From Elder Honorary Maid of Honor

Hey busy family,

I remember last time we were really busy right before my farewell a nice man named Kevin showed up and weed-whacked our backyard. I’ll never forget that.
I learned yesterday that Russians call their spouses “Sputniks” as a term of affection. Well, a man is Sputnik; a woman is the feminine form “Sputnitza”. Isn’t that cute? Sputnik in Russian is just the word for satellite, not the official name of the famous one launched in the 60’s starting the cold war and inspiring such movies as October Sky and the Talented Mr. Ripley.
I thought the work would calm down a little since the big combination of areas but we’ve been so busy for so long I see now it will probably stay this way. Yesterday was a poorer turn out for Sacrament Meeting. It was pretty crummy, gloomy, cold weather so I guess that was a good enough excuse for some member to miss. We still have to travel to the other city every Sunday and the Revda members are getting tired of it, and it doesn’t help that almost no one in that city (Pervoralsk) is active. So they all have to travel over there and all the ones who don’t have to travel don’t even come. Some of the members are saying if they have to keep traveling to Church they’ll just got to Yekat so there will actually be many people in the meeting. I’m both impressed and concerned by these sentiments. They actually want a good experience out of church, any weaker of testimony and they would just not come and do the classic less-active line of “I’ll come when so and so comes”. We really need the meeting place moved here soon. I feel dumb for telling them it would be here in time for New Year's. The highlight of Testimony meeting, (which is a tough one when only five members are there and two made it clear they wouldn’t be bearing their testimonies) was when my main mooning man Dima got up and hobbled over to the podium and bore a sincere real testimony. He’s not all there and has said some strange things at the pulpit before but he took the stand and got after everyone for being gloomy and told us we need to be optimists and explained how God always answered his prayers, and the best part is that he closed “in the name of Jesus Christ. Amen” He, due to his brain injuries always forgets to say that and just says “amen” when he’s done talking, in prayers and testimonies so we have to remind him before he starts his prayers and half the time he still forgets but at the end of this surprisingly spiritual testimony he closed it up right. He was beaming, and so was I.
So it turns out transfers last week were not a joke. There were absolutely no changes mission wide. Pretty crazy. It’s in large part due to the fact that half the mission was in Kazakhstan for almost the entire transfer, so poor Elder Taylor is still in his greenie area, still with his trainer. And the Evergreenie marches on. I’m really excited for winter starting and this splendid Christmas season and we’re shooting for a Christmas miracle for the Branch.
In other news, last night right before planning I was flicking pens around the room, boasting of my skill, speed and accuracy, as is my custom and Elder Taylor glanced around the room to find the most ridiculous target imaginable and suggested I hit it without hitting anything else, in jest mind you. It was a small globe/pencil sharpener (the size of a golf ball) resting on a stack of Muslim prayer hat’s purchased in K-Town (Kazakhstan) resting on top of a real (communist) globe resting on top of a shelf across the room. So about 12 feet away and 10 up, as we have high ceilings. Without taking aim I just flicked the one in my hand as he was talking and it missed of course. Then I thought out the situation and decided to risk it and took precise aim. Disaster struck as the cap flew off in release, but each piece hit above and below the mini globe respectively. Now the big moment, adjusting so the lid would not be a problem, aim was took, and in slow motion the pen spun its way over making contact with only the small sphere and nothing else knocking it off orbit behind the shelf. Elder Taylor was hyperventilating for two minutes before he could get a word out.
I wish for more than the best on your big day Sister. I unfortunately will be unable to make it, as I’ve got a ward Christmas party to get to. Priorities, ya know?

Love,

Elder Honorary Maid of Honor