(left to right): Julia Kostrikina, Sergey Motorin, Elena Martikhina, Julia Plutinskaya

Russian Guides Serve Historic Sites

Four young adults from Russia are participating in the World Service Corps International Guide Program, spending time at Community of Christ historic sites.

After several days of training in Independence, teams of two traveled to Kirtland, Ohio, and Nauvoo, Illinois. The teams will work one month in each location and then switch.

Elena Martikhina is a member of the Voronezh congregation and works as a translator for Community of Christ. Elena, who never had participated in an international project, wanted a new experience.

Sergey Motorin, a member of the Borisoglebsk congregation, is a graduate of the Moscow State Pedagogical University. He teaches biology and ecology.

Julia Plutinskaya, another member of the Borisoglebsk congregation, graduated from the Borisoglebsk Pedagogical Institute with a bachelor’s degree in education, teaching, English language and literature, and Russian language and literature. She wants to be a useful part of the church, help and meet new people, and learn “more about the American way of living.”

Julia Kostrikina of Moscow also is a member of the Borisoglebsk congregation. Julia is a student at Moscow Technical University, working on a degree in economics and marketing. Barb Walden, Historic Sites and Lachlan Mackay, Visitors and Heritage Services Team, said the international guides remind us “our unique movement is not exclusively a North American story, but rather one that continues to touch the hearts of people throughout the world.”

To learn more about the World Service Corps International Guide Program, visit www.worldservicecorps.org/programs.

—Patty Wilson reporting