June 12, 2012

Where to begin?   Last week was such a wonderful, exciting, event filled week that it is hard to know where to begin but I will begin with what was most important to us.

Saturday, Sunday and Monday were privileged to have several visiting General Authorities visit to conduct leadership, Stake and Mission Meetings.  Gary attended leadership training meetings all day Saturday with Elders Christofferson, Rasband, Lawrence, Stephenson, Bennett, and Schwitzer.  Sunday at Stake Conference Elder Rasband told the story of the “Miracle of Ukraine”.  I loved it so I am including it in our blog.  (It is easy to take great notes when there are pauses for translation.)

“This is an historic homecoming. In 1992, after the fall of the Soviet Union, I came to Ukraine with Jon Huntsman Sr. to form a chemical company in Ukraine. The factory employed over 1000 Ukrainians.  The factory made plastic egg cartons and trays for meat. There were no organized branches at the time. President Biddoulf was the first  Mission President in Ukraine. He started a Book of Mormon Reading Group. There were zero branches in Ukraine. In 1993 we came back to dedicate this factory. President Howard W. Hunter who was president of the Quorum of the Twelve at the time was in the stake in Salt Lake where Jon Huntsman Sr. was the Stake President. We invited him to come with us to the dedication of the factory. When he came we had a meeting in a hall like this one we are in today, the October Palace. Two meetings were held. A youth meeting where a group of about 150 attended and then it was advertised that an apostle and prophet of God would be in Ukraine. This caused a lot of excitement and at the fireside there were about 1000 investigators. The church was just starting. Were any in this audience at that meeting that night? (about 12-15 people stood). It was an amazing evening. President Hunter bore his testimony that the church would grow and prosper in this land. Whoever would have thought that I would be back here again today and as a servant of God. Who would have thought that in less than 20 years you would be all grown up and Ukraine would have not only a stake, but a temple. Maybe we are too impatient, but we do have reason to rejoice. In my short life I have seen a miracle. Sometimes we cannot see progress when we are living in the present day. You are a miracle.  Having a stake and a temple is a miracle – all in 20 years. Sometimes when you are thinking there is little progress remember this story. The Lord has smiled upon you and blesses the people of Ukraine.”

On Monday we were privileged to again meet with Elders Rasband and Lawrence and their wives for a Mission Meeting. It was a historical meeting as all of the missionaries from the mission came to Kyiv for the meeting and it was wonderful. I’ll include my favorite story from that meeting at a later date.

 Gary and Karlene with Elder & Sister Rasband

Getting ready for the mission picture at the Temple

Last week we were able to attend another historic event. Roman Kofman is the most famous conductor in Ukraine and at age 78 has been ill for a while. He returned for one more concert with the Ukraine National Philharmonic Chamber Orchestra and we were able to attend. We also attended another concert of the National Symphony Orchestra with the famous Russian Piano Soloist Vadym Rudenko playing Tchaikovsky Piano concert No. 1 in B-flat minor. He was by far the most talented musician I have ever seen. It was wonderful!

Shortcut path to the Symphony

 Lysenko Hall of Columns-Symphony Hall

Roman Kofman

And last but not least – Euro Cup is alive and well in Kyiv. I’m sure some of you soccer fans out there are following it and sharing in the excitement in Ukraine and Poland. It is really crazy here. You learn a lot about National Pride when one of these events hits where you live. The stadium where some of the games are being played is about three miles from us but might as well be three feet. This whole city of 5 million is soccer crazy. We live on a main street in Kyiv - and Monday night Ukraine played Sweden here in Kyiv. It was honestly so noisy that there was no possible way of getting to sleep until after 2:30 AM when the busses quit running. I was so glad that Ukraine won their first match but you would have thought it was the championship game with all the singing, yelling, people running in the streets, horns constantly honking, packed busses with people singing and yelling, and fireworks. And it is just beginning. The final game will be played here in Kyiv on July 1. Gary is feeling a little Nationalist Pride so he spent a week’s grocery money for a really ugly official Soccer shirt. (see picture). There are so many fans here from other countries that on the metro you can count on a free body massage and on the buses – not only a free massage but throw in a sauna, too. I have taken to more walking and less riding on buses. 

 Gary's new diet: spend food money on clothes

L to R:  Fan Zone on Kreschatck; Fan Zone during the day--most everyone sleeping from staying up all night; Euro Cup's Country Flags; trolley bus

My quote for the week is by President Uchtdorf.  “Hope is not knowledge, but rather the abiding trust that the Lord will fulfill His promises to us.  It is confidence that if we live according to God’s laws and the words of His prophets now, we will receive desired blessings in the future.”