It is now about the fifth day that I have been in Ukraine, and I am settling in. The apartments that we are staying in are pretty nice. We're staying in what is called "the center", which is the future church that the missionaries are building here for the Ukrainians. It will also have a computer lab, library, ESL classrooms, and around 4 apartments. The apartments, like I said, are very nice; they have comfortable beds, a living room, kitchen, and bathroom. All of the guys are in one apartment, and the girls are staying in the Tarrs apartment (they're missionaries who just moved here from another part of Ukraine). Once the team leaves Matthew and I will be moving in with the Tarrs, as our apartment is needed for someone else.
The first full day that we were in Berdyansk was Sunday, and it was a wonderful day. We went to church at 10 in the morning (which is great for a late-riser like me), and the service was interesting. It was all in Russian, and started out with around an hour of worship through singing. While we didn't understand the words, the music was fun to listen to (it seemed like they took music from other genres and added worship songs to them; they used an accordion sound several times for instance). The whole singing time was very Ukrainian, and the people there really got into their worshipping of God. Then Pastor Sergei got up and gave a message on prayer, and why it was necessary. It was a little hard to keep up with the sermon as I had to listen to an interpreter the whole time, but it was nice.
Then came the testimonies. They introduced the team, and us VIAs, and then Bill Brower (a new missionary to the field) and his wife Oksana gave their testimony of how they had been in the states while on furlough. Bill had been in a rather serious accident right before leaving that left the doctors thinking he might not live through it, even less come back to Ukraine. But through prayer and the work of God he has practically made a full recovery, and only has two scars left to show for it. At this news, a woman sprung up and shouted "Let's sing and dance for God", and the entire congregation got up, joined hands, and began to dance in a circle around the sanctuary. It was one of the most uplifting experiences that I have ever had in a church service, and the joy of these people at Bill's healthy return was palpable. I had taken the Ukrainians to be rather reserved people, like I said before, but they were so loving to the Browers, and so overjoyed, it made me want to have the same joy that they have. It seems in the States that we are so concerned with image that we don't allow ourselves to have the kind of joy that demands that we dance on the spur of the moment (that's if you are allowed to dance at all, haha).
The rest of Sunday was spent tourning downtown Berdyansk, which is beautiful and newly renovated. We went by the Sea, which is a nice blue color, and saw several statues, even one of Lenin (whom they fondly call "Papa Lenin" here in Ukraine). Everything commercial in Ukraine seems so similar to the US that it is hard at times for me to remember that there are cultural differences here. For instance, when you go to a store and want a soda, you do not get it yourself but only the staff there can get it for you, even though it is in your reach. I'm sure I'll learn all of these things as I go along, but it's a little daunting to think how much I have to go.
Monday was a holiday here, so we just did a little work in the yard in the morning (moving stones and picking up sticks), and went to a rally in the afternoon. It was national children's day here, and to celebrate local churches put on a parade against abortion. It seemed almost funny for me to realize that the people here in Ukraine have such similar worries as we do in the States. Not everyone just accepts abortion here like I hate to admit I thought about Europe, but many are against it. After the rally we walked around downtown Berdyansk again, and visited a local youth center.
The youth center is called Immanuel Youth Center, and is run by a lovely couple (although I can't remember their names at this point). We had icecream and soda with them (as it is customary to offer something like this to guests, although not necessarily icecream), and had a great conversation. One of the team members, Shushan, is planning on coming back after college to be a missionary here, and has in fact lived here for two years previously doing mission work. She is our main translator around town, and she helps us immensely. I really appreciate the team here, even if I feel a little left out because they made most of their plans without two VIA in mind. But we're helping out where needed, and I'm trying not to get discouraged.
Right now I feel a little useless, because the team doesn't need much help from either Matthew or me, and the missionaries don't want to get us started on our ministries until the team leaves. But through a book I'm reading (The Shack, which is a great book), I'm coming to understand that all of this is God's plan. He's thrilled that I am just following his will, and even though I don't see the big picture of painting a fence (which we started today), it is all for his glory. I'm really hoping to draw closer to God this summer, and learn more about the Ukrainian people. I'm really starting to love them, and hope that love grows deeper and more Christ-like. Christ loves these people just as much as he loves me, which I have a hard time remembering at times, but it is so true. He is "especially fond" as The Shack puts it, of all of us and just wants us to be in relationship with him. That's what I'm trying to do. Well, I'm going to end it here. We're preparing for VBS tonight, which will run through Friday. I'm not too sure how it will work out since most of the kids don't speak English, but I'm sure that it will be great. Pray that we will minister well to these kids, and also for the health of our team. There was a bit of a health scare, that I don't think I can write about here but ask me if you want more details. Everyone is fine, but we have to be a bit cautious right now, and it puts a little damper on our spirits. Thanks so much for your love and prayers.
David
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