The Russians have come!

We have had an unusually busy past few weeks as we welcomed friends and former returned missionaries from Russia. We also hosted our missionary reunion and a luncheon for the senior couples that served with us.

Our first guest was Aleksey Simonenko now from Rostov, Russia. We met Aleksey on our first mission as we worked with the YSA. We returned for our second mission and Aleksey was then working for the church as the Physical Facilities Director for our mission. He later was hired by the Church to be CES Director for the Russia Rostov Mission and with his family, moved to Rostov. He now serves as the branch president for his branch and was very interested to see Temple Square, Welfare Square, Deseret Industries, the meat processing plant in Spanish Fork and the Bishop's Storehouse in Springville. We also took him to the Provo Temple, BYU and the MTC. He loved seeing how the church operates here and the abundance of chapels and temples. Seeing all that we have so readily available through the eyes of a Russian is humbling.



Aleksey discovered tender and delicious American steak (which is not available in Russia) and loved it! When asked where he wanted to go for lunch after the temple session, he told us: "Somewhere I can have American steak." We took him to Ruby River where he enjoyed a filet mignon.


Our second guests were Lloyd and Mary Royer from La Grande, Oregon. The Royers served as a senior couple in the city of Krasnoyarsk and were terrific missionaries - loved by the members and young missionaries alike. They came for the Mission Reunion and spent one night with us. How we love these dear people and the many happy memories we have of serving with them!



Our next guests were the young married couple - Renat and Lena Kashapovwe. They now live in Moscow but both came from the city of Tomsk in our mission. Lena served as a sister missionary in our mission. She truly was one of the best missionaries we had. Whichever city she served in had baptisms - we could count on that! Hal set Renat apart before he left to serve in the Russia Samara mission ( yes - Whitney knew him as he served as an assistant to the Mission President there). Lena and Renat were married about 1 1/2 years ago - the first couple to be sealed in the Kiev temple! They are so cute together and were a delight to have in our home. We also took them to the Provo Temple and they were thrilled to return as a married couple to see the MTC again - they even wanted to eat dinner in the MTC cafeteria! They attended the Devotional that evening with us to hear Elder Lance B. Wickman speak.






Our last visitor was Olga Landik from Kurgan, Russian - now living and working in Moscow. Olga also served as a sister missionary in our mission. She was a good missionary and worked hard during her time there. Carolyn Cropper is in the picture with Olga - a friend of Olga's and BYU student from the Logan, Utah area Carolyn also served as one of our excellent sister missionaries. We took Olga to the Provo Temple where we helped her do the ordinance work for her grandparents in an endowment and a sealing session. Olga loved the beautiful mountains of our area and she enjoyed the ride we took her on to see the mountain canyons and views. Her enthusiasm for the beauty that surrounds us was contagious!


We also hosted two dinner parties in March and April for returned missionary elders that served with us. I forgot to take pictures on those evenings ( darn it) but we love getting together with our returned missionaries, meeting their wives and girlfriends and reminiscing about our time in Siberia.

Life has calmed down a bit since these busy weeks of entertaining and operating "Hotel Mickelsen" but we truly made many happy memories and renewed many friendships.