New Church Pictures

New pictures and a video of the remodeling done so far at the new church building have been posted on our ministry blog!  I've posted one here...notice the new windows on the side?  It's getting exciting!

I Feel Like Talking

Which is a strange thing lately.  Maybe it's the beautiful morning~gray skies, cool with a nice breeze.  Ooooo!  I'm just loving it!  I know you think I'm crazy, but it has been so hot here lately (it's reached the 90's a few times in the past few days - our thermometer said 100, but I think it was off) that this cool day is absolutely refreshing.  Yes.  Ukraine gets pretty hot.  Last summer we reached the 100s in May and stayed there until the week before Sammy was born {an answer to prayer} then soared back up.  I'm beginning to think that Ukraine is a country of only two seasons - cooold winters and HOT summers.  We also have some crazy rain storms.  The other day I was out checking the laundry {skin frying in the scorching sun} and felt a big plop on my arm.  I checked quickly, thinking it must be a present from a bird because there were no clouds.  About that moment we had a down pour.  It has happened like that every day {except yesterday} this week.  The funny thing is, Bree was out walking and Eric had warned her to take an umbrella with her.  She thought "It's too sunny and hot for it to rain!"  Yep. {Think the coolness is bringing out the mainer in me.}  She left it at home and was hit with two rain showers before she got back home.  Needless to say, she has brought an umbrella with her every day since.

I told you I felt like talking.  It isn't just the weather that has revived me.  I'm not ready to tell all yet {maybe soon}, but I have been struggling lately (It isn't anything serious, just thought I should clarify so that I don't have anyone worried.) and I feel like I am finally ready and willing to surrender.   What peace this brings!  What joy!  I know it will still be a long battle and I will still have my moments of discouragement, but I feel like I can make it now...no matter what He requires of me.  I'm like Anna and Lydia when they are first learning to put on their clothes crying "I can't do it!  I can't do it!".  Once they just calm down and take it slow, maybe ask please for a little guidance, they are able to easily put their clothes on by themselves.  Yes.  I have been that bad lately.  I have cried "I can't do it!  Why do you expect this of me?  No one else has to! {not true, but we always say it anyways don't we?}"  In my devotions I have started reading in Hebrews.  This morning sitting quietly on my rocker and enjoying the nice breeze from the window, God calmly reassured me that He was not only here but understood exactly what I was going through!  This is what He said...

"For verily he took not on him the nature of angels;

but he took on him the seed of Abraham.

Wherefore in all things it behoved him to be made like unto his brethren,

that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in things pertaining to God,

to make reconciliation for the sins of the people.

For in that he himself hath suffered being tempted,

he is able to succour them that are tempted."

Hebrews 2:16-18

He wasn't made like an angel, or with supernatural power to endure all that He suffered.  No.  He was made like me.  He suffered on this world, in a human body, with a human mind and feelings.  He did this so that He could help me and understand me.  Because of what He went through, He knows my frame and what I can handle.  Even more than that, He will succour me.  {Succour - assistance in time of distress; relief} When I am in distress He may not get me out, but He will provide assistance through it and relief.  What a blessing to know He understands and will always give me the assistance I need to get through every trial - no matter how big and difficult or small and silly {to others}.  He will give me relief of my burden as I leave it on Him.  What peace I can have as long as I lean on Him!

What a fellowship, what a joy divine, Leaning on the everlasting arms;

What a blessedness, what a peace is mine, Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms;

Leaning, leaning, Leaning on the everlasting arms.

What have I to dread, what have I to fear, Leaning on the everlasting arms;

I have blessed peace with my Lord so near, Leaning on the everlasting arms.

Leaning, leaning, Safe and secure from all alarms;

Leaning, leaning, Leaning on the everlasting arms. 

Elisha A. Hoffman

Chaste

Starting again in the Titus 2 study, we are on the word chaste {morally pure; modest; simple in design or style}. 

Because there were not many verses on chaste, I also looked at Proverbs 9 -the opposite of a chaste wife.  Vs. 13 says:

“A foolish woman is clamorous: she is simple, and knoweth nothing.” 

Later in the chapter it says that she cries

“Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant.” 

Am I modest and simple in my design or style of clothing? 

Or is my dress and attitude clamorous? 

Am I trying to draw attention to myself?  

Is my dress causing men to secretly lust after me? 

The {cultural} dress here is very different from America.  Everything in their dress is to draw attention to their bodies.  Everything is flashy and/or immodest.  I know that it is somewhat like that in America, but it is so much worse here.  In the summer, everyone is wearing see-through shirts and mini skirts that they must have bought in the children’s section.  Between the women and the naked posters/magazines, there is so much pressure to look beautiful and skinny.  Though I am not tempted to dress that loosely, sometimes when I am dressing I catch myself wanting to wear or not wear an outfit based on whether it makes me look slimmer and prettier or not.  I get caught up in the struggle to be beautiful in “men’s” eyes instead of asking myself 

“Does this outfit draw people to God? Or to ME?” 

Part of this is because, being an American, I am watched and judged everywhere I go.  And Ukrainians have told me {on more than one occasion} that Ukrainians are the most beautiful women in the world.  I pray that I will not let this pressure me and that I can be chaste {modest and simple in my style}, so that my dress does not distract from the Gospel but rather points people to Christ.  Instead of people saying, "Oh, what a beautiful, pretty lady!"  for them to say "She really believes the Bible and there is a difference about her."  and be drawn to learn more about CHRIST.

1 Peter 3:1-5 talks about an unsaved husband who is won to Christ because of the way his wife lives.  I think this also applies to the unsaved world around us.  A chaste wife is not a common thing in our world and the world is watching the Christian wife to see how she is different.  We either draw them to Christ or push them away.

Whether it's modest or not...why do you wear what you wear?  Your actions will show your heart.  Modest, simple clothing is ruined with a loud, attention-drawing demeanor.

We are to be "chaste...that the Word of God be not blasphemed".

Missed a study?

Introduction to Titus 2

To Be Sober

To Love their own Husbands

To Love their own Children

To be Discreet

Back On

And in record timing!  Eric brought the computer in yesterday to be repaired, expecting them to say come back in a week (then when you come back a week later, it's usually not done and will be ready next week...has gone on for 3 weeks before!); but they finished it in 1 afternoon!  Guess we should have brought it in a few months ago! 

So what have we been up to?  Bree and I finished the garden!  YAY!  And while we were working, the girls played with the neighbor girls and chilled...

{Doesn't she look comfy?}

On Thursday, Eric had some work to do in the city, and Bree was going to hang out with Lina, so I decided to take Lydia with me for a little Mama time.  We walked around the center and found a park!  Lydia loved it!

I made our bed {couch} a little late the other day and this is what I found the girls doing...

And.....Cucumber season has started!  Brianna could not be more excited.  She LOVES cucumbers.  Yuri brought us a bag of cucumbers on Sunday and we enjoyed them on the way to church.  Yum, yum!

Even Sammy had some.

Eric went over to the church building last night and said that it is looking very nice.  I can't wait to see it and take pictures!

Absent

If you have noticed a lack of posting, it is due to computer problems.  Even now it is extreemly difficult to type.  So until this gets taken care of, you may not hear from me for a little while.  I look forward to getting caught up both on my blog and your's soon.

At Least We're Good for a Laugh

Out we trudged {Bree and I} through the pouring rain carrying our little trusty shovels {aka-the kids plastic sand shovels}.  And wouldn't you know it, just as we reached the garden Yuri, Kristina and Lina showed up.  With grinning faces and umbrellas in hand, they wanted to know what we were doing.  Why!  Planting tomato, pepper and califlower plants of course!  Oh well.  I may not know how to garden, but at least we're good for a laugh!

Want to know what else is in the Vvedenka gossip circles?  The American girl tilling {can it be called that if it's done with hand and shovel?} up the ground for her garden after having 3 babies!   {Yes, that's considered a very large family.  How do I ever manage?!? hehe} 

Even though it has been a cold and rainy week, it has been a good one.  I have been enjoying my Mother's Day/VERY early Birthday gift {even more after I saw the exact same one at another store for about $130 MORE!  Isn't that insane?} ...

{Pretty soon, that whole area on the left will be filled with white flowers...unless the seeds decide not to come up or they end up being purple instead, which has happened.}

While we relaxed on the swing, this is what the girls were doing... 

And they thought having a big family was hard work. ;)

{I know you're all amazed by my great photo-taking ability.  It only took me about 10 tries before I figured out how to catch it.}

This is for you, mom.  Lydia won't go anywhere without them.

Our yard before Eric weed wacked it...

Sammy enjoying a new treat...

Pizza Pockets!  They were absolutely delicious and addicting.  We all couldn't stop eating them!  You can find the recipe at Jessi's blog ~ Joy Unspeakable.  Not only does she have some tasty recipes, but her blog is very sweet...but that's not surprising with a name like that. ;)

And to prove what a terrible gardener I am, look what I found growing in a rock pile on our yard...

Mint!  I tried planting some last year and it all died!  The rocks beat me!  At least I still get to enjoy the tea.  If you have never tried it, even if you don't like mint tea, you need to give it a try.  It taste and smells like spearmint!  The girls love it as well.  Mmmm.  Think I'm going to go get myself a cup right now!

Even though...

 you wipe your oatmeal all over my piano {Sammy}...

Run into all of the corners in the house {Sammy}...

And run grinning, with Aunti behind you yelling no, to pull every book off the shelf {Sammy},

And not put them back straight {girlies}...

You know how to make messes fun.

I LOVE you!