Roman (... pronounced like this: RoMAHN with the accent on the A ... or RaMOAN ... I'm not sure which is correct ) had a birthday, and since he has been a very significant part of our Lugansk experience we thought it only right that we provide a song and a cake and a candle. When he arrived for our Monday night FHE I think that he was a little embarassed and very surprised, but he was wonderfully gracious.
"On birthdays it is our custom", he told us, "that the one celebrating the aniversary provide refreshment for those who come to wish us well." We sang happy birthday in English, not Russian. We amazed Roman with our "Heavy, heavy hangs over your poor head. . ." birthday custom. "I do not celebrate birthdays," he said. "If I am careful that no one knows, I can go places all day long without worrying about it."
Though Roman was born into a family with just three children he grew up in a family of eight. When he was very young his aunt and uncle died unexpectedly leaving their small children without parents. Roman's father assumed the responsibility of caring for these children as well as his own.
This is Roman with his father and his older sister.
I wondered how Roman would respond to our gift of a tie.
It was something like this:
It was something like this:
"I never wear a tie. . . Even when I am asked to translate for important civic or political visitors I try to dress well, but casually. . . But this is a really great tie. I will have to find a place to wear it. Maybe I will come to church and wear this tie."We are thinking that Roman should get baptized and then wear this tie for his confirmation.
We know that it would be a long trip from his amazing soviet past into an LDS font,
. . . but he is such a wonderful young man.
He deserves to experience that journey.
Put very beautifully...
ReplyDeleteAnd considering the impeccable ties, plus, in the picture of the past, a very poignant statement Roman carefully made about ties...
ReplyDeleteI take our western version of that ideal so for granted.
We have no idea here, about the striving for the unifying level of the all-in-common working man. How ironic and surprising that zion so sought may be found in the course of putting your back and shoulder-to-the-wheel- push-along, so often wearing silk ties!
What an amazing change-to-be.
And thanks for sharing your birthday, Roman. You can never know how that is unifiying refreshment to would-be well wishers.
i always thought it was a heavy hangover... wonder where that came from
ReplyDeleteAh, so ties and white shirts might be the best gifts to give!
ReplyDeleteThis is Roman the Birthday Boy.
ReplyDeleteElder and Sister Hatch, thanks awfully. I love your post and I love you. So grateful for everything. As for being baptized - if there's ONE (1) word that explains everything, it's
YOU
NEVER
KNOW
Or,
33 O the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! how unsearchable are his judgments, and his ways past finding out! (Romans 33)
I hope God will respond to our prayers (mine & yours), or, if He's done already, I'll be able to recognize the response.
Never mind my LJ nickname.
Will miss you badly. Will be in touch forever.