Some Special People We've Met in Ukraine

This couple (Garabed & Lena Kanadenian) came from Lebanon to be sealed in the Temple in November.  They had tried for two years to find a country with a temple that would allow them in to be sealed.  Ukraine, through what they felt was a miracle, finally gave them permission to come here.  I was her escort and Dad helped him during various ordinances.  It was wonderful to witness their sealing. Grace is such a precious little girl.  They are a beautiful family.  He is a branch president in Lebanon and they are the only couple in their branch and the only ones to be sealed in the temple.

Dad was proxy for this sister's husband who died a year ago.  He did his endowment work and then attended the sealing when she was sealed to him. Svetlana Andrevich is from Ekaterineburg, which is far, far east in Siberia.  She was so grateful to your dad and wanted to have a picture taken with him.

 

These are our ILP (International Language Program) girls from last fall/winter.  We loved getting to know them and having them in our apartment.  They came once a month and we had a special Thanksgiving dinner for them in December after they returned from their "forced" vacation--to keep up their visas. The young lady on the right is from Meridian, Idaho, and her mom went with them on a trip and came to lunch with them one Sunday.  That was fun.  They are (from left to right):

Holly Burnham (AZ), Marnie Stevens (Orem), Susan Bingham (Jerome, ID), and Taylor Bollwinkel.

Brother Ivanenko and his wife have quite a story of their joining the Church.  He was a Christian but his wife was a devout communist.  When they married she refused to let their children visit his parents because they taught the children Bible stories.  By the time they found and accepted the Gospel, the children were old enough that they would have nothing to do with it.  Sister Ivanenko says that is the biggest  regret
of her life. They are stalwarts in the Church here. They joined in 1992 and he was in the first temple presidency here with President Galbraith. He has been in most positions of leadership in the church in Ukraine.

This is one of the old instruments they played when they put on a concert for the temple missionaries.
Kind of a cool looking instrument, isn't it?!  It is called "bandura" we think.

These pictures are a bit old, but we have wanted you to see them.  The first picture was taken from our window one evening.  It was fun to see the sun setting.  It really is pretty here in winter!

We continue to have wonderful experiences in the temple that strengthen our testimonies and help us desire to be more worthy.  We hope to emulate these wonderful saints who sacrifice so much to be members of the church here.  They have so little by the world's standards, but feel greatly blessed.  They are dedicated, diligent and loving.  The Gospel is such a blessing in all of our lives.  We know the Savior lives, is our Redeemer and Savior.  We are more grateful each day for His Infinite Atonement.

We send our love to all of you and apologize that we are such poor correspondents!

Love,
Mom & Dad (aka Sister & Elder Hansen)