tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-323443522024-03-05T04:52:00.645-08:00On Second ThoughtGreg Silvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305820321683242111noreply@blogger.comBlogger289125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32344352.post-35582799634920438822011-05-10T08:33:00.000-07:002011-09-27T21:55:27.180-07:00All Cooped Up<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/5706879557/" title="Chicken Coop by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2255/5706879557_6aebe65ae6_z.jpg" alt="Chicken Coop" height="427" width="640" /></a><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;"><span>The "new" coop and the roof of the "dog house coop" on the left</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> and that's Boris in the background. And yes, he came from Ukraine.</span><br /></div><br />One day at work I was looking over a pile of discarded lumber and trying to think of ways to get rid of it. The 2x4's and plywood were the remains of a skate park renovation. The wood was all twisted, warped, and full of broken off screws and nails. I had considered running it all through a chipper and turning it into mulch, but all the bits of metal left in the wood made me a little hesitant of that idea. It wasn't until a friend showed me a chicken coop he had built and all the eggs that his chickens produced that I decided to turn all that scrap wood into something useful.<br /><br />My friend gave me the plans he had used and the promise of one of his young hens to get started. After several weeks of nights spent out in our shop making all those twisted pieces of wood fit together, it was finally finished. (The roofing material by the way was also second hand. It was generously given by a friend at church.) The same day I took delivery of our first hen, Edna stumbled onto a mother hen with seven chicks running loose in a parking lot in town. Animal control rounded them up and said that if no one claimed them, we could have them. The following Monday I brought mama hen and her seven chicks home. They have adapted well to life in the coop although I've had to move our young hen, who Edna named Cotton, into a smaller coop due to differences in opinion with mama hen. The second coop is a converted dog house which started life as a fruit bin that fell off of a truck passing our house when I was a little kid. This didn't start off as a lesson in recycling, but it seems to have ended up that way. We're just putting what we learned in Ukraine into practice, don't waste anything.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/5706874029/" title="Chicken Coop by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2167/5706874029_7f683634d2_z.jpg" alt="Chicken Coop" height="427" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Mama hen and her chicks</span><br /></div>Greg Silvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305820321683242111noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32344352.post-76643244825446417842011-01-22T21:22:00.000-08:002011-01-22T21:59:28.091-08:00Snow Day<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/5379527203/" title="Snow Capped by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5287/5379527203_1a218a73fc_z.jpg" alt="Snow Capped" height="427" width="640" /></a><br /><br />Today we made the long anticipated trip up to the mountains to enjoy some time in the snow. We were all a little home sick for the times we played in the snow in Ukraine so a quick trip into Sequoia National Park was just what we needed.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/5380123854/" title="Lyuba in a Snow Cave by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5245/5380123854_bc58c2677c_b.jpg" alt="Lyuba in a Snow Cave" height="1024" width="683" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lyuba in a snow cave (she sat out the rest of the snow excursion sitting comfortably in the car)</span></span><br /></div><br />I promised Joshua a snow cave and quickly went to work carving out a snow shelter adequate for a family of four. Unfortunately, by the time I put the finishing touches on my survival masterpiece, Joshua had decided that he was done being wet and cold. Dominic wanted no part in wallowing in the snow, preferring to take pictures of me doing it instead.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/5380107930/" title="Greg in a Snow Cave by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5204/5380107930_0fb77c2841_z.jpg" alt="Greg in a Snow Cave" height="427" width="640" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Showing off my handy work</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/5379514519/" title="Buck by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5168/5379514519_8fc64762e0_z.jpg" alt="Buck" height="427" width="640" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dominic literally walked up to this buck (one of three) and snapped his photo as we descended below the snow level</span></span><br /></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">The Sovereign Lord is my strength; he makes my feet like the feet of a deer, he enables me to go on the heights. -Habakkuk 3:19</span>Greg Silvahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/06305820321683242111noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32344352.post-41431874358883350992011-01-14T22:35:00.000-08:002011-01-14T23:30:20.620-08:00Back on the Ranch<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgs_photography/5355797429/" title="_MG_6988 by DGSPhotography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5169/5355797429_a7b3ff844a.jpg" alt="_MG_6988" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Today was my day to get things done around the homestead and catch up on some chores. Along with Dominic and my dad, we picked up brush and leaves around our house. I cut up a little bit of oak too. It was a good day to be outside working on the ranch, three generations strong.<br /><br />The photos are courtesy of DGS Photography (Dominic).<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgs_photography/5355789379/" title="_MG_7004 by DGSPhotography, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5208/5355789379_cc6a16046b_z.jpg" alt="_MG_7004" height="640" width="427" /></a><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32344352.post-10289873455110662532010-11-21T21:01:00.000-08:002011-09-27T21:39:32.485-07:00Empowerment and Ebo<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/5197560690/" title="Ebo Elder by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4128/5197560690_c279ff50fc_z.jpg" alt="Ebo Elder" height="427" width="640" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ebo Elder</span></span><br /><br />Today, world champion boxer <a href="http://www.cbn.com/700club/guests/bios/Ebo_Elder080306.aspx"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ebo Elder</span></a> taught at all three services at church<b> </b>and then came back to teach at a men's barbecue this evening. He gave two powerful messages today. The first being about how God uses our failures to prepare us for leadership as was the case with Moses. The second message was about how Jesus Christ empowers us to accept His forgiveness and turn from our sins like the woman who was about to be stoned in John chapter 8.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/5197565554/" title="Ebo Elder by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4085/5197565554_c7f36a4cf0_z.jpg" alt="Ebo Elder" height="427" width="640" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ebo at the men's barbecue </span></span><br /></div><br />It's always a pleasure to have Ebo visit our church and have a chance to hang out with him. He's a really nice guy and even autographed a photo for Joshua. Please check out Ebo's ministry called Ebo Tribe at <a href="http://www.ebotribe.net/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">http://www.ebotribe.net/</span></a>.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/5197569468/" title="Ebo and Joshua by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4127/5197569468_165e00bac3_z.jpg" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ebo and Joshua</span><br /></span><div style="text-align: left;"><br />Since starting a new job in July of 2010, I haven't had much time for blog posts, but I've decided that I need to make time. I'm so blessed to be a part of the ministry again along with my wife Edna and I want to be able to share that with all of our friends and family. So hopefully I'll be a little more diligent at getting things posted.<br /></div></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/5196958165/" title="Alfalfa Sunset by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm6.static.flickr.com/5081/5196958165_08530823eb_z.jpg" alt="Alfalfa Sunset" height="426" width="640" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">This is the sunset I saw on the way to see Ebo</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> this evening</span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32344352.post-75066352284401903232010-08-19T23:51:00.000-07:002010-08-20T00:11:38.115-07:00It's a Boy! (And Another Boy, And Another Boy)<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4909829764/" title="Lyuba's three puppies by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4139/4909829764_89d2cf0d89.jpg" alt="Lyuba's three puppies" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><br />Last night our (Edna's) dog Lyuba had her puppies. Within a few hours she delivered three male puppies. Mother and pups seem to be doing well and for now are sleeping in our bed. Although we are already attached to the little guys, we will be finding homes for them once they are old enough. I know Edna will be sad to see them go for sure.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4909232293/" title="Lyuba and her three puppies by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4094/4909232293_4295edae49.jpg" alt="Lyuba and her three puppies" height="333" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lyuba with her three little ones</span></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32344352.post-87311037864283088112010-07-13T09:08:00.000-07:002010-07-13T09:20:27.042-07:00And Then There Were Nine (so far)<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4790647586/" title="More Kittens by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4790647586_e0ecd58b51.jpg" alt="More Kittens" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">New Arrivals</span></span><br /><br />I got up this morning with the intention of taking the four kittens and their mother to the county where they could find homes for them. I was a little surprised to find nine kittens instead of four. Momma kitty had four new kittens during the night. Hopefully they will all find homes eventually. I guess we picked them up at just the right time.<br /><br />The little black dog slept with Edna last night and she named her Lyubov which is Ukrainian for the word love. It just seemed right since she was so full of love. We call her by the diminutive, Lyuba. I don't think I can pry her out of Edna's arms so it looks like we'll be keeping her.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32344352.post-48626326169298794342010-07-12T23:32:00.000-07:002010-07-13T00:26:15.421-07:00Lost and Found<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4789550752/" title="Found by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/4789550752_b744bd7236.jpg" alt="Found" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Four kittens and a very pregnant momma cat</span></span><br /><br />On the way to the Men's Discipleship Evening at church, Joshua and I saw a sad sight. Someone had dumped a little black dog along with four kittens and their pregnant mother. The little dog was standing guard over the cats as it sat under a lone oak tree on the side of the road. We turned around and watched them for awhile and noticed the little black dog diligently herding the kittens away from the road as cars passed. We felt helpless to do anything since it was over 100 degrees Fahrenheit and we were supposed to help out serving in the cafe at church. We reluctantly drove on, but Joshua prayed that they would still be there safe and that we could rescue them on our way home.<br /><br />Four hours later, all six animals were as we had left them. I made a valiant effort to capture the little dog even getting a hold of her several times only to have her struggle free. She refused to leave the kittens so I had to rethink how I was going to capture them all. (I vowed to Joshua that I wouldn't leave any behind.) I scooped up the mother cat thinking the kittens would want to follow. I was wrong. All they wanted to do was run around playing in the grass and running up trees. Did I mention I was doing this in the dark with only the headlights from our Jeep for illumination?<br /><br />After about an hour I managed to get hold of the last kitten. To Joshua's dismay, they seemed perfectly happy to carry on their playful antics throughout the Jeep leaping from seat to seat chasing each other. With all the cats wrangled up, I finally coaxed the little black dog into letting me pick her up. She was happy to be reunited with the kittens.<br /><br />Our drive home was anything but uneventful, but we made it. You can only imagine the scene as I tried to drive with one kitten pawing at my legs, one in my lap, and another climbing on my shoulders as I juggled my cell phone to let Edna know why we were so late.<br /><br />When we got home Edna immediately snatched up the little black dog and informed me that we're keeping her. By the time I got all the cats situated for the night, Edna had already given the little dog a bath and made a spot for her on the sofa (as well as in her heart I suspect). We'll see what happens. All I know is that what was once abandoned and lost is now found.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4788923533/" title="Found by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4788923533_a62d23d44e.jpg" alt="Found" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Happy to be loved</span></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32344352.post-13343608277204719722010-07-11T22:42:00.000-07:002010-07-11T23:50:26.110-07:00Going Batty<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4785703124/" title="Bat by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4079/4785703124_97dd64881c.jpg" alt="Bat" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Say hello to my little friend</span></span><br /><br />The old hay barn on the ranch where we live is filled with bats. As a kid, I remember watching them come flying out of that barn around sunset every summer evening. Now our boys enjoy watching the same spectacle. I started thinking about how many bugs they must eat and about how much I hate all those bugs on a warm summer evening. I wanted to find out just how beneficial those little flying mice really are. Here's what I found:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Bats make good neighbors. As the only major predators of night flying insects, bats play an important role in controlling many insect pests. A single bat can consume as many as 500 insects in just one hour, or nearly 3,000 insects every night. A colony of just 100 little brown bats, the most abundant species in the Northeast, may consume more than a quarter of a million mosquitoes and other small insects each night.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Big brown bats, which live primarily in agricultural areas, feed on June bugs, cucumber beetles, green and brown stinkbugs, and leafhoppers. Research has shown that over the course of a summer, a colony of 150 big brown bats can eat 38,000 cucumber beetles, 16,000 June bugs, 19,000 stinkbugs, and 50,000 leafhoppers and can prevent the hatching of 18 million corn rootworms by devouring the adult beetles."</span><br /><br />I decided that making a bat house would be a great way to increase our bat numbers and teach the boys something in the process. I realized that all the materials I needed were just lying around waiting to be used, so I went to work.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4785074073/" title="Bat Box by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4078/4785074073_77209cb9df.jpg" alt="Bat Box" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Inside the bat box</span></span><br /></div><br />I settled on a <a href="http://www.ekpc.coop/NewGreenweb/bats.html">"rocket bat box"</a> design and went to work modifying the design to fit my needs. It turned out to be a full day project and then some.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4785712392/" title="Bat Box by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4785712392_10bbb237fa.jpg" alt="Bat Box" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">12 foot 4'' x 6'' redwood post</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4785718658/" title="Bat Box by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4117/4785718658_e85d15189f_b.jpg" alt="Bat Box" height="1024" width="676" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Complete with three covered plexiglass viewing ports for Joshua</span></span><br /></div><br />Today I went into the barn and gathered up a few bats that couldn't squeeze into any of the already overcrowded crevices. These became my first tenants. We'll see if they decided to return.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4785088883/" title="Bat by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4785088883_e35bd8c7bc.jpg" alt="Bat" height="333" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The first occupant</span></span><br /></div><br />Some more bat facts:<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">"Although some mammals are able to glide, bats are the only mammals that truly fly. That is, they actually flap their wings to propel them in flight. They belong to their own unique order of mammals, called Chiroptera, meaning “hand wing,” which refers to how the finger bones of a bat support its wings. The wings of a bat are actually thin membranes of skin that stretch between the fingers of the front leg and extend to the hind legs and tail. The bat’s finger bones are greatly elongated and serve a purpose similar to struts on an airplane wing, providing support and maneuverability during flight. When at rest, a bat folds its wings alongside its body to protect the delicate finger bones and wing membranes.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Bats live in a variety of habitats, including wetlands, fields, forests, cities, suburbs, and agricultural areas. They usually feed in areas where insects swarm, such as over water and agricultural fields, in forest clearings and along forest edges, and around street lights.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">All northeastern bats eat insects and take their prey on the wing. Bats use their mouths to scoop small insects out of the air. Larger insects are often disabled with a quick bite and then carried to the ground or to a perch for eating. If an insect takes last-second evasive action, a bat can flick out a wing to nab the insect and draw it into its mouth. This maneuverability makes bats very efficient insect predators: A bat may consume nearly 50 percent of its body weight in insects in a single night!</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Although bats can see quite well, they rely on their hearing for night flying. A highly sophisticated adaptation, called echolocation, enables bats to use their large and well developed ears to navigate and catch prey in total darkness. A bat’s echolocation system makes use of ultrasonic sound pulses and echoes to locate objects. Bats open their mouths in flight and emit a series of ultrasonic sound pulses. These pulses bounce off nearby objects—such as bushes, fences, branches, and insects—then return as echoes to the bat’s ears. Using the information gathered from these echoes, a bat can maneuver to capture an insect or avoid flying into an object.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Bats have one of the lowest reproductive rates for animals their size. Most northeastern bats have just one or two pups per year, and many females do not breed until their second year. This low reproductive rate is partially offset by their long life span. On average, bats live approximately four to six years, and there are some incredible records of bats living twenty to thirty years in the wild.</span><br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Because few flying insects are active during the winter months, bats that remain in the Northeast year-round gather in caves and abandoned mines to hibernate. Hibernation is a state of prolonged torpor during which bats greatly reduce their normal metabolic activities. Body temperature in hibernating bats falls from a normal level of more than 100o F to that of the surrounding cave temperature, usually 40–50o F. The heart rate slows to only about twenty beats per minute, as compared to 1,000 beats per minute during flight. By allowing their bodily processes to slow this way, hibernating bats can survive on a very small amount of stored fat during the five- to six-month hibernation period, losing from one-fourth to one-half of their prehibernation weight."</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32344352.post-16237480744223827422010-07-07T09:36:00.000-07:002010-07-07T10:20:17.078-07:00Reunion with Friends<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4771870252/" title="Reunion by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4075/4771870252_3824c2c1a5.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Reunion" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">David, Edna, Will, and Ira</span></span><br /><br />Yesterday we had our friends David Mole and Will and Ira McIntosh over for lunch. David came all the way from Florida and Will and Ira drove over from Morro Bay. We spent time with all of them in Ukraine, but hadn't all been together since then.<br /><br />We had a great time reminiscing about all things Ukrainian. I think Ira, our Ukrainian national, really liked the green borshch I made. I've never seen someone eat raw shchavel, the bitter main ingredient, so eagerly. I did my best to make everything just like Baba Olya would have. Thanks guys for a fun time and for keeping our hearts still longing for Ukraine.<br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4771875752/" title="Reunion by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4098/4771875752_af6aa30527.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Reunion" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Seriously, don't touch my borshch!"</span></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32344352.post-78192962851283830002010-07-01T23:24:00.000-07:002011-09-27T21:45:19.864-07:00Ciudad de Angeles (City of Angels) Orphanage, Mexico<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4754396606/" title="Ciudad de Angeles - Mexico June 2010 by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4073/4754396606_d4c8ca7d21.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Ciudad de Angeles - Mexico June 2010" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Edna and Katya</span></span><br /><br />On June 23rd, we drove down to Mexico with a group from our church and met up with others from <a href="http://www.cckrv.com/"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Calvary Chapel Kern River Valley</span></a>. We spent five wonderful days serving and loving the children in a small Christian orphanage called Ciudad de Angeles. We took several of the youth from our church, including Dominic, and I'm sure they were forever changed by the orphans they met.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4771306741/" title="Ciudad de Angeles - Mexico June 2010 by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4119/4771306741_a520abf5df.jpg" width="500" height="333" alt="Ciudad de Angeles - Mexico June 2010" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Lisa and Monica</span></span> <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">(all three of the girls in these photos are sisters)</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Here's a short video of our time with God's children in Mexico.<br /></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><object height="505" width="853"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/U1Cpp2yAgY0&hl=en_US&fs=1?color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/U1Cpp2yAgY0&hl=en_US&fs=1?color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="505" width="853"></embed></object></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32344352.post-44043222890257214452010-06-10T22:04:00.000-07:002010-06-10T23:30:14.764-07:00From the Garden<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4690104176/" title="From the Garden by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4048/4690104176_1baa91cb20.jpg" alt="From the Garden" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ingredients for green borshch all from the garden</span></span><br /><br />The other day I really had a craving for green borshch and fortunately I've been growing щавель shchavel (I think it's called sorrel in English), the key ingredient. I've actually been growing several different types of vegetables, herbs, and flowers in our garden that came from seeds given to us in Ukraine. Our tomato crop is an extensive mixture of heirloom and Ukrainian varieties so we'll be doing plenty of canning soon. Edna and I plan on canning everything like we did in Ukraine including pickles just like our neighbor Olya taught us. Having a garden has definitely been a blessing in that we are eating healthy, saving money, and it helps us feel less homesick for Ukraine. Anyway, I promised some pictures of the garden, so here they are.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4690149892/" title="The Garden by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4056/4690149892_360284fbd5.jpg" alt="The Garden" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Shchavel</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4690107890/" title="Green Borshch by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4006/4690107890_7b3d34df3a.jpg" alt="Green Borshch" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Green borshch</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4689480589/" title="The Garden by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4689480589_b876c5e40a.jpg" alt="The Garden" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Some of the flowers in the garden mixed in with onions</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4689528527/" title="The Garden by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4032/4689528527_553dde25cf.jpg" alt="The Garden" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4689487037/" title="The Garden by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4689487037_aa1538676d.jpg" alt="The Garden" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4690125946/" title="The Garden by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1307/4690125946_828e7bb309.jpg" alt="The Garden" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4690158538/" title="The Garden by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4062/4690158538_877c87f9ba.jpg" alt="The Garden" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4690154248/" title="The Garden by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4064/4690154248_df861e3545.jpg" alt="The Garden" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4690132388/" title="The Garden by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm2.static.flickr.com/1293/4690132388_1a6bd1e43c.jpg" alt="The Garden" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4689510477/" title="The Garden by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4689510477_d5054b28e9.jpg" alt="The Garden" height="333" width="500" /></a></div><br />I've also started a bucket garden where I'm growing different vegetables including lots of hot chili peppers. I'm using some antique galvanized steel fruit picking buckets that I'll hang on a rack once they are all planted. Hopefully I'll be able to move the bucket garden out of the cold and keep it going through the winter.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32344352.post-46244749079391166542010-05-24T12:22:00.000-07:002011-09-27T21:49:55.221-07:00Church Picnic 2010<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4636678246/" title="Calvary Chapel Visalia Church Picnic 2010 by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3416/4636678246_84c2b23c75.jpg" alt="Calvary Chapel Visalia Church Picnic 2010" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Andy getting things started.</span></span><br /><br />Sunday after church we had our annual church picnic complete with chili cook-off and homemade ice cream. The weather was perfect and everyone seemed to be blessed by the time of fellowship we had. It doesn't get much better than worshiping God in the park and sharing food with brothers and sisters in Christ. Amen.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4636044847/" title="Calvary Chapel Visalia Church Picnic 2010 by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3368/4636044847_d88845e1c5.jpg" alt="Calvary Chapel Visalia Church Picnic 2010" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Edna reading her Bible and getting some sun.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4636055155/" title="Calvary Chapel Visalia Church Picnic 2010 by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3378/4636055155_6b137da4a5.jpg" alt="Calvary Chapel Visalia Church Picnic 2010" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Andy leading the children in worship.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4636670446/" title="Calvary Chapel Visalia Church Picnic 2010 by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3337/4636670446_532ca7e470.jpg" alt="Calvary Chapel Visalia Church Picnic 2010" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">And of course the chili.</span></span><br /></div><br /><object height="505" width="640"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/ametgCRwrI0&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/ametgCRwrI0&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x006699&color2=0x54abd6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="505" width="640"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32344352.post-26556698707488699252010-04-07T22:50:00.003-07:002010-07-07T10:25:48.811-07:00Eye of the Beholder<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4501589055/" title="Dominic's Photos by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4019/4501589055_4e30cb5d67.jpg" alt="Dominic's Photos" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><br />Well I haven't had a lot of time to blog since starting a new job and with all the things that need to be done around here (lots of home repairs). But one thing that I do want to take the time to blog about is Dominic's increasing interest and talent in photography. He began a photography class in school and he is really enjoying it. He has also been chosen to work on the yearbook staff next year. I'm so proud to see his artistic skills in photography flourish the way they have.<br /><br />On a side note, Dominic actually has one of the same high school teachers I did for one of his classes. Even stranger, Joshua recently started taking Judo lessons and I was shocked to see the little Japanese instructor that I had when I was eleven years old (who I thought was old then) is one of Joshua's instructors. I'm not sure what to think of it all.<br /><br />Anyway, Dominic is growing daily in his skill as a photographer and I just wanted to share a few of my favorite photos of his with everyone. He really has an eye for photography! You can view his most recent photos by clicking <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgs_photography/">http://www.flickr.com/photos/dgs_photography/</a> or you can view his very own blog here: <a href="http://dgsphoto.blogspot.com/">http://dgsphoto.blogspot.com</a><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4502177284/" title="Dominic's Photos by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2762/4502177284_576fbd645c.jpg" alt="Dominic's Photos" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4501538347/" title="Dominic's Photos by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4501538347_8e8365e2bd.jpg" alt="Dominic's Photos" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4502180250/" title="Dominic's Photos by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/4502180250_d755a50917.jpg" alt="Dominic's Photos" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4502228288/" title="Dominic's Photos by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4071/4502228288_e0c88e215b.jpg" alt="Dominic's Photos" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4502221964/" title="Dominic's Photos by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2745/4502221964_5b98379ca5.jpg" alt="Dominic's Photos" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4501599079/" title="Dominic's Photos by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4038/4501599079_b32b9af7dd.jpg" alt="Dominic's Photos" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4501539295/" title="Dominic's Photos by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4501539295_02b80dbd0f_b.jpg" alt="Dominic's Photos" height="1024" width="692" /></a></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32344352.post-89213213113988582492010-03-04T01:00:00.001-08:002010-03-04T13:16:40.531-08:00First School Bus Ride for Joshua<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4406284031/" title="Joshua on the school bus stuck in the mud by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2762/4406284031_6a7313f3e7.jpg" alt="Joshua on the school bus stuck in the mud" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Joshua's school bus sliding in the mud. You can see Joshua leaning over the front seat for a better view.</span></span><br /><br />Today was Joshua's first time riding on the school bus. Unlike most parents, I didn't get all teary eyed and snap a ton of photos of our little boy's first time on the bus. That is until I heard Edna shouting from the other room that the bus was mired in mud in front of our house. I snatched up the camera and ran to the front porch in my boxers hoping to catch some of the action. I know, I probably should have grabbed a jacket or at least a robe. Edna said I might have embarrassed Joshua. Is it embarassing to have your dad chasing after your school bus in his underwear snapping pictures? Maybe.<br /><br />Anyway, we watched with sympathy and laughter as the bus driver slid around in the mud trying to free the big yellow beast. Thankfully for the driver, Joshua was his first passenger and thus he was spared further indignity. I could just make out Joshua's worried expression as the bus struggled to break free. I can't wait to hear his version of the story when he gets home from school today.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4407053702/" title="Joshua on the school bus stuck in the mud by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2680/4407053702_512849bfb5.jpg" alt="Joshua on the school bus stuck in the mud" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The bus actually slid sideways before finally getting out.</span></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32344352.post-70565298105623006092010-02-22T04:00:00.001-08:002010-02-22T04:00:00.492-08:00Goodbye Bila Tserkva, Goodbye Ukraine<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4372498802/" title="Leaving Bila Tserkva by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4061/4372498802_e880949a2b.jpg" alt="Leaving Bila Tserkva" height="332" width="500" /></a><br /><br />By the time this blog posts, we should be on an Aeroflot plane somewhere over Russia on our way to Los Angeles. We don't know exactly what God has planned for us, but we know that He has forever changed our lives by taking us to Ukraine. Our perspective on life in this world will never be the same. God has taught us so much over the last three years. We are so grateful for all the opportunities He has given us and all the people He has brought into our lives. We have definitely witnessed lives changed, including our own.<br /><br />We don't know if we will ever have a chance to return to Ukraine although I would love to lead a short term missions team to Ukraine if God wills it. I honestly believe that leaving Ukraine is much harder than when we left the United States. We always knew that someday we would have to move back and that we could go back to visit friends and relatives, but we know there is a possibility that we may never return or see all the beautiful people of Ukraine that we have come to know and love. Some of those people are dear friends and like family to us. I can't begin to describe all the emotions we have been feeling.<br /><br />Our time in Ukraine has taught us a unique lesson in the value of life as we watched people die simply because the knowledge and resources that could have otherwise saved them was not available. I know it has helped me to see more clearly that we are perishing and that Jesus is the only one who can truly save us. We have also been blessed to see God bring new life into this world in Ukraine. There is no greater joy than holding an infant in your arms and being able to dedicate them to the Lord.<br /><br />We will be living in California and serving the Lord however we can, but our hearts will always be in Ukraine. Thank you to everyone who has helped us through prayer and support. You have truly been a part of this chapter in our lives and touched lives that you may never be aware of. And to all of our friends in Ukraine, we love you and will NEVER forget you. May the Hope of Christ be with you always.Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32344352.post-13058185290845600232010-02-14T10:28:00.002-08:002010-02-14T11:18:34.928-08:00A Week of Lasts<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4357046750/" title="Joshua, Dominic, Max, Little Max, Tanya, Mark, Dima, Zhanna, Vlad, Svita, and Edna by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2693/4357046750_e340193af9.jpg" alt="Joshua, Dominic, Max, Little Max, Tanya, Mark, Dima, Zhanna, Vlad, Svita, and Edna" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">One of our last big meals together - Joshua, Dominic, Max, Little Max, Tanya, Mark, Zhanna, Vlad, </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Dima, </span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Svita, and Edna</span><br /><br />This week has been filled with lots of last things to do and last goodbyes as we begin our last week in Ukraine. Today we said goodbye to everyone at church as it was our last church service in Bila Tserkva. There were so many tears and reminiscing of fond memories over the last few years. God has really blessed us with the people He has brought into our lives here in Ukraine. It was very difficult to walk down the hall and out the door knowing we may never return or see them again in this life.<br /><br />Saturday we said goodbye to our dear friends from Pryluky who came to stay with us on Thursday since Edna couldn't travel that far (Vlad and Zhanna with their Anya and Daniel, and Max and Tanya with their Little Max and Mark). We had so much fun just sitting around and talking with everyone and introducing them to our friends Dima and Svita here in Bila Tserkva. We were so glad to have them as our last over night guest in our home before leaving Ukraine. Here are a few of the pictures I took while they were here. Thanks guys.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4356296959/" title="Vlad and Zhanna's Baby Daniel by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2704/4356296959_f1a54d53b8.jpg" alt="Vlad and Zhanna's Baby Daniel" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Vlad and Zhanna's Baby Daniel</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4357047978/" title="Anya and Zhanna by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4030/4357047978_7b80747419.jpg" alt="Anya and Zhanna" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Anya and Zhanna</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4356301931/" title="Dima treating us to some bass guitar by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2801/4356301931_25abbcc260.jpg" alt="Dima treating us to some bass guitar" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dima playing bass guitar</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4356303845/" title="Anya, Vlad, and Dima by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4356303845_32861abb2e.jpg" alt="Anya, Vlad, and Dima" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Anya, Vlad, and Dima</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4356305191/" title="Little Max, Max, and Mark by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4356305191_72aef83fdf.jpg" alt="Little Max, Max, and Mark" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Little Max, Max, and Mark</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4357053462/" title="Little Max and Joshua by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2717/4357053462_5ddf5bf3cb.jpg" alt="Little Max and Joshua" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Little Max and Joshua</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4357055508/" title="Little Max - "I've fallen and I can't get up!" by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4018/4357055508_434af63f8a.jpg" alt="Little Max - "I've fallen and I can't get up!"" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Little Max - "I've fallen and I can't get up!"</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4356310089/" title="Dima, Vlad, and Anya by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4050/4356310089_cc6190b41d.jpg" alt="Dima, Vlad, and Anya" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Dima and Vlad waving to me like crazy people with Anya</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32344352.post-28738528024272060872010-02-01T05:57:00.002-08:002010-02-01T09:12:49.872-08:00Field Trip to Auschwitz-Birkenau<div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4321684857/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4031/4321684857_23fb0f650f_b.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="124" width="1024" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4322418328/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4322418328_2795bedf0d.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Gate into Auschwitz "Work Makes You Free"</span></span><br /><br />On Saturday the 29th, just two days after the 65th anniversary of the liberation of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Auschwitz_concentration_camp"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Auschwitz-Birkenau</span></a> concentration/death camps, we took Dominic and Joshua on a historical tour of the camps. We spent two days in Poland to satisfy our Ukrainian registration requirements and used the time to give the boys a very real and invaluable lesson in history. Dominic and Joshua had watched several documentaries about the camps, but actually being there made it real. It was an extremely moving and surreal experience to witness the evidence of human cruelty at its worst.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4321664649/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4040/4321664649_093fd11a0e.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="277" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The numbers speak for themselves</span></span><br /></div><br />One of the most difficult parts of the tour was hearing that about 70% of each incoming group, mostly women and children, those deemed unfit to work, were immediately sent to the gas chambers or shot. Others were later tortured to death through starvation and slow suffocation.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4322396752/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4039/4322396752_58dcd58afd.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Looking into Auschwitz</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4321664363/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4067/4321664363_d5455b04b8.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">The view from behind the barbed wire</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4321665129/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2750/4321665129_79b6e64a92.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">"On the Way to Death"</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4322408780/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4322408780_42c19bc3df.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Children's belongings</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">The Nazis utilized everything they could from the victims including their hair to be used in textile production. The victim's belongings were sorted and shipped to Germany. Some of the stockpiles of personal effects escaped destruction by the fleeing SS guards and were discovered by the invading Soviet Army. These items of the dead were subsequently put on display. What we saw there was horrible, but it should also never be forgotten.</div><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4322409460/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2679/4322409460_ddefecb206.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Joshua looking at the many pairs of children's shoes</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4322404338/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2731/4322404338_1506682e5a.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Eye glasses</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4322406352/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4024/4322406352_b6435ea445.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prosthetic limbs and walking aides </span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4322411986/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4055/4322411986_351b4c44bf.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chamber pots</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4322410792/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2803/4322410792_aa38ab9b8f.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Over 40,000 pairs of shoes</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4321679099/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2798/4321679099_292b9ac6fd.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Brushes</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4322407684/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2777/4322407684_1df7e3a595.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The rail yard at Birkenau was the final destination for this luggage</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4321669197/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4060/4321669197_346df5a628.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Fabrics made from human hair along with hair from the camp victims</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4322413950/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4044/4322413950_a957a57273.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">No man's land</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4322400682/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2683/4322400682_cb1763fd94.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="333" width="500" /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4322401938/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2799/4322401938_116d91665c.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Zyklon B used to gas the camp prisoners</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4322414852/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2746/4322414852_eb83e0382d.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The crematorium is located next to the gas chamber that were made to look like showers. The zyklon B pellets were dropped through hatches in the roof resulting in deadly gas.</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4321682057/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4028/4321682057_50de0c8704.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Some of the ovens were used to cremate as many as 9,000 bodies in a day</span></span><br /><br /></div> </div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4321683383/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2742/4321683383_dc1c3e1a2e.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Joshua after coming out of the gas chamber/crematorium.<br /><br /></span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4321685547/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4321685547_55894a052d.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Inside Birkenau just a few minutes from Auschwitz I. This is where the new arrivals were brought and selected either for work or for death.</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4321687757/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4057/4321687757_e698057d83.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Joshua and Dominic looking over Birkenau from the main tower.</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4322421902/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2794/4322421902_256826efff.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="500" width="309" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">View of the rail yard where the fates of the new arrivals were determined.</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4322419892/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2797/4322419892_be9efdd9aa.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The line between certain death and uncertain life</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4321687227/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4321687227_4fdc4b587a.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Inside one of the wooden barracks designed to hold 700 people (30 people to a bunk with 10 on each level).</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;"> In winter snow came through the roof and there was no fuel for heating.</span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4322423098/" title="Auschwitz-Birkenau by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2778/4322423098_a1a99ebca3.jpg" alt="Auschwitz-Birkenau" height="500" width="333" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The infamous train tracks leading into Birkenau<br /></span></span><div style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></span></span>Another sad fact in the history of these death camps was made known to us by our guide. When Germany invaded Poland, the Soviet Union also invaded, and by agreement dived up Poland. It was only after Hitler broke his agreement with Stalin by invading the Soviet Union that the Soviets later "liberated" the Polish people. Many of the survivors of Auschwitz were arrested as political enemies of the Soviet state and sent to Soviet labor camps. Many did not return. Our guide told us that Poland's liberation came in 1989 when the Kremlin backed communist government lost its grip on the country.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">"The one who does not remember history is bound to live through it again." -George Santayana<br /></span>(on the wall leading into block 4 at Auschwitz I)<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32344352.post-48162835051945306992010-01-19T01:25:00.004-08:002010-01-19T02:12:54.201-08:00Beautiful is the Cross<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4286970201/" title="Beautiful is the Cross by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4286970201_576e7b324e.jpg" alt="Beautiful is the Cross" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Cross on the River Ros</span></span><br /><br />Each year on January 19th they celebrate the Baptism of Jesus and Epiphany by cutting a hole in the ice on the river here in Bila Tserkva. This happens all over Ukraine as people brave the icy waters for a triple dunking. This is an interesting sight in and of itself, but what fascinates me most is the image of the Cross intricately cut into the ice. No matter how many times I see it, I'm always drawn to it and reminded of all that it represents. It is ugly, yet beautiful. It is shameful, yet proud. It is lowly, yet exalted. It is painful, yet comforting. It is weak, yet powerful. It is bondage, yet freedom for those who believe. And if you approach the edge of this particular cross you can see a dim reflection of yourself and the world around you framed in the image of the Cross.<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face. Now I know in part; then I shall know fully, even as I am fully known.</span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">- 1 Corinthians 13:12</span><br /><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4287712246/" title="Celebrating the Baptism of Jesus by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2723/4287712246_271a5d8eba.jpg" alt="Celebrating the Baptism of Jesus" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4286971077/" title="Celebrating the Baptism of Jesus by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4008/4286971077_1a9c29db0e.jpg" alt="Celebrating the Baptism of Jesus" height="333" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The first woman of the day to endure a cold dip in the ice with wind chill on the river dropping felt temperature to </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">-21 °C</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> ( </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"></span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">-5 °F</span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;"> ). </span></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32344352.post-67194569201543017832010-01-17T02:20:00.004-08:002010-01-17T03:36:32.358-08:00And the Heart Still Overflows<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4280720389/" title="Joshua and Kyryl with Taras by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2715/4280720389_1939a4212c.jpg" alt="Joshua and Kyryl with Taras" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Joshua and Kyryl with Taras the hedgehog</span></span><br /><br />Some of you might remember a blog I posted almost two years ago about a little boy Joshua met on a playground. The little boy was dirty, his clothes were a mess and the kids were making fun of him. You can read about our first encounter with him by clicking <a href="http://m24expert.blogspot.com/2008/03/overflow-of-heart.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">HERE</span></a>.<br /><br />Since then we have seen him a few times around the neighborhood and have learned that his name is Kyryl and he is now seven years old. He's a quiet shy boy that Joshua says the other kids aren't very nice to. Joshua has continued to pray for him and an opportunity to show him the love of Christ since that first meeting.<br /><br />Yesterday, Joshua found Kyryl playing by himself out in the snow and he invited him into our home to play. Kyryl was very excited to see our hedgehog and told us how he likes to find them and play with them. He really liked Taras. Joshua shared some cookies with Kyryl and they played with Legos together until it was time for him to go home.<br /><br />Joshua decided to give Kyryl most of the Legos he was planning to take back to California with him. I know those were some of Joshua's favorite things, but he never hesitated when he loaded up a plastic bag full of them for Kyryl. We also sent him home with a little Ukrainian story book that explains the life of Jesus and how he died for us. Kyryl was very thankful and polite when he left. It really broke my heart as I helped him get his jacket and boots on to go outside. His clothes were absolutely filthy and his jacket had more holes and patches than I could count. We still don't know much about Kyryl's home life, but we can only imagine. I pray that Jesus will touch his heart and that he will always remember the kind little American boy who keeps a hedgehog as a pet.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/2371722352/" title="Little Boy by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3191/2371722352_26c898904c.jpg" alt="Little Boy" height="375" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">This is Kyryl the first time we saw him almost two years ago.</span></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32344352.post-43707436397864495492010-01-07T02:27:00.004-08:002010-01-07T03:49:34.860-08:00Christmas in Ukraine<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B9mqXwZ4p08/S0XCCxYoumI/AAAAAAAABMU/V_nd5Syc3us/s1600-h/1christmasevedinner08+copy.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 244px;" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_B9mqXwZ4p08/S0XCCxYoumI/AAAAAAAABMU/V_nd5Syc3us/s400/1christmasevedinner08+copy.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5423954679109827170" border="0" /></a><br />We will be spending Christmas day with our neighbor Olya and her family enjoying a meal that is sure to have way more food than any of us could ever eat. This will be our last Christmas in Ukraine and I wanted to share a little about Ukrainian Christmas with all of our friends and family outside of Ukraine.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4253767760/" title="Christmas in Kyiv, Ukraine by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4054/4253767760_29d887b166.jpg" alt="Christmas in Kyiv, Ukraine" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Christmas in Kyiv</span></span><br /></div><br />Here is an excerpt from <a href="http://www.theworldwidegourmet.com/traditions/christmas-recipes/christmas-ukraine/">The Worldwide Gourmet</a> about Ukrainian Christmas tradition.<br /><br />"Sviata Vechera - A feast of twelve meatless dishes<br />The rich traditions of Ukraine, dating back through more than a millennium of Christianity to pagan times, have been carried throughout the world to wherever the Ukrainian people have settled. And there is probably no occasion when these ancient customs are held more dear than at Christmas, when families reenact age-old observances that symbolize their deep spirituality, love of family and attachment to the land.<br /><br />Traditionally Ukrainians have followed the Julian calendar, in which Christmas falls on January 7. These days many Ukrainians in North America join in the holiday festivities surrounding December 25, but continue to place a special religious emphasis on the traditions that mark Ukrainian Christmas, thirteen days later. The days leading up to the celebration are marked by spiritual preparation and fasting. The menu for the "holy supper," or sviata vechera, of Christmas Eve does not contain any meat or dairy products. The meal centres instead around grains, fish, vegetables and fruits; vegetable fats or oils are used instead of butter.<br /><br />Many of the rites observed during the Ukrainian Christmas Eve meal are very ancient, going back to the pre-Christian era. Early Christians adopted these customs for themselves and invested them with new religious significance. To prepare for the meal, some hay is placed on or under the dining table, representing the manger of the baby Jesus. The table is then laid with the family's finest embroidered tablecloth, or even two tablecloths: one to represent the living members of the family, and one the dead. An extra place is always set for the souls of deceased relatives. Given place of honour in the centre of the table is the Christmas bread or kolach, consisting of three stacked rings. The number represents the Holy Trinity, and the circular shape eternity. A candle is placed in the centre to symbolize <span style="font-weight: bold;">Jesus, the light of the world</span>."<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4253027661/" title="Christ is Born! by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2725/4253027661_df7a450c13.jpg" alt="Christ is Born!" height="500" width="361" /></a><br /></div><br />"The meal begins once the children of the family sight the first star in the evening sky, recalling the journey of the wise men towards Bethlehem. On farms, the head of the family customarily carries a sheaf of wheat called a didukh into the house, representing the family's ancestors, and places it under the household icons. (Outside, in the barn, animals are traditionally given an extra ration, honouring their role in the first Christmas.) In modern urban celebrations of the Christmas Eve meal, the sheaf may be replaced by a few wheat stalks decorating the table. The meal begins with a prayer and the traditional Christmas greeting "Khrystos rodyvsya!" (Christ is born), to which all respond "Slavite yoho!" (Let us praise him.)<br /><br />Twelve dishes are served, representing the twelve apostles. Wheat shows its importance once again, for it is the main component of the special first course, called kutia, boiled kernels sweetened with honey and flavoured with poppy seeds or nuts. All members of the family must partake of a little kutia, which symbolizes prosperity for the coming year. An old superstition holds that if some of the wheat sticks to the ceiling when a spoonful of kutia is thrown into the air, the new year will be a prosperous one. These days, your hosts might prefer that this particular tradition be omitted!<br /><br />Next comes soup: in this case, borshch, the famous beet soup, which for this Christmas Eve meal is made without meat or meat stock. Besides beets, the borshch may contain onions, carrots, cabbage and potatoes.<br /><br />The central part of the meal is centered around fish and vegetable dishes. Fish is served baked or fried, in aspic, or pickled (perhaps whitefish or herring). An integral part of any Ukrainian meal is pyrohy or varenyky, dough dumplings filled with potato and onion, or perhaps sauerkraut or even fruit. Then there are usually two varieties of holubtsi, cabbage rolls: one stuffed with a savoury rice filling, the other with buckwheat.<br /><br />There is an assortment of other vegetable side dishes: white beans mashed with onions and garlic; kapusta, or sauerkraut with onions; salads or perhaps marinated beets or mushrooms.<br /><br />Towards the end of the meal, a compote of dried fruits is brought out. It may include prunes, apricots, apples and figs that have been soaked overnight and cooked with honey.<br /><br />For dessert, there is an assortment of pampushky, little deep-fried pastries containing various fillings such as poppy seed or dried fruit.<br /><br />This sacred and festive meal goes on for a long time. For the Ukrainian family it not only brings together decades of memories and reminiscences of beloved family members, but is also a link to centuries of proud tradition. Those gathered around the table are reluctant to get up once the meal has ended and so the family members and guests prolong the celebrations late into the night with the singing of Christmas carols."<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4253767372/" title="Christmas in Kyiv, Ukraine by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4253767372_7121d26dff.jpg" alt="Christmas in Kyiv, Ukraine" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center; font-weight: bold;"><em>Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Independence Square) in Kyiv<br /></em></div><br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/5y6uH2qWVnU&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/5y6uH2qWVnU&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32344352.post-71700406264180285292010-01-05T07:58:00.009-08:002010-01-07T02:17:12.897-08:00A City Without People - Prypyat, Ukraine<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4247875690/" title="A City Without People by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2622/4247875690_d4405e7d21.jpg" alt="A City Without People" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">View from one of the rooms in Hotel Polissya in Prypyat</span></span><br /><br />Yesterday I went on a trip to the city of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prypiat,_Ukraine"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prypyat</span></a> and the nearby <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernobyl_Nuclear_Power_Plant"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chornobyl Nuclear Power Station</span></a>, formerly known as the V.I. Lenin Nuclear Power Station. Edna arranged it all for my birthday/Christmas present because she knew that I have been fascinated by what happened there ever since working at a nuclear power plant in California when we first got married. It was an amazing opportunity to visit the city that had once been the jewel of the Soviet Union, but had to be completely abandoned with only a two hour notice. (It was replaced by the city of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slavutych"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Slavutych</span></a>, an engineering feat in itself. You can see my post on Slavutych by clicking <a href="http://m24expert.blogspot.com/2008/07/slavutych-newest-city-in-soviet-union.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">HERE</span></a>.)<br /><br />Over the years the city of Prypyat has been looted and vandalized, but you can still see that it was a beautiful city at one time. Even though it stands in ruins, I can imagine how life there must have been a relative paradise compared with other Soviet cities before the <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chernobyl_disaster"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Chornobyl disaster</span></a>. The true tragedy wasn't the actual accident, but the failure to inform people of the accident and the high levels of radiation they were being exposed to. The 43,000 plus residents of Prypyat weren't told of the danger for almost two days when they were finally evacuated. Had they not been evacuated they would have suffered a lethal dose in four days.<br /><br />The accident at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Station and the lack of government intervention to protect the people affected by it is very personal to us. We know so many people who were physically affected by the immediate fallout and children who would later be born with birth defects attributed to the radiological release from the accident. Our neighbor Olya told us how people here in Bila Tserkva, including herself, were outdoors breathing in radioactive particulates because they weren't told about the accident. Even after the accident was made public, people were told that there was no danger to their health. She told us that the doctors suspect that a bone disorder she has is related to her exposure.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4246982355/" title="City of Prypyat founded 1970 by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4010/4246982355_dd42110ebd.jpg" alt="City of Prypyat founded 1970" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The road into Prypyat with the name of the city and its founding year of 1970</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4247756166/" title="Prypyat before the accident in 1986 by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2624/4247756166_06b622dfec.jpg" alt="Prypyat before the accident in 1986" height="334" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Then: The palace of culture "Energetic", shortly before the April 26th, 1986 accident</span></span>.<br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4246981889/" title="Prypyat - 4 January, 2010 by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2734/4246981889_41049400a9.jpg" alt="Prypyat - 4 January, 2010" height="324" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Now: January 4th, 2010, </span></span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">almost 23 years later</span></span>.<br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4247774958/" title="Map of Prypyat and Chornobyl by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2521/4247774958_ed40b71772_b.jpg" alt="Map of Prypyat and Chornobyl" height="683" width="1024" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Not to be confused with the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Station, the town of Chornobyl is 18 kilometers south of where the accident occurred. It had a population of 14,000 people at the time, but now it is home to 250 security, fire department, and monitoring personnel. They work on a 15 day rotation to reduce their exposure. The city of Prypyat is only 3 kilometers from the site of the accident.</span></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4248534592/" title="Chornobyl Nuclear Power Station by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2798/4248534592_df2b08b72f.jpg" alt="Chornobyl Nuclear Power Station" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Although the reactors have been shut down since December 2000, it still serves as an active power station to control the distribution of power.</span></span><br /><br /><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4248530564/" title="Unfinished reactors 5 and 6 at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Station by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4023/4248530564_14b7e8693d.jpg" alt="Unfinished reactors 5 and 6 at the Chornobyl Nuclear Power Station" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">This is the site of reactors 5 and 6 that were due to be completed in October of 1986. After the accident the construction was immediately halted and the cranes haven't moved since.</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4247868394/" title="Reactor Number 4 by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4247868394_efaa168b83.jpg" alt="Reactor Number 4" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Standing in front of the structure containing reactor number 4 that exploded on April 26th, 1986. Reactors 1, 2, and 3 continued to operate until they were shut down in December 2000.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4247868928/" title="A City Without People by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2790/4247868928_d90df1790e.jpg" alt="A City Without People" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">View of reactor number 4 from the roof of Hotel Polissya in Prypyat</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4247878472/" title="A City Without People by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2772/4247878472_8f5af04ac6.jpg" alt="A City Without People" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">This amusement park was due to open on May 1st, 1986 to coincide with the </span></span><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">International Day of Worker's Solidarity</span><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">, but the city was evacuated just a few days before. Children never got to go on these rides.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4247877608/" title="A City Without People by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2621/4247877608_8622d1dd7a.jpg" alt="A City Without People" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Never to be used</span></span><br /><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4247107007/" title="A City Without People by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2746/4247107007_d2dd96cc2c.jpg" alt="A City Without People" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Hedgehog in the Fog</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4247105665/" title="A City Without People by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4053/4247105665_06c7cf8f54.jpg" alt="A City Without People" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The palace of culture Energetic and Hotel Polissya in the city center</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4247101699/" title="Hours of Operation by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4247101699_39be9b6674.jpg" alt="Hours of Operation" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">This is a snack bar on one of the floors of the hotel. The last people to stay here were the scientists, radiation experts, and Soviet government officials who were assessing the damage after the city was evacuated. They later realized that they had been exposed to lethal levels of radiation.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4247098661/" title="A City Without People by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4012/4247098661_154d571e2a.jpg" alt="A City Without People" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">One of the many abandoned apartment buildings</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4247875204/" title="A City Without People by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4247875204_965398c460.jpg" alt="A City Without People" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Frozen in Time: a view from an apartment window</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4247870974/" title="A City Without People by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4003/4247870974_92c3a4f70a.jpg" alt="A City Without People" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">A Soviet Russia newspaper from May 6th, 1984 </span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4247879526/" title="A City Without People by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4065/4247879526_e70d0cf38b.jpg" alt="A City Without People" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">A symbol of power</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4247874720/" title="A City Without People by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4247874720_2d30644f25.jpg" alt="A City Without People" height="500" width="333" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">A crumbling hallway in the sports complex</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4247873924/" title="A City Without People by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4021/4247873924_cefde9e940.jpg" alt="A City Without People" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The high dive above a pool that will never see swimmers again</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4247095367/" title="A City Without People by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2603/4247095367_5f5070ba89.jpg" alt="A City Without People" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">City restaurant and the palace of culture Energetic</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4247876736/" title="A City Without People by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4027/4247876736_7c72ae4996.jpg" alt="A City Without People" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The entrance into the palace of culture where community activities were held including sports and theater.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4247106355/" title="A City Without People by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2654/4247106355_b7b3b11d87.jpg" alt="A City Without People" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">The gym inside the palace of culture</span></span>. <span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">"Strong - Bold - Agile"</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4247097723/" title="A City Without People by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4063/4247097723_1f79002415.jpg" alt="A City Without People" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Ironically, this mural inside the palace of culture seems to be of people mourning.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4247882408/" title="A City Without People by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2694/4247882408_da95d8d6bb.jpg" alt="A City Without People" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">As I left Prypyat, the sun broke through the clouds just as it was setting on the Soviet hammer and sickle atop this apartment building. The disaster here began a series of events that would eventually lead to the downfall of the Soviet Union.</span></span><br /></div><br />My time in Prypyat was a surreal experience. At times it was so quiet without the normal sounds of automobiles, electric appliances, or bustling crowds of people that it gave me a very eerie feeling. Most of the buildings and fixtures inside were familiar to me. Not much has changed in the last 23 years and several times I found myself thinking about the thousands of people who should have been there living their lives. Prypyat is a memorial to all those who died, are suffering, and have yet to suffer from what happened on the 26th day of April, 1986.<br /><br /><object height="385" width="480"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/zByDY-nPNJc&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/zByDY-nPNJc&hl=en_US&fs=1&color1=0x2b405b&color2=0x6b8ab6" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" height="385" width="480"></embed></object>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32344352.post-55243872105100619552010-01-02T06:42:00.002-08:002010-01-02T07:15:42.841-08:00Ice Skating in Bila Tserkva<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4237322698/" title="Ice Skating by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2659/4237322698_1b9d306fd7.jpg" alt="Ice Skating" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Maria, Edna, Nastya, and Veronyka on the ice</span></span><br /><br />Today we finally got around to meeting up with some girls from church to go ice skating at an ice rink just a short walk from where we live. It was Joshua's second time and Edna had only been ice skating once as a child. We all had a good time and even had a chance to talk over tea afterwards in the little cafe. We were just a little sad that this was probably our last time to do something like this and I know Edna is going to really miss the close friends she has here.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4236550213/" title="Ice Skating by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2632/4236550213_853e2db4ed.jpg" alt="Ice Skating" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-weight: bold; font-style: italic;">Veronyka, Nastya, Edna, Joshua, and Maria</span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4236546959/" title="Ice Skating by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4069/4236546959_f408fd66be.jpg" alt="Ice Skating" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Edna was a little hesitant at first, but Maria and Nastya took good care of her.</span></span><br /></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4236543947/" title="Ice Skating by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4041/4236543947_cf86037b0a.jpg" alt="Ice Skating" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4237325818/" title="Ice Skating by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4032/4237325818_1bac542072.jpg" alt="Ice Skating" height="333" width="500" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">It wasn't long before the girls had Edna speeding over the ice and they never let her fall.</span></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32344352.post-77798816795072557002010-01-01T05:18:00.004-08:002010-01-01T05:25:06.139-08:00З Новим Роком! Happy New Year!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4232922915/" title="New Year Tree by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2687/4232922915_f92d306873_b.jpg" alt="New Year Tree" height="1024" width="683" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Our neighborhood New Year Tree</span></span><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4233695346/" title="Joshua with a New Year Tree by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2617/4233695346_b38134440b_b.jpg" alt="Joshua with a New Year Tree" height="683" width="1024" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Joshua and I ventured out to play in the snow and watch fireworks.</span></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32344352.post-31830299309404177492009-12-29T05:33:00.002-08:002009-12-29T06:03:19.623-08:00Happy Birthday My Love!<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4224681781/" title="Edna by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2595/4224681781_db83c286d7.jpg" alt="Edna" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Edna in Park Oleksandria this morning</span></span><br /><br />Today is Edna's birthday and I just wanted to say how much I love her and how proud I am of her kind and loving heart. She is a wonderful servant of our Lord Jesus Christ. She also was extremely patient with me this morning as I dragged her out into the cold to take pictures in the park with all the snow we got during the night.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4225451594/" title="Edna with a bird by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4015/4225451594_ebb008825c.jpg" alt="Edna with a bird" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />We were rewarded with these shots of birds that began taking turns landing in Edna's hand. They are use to people feeding them seeds and even though we didn't have any, they were still curious enough to check.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4224683745/" title="Edna with a bird by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4051/4224683745_58f66fc919.jpg" alt="Edna with a bird" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><br />After taking as many pictures as possible with gusting winds and in some places having to trek through two feet of snow, Edna headed home. She hurried back to start cooking for guest that are coming over for her birthday. Even though I know that she is often in pain due to her spinal condition, she rarely complains and she always has a loving smile on her face. God has blessed me so much with my beautiful wife and best friend.<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4224682571/" title="Snow in the Park by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2517/4224682571_83dd1dc029.jpg" alt="Snow in the Park" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">This was one of the views we were greeted with in the park this morning.</span></span><br /></div>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-32344352.post-61087201313185622812009-12-23T02:04:00.003-08:002009-12-23T02:45:21.091-08:00A Monument a Day #21 - Holodomor Victims Memorial 1932-1933<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4207788033/" title="Holodomor Victims Memorial 1932-1933 by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4007/4207788033_e6d419a102.jpg" alt="Holodomor Victims Memorial 1932-1933" height="333" width="500" /></a><br /><span style="font-style: italic;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Bila Tserkva Holodomor Victims Memorial</span></span><br /><br />This is the city memorial for all of those who suffered and died during the genocide famine imposed by the Soviets in the winter of 1932-1933 known as Holodomor. You can see my past post about Holodomor by clicking <a href="http://m24expert.blogspot.com/2009/11/holodomor-remembrance.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">HERE.</span></a><br /><br />This is what <a href="http://www.holodomorsurvivors.ca/Video/video/Files/Nadia%20Shulha_video.html"><span style="font-weight: bold;">Nadia Shulha</span></a> who lived in the village of Zhovtneve about 40km from Bila Tserkva remembers about Holodomor:<br /><br />"When they milled the grain, they first prepared seed for the spring planting, then set aside some for the cattle. Then they said that the machine broke, and they collected the sheaves. We went to collect the grain stalks. I went too, although I was little. The brigadier rode in on a horse and said we weren’t allowed to collect the stalks, that they were going to plow the field, and we couldn’t collect the stalks, because the tractor was coming, and collecting stalks was prohibited. So we had to stand aside. The same thing happened with the potatoes. When they dug up the potatoes, the tractors came right away to plow the field, so that people wouldn’t collect the potatoes that were left. I know this well.<br /><br /><strong></strong>I remember this because I myself went to collect these stalks. But the winter came and there was nothing left. You know, they say that you should forget these things. But you can’t forget something like this. The words of my little sister who was one year old, they’ll never leave me, “Mamo, Mamo.” But my mother had nothing to give her. I’ll never forget these words.<br /><br />[My mother and father] went to Voronezh [in the Russian SFSR]. You had to go through Kyiv to get to Voronezh. [In Voronezh] they were able to trade some things for some grain and bread, and were returning home. In Kyiv there was an old and a new railroad station. You couldn’t get into the new station without a ticket, and tickets were sold only in the morning. There were hundreds of people there, not only my mother and father, and they had to wait near the old station. Just before they could go buy tickets, the police came, lined the people up, and took everything away. They could only keep one loaf of bread each. And you couldn’t say a word because they could kill you. I remember how my parents were crying when they came back. By the time they returned, two of my sisters had died. I know that they died, but where they died, in the house, or on the road, that I don’t know. I just know that they died. I know how they buried my father after he died. My father got an infection in the spring, and died. My mother’s sister, her husband and their three middle children died. In the neighboring house, the entire family died. Only the owls in the attic were left. Our other neighbors had three children, and only one girl survived. I always said the human heart is so small, but can endure so much."<br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/wedesirehim/4207788159/" title="Holodomor Victims Memorial 1932-1933 by wedesirehim, on Flickr"><img src="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4049/4207788159_0d8ecd7bc1.jpg" alt="Holodomor Victims Memorial 1932-1933" height="500" width="333" /></a></div><br /><br />This memorial is located at: 49°48'11.54"N 30° 7'23.83"E<br /><br /><span style="font-style: italic;">This is my final post on the monuments of Bila Tserkva. I hope you have enjoyed learning about Ukraine and our city, Bila Tserkva.</span>Unknownnoreply@blogger.com0