From Russia With Love...

a.k.a. Letters from Sis. Lynes in Russia

Letter #26: From the Mission Field in Russia

Subject: #26
Date: Sat, 22 Sep 2001 20:06:48 +0600
From: Shirley Lynes <gma@jacklynes.com>
To: jlynes@jacklynes.com

Hello, Everyone!
I hope you all have had a good week, all things considered. Lifekeeps going on, even when we are all hurting. Jack sent me a transcript of Pres. Bush's speech on Thursday night. I wish I could have seen it. (Jack has it taped, so I can see it when I get back.) From what I read, it sounded like a wonderful talk. I hope the world takes notice, especially the "bad guys". I was so proud of "W". I am glad that he is the president. He has not been afraid to say "God" and "pray", no matter what the courts have said in the past. "There are no atheists in foxholes!" When things get tough, we all remember God. We need to remember Him all the time. Thankfully, He remembers US all the time. He said that He could not forget us; we are engraved on the palms of His hands. Think about it. This week I met a young Russian from Ufa (U sounds like oo, accent on the "fa"). He has been a member of the church for seven years, and returned from a mission to England one year ago. He has been accepted to go to school at BYU in January. He was in one of the first groups to go through the MTC in Preston, England. While he was in England he received his patriarchal blessing. He is from the tribe of Dan, one of the lost tribes! The people here don't have access to a patriarch because that is a stake calling, and we don't have any stakes in Russia yet. He spoke perfect English, and is currently working for a large oil company in Ufa as an interpreter. He will be studying political science at the Y. He is a very nice young man. Sis. Jenkins and I have both been sick with colds this week. I think they were stress induced. Sis. Jenkins missed two days of work. Friday was her birthday. Two of the other sisters, Sis. Jenkins and I went out to supper last night to celebrate her birthday. We went to a very nice Italian style restaurant. It was so good. They had New York style cheesecake!!!!! And the best lasagna I've had. It is nice to eat out once in a while. The waiter brings hot washcloths for you to wash your hands before you start eating! I haven't had that since the last time (only time) I flew first class! Oh, I guess I did on the flight over: when morning came they brought us hot washcloths to freshen up your hands and face, after napping off and on all night. That night was sort of short, because we were flying east as the world was turning toward the west, so the night went fast. Things are going well at Rosy. Sergei II had the second discussion today. He really seems to be understanding. He is such a good man. We are having district conference tomorrow. That is like stake conference, except we are not a stake yet. They are prepared for a large number of people. They have set up overflow rooms with tvs. I will go, but I won't understand anything unless I get someone to interpret for me. I don't like to ask anyone to do that, because I feel like it interferes with their enjoyment of the meeting. I don't know how they can translate what has just been said while listening to what is being said  at the same time they are talking! Well, I know I won't ever have to do that!!! Sis. Jenkins and I went to a new grocery store this afternoon. It is American style with shopping carts and everything. Now if only we could understand what the writing on the packages means! I was so excited to find dry lima beans! Until today the only beans I have found  plit peas, pinto beans and a mixture like 15 bean soup, which is  pretty good. We also have many different varieties of rice, more that I have ever seen at home. I was also able to buy oatmeal. The last time I tried to buy oatmeal, I didn't have my dictionary with me, and had to go by the picture on the package. It turned out to be buckwheat, which is all right, but it certainly isn't oatmeal. It has a little stronger flavor than oatmeal. Buying groceries by reading the pictures turns out to be interesting sometimes! The worst part of buying groceries is having to lug them home. And to think that I used to moan that there was no one at home to help me carry the bags into the house! I guess I needed a reality check! We have to be careful and not buy more than we can carry! The weather has been mostly pleasant this week. The temperatures are sometimes in the high 30s in the mornings, but usually warms up during the day. The days are getting noticeably shorter. We have already started coming home in the dark. We leave Rosy at 8pm! It is dark before we can get home. And they haven't turned the street lights on yet! During the summer it doesn't get dark enough to need street lights. I know there are street lights, because I can see them, but they are not lit at night yet. I hope they will be! Today the temperature was in the 60s. I still haven't bought a heavy winter coat. I'm sure the one I have will be all right for a while, but probably not when it gets down to -30 degrees. I hate to put a lot of money into a coat for just one winter, because I sure don't plan to spend another winter anywhere it will be that cold! I hope everything is going well for all of you. Keep praying that our leaders will have the inspiration to guide us though these perilous times. Pres. Bush appears to be a God-fearing man and I'm sure he is praying for help. I'm grateful that America is a blessed land. You don't know how blessed! Don't take life for granted. Don't take your conveniences for granted. America is the best land! We have everything that the rest of the world only dreams about. And some of them don't even know enough to dream of what we take for granted every day. I don't want to get up on my soap box anymore than I have already done, so I'll stop for this week. Maybe something good will happen this next week that I can write about that will be uplifting! I know God loves us. I love Heavenly Father and His son Jesus Christ. I'm grateful for His redeeming and atoning sacrifice that He made for me and every one of you. Never forget that He loves you. Live worthy of His love. He stands ready to help us. He says that how oft he would gather us as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and we would not. Let's not be guilty of thinking we don't need to be gathered and protected in His loving arms. There is no safer place for any of us! Remember the three Primary answers for any problem: Study the scriptures, keep the commandments, and pray. Very simple. Just remember to do it! It doesn't matter how many times you have read the Book of Mormon through. Every time you read it you will understand something more than the last time. I guess I got up on my soap box after all! Moms and grandmas can do that! I love you all and pray for you every day. Thanks for the email. I really need it!

Love,
Mom, grandma, great grandma, Shirley, Sis. Lynes, Aunt Shirley,  sister, cousin, friend, acquaintance, who sent me this thing? (choose one)