VISITING UKRAINSK

I find myself sitting at the computer wondering how I even begin to share with you the experiences Bruce and I have had this past month. My mind is filled with images of places we’ve been and people we’ve met.
I think this picture of Bruce captures some of the feelings we’ve had. This was what Bruce and I both agree “our best day in Ukraine”. This is one of those times that I know words can’t even begin to convey the amazing day we had. We found ourselves at the end of the day sitting with Olga under a make shift gazebo in the middle of a green meadow that surrounded a pond with 5 new friends who hours earlier had been complete strangers. We had just spent the last hour snacking on cheese, and bread and toasting (with juice) to, “helping others, and friendship”. We had been invited to join the representative from the International Relief Development (IRD) to visit the Mayor of a small town called Ukriansk. We had told her previously that we are looking for organizations that are teaching people to become more self-reliant so we went to see if we might be able to do a project in Ukrainsk. The Mayor, Vitaly has been working to rebuild the city since 2002 when they had a terrible mining disaster that trapped and killed 35 men. The Mayor and one of the women whose husband had been killed in the mining disaster had been our tour guides as we came to know the small town of 13,000 people though their eyes. The woman, Nadia was a representative of a woman’s organization and was hoping we could help them purchase some playground equipment for a public park. There is not one park in the whole town. The Mayor is a true Hero. He was proof that one person really can make a difference. He told us how in 2002 when he became Mayor he got busy firing the people who were responsible for the mining disaster, and other city officials who were not doing their jobs. He told us how the city was in desperate need of proper heat and running water. They had 241 apartment buildings and only 19 of them had hot running water. He said in 2002 they had electricity breaks that lasted 1-2 weeks. The mine closed and the town was slowly dying. The Mayor and his friends began the transformation by physically going out on the streets and picking up trash. He went to the Media and pleaded for help rebuilding the town.

What we saw when we began our tour was a lot of old buildings but many happy people. The Mayor had asked some parents to meet us at the location where they want to build the playground and as we stood in this vacant lot around the corner comes mothers and fathers pushing strollers or carrying toddlers in their arms to meet us. They told us how much they need this play area, and how much the Mayor has done for their town.

Then we went to see the Kindergarten. Nadia had taught here for 24 years. She just lit up when we entered the building. I have to admit so did I. When we entered the first classroom all these little 2 year olds were sitting in a circle reading a story. Bruce sat down and they all started smiling and performing for us. It was so cute. I didn’t want to leave. Then we went into the next classroom of 5 year olds and they were even cuter. They were more than happy to pose for pictures and stood with their arms around each other. One little boy said to his little friend, “she took my picture twice”. They were adorable. Smiling faces everywhere. I want you to know that I could feel the endorphins kicking in. There is nothing like being in a room of happy children. Then reality hit. We learned that last winter the kindergarten had no heat and when the children needed to take naps they had to put hot water in water bottles to place in their beds to keep them warm. I couldn’t believe the condition of the old water boiler. I just kept saying, “Wow”. It was so old and rusty, I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.
In an attempt to try to rebuild the city the Mayor has made affordable housing available to young families. The mine has reopened and some other plants have been opened in the area. So now they have 2 kindergartens with about 100 children each and 80 children on the waiting list. The Director told us when mothers are pregnant they put their child on the list. We saw one woman walking up to the building with a small child at her side and she was holding a plant. The director said, “she wants us to get her child in the school but we don’t have an opening right now.”Remember that Kindergartens are like our Day Care in America and the children begin when they are as young as 18 months old. We left the kindergarten and headed for the mine. What a grim contrast. I didn’t realize how much so until I got home and looked at the pictures I had taken of the Mayor and Tatiana. The expressions on their faces showed the pain of the memory of the needless disaster that had claimed 35 lives just 6 years earlier. I saw that pain again as we sat under the gazebo at the end of the day and our friend told us of the love story of her and her husband of 20 years and how she was left alone with her 17-year old son.

We got back in the cars and headed for the sports center. It was more like an American boys and girls club. As we approached we got out and entered this little Garden of Eden in the middle of town. The old building was surrounded by beautiful flower gardens. There was a little wrought iron fence in the front of the building with a fresh coat of bright blue paint. We were greeted by more smiling faces, this time teenagers. There were a small group of girls talking with one or two boys sitting on a bench. They quickly came over to greet the mayor and pose for a picture holding the new sports balls that Lubov had brought from another sponsor. Around the back of the building we found a group of boys playing soccer. The mayor and Lubov joined a small group of teenagers for a game of volleyball while Bruce and Olga and I stood and watched. I want you to know if I wasn’t wearing a dress I would have jumped right in. We watched as the Mayor and Lubov both turned into kids again for just a few moments. More smiles and laughter were exchanged by all. When we entered the building we found a room with a ping pong table, another room with a boxing ring, with some punching bags, and a room for gymnastics and dance. Lubov had told us earlier that this sports facility was the dream of the Mayor. The mayor had felt it was really important that the young people had this opportunity to develop talents and participate in healthy activities. We were impressed when we approached the group of boys playing soccer when the Mayor asked one boy by name where he was yesterday. Lubov says he knows everyone by name.
Our next stop was the music and art center. This was located in another building that we had to drive to. We were greeted by the Director of the music school. The children come here for art and music lessons after school. The lessons aren’t free but they make them available to the low income families at a very low cost. The director said that they don’t have a piano, and the children have to buy their own instruments. So I gather all they have is the building and the teachers. Well, you have to start somewhere. The Mayor says they have many talented students but no money for instruments. Then we entered a room where three teenage girls were taking an art class. It is hard for me to describe the limited amount of supplies they have. Let’s just say, this was definitely another lesson in gratitude. There was a still life display in the front of the room and I was so impressed with the drawings the instructor showed us her students had done of it.

I don’t know how to summarize this experience. Except to say that we started the day sitting at a long executive table across from 2 complete strangers and we were ending the day sitting in a meadow under a gazebo having a picnic with two people we would never forget. Can one person make a difference? You bet. This man, who was raised in an orphanage, was breathing life into a city that had died. We had seen the fruits of his labor. The buildings were still old and dilapidated; many were still without proper heat and running water. But the people were happy. They now had jobs and were raising families. This one man was contributing to the future success of hundreds of Ukrainian children. Our new friend, Nadia had been raised in an orphanage as well. She was amazing. She had lost the love of her life in a tragic mining accident and yet I laughed more with her than I have laughed with anyone since I came to Ukraine. When it was time to leave we joked about just getting a tent and staying there for the night. It was one of those moments that you just don’t want to end. It was one of those moments when you wonder as you reach out to shake hands, if they felt what you felt. Somehow you know that even without sharing the spoken language your souls have shared something that surpasses anything words could convey.

TO THE PARENTS OF MISSIONARIES

I just wanted to say thank-you to all of you who have been commenting on this blog. It is fun to see that some of you returned missionaries and even your parents are reading. I am so filled with gratitude each day to be here having this experience. When we were at the MTC they told us that we should have the missionaries in our home. That we would become very close to some of them. They said, that we should be a refuge for them. They told us to just be there for them. It wasn't long after we got here that I realized what they were doing for me. Their powerful testimonies have strengthened me. Their willingness to "go and do" whatever the Lord has asked has motivated me to do better. Their love and service for the people in Ukraine has inspired me. We have had many opportunities to have the missionaries in our home and to participate in zone conferences with them. I just have to say, "I had no idea." When people use to say, " the best two years of your life" I really didn't have any concept of what that meant. I can't believe how many opportunities they have to stretch and grow. I am always touched by their powerful testimonies. When we sit in Zone conferences I will try to imagine the 19 year old boys at home that I saw go off on their missions and I just can't believe these boys are the same age. They seem so much older and more mature. I keep thinking about you parents at home who are worrying about the little things like are they sleeping? are they eating well? Are they happy? I just want you to know that some of them do lose weight here. Some of them are sleeping on lumpy beds and maybe even drag their mattresses on to the floor to sleep, but there is no question in my mind that they are happy. These young men and women are committed to do the Lord's work and as one of them told me when we discovered that he and his companion were drinking out of a recycled jar and one glass, " I just thought that was part of being on a mission." They don't complain. Even when there is no hot water, or their facets leak, or they have had 10 doors slammed in their faces in one day. They get up everyday and put on a white shirt and tie, and do what the Lord has asked them to do. We had two missionaries over for dinner the other night who are going home soon and they are already thinking about what they can do for Ukraine when they get home. I love these missionaries. I know I have said it before and I will say it again, you should be so proud of them. I now know why they say, "it was the best two years of my life." Thank-you for sharing it with me.

It's always hard to say good-bye

Elders Pearson, Harris, Livingston, Andrus, and Crossley
It's transfer day which means these missionaries are being transferred out of our area
We'll miss them.

ANOTHER TRANSFER DAY

This is Elder Crawford and Elder Pearson

This week we said good-bye to Elder Crawford. He went back to America. Elder Harris leaves for Kharkov. We have known Elder Harris since last December when we all went Christmas Caroling. Both of these young men have been such great examples. Both of them translated for me on Sunday's so that I could know what was going on during Sacrament Meeting and Sunday school. They were in our district so they were in our home once a week for District meeting. I just want to say, their mothers should be proud of them. Bruce gave Elder Crawford a big hug for me. It's hard to say good-bye. We talked about all the interesting experiences we have shared and how hard it will be to go home and try to tell people about it. It's amazing to think of where they are in their lives. When they get home they have so many decisions to make. Decisions that will affect their entire future. As the day approaches for them to board the plane for America you can see the reality of it setting in. I had a moment to sit and talk with two Elders this week after District meeting about their feelings about their missions and how they feel about going home. It was one of those moments that I was filled with gratitude to have been blessed to be a part of their journey. The most amazing thing is that they will always know that Heavenly Father will be there guiding them as they make these important decisions in their lives. I have been so impressed by the strength of their testimonies. These young men have taught me so much, and been such great examples to me. I am so thankful to be serving with them.

VISITING THE HOMES OF MEMBERS OF THE CHURCH

BRUCE FOLLOWING SISTER CLARK ON THE ROAD TO THE GRITSKI HOME

Yesterday we had a long bus ride and I found myself talking to Olga about what our life has been like as missionaries. One of the Elders told me that his parents are getting ready to serve a mission and his mother would like to come to Ukraine. He said, he didn't think he wanted his parents to serve their mission here. I was trying to explain to Olga that some of the experiences we have had here we were not really prepared for. I have always thought of myself as being quite adventurous. I am usually open to trying anything at least once. Needless to say, the more I talked the more I stumbled to find the right words. The truth is, each mission is unique. We have faced some challenges and had to deal with things that we weren't prepared for but when I think of the blessings we have received I wouldn't trade it for anything. We had the opportunity to go back to Masha Gretski's house the last two weeks for Family Home Evening and it reminded me of so many things. You may remember Masha and her family. Sister Clark and I went with the Sister Missionaries to visit their family the first month we were here. If you remember we had to ride public transport to get there. First we took a bus and then a marshooka. Then we got out and crossed the main road to a small alley type road that wasn't paved, crossed some railroad tracks and followed a very narrow path around some houses and eventually reached a little road that lead to Masha's house. It had been raining and it was dark and very unsettling. Sister Clark and I commented on how completely different it was this time. The place had been transformed. There were gorgeous gardens lining the road and beautiful rows of vegetables in rich dark earth. Flowers were blooming everywhere. When we finally reached the Gretski's house we found a darling little cottage surrounded by flowers and gardens. As we sat in their home and visited with their family we discussed once again the blessings of serving a mission with your husband. I remember Sister Clark had previously commented how close you get because you rely on each other for everything. I remember that feeling when we first arrived here. I didn't want to let Bruce out of my sight because I felt so insecure. It seems like it was at least 2 months before I crossed a street without holding his hand. I know that sounds so strange knowing how independent I am but that is just one of the strange things you experience when you are "transplanted" in such an unfamiliar environment.

Well, I found myself telling Olga that I feel different now. I am capable of going places by myself now. I know how to ride the public transportation and I could find my way around alone. The difference is I don't want to go off by myself. I have come to really appreciate having Bruce as my companion. I love sharing this experience with him. We really like being together. We are a good team. It is not so much that I need him to feel safe now, I can even cross the street without holding his hand. It is just that I like sharing this amazing journey with him. I know that when we get home we will go back to our life the way it was and I will miss these days of walking through the park holding hands.