So, about the last few days...

These past few days here in Ukraine have been wonderful for me. Of course I am saying this as I am sitting in an air conditioned room, not working like I probably should be (although we only work in the mornings now because of the work team, we wouldn't usually).

Sunday was a really long day, but a really good day. We started off with a church service in Bethel Church (that's the church here in Berdyansk at the center). Like I've mentioned before, the music usually takes an hour or so to get through, and it is hard for me because I love to sing. I just can't sing in Russian yet, I can't really read fast enough (although I'm getting there) and I can't understand what I'm reading anyway. I really miss singing in church (I can't wait for next Sunday!), so you can imagine that I usually have a hard time on Sundays here. Anyways, they played all of my favorite songs that I've heard here in Ukraine during the service. It's hard to describe Ukrainian worship music, because it's kind of a conglomeration of many different styles of music. Usually they start off with a back beat from a keyboard, and then just add words to it. They can be tranlated worship songs from the states, or new ones written by the Ukrainians themselves. My favorites are the ones that are obviously Ukrainian. Russian/Ukrainian music has a rather sad note to it, and it always has a downbeat or a minor key. But the people are just so exuberant singing them that I love them. Then Garreth (the Irish pastor) preached on being "inclusive" people and not "exclusive". I agreed with a lot of what he said, but it's hard to pay attention when someone has to be translated (I could understand him, but he had to stop so Sergey, who is the pastor of Bethel church, could translate for the congregation). Then Maxim, a very godly man who goes to the church, was initiated as the church's first deacon. He and his wife were so happy, and it was wonderful to see the church love on him, and I know that he'll do a great job at it.

We next went to Primorsk after a quick lunch. We had a similar service here (although without music as they had already done it). The Irish team performed a song, I think called the "Lion of Judah", but it involves a very Irish drum beat and I really liked the song. Garreth preached again (I kinda wavered in my attention this time, half listening to a sermon on my ipod before turning it off because I felt guilty), and it was really hot in that service. The Ukrainians don't like drafts, so they keep windows closed usually, and with around 50 people in a room that was about 20 by 30 feet, it was very hot, especially because it was at least 95 degrees outside. After the service, however, the pastor of the Primorsk church, Arkodi, was ordained as a minister and made the "official" pastor of that church. I got to take a lot of pictures, and it was neat to see the four other pastors (Sergey, Garreth, Bill Brower, and Ernie) initiate a fellow pastor into their midsts. Arkodi was so happy, and his congregation truly love him because he cares so much for them and knows them so well. He's a really great pastor, and ordination will only enhance that (hopefully). It made me briefly consider going to seminary, but I'll have to think about that a lot before committing to it. But when the church started to love on him, the Ukrainians are so good at it. They congratulate you with the most heartfelt words, and even if you can't understand them you know they love you. It was my last Sunday, and Primorsk is where a lot of the camp kids I met go, so it was a little bittersweet to say goodbye to them. Vlada told Matthew and I that they would "miss us very badly". I know I will too.

That evening Vitalik (who went to camp, and goes to Bethel church) invited Matthew and I to go to his birthday party. He was turning 15, and in Ukraine it is traditional for the birthday person to throw their own party (and serve the guests as well). His dad (who happened to be Maxim, which I never knew until that point), picked us up and we went to the beach by Ernie and Anna's house. The beach at night was so calm and quiet, and there were hardly any people there. Vika and Igor, along with Vika's brother, came too (they live close to the sea), and we had a really great time celebrating Vitalik. The others played in the sea for a while (I couldn't because I didn't have my trunks on, it was all rather last minute), and then we ate. The food was amazing, shish kebab chicken with Asian marinade, it was soooo good. I also tried a new soda called Citron which was good, and drank Kvas again, but I still don't like it (I imagine it tastes too much like beer). Vitalik's little sister was there too, and she was adorable. She ran around and chased Matthew and he chased her, and she told Igor to chew with his mouth closed. It was a very fun and peaceful (we could see so many stars, and hear the waves lapping the beach) night that I won't soon forget. I am so glad for Vitalik, and he is a great young man. I know he'll be a lot like Maxim when he grows up (even though Maxim is his stepfather, but he doesn't treat him like that).

Monday Matthew, Igor, Vika, and I all went to the water park here called Akvapark (literally means "water park"). Matthew and I paid for Igor and Vika's tickets (I'm not sure they would have spent the money themselves) because we wanted to thank them for doing so much for us this summer. I am really going to miss these two almost the most out of everyone I've met. They have been there for us, and have constantly been friends with us the whole summer. I especially got close to Igor during camp and since then, and he and Vika are great people who love God with all their hearts. I'm truly going to miss them. Anyway, we had a blast at the water park. The rules are a lot less lax here than in the states, and you could often go down a slide whenever you felt like it (some didn't even have someone watching them). It was a relatively small park compared to the states, but the slides were very fun. There was a big green one that you slid down on a tube and would go backward and forward like a skateboard half-pipe, but you kept going down (I guess sort of like a snowboarding half-pipe). There was another one that was exactly like a half-pipe, and then another one that was like that, but you went up and then down another slide on the way back. The swimming pools were salt water, which was weird because the rest of the park ran on fresh water (they probably got it from the sea to save money). Vika, Igor, and I all had a lot of fun riding three person rafts. When I sat in the back (being far heavier than either Vika or Igor), we went really fast, and when we came out of the slide we would go to the far end of the pool. When I rode the green slide with Matthew we actually touched the top of the other end of the half-pipe before going down, it was a lot of fun. The body slides were fun too, although you had to use a mat to go down them. One was like a funnel, and you would slide into it and go around in circles before dropping down the middle into a pool (no tube, just a mat, it was amazing). Needless to say we all had a great time, and it was so great to get to do something for/spend time with Igor and Vika before we leave.

I think I forgot to talk about Saturday, which was relatively quiet. We were supposed to go to the water park with the team and Igor and Vika, but it rained so Matthew and I went downtown instead. We've had fun hanging out with Bill and Oksana as well, and I'm going to really miss them too. We keep joking that Matthew and I are going to miss cirok (a frozen cottage cheese dessert that is covered in chocolate and has fruit flavors, it's better than it sounds) more than them. That's obviously not true (although I will miss cirok, it's really good), and all the people I'm going to miss almost makes me want to be a missionary here, although I don't think that's the right reason to go somewhere. I've been listening to some sermons from Southland lately about Jonah, and I think I have been running from the Lord. I just don't want to let him rule my life, and that's why I've been so miserable. I've come to a place now where I am simply trusting and praying. I am reading my Bible more, because how can I hear God if I don't know his voice? It's a slow turn-around, but I think that God is helping me pull it off.

This summer has been truly amazing. I have learned so much not only about the Ukrainians (whom I now respect and love as God's children), but about myself. I got to see me for who I really am, and I didn't like the picture without God in it. I still struggle, but I'm not letting that keep me down anymore, it's just not worth it. I'm learning to trust God, and even to love him again. I don't really think I believed he could do all he said, and I am having to thaw out my heart and heal some hurts I don't even think I knew were there. I have to forgive myself, and even more love myself for who I am. That is something I have always struggled with. I have to let God change me, and not hold back. I'm learning to love to listen to good preaching (I can hear my Dad laughing already, he's been telling me to do that for years), and to love the Word. It's been a hard transition, and relatively recent, but if I hadn't come here I don't think it would have happened.

I love the Irish team, and I love Bill and Betsy and Ernie and Anna. Betsy has been like a mother to me here, and I am so grateful for her. I'm learning to love people, and they have helped me to do that. I've been able to see what being a missionary is truly like. It's not what I thought, there are a lot of hardships. Probably the foremost amongst them is working with other missionaries. You all have the same passion for a people group, but vastly different ideas of how to reach them and how to even do the things you agree to do. It's lonely sometimes, especially if you're single, being in another culture. You have to deal with locals being suspicious of you (why would an American come here? It must not be for a good thing), or wanting things from you because you are a "rich" American. I accidentally gave out my address to a boy at camp, and now I'm hoping he won't just show up at my doorstep next year expecting lodging for two weeks (don't worry Mom and Dad, I don't think he will he's a good kid. It's just an example). There are so many other things, and I realize I do like it. I want to be a missionary in some respect, even if it's not forever. I love falling in love with a new people group, and learning to communicate with them (Dima, the cook from camp, said I was born to be a translator). But above all I want to serve God my Father by helping his children. I can see no greater calling in life, and I think we're all called to it (even if it's not in missions). Well, I'll end this post here. I'm going to miss Ukraine, but I am rejoicing that I get to see all of you so soon. I love you all, thanks for your prayers and support.

David