Where in the World is Ulan-Ude?

This week at the temple we had members from the Novosibirsk mission area.  The group included some from Krasnoyarsk, Irkutsk, and Ulan Ude as well as Novosibirsk. FYI: The Novosibirsk area is 6 time zones away from Kyiv!
 Some flew from Novosibirsk to Moscow and then took an overnight train to Kyiv.  Those from further east took trains to Krasnoyarsk, then a plane to St. Petersburg and one to Kyiv (this was the cheapest way)!  In the past the temple trips were to Sweden and later to Finland.  The reason they now come to Kyiv is not just distance, but that no visas are needed to exit Russia or enter another country and that was often a major obstacle.  It is also only a 3 hour plane trip to Kyiv and was an 8 hour bus ride to Helsinki.  Besides, they are in the Kyiv temple district (and probably for all of those reasons).  

So where is Ulan-Ude?  It is on the south east side of Lake Baikal.  One family who joined the church there in 2006 after attending English classes offered by the missionaries, was sealed together this week.  The daughter served a mission in Vladivostok, the son in Samara.  They all came and the two returned missionaries were delightful temple workers with us.  Their mother was endowed and along with the deceased father all were sealed.  This family looks oriental/mongolian.  They are the nicest people.  They said their church branch had about 70 active members.  We will miss them and hope for the best.