THE WORK MOVES ON

It is June 22, 2009. We have been in Ulan-Ude just over 3-months. For those 3-months we have had a tremendous problem with our computer. Sometimes it would work properly and most of the time it would not. We found a computer expert named Denis who took off Vista (which he said was the cause of our problems) and loaded a more stable operating system. The computer seems to work fine now. Lessons learned: Bring a second back-up computer. We could not do our jobs effectively without a computer, which was a mission requirement for us. We could use the Internet Salon, but that takes time. Most of the instructions to us, and our response in return, is with e-mail.

We are making good progress in strengthening both Branches. Branch 1 now has a new Branch Mission Leader, and has started doing Home Teaching with their 5 active MP holders. The President in Branch 2 has a new counselor (only 1-counselor) and a new Branch Mission Leader. Branch 2 also has 5-active MP holders to do Home Teaching. Neither Branch have YM leaders, or EQPs. Seminary and Institute is taught once per week and graduation was held this month. Visiting Teaching is being done in both branches on a limited basis. The branch members are doing the best they can considering the lack of active MP holders. The Branch Presidents with their wives and the 2nd counselor to Novosibirsk Mission President and his wife is shown below. Remember to double click on the photos to see a larger picture.From left to right: President and Sister Southam (2nd counselor to the Mission President), President and Sister Zenkov (2nd Branch President), and President and Sister Baldakov (1st Branch President) are shown seated at the Moleff's apartment.

Our missionary effort is to find new converts, and to help bring back the less actives. Since March 2009 we have had 1 baptism with 2 currently scheduled. We have a good teaching pool. Moleff night (spiritual thought, game, refreshments) is well attended where sometimes there are more non-member youth than member youth. Our recent effort was to visit the 14 -18 years olds to invite them to Youth Conference in Novosibirsk which is to take place on July 24 - 26, 2009. The missionaries and branch members haver 18 signed-up to go to youth conference, which is very good. Our current effort is to invite the YSA, ages 18 - 30, to go to the YSA Conference in Yekaterinburg from August 6-9. The YSA conference will encompass the Novosibirsk, Samara, and Yekaterinburg missions. Elder Schwitzer, of the Seventies, and his wife will be the guest speakers. We will attend the conference as a CES couple.

Our missionary district has changed twice, as Elders and Sisters have been transferred. Above is a photograph of our 2nd district since we have been in Ulan-Ude. From left to right: Elder Peterson, Mini Missionary Andre, Elder and Sister Moleff, Sisters Zhirnova and Kiselyova. Bottom row are Elder Wilson and Zone Leader Elder Harper.

The photograph below is our current (3rd District) since we have been in Ulan-Ude. Sorry, we did not take a formal picture. A really great District. Moleff's apartment again.From left to right: Sisters Timofeyeva and Kiselyova, Elder and Sister Moleff, Elder Peterson (his first district in Russia - and doing great), Elder Bindrup, Zone Leader Elder Wilson (top), and Mini Missionary Sergay which is Elder Wilson's companion.

Our Seminary and Institute graduation went well. President Drachov, 1st Counselor to the Mission President, presided.

Left to right standing: Mini Missionary Sergay, President Drachov, Branch 1 President Baldakov (conducted the graduation exercise), the Moleffs, Dima, Vassia, Kolya, Valaria, Aleysa, Marat, and 2nd Branch President Zenkov. Seated is Natalya (who graduated Institute this June and teaches Seminary), and Dareema who teaches Institute.

We just had branch confetrence this Sunday, 21 June 2009, with both Banch Presidents and President Southam speaking. They were 2-good meetings. The Ulan-Ude saints are marvelous people. The work moves on.