Bicycle

     Home. Finally. After thirteen months and one week, I'm finally back in the place where I began. It's now been a week since I arrived on my home soil and it almost feels like I never left. But before I get into that, I should recap a bit of what's been going on since I left Ukraine. Yeah, I should have gotten on this writing thing sooner. I've been busy. Is that a good enough excuse?

Quickie

I'm finally back on US soil. More to follow after I get some dinner and sleep.

Mama, I'm Comin' Home

     The day is here. I really don't know what to say so forgive me if this sounds like a lot of rambling. There are a lot of emotions running through my head right now. Some of them are familiar. Two years ago when I was returning home from my first English camp, I felt a lot of the same things. Anger, loss, sadness, frustration. Just writing this is tough. I know it'll take a lot longer than a day to get over it. If past experiences are any indication, I will not ever feel the same.

Back In Time

     I wish I could go back in time and tell myself about everything that would happen before I left Ukraine. I might have been more diligent about studying Russian or more focused on taking every opportunity to help. I'm writing this in between final cleaning and packing on Wednesday. I doubt I'll get much time later to do it.

Goodbye Ruby Tuesday (Updated)

     Two days. Less than that actually as of the time I'm writing this. That's how long until I board my plane and wing my way to the States. But that doesn't mean things are slowing down yet. I'll be going, going, going, until Thursday morning. (Updated: two photos)

Lovin' Every Minute of It

     Thirteen months. That's how long it's been since I left the States last year. It finally is starting to feel like that amount of time. Probably because I'm standing at the edge of a new phase of my life. I can't say that I've loved every minute of it. Mainly because of the difficulties along the way. But it's certainly been worthwhile.
      I'm actually slacking a bit because thirteen months was yesterday (August the 25th). But it's in service of a good cause. Liberty followup, spending time with people from Big City and residency things. There have also been some other things happening this week.

Takin' Care of Business

     Occasionally over the past year, trying to think of something to write here has felt like business. It wasn't always fun like a hobby. Sometimes it felt like doing taxes or homework. Usually that happened when I was too busy, tired or distracted to feel creative. Coming up with a good post on a regular basis, for someone who hasn't done that sort of thing before, can be a chore. I find that again I'm writing a post that feels like it's "just business." And that's not because I'm finishing this three days after starting it. Standing on the sub-two-week mark, I'm thinking more and more about the things at home. But there is more to my life at the moment than moping around the apartment waiting for my flight to leave.

Shake It Up

     After a week of normal life again, I think I'm finally caught up on sleep and rest. Camp was a big shake up to my normal schedule. It's good to finally be back to something normal. Not a whole lot going on though now. I'm in the wind-down faze of the trip. I'll be leaving in about two and a half weeks. But there are still things to do.     Last week was slow mostly. Not a whole lot going on. I got to have dinner with the Eides and some friends from my home church on Tuesday. They stayed a few days after camp for a visit. Then it wasn't until Saturday that anything else happened.

Good Times, Bad Times

Visual representation of how I felt on Monday.

     That's the simplest way I can summarize Liberty English Camp 2016. There were good times, there were bad times. It's taken me this long to recover and process almost everything. I slept for about four hours during the afternoon yesterday. Thinking about it now on the Tuesday after camp, I'm not really sure where to start with the in-depth summary. So I'll do this. I've collected my photos from camp (phone and camera) into one location HERE. When you get a free minute or twenty, take a look. There's a lot of good stuff there (if I do say so myself). Also, I found this video from this year's camp. It includes a lot of good footage from our activities. Jim from the Texas team threw it together to display at the anti-talent show. See how many times you can find me in it.

I'm Ready

     We've done it. We finally made it to the end of Friday. It was all downhill from Wednesday but it was still a lot of work. Now that Friday is over. We can finally rest a bit. Not too much though. Saturday will still be busy. But academically, we aren't going to be doing anything. Photos, packing, traveling, and saying goodbye.

We Can Make It

     Only one more day to go. Saturday doesn't really count because it's all fun and travels. I think I'll keep today short on words and big on pictures.
     First, a short bit of good news. Tim and I moved. They found us a new room in another building. I don't know yet if there are critters or not. I'm just happy to sleep somewhere else. Hopefully I didn't bring any along in my dirty laundry or luggage.

Third Stage

     Wednesday. What's there to say? A few things actually. Last night before bed, I had a real, hot shower. I didn't expect to have hot water but it was a good surprise. After the sandy mess that was Ultimate Frisbee, it was nice to clean off. The hot water was just a bonus. Cool water on a day like yesterday felt really good too. I'll definitely partake of it again tonight.

Cool the Engines

     Tuesday was a much better day. If I forget about certain little things, it was a really good day. Those little things were the heat and fleas.

Smokin'

     Don't worry, I'm not smoking. It's the temperature this week that is. It's 32C outside as I write this. We're preserving. Luckily the forecast for the remainder of the week is much cooler.
     So, the first day of Liberty English camp is finally here. After months of planning and hard work, we are finally neck deep in the details of actually running the camp. I'm writing from my phone so don't expect an amazing post. But I'll do my best.

Pre Camp Festivities

     Everyone is here safe now. The two teams from the States (Pennsylvania and Texas) as well as one from Manchester. They've done lots of sightseeing and walking and meeting and greeting in the past two days. The Texas team got in this morning and didn't get to crash until about 9PM tonight. I'm heading that way soon after my shower.

Summertime

     But the livin's not so easy. It's starting to feel like a Maryland summer here. The humidity and heat have moved in. It seems like there's a lot of heat going around the world right now. Luckily I'm able to enjoy air conditioning in my apartment.

Missing You

The founders of Kiev.

     One year. Without dwelling on it, it doesn't feel like it's been that long. But once I start to think of all the things I've seen and done, I realize that it really has been that long. I know for some other people (parents and friends) it might feel like longer. Well, they only have to wait a bit longer. Less in the case of my mom who'll arrive here next Saturday. For me, in a month and one week, I'll be departing for the land of my birth. With that in mind, I've prepared this post to remember all the little things I've missed since I've been gone.

Evil Minds that Plot Destruction...

     Just a short post today. If you've been reading the international news, you may have heard about the bombing that happened in Kiev yesterday. A Belorussian reporter named Pavel Sheremet was killed when a bomb planted under his car exploded. While it's not clear who the perpetrators were, and may never be, it is clear that this man was a strong voice against corruption. I'm just writing this to remind you, and myself too, that there is still a war in Ukraine. The casualties aren't only soldiers. Civilians who speak out strongly are targeted too.

Have You Ever Seen the Rain...

...coming down on a sunny day? I did. Monday the 18th was like that. And after the scorcher of a Sunday we had, it was a welcome change. Despite the humidity. Incidentally, that song (as referenced shortly prior) is my favorite song. Both the Creedence Clearwater Revival and Rod Stewart versions. Perhaps a bit counter intuitively and sacrilegiously, I like the latter better.     Well, I said I'd write about my 4th of July. In all the pandemonium of last week, I let it get lost in the fray. Too many other things going on to do it justice. I also wanted to write a bit about what's coming up in the next few weeks as well as just a few thoughts.

One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer

     Or rather, in my case it was a shot of vodka and two of whiskey. Believe me, I regret it now. I went back to my apartment on Friday with a dizzy head and promptly slept for two and a half hours. Now I can't sleep and it's after 2AM on Saturday. So I figured I'd start writing this so I can publish it later when normal people are usually awake.
     So what was it that induced me to drink collectively more alcohol than I've had since I left the States? Two very insistent Ukrainian parents. But I wasn't alone in the celebratory libations. I believe the uncorking of those bottles was in thanks to all the teachers from the States who participated in the camp. They all got a taste of it too. I managed to stay out of it as long as I could. As the "newbies" to the country, I thought they were the focus of the thanks. But I got roped in. Lets just say I don't need any more alcoholic drinks for a very long time. Perhaps years.

Fight the Good Fight

     Worthwhile things are rarely easy to obtain. This is doubly so when kids are involved. But, if you ask almost any parent, the outcome is worth the pain. It's a good fight to raise and train kids. That's one of the lessons I'm learning this summer. This camp has been hard work. And all I've had to do is teach. All the heavy lifting (literal and metaphorical) has been done. It's up to me to make the language make sense to these kids.

No Time

     Well, not exactly. But close enough. I know that if I don't do this now, I'll end up hopelessly behind in my writing for the week. And it's not going to be an easy week to recover from writing-wise.

A man (I thought) I'll never be

     [radio announcer voice /ON] This post is sponsored by the word "bipolar." Patent pending Bipolar Weather is now available in select locations around the world. For all those times you just can't stand the weather, just wait a few minutes and it'll change. Ask your local weatherman if your area is ripe for Bipolar Weather. [radio announcer voice /OFF]

(Don't) Look Back

     OK, now that I've had some time to think, I believe I'm able to put down some words to explain my feelings of the week. Looking back, I realize that it's been quite the adventure. Personally, I was tested to different limits than I'm used to. There were lessons on both sides; for the kids and for the teachers. Challenges were placed in our hands. It was up to us to juggle them all and see what might come crashing down. As it turns out, a few things did fall down throughout the week. But it wasn't a disaster. In the end, I believe our goal of planting seeds was highly successful.

In and Around the Lake

     There was also lots of sky. Unfortunately no mountains. Wait, you might say. What are you talking about, Brian? First, I'm referencing this song. But I'm also using that weirdness as a stepping off point to talk about my Saturday. The Saturday of "rest."

Working for the Weekend

     Well, that's it. We're finally done. All week I've been working in anticipation of getting to relax for the weekend and it's finally here. There was just the small matter of a camp, English lessons, games and Bible lessons to get through first. However, by the Grace of God I'm here now.

Peace of Mind

     I'm still here. But it's finally come down to the last day. Friday the 24th will be our final day in the Oleksandriya English camp. We've taught eight sessions so far, one morning and one afternoon each day. Each session has been a challenge with it's own particular obstacles and difficulties. However I'm ready to think about and do something else for a while.

Another One Bites the Dust

     And another one gone, and another one gone. Another one bites the dust. That's one more day done. And if the weather reports are accurate, it was the hottest day of the week. Two roasting hot days down and three to go.

Anna, Katya, me and the afternoon crew.

Good Morning Campers

     Well, that's wasn't as bad as I was worried it would be. I'm not going to write a lot tonight because of how tired I am. But I first wanted to say that for a first day, it went well. I really ought to write about Sunday too. This post is growing more than I want it to at this time of night when I still need to sleep.

Us, the pastor and his family and a few of the other attendees.

Train Kept A Rollin'

     Saturday the 18th is a travel and planning day for us (me and Rebecca the intern). We traveled to Oleksandriya for a VBS/English camp for children. It's run by a young local church. I should clarify that. It's not a church in the traditional sense. They haven't become "official" yet. Mostly, its a small group of Christians who meet together on Sunday to worship together. A true Matthew 18:20 church.

Teach Your Children

     Just a quick post today. I wanted to share a video I made of the English club ministry. A few months ago, David asked me to make a video that he could show to churches while he is back in the States. It's partially an advertisement for bringing new teachers here. But it's also a way of showing the human face of what we're doing here. Yes, teaching is involved. Hence the title of this post. But But the club is so much more than that. I've written thousands of words on the subject. Words alone, however, don't convey the impact of what's happening here. A video like this is an important part of sharing the challenges and fruit of this ministry with the people back home.

     You may have seen the rough draft I made of this video a couple of months ago. If not, you can find it here. This is the final version of that video. It was a lot of work editing and filming. I'm glad it's finally done. The editing process is still new to me. There was a lot of teaching and learning between the rough draft and this version. I've quickly found the limits of my computer and iMovie. If I keep doing this, I might have to invest in some better equipment in the future. Not just a good camera and microphone.

Danger Zone

     I think it's about time for another (ir)regularly scheduled update. It's only been almost a week and some interesting things have been happening. Also, the next week is going to be a busy/interesting one. But more on that later. Right now I want to show you my new deodorant. I bought it as much for the name as for the scent. I wasn't thrilled with the other options that would have left me smelling like either fruit or chemicals. Fortunately (or unfortunately depending on how you look at it), this one doesn't smell like jet exhaust and Tom Cruise. This one reminds me of a cross between pine trees and a sea breeze. I like it.

Just What I Needed

     So, I left off the last post with hoping that you'd have a relaxing Sunday. I can say that I did. And as the title indicates, it was just what I needed. Alternatively, I could have titled it "you might think" for the dichotomy of what was and what "should" be. But I've made my choice and I'm sticking with it.

Монумент радянським воїнам - танкістам визволителям Києва

"Tonight, public transportation's my private ride..."

     That's right folks, I'm writing today about public transportation. For the past week, I've been partaking of the other white mea...I mean, the other kind of wheels. Specifically I've been doing a lot more of it.

She was actually thrilled that I was there, despite the look on her face.

     OK, that got out of hand quickly. Let's start over. Since I've been taking care of the Eide's cat and dog, I needed to use the marshrutka and metro more than normal. Usually, I'll take the screeching, yellow, short bus two days a week to get to my language lessons. But this week with my temporary relocation, I needed a quick and convenient option and the marshrutka was it. It's shown me how comfortable my regular trips really are.
     I've written about public transportation in several posts in the past. I've said at various times it's uncomfortable (in terms of personal space) or it can be harrowing (driving like, what most Americans would consider, a maniac). And for the uninitiated or unfamiliar, it is those things. So I want, today, to talk about a few ideas about the ubiquitous little yellow (or red or orange) buses to remember on your next visit to Ukraine. Maybe in the future I'll talk about the metro or trams.

Have You Ever Seen the Rain... (UPDATED)

...'cause I have. Quite a lot of it actually. I can count on one hand the number of days in the past two weeks where we didn't have rain. Yesterday, thanks to the humidity, David and I were reliving memories of places we used to live; him in Georgia and me in Maryland. I'm looking forward to summer when things dry out. From what I remember of last year, it was a lot less humid once summer kicked in. Granted, that wasn't until almost August and we've got a little time before that.
     I wanted to do a little writing today so I wouldn't need to do such a big catch-up session on Friday. That and I've got time now and don't want to spend the whole day watching Youtube videos.

-- (UPDATED: Fixed photosphere link) --

Movin' Out

     Just temporarily, but I'm in some new digs, finding out what life is like in another part of the city. A family from church is on vacation and I'm taking care of their dog and cat. Basically, my cheese was moved.

Kyrie Eleison...

     ...down the road I must travel. And what a road it's been. I'll probably miss the 25th of this month again like I have most of the past nearly-ten months. So this is a little note on it before I move on to the meat of the post. I'VE BEEN HERE TEN MONTHS!?!! It really doesn't feel like it until I start thinking of how far I've come and how much I've grown (personally, not weight-wise). If the plan holds out, I'll be here for about another three months before returning home. Also, the blog recently had it's 6000th visitor! Very cool.  

Paradise City

     FRIDAY!!!! Actually, Friday now doesn't mean the same thing to me as it did a year ago. Since I don't currently work a regular 9-5 job, my concept of a weekend and day's off doesn't really mesh with my past experience. Instead, I tend to think about my "work week" as the time I spend in activities like English Club, church, and ministry-related events.

I'm Still Here

     It's been a while since I've done a regular "situation on the ground" update. There have been lots of things going on but I've either not had time or had more pressing posts (the Chernobyl tour) to write and publish. Scattered in among all the activity this past weekend was Orthodox Easter. I'm only now getting a chance to write about it.

Hello? Is There Anybody In There?

     As a warning, this will be a very long post. It's been a post three days in-the-making. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and relax. You'll be here for a while.

     So, I've had some time to digest the events of Saturday (April 30th) and I want to share my thoughts on the visit to the Chernobyl Exclusion Zone. I'll say now that it will not be what you expect. The trip wasn't what I expected. This was a trip of excitement, disappointment, disillusionment, and frustration. Expectations were tempered and broken. The upside is that I now have a more accurate idea of what has been happening in the Zone up to the current day. People change everything they touch. Chernobyl and Pripyat are no exception.

     First, a little background. If you read the post from April 26th, you'll have seen my reason for going. This place has fascinated me for years. The mystery and allure of a place, though, often overshadow reality. I wanted to see the Exclusion Zone for myself. To be able to stand on the same ground that saw so much drama and action. To see the hastily constructed sarcophagus with my own eyes. In some ways, it felt like standing on a battlefield years after the event. Much of the area is now a historical site. "Preserved" for future generations.

Thank God I'm a Country Boy

     Somebody shoot me now. I think I might be starting to like country music.

Back In the USSR (UPDATED 4/29/2016)

      Do you know what today is? Some of my older readers might know. It's a day that changed the world's mindset on energy and power creation. Thirty years ago today, Reactor Number Four blew up at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Station. The disaster at Chernobyl has had lasting implications across multiple continents and will continue to do so for the next 20,000 years.

The destroyed Number 4 Reactor at Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

Pink Cadillac

     It's a good thing that I'm widening my view of the world over the thirteen months that I'll be here. Otherwise I would have thought huge car shows were an American thing. It turns out, lots of people in Ukraine love cars and car culture. Yeah, yeah, that's a very American thing to say. But that's where I was raised. I don't know a whole lot about the rest of the world. I'm learning though.

The Spirit of the Radio

      I'm often surprised how Western Ukraine has become. It shouldn't surprise me because I've been living here for almost nine months now. But today while I was shopping at Novus Express, two songs came on over the sound system that surprised me. The first could best be classified as pop-country or country-lite. It's the kind of contemporary country music that gives the feeling of country music without talking about tractors and beer and old pickup trucks. The second was a hip-hop song that borrowed heavily (read as "stole") from Elton John's Tiny Dancer. I used to enjoy some rap back when I was in highschool. But now I don't care for it at all. Especially when they need to stand on the shoulders of musical giants to get their garbage heard on the radio. Can't they come up with something original instead of riffing on other people's work? OK, rant over.

It's Still Rock and Roll to Me

     I said in the last post that I'd write about Saturday. This is that post. Not much to write about it though. KCA is one of the schools in Kiev that serves the missionary community. They students put on a talent show and fundraiser on Saturday. The fundraiser was in support of their upcoming junior/senior trip this weekend.

Ooooh, That Smell

     Yes, ladies and gentlemen, this is a poetic post. A collection of familiar fragrances codified into a coherent, combined soliloquy. The smells of the season, the perfumes of the prevailing winds, the odors of the outdoors. Basically, I wanted to talk about the second most obvious change that has been happening over the past week in the city.

Everything's so green!

One (Hundred)

     In honor of the one-hundredth post, here is the third in my series of what I cook. This recipe got rave reviews from my mom. She called it "probably the best omelet I've ever had." Thus I'm pretty confident that my title in the video is absolutely correct.

      The ingredients are simple. Two eggs, a pinch of salt, oregano, and garlic powder, with your choice of meat and cheese. Cook in the typical fashion with some sunflower oil to prevent sticking. Serve with toast and enjoy.

Too Much Time On My Hands

     Well, not really. But Friday is usually a day where I don't have much going on. It used to be one of my lesson days but that's changed. I'm on to a Tuesday/Thursday schedule. So, in honor of my "day off," I've gone and made another cooking video. While the road-repair guys were working outside, I was cooking, videoing, and creating lunch. Now that it's all done, I realized that today feels like Saturday.

Finally fixing some of the potholes. The road was getting bad.

The Pretender

     I thought I'd do a short wrap-up of the three English club meetings that I led. Basically some things I learned as well as general observations for the future.

Dancin' in the Moonlight

     I'll say it now, I wasn't the one doing the dancing. You can't prove it and the cameras my friend claims to have installed in my apartment didn't catch a thing.

In Defense of the Dead Superhero

     This isn't going to be a standard Brian and Ukraine post. I just saw Batman Vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice and couldn't resist writing out some of the thoughts I had as I was leaving the theater. That's the nice thing about having a soapbox. I can use it as I please. As a warning, if you have the slightest interest in seeing this movie, don't read this post. Everything below the fold will be spoiler territory. I will reference some very specific portions of the film which are pivotal to the story. Turn back now if you don't want that ruined before seeing it.

Dream Weaver

     I've talked a little bit in the past (mostly in passing) about my sleeping habits. But last week, it occurred to me that I should probably write about it. It's something that people don't hear about a lot unless you ask about it. And on the hierarchy of personal problems, it's usually not anywhere near the top. But after last week, it's worth writing about.

Time For Me To Fly

     There were many times over the past few days where I wish it was indeed time for me to fly. Alternatively, this post could be titled "Too Much Time on My Hands" or "Good Times Bad Times." That's what it felt like for a good portion of the travel I undertook the past few days. To preview the upcoming post/rant, I will simply say this. NEVER, EVER FLY THROUGH PARIS AIRPORT! That, and the air traffic controllers of France owe everyone flying through there yesterday Two Tickets to Paradise.

Saturday in the Park (part duex)

     Disclaimer: Parks were visited in the making of this post. For all who were disappointed by the lack of parks in last Saturday's post, you can stop complaining now.

Jet Airliner

     I actually started writing this post on Thursday. But due to reasons that will become apparent, I couldn't post it the same day. And as a look into the creation of the post, I started writing it sitting in front of gate B1 in Detroit while fighting some serious motion hallucinations. Kind of like how sailors get "sea legs" and then feel wobbly on dry land, except I was sitting still and felt like I was in a turbulence-shaken plane. I was glad to finally get to my bed in a hotel in Iowa.

Saturday in the Park

 Disclaimer: No parks were visited, perused, or harmed in the making of this blog post. This post is a work of "fiction." Any resemblance to a park, living or dead, is purely coincidental. Visiting parks does not increase chances of a better blog post. Seek medical or professional attention for parks suddenly existing where none were before.

     Sadly, the above disclaimer is (mostly) true. Not that that's a bad thing. We just didn't have parks on the docket today. What we (not in the royal "we" sense) had on the schedule was a basketball game, rock climbing and youth group. And, wow, was it a fun day.

I fought the law...

     In yet another fit of creativity this week, I'm posting something else for your viewing pleasure. Today on {radio announcer voice ON} BRIAN AND UKRAINE! {radio announcer voice OFF} we have a confounding confectionery conundrum.

International Women's Day

     Yesterday, I went out and bought a big pile of chocolate for International Women's Day. I mentioned it yesterday, but it's not a romantic thing. It's a socialism thing.... No, not really any more. It was started as a socialist political event but has since morphed into a general appreciation day. So most of the items in the picture will be going to some of the women I know.

My haul, of which I only get to keep two of the eggs pictured in the center.

English Club Antics

     Last week, David had the idea for a new game. The goal of the game it to write simple stories in English. It basically goes like this. The students are divided into five different teams. Each has a piece of paper. The team has to write one sentence. Then the paper gets passed to the next team and they write a sentence. This goes on until there are five sentences. So we have five different stories created in collaboration with over forty people on Monday and about thirty-five on Sunday. As David said on Sunday, "These are stories that have never been heard before." If you can understand the hand-writing, you'll have a good laugh from these.

Sunday/Monday

     This post is part two of my mom's adventure here. Like in the last post, her comments are in italics. 

Friday/Saturday

     I've finally had a chance to sit down for long enough to write out some things we've been doing. Yesterday wasn't very busy but it was a lot of fun. But Saturday was very busy. It took a while for me to be able to sit down, relax and think through all the things I wanted to say in this post. And for the first time, I have a guest writer. Since my mom is here, she'll be adding some of her thoughts here. I'll put her words in italics so you can see what she wrote.

My mom and Sasha.

Quick note

My mom is here! She got in about 2:45. We made it back to the city with no problems and had an excellent dinner with the Eides. We're back st my place now. She's sleeping and I'm waiting for my normal bed time. That is all.

Ramble On

     I had it again. That realization. I was walking to the office Wednesday morning for a meeting and I realized that I'm living in a foreign country. I think it's my subconscious trying to keep me from getting too complacent. Not in Kansas any more, through the looking glass, down the rabbit hole and all that.

Веши and things

     Another short update. I've been noticing on weekends that I'm really tired. More so than during the week. I think I just need to think about something else for a few days. My mom will be here on Thursday. Then I can have a bit of a vacation.

The waiting is the hardest part

     Tom Petty knows what you've been feeling. It's been almost a week since your last fill-up of Brian-and-Ukraine blog goodness.
     OK, that's all the ego-inflation I can take for now. There really hasn't been a whole lot to talk about lately. So I'll give a basic rundown. I had a good weekend. Played some games with my upstairs neighbors on Saturday. Sunday English club was packed with about 41 people. Monday was about the same but we had more teachers. That made it more manageable. Had language lessons on Friday and Tuesday. Movie Night was on Tuesday after the lesson. That was good. We watched the pilot episode of the BBC's Sherlock. Lots of good discussion out of it.
     Oh, today is the beginning of month seven here. It really doesn't feel like it. But if I look back on all that's happened, it does start to feel like I've been here a while. And I'm already starting to talk to people about coming home in August. It still feels like a while away. It'll be coming up faster than I expect.
     Next Sunday is the first non-holiday, regular worship service for Liberty. I'll let you know how it went probably early next week. Part of the Liberty meeting on Wednesday was working out the last-minute details and such. We'll see how it goes.
     That's all for now. Not a whole lot to report. Thanks.

After Action Report

     I'm back from the retreat and, wow, I have a lot to talk about. It's been a couple of days and I can finally sit down and write about it. I came back to a normal week with English Club, lessons, studying and life that needed taking care of before I could write this.

Two Quick Lessons

     I'm still in the process of writing up the recap of the weekend's excitement. But here's a quick two-point thing about some things I learned this weekend.

When the Moon Hits Your Eye...

     So, in a followup to my last post, I'll let you know about my experience at Pizza Veterano.

Scattershot...

     ...for the scatterbrained writer. In the spirit of throwing this post together on not a lot of sleep and about five or six different ideas, this is my Saturday update that covers this past week and the highlights therein.

Do you ever have déjà vu, Mrs. Lancaster?

I don't think so, but I could check with the kitchen. 

     Happy Groundhog Day! I didn't know it but today is also Groundhog Day in Ukraine. So for all you out there who put stock in the prescient capabilities of prognosticating rodents, this is your cross-cultural experience of the day.

Coldstone

      I went walking last week. It was cold but sunny. It was one of those days where I had to go out and do something. So I went walking. I took my camera with me and got these shots. These are from a part that's between St. Michael's Monastery and the Dnipr. All of the photos were taken with a Nikon D40 and a manual-focus, 28mm DeJour lens. I call it my Coldstone collection.

The Last Worthless Evening

     It seems I forgot something this week. The 25th happened on Monday. That was the day I should have realized that I've been here for six months. And like usual, I forgot and it passed like any other day. Not that it's super important to remember. But it's interesting to note. This is the point in my original plan where I'd start packing up my things and saying goodbye. As it is now, that won't happen for another seven months.

I Heard it Through the Grapevine...

...that the States are getting a bunch of snow. So I thought I'd be helpful and put together a serious guide on how to avoid this weekend's snowy (insert dramatic music)...DUN DUN DUN...

Feels Like the First Time

     And by that I mean it was. Monday of last week was the first night back at Big City English club. It was actually a good evening. We didn't have a big group. I think most people were still in the vacation mode. We had about thirty total.

Once Bitten, Twice Shy

     Alternately, this could have been titled "Paranoid" or "Everybody Hurts." I didn't think I was going to write about this but I figured it was a big event and it should be recorded for posterity (and as a reminder to not be shy about asking for help). I'll start out by saying, I'm completely fine now.

The Longest Time

     Has it really been a week since I posted something here? Not quite the longest time yet but I've definitely been remiss. Anyways, here I am to correct that.
     Last week wasn't very eventful. However, some of the highlights were dinner with the Eides on Wednesday, language lessons that went mostly well, and a whole bunch of snow.
     Thursday was the day that the Orthodox church (and countries from an Orthodox tradition) celebrate Christmas. In Ukraine, it's celebrated much the way Christmas in America is celebrated. Church services, caroling, meals, and gifts. I didn't have a celebration but I did go out to a Christmas program. It was put on by a church on the left bank. It was about a thirty minute ride all the way over there after lunch. I met two people from Big City and we walked together the rest of the way.
     I have to say about the program, there is nothing that takes me out of the Christmas spirit more than a angel "singing" a rap song. I didn't know, going into the program, that it was presented by a charismatic church. They were very liberal (perhaps creative is a better word) with their presentation. It was a very artistic retelling of the birth of Christ from the Gospels. It was well-choreographed and performed. I just wasn't a fan of the style. Growing up in a very conservative church, I rarely saw anything like it. It felt other-worldly.
     After the program, the three of us went to get some lunch (or a late-dinner). We had a very good thin-crust pizza with chicken, mozzarella and tomatoes.
     Friday wasn't a big day. I had a language lesson in the morning. I haven't written about it lately because there isn't much to say about it. I'm still taking lessons twice a week. But Friday I finally realized how far along I've actually come. Part of the lesson was translating English conversation (as written in the textbook) into Russian. But it wasn't written. I had to read the English phrases and speak the translation. Sometimes I get lucky with a word or two but when I actually remember what I need to say and say it correctly, it feels like a huge victory. Obviously there is so much more that I need to learn though. It takes decades to perfect it. I also see where I need to practice and what I need to keep studying. Just the variants of to go (by foot) and to go (by transport) are a huge amount of information to cram into an already packed brain.
     Saturday I got to go sledding for the first time in a few years. I got an invite from the McLanes in the morning to go with them to the northern side of Kiev. There is a spot right on the bank of the Dnipr where a lot of people go. There aren't many options in the city but this was a good small hill. Someone had laid down an icy patch that provided a lot of fun. I could slide down it without a sled. I got wet and cold and then hot. It was a great day. Afterwards I got to spend the evening with the McLane kids, playing games and watching a movie. Go here and here for videos.

The view from the top of the hill.

Out on the ice of the Dnipr.

The Big City Christmas meal.

     That brings me up to today. Sunday was a normal morning at church. Max didn't preach though, it was another member of the church. Its nice to have a change like that sometimes. I'm sure my translator appreciated it. The fill-in didn't speak nearly as fast as Max normally does.
     After church we had a big lunch at the office. It's a tradition to have a big meal right after the Orthodox Christmas. This one was very good. I didn't have time to prepare anything this time so I just bought some drinks and snacks at the grocery store (not the new one) and brought those.
     That's about all the update I actually have for what I've been doing. Tomorrow things finally get back to normal. I came back from the party around 3PM to rest and relax before tomorrow. Monday brings the first of the English club meetings for this year. Next Sunday we'll get back to hosting the Liberty English club.

Missions in Ukraine:
     I asked a member of the Big City missions team about the vision for missions from their church. They said their main goal is sending short-term teams to other churches to help them with their projects. That means events like Vacation Bible Schools, outreach and ministry. So far, they have sent teams to Virginia and Texas.
     Their second main goal is sending out long-term missionaries. Big City already has a long-term missions project in supporting one of the workers aboard the Logos Hope. They are also in the process of raising money and planning for sending someone to Bosnia and Herzegovina (it's one country as I learned today).
     In general, their priority destinations are the USA and Europe. Big City is part of the Radstock organization. They help to connect churches for the purpose of partnership and missions. Radstock is a global organization but, for now, focuses on the northern hemisphere. Big City were part of a roundtable discussion last fall (around the same time I went to Poland) and will be at another in March in Washington DC.
     The Big City team is also interested in bringing in more short and long-term missionaries to Kiev. In a way, I'm part of the fruit of that vision. As I've found, there's only so much of me to go around. That's why they also want to bring in more helpers from around Europe as well. Since they are so close, it's much easier (and cheaper) for someone from the UK or mainland Europe to come here for a few weekends every year. They will get to help with activities like teaching in the English club or participating in retreats for the church and the English club.

Neighborhood Update:
     The building that has been under construction since I got here is finally open to the public. I don't think it's done yet but it's close. The lower floor is complete and that was the important part. Because, now I don't have to walk so far when I need to get groceries. Novus is a chain of grocery stores here. There is actually a full-sized one about three blocks from here. However this is an express version. It's small, clean, well-lit, and, best of all, not crowded. I went in there last night and it's like stepping into any small grocery store in the US. The "8-23" is their hours of operation and the white letters translate to "express."

However, on the day they opened, I had to put up with loud music all day. Since I can literally look down on the building from my balcony, the sound didn't have far to travel or much chance to abate.
     As a closing note, if you're a regular reader in a country other than the US or Ukraine, please sound off in the comments. I'd like to hear from you about how you found the blog and what keeps you coming back to read it. Thanks.
     And don't forget to keep checking the photos page. Just click on the link on the right and it'll take you to the gallery of pictures and videos I've taken in the five months I've been here.