Guidelines for Letter Writing
We ask that as part of child sponsorship, you write at least four times during the course of a year. For your convenience letters can be given to Tiffany, sent to the Living Hope Community Church, or dropped in the LH offering plate or in the box on the Ukraine display. Letters will then be sent collectively at the end of every month or sooner if there are several. Please remember letters will be translated from English to Russian. The simpler the language, the easier it is to translate. Please clearly write the child’s name including initial for last name, if listed on card.
Due to cost and the fact that we do not want some kids to receive gifts while others do not you cannot send packages. If you would like to include stickers, bookmarks, and other small things that can be placed in a card or letter that is acceptable. We will notify you if we are sending packages collectively or collecting specific items for each child to be sent over a couple times a year.
Below are guidelines to help you with your writing.
What to write about…
•Introduce yourself and your family. (your name, spouse, children, pets, occupation, age or grades in school, sports, hobbies or activities)
•Tell about where you live. (City, State, weather, seasons, terrain, describe it)
•Share Pictures. (Feel free to share pictures of you or your family. If your children like to draw, it would also be great for them to send their own artwork)
•Prayer Requests. (The children are praying for you, feel free to share what you need prayer for.)
•Ask Questions. (Ask about school, weather, prayer request, sports, activities, or hobbies. This will encourage the children to write back and help them write)
Do not write about…
•In your pictures and writings do not share about money or costly processions.
•Do not send money.
•Do not ask a child about their past or their parents or why they were on the streets or in a children’s home. (Try to focus on the future)
•Do not make promises to the child.
To send correspondance or donations for the Ukraine Sponsorship program, please address it as follows:
Living Hope Church
Child Sponsorship
1150 West Spring Valley Pike
Centerville, OH 45458
Thursday, December 10, 2009
New Opportunity
Much has happened since the last time I wrote. God has opened up many doors to continue working with the orphans in Ukraine. Hygiene items were collected and sent, a couple committed to sponsorship of the street children, a child sponsorship program was created for the children in the children’s home in Vapnyarka, and plans have begun for mission trips in 2011!
Sponsorship
I would like to share some exciting news about continued work with the orphanage in Vapnyarka Ukraine. With the help of Living Hope Church in Centerville, we were able to launch a child sponsorship program to build relationships with children through letter writing and prayers and to help meet the needs for food, shelter, clothing, and education through financial monthly financial contributions. It has been exciting to see individuals, families, and small groups choose a child to invest in. Please pray for the sponsorship program, the persons involved, and of course the children.
If you are interested in sponsoring a child for $20.00 a month, please contact me to receive a sponsorship commitment card or pick one up in the Living Hope foyer.
Thank you for your continuous love, encouragement, and support of me and the orphans of the world.
God Bless, Tiffany Wientge
Sponsorship
I would like to share some exciting news about continued work with the orphanage in Vapnyarka Ukraine. With the help of Living Hope Church in Centerville, we were able to launch a child sponsorship program to build relationships with children through letter writing and prayers and to help meet the needs for food, shelter, clothing, and education through financial monthly financial contributions. It has been exciting to see individuals, families, and small groups choose a child to invest in. Please pray for the sponsorship program, the persons involved, and of course the children.
If you are interested in sponsoring a child for $20.00 a month, please contact me to receive a sponsorship commitment card or pick one up in the Living Hope foyer.
Thank you for your continuous love, encouragement, and support of me and the orphans of the world.
God Bless, Tiffany Wientge
Tuesday, March 31, 2009
March
The month of March has been the most difficult month for me to write about. I have concluded that it is because it feels so final. Writing about final events, saying goodbye, and reentry into the U.S. was like closing and locking a door. However it would be wrong not to share with those of you have been on this journey with me, those experiences. I have also decided, that just because I am entering an new phase of my life, I am not leaving Ukraine, my experiences there, the people I loved, or the passion that God has awakened in me in my past- it is now a part of who I am. As the thought provoking film set in Ukraine, Everything is Illuminated, illustrates, we do not leave our past behind us. Our past is a part of who we are and it affects the way we see the world around us.
It is this same principle of carrying our past around with us, which causes many people to carry burdens they don’t need to. When I think about the seventeen kids in the children’s center, I have an image in my head of each one them carrying a book bag on their back filled with bricks. Bricks of physical abuse, of verbal cruelty, the heaviness of being neglected or abandoned weighing down on them, the voices of their society constantly instilling lies by telling them they are guilty of the sins of their parents, that they are less valuable because they are orphans or because they have HIV, their family trees are infiltrated with prostitution, crime, and drug use. They carry these bricks which they are shackled to with chains of fear, low self-esteem, hopelessness, and a desire to fill the void in their lives with whatever they can find. My heart breaks, knowing that 10% of children in government orphanages commit suicide before the age of eighteen. As disturbing as this thought is, it is a reality that can only be broken by the power of God. This makes me ever more faithful that at least a handful of the thousand of orphans around the world are taking part in programs developed by Christian organizations that offer them not only food and shelter but hope and love.
If we think that we are safe from carrying our own bag of bricks just because we live in America, we are wrong. Each one of us carries are own bag of the past. There comes a point in each person’s life when they are given the choice to blame it on everyone who put a brick in their bag or tightened the chains that bind them and live with the weight and pain or we can take responsibility for the healing process. By putting down our bags and removing our chains we are free to live the life God truly wants for us. Letting go of our baggage is much harder than it sounds because we have to ask God and often others for help. My prayer for these kids, for you, and for me as that we will be able to put down our baggage and live free.
Pivotal Moments
I would like to share some of the events that took place my last few weeks in Ukraine.
Family
When I returned to Vapnyarka the last time, I got off the train in the middle of the night. When I got home, everyone was sleeping soundly. I awoke the next morning as usual. Nina, the lady I lived with was excited to see me. She poured us some tea and sat with me while I ate my bread and butter breakfast. After getting caught up on where I had been the subject turned to something more serious. Knowing I would be leaving soon, she asked me to ask my church to pray for her daughter, Yana, who I also lived with. As she begin to explain, tears began streaming down her face. Since the age of nine, Yana had severe headaches. The doctors were unable to figure out the cause. All they could do was give her medicine to help the pain. Ten years later, at the age of nineteen, Yana’s head still aches frequently. She continues to take medicine but there is still no knowledge of what is causing the pain.
Here I was, a year after I had arrived, listening to a woman pour her heart out, doing her best to explain her burden in the simplest Russian possible, so that I would understand. To Nina I was not a foreigner, but a sister in Christ and my church, although thousands of miles away, family. Her faith was inspirational. It didn’t matter to Nina what language was being used to pray because her God is bigger.
Yana was added to the prayer list at my church but I ask that as my fellow believer that you also pray for her condition. Also pray for her mother and family.
Fresh Off the Street
From Vapnyarka, I traveled to Odessa for about a week to spend time working with Natalya before going to Kiev. I said my goodbyes and shed some tears, knowing that I would not see the kids before I left. Thankfully God granted me peace and I was able to leave. The emotions and thoughts I was having were normal and expected. What I did not expect was what I would find in Odessa- a boy, who for writing we will name Sergei.
Sergei grew up on the streets. When he was only one and a half years old his mother, a drug user, was forced to live on the streets and took him with her. As Sergei, now fourteen, recalls his mother, he tells stories about how she used to care for not only him but all of the street boys. She did whatever she had to including theft, so that they would have food. Before she would always make sure the food was divided up between the kids before feeding herself. She often went without, so that the kids could eat. A couple of years ago Sergei’s mother died in his arms.
Over the last year Natalya has visited with street kids in Odessa, bringing them food and clothing. Some of you may remember Sasha, living with the kids on the street for a week to help gain their trust. Relationships were made and doors opened to the street kids.
Recently Sergei decided he wanted to try a new way of life, life off the streets. He was brought to Natalya’s home where he lived for two months prior to my arrival. As wonderful as home life may sound, it is a difficult transition for a kid used to living on the streets. There were lots of lessons to learn, like how to use a toilet and how to eat with silverware. There are rules, responsibilities, and expectations. In turn, he received a warm place to sleep and regular meals.
Sergei also decided to become a Christian. He has found a new hope. His church is in many ways his family.
For the first time in his life at the age of fourteen, he is learning to read. I had the honor to get to know Sergei better during my time in Odessa by playing games and helping him learn to read. I will never forget sitting across the breakfast table from him when he ate cereal for the first time ever.
Sergei is well on his way to a new life off the streets but the transition can be difficult. Please pray for the further development of this boy. He is now spending time in Vapnyarka. It is possible that he will live at the children’s center there. Pray that God protects and keeps him and also for the kids already in the children’s home as they adjust to a new kid.
Thank you for your continuous love, prayers, and encouragement as I return home. I hope to write more soon about the adjustments taking place. God Bless, Tiffany
It is this same principle of carrying our past around with us, which causes many people to carry burdens they don’t need to. When I think about the seventeen kids in the children’s center, I have an image in my head of each one them carrying a book bag on their back filled with bricks. Bricks of physical abuse, of verbal cruelty, the heaviness of being neglected or abandoned weighing down on them, the voices of their society constantly instilling lies by telling them they are guilty of the sins of their parents, that they are less valuable because they are orphans or because they have HIV, their family trees are infiltrated with prostitution, crime, and drug use. They carry these bricks which they are shackled to with chains of fear, low self-esteem, hopelessness, and a desire to fill the void in their lives with whatever they can find. My heart breaks, knowing that 10% of children in government orphanages commit suicide before the age of eighteen. As disturbing as this thought is, it is a reality that can only be broken by the power of God. This makes me ever more faithful that at least a handful of the thousand of orphans around the world are taking part in programs developed by Christian organizations that offer them not only food and shelter but hope and love.
If we think that we are safe from carrying our own bag of bricks just because we live in America, we are wrong. Each one of us carries are own bag of the past. There comes a point in each person’s life when they are given the choice to blame it on everyone who put a brick in their bag or tightened the chains that bind them and live with the weight and pain or we can take responsibility for the healing process. By putting down our bags and removing our chains we are free to live the life God truly wants for us. Letting go of our baggage is much harder than it sounds because we have to ask God and often others for help. My prayer for these kids, for you, and for me as that we will be able to put down our baggage and live free.
Pivotal Moments
I would like to share some of the events that took place my last few weeks in Ukraine.
Family
When I returned to Vapnyarka the last time, I got off the train in the middle of the night. When I got home, everyone was sleeping soundly. I awoke the next morning as usual. Nina, the lady I lived with was excited to see me. She poured us some tea and sat with me while I ate my bread and butter breakfast. After getting caught up on where I had been the subject turned to something more serious. Knowing I would be leaving soon, she asked me to ask my church to pray for her daughter, Yana, who I also lived with. As she begin to explain, tears began streaming down her face. Since the age of nine, Yana had severe headaches. The doctors were unable to figure out the cause. All they could do was give her medicine to help the pain. Ten years later, at the age of nineteen, Yana’s head still aches frequently. She continues to take medicine but there is still no knowledge of what is causing the pain.
Here I was, a year after I had arrived, listening to a woman pour her heart out, doing her best to explain her burden in the simplest Russian possible, so that I would understand. To Nina I was not a foreigner, but a sister in Christ and my church, although thousands of miles away, family. Her faith was inspirational. It didn’t matter to Nina what language was being used to pray because her God is bigger.
Yana was added to the prayer list at my church but I ask that as my fellow believer that you also pray for her condition. Also pray for her mother and family.
Fresh Off the Street
From Vapnyarka, I traveled to Odessa for about a week to spend time working with Natalya before going to Kiev. I said my goodbyes and shed some tears, knowing that I would not see the kids before I left. Thankfully God granted me peace and I was able to leave. The emotions and thoughts I was having were normal and expected. What I did not expect was what I would find in Odessa- a boy, who for writing we will name Sergei.
Sergei grew up on the streets. When he was only one and a half years old his mother, a drug user, was forced to live on the streets and took him with her. As Sergei, now fourteen, recalls his mother, he tells stories about how she used to care for not only him but all of the street boys. She did whatever she had to including theft, so that they would have food. Before she would always make sure the food was divided up between the kids before feeding herself. She often went without, so that the kids could eat. A couple of years ago Sergei’s mother died in his arms.
Over the last year Natalya has visited with street kids in Odessa, bringing them food and clothing. Some of you may remember Sasha, living with the kids on the street for a week to help gain their trust. Relationships were made and doors opened to the street kids.
Recently Sergei decided he wanted to try a new way of life, life off the streets. He was brought to Natalya’s home where he lived for two months prior to my arrival. As wonderful as home life may sound, it is a difficult transition for a kid used to living on the streets. There were lots of lessons to learn, like how to use a toilet and how to eat with silverware. There are rules, responsibilities, and expectations. In turn, he received a warm place to sleep and regular meals.
Sergei also decided to become a Christian. He has found a new hope. His church is in many ways his family.
For the first time in his life at the age of fourteen, he is learning to read. I had the honor to get to know Sergei better during my time in Odessa by playing games and helping him learn to read. I will never forget sitting across the breakfast table from him when he ate cereal for the first time ever.
Sergei is well on his way to a new life off the streets but the transition can be difficult. Please pray for the further development of this boy. He is now spending time in Vapnyarka. It is possible that he will live at the children’s center there. Pray that God protects and keeps him and also for the kids already in the children’s home as they adjust to a new kid.
Thank you for your continuous love, prayers, and encouragement as I return home. I hope to write more soon about the adjustments taking place. God Bless, Tiffany
NCM Magazine
If you are interested in reading my article about Aquila Ministries in Chernovtsy, Ukraine you can find it online at http://www.nazcompassion.org/magazine_center.aspx
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Final Days
Traveler’s Note:
When washing your hands always turn on the water before putting soap on them or you may end up with a handful of soap with no way to rinse it off. (Be sure to keep some hand sanitizer on close by)
Quarantine
When I arrived in Vapnyarka on Wednesday the 25th of February the kids were in the middle of a week of no school. They were quarantine! The whole school was quarantine. Too many kids were sick, so they closed school for a whole week to keep it from spreading. Other than the three boys in Odessa, the kids were all at home, enjoying life without homework.
This time off school was a blessing to me as well. I was able to spend more time with the kids. We played BINGO and UNO. We played a towering bunny game I found in the bottom of my suit case. We watched movies and played with dolls. On the few days the sun was shining we played in the snow and rollerbladed on the pavement. Other than Andrei having to go to the hospital for a week because his cough was so bad, it was a glorious time.
Reaching New Heights
In May, I put up a height chart in the children’s center. I measured all seventeen kids and myself. Ten months later, I measured them again. Incredible! They grew an average of two inches each. I on the other hand, had shrunk about an inch and was officially labeled “Babushka” or grandma.
I knew the kids had grown during my time with them but I didn’t realize how much till I saw it with my own eyes. As each child stood in front of the chart awaiting the results, a smirk of anticipation lit each face. At the sight of their new heights they became excited. A sense of pride filled their eyes. They eagerly shared their results. Measuring them did not only record their physical growth but allowed their self esteem to blossom.
Saying Goodbye
It is never easy to say goodbye to the ones you love. For me, leaving these young children in Vapnyarka was no different. Not knowing if or when I will see them again makes it even more difficult. I worry about them.
Will they know they are loved? Will they make better decisions than their parents? What does life have in store for them? Will they become part of the statistics? But somehow, through the hugs and the tears, I have found peace. Even though I love them dearly, these children do not belong to me; they never did. They are the Lord’s. It is in the Lord’s hands that I leave them.
It does not mean I don’t cry for them. It does not mean that my heart does not break for them when I think of the tragic past that haunts them. It does not mean I don’t cringe when I think of the battles that lie ahead of them. It means I realize that I am not God. It means I pray for them daily. I pray that their past is not their future. I pray for healing. I pray that they find hope. I pray that they know they are loved.
When washing your hands always turn on the water before putting soap on them or you may end up with a handful of soap with no way to rinse it off. (Be sure to keep some hand sanitizer on close by)
Quarantine
When I arrived in Vapnyarka on Wednesday the 25th of February the kids were in the middle of a week of no school. They were quarantine! The whole school was quarantine. Too many kids were sick, so they closed school for a whole week to keep it from spreading. Other than the three boys in Odessa, the kids were all at home, enjoying life without homework.
This time off school was a blessing to me as well. I was able to spend more time with the kids. We played BINGO and UNO. We played a towering bunny game I found in the bottom of my suit case. We watched movies and played with dolls. On the few days the sun was shining we played in the snow and rollerbladed on the pavement. Other than Andrei having to go to the hospital for a week because his cough was so bad, it was a glorious time.
Reaching New Heights
In May, I put up a height chart in the children’s center. I measured all seventeen kids and myself. Ten months later, I measured them again. Incredible! They grew an average of two inches each. I on the other hand, had shrunk about an inch and was officially labeled “Babushka” or grandma.
I knew the kids had grown during my time with them but I didn’t realize how much till I saw it with my own eyes. As each child stood in front of the chart awaiting the results, a smirk of anticipation lit each face. At the sight of their new heights they became excited. A sense of pride filled their eyes. They eagerly shared their results. Measuring them did not only record their physical growth but allowed their self esteem to blossom.
Saying Goodbye
It is never easy to say goodbye to the ones you love. For me, leaving these young children in Vapnyarka was no different. Not knowing if or when I will see them again makes it even more difficult. I worry about them.
Will they know they are loved? Will they make better decisions than their parents? What does life have in store for them? Will they become part of the statistics? But somehow, through the hugs and the tears, I have found peace. Even though I love them dearly, these children do not belong to me; they never did. They are the Lord’s. It is in the Lord’s hands that I leave them.
It does not mean I don’t cry for them. It does not mean that my heart does not break for them when I think of the tragic past that haunts them. It does not mean I don’t cringe when I think of the battles that lie ahead of them. It means I realize that I am not God. It means I pray for them daily. I pray that their past is not their future. I pray for healing. I pray that they find hope. I pray that they know they are loved.
Thursday, February 19, 2009
Common Ground
In some of the recent pictures you will see a gathering of the moms and a club meeting with guests from Germany; Adeena and Alenna. They stayed for one week.
Adeena’s family moved to Germany from Uzbekistan when she was a girl. Her father was a blind man and also a Christian. The Soviet Union wanted to imprison him, but to avoid an international incident over putting a blind man in prison merely for having faith; he was given three days to pack up his family and leave. It was not easy, but her family made their home in Germany.
Adeena is now the mother of two children herself, one of which is Alenna who accompanied her on this trip. In the picture of my final days of Chernovtsy, you can see a small part of what they did while they were here.
Having company over for tea, coffee, and sweets is a common practice in Ukraine. While our visitors from Germany were here, as when my family was here, we had the mothers over for tea, coffee, and sweets. And just as when my family was here the mothers shared their hearts through their prayer requests. Adeena shared her story and how God was at work in her life. There were many commonalities between this meeting and when my family was here. It does not matter where you are from- Uzbekistan, Germany, Ukraine, or The United States of America, a mother’s heart is the same. A mother’s prayer is for her family, for her children. There is a need for women all over the world to be able to share their needs. They need a place to come unmasked and unafraid; a place where they will be loved and encouraged. Just like the women meeting here, my mother and Adeena spoke of meeting in women’s Bible study groups in their own countries.
We were created to depend on each other. When Christ came and the church was created, part of its duty was to provide a safe place to be heard, to share, to be loved, to be encouraged, and to pray together with other believers. I have found that this is not just an idea but a reality. In my own life, this past year, I have been encouraged. I have been loved. I have been able to share and be heard. I have been prayed for and prayed with. It never ceases to amaze me, that as part of the church, I have family all over the world. Thank you for being a part of that family.
Adeena’s family moved to Germany from Uzbekistan when she was a girl. Her father was a blind man and also a Christian. The Soviet Union wanted to imprison him, but to avoid an international incident over putting a blind man in prison merely for having faith; he was given three days to pack up his family and leave. It was not easy, but her family made their home in Germany.
Adeena is now the mother of two children herself, one of which is Alenna who accompanied her on this trip. In the picture of my final days of Chernovtsy, you can see a small part of what they did while they were here.
Having company over for tea, coffee, and sweets is a common practice in Ukraine. While our visitors from Germany were here, as when my family was here, we had the mothers over for tea, coffee, and sweets. And just as when my family was here the mothers shared their hearts through their prayer requests. Adeena shared her story and how God was at work in her life. There were many commonalities between this meeting and when my family was here. It does not matter where you are from- Uzbekistan, Germany, Ukraine, or The United States of America, a mother’s heart is the same. A mother’s prayer is for her family, for her children. There is a need for women all over the world to be able to share their needs. They need a place to come unmasked and unafraid; a place where they will be loved and encouraged. Just like the women meeting here, my mother and Adeena spoke of meeting in women’s Bible study groups in their own countries.
We were created to depend on each other. When Christ came and the church was created, part of its duty was to provide a safe place to be heard, to share, to be loved, to be encouraged, and to pray together with other believers. I have found that this is not just an idea but a reality. In my own life, this past year, I have been encouraged. I have been loved. I have been able to share and be heard. I have been prayed for and prayed with. It never ceases to amaze me, that as part of the church, I have family all over the world. Thank you for being a part of that family.
Monday, February 9, 2009
Finding God in Unexpected Places
Substitute Teaching
Substitute Teaching is something I never expected I would be doing in Ukraine. A few weeks ago I substitute taught the third grade class at Kiev Christian Academy for a friend, so she could be in her brother’s wedding. During this time, I got lice. Thankfully after only another week in Kiev, so I would have someone to help check my head, the lice were gone. During this week of substituting, I was asked by the fifth grade teacher if I could teach her class for a few days, the first week of February, while she fulfilled the Visa requirements of leaving the country after so many days. It was a difficult decision to make because of my ever diminishing time left in the Ukraine. After some council, prayer, and though; I accepted. By doing this I was able to take a week in Chernovtsy to work on a few odds and ends and to pack up many of my things. It allowed me to travel from Chernovtsy to Kiev instead of just from Chernovtsy to Vapnyarka. Normally, this would not be a big deal but I have a suit case in each place. It would be difficult and somewhat senseless for me to pack my things in Chernovtsy and take them to Vapnyarka by train only to board a train a few weeks later with twice as much luggage at a two minute stop in the middle of the night. In other words, it was an opportunity to move my luggage here. I was still able to work from my computer on things that needed to be done and I was able to spend a little more time in an American English speaking environment, which though somewhat difficult will hopefully help me as I reenter the United States. This was my reasoning. I did not think there was any other reason that God would bring me back to substitute. I did not come to Ukraine to work with English speaking missionary children. But God surprised me.
Learning about Grace
Grace Defined- Acts of Kindness, that we do not deserve.
Romans 1:7 “To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 1:3 “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Corinthians 1:2 “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Galatians 1:3 “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,”
Ephesians 1:2 “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 1:2 “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Colossians 1:2 “To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.”
1 Thessalonians 1:1 “Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.”
2 Thessalonians 1:2 “Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Timothy 1:2 “To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”
2 Timothy 1:2 “To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Titus 1:4 “To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.”
Philemon 1:3 “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
The children have been learning about Paul in chapel. The woman speaking during the chapel I was there for discussed grace- acts of kindness. If you have to earn it, it is not grace. Children took turns reading the first verses in Paul’s books- Grace, Grace, Grace, Grace, Grace… Over and over again Paul began his books with Grace. Do a search and you will find that he first mentioned grace at the beginning of each of his letter but he discussed it countless times and usually reinforced the idea as he closed his letters. Paul understood grace well. He was a great persecutor of Christians but God gave him the opportunity to become one of the greatest apostles of all time. Just like Paul God has grace for us, in big things and in small things. Every day we have the opportunity to experience grace. It may be as simple as a stranger opening the door for you. Maybe we see the most beautiful sunset or a friend calls just to see how we are doing. These are small things but things that we have not earned; they are acts of kindness, moments of grace. If we are not careful we will miss them and we will also miss the opportunity to thank God for them.
My Moment of Grace
Last week, I was substitute teaching in fifth grade, something I enjoy but found somewhat difficult, knowing I had less than fifty days left in Ukraine. As I write this I have less than forty. It becomes more difficult to leave the ones I love; knowing my time with them is little. I struggle with the emotions of saying goodbye and looking toward the overwhelming thought of reentering into my own culture. My journey in Ukraine has not been easy. I have fought many battles and faced many obstacles but God has been faithful. As I look toward March 19th, the date I return to the states, I feel as though I am on a roller coaster. As I have mentioned above there are many things weighing on my heart but there is another side. There is part of me that is excited- There are parts of my culture and my country that I enjoy and miss greatly. I am excited to see my family and friends that have loved and supported me during my time away. The anticipation of not struggling to communicate is a relief.
It was in the midst of this whirlwind of emotion that I found grace in one of the fifth grade students. This particular boy was adopted from the very first orphanage I served at, in Radomyshl Ukraine. I remember the sights, the sounds, the smells, and the children well. I still know the names and faces of many of the children in the group I worked with in June of 2005. It was difficult to leave that place, to leave the children, not knowing exactly what would become of them but knowing the crime, prostitution, and suicide rates for orphans in Ukraine. My heart aches, knowing that there is still a great chance that some of the kids I have worked with over this past year will become part of these statistics.
But here in the fifth grade classroom, I met a boy whose chances of becoming part of these statistics had all but disappeared when he was adopted. During a writing assignment in which they had to describe someone they looked up to and admired. This boy wrote about his father. He wrote about his father’s love for him and for God. He wrote about the time his father spent with him and the games they played. He wrote about his father’s life- his kindness and his hard work. He wrote about grace that was bestowed upon him.
By sharing his grace, he gave me grace. As I wrestled with the emotions of leaving my children, God reminded me through this little boy that my work with such children has only begun. It is okay for me to go back to the states. The children I work with are his and not mine. I will carry them with me wherever I go in my heart and I hope to continue to be in touch with them over the years.
It is time for me to prepare for the life God has ahead of me. Adoption of children who are not loved and cared for the way God intended them to be loved is my ultimate goal. I knew coming over here, that when it came down to it- I could affect thousands of orphans lives a little bit if I were to work in an orphanage for years or I could give the opportunity to a few children to have a completely new life as a mother. This is still a long way off but I have truly been inspired by the children God has placed in my life this past year. I am thankful for families who are willing to adopt children, to rescue them from hopelessness. I am blessed by the faces of children who have been adopted. I don’t know where the next year of my life will take me but by God’s grace I will continue my journey into the unknown with Him.
2 Corinthians 9:8
“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
Substitute Teaching is something I never expected I would be doing in Ukraine. A few weeks ago I substitute taught the third grade class at Kiev Christian Academy for a friend, so she could be in her brother’s wedding. During this time, I got lice. Thankfully after only another week in Kiev, so I would have someone to help check my head, the lice were gone. During this week of substituting, I was asked by the fifth grade teacher if I could teach her class for a few days, the first week of February, while she fulfilled the Visa requirements of leaving the country after so many days. It was a difficult decision to make because of my ever diminishing time left in the Ukraine. After some council, prayer, and though; I accepted. By doing this I was able to take a week in Chernovtsy to work on a few odds and ends and to pack up many of my things. It allowed me to travel from Chernovtsy to Kiev instead of just from Chernovtsy to Vapnyarka. Normally, this would not be a big deal but I have a suit case in each place. It would be difficult and somewhat senseless for me to pack my things in Chernovtsy and take them to Vapnyarka by train only to board a train a few weeks later with twice as much luggage at a two minute stop in the middle of the night. In other words, it was an opportunity to move my luggage here. I was still able to work from my computer on things that needed to be done and I was able to spend a little more time in an American English speaking environment, which though somewhat difficult will hopefully help me as I reenter the United States. This was my reasoning. I did not think there was any other reason that God would bring me back to substitute. I did not come to Ukraine to work with English speaking missionary children. But God surprised me.
Learning about Grace
Grace Defined- Acts of Kindness, that we do not deserve.
Romans 1:7 “To all in Rome who are loved by God and called to be saints: Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Corinthians 1:3 “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Corinthians 1:2 “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Galatians 1:3 “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ,”
Ephesians 1:2 “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Philippians 1:2 “Grace and peace to you from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
Colossians 1:2 “To the holy and faithful brothers in Christ at Colosse: Grace and peace to you from God our Father.”
1 Thessalonians 1:1 “Paul, Silas and Timothy, To the church of the Thessalonians in God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ: Grace and peace to you.”
2 Thessalonians 1:2 “Grace and peace to you from God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”
1 Timothy 1:2 “To Timothy my true son in the faith: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”
2 Timothy 1:2 “To Timothy, my dear son: Grace, mercy and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Titus 1:4 “To Titus, my true son in our common faith: Grace and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Savior.”
Philemon 1:3 “Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ."
The children have been learning about Paul in chapel. The woman speaking during the chapel I was there for discussed grace- acts of kindness. If you have to earn it, it is not grace. Children took turns reading the first verses in Paul’s books- Grace, Grace, Grace, Grace, Grace… Over and over again Paul began his books with Grace. Do a search and you will find that he first mentioned grace at the beginning of each of his letter but he discussed it countless times and usually reinforced the idea as he closed his letters. Paul understood grace well. He was a great persecutor of Christians but God gave him the opportunity to become one of the greatest apostles of all time. Just like Paul God has grace for us, in big things and in small things. Every day we have the opportunity to experience grace. It may be as simple as a stranger opening the door for you. Maybe we see the most beautiful sunset or a friend calls just to see how we are doing. These are small things but things that we have not earned; they are acts of kindness, moments of grace. If we are not careful we will miss them and we will also miss the opportunity to thank God for them.
My Moment of Grace
Last week, I was substitute teaching in fifth grade, something I enjoy but found somewhat difficult, knowing I had less than fifty days left in Ukraine. As I write this I have less than forty. It becomes more difficult to leave the ones I love; knowing my time with them is little. I struggle with the emotions of saying goodbye and looking toward the overwhelming thought of reentering into my own culture. My journey in Ukraine has not been easy. I have fought many battles and faced many obstacles but God has been faithful. As I look toward March 19th, the date I return to the states, I feel as though I am on a roller coaster. As I have mentioned above there are many things weighing on my heart but there is another side. There is part of me that is excited- There are parts of my culture and my country that I enjoy and miss greatly. I am excited to see my family and friends that have loved and supported me during my time away. The anticipation of not struggling to communicate is a relief.
It was in the midst of this whirlwind of emotion that I found grace in one of the fifth grade students. This particular boy was adopted from the very first orphanage I served at, in Radomyshl Ukraine. I remember the sights, the sounds, the smells, and the children well. I still know the names and faces of many of the children in the group I worked with in June of 2005. It was difficult to leave that place, to leave the children, not knowing exactly what would become of them but knowing the crime, prostitution, and suicide rates for orphans in Ukraine. My heart aches, knowing that there is still a great chance that some of the kids I have worked with over this past year will become part of these statistics.
But here in the fifth grade classroom, I met a boy whose chances of becoming part of these statistics had all but disappeared when he was adopted. During a writing assignment in which they had to describe someone they looked up to and admired. This boy wrote about his father. He wrote about his father’s love for him and for God. He wrote about the time his father spent with him and the games they played. He wrote about his father’s life- his kindness and his hard work. He wrote about grace that was bestowed upon him.
By sharing his grace, he gave me grace. As I wrestled with the emotions of leaving my children, God reminded me through this little boy that my work with such children has only begun. It is okay for me to go back to the states. The children I work with are his and not mine. I will carry them with me wherever I go in my heart and I hope to continue to be in touch with them over the years.
It is time for me to prepare for the life God has ahead of me. Adoption of children who are not loved and cared for the way God intended them to be loved is my ultimate goal. I knew coming over here, that when it came down to it- I could affect thousands of orphans lives a little bit if I were to work in an orphanage for years or I could give the opportunity to a few children to have a completely new life as a mother. This is still a long way off but I have truly been inspired by the children God has placed in my life this past year. I am thankful for families who are willing to adopt children, to rescue them from hopelessness. I am blessed by the faces of children who have been adopted. I don’t know where the next year of my life will take me but by God’s grace I will continue my journey into the unknown with Him.
2 Corinthians 9:8
“God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work.”
Saturday, January 24, 2009
January
I arrived in Kiev, by train, early on January fifth. It was difficult to leave the children in Vapnyarka, knowing it would be some time before I would see them again and realizing that my time in Ukraine is dwindling quickly. I stayed one day and a night in Kiev. My day was filled with meetings to plan the events that I would take part in during the rest of the week. On the evening of the fifth, I was also blessed by a surprise birthday party thrown by two of the missionary families who live in Kiev. Unfortunately I did not have my camera at the time, so I do not have any pictures but I do have some wonderful sweets, an interesting banya kit, and a “Happy Birthday” poster created by a true artist.
On the morning of January 6th, my actual birthday, I embarked on a journey with a team of five Ukrainians and Bob Skinner, the Field Strategy Coordinator for the CIS. After driving over six hours we reached our destination, Burezshnavolya. Burezshnavolya, home to between four and five hundred people, is located fifteen minutes south of the Belarusian border. It is a place where horse and buggy still outnumber automobiles and where indoor plumbing is not common. The people live and work in close community- borrowing, trading, and taking care of one another. As you can imagine, the January weather was cold and snowy. Although I hold a great dislike for these chilly conditions there is some benefit- It keeps the smell of the outhouse to a minimum. The home I stayed in was warm. Fire wood was put in a small door in a brick wall. The fire heated the brick and in turn heated the rooms of the house. My favorite place to sit and read in the evening was on a stool with my back against the warm brick. Our host Luba used a huge brick oven to cook our food. This roaring oven also helped keep the house warm.
So why travel for hours to this remote place in early January? For those of you who do not know, Ukrainians celebrate Christmas on January 7th, not December 25th. I went as part of a team to work with the children and youth of the community and the church. During the three day period from the sixth to the eighth we held three sessions for the kids and youth which included a craft, games, English lessons, and a Bible lesson. In addition we took part in a Christmas service for the whole church by serving sandwiches, tea, and fruit and performing a skit of the Christmas story in which I made my Russian speaking acting debut (It wasn’t pretty).
On the evening of the seventh, Christmas, the team and I joined some of the local youth to go caroling. It is a Ukrainian tradition for children to travel from house to house and sing. In return the persons in the homes they are visiting give them candy or money. While the young girls we were with collected money and candy, we distributed calendars on behalf of the local church. As we walked through the town in traditional Ukrainian dress, the moon shone brightly above. As it hit the snow it created a magical glittering effect. I did not even mind the crisp cold air around me as we trudged down the snow covered roads and cut through fields blanketed in white. From house to house we went, no knocking, we just walked in the door and said, “Merry Christmas!”
My time in the village was short but it is an event that shall stay within my heart for the rest of my life. I will always remember the kindness of the people as they lived together; helping meet each other’s needs. It was a quiet, peaceful community, untouched by the rest of the world. Rooted deep in tradition, the people of Brezhshnavolya preserve a way of life that though simple to the rest of the world, is rich in that which matters most- family, community, and love.
On the evening of the eighth Bob and I left for Selishi, for a meeting with all the Nazarene ministries involved with child development, which includes the two House of James and the children’s home in Vapnyarka. It was a long day and a quick trip. We left in the evening for Kiev, where I was to spend the next week as a substitute teacher in the American Christian School.
I spent a week as a substitute in a third grade class. It was fun to teach again, in an English speaking environment. In many ways it was like a vacation. On Monday I came into a class of eight students. While helping one student with a worksheet, I noticed something in her hair that I hadn’t seen in some time… LICE! By the time Friday came the third grade was down to four students. Half the class was home treating lice. Unfortunately, I also contracted lice during the course of the week.
With the discovery of lice in my hair, also came a change in plans. Instead of traveling on to Chernovtsy, I would remain in Kiev an extra week at least, while I was being treated, so that I would have help picking through my hair. I am very thankful to Katie and Dana who have let me live with them during this time. Every night they take the time to search through my hair. Fortunately I have been able to continue working on my computer between loads of laundry and vacuuming the apartment, both essential to ridding the apartment and myself of lice. Oddly enough, the only time I have ever had lice before, was on my first trip to Ukraine.
Lice while it may be a nuisance, is not the end of the world. Every day I’m learning new lessons. I understand Paul better when he talks about being content in every situation. I am finding that God often has another plan, and that we must be flexible.
Please pray with me that the lice in the school and on my head would be gone. Pray for me as I begin to say goodbye to the people here. Pray for me to be motivated to work and that God’s hand would be on all that is going on here. I thank you for your love, prayers, and support over the past ten months. It has been comforting to know that in good times and in bad, I am not alone. God Bless, Tiffany
On the morning of January 6th, my actual birthday, I embarked on a journey with a team of five Ukrainians and Bob Skinner, the Field Strategy Coordinator for the CIS. After driving over six hours we reached our destination, Burezshnavolya. Burezshnavolya, home to between four and five hundred people, is located fifteen minutes south of the Belarusian border. It is a place where horse and buggy still outnumber automobiles and where indoor plumbing is not common. The people live and work in close community- borrowing, trading, and taking care of one another. As you can imagine, the January weather was cold and snowy. Although I hold a great dislike for these chilly conditions there is some benefit- It keeps the smell of the outhouse to a minimum. The home I stayed in was warm. Fire wood was put in a small door in a brick wall. The fire heated the brick and in turn heated the rooms of the house. My favorite place to sit and read in the evening was on a stool with my back against the warm brick. Our host Luba used a huge brick oven to cook our food. This roaring oven also helped keep the house warm.
So why travel for hours to this remote place in early January? For those of you who do not know, Ukrainians celebrate Christmas on January 7th, not December 25th. I went as part of a team to work with the children and youth of the community and the church. During the three day period from the sixth to the eighth we held three sessions for the kids and youth which included a craft, games, English lessons, and a Bible lesson. In addition we took part in a Christmas service for the whole church by serving sandwiches, tea, and fruit and performing a skit of the Christmas story in which I made my Russian speaking acting debut (It wasn’t pretty).
On the evening of the seventh, Christmas, the team and I joined some of the local youth to go caroling. It is a Ukrainian tradition for children to travel from house to house and sing. In return the persons in the homes they are visiting give them candy or money. While the young girls we were with collected money and candy, we distributed calendars on behalf of the local church. As we walked through the town in traditional Ukrainian dress, the moon shone brightly above. As it hit the snow it created a magical glittering effect. I did not even mind the crisp cold air around me as we trudged down the snow covered roads and cut through fields blanketed in white. From house to house we went, no knocking, we just walked in the door and said, “Merry Christmas!”
My time in the village was short but it is an event that shall stay within my heart for the rest of my life. I will always remember the kindness of the people as they lived together; helping meet each other’s needs. It was a quiet, peaceful community, untouched by the rest of the world. Rooted deep in tradition, the people of Brezhshnavolya preserve a way of life that though simple to the rest of the world, is rich in that which matters most- family, community, and love.
On the evening of the eighth Bob and I left for Selishi, for a meeting with all the Nazarene ministries involved with child development, which includes the two House of James and the children’s home in Vapnyarka. It was a long day and a quick trip. We left in the evening for Kiev, where I was to spend the next week as a substitute teacher in the American Christian School.
I spent a week as a substitute in a third grade class. It was fun to teach again, in an English speaking environment. In many ways it was like a vacation. On Monday I came into a class of eight students. While helping one student with a worksheet, I noticed something in her hair that I hadn’t seen in some time… LICE! By the time Friday came the third grade was down to four students. Half the class was home treating lice. Unfortunately, I also contracted lice during the course of the week.
With the discovery of lice in my hair, also came a change in plans. Instead of traveling on to Chernovtsy, I would remain in Kiev an extra week at least, while I was being treated, so that I would have help picking through my hair. I am very thankful to Katie and Dana who have let me live with them during this time. Every night they take the time to search through my hair. Fortunately I have been able to continue working on my computer between loads of laundry and vacuuming the apartment, both essential to ridding the apartment and myself of lice. Oddly enough, the only time I have ever had lice before, was on my first trip to Ukraine.
Lice while it may be a nuisance, is not the end of the world. Every day I’m learning new lessons. I understand Paul better when he talks about being content in every situation. I am finding that God often has another plan, and that we must be flexible.
Please pray with me that the lice in the school and on my head would be gone. Pray for me as I begin to say goodbye to the people here. Pray for me to be motivated to work and that God’s hand would be on all that is going on here. I thank you for your love, prayers, and support over the past ten months. It has been comforting to know that in good times and in bad, I am not alone. God Bless, Tiffany
Friday, January 2, 2009
The Holidays
Merry Christmas, Happy Birthday, Happy New Year, and Again Merry Christmas! That is a lot of holiday cheer to squeeze in two weeks; from the Western Christmas on December 25th to the Eastern Orthodox Christmas of January 7th.
As I have said before, there were not many Christmas decorations up during the month of December. In fact, they begin decorating for New Years around the time of our Christmas. Lights and trees, similar to ours but nowhere as big or as glamorous- but I’ll take what I can get. For Christmas on the 25th, I traveled to Kiev for a more American Christmas. Christmas Eve, I ate dinner at the Wright’s home, which you may remember from my arrival- I stayed with them my first two weeks in Ukraine. Cliff, Hieke, and their son Jonathon welcomed me and two girls from the American International School in Kiev in to their home for a lovely evening. After a delicious meal beside and sparkling conversation we watched an old movie to finish off the evening.
On Christmas Day, I did my best to stay inside- cozy and warm, listening to Christmas music and staring at the Christmas tree, till my family got online. Christmas over web cam- not exactly the same thing.
My time in Kiev was short, hence the “Happy Birthday”. Victoria’s Birthday was on the 28th, which means I was on a train on the night of the 26th to arrive in Odessa on the morning of the 27th. The traffic in Kiev on the 26th was worse than mall traffic on Christmas Eve. It usually takes about 15 minutes to get to the station when traffic is moving. It took a half an hour to get half way there. Even though, Cliff and I left an hour before my train was to leave, there was a chance we wouldn’t make it. We had a choice to make- continue to inch through traffic, or take the subway. Cliff, parked on the side walk (this is normal in UA), we grabbed my bags and pushed through the crowds of people instead of bumpers. It may be crowded on the subway, but it is always going. We made it with five minutes to spare. As I settled into my compartment, Cliff went back out to battle his way back home.
HAPPY SWEET 16
December 28th marks a very special day- Victoria Skala’s Birthday. For those of you who are clueless as to who this is, she is my American-Ukrainian friend whose mother founded World Light Foundation and the children’s home I am volunteering in. We celebrated this even in Odessa, where her mother is living and where she just planted a new church.
On the evening of the 27th we attended a Special Christmas Church Service. As part of the service, Birthday’s of the week were celebrated. Vica and another woman went up front, where they were read birthday blessings and given gifts. I was called up front to pray a special blessing over her, which was translated by her mother. Other events of the evening included, gift giving, lots of picture taking, communion, prayer, and the singing of songs.
I was able to help with the picture taking by taking a group picture of the entire congregation. There was a small obstacle to overcome before the picture could be taken- The Christmas Tree! It was bumped and came crashing down. Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of it on the ground- it was a priceless Christmas moment, and I was trying not to laugh in all the confusion and surprise it brought. It did not help the matter, that Andrei and Sasha (whom you may remember from my previous trip to Odessa) were laughing at me laughing, and making faces. The tree was set back upright, only to fall again in the other direction, just missing the group of people. Once again the tree stood, and everyone else was in place for a picture perfect moment. (A side not about the tree: carefully observing it, one would notice a unique ornament, which Vica and I found rather entertaining; a plastic fork that had been glitterized. Apparently, a fork is an important holiday symbol.)
During the service, I also heard a familiar Christmas tune: Jingle Bells. While I don’t know what they sand for the verses, the chorus went something like this- “Ding, Ding, Dong! Ding, Ding, Dong!”
It was a lovely evening of celebration and fellowship. One of the last songs, sang was about family, in which the entire church formed a circle and held hands. “You are my brother”, “You are my sister” were a few of the phrases. Family, that is what church truly is.
Over the course of the two days I was in Odessa we ate three cakes, all of which were labeled chocolate, but none of which were.
On the evening of the 28th was Victoria’s Birthday dinner. Joined by her friends and family we celebrated by eating a lovely meal, which included American Stuffing (from a box, of course). Oddly enough, the Ukrainians were hesitant to taste this dish. Before the evening was through, everyone at the table stood and made a toast to the Birthday girl.
Birthdays are a joyous celebration of life. It is a time when we can reflect back on our past, remembering the good times and the bad but knowing God was there through them all. It is a time to look toward the future with hopes and dreams about what is to come.
Both Sides of the Track
When I bought my ticket from Kiev to Odessa, the train was full with the exception of three beds, all in SV- the first class section. Unlike Coupe, where I usually travel, there are two beds instead of four. The beds are already made up for you and you do not have to remake them in the morning. When I got on the train at 6:00pm there were two of us in my compartment. He got off at about 10:00pm which meant, I had the room to myself the rest of the journey. It was a nice quiet ride.
In contrast, my journey from Odessa to Vapnyarka was in Plas-Cart. This was a first for me and hopefully a last.
I left Odessa for Vapnyarka on the evening of the 28th along with Luba, the director of the children’s center, her granddaughter Yulia, whose family I lived with for a short time early in my journey, and Vassai, one of the eldest boys in the children’s center. Vassia was in another train wagon. I was left with Luba and Yulia, not really sure what to do nor very comfortable in my surroundings.
Plas-Cart has no doors inside the wagon, no separate rooms. It is divided into sections of six beds, three sets of bunk beds. An aisle way runs the length of the wagon, connecting all the compartments. Four beds are on one side of the aisle, each set of bunks is on an inside wall with the wall to the outside at the head of the bed. The aisle is at the foot of the bed. There is a small table between the two bunks. It is very much like a coupe compartment, only there is not door and instead of a wall an aisle. The two other beds are set between the opposite outside wall and the aisle.
When I walked in the door the smell almost knocked me off my feet. It was a toxic aroma of body odor, onion, and alcohol. I was silent, as I walked down the aisle to my place, so as not to be recognized as a foreigner. I sat down at my designated place, a seat by a window. A table sat between me and another seat. The aisle that stretched the length of the wagon was to my left and on the other side four beds, three of which were occupied. With a jolt the train started to move. Sitting in my seat, I wasn’t sure what was going on. Many people had unrolled the mattresses available and made themselves comfortable. Would there be sheets? I didn’t know.
The man across the aisle was looking at me with distaste as if he knew something was different about me- he knew I was uncomfortable. I examined the table next to me, figuring it somehow turned into a bed, but how exactly I didn’t know. And then thankfully, the conductor came to collect tickets and pass out sheets to those who chose to buy them. It disgusted me to think that sheets could be optional. This thought was magnified every time I heard someone at the other end of the train cough.
After getting her granddaughter into bed she helped me fold the table down and make my bed. With my purse pressed against me inside of my coat, my laptop under my pillow and my book bag under my bed I laid down on the sheet covering my mattress, shoes still on, while Luba covered me with another. She then placed a wool blanket over the sheet to keep me warm. I lay right under the window. As the train moved along the tracks it rocked back and forth. Normally this rocks me to sleep, but I am usually rocking back and forth from my toes to my head. Because my bed ran vertically along the wagon wall I rocked from left to right. I feared rolling right out onto the floor during one of the big turns as the train jostled back and forth.
My scarf was wrapped around my head and my winter hat on. It was COLD! I do not believe the heat was on and people were continuously coming through the wagon, letting the cold night air in, every time they opened the door. I could not sleep. I watched the men across from me eat food that I have never seen and would never care to see again while they poured each other shots of vodka. The lady in the next section over was snoring loudly. I was praying that the six hour journey would pass quickly. Finally at 4:30am I arrived to a snowy winter wonderland in Vapnyarka, more thankful than ever to get off the train.
Bringing in the New Year!
In the United States we celebrate New Years by getting together with family and friends. Festivities usually begin in the evening of the 31st. People often like to eat dinner together. Many play games. Some dress up and go to extravagant parties. Any time between six and eight o’clock in the evening parties begin. As it gets close to midnight in the Eastern Time zone millions of television set are turned on to watch a crystal ball drop in Times Square. Shortly after midnight, people make their way home and most people are pouring themselves into bed between one and two AM.
In Ukraine, midnight is not that big a deal- January 1st is the big deal. Parties begin about 11:30, or at least that is when people arrive. At midnight the party starts. The party begins on January 1st instead of ends. Starting at midnight, there is eating, games, and dancing.
I was able to take part in the Ukrainian customs and festivities with the lovely children in Vapnyarka. I arrived in the late afternoon. As I carried my bags of packages down the snowy street I saw the most beautiful sight. In front of me, the sun was setting, giving the world a pink and orange glow, above me a dark night sky, black and clear except for the moon and one star shining brightly beside it. Although you could see the outline of the whole moon, only a small crescent shown toward the setting sun. It was peaceful and serene.
As I said before the party doesn’t start till late, so the kids and I stayed busy playing English Alphabet BINGO and UNO. On the television was New Years
programming, similar to ours with concerts and holiday wishes. At 11:00, several of the girls put on their best dresses. They did their hair and their make-up. The boys, stayed in their sweats. Around 11:30 there was a bang on the door. It was a special guest- Dit Morose (Grandpa Rosy Cheeks/ Santa Clause). He came with a bag full of toys and gifts for the kids. After reciting some scripture or singing a song, the kids were rewarded by being able to reach into the bag and pull out a prize. Then with Dit Morose there, we all got on our knees and bowed our heads. A few of the children prayed, thanking God for their blessings of this past year and praying for the new. When we opened our eyes again, it was just after midnight.
Time to start the party.
First things first at any party- FOOD! After removing his beard and costume Dit Morsose became a sister from church. She joined us for a feast of chicken, salads, cheese, bread, and calbosa. Joy, fellowship, and laughter, it was a beautiful beginning of a new year.
Dancing followed. The kids danced around the room and goofed off to music in the light of the Christmas tree. Many of the boys decided to watch from the couch.
One of my favorite parts of the morning was the gift giving that happened next. When my mother was here in October she brought with her small toys and pajamas for each of the kids that were donated by friends and supporters in the states. Their faces were glowed as they opened their packages. They were special gifts given in love and prayer. What touched me even more was the response of some of the young boys. While the other kids tried on their pajamas or played with their toys. Four boys were in their bedroom consulting. When they came out, they brought me some of their own stuffed animals from their beds. To many, this may not seem like much, it means the world to me- for it is a great gift, when one gives the only thing they have to give. I held back tears as I hugged them.
1:30 GAMES!
2:00AM Time to eat again!
2:30AM Sparklers- in the house (Because it is obviously too cold outside). Fireworks- Outside.
The kids passed out through the night- one by one. Finally at a little after 4:00AM Luba declared the party over, and we all went to bed. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
What’s Next?
Christmas! According to the Eastern Orthodox calendar Christmas is January 7th. I shall be traveling on my birthday, the 6th to North Western Ukraine where I will be teaching English at a children’s retreat. It should be an interesting time of exploring the Ukrainian Christmas Customs. Please pray for the retreat. I wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all. God Bless, Tiffany
As I have said before, there were not many Christmas decorations up during the month of December. In fact, they begin decorating for New Years around the time of our Christmas. Lights and trees, similar to ours but nowhere as big or as glamorous- but I’ll take what I can get. For Christmas on the 25th, I traveled to Kiev for a more American Christmas. Christmas Eve, I ate dinner at the Wright’s home, which you may remember from my arrival- I stayed with them my first two weeks in Ukraine. Cliff, Hieke, and their son Jonathon welcomed me and two girls from the American International School in Kiev in to their home for a lovely evening. After a delicious meal beside and sparkling conversation we watched an old movie to finish off the evening.
On Christmas Day, I did my best to stay inside- cozy and warm, listening to Christmas music and staring at the Christmas tree, till my family got online. Christmas over web cam- not exactly the same thing.
My time in Kiev was short, hence the “Happy Birthday”. Victoria’s Birthday was on the 28th, which means I was on a train on the night of the 26th to arrive in Odessa on the morning of the 27th. The traffic in Kiev on the 26th was worse than mall traffic on Christmas Eve. It usually takes about 15 minutes to get to the station when traffic is moving. It took a half an hour to get half way there. Even though, Cliff and I left an hour before my train was to leave, there was a chance we wouldn’t make it. We had a choice to make- continue to inch through traffic, or take the subway. Cliff, parked on the side walk (this is normal in UA), we grabbed my bags and pushed through the crowds of people instead of bumpers. It may be crowded on the subway, but it is always going. We made it with five minutes to spare. As I settled into my compartment, Cliff went back out to battle his way back home.
HAPPY SWEET 16
December 28th marks a very special day- Victoria Skala’s Birthday. For those of you who are clueless as to who this is, she is my American-Ukrainian friend whose mother founded World Light Foundation and the children’s home I am volunteering in. We celebrated this even in Odessa, where her mother is living and where she just planted a new church.
On the evening of the 27th we attended a Special Christmas Church Service. As part of the service, Birthday’s of the week were celebrated. Vica and another woman went up front, where they were read birthday blessings and given gifts. I was called up front to pray a special blessing over her, which was translated by her mother. Other events of the evening included, gift giving, lots of picture taking, communion, prayer, and the singing of songs.
I was able to help with the picture taking by taking a group picture of the entire congregation. There was a small obstacle to overcome before the picture could be taken- The Christmas Tree! It was bumped and came crashing down. Unfortunately, I did not get a picture of it on the ground- it was a priceless Christmas moment, and I was trying not to laugh in all the confusion and surprise it brought. It did not help the matter, that Andrei and Sasha (whom you may remember from my previous trip to Odessa) were laughing at me laughing, and making faces. The tree was set back upright, only to fall again in the other direction, just missing the group of people. Once again the tree stood, and everyone else was in place for a picture perfect moment. (A side not about the tree: carefully observing it, one would notice a unique ornament, which Vica and I found rather entertaining; a plastic fork that had been glitterized. Apparently, a fork is an important holiday symbol.)
During the service, I also heard a familiar Christmas tune: Jingle Bells. While I don’t know what they sand for the verses, the chorus went something like this- “Ding, Ding, Dong! Ding, Ding, Dong!”
It was a lovely evening of celebration and fellowship. One of the last songs, sang was about family, in which the entire church formed a circle and held hands. “You are my brother”, “You are my sister” were a few of the phrases. Family, that is what church truly is.
Over the course of the two days I was in Odessa we ate three cakes, all of which were labeled chocolate, but none of which were.
On the evening of the 28th was Victoria’s Birthday dinner. Joined by her friends and family we celebrated by eating a lovely meal, which included American Stuffing (from a box, of course). Oddly enough, the Ukrainians were hesitant to taste this dish. Before the evening was through, everyone at the table stood and made a toast to the Birthday girl.
Birthdays are a joyous celebration of life. It is a time when we can reflect back on our past, remembering the good times and the bad but knowing God was there through them all. It is a time to look toward the future with hopes and dreams about what is to come.
Both Sides of the Track
When I bought my ticket from Kiev to Odessa, the train was full with the exception of three beds, all in SV- the first class section. Unlike Coupe, where I usually travel, there are two beds instead of four. The beds are already made up for you and you do not have to remake them in the morning. When I got on the train at 6:00pm there were two of us in my compartment. He got off at about 10:00pm which meant, I had the room to myself the rest of the journey. It was a nice quiet ride.
In contrast, my journey from Odessa to Vapnyarka was in Plas-Cart. This was a first for me and hopefully a last.
I left Odessa for Vapnyarka on the evening of the 28th along with Luba, the director of the children’s center, her granddaughter Yulia, whose family I lived with for a short time early in my journey, and Vassai, one of the eldest boys in the children’s center. Vassia was in another train wagon. I was left with Luba and Yulia, not really sure what to do nor very comfortable in my surroundings.
Plas-Cart has no doors inside the wagon, no separate rooms. It is divided into sections of six beds, three sets of bunk beds. An aisle way runs the length of the wagon, connecting all the compartments. Four beds are on one side of the aisle, each set of bunks is on an inside wall with the wall to the outside at the head of the bed. The aisle is at the foot of the bed. There is a small table between the two bunks. It is very much like a coupe compartment, only there is not door and instead of a wall an aisle. The two other beds are set between the opposite outside wall and the aisle.
When I walked in the door the smell almost knocked me off my feet. It was a toxic aroma of body odor, onion, and alcohol. I was silent, as I walked down the aisle to my place, so as not to be recognized as a foreigner. I sat down at my designated place, a seat by a window. A table sat between me and another seat. The aisle that stretched the length of the wagon was to my left and on the other side four beds, three of which were occupied. With a jolt the train started to move. Sitting in my seat, I wasn’t sure what was going on. Many people had unrolled the mattresses available and made themselves comfortable. Would there be sheets? I didn’t know.
The man across the aisle was looking at me with distaste as if he knew something was different about me- he knew I was uncomfortable. I examined the table next to me, figuring it somehow turned into a bed, but how exactly I didn’t know. And then thankfully, the conductor came to collect tickets and pass out sheets to those who chose to buy them. It disgusted me to think that sheets could be optional. This thought was magnified every time I heard someone at the other end of the train cough.
After getting her granddaughter into bed she helped me fold the table down and make my bed. With my purse pressed against me inside of my coat, my laptop under my pillow and my book bag under my bed I laid down on the sheet covering my mattress, shoes still on, while Luba covered me with another. She then placed a wool blanket over the sheet to keep me warm. I lay right under the window. As the train moved along the tracks it rocked back and forth. Normally this rocks me to sleep, but I am usually rocking back and forth from my toes to my head. Because my bed ran vertically along the wagon wall I rocked from left to right. I feared rolling right out onto the floor during one of the big turns as the train jostled back and forth.
My scarf was wrapped around my head and my winter hat on. It was COLD! I do not believe the heat was on and people were continuously coming through the wagon, letting the cold night air in, every time they opened the door. I could not sleep. I watched the men across from me eat food that I have never seen and would never care to see again while they poured each other shots of vodka. The lady in the next section over was snoring loudly. I was praying that the six hour journey would pass quickly. Finally at 4:30am I arrived to a snowy winter wonderland in Vapnyarka, more thankful than ever to get off the train.
Bringing in the New Year!
In the United States we celebrate New Years by getting together with family and friends. Festivities usually begin in the evening of the 31st. People often like to eat dinner together. Many play games. Some dress up and go to extravagant parties. Any time between six and eight o’clock in the evening parties begin. As it gets close to midnight in the Eastern Time zone millions of television set are turned on to watch a crystal ball drop in Times Square. Shortly after midnight, people make their way home and most people are pouring themselves into bed between one and two AM.
In Ukraine, midnight is not that big a deal- January 1st is the big deal. Parties begin about 11:30, or at least that is when people arrive. At midnight the party starts. The party begins on January 1st instead of ends. Starting at midnight, there is eating, games, and dancing.
I was able to take part in the Ukrainian customs and festivities with the lovely children in Vapnyarka. I arrived in the late afternoon. As I carried my bags of packages down the snowy street I saw the most beautiful sight. In front of me, the sun was setting, giving the world a pink and orange glow, above me a dark night sky, black and clear except for the moon and one star shining brightly beside it. Although you could see the outline of the whole moon, only a small crescent shown toward the setting sun. It was peaceful and serene.
As I said before the party doesn’t start till late, so the kids and I stayed busy playing English Alphabet BINGO and UNO. On the television was New Years
programming, similar to ours with concerts and holiday wishes. At 11:00, several of the girls put on their best dresses. They did their hair and their make-up. The boys, stayed in their sweats. Around 11:30 there was a bang on the door. It was a special guest- Dit Morose (Grandpa Rosy Cheeks/ Santa Clause). He came with a bag full of toys and gifts for the kids. After reciting some scripture or singing a song, the kids were rewarded by being able to reach into the bag and pull out a prize. Then with Dit Morose there, we all got on our knees and bowed our heads. A few of the children prayed, thanking God for their blessings of this past year and praying for the new. When we opened our eyes again, it was just after midnight.
Time to start the party.
First things first at any party- FOOD! After removing his beard and costume Dit Morsose became a sister from church. She joined us for a feast of chicken, salads, cheese, bread, and calbosa. Joy, fellowship, and laughter, it was a beautiful beginning of a new year.
Dancing followed. The kids danced around the room and goofed off to music in the light of the Christmas tree. Many of the boys decided to watch from the couch.
One of my favorite parts of the morning was the gift giving that happened next. When my mother was here in October she brought with her small toys and pajamas for each of the kids that were donated by friends and supporters in the states. Their faces were glowed as they opened their packages. They were special gifts given in love and prayer. What touched me even more was the response of some of the young boys. While the other kids tried on their pajamas or played with their toys. Four boys were in their bedroom consulting. When they came out, they brought me some of their own stuffed animals from their beds. To many, this may not seem like much, it means the world to me- for it is a great gift, when one gives the only thing they have to give. I held back tears as I hugged them.
1:30 GAMES!
2:00AM Time to eat again!
2:30AM Sparklers- in the house (Because it is obviously too cold outside). Fireworks- Outside.
The kids passed out through the night- one by one. Finally at a little after 4:00AM Luba declared the party over, and we all went to bed. HAPPY NEW YEAR!
What’s Next?
Christmas! According to the Eastern Orthodox calendar Christmas is January 7th. I shall be traveling on my birthday, the 6th to North Western Ukraine where I will be teaching English at a children’s retreat. It should be an interesting time of exploring the Ukrainian Christmas Customs. Please pray for the retreat. I wish a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all. God Bless, Tiffany
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
