Minus 40 degrees F !

     We thought maybe it would happen sometime in mid January.  But it was 12/12/12 and we were in Novosibirsk for a zone conference (yes, another adventure on the Trans-Siberian Railroad) and the mercury dropped to minus 40.  That is the point at which the Celsius and Fahrenheit scales converge and are the same.  Minus 40 Farenheit and minus 40 celsius are the same temperature.  But we had already experienced some minus 30 F  and to tell the truth I couldn't tell much of difference between minus 30 and minus 40.  They are both cold.  We have learned that the trick is to plan so that you don't have to spend much time outside.  We go to stores that are close by, catch the bus and the nearest stop and we even took a taxi the other night to get home from a dinner at the home of some investigators.  It was late and we weren't sure which bus and which bus stop.  The taxi's are very cheap over here and so we may be doing more of that this winter.  The ice is building up everywhere and we are told it will not melt until possibly May.  So we are using our ice tracks that fit on our boots.  It sure makes a difference and gives us a lot more confidence on the snow and ice.  At my age I can't afford to slip and fall. I am sure I would break or pull something.
     The conference was a wonderful, spiritual experience.  It is always good to be with the young elders and sisters and, of course, our mission president and his wife.  It helped to rejuvenate us and charge our spiritual batteries.  We received some great instruction from President Gibbons on some parallels between the circumstances surrounding the birth of Christ, and our own struggles to become more Christ-like.
     The mission obtained tickets for all the sister missionaries and the senior couples to attend the opera "La Traviata" after the conference.  The sisters were supposed to have a sisters conference and attend the opera last month but that was cancelled due to a protest against the church that was to happen throughtout Russia on that day.  All the missionaries were instructed to stay indoors.  So the conference was cancelled.  It turns out however, that the protest, at least in Novosibirsk, kind of fizzled, but everyone seemed to agree that the president acted wisely to be extra cautious.  So this was a make-up for the sisters and the senior couples were invited along.  The singers were first class and we were all surprised at the quality of the production.  I am no judge of opera but I could tell that these were no amatuers.
     The president is going to allow the missionaries to come to our apartment for dinner on Christmas day.  So we are excited about that.  I am sure that Karen will do her usual thing and prepare a fantastic feast for the missionaries.  They always look forward to her meals.  Karen's meals are becoming legendary.
     The train ride was pretty much like all the others we have taken.  With the exception that on the ride over we were on the same "Wagon" as all the missionaries from our Krasnoyarsk district.  So they all met in our "Kype"  (berth)  for brownies and laughs before bedtime.  The ride back seemed to be a bit noisier and bumpier than usual.  We chalked that up to being on the very end berth where the cars connect and there was a lot of clanging and banging and jerking.
    We got into Krasnoyarsk at about 7:30 a.m. (it is now about 9:00 a.m.) and we will get ready and leave for a service project at homeless shelter (putting up wallpaper) and then attend Institute and Seminary tonight.

Some of the missionaries singing a christmas song at the conference.

The senior couples all bundled up and ready to walk to the theater after the conference.

The plaza in front of the theater.

Entering at the front of the theater.

The view from our hotel when the mercury hit minus 40.

We were surprised to see this ice forming on the inside of the window to our train "Kype."