December 27, 2012

December 17:  It finally stopped snowing.  The amazing thing here in Kyiv is that the snow never falls off the trees or power lines. Everything is still covered with snow and it is absolutely beautiful. It is now bitter cold. Today it was 6 degrees with a wind chill of 10 below zero or more. I have never felt this kind of cold and I totally understand why people here wear fur coats and hats.   

Across from Gary's office

The city crews started bringing in the dump trucks to haul off the snow. The ice chippers (people that chip ice off the sidewalks) work all day. In the city center there are crews that keep the sidewalks pretty clean but in the other parts of the city it is up to the same people that sweep the sidewalks in the summer and rake the leaves in the fall to chip ice in the winter.  You can hear them chip, chip, chipping away all day and into the night. And now that it is so cold I just wonder how they do this arduous task. Most of them are old. It is supposed to get colder as the week goes on. 

It is bitter cold but we dress for it so we are doing fine.  I get sad when I pass the street vendors who are mostly pretty old and sitting outside all day long to sell a few pine cones, or chickens, or shopping bags or whatever. When I see someone without mittens I try to give them some hand warmers with an Article of Faith card. We are so blessed.

On Tuesday a friend of mine went back to the temple after 20 years.  She and her husband were among the first converts in Eastern Europe and had gone to the temple in Germany at that time.  It was wonderful to be with her and see the ceremony through her eyes.  We really have a different vision of things having been raised where the church was always present in our lives.  I like their humility, and sense of awe and wonder.
 

Loboda's and K. Serduk

This week the patrons at the temple are from the Samara Russia Mission. It is unbelievable how far they traveled in this weather. They said that the trains were not heated and were very cold. It took thirty-six hours to get here. They are so humble, so full of joy and are so grateful to be here the week before Christmas. 

The temple on December 19, 2012

Thursday we went to get Gary some shoes at the Ecco Store by the office. They didn't have his size so we had to go to the new "Ocean Mall" to get his size. It is honestly the most beautiful mall I have ever seen. They were just opening a new Kentucky Fried Chicken (first in Ukraine) so we went to the grand opening. I don't remember Kentucky fried chicken ever 
tasting so good.
 

Ocean Mall

Karlene and Ukranian Colonel Sanders

By Friday morning the roads and sidewalks were starting to look pretty clear.  We had heard the dump trucks and plows working through the night clearing the roads. And then during the night it started snowing again and hasn't stopped since.  No doubt about a white Christmas here.

Snow removal at work

Saturday we were out doing some errands and ended up at Khreschatyk at the Christmas Parade.  There were about fifty St. Nicholas’s all in different colored suits and just as many Snow Maidens. I was taking some pictures and one came by and said, “Do you want to make a picture with me.” We fell for it and then ended up having to pay for the pictures that were taken with our camera. Oh well, you are bound to get taken once in a while and it might as well be by St. Nicholas. It was snowing, beautiful and there were even people remembering the birds. 

Christmas tree on Square

One expensive pose!

Santas on the Square

Feed the birds, two pence a bag...

Independence Square

Sunday was our Christmas Program at church.  It was a great program, lots of singing and every person in attendance had a part either singing or speaking. Of course there were only about thirty people there since most all of the Embassy people are out of town and the thirty-five ILP girls left during the week. It really helped put everyone in a festive mood especially since it was still snowing outside. 

Monday, Christmas Eve dawned and we were off to the Stake Center to help the other senior missionaries  fix a brunch for thirty Elder and Sister Missionaries. It was such a fun event with the “right, left” gift exchange, caroling and a great brunch. Everyone left with a plate of Christmas cookies to take home. Then I was off to the office where I was having a little Christmas Party Luncheon for my English Club girls. I love them all so much and wish I could bring them all home with me.

Missionary brunch

Office lunch

By the time we left the office it had started snowing pretty hard. The roads were once again covered and the way traffic was piling up you would have thought it was the first storm.  Just after we got home a family in our branch called to say they were down in front of our apartment but couldn’t open their doors for the snow piled between the street and the sidewalk and a broken down Marsrutka was blocking the drive to the back of our apartment. They had come to Christmas Carol. Yes, Christmas Carolers in Kyiv. I put on my coat and boots and ran right down. I stood outside and they sang from the inside of their car. I was so excited to have some of my favorite primary children come to carol. A lasting memory.

 

The Schorrs came a caroling!!

The snow got worse as the evening wore on and I was glad to be inside watching instead of one of the cars stopped in a huge traffic jam that lasted until after we went to bed at 11:00 PM.  The snow had stopped by morning  as we headed to the metro on our way to the Temple.

The traffic jam in the morning

The Kyiv Temple is the only temple in the world that was open on Christmas and we were blessed to be able to go there for our Christmas morning.  It was such a wonderful place to be and the Spirit in the Temple was truly a Christmas Spirit like no other.  I will cherish this memory always.

Kyiv Temple on Christmas morning 2012

Gary entering the temple

A wonderful Christmas Day at the temple

After our temple session the Senior Missionaries met at the church for a delicious Christmas brunch and then we headed home to fix a Christmas dinner for some Elders that we had invited over. For a Christmas present the Barton’s (our USAID friends) had given us a turkey breast, Stove-top Stuffing, and a can of cranberries so with a leftover yam from Thanksgiving and all the other fixings we had quite the dinner. 

Brunch with senior missionaries

Christmas dinner with Elders

It was wonderful to be able to Skype with our children and see all of the grandchildren this past week. Technology is amazing. We hope that you have many happy memories of this Christmas and that the Spirit of the season remains in your hearts all year round.

December 27 – Today on the way home from the office fresh Christmas trees lined the street by the Metro. Gary knew how much I had wanted a real tree so since Christmas in Ukraine really isn’t until January 7, he bought me one. It is so fun to have a real tree and another Christmas. We also have two New Year’s.  One on the first and one on the fourteenth of January. I Love Ukraine!

Quote for the Week:

"Like the shepherds of old, we need to say in our hearts, 'Let us see this thing which is come to pass.' We need to desire it in our hearts. Let us see the Holy One of Israel in the manger, in the temple, on the mount, and on the cross. Like the shepherds, let us glorify and praise God for these tidings of great joy!"