At the Food Bank

Every two or three weeks, we have the opportunity, as a district, to serve at a local food bank.  We dress in P-Day clothes and go to what looks like an old warehouse.  Upon entry, we discover that it is indeed an old warehouse.  Inside are boxes of food that have been removed from the stores because the expiration dates have passed.  The organization gathers this food and packages several items together to form a "box".  The box is then distributed to the needy.  Our task is to assemble or load each basket with the 15-20 items that are being given.  There is always some bread, some yogurt, cans of some vegetable, pasta, cookies or candy and maybe a drink of soda or fruit juice.  Each person has a specific task to load certain things into the box.  It gets crazy with so many things being loaded all at once, but it's fun and we enjoy it.  Below are some pics.

Food boxes being filled

An evening at Old Town

Every so often we venture into Old Town.  What is Old Town you ask?   In the 13th century, crusading knights of the Teutonic Order built a castle on where Tallinn now sits.  At the time, it became a major center for commerce with much wealth. Remnants of the castle still remain and the streets are all cobblestone.  Yes, it will take you back a few centuries.  There are shops and eateries everywhere and people still live there.  Much of the castle wall is gone, but enough remains that will make you feel as if you've gone back in time.  The banner picture on this blog is of Old Town with it's distinctive red tile roofs.  One evening on our walk, we took a different route and ended up in an obscure area where we met angels of death.  Actually, they are monks.  They are found in what is called the Danish King Garden.  Legend has it that the Danish King Valdemar II, was at war with the people (in what is now Estonia) and was losing badly.  In a plea to heaven, a flag fell from heaven in the form of a lamb skin banner with a white cross on it (this, by the way, is the basis for what is now the Danish flag). The king showed it to his men and they took courage and won the battle.  Why are the monk statues here?  It could be that they were somehow connected with Bishop Anders Sunesen, who did the praying to heaven.  There are many versions of this story.  I'm going with this one.  

Danish Flag

Since the castle was built by crusaders, there are quite a number of churches in Old Town.  They are mainly tourist attractions now and aren't used much for religion anymore.  Also along our walk, we found surviving remnants of the wall and towers.  The country has done much to leave it the way it was back then.  One of the churches in Old Town is the Alexander Nevsky Cathedral.  It was built around 1900 when this land was part of the Russian Empire.  It was named for Alexander Nevsky who won the Battle of the Ice in 1242.  It was fought almost entirely on a frozen lake (south of Narva and northeast of Tartu).  That's the kind of winter we have to look forward to here in Estonia.  Yes, we saw our breath the other morning on our walk.   Really?  It's September! 

One of the many towers

Each wall has a story to tell

Alexander Nevsky's Cathedral

One of the many churches in Old Town

Kadriorg Palace

On one of our recent jaunts about town, we discovered the Kadriorg Palace.  In 1710, at the conclusion of the Great Northern War, Estonia was taken away from the Swedish Empire and ended up in the hands of the Russian empire.  Peter the Great, to honor his wife, Catherine I, bought a Dutch manor near the coast in Tallinn.  It was decided later to build a larger palace on the grounds and construction was started.  Peter and Catherine visited often, but when Peter died in 1725, it was still unfinished.  Catherine never visited again. The house today is the result of an extensive renovation ordered by Nicolas I in 1827.  The name Kadriorg translates to "Catherine's Valley".  The grounds are extensive and you will recognize that much care and money went into this place.  Next door is the home of Eduard Vilde, an Estonian author of some renown.  It's a museum now.

Kadriorg Palace

Catherine, I guess

Old iron gate - really old

Swans were normally kept here

Kadriorg gardens

Kadriorg gardens

Kadriorg gardens

Kitchen of Eduard Vilde

Home of Eduard Vilde

25th Anniversary of the restoration of Estonia's Independence 

On August 20th, Estonia celebrated the 25th year of the restoration of it's independence that was established in 1991, when the Soviet Union fell apart.  Although it was an occupied land until then, all Estonians considered Estonia as an separate country whose independence had been circumvented for a season.  It's like the 4th of July for Americans.  It's a national holiday and there was much to see and hear as there were important presentations, both political and cultural.  We wandered into Old Town to see what we could see and ended up at Freedom Square where all the singing and dancing was going on.  What a treat that was.  This was a national, televised event and we were still able to get up real close to the performers.    Below are scenes of the event with different costumed performers.  When the choir sang Ärkamise Aeg (an Estonian Hymn, translates to : "A time of awakening"), everyone in the crowd started singing as well.  It was a real special feeling there to see how proud these people are of their homeland.

Large Estonian Flag

 

Freedom Square

These are a representation

of the various costumes worn in 

the different regions of Estonia

 

YW Girls Camp
The past week, we were invited to help with the YW Girls Camp that was held on a sheep farm out in the boonies.   The owner of the farm is the Tartu branch president.  During the summer, he and his family live out at the farm as there is much to tend to.  He had the Estonian Army put up big tents for the girls to sleep in and they also provided sleeping bags and mats.  As you tell by the picture, this place is so beautiful with rolling hills and forests.  When we say that, we are describing 95% of all Estonia. 

Army tents for the YW

Shopping for the food was an interesting experience.  We took all our knowledge about Girls Camp food and threw it out the window.  Not only were we dealing with food that we were unfamiliar with, but food that is measured in liters, kilograms and other unfamiliar quantities.  Once we figured those things out, we now had to figure out how to cook for people we don't even know.  A customary breakfast here is not one that most American teenagers would eat.  What if they didn't like some of the "American" items on the menu?  As it turned out, they liked the American food as much or more than their traditional fare.  So how did the cooking go?  Except for the pot of oatmeal that never ceased (really, we made so much that it just kept coming out of the pot and wouldn't end), we did pretty good and we kept the hungry girls happy. I'm pretty sure that kitchen angels were watching over us.  Many times, we had just the right amount of food.  No one went hungry in our kitchen!  And speaking of kitchen, it was "small".  It was just big enough for two adult cooks and if we were careful, two young women.  Most all the activities and meals were in the Assikvere Community Center that was built for all the farmers in the outlying region.  There was a large room that is used for meals and plays that the community puts on from time to time.  There was a large room off the kitchen that was used to store books and things which we used for our room.

The girls came from all over the mission.  Two from Lithuania, one from Tartu and Narva and several from Tallinn and Latvia.  It was split about 50-50 of those who could speak English and those who spoke Russian.  I had a great time with the Russian speakers trying to communicate with them with my limited Russian background.

Assikvere Community Center, built in 1933

On the first full day, Sister Allred took them all on a 7 km (5 miles) gratitude hike to Pala where a small lake was made for recreation.  During the hike, the girls were paired up with someone and they shared things they were thankful for.  After each rest stop, they changed partners and continued their gratitude session for other things like people living, people who have passed, physical bodies, nature, the gospel, etc..  By the time they reached the lake, the sky was gray and it looked like it might rain.  Three of the Russian speakers changed into suits and went swimming anyway.  They had a blast.

Sister Allred on the Gratitude Hike

The little lake in Pala

A lot of wet fun in the lake

I thought this was a  nice shot

The next day, the girls did a certification olympics and the girls moved from station to station for instruction.  Later, they had a service project and an activity with the sheep.  The sheep needed to be brought to come into the barn.  They were out in the field and were just content to be there grazing on the abundant grass.  After some "encouragement", they got the lead sheep moving back to the barn.  You know how sheep can be - they all started following single file on a well established sheep run in the pasture.  As they approached the barn, they suddenly stopped and it looked like they might bolt at any minute.  As the girls slowly approached them, blocking any possible routes of escape, the sheep entered the barn with cheers from all.  You might compare this to the shepherding of new converts.  You want to lead them to safety and not scare them off by too much "handling".  You support them while they make movements away from the world and continually cheer them on when they have secured themselves in the gospel.

In the sheep barn

If you look real close, you can them running across the field

Apparently, they raise marshmallows here

Later that day, the girls presented their skits.  They were hilarious, considering they were in another language.  President and Sister Harding came and after dinner, conducted a fireside presentation and a testimony meeting that was really sweet.  We fed them all some chicken alfredo.  It was a miracle that it didn't kill them all.  We were suffering from a lack of correct ingredients and confidence.  You would be pleased to know that our cooking was well received, especially the American dishes (Sloppy Joes and Chili).  They gobbled down the chicken salad sandwiches like there was no tomorrow.  Girls Camp cooking is no different from Arizona to Estonia, you still work like rented mules.

"Friends can help your dreams come true"

"Story of the creation"

On Saturday, we cleaned and packed up and said goodbye to our new friends.  They gave us cards that are so precious.  I'll include pictures of them here.  It was a fun camp and we learned a lot.  If all goes well, we will probably be doing a return engagement next summer.

Front covers of our cards

On our way back home.  It really is pretty here

Like I said before . . . 

A Mere 25 Years Ago
This past week we were able to visit the Estonian History Museum.  Most of it is closed due to a two-year renovation project, but what was left open was stunning as we learned more about the history of this land and the hardships and suffering that the people have had to endure from many wars, not of their making.  Estonia, as a country has been around for many centuries.  Invaders have come and gone to this fair land, leaving their mark upon the area, but not upon the people.  They have retained their own identity and culturally, they are rich.  It shows in their faces when voices are raised in patriotic songs.  They are extremely proud to be Estonian.  It was only 25 years ago, this month, that Estonia threw off the last of its shackles when she finally was able to declare herself free from Soviet occupation.  Since that time, the people have thrived and have modernized, in some ways, that have left much of Europe behind.  In striking contrast to the renovation and renewing project at the history museum, is the Maarjamäe War Memorial, a short distance away.  This memorial was built in 1960 by occupying forces to honor Russians who died in WWI and added to in 1975 to honor those who died in WWII.  This monument receives no maintenance and it is slowly deteriorating -   which in a way, represents a memory that I believe the Estonians would just as soon let fade away.

Tour guide in a Soviet uniform

Maarjamäe War Memorial

Maarjamäe War Memorial

A Thrilling Branch Campout

Last weekend we participated in the branch campout.  The site was located in an area called Märjamaa.  It's about an hour drive south of Tallinn, on the way to Pärnu.  There was a family campground out in the woods with a few things to enjoy.  A soccer field, volleyball pit, a couple of outhouses and a kitchen with a dining ramada.  Only a few families came so there was plenty of food to go around.  We made a craft of sand and double sided sticky tape on construction paper.  When the branch plays, they all play.  When an impromptu soccer game broke out, everyone plays - the little ones, the moms and the "mature" ones as well.  It was so fun to watch.  During the day, I heard jet aircraft noise in the sky.  It sounded too close to be a civilian and the jet engines sounded a bit different to me.  Suddenly, it flew right over the camp.  I ran out to discover an A-10 (courtesy of the U.S. Air Force) banking left for a landing at a nearby military base.  Wow.  What a thrill for me.  After dinner, the district president and his wife put on a skit about Joseph Smith and the first vision and the subsequent visits from Moroni.  In the skit, when it was time to receive the plates, Moroni led the boy Joseph to a spot that was away from where we were sitting.  We all followed and Joseph used a big stick to pry a big rock off of the opening to a hole in the ground.  There, he pulled out something wrapped in cloth.  He opened it and produced a replica of the gold plates.  In the meantime, we had a non-member family camping with us - a man and his three children.  It was a great missionary opportunity for us all.

Sister Allred on a kiik (Estonian swing)

                                   Everyone plays soccer

Everyone enjoying a snack

Our "sand" crafts

A-10 Warthog or Tankbuster

District President's wife as narrator with the boy Joseph

District President "Moroni" helping Joseph find the plates

Joseph discovering the plates

The plates at last

Service Projects
Every now and then, the young Elders arrange for some type of service during the week.  We are always invited to tag along.  This week we pulled weeds at a park that is used by several high-rise apartment buildings.  The area was a checkerboard of concrete squares intermingled with dirt (that's where the weeds grow).  Afterwards, we discovered some muscles we didn't remember having.

Our district hard at work

We like to work together

And visit while we work

The queen of the weed pullers

Visitors
Yes, we had visitors from the U.S. of A. (not counting the BYU group we had two weeks ago).  When Caleb was in LIGHT, a performing group for high school kids, one of his fellow cast members was Leighton Carroll.  He happened to serve in this mission (Lithuania) where he became acquainted with a certain sister missionary (Mari) who served in the mission (Latvia).  Well, after the mission, they became more acquainted and are now 
married.  They wanted to visit their old areas and came on a trip to the Baltics.  One of their last stops was in Tallinn.  We met up and they came to dinner at our place.  Until recently, they lived in our stake in Mesa.

Mari and Leighton Carroll

When BYU Comes to Visit

Synthesis, BYU's jazz band made an appearance here in Tallinn as part of their Baltic tour.  They showed up for church in a chartered bus and doubled the count for sacrament meeting.  After the block, we took three of the band members home for dinner.  They had all gone to bed really late the night before, and we let them crash for a bit before heading back to the chapel for an evening devotional that they put on for the branch.  After a little snooping around, we found out that the bass player (Zoe Jorgenson) is a good friend of Caleb's at BYU.  It's a small world within the church.  On Tuesday, Synthesis was invited to play a benefit concert in a place called Laiste Graniitvilla.  It's way out in the country and was an outdoor concert.  WOW.  They are fantastic.  The band leader invited a fellow muscian from Tartu he had met years ago and he played now and then with the band with some scats of his own.  This place reminds me of a hostel for forgotten statues.  The lawns have all kinds of sculptures (see pictures).  

This video is a small recording that I was able to get just before the battery died.  They are really good in spite of my video issues.

Baltic Mission YSA Conference

The Baltic Mission YSA Conference was held July 11-14, 2016.  It was held in the same location (Mustjõe Kõrtsitalu) as the Youth Conference the week before.  The format was mostly the same as before, just a little older audience.  We were able to meet other senior couples, the Nuttall's (Gilbert) and the Bruce's (Canada) who are serving in Lithuania.  The young adults came from all over.  One was an American working in Lithuania as a summer intern from BYU.  A handful are returned missionaries.

One of our activities was hiking through a bog.  I had never seen a bog before.  We were transported (45 min. drive) in a Soviet military transport.  Upon arrival, we walked to the edge of the bog and put on bog walking shoes (like snow shoes).  According to the guide, the area was formed just before the first ice age.  It is very deceptive as it looks like you are walking on grass or other vegetation.  One step in and you're ankle deep in water.  The bog shoes keep you from sinking.  See the pics and video below.  It is much like quicksand if you step through the upper layer.

Soviet Troop Transport

A view of the bog

Trekking through the bog

Wildlife at the bog

This is how we had some fun

I wrote in my last post about the potential of the youth here and the prospect they have of springboarding the growth of the church in the Baltics.  That was firmly etched in my heart once again as I see the Children of Israel (who once were lost) coming forth out of darkness and out of obscurity.  You can find every tribe of Israel here. These pioneers will set the stage for those events that will occur here in the not too distant future.  It is thrilling, yet humbling, to be a witness of the hand of the Lord as He moves among the nations, positioning and preparing the future here.