EUROPE EAST AREA DISTRICT MEETING

We met at the Kalininsky building this weekend for a District meeting. On Sunday the building was so full that we had to put extra chairs on the stand and all the missionaries who didn't have a guest with them (investigators) had to go upstairs to an overflow room. This slideshow is the missionaries in the overflow room. We listened to talks that were specific about the growth of the church in Eastern Europe. President Pieper said that the foundation has been laid for the growth of the Church in Eastern Europe. He then said, the theme for the new stage of growth will be, "Preach My Gospel". There are currently 34,000 members of the Church in Eastern Europe. We were told that the numbers of full time missionaries sent to this area will decrease and the missionary efforts on the part of the members will need to increase. He then taught some basic principles to the members of the church about how to be member missionaries. He concluded with "I have a strong testimony that the elect are waiting". President Monson was the concluding speaker. He spoke about preparing our homes. Prepare a house of prayer, a house of fasting, a house of faith, a house of learning, a house of Glory, and a house of order. It was a wonderful day. When we came downstairs to join the members they were so happy. People stayed for quite some time and just fellowshipped one another. There were buses and marshrukas waiting to return members and missionaries to Gorlovka, Lugansk, Mariupol, and Petrovsky. Everyone was so busy visiting and enjoying one anothers company that they couldn't get the busses loaded. It was quite a day.

OUR VISIT TO THE INTERNAT

We took the Mission Presidents wife, Sister Fry with us to deliver some Therapy Equipment to an Internat (home for special needs children ages 4-18). When we arrived the equipment hadn't been assembled yet so we asked them if they could set some of it up so that we could take some pictures of the children playing. The staff quickly unpacked everything and went to select some children to come play. You should have seen the children's faces when they came in. It looked like our children looked on Christmas morning. Do you remember that kind of stunned look as a child tries to figure out how this got in his living room, and is it really his. It didn't take long for them to jump right in. I think the teachers were so cute as they showed the children how each piece of equipment worked. They really seemed to be enjoying themselves. One little boy kept yelling to his teacher, "Luda, Luda" as he was trying to get her to look at what he was doing. It is always hard to leave these places. I asked if we could take Sister Fry on a tour of the facility. They took us to the laying down room again where the children who are bedridden live. This was the hard part. The children are so hungry for stimulation. As we approached they reached out their hands to us and as we put our hands in theirs they gently caressed our forearm and kissed and smelled our hands and arms. They did not want to let go. I was happy to see that Sister Fry and Elder Kinghorn had joined me as we made our way down the rows of beds with little hands and arms reaching out. It was hard to leave. We joined the children playing again for a few minutes and I hated to leave because I knew playtime would be over for the children and they would go back to their beds. As we walked out the teachers followed us with toddlers in tow. One little boy with a broken heart buried his face in his hands on his little bed. Sister Fry followed him to offer a gentle hug and goodbye. The teacher who was nearby quickly told Sister Fry his full name and practically begged her to adopt him. She told her he was a good boy. When I asked the Director how many of the over 150 children have been adopted he said one.

Some of you may remember I wrote about this facility before and mentioned that these children do not get adopted. They are the forgotten. These sweet little children have been born with some kind of disability and they have been sent here to live out their lives. Needless to say, I didn't sleep well that night as I kept seeing the little faces looking up at me from their tiny little beds. I will never forget them.

Blessings and thanks to all of you who have adopted. To any of you who have ever considered adoption please remember the children in Ukraine.

GOOD-BYE TO SISTER HOWARD AND ELDER HUNT

One last group shot. I love these guys, we'll miss you Sister Howard, and Elder Hunt.

 Elder Oldroyd was excited that he won the overall Book of Mormon Quiz. He scored more total points than any of the other missionaries in our District. It was really close for Elders Hunt and Crossley as well. Oh well, maybe next time Elders. We still love you.

DISTRICT MEETINGS AT THE KINGHORN'S

Our last District meeting with Elder Hunt and Sister Howard. Tomorrow is transfer day and we don't know where they are going only that they won't be in our District anymore, so sad.

DISTRICT MEETINGS

This is Elder Williams, he is the newest member of our District and just arrived in Ukraine during the last transfer, I think he likes the popcorn mix.

These two Elders are the Zone Leaders. This was taken of Elder Hunt and Elder Crossley during their apartment inspection. Elder Crossley doesn't look very happy does he. Trust me they passed the inspection with flying colors.

Elders Crossley and Oldroyd

My first attempt at making rolls

This is our District before the last transfer, Elder Bassett is back in America now, and Elder Summerhays went to another District. Now we have Elder Crossley and Elder Williams in their places.
Since one of the things we enjoy the most about our mission is the time we get to spend with the younger missionaries I would like to write a little about District meetings. Once a week we have a meeting at our house with 3 other companionship's (sets of missionaries). I have been so impressed with how prepared they come for our meeting. One of the missionaries, right now it is Elder Oldroyd, is the facilitator. He assigns someone to give; a prayer, we sing a song, someone gives a spiritual thought,someone teaches a language lesson, and a lesson from the missionary manual, Preach My Gospel, and someone does a quiz about the Book of Mormon. The meeting usually last about two hours. Elder Kinghorn and I usually have an assignment as well. Elder Kinghorn likes to give them a crossword puzzle with questions about the church. If they take it home and complete it they get a giant snickers bar (everyone always completes it). I often share stories about our Humanitarian Work. We finish the day with a nice hot lunch. I have mentioned before I didn't do alot of cooking when we were at home. Last week Elder Crossley asked if I always cooked like this at home. I had to laugh and I know my kids would too. I was always so busy to really enjoy cooking but now I am really liking it. I made rolls for the very first time last week. I think they turned out pretty good. So I have included a few pictures from District meeting. I love these missionaries and am so glad they invited us to join their meetings. I always joke that we were invited because of the snickers bars, good hot food, and yummy snacks during the meeting. Then again, it could be the brownies, or banana bread they have for dessert. Don't worry I make sure they get some vegetables and fruit when they first arrive. We start the meeting with cut up apples, and cucumbers, and maybe a plate of cookies or crackers.