Home Again, Home Again!

I just returned after spending two weeks serving at an English Camp in Bila Tserkva (White Church) with Paul Logan and a YWAM DTS Team from Montana. The day camp was hosted at a college in the city.
Paul Logan worked long and hard in getting us in at the school and he hopes to continue to build an ongoing relationship with them. We were asked to just teach English to the 30 students without talking about God. The school gave us permission to pray at the beginning of the day and at meals but we weren't allowed at this time to share our faith.
We prayed as a team and as individuals for the students and their families as well as all others who we came in contact with that God would reveal Himself to them even though we didn't use words.
There was time together in an auditorium, classroom, gym, dining room and playground.
I spent time in the kitchen with the cook, Nina, when I would set up for break times as well as for meals. I washed many dishes during the two weeks but I did it with much joy.
There were two excursion days planned with the kids where we went to the Kyiv Zoo and Puragova Outdoor Museum on a Saturday. The next Saturday's excursion via bus to a park was canceled because of rain. But there is hope that another trip can be planned for these kids in the future and this time we won't be under the restraint of not sharing the gospel message.
As a team we traveled to a church on the Saturday the excursion was canceled and we all enjoyed sweet fellowship, food, prayer and worship! Great way to complete our time.
Blessings!
The team didn't fully realize how much their presence and love for these kids made a strong impact until the last day when many tears were shed as we said goodbye.

Keep your eyes on Jesus

Like the disciples, the more we learn about Jesus, the more we trust Him. Our greatest risk is failing to depend on Him when life seems out of control.
— David C. McCasland

The above is an excerpt from Our Daily Bread, a devotional I read.
It is nice for me to reflect back and see that I have been trusting God as He leads in my life. But it doesn't stop there. I can't sit back and think that I am done. I need to make sure that I am continually leaning on Him.
I know that there have been actual times where I was at such peace and confidence that I didn't even understand when people asked me, "How do you do it?" What were they talking about? Oh! that... there is peace.
My struggle comes when there is a choice to be made. Should I? Shouldn't I? back and forth I weigh out the possibilities. Either way, I believe that Jesus will be along side me, but what to choose? That is when I have learned to throw up my hands in the Praise position and trust that His will will be revealed to me when He wants. That is not always when I want the answer. He sees the "Big Picture" and knows more about the details then I do.
So when I finish typing this blog it will be time again to throw up my hands, not in defeat, but in loving confidence in whom I trust.
Below -also from yesterday's devotional.

But we see Jesus! Oh, what peace!
What balm for troubled heart!
His very name brings rest and calm
And bids the fears depart! —Adams

Keep your eyes on Jesus and you’ll soon lose sight of your fears.

What's that noise?

Yesterday morning while sitting in my kitchen with sunshine streaming in I heard a familiar sound but one I haven’t heard in our neighborhood – a cuckoo outside. I had always dreamed that someday after visiting Germany I would buy a cuckoo clock for my home. Isn't that where the original cuckoo clock comes from?
Well, this little bird just kept up with his cu-koo-ing for several minutes so much so that it reached a level of annoyance. How long would it continue? The sound even woke up Emily wondering what the noise was. lol
I still want a cuckoo clock someday because I know that it won’t be as loud and lingering and has a limited number of coos per hour.
The sad thing is that he wasn’t heard again this morning. Maybe he has traveled on and was only visiting Rusanivka on that one sunny Thursday morn. I am glad that I heard him and I can still listen to the little "peeps" of the sparrows and coos of the pigeon that live outside my windows.

God does not call us to ministry and abandons us. He is there to support us. We must trust that He will accomplish what we cannot on our own.

Musings

It has been awhile since I posted anything.
So I thought I would share a few of my recent musings.
· I wonder where the early bird lives?
It had been raining a lot lately and when it especially rains late at night by the morning when I walk to work there are so many worms on the sidewalks that it makes it difficult to miss stepping on them. The thought of worm guts squished on the bottom of my shoes is not very appealing. Where are the early birds to eat those worms? They would have a feast. Most of the birds I do see eat seeds and bread crumbs. There are pigeons and some who dumpster dive but I haven’t seen ones who enjoy the wiggly fare. No robins in Kyiv. Why? Oh, that’s another question to ponder.
· Looking good?
One marshrouteka van driver had a stuffed figure hanging behind his rear view mirror. It was funny because I could see the driver’s face in the mirror and the body of the figurine dangling underneath. It was amusing for me to watch the body sway as he drove and watch his expressions in the mirror. I don’t know if any one else found it amusing but it made the commute fun.
· Shorts?
The school Student Council asked the headmaster & ALT if the Dress Code could be revised. The answer was yes!!! The students can wear shorts to school during the month of May. The announcement received a lot of applause. I don’t even own a pair of shorts. Summer is coming and I can’t remember the last time my legs saw the sun. They are so pale. When school is out I wonder if I can find a secluded spot to expose my legs to sunshine. They are so pale that the glare could be blinding! A tanning bed seems much easier to get a bronze glow but it is bad for the skin. So for now my pasty skin will remain in pants for the duration.
This is the end of thoughts. I have never been accused of being a deep thinker.
Have a blessed day!

I Got Tagged!

Emily tagged me because I don't mind filling out surveys and the rules for this one are below.

Here are the rules:
1. Link your tagger and list these rules on your blog.
2. Share 7 facts about yourself on your blog, some random, some weird.
3. Tag 7 people at the end of your post by leaving their names as well as links to their blogs.
4. Let them know they are tagged by leaving a comment on their blog.

The only trouble is I don't know who or how to link people to this survey. So my rule addendum would be "IF YOU READ THIS CONSIDER YOURSELF TAGGED."

Here goes:

1. I like jelly on my scrambled eggs. I've had pickles on pizza and have ordered peanut butter on my hamburger. Yum. (Friends episode where Joey says, "Meat, good. Jam, good..." I have to agree!)
   
2. I had a duck as a pet (Softy) and she could tell the difference between cereal boxes. Her favorite was Alpha Bits.
3. I was a preemie. My Lithuanian great grandmother predicted my birth when everyone else argued that it wasn't time. Born 4 lbs. 8 oz. a month early----Look at me now! lol
4. I didn't get my driver's license until I was 27 years old. Probably due to the fact that I drove my mom's car into a laundry mat 10 years earlier.
   
5. Drove a minibike into a fence after trying to go off a ramp. Should have been a clue to #4. Good thing I only use public transportation now.
   
6. I've never jumped out of an airplane, bungee jumped, or surfed (even though I lived in CA) but I fell though a wooded bridge while on a hike.
   
7. Before I was a Christian I didn't even know what a missionary was, now I "R" one!
   

Thanks for reading!
Emily leaned over and helped add her link to this post. Good thing since she was the one who sent this to me. I would love to know more about you if you are reading this. Add your comments. Thanks and have a blessed day!
Emily

Catch Up

Happy Resurrection Day! He has Risen...He has risen, indeed!

• Spring arrived on Thursday with snow fall. It didn't last but it was looking like winter just didn't want to let go. I am looking forward to a change in wardrobe and warmer temps.
• We got packages this week form my mom and friends. Such goodies and tastes from home. We are so blessed with their thoughtfulness. Chocolate chips were sent and I can't wait till Emily whips us a batch of cookies. Yum.
• Alan dropped his cell phone in the toliet but PTL after drying out...it works. Someone said that he was so lucky, but we don't believe in luck. We give thanks to the Lord!
• Yesterday was my 33rd Anniversary! And I was able to finally put on my wedding ring which I haven't been able to wear since I broke my hand in July. The swelling has gone down. Alan has offered to resize or buy me a new ring but I didn't want that. I am happy to wear the symbol of his unending love again. ahhh! And after I walked to the post office to mail a letter I went to the salon and had my hair cut. The stylist and I couldn't talk but we both enjoyed listening to Enya while she trimmed my bangs. I can see again! Present to me! Lots of the gray ended up on the floor. So much so Alan thought I had my hair colored. Silly man.
• The landlord came this week to collect the rent. He is allowing us to use the new fridge he purchased back in September which has been standing in our entry hall. Yeah. And it looks like we will be able to stay in this apartment without the huge rent increase he wanted. He said that he could get more money for this apartment but he liked us as tennants and he trusted us to pay the increase when we could. Now that is amazing, isn't it?
• I have the coming week off as Spring Break from work and I plan on enjoying the time in my home. I look forward to not having to wake up at 5:00 a.m. I need to unpack the spring clothes and pack up the winter sweaters, scarves and gloves. Some of my co-workers traveled to Egypt, Poland, Russia and other parts Ukraine. I am happy to just stay home and see my family for a change.

I hope you are having a wonderful day. We have so much to be ever thankful for.

Blessings, A

A Day Off

Today at KCA (Kiev Christian Academy) the teacher's are having a work day which means no students, meetings and a day off for me. In reality, I did two days work yesterday to afford this brief respite. There are some things that need to be done even if the calendar says "No School Tomorrow". I enjoy the work that I do and I receive many assurance that I am in the right place at the right time. Because the school is here, many missionaries are able to do their ministries for the Lord because their kids are receiving an education in a loving and caring environment.
After work yesterday, it had been arranged that Emily and I meet at a local restaurant, share a meal and have some quality time together. With the hours I keep, we don't see much of each other. I get up before she does and she is often out when it is time for me to go to bed. I make it a habit to leave her notes of blessings as a way to communicate my love even though it isn't in person. It was wonderful to sit across from one another, visit and share what has been going on in each of our lives. She has been good to post some blogs so I can briefly know bits of what has been happening, but I got to enjoy it face to face and personal instead of reading it on the computer screen.
Lately, I haven't had the energy at the end of the day to compose my thoughts down in Blogger because I had stopped making it a priority. It was nice last night to stay up past my normal bedtime and then sleep later than my normal wake up time. I actually awoke this morning to bird's chriping instead of "You Are My Sunshine" morning alarm clock tune. The birds are still asleep when I leave the house - I am out before they are trying to catch that worm! lol
I am going to make my some oatmeal - my daily breakfast and look forward to see what this day holds.
Blessings