The Siberian Missionary Battalion

We were in Moscow on Sunday and were able to attend church. The missionaries there translated the testimony meeting for us. I was so impressed with the members of that small branch. They had such strong testimonies. Some have to travel long distances and they do not have very many members around them. They are pioneers in Russia!

We attended a missionary Zone Conference in Irkutsk and Krasnoyarsk and a member fireside. I was inspired by the missionaries in Siberia. They face -40 degree weather, frostbite, anti American sentiment, less than great food, and difficult travel. But they have the most positive attitudes and they have such a great desire to share the Gospel with the great people of Russia. They need something positive in their lives. The Russian people live such hard lives. Even grocery shopping is an adventure, there's no Wal Mart down the street.

Evan's parents work so hard traveling from city to city helping the missionaries any way they can. They do have fun with the missionaries. The Assistant Missionaries joined us feeding squirrels in Irkutsk.

Those same missionaries presented Hal & Patty with military hats.

A senior couple and a Russian sister missionary conspired together for this presentation.

(The Dragonlady is a nickname for my super nice Mother in law and Head Chicken is Evan's father nickname in the family.) This presentation was a result of a drawing that Evan's sister, Tricia, drew in President Mickelsen's office for all the missionaries to see.