So I finally made it and I am here in Ukraine!!!! It has been a crazy last few days for sure. I got some sleep on the plane but not much. I woke up an hour before we landed in Kyiv. At the airport we got off the plane on the runway and got on a bus that took us over to the terminal. We had to wait in line and show them our visas and stuff. Once we made it through there we all waited for our bags they took forever to get out. Everyone had their bags beside two elders, each of them were missing a bag. Well after that we walked through the airport and were met by the AP's, President Steinagal, and the mission driver. We went straight over the mission home and had a delicious dinner prepared by Sister Steinagal it was very good. Then it was off to the mission office. On the way to the mission office you could see the temple. It looked like the road led straight to it. The mission office is in the church building right next to the temple. The temple is beautiful. Well we went into the mission office and did something’s and then it was time to meet our trainers. We went into the chapel and all of the trainers were already sitting there. We all sat in the row in front of them. One by one we got up and shared our testimony in the language. After a new Elder would share their testimony their trainer would stand up. My trainer is Elder Stokes. He is from Kingston, Washington. He has been out on his mission about a year and has trained one other elder. He is the district leader. I think that his first name is Ethan. He has been in Odessa for only three weeks. Well after we met we went and took pictures in front of the temple. Then we had to run, we had a train to catch at 10:00. We walked over to the bus. We talked to some members at the bus stop that were going home from the temple. I even said a few words to them. The bus came and it was a little bit crammed. I noticed while I was on the bus that my nametag was missing. I had my clip on tag on my suit and it was gone. I said a little prayer that I would find it. After that the thought popped in my head that it could be on the step on the outside of the bus. And sure enough when I got off the bus I looked and it was laying there, what a miracle!!!! Another tender mercy of the Lord. Well we got off the bus and went on the metro to the train station the metro is a subway. We stopped at McDonalds and my companion got some food, I wasn’t hungry, I ate a lot at the president’s house. We got on the train we had a compartment. It was me and my companion and Elder Newsome and his new companion. Elder Newsome is serving in a city that is a little south of Odessa. It isn’t that far away from where I am. Well the train wasn’t that bad. I was pretty tired. It was an 8 hour train ride then at 6 in the morning we were in Odessa. We took a taxi to our apartment. Then we did some study and got on a bus and went to church. They have a church building and there are about 40 to 50 in the branch. They have some strong members and the President is great. I shared my testimony during sacrament meeting. Afterwards we went to Sunday school and priesthood. Then we had a little meeting after church and went back home and did some planning. Then we went out that night and handed out fliers for English class. I even passed some out. There are 12 missionaries in Odessa and 2 sisters. So I think 10 elders and 2 sisters. So I have had juice and it is amazing. It is really good. The kind I tried was thick. It almost tasted like a smoothie. I will take pictures of where I am living for next week. It has been a crazy last few days and I can’t believe that I am finally here. I am still a little jetlagged but all is well. I know this is where I am suppose to be. I miss you all and love you all. Odessa is pretty much 100% Russian speaking. I have been writing in my journal every day and will have a lot to share with you when I get home. Well sorry if I missed anyone’s questions but I am doing well and Odessa is neat. I love you all and thank you so much for that travel pillow mom. It is great and a lifesaver. Okay I have a few more moments it looks like. The church members are great here. My favorite person in the branch is this 12 or so year old boy. He is funny and was talking to me on Sunday and he would open the Hymn book to what song we were singing and pass it to me. He had suspenders on. There was a little boy too in a green suit and in the middle of sacrament he came up to me and asked me where I was from. it was funny. Okay I got to go. Oh yeah we are having a zone conference with 3 zones in L'viv here in a few weeks. I am excited for that. Anyway I love you!!!!!
Love Elder J
This is the group of missionaries that arrived in Ukraine with Elder Larimore.
This Chapel is next to the Temple, the mission office is located inside the building.
Here is the apartment. I will get one of the outside for next week. Here is the inside. It is pretty nice.
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