Fall Comes To Ukraine

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This week was a great week in Kiev! 

Fall has hit - and hit hard! Seasons here change overnight. Friday was hot and humid and when we woke up on Saturday it was cold and rainy and the leaves were falling! The rain hasn't stopped yet but I actually love it. 

I had my first exchange on Thursday! I went to Kharkivsky with Sister Soucie our STL. We went to a member lunch which was very exciting because the missionaries don't get fed very often in our area. I was actually worried because it was the first experience on my mission where I couldn't finish all of the food on my plate and she just kept giving us more. Just when we thought we were done she brought out a giant bundt cake. And then candy. Wow. I was full. 

That night we got to visit Valentyna, a friend of my parents from way back in their Cambridge days! It was so cool to meet her and her awesome family! They gave us ice cream and cookies and juice and Sasha (their son) put spider gummies on the ice cream as our "surprise." They were so awesome and it was like a having a little piece of home! 

Saturday was the ward picnic. It was so fun! The Elders were asked to dress up like pirates and take the kids on a treasure hunt. Their costumes were so good and Sister king and I were jealous that we weren't asked to dress up (haha). We lead the children's march to scare away the evil spirits on the way to get the treasure. It was hilarious. There was a lot of pizza (yay) and fruit and candy so we didn't leave hungry. 

We met with Ksenya again and she is doing really well! She committed to read the Book of Mormon and pray every night. She has such a strong desire to know the truth. 

Such an amazing week! Love you all! 

Cectpa Daines 

Sister King and I at the ward picnic 

Elder Mangum and Elder Nye and their awesome costumes 

Valentyna and her family  

Sister Soucie and our spider ice cream  

Grocery shopping in Ukraine 

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