stairs

i love John and Evelin. They are amazing people. But....don't get me wrong, they have too many stairs. We walk 5 flights of them about 3 times a day. plus all the walking in between and all the groceries we buy. One good thing is that we are exercising.
yesterday:
1. saw the bazar for the first time. yes people stared. not that i would have tried to blend in much. something about tight pants and high heels and shirts that dont really cover your belly is not very appealing to me. but hey we have our culture too.at least we didnt see any guys with sagging pants. There was even a woman who took a picture of us and got numbers so that she could come visit us in california.
2. We met some youth. sang worship songs that have english and russian versions. Met the most amazing woman named Anya. She told us a bit about her life, and at first being afraid of telling her Communist father that she came to know Christ. But once she did, she no longer fears anything. She proclaims with joy. She is the youth leader and continually tries to bring youth to he rplace on Fridays. The people with her were so happy to see us. Being American has its positive side =). I love the people.
today:
1. Went to Nikolaya-Polye. Visited with an enthusiastic man named Ivan Stepanovich who also has a passion for the youth. His town is so small and only getting smaller. We have begun talking about the camp we will do in two weeks. and went off to buy crafts and supplies for it already.
2. While on our way to Nikolaya-Pole, we picked up a young man who was walking along the road. We dropped him off at the town and met with Ivan. But Anna somehow misplaced her shoe, and it was nowhere in the van. We had a feeling that it fell out when we picked up the hitchhiker. And sure enough, on our way back, we found it right where we had stopped. It had been run over a few times, but it is still wearable.
3. I love vanilla icecream. I have heard soo much about the icecream in Ukraine, so I had high expectations, and this icecream has surpassed all my expectations. It is beyond all. Come to Ukraine, solely for the vanilla ice cream, and you will not have come all this way for nothing!!
4. Shopping in OKEY. let me just say LOL
The fact that they name a store after one of America's most common words astounds me. But then again I am surprise Ukrainians don;t know more english when it is everywhere. A none Ukrainian can get along just fine without saying a word.
5. ate dinner tonight with a couple that translate for English and Russian and a woman who works in a hotel. All speak and understand much english, so all talking is understood very well by John and Evelin, who are still in the process of slowly learning Russian.
There were some heated conversations =) i will leave it at that.
Thats all i can say for tonight. once i get pics on this comp i will do my best to upload them.
Good night

the mother land

After a lot of flying and driving and walking and sitting and lying down. we have made it.
Kiev was dark as we drove out of terminal "B"
it had rained earlier. slept at Lyuba's place and woke up early to leave for Zaporozhzhia.
1. First experience on a metro- it reminds me of a dance. Everyone leans from side to side trying to keep balance. we all tend to lean in the same directions. Even though no one smiles at anyone else (and w are advised not to) couldn't help but smile to myself.
2. Everyone looks like someone i have seen before.
3. A lot of walking is done between metro and bus. then a 9 hour drive on a bus watching american movies in russian.
4. First stop i saw a squatter- hole in the ground that is called a restroom. that was also a very enjoyable experience.
5. Now safe in the apartment of our Canadian missionary friends Jon and Evelin!! I will post pics later on. now its late though I am not tired. i will continue another day!!!

the big day

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7

This is what got me through yesterday. Another day rushing around trying to get everything and not forget anything. so busy i didn't wake up early to read my Bible. Through all this rush for the trip I have been compromising the most important thing for the preparations. Now looking back at the last few days i realize THATS why i have been stressed. I have read this section many times before, especially with our group. But yesterday while my brother was driving us over to my grandpa's birthday i opened up my Bible and came to that spot. I then finally relaxed. I enjoyed my last day with all my family. Getting so stressed and busy, you lose sight of the little blessings God has placed in your life. His peace will get the job done better than my anxiety.
Now, as we are getting closer to leaving, I want to encourage anyone who reads this to look at their life and find the blessings that may have been overlooked in light of something bigger. I will miss everyone who has been helping me. You have contributed to who I am and my faith in Christ. You have all been blessings in my life.
thank you for reading this far
have a blessed tuesday
Natalia

two weeks before we leave...

God has blessed us in so many ways in this group. passports and flight tickets down. Money is being raised for expenses there in Ukraine. All physical and financial obstacles seem to be at bay

Spiritually, the group has been growing as well. On my part i can say that I am ready to be used and humbled by God, in any way He needs me. I say that now...we'll see how easily i will say it later on when we are actually there.
One thing that keeps me and encourages me is our verse we chose to lead us:

My name will be great among the nations, from the rising to the setting of the sun. In every place incense and pure offerings will be brought to my name, because my name will be great among the nations," says the LORD Almighty.
Malachi 1:11

His name will be great among the nations, whether that happens through us our someone else. It will happen!