Zubovich's New Apartment

Come join our tour of Sergei and Olga's new apartment.

They live on the fifth floor--and the elevator isn't working yet.

The hallway

I love their french doors.

Front room/parent's room combination. We were surprised at how big this room was.

European style bathrooms with the sink and toilet in one room and another room with the tub.

The kitchen comes with the "bare" necessities and then they apartment owner has to buy and install the cupboards.

Valya's room

Dash's room.

They are so excited and we are just so happy for them. They've got a lot of work to do before it will be ready to move in--but that is part of the excitement of getting a new and bigger place to live. They are hoping to be able to move in sometime this summer.

Zubovich Birthday Celebration

Branch Missionary Fireside

The Branch is planning each month to have a "missionary fireside" and provide meetings for the members to invite investigators. At the first one they proformed a puppet show about the harmful effects of cigarettes and tobacco and about eating healthy foods.

Road Trip Shots

As we leave the city the sun is just coming over the city's horizon.

We pass row and row of green houses growing the fresh produce we enjoy in this country.

We see a lot of churches, but this is the first one that is held in an old train car.

Birthday Celebration

It's customary in Belarus that the one celebrating the birthday bring the cake. Sergie bought a delicious chocolate cake with sour cream filling made by his wife to share with us and celebrate his birthday. It was delicious!!

Sergie having fun on his birthday--stealing bites from Sister Ionia and having chocolate on his mouth!!!

Then we all sing Happy Birthday in English and get a rare group photo with Sergie in it. Usually he insists on being the one that takes the picture.

Sister Ionia, Natasha, Deanna, Sergie, Elder Vernon, Sister Werner, and down in front Elder Cecil. (who, sad to say, is leaving this next transfer, he's been a great assest to the missioanry work in this area).

Interview

Lena from the "Vitbsk Prepective" a local newspaper invited us to her home for lunch after the interview. He husband had fixed some soup and we shared the sandwiches and potato salad I had made. They live on the 5th floor of their apartment building--with no elevator. (Good things we've been practicing stair climbing!). He is a doctor and specializes in trauma therapy. They have one daughter, Masha. They are members of the Orthodox church but had lots of questions about what we believe. Max gave her a Proclamation on the Family and Sergie shared with them his testimony. They have invited us back and we hope to give them more church literature at that time. You never know when a humanitarian project can turn into a chance to share the gospel.

After lunch entertainment!!

Orphanage

We opened a project in the Vitebsk Region at an orphanage for 108 children. The older children were all at school but the younger ones were home playing in the snow. You should of seen Max, in his suit, pulling this little boy on his sleigh. The children were so cute, well-behaved, and so excited to see us. One little girl ran up to me and gave me a big hug--then they all wanted hugs, which I was more than happy to do. They loved it when Max took their picture and then showed it to them. I admired the care-givers that were trying to get all the children in their snow gear. Imagine putting coat, boots, hats, scraves, and caps on 30 four year olds;, with visitor from America distracting the children.

Sunday Dinner

The Rose Family invited the six missionaries to their home for dinner. Eric Rose works at the American Embassy. They are a great family and strong members of the church. We have enjoyed getting to know them. We were just thinking the other day of all the great people we have met and become friends with because of our missionary service. Just one of the blessings we have received by being missionaries in Belarus.

Something Different

We passed by a funeral possession in Mogilov Region. All the traffic stops while the people pass that are walking to the cemetery. The man in front is carrying a picture of the deceased. The coffin is open in the back of the blue truck.

The ladies follow carrying flowers. I didn't feel right about taken of picture of the man in the open coffin.

Notice how the chimney is in the middle of the house. The stoves are built in the middle with the chimney going staight up, then the room are built around the stove--thus providing heat for the whole house. I would love to go inside of one of those homes just to see what they are like.

Don't ask me what this was about, but I thought it was a fun picture.

Moglilov Road Trip

On some of our travels in the country, it seems like we have really "stepped back in time."

I thought this "Christmas House" was neat.

The contrast between the old dark apartment complexes and the new ones with some color!