The Howards, the humanitarian missionaries in our mission, came to Volgograd this week to close on some projects. They invited us to go to the kindergarten school in Krasnoarmesky for the closing. At the closing they are shown everything that was purchased for the school and they are given all the final documents and a thank you letter.
This school is for children ages 4-6 who have speech problems. They are at the school all day and are fed 3 meals. The parents are very supportive and they had just had a clean-up day where the parents and staff cleaned up the grounds. It looked very nice.
The administration and staff were very appreciative for what the church had done to help their achool.
We first visited the kitchen and saw the new sink. The Howards were thrilled with it, as the kitchen before had a bathtub they were washing dishes in.
Before there was no exhaust fan above the stove, so the smells and the heat went straight to the classrooms above. This is the new exhaust fan.
They also got new plastic containers for the pantry. Before everything was stored in the original bags.
It was nap time in all the classrooms and the children were sound asleep, either on cots or on these pull out beds. They took us to each classroom and the teachers pointed out the toys that had been purchased as part of the project and thanked us profusely.
This is Sister Zemstova's classroom. She has 9 students. She is the district president's wife.
Another three-tiered pullout bed.
We didn't disturb them at all. Of course, the majority of Russian families turn their living room into a bedroom at night and they all sleep in the same room, so I'm sure they are used to not having it perfectly quiet.
This was serious nap time. They put their clothes neatly on a chair and slept in their underwear.
So cute how most of the clothes are carefully set on the chairs.
Sisters Howard, Zemstova and Oscarson. What a delightful day....and the Howards get to do this all the time!
....they paint all the bottoms of the trees white (all over town) and they paint our apartment play ground equipment.
...there are more weddings (they go all over town to take pictures at special locations). This is a favorite on the banks of the Volga. In the summer the couples often get in motor boats and take a spin along the river.
...it is time for service. When we went to Golovenkov's last Saturday, I helped Sophi (who is a member of the church and a good friend to Luda Golovenkova, who is 9 months pregnant) plant some trees and raspberries and transplants and carrots.
...it's time to repair the ladder (?).
...you can do without your coat, but not your hat!
...remodeling can resume on the Golovenkov's home.
...it's time for a wienie roast and picnic.
...the ferry across the Volga starts running again.
...new graffitti appears around town.
...more people come to church. (This is Volzhsky last Sunday). Katya and her mom were visiting from the district and there were 3 of us missionaries. The girl 3rd from the right was visiting her family and she now lives in Provo. There were maybe 6 brothers there, also.
...it's starts pouring after church and you are umbrellaless! Glad I had a shopping bag.
...Sis. Parker's tights have worn out and are soaked from walking through puddles. This is actually a weird pose, but the legs belong to one person.
...the sisters invite you for borscht and bread after church. Actually, nothing to do with spring, but was very nice of them.
...more people come to FHE.
....we make our monthly trek to Мамаев Курган without freezing or sweating.
