Transfers

Week of July 25-31

I guess you could say, they whitewashed our area.  Whitewashing means taking all the missionaries out of an area and sending in new ones who may never have served there before.  Usually they leave one missionary and just give them a new companion.  The old can teach the new how to get around.  When they whitewash, everything is new and it takes a few days to get your bearings.  They are taking us out of our area and sending in new senior missionaries, but, we get to stay here for a few days to show them the ropes.  Its been a lot of fun!

While at the mission home waiting for the Gibbons one of
our youth, Max.  He has been waiting to head to the MTC
(missionary training center) before going to the Scotland/
Ireland Mission.  So good to see him!!!

Monday we had to do the usual  before transfer day stuff- deep clean the apartment, pack, last minute stuff.  Then Tuesday we took the 5AM train to go pick up the newbies and bring them back to Odessa.

We pass this metal drain cover every time we go from the
Tram-vi to the mission office.  The office sister would
never step on the the cover for fear of dropping in.  She
would always go around.  Looks like she was right.
It finally gave way!

We wanted to show them around the center part of town with all the Cathedrals and Monuments, but the center of town was shut down (roads blocked, metro shut down...) because of a big religious celebration.  10,000 pilgrims came into town for the celebration and many opposition groups were set up to cause trouble.  So, we went elsewhere.  The only things open seemed to be malls, so we went shopping and out to lunch waiting for time to meet the train.

We're here with the office couple.  Our job was to keep the
Gibbons awake as long as we could. 

So many suitcases.  They paid for extra!  You have to get them
on the train quickly and you should have seen the taxi ride
home!  Only 4 would fit in the back.  The rest were on our laps!
then the driver had to wait while we brought ours down so he
could take us to our new room.  This was about 1:00AM

We talked till their brains were numb then played some
5 Crowns until the train conductor made us stop
He thought we might be gambling on the train.  Long ride!

We've broken them in right.  Their second day here they hosted a Family Home Evening at their apartment.  (We had 23 there for a wonderful lesson and some especially sweet and tender good-byes. We were so humbled by these wonderful youth who have become family.  We love them! Many of them left this morning for a Youth Conference in L' viv.  This was our last chance to say good-bye.)
They spoke in Church, taught English class and participated in their first Branch Council Meeting  They've bought groceries, tickets on the marshrutka.  We went to the big Renuk where they bought a bunch of needed items.  Their internet went down and their downstairs neighbor came up to tell them they couldn't let any water down the drain in their kitchen sink so they are washing dishes in the tub (welcome to Odessa!).  They've learned how to use the virtual map on their iPads and phone to find their way around...and there's still so much more.  Their heads are whirling, I'm sure, and all while they are still fighting jet lag.  They are amazing people and we are so glad they are here.

Geting to know the youth

They decided it was their turn to be in charge of
dinner!  She was in charge of bringing the
vareniki and pelmeni!  Soon good.  

Maria promised a Napoleon cake.  She made it!!!

It was soon good!

Her shoes were behind the door.  She said, "Sister!"
I looked and she had her foot next to Ned's shoe.  She
couldn't believe how big it was!  She said, "How
can you live with that!"  Such a cutie!

Dish duty in the tub!

Our YSA President took the Gibbons on the "Welcome to Odessa"
tour.  She is a GREAT guide!  Took a pic with this statue.
They look so "Statue" and then they move!  Fun!

Always the coolest cars around Odessa?

...and they learned to slam!  Very important!  These missionaries stopped
by for some lesson help and brought Super Conte's with them.
We got to try them for the first time in hot chocolate instead of
plain milk.  It's like slurping chocolate cookie syrup!

I have to say, we are ready to go home, but when I think about leaving, I have to stop or I will cry.  It seems like we just got here and there is still so much more to do.  So, I will think about it another day and end with these scriptures.  So many times this week they have been on my mind.

5 ¶Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.
6 In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.  Prov 3:5-6

And again I would exhort you that ye would come unto Christ, and lay hold upon every good gift...And awake, and arise from the dust, O Jerusalem; yea, and put on thy beautiful garments, O daughter of Zion; and strengthen thy stakes and enlarge thy borders forever, that thou mayest no more be confounded, that the covenants of the Eternal Father which he hath made unto thee, O house of Israel, may be fulfilled.

32 Yea, come unto Christ, and be perfected in him, and deny yourselves of all ungodliness; and if ye shall deny yourselves of all ungodliness, and love God with all your might, mind and strength, then is his grace sufficient for you...
33 Fear not to do good, my sons, for whatsoever ye sow, that shall ye also reap; therefore, if ye sow good ye shall also reap good for your reward.
34 Therefore, fear not, little flock; do good; let earth and hell combine against you, for if ye are built upon my rock, they cannot prevail.
35 Behold, I do not condemn you; go your ways and sin no more; perform with soberness the work which I have commanded you.

36 Look unto me in every thought; doubt not, fear not.41 And moreover, I would desire that ye should consider on the blessed and happy state of those that keep the commandments of God. For behold, they are blessed in all things, both temporal and spiritual; and if they hold out faithful to the end they are received into heaven, that thereby they may dwell with God in a state of never-ending happiness. O remember, remember that these things are true; for the Lord God hath spoken it.

12 And now, my sons, remember, remember that it is upon the rock of our Redeemer, who is Christ, the Son of God, that ye must build your foundation; that when the devil shall send forth his mighty winds, yea, his shafts in the whirlwind, yea, when all his hail and his mighty storm shall beat upon you, it shall have no power over you to drag you down to the gulf of misery and endless wo, because of the rock upon which ye are built, which is a sure foundation, a foundation whereon if men build they cannot fall.

88 And whoso receiveth you, there I will be also, for I will go before your face. I will be on your right hand and on your left, and my Spirit shall be in your hearts, and mine angels round about you, to bear you up.

I know our Heavenly Father has a plan for us.  I know that if, day by day, we try to be like our Savior, our hearts can be at peace, our righteous dreams can be fulfilled, our struggles can be turned to stepping stones instead of stumbling blocks, and we can be happy when all around us in turmoil!  His way is simple- His yoke is easy and his burden is light!!!!!  A young man at English class this week told us that God has told us all we need to know.  Now we just have to do it!  Easily said.  Now, can we make it easily done?  One step at a time! and we'll make it just like Igor's size 15 jig!

Have a great week!
Love to all
The Miks