YSA Conference - August 2009

As CES missionaries, it was our opportunity to attend the Young Single Adult (YSA) Conference in Yekaterinburg Russia (Yekaterinburg Mission-President Allcott). We left Ulan-Ude by train on 2 August and arrived in Yekaterinburg on Wednesday 5 August, some 64 hours later. We spent the time in a Coupe and ate once in the dinning car. Our train conductor, a woman, was very nice to us and would tell us when we had time, at train stops, to exit the train, stretch our legs, and buy some snacks. The ride was pleasant, and we got a lot of reading done. Sister Moleff kept winning me in UNO, next time we bring a chess set. We spent Wednesday evening at the Mission Home with President and Sister Allcott and were taken out to the Resort Camp on Thursday morning where the conference was held. The Resort was located in the Ural mountains and was surrounded by trees - it was very pretty at the camp. It rained every day of the Conference - but no one's spirits seemed to be dampened. The YSA Conference was from August 6-9 with everyone leaving on Sunday. The YSA Conference consisted of classes, talks, humanitarian projects, skits by the YSA from the different cities that attended the conference, and dances each evening with different themes. The conference ended on Sunday with a Sacrament & Testinomy Meeting. There was not enough time to hear all those who wanted to bear their testimonies. We have never been with such enthusiastic, fun loving, and obedient group of youth as those that we have been with in Russia. It was pleasure to be with the Russian YSA. A few pictures are shown below.

A western theme at the international dance.

Our Ulan-Ude girls present a Buryatyan dance at the International dance.

Sister Moleff with some of the Ulan-Ude YSA that attended Conference.

President and Sister Schwitzer, 2nd counselor in the European East Area Presidency , and President and Sister Allcott Yekaterinburg Mission President.

Each morning the YSA and adults got together in groups to start the day with prayer and a spiritual thought from the scriptures. Henry Kosak, to the right of Sister Moleff, is the CES Director of the Europe East Area.

Some more of those who attended the YSA Conference.