Musings

Faith and a little TLC

2011-07-11T16:34:00.000-07:00

Faith, a friend from PA, came here for 6 weeks to help with summer activities. We worked hard on getting ready for youth camp, but got rained out, so that is postponed until August. A TLC team was to help with youth camp, but instead had to work on plans for VBSs and children’s church. Even though youth camp was a wash (pun intended), we still had a great week hosting a lock-in, making apricot jam, going to Odessa, cleaning, cooking, planning.... It was really great to have them here! The TLC team has already gone back to the US, and Faith will be leaving in a couple of short weeks. =( Sadness!

This summer, in addition to youth camp, I plan to lead 2 VBSs. Please pray that they will not be just ‘programs’ but that they will impact childrens’ lives!

Buses, Trains, & Passport Stamps

2011-06-06T00:29:00.000-07:00

I needed to cross the Ukrainian border so that my documents would all be in order so I left on the train Thursday evening, traveled all night to L'vov. The train cars have berths and I was able to sleep, except for a few times when the jostling of the rails became a little too rough! When I arrived in L'vov, I had to wait 2 hours for a bus, so I made a quick dash to a couple of scenic spots in the city.

Returning to the bus station, I got on a bus with a driver who wasn't speaking Russian at all, and had such an accent in Ukrainian that I really didn't understand a word! The trip to Uzjgorod was 6 hours long. This was the kind of bus that stops in every tiny village and the people who get on and off smell like milk, hay, and, ahem... other farm smells. I was very thankful I had a seat, because the driver just kept packing people in. In fact, a few times he had to get out, go around and shut the door because the people inside couldn't get it shut. Once he even pushed on a rather large older lady's behind with one hand, to get her inside, and quickly slammed the door with the other hand! I was very glad when I finally arrived in Uzjgorod and to the Boyd's home. From there, after a good sleep and a nice visit, the next morning, I got on another bus to the last city in Ukraine before Hungary.

I had to go through passport control, and I had been in Ukraine 92 days, so I had to go with the lady to a back room for a conference. Even though I have a visa that is open for 5 years, if I don't do registration, I have to leave the country ever 90 days. The room had a large conference table and there were several soldiers and border officials sitting around the table, and I was the center of attention. If I hadn't been so stressed, I might have sung a song for them, but they already looked a little irritated so I didn't think singing would help. The passport control lady said, "You are going to have to pay a fine." So, I waited. Then she came to me and said, "Since this is your first time, and it is only 2 days over, we can just write an explanation, so you won't have to pay the fine." After signing several pages, they shooed me out to a 2-car train that was waiting on me to head across the border to Zahon, Hungary, happy to be sending this American problem somewhere else.

It was only about 15 minutes before we arrived in Zahon. I wanted to see some of the town quickly before heading back to Ukraine, but all the stores were already closed and there was no one out on the streets, so I headed back to the train station, to get on the next train back into Ukraine. On entering the station on the Ukrainian side, I came to the same passport official, wouldn't you know! She smiled and said, "You came back already?" "Yes," I answered. The she said, "You just went across the border so you could come back to Ukraine for 3 months?" "Yes," I answered. Another passport official standing there, nodded to the closed room where I had been taken before and said, "Should I tell them?" The first lady looked at me and smiled and said, "Why?" and stamped my passport! Woo-hoo! Legal for 90 more days! No encore performance in the conference room!

I headed back to Uzjgorod and got there 20 minutes before the train left for Odessa. I bought a ticket and spent Saturday night and most of the day Sunday swinging to the rythm of the rails heading home. From Odessa, another bus ride to Mykolayiv, then changed buses and got on one to Nova Odessa. I was probably never more happy to see a bus stop in my life than I was to see the one across from my house last night! Three days of traveling in all sorts of situations just to get a little stamp in my passport! Oh, the joys of being a foreigner!

Back to Ukraine

2010-12-14T12:15:00.000-08:00

Hello from sunny, ok... not so sunny, Ukraine! I arrived in Kyiv late Sunday night, and on Monday made the trip from there to Nova Odessa with the Drummond family who had come up to meet me.

For those of you who have kept up with my blog from the beginning, you may remember a Ukrainian family that helped me during my first months in Ukraine. Over a year ago, they immigrated to Sacramento, and I had the privilege of visiting them for a couple of days on my way out of the country. The suburb, where they live, has many Ukrainian and Russian immigrants. I spoke Russian, went to Russian stores, and just generally felt like I was already in Ukraine!

The day I left Sacramento, my flight to LA was delayed almost 5 hours because they had to change a tire on the plane. When we finally arrived in LA, my flight to Moscow had already left, so I was booked on a flight the next day. The airline gave me hotel and meal vouchers, so without further ado, I hopped a shuttle to the hotel. On the way there, I called a friend of mine from college, who lives in LA, and she came over, and that made the delay much nicer! Staying up and talking half the night was great fun, but I'm not too sure how smart it was when I was facing 15 hours of flying time the next day! Oh well, I never claimed to be a genius!
The next day, I heading to the ticket counter at 3 in the afternoon, for a flight that left at 7 that evening. The airline had told me the night before that I needed to get there extra early. It was a good thing I did. I spent the next several hours arguing with and running back and forth between the 2 airline ticket counters in 2 terminals. United (my flight to LA) booked me on a flight with Aeroflot, my flight to Moscow. However, Aeroflot was unhappy and wanted United to pay for a new ticket. United said we won't pay for a new ticket because they got me to my destination and 'fullfilled their responsibility.' They finally gave me a document that said, essentially, that it was their fault I missed my first flight. Aeroflot didn't want to accept that, so I had to argue with them about it. At 6 PM, one hour before my flight, I still didn't have a ticket! In all of this, I had been talking, dashing about, worrying, talking to a manager, answering questions, calling customer service, etc, and I hadn't prayed about it. I looked at the clock, bowed my head while I was waiting and told God that I was surrendered to His will. I told Him that it was in his hands if I got on the flight or not. I felt myself relax, and about 2 minutes later the supervisor came out and told me that I was all set, and printed out my boarding passes. If only I had prayed sooner! After rushing through security, and running to the gate, I made it just in time! Praise God for answering prayers!

When I arrived at my house, I found it scrubbed and polished, with welcome home gifts and signs. It feels good to be missed! At this point, I'm trying to get into a routine. So far, most of my time has been spent calling on friends and the young people. One good friend informed me that I am now Ukrainian, not American, and as such, cannot leave Ukraine ever again! ;-) Pictures to come soon!

With eternal hope for Ukraine....

Update Coming

2010-10-19T20:29:00.000-07:00

I know it has been a long time since I posted, but an update is coming soon. I promise!! I am working on getting a new visa, and hoping to be back in Ukraine in a few weeks!!

That’s Life--August Newsletter

2010-09-05T20:24:00.000-07:00

As most of you know, I’ve been in Ukraine now for 2.5 years. A lot of life has happened in the past couple years. You’ve heard the phrase “that’s life”? It is a popular phrase in Russian, and I agree with it. There are a lot of times that I’ve felt overwhelmed and remembered that it’s just life.

Last year I broke my leg, and my mom couldn’t be one up on me, so in January she broke hers. My aunt helped her for several months, and after she started to walk, it broke again because it wasn’t healed properly. So, in July she had another operation and they put a rod in her leg. She has been in a nursing home for rehab since that time. I returned to the U.S. to help take care of her and my handicapped brother. My aunt was still willing to help, but she was tired, and I felt my responsibility weighing on me. My mom will be in a wheelchair at least until the first of October, and I plan to stay here until she is managing on her own. At that point, I would love to return to Ukraine, if possible. For now, I need to take care of my family. That’s life.

Hope
‘Natasha’s’ is 9yrs old. Natasha is a poor student, but can’t blame her. Her parents are alcoholics, and her dad beats her and mom. She goes with mom to bar and sits until mom is drunk, so she can walk her home. A life like her parents is all she foresees….Does it look like she has any hope? There is hope in Jesus, but how can you show people in those kinds of situations this elusive thing called ‘hope’? All too often, it is easy for us to simply say, “That’s life.”

Love
We can show hope by love. If we love people and show Christ’s love, we can give them hope. If we have a burden for people, we will love them. Sometimes He gives us hard people to love. Some of the people in my life seem so hopelessly lost, yet I have so much love for them. Who did Christ love, and who did he criticize? Do we as a church have that kind of love for people? We have a commission to reach the lost and hurting in the world around us, and in the world across the sea, and in all parts of the earth. Do we see them as hurting children; do we love them? And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing. There are times when I feel overwhelmed and discouraged. There are times when I feel like I’m being taken advantage of. In my humanness, I don’t like that. I start to feel frustrated, and impatient. And in those times I have to pray, “God, give me love. I’m not feeling very loving. This person hurt me. This person criticized me. This person just frustrates me. I don’t feel like loving today. Please give me love. So fill me with Your love, that I can show hope to the hurting around me, so that they may have faith in You. Help me to see through Your compassionate eyes, and not to simply say ‘That‘s life.’”

I Corinthians 13
2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing.
3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.
13 And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love.

Youth Camp 2010

2010-07-21T05:37:00.000-07:00

Our youth camp was July 5-10. It was a good week, but hot, and on the last day it poured rain, so it made getting back to pavement somewhat of a challenge!

Pavement at last!!

Kid's Club Ulanivka

2010-06-07T07:29:00.000-07:00

Every other week at children's service in Ulanivka we seem to have a couple more kids. This week we had 19. Praise the Lord! School is finished now, except for exams, so the children in the village really look forward to Kid's Club. Last week, our memory verse game was to hunt for the words to the verse, and put it together. These are a few pictures of the hunt.

Chisinau, Moldova

2010-06-07T07:21:00.000-07:00

I can hardly believe it, but my time to cross the border of Ukraine was up again last week. I took a quick two-day jaunt to Moldova, so I'm legal again for three more months! I went to the capital city, Chisinau, which was nice, but really didn't seem much different from Ukraine.

A beautiful park in the city center, my favorite place.In the middle of a field, there was a drive-up rack and a man was working on his car. A little grandma who was crossing the Ukrainian/Moldovan border on foot.

Odzere Lubvee

2010-06-07T07:18:00.000-07:00

One night some teens and I went exploring and found Love Lake, a small heart-shaped lake in the middle of nowhere. It was a beautiful evening!

May 9th

2010-06-07T07:04:00.001-07:00

May 9th is a big holiday in Ukraine. Here are a few pictures from the celebration in Mykolayiv. The celebration included...

decorated war ships

parachutists

and actors as statues, among other things.

Letter from a Child

2010-05-20T01:38:00.000-07:00

I recently received some letters from a children’s Sunday school class in Oklahoma. The following letter completely made my day!

We are learning about who obeys God and who does not. Steven obeyed God and he got killed for it. I hope you obey God?

Hmmm. What exactly is she saying…. ;~)

Ulanivka Kid's Club

2010-05-09T14:31:00.000-07:00

After a long, cold winter, it’s nice to be sitting in the sunshine! The garden is growing, tulips are blooming, the scent of lilacs is in the air, and kids are picking bouquets of dandelions. Life is good! In the sleepy village of Ulanivka, the large gardens are all planted, baby goats play near the road, and chicks and goslings are in little pens in the warm sunshine. This village has 2 long streets, with 3 smaller cross streets, 2 tiny stores, and a small school with class sizes ranging from 3-12 students. This village was closed for part of the winter due to impassable roads. For quite awhile, the once-daily bus didn’t even run. During the winter, I tried to go there as often as I could for a service, but there were 2 full months that the roads were too treacherous. Now that spring has arrived, roads are rough, yet passable and the village has come alive.

For several months I have felt this village on my heart, and I have wanted to start a twice monthly children’s service there. I go there for an adult service anyway, and I’d like to make my time there more productive. Until this month, it has never worked out. The weather has been too bad or I haven’t had a translator, and before the Drummonds came back, I didn’t feel like I could add another thing to my already full plate. Last week, however, after the adult service, I had my first Kid’s Club there! A teen who has translated a lot for me this past year, Dima, said that he could go with me on Thursdays and translate, and before I left Nova Odessa to drive the 40 minutes to the village, I had 4 others who wanted to go along and help.

So, after the adult service, my teen helpers and I walked all over the village, rounding up children for a service. There were quite a few places where I knew children, and the rest of the time, we stopped if we saw children playing or saw their clothes hanging on the line. As we walked back, en masse, we had 13 kids, with the promise of more next time. A couple of grandmas came to check it out too. One babushka told me about the 2 kids who live with her. They are not her grandkids, but she took them in. Their mom is an alcoholic who basically dumped them in the village and disappeared. With tears in her eyes she asked me, “Will God punish a mother who does that?” She came to check out our service and make sure we wouldn’t beat the kids or steal them away, and she asked a lot of questions about our beliefs and who we were. She also asked about the adult service, and I invited her to come next time.

On the surface Ulanivka seems so peaceful, but beneath, there is pain and trouble, just like any other place. Pease pray for this village, that just as the sun warms the earth in the spring, that the light of the Son will warm the hearts long frozen in a winter of sin. Please pray that as I minister in this village, that God will give me His eyes to see the needs, His words to speak, and His hands to help.

We Got it Goin' On

2010-05-09T13:47:00.000-07:00

I know you all probably think I have fallen off the face of the earth, it has been so long since I blogged. And even now, you are getting mostly pictures. Life is busy, crazy, full, and good here in Ukraine.
Now that the weather is nice, we spend a lot of time in the garden or out on the street, when the kids come over. We play one game that I call ‘chicken volleyball.’ Everyone stands in a circle and hits the ball back and forth to each other. If you miss the ball, you have to squat in the middle of the circle until someone spikes the ball on you. Interesting…All these guys came over one night to say goodbye to one of our friends who was going away to work. We had an impromptu surprise party for him.One evening two of my boys showed up with a beautiful bouquet that they had picked along the street. It was really special and it has made my kitchen smell good for several days!My car really needs a bath when the messages begin filling all available dirty surfaces. Yulia, Varduye, Dima & Venya all had birthdays within a couple weeks of each other, so I took them out to celebrate.One evening Twila, Vova, Allona, & I went to the forest and grilled shashlik, basically a shish kabob. It was a very relaxing evening.
Jessica & Josh Sturtevant came and spent a little over a week with me while Jason & Joanna left the country. One night we went to the circus that was in town. The clowns, as always, were my favorites!

Ukrainian Government

2010-04-28T00:06:00.001-07:00

Smoke bombs and egg throwing... inside Ukrainian Parliament. Wow! What stability!
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20100427/ap_on_re_eu/eu_ukraine_russia_fleet

Tolerance vs. Love

2010-04-20T02:08:00.000-07:00

Tolerance says, "You must approve of what I do."

Love responds, "I will love you, even when your behavior offends me."

Tolerance says, "You must agree with me."

Love responds, "I will tell you the truth, because I am convinced 'the truth will set you free.’”

Tolerance says, "You must allow me to have my way."

Love responds, "I will plead with you to follow the right way, because I believe you are worth the risk."

Tolerance seeks to be inoffensive; love takes risks.

Tolerance glorifies division; love seeks unity.

Tolerance costs nothing; love costs everything.
~Josh McDowell

Christ is Risen!

2010-04-04T13:33:00.001-07:00

Christ is risen! He is risen indeed! Христос Воскресе! Воистину Воскрес! This morning, while going to a 7 AM Easter service, I was amazed at how many people were out walking to church, most carrying baskets of bread, salt, or other items for the priests to bless. Many people, mostly women, dressed nicely, filled the courtyard around the small Orthodox temple. As I passed it, I also began to notice the number of drunk people wandering the streets. It is sad, but a sacred holiday like Easter is often only an excuse to get drunk with friends. In the words of a young mother, “Everyone goes to church to get blessed, then they go home and bring out the bottle.” And yet, drunk or sober, sinner or believer, they greet each other on the street with “Christ is risen.” And the response is, “He is risen indeed.”

Today I told the Resurrection story to the children, following up my story from last week where I used the EvangeCube to tell about Jesus’ death, and tell the plan of salvation. Today, after Kid’s Club, a 5-year old girl brought the EvangeCube to me and told me the plan of salvation. Then she proceeded to tell it to anyone who would listen to her! It was wonderful! If you have never seen or used the EvangeCube, just clink on the link below. It is a great tool for evangelism.
http://store.e3resources.org/Evangelism/EvangeCube-Products;jsessionid=0a010c641f432007463012c8469682dafc767c32d40c.e3eSc3mSaxuPe34Pa38Ta38Mc310
Later, we had an Easter egg hunt in the park. Yesterday, Vova, Allona, & I colored stacks of Easter eggs, and today all the kids who came made short work of finding them. Then tonight, I was greatly encouraged in the evening service, so this has truly been a blessed Easter.

My neighbor made a traditional Easter bread for me.

A girl brought me an egg, baked into a sweet bread today. Vika has been coming to youth night lately, and she came to church tonight.

Youth Night

2010-04-04T13:10:00.000-07:00

Here are a few recent youth night photos.

Dima, trying to eat a chocolate bar with mittens, a knife, and fork. (Maxim, Vika, Dima B, Dima D.)

We played the shaving game one night and the kids got quite a kick out of it. (Andre, Maxim G.)

(Dima D. & Vova)

Childlike Logic?

2010-03-23T12:13:00.000-07:00

I was visiting a family today whose daughter comes to Kid’s Club. The little girl gave me a big hug and told her mother, “Katrina is good.”
Her mom, teasingly, said, “How do you know? Maybe she is really bad.”
The little girl replied, “She is good because she told me about Jesus. She is Mary.”
Her mom and I both said, “Mary??”
“Yes,” she replied definitively, “She is Jesus’ mother because she tells me stories about Him.”
It was one of the most surreal, hilarious conversations I’ve ever heard with a child. The logic, or sometimes lack thereof, of a child is interesting!

I'm Thankful For...

2010-03-20T13:53:00.000-07:00

Sleeping with my arms out from under the covers.
Propane camp stoves. Neighborhood children.

Government paperwork that is only concerned for our safety.

A car that works!! (At least this week.)
Going out and working in the yard with no jacket and only 2 shirts.
There was no snow on the road to the village, only mud.

Buckets of water available to wash the car.

Strong van pushers.

Hot water from the tap!!!

Clean flowerbeds, with narcissi and tulips showing their tips.
Not testing the temperature of the room with my breath.

I'm a Little Sheep

2010-03-01T13:46:00.000-08:00

In Russian, if you call someone a ‘sheep’ it can be an insult, so my latest Kid’s Club unit, “I’m a Little Sheep” has been interesting at times.
One little 5-year old girl went home and told her uncle, “Katrina said you are a sheep.”
“What?” he replied.
“Katrina said that you are a sheep, and I am a sheep, and mom and dad are sheep.”
He answered with, “Why did she call us sheep?”
“She said that we are sheep and Jesus is our shepherd.” Then, to her uncle’s dismay, she spent the next several days endlessly singing “I’m a Little Sheep,” a song that she learned in Kid‘s Club.
Later in the week, he was playing with his niece and said, “I’ll be the king and you can be a princess.”
She responded, “I don’t want to be a princess. I’m a sheep!”
Out of the mouths of babes….

Viva Italia!

2010-03-01T13:28:00.000-08:00

To keep my status legal in Ukraine, I have to leave the country every three months. Every 90 days I need a new date on my customs and immigration form. The law had been every 180 days, so I hadn’t been worried about it, then someone told me the law had changed, and I was already a month and a half beyond the 90 days. I had always wanted to go to Italy, and when my travel agent found a decent priced ticket, I got it! I flew into Rome, stayed there for two days, then took the train to Venice for a day. It was a wonderful opportunity and I enjoyed every minute of it! After some of the difficulties of the past few months, it was nice to do something special. For the record, if anyone is planning a trip, I highly recommend Venice! I was completely enchanted, and I would love to go back! The atmosphere, the beauty, the sights and sounds were more relaxing than a massage! My not-so-charming prince...

The Mouth of Truth didn't close on me!

Venice's Grand Canal

Everything in the shops windows looked so good!

In Venice, they do everything by boat.

The police boats chase other boats...

The ambulance goes to the rescue...

The hearse carries the coffin...

Still Praising!

2010-03-01T13:26:00.000-08:00

The past couple weeks has passed by in a whirl. The radiators at Drummonds house froze and burst, my boiler stopped working during one of the coldest weeks of winter, an electric cable in my house had to be changed, the gas isn’t working now, the van broke down… it has been one thing after another. I was going to ride to Kyiv with the Sturtevants to pick up the Drummonds, and half-way there, their van broke down. Thankfully, we were able to call our friends who had friends in the area who came and towed the van to a shop. Then, Joanna and I returned, by bus, to my house and got my van and the Drummond’s van, and headed to Kyiv again. Again, half-way there, my van broke down. For the second time in two days, we called the same friends and the same people came and towed my van to a shop. Can you say ‘frustrating’? Praise God, we were able to use the one remaining vehicle between us, and pick the Drummonds up from the airport. I’m so glad that they are back in Nova Odessa! I’m excited to see what God has in store for us here, because we have felt so much opposition from the enemy that I’m sure His plan is a great one! Every day I am more convinced that He has something amazing in store for us here!

Jason and one of our friends who came to the rescue.

A Little Snowman

2010-02-09T11:36:00.000-08:00

Alosha & Anya just became grandparents for the third time. The hospital wrapped their son's little bundle of joy, like a package to send him home.

Today, Sasha & Nastya came over and we made some snowmen, or 'snow grandmas' as they are called here.

I thought she ended up with some really great hair! Wish I could pull off that look!

Wedding Bells??

2010-01-30T14:23:00.000-08:00

People sometimes ask my why I’m not married. The simple answer… the guys who fall for me generally are in one of 3 categories; 1) older than my grandfather, 2) mentally retarded, or 3) demonstrating severe psycho-emotional disorders. I’m not saying there is anything wrong with anyone in any of these categories; I’m just saying that they are not people with whom I would choose to live the rest of my life. My most recent flame... actually, just a sputtering spark, I met on a bus. I was on a small, crowded bus going to Mykolayiv, wedged in a corner beside a young man. On the surface, things appeared normal, but then he began to talk to me. He regaled me with a variety of stories, of which I understood exactly half. Then, he proceeded to ask me where I was from. (That is not an uncommon question here, due to my obvious accent and language faux pas.) I responded that I was from America. The man laughed like it was a great joke, and said, “Yeah, and I’m from Africa.” After another story or two, he asked again, “Seriously, where are you from?” “America,” I responded. Again, uproarious laughter. “Oh, you can’t fool me,” he said. “You speak Russian.” Well, yes, obviously, but also quite obvious, not very well. However, that small fact seemed to be overlooked. Another story, then he asked who I voted for in the Ukrainian presidential election. I told him I couldn’t vote here, because, guess why… I’m an American. Once more, laughter. “Do you speak English?” he asked in Russian. “Yes,” I answered in English. Again, laughter, accompanied by an elbow in the ribs and a “Good job!” I was beginning to wonder if the trip would ever end. It finally did, but not until, upon his exit from the bus, he proceeded to blow me several kisses from the door. As a mission experience, how exactly does one rate such an event? I’m still trying to figure that out. Suffice it to say, there are no wedding bells in the near future!

Just Airing My Clean Laundry

2010-01-30T11:22:00.001-08:00

Anyone care for some icicles on your socks?

Roseanna Takes Ukraine!

2010-01-22T12:20:00.000-08:00

Roseanna came from Arizona for a visit for a few days. I think the snow and the cold were a little more than she had bargained for! It was so nice to spend some time with her. We laughed like crazy because I have these two sacks, we talked til all hours of the night, and we prayed together. It was absolutely refreshing... even if it was stinking cold!!

Grrrr! Winter!

2010-01-15T10:35:00.000-08:00

This is me, really tired of the winter-not-so-wonderful-land!

The snow didn't keep the kids from coming for youth night. When they were leaving I gave them plastic bags to help keep their socks from getting wet on the way home.

Fun in the Snow

2010-01-09T08:38:00.000-08:00

I know that my title is a contradiction in terms, but here are a few pics from the past week. I took 8 kids from my youth group up to visit Jason & Joanna during their winter school holiday. Dima G, Venya, Dima A, Artyom, Andre, Maxim, Dima D, Natasha

At the big Christmas tree on Kryshatic in Kyiv.

Dima D, Jessica, Natasha, & Dima G.

Dima D. brought his skis along

Dima A, Maxim, Venya, Andre, Artyom, & Dima G. before they had gone very far.

After we got the van stuck in a drift, they looked like this!

And, last, I even got involved in a small snowy skirmish. Unfortunately, I got the worst of it, but the consolation of ending up face first in a drift, was that I took the offending party down with me! Joanna was sure to post this if I didn't, so I thought it would be better to laugh at myself first!

Christmas/New Year's Party

2010-01-01T13:51:00.000-08:00

Tonight I hosted a Christmas/New Year’s party at my house, and 24 people showed up. It was a lot of work, but it was also a lot of fun. We had a feast, then played some games. It was a mix of people, adults, teens and children, so the logistics were kind of interesting, but it was great to have so many of my favorite people in one place! After the meal we played a few games together. One game was to fill a pair of pantyhose with gloves and scarves, then someone had to wear it on their head, looking something like a strange reindeer. They had a good laugh out of it. Later we split up and the teens played Dutch Blitz and Monopoly in the kitchen, while the little ones played a game in the great room. While we adults were talking, one of the mothers asked me, “How can you stand this noise?” To be honest, I didn’t even notice; my house is always loud when the kids are here. As they were leaving that mother blessed me all the way to the gate! I was really worried last night, that maybe I had bitten off more than I could chew, but God just helped everything to work together, and gave me strength to get through the day.

Dima D & Dima G in a hard-fought game of Monopoly My friend Katya

Tolic & Varduye

Of course we had to take some time for goofy self photos!

Dima, Artyom, & I Polina, Mirey, Lilia, Liza
Mila, Maria, Yanna, Katya
Artyom, Dima B, Maxim, Diana
The reindeer game

Let It Stop, Let It Stop, Let It Stop!

2009-12-19T08:49:00.000-08:00

It has been snowing here since Tuesday, a soft, gentle, but continuous snow. For a girl from southern Kansas, this is more snow than I’ve ever seen in my life! Before I started shoveling today, it was over the tops of my boots. A couple days ago, I felt very humbled because some kids came over and helped me shovel snow. Today they came again, and brought another recruit. We shoveled the driveway and sidewalks and paths in about an hour. And of course, we had to play a little! The snow is so powdery it wouldn’t pack for snowballs, so we resorted to throwing shovels full of snow at each other. It was actually fun. Wait a minute… do you hear the words that are coming out of my mouth? What happened to me? I thought I was impervious to the effects of snowmania. (Don’t bother looking it up. It’s a poor attempt at humor.) Anyway, here are some pictures for all of you who actually fall into the category of snowmaniacs.Andre & Natasha

Christmas Peace

2009-12-14T13:50:00.001-08:00

My halls are officially decked! Four of my neighborhood kiddos came over tonight and we decorated for Christmas. It was a lot of fun decorating, but afterward, we turned on the Christmas lights and just sat for a bit and chatted. It was quiet and peaceful and no one wanted to break the peacefulness that surrounded us. One of the boys often tells me that there is a 'good aura' at my house. For most of these kids, every day is just survival, so to have a moment of pure joy is rare. We talked about how the birth of one small child could bring such peace to the world year after year, and how He can bring peace to our hearts day after day. Maxim, Igor, Artyom, & Maxim

Maxim took some time to baby the cat, which she thoroughly enjoyed!

My Friend

2009-12-14T13:38:00.000-08:00

My best friend in Nova Odessa, Alla. She has such a gentle, sweet spirit, you just can't help but love her! I'm so thankful that I have a friend like her.

A New Take on an Old Market

2009-12-12T14:52:00.000-08:00

All I can say right now is, “Wow, what a day!” Okay, that’s not actually all I can say, and I’m going to say quite a bit more right now…. So buckle your seatbelts while I take you through my day…. It started early. One of my kid’s moms wanted to teach me how to cook some Ukrainian food. She has been saying for a couple months that she was going to teach me this, that, and another dish. Well, she decided today was the day. Saturday, of all days. Anyone in any form of ministry knows how difficult it is to schedule things on Saturday, because there are already a myriad of tasks to get done before Sunday. Well, I picked her up at 8 AM and we went to the bazaar to get all the necessaries. Going to the bazaar with a no-nonsense Ukrainian is certainly different than my usual wandering around. She taught me a lot about our little bazaar in just a matter of minutes. I mean, who knew there was a whole building of meat vendors? Or that you could buy lungs, heart, and kidneys of pigs? Or that not-yet-sour sour cream had so many different tastes. (We probably tasted 6 or 7 before she decided which was the tastiest.) It was quite an interesting excursion! Seven hours and I don’t know how many dishes later, we had cooked enough to feed an army. According to her, I’m supposed to eat that all week! I suddenly feel a dinner party coming on! On the menu: cabbage rolls, chicken-pork-bacon kabobs, meat-filled bread, cheese-filled bread, borscht, carrot salad, pelmeni, cream-poppy seed rolls. It was really fun to learn to cook some of these things, and I hope, when I am on my own, that I can actually replicate them. Hmmm. We’ll see.

This evening Maxim and Dima B. came over for a Bible study and to pray together. They shared with me some of their struggles and how the devil is fighting them. Please pray for these 2 especially. They have a lot of temptations, a big one being smoking. It seems the majority of people in this area smoke, and these boys, although only 18 and 19 years old, have already been smoking for maybe 5 years. It is not going to be an easy habit to break. I shared some scriptures with them, and we talked about some concrete ways they can motivate themselves not to smoke. They are holding each other accountable, and they are encouraging each other. They are still so new in the faith that they are a little afraid to pray out loud, but before they left, we each prayed and I felt that God really met with us. Keep praying for us in Nova Odessa. God has good things going on!

Ukrainian Wedding

2009-12-07T08:54:00.000-08:00

Saturday I went to my friend Vera's wedding in Mykolayiv. It was a lovely, traditional Ukrainian event. Here are a few pictures.

The weddings in Ukraine can last up to three days. This one started at 10 AM and was still going strong at 7 PM. I don't know when it ended, because I copped out.

Prayer List

2009-12-07T08:51:00.000-08:00

This past week was one of those where I was almost too busy to keep my head above water. To top it off, I got a virus or food poisoning or something because I was sick for about 4 days. I had no choice but to keep going, and God helped me through everything this week. Tuesday I had a service in Ulanivka, and Maxim, who repented a few weeks ago, and his friend Dima, went with me. Wednesday was church in Nova Odessa, and the Lord helped a lot. Thursday I had promised a couple that I would drive them to a nearby village to look at a house they were thinking of buying. This of course, upon arrival home, meant tea together, which I’ve already said means more than a 15 minute conversation. In the evening I went to have Bible study and prayer with a small group. Friday night was youth night, and I was feeling so sick, but God really helped with me with an object lesson on anger. Saturday I found out that Dima B. Maxim’s friend, repented. He said he couldn’t sleep and he just kept thinking about hell. So, he finally got up and read a tract he had, and prayed. He said then he went to bed and immediately fell asleep, because he had so much peace. So, here in Nova Odessa there is much rejoicing, but also much need for prayer.

Please pray for:
Maxim 18yrs.-He said the devil is fighting him a little harder every day, but he’s not going to give up.
Dima B.17 yrs.-He is just a baby in the faith.
Artyom 18 yrs.-He is back in Nova Odessa and the temptations here are strong. I know God is stronger!
Dima D. 12 yrs.-He repented the week before Thanksgiving and told me this week that his biggest struggle is being nice to people. He doesn’t have much patience.
Miha 18 yrs.-He has only been coming to church this week, and he’s asking a lot of questions.
Varduye 18 yrs.-She wants to come to church, but her father won’t allow it. She stops to see me some afternoons on her way home from school.
Dima G. 16 yrs.-He repented at youth camp, but has many struggles at home.

There are many, many more, but these (except for Dima D.) have no Christian influences in the home. Some of their home situations are almost unimaginable, and range from being beaten by alcoholic parents, to being so poor they are working instead of going to school.

“Lord, my dangerous prayer is for you to put broken-hearted people in my life, and fill me with Your love, so that I can lead them to the healing that only You can give.”

Nicknames

2009-12-03T12:34:00.000-08:00

Nicknames are so much fun in a foreign language! One boy came over tonight, and his nickname in Russian is 'Miha' which sounds suspeciously just like the abreviated version of Spanish, meaning 'my daughter.' My name, although derived from a Russian name, Ekaterina, produces an interesting variety of nicknames... Katya, Katerin, Katrine, Katyush, Katushka, Kartena... Then there are other nicknames as well, Sonichka, Daragaya, Pupichka, Seepichka, Lubimaya... I'll answer to just about anything anymore!

Baby Steps

2009-12-03T12:10:00.000-08:00

Tonight, as with most evenings, I had a houseful. One boy, maybe 19 years old, told his friends a few weeks ago that they should not come to our services because we are a 'sect.' He came over a couple weeks ago with a friend and decided I wasn't too weird or crazy, (no comments :~) so he came to service last night. I was encouraged that he came, but then found out after church he went to the disco. Ok, reminder to self, baby steps. Tonight he was back again, this time with questions, deep ones. It is obvious he has given God and truth a good deal of thought. I realized again the importance of a Christian's calling. People all around us are seeking answers. They will find answers, albeit truth or lie. How prepared are we to give a defense, with love, for the Gospel?

Darkness and Light

2009-11-18T10:43:00.000-08:00

You know what it’s like when you are down, when your mood is black? I don’t mean just a murky grey black, but the blackest of black. The black hole of Calcutta black. The kind of blackness you find when you are deep in the bowels of a cave. The kind of blackness that envelops your soul and it seems you can’t even find God in it. That kind of blackness has been shrouding me the past couple weeks. It began creeping in one day, and before I knew it, I had allowed it to take control.

You might say, “A missionary of all things, she shouldn’t allow that to happen.“ But, I’m finding in my spiritual walk that it does happen sometimes. We can show ourselves off as perfect Christians, but we still have spiritual battles to fight. As Christian as we are, we are still human. God created us with a range of emotions, and the devil wants to use that humanity in us to destroy us, discourage us, and just generally beat us down. He will use our health, our neighbors, our self-image, our stumbles, the weather, world events, and even our friends and family, to leave huge gaping wounds in our spirit. He will use words spoken in anger, or even words spoken thoughtlessly at instruments of torture and replay them continuously in our minds. He will use an unintentional slight to blindside us and make us question our relationships. When all of these things culminate in our spirit, they have the potential to sink us to that black place.

But praise God we have hope! Jesus is our lifeboat. When we are in the storm, we may be thinking more about the waves that are overwhelming us than we are about the boat that is holding us, but it doesn’t change the reality of the boat. It is still there, weathering the storm with us. And there will come a point in the storm when He sees we can’t take it anymore, and He will speak the words again, “Peace be still.” He will not give us more than we can bear. When the waves calm, we are drenched, tired, beaten, but the boat is still holding us. He will take us gently into His arms, clean our wounds, give us rest, feed us, and strengthen us.

Sunday He did that for me in a miraculous way. The thing is, it wasn’t my miracle, but I benefited from it. A young man, Artyom, who was saved at youth camp this summer, has been praying for his family. He was the only one in his family who attended church of any kind. He has prayed for them and talked to them about how his life has changed. Sunday afternoon, his brother, Maxim, called him and asked Artyom to pray with him and Maxim repented. When they called and told me their news, it was like Jesus whispered peace to my soul too. I rejoiced to see this wonderful young man come to Christ. It will not be easy for these two brothers to stand against the world, but there was one, and now there are two. With every addition, it will make the battle more bearable, and I’m praying in faith that there will soon be another Christian in their family. Praise God for the light of Jesus that chases away the darkness!

Tea Time

2009-11-12T08:16:00.000-08:00

Tea. Chai. I never knew, until I came here, how many kinds of tea one can buy. In the large supermarkets, there is generally a whole aisle devoted to tea. Green tea, green tea with jasmine, citrus green tea, red tea, white tea, blue fruit tea, mint tea, raspberry tea, rosehip tea, Earl Grey, Indian spice, Asian tea.... These are just a few that I have tried. My personal favorites are the Indian spice and Earl Grey. Then there are a variety of ways to drink it as well; with sugar, with honey, with lemon, with milk... I have discovered that the perfect hot tea is a flavorful black tea, with a spoon of honey and a splash of milk. (Don't put milk in the citrus tea. Who knew it would curdle?)

When visiting in the homes of the kids who come to services, I have been drinking a boatload of tea. But it's more than just drinking tea. It is a way of getting to know people, to have a window into their lives. Ukrainians are incredibly hospitable people. Most of the ones I know, love to have guests. When you call for them, from outside of their gate, they will often dash out asking the question, "Have you come to be our guest?" Once you are inside, taking your shoes off at the door mind you, they are quick to put on the teapot and pull out the cups. They want to get to know you. They want you to get to know them. It seems that you go from being acquaintances to being friends all with a cup of tea. We Americans tend to want some notice if someone is coming to visit. We want an advance plan. In the States, I wouldn't even go to my closest friends' house without calling first. Here, it doesn't matter. Even if you are only planning to have a 4 minute conversation at the gate, it will generally end in an hour long conversation over a cup of tea. That's just the way it works, and I like it. Pass the honey, please.

As I was visiting this week, I found 7 of my kid's club girls having tea at one home.

As they were leaving, one girl wearing one of the protective masks to prevent swine flu. I've seen all kinds of these lately, from professionally made, to a piece of fabric with some tape and rubber bands!

Swine Flu

2009-11-02T11:31:00.001-08:00

Oh, the craziness of panic and fear! Ukraine's prime minister has declared a national crisis because of Swine Flu in Western Ukraine. She has quarantined all the schools in Ukraine for 3 weeks to prevent it from spreading further. She also banned public gatherings and suggested closing markets. There was general fear and now pharmacies are pretty much sold out of medical masks and flu medicine. One has to wonder, with this month's upcoming elections, how much of this is for real, and how much is a political maneuver. Especially since the reports of the number who have died of this fluctuates from 11-54. Hmmmm. Today, I went up to the city center, and it was pretty quiet. I saw a few wearing the masks, and there seemed to be fewer on the buses. I'm glad I know the One who is in control of the whole situation. Here is a link to an article if you are interested.

http://www.euronews.net/2009/10/31/ukraine-goes-into-lockdown-after-swine-flu-spike/

2009-11-02T11:22:00.000-08:00

We saw this pepto-pink car on the way to kid's club and the kids got pretty excited. You see a lot of old cars here, but not too many that are fixed up.

2009-10-27T10:39:00.000-07:00

Today I was having a frustrating time dealing with getting the van fixed. This was the fourth time I've gone to the shop, in less than a week, to have the work done, and I've always been sent away for one reason or another. I was feeling particularly cranky, so I decided to stop at a small cafe for a 'real' cup of coffee. About 30 minutes later, with my purse less than $2 lighter, I had sipped a singularly enjoyable latte and consumed a cheese crepe. Oh, to take pleasure in small pleasures!

This photo on the wall of the cafe amused me greatly!

2010 Ukrainian Presidential Elections

2009-10-27T10:12:00.000-07:00

The campaign for president of Ukraine is in full swing now. Elections are coming up next month and seem to be the topic of many conversations. Prime Minister Yulia Timoshenko's campaign ads seem to be plain and simple. Her signs say "She works. She is Ukraine." Her strategy has been to get all the Ukrainian pop stars on her bandwagon and hold concerts all over the country. A few days ago, early in the morning, I saw around 12 buses near Nova Odessa, all filled with people, with signs on the outside of the buses saying "Yulia will win." They were probably heading to Kyiv for her rally this past weekend.

Victor Yanokovich's strategy has been to plaster billboards with his face and phone number so Ukrainians can call him if they have any problems. His sign says, "Your thoughts count. Your problems will be fixed." Hmmmm. It will be interesting to see the outcome of the election....

One of Those Days

2009-10-18T11:21:00.000-07:00

It began as one of those days. You know the ones. The days that make you crazy from the first moment you open your eyes. One of those days that makes you question why you are doing what you are doing. What is the plan, and is it worth it in the end? The first thing you notice is the pouring rain and the damp cold you feel in your bones. That is shortly followed by an unusual dripping sound. You go to check it out and you walk into a puddle, disguised as a small lake, in your bathroom, in you sock feet. After placing buckets and pans under all the drips coming from your recently redone ceiling, you go to take a shower, only to find that you have no water. Water, water everywhere, and not a drop to shower! A cup of tea follows, where, of course, you burn all the taste buds off of your tongue. Suppressing the grrrr in your heart, you remind yourself that this is the Lord’s day and He has everything under control. When driving to pick up kids for Kid’s Club, you have to wait at every house for them to get ready. Muttering under your breath, about halfway through your first route, you are the star of the new Broadway production of Pity Party. You eventually start service 30 minutes late and your translator seems to be having the same kind of day you are. You think to yourself, “Will this day never end?” You feel like to stumble all the way through your children’s service, but then, at your lowest moment, something truly amazing happens. The rain has stopped. A teenager comes to you with tears in his eyes and asks you to pray for him. Another comes and asks you to pray for his friend. A little tyke gives you a huge bear hug and tells you that you are the best. Another hug with an “I love you” attached. Another teen gives you a bag of fresh grapes, while another hands you a bag of fresh-made pierozhky from his mother. A couple more remind you that their moms want you to come for tea, and you suddenly realize that the day has promise. All of the earlier grumbles are long-forgotten, and your heart is filled with joy. Amazing, God is so great, the maker of the world, the giver of life, the healer of nations, and he chooses to refresh your flagging spirit by the simple words and gestures of children. He reminds you with their hugs that you am precious to Him in the same way they are precious to you. Yeah, you had to wait on them. How often has He waited on you? Yeah, they don’t always listen. Do you? The question of this morning crosses your mind again. The answer immediately follows, without hesitation-of course it is worth it!

First Hint of Winter

2009-10-14T11:47:00.000-07:00

This morning found frost on the ground and a cold, biting wind, which warmed to a nice 64 degrees in the afternoon. All evening the smell of burning leaves filled the neighborhood. All day I heard walnuts falling from the trees and pinging on the roof and the car. The leaves are a variety of hues. Fall is my favorite holiday....I just don't like the following scene...

This week has been full of catching-up for me; buying groceries, getting housework done, moving my plants from the veranda to indoors, lots of phone calls and visits for tea, hearing all the latest news, etc. It has also had a couple of unusual moments. One afternoon I spent driving around town and down by the river looking for a missing boy. About 8 years old, Saturday he left home at 7 AM to go fishing. At 5 PM it was getting dark, and he had never been home. His mom was near hysterics. Several teen boys and I, including his older brother, spent some time trying to find him. We finally found him on his way back home, carrying 3-4 fish he had caught. Praise God we found him. We were all pretty worried. Tolic, Venya, Artyom, Dima, and Dima trying to balance on a board and change places in youth group. The game went along with our discussion on how we treat others. Artyom led it and did a great job!

Some local people delivering their milk to the ice cream factory in Nova Odessa.

Back in Ukraine

2009-10-09T01:55:00.000-07:00

I made it back to Nova Odessa safely, and it was a relatively easy trip. Joanna, Josh and Artyom drove down from Kyiv with me, and it was really nice to have some time to visit with them. I felt like I had been gone so long and missed so much! Please pray for me as I'm adjusting and getting back into a schedule. I am not as strong as I'd like to be, and I'm going to have to take it easy at first. I am going to have to cut a couple of things out of the schedule for a couple months, probably. I had 13 kids and teens over for a welcome home dinner the other night, and we have youth night tonight. There are some things that I have trouble doing because of my balance, like carrying 30 pound bags of dog food or 50 pound bags of potatoes, but the teens have been really helpful with that kind of thing. Some other things to deal with on getting back... water barely trickles, why, I don't know; my car won't start and it has a flat; internet doesn't work; mice have invaded because my cats were shut in the veranda... the list goes on... Frustrating things on a good day... However, seeing the kids is worth it!

Please pray for Artyom. He repented at youth camp and has been doing great! He is visiting his family right now, and there are a lot of temptations around him. Please pray that God gives him strength and wisdom.

Family Reunion '09

2009-09-26T14:06:00.000-07:00

I was privileged to go to the Nichols family reunion this year. We were not a large group this year, but we had a really nice time.

You would think a fireman would know better....

Aunt Joy & I showing off our matching boots. Quite a fashion statement!

The gang playing Bocce.

My not-so-favorite-sometimes, favorite cousin. ;~)

He really took my dad for a ride!

My Dream Ride!

2009-09-26T14:02:00.000-07:00

1961 Ford

Mission Week IBS

2009-09-18T04:55:00.000-07:00

Next week I am planning to be in Independence for IBS Mission Week '09. "Ready, Set, Go!!" Zach & Sarah Roberts, as well as a few others, will also be speaking. Please pray that we have a wonderful week of services, and that as a result, young people will be called into missionary service. If you are in the Independence area, please plan to come. Services are at 9:40 AM and 7:00 PM at 2200 S. 10th St.

In other news, the doctor has released me to return to Ukraine on September 29. I am already mentally packing! I still have a walking cast on, but I am able to walk up steps now, which is VERY exciting! It seems like it has been a long frustrating healing time, but according to the doctor, I have been healing very fast. Thanks for all your prayers!

Good Times!

2009-09-05T20:56:00.000-07:00

I was privileged today to spend the day with 2 of my best friends from college, Rita and Debbie. It was such a good day! Love you guys!

Pain...

2009-09-02T18:26:00.000-07:00

Over the last couple days I've been reading a book called "The Shack" by William P. Young. (It seems, I've got nothing but time lately!) An interesting quote that just stood out to me...

"Pain has a way of clipping our wings and keeping us from being able to fly....And if left unresolved for very long, you can almost forget that you were ever created to fly in the first place."

For more information, check out the link http://theshackbook.com/

The Photo Version

2009-08-25T06:41:00.000-07:00

The fateful hill...

The beautiful view I was trying to capture...

Faith driving me to the hospital. She doesn't drive a standard, so I shifted.

At the hospital....waiting....

My human crutches... and an audience, of course.

Crutches that took all day to find. And, of course, an audience.

Jason duck-taping a bucket on my leg.

The Sturdy Sturtevant Splint--several people heard about it and came in to my room to see it.

Taking a Tumble

2009-08-15T14:31:00.000-07:00

I know, I know, it's been a long time since I have blogged, but there are extenuating circumstances. Two weeks ago on Thursday, my friend Faith and I were out exploring the lovely countryside. We found one hill of particular interest and decided to climb it and see what we could see. The view was beautiful, the air was crisp and clean, the wind was soft and warm...... the ground was hard and unforgiving. On the way back to the car I slipped and fell. The pain was intense, but I managed to walk to the car, so I thought I maybe had a bad sprain. After teaching Faith to drive a standard, an entire blog in itself, she drove me to friends who took me to the hospital to have it checked out. Thankfully the hospital had a wheelchair, and they wheeled me up the steep ramp to x-ray. After a long wait, an x-ray, and another wait, the doctor came in and said I needed an operation. According to him, I had a broken bone and three torn ligaments. Knowing the health care system in Ukraine, and after asking advice of several people, I decided to fly back to the US for the operation. So after a 14 hour trip to Kyiv, and a day of flying, I ended up in Joplin at St. John's for my operation.

The doctor in the Ukraine put a cast on my leg for the trip. When he was finished, I could move my leg around inside the cast and still had tremendous pain. Thanks to the missionary ingenuity of Jason Sturtevant, (see Joanna's blog for pictures) I was able to come home in relatively little pain. He took a plastic bucket and duct taped a splint around my leg to hold it immobile. Then he wrapped it with gauze, to cover up my redneck cast. It was pretty amazing. The hospital personnel in Joplin were quite intrigued with the Sturdy Sturtevant Splint!

Monday morning, August 3, I had an operation for three boken bones. Both the bones in my lower leg are broken, as well as another bone in my foot. I had to have a plate and seven screws put in one bone and the doctor had to reattach three ligaments. I got out of the hospital on Thursday and for the past week I have been recouping at my mother's. I'm not sure how long I will be laid up, but it will probably be several more weeks. Please pray for me and for those who are helping in Nova Odessa in my absence. Pics to come at some point.

Petrified Odessa Pickles!

2009-07-25T14:32:00.001-07:00

Explaining the joys of a sun-baked, petrified frog to Emilee.

On Thursday, I took Tanya, Faith, Emilee, and Jeffrey to visit Odessa. They had their picture taken with a trained monkey. Come on, show me the monkey...

I love Odessa. It is a beautiful city.

Today, I made (for the first time ever) bread and butter pickles. I've only been able to find dill pickles here, and I love B&B, so I just made my own.

Please Pray for Vasia

2009-07-23T16:21:00.000-07:00

Tuesday I had service at the village of Ulanivka, as usual. I was very happy to see Vasia show up shortly after we pulled in. He finished saying the required verses to come to youth camp. He said his dad said "We will see," when he asked about youth camp. Please pray that his dad will allow him to come. He is very sincere, and really wants to know about the Lord. Vasia stayed for church. He and Babushka Dena plunged right in to the songs!

On a totally different note, I have learned something new. I had a pipe on the toilet leaking, and I didn't know who I could ask for help fixing it, so I found a wrench, bought the pipe, and changed it myself. I am woman...Hear me roar! Don't worry guys, I won't tell your wives how easy it was, so they can still think you are amazing when you fix a pipe... oops...

My Girl

2009-07-19T14:24:00.000-07:00

My girl, Vika, came for a visit last week. I hadn't seen her in about a year, so I was really happy to see her. Sadly, for me, she had to return to her home after only a week-long visit. She will soon be starting nurse's training.

Kenyazache VBS

2009-07-19T13:55:00.000-07:00

Last week we had our 4th and 5th VBSs. My team and I were in Kenyazache, while Joanna's team was in Osikova. This 'babushka' across the street enjoyed watching the kids' games.

This guy on the street came and joined in on the game. Tug-of-war...the new street ministry!

One afternoon, I decided to find my way around Kyiv ...dun, dun, dun.... I took Faith, and two teens with me. I didn't get directions for anything, because I was planning to park the car and take the metro. We kept looking and looking and looking and looking...you get the idea... for one particular metro stop. We found all the others. Finally, the worry shifted from finding the metro stop to finding our way back to Kenyazache. We just followed the Odessa signs!

We stopped at a church and asked directions of no fewer than 5 people, which was pointless. Really, how hard is it to point to a map and say, "You are here." We finally did make it back. My hostess could not believe that I went to Kyiv without someone who knew their way around. I certainly know my way around now... but we never found Kreshatic...

Fruit Picking

2009-07-08T00:10:00.000-07:00

On the way home from Ulanivka, we picked a little fruit from public trees.

The wild apricots were a little sour!

Our bounty- mulberries, black and white, apricots, pears, and sunflowers.

How Worn is Your Bible?

2009-07-07T23:55:00.000-07:00

Just a little over a week ago, I gave out Bibles to the village children in Ulanivka. Yesterday, Faith and I and a few teens went over there to have service. We had been at the house less than five minutes when two boys showed up. I asked the older one if he was planning on coming to youth camp. He said he really wants to, then he pulled out his little New Testament and said that he had already learned 17 verses. (They have to say 21 verses from John 3 as a requirement to come.) As I took his Bible to listen to his verses, I noticed it was already worn. Precise pencil marks have phrases underlined and verses circled. The pages are ruffled from use. This is the same boy whose father was drunk when we visited last week. I asked him if he had asked his father about coming to youth camp, and his father just said, "We'll see." Please pray for this boy and his little brother. The Word of God will not return to Him void!

Nova Odessa VBS

2009-07-07T23:46:00.000-07:00

Last week we held VBS in Nova Odessa. We had a great turnout, averaging between 35-39 kids each night. The Lord helped us as we talked about creation and how God made us special.

Natasha, one of our teen helpers, with little Sasha.

Ruvim and Rusic made some cool stick villages at our picnic.

We culminated the week with a picnic in the forrest.

Our group

My Car Works!

2009-07-07T14:46:00.000-07:00

I have been having car problems for the past several months. Two weeks ago, Jason, was kind enough to pull it to Mykolayiv, to the mechanic. I was finally able to pick it up on Friday. Thank God, it seems to be working fine.... for now....

2009-06-27T13:41:00.000-07:00

Nastya

Danik

It has been an incredibly busy week, but, slava Bogu (praise God), we made it! Monday morning my week kicked into high gear. Jason & Joanna, the Appling and Duddek families from CO, and Stephan & Vita, translators, arrived to help with 3 VBSs in this area. We divided the 19 of us, and our 2 teen helpers, into 2 groups and did simultaneous VBSs in the villages of Mikhalovka and Ulanivka. Tuesday, Twila arrived, along with Diane, a friend from MO, and Faith, a friend from PA. Faith will be staying with me for several weeks. Twila & Diane will be returning home all too soon. ;~( My team and I went to Ulanivka every day,while Jason & Joanna's team went to Mikhalovka. We started our first day with 13 kids, and the second day had 6 new ones, and the third day had 3 more new ones!

Sasha

Yesterday, a little boy, Sasha, asked me for a Bible. Today, I passed out Gideon New Testaments, and he was reading his already before he left! The precious children of this village are hungry to hear the truth of the gospel of Jesus Christ! Some of the teens would like to go to youth camp. However, in this village, the parents don't know us very well, so I don't know if they will be allowed to go.
Allona

Today, our culminating activity was a treasure hunt and picnic. Yesterday we visited parents to make sure it was okay for their kids to come. One father, quite drunk, was extolling his wonderful children and his amazing parenting skills. As I snuck a quick peek at the boys' faces, I saw shame, anger and fear. Both of these boys came to VBS every day, and brought others with them. They listened intently to everything that was said. Please pray that God will bless them and be their Father.

Congratulations!!

2009-06-19T12:39:00.000-07:00

I attended my first Ukrainian graduation tonight. One of 'my kids,' Artyom graduated from high school. I'm really proud of him. He has faced a lot of trials this year, but he has succeeded!

Congratulations Artyom!

Artyom's family-brother, niece, sister, and mom

Some of the elaborate hairstyles intrigued me.

Hot Turtles in the City

2009-06-14T12:42:00.000-07:00

Confused yet? This post is just a variety of thoughts and pictures from the past week. For 3 days this week, the temperature was a bit over the top. On Friday, though, we had beautiful storm with lots of thunder and lightening, and that cooled things off considerably.

A dry, tired, and I thought, almost dead, turtle was in the drive. Being the kindly soul that I am, I treated it to a small pool and some greens. As gratitude, the almost dead turtle laid an egg. You can barely see it in the water beside the brick. I'm still waiting to see what happens to it.

Eleven kids from Kid's Club earned enough points to do something special, so I took them to the city. We ate, then strolled down the walking street (literally a street where cars are not allowed), then we went to a park by the river. I really enjoyed the street musicians. It was a really nice evening.

Some of the kids: Mila, Me, Maria, Svieta, Olya, Petya, Yulia, & Rafael...quite the motley crew.

Another small storm passed through town this evening. I was picking people up for church when we saw this beautiful rainbow. It always reminds me to thank God for His promises!

Home in Nova Odessa

2009-06-07T13:29:00.000-07:00

I want to thank you all for your prayers, emails, comments and concern. My father is doing better. He is still in the hospital, but out of ICU. Praise the Lord! It was really touch-and-go for a few days, and he's still not out of the woods, but he is gaining ground. (To one of my college professors...How is that for tired cliches?)On my bus ride from Kyiv to Nova Odessa, there were several beautiful fields of poppies.

I arrived home to find the house still intact, my internet WORKING, the kittens running all over (they are going to be given away at the bazaar this week!), the grass up to my knees, and my garden that was beautifully weeded 3 weeks ago...not so much. It was really great to see the kids today. They knew we would be having Kid's Club today, and a lot of them were waiting by the street when I arrived. It feels good to be back.

Life in General

2009-06-01T23:10:00.000-07:00

I am so thankful for the generosity of dear friends. They asked me to do the photography for their wedding, and helped me with a ticket to come back. It meant so much to me that I was able to be a part of their special day. Thanks so much guys for the privilege!

Other thoughts, I’m supposed to return to Ukraine Wednesday. My father is in ICU and has been for several days. He doesn’t seem to be getting any better. My brother has to have a surgery in a week and my mom is not doing too well physically right now either. It is stressful. There you have it. Plain, simple, no frills. Please pray for all of us.

Time Passes...

2009-05-29T20:52:00.000-07:00

Yes...I am alive and well. Life has just been busy to say the least. You know how in vaudeville they would carry a sign across the stage that said, "Time Passes"? I feel like I'm carrying that sign. More to come.

Gypsy Churches

2009-04-30T02:40:00.000-07:00

I had the privilege of visiting three gypsy churches near the Ukrainian town of Mukachuva. The first was very poor, while the other two were well-off. In the first village trash was piled in heaps along the road and beside the tumbledown shacks that pass for homes for this tribe. The smell of garbage and rot surrounded us, and even the fading evening light could not hide the squalor from my eyes.

The gypsies (tsegani) Christians began to walk with us toward their small church as we walked through the village, gradually gathering people as we went. By the time we reached the church, we had enough people to fill it, and more straggled in as service started. The Holy Spirit was a sweet presence in that 3-hour service, and at the end, several gave their hearts to Jesus, the Hope for the hopeless. After we said our goodbyes, the children chased the van down the street, waving all the way.

Styopa listened intently and gave his heart to Jesus.

In the second gypsy church, in Pidvinogrado, the gypsies were much more well-to-do. One man told us that is 14-year old daughter is to be married in a few months. Their way of life is for parents to arrange a marriage and for it to take place when the bride and groom are young teens. The father of the groom is supposed to buy the bride an engagement/wedding dress that costs $4,000+. If the parents of the bride are satisfied with the dress, the date for the marriage is arranged. The tribe that lives in Pidvinogrado is an interesting paradox. You can see million-dollar homes beside one-room shacks, and children clad in expensive clothes playing on mounds of garbage. After service they served us a delicious meal, tribal style. Each soup bowl was to serve 5-6 people, and had one spoon. The salad, potatoes, eggs and meat were eaten by hand.

The third day we went to Koroleva, a village which houses the largest gypsy church in Eastern Europe. The tribe that lives in Koroleva is even better-off than the tribe at Pidvinogrado, but the paradox remains.

Women from the wealthier villages going to church.

"The" Fork

2009-04-09T00:05:00.000-07:00

Yellow & Blue

2009-04-06T08:55:00.000-07:00

A memorial downtown. I don’t know what it is all about, but it’s nice to see the Ukrainian flag blowing in the breeze. You don’t see flags here often. Even a lot of the governmental buildings don’t fly flags.

How Does Your Garden Grow?

2009-04-01T08:53:00.001-07:00

Onions, beets & carrots all in a row.

Big News

2009-04-01T08:50:00.000-07:00

The big news in Nova Odessa over the weekend was that the Univermag burned. The Univermag is the closest thing we have to real shopping here in town. We have the bazaar, which is only open in the mornings, and a few convenience stores. But the Univermag is the only store of any size here, so when it burned in the night due to an electrical problem, Sunday morning conversation centered on it.

The outside of the building is fine from all appearances, but everything inside was a loss.

I'm Still Here

2009-03-20T00:51:00.000-07:00

Life has been pretty busy, but I thought I'd post a couple pictures.

Jessica and Josh with a Cossack-dressed bandelero player in the metro tunnel.New and old, but not old, friends- Nadya, me, Jessica, Joanna, Lena, Vita, Anuta, and Josh in the front.Rain over the village and the river.

A Beautiful Week

2009-03-13T04:44:00.000-07:00

This has been a beautiful week! Yesterday some friends came and helped and we turned my garden. It is warm enough here now to plant onions and carrots! I am SO thankful for the pretty weather.

Yesterday, also, my translator taught me how to make vereniki and pelmeni from scratch. They are small dough that you fill with cabbage, meat, potatoes, cheese…. then boil to cook. Delicious! Dima came over and helped.

A local statue with some flowers on Women's Day.

A sign in the phone office--instructions on how to put on a gas mask--this paper is probably 20+ years old.

Doo-doo-dooby-dooby-doo-doo

2009-03-06T12:38:00.000-08:00

Tonight after the games in youth night were over, and I was preparing to send the kids home, one boy asked me a question about patience. The result was more than a half hour of Bible study and discussion with that boy and his friend (who usually appears disinterested) about patience, how to learn patience, and the results of patience. It was good stuff! That is why I do youth night!

Another note, SPRING is in the air! Everywhere we look around.... For the past 3 days I’ve been wearing a spring jacket! Yippee!! Now, granted, the natives around me are all still bundled up and look at me like I’ve lost my mind, but I’m so tired of 26 ½ layers, scarves, gloves, coats, boots, and more, that I don’t care! The first few days above 40 degrees and I’m feeling as free as a snake with new skin!

Ukraine Bankrupt?

2009-03-03T12:00:00.001-08:00

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/ukraine-nation-on-the-brink-of-bankruptcy-1635905.html

Sunday, Pumps, and Pacifiers

2009-03-01T13:40:00.000-08:00

You know those days you worry and worry about, then everything goes well…. Today was one of those days, praise the Lord! I have been feeling the need to change our Sunday morning service, because we have a small group, our core faithful. So, today I decided to try something new. Instead of having a traditional service, we sat around a couple tables and had a small group Bible study. Everyone really enjoyed it and participated, and would like to continue doing service this way. Some of the teens already have questions they want to discuss! Then, Kid’s Club and evening service went really well too. To add to the blessings, God really helped me personally too. I’ve been struggling with several things, and I’ve just been tired and discouraged in spirit for a couple weeks. But today, I felt relief and encouragement. The problems are still there; they are things I have no control over. But I know who is in control. Last week I told a friend that I was “a basket case,” to which her response was “That’s okay as long as God is carrying the basket.”
Tonight we had a beautiful, rainy sunset. I was taking kids home from Kid’s Club, and stopped to take a picture.
Yesterday my cistern needed some work. The pipe that comes in from the city water was leaking badly and the pump was working all the time. So, this is what I found in my well! And these are the helpers. I went around all day yesterday calling a "pump" a "pacifier," a language flaw that no one bothered to correct until I said it in church this morning. Hmmm. Wonder what else I'm saying wrong that they're not telling me?

Where are Midas and Mr. Goodwrench?

2009-02-26T13:16:00.001-08:00

Where are Midas and Mr. Goodwrench? I'd even love to meet the Michelin man. Just for the record…. I am going to learn the difference between knocks, squeals, rattles, squeaks, and bangs! I don’t know if the Lord is trying to teach me patience…but I’ve had a series of problems with my car lately. As I stand and listen, I can’t tell if it’s a rattle, a knock, or a bang. It just doesn’t sound right! It doesn’t help that I don’t understand what they are telling me needs to be fixed. (Not that I would necessarily understand in English, but that is beside the point.) So, I’ve decided, I’m going to learn how to fix things for myself. I’m tired of taking every garage junkie’s opinion for what’s wrong with my car! What I wouldn’t give for a “Mr. Goodwrench Seal of Approval”! Don’t be surprised if the next time you see me I have grease under my fingernails and I'm talking about things like alternators and oil pumps. I started by taking a solo trip to the auto store and asking for power steering fluid. After a bit of demonstrating, complete with sound effects, the men there finally understood what I needed and gave it to me. I think they understood at first, but just wanted to hear my sound effects. Well, power steering fluid in hand, I headed home and put it in for myself. Unfortunately, the computer diagnostic that has to be done, as well as some electrical work, is a little beyond my current scope!

Welcome Back to Ukraine!

2009-02-21T13:23:00.000-08:00

I arrived back in Ukraine Thursday afternoon. As we were nearing Kyiv, I glanced out the window and thought, “Hmm, we must still be above the clouds.” A few minutes later, again I looked, and again it was all white. A short while passed, and I thought, “We are going really slowly. We should be about to land.” When I peered out, it was white as far as I could see. Upon closer inspection, I realized the entire landscape was covered in that dreadful white stuff again! Welcome back!

Faith's Wedding

2009-02-21T13:10:00.000-08:00

My friend’s wedding was beautiful, and it was so wonderful to be there. I feel very blessed to have such wonderful friends. I took quite a few pictures, and these probably aren’t the best, but these are my favorites. My brother adores Faith!

In other thoughts, a bit of soul-searching food for thought. … “Do I find happiness in God alone?”

Home!

2009-02-14T16:08:00.001-08:00

As I passed through passport control, after flying into Chicago, I heard the beautiful words, "Welcome home." Even though I am only in the US for a week, it is wonderful to spend time with friends and family. The wedding that I returned for came at an opportune time. God's timing is perfect, and He allowed me to return just when I was needed. My father has been in the hospital for a couple weeks, after suffering some seizures. It appears that his disease has progressed, and according to the doctors, it will not improve. I greatly desire your prayers for him, my mother, brother and I. We serve a big God, with whom NOTHING is impossible, and I will not discount that God can heal him! However, it is still a difficult time. Please pray for me as I return to Ukraine Wednesday.

The Great Chicken Escape

2009-02-06T13:43:00.001-08:00

As I was heading out to the bazaar this morning, greeting Morris, and receiving a muddy paw print greeting in return, my eye caught a flash of red in the back yard. Quite positive that there should be nothing back there floating around, I went to check it out. In the corner of the lean-to, I found a red chicken. Just an ordinary hen, nothing special, but definitely not supposed to be there. Well, Morris acted like he’d enjoy an early dinner, so I quickly chained him up, trying to decide what to do with my new squatter. Quite sure it must belong to my neighbor Yulia, I decided to catch it and take it to her house to ask her to ID the escapee. I found out that catching a chicken is harder than it looks. I tried sneaking up on it… that didn’t work. I tried cornering it, but that is no easy task… I did finally get it in the corner of the lean-to, but as I was trying to figure out how to grab it, it circled around me and was gone again. I tried chasing it… well… When I would get close enough to grab it, I was always to scared to reach out and get it. I mean, after all, it might scratch, bite, punch, karate chop, or whatever else a chicken does to its prey. Then I remembered that there was a kid’s butterfly net in the garage, not thinking about the keyword ‘butterfly.’ Needless to say, that didn't work either. I was about to decide to leave it alone and let it return from hence it came, when Yulia called from the gate. I let her in, and with hands quicker than the eye, she snatched the bird, only to find that I had positively scared an egg out of it, my reward for chicken liberation. Oh, the joys of the village!

Prayer Request

2009-02-05T09:50:00.000-08:00

I would appreciate your prayers for my father. He was on his way home from the hospital a couple days ago when he had a seizure. He is back home now, but he is very confused and has to have help walking.

2009-02-05T09:39:00.000-08:00

Nova Odessa’s fake police car. You see these fairly often along the highway here. The first time or two they always give you a start and make you check your speed. But once you know where they are….

A few days ago I was in Mykolayiv and happened to catch the drawbridge open. Mykolayiv used to be a big military shipbuilding center, so much so that foreigners were not allowed there. But times have changed and now they build yachts. What does that say about our changing world?

Business in Ukraine

2009-02-05T05:43:00.000-08:00

There are some days that the business of life seems to consume me. About 2 weeks ago a man from the gas company came to inspect my gas lines. He saw that a new boiler had been installed, and it wasn’t added to the original gas plan. Mind you, nothing has changed with the boiler, other than the old one was replaced. The new one isn’t in a different place, bigger, or really that much different. But, because this new boiler wasn’t added to the paperwork, he said I had to go in and add it. A couple of times I’ve tried to go in with a translator, but with one thing and anther it hadn’t gotten done. So, this morning, tired of waiting, I decided to brave it alone. I arrived nice and early, and there were only 3 people in line in front of me. I was happy I arrived early because within minutes there were more than 10 in line. Also, providential, I came on the right day. The office I needed is only open on Tuesdays and Thursdays. When I finally entered the office, that’s when the merry-go-round began. The lady in the office, let’s call her Woman A, examined my book and wrote out two receipts that had to be paid. Then she sent me down the hall to the cashier. A few minutes later, back again, Woman A sent me to the 3rd floor to get a stamp on the document. Back again to the first floor, where Woman A gave me my documents and sent me down another hall to have them Xeroxed. Woman B, who copied my documents, then sent me to another building to Woman C. Woman C examined all the documents, then wrote another receipt that needed to be paid to the cashier in the first building. So, off to the cashier I went again, wondering how long I would be trapped in the endless maze…. Back to Woman C I returned, paid receipt in hand, where everything was examined and stamped again. Three hours after I began, I finally left the gas office with several receipts and a stamp on the original gas plan, thinking “What a great morning! I lucked out because it only took 3 hours!” On with normal life in Ukraine….

Tagged ~ Memories from 2008

2009-01-31T13:49:00.000-08:00

My friend Bethany tagged me on her blog, and I’ve been tagged a few times on Facebook, so here goes.

A good book I read:
I can’t narrow it down to just one. A great faith building book-In the Arena by Isobel Kuhn. An eye-opening, make-ya-think kind of book, that I’ve read several times-Under the Overpass by Mike Yankowski. A hilarious, sarcastic travel book-Notes From a Small Island by Bill Bryson. I’m currently working on The Gulag Archipelago by Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn.

A new place I visited:
Moldova, interesting and enjoyable, but then, I’ve yet to meet a trip I don’t like! Also, Oregon and Washington. I love Seattle! This photo is from Port Angeles.

An inspiring verse or quote:
“If it had not been for the Lord who was on our side, when men rose up against us, then they would have swallowed us alive.” Psalms 124:1-3

A discovery I made:
I love Algernon. Taco seasoning can’t replace cheese sauce. I'm not always the paragon of strength I thought I was.

A new skill I acquired:
Dodging potholes, militzia, and mopeds.

A lesson learned:
If I try to speak Russian to a policeman who stops me, I confuse him so much he just sends me on my way.

A moment I will always remember:
Again, I can’t narrow it down. 1. Finding a hand in my bed one fateful night. Believe me, very memorable! 2. Driving through Salt Lake City in the middle of a crazy snow storm. 3. Saying good-bye to my family and friends at the airport.

I'm too tired to think of a title...

2009-01-29T13:15:00.000-08:00

This past week has been stressful. Thanks to all you who emailed and encouraged me. I appreciate it. The next three days are my busiest and most taxing, I’m already tired, and I have a non-stop schedule from 7 AM tomorrow until after church Sunday night. That being said, I greatly desire your prayers over the next few days.

On a positive note, some friends have made it possible for me to go home for a wedding in a couple weeks. I can‘t tell you how excited I am! It will be wonderful for everything to be ‘familiar’ and to not be viewed as a foreigner for a week.

Really Bad Horrible No-Good Day

2009-01-24T10:25:00.000-08:00

Today I felt like Alexander. (For those of you who don't have kids, or have never taken a children's literature class, that is a reference you should look up.) To start off the morning, bright and early, I managed to slide on a slick patch in the road and put the van in the ditch. A nice fellow in a cargo van gave us a quick tow and we were back on the road in no time, without a scratch. Thank the Lord for keeping His protecting hand on us. I have been thinking all day how it could have been so much worse, but we were in the shadow of His wings. When I got home, all the water was used. Thankfully, the city water was on, and we managed to attach a hose from the valve to the cistern to fill it up faster. Then, forgot about it and overfilled it.

Just when I thought my day couldn't get worse, I slipped and fell in the mud in the garden and in the process managed to dump about half a pan of used cat litter on myself. Believe me when I say I was NOT impressed. Yep, it was one of those days.

January....ugh!

2009-01-22T13:30:00.000-08:00

Svieta's Birthday Party

2009-01-21T14:24:00.001-08:00

Lena, in the white stuff outside...

Monday I went with Lena to her sister’s birthday party. There were a lot of older young people there and for the first time in a long time I didn’t feel like I had to be the responsible adult. It was great! We ate, sang, and played games until nearly 2 AM and I loved every minute of it!

A Creative Telling of Events

2009-01-21T14:16:00.000-08:00

Imagine, if you will, that you are a middle-aged Ukrainian man… You are standing on a street corner one icy Sunday afternoon, solving world affairs with 4 of your friends. You see a van coming, but pay no attention to it, because you are in the middle of solving the gas crisis. Suddenly you realize that the van is turning around at the corner in front of you. You are surprised to see a woman driving, because it is a microbus after all, and women don’t usually drive something like that. You are just about to make a comment to your friends about female drivers when you realize that the van is not going on the slick road; the tires are spinning futilely. You begin to smirk at the stupid female driver, when the side door opens and 9 children, all boys of varying ages from 7 to 18, all excitedly chattering, march to the back of the van. Then the lady starts shouting out the window at them in English and a couple of the small ones get back in the van, while the others begin to push. In a matter of seconds, amid a uproar of hysterical laughter, chatter, and excitement, they drive away. And you have forgotten the point you were going to make about the gas crisis.

Ode to a Really Horrible White Substance

2009-01-18T13:42:00.001-08:00

We woke up this morning to… you guessed it… more snow! After kid’s club I had a quick…um, shall we say “skirmish” in the snow with 4 kids who shall remain nameless for the purposes of this blog… Later I went out to get in the van, and found a “snow grandma” proudly sitting on the hood.

Dima wanted to look like he was really side slipping or doing a stem Christie…

Fantasy Reality

Winter Kid's Club Party

2009-01-18T13:31:00.000-08:00

Hello from the whirlwind that is my life! Friday my translator, Lena, arrived, just in time to help with a kid’s club party on Saturday. We spent Friday making purchases and decorating. We had a snow theme. Imagine that! Saturday evening 18 kids came over. (These were the kids who memorized all the verses and attended at least 75% of the time.) And guess what… real snow! I much prefer my paper cutouts!

Tiptoeing down a frozen river to Alaska

Ice fishing in Siberia

Neighborhood

2009-01-15T12:19:00.000-08:00

So, you want to be very close to your neighbors? I have the house for you...

Martha in Ministry

2009-01-15T12:16:00.000-08:00

I want to be a Mary and sit at the feet of Jesus, but I consistently find myself being a Martha in the kitchen, struggling to find the balance in my ministry. I am here to minister to, to share, to reach out, to give of myself, but some days I also need to bask in the presence of Jesus. That isn’t always easy to accomplish when all day I was working on preparations a kid’s club party, had a houseful of kids, then I was the dinner guest at some neighbor’s. When I returned home 3 hours later, I still had to clean the mess that was left from earlier. As I was in the kitchen, feeling sorry for myself, like Martha, Jesus reminded me of the following:

1. I am here to reach out, but not leech out. Now I know that sounds weird, but you know how a leech sucks your blood, your life? Jesus reminded me that I’m no good to anyone if I let all the things that I have to do, all the practical necessary things, suck away my joy. If the work of the ministry takes away the joy of the ministry, there will soon be no ministry. Ministry is work. But, it should also be joy.

How do you find the balance? I don’t know yet. This is a new one for me. I’m trusting Jesus to show me.

Christmas Program

2009-01-12T10:46:00.000-08:00

Natasha and Anya singing at the Christmas program.

Winter Hats

2009-01-12T10:35:00.000-08:00

These are a few parishoners in their winter garb. I just love the hats!
Some things I really love about winter in Ukraine:
1. You don't have to comb your hair because you wear a hat.
2. Scarves are flattering... need I say more?
3. At night you can hear the ice on the river cracking.
4. Tea and coffee by the liters!
5. If you have tennis shoes and short socks on, the grandmothers, and sometimes even the grandfathers, will tell you to cover your naked legs!

Merry Christmas...Again

2009-01-07T13:15:00.000-08:00

More on the fact that it is cold enough to freeze nitrogen. ;~) There was about a 1/4 inch of ice on the INSIDE of my veranda windows today.... all day! And this week is only supposed to get worse! Yesterday was Orthodox Christmas in Ukraine, so merry Christmas again!

Random Pics

2009-01-05T15:48:00.000-08:00

These guys were having a bit of trouble jacking up their stand. A front wheel had come off and the book stand was tilted forward, spilling books out.

Interesting sign.

An American Rant

2009-01-05T15:44:00.000-08:00

Okay, this is a bit of a rant, so if you don’t like rants, vacate this page immediately or your head will explode!

I am an American, and I’m proud to say that. Today, it was probably good that I can’t speak very much Russian, because I might have spoken my mind. A gentleman, dare I call him that, was making broad, stereotypical statements about America and Americans. In general, he gave us a good upbraiding. Now, I don’t mind people speaking their mind. After all, I’m an American and that is a good part of how our country began, by people standing up for what they believe in. However, what was insulting is that this man has never lived in America, never visited America, and really had no idea what he was talking about. I also found it insulting that he thought I didn’t understand and proceeded to expound on his philosophies so thoroughly. Now, I’m not saying we as Americans are perfect, far from it in fact. However, I do think we are the nation everyone loves to hate. We are often criticized as lacking intelligence and our education system is constantly being battered by the media. Why is it then, if I may ask, that millions of students from around the world, including the ‘intelligent’ countries like Japan, come to America to study? Hmmm… Our government is watched and criticized worldwide for getting into conflicts that are not our own, yet when many countries are having problems, who do they call? Hmmm… And the kicker… America is the big, bad place that is such a horrible place to live, yet immigrants pour in, legally and illegally. Hmmm… So, unlike some who are afraid to say where they are from, I proudly say “I’m an American.” Spit at me, curse me, hate me, ridicule me, but someday you may end up living next door to me.

I warned you in the beginning, this is a rant. It’s a good thing I couldn’t say all this in Russian today!