I'm here! In Ukraine! I love it SO MUCH! I can't even describe the feeling of being here! At least not without a long reflective piece... which, of course, I will write, because I love that kind of thing!
Begin!
After nearly five days with maybe an hour or so of sleep each night, We landed in Austria, prepared to make the final leg of our journey to Ukraine. The weather was dreary, foggy and windy. We were surrounded by many Russian speakers. Some of the members of our traveling group were speaking very loudly in english, and they were attracting attention. I turned to one of my companions, and in Russian I whispere, "No more english! Don't speak in English! Not before we are in our homes in Ukraine!". He whispered back his agreement in Russian.
And, we boarded the small plane from the runway. Aboard, all the stewardesses spoke German, so I took the opportunity to speak with them a little in German. We soared above a vast see of white for a long time, the clouds appearing as if they were mountains of snow directly beneath us. It set in finally; we are almost in Ukraine.
The plane landed, and we exited the plane onto the runway. My first sight of Ukraine was of a soldier carrying an AK-47 close to his chest. His Russian smile seemed to say "Welcome to Ukraine."
And welcome I was. I could not describe my feelings upon seeing the flat ground which stretches in every direction here, the ground that is flatter than I have ever seen in my life. The only way to describe it would be to say that I felt as though I had been away from my home for longer than years could count, and I was finally returning. For this truely is a home to me now. I could not tell you how, or where, but I have seen all these places before now. I have seen these people hurrying in the streets and riding in the vans which serve as public transportation here. I have seen the trees which tower above me, and the ill-maintained buildings which tower over those. Truely, I have seen them before, but not known it somehow. Perhaps, only in my dreams.
I serve now in the city of Kherson, a place where the sea is nearby, colse enough to feel its infulence on life. This place calls out to my very soul in a way I do not understand. A way I cannot understand. I love this place and these people so dearly, yet I have only a limited ability to understand them, only a tiny glimpse into their hardships. Perhaps this is charity. Maybe the pure love of Christ, the Savior of the World, has found some place in my soul, a place where I can carry a small portion of it with me at all times. For the people of Ukraine, my very soul burns. All of my thought is bent on them. All of my time. Still, it is not enough.
Ok, that's good! That was nice! Cool, I dig it!
Anyway, the branch here is small. They are very understanding of my lack of language skills, and they do their best to help me learn. Sometimes. Sometimes, they forget that I don't speak Russian, or they forget just how little I understand. To hear a native speak Russian is entirely different to hearing an American speak Russian. You have to really, REALLY listen. Harder than you've ever listened before. Even doing that will only get you a few words here and there.
But, I will learn. With time, I will learn.
My companion is Elder Riddle, and this is his final transfer. He's been here 2 years already, so he speaks very well. With his help, and with the help of our branch president, who is a native Ukrainian missionary from Kiev, I will learn quite quickly.
Anyway, I hope this answers at least some questions you may have!
Good luck everyone!
No comments:
Post a Comment