We knew of your continuing interest in both branches and some of the people, so we asked the missionaries serving there. Kemerovo has just few coming out, usually 4 to 6, plus the Elders. Julia is not coming out. There are now just two zones in the mission. At our last zone conference, it was announced that the Zone Leaders would serve in the smaller branches and District Leaders in the others branches. Kemerovo has two Zone Leaders serving together and two other Elders. No couple there.

In Novokuznetsk there are now six Elders. Ivan is the Branch President, replacing Elder Holbrook. Sweet Lena is not coming out. The sometimes have up to 20 or so attending each Sunday. No couple replaced the Holbrook’s.

We know how disappointing it is when people you work so hard with and look so promising go around the bend. We saw that in Scotland, Cambodia, and here. It also hurts when you see return missionaries drift away. The world is so distracting and enticing. It is easy to slacken your grip just a little. Before you know it, you let go and don’t even notice. We work at keeping a grip. I just realized that the only difference between grip and gripe is a little e. We work on not murmuring.

Barnaul will also move up to six missionaries, with two as Zone Leaders and two Sisters. Our Branch will have a dedication 30 December. Elder Gushin, an Area 70, will dedicate the building. Our attendance still runs from 50 to 60. If all the less active came out each Sunday we would average over 60 or 70. The Mission is working on a Stake being created here in 2013. Our Branch needs at least 15 active Melchizedek Priesthood to become a ward. Sometimes we hit 12, even 14 men and boys. Again no consistency or constancy. We do have a full Branch Presidency now.

Our Mission President just sent us an e-mail that Russia is experiencing the coldest winter in 70 years. We are in the banana belt as you know with our temps just down to minus 38 C. Other places are hitting minus 50 C.

This Sunday we teach our last Strengthening Marriage/family which ran for 14 weeks. This class was featured in a local magazine. A TV station interviewed us about that class and what we are doing in Russia. We haven’t seen it yet, but one of members said they would copy it for us. Yesterday we spoke to over 40 university English speaking students about the hazards of alcohol, smoking, drugs, agency and consequences. They had a lot of questions, were very friendly, polite, and gave us three boxes of candy. Sharon checked and found out one of them has alcohol in the candy. Well 2 out of 3 aren’t too bad. Our health is good; we are keeping warm and enjoying our time here. The time is going so fast. We will go home sometime around the end of August or first of September next year.

Love,
Elder and Sister Holmes