In the United States, it would take an average LDS mother at least two weeks to outfit her son for his mission. Missions are a great sacrifice, and parents (and sometimes the missionaries themselves) pay for everything: shoes, personal items, suitcases, books, suits, white shirts, socks...well you get the picture. We can't remember all the stuff we had to take care of for our three boys who served missions, but we do remember how much work it took to prepare for our mission to the Baltic. We had four months!
Well, Elder & Sister Davis met with the mission president the other day and who happened to come to the mission office to pick up his passport? Lauris, the young man who received his mission call to Ukraine. President Boswell gave us the assignment to make sure he had enough clothes to leave for his mission. We had done something similar for a sister missionary leaving Latvia for Salt Lake City and now we needed to get Lauris outfitted with everything he might need in the next two years.
So Friday morning, we started shopping at 10:00AM. First stop, the mission office where several missionaries had left bags of clothes when they left Latvia to go home from their own missions. Lauris found three nice white shirts, a rain coat and a warm coat for winter. Well, that was easy!
Next stop, Alpha shopping center where we bought a pair of Ecco shoes, a suitcase, 6 pairs of socks and stopped at the Burrito Bar, Mexican Grill, for lunch. Our new favorite eating place! We were helping educate Lauris on international cuisine...he ate his FIRST burrito with us!
Burrito Bar is new and we have noticed it isn't as busy as it should be. Elder & Sister Davis have taken 5 different people here for lunch, just to try and keep them in business. Hey, we only have to keep them in business for the next nine months...after that we will be home where Mexican food is plentiful.
Elder Davis likes a large beef burrito (they actually put a thin layer of refried beans on the tortilla first and then pile on the beef) with lots of cheese, lettuce, hot salsa, & cilantro (koriander leaves). And he doesn't like it grilled. Sister Davis likes a medium size, vistas (chicken) burrito with mild salsa, and LOVES it grilled, giving the burrito, a just-crisp taste. Her burrito is actually crunchy when she bites into it.
Lauris got a large beef burrito with mild salsa...and he loved every bite! Ahhhh, the good we missionaries do...spreading a love for good Mexican food around the world. We don't know how many Mexican restaurants there are in the Ukraine but it is always good to be prepared.
Lauris picked out a few personal items at Drogas, (while Sister Davis found a new pair of earrings at an assessory store), and we headed home.
But the shopping trip isn't over yet! It was now about 1:30, and some of the young Elders had told us the Dressman's store by the Opera House, was going out of business, and had men's clothing for 50% off.
We parked the car in our lot, left all Lauris's stuff in the car, and walked 1/2 a mile to Dressmans.
Now anyone who has gone clothes shopping knows that you have to try EVERYTHING on at the store. Sizes aren't always true, and one size 52 (European size), may NOT be the same as another size 52. So Lauris, spent much of his time in the dressing room, while Elder Davis kept throwing stuff to him over the door.
But prices were so good, we bought three more white shirts, two ties, a belt and a suit for 99L, about $173 (a bargain in Latvia). Lauris has already been preparing for his mission and has two suits of his own. We were under the budget the mission gave us....
By now Sister Davis's feet are starting to hurt.
It was 3:30 and Sister Davis, the master shopper, is tired....
Are we done yet?
Not yet!
We still had to hit the Central Market to buy a murse and a shaving bag. Sister Davis is sure you are wondering what a murse is. Well, that is what we call the purses that are worn by every Latvian male...a male purse=murse. Lauris needed one for his scriptures, pen, missionary guidebook and probably a map when he gets to Ukraine.
We couldn't find a shaving bag anywhere...apparently, they aren't used in Latvia. Sister Davis did find a cute flat leather purse that she could use when she is out walking and doesn't want to take her bulky "everything but the kitchen sink" purse. So she bought it and Lauris speaking in fluent Russian got the price lowered! And Lauris did find himself a murse....there were lots to choose from.
Now lest you think Lauris wasn't having a good time...think again. Lauris, whom has lived on his own since he was 15, told us his father had never taken him shopping, ever. And, Lauris (who hasn't quite mastered English), kept saying over and over...."This is best day, my life".
A picture of Lauris's "Best day of life!"
And it wasn't just Lauris who felt good about the day...Elder & Sister Davis were feeling pretty satisfied for what they had accomplished. Caring for other people and serving them is the greatest part of missionary work. We drove Lauris home to Kengarags and he showed us his humble little room. And he went over to a chair, picked up a huge watermelon and handed it to us, saying, "For me".
Elder Davis: "What? Is this your watermelon?"
Lauris, still holding the watermelon out: "Yes, for me."
Elder Davis: "For you or for me?"
Lauris, just not getting it: "I give for me."
Elder Davis: "Okay, we will take it.... for me."
So Elder & Sister Davis hurried home in rush hour traffic, with our watermelon tucked securely in the back seat.
We still had a dinner appointment that evening with Linda and Ritvars from Riga 1st Branch. They were such a big help with youth conference we wanted to take them out to dinner...and one of their favorite places to eat is Tokyo City near Old Town. Tokyo City is mainly a sushi place. SUSHI.... Yuck! is the first thought that comes to Sister Davis's mind. She has never tried sushi and never really wanted to...
And this is the warm sushi Linda ordered for all of us to try...Sister Davis daintily took one and ate it, but went right back to the teriyaki beef she had ordered for herself. Elder Davis tried three sushi but agreed that his fried crab legs were much better tasting. Linda & Ritvars didn't mind, they ate the rest of the sushi.
Elder & Sister Davis can now honestly tell everyone who asks...
"Do you like sushi?"
"No! We don't!"
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