Couple Conference

This is the National Opera Center. We went to the Ballet "The Marriage of Figero" on Friday night while we were at the Couples Conference. They gave us the story ahead of time so that we would understand it. It was very enjoyable.
This is three brothers and their sister monument, depicting them coming into the area of Kiev. They were the founders of Kiev.
We visited the National Treasures and Miniatures Museum in Kiev and this is most of our group but not including those that are taking pictures
< /> A Monument of the Grand Prince Vladimir who announced one thousand three years ago that Christianity would be preached in the dominion over which he presided. He then caused the pagan images to be pulled down and destroyed and the gospel of Jesus Christ then spread from Kiev into what is now known as Russia. This is the place that Elder Packer dedicated the land of Ukraine to the preaching the Gospel, and to have Missionaries here to preach. This happened on the 12 of September 1991 in the early morning at 7:00 a.m. What a blessing it has been for these people. There is actually a Stake now in Kiev.
On the 15th of Oct. it was Patriots Day which is a celebration of their army. This is a picture of the Communist Party with their flags of the Hammer and Sickle to protest against the Patriots day. They are also surrounded by police to keep everything orderly. We were warned in an email to stay away from this area but didn't receive it until we returned from Kiev.

Couple Conference

We so enjoyed the Couples Conference in Kiev, Oct. 14th thru the 18th. We visited the new temple area there which was wonderful. Sister Luschin, the architect's wife explained a lot about it. He was gone from the area so we appreciated her taking his place. This is the new chapel which is finished and is very nice.
The end of the chapel
The temple in Kiev and the only one in Ukraine, which is being built just across from the chapel is coming along. This is as high as it will go but they will put the spire on it also and the angel Moroni. They are working diligently on it but hope it will be done by the early fall of 2010.
This is the Hotel next to the chapel and by the temple. It is coming along well but did not hear when they anticipate it being finished. People have to travel a long distance to attend the temple so it is nice to have some place to stay while they are here. Quite often they will want to spend 3 days doing temple work and then however time it takes to travel. Now they go to Frieburg, Germany and it takes a big week because it's so far.
One of the many churches we saw in Kiev.

Conference

This is the missionaries and us watching General Conference. See how diligent they are in taking notes. We all loved it. I was thinking that we are so blessed to be able to hear the Prophets voice unlike the the Ukranians who have to listen through a translator. I heard this when we were up to the church and they had the translating for them . I thought how sad as it says in John 10:4--And when he putteth forth his own sheep, he goeth before them, and the sheep follow him; for they know his voice." I'm sure they will recognize him from his fruits but how blessed we are.

Express Train

A few weeks ago we took this Express Train which is only one train, to Rivne to do apartment checks. It usually takes us 5 hours on bus and it only took us 3 hours on this train. The windows are big so you can see out the windows well. The seats are not soft but I took my travel pillow and sat on it. It only took us about 5 grevans more so we felt it was a deal. All in all it went very well.
This is a group of Y.M from the Sikhivskiy Branch. The blonde Elder in the back is Elder Kauffman and he is the Y.M. President and he asked if we could feed them and have an activity here so we did, it turned out pretty well.
This is our Elders and two from Lutsk, one of them and one of ours is leaving this night, Sat. night, for Bulgaria, to get their Visa's renewed so they are doing splits with ours. The two on this end are the ones leaving. We are in our office at home listening to Sat. morning conference. It's 7:00 on Sat. night. We gave them a little home made soup and then sent them on there way.