Humble! Ohoo Humble Yourself!

The Week of June 8 (Aunt Laurie's Birthday)- 14,
When we were in High School, most of the star football players were in the choir. The title of the blog is a line from one of their most memorable songs.  I will never forget them on the back row rumbling out.... "humble, ooooh humble yourself! A, well, the bell dun' ring...... That line has echoed through my head очен много- very many times since then, almost постоянно- constantly since we've been here.  You think you know a lot and are ready to pass on your all you've got, so you start to lay it out only to find that these wonderful people are way ahead of you.  I think we're finally finding how we can best serve- with the help of our wonderful teachers and mentors, the younger Elders.  We'll see if we can finally get this blog rolling.  We had a wonderful week.  Here are some highlights.

This is a temple we visited one day in between meetings.
It glistens in the sun kind of beckoning you to come.
It was locked so we couldn't go inside but its very beautiful outside.
 It's so typical of buildings here.  They are so colorful.

These are pictures taken from the train window of a train station we pass,
but never get to
stop at, on our way to Kyiv.  Also an example of the cool building.

On Wednesday we were able to go with some of the leaders of the Branch, to visit the geriatric wing in one of the hospitals the may need some humanitarian aide.  Elder Hunt brought his ukulele and we sang I am a Child of God (in Ukrainian), handed out some treats and copies of "The living Christ".  It was a good visit.  Most of the people were basically disinterested until we sang to them, then their faces lit up and they wanted to talk.  We felt bad cause we couldn't stay very long that day but we will go back with more members of the branch and friends when we can spend more time.  One sweet, sweet, lady reached in her pocket as we were leaving.  She pulled out a couple of гривен.  I think she wanted to donate to our church like she would on a Sunday at hers.  It wasn't much but, like the widow and her mite, it was probably all she had.  What a wonderful (humbling) example of generosity and love.

Thats the hospital in the background.  There were no signs on the building.
 If we hadn't asked a lady on the bus if we were on the right bus to get there
and if she hadn't hollered to us that it was time to get off we would still be
circling town wondering when to get off.

That night we decided it was time to visit the Roshen Fountain.  It is the largest floating fountain in the world.  It's like the fountains at the Belagio but bigger and they add in a laser light show in the evenings.  It's choreographed mostly to classical music but to other types as well.  its absolutely beautiful.  Ned took some pictures but you can see better ones on line. There is also a short video they tells a Ukrainian Fairy tale of how the good Fairies defeat the dragon.  Very enjoyable presentation.

 
 

We didn't go out to work on the greenhouse this week but we did get to travel out the other direction to visit the home of some other members. It was an amazing place.  I think once they get finished building they will be basically self- sufficient.  They have a way to gather and store water, a huge garden with root cellars to store the food, and alternative power sources (this is important because sometimes in the winter the gas is temporarily turned off and everyone cooks and heats with gas).  Such wonderful, gracious, people.  After a huge meal of yummy Ukrainian food, we went out and they picked a big bowl of cherries (they sent the leftovers home :)) and an armful of herbs to dry. We LOVE Ukraine!

The map at the bus station showing all the routes

So what else did we do this week?  We studied, got to know our next-door neighbors, had some great lessons at English class, were taught a couple great Russian lessons, fed people, helped teach a couple people, tried to speak a little more Russian,  helped with the starting of a class in Self Reliance using the churches new program (check it out online.  It's very good).  People are always sharing with us.  We need to start taking pictures.  We ate yummy cabbage rolls, were given fresh herbs from gardens, one sister gave us a HUGE jar of honey (that's like gold here), the Primary President gave us some bryndza that she and her mother had made- very very good,  cookies..., one sister and her mother walked for and hour to get to our place to help us meet our neighbors (she has done that several times). These are good people!

The fun family that came to Sunday Dinner

What's left of the бріндза (sp?)

Birds by the blue church are very peaceful

forgot to add this one with the other fountain pics.
Thats the Roshen Candy Factory in the background.
 Somedays it smells delicious!

They have theses little drink carts all over town.
 Its a special fermented, carbonated drink made only around these parts.
Everyone loves it.  Someday we'll be brave enough to try it.

Jacob and his Cancun Critters

Our New Baby and our First Baby