Hello everyone,
In May Chad and I were in charge, along with another great missionary couple, of the YSA Conference here in Russia for five of the missions. With the dedication of the Kiev temple coming up our focus, of course, was on the temple. The service project we decided on was to make white handkerchiefs to be used during that dedication service and send them to one of the mission that was not involved in our conference. We pre made the white handkerchiefs and then on the Sunday of the Conference, after our Church meetings and lunch, we all gathers again in the big auditorium and hand sewed beautiful white lace around the edges of the hankies. It was a WONDERFUL project. The Spirit was so strong. There was lovely Church music playing, the kids were sitting alone or in small groups, the conversation was subdued, and the smiles bright. Everyone was enjoying the peace that the Spirit brings. As I watched this event unfold before me I was overcome with my love for our Savior, His gospel, and these great young single pioneers of the Church here in Russia. In the end we'd finished 360+ lovely hankies.
Many of the YSA said that the project was their favorite part of the Conference. they talked about it so much to others and on FB that we were asked by the person in the EEA (Eastern European Area) office to write up something about it and send in several pictures, including one of ourselves. They did a little interview of us also. We were told later that it had been approved by the magazine department and would be in the September Liahona. That was in June.
Last Monday night we were hosting the Senior Couples Council in our home. (Our weekly senior couples get together.) Our mission President's wife mentioned that she saw the article in the Liahona, and blah, blah, blah. We'll actually forgotten about it. We don't get the Church magazines in a very timely fashion at all. I think that last one they got was May's, the Conference edition, and we got that in July. We never did get it in English though.
You may want to check at your local Church bookstore see if they have a copy available. We'd like to share that expereince with everyone. We'd like to have someone scan it and send it email to us if possible. We would appreciate it.
Lastly, please be sure to watch the segments between sessions of GC this weekend. One of them will focus on Moscow. They production crew was here in August. They interviewed several of our District Saints, including our adopted Russian (Uzbeckistanian) son Timur Kodirov. Timur served his mission with us until his release in June. He is now back and is the EQP in our Rechnoy Branch. His story is so inspiring. The crew filmed some of our Sacrament Meeting too. They of course were at the temple dedication and spotlighted 3-4 of the dancers from here. Their stories will be on youth.lds.org soon. (Kids, one of you DVR it and keep it for us please.)
This surely is the work of the Lord. We love Him and His gospel, and the opportunity we are having to help build the kingdom here in Moscow.
Love,
Bethany & Chad
