Fireworks

In Kiev it is not uncommon to see, or at least hear, fireworks any (and sometimes every) night of the week. Last night, though, every direction I could see from my window someone was setting off fireworks in celebration of this nation’s independence. It was really neat to watch. Then, as I settled into bed, out the window, just above the apartments across the street was the beautiful, bright shining moon. I wish I had my camera so I could have taken a picture. I’m sure it wouldn’t have done it justice, though.

Independence Day

Happy Independence Day, Ukraine.

Today I was watching a Boy Meets World episode where Cory ends up in 1957. There is an announcement made that Russia has launched a “spy” satellite and they are afraid that Cory is a Russian spy. It made me think about how people must have viewed this area of the world back then and maybe even how people who don’t know better still view the former soviet countries. I got to thinking about how so often when something ‘negative’ is going on, it is all over the news and we fail to pay attention to the positive things happening. Today let’s focus on the positive…and if you know any Ukrainians, wish them a happy 16th birthday :o)
“Look to the nations and watch; stand in awe and be amazed for I am doing something in your day that you would not believe even if you were told.” Habakkuk 1:5

O-M-G it is H-O-T

So, I may not live in Florida anymore, but I think we may have you guys beat temperature wise. These past couple days have been crazy hot. And the heat doesn't usually bother me. Alan was looking at the weather report and says it is supposed to start cooling off after today. I hope he is right.

This unexpected heat wave, however, has not kept me from using my coffee grinder and press. I make a full press in the morning and drink hot coffee, then I pour what is left into another cup, add cream and sugar and stick in the freezer for a frapichino come mid afternoon. yeeeessss.

Speaking of which...

Highlights

Michelle is all about people keeping up with their bolgs…and I’ve been gone for so long that I have no clue where to pick up from or where to start…but, for Michelle (and anyone else who reads my blog and has been missing me during my absence) I press on.

This summer was the hardest yet, and still, as things so often seem to work out, it reaped some of the best rewards.

Summer highlights: (in no particular order)

Igor’s graduation
the “Stars” song sung under our window
hundreds of new brothers and sisters
Man with Umbrella
Max’s face as he asked for mac and cheese 3 times a day
Being taken care of by the Magdych’s when I was sick
One really great phone conversation with Calyn
Ninja Night
Worship with Sergey
Gretchka. And his mad drumming skills :o)
Team 1’s amazing creativity
Something about complete sentences
A tea party with the Zychinko’s
Baby Pasha confidently coming in (without knocking) just to hang out with us
Kolya (known to some of you as “my name is Nick”
The most amazing festival director ever.
REAL coffee from Daniel (aka ‘sound’) at a time I desperately needed it :o)
Flowers from a girl in Lauren’s English Class
Futbal
Bible Studies with American teams (ya’ll taught me a lot, thanks!!!)
Visiting English Classes…and getting to play every now and then :o)
Communion with Ukrainian and American staff
Morning stretch in my pajamas :o)
“taking the stage” during worship at the last BOOM—with Valera!!!
Pax2
Collations
Grading English tests with Pasha, Laura and Andrey
Sverchok’s surprise appearance on Roma’s birthday.
Gena’s birthday song as preformed by Max while playing the Jim Bay (as opposed to the accordion)
Praying with Madison
Really great AP time concluded as Pax came and entertained Lauren and I
I hesitate to write this, but alas, feel it must be included, “the naked music.”
A cup of tea Roma brought me while I was doing English testing one day.
City days with Andrey
Spending time with Rel and knowing that soon I will get to do life with her all the time
The most amazing day off ever: Ice Skating, Harry Potter 5 and a double birthday dinner
E-mails from ‘the would-be homeless kids’ (you know who you are)
Tacos at Roma’s
Dancing with RAS at Lauren’s party
Oleg’s “phrase of the day” from Lauren
A missing “d” in Rel’s Happy Birthday sign
Camp Dance
Interpreter Katya V talking to me in Russian instead of English and confusing other interpreters :o)
Sharing “camp life” with Mom
Reciting a verse of the day in English, Russian and Ukrainian. I even got a giant pixi stick.
Banana Pudding.
Night at the V’s before RAS went home.
HP7, one of a kind, read 4 times over, complete with notes and bookmarks
Dr. Pepper Jelly Beans…not to mention the real thing!!! (thank you to all who kept me in stock throughout the summer)
Skateboarders who hung out with us in the city after camp.
Wes getting potatoes from the lady in the kitchen
A note on the back of an English test with nothing more than a cell phone # and instructions to call if I wanted to find out how good his English was.
The day the RAS spent too much time trying to figure out the next orientation schedule and we all went a little crazy
Helping Sergey sell CD’s…dressed as Ninja’s
The night Max shared his testimony with his sisters
The sword fights (except that one where Sergey almost lost a finger)
A tear drenched floor after one repentance night
My RAS ladies.

This is a very incomplete list. I sure have a lot to thank God for this summer. If you have a highlight from the summer, I would love for you to leave it as a comment on this blog :o) And hopefully my next blog won’t be quite as long in coming as this one was.