I decided the best way to share our week was through photos. It has been a great week for photo ops so, here goes.
These are from our Monday "P-Day" shopping excursions.
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| We headed out to run errands and this caught Ned's eye. how they change tires at the corner tire store. Ingenious! |
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| One of Ned's favorite stores. It's like walking into any Home Depot but it has a Target/WalMart/Best Buy section as well. |
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| Just a cool relic in an intersection. It matches the turtle at the central park we posted a couple weeks ago. |
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| A truckload of apples headed to market. he'd lose a few around every corner. |
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| Our neighbor has the most amazing pear tree! |
I wish we could take pictures of our English classes. "Little" English started again this week. we love to teach the children at City Hall. Its amazing how fast children can learn and how much they can remember! the people we work with at "Big" English have become like family and we get new members all the time.
Wednesday-
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| This was on our way home from Self-Reliance Class (Great program! there are classes on personal finance, how to get and afford an education, how to get a job, starting your own business.....check out the manuals at lds.org) Won't be able to enjoy this sight much longer. They shut the fountain down when the weather gets cold. |
These are some of the thoughts he had from his journal.
"As
I was studying this morning in Galatians I found this in the institute
manual. We are bombarded with the opinions of the world. We lose focus of
the gospel centered perspective. Here is a quote from the lesson I studied
(chapter 43 on Galatians):
Elder
Dallin H. Oaks explained how the Church today, like the New Testament Church,
extends the invitation to all to come unto Christ:
“Jesus and His Apostles did not attempt to make Gentiles
into Jews (see Romans 2:11; Galatians 2:11–16; 3:1–29; 5:1–6; 6:15). They
taught Gentiles and Jews, attempting to make each of them into followers of
Christ.
President
James E. Faust explained how there can be both diversity and unity in the Church:
“As
we move into more and more countries in the world, we find a rich cultural
diversity in the Church. Yet everywhere there can be a ‘unity of the faith’
[Ephesians 4:13]. Each group brings special gifts and talents to the table of
the Lord. We can all learn much of value from each other. But each of us should
also voluntarily seek to enjoy all of the unifying and saving covenants,
ordinances, and doctrines of the gospel of the Lord Jesus Christ. …
“We
do not lose our identity in becoming members of this church. We become heirs to
the kingdom of God, having joined the body of Christ and spiritually set aside
some of our personal differences to unite in a greater spiritual cause. We say
to all who have joined the Church, keep all that is noble, good, and uplifting
in your culture and personal identity. However, under the authority and power
of the keys of the priesthood, all differences yield as we seek to become heirs
to the kingdom of God, unite in following those who have the keys of the
priesthood, and seek the divinity within us” (“Heirs to the Kingdom of God,”
Ensign, May 1995, 62)."
I think the world is focusing so much on peoples differences that we are forgetting the beauty of our sameness. A niece posted a picture of her family this morning that so beautifully depicted the differences in her children personalities. Each one is so different and because of that their family is strong and complete (Well almost. I still think they need another little one). We are all brothers and sisters. We need to focus more on using our talents and strengths to BE brothers and sisters and to be like the Savior instead of worrying about whose needs are more important or which diverse group has been picked on.
OOOOO enough of that. Moving on....
Thursday
We were given the assignment to teach about American Fall traditions at a church Harvest Festival and to make pumpkin pie. So, finally, we have pictures of our favorite рынок! (I didn't add the best pictures of people. Thought we'd get in trouble without their permission. If I'm wrong, let me know and we'll put those in later)
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| That soda pop bottle s full of milk. People take a taste of the milk from the lid. If they like it, sold, if no, on to the next stand. At some stands, they keep the milk in a jug with a spigot behind the table and fill up the empty recycled bottles for sale. The cheese and sour cream are homemade and so good! |
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| These is all kitchen stuff- spices, tea,..... |
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| All the fruits and vegetables are so flavorful! Even the mushy apples are good. |
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| Nuts and dried fruit |
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| Everything is an art. They take great pride in their work |
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| Haven't tried the fish yet. not sure we're that brave. the picture is great I just wish we could also send the smell that went along with the photo |
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| The end result of our shopping trip- well almost the end. Next came 2 pies and some yummy roasted seeds. it is a lot easier to buy pumpkin in a CAN. |
We didn't get a picture of all the trucks backed up with tailgates open and piles of fruit flowing out. It is amazing to see. I've never seen so many watermelons and now they've added 50 lb bags of potatoes and onions.
Friday was full of English classes and mission meetings. So glad to have the Elders back. I love to watch them teach. Even though we can't understand all they say, you just know when the Spirit has taken over the discussion. You can see it in their faces and you can feel the warmth as these strong, willing servants of the Lord become His mouthpiece.
Saturday
Here are a few from the 80 pictures we took at the Branch Activity.
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| Sisters brought three talents to share. This dear sister.... brought things she bottled from what they grew. |
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| ...apples from her Dacha. |
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| ...her flowers and amazing cuisine. |
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| ... her beautiful bread, fruit, and knowledge of Ukrainian tradition |
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| They all put their best effort into everything. It reminds me of stories of the early pioneers. And thats what they are here. Ukrainian Pioneers. |
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| She added Kalena berries, a symbol of Ukraine, to make her bread even more festive. |
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| A perfect example of the calling, "Husband of the Relief Society President" |
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| Compote is a must at every activity! |
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| The busy RS Pres |
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| I had to take this picture of our sweet бабушки on their rows at church. Amazing women! And not just the бабушки, but all the women- all the members. |
Hope you have a great week. Love to you all,
The Miks
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| Thank you Sonina! So glad Daniel and Sonina could go to Amy (Ned's niece) and Anthony's baby blessing. Congratulations! |
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| Jonathan and Kelsey moved into a new house this week! |
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| Jacob has moved to a new area- Isla Mujeres. The island is 750 yards wide and 4.2 miles long. The top elevation is about 15' above sea level. |
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| and these two went to Harry Potter World! |
