M-Minus 17 - 2 July 16

It has been six months since we received our call to serve in the Kiev Ukraine mission. Our

friends have gone from "How long before you leave?" to "You still here?". We are definitely ready

to roll.

There have been pluses and minuses to the long advance notice, but the pluses outweigh the

minuses. Leaving home comes right on the heels of Andy's retirement from BYU. That took some

getting used to. A favorite cartoon shows a man entering his door and calling out to his startled

wife, "Honey, I'm officially retired. Now we can start enjoying each other's company all day, every

day!". The subtitle of the cartoon reads, "The World's Shortest Retirement". Spending more time

together than in the past takes some adjustment, so the longer lead time has been useful in that

way.

There have been more arrangements than we ever expected, which a shorter advance notice

would have made difficult. If you take anything stronger then aspirin, the arrangements for

obtaining an 18-month supply are complicated. For starters, you can't get all 18 months at once.

The visa and passport arrangements took some time. Arranging mail, bill payment, and home

maintenance took a lot of Marsha's time.

Another benefit of longer advance notice has been the chance to study not only the Russian

language but the fascinating culture and history of the Ukraine. In the West our views center on

our own part of the world and our very young (in comparison) nation. In contrast, the history of

the Ukraine goes back, back, and back, disappearing into a dim past inhabited by characters

and societies that captivate the imagination. Conquering armies have swept across the land and

its constantly-shifting borders, each one leaving behind its unique residue of customs, values,

and world views. A blend of all of these is what makes up the Ukraine today.

We can't wait to see the real thing now. Besides, our friends are beginning to wonder if we really intend to go.