A living pioneer

In a land so new to the restored gospel it is not hard to find a real pioneer . . . one who has experienced the entirety of the church history in Ukraine.  One such person is our new friend, mission office cook, and part-time language coach, Sister Lidia.

Every morning there is hot Kashi waiting to warm us after we have trudged through the snow.  With cold hands and red noses we four missionaries who staff the mission office gather in the little back kitchen where there are four bowls set on the oilcloth covered table.  (At Mom's request, her bowl is always dished out only half full.)  Some mornings it is a rice Kashi, sometimes oat or wheat.  Usually fruit like apples has been stirred into it, and cinnamon sprinkled on top.

Sister Lidia arrives several hours before we get there to unlock and clean the office.  She then starts the food for the day. 

Usually we can smell the rolls or tarts baking for the noon meal.  Everything Lidia cooks is tasty and her attempts at American dishes have been very successful.  Definitely we are not going hungry.  But even better than the service and food are the person and her story.

Sister Lidia was born a Russian.

She grew up in the USSR, in a large family at a time when there was little work, little money, and not a lot of hope for anything better.

 But, says Lidia, her mother was a clever homemaker and always found ways to stretch the little that they did have.

Lidia's mother saw that her daughter had an exceptional talent for dancing and found a way to provide ballet instruction.  By the time she was seven years old, Lidia was dancing publicly.  She worked hard and became one of the best.

Lidia came to Ukraine as a member of a

Russian Ballet troupe.  At that time she

                                   was not "Sister" . . . only Lidia.     

above Lidia is standing at the far right.

Above Lidia is third from the left.

  

Fans flocked to the performance halls to watch her.  A young man with a music ensemble became one of her most persuasive fans.  He was Ukrainian.  Now so is she.  They fell in love, were married, and Donetsk became her new home.  Here they raised two sons. 



Lidia is in the center



 

In the very first years of the church in Ukraine they were taught by missionaries and were baptized.  Sister Lidia's husband became one of the first branch presidents in Donetsk.  They have personally known, hosted and fed every past mission president as well as the current temple president and his counselors in Kiev.

Recently Sister Lidia's beloved husband died and she carries on alone.  Her two sons are no longer active.  Still, each day she makes the hour bus ride to the mission home home in the morning to take care of "her" hungry missionaries.

Sister Lidia has been feeding and caring for missionaries for over eighteen years now . . . just about as long as the church has been in Ukraine.    As long as there are missionaries and she is able, she intends to continue this service. . . . . . . God bless Sister Lidia.