Finally in Ukraine!!!!

My friends!

I made it to Ukraine! After a long wait at the airport (our flight was delayed to JFK for 4 hours!) Allie and I had to make a mad dash to our plane to the Ukraine. The doors were already shut, but they opened them for us and we had an uneventful flight across the ocean. Unfortunately, our luggage did not have the same luxury, and was not there when we got off the plane. This was most unfortunate and adding to the initial unpleasantness was the mean immigration people and uptight luggage ladies. Just as we began to think that all of Ukraine was like this…Maria and her grandma Nadia met us outside the gate with great big smiles and welcoming arms.

Our host family is wonderful. There are five children in the house. Sophia (10) and Angela (12) are Maria’s daughters. Daniel (12) and Bogdan (6) are Anatoliy’s sons. Antoliy is Maria’s uncle. Christy (10) is….shoot…Rah…something…I feel terrible for forgetting…but she is Maria’s mother who has moved out while Allie and I stay here. So five kids, Maria, Anatoliy and his wife Luda, Nadia the grandma of Maria, and Rah….and her husband are usually live in the house. And their dog Rex. A very full house. The house is on the edge of a forest with a lake not far in. It was wonderfully warm when we first arrived but has become freezing within the past few days. Like…I’m cold in a scarf, jeans and hoodie cold. But we have plenty of blankets around the house to keep us warm.

Today we had a church sort of meeting. Some friends or neighbours and their children came to the front yard where a sort of tent is permanently set up. Anatoliy (who is the pastor for Kiev) talked to them about Jesus and God and the inclusiveness of everyone. He had a great message as he talked about not being hateful or angry to any other Christian denomination or other religion. He did not go into deep lengths about the church but gave an overall message of hope and love and community. He did discuss Jesus and the love he gave, and how God is to us like we are to a computer. It was interesting short sermon to listen to. Then the ladies there asked Allie and I questions about Graceland (I felt like perhaps GU should be giving us some compensation for advertizing…or lessening tuition..haha). Then we had a short talent show with the kids. We had been at a farming fair the previous day and the kids and their friends had seen all sorts of acrobatic acts and dances and so they tried to copy them. They danced, and did flexibility things and fight dancing. It was really funny and actually quite decent. Then Allie and I sang Amazing Grace…which was sort of lame after the kids’ funny dancing things…but they appreciated it.

I am having a great time so far here. Allie and I will work with Maria this week and brainstorm ways to outreach into the community both for church purposes and community building purposes. We haven’t discussed it with Maria yet….but one idea is having a huge trash pick up day with the community because the forest has become a dumping ground. Maria’s strength is kids’ ministry so there are children here often and we will continue to play and work with them. Allie brought a parachute to play games with and we took it out yesterday…and they asked for it again today, so we are having a lot of fun playing lots of games. Today’s favorites were volleyball and spoons.

We don’t have a lot of access to the internet yet, but once we do, I’ll keep this posted more frequently.

Summarized, everything is great. Ukraine is cold, but lovely.

-Zoe