Russian Moscow

In Istanbul, Turkey

2012-02-27T22:00:00.000+04:00

Stephen and I had the opportunity to attend our Europe East Area Mission Presidents' Seminar last week (from February 21st to the 25th) in Istanbul, Turkey. It was an amazing experience! I loved Istanbul! What a place! We had three days of incredible training and it was such a spiritual uplift and a time to be instructed and counseled by our wonderful Area Presidency and others who work and serve so faithfully here. I feel strengthened, encouraged, and excited to press forward.

Istanbul has so much history and we were thrilled to be able to see a few of the famous ruins and lovely places of worship from long ago. And, of course, we had a fun time wandering around the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar, trying several Turkish foods, being among the people, seeing the Marmara Sea, enjoying warmer weather than Moscow, and having the sun shine each day.

The Marmara Sea as you head into Istanbul.

The Hagia Sophia is acknowledged as one of the great buildings of the world and was the largest cathedral in the world for nearly a thousand years. The original Hagia Sophia was built on this site in the fourth centruy by Constantine the Great. Constantine was the first Christian emperor and the founder of the city of Constantinople (now it is called Istanbul). This church was destroyed and a second one was built by his son Constantius and the emperor Theodosius the Great. This second church was burned down in 532. Hagia Sophia was rebuilt in her present form between 532 and completed in 537 (1,475 years ago) under Emperor Justinian I. It is one of the greatest surviving examples of Byzantine architecture, rich with mosaics and marble pillars and coverings. Over the years it served as a place of worship for the following:

525 - 1204 Eastern Orthodox

1204-1261 Catholic Church Cathedral

1261-1453 Eastern Orthodox

1453 - 1931 Imperial Mosque

1931 to today Museum

The famous Blue Mosque, constructed between 1609 and 1616, was built at the wish of Sultan Ahmet I who wanted an Islamic place of worship that would be even better than the Hagia Sophia. Its cascading domes and six minarets dominate the skyline of Istanbul. Inside the high ceiling is lined with 20,000 handmade blue ceramic tiles and there are 260 stained-glass windows. None of the exterior is blue but the name Blue Mosque comes from the blue tiles inside.

The men still prepare by washing before they go into the mosque to worship.

One of the great moments during the seminar was when we were invited to stand and sing "Called to Serve." At that moment four newly arrived missionaries walked into the room - the first young Elders into the country of Turkey. Last fall approval was finally given for Turkey to have young full-time missionaries, and it became part of the Bulgaria Mission. Two weeks ago these four elders left Bulgaria and arrived in Istanbul to begin the process of learning the language and going out into the city to preach the restored gospel of Jesus Christ. We witnessed the miracle of the Lord opening the doors to another country where missionaries are now serving.

The first four elders in the country of Turkey with their mission president and wife.

Shopping in Turkey is quite the experience - full of adventure, the unexpected, and haggling. One of my favorite lines we heard was, "Come into my shop and let me sell you something you don't need." The merchants here really do a song and dance trying to get you to buy their products. Before we arrived Stephen and I had talked about getting a Turkish rug for our home and our mission was accomplished. There are two bazaars here that are justly famous - the Grand Bazaar and the Spice Bazaar. We had a fun experience at both.

This is one of the entrances to the Spice Bazaar which is near the Golden Horn peninsula. You could find all sorts of Turkish foods and other goods in here.

This little shop is where I discovered the delicious Turkish Delight candy. I bought one box but I'm afraid it won't last very long. I should have bought 100 boxes of my new favorite treat.

This is one of the entrances to the Grand Bazaar and it is grand. I love this place.

My new Turkish friend - the carpet man. I've never seen so many beautiful magical carpets/rugs and I'm thrilled with what I got.

Another new Turkish friend - the scarf man.

I didn't get this particular scarf but I did purchase a couple of beautiful scarves from him.

What a grand experience Stephen and I had in Istanbul. We hope we can come back someday.

Winter in Russia

2012-01-17T21:47:00.000+04:00

If you're considering vacationing in Russia this winter you may change your mind after seeing what type of weather you might find here. I don't know the locations or dates these pictures were taken but this is winter in Russia. Burrrrrrrrrrrrr!

Sunday morning, January 15, 2012, at 8:00 a.m. and we're on our way to church in Moscow.

We do love Russia!

Christmas with Mike and Missionaries

2012-01-01T21:20:00.000+04:00

Our Christmas in Moscow was wonderful! Our son Mike was able to spend the week of Chrismtas with us and we had so much fun with him. It all passed too quickly though and now he is home already. We will always cherish the time he spent with us. We also had the privilege of spending time with our missionaries and that will also be cherished.

Mike's plane landed in a snowstorm, but there's no better place for snow removal than Moscow, so his plane wasn't even delayed. Going from the airport to the mission office took a long time because of the heavy traffic (which is a daily thing we deal with). You can see out the van window in the picture traffic on a snowy day in Moscow.

We're at the mission office to have his documents scanned. He looks great after his 24-hour journey.

I took Mike to the big outdoor souvenir place called Izmailovo (it's in the background with the castle-like buildings) and did a little Christmas shopping. He got a couple of Russian hats and he looks great in them.

If you were singing the Christmas song "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" you were singing about us in Moscow. It was beautiful at the mission home.

On December 24th we had three baptisms. This is Mike with one of our dear members, Elena, from our Universityetski Branch. She was baptized about 16 months ago. After the baptisms we had a mission conference/party and ALL our missionaries were there. We had a devotional, watched the movie "A Christmas Carol", had a lovely Christmas dinner, and then skits from each of our districts. It was a wonderful way to spend Chrismtas Eve.

Elders Knight and Ayers.

Dinner time.

Skits: Contacting on the Metro?

More contacting on the Metro?

Even more contacting on the Metro?

Street contacting?

Senior couples singing "Rudolph the Rednose Reindeer".

Riding the Metro to church on Christmas morning.

After attending one of our Russian wards on Christmas morning we went over to Red Square to stroll around. St Basil's Cathedral is in the background.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Stephen and Mike in the area where Francis M. Lyman gave a dedicatory prayer in Moscow on August 9, 1903, for the preaching of the gospel.

Christmas night at the mission home around 5:00 p.m. "All is calm, all is bright."

Mike in one of his Russian hats.

On the 26th we went back down to Red Square and went inside the Kremlin wall to see some of the beautiful cathedrals. It was very cold and snowy that day. Mike is wearing his other Russian hat he got for Christmas.

Mike standing next to the Tsar's Bell that was cast in 1730 and weighs 202 tons. It was never rung.

Mike and Corinne standing by the Tsar's Cannon that was cast in 1586 and weighs 40 tons.

Mike in front of Lenin's Tomb.

Stephen and Mike in front of St. Basil's Cathedral.

The day after Christmas on Red Square.

At Victory Park.

Our Merry Christmas with Mike!

С Новым Годом!

(Happy New Year!)

"Nutcracker" in the Bolshoi Theatre

2011-12-13T19:39:00.000+04:00

Seeing Peter Tchaikovsky's "Nutcracker" ballet, in December, in the world-famous Bolshoi Theatre in Moscow has been on my bucket list for a long time. And that dream came to pass as Stephen and I had the opportunity to see the ballet this past weekend. It was amazing!

The Bolshoi Theatre has been closed for the past 6 years for renovation and just reopened on October 28, 2011 at the cost of 21 billion rubles ($680 million). The renovation included restoring acoustics to the original quality (which had been lost during the Soviet Era), restoring the original Imperial decor of the Bolshoi, and repair of the foundation and brickwork. Inside the theatre, the entire space was stripped from the bottom up; the 19th -century wooden fixtures, silver stage curtain, and French-made red velvet banquettes were removed for repair in specialist workshops. Outside, on the top of the facade, the double-headed eagle of the original Russian coat of arms was installed in the place where the Soviet hammer and sickle had been mounted for decades. Tickets were almost impossible to get but a dear member here was able to get two tickets for us to purchase. The theatre is stunning! It was more beautiful than I had imagined. The following pictures don't do it justice but it will give you an idea of how beautiful it is.

The old Bolshoi Theatre in the early 19th-century.

The theatre was founded by Catherine the Great in 1776, and its current home was built in 1825 after fire gutted a previous site. At that time, all Russian theatres were imperial property. The Bolshoi Theatre's original name was the Imperial Bolshoi Theatre of Moscow. Another fire in 1853 caused extensive damage and the theatre was reopened in 1856 after reconstruction. During World War II the theatre was damaged by a bomb, but it was immediately repaired. More damaging were the changes implemented by the Bolshoi's Soviet overlords, who also used the theatre to officially confirm the creation of the Soviet Union, host party congresses and announce important events like the death of Vladimir Lenin. Like so many tsarist-era buildings, the Bolshoi was stripped of its gold in the aftermath of the Bolshevik revolution. The loss of sound-reflecting decoration harmed the theatre's acoustics, which were further degraded by a decision to fill the hollow underneath the orchestra with cement.

Bolshoi Theatre in 1883.

Bolshoi Theatre in 1932, during the Soviet times.

Bolshoi Theatre in December 2011.

Stephen in front of the theatre before the performance.

Corinne in front of the theatre before the performance.

Performance in the Bolshoi Theatre (1856).

Newly renovated Bolshoi Theatre in October 2011.

The "Royal" box seats.

Can you find Stephen?

How grateful we are for the opportunity we had to enjoy this famous theatre, ballet company, and ballet.

A Grateful Thanksgiving

2011-12-11T18:20:00.000+04:00

What a wonderful Thanksgiving we enjoyed last week! All our missionaries gathered in the apartment of the senior couple who is in their district. We were able to purchase a turkey and a can of pumpkin for each senior couple who was hosting Thanksgiving dinner and everyone was delighted. Whole turkeys are not comman here because Russian ovens are very small and you can't fit a large turkey in their oven. But, I was able to find four-kilo turkeys (that's about nine pounds) and they worked great. For our cans of pumpkin I had asked several women who were able to go to Salt Lake for General Conference to bring back a small can for us. So, we enjoyed the traditional turkey and pumpkin pie for our dinners. All our districts reported having a wonderful feast and time together. We have been greatly blessed this year as missionaries in Moscow.

We were blessed to have our Universityetski and Podolsk District missionaries and the senior couple missionaries from those two branches with us at the mission home for Thanksgiving. Also, President and Sister Schwitzer (our Area President), and President and Sister Woolley (Moscow West Mission president and wife) were able to join us. We had lots of food and fun.

Cute missionaires! They made me laugh. Before dinner they weighed themselves and wanted to see who could gain the most weight after dinner. I think one of our elders gained 6 lbs. Is that really possible?

Presidents Schwitzer and Sorenson carving the turkey.

Sisters Schwitzer and Palmer making the gravy and mashed potatoes.

About to enjoy the feast.

Elder Raymond and Sister Cook helping with clean-up.

Elders Wittemore, Campbell and Spoerri helping with clean-up.

Our happy Thanksgiving in Moscow!

My newest treasure is a 17 lb. handcarved - handpainted wooden turkey. The American Women's Organization in Moscow had their annual Arts and Craft Festival a couple of weeks ago and I was able to purchase "Tom" at one of the silent auctions they had. He is stunning! Keep in mind that 1) Russia doesn't celebate Thanksgiving, and 2) turkeys are not a common thing here. A Russian artist made and donated this turkey for the event. Proceeds from the silent auctions went to the Moscow Pediataric Cancer Hospital. What a find!

Celebrating Early

2011-10-31T21:41:00.000+04:00

When our Bowen family was here with us last week we celebrated Emily's birthday and Halloween early. Emily turned 12 years old the day they flew home and Russia does not have Halloween so we celebrated those two events on October 27th. In Rosinka, the gated community where we live, they had a Halloween party and the children could go out "Trick or Treating" for an hour to those homes who had their front porch lights on. The Bowen children brought their Halloween costumes with them and we took them to a few houses to "Trick or Treat." We had a fun, fun evening with Emily's birthday and Halloween.

Emily and Lindsey.

Our beautiful Emily turns 12.

An early Halloween for the Bowen children in Moscow.

Even Hailey dressed up in her little pig costume for Halloween.

Hannah eating a few of her Halloween treats.

My birthday was a few days before the Bowens arrived and it was a wonderful day. We had our whole mission gathered together for our Specialized Training and then we surprised them with flu shots before lunch. They were all good sports about it.

October 2011 at our Russia Moscow Mission Specialized Training with all our young missionaries and most of our senior couples.

President Soresnon getting his flu shot.

Sister Sorenson getting her flu shot. Take note of the nurse's protective clothing - hat, mask and gown....but not gloves!

We are now ready for the long winter in Moscow!

Our Family in Moscow

2011-10-29T20:38:00.000+04:00

What a thrill it was to have our older daughter, Jeannette, and her husband, Jon, and their six children with us in Moscow for a week. It was heavenly! The Lord blessed us all with good health, safety and protection, good weather (it was cold, but no snow or rain), happy children, and great experiences. How grateful we are for the sacrifice they made to come and see our Moscow Mission and the wonderful sights here in Moscow. Here are just a few of the many highlights of their trip.

The Bowen family at the Mission Office to get their documents scanned just an hour after their arrival in Moscow. They had two long flights: Salt Lake City to New York (about a five-hour flight) and then from New York to Moscow (about a ten-hour flight). They looked great after their 20-hour journey!

However, as the day wore on (there is a ten-hour time difference between Utah and Moscow) they began to feel the results of long travel.

Hannah

Jack

Kate at dinner.

The day they arrived was Jack's 8th birthday. We celebrated his birthday and their first night here with cheeseburgers, peanut butter cookies, and chocolate ice cream (Jack's choice.)

The next day was Jeannette's birthday so we went down to the Kremlin to see the Armory Museum and a few other sights.

The Trinity Tower.

Emily, Grandma, Lindsey, Jack, and Kate in Alexander's Gardens.

The Bowen family in front of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

The State Historical Museum.

The children were excited when they saw this familiar sight. We had lunch at McDonald's on Red Square. How cool is that!

Jet lag hit Lindsey hard after she ate her lunch.

To celebrate Jeannette's birthday we had dinner at the Rosinka Family Restaruant in the gated community where we live. We talked Jon into ordering a bowl of borscht and to our great surprise Jeannette, Emily, Lindsey, Jack, and Kate tried it as well. It was especially a big hit with Lindsey, Jack and Kate. Way to go!

Happy Birthday, Jeannette - Russian style!

One of the wonderful events that happened was Jack's baptism in Moscow. He was so excited and it was an incredible experience.

The Bowen family.

October 22, 2011 Jack Michael Bowen is baptized by his dad in Moscow, Russia.

Jack with Grandma and Grandpa Sorenson and a few of our Russia Moscow missionaries that brought investigators to the baptism.

The Bowens, Grandma and Grandpa, and President Yakov Boiko, the first Stake President in Russia.

Jack with our mission driver, Alexander. Alexander is wearing his Russian Air Force Service Metal.

Raisa, a dear Russian member/babushka, getting acquainted with Hailey.

One of Hailey's favorite activities with Grandpa.

Riding the Metro in Moscow (notice Emily asleep in the window reflection).

Kate, Jeannette, and Hannah on the Metro.

Jack, Lindsey, Emily, Kate, and Grandma on the Metro.

Lindsey helping in the kitchen at the mission home.

Lindsey at Victory Park.

Jon and Jeannette at Victory Park.

Lindsey, Jack, and Emily at Victory Park.

We loved having our dear family with us in Moscow!!!

Russia in Color - a Century Ago

2011-09-13T12:16:00.000+04:00

It is interesting to look back in time with this extraordinary collection of color photographs taken between 1909 and 1912. In those years, photographer Sergei Mikhailovich Prokudin-Gorskii (1863-1944) undertook a photographic survey of the Russian Empire with the support of Tsar Nicholas II. He used a specialized camera to capture three black and white images in fairly quick succession, using red, green, and blue filters, allowing them to later be recombined and projected with filtered lanterns to show near true color images. The high quality of the images, combined with the bright colors, make it difficult for viewers to believe that they are looking 100 years back in time - when these photographs were taken, neither the Russian Revolution nor World War I had yet begun. Here are just a few of the hundreds of color images made available by the Library of Congress, which purchased the original glass plates back in 1948.

So here are a few pictures in Russia 100 years ago and how I have labeled them in 2011.

Sister Sorenson teaching at Zone Conference.

President Sorenson contemplating his next move.

Elders working on visual aids.

Our home at Rosinka (Rosinka is the gated community where we live.)

Our last Sisters' Conference.

President Sorenson at Zone Leaders Council.

Homes down by the lake at Rosinka.

One of our districts' P-Day activity.

Doing some Metro contacting.

President and Sister after 15 months in Moscow.

WE LOVE RUSSIA!

Moscow This Summer

2011-09-03T23:38:00.002+04:00

Summer has passed all too quickly for us this year with several interesting events. I'm finally posting a few of them since the beginning of June. I'm sorry for the long delay.

With the joy of having several wonderful new missionaries arrive we also had to say goodbye to several of our wonderful seasoned missionaries who were returning to their homes after completing honorable missions. It's still, and probably always will be, hard for me to let them go because we love and appreciate them so much.

Saying hello...

June 2011 Sisters Thrall, Daniel, and Sorenson

Elders Francom, Campbell, Black, Hamp, and President Sorenson.

June 2011 Sister & Elder Cook and Sister & President Sorenson

Unbeknown to us (we hadn't received any personal information or pictures of them, not even their first names) when our Elder and Sister Cook arrived we were thrilled to learn they are David and Becky Cook. David and I are second cousins through my dad and his mother - the Clyde line.

August 2011 (front) Elders Roberts, Kirkham, Everett, Sisters Workman and Sorenson

(rear) Elders Knight, Ayers, Raymond, Law, and President Sorenson.

Saying goodbye (до свидания)

June 2011 Elders Cardoza, Larsen, Andersen, Sister Knudson, Elders Mecham and Callister.

July 2011 We didn't get to say goodbye to Elder Miller in Moscow but said hello in Salt Lake.

Elder Callister, Sister Sorenson, Elders Miller and Kasallis, President Sorenson.

July 2011 The same with Elder Lund.

August 2011 Elder Nielson going home, President Sorenson and Elder Nielson's companion,

Elder Breedlove.

August 2011 Elders Jensen, Trotter, O'Bryant, and Hansen.

Stephen became ill the end of June which required that he be hospitalized in Moscow for five days. They discovered blood clots in his lungs and were suspicious that cancer might be involved as well. President Schwitzer, our Area President, and the Missionary Department determined it would be best to send us to Salt Lake for further diagnosis.

The Lord had everthing lined up and prepared for us to leave in a way that our missionaries would be well cared for and the work could continue to move forward. Miracle after miracle happened. We could feel and see the power of the faith and prayers of our family, friends, missionaries, leaders, and members in our behalf. We were so humbled and grateful for everyone's love, concern, and support. We were willing to accept the Lord's will and were praying hard that we would be able to return to our beloved mission in Moscow.

After several days of intense and thorough medical tests in Salt Lake, with outstanding doctors, we learned it was not cancer. It turns out that Stephen has a genetic predisposition to form deep-vein thromboses easier than most people (he is a Factor 5 Leiden heterozygote). He is taking a blood thinner so he won't get clots again. Words can't express the joy and gratitude we felt when we were told we could return to our mission. We stayed in Salt Lake for a couple of extra weeks so that his coagulation was at the proper level for him to safely travel back.

Of course we were so excited to see our children and grandchildren when we arrived but the real joy for all of us came after we learned Stephen did not have cancer. Then it was total joy!!! Oh, to be reunited with our family again was heavenly! We love them all so much and have missed them greatly. We had so much fun being with them for the three weeks we were there. Many thanks, family! We said our goodbyes to our family, without tears this time, and returned to Moscow on August 2nd.

Grandpa and our newest granddaughter (born on July 1st), Sophia Jo Sorenson, daughter of Rich and Misty.

Peter and Hannah.

John & Brooklyn, Misty & Sophia, Stephen & Hailey, and Becky.

Our daughters and their new babies: Misty & Sophia, Jeannette & Hailey, and Becky & Brooklyn.

Our Jack, Kate and Emily.

Our Lindsey.

Hailey (3 months old) and grandpa.

Our Brooklyn (6 months old).

Hannah's 3rd birthday.

Just before we arrived in Salt Lake Becky, Rich, and Mike ran the "Freedom Run".

One of the Sundays in August we went to our mission branch in Lotoshino to join in church services with the two active members, President and Sister Garbuz. They now hold the services in their small home and we had such a wonderful experience. Elder and Sister Gronning, our office couple, Elders Page and Bruev, our office Elders. and Alexander, our driver, joined us. Lotoshino is about two hours northwest of Moscow and is very out-in-the-country.

President Garbuz, Elder Gronning, President Sorenson, Elders Page and Bruev, and Alexander.

Sisters Sorenson, Gronning, and Garbuz.

Their sweet little home is on the left and they have beautiful flower and vegetable gardens.

On August 27th we went with some of our senior couples to Tsaritsino Palace Park to see the sights and share the Book of Mormon. I was so excited---I gave my first Book of Mormon to a sweet little lady and she even gave me her phone number so we could contract her.

The Tsaritsino Palace in the background was built for Catherine the Great but she didn't like it when it was finished so she never lived there.

The beautiful water fountain show in the evening.

On August 29 through September 2, we had the privlege of attending the annual Mission Presidents' Seminar in Vilnius, Lithuania. What a great seminar we had! It was a spiritual feast! Wonderful instruction was given to us by our Area Presidency and their wives and by Elder W. Craig Zwick of the Seventy and Sister Zwick (a member of the Seventy from the Missionary Department will only come out now once every three years, so this was a special opportunity for us). It was a real boost to rub shoulders with the other mission presidents and to receive training from these inspired men and women.

We stayed in the "Old Town" section of Vilnius and it was quaint and historic with its cobblestone streets, enchanting shops, few cars and people, and its cathedrals and monasteries.

This was one of many unique side streets off the center road through "Old Town."

Standing in front of The Gates of Dawn Chapel.

The frescoed ceiling in the Domus Maria, an 18th-century monastery that has been restored and is now a guest house. We had dinner in this room two nights.

The Vilnius Cathedral (the official name is the Cathedral-Basilica of St. Stanislaus and St. Ladislaus) and its bell tower.

Mission Presidents, Area department heads, and support staff.

President Michael Pratt (Vladivostok Mission President), Dale Nielsen (Ukraine Dnepropetrovsk Mission President) and Stephen Sorenson (Moscow Mission President). These three men served at the same time in the Finland Helsinki Mission during the period of 1969 to 1971 under President Orval Nelson.

With Elder and Sister W. Craig Zwick of the Seventy at the end of our conference.

What a wonderful summer we had!!!!!!

Московский Российский Кол

2011-06-11T18:17:00.001+04:00

I thought I would post a short version of the events of June 4th to June 6th with Elder Nelson and the formation of the Moscow Russia Stake. Some of these remarks are from a letter that my husband sent to our dear returned missionaries.

Saturday morning, June 4, 2011. Elder Russell M. Nelson, President Gregory A. Schwitzer, Europe East President, and Elder Dmitri Marchenko, Area Seventy, began interviews about 8:30 a.m. with about 28 of the men in the district. Stephen was assigned to give priesthood leadership training to the group of men who were being interviewed all that morning and a couple of hours in the afternoon as well. I was asked to fix a light lunch for Elders Nelson, Schwitzer, Marchenko, and Stephen.

President Yakov Boiko, the man in the middle, the morning he was called to be the Stake President.

Saturday afternoon - the brethern finished calling the new stake presidency and patriarch, with their wives, about 20 minutes before the Priesthood leadership and auxiliary training meetings began at 3:00 p.m. Elder Nelson briefly greeted the sisters in their training and then joined the Priesthood leaders for their training. My husband said that Elder Nelson talked about the future of the church in Russia (roughly quoting): "Tomorrow there will be one stake in Russia, but in the future there will be many stakes in Russia, and we will need many (Russian) missionaries." He then asked rhetorically, "When will there be a temple in Moscow? You'll decide." It's easier to build a temple, he noted, than to build people worthy of the temple. Elder Nelson also asked for remarks from Elder Dennis Neuenschwander who, as a General Authority and mission president in Vienna, was also one of the key people who helped the Church enter East Europe in the 1990s, and who now serves with his wife as a senior couple here in our mission.

President Stephen J. Sorenson - Russia Moscow Mission and President Kenneth M. Woolley - Russia Moscow West Mission

Saturday evening - I was asked to prepare a light dinner for 10 of us before the adult session of our District Conference. At 6:00 our conference session began and we had nearly 500 people in attendance. Stephen and I were asked to bear a testimony and Stephen gave his in Russian. Other speakers were Elder and Sister Marchenko, President and Sister Schwitzer, Elder Nelson's son, Russell (he served in the Moscow Mission in the early 1990s), Elder Neuenschwander and Sister and Elder Nelson. Elder Nelson recounted his involvement in the early efforts of the Church to gain entry into Russia, how he and Elder Ringger of the Seventy tried everything they could think of and finally the Lord worked his miracles in ways the brethren hadn't dreamed of. He invoked an apostolic blessing on Moscow and the work going forward.

One of our senior couples, Elder and Sister Gronning with Elder and Sister Nelson.

One of our sister missionaries, a former sister missionary, and members of our District with Elder Nelson. Stephen is to the left in the gold tie.

Elder Dennis B. Neuenschwander, Russell M Nelson, Jr., Elder Russell M. Nelson, President Gregory A. Schwitzer, President Stephen J. Sorenson, and Elder Dmitri Marchenko

KLynn Lockhead, Relief President of the International Branch did the flowers for our Sunday conference. They were as beautiful as the flowers at General Conference.

Sunday morning, June 5, 2011. On this beautiful spring morning the Moscow Russia Stake was created. Approximately 1,058 were in attendance to witness the 2,926th stake of the Church organized. Elder Marchenko conducted the business of discontinuing the Moscow District and creating the Moscow Stake with:
Yakov Boiko as Stake President
Vladimir Astashov as First Counselor
Viktor Kremenchuk as Second Counselor
Vyacheslav Protopopov as Stake Patriarch.
The following men were called and sustained to serve on the stake high council: Dmitri Sedov, Slava Baltovsky, Igor Politov, Yevgeni Numerov, Anatoli Pushkov, Vladimir Morozov, Gregoriy Malygin, Aleksandr Prokhorov, President Vanik Arutyunyan from Rechnoy Branch, Brian Isert from the International Branch, Brother Uskenai, and Vitali Voloshin.

Elder and Sister Marchenko, the new Stake Presidency, Stephen and I, and Sister and President Schwitzer each had the opportunity to bear testimony before Sister Nelson spoke on how this is the day of greatest light in Russia, the greatest day ever in Russian history. Elder Nelson spoke about more of the miracles that attended the Chruch getting into Russia and about some of the past heroes of establishing and strengthening the Church in Russia, as well as the wonderful future of the Church in Russia. Words can't express the joy and gratitude that was in all our hearts to witness this historic event.

Elder and Sister Nelson and President Schwizter greeting people after the conference. I'm on the far left in the bright pink jacket standing next to our Stake President, Yakov Boiko.

A few of our members and missionaries after the conference.

After the conference Stephen and I were invited to witness another historic event. Elder Nelson, President Schwitzer, and Elder Marchenko set apart the new stake presidency and then Elder Nelson ordained Brother Protopopov as a patriarch. Each member of the stake presidency were ordained as a high priest and then set apart in their calling. Elder Marchenko asked Stephen if he would stay and assist him in some training for the new presidency. Before that began Elder Nelson, President Schwitzer, and Elder Marchenko left with their wives. Stephen had the rare privilege of seeing the new stake presidency ordain and set apart ten members of the new high council. Of course, each of them had to be ordained a high priest also. For Stephen it was a rare, sobering display of the power of the Priesthood and the Lord's transforming hand in his work. These three good me, who an hour earlier had been elders, now acted together as the three presiding high priests of the Moscow Stake of Zion, ordaining ten other men and creating a high council for the first time, all in proper order and with great spirit and power. It was an incredible testimony to Stephen of the reality of Priesthood power and keys.

Elder and Sister Nelson leaving the conference.

Sunday evening - Elder Nelson and President Schwitzer and their wives again spoke at a Young Single Adults fireside with roughly 175 in attendance. It was another spiritually spectacular event.

Young Single Adult Fireside

Monday afternoon, June 6, 2011.

Our missionaries before Elder and Sister Nelson arrived. Beautiful!

Elder Nelson very generously offered to meet with us as a mission. We were all in our seats by 12:10, quietly reading and preparing. I spoke to our missionaries and told them how sharp, radiant, and smart they looked. Some of President Woolley's missionaries from the Moscow West Mission were in town and were able to join us, along with President and Sister Woolley. Elder and Sister Nelson and President and Sister Schwitzer arrived at about 12:30. Elder Nelson asked to shake hands with each of the missionaries, and then we all joined for a group photo before the meeting began. The Woolleys and we were invited to share a brief testimony. At the end of my testimony I presented the Nelsons and Schwitzers with a small package of M&Ms (I give these out to our missionaries sometimes at our Zone Conferences) and told them the meaning behind this was to remind us of our "Moscow Miracles." Elder Nelson responded to this with his version of M&Ms, "Moscow Missionaries." They got a kick out of that and our missionaries had big smiles on their faces.

Sister Nelson spoke about the Atonement and about the importance of exact obedience, which brings miracles. Elder Nelson spoke of repentance as a change of mind, knowledge, spirit, and the very way of life. He noted his own model for life in his calling: "Send me where you need me." He invoked another apostolic blessing of health, growth, and progress on our mission and our missionaries.

After the conference we informed Elder Nelson about our mission goal of 120 new investigators from the time period of May 8th, when we announced that a stake would be created, to June 5th when the stake was organized. The Lord allowed this miracle to happen. Our total number of new investigators for this time period was 142. Congratualtions to all of our missionaries!

President and Sister Sorenson, Sister and Elder Nelson, President and Sister Schwitzer, and Sister and President Woolley with our Russia Moscow missionaries and senior couples and 12 of the Russia Moscow West missionaries.

The miracles this weekend in Moscow were the result of the Lord's tender mercies for the hard work, faith, and obedience of ALL the members, missionaries, and leaders who have and do now live in Russia, as well as you faithful saints who have been praying for this to happen. With loving gratitude we thank you!

And now....... "Let us all press on in the work of the Lord."

Moscow Russia Stake

2011-06-05T23:41:00.000+04:00

Oh, how lovely was the morning!
Radiant beamed the sun above.
Bees were humming, sweet bird singing,
Music ringing through the grove,
When within the shady woodland
Joseph sought the God of love.

Those are the words that kept coming to me as we drove to our District Conference on this Sabbath morning. It was a beautiful spring morning here in Moscow, with clear blue skies, a gentle cool breeze, a rainbow of colors from the various flowers in bloom, deep rich shades of green from the variety of trees and the light of day was glorious.

Around 1,175 faithful Russian saints, missionaries, leaders, and investigators gathered to witness the formation of the Moscow Russia Stake under the direction of Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve. Also in attendance were Elder Gregory A. Schwitzer, President, East Europe Area and Elder Dmitry Marchenko, Area Seventy. It is the 2,926th stake of the Church. The following men were called:
   President Moscow Russia Stake - Yakov Boiko - a young man with a wife and two small
      children who has been a member for 9 years and was serving as the District President.
   1st Counselor - Vladimir Astashov - a young man with a wife and two small sons
       and was serving as 1st Counselor in our Mission Presidency .
    2nd Counselor - Viktor Kremenchuk - a young man with a wife and one small son who was the
      Branch President of the Arbatski Branch.
   Patriarch - Vyacheslav Protopopov - a great man with a wife and family and was serving as
      the 1st Counselor in the District Presidency.

Words can't totally express the feelings of gratitude, love, reverence and joy of this long-awaited blessing that the Lord has given the people here.

I will write more and include a few pictures in a few days but I wanted to post this much today - June 5, 2011, the day Russia got its first Stake.

Victory Day!

2011-05-08T21:34:00.000+04:00

Happy Mother's Day to all the wonderful women in Stephen's and my life. To our own mothers, grandmothers, daughters, daughter-in-law, sisters, aunts, nieces, cousins, and friends, we extend our love and appreciation for all you have done for us and the examples you set. You have made our life rich and meaningful. Thank you!

Tomorrow, May 9th, Russia will be celebrating its national holiday, Victory Day. One of the biggest Russian holidays, Victory Day marks Germany's surrender to the Soviet Union in 1945, ending the bloodiest war in Russia's history. It has become known as the Great Patriotic War. More than 25 million Russians died in the four years of fighting.

But today, May 8, 2011, on this sweet Mother's Day, it is the Lord's Victory Day! We announced this morning to all the missionaries in our Russia Moscow Mission and to the members of our Moscow District that the Brethren have approved Moscow to become a Stake! The incredible joy and graditude that we all feel is beyond any words. Tears were flowing freely this morning as this long-awaited news came. Missionary work officially began in Moscow in 1991, and thousands of members, missionaries, and leaders have worked diligently since then to bring about the Lord's work.

Under the direction of Elder Russell M. Nelson, on June 5, 2011, the Moscow Russia Stake will be organized. As missionaries and members here we have a lot of work to do in preparation for this long-waited blessing. We know Satan will continue to throw his "fiery darts" as we go forth with these final preparations, but the Lord's will and ways will triumph. The Moscow Russia Stake will be the first stake in all of Russia. Stephen and I say all the time that we never would have believed that, in our lifetime, not only would missionary work be allowed in Russia but a stake established as well. Miracles happen!!!

In one of my earlier posts I gave the link to view "That Vast Empire - Mormon Missionary Work in Russia" on YouTube or to click on the website http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1wEJizTHK6E&amp. I hope you will view this again and feel with us these tender mercies of the Lord.

This is a day of thanksgiving for the Lord's children. It's a great day of victory for the faithfulness of our Russian members and all the missionaries who have served throughout Russia. Today is the Lord's Victory Day!

A Palace, an Armory, and a Bunker

2011-03-20T20:50:00.000+03:00

Over the last several weeks we have been able to see some marvelous sights here in Moscow. On February 21st we were privileged to go with several of our missionary senior couples on a once-in-a-lifetime tour of the Grand Kremlin Palace. One of our great members here was able to arrange this special tour for us (it is not opened for public tours). It was breathtaking! We weren't allowed to take pictures inside the Palace, so the pictures I have posted are from the internet.

On our way to the Grand Kremlin Palace.

Once inside the Kremiln we first stopped to see the Tsar Cannon which was built during the reign of Ivan the Terrible's son, Feodor, in 1586. It has a barrel in excess of five meter long and a caliber of 890 mm.

Next to the cannon is the Tsar Bell which weighs two hundred tons and is the largest bell in the world. However, it was never successfully completed, much less rung.

The Grand Kremlin Palace was commissioned by Tsar Nicholas I in 1838 to be the new imperial residence. It was the largest structure in the Kremlin and cost 11 million rubles to build. It was designed to link the older Terem Palace and Palace of Facets, with its new and glorious reception halls, ceremonial red staircase, and private Imperial Apartments.

The Red Staircase leads to some of the most important receptions rooms in the Palace. We were privileged to walk up these steps. Fifty-eight steps of history rebuilt here. The original red staircase has long since been destroyed. It was on that red staircase, 400 years ago, that Ivan the Terrible killed a messenger who brought him bad news; and more than 300 years ago during a failed Palace coup, a young Peter the Great saw his friends thrown on bayonets; and almost 200 years ago Napoleon Bonaparte walked into the Palace after occupying the Kremlin.

This is St. George's Hall, named for the highest military decoration awarded by the Tsar. Elaborately decorated columns and marble slabs, bearing the knights of the order, line the wall of this more than 65-yard hall. It takes 3,000 light bulbs on six bronze chandeliers to light the room, which is still used today for official state functions.

St. Vladimir's Hall joins the newer areas of the Grand Kremlin Palace to the older buildings. Here a two-ton chandelier is suspended in a 54-foot tall cupola, which is covered with elaborate leaf and scroll work and studded with medalllions of the Order of St. Vladimir. The floor is a mosaic of nut tree woods and stained oak. In the days of the tsars, St. Vladimir Hall was a place to greet middle-level dignitaries. Today it is used for more formal occasions, like the signing of the SALT I treaty.

The Red Porch leading to the Terem Palace which was built in the 17th century for Mikhail Feodorovich, the first tsar in the Romanov dynasty.

One of the seven luxurious rooms in the Royal Apartments in the Palace that was used for the Tsar and his wife.

One of the bedrooms.

On February 25th and 26th we were invited to the Europe East Mission Presidents and their wives seminar that was held in Moscow. On that Saturday, while the men were in meetings, the wives were invited to a tour of the Armory Chamber which is a part of the Grand Kremlin Palace's complex. The Armory began in the early 16th century as a storehouse for the Kremlin's weaponry. In 1813, following Napoleon's invasion, the Armory building became an exhibition hall and museum. The array of objects in this musuem is staggering in its historical interest and spectacular richness.

Some of the mission presidents' wives before we walked over to the Armory.

The Cap of Monomakh is probably one of the most famous pieces in the Armory collection. It is the oldest crown among the crown jewels of Russia (believed to have been made in the late 13th or early 14th century.) An ancient symbol of Russian autocracy, the crown consists of an onion-shaped skullcap manufactured from eight joined panels of filigreed gold which sit on top of a wide sable brim. It was worn by the grand princes of Moscow and then by the first Tsars up until Peter the Great.

Alexander Nevsky coat of mail.

One of fifty Faberge eggs in the collection.

Two of several royal carriages from Boris Godunov of the 16th century to the Empress Catherine the Great in the 18th century. Personally, I think they are Cinderella's carriages.

Last, but not least, on Saturday, March 12th, we were invited to go to the Museum of the Cold War with our Sokolniki Branch. This is quite a unique museum as it transfers you back in time to the 1950s when relations between the USA and Soviet Union raised the expectation of an atomic war. The museum is in the underground space formerly occupied by the Ministry of Defense, built in 1951 by the order of Stalin. This huge bunker lies under the center of Moscow (18 stories below ground) and was equipped with a system for clearing the air, and with fuel, water, and food. Stephen had a wonderful experience down in the deep, deep, small, small tunnels of this bunker. As for me, well, let me just say that I stayed upstairs on the main level, sitting on a small, hard chair, in an old narrow hallway with one dim light, no heat, in front of the guards' room, for an hour and a half, while our group journeyed down 18 flights of stairs and made their way through the maze of tunnels. You see, I am very claustrophobic! Stephen took some wonderful pictures and and I have enjoyed seeing them.

Part of our group outside the museum before the tour.

Cold War Ministry of Defense bunker eighteen stories underground.

Two of our Elders in our group.

Intelligence Center for monitoring communications.

Diorama of the bunker (note the church and other building on top, representing ground level).

Consoles in the Ministry of Defense bunker where nuclear attack against the United State could have been launched.

Moscow is just amazing with so many different things to see and enjoy. We are grateful for these three totally different experiences we had.

Russia - That Vast Empire

2011-02-19T08:00:00.002+03:00

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

2011-02-06T12:00:00.003+03:00

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.

"Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow."

2011-01-08T23:28:00.004+03:00

As you would expect, there is a lot of snow and it is cold here in Moscow. Since it started snowing the first part of December, it hasn't melted at all. It just continues to pile up. It is amazing to me that the city, in order to get rid of the snow, has huge dump trucks that are filled with the snow and carry it away. If they didn't do that, there would be about one lane for cars to drive on and no parking places available. Here in Rosinka where we live it remains beautiful and I'm enjoying seeing the earth covered with beautiful white snow. I think come the end of February I will be sick of it, though, and ready for spring. Every time you go outside here it's essential to put on a coat, hat, scarf, boots and gloves. So, here's a few of the things that I see in Russia in the wintertime.

Views from our front yard.

This was taken at 9:30 in the morning. It was just getting light. The sidewalk to the front door has a solid sheet of ice on it, with a sprinkle of newly fallen snow.

Two different kinds of animal tracks outside our back door. Does anyone know what kind of animals these tracks belong to?

Our car being towed because of failure to start.

Yea! A bit of blue sky and sunshine for a few hours.

The Sisters and Elders in one of our districts decided to try their hands at snow sculpturing as a way of doing street contacting. And, they are having success! The pictures below are of Moroni buryingthe plates. It takes about two hours for them to do this snow sculpturing so you can imagine how cold they are when they are finished. These are just a few of our hard-working, creative, and sacrificing missionaries!

It's very common to see parents pushing or pulling their children on little sleds.

I have loved seeing how the Russian people dress for winter.

President Sorenson helping this Russian bird lady.

I love the Russian hats!

HAPPY NEW YEAR from MOSCOW!

2011

Our Merry Christmas in Moscow

2010-12-26T22:26:00.000+03:00

What a wonderful Merry Christmas we enjoyed here in Moscow! Except for missing our children, their spouses, our grandchildren, my mom, our sisters and their families, our aunts, uncles, cousins, and friends, we truly had a very happy Christmas. How can you not be happy and feel blessed when you are surrounded by valiant and faithful missionaries, members, and friends we have made here in Moscow? I have told our children for years, "this Christmas is going to be different," and it was for all of us. However, we were able and excited to call and Skype our family and were thrilled to hear and see them. How grateful we are for the miraculous technology we have so that these wonders can happen. Thank you for your Christmas greetings, cards, pictures, wishes, and prayers. We feel so very blessed to be serving the Lord in Moscow as missionaries and at this particular time in history.

We have had many, many special Christmas gifts this month. Here are a few of them.

This is one of my new friends in Moscow, Irina Williams. Twenty years ago, when my Aunt Pauline and Uncle Joe Pace served here as the first senior couple missionaries in Moscow, they found, taught, and baptized Irina. She and her husband have been active members of the Church all these years now. She and I have a special bond because of my aunt. Thank you, Aunt Pauline! I love Irina!

On December 18, 2010, we reached the 2010 mission goal of 60 baptisms set by President Cranney and his missionary leaders a year ago. We actually ended up with 63 baptisms for the year 2010. Thanks to the guidance and tender mercies of the Lord in allowing our faithful, obedient, and hard-working missionaries to accomplish this inspired goal.

Thanks to some dear friends in Salt Lake City who were willing to let us borrow a violin, and with the help of a new friend in Moscow who brought it here, we were able to have the gift of beautiful violin music during Christmas. Our dear Elder Hansen touched many, many hearts with his talent of making this violin sing.

All our Elders sang at the District Christmas program the evening of December 18th. I liken them unto "the army of Helaman," valiant and faithful in every way.

Our Sisters ("choirs of angels") sang for us at our all-mission Specialized Training on December 14th.

We had a mission Christmas conference on December 24th with ALL our missionaries. We felt so grateful to be able to gather together to enjoy one another, have a delicious dinner, an uplifting devotional, singing Christmas hymns, and a fun time They are the very best!!! Below are some of the talents/skits that our Districts presented.

On Christmas Day we had a few of the older Russian Single Adults over in the afternoon for dinner, a devotional, and visiting. One of our guests is a son of one of our senior couples from Texas. Anyway, these wonderful members of the Church fixed most of our Christmas Russian dinner and it was delicious! We had chicken, two kinds of Russian salads (one is like a potato salad), and I prepared a relish tray, cheese and crackers and for dessert an ice cream chocolate cake with hot fudge sauce, a cranberry-raspberry sauce, toasted sliced almonds and a maraschino cherry on the top. We had a wonderful time together. While they were here it started to rain which, because of the cold, then turned to ice. We all tried to go out caroling after dinner, but I chickened out because is was so icy and slippery (my big fear is falling here). They went and I stayed put. All too soon it was time for them to catch the bus and they went to visit a Russian war memorial before they headed to their apartments.

Christmas morning.

This is what it looked like Christmas night after it had rained and turned everything into ice. Don't you think you could ice skate on that snow?

The next morning ice lay heavy on the trees in front of our home.

Our Merry Christmas in Moscow!

"God bless us, every one."

Christmas Time at the Mission Home

2010-12-09T23:35:00.000+03:00

I love decorating for Christmas! Over the years I have collected many treasures that family and friends have given me or I have made myself and I brought just a few of them with me to Moscow. I didn't know what to expect here in Moscow as far as what would be available to purchase for Christmas decorations. I was pleasantly surprised to find so many options. My first desire was to find a Christmas tree. Thanks to our driver we were able to purchase an artifical tree, two strings of lights and a few tree ornaments. I decided to try my hand at making gingerbread boys and girls to hang on the tree. It took about two weeks to make them. You know, a few minutes here and a few minutes there but they turned out ok and they smell good too. So, here is how our mission home looks at Christmas time.

This nativity set is from the early 1950's and Stephen remembers this being out every year in his home when he was a young child. Our children also remember having this out at Christmas. I'm sure Stephen's parents never dreamed that this would be displayed in Russia.

On December 26, 1976, Stephen's sister, Claudia Nielson, and I went down to ZCMI to try and purchase a couple of Christmas decorations that were on sale for half off. Both of us were able to buy one of these great treasures. It was my first nativity set as a new wife and mother.

I've been able to add a few new Christmas decorations to my collection this year. These next three decorations were all hand carved and painted by Russian artists. That means six artists were involved -- three that did the carving and three that painted. I love their work.

This is the artist, Tatiana Zamanova, who painted the little Santa (Dyed Muroz in Russian) on the sled. I went to a Russian cultural class and they had her demonstrate painting the famous Matyoshka dolls. She was so darling. I was able to purchase this one pieces of hers.

Now the best 2010 Christmas decorations of all.............

Our Zone Leaders Council on December 2nd.

Our Sister's Conference on December 9th.

Merry Christmas from Moscow!

Our Happy Thanksgiving in Moscow

2010-11-30T21:32:00.000+03:00

Our Thanksgiving in Moscow was full of gratitude, love, outstanding missionaries, delicious food, lots of laughter, tender moments, and sweet memories. What joy we felt to have 13 of our faithful missionaries in our home to celebrate Thanksgiving with us. Our Kakhovsky District joined us for the wonderful feast and afternoon. Yes, we did have turkey and pumpkin pie, thanks to the Titus family who live here in Moscow. Brother Titus works at the American Embassy and we were able to purchase a turkey, one can of "Libbys" pumpkin and one can of evaporated milk for each of our 7 missionary districts. Each of our senior couples is assigned to a district of missionaries and they graciously had their district into their small apartments for Thanksgiving dinner. Each district is claiming that they had the best time and food. As missionaries we have so many blessings and gratitude was abundant on Thanksgiving, as it is everyday.

Our Thanksgiving table before the feast.

At the feast.

After the feast.

Sister Sorenson and our new missionary, Sister Matyanova from St. Petersburg, shaping the rolls.

Our many chefs.

After our feast, our district leader, Elder Nikolaichev, planned an activity based on The Title of Liberty as found in Alma 46. In verse 12 it reads, "And it came to pass that he rent his coat; and he took a piece thereof, and wrote upon it - In memory of our God, our religion, and freedom, and our peace, our wives, and our children..." Elder Nikolaichev, took his shirt (he had another one) and wrote, in Russian, "In memory of our god, our faith and families...of our Moscow mission, goals, and district of Zion." and instead of hoisting it on a pole we wrote our names on it. We all took turns wearing our Title of Liberty and expressing what we were thankful for.

We were then able to play a short round of Guesters before our missionaries left to get in a few hours of work before retiring for the day.

We had such a wonderful Thanksgiving as missionaries here in Moscow. How grateful we are for this opportunity to serve the Lord. And thus ended our day of thanksgiving as missionaries and as "...true believers of Christ..." Alma 46:14.

Our Happy Thanksgiving 2010!

1 + 9 + 1 + 64 in Moscow

2010-11-21T21:44:00.000+03:00

In Moscow we have 1 district, 9 branches, and 1 mission branch. And they are all teriffic! There are about 2,150 members in our district and we are growing. Miracles take place here weekly with baptisms and we have been so thrilled this month because on November 13th a family of four were baptized, on the 20th a mother and son were baptized by the husband who was just baptized in September and next week, on the 27th, we have another family of 4 being baptized. Missionary work formally began here 20 years ago and now we have a mighty missionary army of 64 (which includes 4 senior couple missionaries that give full time missionary service and 3 senior couples that help us part-time because of their East Europe Area responsibilities). Twenty years ago my aunt and uncle, Pauline and Joe Pace, were the first senior missionaries in Moscow. It's been so thrilling for me to walk in their footsteps. They helped build the foundation here and now the work is moving forward quickly. In fact, things are lining up for Moscow to be formed into a Stake. When that happens, it will be the first stake in all of Russia. That will happen in the Lord's time depending on our faith and good works. Here are our branches.

Our Podolsk Branch.

We call this the South building and our Kakhovsky Branch meets here. We have a baptismal font in this building.

We call this the Central Building and our Rechnoy and Arbatski Branches meet here. We use this building for our zone conferences, other training, teaching investigators, leadership meetings, district, branch and missionary activities, etc. This church building is one of two that the Church actually owns.

This is where our Zelenograd Branch meets. This is the other building that the Church owns and there is also a baptismal font here.

Elder Baldakov (from Russia) and me in front of the Perovo Branch.

Perovo Branch building.

This is our tiny Universityetski Branch (the door on the left).

Our Lotoshino Mission Branch is located about 2 hours north of Moscow and there have been no missionaries there for the past 5 years. The Church has rented this "driving school" building on Sundays for our 15 members who live in that area. However, there are only 2 members who are active right now.

On this is beautiful Sunday morning when we attended our Lotoshino Branch these are people who attended church that day. Keep in mind that Stephen, our driver (Alexander), our two Office Elders (Croese and Hansen) and me are the visitors. That leaves the Branch President and his wife, their daughter-in-law, granddaughter, their son (who is taking the picture), a member and a friend she brought that were in that Branch. The son and his family have since moved. What great faithful saints!

This building is where our International and Sokoiniki Branches meet.

This special lady from the International Branch, Irina Williams, was taught and brought into the Church 20 years ago by my Aunt Pauline and Uncle Joe. She and her husband are two of the faithful active members here and have contributed much to the growth here. Thank you, Aunt Pauline! I also love Irina!

President Sorenson reporting to work at the Mission Office.

And so the work of the Lord presses forward in this great land of Russia! We love it here and are grateful for the privlege to serve here at this historic time. Miracles in Moscow are going forth!

The Great Patriotic War

2010-11-09T22:48:00.000+03:00

In order to have a deeper love and appreciation for the Russian people it is important to know some of their history. It is hard to grasp the devastation that befell the Russian people by the end of the Great Patriotic War (known to the United States and other countries as WWII). Millions and millions of Russian people died during the years between 1941 and 1945. There are many, many war sites, monuments, museums, etc., reflecting on their great heroes from the past. Last week, on our P-day, Stephen and I went to see Victory Park. Although initially proposed in 1947, this memorial complex, honoring the victims of the Great Patriotic War, did not open until the 50th anniversary of the end of that conflict, in 1995. It is a genuinely moving tribute to the Soviet Union's estimated 27 million war dead.

Zurab Tsereteli monument, is 141.8 meters high and reflects the 1,418 days of the Great Patriotic War.

At the base of this monument is St. George, the patron saint of Moscow, slaying the dragon.

The eternal flame in front of the Central Museum of the Great Patriotic War.

One of several dioramas inside the museum. This one reflects the 1941 Battle of Moscow.

Red Square in 1941.

Two dioramas of the 1941-1944 Siege of Leningrad.

Unfailingly moving, the Hall of Memory and Sorrow holds 19,500,000 names of the dead or missing.

From the ceiling hang tear-like shaped prisms, each one representing so many thousands of people.

In the Hall of Glory it lists the names of the 11,000 soldiers awarded the highest military honor, the Hero of the Soviet Union.

One of the war's Hero Cities, Kiev.

Another one of the Hero Cities, Moscow.

In Victory Park is the Church of St. George the Victorious, which was the first church built in Moscow since the Revolution.

In Kiev, Ukraine

2010-11-01T17:59:00.000+03:00

Last week Stephen and I had the opportunity to go to Kiev, Ukraine, for five days for the Europe East Mission Presidents Seminar. This is held annually and this year it was in Kiev. Fourteen mission presidents and their wives were there and we were trained by Elder Kevin Pearson from the MTC plus from our Area Presidency. It was a great experience and we received wonderful training.

On October 27th arrangements were made to attend the performance of the ballet, Swan Lake, in the beautiful Taras Shevchenko Ukrainian National Opera House. This opera house was built in 1856 but in 1896 a fire erupted from an unextinguished candle and the theatre was destroyed. One of the largest musical libraries in Europe along with numerous costumes and stage props were lost during the fire. They rebuilt the opera house and its opening performance was on September 29, 1901. It is a beautiful building and we enjoyed the performance of Swan Lake by Peter Tchaikovski.

This says Swan Lake in Ukrainian.

The beautiful ceiling.

President and Sister Sorenson and President Sartori from the Russia Samara Mission.

This was the "coat check" token that was given when I checked in my coat and then you return it after the performance to claim your coat. I thought this was a neat looking token.

On Thursday, October 28th, we went to recently dedicated Kyiv Temple and did a session with all the mission presidents, their wives and the Area Presidency. It was an incredible experience and blessing! Several times during the session I couldn't keep the tears from flowing because of the history in this part of the world and now the people here have waited a very long time for this beautiful temple. I never dreamed that someday I would be sitting in the Celestial Room in a temple in the former Soviet Union. The Lord has opened the doors to his people here and all the blessings are flowing in.

We were to late in the day to get inside this beautiful Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral. We believe it is St. Michael's Cathedral.

Looking in the opposite direction you can see Saint Sophia Cathedral whose first foundations were laid out in 1037 and which was completed to it present form in 1740.

We left the roses in Kiev to return to the first snow fall in Moscow.

Back home in our lovely Rosinka.

A Birthday in Moscow

2010-10-19T21:56:00.000+04:00

Having a birthday as a missionary is absolutely wonderful! Thank you for all your loving and kind birthday wishes. Three of the great treasures in life are family, friends, and missionaries I am a rich woman because of all of you. Thank you!

October 18, 2010

Stephen gave me this fox Russian hat (I actually picked it out in August when it was 104 degrees here and the air was full of smoke) and I love it! It is already cold here and I was grateful to be able to wear it today. Now I feel like I'm really in Russia. In addition to our coats, wearing hats, scarves, gloves, and boots are a huge part of our everyday attire. We would freeze if we didn't wear them. So, Sister Sorenson goes Russian.

President Sorenson arriving at the Mission Office today in his Russian cap.

Our two wonderful AP's, Elder Kasallis and Elder Callister, gave me beautiful red roses and a sweet birthday card. I love these two Elders!

We celebrated by buying pizza for lunch and enjoying it with our two AP's, two Office Elders (Elder Grover and Hansen) and our Office Couple (Elder & Sister Gronning). Sister Gronning made me a delicious yellow cake (from an American cake mix which is super hard to find here) and it was a real treat.

I even got to blow out birthday candles.

Our loyal and wonderful driver, Alexander, was able to join us as well.

On Sunday, October 10th, we met James D'Arc and his son Sam, at church. They had just flown in from Salt Lake. James is the film music archivist for BYU and was in town to assist the Moscow Symphony Orchestra in recording the music from the movies The Adventures of Don Juan and Arsenic and Old Lace. The orchestra finished that recording ahead of schedule, and James invited us to visit a recording session of the music from the film The Battle of Neretva. Here we are in the control booth with James.

In the recording booth with the conductor, William Stromberg, John Morgan, the restorer of the film scores, and Anna Bonn, wife of William, who works on the production of these recordings. These three wonderful people are very well known for recording many classic film scores. We did have pictures taken inside recording studio with the orchestra but that was on someone else's camera and I haven't received them yet. I will post those when I get them.

Thank you to all for this wonderful birthday in Moscow!

It's Autumn Time

2010-10-02T18:04:00.000+04:00

Moscow in the autumn is beautiful! We have been enjoying an "Indian Summer" here with cool crisp days, azure blue skies, and chilly clear nights. After the long, hot, and smoky days in July and August we are basking in the delight of autumn.

This is actually a sidewalk that the woman is walking on. People park their cars wherever they can find room, even on the sidewalks.

This yellow building with the blue trim is one of the grocery stores where I shop each week.

These next few pictures are from inside our gated community, Rosinka, where we live.

Last week I had my driver, Alexander, take me on the Babushka Road (this is what I call the road that leads out of Moscow into the country where many older women sell their flowers and produce) in search of potatoes and pumpkins. You can not find pumpkins in Moscow and we had no luck that day in finding pumpkins. I did get a big bag of wonderful potatoes from a cute little lady at one of the roadside stands and they have been delicious. I wish I would have gotten more bags. With no pumpkins to be had, Alexander did find one for me a few days later and brought it to me with a huge grin on his face. It really was a rare find and I was thrilled! Now I have a pumpkin that I will cook down and make a couple of pumpkin pies at Thanksgiving. People use butternut squash here instead of pumpkin so I will do the same if I want to make some pumpkin bread or cake. I'm learning to make "magical adjustments."

Last week I also bought some Golden Delicious apples and made some apple butter. Oh my goodness - it turned out so good! I have made two batches already and hopefully will be able to make a couple more within the next few weeks (if I can find a day that I can be at the mission home). We have had missionaries here twice for meals since I made the apple butter and they were in heaven with its delicious taste. I've included the recipe and it is super easy to make. I have been thrilled because I was able to find all the ingredients here. There is a store close by that sells fresh spices so I know where to get the cinnamon and clove.

Below is an arrangement of the fresh produce I was able to find plus two of my jars of apple butter.

Apple Butter

10 to 12 large cooking apples (I like to use Golden Delicious)

2 cups apple juice or cider

3 cups sugar

1 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp. ground cloves

Wash, core and cube apples, but do not peel. Combine the apples and juice in a crock pot and then add the sugar. Stir well and cover and cook on low heat for about 8 hours or about 4 hours on high, or until very soft. Put the cooked apples in a blender and blend until smooth. Return to crock pot and add the two spices. Cook on low an additional one to two hours with the lid off (it will help it thicken up) or until it reaches the desired consistency. Ladle into jars and store in refridgerator, or it can be frozen.

I hope you are enjoying the wonderful sights, smells, tastes, sounds, and feel of autumn. We are here in Moscow!

Ways We Find

2010-09-23T21:14:00.000+04:00

Two very effective ways for our missionaries to get acquainted with people are English Club and chalk drawing. On Wednesday nights, for an hour, our missionaries are available to speak Engish with people who want to improve their English. After the club meeting people are welcome to stay, if they would like, for a spiritual thought or video segment. At one of our buildings we usually have between 80 to 100 people who come for the English Club and then many who stay afterwards.

Elder Lund leads a discussion.

Our chalk art drawings are great! A few of our Elders or Sisters go to a Metro Station and draw a scene on the sidewalk from the Book of Mormon. Two missionaries draw and then a couple of missionaries are there to explain, to those who stop to watch, what they are drawing. It is very effective and they draw a good size crowd of people who stop and ask questions. The day we went to watch, Elder Anderson and Elder Grover were drawing Lehi's dream of the Tree of Life.

Elder Grover and Elder Anderson

Elders Lund and Mecham with an interested young man.

Thank you Elder Anderson and Elder Grover!

We weren't able to stay to see the completed picture but we were sure impressed with what we did see. It usually takes about two hours to complete the scene they are drawing. While we were there the missionaries who came were busy talking with the onlookers. We hope the weather continues to be nice for a couple more months so our artists can continue to create.

Saying Hello and Saying Goodbye

2010-09-14T21:30:00.000+04:00

One of the many new things I'm learning as a missionary is the many hellos and goodbyes. I've always loved hellos but I hate saying goodbye. We have been blessed to welcome four new missionaries in the last two months. It is exciting to have them here and we are anxiously waiting for another Elder to arrive any day. But, we have also had to say goodbye to six wonderful missionaries who served so faithfully and we miss them greatly.

Welcome! Welcome!

Elder Perfilyev, from Russia, arrived in our mission on July 22. It is the tradition here in the Moscow Mission to take our new missionaries to Red Square the day they arrive and give them the opportunity to begin contacting people.

Sister & Elder Wright and Sister & Elder Gronning

The Gronnings, from Utah, arrived in our mission on July 26th. They are our new office couple and have taken over the reins very quickly and nicely. They replaced Sister and Elder Wright who served so faithfully here in the office.

Elder & Sister Gronning, President Sorenson on his birthday, and Elders Hansen & Croese.

Elder Paul, from Las Vegas, arrived in Moscow on August 31.

Elder Paul with Elder Callister, one of our AP's, working together on Red Square on Elder Paul's first day here.

Elder Perfilyev and Elder Paul greeting each other. They were in the same MTC District in Provo.

"God be with you 'till we meet again."

Sister Dayberry, from Washington, was our first missionary we said goodbye to.

Elder and Sister Wright, our faithful office couple, returned home to Utah the first of August.

Elder and Sister Rees returned home to Salem, Utah on September first. Elder Rees served both as a missionary and as the Area doctor and Sister Rees as a missionary and as the Area Patriarchal Blessing Coordinator.

Our dear sweet Elder Demchenko, from Russia, returned home September 2.

Well done, thou good and faithful servants.

Slavic Men and the Trail They Leave

2010-09-05T21:00:00.000+04:00

Russia loves statues and gravestones of its leaders, heroes, and great contributors to its culture. Here are a few that we have seen so far.

Nikolai Gogol (1809-1852) was a great Russian novelist, humorist and dramatist. A couple of his famous writtings are "Dead Souls" and "The Inspector General." He is buried in the Novodevichy Convent Cemetery in Moscow.

Alexander II was Tsar of the Russian Empire from 1855 until his assassination in 1881. He was also the King of Poland and Grand Prince of Finland. This statute is in front of the Cathedral of Christ the Saviour in Moscow.

Anton Chekhov (1860-1904) was a famous Russian short story writer, playwright, and physician. Two of his famous plays are "The Cherry Orchard" and "Three Sisters" where the famous line "...next year in Moscow..." comes from. He is buried in the Novodevichy Convent Cemetery.

Vladimir Lenin (1870-1924) was a Russian Marxist revolutionary and communist politician who led the October Revolution of 1917. As leader of the Bolsheviks, he headed the Soviet state during its itnitial years (1917-1924), as it fought to establish control of Russia in the Russian Civil War and worked to create a socialist economic system. His mausoleum is at Red Square.

Fyodor Chaliapin (1873-1938) was a famous Russian opera singer and is buried in the Novodevichy Convent Cemetery in Moscow.

Joseph Stalin (1878-1953) was a Soviet politician and head of the state who served as the first General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union's Central Committee from 1922 until his death in 1953. After the death of Lenin in 1924, Stalin rose to become the leader of the Soviet Union, which he ruled as a dictator. He is buried at Red Square.

Sergei Prokofiev (1891-1953) was a great Russian composer, pianist and conductor. Two of his famous works are "Peter and the Wolf" and the ballet "Romeo and Juliet." He is buried in the Novodevichy Convent Cemetery in Moscow.

Nikita Khrushchev (1894-1971) was the First Secretary of the Commuist Party of the Soviet Union from 1953-1964 and Chairman of the Council of Minister, or Premier, from 1958-1964. He led the Soviet Union during part of the Cold War. He is buried in the Novodevichy Convent Cemetery.

Below are two Slavic men here in Moscow into whose hands we've regularly committed our lives.

Alexander Shtaltovny is our full-time driver. He is great! He is a former MIG pilot in the Soviet Air Force and drives like he's back in the cockpit of the old MIG. We always feel safe with him as he weaves in and out of the cars on the busy Moscow roads.

Vyacheslav Ferensky was our substitute driver for a month this summer when Alexander was on vacation. He is a former policeman/detective, military man, and a lawyer. He's great also. I laugh now, but one hot summer afternoon after he took me to the grocery store, we rode with the windows down because the air conditioner was broken, I felt like I looked like Cruella DeVille. What a sight!

Kyiv Temple Dedication

2010-08-30T20:00:00.001+04:00

On Sunday, August 29, 2010, we had the priviledge of particapting in the dedication of the Kyiv Temple. Moscow was blessed to have three of our buildings receive the live broadcast from Kyiv, Ukraine. Stephen and I attended the broadcast in our sweet little Zelenograd Branch just north of Moscow. The Zelenograd Branch meets in a small builidng that the Church actually owns and there are about 100 active members who attend. The first session of the dedication was at 10:00 and we met upstairs to hear it in English. At the 1:00 dedication we met with about 23 other members in the chapel area to hear it in Russian. We decided not to attend the 4:00 session but went home. Later Sunday night we got a call from one of our sister missionaries who was with us at the Zelenograd Branch and she said shortly after we left they lost the broadcast reception and they weren't able to hear any of it.

Just a brief history on the builiding of this long-awaited temple. The Kyiv Ukraine Temple is the first temple built in the former Soviet Union and includes 13 countries in its temple district. The announcement of the temple was on July 20, 1998, by President Gordon B. Hinckley and it wasn't until June 23, 2007 that the groundbreaking and site dedication took place. So on August 29, 2010, after twelve years of waiting, the wonderful people here have a temple.

It was an incredible experience to be part of this historic event this weekend. Friday night there was a Cultural Event in connection with the dedication and we were able to watch that via live broadcast. We had a large group of young single adults from Moscow perform in the Cultural Event and they were wonderful. We were all cheering as we recognized the faces of our dear group. Also, at the second session of the dedication, a choir from Moscow sang in the Celestial Room. They sounded like a choir of angels. Both groups made us so proud!

Our Moscow young single adults.

Group from the Ukraine.

Then came Sunday morning and the actual dedication of this beautiful temple. Words can't express the feelings of graditude, love, and reverence to our Heavenly Father for this gift to the people here. One of the very tender moments for me was when we sang "The Spirit of God" in Russian. And I was singing in Russian. Tears were streaming down my face as I realized what was happening. I was here - in Moscow - as a missionary - singing in Russian - at the first dedication of a temple in Eastern Europe. How grateful I will always be.

Many miracles happened in Moscow so we could particapte in the dedication. One of them was the miracle of the white hankerchiefs. We were able to get these beautiful Ukrainan Temple hankerchiefs for each of our missionaries a few days before the dedication.

Three of our sweet sisters from the Zelenograd Branch.

Elder & Sister Gronning, Elder Page, Elder Cardoza, Elder Lex, Sister Barash, Sister Perry, a young woman from the branch, Elder Demchenko, Sister & President Sorenson

Called to Serve

2010-08-26T21:10:00.000+04:00

During the months of July and August we have had several series of training for our missionaries, from Zone Leader Council, to Zone Conferences and to four days of specialized training for our AP's, Zone and District Leaders and Trainers in the new Simplified Curriculum we received at the MTC. Here is just a small glimpse of our outstanding Elders and Sisters.

Arriving at the Mission Home for training.

Eager to learn.

Learning by role-playing.

They are always appreciative of lunch.

The new DVD's are popular.

Working together.

"Sing choirs of angels...."

Our North (Severnaya) Zone Conference

Our South (Yuzhnaya) Zone Conference

It's a wrap!

We love all these faithful hard-working missionaries of ours!

Oh What Do You Do in the Summertime...

2010-08-14T17:40:00.039+04:00

Even though Moscow has been experiencing record heat temperatures and air quality that's been sending families out of the area to safe locations, including the American Embassy, there is still such summer charm here.
Summers photos of Moscow in July and August.

Lots of fruit and vegetable stands on the streets and along the roads.

The Russians love their watermellons.

Some older women sell their garden flowers at roadside stands.

This sweet little "babushka" selling her three bunches of flowers, four cucumbers and 6 apples by

the main Post Office in central Moscow.

People sell whatever they have - even the 7 Dwarfs.

Stephen buying water on a hot summer morning.

There are lots of little parks here with fountains.

Keeping cool near Red Square. "Do you swim in a pool, to keep yourself cool...?"

Alexander's Garden at Red Square. The sign reads "Don't Walk on the Grass."

"...or lazily dream on the banks as the clouds go by?"

An American influence in Moscow - Coca-Cola.

Russia's fast food.

How we feel about being in Moscow? We love it here!