One Giant Slide for Missionary Work

Today the Donet'sk zone did much missionary work on the other end of scrapers and wire brushes... and it was very effective missionary work. The hard working sisters thought they were almost too tired to meet for their afternoon and evening lessons.

We have undertaken fixing up a block-long park over several weeks, including this huge, complicated, rusty, flaking-metal  slide set.  Can you tell how big it is?  It sure wouldn't pass safety standards back home.  President Fry thought I would have several elders goofing around and sliding down the slides but they were so steep and tall that only two Elders dared try.

   This park is in the middle of a large housing complex and you could tell almost everyone who passed was impressed and grateful for our work.  They stopped to watch, ask questions, , thanked us and smiled approvingly with many thumbs up. It started lots of conversations during the morning...maybe one of the most important things we could do. It also helps us as a church improve our relationship with the government officials. We will paint (all the same original colors) on Monday or Tuesday next week.  I am supervising.  We had 14 young missionaries and 12 ward members.  

  Besides cleaning we will be doing benches, swings and pavillions, weather permitting.

A Blessing

In some ways the seemingly small step of an area becoming a stake is really a giant step.  We are just comprehending what it means to not have a Patriarch.   The ease of receiving a patriarchal blessing at home sometimes belies its sacred and special nature.

Fourteen Russian speaking missions share two Patriarchs who take turns traveling from Utah to give blessings.  We get a Patriarch here for two and a half weeks every two years. Many saints look forward, for many years, to receiving this blessing of a blessing. 

For several weeks now Mom has been scheduling those members selected throughout the mission.  She sent each branch president criteria to use in choosing who in their branches should fill the few available slots.  One very faithful sister (past YW and Relief Society president) has been waiting a long time.  Her husband is not a member. She has sent two daughters on missions and of course she wanted each to have the opportunity of a blessing before leaving to serve.  Years have passed as she gave up her opportunities for daughters.  Finally, today, it was her turn.  Her appointment was at 12:45.  She came early and was waiting outside when we arrived at 8:30 to unlock the doors.

Another sister (age 18 or 20) joined the church when she was fourteen and brought her mother and older sister as well as several friends into the church. (The older sister is the wife of a councelor in the branch presidency)  It was her turn today too. They "glowed" after receiving their blessings and needed someone to hug.  Mom was there. 

A young man in his early twenties was so filled with the spirit of his blessing that it spilled over and seemed to light up the foyer.  With his limited English and our limited Russian the space between us echoed unvoiceable feelings.

 This Sabbath Day we provided support for the Patriarch and were hosts to those waiting.
Yesterday we set up a special room upstairs from the mission office with nice chairs and a rug.  Mom bought a fresh floral arrangement. 

The Patriarch finds out from us who is next, then he goes into the room to talk to the Lord about that particular person.  After ten or fifteen minutes he is ready. 

Others are waiting in the chapel listening to the Sunday AM session of conference in Russian. They are missing conference in their own branch today.  We are missing conference in English with the missionaries, but starting today and for the next two weeks we get to share the special spirit attending these ninety three sons and daughters of God as they learn from Him!

City Streets

It rained again today.  We rode the bus back from the church where we watched conference. 

Julie asked about the blue-roofed building on the aerial-view map of Donetsk.  It is the Renick...a huge, covered flea market.

We thought you would like to see the cool sidewalks.  A lot of the streets are paved this way too, so when you drive down them your teeth rattle. 

Some things remind us of home.

This is the first two-story McDonald's I have ever seen. 

Some things do not remind us of home, like the skyline, and the view from our window.

Our Saturday is over.  Yours is just getting a good start.  It was a good day - you should like it.  We hope everybody listened to a good conference last week. We got the first installment of ours today.  We love you all----good night.

It's Spring?

Our weather is changing.  The ice melted.  The snow was gone . . .  then it came back. 

The snow melted a second time. It was replaced by rivers of mud and wet, sloppy places to walk.

Then, just when we were feeling confident enough to retire our snowboots,  the clouds

moved in.  Rain has begun.  The crocuses didn't mind this morning's rain, but as the day wore on the rain turned to hail and the pretty purple and gold blossoms took a beating. 

This afternoon we stopped for a second to pull out our camera and a fuzzy  friend came over to ask for a little attention.  Her bulging belly is another indication of spring.  There are almost as many pussies as people in our neighborhood.

 Indoors, we have had blossoms for several weeks now. 

 Here the weather does not seem to matter at all.  

 I'm not sure what it's name is,  but it is lovely. 

Transfer Day!

When you develop the word "companion" as in "missionary companion" to its most real meaning -that is, someone you are with 24-7, someone you think and share and pray with - then it is no wonder that transfer day is such a big thing.  Add to that the new leadership callings with their attending satifaction and fears, and we begin to understand the anticipation and excitement missionaries feel for at least two weeks before a transfer.  We were especially close to their guesses and their attempts to get hints from us since we have a key to the transfer board. (Behind the "real" magnetic board with all the pictures, areas, companionships and leadership is another with all the possibilities where the planning takes place.)

This transfer we got two new elders -  one from Copenhagen and one from Arizona.
Here in Ukraine, because registration with the government is required when someone moves in and out of an apartment, a missionary has to be notified that they are being transferred at least one week before moving.    They do NOT know, however, where they will be going, or with whom.    Only those missionaries being transferred came in to attend the meeting.  This transfer, there were numbers under seats.  Those with a lucky number got to crack an egg and announce the transfer they found inside.  It was all very fun to watch.  Then off they went in taxis and buses with a new companion, a new area and a renewed committment to serve.

We've Got MAIL!

Mail is not delivered daily to the mission office; we get it two or three times a week.  We always hope that one of the mail delivery days will come on Friday so that the boxes will be full on Monday, "P-Day". 

That is when Elders and Sisters drop in at the office to check for evidence that someone is thinking of them.  They get so excited to get a letter that they stand right there in front of the secretary's desk to read their news.

Sisters Watts, Haymond and Howell have got mail!!!

Most of the letters from home are delivered through the "pouch" system.  They can only be one tri-fold page, stamped and addressed on the back-side.



This is how pouch mail is delivered to the mission.



When the pouch folder arrives I get to open it and sort the letters into the correct zones.  What a surprise to pull out a letter addressed to ME!  Yes!  We received our very first real, addressed and stamped, sent through pouch, handwritten MAIL!

What amazing messages of love and encouragement from two of our "missionaries-in-training" back at home.  Thank you.  We know we are loved!

Many Hands Helping . . .

. . . to uncover the beauty of Donetsk.

This group is from the Mariupol Branch

 Our vests are not yellow, but here, hundreds of miles across the world and an ocean away from the yellow "Helping Hands" vests in California, faithful Latter-day Saints in Donetsk, Ukraine wore white "Руки Допомоги" vests and with that same wonderful spirit that we are accustomed to feel back at home, joined together to make a difference.

Our project seemed daunting, and though he did not admit it until afterward, even the Branch President was not sure that we would be able to make a difference.

 This wooded path which wound along beside a small stream and led to a local University had become a convenient place for discarding rubbish.  Beneath fallen leaves the discarded cans, papers and plastic bottles were piled eight to twelve inches deep.

The turnout was AMAZING!!  Many, many wonderful "ONE's" came and worked and  raked, dug and cleaned and stayed on and on.



The path was at least 800 feet long and deep into the woods on both sides we gathered hundreds of bags.

This is President Kasachekov

  

Later, officials called the Branch President to express their gratitude and amazement

that such a job had been attempted and accomplished in such a short period of time.

                       

 

The last bags into the last truck!   Finished at Last!!