Tidbits

The American ambassador to Ukraine was listed as one of the most influential people in Ukraine for 2006, just under the conflicting heads of two branches (Moscovian and Ukrainian) of the Orthodox church.
Diesel fuel which used to be the cheapest and now is fast climbing to be one of the most expensive fuels, is now at $3.80 a gallon and is expected to go up to $4.50 by New Year's.
The current president of Ukraine has declared it to be a "criminal" act to deny the famines that Stalin caused in the 1930's in order to bring Ukraine into submission to Communist collectivization.

Special Birthday Moments

I got an email from a person who wasn't a relative nor close to a relative who had found out when my birthday was!!! How? I decided to check it out. Sure enough our friendly co-missionary had announced to the world I had a birthday!!

My birthday was very special this year. A big thank you to all who helped make it so special.

Special moments of my birthday . . .

• When I heard from my children in the US through phone and computer,




• When I heard from so many friends and family through email, (I was quite surprised)




• When Dave, Seth and Katrina fixed a special meal,




• When I got gifts like a plant stand to put in the bare entryway,


• Like a frog planter to put flowers in, in the summer,

• Like a card, that wished me a "chocolate birthday,"

• Like a new cup for the hot chocolate that tastes so good and warm on a chilly morning,

• A gift that stands apart from the rest is still in the making. . . a quilting frame

I've been making a quilt for the fun of the art, to make it reflect Dave and me uniquely and keep my mind on God's faithfulness. I got it to the quilting stage, basted it and tried to start quilting. It started bunching up anyway!! It wouldn't work. I carefully stored it in a bag and wondered when I would ever get it finished.
Dave bought the materials to make me a quilting frame on my birthday and the very next day starting working on making it.
I doubt it will ever fit in a suitcase to go back to the US. It's a pity because it will be one of the most special gifts I've ever received.
All of these came together in one special message that all these people cared about me.
Thank you so very, very much.

What Would You Do?

No one takes a real interest in him. He's not the best student, so it doesn't really matter to the teacher if he shows up at school or not. His mother is alone and doesn't care much about where he spends his days as well.

He shows up at our door on a school day. He rings the door bell and asks to come in. He plays computer. He plays games with Allona and Vova. He eats when we eat. He doesn't want to leave the house until we leave or close to dark.

You and I know that without an education he has no chance at jobs. I tried to tell him that today. We could tell him he couldn't come in. Then he'll find some other place to go that might not be as healthy for him as our place.

What ideas do you have? How could we motivate him to go to school? when school to him is drudgery, mocking and boredom?

What would you do? How can we reach Maxim for God? Is there anything we can do to give him a future?

We are so very thankful for God, who He is, His love, and His faithfulness. We're thankful that He can do what we can't do. We're thankful that He is wise enough to make the best choices in all circumstances. We're thankful that He sent His only Son to a dark, cruel, weary, dirty world.

We are very thankful for you!

Here Seth is at our Thanksgiving dinner. It was a mixture of cultures like much of our lives. We found a six-pound chicken! We had ham. Green beans and corn are not everyday items here. So we had them for Thanksgiving. We had a Ukrainian treat that Allona and Vova love, shuba. Shuba is made from chopped fish, grated beets, potatoes, onions, carrots and mayonaise. Katrina brought ham rolls and macaroni and cheese. Ham rolls were part of Thanksgiving traditions in her family. Macaroni and cheese is another American staple that is not too easy to come up with here. We had lettuce salad with all the trimmings. Lettuce is only found in the bigger supermarkets at $3 for a small head. We had jello salad, mashed potatoes (eaten heavily in both countries!!) and gravy. For dessert we had "pumpkin" pie, made from butternut squash and two types of cake. Homemade rolls are part of Thanksgiving for my family.

Olya's Heating

Thank you for praying! The gas workers did come! They decided that mounting the wall heater and the meter weren't part of the labor that had already been paid for and demanded another day's wages before they would begin work. They finished their part and told Olya that if her pipes were painted and the ditch dug a little more, her gas would be turned on Monday.

We didn't know about the digging until she came in to help us, all tired out already from trying to dig a ditch.

Dave and Seth were there the next morning and finished the digging. It's what Jesus would do.

Hopefully, her gas will be turned on and she will have something more than her hot plate to heat her home with Monday.

We Want to Do This, TOO

The game to learn the memory verse this week was to mix up parts and see how quickly they could put them in order, each child holding a part of the verse.

The older girls competed against the older boys. Seth timed how many seconds each group took.

One little guy was in tears because he couldn't participate.

So, we called the little guys up front with Dima A. to help them. Notice the upside down and turned-around papers.
But they did it! with help, of course!

Jesus said, "let the little ones come to Me." We pray this will be a good beginning. We want these little lives for Him.

Thanks, Dima!

The children begged, "Can we please come to your house between services? Please? It's boring for us at home!"

I gave in because I knew that their houses are quiet and they really don't have much to do. Our house when the children come is FULL of noise and activity.

But everyone was hungry . . . what could I fix for an impromptu meal for fifteen people? ?? I decided soup would be about the quickest. . . peeled potatoes and chopped onions, threw in a couple bouillon cubes, chopped the individual-sized meat loaves, left over from lunch, put in the cauliflower and cheese, also leftover, add a jar of beans and we had soup. Three people asked me if they could help me in the process. One peeled potatoes. One sat and waited for me to give them a job. Dima said, "Call me when you need me."

When I told them it was ready, Dima said, "But you didn't call me!"

We finished eating. "Dima, now I have a job! You can do the dishes!"

"No problem," was his quick reply. He rolled up his sleeves and began to work.

Thanks, Dima!!