It is Saturday evening at St. George Monastery on the Volga River in Russia. We are at a monastery that only ten or so Americans have ever visited. We got here by taking a 15-hour train ride and than a two-hour truck ride that included a mile and half traveling on the frozen Volga River. We got stuck as we tried to go up the bank of the river to the monastery.

Dear Church Family,

We have experienced a rare winter - even for Russia. There is three feet of snow on the ground and about ten below 0F! The trees are all frozen. In the center of the city there are people everywhere.  The women wear big fur coats in many colors an styles - and fur hats as well.  The men have big hats with fur and all kinds of coats too.

The blue jean look has overtaken the men. Even older men are wearing jeans.

When we ride the mass transit it is such a strange phenomenon - Russians don't talk. It is very quiet as hundreds of people are getting on and off the subway. Today, as we were riding the subway, a veteran got on and he had no legs. He simply was sitting on a board with wheels and move it with his hands on the ground. He announced his presence and asked for money. People did help him. However, the people have a tired and sullen look on there faces.

Dear Mrs. Margaret L. Derfler,

Hi, how are you? I am writing to thank you for sending Christmas cards to everyone in my company, as well as all the other letters you have sent.  It really means a lot to me. I don’t know how many soldiers actually write you back but I’m sure everyone else feels good to get cards from you. Christmas isn’t actually a big deal out here but getting Christmas cards just helps remind us that people do care (besides our own families) and are thinking of us.