FHE: Farewell to the Abrams

Tonight we bid farewell to Elder and Sister Abrams, pictured in the center. (We had a full house this evening. We were only missing the McCunes. Sister McCune is home in the states, waiting for her daughter to give birth to their first grandchild.) The Abrams have been in Russia for 18 months, serving as the office couple for President Collins, in the Moscow West Mission. They are training two younger missionaries in their duties, because there is no replacement couple at the moment. Hint: We need more senior missionary couples!! They are going on a cruise to celebrate their anniversary when they leave.

Tonight we are headed to the Moscow State P. I. Tchaikovsky Conservatory, a famous music school where many masters have studied for over 140 years! Tonight, the Conservatory is sponsoring a free concert, Rachmaninov Concerto No. 2. We are planning on eating dinner at a restaurant across the street, called the Belaruskaya. We had made a reservation of 10, but we could have as many as 20, since we may some missionaries and Jonathan and Whitney and a new couple from the International Branch may join us.

I have been preparing a spreadsheet for President Gibbonsto show our progress in providing patriarchal blessings. It has been a little bit of a challenge using the new Office 2007 version of Excel, because I am still trying to learn how it is organized. Some simple things take time, because I have to hunt and peck to find the right command. But I am having some success. Yesterday, I learned how to count items on a spread sheet in a conditional manner. For example, I wanted to count the number of blessings that had taken more than 100 days for members to recieve their copies. Then I needed to count the number of days between two dates and I wanted to keep one of the dates, with "today's date," so that every time I open the spreadsheet, a new date will appear and the "aging" column will update automatically. I was successful on both counts and I was really impressed with the Help search function that showed me a step-by-step process to accomplish both objectives.

In the Europe East Area, we do not have any Patriarchs, so two Patriarchs from the U.S. come over during the year to pronounce these blessings for our members. They come about every 6 weeks and stay for approximately 3 weeks. They give about 6 blessings a day, six days a week. It is quite a process. Once the blessings are recorded, the Patiarch leaves for home and the recorders they use to capture the blessings must be couriered back to the Area Presidency's office. This has to be coordinated with people from our Administration Office or the Area Presidency's office, who might be traveling to these countries, because you can't just drop them in a FedX box, because of custome problems. These blessings are given in Russian for Russians, and in English for all of the other countries. Next, the contents are downloaded onto a pc and CDs are made and sent to one of four transcribers, volunteers that type up the blessings. These are then sent to the Patriarchs in the U.S. who review them and edit them. Once the Patriarch is satisfied with the final result, the blessings are sent to the Church's Archiving department. They are also sent to Marina, in our office, where the blessings are finally distributed to the respective member. Our target is for this process to take no longer than 3 months. However, it is currently taking more than 6 months. This will be improved, since we had been operating with just 2 transcribers and soon we will have 6. Tracking and not losing any of the blessings is the responsibility of the Area Office. We are probably the only Area in the world that has an operation similar to this one.

Sunday Morning

This is not Central Park. It is our view looking toward downtown Moscow!!

It is another beautiful day in Moscow. I am certain that in the last 2 month we have had as much sunshine as Dallas. We have really had incredible weather. The wet and muddy Spring that had been predicted has not materialized. It has rained about 5 times in the past two months. Yesterday it rained after we got to the metro and quit before we surfaced!! That is my kind of rain!

Yesterday we went to Ismaylova as I indicated in the last post, but I thought you might like to see what Chris got for her birthday, two woodcarvings.

The little container between the two woodcarvings is a container with a vial of rose oil from Bulgaria, that was given to Chris by Elena Nechiporova.
A little girl with sickle.
A little boy with a balalaika.
LaDawn and Chris at Pushkin Square where we bought $25 worth of popcorn from the local theater for a snack. We were going to go to the movie, but we didn't find anything to our liking, so this was as good as it was going to get!!

We had dinner out of doors at an American-Style bistro. We all had hamburgers and fries. Chris and I had Shokolad Cocktails!!

We're back from church. We got there early to see Jason and Angela. We had a nice visit. We got to talk about the exciting projects Jason is working on. Angela's dad took this picture.


Later, in the chapel, I turned around and found Jonathan and Whitney sitting in front of us. They are already in an apartment. He has a cell phone. We swapped numbers. We told them about the two free concerts that we will be going to this week and invited them to do the same. I will call him later with directions.

The first concert is at the Moscow Conservatory. They are playing Rachmaninoff's Concierto No. 2, my favortie. That will be on Wednesday and the some of the seniors will meet together for dinner in a little restaurant right across the street, called the Belaruskaya.

The Second Concert is an International Classical Festival, sponsored by the Church this Friday and will be at the same theater that the Church's Moscow Choir played at Christmastime. We are bringing in the best performers from around the area, many of whom are members, and some who are not. We have given invitations to two our neighbors. We have invitations for our other neighbors, but we haven't found them home yet.

An Evening at the Ballet! or Three Senior Couples having a Senior Moment.

Yesterday, we went to the ballet to see Swan Lake. Chris and I left the office early to see if we could pick up some tickets, at the box office, for friends of the Gibbons (Chuck and Laurie Johnson). The Johnsons are from the Dallas 4th Ward, where Chuck is currently serving as bishop. We were fortunate enough to find two tickets on the second row!! As it turned out, two seats next to them were empty, so after the first act Chris and I joined them.

The ballet was fantastic. The costumes were incredible and the sets, particularly the one of the ballroom, was exquisite.

It seemed to me that Swan Lake is a story of a queen trying to find a wife for her son. But despite all of the beautiful girls that are presented to him (including a seductress presented by none other than Satan himself, the prince falls in love with a swan, who turns into a beautiful girl at the end of the play.

The legend of the Swan-Maiden goes back for centuries, appearing in differing forms in both eastern and western literature. Women who turn into birds and vice versa were popular themes, and the swan was particularly favored due to its grace when swimming in the water.

This most revered of classical ballets did not appear in a blaze of glory, and even the exact origins of the ballet are uncertain. The music was composed by Tchaikovsky. The version of Swan Lake that we consider the "standard" today was in fact created after Tchaikovsky’s death and was greatly altered from the original concept. Many of the features of Swan Lake that we believe to be from the original production were the result of revisions after the first known version. Of course, all anyone has to go on are personal recollections and memoirs that were written a long time after the event and thus subject to some skepticism and much debate among scholars.

Here we are taking the Gibbons and the Johnsons to our famous deli, just before the ballet, and then standing outside the Theater with the Gibbons, Johnsons and the Irelands, who were with two of their children and their spouses.
A walk to the Deli
Outside the Theater

Now for the seniors.

At the end of the second act, the Masons, Gregorys and the Irelands thought the play was over and tried to leave the theater. I knew in a heartbeat what must have happened when I scanned the theater and found that they had all departed. So, I got on the telephone to try to catch them, but when I tried to tell Sam that there was still one act to go, he didn't believe me. He thought I was pulling his leg. In the meantime, all three of the senior couples were getting exasperated because the babuskas wouldn't give them back their coats. The babushas kept pointing upstairs (where the theater is) but they weren't getting the message. Finally, Narene saw her coat and pointed to it and one of the babuskas relented and gave it back to her. I am not sure what happened to the Gregorys or the Masons, but the Irelands did pick up on some signal and returned to the theater for the third act, which had just resumed. Hello!!

Now to be truthful, both the Johnsons and the Shepards thought the play had ended, as well. You see, at the end of the second act, a couple of women came on to the stage and gave some of the cast flowers. However, the swan and the leading man were not among those to receive flowers. That was our first clue. At the end of act two the dashing leading man ran through an open door in pursuit of his swan, which he had just noticed out of the corner of his eye. We tried to convince ourselves that the ending was plausible, but we weren't really convinced. It was while we were expressing our disappointment to the Gibbons, that they called for everyone to return to their seats for the final act, our second and somewhat convincing clue!!

During the first intermission, we heard and saw a young couple call our names. Low and behold it was Jason Jones and his wife Angela. Jason is the son of Connie and Jay Jones, our dear friends in the Allen 2 Ward. We knew Jason and Angela were coming to Moscow, and we expected to see them at church on Sunday, but we were quite surprised to see them at the ballet. Jason and Angela Jones, seen here with her father, with Chris, Johnsons and the Gibbons looking on.

Now in all the world, this town of 15 million people is perhaps one of the smallest places. You can run into people you know just about anywhere. Today (Saturday) we were out at Ismaylova, doing some shopping for Chris' birthday. Guess who we bumped into as we were leaving, Jason and Angela and her father, again!!!

Now it just doesn't stop there. Brother Johnson is an executive with Mary Kay Cosmetics, who just happens to be officed in the same building as the Area Presidency. It was on Chuck's first visit to Moscow that he heard that the church had an office on the 14th floor. He decided to check it out. This is when he found out President Gibbons, who he knew was in Moscow, was his new neighbor!!

On Friday (Chris' birthday), Jonathan and Whitney Snow were scheduled to arrive in Moscow. Jonathan has taken an internship with a company here in Moscow. We haven't yet connected, but he was the language instructor for all of the senior couples. So, we are all looking forward to a great reunion.

Well, Chris is calling for me. We need to be ready to jump into the car in few minutes. We are going out to dinner with the Gibbons tonight.

More later.

Happy Birthday Chris

With chocolate cake in hand, we set off for the office this morning is glorious, though nippy sunny weather. It is just about freezing, but not a cloud in the air. More flowers for Chris from Elena, our Public Affairs Director. Tonight it is the ballet. More later!!! Happy Birthday to my Eternal Assistant!!

Here are few scenes from last weekend. You can see that Spring has sprung, finally, in Moscow.
Chris in a tulip patch.
Greg and Chris next to a flowering bush
Narene and Sam and Chris on Old Arbat.
Guitar player with a few extra strings!

Early Birthday Celebrations

Chris' birthday celebrations are starting already. Our fellow office worker, Marina, gave these tulips to Chris today. She is such a dear friend. Chris was so appreciative.

Today, we launched Office 2007. We had about a 30 minute overview and tips on where to find training online. All but three people have the system loaded on their computer. Next month we will tackle Outlook. Should be fun!!

Tonight I spent a couple of hours on Decisionpoint and got caught up with all the minutes and action items from the last two days of meetings.

Chris and I spent some time with President Gibbons this afternoon and reviewed the suggested schedule for the New Mission Presidents' Seminar that will be conducted in Moscow during the last week in June. These details will allow us to move forward and finalize our preparations.

It was a little chilly this morning, just about 1 degree above freezing, but it warmed up nicely. We had a little shower on the way home, but we had our umbrella with us, so we stayed pretty dry (well, the umbrella doesn't really cover two people completely!!).

Chronic Bronchitis

For most of the time Chris has been in Moscow she has been inflicted with her annual cough related to her susceptability to bronchitis, which normally lasts a couple of weeks. In Moscow, however, it has been her constant companion for six of the seven months we have been here. That makes the diagnosis, chronic bronchitis. She is on a steroid inhaler that we picked up at the local Apteka (pharmacy). It should be good. It is made by Astrazeneca. Tomorrow she will have been on it for 5 days. She has shown no noticeable improvement. So, our Area Medical doctor, Elder McCune is looking for a pulminary specialist for her to see. We will get her in at the end of this week or early next week.

We have written many times about how dusty our apartment is and we are on the 18th floor. I believe, the Moscow conditions are proving to be the cause of this prolonged condition.

For those who are curious, in Russia, the inhaler costs $33. In Canada, the online price is $118. In the US, it is $259.00, probably more at your local CVS or Walgreens. That is for 100 puffs!! Go figure!!

We are installing Office 2007 in our office this week. Tomorrow, I have organized some training for our office staff. For a guy who started out on a desktop computer in 1984, with the first version of Word, I can only marvel at the capability of the newest version of the software. The challenge that Microsoft has in developing new versions of Word, Excel and Powerpoint, is to feed the insatiable desires of the power users and, at the same time, keep us hackers in the game. Most people in our office will not use 10 percent of the capability provided. Two weeks later we will install Outlook. This will be quite different and a much bigger challenge, since the church has used Novell's Groupwise for sometime now.

Marina, our Liahona Local Pages Editor, brought in a CD filled with pictures from Saturday's Victory Day celebration. Her husband took them. He was right inside Red Square.

Victory Day

Russia's President Dmitry Medvedev speaks during the Victory Day military parade in Red Square in front of St Basil's Cathedral in Moscow May 9, 2008. Warplanes screamed over Red Square and missile launchers rumbled past ranks of soldiers on Friday when Russia celebrated victory over Nazi Germany with a show of military might not seen since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Below a couple of veterans help another veteran loaded down with his medals.

Russia suffered greatly during WW2. The bar chart below from Wikipedia demonstrates just how much.

Meanwhile, the seniors went out to Ismalya to do a little shopping. We ate in a park. Then went to the Masons for dinner. We got home and just getting ready for bed and the fireworks. This time the fireworks are sponsored by the government throughout Russia. So we should see quite a show tonight.

Chris is suffering from chronic bronchitis (my diagnosis). She has been coughing 6 of the 7 months we have been here. Dr. McCune suggested that she try an Astrzeneca inhaler called Symbicort Turbuhaler. So we bought one today and she took her first dose tonight. Here is the kicker. In the U.S., based on my online research, you could pay as high as $259.00 for the inhaler. In Canada, you could pay $118.00. In Russia we paid $33.00. Oh, and no prescription needed. Does any one out there believe we need to overhaul our medical system?

Slurping!!

Well, there is a new word on the web...slurping. It has nothing to do with impolitely drinking a hot cup of hot chocolate or soup. It refers to software that will take your blog and "slurp it" into a software package that you keep on your pc, for publishing it as a book. The text comes into the software starting with the oldest post first, as text and pictures. You can then pick a template that you want to use or you can design each page the way you want to (within the limits of the software) by clicking and dragging the photos into the template. I slurped my blog yesterday and now have a 180-page book. I have been through approximately 65 pages so far and hope to get it roughly layed out in the next week or two. The company that provides the software then publishes the book (hardcover, if you want) for about $70 [for the grand coffee table size (11 X 13)]. That is a full-color hardbound book. Smaller books can be printed for as little as $13 a piece. So, now you know what I will be doing with my free time!!

A Slow Day in Moscow...A Big Day in Dallas

It was a quiet day in Moscow. After traipsing around in Moscow for the last two days, we stayed in today, even though it was another great and beautiful day in Moscow. I balanced three checking accounts and recorded our missionary expenses and filed our receipts. I also developed a draft of a worksheet that could by used to help districts record their goals when meeting with a presiding authority during District Conference. Chris and I played a little Rummikube and had meat loaf for dinner.

In Dallas, it was quite another story. Cameron was baptised and all the family joined in except Nick, Benj and Chris and I. It seemed like everyone participated. Billy gave a talk and so did Jason. Armando and Grandma Dorothy offered prayers. I know that Abby sang. Gaynelle (Abby's mom) played the piano. Then the Deragons were off to play baseball. Cameron thinks it would be really cool to hit a homerun on his baptism day. Good luck Cam!!

A Day at the Tretyakov Museum

The Tretyakov Museum is Russia's answer to the Louvre and the Metropolitan...well not exactly. But it is the greatest collection of Russian art, so it is not an international collection of art. It is close to 70 rooms of art that was begun as a personal collection by Tretyakov. Very interesting. Lots of portraits, landscapes and sculpture. We went with the Ireland's and the Yorgeson's. We then walked down to the trees of wedding locks and then on to the Adult Vice sculpture. We ate at McDonalds. I had a chocolate milkshake!! What a treat!

Talked with Al Price today. He says he is doing well but he is very tired. But the doctors say he is making very good progress. He has another 9 treatments to go or about 18 weeks more of treatment. He is still assisting Public Affairs in Moscow from Utah over the internet. He is indefagitable.

Below are a few of the pictures from today's excursion.
Chris, Narene, and Sharon in front of fountain at the end of an alley, leading to the Museum.
The Museum, with a statue of Tretyakov in Plaza.
Sam and David looking at one of several bigger than life portraits. This one of a prince (there were those who thought it a princess) being exiled.
Dandelion garden at our apartment. The best patch of "wildflowers in Moscow!"

A Day at the All-Russian Exhibition Center

We discovered a prize destination today, the Russian Exhibition Center. Originally scheduled to open in 1937, the opening was delayed one year. Then it only ran for a couple years before it was reopened after the war and subsequently, many more buildings were added by 1954. In 1992, the site was renamed, receiving its current name VVC (for us, Russian Exhibition Center). The park occupies 2,375,000 square metres of land, of which 266,000 square metres are used for indoor exhibits. The territory of the park is greater than that of the principality of Monaco and has approximately 400 buildings. It took us 3 1/2 hours to walk through the park, including time to eat our picnic lunch on a park bench!! Some buildings have been restored, others are in a sorry state of disrepair. Again, we will let the photos do the talking. To begin, we will show a few sites that we discovered walking from the metro to the entrance of the park.
Rocket Ship monument just south of the main park, with launch pad of helium balloon ride (see wire connected to the helium balloon, visible in the next picture. The ride will probably hold about 20 people.
Helium balloon ride in a park just south of the main park.
Large TV tower that we can see from our apartment. Prospect Mira is the Metro stop.
The five-mile long monorail that runs outside of the park.
Chris and I standing at the southern entrance to the park.
Looking throught the front gate.
Central Pavilion.
Central Pavilion with Lenin standing guard.
One of many pavilions representing countries. This one is from Armenia
Friendship of Nations fountains. 15 women dressed in native clothing representing the 15 countries that once made up the Soviet Union (not including the two I am standing with).
More pavilions.
More fountains.
More Pavilions.
Pond at the entrance to the Botanical Gardens. We didn't make it all the way to the botanical gardens today. So we have a reason for a return trip!!
One of the buildings that could have used a little maintenance over the past 50 years.
Birch tree grove on the way to the metro from the North exit from the park.
Trees along and in the path!

It was hard to post these photos today, because we would rather you think about us freezing and suffering so!! Well, I guess the story is out now. Another sunny day. Another 65+ degrees. You get the point!!