We have had a very full and fun week. We have just spent the last 9 days traveling and wearing both of our missionary hats. The first half of the week was spent in Kiev training for the Employment program that we are going to start in Russia. We are very excited to get this program going here, it will make a big difference in helping our members find jobs. While we were in Kiev we were able to attend the new Temple there and meet the Temple President and his wife. I know I already told you about that in my last letter. We also met the Kiev Mission President, President Steinagel from Provo. He is a very dynamic man and everyone here just loves him. They finish their mission this June. We also got to tour the dorms at the Temple grounds where members who travel to the temple get to stay. It's a wonderful arrangement for the people here. We flew out of Kiev on Tuesday, went back to Moscow, and stayed with the Hatch's for the next four days. The first day we walked into their apartment we met the missionaries who were there using their computers. It just happened to be Elder Trotter and his companion. For those of you who don't know him, he is my cousins son who is serving in the Moscow Mission. It's always so fun to meet family in a foreign country. We were able to visit for a while before he had to leave. We spent the next two days meeting the new Welfare Specialists (the Pattersons), having meetings with them and the Welfare Manager (Dima), and then visiting two wheelchair manufacturers trying to find someone who can supply us with enough wheelchairs that we can have our wheelchair projects running here in Russia. Both companies looked promising so when Dima goes back to Salt Lake next week for Conference he can give the information to them for a final decision. It will be wonderful to get that project going here. We already have people waiting for wheelchairs. The other day we spent in Moscow was our Zone Conference with President and Sister Woolley and our missionaries who we missed and hadn't seen for over a week. It's amazing how fast we get attached to these missionaries and miss being with them every day. It was wonderful to see them again. That night we were invited to a meeting with the Moscow senior couples which was a real treat. We finally got to meet the Packard's, who are from Plano Texas, and got to know them a little better. Nine days of all-day meetings and traveling back and forth between the two countries was exhausting but we learned so much. Our jobs are huge, but we are very excited to get started and get things going in Russia. Of course it will take a long time and we may not see the results while were are here serving, but it would be wonderful if we could get the ball rolling.
When we finally got home, late Friday night, we had no internet service. After a few phone calls, we found out that there was no service in our entire building and it wouldn't be restored until sometime today (Monday). So just a few hours ago, it came back. It's like being handicapped to not have internet service. We couldn't communicate with anyone - even our Vonage phone didn't work. It was very quiet and boring over the weekend. We're still fighting over who gets to use the ipad. It's our only source of entertainment. I can't imagine losing internet service for an extended period of time (like in Japan) and not being able to communicate with anyone. I'm hoping that it won't happen in my time here on earth. It's a horrible, lonely feeling. That sounded kind of dreadful - I guess it's not that bad, but it's not fun.
Saturday our Sister missionaries had their first baptism. Our Elders were all gone somewhere else (long story) so our Branch missionary, Giorgi, baptised Olga. She's a single woman in her 30's with two small sons. She has been working with the Sister's for about 2 months, stopped for a little while, and then came back and asked to be baptized. It's always so good to see the support from the Branch members when the new converts get baptized. Without them, I don't think most of the new people would stay. It's a very long way to travel to just get to church, and their testimonies are so new that some of them can't keep up with their commitment. But we have great members who do their best to keep them coming.
Today was our last Monday P-day. President Woolley changed our P-days to Thursdays from now on. That's actually better for us because the outdoor markets and the museums are closed on Mondays, so now we can shop and go to museums or plays on Thursdays. That will be wonderful. We are looking forward to getting out more as the weather gets better and seeing more places here.
I hope everyone enjoys Conference this weekend. Because we are so far ahead of you in time, we have Conference with the Branches the following week. We can watch conference on our computers anytime after Monday, but we will probably wait and watch it with the Branch the next week. They have a Russian and an English broadcast. I'll tell you all about it after we have it.
I didn't hear from Eddie today, but when I do I will forward his letter on to you. Until then, know how much we love you all and we pray for you all every day. Have a wonderful week.
Love,
The Frosts
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