update

  Just wanted you all to know that we are thinking of you and,

before Andrey comes to get his little usb thing-a-majinger for

internet, I will give an update.

We are getting into the missionary mode.  Although the past 3

weeks has required us to spend a lot of time setting up, shopping,

waiting in line (at the grocery store, in traffic, for the internet

doctors to come and fix it)  and getting adjusted to the schedule, it

is all worth it.  I tried to start a full day of wash today but the water

(did I say waiting for water to come on again, waiting for the piano tuner, and

waiting for the washing maching repair man) was on for only one load.

We are in the water again but it turned really red so had to flush

everything out good, then will start another load.  I need to start

the jello salad for tomorrow's district meeting.  The missionaries here

don't get invited out much at all, so the tradition is for the senior couples

to make a nice meal in conjunction with the district meeting.  Tomorrow

while you all are sleeping, we will be having our meal of scalloped potatoes

with cheese and ham, along with some peas and corn and some jello

with fruit.  The other couple will bring homemade rolls or bread and

some kind of desert.  It works out just fine.

We look forward to having the missionaries here in our home.  There are

only 6 here and then the two couples.

I may have mentioned that Dad has been busy building and installing shelves

in the bedroom closet that was just a bare closet with two small shelves up high

in a small alcove of the closet and then the wider part of the closet sported one

high shelf.  Now we have about 6 or 8 new shelves.  He was really happy

to be working with wood, saw, hammer, screws, and getting into all that

sawdust.

We have been getting up at 6:30 and going to bed by 10:30 and studying the scriptures

for an hour, then companion study for an hour, and than language study for an

hour or so.  I am reading the book of mormon in Russian.  That is probably a stretch since

I don't know what I'm reading, nor do i know if I am pronouncing it right, but I'm doing

it anyway.  i do recognize a word once in a while.

Here is a word for the grandkids :  ykcyc pronounced ook soos  means vinegar!!  Isn't Russian easy!!!

We are having a good time, keeping our covenants, and trying to be of help to others.

More later...

  Thanks to you all for your prayers.  We need them, and ours go out to you too. 

Love you all so much.