Turning 25

25 was not easy for me.
I don't know why. I just was not feeling ready to be 25. I don't know how this happened already. Who did this to me? Just kidding. But, seriously it was a little hard on me. I've had to share my age a few times in the last 10 days...It didn't hurt too bad.

I am done complaining...I was able to celebrate my second birthday in Ukraine (In 2007 I rang in 22 in Odessa!)The plan was to go camping with the ladies on our team and a few of my seminary friends.

We all woke up to pouring rain. We decided to just gather at the seminary.




We grilled some meat.

Enjoy a great meal together.

Leah made me ANGEL FOOD CAKE with strawberries!


We laughed, played volleyball and I opened gifts.

My new camping stove!

My birthday bouquet...
It was a great time!
The actual day of my birthday was jam-packed with fun things.......

The boys reading their Bibles as we wait for the bus...


We went bowling at 9 a.m.
We went swimming.

We went to a dolphin show.


We had a campfire and cooked hotdogs and potatoes over the fire. We also found some marshmallows and had smores! Inga made her World Famous Chocolate cupcakes...they spelled HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRITTANY! Two fantastic days of celebration. I felt so loved!



Here are a few birthday videos....

A birthday song....

Susanna and Natasha.....

A little taste of the dolphin show....

Graduation 2010!

Sasha, Anton, Dima, and Kostya celebrate their graduation from Odessa Theological Seminary!

To celebrate the end of the school year there was a picnic...here are a few pictures

Inga and Dasha....

Grillman Sasha....

Alina...

Grillman Oleg...

Natasha

Trip to Kiev...

Dave, Barb, Inga, and I went to Kiev at the end of May to be tested at SEND's Language School. We took a few hours to do a little site seeing...






Our shadows.

I made some silly mistakes during my test. I was really nervous. Our teacher was very pleased with all of our results!

Back to Balta....

At the end of the May we were able to return to Balta. Praise the Lord for our time there. With the help of two of the seminary students; we were able to put on a program at one of the orphanages, conduct an entire Sunday worship service, deliver food packs, hand out Bibles, and make a few home visits to people in Balta.


I made some balloon animals!

We sang a few songs....

Kids attentively listening to Dima's story...

Dima with some of the kids...

Dasha was able to help interpret during the church service for Nadia, a deaf woman in Balta...

Our team and the members of the church in Balta...

Here is a video of me reading a poem during the church service...

Pink lady!

A few weeks ago stumbled upon a few pink lady apples!
They were almost $1 each...so I only got a few!
But they were so delicious! It was so wonderful!
Totally made my day!

Team Odessa does Shashlik....

Here is our team posing after a great afternoon together...

We made shashlik and other wonderful foods....

We played a little baseball...we had a great day together!

Shashlik...(take one!)

Shashlik is a vital part of Ukrainian Culture.
First step.. Marinade meat (usually pork) in Mayo and onions.
Then prepare a salad...topped with mayo.
Bring bread and don't forget the ketchup and mayo!
Oleg, Oleg, Natasha and I spent the afternoon outside making some delicious shashlik...

Here is is...

Oleg and I keeping our eye on the shashlik...

Oleg the real shashlik chef...

Natasha, Oleg, and Oleg enjoying the great food!

Hippo-mama-papa!