I’m writing this from our workplace at 4 pm on Monday, Oct. 23 and for some reason I’m tired today. Work for me today has been slow—I’ve sent a few emails and caught up on other social media, went to a Visa Meeting, ate lunch, and walked to Awah to pick up a few things. It snowed lightly today for the first time and the temps are a bit cooler—low 30’s. I am still wearing my eggplant colored water repellent jacket I bought back home at Costco. I like it since I can layer under it with a sweater, scarf, etc. Every morning the metro stops at the bottom of a slight hill, which is about a 10-15-minute walk from our office. I have been walking up it to get some exercise, but Jason has been taking the bus until his heels feel better. When it gets super cold, I’m not sure if I’ll keep walking!
I received my brother Dow’s weekly email and I’m so impressed at how he can write so succinctly! His letters are short, sweet, artistic and to the point. He gets much into them and gives a great vibe as to what’s going on in his life. I wanna be able to write like him someday!
Last Tuesday at our weekly Senior Council, Elder George and Sister Laura (Rigby) Copeland introduced themselves. He grew up in Florida and his grandparents were the first members in the Jacksonville area, which was the first LDS stake created in Florida. Sister Copeland is from Rexburg and her 94-year-old father just retired from his private law practice. He promised her he would still be alive when she gets home in two years. Her sister-in-law, Shelley Rigby, is Meredith’s RS President. They showed a 25-minute video that their daughter-in-law created which was fabulous made us all cry and miss our families. There was lovely music, family pictures of baptisms, eagle court of honors, temple marriages, quotes from the prophets, etc. Afterward about 8 couples went to the nearby mall to eat in the food court together. I tried something new called Bellini, which is a Middle Eastern Wrap with meat inside. It was tasty!
Last Thursday, I left work at Midday to attend a Sister’s training sponsored by our Moscow Mission with President and Sister McGhie. I was thinking it might be more about PMG since all the young and senior sisters were there, but it was about building confidence, gratitude and getting to know each other better. It was quite refreshing and I enjoyed hanging out with the young sisters. They are all beautiful inside and out, and most do a good job of speaking the language. One of the presentations was by a partnership of the only two native Russian speaking sisters. One is from somewhere clear over by Japan and she is the only member in her family. The other is from somewhere closer to here, but they were very dynamic. They did their presentation in Russian and we English speakers had a few of the other sisters translating for us. For the introductions, Sister Copeland introduced me and I introduced her. I told our Sis. Copeland is a trained teacher as well as a phenomenal teacher in her family. She was a business teacher. She maintains blogs for two of her grandsons who are on missions. She and Elder Copeland will celebrate their 50th Wedding anniversary. We both have family in Florida and Idaho, so that’s a nice connection! She told the sisters about how we have two sets of twins born on the same day 14 years apart. She is a kick! Her husband is an Area Auditor and works near us. She is helping him some, but doesn’t come in every day.
During the week last week, we visited the Cranes and I helped them pack their suitcases for returning home. Elder Crane, the Area Mental Health Advisor, fell at the airport here, broke his shoulder in three places and will need surgery and recovery in Utah. Sister Crane works in our office and she is trying to work from the US. They hope to come back, but will have to wait and see how it goes. Their apartment is very nice and close to us and the Cooks. The C’s are all together: Carliles, Cooks, and Cranes.
On Saturday, we walked across the street from our apartment to the Anteka (Pharmacy) to get my prescriptions. This is the first time I’ve done that, so our Medical Doc Hansen gave me the Russian translation of the three meds, and I handed the Russian clerk the paper, and she gave me my prescrips over the counter just like that! They aren’t in very big quantities—only like 20-28 pills, so I’ll have to go often, or buy more at a time. But it is very easy to do so! Then we went on the Metro to Gorky Park, and circled the city on the Pink line, which goes entirely around the City of Moscow. We enjoyed The Garage, a Modern Art Museum featuring the Japanese artist, Takeshita Murakami. It was fun and let us go inside and warm up a bit. There was an admission fee, but when we went to pay, they asked us for our passports and let us in free, so that was nice.
We have found this bargain basement store right close to us. I bought some fur-lined lower cut boots there and a smaller wallet and purse like a cross body purse so my hands are free. We have found some random things in there, but it’s fun just to see what they have—everything from hats to coats to boots to suitcases to kids’ stuff to purses, etc.—like a Ross Dress for less, but not that big—everything here is crammed into an extremely small space and there are is lots of Nike and Adidas merchandise.
Church went well yesterday—we took the bus there and it’s not crowded on Sundays and quiet--takes about 30 minutes then a 15 minute walk to the Sokol Buliding. For Primary sharing time, we had Sister Escobar give the lesson. She is the HR director for the EEA (Europe East Area) of the Church here during the week, but she is also the parent of an autistic son names Tyrone in our Moscow International Ward Primary. Sis. Escobar is from Armenia, she served a fulltime mission, and I understand she works while her husband stays home with their son. Anyway, she showed a five-minute video that was very simple and good for the children explaining how we are all different and some of us can do certain things and others not—and how sometimes you can see what’s wrong with people and sometimes you can’t. Then she had a discussion with the Primary Kids about Autism and explained about her son. He is 7 but looks maybe 4 or 5. She or her husband sits with Tyrone every Sunday in Primary. They then showed a special video about Tyrone that they made and it showed him riding the train, doing math, playing tennis, playing football (soccer that is), playing at the playground, etc. It was wonderful. We felt the Spirit of Tyrone and his family and how to love them more fully. After Sacrament Meeting ended, Tyrone came up to me and took my hand and wanted to take me into the Primary Room. I sit across the room from him and smile at him every week and I think I have made a new friend! His Mom told me that he doesn’t have any grandparents around, so I think he will adopt us.
We have met six very nice young adults mainly from the Western US who are all about 18 years old and they are here teaching English in Russian Schools. They go to church with us and two of the girls are twins from Utah. They are blonde and outstanding young women just like my granddaugthters, Abby and Savy. I can’t believe how these kids are travelling the world and getting exposed to this wonderful country! They are all going on field trips to other cities soon: some to Paris, some to Prague, etc.
The Burtons invited us to Sunday dinner again yesterday. They are the best! And they made the best Minestrone Soup I have ever tasted! Also, salad, bread, and corn chips. We enjoy visiting with them about things going on in the office as well. They are both very nice and kind individuals Yesterday they got Dad/Jason to talk all about his career as a prosecutor and it was very interesting to me, since I had not heard anyone ask the questions they asked. Dad will have to tell you about that. I’m trying to get him to do some journaling. We think of all of you often and pray for your welfare.
May God bless you in your endeavors! Love, Pam/Mom We’re going to Swan Lake Ballet this week!
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