DISTRICT SERVICE PROJECT

About 3 weeks ago, on a Saturday morning we took a bus to a park near a great university. We were going to join the members of the District in a service project to clean and add beauty to a local park. One of the major culture shocks for me when I arrived here is the lack of 'public pride' where it comes to keeping the city clean. Garbage is everywhere -- I think they just think someone else will take care of it. Anyway, we had our work cut out for us.

About 35 people showed up to help clean up their park and serve the community. We were given aprons with the church logo of 'Helping Hands', some water to keep us going and a pair of gloves. I have never picked up so many cigarette butts in my life -- actually, I don't remember picking up any before. I started counting after about a half hour and I had picked up about 500 an hour later; also many liquor bottles and pieces of glass.

Ok, grab your sacks, put on your gloves, and get to work!

Zhennia and Sasha pose for me -- they are two of our Institute age youth and have come to make their contribution to serve.

A building from the near-by university pokes through the trees -- really quite a nice sight.The broken glass was everywhere. I couldn't figure out why parents weren't concerned as their children ran and played on and off the paths.

Ron got his bag and began picking up empty liquor bottles, broken glass, and other trash and then he disappeared -- I didn't see him for a couple of hours. When we finally met up again he said he had found the 'mother-load' of trash on one side of the park and had filled his sack to the top. He said a man watched him for a while and then began helping pick things up and putting them into the bag. The man kept talking to Ron, but of course, Ron didn't understand. Our District President came by and talked with the man -- the man couldn't figure out why an American would come all the way to Russia and then help clean up thier park -- he was amazed. He emptied one bag and began another -- no shortage of garbage here.

The park had lovely flower gardens and I couldn't resist putting aside my garbage bag for a few minutes so I could snap a few pictures. It would have been a beuatiful place to sit and do some watercolors -- I would have loved it, but not today.

Some of the older members worked on painting poles and benches in an area close to the children's play ground.

The Sister missionaries and some of the youth covered themselves with plastic bags to try to avoid painting their clothes with red, as they 'spruced-up' one of the covered patios.

Across the park, some men were practicing sword play with large bladed swords. It reminded me of a scene from the book 'Erogon' -- my grandsons would have loved it! I thought it was a little wierd and didn't venture too close.

The picnic area recieves a face lift with red paint, and it's starting to look beautiful again. Much brighter and very colorful.

Elvira and some of our Seminary age youth paint over bricks that have been covered with graffiti.

The Elders shoveled dirt into a wagon to be transported to a location where flowers were being planted. Notice how young the dirver looks -- Elders are coming into the mission field looking younger every year, or maybe it's just that I am getting older.

We leave the park a much prettier and cleaner place than when we found it. It was a good day, an enjoyable day, a day to remember.