Dear family,

Well, this was a little sad of a week because I didn't get any emails. I kind of expected it though. Oh well, life goes on. A lot has happened this last week, but I am so tired that I don't know if I feel like writing about it. So, I'll start with telling you about our кашмар (kashmar - nightmare) of a meeting on Sunday. (Picture to the left - every Wednesday night we had sports night. We invited members and nonmembers alike to play sports. Unfortunately, our volleyball net was stolen, and so we had to improvise here. If you look closely, you'll see that we strung a string across the court and hung some clothes from it so we could see where our make-shift net was. The following two pictures are from that sports night, too) First, let me explain, there is this couple who used to be active and who even went to the temple, but then they started reading anti-literature and now are против (protiv - anti-) and have some really strange ideas (like that ordinances are not required to be saved). So, most of the active members went to the temple this week. They will be there for ten days and of course, that would be the time when these anti-s would choose to come to church (as in this inactive couple). So, it was fast Sunday and that means we had a testimony meeting like the rest of the world and for some reason, the husband decided to get up and "bear his testimony". He started off by telling everyone that you don't have to go to church everyday. I was shocked! We had two investigators there! One of whom took a lot of energy to get to come for the first time. Then he continued on to say that you don't have to get baptized and that it doesn't really matter which church you belong to . . . I was really annoyed when I heard that and I thought to myself, now I have to get up and correct everyone so our investigators don't think that is what our church teaches, but, before I could, one of the Elders got up. He corrected everything and then bore his testimony. That was a relief and I thought that the horror was over. I was wrong.

Next, while we were doing the opening exercises for Sunday School, we heard that couple arguing with the Elders in the hallway. But even that wasn't the end. During Gospel Principles, there were a few teenagers who disrupted class. That was also annoying, but again not the end. During Relief Society, one of the members used the spiritual thought time to complain about her problems. We were supposed to have a testimony meeting after that but it turned into an advice giving session with the one lady retaliating that no one understands and complaining some more. Let's just say, it will be a miracle if the one investigator who came for the first time comes again.

I had to get an AIDS test this week. I guess to get a VISA you have to prove that you don't have AIDS and since my time to renew my VISA is coming soon, I had to get that done. We went to the AIDS center because you can't get it done anywhere else. It is in Саратов (Saratov), so we came here yesterday to find out what we need to do. They told us to come back today, so we did. The nice thing was, the lady who was there yesterday recognized us and she let us go first. We didn't have to wait in line. That means that it went a lot faster than we expected. It was nice. I was really happy to see that they are clean there. That's especially important because most people who go there are afraid that they have AIDS. But, the nurse not only had a mask for her mouth, but a plastic shield for her face. It looked like a welder's helmet. It was really funny. (The picture to the right - this was our first experience with the horrible style that was back in style in Russia. If you can't tell, the guy in the front seat has a mullet. After that, the mullet count became. We even started naming them. You can see on Sister Silva's face how much she liked that mullet) I don't know why she needs that, but maybe to protect her eyes in case blood starts squirting everywhere. We have to go back on Саратов to get my certificate that says I am AIDS free.

That was an adventure. Other than that, things have been going like usual. I'm always tired and I can't really understand why because it doesn't matter how long I sleep or how little, it's always there. But, I've come to the conclusion that worrying about other people's salvation is draining and it never ends, even when I'm sleeping. That is why no amount of sleep seems to help.

So, our ZLs are going to Пенза (Penza) tomorrow to interview an investigator. One of the Elders there asked me to write a letter to their investigator, a girl who was supposed to get baptized the Saturday after we left but wasn't able to, so I was able to get that written out and I am passing it along with them. I really hope it will help as much as that Elder seems to think it will.

Transfers are next week. We should find out either today or tomorrow. We are pretty sure that we are going to stay here (Sister Silva goes home next transfer and I just got here) but who really knows in this crazy world of ours called the Russia Samara Mission. (Picture to the left - the view from our window early one morning. The most prominent building there is a Russian Orthodox Cathedral) I hope I do stay because this is the first area where I have had so much work to do! Of course, there could be more, we usually have a few free slots every week, but not like before. Every other area before this has had a few full spots and the rest we had to fill with contacting, going to addresses to try and find less actives or old investigators, and things like that. But, here, it is the opposite and that is a nice change, it gives me the chance to work hard doing the things I like to do the most . . . that is, teaching. What a great life when there is work to be done.

So, I'm pretty sure that my release date is the 21^st. I've heard it from everyone but the President and the APs (my ZL is going home with me and he said he heard the 21^st, too) so I think that is it, especially since this cycle is a week shorter than usual, it may well be the 21^st. That will be nice to be home for Christmas. Staying three days after Christmas doesn't have meaning for me. It would be better to stay another 6 weeks.

Ok, I guess that's it. Don't forget about me! Write me as often as you want, I love to hear from everyone.

Love,

Сестра Атвуд