It's Getting Cold, Brrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr, in Astana, Kazakhstan!!!! - 16 November 2008

The snow has already come to Astana!!! It really isn't too bad yet, if the wind doesn't blow. Roy bought a hat for the fall so Anne decided to get one, too. (Actually, I hate wearing hats; but everyone tells me I should wear one or I will get sick!) Everyone wears hats; hats of every kind, from mink to knit. They even have stores here with nothing but hats! We had to break out the winter coats again and the snow boots! It gets icy pretty fast. Once it snows, it doesn't melt until spring!!

Roy in his new "kapka". Doesn't he look great!! When it gets a little colder he'll wear the Russian "shopka".

Two weeks ago in our English class, we had a discussion on favorite foods. We had a great time because food is something that is easy to talk about. We took Peanut Butter M&M cookies to share with them. The next week Oxsana brought us these delicious rolled cookies made with a waffle iron called "trubochki" (little pipes or tubes). Sometimes they fill them with something sweet!! They reminded us of waffle cones but they were a lot thinner.

After class, the students invited us to a program on Friday night at the Pyramid of Peace put on by the university students. Each department nominated a young lady to represent them in the contest to choose a new "Goddess of Justice". (It would be like a "Miss U of U" or "Miss USU" or "Miss BYU".)

The students from each department then presented a short production highlighting their department, the young lady they had nominated and her platform. The costumes and scenery were incredible!We were told that the students have practiced every day for a month to put together this program. It was evident by the singing and the dancing that was preformed.The young lady holding the justice scales was the winner of the event. We had a wonderful time and were so glad that we were invited to attend!

After the performance we took this picture outside the Pyramid of Peace looking back at the President's Palace and the Byterick. It was so beautiful!!

One of the projects that we have written for the Tselinograd Hospital was approved this week. We are writing another project for a handicapped group here in Astana. We will be starting and English Club at the university on Monday of this next week so wish us luck!

Our Sunday meetings are wonderful!! We are so grateful to have Zhanna with us and we love her so much!! We wish that we had more members to have her associate with but we must be patient--all in the Lord's time!! She is a good example to us because of her diligence to attend Church and even though we struggle communicating, we seem to understand through the Spirit!

Thanks to all of you for your prayers! As a Church, we need to follow the prophet's admonition to pray that the gospel will be spread in all countries. "... Alma labored much in the spirit, wrestling with God in mighty prayer, that he would pour out his Spirit upon the people who were in the city; that he would also grant that he might baptize them unto repentance." (Alma 8:10)

Love,

Elder and Sister Welling