Sunday July 25, 2010

We just returned from church in Simferopol.  What an incredibly small world.  I met a patient of mine whose teeth I had cleaned in my office in January!  She is from Springville and had served as a missionary in Ukraine and then returned to stay with a Ukrainian companion to tour around and see the sites.  It was fun!  We also took photos of the American missionaries and took their mother’s numbers so I can call them. They’re all so cute!  Made me miss my dear missionary son!  I hope he is as happy and well as these Elders appear to be.  There was also an Elder who served in Donetsk with Noel Ellison.  He taught gospel doctrine class and is darling.

It was so wonderful listening (through our very excellent translator, Sasha) to the testimonies of the dear Saints in Ukraine.  Technically, this is the Autonomous Republic of Crimea and for all intents and purposes, seems more Russian in culture – I really don’t get it but I think it’s kind of like our Indian tribes where they still need to keep all the laws of Ukraine but can add on or be more restrictive. (Sorry, little side trip there.)  

These members here are a miracle – each and every one! I think that the Lord has hidden some of his most choice spirits in this “nethermost part of the vineyard.” I can’t believe what they have to overcome in a cultural way to even be open to the Spirit. This is not a “believing” culture and religion holds very little value for most of them.  In fact, many have been raised to scorn it or be suspicious of it, or believe that it’s for weaklings.  How they have remained so spiritually sensitive is mystery to me. It renews my faith!

Even through a translator I received inspiration for what’s going on in my life today.  We all need church and it felt renewing and spiritually invigorating to take the sacrament and reflect on things.  Jacob 5 seems to be a recurring theme that has come up again and again to us recently. It was exactly where we left off as a family in our Book of Mormon reading when we came here. We also keep bumping into it in our scripture study here in Ukraine. We gave each other a meaningful look when a sister at church expounded on it in her talk. It was a tender mercy with a strong message that speaks of our own personal mission here in Ukraine.

We had to get up at 5:30 and take a sweaty, squished two-hour bus ride to church and then an even sweatier, squished two-hour bus ride back. I guess it was our nod to Pioneer Day. But, all is well, we made it back to the apartment. We were so impressed the way Anastasia got us home from Simferopol. The bus station is the central connecting hub for all of Crimea, and very, very busy. She was able to negotiate things and get us from the church to a bus stop, then to the central hub, purchase the tickets, help us order lunch and find the cab ride to our apartment. Frankly, she’s a smarter cookie than I thought we were getting. We loved her when we didn’t know she was so bright, but this is like a bonus! 

 The McDonalds right by the bus station.  Note the crowds.  No we have not yet eaten at Micky Dees - yeah!