Huge Zone Conference

This week we had two Zones together for one Zone Conference. We had around 50 people here in Lviv. Pres, wanted to try it and see if we could cut down on traveling and time but we'll see if he does it again. This picture is out of the window of the church house. You can see the mistletoe hanging from the trees. It seems, as we've traveled, if it starts growing on one tree and there is a bunch of trees together, all of them get it on them.
Elder and Sister Thatcher are our newest couple that came for the Conference. Each of the couples, the Thatchers, the Hinckles and us provided cookies and brownies for the Conference. We also bought ice cream to go with it. The Zone leaders ordered pizza's for each one and they were happy.
The night before the conference we took the Hinckles and the Thatchers to Dynamo Blues, it's the only place we've found that has good steaks and pasta. The decor is in the 50's so we like it. See the records all over the walls.

This shows a few of the Elders and Sisters at our Zone Conference. Some of them had to get up at 2:30 in the morning to make it here so I'm not sure how productive it was. It was a great and wonderful Conference however. All of these Elders and Sisters are so dedicated.

Karina's wedding

Last Sat. one of the Elders called us in the morning to see if we were going to Karina's wedding, I don't know her husbands name, she has been investigating the church all summer and wanted to be baptized but they found out she wasn't married so she couldn't be baptized but they were going to get married anyway so here is the wedding party, just missionaries, no family. We knew she only wanted a small wedding so that's why we didn't plan on going but at 8:30 a.m. we were out the door. They have to be married in the government building, then they can be married in a church. She's the one holding the marriage license her husband to the left of her in the back.
It's different in Ukraine, they put their wedding bands on the right hand, they say that all the important things are done with the right hand.
The happy couple----, after the wedding we just walked out with them and they went on there way and Elder Williams and I went to eat some breakfast and the others had things they had to do. The Elders and us gave them flowers and the sisters gave them something we didn't see what it was. We haven't heard when she will be baptized yet but she was at church the next day. She's a sweetheart, and he says he doesn't mind if she come to church and is Baptized.
Our new district. Boy this is a lot of missionaries. but of course they're all wonderful. Left - right
Elder Adams from Washington, Elder File from California these two Elders have only been here for about two weeks in Ukraine, Elder Williams, Elder Burnham from Alaska, Elder Imagazi from Kazakhstan, Elder Rhodes California, Elder Perry from Utah, Sister Beletskya from Crimean, me and Sister Yashenkova from Russia. I hope I got some of those right. This is who will be at our Thanksgiving dinner.
Thought you might want to see the entrance of the wedding party. It was very nice but nothing like ours in the House of the Lord.

Elder Jacobs with Parents

Elder Jacobs sitting 3rd from the left, sitting next to his father served in Lviv I think, for 6 transfers and then he went to Kyiv. He is now released and his parents came to pick him up and they came back to Lviv for a visit. We are having a dinner with him and all of the missionaries at the Golden Boar. We tried to get in the day before but it was a 1 1/2 hour wait. Elder Williams had meetings and Linda Jacobs (his mother) wasn't feeling well.
On Sunday after going to church we decided to visit this cemetery. It was for the rich and famous and the veterans. This was where Ivan Franko is buried (famous man). He had a University named after him and also a town. Roman 2nd from right is the branch missionary leader in one of the branches. He had a very hard time when Elder Jacobs was transferred.
In front of the entrance of the cemetery. Lena, who had been on two mini-missions this summer and is 20 years old, I think, was with us and is taking the pictures. Linda is napping and Elder Williams stayed home to read. This cemetery is HUGE. If you click on this picture to make it bigger and look at the trees in the back there is some big round things growing on the trees, it's mistletoe.
On Sat. we walked to the top of the tower. 408 steps to see the city. Brother Jacobs said there were more steps than that. We then walked down center and went to the Opera House. They wanted to see it because there is one in Vienna that has the same architecture. They were in Vienna this year teaching. Pres. Yushchenko (Ukraines President) had been at the Opera House just moments before for a celebration, so they wouldn't let us in but a friend of mine and I had gone just two days before to make sure we could get in and so I, with Elder Jacobs translating, reminded the man of this and he said he remembered me so he let us in.
We had a wonderful weekend. They left Mon. night at 10:50 p.m. on the train and the youth always meet them at the train station when they go home and bid them farewell.

Elder Kauffman going home

Elder Kauffman the blonde sitting is leaving to go home. This RAPYO was written on this building just down the street from our church here in Lviv. He wanted a picture of it.
The Elders and the golden boar.
When ever an Elder leaves to go home we take them and the district out to lunch to the restaurant of their choice. He, Elder Kauffman wanted to go to the Golden Boar. This place has very good food and not expensive so they get a lot of business. Apparently, when the owner went into the basement when they were starting to remont (Ukrainian for remodel ) it they found all kinds of artifacts and this was one of them. I've put this restaurant on before but not of this boar.

Halloween in Rivne

As you can see I've got these small again, Elder Rhodes helped me.
We had to go to Rivne for apartment checks for the missionaries and while we were there they were having a Branch Halloween party. As you can see they were really getting into it. This is Looda (Lucy) in English. She is actually from Lutsk but just came for the party.
The missionaries and fellow investigating. They're all awesome.
There were actually about 40 people there so they felt that it was a good turn out. The full mask was the Branch Pres. We all live and learn.
The second counselor. He was a crack up the whole night. They even had a spook alley and a talent show. We had been up until 5:30 a.m. so we went back to the Hotel early.
Just another lovely church