Letting us have all the fun

Week of May 23-29, 2016
Surprise! The week is over already and what a wonderful week it was.  On Monday we made another trip out to the 7 K Renok looking for the tie shop and this time we found it, but didn't see the ties that we wanted.  They were there, we found out later, we just didn't see them. It is always fun to wander around that place.  The amount of stuff is like taking 10 or 12 Walmarts and putting all the stuff in the store out in the parking lots in nice neat rows and then walking around it for several hours. We are talking about a LOT of items for sale.

Snow? this late in May?  NO! Cottonwood trees

We had a FHE planned for Wednesday night and after the picnic last week I've had a huge desire to become a professional Shashlik gourmet cook.  You must have the correct equipment, you know.  They say, "that the tools make the cook"!  Or did I miss quote that?  Yes, we, Sister Mikkelsen and I, are owners of a 10 Skewer cooker that is portable, if you consider 22 LBS portable.

It doesn't get better than this!

We will host the Shashlik party in September in Bunkerville

I'm not sure how I'm going to get this baby home, but it's coming to good old Bunkerville if I have to do it as a carry on.  It was quite the trip from the local Renok.  About a mile carrying the new grill, 5 Kilos of Strawberries, and 4 Kilos of meat, not to mention all the other veggies we had to buy while we were there.  It was time to take another shower by the time we got home.
The charcoal here is not briquettes.  It is just chunks of charcoaled wood.  So a little lighter fluid and and hair drier and you have your very own forge to cook your pork on.  Well to make this long story a little shorter, it turned out great.  We had lots of kids show up.  We fed 18 people and even had a little left for the next day.
We had a great district meeting on Thursday. It was the last one before transfers.  We are losing one of our sisters, she is heading home so we had a district luncheon at the USA Pizza and Grill.

Farewell Sister Novikava second from the right

Yes there is ICE in this drink quite the surprise.

They have great hamburgers.  It is always such a blessing to work with these wonderful missionaries they give you encouragement for the future!  The church is in good hands.
We had a special treat on Friday when a good friend of ours (and Erik and Erika) made a short trip from Kyiv to stay with us for a couple of days down here in Odesa.  We love sharing our beautiful country with anyone who wanders in.
Friday night we purchased tickets for the Don Quixote Ballet.  It was a wonderful production.

Inside the Opera house

Mirror Selfie

In our private box seat on the 3rd balcony 

The main dancers very professional

Attending in the Opera house is such a wonderful experience. The place is beyond description.  We arrived early so that we could wander around before the ballet began.  They claim that this Opera house is the most beautiful in all of Eastern Europe and I tend to agree. After the performance we made our way over to our favorite Ukrainian restaurant.  It is total Ukrainian right down to the employees costume that they wear to work there.

Dinner after the Ballet.  Lots of friends to share with.

This place it totally authentic right down to the waiters uniform

This was my lunch companion at a sidewalk cafe.
He is advertising free English practice with our handout card

Saturday was a rainy day but we had a wonderful early morning walk and breakfast on the city plaza street.  We braved the rain by going to the Archeological Museum and spending the afternoon enjoying the history of the country.  That night a group of our Young Adults came over for snacks and games.  These kids know how to play lively games.

Display in museum of how anchors were made in the early AD

Game time very intense.

These kids love to get together and spend time with each other

It is interesting to see them interacting they are so animated.  The youth of the church are facing so many struggles today and challenges of life it is wonderful to watch them get together and just have a great time.
We are busy finishing the accelerated reading of the Book of Mormon.  We were challenged to read it prior to Elder Ballards visit on June 10th. That has required us to read 20 pages a day.  We are happy to report we are on track to finish as challenged.  The marvelous thing is that we are receiving new insights as we read even at this fast pace.  It is quite the journey to read the Book of Mormon and when you think about Joseph Smith translating it in about 90 total days of time that is awe inspiring.  This book is of God and it was translated by the gift and power of God.  There is no other way any mortal in 90 years could have produced such a magnificat and accurate work.  We love this work and the opportunity to be serving here.  It is a blessing to be immersed in a culture like this and get a feel for the people and their struggles in life.  It makes you so much more grateful for everything you have been blessed with.  Really, you should not let us have all the fun.

Food is the great attractor for youth Strawberries
are on right now less than $.50 per pound

This is our visitor Brooke Evans.  This is the heart of love locks.
Daniel and Sonina placed a lock here before they left.  We are
still looking for it.

Ready, Aim, Fire?

You all need to jump in and enjoy this opportunity to serve.  Anytime you get involved in another persons life you are both blessed.  Find a place where you can make a difference, even if it is in your own neighborhood.  Adopt someone and bless them with your experience.  Hope you have a great week.  We will be looking forward to visiting with you again next week.
Love you all Elder and Sister Mikkelsen  

Resting after a long day of sight seeing Yes Brooke is a
Yoga instructor

This is our branch in Center Odesa.