In front of the church.  As they shovel the snow it just piles up, higher and higher.

 This is a nice two story church, one of three in our mission, the others are rented buildings.

 The city roads are snowy and slick but the drivers don't slow down much.

 The city buses continue to run.

 We went out in the country with the Sisters to see Sister J's favorite Babushka.

 One of the Sisters went into the woods to help Sister J cut some boughs.

 Sister J is right in her element, although she hates the cold.  The temp was about -18 F with a wind-chill of -31 F.

 We did some shoveling to make the walk to the road easier.

 The white you see on my face and the black scarf is frost.

 Thanksgiving dinner at the mission home.  Good to see so many of the the young missionaries and the other senior couples.

 After dinner it's back into the cold.  One last picture before puting the hoods up.

 Ok, now it's hoods up.

 It's a long cold, lonely road back to Tomck.

 Yes, there are some slick spots along the way.

Fun to go on trips but always nice to come home.

 The title of this post is Monkey Business.  Monkey building is the name of the game tonight.

 Everyone pitching in tying to get these monkey put together.

 Even the guys were involved.

 The fellow on the left has an injured arm but came to support what was going on.

 Another monkey completed.  His first monkey and did a wonderful job.

 These guys were really proud of what they accomplished.

 Monkeys everywhere!!

 One proud monkey builder.

 Even in our missionary meeting  we were building monkeys.

 A little hands on training, must get it right.

 Man cannot live building monkeys alone, quick break for some food.

 Back to work.

 Elder J looks excited.

Sister J, the expert.

 This posting I decided to feature our friend.  She came to help make some monkeys and was wearing a hat.

 She modeled her hat and charm bracelet.

 After a brief period of modeling then straight to work on the monkeys.

 Beautiful girl, inside and out.

 Quick break for more modeling.

 Even her foot was black tonight.

 The hat even looked good on her foot.

 Back to work on the monkeys.

 Everyone was having a great time.

End product.

 This is our world for the next several months.  It has snowed a few inches but will never get warm enough to melt until spring.  More snow will fall and it will just accumulate.

 This in the lake in the park across from our apartment.  Pretty soon, we've been told, they will begin skating on the lake.

 This is the entrance to the park.  Notice the lights.

 Sister J and our Russian friend who does a lot of translating for us.

 Remember the lights in the park.  It's now 6pm in the evening.  Total darkness.

 This past Saturday and Sunday we went to a neighboring town that has a group headed by one of the Elders.  We stayed in a very nice motel, great bed, would like to take it back to Tomsk.

 While waiting for a bus Sister J found a lady selling frozen fish.  Not really my thing.

 The group is small with about 15 to 20 members.  Average attendance is about 10 or 12.

 This is the chapel and a little boy is hiding behind the podium.

 This is one of the few families that are in the group.  Several years ago this man was the group leader and then they moved.  Now they can only attend on occasion because they live some distance from the city.

 We are just getting ready to board the bus headed back to Tomsk.  That is Sister J on the far left.  They don't give you much time to board and then off they go.

 Several buses boarding at the same time.  We've got it all figured out now, you wouldn't want to board the wrong bus.  They do have someone taking tickets so pretty had to get on the wrong bus.

 Along the way in one of the villages there was this typical Russian church.  They are everywhere and I love the look.

 Elder J with his winter boots.  Actually they are overboots that go on over your shoes.  Nice and warm.  Sister J doesn't like them, I think she is jealous.

 Now that it has turn cold the fur coats come out.  Notice the fur coat on the far right.  Notice the lady on the left, she is wearing heels.  Not unusual even in the snow.

Mother and daughter, hard to tell but the mother has a fur coat.  Sister J keeps telling me her birthday is coming up soon.