August Scenes in Volgograd

Missionary haircuts-Elder Tsai and Elder May 
They were very brave
This is a soccer field.  You can see the two goalposts, if you look closely (bottom right and top left of middle).  Have not seen a grass soccer field in Russia.
Our friend Nina asked us to go for a walk with her to the main embankment park on her birthday.  Her mother had done her hair.
John & Nina.  You can see why John and I felt very out of place among the young set.
Six of our missionaries.  Elders May, Winberg, Dahl, Tsai, Kempton (brand new) and with back to camera Elder Wesemann (brand new)
All their luggage was in our entry for a few hours.
Sunset with gorgeous clouds taken from our balcony
Visit with Lena who is getting baptized on Sept 6 and her mother.  Will tell about them in weekly letter.
Zima, who we met on the bus.  Says he is 6, but doesn't look it does he?  
Tying a quilt at RS Enrichment-Volzhsky Branch RS Pres. home. She is next to me.
Who needs quilting frames?  Actually it worked quite well!
We did it!
Refreshments at Enrichment.  Husband & son of RS Pres. joined in.  She served honey cake and fruit and they devoured my black bottom cupcakes.

ROSTOV MISSION YOUTH CONFERENCE 2009

We left Volgograd (this is the Volgograd group) at 9PM on the bus and arrived in Rostov at 6AM.  We met up with the rest of the youth at the Center Branch in Rostov and rode in a chartered bus to Tagonrog.

Youth Conference was held at the радуга (rainbow) ваза on an inlet of the Azov Sea.
The rainbow colored stairs at the baza:
Our challenge games:

Oops, dancing picture is out of order.  Maybe line dancing was a challenge for some!
More challenge games:
I was in charge of the "find which apple has a clue inside" and John was in charge of the "how many kopeck does it take to sink a cup?"  All the challenges were on the order of Amazing Race.
Another out of order....morning exercises on the beach
Challenge game...a different person had to do each different challenge to earn a clue.
Not a challenge at all to have fun in the water!
Closing meeting.  Our new Mission President, Pres. Nechiporov speaking to the youth.
Sis. Nechiporova speaking to the youth.
The whole group of youth and leaders.

Center Branch Campout

Elder May helps John get line ready to fish.  Big long pole to catch 4" long fish.

First cast he caught a great big.......tree!
Katya and friend
Preparing supper
Moving the hot soup off the fire
The spread
Women always greet each other with a hug!
Sophie and a lapful of grandchildren (Elder Tsai in back)
"General" Kostya
TIme for seminar
Akinsha family giving seminar
Katya, us and Elder May-talent unlimited
When it's naptime, any place will do...
Katya and Olga
Even the youngest had a good time!

Happy Birthday, Bill!

I want to pay tribute to my bother Bill, who is turning 80 years old today!

This is our family in 1952.  Bill's wife, Mary, died when their children were small, the youngest just 4 years old.  Bill did a wonderful job raising their 4 children.  He is a successful architect, still working, but recently moved his office into his home.

There is a big difference in our ages.  He was 18 when I was born.  Since I grew out of the pesky little sister stage, we have become closer.  He had compassion on his poor college student sister and gave me my first job as receptionist in his office.

We enjoyed living close to Bill the year we were on sabbatical in California. We have since enjoyed many great family reunions and mini-reunions when we travel to California.

He is a great man and has lived a very productive and fulfilling life.  He has good kids.

He is a man of integrity.

Dinner with Danette and Bill a couple of weeks before we left for Russia.
Technology is wonderful!  His daughter Danette surprised Bill at a family party Sunday night with a Skype conference with us.  Volgograd Russia-Castro Valley, California!  This is a picture of our time together.  

I love you Bill and hope you have many more happy birthdays.

С ДНЕМ РОЖДИНИЯ!!