More Journal entries:

1. "What can I say in parting - except that it is all about the people and God's love for them. I am thankful for the opportunity I have had to testify of the Savior and the restored gospel. The time on a mission I have had is very precious to me and I am grateful to you for your examples and desires to serve. Good luck and all the best in everything your do!"

2. "This is such a beautiful home! It seems like I've never left America a few days ago. Sister McQueen is a great cook and this apartment is so nice and warm. It's great to be here and feel of the McQueen's spirit. Thank you!"

3. "This is such an awesome place! I am so excited to work as hard as I can all the time for the Lord. This church is true. I love it and want to share it with everyone!"

4. "This is all still kind of weird for me. I can't wait to get started, but I still don't know what to expect. This has been a great experience so far, and I'm sure it'll get better. Can't wait!"

5. "I am just way excited to be here. I want to work hard and be the best missionary in this mission! I love the Ukraine and hope to help a lot of people!"

6. "Thank you so much for your hospitality. I have felt your kindness so much since I have been here. I want to do the best I can. I know that I am in the right place here. I can't wait to get to work. Thanks again."

7. "Thank you for your love and support. This will be a new experience for me of course. But it is one that I need. Thank you for serving us all Thanksgiving. Many in the district truly needed it. I am ready for this experience. Here I go! Thank you so much. It is good to know that you are here for your love and support."

8. "I just want to thank you for your love. All is well."

9. Some comments from some of the missionaries who were kicked out of Kharkov in Dec 1999.

"I was here."

"Having been cast from my area in Kharkov I slept my first and probably last night in the posch second spare room at presidents. Been a pleasure."

"I feel like a poor refugee."

"It's so nice to be here again! Good food, sleep and shower."

"I've got a cold and I've been deported. The work is still true. Enjoy!"

"Its been a pleasure to be a guest in the palace."

10. "The mission was great! I will never forget it. Only love works!"

11. "I am so happy to have served inUkraine! Keep working!"

12. "I've only been here a few hours but I already love Ukraine!"

13. "Wow, I wonder if I can do this? I'm not going home, and I've been here...well a long time. Elder _____ and Elder _____ love being in the office! I'm just tech support. Well for all you who read this know that I sat here and pondered deep thoughts. 'Hmm that was good food. I wonder what it means when the salads get mixed and you throw a brownie on top?' I guess we'll find out tonight after its had time to sit. Any other deep thoughts are also free of charge, just ask Elder _____ or write new office Elder!"

14. "2 years? I'm going home. I should probably write something profound and wise, maybe all the wisdom I've accumulated in two years of missionary work. All I can say is that its been real. I have seen the gospel change lives and felt the gospel change me. I am and will be eternally grateful to my Heavenly Father for the opportunity that I had to be a missionary in Ukraine. I love the missionaries, the members and the investigators. If you are interested, ask the president about my boils. Work hard. Be good. Live the gospel. Let the Lord change you. Smile."

15. "Its incredible to think that this time has already come. Its been a great two years, I'll remember them for the rest of my life. Its really neat to think how our Heavenly Father prepares the way for us. I know lots of lives have been touched, because the Lord has prepared the way so we met one another. This church is true. I know it. It's crazy to think of the growth in the understanding of the gospel, which has come to one through this work. I'm forever grateful to my Heavenly Father for this opportunity. Thank you President and Sister McQueen for your love, examples and everything. I feel very blessed to have had the opportunity to help you and be around you at the end of my mission and the beginning of yours. Thank you very much."

16. "Thank you, thank you, thank you for the opportunities you gave me. This mission is a gift from God. I will always be thankful for it. President, don't worry about me. I am in the church to stay and I will serve Him to the very end of all. This church is Christ's."

17. "May God bless you in your efforts to lead the church onward here. I dearly love this place and I know the day will come when wards and stakes shall dot the land. You've taught me and loved me and I want you to know I will be eternally grateful and I will be willing to help you in anyway you will ever need. The work here will go onward blossoming faster and faster as the missionaries get the spirit. I wish you the best in all you do."

We found an old journal that had some writings of missionaries coming and going from the mission and thoughts from other events. We thought it would be interesting to post them minus the name of the writer.

1. "Mexican Fiesta for the Donetsk Department of Religion.

It was a silly, sunny, chilly (sunny + chilly = silly) day and the refried beans were frying ... again. What kind are they anyway? Well, they cost 7 griven. And the fried rice was a bit sticky, but that's okay. Just for the record though you should know that last night at a small apartment in a very small kitchen on the outskirts of the city two Ukrainians and two Americans spent a good two to three hours chopping like mad. We are the foremost high volume salsa producers to be found. And then we need to give Sister Thatcher and Sister Nelson a big round of applause for making the tortillas. In general, this is an admirable food effort since yesterday a whole lot of Zone Leaders from all over the mission ate a bunch of something else that Sister McQueen also labored diligently to prepare. I might here add a quote from Sister Thatcher: 'After watching Sister McQueen for the last couple of days I've decided that I would rather serve on five missions that be a mission president's wife.' So now we are all waiting for these important folks to show up so we can impress them. "

2."Well, I'm not quite sure what to write so I will simply write my testimony. I know that God lives and that Jesus Christ is the Savior of the world. I know the Book of Mormon is true. Joseph Smith is a prophet. I am and will always be grateful to the Lord for the opportunity to serve in the Ukraine Donetsk Mission. Thank you President and Sister McQueen for your kindness and service. I know that your calling is inspired. I love the gospel and I love Ukraine."

3. "I just wanted to write that I loved my mission! Thanks for helping in making my mission a success for me!"

4. "Just like the rest I don't know what to write. I do know that this work is true. I know that the Lord loves everyone of us. Thanks for all you do for the missionaries. I love my mission! Thanks for being a part of it. I got nothing but love from all of you!"

5. "Today I ate really well and was warm!"

6. "Thanks for the marvelous food and comfort."

7. "Breakfast of Champions

This was to celebrate the end of a successful mission tour. One of the best weeks I have ever lived through. Sister McQueen once again bringing the magic that she creates in the kitchen. We love you more than you could ever know and are thankful for all you two do for all of us."

8. "I dont' know what to write but I'd like to say that I felt your intensity when you just got here. Keep that going, it's great. I had a great time serving here as a missionary. I hope you enjoy your service here as mission president and mission president's wife."

9. "I never thought the end would come so quickly! My mission has changed my life. I am very grateful for all that it has brought into my life. It was an amazing experience! I'd also like to thank you for being good role models for me. Keep it up."

10. "I love being a missionary! I loved serving here in Ukraine and with each and every elder I served with. Thank you so much for all the help you have given me. It's amazing how time works. I'm beginning to believe it doesn't even exist. I love my Savior Jesus Christ. I know the atonement changes lives. I love you both so very much."

11. "There just are no words to describe what a mission does for you, or should I say what a mission is. I'm so thankful that I made the decision to come on a mission. I love Ukraine! I never thought that time would go so fast. I know that this is the work of the Lord. There's nothing like serving a mission, at least nothing I've done up to this point. Thanks for everything."

12. "This country is on fire and I will be eternally grateful that the Lord has called me to this work and has opened my eyes with His spirit. His plan is perfect and I know all these callings and experiences that have come are commandments to grow, learn, teach and be humble. Besides if this work wasn't true we wold have destroyed it long ago. Your leadership is guided by our Savior Jesus Christ. Keep it going and bring eternal blessings to our brethren the Ukrainians. 'Through the atonement of Jesus Christ we can learn from our mistakes without being condemned by them - Marvin Ashton'"

Mariupol Members at Welfare Square

Sister Vinokurova was taking Brother Nikoli Dogadailo (I hope this is spelled correctly) on a tour of Welfare Square and they stopped by my office. They are both from Mariupol. Brat Nikoli was a member while we were there and he remembers all the fun we had at the Mariupol chapel dedication. Sister Vinokurova was baptized after we left and is now serving at the Temple Square mission but the sisters also take people on tours of Welfare Square.

Welfare Square Sister Missionaries

More Mallory

Soccer Star - Mallory

We arrived in Donetsk Ukraine ten years ago today

I’m having a hard time putting into words what I want to say about arriving in Ukraine ten years ago. I remember talking to one mission president and his wife who voiced the opinion that their mission was simply “the best of times and the worst of times.” Looking back I would have to say the same thing. The emotional swings were wild. The highs were extreme and the lows were excruciating.
For instance, walking out of our front door we would see all kinds of high priced cars and their drivers. Walking out of our back door we would separate our garbage and give sacks of edible garbage to the men and women sitting around our garbage cans and put our throw away garbage in the can. The disparity between what was happening in the front of our apartment and the back of our apartment was like night versus day. Men cleaning and polishing their big black cars out front while people were rummaging through household waste in the back was a sight I will always remember. I’ll never forget the sight of a lady eating our out dated yogurt the minute I handed her our bag of edible garbage.
We loved watching obedient missionaries fulfill their callings as branch presidents, zone leaders, trainers, assistants to the president, and office elders. We shared the joy of their successes with them. We anguished with the few who chose a different and more difficult path.
We were heart broken when Elder Pixton passed away and uplifted by the strength and compassion shown by numerous elders who were wise beyond their years.
We loved watching new converts embrace the church and questioned why so many seemingly good members decided to search for some other religion.
It was humorous, often difficult, but mostly fun dealing with - toilets or lack thereof, smelly white shirts, worn out shoes, nylons, ugly ties, belated confessions, companionship issues, fights, off limit establishments (Three Fat Guys), the area presidency, missionaries who worried too much and those who didn’t worry at all and should have, back waxing, eating on the street or in members homes, branch problems, Banyas, elder and sister exchanges or district meetings each day with the sisters and elders (just having lunch together - early on), upper respiratory illness, diarrhea (Dr. Nelson talked at length one evening with us and the office elders concerning the consistency of fecal matter. It was one of the most interesting conversations we had and very enlightening), money, transfers, registration, the ministers of religion in each city, the minister of state security in Donetsk, police - especially in Kharkov and those who stopped me for various and sundry traffic offenses, Kiev Service Center, acquiring the Crimea, acquiring land for chapels, Russian language, hotel clerks (some really nice others not so pleasant), restaurants (the best in Kharkov, Dneper and Donetsk), homesickness, Christmas and Mother’s Day calls, vodka as our window washing fluid in our car, Slavanagorsk, Golovach, English Classes, McDonalds, zone conferences, district conferences, branch meetings, branch socials, YM/YW issues and outings, General Authorities, Apostles, Auxiliary Presidents, Ford Taraus, VW car, trains, airplanes, drive to Lygansk from Donetsk (3 hours one way), drive to Kharkov from Donetsk (5 hours one way), drive to Cymi from Donetsk (8 hours one way), drive to Poltava from Donetsk (six hours), drive to Dneper from Donetsk (four hours one way), drive to Zap from Donetsk (three hours one way), drive to Mariupol from Donetsk (two hours one way), drive to Kherson from Donetsk (7 hours one way), drive to Crimea from Donetsk (eight hours one way), drive from Crimea to Cymi (eight hours one way), driving with the assistants, driving with the office elders, driving in the snow, driving while extremely cold, bathroom stops at Izum, outdoor comfort stops on the way to Dneper, Crimea, Lygansk, Cymi (Sue was a trooper), Renok stops to hand out Books of Mormon, stops to see horses, trips to Yalta.
We were sustained and rejuvenated by testimony meetings at the end of each zone conference, loving missionaries, and wonderful members. “Holy days” as mentioned by President Yudin were when old missionaries left and new missionaries arrived. We loved that period of time in the month when we said goodbye to those who had served faithfully and said Hell-o to the new missionaries we would be serving with for a season - awesome testimony meetings with both groups.
We preferred missionaries to arrive by train not by airplane. The train ride from Kiev to Donetsk was an experience that everyone needed to have to get themselves in the proper frame of mind for the mission field and Ukraine. The train is so Ukrainian and the plane so American.
We loved feeding missionaries and members. We loved watching newly arrived missionaries eat the Ukrainian arrival meal, we loved watching zone leaders pile their plates high with goodies during our lunch break, we loved talking about the mission experience during our final meal together before getting you on the train out of country. We loved hosting members and feeding them at our home and at Kievsky Chapel.
We tried to make Holidays a little special but in all honesty they weren’t very important to me. Celebrate and get back to work was what was important. We did like some of our Thanksgiving and Christmas meals and zone conferences.
I really want to see – a dog with only three legs, a lop sided bus, a village well, a sunflower field, Slavanagorsk, Izum, a Renok, McDonalds in Cymi, a huge snow storm, heavy rain storm, fog/smog in Mariupol and Donetsk, Center Renok Donetsk, my office, Golovach, faithful members, Dneper river, the lake behind our apartment.
I miss – the spirit, zone conferences, making missionaries senior companions, the Ukrainian office staff, the member ladies who prepared our missionary dinners and cleaned our apartment and made Sue’s dresses (I still think she looks the best in these dresses), nice people in our hotels, our waiters in Kharkov (Norma’s) and Dneper (the Chinese place) and the Moscow hotel in Simferopol, cold air blowing through our open bedroom window during the cold winter nights, an air conditioner in every room during the summer time in our apartment, tomatoes, McFresh, juices, calling Sue Sister McQueen, being called “Prez”, badminton courts, BBC, mud, rain, snow, all kinds of weather, meeting trains, smell of coal, hearing the sacrament prayer in Russian, “Called to Serve “ on my cell phone, driving, heated car seats in the VW, dark- rich-rock free soil, the church rentals in Mariupol and Lygansk, the Chess building in Poltava, the Airport Building in Cymi, interviews in our hotels, interviews at the office, walking interviews, missionaries being honest with me about their problems, solving problems, ballets and opera (just kidding), the senior couples, the missionaries who impressed me the most, the missionaries who worked the hardest, the missionaries who did the best they could with what they had been given, the missionaries who didn’t want to be there but completed their missions anyway, the missionaries who told us they would never had survived their missions if we hadn’t have been the mission parents, depending on my wife (together we made a fairly good person)(Elder Callister mentioned that “you two are like a cello played with the same bow” because we supported each other so much), being obedient, being 100% duty bound to do what was right regardless of the consequences, sleeping in the same room and also the same bed with my companion while on our mission (the only mission rule we broke every night), Ukrainian District Presidents , Branch Presidents and other leaders, giving talks, telling stories, being a cheerleader, making people think and act, having Sue lead me around so I didn’t have to observe some of the more revealing fashions in Donetsk (She did tell me to look at one women whose chest looked like two cats were having a fight within her blouse as she moved down the street), wonderful members who tried their best to live their new religion,
Significant Visits:
Elder Eyring
Elder Oaks
Elder Holland
Sister Menlove
Sister Smoot – Sisters in Donetsk went all out to help her and made her feel so welcome. We had her an entire day so we went from chapel to chapel showing her Relief Society projects and she got to meet almost every sister in Donetsk and surrounding areas.
Area Presidency:
Elder Didier
Elder Paul
Elder Hancock
Elder Callister
Elder Hilbig
Elder Orton
Elder Authority Seventy:
Elder Schutze
Elder Manzhos