Thinking of Thanksgiving!

Dear Family,



During 1941, a notice in the newspaper notified all the Jews in the Kiev area to report here, bringing with them all of their possessions. They incorrectly thought they were being sent back to Israel or a gehtto. Instead they were executed, told to go to the ravine and then shot. There are reports of 33,000 (documented) - 100,000 killed, according to inscription on base of monument. Then the bodies were covered with dirt and another group was executed on top. This was during the Stalin reign in Russia. What a great tragedy in the history of Ukraine!

"All [Jews] living in the city of Kiev and its vicinity are to report by 8 o'clock on the morning of Monday, September 29th, 1941, at the corner of Melnikovsky and Dokhturov Streets (near the cemetery). They are to take with them documents, money, valuables, as well as warm clothes, underwear, etc. Any [Jew] not carrying out this instruction and who is found elsewhere will be shot. Any civilian entering flats evacuated by [Jews] and stealing property will be shot." Copy of newspaper article and posters. This was supposedly in retaliation for some bombings that occured in Kiev after the Germans came in and the Russians had fled.



The monument errected to the memory of those that died.





This man came up to me while I was standing at the monument and told me that his grandfather had lost his life here.

We visited this area a couple of weeks ago - but wanted to share how careful of our freedoms and blessed our country has been so far. We need to willingly continue protecting those freedoms with which we have been blessed.

At this time of year our thoughts go to pondering about all of our blessings. So here goes the top 10 things we are thankful for:

10.Opportunities that we have in America

9.Freedoms that we enjoy in America - especially religious

8.Our ancestors that have dealt with things we will never haft to face because of their willingness to go before

7.This beautiful land/earth that we are blessed with

6.Everyone's good health - now stay that way

5.The increase faith and blessings that come by living and following the commandments

4.All of my extended family-including the 24 grandchildren, that they have blessed our lives with

3.All of our children - even the trials they gave us, notice I did not say give, they are now yours, we can only spoil them :)

2.Each other

1.Heavenly Father and His Son, our Savior, Jesus Christ

We will have Thanksgiving dinner here for our District and then go to Center for a evening with the Senior Couples. I need to make pumpkin pies so I guess I had better cut up this pumpkin and make the base for them. Oh, that was so long ago when I did things like that!

We did go to Odessa this past week. Rode the train down - interesting night of sleep. It was really a rough, swaying ride and we must have stopped at about 5 train stations during the trip. We survived which was the most important thing. Got in about 6:30 and went to the Church to hang out for Zone Conference to begin. Gave our presentations and that evening met with a Doctor, church member, and wife who had helped us make appointments to look at medical facilities the next day. They were a great couple , he was baptized during the first year of the church here.

The next day we went surveying medical and dental facilities. Found some good ones. That evening we had supper with Pres. and Sister Piper, Area Pres, Sister Lant and Sister Thompson who both had been in Ukraine to help with training of the local auxillaries. We had met them last week when they gave a fireside in Kiev but we enjoyed talking with them again.

We returned Saturday evening. Church on Sunday and this last evening the couple from downstairs were to come up for FHE with the missionaries. Unfortunately the husband had to work late and did not get here until the missionaries had to leave. We still watched Finding Happiness and had a small discussion. They are really good about reading the Bible and have a good basis. I don't know what will eventually happen but we are to play games at their home Friday night and go bowling on Saturday with them, oh, those bones, those aching bones.

Tonight we will teach English, tomorrow is a farewell supper for Sister Lee, Thurs. English again, Friday game night, Sat. bowling and RS VT meeting. Think that about does it for this week and then next week is Thanksgiving week! We do fit some medical help in there as it is needed. May you all have a great week is our prayer. Miss you all. Luv. M&D, GM&GP, J&J