Little Journeys

The other day I had an interesting marshrutka ride.
First off, let me explain what a marchrutka is. Marshrutkas are the most common form of public transportation here in Ukraine at this moment in time. They are vans (not mini) or small buses, usually with room to seat 10-20 and standing for the same. And usually we manage to fill them to capacity. It's amazing how often there just "isn't" room for one more person to get on, but like the waters parting for Moses people are always able to make room for the person who is getting off!
Anyway, they are a jouncy bouncy form of transportation and sometimes I wonder if the whole aim of the drivers isn't to see how many people they can make fall over by the sudden stopping and starting. That said, they are generally quick and I am grateful for them because I remember when there was no such transportation and it meant a lot more walking and a lot longer waits!
In the past people also used to be much more polite on public transportation and would generally stand up for small children, pregnant women and elderly people. Now geeeeeennnnerally, people will stand up for pregnant women and people with very small children/infants, but the elderly are really getting shafted! :( People also used to get up for you if you were particularly heavy laden or they would offer to hold your bags on their lap (I was more than once the surprised recipient of bags on my lap!), but this has gone the way of most of the courtesies.
Back to the point...I had gone grocery shopping and was well loaded down (probably 12-15kg, which isn't a lot over a short distance, but try hanging on in a marshrutka...). I had to wait for my marshrutka for several minutes because there is only one from that area that goes to my area of town. By the time it came, my arms were tired and I was hoping for a seat, even though I knew that it was a slim chance. Didn't get one, but the lady I stood in front of offered to hold my most heavy bag on her lap! I was SO grateful.
So we go jerkily along and about halfway to my stop we stop and this man gets up to go out, but doesn't move, just stand there and stands there. I realized that he was having trouble getting his wallet out of his pocket and that he was drunk. I don't think he ever did get his wallet out, but the driver let him off without paying after waiting for several minutes for him to try to get it out.
The lady who held my bag ended up getting off at my stop and was very kind as to forge the path before me to the door (it can be quite a challenge, more than once I've felt like I was going to lose a limb squeezing through people), and even waited and made sure that I got off all right!
I was so grateful to God for that woman. She made my day, and several days since then. She was so kind I wondered if she was a Christian. In any case I know that God used her to bless me and remind me that He is still looking out for me. Praise Him!

Sink or Swim

This month has been its own journey. A sink or swim one! I've learned a lot about people, including myself. It'll be great to have my parents back! :)
On the other hand, a lot of things won't change with their return. I think the biggest change will be that the staff will see that I act not on my own authority, but on the authority of my parents. I've been thinking about that for several days and it has taught me a lot about acting on the authority of God. As Christians we have been given the opportunity and responsibility to use the power of God for certain things here on earth. I've always wondered what it really means to do things "in Jesus name". I mean that is just such a common phrase. We pray it all the time. But let me tell you! When I do something in the name of my parents...I make good and sure that it is really what they would have me do and not just the desires of my own heart. Do I do the same with God? And the greater question is, do I do those things with His authority, that I know without a doubt He wants me to do. Certainly, in many cases I have, but...but, well, there are always those where I haven't. Generally because I am too timid (which probably makes those who know me well laugh, but it remains the truth nevertheless). So it is directly because I fail to avail myself of the power of the authority of God that I disobey Him.
I hope this makes sense to you, sometimes I wonder if it makes sense to me! I guess that is part of the process of learning. It takes time to assimilate new information to the place where you can make practical use of it.

Christmas

So, it's the first day of Christmas. Well, for me at least! :) I'm incurably Christmas minded all year around. And since we had Christmas traditions starting from December 1 when I was a kid...
Today I took out my Christmas decorations and was disturbed to find that one of my nativities is missing. But I'm hoping it is in the suitcases that should be arriving this month.
So far I've managed to put up one nativity (I collect them, so have seven or eight) and a pretty tablecloth on the table, but that was as far as I made it today. lol But I've also managed to make up a list of the Christmas cookies and candies I want to make this year. Now if I can only find all the ingredients! :D I don't know what I'll do with all the goodies I make, but...it's part of the holiday spirit! ;)
Merry Christmas!