We realized that we only have a short time left on our mission. Before we know it, we’ll be packing up, sorting our belongings and trying to fit everything back into the car. We have purchased a roof top carrier to help with our packing. When you move out of your normal surroundings, you quickly discover the creature comforts that you use to make your life easier or just what you are accustomed to.
This past week we had a phone call with the missionary sister who will be moving into our apartment. She was interested in knowing what was in the apartment and what she needed to bring. Her husband is trying to wrap up his law practice and she is doing the leg work for preparing to leave on their mission. I remember feeling that exact same way last year. Because I love to cook, I was worried about the kitchen appliances and what would be available. Fortunately for us, moving to the USA proved to be an easy switch for the most part. Electric tea kettles are an anomaly here, whereas I like my kettle that has different temperature settings for the water. Certain herbs shouldn’t be brewed with boiling water. It’s what you are used to.
Our New Year’s Eve party with the senior missionaries was fun. We played a couple of games and me not being a game person, I’m not sure that I can remember what they were called. I think one of them was “Ranter-Go-Round” or could be “Chase the Ace”. The second game was “Left-Center-Right”. Lo and behold, I won that game! Of course, there were plenty of treats to eat and then we broke up the party early because the snow was really starting to come down thick. Two sets of Historic Site missionaries live 45 minutes away at the Whitmer Farm and we wanted them to get home safely. I brought Canadian treats to share with everyone.
This was week two of shortened work days at the temple. On Saturday morning Erik and I were baptistry coordinators and then for the second shift we were the shift coordinators. I wanted to apologize to the workers because the regular shift coordinators bring a picnic each time they work. I wanted to say, “Sorry for not bringing the Pierce Picnic!” Rene outdoes herself with two types of chicken salad, various cookies, and crackers and tortilla chips for dipping into the salads and during Christmas, she brought 4 different types of fudge as well. Her dad was the master fudge maker and Rene wants to get her fudge as good as his. The workers are very well fed during that shift.
I realized that I may not need my winter parka that I brought with me. Palmyra sits at the 43 parallel and we have pretty nice temperatures in the winter. The snow on the other hand can be ridiculous in New York state. Up along highway 104 which is close to Lake Ontario, they received between 4 and 6 feet of snow last week. Lake effect snow is no joke! I have been wearing my fleece jacket this winter and I have been plenty warm. Our friends, the Rutkowski’s, are serving their mission in the Historic site of San Diego, California. Their winter is all sunshine and roses, haha! Oh, and they have a hot tub at their apartment building.
I love January because we start a new round of “Come Follow Me” at church. This year, the church is studying the Old Testament (Antiguo Testamento). I really enjoy the Old Testament. Every year I start reading it on August 15 and finish it on February 14. The thing that I love about the Come Follow Me program is that it encompasses scriptures from other books as well. I purchased a study guide developed by Shannon Foster (The Red Headed Hostess). It’s called Seek. Plus there are other authors who give their own perspectives and knowledge on the history of the Old Testament which I look forward to reading. At Deseret Book, they have so many resources for studying the Old Testament and one that I haven’t read yet is about “Seeing the Women in the Old Testament”.
My mind has been swamped with feelings of wonder as I learn more about my ancestors from my biological father’s family. I have learned where they settled when they came to Canada and am getting help from cousins with information about the family. I still have cousins in Kyiv, Ukraine. Our great grandparents were Doukhobors in Russia and were pacifists who ate a plant based diet of Russian and Ukrainian foods. One of the grandparents told the family that they were White Russians, the ethnic Belarusians.
Ethnic White Russians (Belarusians)
- Historical name: “White Rus” (Bela Rus) was a medieval term for the lands of modern Belarus, differentiating it from “Great Russia” (Muscovy) and “Little Russia” (Ukraine).
- Modern identity: Today, they are known as Belarusians, with their nation being Belarus (meaning “White Rus”), and speak Belarusian.
How fascinating! I have been studying their culture to gain more understanding of how it affects my life and gives me knowledge of my forefathers. In the meantime, we are eating our way through some fantastic Slavic recipes. Oh, the Russian Pickled Cabbage Salad was incredibly good! I bought more ingredients today to make it again. I did add an onion to mine. It keeps really well and we were eating it with nearly every meal.
I bought some smoked salmon today to make another Russian salad, called Shuba. I will let you know how it goes.
Here we are starting anew again. That’s the part I love; through Christ our time to repent and renew is unlimited!
Go forth, my chosen friends! Have a beautiful week and live well; sending you love across the miles.
cherylnaglis 