dinner and a concert

Jerry, Mikhailo, Barb and Parker...

everyone staying dry under their umbrellas

We are still trying to learn the Ukrainian language. I have to say, I am such a lazy learner. I find that it is just too easy to speak Russian rather than doing the painful thing... humbling myself and speaking slowly and simply in basic Ukrainian. But, all that said, we are still studying, slowly but surely...

It is summer, everything is a little more relaxed. Yesterday we had our Ukrainian teacher over to our place for dinner and then on to an outdoor concert. We had just been to his place on Wednesday for a language lesson and Ukrainian meal. He is such a nice man. We feel that God has brought him into our life for a reason. His name is Mikhailo (Michael). Please remember him.

We invited another new friend to come along with us. We got to the park, ready for the concert to start and after just a few minutes, it began to get dark and soon it began to rain. Everyone simultaneously got their umbrellas out and the concert continued as it rained. The music continued until it began to rain too hard.
We look forward to the next concert. Mikhailo promised to come again. All the same we will continue our language learning and relationship building.

July in Kiev

new post and pictures below!

Life as usual

Wow! July is here! I have been waiting for July to come...outside our windows on the back side of our apartment is a little park area that is full of trees. Most of them are Linden trees. The Ukranian word for the month of July is related to these trees. Lee'-pen. It is the month in which they bloom. Everyone promises that the fragrance is just wonderfully overpowering and sweet. Every day I look out our windows, waiting for them to bloom. I can't wait to smell them! So, I am excited that it is July. We went to Sevastopol and found an apartment for our friends. I have included a few pictures to share the beauty of the Crimea. It was HOT, but quite a pleasant place to be! Our friends should love living there! We are back in Kiev now. As we arrived home, our sales lady friends asked us to buy things...one of which was a rooster that was just recently butchered. It was Pasha, and I couldn't say no. I was shocked at the price per kilo that she was asking, like twice the regular rate in the store...but I just couldn't say no. We prepared it with the recipe Coq au Vin. It was pretty good, but we all decided that I shouldn't buy another one...just not our favorite. Well, yesterday I talked with Pasha again only to find out that she is going in to the doctor today for some sort of test that costs nearly $50. I asked her if she had the money to do this. She answered that she had sold us the rooster and others had bought other things and yes, she had the money. It was then that I realized the overpriced rooster was a blessing and not a mistake. It paid for nearly 1/3 of the price of her test. Pasha also told me that her husband, Ivan has actually gained some weight and is getting stronger and healthier while at the village this summer. Your prayers and ours are being answered. Now to concentrate on their spiritual health!!!

We also spent some time at the beach, under an olive tree and we went on a boat tour of the naval fleet in the harbor.

In Sevastopol there is an ancient Greek ruined fortress called Hersonez (sp?), very interesting to see.

after arriving in Sevastopol, we went to a beautiful outdoor cafe for some coffee and water.

Galina our neighbor made a cake for Parker's return home from BFA and she delievered it on our guest Nate's birthday! we all enjoyed it together.