Old Church. Old Hospital. New Picnic.

This Saturday we had a "picnic" with some young members on one of the many St. Petersburg islands. It was a nice sunny day- a little bit chilly because of the wind- but still a great day. The island was far enough out of the city so that it was green and nature-esque. There was a nice blend of pine trees, natural grass and beautiful scenery. We set up camp right next to a little lake. We threw the frisbee around, played games and some of the Russians even showed me how to make my very own wreath with just dandelions! That's the yellow thing on my head in the picture. I'm going to make one for Rachel when I get home.
Church has been great. I always attend the same, little, out-of-town branch. The branch president is a missionary and was transferred to the city only a week before we arrived. He and his companion have been working hard to bring less-active members to Church. That fact, combined with the four energetic American students attending the branch, has helped bring up the excitement level a little bit. Church was great on Sunday. It was fast and testimony meeting and there were about 18 people present. After the branch president shared his testimony and opened up the time for testimonies, there was a silent gap. No one was getting up. I was just starting to collect my thoughts when I was shoved hard from behind. When that didn't get me moving, my "coach," one of the local old ladies, kept pushing me and start saying to me "Onward Serbia, Onward!" I think it was loud enough so that a passerby walking outside near our little chapel could hear it. So, I decided to get up and bear my testimony. The rest of the students and some members all followed (including my "coach"). That meeting, as well as the rest of Church, was great.
My volunteering is going well. I am now all outfitted with scrubs and little nurse-shoes. I "work" Mondays and Tuesdays, but only for a few hours each day. I work in the "Anesthesiology, Reanimiation and Intensive Therapy Ward" of the "Municipal Geriatric Hospital." That means that all of the patients in our ward are in pretty bad shape. I clean, retrieve medications and supplies, feed the patients, wheel them on stretchers to get X-rays, etc.Russian healthcare is interesting- It's not as bad as any of the horror stories you've probably heard, but there's no way it would ever in a million years even proximate any healthcare facility I've seen in the United States. It's a great experience though, and I have been surprised by how much I enjoy it. My favorite thing is being with the patients- they're wonderful.