On Sunday, October 15th, we traveled via a big bus to Kharkiv, the second largest city in Ukraine. It is three hours north and east of Dnepropetrovsk and most of they way it is just driving through the country. It could have been anywhere in the US until you saw a sign in Russian (and often in English as well – it was so interesting to see somewhere we had not been before. We have heard that going south is even different from this – perhaps sometime we will get to see that as well. Please asked what we thought of Kharkiv – well, what we saw from the bus is just fine. Also the Church building they have is very nice and much bigger than the one in Dnipro.
The missionaries were very well behaved – they had better have been as they had Sister Sullivan telling them how to behave and me reminding them before we got to Kharkiv and in fact when we got on the bus in Dnipro.
Here are some pictures I took on the drive up from the bus. The passengers sit very high above the driver so we could clearly see out the front window. Sorry they are a little blurry – it was raining and the bus ride was quite bumpy – bad roads abound.
Country side from front window.
From side window
Missionaries clustered in the back of the bus.
More countryside
The road goes on and on
Along the side of the road – lots of power lines
Dark fertile soil
I couldn’t get a clear picture but the sign points to the left to Kyiv and to the right to Kharkiv.
After passing the sign the traffic suddenly increased and continued to increase until we got to Kharkiv which is a very busy city.
And the same style buildings we have in Dnipro
Lots of traffic – here they often make their own lanes and their own rules.
I don’t know if you can read the back of this car but it clearly says “Mary Kay.” Mary Kay cosmetics are very popular here.
Once inside the Church Elder Bates began playing – he just went home this last week and he will be greatly missed as he can sit down and play anything – fortunately we have a couple of new missionaries ready to pick up where he left off. The Elder next to him is Elder Dinehart who is taking Elder Bates place as acting Branch President in on of our branches – he plays the violin and does so beautifully. He turned pages for Elder Bates.
Sister Busath and Sister Horne practicing the musical number they were going to sing a duet of “Come Thou Font of Every Blessing” and “If You Could Hie to Kolob” which was absolutely incredible – it had Elder Kearon in tears.
Before the meeting began we were told there would be a receiving line so we could all meet Elder Kearon, Elder Golden and Sister Golden. We were to tell them our names and where we were from.
Elder Morgenegg and I with Elder Kearon. He took our hands and thanked us for being there – he said of the thousands of seniors who could come on missions we would be great blessed for being there and that he was so grateful for our service – something he repeated several times and spoke of again later when he was talking to all the missionaries. He made us feel very special. Having him hold our hands was electrifying.
So as on Sunday the 15th this was our entire mission with President and Sister Sullivan, Elder and Sister Golden and Elder Kearon. Then on Tuesday seven of these fine missionaries went home and between Tuesday night and Wednesday afternoon fourteen more joined us.
After the meeting and a quick goodbye to all we reboarded the bus and headed back to Dnipro. We left at about 11:30 am and returned about 10:30 pm. It was a long day and by the time we took the tram and walked home it was after eleven pm – we were tired and glad the day was behind us. The memories are very special and the Spirit was so very strong.