Starting out well...

Hey Again!

Today is Monday August 29, 2005. This morning I woke up at 7:15ish
to Veronica saying “hey Lori, Jake says “hi””. Quickly followed by
my bouncing out of bed to type a few short words to him before
abruptly being interrupted as the internet decided to lose connection
and fail to return to its working state. Sad for me. But, it was
nice to talk to him. I miss my AllSummerStaff more than they know.

Then, Amberly, Veronica and I left Veronica’s at 8:00 to get Amberly
to her Russian class (yea.) that started at 9. Funny thing—her
beginning level Russian teacher doesn’t speak hardly any English.
But, the school seems really good. It’s small (there are only 3
people in her class total) which means she’ll get a lot of individual
attention and that will be good. I can’t wait until she gets home so
we can talk about it.

PRAISE REPORT: Veronica just got a call back from one of the
agencies and we are scheduled to go look at two different apartments
today starting at 2:00. I am really excited. So, please keep
praying. Our prayer is that God will help us to find the apartment
that is best for us, so we don’t want to rush into anything (which is
hard b/c we are both SO ready to have our own place) so, (as
hesitant as I am to ask this) pray for patience for us as we begin
our search today.

I’ll do my best to keep you posted.

Peace Out for now.

A Really Good Day

Priviet!!

Update time…let’s see...ok, well, Amberly already wrote all about
yesterday on her xanga so I am going to copy and paste it here and
I’ll add some of my own thoughts to it in italics for you b/c we were
together all day and we basically felt the same way about stuff…

Wow, today was definitely the best day I’ve had since I’ve been
here…(today was a really good day…maybe, yes, the best since the
summer staff left…I’m not sure…my memory isn’t that good, but it was
DEFINATLY a good day). we started out going to Sergey Z’s(that’s
Zychiko not Zimyatin and for those of you who don’t know him he is
the Radooga Worship leader. Really amazing man.) church, and just
seeing him and his wife is enough to make any day the best…but we met
with their deacon team and talked about me and how I was going to
help them start their English club…I almost blubbered several times,
I mean they said they had been praying about this for a year and I
was the answer to their prayers…Wow…I felt as I sat there that I was
exactly where I am supposed to be…It was amazing to feel the feeling
of being completely in the center of God’s will…and then the women in
charge of it all told me she was so excited because she had been
praying for THREE YEARS about this, and I was the answer…I have never
felt such a feeling…I mean I think about where I was 3 years ago, and
that God began preparing me then…and she was faithful, and her
prayers brought me here…I mean, WOW…and it is so cool to feel that I
have been being prepared for this moment, this very moment….that’s
all I can say is wow (it was really amazing. I mean, I was tearing
up for Amberly. God is doing great things. And then Sergei was
talking about how awesome Amberly is and, well, if you knew Sergei,
you’d know that to have him saying such things about someone means a
WHOLE lot. That man radiates Christ like I haven’t seen in anyone
else. So, what an honor to hear him talk about you being a
blessing). …then we went to a wedding…it was seriously the happiest
wedding that I have ever been to… I can’t explain it, except to say
that God was there…it made me happy..real happy (she’s right. I’ve
been to quite a few weddings and this one was really, really happy.
And I didn’t even know what was being said for the most part. )…Also,
we saw Sister Marina, Anya, Olya, Roma (guitar one), Sasha (Josh’s
fave tech guy)…that was fun…then we went and met up with Nikita, my
favorite Ukrainian twins, Pasha, and My Masha…that was a blast…we
played in the fountain (yea! People played in the fountain with
me…I’d been waiting on that one for a long time. I felt pretty
stupid the day I was playing in the fountain by myself…it was fun,
but, I felt stupid and the Josh starts taking picture of me…growl. So
today the fountain was lots of fun :o) we would all cover different
holes to make water squirt up higher out of others. Fun times.…me
and Nikita sat in the fountain…this was an amazing day and I thank
God for it so much…oh yeah, and me and Lori went around the city all
by ourselves…ALL ALONE…(that’s right. You tell me what Metro stop to
get off at and what Marchutka (small bus) to take and I am pretty
confident I can get there now…that’s happy. Josh—anytime I do it on
my own I think of you :o) I had fun the night we hung out…even
though it wasn’t under the best of circumstances. And I know who to
call when I get lost—to bad it’ll be super expensive :o )we both
wanted our AllSummerStaff to see us…it was good to feel like we
didn’t have to be baby sat, you know…to be independent again…we went
and ate at Boomshanky… =] that one was for Justin….Tomorrow I start
school…I’m a little nervous, but very excited…hopefully tomorrow
we’ll find an apartment…we are so ready…please pray about that
guys…pray hard…it is so cool because Serosha (Sergei Zychinko)
announced it at church too…just because he is amazing…and Veronica
was talking to them about looking for an apartment for us and they
all said at once, “we’re looking too.” Wow, God is good…

(it’s me again…) And, yes, He is good. I was gonna keep talking, but
since I want to switch days on you, I think I will start a new
entry…so…

Peace Out.

two in a row...i'm impressed

Hiya Peeps—

Today was productive—don’t get too excited yet, no apartment yet.
The Agency doesn’t work on Sat. and Sun. so maybe Monday—but, we
went to an outdoor market place called Pitrovka and Amberly bought a
MP3 with 14 Beetles albums on it for 15??? (that’s about 3 dollars)
so we are super excited about that. We are listening to it right now
at Veronica’s. Can’t wait until we can dance and sing and jam around
our own apartment :o) Then, we went and bought school supplies for
Amberly and Veronica who both start school next week. I love school
supplies. I can spend hours in Staples :o) I used to go with Ms.
Julie or with Kenley…ahhh..happy times :o) I restrained and didn’t
buy anything—you should be proud. We decided to go to lunch at
BoomShanky and we pretended Veronica had amnesia and Amberly and I
got us there and back to Veronica’s all by ourselves. And last night
I made it all the way from Oleg’s to Veronica’s on my own. Just me.
It really is cool to feel like I am getting better about knowing
where I am and how to get to places that I use regularly. I think
tonight we are going to dye Amberly’s hair…fun times. Well, I really
don’t know what else to say right now, so…

Peace Out!

Yea!!!

Yea!! I'm back...I missed you guys here in blogger land. I'm not sure how long it will be before I can post again, but hopefully not as long as the delay this time.

To my faithful tagboarders-thank you and I love you all too, and Calyn and Paul will always be the best :o)

I am home from Crimea and will post more on that when I have time.

I have been at Veronica's for the past couple nights with her and Amberly and we are having a great time. Baked a cake tonight.

Check out Amberly's xanga account for some fun stories.

and Josh's for some good pics.

Well, being that it is 2:20am I think it is time for Amberly and I to go to bed. Hopefully we will get to go appartment searching tomorrow...pray for that.

Until I have internet access again...

...peace out!

a prayer for a changed camp

So, today, I've just been sorta "blah" not bad blah just contentnad
peaceful, but not necessarilly happy--well, maybe joyful would be a
better word. And then I remembered that tonight is alter call, and I
walked out of my building to head to the auditorium and I looked
around and all the kids are out playing. Some are playing frisbee
near the ampatheater. Some are hanging out on the steps to their
buildings; others are in the courtyard playing ball games of all
kinds; still more are sitting on the picnic tables talking to friends.
And, as I began walking through and around these kids I found myself
praying for them. Praying that God would reveal Himself to them in
new ways tonight. A lot of the kids this camp are already believers,
a lot are not. My prayer is that God would show each student (myself
and the summer staff and the Radooga staff and the Am. Team included)
something new about Himself tonight. I want every person in this camp
to be changed before the summer ends. I know that God is big enough
to do this. And I believe He wants it, too. So, please join me in my
prayer for God to change this camp and to rock our socks off tonight.

Thank you for your faithfulness and prayers this summer.

Peace Out.

Lasts

Yeah, so Nikita left today...so it was his last day at camp, and most
of the summer staff's last time to see him.

Tonight is the last alter call night...so, be in prayer for that.

Tomorrow is the last full day of camp.

and then will be the last last day of camp.

the last trip with a team to St. Andrew's Street.

The last trip to the airport.

all that sad stuff... :o( The ending is bitter sweet. and God has been
truly good. we are truly blessed.

i scream you scream we all scream for icecream

Every week we get the team McDonald's on the 4th night of camp. So,
yesterday was McDonald's day and Oleg Jr. went to get it. When he
got back we were going through the stuff and realized it wasn't all
there, so Veronica called McDonald's and they said "oh, yeah, we still
have a whole plastic bag here full of your stuff" so, Oleg had to go
back and asked if I wanted to come...of course I wanted to go...so, we
got in the van and he said "Hey, Lori, I'm sorry that the AC doesn't
work and that I don't have any Christmas music." That made me really
happy (and a little sad at the same time). He knows that Calyn and I
do that at home, and was trying to make me happy--it worked :o)
He's so cool. I love him. Anyway, when we got to McDonald's the lady
asked if he wanted anything (cause she felt bad that he forgot a bag, I
dunno, but whatever) so, we both got caramel sundaes and they were AMAZING.
yum. So good. :o)

Peace Out!

Tea for Dinner!?!

Yes, you read that heading correctly...they served tea for dinner
tonight...the world doesn't get any crazier than this people. I've
been here for 50something days and everyone of them goes like
this...tea for breakfast, eyeball juice for lunch, hot
chocolate/coffee stuff for diner. that's just the way it is. and
then today...RANDOM! almost didn't even go to dinner and I get there
and we have TEA!!! HAPPY, HAPPPY Day :o)

ok, so now to catch you up on my past several days...

...Had Team B's day off 4 days ago. (let me remind you that Team B
consists of me, Josh, Jake, lil' Bray-Bray, and Deb) well, we took
Team 6 to the airport in the morning at 4:45, and Deb had to go home
with Team 6 b/c she works at an Elem. school and had to be back. So
now, its me and the boys. Oh, and when I was passing out tickets and
passports at the airport I called out Nick's name and he was like--"I
don't go home until friday." and I was like "oh, ok." and so I guess
Nick left today. Maybe I should ask around about that...and send him
an e-mail to say I'm sorry I didn't get to say goodbye. wow. sad.
Anyway, so Nick, Jake, Josh, Braylon and I hopped in Lena's car with
Oleg and headed to his house...or so we thought. Oleg told us when we
got in the car that he was taking the boys (plus skeef) to the Sauna.
Josh was like...uh, what about Lori...and then it turned out that he
didn't want to go to the sauna either so the boys went and Josh and I
went to the city. I LOVE Kyiv at night. It is amazing. so much
prettier than during the day and so much going on all the time.
Who'da thunk it, that I would like being in a big city!?! Anyway,
Josh and I went to Strivinki Booli(sp? vin?) for dinner. YUMMY! and
then we went to Independence Square and hung out and watched some
break dancers which was fun. Then we went to an Internet place and I
got on-line and almost didn't sign onto IM cause I knew all you guys
were at camp, but I decided to do it anyway and my mommy was on!!!!
So, I got to talk to my mom for like 45min. and that was SUPER
AWESOME!!!! God was so good to us to put us both on at the same time.
What are the chances!!!???!!! That was super cool. (I love you,
mammy :o) Then, we headed back to Oleg's (oh, and we learned how to
say "next stop please" so that we could tell the bus driver!!! aren't
we cool!?!) When we got to Oleg's they were already home and so we
watched the Matrix and hung out and went to bed. Then, we had yummy
coffee and this cake stuff Jake had bought in the morning and it was
yummy, too.

Then, Oleg came and picked us up and it was Day 1 of camp
7...wow, that's a lot of camps. So I...(Calyn, can you
guess)...graded and sorted and divided english tests. yea. :o)
classes are pretty small this week 12-14 kids in each.

Yesterday was the first full day of camp and it was a lot of fun. New
Life is a camp that came camp 2 and is back, so Little Jake came to
visit (he couldn't afford to be a camper again, but, he said it's ok,
b/c its more fun to visit since he's already been to camp once b/c now
he just gets to hang out with us :o) One of the girls from New Life
(this is also the church I visited that Sunday I went to church) is in
an art school and she has to draw 50 pictures a week and so yesterday
she asked if she could draw me--it was AMAZING!!! She is so talented.
I can't imagine being 16 and being that good at anything. so cool.

Today has been a good day, too. I had a lot of fun at Rec and hanging
out with Carli. She and Jake and I just watched Zoolander and that
was fun :o) Ilia (Oleg Jr.'s 13 year old son) and I have this war
going on b/c he gets the keys to our buildings during evening program
and Party Zone and I make him let me in and don't give him a present
every time. Tonight he locked me in the building. The other day he
ran off with my backpack. I love it; it is so much fun, and I am
pretty sure he is coming to Crimea with us which is super cool!

Speaking of Crimea...I have a meeting to discuss that in...8 min, so I
s'pose I had better finish up my e-mails for now...

Peace Out!

I love you all.

Lori

Interview with Jake

...in honor of my favorite person ever...

Jake: I don't have a lot to say...
Lori: sure you do. you can talk about how cool Texas is or your
upcomming trip to Fl or your recent discovery that Nebula make sounds
or the cool map bag you bought on the street the other day, or little
Jake's visit last night...i'm sure you can come up with something to
say...
Jake: Dang. yeah. (silence)ummm...I like to draw apparently; I drew my
sink today.
Lori: really, why your sink?
Jake: 'cause it looks really nasty and kinda cool. what else, I don't
know...ummm...i don't know. ask me a question...
Lori: ummm...i'm not as random as calyn...
Jake: and its not late, but we can still talk about "I spared a bug
today"...it was a little tiny spider and I had jsut smashed one today
and I can only smash one in a day and it ws just so small that i...i
couldn't do it. It was small i mean, probably the size of a pin
head...a fith the size of a pin head, and I mean the little pins.
Lori: that was nice of you.
Jake: I do what I can. ummm...I'm really thirsty and Lori threw my
freakin water bottle away.
Lori: not true. actually, I rescued your water bottle for you last
night, i don't know what YOU did with your water bottle today
Jake: uh, unh...you lost it today b/c we were at the rec field
together and if you didn't rescue it, its your fault.
(enter veronica)
Jake: hey, can I have a chocolate bar.
Veronica: no
Jake: (whiny) I'm thirsty. why's moma oleg gone.
Veronica: Lori has some water.
Lori: (laughing)
Jake: There she is! (bounds down the stairs--I'm assuming to buy
chochlate and a drink...)

I s'pose that ends our interview. sorry we're pretty dull today.
interviews work better at 1 am when you're all really tired.
We'll try again later.

Lori: say goodbye Jake
Jake: "goodbye Jake"

God blessed my socks off!!!

I've been wanting to write this blog for a couple of days, but still
don't really have the words or know how to tell you just how awesome
God has been to show His glory a little more speciffically this week,
but let me try and express a little bit of what He's done...

...During camp 2 we only had 6 Americans on the team, so the summer
staff both taught English class and did our stuff (drama, rec,
worship, etc.) Skeef and I taught an advanced English class together
and most of our kids spoke English REALLY well. So, basically we had
"discussion class;" it was a lot of fun. One day Skeef and I decided
to share our testimonies and then asked if any of our kids wanted to
share theirs. Everyone in our class said something. Even those who
were not Christians shared about their lives and told their stories.
The very last girl to go was a girl named Ira and she said that she
had felt God here and that she wanted to know Him but that she was
scared about her dad's reaction to her becomming a Christian. it
broke my heart to watch her struggle with this decision. I talked
with Ira some and I shared my burden for her with Amberly (another
girl on summer staff who I know has a big heart for girls with bad
family situations) and Amberly and I spent the next several days
praying for and talking with Ira about who God is and who He wants to
be in her life. You knew God wanted her just by the tension that
surrounded the whole situation. You could feel it. She left, and
neither Amberly nor I were sure about what, if any, decision had been
made, but we decided to keep praying for her. Then, this week (camp
7) a girl named Natasha, who was a translator last summer came back to
translate for us. Apparently she goes to the church that Ira had come
from and Ira had sent pictures and notes through Natasha for Amberly
and I. In the note she said that she accepted Jesus after she got
home from camp and that even though her father is very angry about
this decision she is at peace and she is very glad to know Christ.
WOW!!! God didn't have to send Natasha to share this news with us,
but what a blessing it is to know that Ira will be in Heaven with me
one day!!! Please, pray for Ira, though, b/c she is being persicuted
in her home for this decision.

GOD IS SO GOOD!!!!

Peace out!
Lori