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