Week of March 2, 2015

     Another week gone and we're wondering where it went.  "Time flies on wings of lightening.  We can not call it back".  So much to do and so little time.  That is why our new goal is to be more productive in our studies each day by taking time to plan.  удачи! (Russian for Good Luck!) 
     We need to apologize from the beginning here, we didn't think to take pictures at all this week.  We'll have some good ones next week.
     It's been a beautiful week in Ukraine.  It snowed for the first time in Tuesday morning but just for a couple hours, other than that the sun has shown every day. 
     We started the week as English teachers.  One of the Elders was sick so we were asked to go to a local High School (College) to speak with two classes of first year students (14-15 yrs).  They had been discussing human rights and wanted to practice their language skills with us.  They grilled us with questions about ourselves and America then we grilled them with questions about rights.  It was a great experience.  They were polite intelligent students with teachers who care very much about their success.  The video we watched with them sounded exactly like one that would have been used in an American classroom and the discussion quite like those I have witnessed with Mr. J.  The teachers asked us to come back the next day to do it all over again with 2 different classes. Lucky us!

Typical Ukrainian classroom teachers on the end students in the middle

     Later that day (Monday) we decided to find out where the train station was in case we ever need to go by train to Kyiv.  We'll show you a picture next time.  It was like walking into an old movie.  We were there between departures so it was empty so outside where you wait for your train, it was cold,  and gray, and lonely.  Gave you an solemn, empty, eery feeling. (too many movies)  Things picked up later though, especially around the рынок, a big open air market that surrounded the station.  So many shops and not nearly enough shoppers.  We are going to shop there tomorrow for things we need for our apartment so we'll get a picture then.  It reminded me of shopping in Israel.
     On Tuesdays we get to help teach 2 English classes.  The first is at City Hall with a group of children from 7-10 or 12.  Right after that we go to the church to speak with mostly young adults and a few older people.  They come to practice their English and we help them to do that by discussing lessons about the restoration and the plan of salvation. It's a lot of fun.
     What else do we do with our time?  Up till now we've had time to study lessons, language study and find our way around town on public transportation. (hopefully that has changed now).  We love teaching with the Elders.  They have asked us to help a couple times.  We try our best but then as soon as they start teaching in Russian you can feel the Spirit take over.  It is amazing.  It's easy to bear testimony after that.  I can share one quick experience.  Sometimes we feel quite inadequate- most of the time actually.  One day I was feeling very much so.  We had studied hard that morning and had headed out to get some shopping done.  I prayed that Heavenly father would send someone to us to share a pass-along card with cause thats about all we can do with out limited language skills.  we turned the corner and a man came up and started talking to us.  We asked about English. He only spoke German but wanted to know about the church down the street so we gave him a pass along card and told him that was our church.  He read the card, gave us a knowing smile and nod, pocketed the card and went on his way. Then we gave another to a sweet expectant mother I visited with at the mall. These may seem little but they were answers to prayer for us.
This is getting long but last but not least, we were finally able to move into our apartment on Saturday.  

Our apartment is  on the 2nd floor right above the van

The playground outside our window

The magic key to get into the building but then when you get to the apartment door
it is two double turn dead bolts to get in.

Our Kitchen.  The apartment is very nice. We are blessed.

Has a full day planned so we couldn't really move in,  but we're here and it's great.  Had to take a van-taxi to get all our stuff here, got it all in, signed the contract, then had to leave to take a bus out to a village- a wonderful, cobblestone, old-fashioned, Ukrainian village to have dinner with the Relief Society President and her family. 

They are a wonderful family and so giving.

 A wonderful evening and a wonderful end of another week in Ukraine.
We had dinner at another families home and they gave these two beautiful eggs hand painted eggs which is quite the tradition here in Ukraine.

Ukrainian Eggs

L'viv Chocolate Company. Wonderful store!

We found two wonderful Local candy stores they have the best candy ever here.

This is the store front window of Roshen's candy store.  The Ukrainian President owns this company.
And has sone wonderful things for the city.

We hope you all have a blessed week.  Love Elder and Sister Миккелсен