Picnic in Chernivtsi

This is a very old castle that we pass each time we go on the train to Chernivtsi.
The Branch had a Picnic in this forest. We rode a Marshootka there, (all of us). It was a very hot day but it was cooler in the forest. The first thing they did was start to build a fire, I thought that was a little strange but then we found out we were doing tin foil dinners with ham and potatoes and onions. Then we had cucumbers and tomatoes and cookies. There were mosquitoes which none of us liked but we had fun with the big balloon, bubbles and other toys that our kids sent us at Christmas time. It was great.
Natasha is so funny, she served a mission and now she leads the music in church she is a wonderful seamstress also. they're all wonderful.

Zoyia has found some huge mushrooms. That's what the older women did as soon as they got there. They had a big bag full of mushrooms to take home.

The video is of a slug, it was HUGE. The next one just shows the surroundings. I think everyone had a good time.

Lviv and July 4th in Chernivtsi

Pretend this is on the bottom, I accidentally did something and deleted it. We walked down by the river in the evening on the 4th. This is where everyone goes to get away from the heat and have a good time. On down further there are also a lot of people but they are not shown.
We are at the place that we buy train tickets every week to go to Chernivtsi in Lviv. They won't sell them to us only 3 days from when you leave, so we try to get ours by Tue. morning so that we can get a full Koupa. However, that isn't always possible but we have only had one man with us and I talked to him about the gospel for about 1 1/2 hours plus his family and life. Elder Williams was on the top bunk so he pretty much stayed out of the conversation. He is the one that left his cell phone and I had to run him down to get it to him. I don't know what we would do without our Zone leaders and District Leaders. Elder Higgins and Elder Ward were always so happy to help us plus they helped others that didn't speak Ukrainian trying to get tickets. We sure miss Elder Higgins who went home.
When Elder Higgins left we took them all out to Dynamo Blues. Elder Higgins is by me and Sister Morton who just left to go home because of a family matter is in front of me. They're all such good missionaries.
On the 4th of July we went to this park in Chernivtsi where there were many booths advertising and we had our booth also because it was organized by our Branch clerk through his business. Elder Polyshuk and Elder Chamberlain are doing a good job keeping things going while the others are also out talking to people.
This is the walking street in Chernivtsi, it is a very nice street and the sidewalks are almost like tile. They claim it's the longest walking street in Ukraine. We ate our lunch in a restaurant where I am taking the picture.

Kiev Temple Damaged

We had a storm about a week ago and it also hit Kiev. It was raining and windy, thunder and lightening. The next day we received these picture from the Mission Office. The top one is the Mission Office and Chapel.
The side of the building which was wrapped up in metal.
It even blew this against the window of the Mission Office. I guess they came to work to see a big mess.
The steeple of the temple has lost about 4 levels. I suppose this will put the Dedication back a ways, but you never know, I think they were ahead of schedule away. You can go back on this blog where I posted it a couple of months ago and see the difference.

This video is in Lviv just behind our apartment building. We have to cross this road to get home. Elder Williams ventured across but I went to the left back up the street until I could find a place that it wasn't flooding which was a good block and a half, then crossed and walked around the block. We have really been having the storms lately just like home I hear.