Off to the airport we go. We are so excited to be off on this new adventure. Upon arrival at the airport we are informed that our flight had been delayed. Not a big deal. We should have plenty of time on the other end. So off we go on our 2 1/2 hour flight to Minneapolis.
Our 777 that is taking us to Paris is HUGE. The pilot came out to the waiting area and talked to us a little bit about it. He was so excited to be flying it. He said it was the finest in the fleet. We were extra excited because for Mother's Day Brent bought us an upgrade for this 8 hour flight. It was so nice to not be so crowded.
We weren't the only ones who thought that an upgrade was a good idea. First we walked through 1st class... there was over 70 first class BED lounge compartments, We were in comfort plus and there must have been almost 250 of us in that section... then in the back was probably less than 150 in economy class. So, if my observations were correct there was more than twice as many people with upgrades on the plane than there were regular economy seats. THAT IS CRAZY!!
But it really doesn't matter if you have upgrades or not if the plane doesn't work!! We were told that the power was out in the Galley and they didn't want us to go 8 hours without eating, so they had us get off the plane and wait for 2 hours while they called in another twin plane and got it ready to go.
A little - on the side - When we walked into the boarding area in Minneapolis I got the distinct feeling that I had been here before. Then I realized that that was the exact gate that we had been at on a choir tour. It brought back a flood of memories of times with the choir. A tender mercy for today!!!
After over 3 hours of waiting we finally got off the ground and we on our way to Paris. It really was a lovely plane.
We arrived in Paris 40 minutes after our connection to Kiev had departed. It took a couple of hours to get reassigned, ride the shuttle to get to another part of the airport (that took 45 min all by it's self) so we could fly out on Ukrainian International Air - hoping that our luggage followed us from Air France to UIA.
And we are off... our first ON TIME flight of the day.... WAHOOOOO!
It was a relaxing flight and we got a row to ourselves and got to get a little sleep and finished the book I started in SLC.
WE ARE IN UKRAINE!!!
We ended up standing on the plane for 1/2 hour or so waiting for the shuttle to come pick us up. Passport check line was a little long, but not bad. So getting to luggage we expected them to be waiting for us.... but not so. We waited a bit and a few more from the flight came, then they were done. HMMM..... 4 large 50lb suitcases MIA.
Brent filled out all the paperwork, got the documentation done and almost 2 hours after landing headed out to see if we had a ride.
And there they were..... Our wonderful Temple President and his wife had waited and waited for us and were the smiling faces that made it all worthwhile. They are such sweet people and they set the tone for what is sure to be the most wonderful next 18 months.
Pres Roth took us for a walk around the temple grounds while Sr Roth whipped up some wonderful curry chicken for us. We were blessed to meet our trainers the Tomlinsons and they ate with us.
Our apartment for now is a few blocks away from the temple. It is a new apartment in a tall complex. The Temple missionary sisters set it up so nicely with even homemade cookies and muffins. Such sweet people. We are going to love this place and these people. I can just feel it.
Here is Elder Petersen with our apartment complex in the background. We are the 3rd building in - on the 2nd floor. It is about a 8-9 min walk to the temple, Walking is the way things are done here. Temple Missionaries don't have cars or bikes.... so it is our feet and the public transportation for us!! Here is what the small buses look like. We take them to access the metro and the subway.
Our first day out our phone registered over 14K steps. Today we had 8K before noon. I think I may get my 10K in without even trying!!!
We went to lunch with some of the temple missionaries and had our first experience with local flavor. It was absolutely yummy!! All of this plus dessert for 100 UAH which equals $3.65. I think I may be eating out a lot!!
We went to a large mall and store today to try and get some food and supplies to get us by until the luggage arrives and to stock up our apartment. It is one of the largest stores - maybe even larger than Costco- in the city and definitely looks different than the small shops outside.
I
It has lots of things that are the same as what we are used to, but then there are some that I have never seen before. For example.... Eggs. Lots of regular boxes of eggs. But, then there are these
I should have put something next to them for proportions, but I am guessing the spotted ones are quail eggs, they were 1/2 the size of a regular chicken egg. The ones in the basket must be ostrich, I can't think of any other bird that would have an egg that size. They were HUGE. I have been trying to think of something about that size to compare it to.... maybe a cantaloupe? a big one or maybe a small single size watermelon. Needless to say... they were big.
Mayonnaise heaven!! There was a whole row of mayo.... many different brands and flavors.... but they are in a bag!
Well, we have been here almost 48 hours. We still don't have our luggage, but we have rumors that they may be in Ukraine... so hopefully they are getting closer.
We have met most of the Temple missionaries that we will be working with. We have settled into the apartment. We have had some wonderful meals with great people. And tomorrow we get to start serving in the temple. We are so blessed.
God Bless
Бог благословил
Brent and Jan
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