Weak things become strong; Our journey to Moscow

 

If  you are looking for an amazing place to visit Moscow will never disappoint! 

 

In its 800 years of glory Moscow has provided a rich history, 

incredible architecture 

and all sorts of fascinating places to go...

....Where did Wesley and David want to go the most of all these places? Lenin's tomb.  Lenin (the founder of communism) died in 1924 but was never buried instead his body was preserved under a glass case for all his admirers to see and to this day he is on display in Red Square, creepy right?  Although the tomb was closed for a Russian Holiday we did get to visit the outside.  This was my 6th time in Moscow and I had never been able to catch the tomb tour, maybe I will have to make a 7th  trip to Moscow if I really want to see dead Lenin:).

Fortunately for me, I didn't go to Moscow to see the sights, instead I went to see a dear, dear member whom I had taught in Petrazavodsk (see the Petro Post) who had moved to the outskirts of Moscow.

This Stalwart young mom was just a teenager when I taught her family the gospel.  Now she has been on a mission, married to the temple had a daughter born in the covenant and is expecting her second baby. We had a lot of fun crashing on her couch and pampering her the next day with Chrissy's professional pedicure and facial skills.

This is a little picture I found in their house describing the order of their Family home evening.  I was so proud of her for being firm in the gospel and for raising a righteous family.  It was so sweet to me to hear her  pray with her little daughter Inna who was lucky enough to be born into a strong family.  
                                                   



                It was so special to look through her mission photos!           
                               
 One photo she showed me was of a girl whom she had taught who was currently also serving a mission.  Whoa.  Talk about amazing!  It then hit me like a ton of bricks.  I served a mission and helped teach Anya the gospel, she served a mission and helped to teach someone else the gospel who was currently on a mission teaching others the gospel!
                        
 Why is this so completely overwhelming to me?  Because during the time that I taught Anya's family was one of the most difficult times of my mission and of my life.  During my time in Petro my grandfather passed away and I didn't receive word until he had been gone a month.  There were many other trials that I experienced there that were so very intense. We were so far away from the rest of the mission and from the world that I felt so very alone.  I read my patriarchal blessing daily and fell asleep each night looking at a picture of the Savior in Gethsemane.  I prayed constantly for peace.  I asked permission to call home to talk to my parents knowing that a few words of encouragement could be just what I would need to have the strength to keep going but I was advised not to call.

                                                  Anya at her own baptism 1998
                                               
 So despite the fact that I myself was super struggling, I did my best to share the greatest gift I had with others, and from my weakness God made something so beautiful out of it!  It reminded me of a tiny pebble that makes just enough of a splash to create a ripple which then gently ripples outward despite the weakness of its tiny beginning.