My Sauna Friends

Here's a long story, but I'll break it into bits so that you don't have to read all of it at once.
Before I begin let me give you this disclaimer: I don't always write on this blog because I get depressed. Not the kind of depression that says, "Rats. Our hot water is off again for a week after just being off for two and a half weeks!" Those problems I can live with.
This is the kind of depression that says: "Am I of any value? What am I doing here?"

This is significantly harder to bear than cold showers after a morning jog.

(Am I the only one out there that ever feels this way? Misery loves company so I'm hoping I'm not the only one, but I doubt it it's a completely universal feeling...but I've digressed.)

Ok, the story. We've been in Kiev a year now. Shortly after moving here, and even before, we knew we'd have to use whatever means possible to make 'friends' here. We've chronicled many of those stories in this blog, and Kim has excelled in FaceBooking our lives to the entire digitized world.
Well, one of those friendships we've made is with Yura and Luda. I met Yura last winter at the ski run (which is conveniently located- according to the 'ruler' function on Google Earth -1.77 air miles from our apartment. Yep, that's pretty close.) Since meeting him I've connected with many of his friends and the circle of skiing/sauna friends contains around 20 men.

Well, I'll jump to the end of this part of the story, (want to read the rest? Pray for us that we stay encouraged. Then I'll feel like writing), Yura and Luda are coming for dinner tonight because Yura said to me after the sauna yesterday, "I want to believe in God and I want YOU to tell me how. How come you're not telling me?"

...To be continued...

English movie/discussion afternoon

Wow! it has been SO long since we have blogged...more than a month!
Our daughter wrote today asking if we were ever going to update our blog...


Just 3 days ago, Friday the 25th, we had our first English movie/discussion afternoon at the University near our home. We were so excited as we sat in a meeting with the director a week earlier showing him a proposal for this 'club' and even more excited as we watched the students come.
We chose a light-hearted comedy called "Shanghai Knights".
We discussed friendship, telling lies vs telling the truth and family honor.
We snacked on Banana-chocolate chip bread and pop.

12 students came, 6 of them we met last year and 6 were first year students.

We are anxious to get back into the classes to help with conversation and excited to build deeper relationships with the students after classes in the 'club'.

an English excursion to the Kiev Water Museum

We went to the Kiev Water Museum with our friend, Victor. It was a very fun day, we walked, talked and went to the museum.

Parker at the Kiev Water Museum in a bubble

Jerry in a bubble...

Kim at the Kiev Water Museum in a bubble!

Gaining a little weight?

Well, it happened again, a well meaning friend grabbed my hand and said, "Kim, you are gaining weight!" I tried to tell her that I am about the same size as usual, but she disagreed and said that it looked good on me...( maybe that is supposed to help?)
Yeah, it felt just like you would think it would feel hearing those words coming from someone you know. BUT, she meant this as a compliment, here in Ukraine this is a compliment....never mind that the fact remains that she thinks I have put on some weight.
So, I walked around yesterday feeling a little heavy...

But, walk is what I did. I have a new friend that needs to have someone listen. I am getting really good at listening. And what goes better with talking and listening, but walking?
Much of our everyday life is about relationship building. It comes in many forms...
We want to make a difference here, where we live.
Thanks for remembering us while you are making a difference where you live!