Cheryl and Natalie Outside Our Apartment
Psel River
Cemetary, Just Outside Sumy City Limits
Cemetary, Just Outside Sumy City Limits
Cemetary, Just Outside Sumy City Limits
Headstone - Mother of Nichole and Alex Hunter
Vera and her Husband
I was able to ask Vera about the grave markers with the crosses containing an ‘extra’ slanted cross below the traditional Christian cross. She indicated the bottom cross represents the Holy Ghost, so the complete Godhead is represented with the three pieces of the cross – God the Father, God the Son and God the Holy Ghost.
Grave Markers
Prior to our visit to the cemetery, we were able to stop by the flower market and pick up four beautiful, gigantic mums to place on the grave. Natalie indicated you only put an even number of flowers on a grave – which represents death, and that only an odd number of flowers are given to those who are living. Hence, a dozen roses is not the thing to give in Ukraine – nine or eleven, but not a dozen. After our visit to the cemetery, we went back to the flower market to pick up three bouquets of flowers to complement some of Roman’s gifts of chocolates to his female teachers.
Flower Market - After Cemetery Visit
Flower Market - After Cemetery Visit
Cheryl and Natalie at Flower Market - After Cemetery Visit
Flower Market - After Cemetary Visit
This evening at 5:00 pm, we went to the Orphanage to here a concert presented by Roman’s class (12 boys and 2 girls). This was a farewell concert on behalf or Roman – and to us, prior to our taking Roman from the orphanage. At first, Maria, his ‘mother teacher’ gave a little speech on behalf of Roman. Roman’s music teacher, Serge Mehilovich, then lead the group in singing some Ukrainian and Russian folks songs.
(Cheryl taking over while Calvin eats breakfast)
The children truly love singing and being a mother of two musically reluctant boys, I was amazed at the gusto he was able to produce in the boys. The songs were occasionally accompanied by a Ukrainian version of an accordion. It has buttons instead of a keyboard on his right hand side of the instrument. He said he tried to find one in America, but was unable. He is an amazing musician. He and another boy played a duet on a wooden wind instrument. It looked a lot like the recorders that we learned to play in jr high. He said it was the national instrument of Ukraine. They did a beautiful job and the young boy impressed me with all the little grace notes he added. Then the two lone girls of the group sang together. Their pitch was right on and their timing was excellent, you could tell that they loved to sing and had sung together often. One had a very bright tone to her voice, and the other had more of a dark tone. Both were very talented and very beautiful girls and with a little training could probably sing as well as anyone you hear on the radio today.
Ukrainians love music. Nadia is never without her MP3 player – listening to all her favorite songs. I told Natalie (our translator) that Nadia reminds me of the song "Ride a white horse to Banbury Cross, to see a fine lady upon a white horse. With rings on her fingers and bells on her toes, she shall have music wherever she goes."
Anyway, I digress! To return to the concert: After the children finished singing Roman presented Maria with flowers and a thank you note and a box of chocolates. Calvin got up and thanked Maria for all she had done for these boys. There is no way we could adequately thank this lady. She has done so much for so many with so little for soooo long. Seven years ago, things in the country were very difficult. Payment for government workers was delayed for half a year. Maria and others like her would still report to work every day – often with food for the children from their own gardens or kitchens. She has carried on in situations that would make Americans just throw up their hands in frustration. When we sat down with her I was amazed at the insight she had into handling Roman – who frankly can be quite difficult. I think any child psychologist would call her a prodigy. She intuitively handles these boys and the situations that arise with a lot of finesse and patience. I think wonderful spirits like Maria’s volunteered for these more difficult jobs before they came to earth because they are so full of love. We were all a little emotional during this farewell concert – except Roman who claims he never cries. We had a little talk about this with Roman later on. Calvin encouraged him to express any sadness he might have at leaving what has been his home for as long as he can remember. I don’t think he will because he takes quite a bit of pride in his stoicism, but at least he got the idea that Mom and Dad think feeling and expressing emotion appropriately is important. Actually that reminds me of a teaching moment we had with the missionaries. (This is kind of a flow of consciousness entry)
The elders were asking the children how they felt when they watched the video of the restoration of the church and the first vision. I looked at their blank expressions and realized that these children had never really been schooled to tune into their feelings. I stopped the discussion for a moment and explained this to the elders. I then had Natalie explain to them that during visits with the missionaries, it was important to take a moment and try to pay attention to what they were feeling. (Natalie is wonderful at this, by the way) I had just read that morning how the Lord had counseled Oliver Cowdery that he would speak to him in his mind and in his heart. We talked about how the Holy Ghost made us feel, and then I told them that the Lord expected them to use their heads also as they listen to the missionaries. The things we were saying would make sense to them logically, but if their hearts were open, it would also produce a happy, peaceful feeling inside of them. This has been an interesting experience for us on many levels.
As Calvin and I go through this we are finding our parenting skills already are being stretched. We try to look at the big picture and try to remember not to focus on producing excellent children, just focus on being excellent parents. We ultimately have no control over these children, but have all kinds of control over our parenting skills.
Maria also gave us some more awards and certificates which she had found that Roman had earned. She said she expected that they would probably be finding these still for quite some time. Apparently Roman was selected to go to Artek, which is a prestigious summer camp for children all over Ukraine. There are even crackers in the store called “Artek” that you can buy. It is an international school and she said that even children from Japan have gone to this camp. Natalie said that only one child in her whole schooling experience was selected to go. She said it was a dream of all the children in school. It has quite the reputation, and any Ukrainian you ask is familiar with it.
We are grateful for these experiences that have been provided for the children. Educationally speaking, we really couldn’t ask for any more. They have had a wonderful international type of education. (Nadia speaks fluent French from her years over there with a French family.) And Roman has had scouting experiences far and above anything we could provide him here in the states. The teachers don’t have very good facilities, but they are excellent, and probably even overqualified for these jobs.
In actuality, things on many levels here aren’t as bad as I had imagined. The food is simple, but nourishing, healthy and plentiful. The teachers and staff have a close relationship with the children, and the kids are truly family to one another. No single country has a lease on all things that are good, and I humbly recognized that the one thing we can provide these children, and the thing they want most of all is simply a family.
Two days ago, Nadia brought a friend to the apartment. They ate and talked and watched television and did the things that children typically do when they bring friends home. It was with a pang, that I realized this is the first time she has ever been able to bring a friend to her own place and introduce them to her parents. We in loving families take so much for granted. We all went out to pizza together – it was fun.
Concert
Maria - Roman's 'Mother Teacher'
Maria - Roman's 'Mother Teacher'
Vera and Nadia
Serge Mihilovich - Roman's Music Teacher
Concert
Concert
Concert
Concert
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