My bags are packed and I am ready to go....I think. A worry comes up, "Do I have everything?" With taking suitcase(s) I feel as if I am taking too much because I have been used to carrying everything I need in a backpack only on excursions while in the Ukraine and even traveling to Budapest. I know we are going over light and coming back heavy. The plan is to send some things on a slow boat after we slogg through our storage unit we still have in Oak Harbor, Washington. I know that there are some food items (canned goods and Peanut Butter) that will also be included in the boxes shipped. So what if it takes months to reach us.
Tonight we are having dinner guests and then a worship night with an unknown number of friends. We gave out an open invitation. I catch myself thinking...were we crazy to do this on the night before we travel? But I also realize that to spend the evening with friends in worship and then to receive focused prayer is a good thing. In fact, it is the best way to spend everyday!
Our friends love us even if the house isn't spotless, so breathe, relax and to quote someone whom I love dearly, "It's all good!"
Well, if I have forgotten anything I will be able to get replacements in the States. Gotta run and check the bedroom one more time....lol
Monday, April 30, 2007
Sunday, April 29, 2007
Saying Good-bye
I am getting ready to go to church - KIBC (Kyiv International Bible Church). Today I will be saying good-bye to some because I leave on furlough on Tuesday. There are others I will be saying good-bye to that I don't know when I will see them again. While I am away they will be moving from Kyiv and I don't know if our paths will cross again, but I do have the assurance that I will see them again in heaven because we share the same faith in Jesus Christ and accept the fact that He died for our sins and because of His sacrifice we have eternal life.
Last night I dreamt about the security checks we will go through before boading our planes and afterwards before leaving to our destination once we land on American soil and I got excited. This is a known event that is going to happen and I get the chance to tell why an American chooses to live in Kyiv and what I do here.
I am an Ambassador for Christ and He has a plan and purpose for my life and I get to shine bright in the darkness and confess that He is my Lord!
In reality....I get to do this EVERYDAY!
Last night I dreamt about the security checks we will go through before boading our planes and afterwards before leaving to our destination once we land on American soil and I got excited. This is a known event that is going to happen and I get the chance to tell why an American chooses to live in Kyiv and what I do here.
I am an Ambassador for Christ and He has a plan and purpose for my life and I get to shine bright in the darkness and confess that He is my Lord!
In reality....I get to do this EVERYDAY!
Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God.
2 Co 5:20 NKJV
2 Co 5:20 NKJV
Be Blessed and choose today to serve Him with gladness.
Friday, April 27, 2007
3 days and a wake-up!
It is hard to believe that we will be heading to the States on furlough after being in Ukraine for almost 2 years!
I didn't really experience culture shock coming here so I am wondering about the reverse going back. We will be away from here for 3 months before returning to our island home of Rusanivska.
Alan will be doing training up until the day we leave...in fact he is out doing some training on church planting principles as I write this. Emily is also out at this moment and I am home alone.
I enjoyed lunch with a friend today. It is funny that we don't get together more often than we do. I ate whatever choose my fancy from the selection at the counter and blessed it to my body. I wasn't exactly sure what I had ordered. My Russian skills aren't great but people are generally gracious and understand my juvenile speaking and gesturing. Ukrainian cooking is very good and I enjoy the food even though I don't always know what it is.
At a table near us two guys were eating lunch and drinking Vodka. One guy looked our way and smiled. Soon he came over and spoke to us in Russian what sounded like a blessing. Michele understood some of what he said and I gathered a bit as well. Then he sat back down. Then he got up again and Michele was concerned he was going to try and talk to us again thinking by now he was drunk but he walked past. The man had gone to the counter and purchased us a candy bar and gave if to us and said God bless you. We spoke back our thanks and blessed him as well.
Maybe I talked louder than I thought and he heard me praying before the meal and some of our conversation? So I was given a tasty dessert of chocolate. To some....a girl's best friend. LOL
Then another YWAM'er Jeff came in with a guy to have lunch and after introductions this guy said he has noticed me walking around town. I smiled in response. Kinda overwhelmed....like God was telling me see he notices, too.
We are all so precious in His sight. Thank you for reading my first blog and letting me share a bit of my day with you. Now I am going to play a game online. Paka (informal good bye)
I didn't really experience culture shock coming here so I am wondering about the reverse going back. We will be away from here for 3 months before returning to our island home of Rusanivska.
Alan will be doing training up until the day we leave...in fact he is out doing some training on church planting principles as I write this. Emily is also out at this moment and I am home alone.
I enjoyed lunch with a friend today. It is funny that we don't get together more often than we do. I ate whatever choose my fancy from the selection at the counter and blessed it to my body. I wasn't exactly sure what I had ordered. My Russian skills aren't great but people are generally gracious and understand my juvenile speaking and gesturing. Ukrainian cooking is very good and I enjoy the food even though I don't always know what it is.
At a table near us two guys were eating lunch and drinking Vodka. One guy looked our way and smiled. Soon he came over and spoke to us in Russian what sounded like a blessing. Michele understood some of what he said and I gathered a bit as well. Then he sat back down. Then he got up again and Michele was concerned he was going to try and talk to us again thinking by now he was drunk but he walked past. The man had gone to the counter and purchased us a candy bar and gave if to us and said God bless you. We spoke back our thanks and blessed him as well.
Maybe I talked louder than I thought and he heard me praying before the meal and some of our conversation? So I was given a tasty dessert of chocolate. To some....a girl's best friend. LOL
Then another YWAM'er Jeff came in with a guy to have lunch and after introductions this guy said he has noticed me walking around town. I smiled in response. Kinda overwhelmed....like God was telling me see he notices, too.
We are all so precious in His sight. Thank you for reading my first blog and letting me share a bit of my day with you. Now I am going to play a game online. Paka (informal good bye)
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