The Ukrainian Bear

Dear Family and Friends!

Well this past week was one of the craziest weeks of my mission by far. I have had some crazy weeks but this was definitely one of the craziest! So I know that I will be skyping home tomorrow but I just want to give a quick over view of my week!

So you all already know that we have had the whole Donetsk mission here for the past month. It has been pretty crazy with them but it has been soooo amazing! So on tuesday we received news that all the missionaries from Donetsk were headed back to America to finish their missions there! It was decided by the church that they all leave because the number of missionaries here was just way too much!

So on wednesday we got word that they would all be leaving on friday morning! It was so crazy and such short notice. So my companion was leaving and so was one of the Assistants so for the past week I have been companions with Elder Knight who is one of the Assistants! It has been crazy. So on Thursday we had a big going away meeting with all the Donetsk missionaries and with President! It was really good. After that we had to take them all to the hotel where they would stay the night. There was 2 groups leaving friday morning. The first group left at 2 am and then the second group left at 3 am. So we went and dropped all of them off and then we had to go and deliver some luggage places and then we went back to the hotel. We got all them ready and sent away the 2 am people. Yes I didnt sleep at all. We then went with the 3 am group to the airport. We were at the airport helping them. It was madness. Trying to get 80 missionaries and all there luggage on their planes! So we helped them for a while and then we waited for another group of 4 missionaries to come and we helped them. So overall we were at the airport for like 6 hours. We finally got back to the temple site at around 12 in the afternoon and then headed home to finally get some sleep after a whole night of no sleep! It was one of the craziest nights ever!!!!!!

So on saturday we went to a baptism in the morning. It was for a man that is in my ward but was taught by the other Elders! It was such a cool baptism. After the baptism we had a lesson with a recent convert of Elder Knights! It was so cool cause the woman is deaf so we had a translator the whole time. So at night we got on a train and headed to a little village called Kodima! I have been there before for exchanges. So we got on the train at 10 and got into Kodima at about 2am. We went to the hotel and slept there.

So the reason we were there was for a baptism. Elder knight had taught a man when he served there a year ago and this man decided to be baptized and asked Elder Knight to come and do it. It is cool too cause when I went out there about 6 months ago we had a lesson with him. He didnt want to hear anything and was not interested at all. I remember thinking that he would never get baptized. But It is amazing how the Lord works! This man was prepared and so ready to be baptized yesterday. It was an amazing baptism down in a little like in the village. So at night we got on a train at 2 am and got into kiev at about 8am! It has been a crazy few days! Not much sleep! haha.

Well that is basically all for right now. I will found out my next comp probably tonight so I cant wait. I love you all! I hope you all have a great week! Also Happy Mother's Day to all you Mothers out there! Cant wait to skype tomorrow! Love you!

Love

Elder Grochmal