August 23-27, 2012 Simferopol

The third weekend the training was in Simferopol, Ukraine which is in the Crimea.  It certainly was one of the most challenging training session as it was Russian as were many of the others, but we also had 2 branches participating on different screens with SKPYE.  The local branch and the 2 branches about 1 1/2 hours away were at the building and the branches on SKYPE were 350 km. away.  We had the materials in Russian and in English.  The elders were very kind to help with translating, however the finance terms are not in their usual vocabulary and they had not been out too long.  One of the SKYPE calls was not able to talk over his SKYPE and had to call on the phone with questions.  Each sunday we attended church in the branch where we had completed the training that weekend.  In Simferopol the branch president asked both of us to talk about paying a complete tithing and to share our testimonies.  Some of the missionaries translated.  They also needed a piano player for sacrament meeting.  We spent some time on Sat. with senior couple serving in that city.  The track and stadium in the picture was built onto the back of our hotel.  The hotel is to the left.  The old Russian tank was a monument in the city.  The flower stalls were in shops under the main streets when we crossed under.  The little girl was looking out of the window of a local bus.