophecies, Other sheep, Marvelous Work and a Wonder, Stick of Judah and Joseph, Scattering of Israel, The land of inheritance for the lineage of Joseph.

5.        What the Book of Mormon clarifies: The Plan of Salvation, Resurrection, Judgement, How Ordinances are performed, Atonement.  The Important role of Angels, Priesthood, Human behavior is influenced more by the word that the sword.

6.       What the Book of Mormon reveals: Baptisms performed before Jesus Christ was born, Temple were built and used by people in Ancient America, Joseph, Nephi, Plain and Precious parts of the Bible, The Light of Christ, Importance of individual agency and the need for opposition in all things. Warnings about Secret Combinations.

     There are many more conference talks we need to study in further depth. Much uplift and inspiration was shared! I have been reading them on the Metro on our commute to serve/work for the Lord here in Moscow!

Love & happy week ahead to all!    Mom/Pam Carlile