From Russia With Love...

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

Letter #46: From the Mission Field in Russia

Subject: #46
Date: Sat, 09 Feb 2002 22:54:43 +0500
From: Shirley Lynes <gma@jacklynes.com>
To: jlynes@jacklynes.com

Dear Folks,
I don't think this will be a very long letter. I have done absolutely nothing exciting this week, except late yesterday afternoon I got confused and thought it was Saturday. One day is so much like every other day to me. So all day today, I have felt like I'm living the same  day all over again! My accomplishments this week include teaching 16 classes and doing my laundry! Whoopee!!! I have not left the building  all week. The other missionaries have been in and out all week, so I haven't been alone. All of the missionaries were here on Wednesday to do their email. The computer that belongs to the  church is here in our foyer, but it had refused to admit that there was a modem on it. It had been working, until last week, when it decided, on its own, that the modem wasn't there any longer. Elder  Addy worked on it Wednesday and again Thursday and got it straightened out. But Wednesday they used my computer to send their email. It took 6 of them most of the day. If we  went to a commercial internet place, they all could have been finished in less than two  hours. I would have to go with them and "monitor" them. They didn't have time to do laundry or get groceries, or any of the things they can only do on preparation day.  Now the weather report. It has been snowing lightly most of the day, but the last time I looked, it had stopped. Not much accumulation that I can see. The temperatures this week have ranged from -31 to -2. Quite a range. Our radiators feel like they have turned the heat down, which we didn't need! It's not miserably cold, but it's not exactly comfortable  either. Wah, wah! The meeting last Sunday was quiet, with no dancing elephants! The Lord really blessed us. I pray that He will bless us again tomorrow.  The fast and testimony meeting was wonderful, with no wasted time between speakers. I am still getting a lot of reading done during Sunday school and Relief Society. Katya translates for me for Sacrament meeting, but she has other callings during  the other meetings, so there is no one to translate for me. That's all right. It isn't their problem that I haven't learned to understand their language. I do love these people so much, but I just can't learn to  speak Russian. My English is coming along quite nicely, though. That's what I speak all day long!  The quilt turned out beautifully. Now the girls want to tie some quilts to give to an orphanage. Isn't that sweet of them? They don't really have much, but they want to give to others who have so much less than they have. The young sister missionaries were impressed with how easy it was to tie the quilt,  even without quilting frames, that they have bought materials to make one for each of them. For those of you who sew, you might be interested to know that fabric comes wide over here. Instead of 45  inch material, it is about 72 inches. Of course, they sell it by the meter, which is about 3 feet, or a yard, to us! But you have to ask for meters. Since I found out how big a meter is, it is easier to understand! Also, their curtain panels are extremely wide. I wonder why we don't get wide fabric in the US. I am still amazed at how slim the Russian people are. I guess they don't have money to buy a lot of meat so they eat mostly vegetables. And they don't own cars, so they of necessity do a lot of walking. And it shows on their bodies! You just almost never see anybody really heavy. The older people tend to be sort of round, but not overly heavy. And I have yet to hear a Russian talk about needing to go on a diet! It seems to be a pretty healthy lifestyle. I want to be healthy, but I am looking forward to having my car again! I like to walk, but things are too spread out in Aiken for me to walk everywhere! Here in town there are almost no single family houses. There are four or five story apartment buildings. I don't know a single person who lives in his own house. They may own the apartment, but not a house. I tell them that it is the American dream to own your own house and a little plot of land. We just have a different style of life. Attendance at some of the classes is up. Of course, sometimes no one shows up, either! One night I had 14 people in the beginner class, and another night I had 12 people in an advanced class. Tonight there were 5 in the advanced class, which is pretty good for a Saturday night. I have a beautiful little seven year old boy who comes to the beginner class with his mother. He hasn't started to school yet. Here in Russia children start school at 7 and are finished at 16. Then they go study at an "institute". Anyway, he is a smart little fellow. His mother said that he wanted to learn English, but I think maybe she wants to learn English and it's easier to learn along with him, so she doesn't feel dumb! I really try not to talk down to the people in the classes. Many of them are highly educated, and some know a lot of English, but they haven't had a "native speaker" to practice with. That's where I come in. Native speaking with a southern accent. But they say they have no trouble understanding me. They say sometimes they can't understand some of the other missionaries, but they have no trouble with me. Maybe they are just being kind saying that! This week we have sung the "Smiles" song. You know, the "If you chance to meet a frown" song. They say that it is not their tradition to smile at you if they don't know you. I'm trying to change their tradition! The work continues to progress here, but at a much slower pace than, say, in Mexico. But when someone does join the church, they are really special. We really need men. The women are so much more accepting than the men are. Maybe because they don't have to make as many changes in their lives as the men do. We have a shortage of priesthood holders. I know that the sisters are teaching someone new this week, and at least one set of elders is also. And of course they have people at various stages of learning the gospel, but these I'm talking about are new. Did you all see the Olympics opening ceremonies? No, of course I didn't! Joe's mother sent me some pictures of SLC all dressed up for the Olympics, and it looks like they have out done themselves! I hope someone taped it so I can see it when I get back. It's such good exposure for the Church. Well, for someone who didn't have anything to say, I've rambled on pretty good! But it is getting late, and I need to get to bed. I feel like my eyes are beginning to cross!!! No preaching tonight! You can be thankful for that! No preaching except to remind you to be thankful for all the things you take for granted! You really do live in the promised land. Remember the promise in the BOM: if you live righteously you will prosper in the land. Have you found any of the promises in the BOM like I asked you to look for? Write me and let me know the ones you are finding, and I will put leaves on our "tree", and even put your name on it! That will make everyone wonder who in the world that is!! The Book of Mormon is true! I love this church. I love the Lord! I'm grateful for all the many blessings He gives to all of us! And right now, I'm grateful to have a bed to lie down in! Thanks to everyone who wrote this week. I love you all and pray for you every day. Be good to each other. You are all special....to me and to Heavenly Father. I guess I couldn't write without a little preaching. But I'm not sorry about that! Until next week!

Love, Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Shirley, Sis. Lynes, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, acquaintance, babushka with clean laundry!!! (choose one!)