Parting Shots

As our mission finishes I think back to all the great experiences we have had, the challenges we faced, the fun times we experienced, the laughs over language mistakes, the beautiful scenery in the country and the city, but most of all the wonderful people that we have met in what we will always remember as one of our favorite countries--Belarus!


Street Vendors in Vityebsk.

Bushes growing out of the top of this house.

One works--five supervise!

We were presented several bead tree made by the handicap people at some of our humanitarian project.....

but this was our first feather tree, presented to us on our last road trip.

English Club

For our last English Club I brought some American Cookies--Snickerdoodle and Peanut Butter. The group was small, but we had fun playing games and eating cookies.

Masha, Olya, Helene enjoying the cookies.

English Club June 2010

"Yeah for us!"

Max and Victor Kudin

Olya, Deanna, and Masha (these three are leaving for America June 25)

They made us a thank-you card and signed it, in English of course.

Friday's Fun Fotos

We are actually standing in this field of canola. I had no idea it grew so tall.

I liked the shape of this apartment building. A little bit more design than just a straight wall. (My Dad would call it a nightmare!!)

Cute house--looks like a doll house.

This is a gas line going over the road...then down...around...and through...

(bad picture--but what can I say when my shots have to be taken "on the go")

Vitebysk Road Trip

Our road trip this week to the Vitebysk Region was so beautiful. At times I felt like I was in Island Park.

Looks like a post card with the small village along the river and church in the background.

I love the tree-lined roads.

I thought this shot was so pretty when I took it with the old barn and home and the cow in the pasture, not noticing the electrical wires until I downloaded it on the computer. I guess that shows the the "old and the new" of this country.

Birthday Celebrations

We celebrated birthdays all week long!!

We took Sister Werner to TGIF for her birthday dinner.

FHE was at our home where we celebrated Kira's birthday.

Sergei invited us to his mother's village home where she fixed us a dinner to celebrate my birthday. (check in tomorrow to see pictures of the Belarusian food she fixed us)

Then following the Belarussian tradition with a little American flavor--I brought German Chocolate cake to the office to celebrate my birthday. It's been a fun week.

Sunday Dinner Guests

Our Sunday dinner guests were the Kovalenko Family.

Oksana, Ivan,Ludmilla, Veronika, Nina, and Malina....

and also Sister Werner, Tonya (an investigator), Dasha, and Sister Oaks

Veronika is three years. It is so fun to hear her speak Russian.

Ivan Kovalyenko is president of the 1st branch. He served a mission in Sacramento, California. The little girl in the red is his sister's daughter. Him and Ludmilla have two daughters. Nina, is his mother. His father is also a member, but was unable to come for Sunday Dinner.

Closer to Reality

We finally bought suitcases to take on our mission. Max's

are the black one and mine are the red ones. I wanted to be

to pick them out at the airport!! When I think of going to a foreign

country for 18 months and only being able to take what will fit into those

two suitcases--it's mind boggling. (Is that such a word?)

Is that Russian????

We've been spending a lot of time trying to learn Russian. I find that I can read it what it says much easier that I can speak it. Definatedly more goes out of my head than is staying there. Again we're hoping for the gift of tongues!!!

Russian????

While we were in Provo we stopped by the MTC to get the language material they want us to study to learn the Russian Language. Needless to say I'm feeling a little over-whelmed. It all looks "greek" to me!

I guess we'll need to rely on this!!

Surprise Phone Call

Ryan our son-in-law has been in Elder and Sister Bednar's home with his job. He called them to share the news of our mission call. Then Susan Bednar called me to congratulate us on our call to Russia. Her and Elder Bednar had visited there last November and just loved the people. She did say it was cold there in November. We visited about our children and how they were doing. She has a son that graduated from BYU the same time Mandy and Adam did and she also has a son Abby's age. We had such a nice visit--it was very kind of her to take the time to call. I have always been impressed with her since the time she came to me in McDonalds a day after a reception at the college where she had met hundreds of people and asked me to remind her what my name was, that she remembers meeting me and apologized for not remembering my name. I was impressed she even remembered my face. She was there eating with her son and I was there eating with Abby. We've crossed paths several time as her husband served as President of the college and again at the temple open house after he was called to be a General Authority.

Mission Call

This is a little anti-climatic since every one that reads my blog already knows--but I thought I would still put the video on. Actually we are still in a little bit of shock here. Lots more questions than answers. But we do know now When and Where!!