Welcome to наши дом в Луганске!

Once the snow left Lugansk for good spring did come, rushing through quickly, having other more important places to visit, and summer immediately followed and is now settling in. Here are some of our brief interactions with spring in Lugansk. 

With lilacs, tulips, lillies of the Valley and peonies, we felt like we were experiencing a Cache Valley spring back in the mountains of our growing-up.  Note the marvelous facade of the government building across the street from our apartment building.  It is a representation of the power and importance of workers.

This is the entry to our "gated community".

If you were here we would bid you welcome to our home away from home . . .

. . .  and introduce you to one of the important reasons that we love serving here,
our second family of wild and wonderful,
fun loving, faithful, fantastic, marvelous missionaries.
(I am beginning to understand why Mom Elva thrilled so at raising, first her own houseful of boys, then feeding, counseling and loving others.)

l. to rt.:  Elders Hatch, Brimley, Hodgson, Stradling, Young, DeMille, Hardy

Camping, Ukrainian style . . .

The bus pulled up in front of the church to be loaded with sleeping bags, tents, cooking gear and grub boxes.  Last of all the baby was unstrapped from the carrier and branch members were loaded.

An hour or so into our journey we found a perfect place for a rest stop. 

So--it's a cool memorial of some astounding military victory in Ukraine over 800 years ago...

and the view was amazing.

Our first activity upon arrival, was tent building.Then, feed and water the troops.

and enjoy the wildlife.

Recreational options included volleyball, dodgeball, keep away. hiking, yoga, a compass course, and "lasso-Elder-Hatch".

Because a few of us including the mama with the baby and Elder Hatch and I only participated in the day-camp part of the activities we did not have the luxury of riding out in the rented bus, but we walked from our selected camping area to the auftovaxal (bus station) in the closest town. 

We had enjoyed a wonderful day, but it was great when were finally back home!

"Воистину воскрес!"

 We were in Donetsk again this Easter week.  There were flowers everywhere.   

Trees and grounds gave evidence of the  very first signs of spring. 

In our hotel, the holiday was delivered at the door of our room on a platform of lace. 

 The beautiful weather and this special weekend stimulate outdoor activity. . .

bicycles, skateboards, strollers . . . families, children, musicians . . . 

Our stroll through the park took us past one of the lovely large cathedrals in Donetsk.

 We watched the waiting crowd of the faithful who had brought their baskets of breads, cakes, and colored eggs to be blessed by the priest.

.--Everywhere the greeting: "Христос воскрес!" (Christ has risen!) . . .

and the reply, "Воистину воскрес!" (Truly, he has risen.)--

The best part of being back in Donetsk was being able reconnect with some of the good friends we left behind and to testify to them that "He" really Has risen, that he lives and loves us.  He knows each of our struggles and our pains and He loves us still.  We spoke of service and sacrifice,  commitment and re-commitment. 
We parted, I think, with feelings of hope, and increased understanding that all things are possible and the effort we expend will be worth it in the end.
How we love these people!!