Medical problems ....

If you don't already know...

    we both developed kidney stones, within a week of each other.   We were sent home for treatment and found some more serious medical problems.

   We feel very blessed to develop stone, which required CAT scans which lead to the discovery of more. 

We hope to someday return to the mission field once things are resolved.


Yes, I am feeling very blessed to have kidneys stones at the same time as  my companion.                                          

              

District meeting agenda

 We have two sisters and two elders in our "district" and the sisters were in charge of our weekly "district meeting" lesson.   This is their object lesson:   Above the sisters (2 parts of the pie) bring to the district: INFLUENCE; and the elders bring to the district; POWER and the Seniors bring to the district:  EXPERIENCE AND WISDOM.

On the  reverse side, when all parts come together is a "Perfect Mariupol District".   I LOVE LOVE LOVE my fellow missionaries.

In addition, our District leader asked us to set some goals for next meeting:   1)  communicate one thing our district did well, 2) communicate one thing we can improve and 3) communicate one good thing we did as a "district".   Positive and meaningful feedback is always a "return and report" attitude.

A second goal is to have a baptism by June 1st this one will require divine intervention since we have no perspective baptism on the horizon other than todays.  Which was absolutely wonderful.   Our newest member asked our "Greenie" missionary to perform her baptism.  I had no idea this young man had a sore throat and finally at 8:30 pm he called and said I think I might have strep, what do I do?

Yes, we are focused and working and I am so pleased with the dedication of these missionaries.   Well, after an American Doctor told him what medicines to buy (you can without a prescription) they were headed home after their required tracking time, to put him to bed.   With the Mariupol Mom's loving advice to drink plenty of water and let him skip his 6:30 am alarm and stay in bed until church.  Then we will assess if he should be in attendance or not.

We are focused, but there is no sense in spreading Strep around the branch. 

A new apartment discovery

We knew we had a trap door under the living room rug, but frankly I didn't want it opened for fear of what I would see there and or bring up from the depths. But as it turned out not as badly as I expected when Rick opened it to store a broken microwave that was just taking up valuable space in our kitchen. See for yourself:

garage equivalent

Yes the ladder goes down, from the first floor of our apartment block, this is below ground

See how thick the cement floor is in this photo

Human nature is the same all over the world, the need to "hang on" to things that may have some value in the future.  My guess this is stuff that doesn't even belong to our landlord, but the previous tenants/owners.   Who knows and I dont' really care, but the horror (bug infestation) of what I anticipated didn't happen.  Thank goodness for tender mercies

17 May 2012

Today thus far we shopped at the REENOK ( the open market) and bought $24.00 worth of butter.   I can't buy shortening here, it doesn't exist, so butter it is.  I have no idea how much I bought weight wise but I make a lot of cookies and cakes and breads for consumption and darn it all I hate going back so I bought a lot.   It will be interesting how much time it takes for me to use it all up.  I generally but the big slab in the freezer and bring out what I want when I want it.   My butter lady was really apprehensive of me wanting so much, but she has seen me buy almost half that much before, so it is all good.    She had a good market day.    There are several to pick from but for some reason I picked her and I keep going back to her, it's a friendship thing.

Then the hunt for cheese, I swear if you go to a market stall then everyone around you thinks they need to look at the same stall.   All of a sudden there are people all around me when there was none before.   Funny human behavior like looking up at something and those around you look to see what you are looking at.  That was at the cheese stall, again a big chunk.  I will grate and freeze some since the big chunk goes moldy faster than it can be eaten and I hate to waste any.   I am guessing I bought 3.5 pounds for about $6.00.  

I admit, my husband the gentleman carried the entire load on his aching shoulders.   I did spare him the long potentially butter melting trip home and suggested we take the bus back since we did some excersise to walk to the Reenok.   He deserved his nap today

We buy our drinking water and use our filter for cooking.   Everyone (even natives) knows the water is polluted and most buy water, I doubt they cook with neither clean water, nor use the Clorox as I do to clean the foods.   Oh well, it’s a nuisance and I don’t love it but you have to at least try to help the Lord protect your health here.

Yesterday was a wonderful spring rainstorm, huge.   Now a fun story about our Sister “S” my short term missionary who signed up for 6 weeks and will keep serving and serving until 6 months!!!!!!   Asked a member if he was attended Saturday Baptism.   He said “no, I have to go to my garden area and water; I can only water on Tue and Saturday.”   So, Sis S said, if it rains will you come, yes he confirmed.   Then the heavy soaking rain hit soon after leaving him open to attend.   Don’t even try to tell me that was not a blessing from her mouth to his garden.   I was so grateful for the internal temperature drop in our apartment during this storm, I love faithful missionaries.

I know you can’t see the topography here, but there are uneven surfaces everywhere.   Potholes in the walkways, bumps swollen in the same walkways, stairwells that have no standard height of tread or riser space.   Tiny obstacles everywhere and bare dirt everywhere, and lots of tree shedding seeds, leaves or seed pods.   It’s not super clean walking and people have some unsavory habits.  Hence the tradition to remove their shoes when you go into anyone’s home.      

This place is ripe for falling down, breaking a limb, or getting ran over by a vehicle driving in the walkway or snagging an article of clothing on a fast moving public transportation vehicle and getting dragged. 

I just know that I feel like I have so many guardian angels around me, watching every direction and then some.   I try to be sensible and try to be careful, Rick and I have tripped so many times but we haven’t face planted or even truly fell.  We are being so protected; literally hands are around us all the time to hold us upright.   Rick somehow righted himself after an “obstacle tripped him up” in such a manner that defied is age and agility.  Happens to me all the time, I love it.  

Next batch to go in the oven

Ok one more story:   We were asked at a recent zone conference to sacrifice something we do to improve our efforts in bringing the gospel to others.    We each were to ponder and make our own selection; I am not sharing mine its private between me and the Lord.   However, one of my missionaries who has the upmost joy in eating my Chocolate Chip cookies, I mean really handfuls and joyfully and smells them and eats more.   Has given up my cookies as her sacrifice.   You don’t think that is a big deal.   Well it is.   Not only do I pay $12.00 for a kilogram of brown sugar so they taste the way they do back home, I cut up two large chocolate candy bars in each batch as chocolate chip cookies.  It is a taste a native Ukrainian is likely not to be able to afford and as a missionary doesn’t have the time and or money to make these cookies.   And they are OFTEN in abundance at our home and meetings.  This is a true sacrifice, a mental discipline that she has offered to the Lord.   Have I mentioned how much I love my young missionaries?   They are amazing.  

Sometimes we are just goofy......

Yes I love my “seasoned” missionary too, I couldn’t be here without him and frankly I wouldn’t want to be here without him.  

Are we healthy we are asked often....   Our backs hurt often, our walking speed is determined by the heat outside, our "senior" status allows us to take an occassional short nap.   Our mental acumen has not suffered.  We eat more healthy food than at home because I want to make sure the missionaries get a balanced meal at least once a week sometimes more and there are always leftovers.  Your read above how we are protected.   Yes we are healthy with intermitten degrees of aches and pains from age or circumstances it matters not in the long run.   We are missionaries and as such are blessed beyond our abilities and even our energies.

MIscellaneous photos..... yeah

Before you see the photos, you need to know a mission wide fast is a wonderful experience.   Today was an announcement our "Dacia" will be baptised in two Saturday's.   That alone was joyful news.

Here are some random pictures of "tire art". You would be astounded to see not only tire art, but "plastic bottle art". Talk about recycling....

 and what I like to call "summer snow"  its really cottonwood seeds and it moves in the breeze almost eerily.....

and evidence of an early spring day ...

and finally a very creative but effective furnitue caster to keep our chairs from indenting our linoleum floors.    And I am not telling you where the red casters come from in the hopes that someone reads my blog and will comment since I haven't a single comment yet.    I know you are looking at the blog, but I don't know what you think....    

It's a matter of faith

Today and tomorrow is a mission wide fast, to bring more of the Lord's children to a knowledge of the church.  As I read the scripture (Священное Писание) I think if Isreal's constant warnings to be stay focused on the Lord, to be obedient and care for one another.

It amazing the same excuses/complaints/feelings are world wide: I have asked my neighbors and they are not interested. or You are the missionaires and you just expect us to do your work for you.

or from the missionaries:

 

No one in the branch wants to have lessons in their home

      (or is that just that they don't bother to ask them to have in their home cuz it's easier at the church?)

How do you expect us to find people when the members won't give us referrals?

Everyone I approach tells me no they are not interested.

Why do we need a number goal of baptism we are doing our best.

Or from inactives themselves they  are a whole other quandry: "I am inactive" as if we should know what exactly not to say or to say to respect their "inactive status".

I am coming to an understanding we are nothing, it's all in the Lords' hands and it a training ground for us to have a prayer in our heart at all times to try to do the necessary right approach, example, or statement of interest. We are the ones that need to learn and the Lord will place them in our paths when we and/or they are ready.

Elder Cannon is so good about making friends with our neighbors, he calls them by names, laughs and speaks Russian to the best of his ability, which is very limited. But the look out for us, they smile and laugh at and with us, they greet us warmly and that is a small example of beginning missionary work. Someday when they are prepared they will remember our badges, our attempts at neighborly love and they hopefully will see the Lords countenance in our faces and the faces of our young missionaires as they come and go from our apartment.

It is babysteps, it is love and it is slower than molasses progress. Is it enough? I don't know, I'm still back on trying to have a prayer in my heart and be ready, just in case there is a humble person looking for the Lord.

Sometimes I love it here, sometimes it is hard. if nothing else I am learning I am not in charge of others attitude only my own. How come I have to keep learning that over and over again?

I hope as you fast tomorrow for whatever purpose, you will include a prayer for the DONETSK Ukraine Mission that we can find the Lord's prepared people and bring them closer to the Lord through baptism.  

Could you be doing something better?

We have "greenie" from Cache valley, delightful man and an eager missionary.   I was telling the elders that I was reading a 5 book series on my Kindle and the series was becoming increasingly violent and while it was a fictional novel it was not appropriate for me a missionary to be reading.  
stop reading this series without finishing the plot.  I told them how I struggled to pick up the book even after I committed to myself I would stop reading it.  It took 3 days of inner struggle before it stopped popping into my head.  (Yes, I am a book loving senior missionary who sometimes reads a novel for pure reading enjoyment).

But my "Greenie" told me his story....  prior to my mission he said I was hanging out playing "something? ( he thought I would recognize but I didn't; and it wasn't applicable to the story anyway) and a priesthood leader called him and asked him "what are you doing?"     Honest young man that he is said ...  "I'm playing..."   and his leader said simply   "Is there something better you could be doing?"

Powerful lesson in that simple question....   

Yes, I stopped the series mid book, yes the desire to "complete" the storyline stopped pestering me as well.   After all there are better things for me to read.

member conversion stories

No doubt you (like I) find pioneer stories fascinating, the courage and conviction of modern day pioneers is slightly different than our "pioneer ancestories"

Sister B
    She was married with 3 small girls, she and her husband was on a trolley when the missionaries approached them.   The “drunk” husband invited them to their home to hear the gospel message.  In anticipation she was worried about 2 young strangers in her home, she found the largest kitchen knife and tucked it under the couch cushion as a precaution to guard her children.  They gave the message, she felt the spirit and forgot about the knife.   Her husband didn’t want her involved with the church, beat her and forbid involvement.  She divorced him and has been an active member since 1997. 

Brother I
    Was approached on the street the missionaries asked him if he loved his family.  "Of course" as his reply.   They told him they had a message about families and he invited them to his home.   He resisted for a while, but knew it was true.  His wife resisted even longer but they both came to the conclusion the gospel was true.   He has served as branch president now for years, his family increased from a normal size (2) to a LARGE family (4) because of the gospel teaching.   Their oldest child is serving a full time mission in the states. 

Sister D
    Is not yet a member, but she talks about how she felt something powerful when she attended a baptism in the branch.   I am fasting for her this Sunday, I want so much for her life to be improved and blessed by the adherence to the gospel principles.  

Family
     During the dark period that covered this land a few years past, this family were land owners and deemed to be Burgouise and we put on a train to be shipped to Siberia.  Somewhere a guard said in essence "this is not right" and allowed them to "lose themselves in Mariupol" instead of the proposed relocation.   The small child that was a part of that "relocation failure" is now a mature adult and a strong member of our branch.

Do I miss you all back home...   Yes without hesitation and sometimes with a few tears. 
But isn't it obvious...   it's a wonderful experience and reminder of why our time here is valuable. 

Clean oven reward recipe

If you read the previous post, you will know I promised cookies to my missionaries who cleaned their filthy oven.   The oven was left filthy by a previous companionship.

I tried this new recipe for Lemon Sugar Cookies   (the resident cookie monster approved them as well)

Lemon Sugar Cookies

http://www.twopeasandtheirpod.com/lemon-sugar-cookies/

Yield: 3 dozen cookies

Cook Time: 8-10 minutes

Ingredients:

2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Zest of 2 large lemons
1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
1 cup unsalted butter, at room temperature
1 large egg
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
1/2 cup granulated sugar for rolling cookies

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line baking sheets with parchment paper or silicone baking mats. Set aside.
2. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Set aside.
3. Using a mixer, beat together butter and sugar until smooth and creamy.
4. Add lemon zest, egg, vanilla extract, and lemon juice. Mix until combined. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients.
5. Roll rounded tablespoons of dough into balls and roll in sugar. Place on prepared baking sheets, about 1 1/2 inches apart.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes or until cookies are slightly brown around the edges and set. Let cookies sit on the baking sheets for two minutes before transferring to a cooling rack.
*To keep cookies soft, store cookies with a slice of bread in an air tight container.

Two unrelated missionary stories

Our daughter is an avid couponer, yes it takes a fair amount of time and effort goes into doing this well, but it has been a good investment in stretching her budget and allows her to maintain her food storage.

Her next door neighbors are serving a mission as office couple and returned home for a few days to bury their son, they will return to the mission field.  The Elder was telling our the kids how the young missionaries have a limited budget each month for food.  The have to carefully budget to have enough money so they can buy food to feed themselves the entire month.

Our 10 year grandson hearing this missionary comment turned to his mother and said "Mom, I have to learn to coupon"

Examples are powerful teachers at many levels and are always present.



Another missionary story:

Our washing machine is not functioning, I can do laundry by hand (grumble) but I am not washing towels and sheets by hand in my tiny sink.

So I asked our young missionaries if I could use their washing machine to wash two loads of towels.  Of course these good Elders agreed to help us until ours get fixed.   As you may remember the washing machines are small and take about 1.5 hours to do a full cycle.   So I walked to first load back to our apartment to hang them up and while I was there stirred up a batch of Snickerdoodle cookies and returned to await the 2nd load of wash to be completed.   I opened their oven to cook some cookies as a "mission mom" reward and the oven was disgusting.   Now the temperature gauge is not like the ones you enjoy in America.  They are  gas and you have to guess where to place the temperature and I burned the first batch on the bottom.  The tops were ok and no one will throw away snickerdoodles, we ate them.  The second batch was perfect and I left the remainder of the cookies dough with the and told them to clean the oven and even how to clean the oven.

That same day they came to me and told me the oven was clean, it took them a lot of elbow grease a hour and half and steel wool.  They also suggested the cookies weren't burnt only residue from the dirty oven.

What I loved was missionaries who clean an oven that the prior missionaires have left filthy, because I asked them to and for Snickerdoodles.   I told them their reward was another batch of cookies!!!!!!

(My example of Mercy and Justice and Reward) 
When I told them to come collect their reward they showed me the before and after pictures

Central Reenok unique shopping experience

This is the central Reenok, the Reenok is a open market similar to a Farmer's market but bigger and has everything.   Food, clothing, hardware, shoe repair and more.   The Reenok has a lot of shops outside of this building being viewed. 

A small portion in a building picture here this is where you can purchase, cheese, butter and cured  meat as well as raw.

The 2nd tier you can see pictures to the left is mostly clothing shops, below are two dressed I took of dresses for young girls.  I got told I could not take photos and I deleted the first one for their benefit but keep this one.  I asked the English speaker when they were worn, she said School dances?    Wow, so apparently they have some elaborate school dance activities.   I wish I had looked at the price tag, I am sure they would have been significant.  Why not take pictures, I guess they figured their design might be copied?  I don't know.

I wish I could take photos of the rest of the Reenok, little shops that are a tangled mass of minatures stalls.  It's tightly compacted into stalls ranging from 6 by 6 foot square with a tarp draped overhead and on the sides.  The next stall is immediately on either side in long rows.   Plastic flowers, junkie China products, spices and cooking items, canned items, many carrying identical items just a few stalls down.   Then there is a huge clothing section, each day they set up the hanging display of their goods, and sit for hours in their stall.  If you wish to try on something you may have  sheet held in front of your to try on clothing.  Bartering is the custom but they don't barter must for foreignors they are out for a good price.   Goods from levis, belts, leather, sweaters, shoes, scarves on and on.   I wen looking for a new blouse, long sleeves to protect my skin from the sun.  I learned to say Large size!  I was never petite and I am not now either.  

Finally someone with a blouse I liked and actually fit.  After an hour of fast paced weaving through the maze of clothing, I bought it!  Hope it washes well.

 I personally like the Reenok some would not to me it is a fun experience.  As I sit at the computer feeling the pain of my blisters earned yesterday from a poor stocking choice and feeling a little less than happy with my digestive tract; I remind myself and my readers:  Missions are a matter of faith and obedience and sometimes the work moves slowly. 

me and my big PHOTO mouth

We were asked for 4 photos that described us.   So I selected this one as one of them.  It was taken at the Provo Sesquicenntial Ball early on in our marriage.   I remodeled my wedding dress, Rick rented period costume and I had a hairdresser give me my first and only Gibson hairdo (which I wish would come back it was so fun to wear).  

So a couple of weeks ago we received a call from our Mission President.  "I would like you to teach dancing at our upcoming Youth Activity".   I started to laugh nervously, he said "Why are you laughing, you are professionals",  I explained we are not professionals just loved to dance.    My Bolivian Mission President doesn't take no for answers. 

So we organized music, English, Ukrainian and Russian.  Pop, waltz, cowboy, R&B, rock and some I don't know how to categorize.  

One hour of dance instruction, two hours of music.  We learned and taught two new new line dances, practiced and taught a waltz step, and did what we could to prepare.    Elder Cannon is unshakable in dance confidence, I am timid to teach or even have people watch us. 

We started out with two line dances (I don't do line dances in the U.S.) but it was a good way to get everyone involved.  Then the "showmanship" kicked in and we have a great time clapping, cheering and dancing. with whomever wanted to practice their waltz.  Of course, they eventually reverted to their stand and shake type of dancing, but we did get them moving and we all had a great time.

Oh the interesting tasks of a senior missionary couple.

This was much more than a dance it was a Marriage Conference, to get these youth in our mission exposed to other LDS youth in the mission area.   One of the key activities was the "speed dating"  this was two chairs facing each other lined up side by side.  The woman were to stay in their chair and the men would rotate every 5 minutes to the next numbered chair.  This allowed for 5 minutes of conversation  and get to know each participant.   As one youn man said "if I liked the woman it wasn't long enough, but if I didn't it was only 5 minutes of conversation".   At least they had a chance to mingle and get to know each other.   That was the endearvor to get to know others, and then if you were interested there was time to spend with the women of your preference. 

Having a quiet conversation with the couple who led this program she said "if seniors want to see miracles, they need to come on a mission".  Truly it is just as important for our spiritual growth as it is for our son's and daughters who we so willing send on missions.   Send yourself on a mission, it will be a wonderful growth opportunity for you as well.   It doesn't have to be foreign, you can stay at home and have a wonderful mission experience, but it does take faith no matter where you serve.

Never to old to serve

Sometimes we underestimate youth and sometime we overlook wisdom of age and experience.  They are now a synergy that will rock our small branch here in Mariupol.  Last Sunday our Mission President came to town, he asked to meet with all the priesthood holders.     Elder Cannon was asked to serve as 1st Counselor to the Branch President.   We both assumed it was to be with  the existing president.  Then into Sacrament meeting we were a little confused due to the fact it is our practice, we don't have interpreters to 1. diminish the distractions and 2.  force us to listen to the cadence of Russian as a learning tool.               

When I heard Elder Cannon's name called and our hands raised in confirmation of our support of him and heard other names called.  This was our first insight into a bigger change.  Our new branch president's is the son of the now former Branch President,   He is a returned missionary about 26 years old and full of enthusiasm for branch growth.    Especially here in Eastern Europe sometimes change feels like a "demotion", but our Former President was grinning from ear to ear.   He told us later he was prompted a change was coming but didn't realize it would be his son.   Mother was happy for both to have her always serving husband back and knowing the weight her son would now bare.

 

Since it was fast and testimony meeting and a sweet little woman came to the stand and started to talk in an accelerated pace, somewhat agitated I asked for an interpreter.   She was distraught over the change and my heart went out to her.  Change is hard in many ways but the young branch president and his fine counselors will bring a new energy and purpose to this branch. 

The new Presidency met in our home at noon, I was volunteered to provide lunch and decided on Dad's favorite a meatloaf, with all the balance trimmings to compliment it.    They met for 4 hours, discussed new ideas, prioritized, made assignments and jumped in with both feet.    Elder Cannon has taken on the job of calling members to remind them to come and clean the church each Saturday as they are assigned.  He studied that conversation in Russian and made 4 phone calls this morning.   He gave his prepared speech and then when they replied answered in English that he had not idea what they were saying.   

I am so pleased that the Lord has provided this calling, it will be a good challenge and a refining responsibility for my good and faithful mate and already it has advanced his Russian skills. 

Now let me digress to the tender mercies...   The young missionaries asked us to join in a fast the purpose was to "increase the number of priesthood holders in our branch".   We agree to eat lunch together a wonderful Muslin fast food place and thereafter begin our 24 hour fast.   The plan was to break our fast together we had a small window of opportunity right after our Sunday meetings and between President's assignments.    I agreed to make the Sunday meal, which was a macaroni salad, carrot salad, lunch meat, bread and cucumber etc.     The plan was to feed 6 of us.   Then after arriving at the churchouse I realized I should invited the President his wife and his counselor and his wife.  Not realizing their day started at 6:30 am and would not end until after 5 pm.   I prayed that the Lord would stretch this meal for all, he did and in fact it ended up feeding the original six and seven more adults.   (including some second helpings for our young elders) . 

 I made more than I originally anticipated,  but I know it was stretch beyond its normal portion allowance.   So in all 13 people ate good portions from a lunch designed for 6, and after a long day at the church they didn't have make a 2 hour drive home on empty stomachs.   

I want to share what our another senior couple repeated at our at our senior conference last month.    "Do you know why they only call Mission Presidents for three years?"  Answer:   Because it has been medically proven that is all the time they can go without sleep.   We all laughed but there is plenty of truth to that as well.   This is a job for the young and the more seasoned and it is WORK!!. 

 

Eastern Europe heating system

My offfical temperature website reads:   43F, with a feels like 32F (with wind chill or barometer or whatever the website uses to report this reading).

It's dreary, overcast, light showers, a good read by the fireplace day.   Oh, I forgot I'm not in Kansas and I don't have a fireplace. 

The central radiant heating is shutting down.  Yup, no heat, the season has officially changed, it's spring.    Yesterday, I was opening windows to cool down the place, NOT TODAY.  I guess we've involuntarily given up warmth for Lent. 

Instead we are grateful for Steve and Sarah's down filled slippers, and the blankets that used to keep me almost to warm at night!!!!!  

WWII memorials and senior conference

We were so excited to attend a "Seniors Conference" in Kharkov.   We took a wiggly, jiggly overnight train to Kharkov.  The magic and synergy of other senior missionaries, the insights of our mission presidents and his focus.    The red building is one of the Kharkov branches and it's unique and beautiful inside.   Two floors looks of winding hallways and only two friendly drunks interrupted our meetings before they locked the front door.   Our meals were catered by a local restaurant and friends made by shared mission experiences.  Staying in a lovely hotel for 2 nights and a tiny bit of shopping and sightseeing.   Then back to the train for another sleep interrupted ride back home to Mariupol.    Our Bolivian mission president made a statement  worth repeating.   "Do you know why they only call Mission Presidents for only 3 years?  Because it has been determined that is how long they can live without sleep. "  We have friends who will surely agree with that statement.  It's a big job.                                        

This is the "motherland"  it is a WWII memorial.  We walked the path about a football field down an tree lined avenue toward her.   As you approached you can hear her heartbeat, a slow soft rhythmic sound "thump, thump.     I was quite moving.    She represents all mankind we were told. 

Our tour guide.taxi driver?  One of our Jewish food caters.  I asked if his father lived during WWII, no he told me his grandfather did and he doesn't talk about it much. 

The war memorial includes both Jews, Russians and Germans in mass graves. 

 This sacred ground holds more than 16 thousand Jewish men, women and children.   It also holds Russian and Germans killed during this war.   All together a half million bodies rest in this area.   It truly was sacred grounds and represents a horrific waste of human life. 

  Then we drove to another memorial, a Jewish Menora representation on the hill as we entered. 



Then a small memorial museum, it looks like the 10 commandments, but look again, it is one commandment written with 10 languages.   

Inside the small memorial on the walls are the names of those who were marched 10 miles from the Jewish Ghetto in winter, to be shot and buried in mass graves.   The walls reflect the family name, sometimes the word for Child, or Grandparents and even Newborn Infant.   This was very somber more so than the other because this was only a Jewish memorial.    Around the world today ethnic cleasing continues, it has to be such an offense to our Father in Heaven.

Rick wanted to walk another part of town

We don't live in city central, just a 25 minute walk or several bus stops.   So today Elder Cannon decided he wanted to walk another direction just to see.    We walked by several abandoned homes, a State University and some construction.   It's all fascinating, especially to us.

One of my favorite discoveries was this....   it's the rotating signs, you've seen them...   The advertisement changes. 

The one above is halfway through the transition then the transition is complete.  No big deal right

Well check out how it is done in Ukraine.    The boards are hand placed, they are three sided, to get three rotations and they are individual boards.   Look at the pictures below closely and you will see why it was fascinating.

 One board at a time, so they are apparently layed out and printed and then installed like this.   Wow, high tech eh?

Below are some of the common housing. I didn't photo the outhouse which was on most of the individual home properties, but the yards are certainly not like home.

Makes me appreciate home, even sidewalks, less mud, less green painted fences, less overhead wires, and believe it or now, less potholes.    The Lord does bless our nation I only pray we can be righteous enough to keep it.   Even still I love the service here, the learning experience, but we are both tired of  carrying all our groceries.  Thank goodness Elder Cannon is the grocery mule; I just load him up with the heavy stuff: water, flour, sugar, detergent, potatoes etc.   I carry the easy stuff like:  toilet paper, the cotton balls, the potatoes chips, paper napkins, it seems like a reasonable division of labor.  

The mule gets fed, his back washed, his feet rubbed.   That is as long as he does the dishes.... 

What to take when living in a foreign country

What is one of the most important tools to bring with you when living in a foreign country?
                                   A handyman....   

Oh man already the draw front is busted of AGAIN

If you think this is no big deal, do it with makeshift tools.  Repair this pressed wood type cabinetry.  Do it with minimal tools and find wood dowels speaking little Russian; oh and while you are at it, find wood glue.  Then repair it once, and then again when it is to weak to hold the dowels in place.   The repair required removing the old dowels which was done with a kitchen knife, a pair of pliers and the steel needle used for fingernail care carried in this Elders travel kit. 

Oh my brand new serrated kitchen knife became his saw of choice!!!!!!!! 

Good thing I wasn't watching this repair to closely. 

But this is not all.   The shower is a bit fragile, that can be restored to use with a bit of athletic tape.

This toilet seat cost $50 (49.6887 USD)

That's a lot of money for a toilet seat, but the old seat was made out of plastic and it a tendency to close at the wrong time.  It also would fall apart (separate the top from the bottom) at the most ackward moments.  We were tired of constantly repairing it.  

A new plastic replacement would have been about $4.00 USD.   Ouch!!!!

Well, I guess we have to say we are blessed to have the finances to make these choices and we are definately blessed to have a HandyMan in Ukraine.