Orphanage Visit

Recently, Brett and I visited an orphanage near our apt. Sergeau, the preacher at the Xarkivska Church of Christ invited us to go with him. He has been visiting this orphanage for the last year. We went into a classroom where there were about 15 kids around the ages of 8-10. Of course Brett and I aren’t sure of everything that was said, but he had a school type lesson with them and he also incorporated Jesus into it. We helped the kids as they made their crafts. We were able to say a few things to them. It was kind of intimidating for me because I’m used to being able to easily have a conversation with children and this time it was a stretch to speak a few sentences like asking them what their name was and how old they were. Some of them knew some Spanish that they had been learning in school at the orphanage, so we counted in Spanish together.

One thing that was especially heart breaking was that they called all adults “mama” or “papa.”

Sergeau said it was because they so desperately wanted to have their own mama and papa. As the class was ending, different men and women came in and out and took a child with them. Sergeau said they worked for the orphanage and did different things with the kids.

After the orphanage visit, Brett and I walked to get on the metro and I noticed a little girl holding a woman’s hand and turning back and smiling at us. I realized it was a little girl that I had talked to at the orphanage. She got on the metro too but I never saw her again. It’s neat the connection that I felt with that little girl although we could barely speak to each other.

I hope to visit as many orphanages as I can to see what all the needs are and to see if this is a ministry that I might get involved in.

DAILY LIFE

Speaking the Russian language, when you only know pieces of it is like playing taboo and charades at the same time. It’s like taboo because we only know so many words and it’s like charades because we do a lot of motions and pointing when we talk to someone.

A few weeks ago, Brett and I were looking for suction cups to hang a strand of Christmas lights, I had no idea how to say suction cups in Russian ( we unfortunately have not learned that word in class yet). I know how to say “I want to buy” and I know the word “window” in Russian. So, we found someone working and I said, “I want to buy this”, and I pointed to a strand of Christmas lights. I then said “window” and made a suction cup noise and asked if they had those. (I hope this makes sense). Any way, he understood and pointed us in the right direction. I was so excited that I got my point across. We have learned that you can’t be afraid and you have to be willing to sound silly, or you will never get anywhere. It helps us with the language the more we practice it and it builds our confidence that we can actually communicate (as funny as it may look and sound).

Today I went to the grocery store and was looking for this stuff called “cmalets” that Grady said I could try in cookies to substitute shortening. I couldn’t find it, so I asked a lady near me. She couldn’t find any, so she asked me to follow her. We went to the meat dept. and didn’t find any. She asked an employee and she told us to go back to the butter section. When we made it back, she asked a random lady and before I knew it, 3 or 4 ladies were discussing where this “foreigner girl” might find some “cmalets.” It was quite an interesting sight. It was neat how helpful they were all trying to be.

In the end, they decided I needed to go to the market to find some.

That’s a tiny glimpse into life here in Kiev.

Winter

As Christmas approaches, I have begun to miss home more and more. (i realize home is a relative word) I have been pleasantly surprised to find that since a few weeks ago, we have started seeing Christmas decorations for sale. Now we are seeing places like McDonalds, some store windows and the malls decorating with trees and lights. I definitely did not expect this; I have been told this has happened within the last couple of years. Brett and I have bought a few ornaments and decorations and hopefully we will buy a tree this week. I realize that things like Christmas decorations don't really matter, but it has helped me to feel more "at home" here during this time of the year. This will be my first Christmas not seeing my family.

Something we have been hearing lately is how "mild" this autumn and fall has been. This morning at church, a lady told us that there is usually snow on the ground by now and that the temperature is much much colder. We did notice ice on tree branches this morning!! We are very thankful for this unusual Ukraine weather, but I know it will change soon.

Something we are struggling to get used to is the thick, overcast skies and the darkness by 4pm. It has been very foggy lately, just about all day. Yesterday the sun came out for the first time in a week. It's difficult to stay active when the weather is like this, but it will be with us for a while and I am sure that God will provide us with plenty of his work this winter. (Alicia)

Since thanksgiving

We had a great Thanksgiving with our classmates and their families, including a missionary family from Moscow.

We visited the Shevchenko Church where Rick and Carol Pinchuk have been working since 1990. They have a nice family atmosphere. There, we met some young Christian women from our section of the city whom Alicia has been visiting with.

I’m going to brag on Alicia: We’re both in the same class, learning the same materials—so she’s not supposed to be more advanced than I am. Yesterday, we were down on Andressky and she was just chatting away with some of the ladies in the booths. I was proud of her skills.

December is a big month for the White House (Ukraine)- Our Anniversary (5^th), then Christmas (25^th), Alicia’s Birthday (28^th), New Year’s and our “second” Anniversary (31^st—meaning the anniversary of our WV wedding).

We started the Слова а Воге (Word of God) section of our studies. After three months of studying grammar, finally, we have gotten to the point of our language studies that distinguishes this program from studying at a university.

Well, as you can see, I have discovered how to type “по-русски” (in Russian)— I had to type a model of the Russian keyboard and taped it to the top there so I can remember the home-rows. We are not assuming that our beloveds who check this block will understand it all, so we’ll put in some translation. Like our next prayer we are learning for instance:

Господь!

Влагодаримь Тебя за то что Ты пришёл на землю чтобы спасти и исцелить нас.

Влагодаримь Тебя за Твою заботу, за Твою мудрость, за то что Ты так прекрасно сотврил Твой мир.

Влагодаримь Тебя за то что Ты доверил нам эму землю за то что Ты вознаграждаешь наш труд.

Мы славим Тебя Господь. Амин.

God-

Thank you because you came to earth to save and to heal us

Thank you for your work, for your wisdom, that you created so beautifully in your world

Thank you because you entrusted us to this world so that you may reward our work.

We praise you, God, Amen.