August 31, 2013

Last month we celebrated the 1025 birthday of the Baptism of Kyiv by Prince Vladimir.  The 24^th of August was Independence Day in Ukraine celebrating 22 years of independence. In general, the main celebration at the state level is held in Kiev.  The first event of the day is to lay flowers at the monuments to famous Ukrainian (mostly monuments to Vladimir the Great, Bohdan Khmelnytsky, Michael Grushevskij and Taras Shevchenko) and participate in prayer for Ukraine, which was held at the Park of Vladimir’s Statue. 

First President of Ukraine Bohdan Khmelnytksy

Every year the holiday attractions here include the flower exhibition at Spivochi Pole , whose slopes were covered with bright colored  flowers in the theme of Children’s fantasies and dreams.  I think this was a theme symbolic of the freedom the children of this country now enjoy that their parents didn’t have 22 years ago.

Last year the parade featured huge painted eggs from each of the areas of Ukraine.  This year it was chickens which were amazing.  They are followed by  people from each region dressed in traditional costume from their area and they are amazingly different and beautiful.  Knowing that I would be attending an event at the Temple and wouldn’t be able to enjoy the parade I ventured down by the gathering area which was behind a security entrance.  I mingled in with a group of people in colorful costumes and was all of a sudden through the security and in the middle of all the activities of parade preparation and was able to see and view everything on a much more personal basis than standing behind the lines in the streets.  It was a total blast!  

Kreschatyk was closed off for speed car racing on one end and family activities on the other and on the big stage at Independence Square there were performances by groups from all over Ukraine.  The evening was ended with of course, fireworks.

In the afternoon we went to the Temple site for our annual picnic with the Kyiv Temple workers.  I always love that event mingling with so many people that I love working with.  I will really miss my association with these close friends that I have made.

Sunday, after a wonderful day at church, the missionaries came over and we had another discussion with Sveta.   I love the sister missionaries and Sister Zharkova  from Moscow, who is the only member of the church in her family, has such a wonderful spirit and ability to teach others the truths she has found for herself.   She has only been here for twelve weeks and is training her second companion.  

The temple is closed for cleaning and a lot of the temple missionaries have children arriving for visits.  Monday Gary and I went with the Hendricks and their son Lee on a tour of St. Sophia’s.  We have been on the tour before but enjoyed it so much and Helen is such a good guide that you could go on the tour three or four times and learn something new each time.  Tuesday Jill went with me to take the Hendricks on a city tour and then on Wednesday we all met for dinner and went to the last summer concert at the Philharmonic.  It was a busy but fun week. 

Hendricks and their son Lee

It was in 1943.  He an Italian POW, she, a Ukrainian displaced worker.  Luigi Peduto and Mokryna Yursuk met in an Austrian war camp to spend two years togeether.  The war bonded them and the war did them apart.  Luigi will remember the Ukrainian beauty with dimples on her cheeks for all his life....And will find her after 60 years.  They will meet in 2004 on Inter TV Channel's show "Zhdi menya", to reveal to the world that love conquers distances, overpowers time and outfights wars!

Something happened to our beautiful summer weather this week.  It has turned cold and rainy and is so unusual for this time of year.  Last week it was in the 80’s and sunny.  This week it is in the low 60’s and rainy.  We have needed rain in Kyiv all summer so people aren’t complaining but this week was Irina’s wedding and we were all hoping for a nice day for her.  Thursday was a downpour all day with 30% chance of rain.  Friday was 80% chance of rain.  We considered  a day without rain – no matter how gray the sky – a miracle.  Well, we got our miracle.  It was pouring down rain all night and actually until about 9:30 AM or thirty minutes before the wedding.  And then it stopped.  And it wasn’t the most beautiful day but it wasn’t raining.  A miracle. 

When a couple gets married in Ukraine they have to go to one of several marriage halls.  Many years ago the soviets built these halls and wrote a ceremony similar to the orthodox church but leaving God out of it.  They did this to discourage people from getting married in a church.   They provide witnesses, flowers (artificial), photographers  and even the wedding march.  Everyone is required to get married in one of these marriage halls.  Documents are signed in front of the wedding party and rings are exchanged.  And then it is time for pictures.  Once you are out of the hall you have your own photographer.  Then everyone meets in a park or restaurant for food and celebrating.    And after the pictures the rain returned. 

Irina was a beautiful bride and Vlad was her handsome prince.    They were both radiant.  We are so happy for her.  One little thing about the rain.............there is a superstition in Ukraine that if it rains on your wedding day you will have many children.  

Quote for the week by Elder Boyd K. Packer.

"The ultimate end of all activity in the Church is to see a husband and his wife and their children happy at home, protected by the principles and laws of the gospel, sealed safely in the covenants of the everlasting priesthood. Husbands and wives should understand that their first calling—from which they will never be released—is to one another and then to their children."