A young mataji named Bhaktin Julia had taken up the initiative to make all the necessary arrangements so we could conduct a Holy Name Retreat for the devotees of the Kiev yatra. She had attended one of our retreats a couple of years before and had concluded with great determination and enthusiasm: "This is exactly what we need for our Kiev devotees...."

On the 16th of August I took an overnight train to Odessa, with Vicka
and Acyuta Priya matajis as my assistants.

The brahmacaris from Odessa temple had strongly requested me to come for a
visit. It had been three years ago that I visited here last, and I remembered
how eager and appreciative they had been of our discussions on previous visits.

On my return to Kharkov on the 4th of August we happily welcomed
Yadubara Prabhu.  I had invited him to visit us for Janmastami and
Srila Prabhupada's appearance, and he had kindly accepted our invitation.

We  had one week to get ready for the festival  days.....

 

Arriving back in Kharkov/Ukraine on the 30th of July I took the overnight
train to Lugansk to visit the devotees for Balarama's Appearance.


Even though I am giving my main energy and attention to the Kharkov yatra,
I  had nevertheless decided to also visit every year a couple of other yatra's 
within Ukraine. As the saying goes: "A rolling stone doesn't gather any moss..." 
I am not quite willing to completely give up my aloof position as traveling
preacher simply to become part of one yatra..... Too easily overfamiliarity
sneaks in which affects any relationship in a negative way and thus spoils
our abilities to serve each other. It is a matter of finding the right balance....
Thus I felt it to be appropriate to spend one of the Vaisnava festivals
in another yatra.