Down to serious missionary work

We have 110 members of our branch, of course there are a number of inactives. I guesstimate about half. We have a branch president whose entire family of wife and one adult son (returned missionary) are about 8 years active. Branch President for about 6 years. We have 2 deacons. We have thus far two university aged girls who both speak English. We have 4 young missionaries, 2 young sisters (who are about to go home).

We are the only senior couple, in fact we are the first senior couple to this area. Our branch president doesn't speak English, but his missionary son does. We have been asked to involve ourselves in the youth activity night, which is a game night that the young missionaries can invite investigators to. Also  Institute night, again a youth investigation time. The one class that we have attended was taught in Russian.

The youth are eager to translate, but we discourage it so that we can learn to listen to the Russian and try to pick out any words we know. It's tough we know so very little, we try to follow the lesson in English and try to pick up what we can.

We have asked to be invited to inactives homes, but we need someone to take us there, once we know where htey live we can follow up. Right now we can't figure our way to them. The apartments have a locked outside door, without a phone call or a per chance open door we can't access the interior of the building.

Summer time will probably give us more access to people. Since they will be less bundled to the max, more leisure in their travels

I did have one intersesting contact opportunity. In the "peterson type" grocery store. You check your purse before entering. The first time I am decked out head to toe in hats, scarves, gloves and all manner of paraphenalia. The woman checking purses rattled off at top speed something to me in a friendly manner. My insecure reply was "I don't understand" in Russian. But I shop almost every day, so each day I try to make sure I greet her and smile at her. I wanted to eventually approach her about the gospel.

Yesterday, she slipped me a handwritten note, IN ENGLISH, it said:

Let speak with you by letters.
1) I like you
2) what is your name?
3) where are you from?
4) what are you doing in Mariupol?
5) what is your family?
6) my name is .......
7) Thanks, I translate all text with translat

How about that!!!!! I am so excited to exchange notes, and build her up to options of missionary work. I am trying hard to be lead by the spirit in what I write to engage her in a meaningful way and timeframe. I will begin our notes exchange on Monday.

If you question why we shop so often, think about lugging all your groceries home from the local store.  By foot.   All you laundry soap, softener, drinking water, food, paper needs.   Think about how it is nicer to carry such in smaller increments.   Oh yes, and think of a new apartment without essentials like waste paper baskets, and simple tools, a hammer and a nail.  

This blog entry is all because a loving son-in-law wanted the meat of our efforts, not just the fluff.   We are so blessed by our loving family, and by a Loving Heavenly Father.  Serving the Lord isn't hard, it's the initial shock of knowing our families can do just fine without us that is "a hard thing".

                               WE LOVE YOU!!!!!