Last night Elder and Sister Gubler and Sister Humphrey and I went to a concert at the huge, and very old, St. Peter's Cathedral. Elder Gubler loves to take a break from the office, go into Olde Towne and see what concerts are coming up. Of course, they are all in Latvian so he can't really tell what most of them are, but occasionally there is a picture so he can at least guess.
Yesterday morning he told us that there was a concert at the Cathedral but he didn't know what kind or what it would cost. We decided we would go and see. The cost was perfect--free. We walked into the main hall and there up front, warming up, were all these young people (age 10 and up, I guess) with accordians! I wondered how difficult it might be to sit through it, but was absolutely delighted. The performers were very good and the accordian plays much more than polkas, ala Lawrence Welk.
What was even more fun, as we looked over the printed program (in Latvian) we recognized some names and musical pieces, for instance (written in Latvian) H. Mancini (hat over the "c" (pronounced ch) and tail on the "n." The piece was Sarada (hat over the S and is said sh).
R. Rodzers (hat over the z) - Do-Re-Mi un Edelweis; E. L. Vebers - Opera Spoks (Phantom of the Opera selection). The E in Latvian is pronounced A and that's the only reason I can think of for Andrew Lloyd Weber to be E.L.Vebers. Another of his pieces, Memory, no muzikla Kaki (from musical Cats). J. Viljams - Imperialais marss no k/f Zvaigznu kari (John Williams' Imperial March from Star Wars) and E. Preslijs' Love Me Tender. I didn't know Elvis wrote that song. One composer was J. Tempests and the music "The final countdown." The music was familiar but I couldn't place it and don't know the composer. Another number was D. Ellingtons' Karavans.
They also had adult, very professional-sounding, guests soloists: a cellist, a pianist and a man who played the sax and the clarinet. All of them were excellent and the accordians accompanied in the background.
The children are students of two female teachers who directed their students. The one wore black tux with tails.
The concert lasted 1 1/2 hours and was so very enjoyable. Elder Gubler looks not only for the concert, but for the venue. He wants to see something performed in each of the several venues. Several he and Sister Gubler have gone to are recitals of piano students, or voice students. There haven't been too many they didn't enjoy.
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Sunday, May 10, 2009
The mighty Dumb Cane has fallen
The first Sunday in the Imanta 1 Branch, I walked into the Relief Society room and saw this towering Dumb Cane (I don't know it's proper name but hope you all know it by this name). There were about 3 canes, each well over 6 feet tall, and in a pot that might have been sufficient for one. A sturdy stick (2-3' tall) had been placed in the pot and strings tied around the canes to support them. I mentioned to the RS president (who speaks no English) that if she cut the tops off and put them in dirt, they would grow. I thought, with hand gestures and, of course, talking loudly so she could better understand my English, that she understood what I was saying.
Week after week, the Dumb Cane stood in a corner. Milda, the RS president, would faithfully pour a pitcher of water into the pot most weeks.
Yesterday, Grandma Senkans (she's younger than I am by a few years, but there are 3 Senkans families, she being the mother of the 3 grown sons, and so I call her Grandma Senkans) took a large knife to the Dumb Canes, cutting each top about 3' down from the top. Next thing I saw, Milda was carrying in a bucket of water and they put the tops into it. I think they are planning to get 3 pots of soil in which to plant the canes.
Amazingly, the plants continued to be green and look healthy, other than their very misshapen canes. Perhaps by the time I leave in a year, the RS room will have 4 (3 new and the original pot) gracing the room.
Week after week, the Dumb Cane stood in a corner. Milda, the RS president, would faithfully pour a pitcher of water into the pot most weeks.
Yesterday, Grandma Senkans (she's younger than I am by a few years, but there are 3 Senkans families, she being the mother of the 3 grown sons, and so I call her Grandma Senkans) took a large knife to the Dumb Canes, cutting each top about 3' down from the top. Next thing I saw, Milda was carrying in a bucket of water and they put the tops into it. I think they are planning to get 3 pots of soil in which to plant the canes.
Amazingly, the plants continued to be green and look healthy, other than their very misshapen canes. Perhaps by the time I leave in a year, the RS room will have 4 (3 new and the original pot) gracing the room.
apartment hunting in Riga
President Dance feels pretty certain that the office will be moving in July to downtown Riga, so I called a realtor to help us find an apartment nearby. That's the way you look for an apartment here, especially if you don't speak Latvian or Russian. This woman, Katherine, has found several apartments for the missionaries and she is very helpful.
We gave her a list of our "needs" and she found two that met the criteria. The first one was nicer than what we have now and we could have been happy with it, but we looked at the 2nd one and it was much nicer and for the same money. The "crisis" here in Latvia has caused rent prices to be greatly reduced. That's one reason we're able to move the office, too.
The apartment has two bedrooms (yeah!!!) and comfortable furniture (double yeah!!!). It is owned, and is currently the home of, a 3 generation family of women: grandma, mother, and 20ish daughter. They are building a home to move into so it's a happy thing for them and a really good thing for us. The daughter will be the landlord and she speaks excellent English.
We will be about 2 blocks from the office, which is a newer office complex, and 2 blocks in another direction from a grocery store that is larger and nicer than the Super Netto we now shop at.
We will move the weekend of the 13th of June and will then commute back to the office until it moves. Our new apartment is across the street and up about a block from the Mission Home, which will also be convenient when we go to departure dinners--no more walking to the bus stop and then riding home afterward.
We gave her a list of our "needs" and she found two that met the criteria. The first one was nicer than what we have now and we could have been happy with it, but we looked at the 2nd one and it was much nicer and for the same money. The "crisis" here in Latvia has caused rent prices to be greatly reduced. That's one reason we're able to move the office, too.
The apartment has two bedrooms (yeah!!!) and comfortable furniture (double yeah!!!). It is owned, and is currently the home of, a 3 generation family of women: grandma, mother, and 20ish daughter. They are building a home to move into so it's a happy thing for them and a really good thing for us. The daughter will be the landlord and she speaks excellent English.
We will be about 2 blocks from the office, which is a newer office complex, and 2 blocks in another direction from a grocery store that is larger and nicer than the Super Netto we now shop at.
We will move the weekend of the 13th of June and will then commute back to the office until it moves. Our new apartment is across the street and up about a block from the Mission Home, which will also be convenient when we go to departure dinners--no more walking to the bus stop and then riding home afterward.
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Two East Indian students
The Assistants to President Dance have been teaching two young men who are students here, from India. One is 22 and single and the other is 35 and married with a son. They are friends and have been here studying so they can improve their employment in India.
They are "golden" contacts and both will be baptized in two weeks. They were Christians before and had heard about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They said that more and more people in India are becoming Christians. The one who is married said his wife is Christian and will want to be baptized, as well. She is in India while he attends school.
There are now two missions of the Church in India but their home is an 8 hour drive from the nearest Branch of the Church.
They are "golden" contacts and both will be baptized in two weeks. They were Christians before and had heard about The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. They said that more and more people in India are becoming Christians. The one who is married said his wife is Christian and will want to be baptized, as well. She is in India while he attends school.
There are now two missions of the Church in India but their home is an 8 hour drive from the nearest Branch of the Church.
New discoveries
With the warmer weather, Sister Humphrey and I have taken advantage to go walking a couple of evenings. We walked in the opposite direction of the office, and found two little markets. We bought some apples in one--the best apples I've seen since my arrival here. In fact, they were very much like the apples from my tree in Bountiful.
We also discovered a little veikels (market) on the street behind our apartment building. It was the most American-like market we've seen. It was even air-conditioned (a little too much, I thought), but clean and offering more selection.
Markets are not as identifiable here as at home. I had passed this one for nearly 6 months and didn't know it was a market.
One of the best treats I've had here is a small treat made by Karums. Many of them are chocolate covered, but one is white chocolate covered with a berry center. They are probably 5 cmx2 cm x2 cm. The centers are made of cottage cheese, but it's whipped (and may have a little sugar added) so it's the consistency of good cheesecake. They have come out with another one--lemon covered and lemon center--tastes just like a very good lemon pie.
We also discovered a little veikels (market) on the street behind our apartment building. It was the most American-like market we've seen. It was even air-conditioned (a little too much, I thought), but clean and offering more selection.
Markets are not as identifiable here as at home. I had passed this one for nearly 6 months and didn't know it was a market.
One of the best treats I've had here is a small treat made by Karums. Many of them are chocolate covered, but one is white chocolate covered with a berry center. They are probably 5 cmx2 cm x2 cm. The centers are made of cottage cheese, but it's whipped (and may have a little sugar added) so it's the consistency of good cheesecake. They have come out with another one--lemon covered and lemon center--tastes just like a very good lemon pie.
Another great zone conference
This ZC was different than the others in that we were divided into groups of about 3-5 companionships and rotated from one room to another. In each room we learned about a new teaching skill and then were to practice it--one-on-one. That is a little intimidating because the missionaries are out each day teaching, but I found it challenging and kind of exciting to be able to try the various skills out.
I hope I can apply the skills in my life, in my relationships. The first skill we learned was asking questions that will help to get beneath the surface. For missionaries, that is to help understand why an investigator doesn't keep his commitments (to read the Book of Mormon, attend Church, pray, etc). The reason he/she gives may not be the "real" reason.
That's true in our relationships with people. The more we can understand one another the richer our relationships will be.
In the first room, half of us were "missionaries" and the other half were "investigators." The "investigators" were told what their "real" reason was for not attending Church, and the "missionaries" were to try to discover it. I was teaching Elder Weston (nephew of Bryan and Joanne Weston for those who worked with me in the Temple). I asked some questions and then I had this amazing experience--the Spirit told me what his reason was. I KNEW what it was. I asked him about it and he told me that was the problem (he was scared and didn't know anyone there).
When the Spirit teaches or inspires our mind, it is such a unique experience and one you cannot deny.
The ZC ended with President Dance teaching. He's such a great teacher. He taught us about Grace. He had us look in the Bible Dictionary and taught about the ennabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I had not thought of Grace in that way before and was thankful for the enlightenment.
We are so blessed to know of the Atonement of Jesus Christ--the Redeeming power to repent and overcome our sins and weaknesses, and to feel His peace and comfort through difficult times. To understand, also, that Grace is His ennabling power, which allows us to grow and progress and become all that He desires for us. There is so much to learn and understand and I'm thankful for the tools and opportunities the Lord gives me to do so.
I hope I can apply the skills in my life, in my relationships. The first skill we learned was asking questions that will help to get beneath the surface. For missionaries, that is to help understand why an investigator doesn't keep his commitments (to read the Book of Mormon, attend Church, pray, etc). The reason he/she gives may not be the "real" reason.
That's true in our relationships with people. The more we can understand one another the richer our relationships will be.
In the first room, half of us were "missionaries" and the other half were "investigators." The "investigators" were told what their "real" reason was for not attending Church, and the "missionaries" were to try to discover it. I was teaching Elder Weston (nephew of Bryan and Joanne Weston for those who worked with me in the Temple). I asked some questions and then I had this amazing experience--the Spirit told me what his reason was. I KNEW what it was. I asked him about it and he told me that was the problem (he was scared and didn't know anyone there).
When the Spirit teaches or inspires our mind, it is such a unique experience and one you cannot deny.
The ZC ended with President Dance teaching. He's such a great teacher. He taught us about Grace. He had us look in the Bible Dictionary and taught about the ennabling power of the Atonement of Jesus Christ. I had not thought of Grace in that way before and was thankful for the enlightenment.
We are so blessed to know of the Atonement of Jesus Christ--the Redeeming power to repent and overcome our sins and weaknesses, and to feel His peace and comfort through difficult times. To understand, also, that Grace is His ennabling power, which allows us to grow and progress and become all that He desires for us. There is so much to learn and understand and I'm thankful for the tools and opportunities the Lord gives me to do so.
The U. S. Embassy
We walked to the U. S. Embassy (in the event of an emergency, that's where we are to go and so we thought we better know how to get there.It's across from a large park, just outside of Olde Towne. It's much more protected than the other embassies. It was great to see the United States flag waving in the breeze. It's beautiful and I am so thankful to be an American.
I have always loved weeping willows, and was so pleased to see one across from the Embassy. I also love sculptures and thought this one was great! I'm told you can't walk on the lawns, so I couldn't get close enough to really see it and enjoy it. Perhaps you can enlarge it and see it better than I did.
Riga is so much prettier in the Spring than in the Winter. 
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