A weekend in Ukraine...

Well, it's been a couple of days. I must admit I didn't really want to blog, nor did I have much time to. It seems every time I sit down to do something, I am needed for some other job or ministry. But we are done with our fence-painting for the day, and I'm not needed until a meeting at 2.

Friday was a fairly average day. We continued painting the fence, and had VBS later that night. However, during the fence-painting, an elderly Ukrainian man, who spoke no English, came up and started talking to me. He started pointing at my brush, and eventually took it from me and started walking down the fence. It turns out he was pointing out where I had missed a couple of spots, so I smiled and painted what he pointed out. He then invited me to a smoke break with him (which I of course said I couldn't, Mom), and started talking about Jesus, I think. It's really hard to tell with Russian, but I'm almost positive he said Jesus, and he did the cross on his chest. Needless to say, it was a funny moment, and we all had a good laugh about it later. But that is typical of the Ukrainian people. While they do not like to draw attention to themselves, at all, they are always more than willing to help and point out things. They are fairly straightforward, although in a way that is not mean or harsh, and they genuinely want to get to know you. This is a bit different than I had expected, because I was expectly a fairly cold culture, which means that they are time oriented, stand-offish, and a less relationship-oriented. But Ukrainians are extremely relationship oriented, going so far as to go out of their way to not offend people or draw attention to themselves. I may be wrong, but that seems to be my impression to me.

Later on we went back down to the promenade by the sea and took some pictures at night. The lighting was amazing because there was a bright moon out that was reflecting off of the water, and there was a carnival getting started, so all of those lights were out. I'll have to put up some pictures if I can later. It was lovely just to walk along the promenade and take pictures, enjoying the breeze from the sea and just relaxing a little. We ran into Sasha, Oksana, Catya, and Louja (who all work either construction for the guys or in the office for the girls) which was nice, they thought we were lost (we assured them we weren't). We got some great cherry-vanilla ice cream (Ukrainians seem to love ice cream), and then headed home for the night.

Saturday was an off day. In the morning we went to the local bazaar, which included food, clothing, and hardware. There were even people selling puppies and kittens along the streets. It was a jumbled mess, but it was fun to walk through. The guys and girls split up, although we all went mainly looking through the clothing bazaar.We ran into Larissa and her mother (Larissa makes food for us in the evenings), which shows how small the town can be. Matthew and I are determined to get some more European looking clothes, if only one outfit. But we didn't find anything, so Bill Brower (who was leading) took us guys to the hardware bazaar and then to an overlook of the city. It was so peaceful up there, and after some funny pictures that looked like Matthew was holding Ken and me in his hands, we just sat on the edge of a wall that overlooked the city and the sea for about a half an hour. It was quiet and a great place to think.

Later that day we went to Ernie and Anna's house which is about a half an hour from the center. Their house is about a kilometer from the sea (about a half a mile), so we went down there for several hours. I didn't feel like getting in the water, so except for a little walk along the edge I stayed in the sand and read most of James and the Giant Peach. It was fun and relaxing just listening to the waves crashing and feeling the sun on my back. I began to wax philosophical and thought about how God made each grain of sand, and put design in each one, and how many there were, and how big the sea was, and then the universe. It made me appreciate a little how big God is, especially with my recent struggles with doubts. Those are getting a little better, but I'm still struggling a little bit. I've been seeking the Lord here, which is something I had kind of stopped doing for a while, so I've been growing a little closer. It kills me that I'm trying to be a missionary here, and I'm struggling like this, but I think that's life. Everyone struggles with their faith, even missionaries, and I can't let it keep me down. I just have to seek out God's will for me in my life, and try to be in a relationship with him. Hopefully all of this will become a little more clear as the summer progresses.

On Sunday we had church, of course. It was Pentecost sunday too, so we had communion for the service (which was pretty much the same as in the States). However, the first service we went to lasted for around 2-3 hours. I was kind of getting antsy, not to mention the fact that I was trying to deal with my faith while hearing someone speak in Russian for an hour and a half. I think the more stressed out I get the more I feel that my faith is in crisis, or I struggle with doubts, which makes sense. It was just a little long for me though, but in the end I was blessed for it. I was wondering about whether I should take communion or not with my faith the way it's been, but in the end I decided to to be a part of the church and admit my sins to God. It may have been a mistake, but I'm glad I did it. It was nice to be a part of the Ukrainian church when there is so little else I can do with them. I can't sing in Russian, and I can't understand the sermon, so this was a wonderful way for me to do something with them to show my faith. I just realized this now, so it's a little funny to me. Although the sermon was given by Ernie so I could technically understand it. He talked about the Pentecost and how the tongues of fire represent the presence of God and his purifying fire. We also went to a second service in Primorsk, which is about a half an hour away from Berdyansk. I liked this service a little better, the people seemed more into the message, and it was a little shorter (about 1 and 1/2 hours). Oh, I forgot to mention that we had two people give testimonies at each service (not me), and then we all got up and sang the new version of Amazing Grace (My Chains are Gone). Ken sang a verse (two actually), then I sang one, and then Matthew. It was cool to get to minister in song to the Ukrainians like they have to me through their services.

The Ukrainian church is wonderfully alive. The people are so loving, and they just want to follow the Lord. Sergei said something interesting as he drove us home to Berdyansk (before stopping for ice cream, which the missionaries love). He said that the Orthodox church do their services for the Lord, so even if no one was there they would do it. The Protestant church does it for the people. It made me appreciate the Orthodox culture a little more, that we are doing this for God, not just for ourselves. It's great if we benefit, but it is first and foremost for the Lord. Well, it's Monday now, and there was no inspector of my painting today. The team has only a couple more days left, so that's a little sad. Then Matthew and I will leave for camp, which is going to be a stretch for me, so please pray. And continue to pray for my doubts. I'm trying to deal with them, but I know it will help with more prayer. Also pray for the ministries here, and the team as they hed home on Thursday (especially Shushan, who wants to be a missionary here, so it is hard for her to leave; and John, who gets extremely airplane-sick). Thanks for the love and prayers.

David