HOME!!!!

Even though I still think that Maine may be the most beautiful place in the world, as I drove through Ukraine no place ever seemed as beautiful. What a change God has done in my heart since my arrival here over 2 years ago! Although I greatly enjoyed my stay with family, how nice it feels to finally be home...even one filled with boxes and in desperate need of a wife's TLC (he did try).

As far as how the trip went, well, it's a LONG story. First, I got all my dates messed up...I thought that I was supposed to leave out on Tuesday (the day I was to arrive) instead of Monday and missed all of my flights. With some calls that morning and work throughout the day, I was able to get everything re-arranged for Wednesday. Wednesday morning everything was going very smoothly. The girls and I seemed to be getting over our colds, my grandparents drove us to the airport early, after saying our goodbye's, we went through the checkpoint and shortly after boarded our flight. As we were just about ready to get going, someone blackout in the aisle and they had an emergency medical call. After she was taken off the plane to a nearby hospital. We were told that it was one of the stewardesses and that we would have to de-board until another stewardess could be found. Not knowing when that would be and having just missed all my flights the day before, I almost started crying. About an hour later and we were allowed to get back on the plane. We arrived in NY about 2 hours late, but still with plenty of time for me to make my next flight. Because I had to pick up my baggage and re-check it in NY, a pastor in Maine arranged for Pastor Swanson and two of his sons to meet me. Without them I don't know how I would have made it. When I went to check in, we ended up getting sent all over the place because my tickets were messed up, but finally it was taken care of and we got checked in and boarded the plane (after sitting in the wrong gate and wing section). Everything was going fairly smoothly, especially for having two very tired girls and mommy. After getting the girls to sleep, I eventually was able to sleep too...for about ten minutes when I was awakened by the frantic cry of the man beside me saying, "Mama, mama. Please wake up." ect. Again, the emergency crew was called. The lady was moved and after what seemed like an hour, we were finally told she would be okay. All I could do was pray that God would give her another chance to accept Him if she was saved. I don't think that I will be able to get her face out of my mind and will continue to pray for her. (So if you are a missionary to France, don't slack up on your post...God may use you to reach her.) When we landed in Paris, a lady kindly helped me carry my carry-on luggage to where we thought I was supposed to be and we parted ways. There I found out that I needed to walk back where I came from (about 10 minutes) and get on an airbus to go to terminal 2B. After getting on the bus, the driver told me we were at my stop. It ended up being terminal 2E, so I had to wait 10-20 minutes for another bus to terminal 2B. An Ukrainian couple got off with me and helped me get to the desk where I needed to print my boarding passes. The ladies there told me that there was a mistake with our tickets and I needed to go to (I think) terminal D to correct it before they could print our passes. So, off I went with the carry-ons and two very tired and hungry girls...Lydia in arms and Anna walking and crying beside me. The Lord again sent someone to help me. A lady working at an information desk (and who, thankfully, spoke English) came to my rescue. Asking where I needed to go and saying that it was a long walk (about 10 minutes), she said that she would take me there. She carried Lydia and helped with the luggage so I could hold Anna. There they told me that mine and Anna's tickets were fine, but Lydia's was never rescheduled. I needed to pay a change of flight fee for her ticket as well in euro or with a credit card. Having neither, I had to go find an exchange booth. Thankfully, it wasn't too far. On the way back to terminal 2B, I thought for sure that I would be the next one to pass out. I had never felt so exhausted, but we made it just in time. The trip from there to Ukraine was uneventful, unless you count me accidentally falling asleep while the girls were awake and Lydia dumping some of the food off the tray onto the floor. It was so nice to hear a language that I understood too...Ukrainian! I think French is a beautiful language, but 2 languages are enough for me. In Ukraine, two young men helped me get through passport checkin, and would have helped with my luggage, but it never came (the stroller made it ;))...not having my luggage was actually a blessing because it will be sent straight to Kharkov instead of us having to lug it with us on taxis and the train...well at least it should. They left me at the lost and found where I was pushed to the front of the line because of the girls. The lady asked if I had someone meeting me and helped me take the girls out to Eric before filing for lost luggage and going through the rest of customs. (It was SO hard to see him for a quick second and not be able to get a kiss or hug.) She then helped me through custom to get me quickly out. I never dreamed Ukrainian customs could be that easy and stress free! I have never been able to sleep on the train, but I definitely did that night! (Maybe it was because my loving husband was taking care of the girls this time...train beds get pretty crowded with little kids. Don't think he slept too well.) The trip might have been crazy, but the Lord put so many people in my path to help me. It taught me two things, 1) He is made strong in our weekness (He is always strong, but we notice it more I guess is the better way to put it) 2) to totally lean on Him because no matter what the circumstance may be, He has it under control.

Guess I'd better be getting back to bed. I'm glad to be home, but having a little bit of a hard time adjusting to the time change. The girls and I might be going out to the house in the village tomorrow to see all that has been done, so I need to get some sleep. Eric has had a LOT happen while I was away and I told him that I would make a post for him on his blog, so be looking for that.

Jena

Just wanted to ask your prayers for a Ukrainian lady named Jena. I met her at Walmart and was able to have a good talk with her in Russian. I am hoping that I get another chance to meet with her and give her a Bible and some tracts.

Safe Travels

We arrived safely in Lincoln, Maine Thursday evening at about 5 pm. WHAT A LOOOONG trip! Besides being long, the trip overall went pretty smooth. The girls did okay, still had some trouble, but good considering how long they spent traveling. I was amazed at how clean everything is in the states and how fresh the air is...even in New York! On the way up to Maine, we stopped by my grandparents house and I couldn't believe how big there oven was. I thought that maybe they bought an extra large one....until every other oven I've seen here has been the same size! Mine is about 1/2 that size! It's funny, I was prepared for culture shock going over to the Ukraine, but not quite expecting it coming back to my homeland! I even had a hard time trying to pick a toothpaste because I was overwhelmed with how many choices there were and for the first few days, I had to stop and think before I spoke to make sure that I spoke in English instead of Russian! I'm actually missing hearing Russian...especially hymns sung in Russian. I did get a chance to sing It is Well in Russian on Sunday. Three more weeks than I get to hear it again! I'll miss family, Walmart, clean air, etc., but I'm still anxious to get back. I'm so glad that God has given me this time to get refreshed and healthy again though. It has also been such a blessing to see family and they are LOVING seeing the girls.

Between visits with family and to Walmart ;), a lot of my time has been spent in the doctor's office. They have tested me for almost everything, but are pretty sure that I have severe asthma. They have put me on predisone (I think that's what it's called) for 2 weeks and given me an inhalor. During this time, I also lost the baby. I started having problems shortly after we arrived. We're not sure if it was the trip or something else, but we know that it is in God's hands.

Well, I'm exhausted and we have a full day tomorrow. Looking forward to seeing some of you while I'm in Maine!

Maine and Opportunities to Witness

Well, it has been a full week and next week will be even busier! The girls and I will be boarding a plane headed back to America on the 22nd. Before that, we will have an 8 hour train ride. We found out on Saturday about a missionary here who has to go back to America and Eric decided to send me back with her because of my health. Without the help of family, it wouldn't have been possible. Tickets have gotten so expensive and Anna is now charged almost full price for a seat. I know that they are all excited to meet the girls and I'm glad that they will get a chance. I'm excited to see family and friends, go to Walmart, and be able to DRIVE. It is so hard for me to get out and around too far from the house here because Eric is usually not home during the day and public transportation is not the easiest with two kids. The only downside is that Eric is not able to go with me. He cannot get away for 2 reasons: 1)there is no one else to take over the ministry and 2) we have to be moved out of this apartment by the end of August. He is going to be working like crazy to try to have it in a liveable condition by the time we come back on August 25th (that's so long to be away).

Besides working on the house, Eric has been very busy visiting with an elderly gentleman named Yuri. He is the father of one of our church members and has been very sick for a long time. Eric spent almost all day yesterday over there and also had a chance to ask Yuri about his salvation. Yuri said that he had repented of his sins and trusted Jesus Christ to save him. We are so thankful that we were able to hear that for we found out today that he died during the night last night. When someone dies, the funeral is done right away. Eric was asked to preach at the funeral and was over there most of the day. I was going to go to help by watching a few of the kids while the adults went to the cemetary, but Eric and Valentina said that it would be too much for me because of how sick I've been lately. Eric was also concerned that I might have an attack while watching their kids. Thankfully, today has been a very good day. Pray for the family and friends that were there. Many are not saved. Eric was able to pass out many books on salvation and he preached a salvation message.

The past week has been a very rough week for me. My cough has been extremely bad. We are pretty sure that because of the pollution of the city and possibly something in this apartment, I have developed severe asthma. I had it under control for a little while naturally but then stopped everything good that I was doing, and it came back hard. This time, everyone convinced me to use an inhaler and pills instead. They don't seem to be helping at all. I've had to use the inhaler 4 times today and I took the 3 pills suggested. In spite of all this, I have still wheezed all day and felt mildly suffocated. I am having a very hard time trying to control it now and am in a lot of pain from coughing. I just started going back to my natural remedies, and it seems to be calming down. I am very exhausted from lack of sleep (I wake up now at least once, last night twice, having an attack) and would cry if it wouldn't cause an attack. The nights when I do not wheeze, I am so excited about breathing that I can't sleep. I just lie there breathing and praising God because it feels so wonderful! How often I took breath for granted before all of this! Please be praying for me.

LESS FOR ME=MORE FOR GOD

"This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. Howbeit in vain do they worship me, teaching for doctrines the commandments of men. For laying aside the commandment of God, ye hold the tradition of men, as the washing of pots and cups: and many other such like things ye do. And he said unto them, Full well ye reject the commandment of God, that ye may keep your own tradition." Mark 7:6b-9

Oh, how much we see that here! These Ukrainians would rather give their time to pray to icons, and their money to greedy priests than to just trust in Jesus Christ and the Bible! And what does this bring them? Nothing. No peace. No joy. No future security. I went out by myself the other week, first time in a LONG time. I usually don't take public transportation much because it is too difficult with the girls. I can pretty much get everything that I need within walking distance, and if I can't, Eric picks it up for me on his way home. But the other week Eric let me go to the second hand store after the girls went to bed. When you are out with someone, you don't notice the people around you as well as when you are by yourself...especially if that "someone" is two little girls. By myself, though, on the metro I looked into their faces and it broke my heart. Their lives are full of sorrow, worry, no hope...it's overwhelming to see. I also met a lady who was asking for only 50 kopayek...that's about 5 cents!!! She was trying to STEAL it from the company she was working for! (She was asking you to give her 50 kopayek instead of paying 1 griven for riding the trolly bus and she would keep it and you would ride without a ticket.) Can you imagine? To be so desparate as to be stealing a nickel??? I said that I could not do that because I am a Christian. I gave her 1 griven and 50 kopayek...griven for my ticket and 50 kopayek for her.

I see how little they live on and wonder how they manage to survive. God has continually been weeding things out of our lives...starting even before we came over. Sometimes it is such a hard process! We greatly desire to give our all to God and we're willing, but when He actually brings something to mind, it's hard! Sometimes I want to go into my pouting child stage and say, "It's not fair, Lord! I've already given up family, friends, my homeland, my kids having grandparents, Walmart ;)...what MORE do you want?" Then I think, "Is HE not worth it? Is a soul not worth it?" One of our neighbors said once to Lina about us, "They're poor aren't they." Praise the Lord! It is ONLY when they look past our material possessions that we can start reaching them with the Saviour! Pray for me. I greatly desire for Christ to be seen in me and for more to be purged from my life. I desire to have more time for him as well as money. Pray for us as we learn to live on less and use our time wisely FOR THE GLORY OF GOD that Kharkov, Ukraine will see something different and desire to know our Lord and Saviour!

~Otkroshka~

(Or Cold Soup)

5 potatoes (diced and boiled)
4 cucumbers (peeled and diced)
1-2  smoked ham (usual), cooked chicken breasts, or desired meat (leftovers are great)
4 eggs (boiled and diced)

To taste:
green onion
dill
sour cream or mayo (mayonnaise doesn't spoil as quickly)...about 8 oz.
salt and pepper

sour milk water* (or bouillon from boiled chicken breasts & lemon acid or vinegar to taste)

Everything is finely diced and mixed together when cool. If you use the bouillon it needs to be completely cooled before you mix the rest of the ingredients into it. Then refrigerate until use. It will taste better if you can let it sit for at least an hour.

*Okay. Let's see if I can explain the sour milk water. (If you live on a farm, you know what it is. I didn't know until recently.) After milk from a cow sits for a little while, you end up with a thick, buttery layer on top and sour milky water on bottom. The bottom is what is used. I have NO clue what it is called in English, because before coming to Ukraine I had never bought it before.