27 January 2008 - Letter from Kazakhstan

We're still doing fine in Kazakhstan. The weather has been above zero the last couple of days and we can sure tell!!

The next two pictures are some very important people in our lives. To the right is Svetlana Rahimzhanova. She is the Visa Clerk for the Church here in Kazakhstan. She got our visa to get us in and takes care of the registration and renewals to keep us here. She is a member in Almaty who served a mission in Kiev. Besides working for the church, she teaches English and Institute. If we have any problems at all we call Sveta first. She is a sweetheart and we love her very much!!

This is the Wikle Family; Robin, holding Caleb and Gene holding Jacob. He is in the army and works for the American Embassy. They are expecting another boy the end of March.

We hold church in their home each week and we depend on them so much. If we have any problems or need help of any kind, we call them.
We have learned to love them dearly.






This is the little market right across the road from where we live. It is called the Anvar Market. It is not on the ground floor but is up one flight of stairs.

We buy our juice, milk and bread at this store, along with a few other things. Half of the grocery section is candy and alcohol.

The people recognize us when we come in and they are very friendly.








This is one of the four Raddison towers. We are right in their back yard or are they in our back yard??

Our apartment building is what you see on the left.

These are two wonderful ladies, Sholpan and Ludmilla, who run a day-care center for handicapped children, mostly pre-schoolers. The Church bought them some beds and small furniture for the children and a computer for the office.

We went to get acquainted and we were greeted with a table full of food. Anytime you visit it is Kazakh tradition to feed your guests. They don't put out a few treats, they fill the table full!!

All the ladies in Kazakhstan wear beautiful tanned leather or fur coats, mostly mink. They are gorgeous and very expensive but most of all very warm. These two ladies, who we don't know at all, let us take their picture.

Many of the ladies wear the beautiful fur hats to match. I think I just might buy one, a hat that is. I'd have to sell the house to get a coat!!

Saturday after doing laundray and cleaning the apartment, we went for a walk along the river which runs right past the Raddison.

Of course, it's so cold that there is no water running!! In fact, they cut the ice for ice sculpture in the parks. It is very beautiful and we will show you in the next couple of weeks.

We will try to keep you informed on what we are doing each week with lots of pictures; so stay tuned.

Thanks again for all of your prayers in our behalf. We love you all!

Love,

Elder and Sister Welling