Russia - That Vast Empire

Last week a friend of mine here in Moscow sent me this You Tube video link and I thought I would post it on my blog.  It is inspiring!  Either go to this website or search for "That Vast Empire - Mormon Missionary Work in Russia" on You Tube. 
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wEJizTHK6E&feature=related 

This is my update of this video as to what has been happening in our Russia Moscow Mission these last few weeks.

    On August 9, 1903, three days after Francis M. Lyman dedicated St. Petersburg for the preaching of the gospel, President Lyman stood outside the Kremlin Wall near the Troitskaya Gate in Moscow and offered a second dedicatory prayer.  Francis M. Lyman is Stephen's great-great- grandfather.
 

Our four new missionaries that arrived on February 16th:  Elders Goddard, Spoerri, Wininger and Sister Rasmussen.

Elder and Sister Holmes, serving as Humanatarian missionaries here in East Europe Area for 23 months, before they departed to return home to Utah.

The Europe East Area Presidency and their wives and all of the mission presidents and their wives at the Kyiv Temple in October 2010. 

                                  Two of our baptisms for 2011.

              Our North Zone Conference on February 10th with President and Sister Lawrence.

Our South Zone Conference on February 11th with President and Sister Lawrence.

Our Sister Fairbanks and Elder Kasallis on the morning they went home (the temperature was around -16 degrees Fahrenheit).

And a "marvelous work and a wonder..."            

                                                           continues.

Birth, Death, Family, Missionaries, and Russia

January 2011 was an exciting and wonderful month for us.  First, we are the proud grandparents of a new granddaughter!  Our sweet little Brooklyn Jane Mortensen was born to Becky and John on January 19th in Salt Lake City.  She weighed in at 8 lbs. 2 oz., was 19 1/2" long, and has lots of dark brown hair.  She is beautiful!!!  Mother, father and baby are all doing great. 

Our oldest daughter, Jeannette, is holding Brooklyn.  Jeannette and her husband, Jon, are expecting their sixth child in May.  They are having another girl which will give them five girls and one boy.  We love these girls!

Our second son, Rich, holding Brooklyn.  Rich and his wife, Misty, are expecting their first child in June and it is a girl.  Pink is our color this year.  We are so excited to add three little granddaughters to our family this year!!! 

We now have three birthdays in our family in January - Mike, Kate and Brooklyn.

Our niece Meg with her four-month-old daugther, Lucy.  The Sorenson family has a run on girls this year.

Our oldest son Peter and I.

My sister Camille, our mom and I. 

 

On the day that Brooklyn was born my dad's brother, Calvin Geary Clyde, passed away at the age of 86 from complications following heart surgery.  He was an amazing man with a wonderful wife and family! 

In January we said good-bye to our dear Sister Abram who completed her mission.  It was hard to let her go but then we said hello to three new wonderful missionaries, Elder Zinn, Sister Carlson and Sister Mordwinow.  They will be great. 

Sister Abram and President Sorenson

Sister Abram and Sister Sorenson

Sister Mordwinow, Sister Sorenson, Sister Carlson, President Sorenson and Elder Zinn.  Welcome to our Russia Moscow Mission!

As January came to an end it was very clear that we would be having winter for at least another couple of months.  The snow is deep but it hasn't been unusually cold and we are starting to see a little more daylight.  I still think the snow is beautiful but maybe come the end of March I will be anxious for spring.  So, for those of you who are enjoying warmer weather - Moscow really has lots of snow and is cold!

Brooklyn ready for the snow and cold.