The Ukrainian Bear

February 24th-March 2nd

Dear Family and Friends!

Well another week gone here in Ukraine! It was definetly another crazy week that I will never forget! Well first off, I am safe and everything is good with all the missionaries! I will be honest with you all, this week has been very difficult! Everyone here in Ukraine is very very worried about the country. It has been very difficult to do the Lord's work. It has taken lots of patience! It has been a major mind game. We continue to be sent inside then let out then back inside! It is just craziness! Well other than all the stuff with Ukraine, my week was pretty good!

On monday night, we had an awesome FHE with a family from the Ward. It was super fun! They are so awesome. The dad is the first counselor in the Bishopric.

So tuesday morning we woke up and headed do to Billa Tserkva! It is where I started my mission. They are in our zone so we went down to do exchanges with the Elders down there. So we got down there and headed to there district meeting! I then started an exchange with Elder Hancock. He is so awesome. He is in his 4th transfer. We had a couple of lessons with some members. It was so nice to see them and visit them! I love Billa so much and it was so nice to get away from crazy Kiev for a little and go to Billa. But while in Billa we did see a bunch of protestors outside a government building doing some crazy stuff but dont worry we got away as soon as possible!!!! haha.

Wednesday I went on another exchange in Billa with Elder Knighton! He is so cool. He only has about 6 months left on his mission! He actually started his mission in Billa then just returned there about 3 weeks ago to serve there again. It was fun to be with him down there. We had a few lessons and saw some members! Once againe it was so awesome to see the members! So we went to this one family that Elder Fisher and I used to go to like every week! They are the best! So we knock on the door and one of there little kids answers who is about 7 and sees me and freaks out! He runs up the stairs to his dad and is yelling "Grochmal is here, Grochmal is here!" It was so funny! Then the dad came down and it was so much fun to see him and get to talk about life a little with him!

So on thursday we traveled back to kiev in the afternoon after studies! We then had some lunch and set up so stuff then we got a call from President to go inside for the rest of the night!!!!!!!! We were so mad! haha.

Friday! Lockdown day number 5 or 6. haha. I forgot! But yah we had to stay home all day because it was not safe to be on the streets of Kiev!

On saturday we were able to go outside again! Yay! haha. We had english in the morning and then had a little meeting with our district to figure out some stuff with members! Then this guy walked in and started speaking english to us! He was from Germany! He was here visisting and is a member of the church! He came in and talked to us for a while and then said have you had luch yet? Lets go to lunch Elders! So he took us Elders out to lunch! It was so awesome! He was such a nice man! Then we went back to the church and BOOM a call from president to go home!!! So of course we listened to him and went home and spread the word to the zone who of course was not happy! haha.

Sunday we had church at a differenct building once again! The center building here in Kiev was shut door once again because of an incident that happened on saturday that we may or may not have seen..... welll church was just great. It was strange once again to go to a different ward but it was fun!

Well that is all for my week! It was another crazy one! Thanks everyone for looking after me and praying for me! I know that the Lord will protect his missionaries here in Ukraine no matter what happens! All we can do is just continue to pray and hope that things will be solved here! I love you all so much and hope that you all have another awesome week!

Love

Elder Grochmal