WW2 museum

This is Alicia and I in front of one of the bas relief statues at the WW2 museum here in Kiev. Impressive it was! We didn't take pictures inside, you'll have to come visit us and we'll take you there. The stakes were high and many battles were fought on Ukrainian soil-- millions of lives were lost. They have memorialized honorably.

After our museum trip we were invited to the home of Ann Marie, Alan, and Emily. Here I am when dinner is served, Alicia with photo credits.

Here's our group. We were all touristy Americans and we didn't care who knew. We may have been the only people in Kiev who had a picnic in the rain.
Alan, Calyn, Emily, Alicia, Lori, Callie, Harmony, AnnMarie, Jenny, Brett with photo credit.

Here's the silver lady whose image watches over Kiev. She's really big, there's nothing in the picture to give perspective, but let's just say if she and the Statue of Liberty got into a fight, she would probably win. (because of choice of weapons, of course)

Here's me and Leesh in front of the pretty leaves, bound to fall soon.

Prayer # 4.

Otets nosh nebezniy!

Blagodareem Tebya za novee din

Blagodareem Tebya za xleb

Blagodareem Tebya ze pomosht

Gospoad’! Tiy bcemogootsee!

Tiy meelacerdniy!

Tiy spravedleeviy!

Tiy sovershenniy!

Miy lewbeem Tebya!

Die nam svaio lewboaf

Pamagee nam eezoochat roosky yizik

Pamagee nam cliyshat, Tvoy slova, kogda miy cheetaiem Beebleeyoo

Pamagee nam propovedobat Sloba Tvayo

V’eemya Eesoosa Xreesta, Ameen.

Our heavenly father!

Thank you for this new day

Thank you for the bread

Thank you for your help

God, You are Allmighty!

You are merciful!

You are just!

You are perfect!

We love you!

Give us your love

Help us study Russian language

Help us hear Your Word when we study the Bible

Help us preach Your Word

In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen.

Anniversaries

We have been here for 7 weeks. Just over a week ago, Brett and came upon our first anniversary. That is the anniversary of us meeting at Tammany Oaks Church of Christ, just after Hurricane Katrina hit last year (our prayers are with those in Mandeville La. that are still in the midst of life after the Katrina and Rita). Although we were not directly affected by the storm, we were both very much indirectly affected. Both of our lives are drastically different since the storm. God has directed our paths together and now here to Ukraine.

It is hard to believe that we have almost been married one year. I pray that God will allow us to use every day as a most wonderful gift and opportunity to serve him by serving each other in our marriage and those around us; whether we can speak their language or not. It will be quite a while before we can have conversations with people, but I know God will show us ways to share his love with those around us.

Prayer #3

Maleetva # 3:
Otez nash nebesniy!
Blagadareem Tebya za looboaf Tvayoo.
Blagadareem Tebya za etat den
Blagadareem Tebya za Ceena ee spaseneeya
Blagadareem Tebya za xlep.

Me loobeem Tebya, Gospoad'.
Die nam sealy, zdaroveea, terpinea
Pomogee nam harrashow govareet ee poneemat pa russky
Me clabeet Tebya ee malimcya. Ameen.

**********************
And now in English:

Prayer # 3

Our heavenly Father!
Thank you for your love.
Thank you for this beautiful day
Thank you for your Son and salvation
Thank you for the bread

We love you God
Give us strength, health, patience
Help us to speak and understand Russian well
We praise you and pray. Amen.

(these prayers are numbered because we are learning them in class-- one at a time)

Alicia Visiting with the Babuskas

This week in Kiev

Here's my beautiful wife sniffing some mama-jahambo flowers we got from a little feller down at the Metro.

Don't you wish you could smell this 'nanner pudding?
Thanks Grady (and no doubt Nancy) for the recipe.

Here's Brett buying produce at the outdoor market
Alicia's a good photographer, isn't she? Look at all the colors.

Some friends of ours having tea in our doma.
They were recently evacuated from their mission point--
which is somewhere in the 10/40 window.
There are still missionaries whose lives are still in danger in the field.