Do we do anything but EAT?

 Week of April 18-24, 2016

(We've done a thousand things and have a thousand things to say but no pictures to say them with! Ahhhh.  I'm going to have to write :(  uhhhh!)

 Big changes this week!  All the companionships in our zone but one were switched up!  We had a lot of good byes and not much time.  I know we've said it before, but only the BEST are sent to Ukraine and we have had the BEST of the best here in Odessa.  It must have been decided that we are the training ground or something like that.  But, they are all off to new adventures and we get to now work with more of the best youth in the church.

Centralnie  District

Our District came over for lunch and District Meeting

We had enchiladas.  I felt so bad.

I tried to make Sour cream enchiladas without a recipe and
with lavosh instead of tortillas.  They looked much better
than they tasted.

The other district came for dinner.  They got red
enchiladas.  They were lots better!

This one's a candid shot.  Ned was showing them how he could
control the timer on his camera with his iPad.  

The Tairovsky District and their new members who so kindly
gave them a ride to the train station.

Here's where I wish we had a screenshot to share.  We spent a lot of time this week getting ready for our first Pathway class or Gathering.  The classes are really online classes from BYU-Idaho but they have the students gather in an online video room once a week to practice skills learned in class, their English, and, I think, to bring life to the program.   We had to contact all the students before the first meeting to make sure they had a connection that could work in our VIDYO room.  Vidyo is a program similar to Skype but it allows all the class members to be on the screen at the same time- without jumping around, and allows them to share screens.  Ned had to work hard to get them all ready.  One we had to Skype with because her sound wouldn't work.  Some had to use a friends computer till they could get theirs working.....anyway,  Thursday we had our first class and it was awesome!  Great kids.  All I can say is that its a good thing we only have to teach the first and last lessons.  We are pretty boring.  Now, a different student teaches , or is the lead student, each week. They have guidelines and a rubric to follow.  They are taught how to question and involve the whole class.  There is an observing student who joins in an evaluation after the class and then that student becomes the lead student the next week.  They have regular online homework and contact with an instructor from BYU-Idaho.  They speak with a native English speaker and a classmate during the week.  We're excited to see how the semester progresses.  Students come from all over Eastern Europe.  Ours are in Latvia, Lithuania, and Ukraine.  In some cities there are enough students that can meet together in a physical location for Thursday night gatherings.  Everyone else meets together online. The program lasts three semesters.  This first semester teaches English, leadership skills, and the basics of how to succeed in college.  Next semester covers a review of Algebra and more English.  The last semester is a writing class, in English.  So, they end up with 15 credits that will get them started in an American University, online, where they can go as far as they want- associates degree, bachelors..... or, they will be prepared to go to a university anywhere, or they will be better prepared to find a better paying job. Did I say we are excited?  We are!  We even were able to substitute teach for a couple that couldn't be in connectivity for their first class.  It was with just one student in her 3rd semester from Vladivostok.  A little harder with just one instead of 9.

Since we have no pictures of that gathering, here are pictures of
a different gathering this week.
We got to have dinner and Family Home Evening with this sweet
sweet family.  She is so gracious and such a great cook.  They
are about to leave for America to work for a year.  His company
has an office that needs his expertise. 

Everything was great but I was a little unsure of the raw fish :)

Ned was also called into another service project this week. A brother from Suvorovsky has an apartment to rent but had had a stroke and couldn't get it fixed up by himself.  On Thursday he was to meet the Elders and Valerie at the church and they would take him to the apartment where they could evaluate just what needed to be done.  The church is about an hour by bus away from us.  He got there and no one was there, so he sat on a bench to enjoy the beautiful morning.  Soon the Elders called and asked if he was almost there. He said "I'm sitting on the bench, where are you?"  They finally realized they were in Odessa and he was in Suvorovsky!  No one ever mentioned at which church they would meet.  He found out the apartment was in Odessa, so, he quick grabbed a taxi and met them there.  Then, Saturday morning He and the Elders went over and began a remodel that should help this man out until he can get back on his feet.

Before they started

Had to take up the old flooring

Some of the machinery was not quite up to code

The wood was sitting right on the dirt and over time had
rotted

All finished!

And now the reward!

Look what service does for a group of young men

Friday we also got to host the bi-monthly teacher training for Seminary and Institutes.  Theres a lot of wonderful information to help these teachers in a pretty thankless job.  I am so grateful for a mom who has only the best recipes and took the time to make sure we all knew how to make them.  That night, a family staple, Saturday Chicken, saved me.  At the end of the evening they watched a talk given by Brother Ballard where he introduced a new "Doctrinal Mastery" initiative.  "More than at any time in our history, your students also need to be blessed by learning doctrinal or historical content and context by study and faith accompanied by pure testimony so they can experience a mature and lasting conversion to the gospel and a lifelong commitment to Jesus Christ".  Wow!  I thought Seminary was great before.  Now it will be even better.

Saturday Chicken, mashed potatoes, carrots, green salad and
orange ambrosia!  Thanks, Mom!

Then, Saturday was Seminary Super Saturday.  The kids from all over the Odessa area get to come together for a day of classes, activities, and (our part) food! This time we made mom's spaghetti!  They loved it.

First classes then food.  Tried a really yummy salad with
cucumbers, apples, onion, in a lemony yogurt sauce. Yum!

десерт!!!

As we've been preparing for other assignments, I was reading in 4 Nephi.  I found some commentary that will help us teach the YSA next week.  Let me share that with you as I close.

Elder Russell M. Nelson of the Quorum of the Twelve Apostles described the source of the great peace that was described in 4 Nephi:“Personal peace is reached when one, in humble submissiveness, truly loves God. Heed carefully this scripture:“‘There was no contention in the land, because of the love of God which did dwell in the hearts of the people’ (4 Nephi 1:15; italics added; see also 1:2).“Thus, love of God should be our aim. It is the first commandment—the foundation of faith. As we develop love of God and Christ, love of family and neighbor will naturally follow. Then will we eagerly emulate Jesus. He healed. He comforted. He taught, ‘Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God’ (Matthew 5:9; see also 3 Nephi 12:9).

Life is becoming so difficult, everywhere.  These youth have so many difficult decisions to make and such a different world in which to live and work.  How will they ever be able to stay strong and be happy?   I read a talk by Elder Larry R Lawrence, Choose Happiness (https://speeches.byu.edu/talks/larry-r-lawrence_choose-happiness/).   He "pointed out a few practices that can lead to greater happiness"- smiling more often, expressing gratitude, looking for and praising the good in others, welcoming the newcomer and reaching out to those who need a friend and not allowing ourselves to become discouraged.  I think, when doing these things, we, ourselves, are better able to feel the love of God in our lives and in turn will learn to love Him.  These small and simple things are what will keep us all grounded and able to carry on in peace and happiness, no matter what is thrown at us.

A cool picture posted by a friend of a relative with a group of
soldiers sitting on the Potemkin Steps, what do you think, maybe
75 or 80 years ago.  Look at the brickwork in the top right corner

There between the branches is part of that same brickwork now.

and heres a shot looking down the steps today

Some other cool shots from this week

Love this guy!  Just like all the rest, he has a shiny nose.  People
take pictures rubbing his nose for luck.

One of my favorite building.  It looks so...... European!

Guess that's it for this week.  On to a new one.  Hope yours will be wonderful and full of adventure.  Love to you all
The Miks

Current pics of the fam (the others aren't very current- yet)

Jacob with the new and the old office staff.  He's part of the old.
Being transferred this week.

Dinner at Grandma Jackie's