Sunday- kinda looooong

February 7- Sunday – DAY 5
I woke up early (4:30) and couldn’t go back to sleep. So I spent the time catching up on this journal. It was great, I got all caught up and even got caught up on emails. But by the time I was tired again it was time to get up and get ready for church. So I started the day with a head ache.
The girls were very calm when we went to visit them. We played blocks. I helped A1 make block furniture for her barbies. Once again we were only there an hour to be able to be on time for church. But we all were having such a nice time we really didn’t want to leave.
Elijah fell asleep on the bus. Good! Now we can pay attention to church. But no such luck, he woke up just as we were taking our coats off at the church. I walked the “hall” (the main room is L shaped and two choices to take a loud baby is down the long part of the L or out where it is cold), looked through the past 3 months of the Liahona (“Jonas Smith” and “medicine- aries”—missionaries) and eventually took him out because he was being so loud. He finally calmed down enough for me to catch the last 5 minutes of Sunday school. By then my headache was so bad it made me sick to my stomach. My wonderful husband asked Sister Thatcher if she had some ibuprofen. She happened to have some Motrin. I took two and then I read the directions LOL. Take one tablet every 8-12 hours. Oops. Then further down: You may take 2 tablets on the first dose but don’t exceed 3 tablets in a 12 hour period. Whew! Keith was kind and took Elijah to Priesthood. In Relief Society I couldn’t figure out if it was the not-yet-quite- gone-headache was making me sleepy or if it was the medicine. I even nearly dropped the book I was holding. LOL (The lesson was on Elijah coming to Joseph Smith—I did read it, to help keep myself awake.)
By the time church was over my head was feeling better but I was feeling queasy. Again, not sure if it was the medicine or the fact that I hadn’t eaten. So we came home and had some bread and cheese before going to the orphanage.
We had a very nice visit at the orphanage. A2 was very good with Elijah. After he grabbed her sunglasses and I made him give them back (without her grabbing them back) she shared them with him. He even let her take his hand and walk him around to show everyone. She even carried him around for a while on her back. He liked that. Then A1 wanted to be in on the action, and he got on her back. She took him into the dining room / school room and let him get some squeaky toys. Made me a little nervous with them carrying him around but they were very careful with him. And he let them, surprise, surprise. He even used his nice words to tell A2 “please don’t do that,” once. We’ve been working on that. He did, however bite R. I didn’t catch what happened but I think she took something from him. Not that it is ok to bite, but it was good because I got to hold R and rock her until she stopped crying. And Elijah got put in time-out. Not necessarily a good thing but it brought out very compassionate behavior in A2, A1 and K. Kind of hard to discipline when everyone else is offering him toys and patting him on the head.  They really are good girls! R just needs a mom and dad to hold her. They all do, but she is still young enough to admit it.
The Thatchers invited us over for dinner after the orphanage. We didn’t know where they lived so at church we had an Elder write down what we could say to a taxi to get us there. Our first taxi ride by ourselves. Keith (I made him do it) went to the first taxi and said his little sentence. The taxi driver rambled on about something (we are assuming that it was “I can’t take you there” or “I don’t know where that is”) and got out and went to the next taxi, handed him the paper. Yes, he could take us there. We got in and he took us to a building. We paid him and got out, intending to call the Thatchers. They said they would come down and meet us. Well, this nice taxi driver waited and finally got out of the car. He walked us over to the door, waited until someone came out (it is keyed, or coded or locked somehow) held the door and ushered us in, speaking a mile a minute. We went in and called the Thatchers. LOL We couldn’t remember what floor they lived on. The missionaries were also there, they are planning a big open house. It is going to be a big deal; professional-looking flyers and even billboard ads, even radio and television ads. They are encouraging members to invite friends and acquaintances. It is going to be focused on family history.
Sister Thatcher made chili, salad and the most delicious corn bread ever, with banana cream pie for desert. She even let Elijah lick the bowls after the banana cream AND the whipped cream. “I need one of my boys here to lick the bowl.” They have 10 boys, or was it 11? They lost one at birth and I can’t remember if the one they lost would have been 11 or 12. You can tell she is a grandma and misses her grandkids. She spent a lot of time reading to and coloring with Elijah.
Once again we didn’t get home till nearly 10:00. Good company. Elder Thatcher asked Keith to give a 5-7 minute talk next week if we are here. Then felt bad and said “we didn’t invite you over for supper just to ask you to give a talk.” Keith said, “I’m grateful for both opportunities.” My sweet husband.
Elder Thatcher was going to walk us to show us where the bus stop is. Just as we were leaving, Keith put Elijah on his shoulders and he burst into tears. We have been battling a bit of a rash with him (something we are eating doesn’t agree with him) and I guess it got really bad. We didn’t have a diaper to change him so Keith held him carefully. Elder Thatcher helped us stop at a 24 hour Apteka- pharmacy to buy some ointment (Desitin- it is even written in English) because that is one of about 5 things that Mom didn’t get in the suitcase. Bad Mom! We soooo appreciate that as we would have had a very long, miserable night, without it.
Some of you have asked about the Cox’s. Things are still up in the air with them. However, their 20 days (that the guy has to actually file the appeal) ends on Tuesday (they think). Their facilitator talked to the judge and got the impression that the judge would throw out an appeal IF it were actually filed. So, if one isn’t filed they will be able to take their son home with them next week. If one is chances are the judge will throw it out and they will be able to take him home after the court hearing. Frustratingly long wait (they have been here for 2 months) but at least they will be able go home with their son. We talked with our facilitator about it and he has been facilitating for 10 years and this is the first appeal that he has ever heard about.

Random musings:
Colorful buildings- Washingtonians need to learn from the Ukrainians. To combat the drabness of the weather the Ukrainians paint their some of their buildings bright colors. It is nice to see bold color when even the air is murky. (disclaimer- admittedly the summer weather probably isn’t drab here and the Ukrainians probably don’t paint their buildings just because of the weather) Even insides are often painted brightly.

Riding the bus- Riding the small buses is an experience. Basically overgrown vans, the small busses cost 1.5 grivna to ride anywhere. Wait at the bus stop for your bus. Watch closely, because at any given time there could be 6-8 busses stopping at the same time. You pay when you get on. It is easiest if you have the money all ready before you get on so you don’t have to fumble in your purse for the fare while trying to hang on to a shifting, moving bus. Although natives have been known to pass fares up to the driver after sitting down. The bus driver multi-tasks well. He can drive, stop for the people crossing the street, notice the people standing who want to get off at the next stop, count out change for fares all at one time. And today I need to add change his sign (on the other side of the bus), answer a cell phone, and smoke a cigarette. He (I have yet to see a woman driver) can even navigate multi-directional traffic with inches to spare. So you are in good hands. But don’t get too comfortable… because you can’t. If you get to sit down, seats are so close together your knees touch the seat in front of you. If you have anything at all to carry bigger than a small purse—take a taxi. Windows are usually fogged so look carefully for your stop. If you have to stand chances are you have to sidle past people. Good thing you are pretty sure pickpocketing isn’t big here. Some person in your near vicinity will have strong perfume, alcohol or body odor. Make sure you stand up in plenty of time BEFORE your stop for the driver to notice that you want to get off. Don’t forget to use the handrails. Keep arms and legs inside at all times and enjoy your ride.

Furs- PETA people obviously never lived in this part of the world. Or would have a hayday if they ever make it here. Furs, faux and real, are everywhere. Coats, pants gloves and shoes are lined with the stuff if not made out of it. Of course, if I were the color of some of these animals I would want to be shot and put to a better cause. (disclaimer: no animals were hurt at any time during the filming of this musing)

Heat- Apparently, heat here is communal. Not sure if it is managed citywide, regionwide or countrywide. But it gets turned on all at the same time, sometime in mid-October and turned off sometime in mid- May, I think. If you are too hot, open a window. If you are too cold, put a sweater on. That is about all the control you have. Our landlady lit all the burners on her stove to help warm up one cold day. (disclaimer: no one was hurt during this musing)

It is taboo for girls to sit on anything cold and stone-like. “You will never have children”
(disclaimer: there could be some truth to this?!?!)

Prevent freezer burn. It is taboo for any skin to be showing when you are outside, besides your face, of course. Scarves, tights, hats (of any sort), and gloves are a necessity! (Discaimer: This one makes a whole lotta sense.)

Boots- If you are female in Ukraine it is mandatory to wear boots, with males it is optional but preferred. Old or young, big or little. Low boots, high boots, up on the thigh boots. High heeled, spiky boots, low, flat, sensible boots. Shiny boots, furry boots, even boots made to fool you into thinking they are shoes. Pick your own personal style but you gotta have boots. (disclaimer: maybe summer will be different?)

Elevators- Elevators here are microscopic. You can fit 4 people snuggly if one of them is a 2 year old. Any bags, packages or large purses will send a person walking… up the stairs. And the elevators only accept one command at a time. If you get in after the person living on the 9th floor you have to ride to the 9th floor or push the stop button and enter your floor. The 9th floor person would then have to re-enter his floor after you got off. (disclaimer: I haven’t been in most elevators here)

Disturbing sights:
Little two year old girl cries and cries and no one tries to comfort her
Said slittle girl won’t accept any comfort offered from a foreigner who can’t stand to see her crying go unnoticed
Orphanage boys playing with toy guns shooting each other- 70% of boys aging out of orphanages will turn to crime
Orphanage boys pointing toy guns at their temples and pulling the trigger—10% of children aging out of orphanages will commit suicide before their 18th birthday
Orphanage girls 8 and under wearing make-up and dressing in skimpy clothes—60% of girls aging out of orphanages turn to prostitution