Check out my newest video...
I made it for my friend Oleg's birthday!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Vng0VWybvs
Saturday, July 31, 2010
Friday, July 30, 2010
A Mighty Fortress....
On Thursday...Leah, Susanna, Inga, Masha, and I went to (белгород-днестровская крепость)
Belgorod-Dniester Fortress. (About 2.5 hour train ride from Odessa) It is the largest medieval fortress in Ukraine. It was built in during the 8-9 century.
Leah, Susanna, and Inga..
Belgorod-Dniester Fortress. (About 2.5 hour train ride from Odessa) It is the largest medieval fortress in Ukraine. It was built in during the 8-9 century.
Leah, Susanna, and Inga..
Camp Brittany 2010
The other day I was going for a walk when suddenly I heard my name being shouted...I looked and it was a few of the kids I had met at gypsy camp. There was a series of events that happened...ending with me hanging out with about 10 of the kids. When I said I had to go home that first day they asked..."When is camp tomorrow?" I said it's not camp. We're just playing games. For the next 5 days we held "camp" I did my best to organize and explain a few games. We did some crafts. We ate snacks---One day I bought a 30 lb watermelon...within 5 min the entire thing was gone...10 kids polished off 30 lbs of watermelon. It was crazy. I had a great time with them. (Playing referee)
Making button bracelets...
"Dragon" (his nickname)--can do it himself....
Enjoying a snack....
Doing a few crafts...
coloring...
Making button bracelets...
"Dragon" (his nickname)--can do it himself....
Enjoying a snack....
Doing a few crafts...
coloring...
Not gonna lie...
....the few days following my return from Istanbul were some sad days for me. I had had such a great time with Lindsay and friends. I had not laughed that hard-- in so long. There is something about hanging out with an old friend. The history--the inside jokes (I could go on forever...but I will spare you.) It is just such a comfort to have those people around (I've made it 9 months without it.)
So needless to say I was sad and a bit mopey! I guess I just kept thinking about how much I missed my friends and my family. How life is easier when you can fluently speak the language. At the same time love Ukraine. I am very confident that God has me in Ukraine for specific reasons. I guess I was just sad. I knew that I needed to snap out of it.
Susanna and I went the following Monday to help a team from Iowa at Grace's Churches camp on the Black sea....
Luba (translator), Matt, Josh, Deanne... doing morning devotions (In ENGLISH!)
Sasha (one of the boys from the children's home I lived at during my first stay in Ukraine) Luba, Felix
Josh (working?)
Brian and Matt
Sewing curtains---the ladies job for the week...
Deanne and I taking a break....
There were tons of jelly fish...
We got to celebrate the 3rd birthday of Milana
(her dad is one of the caretakers of the children's home)
Susanna and I ....
Cheryl and Tamara ( the camp cook)
One evening Susanna and I got to share with the group about the Red Window. This was the first opportunity --since seeing all the places. It was so exciting for me and was a really great time of refocus and a huge encouragement for me! The team was very supportive, interested, and burdened for the area as well. The week at camp was exactly what I needed!
So needless to say I was sad and a bit mopey! I guess I just kept thinking about how much I missed my friends and my family. How life is easier when you can fluently speak the language. At the same time love Ukraine. I am very confident that God has me in Ukraine for specific reasons. I guess I was just sad. I knew that I needed to snap out of it.
Susanna and I went the following Monday to help a team from Iowa at Grace's Churches camp on the Black sea....
Luba (translator), Matt, Josh, Deanne... doing morning devotions (In ENGLISH!)
Sasha (one of the boys from the children's home I lived at during my first stay in Ukraine) Luba, Felix
Josh (working?)
Brian and Matt
Sewing curtains---the ladies job for the week...
Deanne and I taking a break....
There were tons of jelly fish...
We got to celebrate the 3rd birthday of Milana
(her dad is one of the caretakers of the children's home)
Susanna and I ....
Cheryl and Tamara ( the camp cook)
One evening Susanna and I got to share with the group about the Red Window. This was the first opportunity --since seeing all the places. It was so exciting for me and was a really great time of refocus and a huge encouragement for me! The team was very supportive, interested, and burdened for the area as well. The week at camp was exactly what I needed!
Monday, July 19, 2010
Team Turkey 2010....
JUNE 28th marked the last day of language classes for a little while. I welcomed the break (from homework, especially!) with open arms.
My dear friend Lindsay was going to make a visit to Ukraine! (My first visitor!)
Needless to say when she called me at 10p.m. to notify me that she and Allie had missed their flight...I was crushed.
They arrived the next morning. It was a beautiful reunion!
After many phone calls and dead ends--I finally called my friend/teammate Susanna for back-up! She helped us and the following night they had their bags in hand.
Allie and Inga...
Lindsay and me...
Me, Lindsay, Allie, and Inga...
We spent a few days in Odessa. We saw the sites and sounds of Odessa...
Allie and Lindsay's friend, Lukas joined us in Odessa.
Here is where is gets exciting. The last time Lindsay and I were in Odessa (Summer 2007).
We decided that we should try taking a Ferry from Odessa to Istanbul. Our adventure was about to come true.....
Months prior to our travel...I journeyed to the Odessa Sea Port to checkout the ferries. Here I am posing next to the "Caledonia, Odessa"
On July 5th we set sail from Odessa, Ukraine to Istanbul, Turkey.
We spent two days aboard the UKRFERRY - "Caledonia" We sunned ourselves on the deck, met people from all over the world, and played some vicious games of Uno.
Here is our cabin.....
On July 7th, 2010 we arrived in Istanbul, Turkey!
TURKEY!
Lindsay, Allie, and Lukas in Hagia Sophia!
Lukas, Lindsay and I posing in front of the BLUE MOSQUE!
Spices in the "Spice Market"...
The Grand Bazaar--one of the world's largest markets...
(there are over 1,200 shops in it)
It covers 58 different streets....
Beautiful lamps....
My dear friend Lindsay was going to make a visit to Ukraine! (My first visitor!)
Needless to say when she called me at 10p.m. to notify me that she and Allie had missed their flight...I was crushed.
They arrived the next morning. It was a beautiful reunion!
After many phone calls and dead ends--I finally called my friend/teammate Susanna for back-up! She helped us and the following night they had their bags in hand.
Allie and Inga...
Lindsay and me...
Me, Lindsay, Allie, and Inga...
We spent a few days in Odessa. We saw the sites and sounds of Odessa...
Allie and Lindsay's friend, Lukas joined us in Odessa.
Here is where is gets exciting. The last time Lindsay and I were in Odessa (Summer 2007).
We decided that we should try taking a Ferry from Odessa to Istanbul. Our adventure was about to come true.....
Months prior to our travel...I journeyed to the Odessa Sea Port to checkout the ferries. Here I am posing next to the "Caledonia, Odessa"
On July 5th we set sail from Odessa, Ukraine to Istanbul, Turkey.
We spent two days aboard the UKRFERRY - "Caledonia" We sunned ourselves on the deck, met people from all over the world, and played some vicious games of Uno.
Here is our cabin.....
On July 7th, 2010 we arrived in Istanbul, Turkey!
TURKEY!
Lindsay, Allie, and Lukas in Hagia Sophia!
Lukas, Lindsay and I posing in front of the BLUE MOSQUE!
Spices in the "Spice Market"...
The Grand Bazaar--one of the world's largest markets...
(there are over 1,200 shops in it)
It covers 58 different streets....
Beautiful lamps....
Camp in Ananev
Inga and I were invited to help with a day camp in the city of Ananev. Our friend Dima's church was doing a camp at an orphanage. For three days we helped with games. We thought up and brought supplies for a few games. We would try our best to describe the games in Russian. Then someone would write out directions for the game using proper grammar and correct words. Inga and I would read the game directions to the kids. Everyone was so patient with us. We both had a great time and made some new friends in the process.
Here I am with a few of the boys....
The kids going a relay race of some kind...
Oleg...
One of the many ping-pong ball games we thought of....
Gypsy Camp
This summer my friend, Dasha, and I were invited to help with a camp for Gypsy kids. Here is a little background on Gypsys' living in Ukriane.....
"The main problems facing gypsies in the Ukraine are, as in other countries, low living standards, low educational levels, unemployment, and overall low levels of integration in the economic, political and cultural life of Ukrainian society."
We both had a great time working with these beautiful children....
A little football during "sports time"
This little guy is singing his heart out!
Story time...
Anna and I...
Group photo....
Valeria and I at craft time...
I am serving dinner out of the back of a car :)
Dasha (standing next to me in the black shirt) and Translator Anya in purple...with a team of Americans from AIM WORLD RACE. They had just began an 11 month adventure of travel and short term missions. Ukraine was their first stop. We spent time working at camp with them. I felt useful when I took them to the grocery store and helped familiarize them with Ukraine a little bit!
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