A Wonderful Week with Wise Words of Wisdom

Week of April 4-10, 2016

Ned decided to take a picture of the tree outside our window
every day to see the change in just one week.  Day 1

Day 6  Isn't the world amazing?

This is my favorite time of year.  SPRING!  Heavy coats are put away.  More time is spent outside.  Gray is turning to beautiful, welcome, color! And the BEST part of all- we began and ended the week with the wise, welcome, words from General Conference.  I can't share them all but, if you will allow, let me share just a few of my favorites. (interspersed with a few of my favorite pictures from this weeks wanderings)

Forsythia!  They're in bloom everywhere!

Brethren, in our efforts to save our marriages and families, as in all things, let us follow the example of the One who saves us. The Savior won “our souls with love.”  Jesus Christ is our Master. His work is our work. It is a saving work, and it begins in our homes.Love in the fabric of the plan of salvation is selfless and seeks the well-being of others. That is the love our Heavenly Father has for us.As we emulate the Savior’s love, He will surely bless and prosper our righteous efforts to save our marriages and strengthen our families.May the Lord bless you in your untiring and righteous efforts to be numbered among those who save.         Pres Uchtdorf

The greatest leaders are the greatest followers

If I were to ask you, “Who is the greatest leader who ever lived?”—what would you say? The answer, of course, is Jesus Christ. He sets the perfect example of every imaginable leadership quality.But what if I were to ask you, “Who is the greatest follower who ever lived?”—wouldn’t the answer again be Jesus Christ? He is the greatest leader because He is the greatest follower—He follows His Father perfectly, in all things.The world teaches that leaders must be mighty; the Lord teaches that they must be meek. Worldly leaders gain power and influence through their talent, skill, and wealth. Christlike leaders gain power and influence “by persuasion, by long-suffering, by gentleness and meekness, and by love unfeigned.”1In God’s eyes, the greatest leaders have always been the greatest followers. Elder Owens

Elder Patanía compared this tragedy to the Lord’s admonition when He said, “Ye [have] not strengthened, … [or] brought again that which was driven away, … [or] sought that which was lost; … and I will require my flock at [your] hand.” (Ezekiel 34:4,10)
Elder Patanía explained that, while we must be organized in our councils, quorums, auxiliaries, and even as individuals, we must not delay going to the rescue. Sometimes many weeks pass as we talk about how to help families or individuals who are in special need. We deliberate about who will visit them and the approach to take. Meanwhile, our lost brothers and sisters continue needing and sometimes even calling and pleading for help. We must not delay.   Elder Arnold

Just some interesting buildings.  The green one ended up being the
Ministry of Education and Science Research Institute for Physics.
I think =)

Where and when we feel the closeness of the Savior depend on each of us. He gave this instruction:“And again, verily I say unto you, my friends, I leave these sayings with you to ponder in your hearts, with this commandment which I give unto you, that ye shall call upon me while I am near—“Draw near unto me and I will draw near unto you; seek me diligently and ye shall find me; ask, and ye shall receive; knock, and it shall be opened unto you” (D&C 88:62–63).  Elder Eyring

One key to forgiving others is to try to see them as God sees them. At times, God may part the curtain and bless us with the gift to see into the heart, soul, and spirit of another person who has offended us. This insight may even lead to an overwhelming love for that person...Forgiveness is the very reason God sent His Son, so let us rejoice in His offering to heal us all. The Savior’s Atonement is not just for those who need to repent; it is also for those who need to forgive. If you are having trouble forgiving another person or even yourself, ask God to help you. Forgiveness is a glorious, healing principle. We do not need to be a victim twice. We can forgive.  Elder Duncan

Neighborhood church on the way to the
botanical garden.

It was a GREAT Conference!  I could post favorite quotes all day long, but instead, it would needs be better if I quit and begin doing what they say rather than just quoting them.

getting back to work

One favorite part of the week for Elder Mikkelsen came on P-Day.  We walked out our door, looked down by the sea, and there were 2 big Navy ships in port.  They were pretty cool!  He came home and googled them.  They were actually Turkish frigates here as a combined military show of unity in the fight for freedom in Crimea.

Cargo ship

Emergency escape boat

Anti ship battery

Not sure how fun that would be to land the helicopter on that small
platform is a rough sea.

Lots of shipping by train from the port.

Local pack of dogs wandering around very common site.

Another of his favorites- we needed some salsa so he opened our last bottle of unidentified preserves given us from a wonderful Sister in Vinntsya as we left.  It looked like tomato something.  It turned out to be the BEST peppers ever!  I don't know if they are pickled peppers or just wonderful peppers bottled in oil with onions, but they were so good.  Volia is an amazing cook! Thank-you again for everything sweet lady!

A less favorite part of the week, but still enjoyable, sent us to the яинок to find a specific kind Ukrainian tie at a specific shop.  Well, this was at the 7 kilometer market and all we had was the number of the shop and that, maybe, it was on the blue line.  It so happens that there were many rows of shops that were blue, the numbering was sometimes confusing, and when we asked, they would say, "I think it's over there".  A couple hours later, after a few phone calls, we found what we think must have been the shop, but, he was closed that day.  We now know, however, just how to find it again, and our next foray into that mysterious and magical neverland will surely be successful.

In one big part of the market all the shops are double stacks of
boxcars turned on end lined up by color with the shop on the
bottom and storage on top.  At the end of the day all goods
are packed back up inside and locked up. 

That says "Ties"

Saturday took us to a beautiful botanical garden just beginning to bud where we participated in a Mormon Helping Hands project.  You would think Elder Mikkelsen would begin to regret his decision to hand me the camera during my week to write the blog.  He used to take all the pictures, but one day, I must have asked him to take one shot too many and he said, "Here, its your week.  You take the pictures." I have never liked being the photographer.  Other people's shots always look better it seems, so I overcompensate.  Out of 150 shots you surely should be able to find a few good ones, right?  Sometimes!  I wish you could see what I saw in the shots I took.  This is a beautiful country.  I realized though, that I tend to take pictures always of the old and not the new.  I find the historical picture much more fascinating than the modern.  I will try to do better at being more equal, more diverse, in the future.  Here are shots from on the way there.

Came to a dead end.  The only way through was not
the path less travelled by.

That says, Botanical Garden, Odessa,
National University,
Protected by law

And these are shots from the garden.  We had a great time getting to know the members better as we got to work in the dirt.  It's been too long since we have been able to wear our service clothes.

A few of the helping hands

Our missionaries

Elder Mik couldn't pass this one up

Before

We were cleaning out weeds from beds of rose bushes
they are trying to restore.

Our section all finished.  Should have taken a picture of our
hoes.  They were great- pointed on the sides so you can
dig around the plants without destroying them.  I want one
to take home with me.

Home of the local hobbit

Guard shack the little man spends many hours a day in there.

In the early 1900's there were no plants here at all this project is
just over a 100 years old which for this country is very young.

After the work project our sweet Elders came and fixed us dinner.  They have no oven and wanted to make pizza and salsa, but also to share.  It was the best pizza we've had since we've been here.  They are great cooks and great missionaries.  Only the best are sent to Ukraine!

Sunday, between conference sessions, the branch brought together a yummy lunch. There was none of the ice cream that Elder Holland spoke of, but it was really good.  Mushroom potatoes, layered beet and potato salad, Ukrainian sandwiches (one had chopped hard boiled egg with a garlic sauce- so good) and yes, we were in charge of the сладкий (sweet) portion of the meal.  Someday I'll learn to cook the savory part.  Anyway, it was a wonderful way to end a wonderful week- with wise words of wisdom in the company of wonderful saints.

One of our Young Single Adults telling the Institute
class about his mission call.

He'll be serving in the Scotland/Ireland Mission

The other young man will be serving in
Belarus as soon as he gets his Visa.

Feeling so grateful this week.  We are 2 truly blessed people!  Amazing family, brought up knowing the love of our Father and Savior and of their plan for us in places where others believe as do we do.  We've always had enough and more. Grateful for wise words of wisdom to keep us going and hopefully get us on the right track.  Grateful for all who are sacrificing to make it possible for us to be so comfortably here.  What would we do without you all!  Time is flying so fast now.  So much to do in so little time.

Hope you all have had and will have a wonderful week.

Love to you all

The Mik's