Mission Presidents' Seminar

It is an incredible experience to serve in the Eastern European Area. Twice a year, Mission Presidents from Bulgaria, the Baltics, Armenia, Ukraine (4 missions), and Russia (7 missions) attend a seminar to assist them with missionary work. It is a time of spiritual uplift and instruction from our Area Presidency. This year included a visit from Elder David F. Evans and his wife, Mary. Elder Evans, of the First Quorum of the Seventy, is the Executive Director of the Missionary Department. The seminar was held in Moscow in September.

 One of the most famous landmarks in the world is St. Basil's Cathedral in Red Square.

 This photo begged being taken for the "Easter egg" colors of the wives' jackets. From L to R: Sister Christensen (Yekaterinburg), Sister Malm (Area Presidency), Sister Bennett (Area Presidency), Sister Brinton (Vladivostok), and Sister Clark (St. Petersburg).

 We were surprised with a visit from one of our Russian missionaries, Elder Lisevich, who completed his mission last December and is currently living in Moscow. He waited outside the Kremlin walls for us to exit. What a fun surprise to see him!!!

 President Brinton with Elder Evans

 Breakfast with President and Sister Wilstead (Bulgaria) and President and Sister Christensen (Yekaterinburg)

 This photo is with our high school friends, President and Sister Dan Lattin (Ukraine L'Viv).

 This is the dining hall of the Metropol Hotel located adjacent to Red Square and the Kremlin. This historic building was the residence of some of the communist leaders from the past. 

This is the Tsar Bell on the grounds of the Kremlin. It was completed in 1735 and is the largest bell in the world. It has never been rung due to several large cracks which caused a huge chunk of the bell to break away. At one time, the bell served as a small chapel...the entrance was where the chunk fell away. The bell is 20 feet tall, 22 feet in circumference, and weighs 445,000 pounds (information according to the tour guide).