From Russia With Love...

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

Letter #64: From the Mission Field in Russia

Subject: #64
Date: Sat, 15 Jun 2002 23:23:36 +0600
From: Shirley Lynes <gma@jacklynes.com>
To: jlynes@jacklynes.com

Happy Father's Day to all you fathers!! I can't believe it's Saturday again!! At least the weather has gotten better. It seems we skipped spring all together, unless you count that week of rain as spring, and summer seems to have arrived. It was very warm today. It was +21 at 8 am today. I haven't checked all day today, but it has been a very pleasant day. The mosquitos are out in full force, though. Thursday when I came out of church after the fireside, they were just swarming. People walking or sitting on the benches had cut small branches off the trees and were fanning the mosquitoes away from them with that. I haven't seen them that bad yesterday or today, though. I haven't had much trouble with them. Tonight's weather is a lot different from last Saturday night, when we had that spectacular thunderstorm! We just got back from the seminary and institute graduation. It was a good meeting. The only problem with it was there was a rock concert going on outside the room we were meeting in, out in front of the building. It started about noon, and just finished at 9 pm. We are close enough to the building, (the same one we use on Sundays) that we have heard the concert without having to leave our apartment. We just all sort of tuned the concert out and listened to what was going on in our room. Here anyone who wants to go to institute can go. They didn't have the opportunity to attend when they were young, so it helps them to learn the things they would have learned had the church been here then. Our biggest news this week is that our schedule has been changed. We were to have had zone conference yesterday, but that was changed too. Pres. Hall came for the fireside on Thursday night. But we have to go to Yekat for the zone conference on Wednesday. I know that isn't all that interesting, but I'm getting to it! We, Sis. Burlena and I, were told to bring our things with us when we go to Yekat on Wednesday, and on Thursday we will go to Ufa with Pres. Hall and some of the elders. President made the change because he said that he wants to get Sis. Burlena and me settled in Ufa before he leaves the country. He will be leaving at the end of June. I'm glad he cares! So instead of a train or bus, we will be riding in a van. He said they would take us over the top of the Ural mountains. I've been told that the Ural mountains are very old mountains, and so they aren't tall. I think they must be more like the Appalachian mountains. Maybe not even that big. Someone told me once that they didn't look like mountains, more like hills. Anyway, President Hall said that it is good picture taking on the road we will be taking. I'm looking forward to it, although he also said that the road wasn't very good. But it can't be a lot worse than the road between here and Yekat!! So we are moving a week earlier than we had expected. I will hate to leave the people here who I have come to love so much. But I know the Lord has called me another way, and I will be anxious to see what happens there! I am so excited for the members of our mission. They will be able to see the temple dedication!!! They will have to travel to the Samara mission area, which is west of us. I don't know the name of the town yet. I hope to have that information by next week. I won't get to see it. Since it's out of our mission area, we aren't allowed to travel there. We have to accept what we can't change. At last count, our little branch has 32 people planning to go!! That's pretty good, when you realize that our average attendance this month is 47! It's usually 52. So I'm really pleased that there are so many who are planning to go. The trip will be four or five days, and some people couldn't get time off work. Sis. Burlena will get to go, though!! Since she is Russian, she will be allowed to go. I am happy that she will get to go. I've been to temple dedications before, and she hasn't. I would have liked to see this one, but I'm doing what I'm supposed to be doing, and that's what's important!! I've been told that Ufa is a much larger city than Kurgan. Kurgan has a population of about 400,000, and Ufa has over one million. Did I tell you that there are about 600 members of the church there, in five branches. And 26 missionaries! That will certainly be a change!! Oh, one more piece of good news: as of yesterday we have hot water again! I don't know how long it will last, but I hope it will stay on till I'm gone, at least!! You just wouldn't believe how happy a little thing like hot water makes me!!!! Thursday when Pres. and Sister Hall came down, they brought the mail (which doesn't affect me) and six weeks worth of Church News, and the May Ensign!! I'm so glad to get those! I love to read the Church News, and the May Ensign has all the conference talks!! Spiritual feast time!! On Wednesday, p-day, we spent the morning at the internet place. While we were there, three people I know came in! It's still amazing to me to see people I know. I had lived in Aiken, or Charleston, for that matter, a lot longer than here, and I never saw anybody I knew there! I finally got some pictures of me in my winter hat and coat. I haven't downloaded them from the camera to the computer yet, but however they look, they will have to do. I have given the coat to a lady in the branch. She was overwhelmed! And very grateful. I'm glad we could find someone who could use it and needed it. There was no need in bringing that heavy coat back to the US. I doubt there are many places in America where that coat could be used!! It was REALLY heavy!! When Pres. Hall was here Thursday he and the elders took my big suitcase (which was terribly heavy, and I'm glad they handled it instead of me!!) and my mattress. I don't have so much left to do. It isn't overwhelming now. I will teach Monday and Tuesday, and then about three a.m. Wednesday we will leave for Yekat. I'm glad that I will get to see the Urals. I had hoped to see them, but I didn't think I would. I'll tell you about them next week. The Urals are the dividing line between Europe and Asia. So I'm leaving Asia and going to live in Europe. Such thing I never would have supposed! Since I'm leaving, I have been asked to speak tomorrow. I asked if they had a topic they wanted me to speak on, and late this afternoon they told me "the gathering of Israel". At this late hour, they won't get much on that subject. I already had something in mind, and they may just get my testimony. That's the most important thing I can say to them, I think. There is another couple in town from America who has come to adopt a child. They will be at church tomorrow, and they want to talk also. And Sis. Burlena is planning to talk too. I don't want to be "too much of a good thing!" I haven't had much time to actually prepare, and it's already after 10 pm, so any preparing I do will have to be in the morning. I'll report on that next week! I finished the Book of Mormon again on Tuesday. How's your reading coming? Had any new insights? I hope you realize how special a book it is, and don't take it lightly. It was written for us. The prophets who wrote it knew that it wasn't for the Nephites and Lamanites of their time. They knew it would be brought forth at this time for our day. It is really important to read it and know what is in it. It truly is another testament of Christ. We need to learn all we can about Jesus and His atonement. I know it's difficult to understand how He was able to take upon Himself the sins of the world. More importantly, to take upon Himself my sins, and your sins. But whether we understand it or not, we need to be grateful to Him for the gift He has so graciously given us. He has done for us what we couldn't do for ourselves. Without His help, we could never go home again. Not home here on earth, but back to live with our Heavenly Father. As you get older, you sometimes think about being able to go back home. And the thought that I couldn't go back home again is unbearable! I'm grateful for the knowledge I have that I can go back home. That's one reason I'm on a mission. I want all God's children to have the knowledge they need to return home. Sometimes I feel like telling the people I have contact with that I have come half way around the world, at my own expense (no, we don't get paid!) (that surprises some of them!) to bring them a gift that will mean eternal happiness for them, and I'm holding this gift in my hands, offering it to them, and they won't take it!!! That can be a little frustrating at times. I hope that those who aren't ready now will remember some day something that a missionary has said to them, and that it will click in their heads and hearts. We really don't realize how many people we have an affect on. Not just missionaries, but each one of you!! People watch you all the time and judge the church by your behavior. One sister told me tonight that until I came, they had never seen an American woman. Of course they have seen the young sisters, but not an older woman. She said that I am an example to them. That's a heavy load!! I certainly pray that I'm being a good example! The point I'm trying to make is that you are an example to everyone who sees you. And people do watch what you do. And how you talk and where they see you. Don't be seen (don't be!) in places where you shouldn't be! Hold your standards high! Remember that we are a "peculiar" people. According to the Bible Dictionary, "peculiar" as used in the Bible does NOT mean odd or eccentric. It means being the Lord's own special people or treasure. You might not want to be "peculiar" but don't you want to be the Lord's own treasure? I love thinking that the Lord considers me a treasure. Think about it!! A treasure is something you really love. I like feeling that I'm really loved by Father! That no matter how much I may mess up, He loves me! He is standing there with outstretched arms to help me if I will let Him. Because He loves me! I am really grateful for the knowledge I have that He does love me, and that He loves each one of you! Stephen passed the sacrament last Sunday, and I've never seen it done with more reverence or dignity! Tomorrow he is supposed to bless it. I wish you could all know this fine young man. I'm past bedtime, and I need to finish up and get to bed. Morning comes very quickly! I have a busy week ahead of me. I'll get internet service in Ufa as quickly as I can. Keep writing. I'd be very unhappy if when I do get access to my email, there isn't any! You really don't realize how much a letter from you means to me. It makes a big difference in my day!! I love you all so much and continue to pray for you all the time. Have a good week. Go out and do some good!!

Love,
Mom, Grandma, Great Grandma, Sis. Lynes, Shirley, sister, aunt, cousin, friend, acquaintance, email pal, babushka going to Europe!! (choose one!)