From Russia With Love...

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

Letter #29: From the Mission Field in Russia

Subject: #29
Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2001 22:16:38 +0600
From: Shirley Lynes <gma@jacklynes.com>
To: jlynes@jacklynes.com

Hello from Siberia,
One of the elders said we aren't in Siberia, but it is close enough for me! The lowest temperature that I have seen on our thermometer is about 27 degrees. We had snow Monday night and all day Tuesday, but it didn't stick. We had snow Thursday night and all day Friday, and it stuck!! I am looking out on a winter landscape. I wouldn't mind if I could just look out at it, but for some strange reason, they expect me to get out in that stuff!! Don't they know I'm from the sunny South and don't know even how to walk on the ice?! Walking on the snow isn't so bad, but after a lot of people have walked on it, it is just packed ice. And slippery! I made it to and from Rosy without falling down. Major accomplishment! And this is just the start of it! The temperature is about 33 degrees right now, and I expect what little has melted will be iced over by morning. It is very cloudy and looks like it could snow again. Please pray that I don't fall down and break something. A lot of things are good in Russia, but the hospital isn't one of them! The snow is pretty, though. Remind me that I said that along about March! I know I will see more snow than I will ever want to see again! Oh, well, this is where the Lord wants me, and here is where I will be. The companion saga goes on. I had an 18 year old beautiful blond with me from Monday till yesterday. Last night I had two missionaries, one full time, one mini-missionary. The mini is from Ufa, and has been serving for a good while. We are so short on missionaries to cover everything the President wants covered that he splits up companionships and puts a mini with each missionary. The full time missionary is from Mongolia. The mini speaks very good English; the Mongolian speaks some English. I still speak no Russian! They are both really sweet young women. I appreciate their willingness to leave their dom and stay with me, so I can stay home. They are going and doing their work during the day while I am at Rosy, then spending the night with me. I hate to feel like I need a babysitter! But I know missionaries are not supposed to be alone. You need the safety of the second person. I have been having a little problem with the drain in the kitchen. It makes bubbling noises. I know it is on the way to being stopped up and overflowing. I mentioned it to Sergei, and he called the man in charge of the plumbing for this dom. He said to call him back Monday morning if it was still doing it. It is still doing it. Sergei came by to check it out and make sure the trouble wasn't in my sink. He doesn't think so either. So he will call that man again Monday. He said he wouldn't guarantee it would be fixed Monday, because this is Russia. He also said he wanted to share something with me. He said that very soon he will join the church!!!!!! He has been reading the BOM, pondering about it and praying. He said this week he felt the Holy Ghost like he has never felt it. He said that was a new experience for him. He came to church last week, and said he will come again tomorrow. He said it has taken him a long time, three years. Keep him and his little family in your prayers. You know how Satan works on a person when they are trying to do what is right. Sergei is such a good man. I knew he has been thinking a lot because of some of the answers he gives to questions in class. He talks about free agency a lot. I know Heavenly Father is very pleased with him. I will let you know when he is baptized. There are a lot of other good men in that advanced class that I hope will feel the spirit and want to come unto Christ. For some reason, we have a lot more women than men in the church here in Russia. I think it must be harder for the men to make the change in their lives. The hot water came back on Sunday afternoon. Heat and hot water! What more could a person ask?! It is amazing how little it takes to make me happy. I don't know how the people in charge of the heat knew to turn it back on. We had snow Tuesday, and I was really grateful for the heat! Right now I am watching some little kids throw snowballs at each other. I hope this snow melts and the streets get dry by Monday. I need to get some food bought. If it gets where I can walk without worrying about falling down, I will get a supply of food in this dom. I am not used to having nothing in the kitchen. I think I will concentrate on filling up the kitchen this week. When I get that done, I will feel a lot better about life. When I get that done, I'll probably get transferred!! I'll take that chance. I am so used to my storeroom and having whatever I need right there. I really miss that. There isn't much room to put food, but I will find a place! I am going to rotate the water supply that is stored here too. Little things mean a lot!!!!!! It has been my experience here in Russia that you need to be prepared, especially with water. You never know when it will be turned off. We had zone conference on Wednesday. They gave us our flu shots and also worm medicine (whether we need it or not!) I had been wondering where I was going to get my flu shot this winter, and then found out we would get the shots at conference. I didn't even have to pay for it, either. I didn't have to pay for the worm treatment either. That is just a precautionary treatment. Those in charge know from experience that it is better to be safe than sorry. We have to take the worm pills every six months. Not very pleasant topic of conservation, is it???? But it is just a series of pills you have to take. According to a doctor in my class, they are expecting the flu to hit here between now and the middle of November. As he said, the first wave. They usually have two or three waves of it. I hope they are wrong. The last time I had the flu I thought I was going to die, and then I was afraid I wasn't going to, and would have to live through it!!! So I always take the flu shot. After the typhoid shot, the polio shot, all the hepatitis shots, what was one more?! We only have two elders going home this month. But we have about thirty coming in November, plus at least one senior sister, who is supposed to be my new companion. I sure would like to get settled again. By the end of November about two thirds of our missionaries will have been changed out. It takes about a year for the missionaries to get good at the language and know what they are doing. By this time next year everything will be running smoother. I haven't heard from Sis. Jenkins since she left. I emailed her but I haven't gotten a reply. I'm sure everything is fine with her. She wouldn't have it any other way!!!!! I have about run out of things to write about. You are just starting the day I just finished. I hope you all have a good day and a good week. I love you all very much and think about you a lot. Thanks for your email and the things you forward to me. I love hearing from you! If anything happens you think I ought to know, please write. I get just a little snippet of news when I check the email. And of course my class tries to keep me updated.

Love, Mom, Grandma, Great grandma, Shirley, Sis. Lynes, sister, friend, acquaintance, aunt, cousin, babushka wearing winter boots! (choose one) 

Sorry this is late. I had it all written and tried to send it, but my internet card has run out of time, and I can't get a new one until the post office opens Monday. Monday night: I got a new card today! It's snowing again! Don't worry about me. I am fine! Love, Me