This picture was taken on our recent visit to a Kindergarten for children with Language Delays. In Ukraine Kindergartens are like Day Care Centers in America. The children are as young as 18 months and leave after they turn 5.

KINDERGARTEN

                   LOOK AT THESE SWEET FACES

We have discovered whenever children go outside here they wear a hat. This is so cute. We did see one exception yesterday a little girl was carrying an umbrella.

We visited another Kindergarten today. This one was for children with Language Delays. I just have to say when the Director finished taking us on a tour of the facility and she asked us if we wanted to do anything else my response was "yes play with the children". I just have to find a school to volunteer my time. I miss being with children so much. I mean look at these faces. They are absolutely adorable. She did take me out to the playground and I found a little toddler who looked lost and when I sat down she came right up to me and sat in my lap.

DEPARTING MISSIONARIES

Elder Koeven, Elder Perkins, Elder Sorenson, Elder Withers, Elder Pearson, Elder Hunter and Sister Semenisheva

When I look at the faces of all of these missionaries I am reminded of how much I have learned from them and how each one of them have left a mark here on Ukraine. They have touched the members with their love and devotion to the Savior. They have been tremendous examples to us all. We will miss them. Good-bye to Sister Godfrey as well. She loved her mission so much that she extended her mission as well as did Sister Semenisheva. She left a few days before this picture. Good-bye to Sister Godfrey we will miss you.

ZONE CONFERENCE

Today was the last Zone Conference for Sister Semenisheva, Elder Sorensen, Elder Pearson, and Elder Koeven. It was also the last Zone Conference for the President and Sister Andersen to speak to the missionaries. It was another emotional day. I will have to write more later.

We are back from our trip to Kharkov. We took the train there and back with Olga our interpreter. It was about a 7 hour train ride but the time went by quickly. We had a sleeping compartment so we could relax comfortably. We arrived Saturday night and went to the church on Sunday. It was a really special day. The President of our mission, President Andersen and his wife will be going home to America in a week and will not be seeing the members or the missionaries in Kharkov again. They have been in Ukraine for 3 years and have come to really love the people here. There was a special meeting on Sunday night (a fireside) and the Andersen's each spoke and told the members how much they love them and will miss them. It was very heartfelt. About 7 men and women members of the church sang a beautiful song accompanied by the guitar. When the talks were over the whole group of missionaries about 25 of them stood in the front of the room and sang a hymn. It was very touching. Once again, I am so grateful for the opportunity I have to be able to hear them sing of Christ, testify of Christ and live their lives worthy enough to represent him here in Ukraine. I have mentioned before what a sweet experience it is to hear these young men sing. I can only imagine what it was like for the members who have probably never been blessed to hear the combined voices of 25 valiant young men singing hymns. It was an emotional 2 days watching President and Sister Andersen have to say good-bye to members and missionaries that they may never see again. They had one last stop before they left Kharkov and that was to say good-bye to their siblings, the Jacob's who are serving a mission in Kharkov. Elder Jacob is Sister Andersen's brother and Sister Jacob is President Anderson's sister. The Jacob's will be in Kharkov another 10 months or so until they return to America.

The Jacob's joined us for the three day training on Strengthening Families that our Country Directors, The Lee's were presenting. It was an awesome 3 days. The participants were Social Workers, Psychologist, Educators, and Foster Parents. They absolutely loved the training. When it was over they all went around the room and commenting on what they liked about the training. Sister Lee said that she felt like they "were family" by the time the training was over. I have to say we all felt the same way. They hugged Sister Lee and asked her to come back and teach "Strengthening Marriage" classes. They were so excited about the content of the presentation and were so eager to use the skills and techniques in their homes.

Before we left we visited some of the missionaries who have recently transferred from Donetsk to Kharkov. Olga and I even went to the English lessons. We had a very busy week. Monday before the training started the Jacob's took us to a homeless shelter as a possible location to do a project. Sunday we had a nice dinner with the Jacob's and the Crittendon's who are another missionary couple in Kharkov. It was Fathers Day so we all went around the table and shared a little about our fathers. They don't celebrate Fathers Day here so most of the missionaries didn't even know it was Father's Day. We finished the trainings on Thursday and went to dinner with the Lee's and our Interpreters, Olga and Valentina and then boarded the train back to Donetsk. We arrived in Donetsk at 7 am and Olga put us in a cab and sent us home. She is so sweet she told me to call her and let her know we arrived safely. Remember, we still don't speak Russian so we are not ever sure if the taxi will actually get us to the right location so I appreciate her concern.