So, just a quick update. I had my English group tonight and I had so much fun! I make them work! I only had four people tonight, but that was just fine. I do better in small groups anyway. Two weren't Christian and two were from another church, but I don't really split hairs about that. They are encouraging some of their friends to come, so please pray that God will give them courage to invite people and that people will respond and come! I'm happy with my small group, but people need Jesus.
One of the Christian girls is proving to be quite helpful to me. I pretty much refuse to speak Russian during small group (since the lure is that it is English), but I have no problem with her translating and explaining things in Russian or Ukrainian as needed. It is actually quite a blessing because she is able to convey some of the spiritual thoughts that way that might not be understood if we only talked in English.
I had to laugh today as I was so tired when I got home I could hardly think and certainly not in any one language! I am picking up a lot of Ukrainian words, but having difficulty separating them from my Russian, but today whenever I opened my mouth I spoke a terrifying mix of English, Russian and Ukrainian! Hopefully my brain will defog over the next few days, so that I can communicate clearly in at least one language! lol
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Up, Up and Away!!!
Well, mum and dad got off to Kyiv last night on the train. I've talked to them several times this morning already, just trying to cover a few last minute details about the office and those kind of things. So glad they have this day in Kyiv before flying off to the States! Makes it easier to wrap up these little loose ends.
It's a relief to get them off as there were lots of last minute projects in relation to this trip of theirs (they'll be in Ohio for a month, until the beginning of Dec.); now hopefully we can get back to "real" work. :) I'll miss them of course, but I have a feeling that the month will absolutely fly by, esp. as I am going to my sister's for a weekend to celebrate Thanksgiving (Nov. 10, go figure).
The weeks really do seem to just tumble by. I just realized last night that I only have four or five weekends left to do my Christmas shopping (because of being gone or other weekend events)! Panic.
Anyway, back to the original thought, now that my parents are gone for the month it means that I am in charge here at the office. Not that I won't be able to contact them, but all the daily decisions will rest with me. AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. lol Seriously though, I would greatly appreciate your prayers for wisdom and understanding as I deal with different things and also as I plan out our work for the next few months.
In addition to dealing with the office work flow and answering people's questions (which can take many hours in a day), I also need to complete some of my own work. It's beginning to become urgent as within the next two weeks I have two different translators that I need to give my finished work to. Two different projects and I've been trying to work on them for a month with no luck. I suppose I will make it work out now, but I shudder to think of the other tasks that will have to be pushed to the back burner while I do that!
So pray that I'll be able to give priority to those things which need priority and keep the office as well as myself afloat for the next month.
It's a relief to get them off as there were lots of last minute projects in relation to this trip of theirs (they'll be in Ohio for a month, until the beginning of Dec.); now hopefully we can get back to "real" work. :) I'll miss them of course, but I have a feeling that the month will absolutely fly by, esp. as I am going to my sister's for a weekend to celebrate Thanksgiving (Nov. 10, go figure).
The weeks really do seem to just tumble by. I just realized last night that I only have four or five weekends left to do my Christmas shopping (because of being gone or other weekend events)! Panic.
Anyway, back to the original thought, now that my parents are gone for the month it means that I am in charge here at the office. Not that I won't be able to contact them, but all the daily decisions will rest with me. AAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH. lol Seriously though, I would greatly appreciate your prayers for wisdom and understanding as I deal with different things and also as I plan out our work for the next few months.
In addition to dealing with the office work flow and answering people's questions (which can take many hours in a day), I also need to complete some of my own work. It's beginning to become urgent as within the next two weeks I have two different translators that I need to give my finished work to. Two different projects and I've been trying to work on them for a month with no luck. I suppose I will make it work out now, but I shudder to think of the other tasks that will have to be pushed to the back burner while I do that!
So pray that I'll be able to give priority to those things which need priority and keep the office as well as myself afloat for the next month.
Monday, October 29, 2007
Orphans
Did I mention that last week on Monday I went to visit an orphanage with one of the girls from our office? They had a special celebration and I just went along to see what they are doing. They go there every week and lead Bible studies with the kids. Basically like a kids club. On Tuesday part of the team goes to a different orphanage in another town and I think on Thursday as well. They go to a fourth orphanage on Saturday.
None of the orphanages are here in Rivne, so it usually means a 45min. to 1 hour drive one way for the team, then anywhere from one to two hours there with the kids. Many of the kids are orphans, but some just come from poor families or alcoholic or drug addict families. The orphanage that we went to was quite large, one of the largest ones I've been too. There must be a well over 100 kids there possibly 150 or so. It has it's own school on the grounds. Sad that they are so segregated from normal society.
On holidays those that have parents or families often take them in, but many kids are left behind. Lilya (my co-worker) and her team try to arrange some special events and for church people to take them in. She has such a burden for them! They have been collecting money to buy shoes for the kids that don't have families or whose families are obviously too poor to take care of them. Later this winter they want to buy them hats.
And here I sit in my two bedroom apartment with a computer, internet, more food than I have been able to eat in a month and clothes for that matter! I would like to take one in for the holidays or for a weekend sometime, they are just crying out for love. But then I am so silly as to not want to put them on my couch because it isn't a proper bed. Somehow I don't think they would care. So why don't I?! I'll have to talk to Lilya about that.
None of the orphanages are here in Rivne, so it usually means a 45min. to 1 hour drive one way for the team, then anywhere from one to two hours there with the kids. Many of the kids are orphans, but some just come from poor families or alcoholic or drug addict families. The orphanage that we went to was quite large, one of the largest ones I've been too. There must be a well over 100 kids there possibly 150 or so. It has it's own school on the grounds. Sad that they are so segregated from normal society.
On holidays those that have parents or families often take them in, but many kids are left behind. Lilya (my co-worker) and her team try to arrange some special events and for church people to take them in. She has such a burden for them! They have been collecting money to buy shoes for the kids that don't have families or whose families are obviously too poor to take care of them. Later this winter they want to buy them hats.
And here I sit in my two bedroom apartment with a computer, internet, more food than I have been able to eat in a month and clothes for that matter! I would like to take one in for the holidays or for a weekend sometime, they are just crying out for love. But then I am so silly as to not want to put them on my couch because it isn't a proper bed. Somehow I don't think they would care. So why don't I?! I'll have to talk to Lilya about that.
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