счастливый день святого валентина!

Week of February 8-14, 2016
Happy Valentines's Day!
Hope you all had a delightful Valentine's Day! It has been fun to watch the Christmas Decorations come down and the Valentines Day Decorations go up.  We only heard Christmas Carols once this week and there's only a few trees left up in stores.  Most have been replaced with hearts.  Some buildings and the town square still have lights up though.  I love the lights!

Tuesday, we had had a long day and decided to go out to dinner.  Ned had won the scripture challenge this week, so it was his turn to choose a treat.  That night as we went to bed, he remembered that it was our one year anniversary!  It won't be 1 year in country for a couple weeks but, one year has already flown by!

Love Ukrainian food!

The challenge?  Whoever reads the most verses of scripture,
side-by-side Russian to English.

Share the Gospel to every listen ear

We only had a few meetings this week, no English lessons, etc., so with the extra time we decided to walk to find the новый рынок, market, where we would need to buy supplies for the YSA Valentine Party on Saturday.  Extra time+longwalk+camera= long photo shoot =)  There's something interesting and beautiful on every block.  Here's a few of the things we saw.

Couldn't tell if those were gargoyles on top or fleur-de-lis. 

We vote for Fleur-de-lis. 

We were so excited to find this market. 

Tempting meat on every unrefrigerated counter

It's just like the ринок's in Vinnitsya.  It was so familiar.  We
knew just where to go and what to say! We will be back! 

Cool willow trees outside this building, 

which is a war memorial.  It says "Heros of the Soviet
Union Odessa, I think.

These are still weeping. 

We walked past this one several times.  Ned couldn't pass up
the photo op.  It's an octopus made from car parts atop the entrance
to a "Steam Bar"- I guess steamed seafood?

So pretty!

They must have been there a long time and now
they can't escape!  Their feet have sunk into the
pillar.

There are beautiful statues everywhere.  These were so
random along the hidden side of a building.  Down
farther on the same building you could see where 2
more were missing.  Maybe that would explain why
sometimes we see statues that are chained to the
building, even way up high! 

Another war memorial. 

I think you'll begin to see a theme of the weight of the world
being born on mighty shoulders or beautiful heads.  It is
appropriate.  Ukraine is the bread basket of Europe and has had
to feed the masses throughout a tortured history. 

Even little hole-in-the-wall restaurants have a touch
of beauty.

More brave weight- bearers. 

Just another random beautiful building as we turned the corner.

We crossed through a park where men were playing
tournament chess.  Fun to watch!

Youth everywhere are so much the same.  They have the same concerns, the same likes and needs, the same adventuresome spirits!  We had a great time with them throughout the week and at the Valentine's Party on Saturday.  Here's a few pictures of the festivities.

The party started with free Valentine hugs out on the streets.
They handed out Pass-along -cards with candy stapled to it.

Then a little more speed-dating,

Had to twist a few arms

but the guys loved it!

A few minute-to-win-it games.  This one- no hands
knock the bottles over with an orange in one leg
of a pair of panty-hose which were placed on the
head.

Get the most oranges carried between knees into the hole hoop

We actually ran out of time for this one but they
found the props for some musical skits.

Hawaiian haystacks for dinner

Then so good old fashioned Square dancing.
The Virginia Reel!  So fun!

We had some extra time to study this week:
partly because it took three days to put in a new shower-  the old one leaked, no, it drained onto the floor and at least one of us had to be there while the work was being done, and
partly because of fewer meetings.

Old shower out.

Three days later, new shower in =)

It is wonderful to have reason to, and the time for, studying the things that are of the greatest importance to us.  Let me share a couple things I read this week- I won't say I learned them yet.  We'll see.
From Elder Holland during his time as President of BYU,
     "Because of our traditions, everyone knows who he is and what God expects him to do. (quoting Fiddler on the Roof) 'Who are we then...and what does God expect us to do'?  For one thing, He expects us to remember that we are heirs of a gospel dispensation that had among it's earliest commandments the challenge to seek...diligently and teach one another words of wisdom yea, to seek... out of the best books...learning even by study and also by faith."
From Sister Holland

"In a motherly sort of way, I plead with each one of you to understand that your opportunity to learn can greatly magnify your faith—faith in yourself, faith in your future, faith in a God who is your father and who loves you. Please understand this right now—God is not a vengeful, punitive god who is somehow looking for new ways to torment, embarrass, and punish you. For too much of my young life that is the way I saw him, and I often obeyed him out of guilt and anxiety rather than faith and genuine desire. But you...you have come to a place designed by God...I promise you that if you will treat it (your education) seriously and sacredly, faith will begin to replace fear, and you will stand confident before God and man.

Did you notice the way the Lord begins that scripture? “Fear ye not.” Have you noticed how often the Lord prefaces so many things that he has to say with the words fear not? He knows that all people struggle with fears and anxieties and problems. He wants so much for us to know that. If we will but come to him, he will comfort and reassure us. And he will carry us in his arms until we are able to walk by ourselves.

For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.

Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. [Isaiah 41:13, 10]

Is anything more powerful than a mother’s love? The scriptures say one thing is more powerful.

But, behold, Zion hath said: The Lord hath forsaken me, and my Lord hath forgotten me—but he will show that he hath not.

For can a woman forget her sucking child, that she should not have compassion on the son of her womb? Yea, they may forget [As unwilling as I am to believe it, Pat Holland may forget her children. Yea, earthly mothers may forget], yet will I not forget thee, O house of Israel.

Behold, I have graven thee upon the palms of my hands. [1 Nephi 21:14–16; emphasis added]

Christ’s compassionate atonement is more powerful than even a mother’s love. He has engraven us upon the palms of his hands, and those marks make certain that he will never forget us. I bear my witness that he will never forget us. I promise that we will not forget you either. We love you and pray for your success. “Fear not,”

That was a lot, but it was so beautiful. I felt so loved and so ready to set a new tradition of study and learning. I know we are all loved by a Father in Heaven who cares for us deeply and individually, just as we, in our mortal way, care for all of you.

Have a wonderful week,

The Miks

Here is the one of the few reasons I like having my turn to write the blog.

Whoever is not typing the blog has to do laundry
and cook breakfast! Pinto bean and Oatmeal no flour.
Post Valentine hearts waffles

Up the Down Staircase

Week of February 1-7, 2016
Up the down stair case is a fitting way to start out this week.  As you know we live on the 3rd floor of an apartment with no lift (elevator for you Americans) so it is 57 steps up and 57 steps down, less if you're not careful walking down.  Just a block away we also have a famous staircase that is composed of over 200 steps.

Sister Mikkelsen walking up the staircase

And two weeks ago we purchased an elliptical trainer that is a lot like walking steps.  Janet makes sure I get my 40 minutes every morning.  All these things add up to lots of physical steps in our daily routine.

Trip to the 7 K Re'nok which is a huge open air market outside
of town. We went on Monday which is a day that most shops
were closed.

The other steps that we take each day are of eternal significance.  Each of us has been placed on that path that has been termed "the strait and narrow way," "the path," and "the plain road." As we travel along these thoroughfares of life we must each make decisions that will either keep us on the path or wander off and take the chance of becoming lost.  This week we have witnessed different individuals in both circumstances.  There is a wonderful young individual that we know here and have been involved with that was on that correct path and because of different things that have taken place has decided to wander off the strait path. We are like Lehi standing by the tree and beckoning and praying that they will come back. It is apparent that at a distance it is difficult for them to hear our message.  But luckily for they are not very far off the road and there are people near that are still on path that are much closer than we are.  We are encouraging them to call and reach out to bring them back to the path.  It is imperative that those new to the path (gospel) have a friend that they can walk with them until they feel comfortable holding on to the rod of iron that is there to guide us.

Stay on the path and hold to the rod

We also are working with another group of individuals that are on that same path and they have chosen to stay on the road and not wander off.  They come to Institute, FHE, and church each Sunday.  They find comfort in being with people on the path and it is easier for them to not listen to those who are in the large and spacious building laughing at them because of their peculiar beliefs.
We had several different activities with those wonderful young people this week. Tuesday we had a FHE on dating along with a dinner.

We introduced our youth to 5 Crowns card game.  They are hooked!

The pre FHE 5 crowns game

Two youth walking "up the Stairs" the one on the left has a
baptismal date for the 20th

We did a speed dating game where they asked questions to
the sisters for 3 minutes.  They loved it.

After they filled out a survey about how they fill about dating
and questions they have.

FHE treats they made cookies for another person

The crew having a great time

This gal is getting ready to leave on a mission.

Trading cookies

everyone was all smiles

The microwave addition of cookies

These kids are the best!  We work with two of the girls teaching English and one of them just got a job and asked us if we could help her. We said yes and so she brought a technical manual that her new boss asked her to translate.  So after about an hour we made it through the first two pages.  It was actually really fun.  Yesterday we had a Young Adult Council meeting and planned the activities for the rest of the year.  They have some great ideas.  We need to make sure we are calling out to those who live in this area that have wandered off the path.  We had a fireside after our meeting. We watched Elder Nelson's broadcast that he gave 4 weeks ago.  We had chips and home-made salsa and Sister Mikkelsen provided some wonderful cookies.

Fireside group

Fireside goodies

We found cilantro 

love the chips and salsa

There were 14 of us at the fireside and we devoured all the cookies and chips.  But what was really cool was, they were so excited for the Fireside and not only did they watch it, they discussed it as well.  We traveled out to a small branch in Suvorovsky to take care of an ordination and setting apart for President Packer.  The branches here are so wonderful. Some of the people we have only met one other time and when they see us, we are treated like long-lost friends.

This guy welcomed us to church on Sunday

Park just out in front of the church I want to take a summer
picture of this in a few months to compare.

 There is alway a hug and and words of love and encouragement.  Well as far as our limited language is concerned we think they are words of love and encouragement.  Their spirit is such that there is little doubt about how they feel about you.
We received a new assignment this week from President Packer.  It is a program called Pathways and is hosted by BYU-I.  We Skyped with the director of the Pathways Program this week. Our new assignment is to be the host couple for a Pathways group from Ukraine that will start in April.

The new assignment

It is a 3 semester program that helps the students improve their English and develop leadership skills that will assist them in their church service and in obtaining better employment.  At the completion of the program they can continue with an online degree from BYU-I or even apply and go to school in Idaho if they have good grades.  The Pathways program is very inexpensive,  but for some of the people here it will be a huge challenge to come up with that amount.
We had a wonderful couple over for dinner the other night.  He was the branch president but had to go to Poland to work.  They returned and the work situation is still bad so he is returning again to work there.  This time he is going by himself.  It is tough to see the challenges some of the people have to go trough when the economy is struggling.

Great family

This next week will also mark our one year mark in the mission field.  It is hard to believe that we have been on a mission for a year.  We look at all the things that have taken place in this past year and all the things we have to accomplish in the next six months and we realize the time is just going to fly by.

almost a year ago we took this picture

I traded cookies with my date

 Well it is time to move on.  I had to come to the church today to send this blog because the internet at our apartment has been off for the last few days.  That is good in a way, when the distractions are removed from your life you have much more time to focus on the scriptures and study.  It is wise that the young missionaries only have one day a week to be on line.
Stay on "The Path" and make sure you are reaching out to those around you so that you can assist them in their journey so that they don't wander off and get lost.  We love you all and want to bare witness that the Gospel of Jesus Christ is true and it brings joy to our lives.  Trust in Him and allow the Holy Ghost to be in your life and you will be forever blessed.
All of our love Elder and Sister Mikkelsen.

Our little Riley had an allergic reaction to
her antibiotic. She had a couple of miserable
days. She is all better now.