The Russia Samara Mission is HUGE!!

We have traveled the mission on a Mission Tour to start meeting our Saints. We traveled the mission with President and Sister Lawrence. We have had Simplified Curriculum Training with ALL OF OUR MISSIONARIES. How we love our missionaries. They are TOTALLY AWESOME!!
We had a special baptism in a beautiful secluded spot by a river. The Saints are strong and their baptisms mean so very much to them.

Pres. and Sister Bennett are so loving and were so helpful to us as we readied to come.

WE ARE IN SAMARA, RUSSIA AND LOVING IT !!!

Hello dear friends...we have been on our new mission for 3 months and what a fantastic whirlwind it has been. We have learned tons and much of this time--most of it, the spirit has been guiding us in ways we never knew possible. We have met and worked with several General Authorities. What special priesthood leaders they are and we testify that Jesus Christ leads and guides His church on the earth today.
We started our journey way before entering the MTC for Mission President's Seminar. We continued our study of the beautiful Russian language. Our tutor, Bro. Sagers was phenomenal!! Then the Seminar was UN--BELIEVABLE!! There were times; Fireside, class discussions, Sacrament Meeting where we sat at the feet [literally] of many of the Apostles and were taught. This is the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints and it is led by Jesus Christ through His Prophet and Apostles. Our last day was Sacrament Mtg. and the Prophet, his 2 counselors, 11 of the 12 Apostles were all there, plus all 7 Presidents of the 70, plus the Presiding Bishopric, plus many members in the 1st and 2nd Quorums of 70. We indeed walked on humble ground at the MTC that day. The Brethren love us, they work so tirelessly for us. This is a great work that we are engaged in and the peace, love and kindnesses are evident in each of these great leaders. They are great leaders showing just how Christ is and what He would be doing if He were on the earth today. His Gospel is going forth and being proclaimed throughout the whole world so Heavenly Father's children can have peace and joy here today and forever. We are humbled at the blessing of being a part of it. We bear you our fervent testimony that the Plan of Salvation is so much more than we know, but we are able to learn and the Spirit is able to teach us more. We do know that our loving Heavenly Father needs each one of us to do His work that all of His children may have the opportunity to be able to work his/her way back to live with Him. He has rules/commandments, He has promised blessings.... may we each search to find those and be willing to sacrifice what is needed to do His will.

WE ARE IN MOSCOW, RUSSIA

We just finished an absolutely WONDERFUL several days at the MTC. We were blessed to be with 10 of the Twelve Apostles. One day the Prophet, Pres. Thomas S. Monson was there with his counselors. On different days, each one of these amazing leaders spoke to us and the Spirit was strong. In the 4 1/2 days we also talked with, shared class time with and had dinner with the wonderful Apostles. This work is true, the Restored Church is true, Jesus Christ is our Savior --- and experiences like we just had cement our testimony.
Now, today we are in Russia... Moscow, Russia. Sorry about the blogging, but we were spending all our available time with our children and grandchildren and each moment was wonderful.
We just spent today in training with the East Europe Area Presidency and various East Europe Area church employees who work hard to help the church grow here in Russia. It is amazing how many wonderful, dedicated people all over the world are tirelessly working to help the gospel be preached throughout the world. PLEASE, everyone, would you include these and others in your daily prayers. Will you pray and ask that governments in the nations that are not allowing the church to be recognized or are being influenced by the adversary that the Spirit will touch hearts, stumbling blocks will be moved and that the dedicated Saints throughout the world may be assisted in this great work!!
Tomorrow we fly to Samara and begin THE AWESOME JOURNEY!!! We love you family and friends and hope you find joy living each day to it's fullest. May you greet each challenge with courage and a positive attitude and may you have peace, joy, good health and wonderful days!!! Our love we send to each one of you !!!!
PRESIDENT & SISTER SARTORI

OUR SPECIAL CALL HAS BEGUN

Dear friends, we will be updating our blog once a month until we are in Russia again and then I will try to post more often. Our special call has begun. We have been called to serve as Mission President of the Russia Samara Mission. We will begin serving on July 1, 2010. We came home in December 2009 and spent the holidays with our family. This was a treat that we continue to enjoy. It was hard at first because we felt like we still needed to be in Russia. It was an adjustment. It has been such a blessing to be with family again and to be with Julie's MOM. Our training has begun!! We are busy listening to training cd's and watching training dvd's and are learning tons. We feel very blessed as we train for a most humbling calling. Often-times we have tears flow as we realize the importance of our calling. We feel humbled, inadequate, excited, concern, happy and willing to serve......and very blessed to be able to do this. We have begun language training again at the Provo MTC and the Lord is helping us so very much. We are so thankful for this help, because we really could not do this without Him.
We are thrilled to be going back to Russia. We met some very good friends that we will cherish forever. We pray for all our Saints in Russia and all our awesome missionaries. The Lord's work is just pioneering in Russia, but there are strengths we see in the Russian people that the Lord needs to help bring the gospel of Christ to ALL HIS CHILDREN. We look forward to making even more friendships. Please, everyone, pray for the leaders of the nations in the world that the gospel may fill the earth. Pray for our missionaries worldwide - they have a tremendous responsibility and need our prayers. May you all enjoy life each day sharing smiles and laughs and LOVE.

My Walk to Church

Our Church is in an Office Building on the 7th floor.




Now we come up and walk on street Lenina, where our church is.

Remember it is -20 degrees F !!! Burr!!!

I want to now share a few pictures on a side street we walk up from the hotel.

We walk on a cobblestone walkway through a hotel.

It was dusk, so the pictures are special.

Elder Sartori has Skype meetings on Tuesday and I walk to English Club and he comes later. I want to share some beautiful pics of our walk to church.

Pictures

Here is our pic of our Thanksgiving Dinner!!!