Another Wow week here in Ukraine. We are settling into the new
diggs (apartment) here in Vinnitsya. Our apartment as Janet told you last
week is way nice. It is especially nice since our trip to the Metro
(Ukrainian Costco). We found the one thing I insisted on and that was a
mattress topper. Our bed was about 15" off the floor and as hard as
if we were sleeping on the floor. So we added a 16 CM topper (about
4") of foam on top of the existing bed now it is still low to the ground
but much more comfortable. Everything else is coming together we got the
Elders to take us to a very Large Renok (рынок, a big open
air market). We were looking for a very specific item so that we could hook up
our water filter system. We have been drinking bottled water for two
weeks and were excited to have a system to fix that. Well a long story
short with the help of the elders we were able to find the very small part that
made it so we could have clean water to drink out of the faucet!! Small
things like that really make a missionary’s day and week!!!! It was an
adventure not to be forgotten. As we walked around one corner there were
about 30 vendors all selling live animals. I posted a short movie on Facebook
if you want to see the confusion. They were selling baby chicks, Ducks,
Rabbits, and lots of full grown chickens and rabbits. You can purchase
anything in these markets. It is amazing. They sell eggs by the one. In the
local market they are 1.40 Grevian which is about $.06 or $.70 a dozen and I'm
talking about organic eggs that still have chicken manure on them. They
are also all brown. The down side is
you have to carry them home without a carton.
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| Thousands of baby chicks for sale |
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| This is one of hundreds of Rabbits for sale |
On Wednesday we had the opportunity to travel back to Kyiv for a multiple zone mission conference. Elder Bruce D Porter of the 70 was there. We left on Wednesday night and traveled on a high speed train to Kyiv. The picture below is the train station in Vinnitsya. We thought it was quite big. When we arrived in Kyiv the station was at least 10 times its size. The open lobby was 4 stories tall. We were in awe of the size and glad to have our Elders with us to help us navigate this new adventure. We lovingly call them our baby sitters. They ordered a taxi for us and sent us over to the Mission office couples apartment across town. The ride in the taxi rivaled any ride at Lagoon!!!
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These are our "Baby Sitters" Elder Porter on left Elder Kerr on right.
We are on board the high speed train very nice transportation. |
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| Voxzal (train station in Vinnistya) you can see the Russian spelling on the building |
We had a wonderful conference with Elder Porter and His wife. He is the president of the Eastern European area. Sister Porter talked about carrying the heavy burden of missionary work. She reminded us that the Savior through his atonement has removed this burden and gave us the assignment to go out and do his work. D&C 88:73 Behold, I will hasten my work in its time. The work is being hastened by the Father and his son, our work is to be his hands and feet. We must do it in his way. D&C 12:8 And no one can assist in this work except he shall be humble and full of love, having faith, hope, and charity, being temperate in all things, whatsoever shall be entrusted to his care." When we are carrying the heavy burden our eyes are focused down but when we look to the Lord we will be looking heavenward.
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| When we look to God we will lift our eye up and see the light |
Elder Porter encouraged us to be a light and example. He talked about a little known scripture in Deuteronomy 33:17, "His glory is like the firstling of his bullock, and his horns are like the horns of unicorns: with them he shall push the people together to the ends of the earth: and they are the ten thousands of Ephraim, and they are the thousands of Manasseh." He told us that most of us are of the tribe of Ephraim and it's sign is a bull and our job is to push the people of the world to the gospel. He told us that the highest concentration of the other lost tribes exist in this area. We need to go out and push them to the gospel. What a wonderful imagery that was for us. The people here are so wonderful they hide behind a screen of fear an oppression that existed for years but now they are beginning to open up. The gospel is such a blessing to their lives. Mosiah 28:3 "Now they were desirous that salvation should be declared to every creature, for they could not bear that any human soul should perish; yea, even the very thoughts that any soul should endure endless torment did cause them to quake and tremble." That is the way that each of us must feel, that the gospel is so important to us that we can't bear the thought of other not having it. So with that let me share the last scripture that ties all of this together. Ether 12:27 "And if men come unto me I will show unto them their weakness. I give unto men weakness that they may be humble; and my grace is sufficient for all men that humble themselves before me; for if they humble themselves before me, and have faith in me, then will I make weakthings become strong unto them." So if any of you think that you can't be a missionary you need to humble yourself because the Lord can make your weaknesses become strengths. Janet and I can testify of that!!! We have done so many things we thought we could never do. So step out on a limb and prove the Lord. You can do it. OK I'm off the soap box.
We had the opportunity to tour around Kyiv before we boarded the train for "HOME" that's right Vinnitsya is home now!! Here are a couple of pictures to help you get a feel for this wonderful country.
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| These Murals are all over the place this was in a back alley by the Area Office |
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| A group of young Cadets touring the Kyiv Fortress |
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| Kyiv Fortress Built in 1750's and finished in 1840's it helped to defend the city of Kyiv |
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Some of the couples serving here in the area The Mehr's next to Janet are area historians
Sister Callister next to them and her husband on far right are the office couple
Elder and Sister Watts are CES in Kyiv |
Saturday was a wonderful Branch celebration. The Relief Society had their birthday party and made it a large branch activity. They had us dress up in native costumes and had lots of different activities. Janet made brownies and banana cake. It was a big hit!!!
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| Native Ukrainian dress my outfit was not as nice as here so no picture of me sorry |
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| Several Branch members and the elders all dressed up |
Janet and I were scheduled to speak at Sacrament meeting today and Janet got her talk in but we ran out of time so I got off the hook. I'm sure in the next week of two I'll have that opportunity to speak. We love being here and though we miss you all at times we are experiencing some of the happiest times of our life! If you are of missionary age both Junior or senior we can highly recommend this adventure to you!! (Oops got back on the box again). Have a great week. Love the Mikkelsen's
